Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has evolved as a central treatment modality for the management of various hematologic malignancies. Despite adequate posttransplantation immunosuppressive therapy, acute GVHD remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality, even for the patients who have received HLA identical sibling grafts. Once established, acute GVHD is difficult to treat, and the best primary treatments such as corticosteroid have shown responses of approximately 50%. Once GVHD becomes steroid-refractory, the chances of survival are slim at best, and the possibility of long-term complications from chronic GVHD is almost always the rule. Many agents are currently being evaluated to treat this malady, including ATG, monoclonal antibodies, pentostatin, denileukin diftitox, etc. We reported here on a case of steroid refractory acute GVHD that was treated with IL-2 and TNF-alpha blocker in myelodysplastic syndrome patient who underwent unrelated allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Interleukin-2* ; Mortality ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes* ; Pentostatin ; Siblings ; Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Stem Cells* ; Transplants ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

The incidence rate of cervical cancer in Korea is still higher than in other developed countries, notwithstanding the national mass screening program. Furthermore, a new method has been introduced in cervical cancer screening. Therefore, the committee for cervical cancer screening in Korea updated the recommendation statement established in 2002. The new version of the guideline was developed by the committee using evidence-based methods. The committee reviewed the evidence for the benefits and harms of the Papanicolaou test, liquid-based cytology, and human papilloma virus (HPV) testing, and reached conclusions after deliberation. The committee recommends screening for cervical cancer with cytology (papanicolaou test or liquid-based cytology) every three years in women older than 20 years of age (recommendation A). The combination test (cytology with HPV test) is optionally recommended after taking into consideration individual risk or preference (recommendation C). The current evidence for primary HPV screening is insufficient to assess the benefits and harms of cervical cancer screening (recommendation I). Cervical cancer screening can be terminated at the age of 74 years if more than three consecutive negative cytology reports have been confirmed within ten years (recommendation D).
Developed Countries ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Mass Screening* ; Papanicolaou Test ; Papilloma ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

The incidence rate of cervical cancer in Korea is still higher than in other developed countries, notwithstanding the national mass-screening program. Furthermore, a new method has been introduced in cervical cancer screening. Therefore, the committee for cervical cancer screening in Korea updated the recommendation statement established in 2002. The new version of the guideline was developed by the committee using evidence-based methods. The committee reviewed the evidence for the benefits and harms of the Papanicolaou test, liquid-based cytology, and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, and reached conclusions after deliberation. The committee recommends screening for cervical cancer with cytology (Papanicolaou test or liquid-based cytology) every three years in women older than 20 years of age (recommendation A). The cervical cytology combined with HPV test is optionally recommended after taking into consideration individual risk or preference (recommendation C). The current evidence for primary HPV screening is insufficient to assess the benefits and harms of cervical cancer screening (recommendation I). Cervical cancer screening can be terminated at the age of 74 years if more than three consecutive negative cytology reports have been confirmed within 10 years (recommendation D).
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Early Detection of Cancer/adverse effects/*methods/standards ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; False Positive Reactions ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Middle Aged ; Papillomavirus Infections/diagnosis ; Papillomavirus Vaccines ; Patient Selection ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic/diagnosis ; Republic of Korea ; Review Literature as Topic ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/*diagnosis ; Vaginal Smears/adverse effects/methods/standards ; Young Adult

Objective: To investigate the effect of Opuntia humifusa aqueous extract on gastric ulcers. Methods: An ethanol-induced model was used to examine the protective effect of Opuntia humifusa against gastric ulcers. The gastric ulcer index was evaluated via clinical observation and image analysis. Various inflammatory indicators were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting assays. Results: The gastric ulcer index was reduced to 8% in the group treated with Opuntia humifusa aqueous extract compared with that in the control group. RT-PCR analysis revealed that MUC5AC expression was reduced to 39% in the control group compared with the non-treated group, whereas the omeprazole and Opuntia humifusa aqueous extract-treated groups increased the expression to 95% and 79%, respectively. Moreover, the expressions of various cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were increased in the control group, while decreasing in Opuntia humifusa aqueous extract-treated group. Opuntia humifusa aqueous extract also suppressed the expressions of iNOS, COX-2, and its transcription factor NF-κB and increased mucus content considerably as compared to the control group. Conclusions: These results suggest that Opuntia humifusa aqueous extract is suitable as an alternative remedy for gastric ulcer treatment.

The pneumonia severity index (PSI) and CURB-65 are widely used tools for the prediction of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). This study was conducted to evaluate validation of severity scoring system including the PSI and CURB-65 scores of Korean CAP patients. In the prospective CAP cohort (participated in by 14 hospitals in Korea from January 2009 to September 2011), 883 patients aged over 18 yr were studied. The 30-day mortalities of all patients were calculated with their PSI index classes and CURB scores. The overall mortality rate was 4.5% (40/883). The mortality rates per CURB-65 score were as follows: score 0, 2.3% (6/260); score 1, 4.0% (12/300); score 2, 6.0% (13/216); score 3, 5.7% (5/88); score 4, 23.5% (4/17); and score 5, 0% (0/2). Mortality rate with PSI risk class were as follows: I, 2.3% (4/174); II, 2.7% (5/182); III, 2.3% (5/213); IV, 4.5% (11/245); and V, 21.7% (15/69). The subgroup mortality rate of Korean CAP patients varies based on the severity scores and CURB-65 is more valid for the lower scores, and PSI, for the higher scores. Thus, these variations must be considered when using PSI and CURB-65 for CAP in Korean patients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cohort Studies ; Community-Acquired Infections/*mortality ; Female ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia/*mortality ; Prospective Studies ; Republic of Korea ; *Severity of Illness Index ; Young Adult