Spontaneous rupture of the kidney with subcapsular or perinephric hemorrhage usually occurs secondary to various kinds of underlying diseases such as benign malignant tumor. vascular disease and infection etc. We experienced 2 cases of spontaneous rupture of the kidney secondary to renal cell carcinoma in a 44-year-old female and adult Wilms' tumor in a 17-year-old male.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Kidney* ; Male ; Rupture, Spontaneous* ; Vascular Diseases ; Wilms Tumor

PURPOSE: TATA box mutation/polymorphism in the promoter region of the bilirubin uridinediphosphoglucuronate glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT-1A1) gene is known to be an etiology of hyperbilirubinemia. This study examined if a TATA box mutation/polymorphism in UGT-1A1 gene promoter could be associated with the development of severe early neonatal jaundice in Korean infants. METHODS: Thirty-nine neonatal jaundice patients and 40 controlled infants were analyzed for UGT-1A1 promoter genotypes by using DNA sequencing. RESULTS: The homozygote for (TA)7TAA mutation was not found in this study. Comparison of the prevalence of UGT-1A1 promoter (TA)7TAA heterozygotes revealed no difference between the group with jaundice and the controlled group (15.4% vs. 10%). The peak bilirubin level was higher and the onset of jaundice was earlier in the jaundice group with (TA)7TAA heterozygote compared to the jaundice group without (TA)7TAA heterozygote (23.2+/-1.0 mg/dL vs. 19.7+/-2.4 mg/dL, P=0.004, 5.0+/-1.5 days vs. 8.3+/-4.1 days, P= 0.057). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that TATA box polymorphism in UGT-1A1 gene promoter did not increase the prevalence of severe early neonatal jaundice in Korean infants.
Bilirubin ; Genotype ; Glucuronosyltransferase ; Heterozygote ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal* ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Jaundice ; Jaundice, Neonatal ; Prevalence ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; TATA Box

PURPOSE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancy with high mortality in Korea. A new therapeutic modality such as gene therapy is necessary to improve the prognosis of hepatoma patients. Therefore we investigated the preclinical significance of Herpes simplex virus - thymidine kinase/ganciclovir (HSV-tk/GCV) gene therapy model using the retroviral vector for HCC cell lines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: LNC/HSV-tk retroviral vector and PA317/LNC/HSV-tk pro- ducer cell line were constructed. HSV-tk transduced HCC cells using the LNC/HSV-tk retrovirus were selected by the G418 containing media. In vitro GCV sensitivity test of the HCC cells was performed by MTT assay. To evaluate in vivo GCV sensitivity, GCV was intraperitoneally injected after subcutaneous administration of HCC cells into each flank of the nude mouse. RESULTS: HSV-tk gene transduction and expression in HCC cells were confirmed by RT-PCR. HSV-tk transduced HCC cell lines (SK-Hepl/HSV-tk and Hep-3B/HSV-tk) showed the marked GCV sensitivity comparing with the parental cell lines (SK-Hepl and Hep-3B) by MTT assay (p<0.001). The MTT test revealed that SK-Hepl/HSV-tk cells were more sensitive to GCV compare with that of Hep-3B/H5V-tk cells, and the parent cell line showed minimal growth suppression by the GCV treatment. In 12 nude mice received tumor cell mixtures of Hep-3B and Hep-3B/HSV-tk cells which contained more than 50% of HSV-tk transduced cells, the tumor was not developed in ll mice by the intraperitoneal administration of GCV. The tumors developed in 1 of 6 mice and 5 of 6 mice when mixtures contained 30% and 10% of HSV-tk transduced cells, respectively. Five mice out of 6 mice received inoculum containing the mixtures of 70% and 50% of HSV-tk transduced cells into each flank survived more than 6 month after HSV-tk/GCV treatment. Conelusion: HSV-tk gene transduced HCC cells showed the enhanced sensitivity to GCV. In nude mice HSV-tk/GCV strategy for HCC seemed to be more effective when tumor cell inoculum contained more than 30% of HSV-tk transduced HCC cells.
Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cell Line* ; Ganciclovir* ; Genetic Therapy ; Herpes Simplex* ; Humans ; Korea ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Mortality ; Parents ; Prognosis ; Retroviridae* ; Simplexvirus* ; Thymidine Kinase* ; Thymidine* ; Zidovudine

