The purpose of this study was to verify the validity of the Patient Severity Classification Tool by examining the correlations between the APACHE III and the Patient Severity Classification Tool and to propose admission criteria to the ICU. The instruments used for this study were the APACHE III developed by Knaus and thePatient Severity Classification Tool developed by Korean Clinical Nurses Association. Data was collected from the 156 Medical ICU patients during their first 24 hours of admission at the Seoul National University Hospital by three trained Medical ICU nurses from April 20 to August 31 1999. Data were analyzed using the frequency, X2, Wilcoxon rank sum test, and Spearman rho. There was statistically significant correlations between the scores of the APACHE III and the Patient Severity Classification Tool. Mortality rate was increased as patients classification of severity in both the APACHE III and the Patient Severity Classification Tool scored higher. The Patient Severity Classification Tool was proved to be a valid and reliable tool, and a useful tool as one of the severity predicting factors, ICU admission criteria, information sharing between ICUs, quality evaluations of ICUs, and ICU nurse staffing. 1) This paper was awarded the first prize at the Seoul National Hospital Nursing Department Research Contest.
APACHE* ; Awards and Prizes ; Classification* ; Humans ; Information Dissemination ; Mortality ; Nursing ; Seoul

BACKGROUND: Cyclosporine has a narrow therapeutic window and many serious side effects. The new oral microemulsion cyclosporine is known to have better absorption profile than non-microemulsion cyclosporine. The purpose of this study was to confirm above finding in stable renal transplant patients and also to compare correlation between AUC0-4 and C0, C2. METHODS: We checked the absorption profile of microemulsion cyclosporine group (N=15, ME group) and non-microeulsion cyclosporine group (N=15, NE group). All Patients had received renal transplantation at least 12 months before. Blood sampling for cyclosporine level was drawn before and at 1, 2, 3 hour after the cyclosporine morning dose (respectively C0, C1, C2 and C3). AUC0-4 was calculated with the formula: 256+C1+0.9xC2+1.4xC3. Age, sex, body weight, serum creatinine and cyclosporine dose were not different between ME group and NE group, but duration after transplantation was significantly higher in NE group (4.7+/-0.8 versus 3.0+/-1.9 year, p<0.05). RESULTS: AUC0-4 in ME group was significantly higher than NE group (2, 816+/-721 versus 2, 055+/-658 ng.h/mL, p<0.05). AUC0-4/dose, Cmax and Cmax/ dose were significantly higher in ME group. But these statistical differences were not consistent in both sexes. The difference of absorption profile between ME and NE group existed only in the female sex. In ME group, C1 correlated best with AUC0-4 (C0: r=0.493, C1: r=0.911, C2: r=0.906, C3: r= 0.789) and in NE group, C2 was the best (C0: r= 0.064, C1: r=0.958, C2: r=0.980, C3: r=0.912). CONCLUSION: Microemulsion cyclosporine is more bioavailable than non-microemulsion cyclosporine in stable renal transplant patients. C2 is better single time point marker for therapeutic drug monitoring in stable renal transplant patients than C0.
Absorption* ; Area Under Curve ; Body Weight ; Creatinine ; Cyclosporine* ; Drug Monitoring* ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Transplantation*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Listeria* ; Meningitis, Listeria*

A case of renal amyloidosis with crescentic glomerulonephritis associated with rheumatoid arthritis is described. A 60-year-old female with 15 years' history of rheumatoid arthritis developed nephrotic syndrome followed by rapid deterioration of renal function. Glomerular amyloid deposition and sclerotic change was present in kidney biopsy specimen and crescentic change was found in 85% of the glomerulus. Electron microscopic finding of glomerulus showed randomly oriented, rigid-appearing, long nonbranching fibrils. The patient was treated with intravenous high-dose methylprednisolone pulses combined with intravenous cyclophosphamide followed by oral corticosteroids. Three months after the above treatment, renal function gradually improved, reaching serum creatinine level to 2.5 mg/dL. But the nephrotic range proteinuria persisted.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Amyloidosis* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Biopsy ; Creatinine ; Cyclophosphamide ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Methylprednisolone ; Middle Aged ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Plaque, Amyloid ; Proteinuria

