No abstract available.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Fluorouracil* ; Leucovorin*

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the force degradation rate of synthetic elastomeric chains during space closing phase of orthodontic treatment. Two kinds of synthetic elastomeric chains(RMO, 3M) were selected which were commonly used in clinics. All of the samples were extended and tested for 4 weeks under the simulated intraoral condition. The results can be summarized as follows : 1. Time related residual force showed typical logarithm function. Residual force after 4 weeks was 41.2~64.6 % of original force, and difference between two kinds of elastomeric chain existed. 2. Elastic force decreased greatly during first 10 minutes, so 20~25 % of original force disappeared. After that, this decreasing tendency was diminished significantly, average rate of elastic force after 1 week to 4 weeks were 1.5 % demonstrating rather constant force. 3. Even though the same brand of elastomeric chiain was used, as extension rate of elastomeric chain increased, force degradation rate increased by decreasing of residual force.
Elastomers*

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to examine the methylation status of the p16 and MGMT promoters in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to evaluate the relationship between the loss of gene expression, the promoter methylation status and hepatocarcinogenesis. METHODS: We included 24 HCC tissues and their adjacent non-tumorous tissues and 5 normal liver tissues in our study, and all the specimens were obtained by hepatectomy. The methylation status of the p16 and MGMT promoter regions were evaluated by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) and quantitative analysis by using a Gel-pro analyzer (Media Cybernetics, CA, USA). We also analyzed the p16 and MGMT gene expressions by performing immunohistochemical staining of the HCC tissues. RESULTS: Methylation of the p16 promoter was detected in HCC (100%, 24/24) and the adjacent non-tumorous tissues (79.2%, 19/24), but not in the normal liver tissues. Methylation of the MGMT promoter was detected in the HCC (8.3%, 2/24) and the adjacent non-tumorous tissues (4.2%, 1/24), but not in the normal liver tissues. Methylation positive HCC samples showed the loss of p16 expression in 58.3% (14/24). The loss of the p16 expression in the HCC tissues was well correlated with the increased rate of p16 promoter methylation (p=0.009). When the p16 promoter methylation status of the HCC tissues was higher than that of the adjacent non-tumorous tissues, 77.8% of the cases showed the loss of the p16 expression (p=0.002). No correlation was observed between MGMT promoter methylation and the loss of the gene expression in the HCC tissues. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that methylation of the p16 promoter and the resulting loss of p16 protein expression are significant events in hepatocarcinogenesis, and further studies are needed to evaluate the relationship between the methylation of the MGMT promoter and HCC carcinogenesis.
Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cybernetics ; Gene Expression ; Hepatectomy ; Liver ; Methylation* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although complex bifurcation stenting in patients with non-left main (LM) bifurcation lesions has not yielded better clinical outcomes than simpler procedures, the utility of complex bifurcation stenting to treat LM bifurcation lesions has not yet been adequately explored. METHODS: In the present study, patients who underwent LM-to-left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery simple crossover stenting to treat significant de novo distal LM or ostial LAD disease, in the absence of angiographically significant ostial left circumflex (LCX) coronary artery disease, were consecutively enrolled. The frequencies of 3-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs; cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization), were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 105 eligible consecutive patients, only 12 (11.4%) required additional procedures to treat ostial LCX disease after main vessel stenting. The mean percentage diameter of ostial LCX stenosis increased from 22.5% +/- 15.2% to 32.3% +/- 16.3% (p < 0.001) after LM-to-LAD simple crossover stenting. The 3-year incidence of MACEs was 9.7% (cardiac death 2.2%; myocardial infarction 2.2%; target lesion revascularization 8.6%), and that of stent thrombosis 1.1%. Of seven cases (7.5%) requiring restenosis, pure ostial LCX-related repeat revascularization was required by only two. CONCLUSIONS: Simple crossover LM-to-LAD stenting without opening of a strut on the LCX ostium was associated with acceptable long-term clinical outcomes.
Aged ; Coronary Artery Disease/*therapy ; Coronary Restenosis/etiology ; Coronary Stenosis/therapy ; Disease-Free Survival ; *Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/adverse effects/*methods ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: IMVP-16 (Ifosfamide/Methotrexate/VP-16) regimen consists of drugs that are not commonly used as the first-line therapy of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This study was performed to determine the efficacy of this relatively non-cross resistant regimen, with the addition of prednisone, in patients with primary refractory or relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with primary refractory or relpased intermediate to high grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were treated with ifosfamide (1000 mg/m2 iv, D1-5 with mesna), methotrexate (30 mg/m2 iv, D 3 & 10), VP-16 (100 mg/m2 iv, D 1-3), and prednisone (120 mg devided by 3 doses, D1-5). The treatment was repeated every 3 weeks. RESULTS: Between Jan. 1988 and Aug. 1993, thirty eight patients were included. In 33 evaluable patients (4 loss-to follow up and 1 ineligibility) the median age was 49 years. The common histologic types were diffuse large cell type (52%) and immunoblastic type (18%). The proportion of patients with relapsed and refractory NHL was 39% and 61%, respectively. The rate of complete remission was 21% (7/33) and overall response rate was 48% (16/33). The median-response duration was 8 months (1.5~45+). Hematologic toxicities were tolerable. Non-hematologic side effects were also tolerable including stomatitis, peripheral neuropathy, and toxic hepatitis. Three treatment-related deaths were associated with sepsis, ARDS (adult respiratory distress syndrome) and acute gastrointestinal bleeding. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, IMVP-16/Pd combination chemotherapy seems to have a moderate efficacy for the relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with tolerable toxicities.
Drug Therapy, Combination* ; Drug-Induced Liver Injury ; Etoposide ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ifosfamide ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin* ; Methotrexate ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Prednisone ; Sepsis ; Stomatitis

BACKGROUND: Although several hospital-based stroke studies were published, there has not been any reliable data representing the clinical characteristics of stroke in Korea. We analyzed the clinical characteristics of patients with ischemic stroke registered in the Korean Stroke Registry (KSR), which is the largest prospective hospital-based nation-wide stroke registry in Korea. METHODS: The KSR provided standardized protocols for collecting data, which includes the data of demographics, subtypes of stroke, risk factors, and neurological outcome at discharge. The brain imaging studies, including CT or MRI, were performed in all cases. RESULTS: KSR registered 10,811 patients of acute ischemic stroke between Nov. 2002 and Jun. 2004. The large-artery atherosclerosis was the most common subtype (37.3%), followed by small vessel occlusion (30.8%). Hypertension (65.4%) was the most common risk factor, followed by smoking (34.5%) and diabetes (28.3%). Although most of the hypertensive and diabetic patients had been diagnosed before the stroke, less than 45.4% and 32.5% of them were under regular control. The steno-occlusive lesion of extracranial carotid artery was only 29.3% and the ratio of intra- to extracranial artery disease was more than 2 in KSR. Only 20.5% of patients were admitted within 3 hours after stroke onset and 2.1% were treated with intravenous thrombolysis. In-hospital case-fatality was 5.2%, which is relatively comparable to those of previous studies. CONCLUSIONS: The KSR provided informative data in understanding the clinical characteristics of ischemic stroke in Korea. Further analysis of KSR will facilitate clinical trials and development of guidelines for the management of stroke patients.
Arteries ; Atherosclerosis ; Carotid Arteries ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Demography ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuroimaging ; Prospective Studies* ; Registries ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stroke*