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify prognostic factors in stage IVB colorectal cancer in elderly patients, focusing on the influence of treatment modalities, including palliative chemotherapy and primary tumor resection. METHODS: A cohort of 64 patients aged over 65 years who presented with stage IVB colorectal cancer at the Gangneung Asan Hospital between July 1, 2001, and December 31, 2009, was analyzed. Demographics, tumor location, tumor grade, performance status, levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and distant metastatic site at diagnosis were analyzed. Using the treatment histories, we analyzed the prognostic implications of palliative chemotherapy and surgical resection of the primary tumor retrospectively. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 30 male (46.9%) and 34 female patients (53.1%); the median age was 76.5 years. Primary tumor resection was done on 28 patients (43.8%); 36 patients (56.2%) were categorized in the nonresection group. The median survival times were 12.43 months in the resection group and 3.58 months in the nonresection group (P < 0.001). Gender, level of CEA, level of AST, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, tumor location, and presence of liver metastasis also showed significant differences in overall survival. On multivariate analysis, male gender, higher level of CEA, higher AST level, and no primary tumor resection were independent poor prognostic factors. In particular, nonresection of the primary tumor was the most potent/poor prognostic factor in the elderly-patient study group (P = 0.001; 95% confidence interval, 2.33 to 21.99; hazard ratio, 7.16). CONCLUSION: In stage IVB colorectal cancer in elderly patients, resection of the primary tumor may enhance survival.
Aged* ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Cohort Studies ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Demography ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Liver ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Palliative Care ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Among the many Vibrio species that can cause infections in humans, several species can cause a fatal outcome. Therefore, accurate identification of Vibrio species is very important. Since some species show atypical phenotypic features, selecting an appropriate molecular method is necessary to avoid misdiagnosis. METHODS: Vibrio clinical isolates (N=53) and reference strains (N=8) were used in this study. We analyzed the following sequences for identification: dnaJ gene, 16S rDNA, gyrase B (gyrB) V. vulnificus-specific sequence, gyrB V. navarrensis-specific sequence, and V. vulnificus hemolysin gene PCR (Vvh PCR). We performed phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rDNA, dnaJ, and gyrB sequences. Final identification was based on the combined results of all tests described above. Concordance of the 16S rDNA and dnaJ sequence analysis was measured using the Chi-square test. RESULTS: The 61 Vibrio strains were identified as follows, in descending order: V. vulnificus (78.69%), V. parahaemolyticus (6.56%), V. navarrensis (4.92%), V. mimicus (1.64%), V. cholera (1.64%), V. furnissii (1.64%), V. alginolyticus (1.64%), and Grimontia hollisae (1.64%). The accuracy rates of the dnaJ gene and 16S rDNA sequence for identification were 91.80% and 86.89%, respectively. The 16S rDNA and dnaJ sequences showed a concordance rate of 0.45, which indicates moderate agreement. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that analysis of the dnaJ sequence may be a useful method for the identification of clinical isolates of Vibrio species, especially for distinguishing between closely related Vibrio species.
Cholera ; Diagnostic Errors ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Fatal Outcome ; Humans ; Methods ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis ; Vibrio

Background: β-blockers (BBs) are considered primary therapy in stable heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) without atrial fibrillation (AF); evidence-based benefits of BB on outcome have been documented. However, BBs have not been shown to improve mortality or reduce hospital admissions in HF patients with AF. This study assessed the relationship between BBs at discharge and relevant clinical outcomes in acute heart failure (AHF) patients with AF. Methods: From the Korean Acute Heart Failure Registry, 936 HFrEF and 639 HF patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and AF were selected. Propensity score (PS) matching accounted for BB selection bias when assessing associations. Results: BB-untreated patients in the overall cohort of HFrEF and HFpEF had greater deteriorated clinical and laboratory characteristics. In the 670 PS-matched cohort of HFrEF patients, incidences of all clinical events at 60 days and 1 year were not different according to use of BBs. In the 470 PS-matched cohort of HFpEF, rehospitalization and composite outcome at 6 months and 1 year more frequently occurred in non-users of BBs. After adjusting for covariates in the multivariable Cox model of matched cohorts, BB was not associated with clinical outcomes at 60 days and 1 year in HFrEF with AF patients. In HFpEF patients with AF, BB use was associated with reduced 6-month (hazard ratio [HR], 0.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.20–0.74) and 1-year rehospitalization (HR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.34–0.82). Conclusion In the HFrEF with AF PS-matched cohort, the use of BBs at discharge was not associated with clinical outcome. However, in HFpEF with AF, the use of BB was associated with reduced rehospitalization during the 6-month and 1-year follow up.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aims of this study were to determine subgoups of functional dyspesia and to evaluate the short-term effect of cisapride in patients with functional dyspepsia in Korea. METHODS: 1025 patients, with a mean age of 42.6 years, with symptoms of functional dyspepsia, were recruited consecutively and upper gastrointestinal symptoms were investigated by interview in 41 hospitals in Korea. In an open, multicenter trial, 1025 patients received Smg of cisapride three times a day (TID) for at least .2 weeks for the treatment of symptoms of functional dyspepsia. When necessary, the dose of cisapride was increased to 10mg TID and the duration of therapy was extended to 4 weeks. RESULTS: The most frequently reported symptoms of functional dyspepsia were epigastric discomfort or fullness (85%), bloating (70%), belching (53%), early satiety (52%) and epigastric pain (46%) retrospectively. Subgroups of functional dyspepsia were as follows; dysmotility-like 73.5%, ulcer-like 39.7%, reflux-like 13.0%, and unspecified dyspepsia 14.0%. However, 33.2% of subjects with functional dyspepsia could be classified into more than one subgroup. Upper gastrointestinal symptoms were decreased to average 50.3% (range; 42.2 to 59.2%) after 2 weeks of cisapride treatment and to 25% (19.2 to 29.9%) after 4 weeks. cisapride therapy resulted in good or excellent improvement in 59.0% of the patients after two weeks, in 75% of patients after 4 weeks. Adverse events were occurred in 52 patients (5.8% of all patients), most commonly, loose stools or diarrhea (3.5%), abdominal pain (1.1%), and dizziness (0.3%). The majority of adverse events was mild and transient in nature and led to premature discontinuation of treatment in 4 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although the majorities of patients with functional dyspepsia have dysmotility like symptoms in Korea, there is such overlap among the dyspepsia subgroups. Most patients responded well to a short therapeutic trial with cisapride without significant side effects.
Abdominal Pain ; Cisapride* ; Diarrhea ; Dizziness ; Dyspepsia* ; Eructation ; Humans ; Korea* ; Retrospective Studies