Oral or rectal sodium phosphate(NaP) preparation is commonly used for the colonic cleansing. Since the sole route of excretion of absorbed phosphate is renal, diminished renal function will limit the ability to excrete a sudden phosphate load. To date, about 20 adult cases of hyerphosphatemia associated with oral or rectal sodium phosphate solution have been reported, but not a single case in Korea to our knowledge. We report two cases of hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcemia after the administration of NaP(Colclean(R)) to reemphasizes the potential hazard of sodium phosphate bowel preparation in patients with compromised renal function.
Adult ; Colon ; Humans ; Hyperphosphatemia* ; Hypocalcemia* ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Korea ; Laxatives* ; Sodium

Intracardiac hemangiopericytomas are rare tumors which originates from the pericyte in the external wall of capillaries. 1) The tumors are known to usually develop in the lower extremities, pelvic cavity and retroperitoneum, 2) but are very rare in the heart. 3) The symptoms and signs of a hemagiopericytoma depend on the size and location of the tumor. 2) A hemagiopericytoma has a high potential for local recurrence and metastasis, so regular follow-up is needed following surgical excision. 2) A 36-year-old man presented with shortness of breath and chest discomfort. Before operating, a chest CT scan showed that a compressive collapse of the left lung had developed next to a large mediastinal tumor. Because of impending respiratory failure due to collapse of the left lung, an operation was performed. The operation showed that the mediastinal tumor was a large loculated hemopericardium accompanied by pericardial bleeding. A hematoma evacuation with a pericardiectomy was performed, and the pathology of the thickened pericardial wall revealed a malignant hemangiopericytoma. The patient has followed up for 6 months without symptoms or sign of tumor recurrence following the radiation therapy.
Adult ; Capillaries ; Dyspnea ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Hemangiopericytoma ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Lung ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pathology ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pericardiectomy ; Pericytes ; Recurrence ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(HLH) is a rare and fatal disorder in children. Persistent fever, hepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia are observed in the most cases with the characteristic change of serum triglyceride, fibrinogen, ferritin and LDH level. CNS manifestation were developed in 50-70% of HLH. 20% of cases revealed seizure and irritability at diagnosis. Abnormalities on brain imaging, such as diffuse white matter abnormalities and necrotic area with parenchymal volume loss appeared to roughly parallel the severity of clinical manifestations. In HLH, EBV is the major triggering agent inducing hemophagocytosis as well as the fulminant course of disease. Many cases of EBV-HLH had monoclonal origin and respond well to etoposide-containing regimens. Early induction of an etoposide based regimen is critical factor in securing long-term survival in patients with EBV-HLH. We report a case that 13 year-old female patient with seizure and loss of consciousness was diagnosed as EBV-HLH and treated with protocol HLH-94 consistd of etoposide, dexamethasone, cyclosporin.
Adolescent ; Central Nervous System ; Child ; Cyclosporine ; Dexamethasone ; Diagnosis ; Etoposide ; Female ; Ferritins ; Fever ; Fibrinogen ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic* ; Neuroimaging ; Pancytopenia ; Seizures* ; Triglycerides ; Unconsciousness*

PURPOSE: An epidemiologic study of childhood cancer would provide useful information on cancer etiology and development of management guidelines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database were used to examine the incidence and survival of cancer in patients aged 0-14 years. Patients were grouped according to the International Classification of Childhood Cancer, 3rd edition. Age-specific and age-standardized incidences per million and estimated annual percentage change (APC) were calculated by sex and age. Five-year relative survival was calculated for four periods from 1993 to 2011. RESULTS: The study comprised 15,113 patients with malignant neoplasms. Age-standardized incidence rates for all cancers were 134.9 per million children in 1999-2011 and 144.0 and 124.9 per million for males and females, respectively (M/F ratio, 1.2; p < 0.05). The highest incidences were observed for 'leukemias, myeloproliferative diseases, and myelodysplastic diseases' (group I) (46.4), 'central nervous system neoplasms' (group III) (18.3), and 'lymphomas and reticuloendothelial neoplasms' (group II) (13.4). Age-standardized incidence increased from 117.9 in 1999 to 155.3 in 2011, with an APC of 2.4% (95% confidence interval, 2.1 to 2.7). There was a significant increase of APC in 'neuroblastoma and other peripheral nervous cell tumors' (group IV) (5.6%) and 'other malignant epithelial neoplasms and malignant melanomas' (group XI) (5.6%). The 5-year relative survival rate for all childhood cancers improved significantly from 56.2% (1993-1995) to 78.2% (2007-2011) (males, 56.7% to 77.7%; females, 55.5% to 78.8%). CONCLUSION: This study provides reliable information on incidence and survival trends for childhood cancer in Korea.
Carcinoma ; Child ; Classification ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Korea* ; Male ; Nervous System ; Survival Rate

The major clinical advantages of dialyzer reuse are improved biocompatibility and a decrease in the frequency of the first use syndrome. Dialyzer reuse has made it possible to use biocompatible high flux membranes of the high price. Although dialyzer reuse in chronic hemodialysis patients is commonly practiced in the United States, it is not widely accepted in Korea. At Ajou University Hospital, we have reprocessed dialyzers since March 2000, and here we report our clinical experience for the 1st 8 weeks. We used high flux dialyzers with reprocessing practice in 24 chronic hemodialysis patients. Dialyzer reprocessing was performed by an automated machine(Renatron) using Renalin. We limited reuse upto 20 times, and we were able to reuse dialyzers upto this number in 17 patients. During the study period, no significant complication was observed as a result of the reuse program. Kt/Vurea and urea reduction ratio(URR) were not different between high and low flux dialyzers(1.41+/-0.29 vs 1.61+/-0.41 for Kt/Vurea and 66.70+/- 6.40% vs 65.69+/-5.63% for URR). In contrast, beta2-microglobulin(beta2M) reduction ratio and clearance were greater in high flux dialyzers than low flux dialyzers(p<0.001, -9.52+/-20.28% vs 42.00+/-8.61% for beta2M reduction ratio and 9.54+/-11.71mL/min vs 48.54+/-14.33mL/min for beta2M clearance). Kt/Vurea, URR, beta2M reduction ratio and beta2M clearance did not deteriorate with the increasing number of reuse. The predialysis values of beta2M decreased by 51% after 19 uses(p<0.001, 37.04+/-13.39 to 18.98+/-3.41mg/L). In summary, during the short pilot study period of 8 weeks, no significant clinical complication was encountered as a result of dialyzer reuse, and our results confirmed the effects of high flux dialyzers on removal of beta2M.
Humans ; Kidneys, Artificial* ; Korea ; Membranes ; Pilot Projects ; Renal Dialysis ; United States ; Urea

The major clinical advantages of dialyzer reuse are improved biocompatibility and a decrease in the frequency of the first use syndrome. Dialyzer reuse has made it possible to use biocompatible high flux membranes of the high price. Although dialyzer reuse in chronic hemodialysis patients is commonly practiced in the United States, it is not widely accepted in Korea. At Ajou University Hospital, we have reprocessed dialyzers since March 2000, and here we report our clinical experience for the 1st 8 weeks. We used high flux dialyzers with reprocessing practice in 24 chronic hemodialysis patients. Dialyzer reprocessing was performed by an automated machine(Renatron) using Renalin. We limited reuse upto 20 times, and we were able to reuse dialyzers upto this number in 17 patients. During the study period, no significant complication was observed as a result of the reuse program. Kt/Vurea and urea reduction ratio(URR) were not different between high and low flux dialyzers(1.41+/-0.29 vs 1.61+/-0.41 for Kt/Vurea and 66.70+/- 6.40% vs 65.69+/-5.63% for URR). In contrast, beta2-microglobulin(beta2M) reduction ratio and clearance were greater in high flux dialyzers than low flux dialyzers(p<0.001, -9.52+/-20.28% vs 42.00+/-8.61% for beta2M reduction ratio and 9.54+/-11.71mL/min vs 48.54+/-14.33mL/min for beta2M clearance). Kt/Vurea, URR, beta2M reduction ratio and beta2M clearance did not deteriorate with the increasing number of reuse. The predialysis values of beta2M decreased by 51% after 19 uses(p<0.001, 37.04+/-13.39 to 18.98+/-3.41mg/L). In summary, during the short pilot study period of 8 weeks, no significant clinical complication was encountered as a result of dialyzer reuse, and our results confirmed the effects of high flux dialyzers on removal of beta2M.
Humans ; Kidneys, Artificial* ; Korea ; Membranes ; Pilot Projects ; Renal Dialysis ; United States ; Urea