No abstract available.
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency* ; Iron* ; Milk*

In Korea, more than in most other countries, motions in hip and knee are extremely important because kneeling and squatting are conventional potures in the home and social activities. from this point of view, the preservation of mobility is a critical trial in the treatment of tubercuiosis of the knee joint. In 1974 we reported five cases of tuberculosis of the knee which were treated with preservation of the joint mobility. This is the report of another four cases of knee joint tuberculosis which were treated by synovectomy and curettage of the bony focus in an allempt to half the pathological process without sacrificing joint motion. All of the four cases have preserved their knee joint motion and have gained an average of 43.7 degrees of motion through joint exercise started five weeks post-operatively. Previously reported cases started their joint exercise eight weeks after operation and gained an average of only 26.7 degrees of motion. As chemotherapy provides more effectiveness in the treatment of joint tuberculosis, early joint motion postoperatively is important to gain more range of joint motion. In conclusion, tuberculosis of major weight bearing joints, notably the knee, may be successfully treated their joint motions preserved by surgical eradication of the lesion and chemotherapy.
Curettage ; Drug Therapy ; Hip ; Joints ; Knee Joint ; Knee ; Korea ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular ; Weight-Bearing

BACKGROUDN: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a chemotherapy-sensitive tumor. However, the duration of response is usually short and most patients experience relapses. Topotecan is commonly used for treatment of these patients. Nevertheless, the response rate of topotecan as a single regimen is only about 20% and the resulting severe myelosuppression is troublesome. Vincristine is also an active agent, and it does not compromise the marrow function. In this background, we evaluated the efficacy and toxicities of topotecan and vincristine combination chemotherapy. METHODS: Patients with pathologically confirmed SCLC refractory to or recurrent after platinum-based chemotherapy were eligible for this study. The treatment regimen was as follows; topotecan 1.5 mg/m2/day IV bolus on day 1, 2 and 3 and vincristine 1.5 mg/m2 (maximum 2 mg on day 1 (on every cycle)) and day 2 (on odd cycles only). This regimen was repeated every 3 weeks. The efficacy was evaluated in terms of response rate, time to progression and overall survival duration. The toxicities were assessed according to NCI-CTC version 3.0. RESULTS: A total of 19 patients were entered into this study. The median age was 63 years (range 43-85 years). Partial response was obtained for 3 patients (response rate 15.8%, 95% CI: 0-32.5%). The median time to progression and survival duration was 51 days and 199 days, respectively. For a total of 52 cycles of treatment, grade 3 or 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were observed in 25.0% and 11.5% of the patients, respectively. Grade 2 neurotoxicities were observed in 15.4% of the patients. There was no treatment-related mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The topotecan and vincritine combination is active and safe for patients with recurrence or refractory SCLC. However, the benefit of adding vincristine to topotecan needs to be confirmed in further studies.
Bone Marrow ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination* ; Humans ; Mortality ; Neutropenia ; Recurrence ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma* ; Thrombocytopenia ; Topotecan* ; Vincristine*

BACKGROUND: The testes are one of the most common extramedullary sites of relapse in boys with acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL). The reported incidence of isolated testicular relapse varies from 3 to 40%. If these patients are treated exclusively with testicular irradialion, a systemic relapse occurs within a few months. Recently, the use of intensive chemotherapy and testicular irradiation improved the survival rate for boys with testicular leukemia. So, we performed this study to identify clinical manifestations, disease free survival and prognostic factors of testicular leukemia in children. METHODS: We reviewed 33 patients of testicular leukemia among total 410 boys with ALL diagnosed at the Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children's Hospital from Jan. 1970 to Aug. 1996. Testicular leukemia was confirmed by testicular biopsy in all 33 patients. These patients were treated with combined local testicular irradiation(2,400~2,500 cGy/8~12fractions) and systemic chemotherapy. Two patients, in whom testicular relapse was diagnosed before 1979, unilateral orchiectomy of the involved site and testicular irradiation of the opposite site were performed. Probability estimates of disease free survival (DFS) were calculated by the method of Kaplan and Meier, and the relationship of prognostic factors to DFS was compared using the chi-square test in survival analysis. RESULTS: In 410 boys with ALL, testicular leukemia occurred in 33 patients(8%). Of 33 patients, 6 patients presented with testicular involvement at initial diagnosis, 16 patients had testicular relapse while still receiving chemotherapy and 11 patients had testicular relapse 3 to 57 months(median : 15 months) after cessation of chemotherapy. The median age of 33 patients was 7.4 yrs(9 months~18 yrs) and median WBC count 7,600/ L(2,700~270,000/L). All patients presented with painless testicular enlargement and testicular leukemia was confirmed by testicular biopsy. Among 33 patients, 2 had prior CNS relapse and 11 had concomitant bone marrow and/or CNS relapse. Twenty nine patients were treated with combined local testicular irradiation and systemic chemotherapy. Eleven had second relapse(6 bone marrow, 3 CNS, 2 opposite testis). Seventeen have been followed until now: 6 patients on chemotherapy and 11 patients(37.9%) in complete remission for 48.5+/-22.3 months(19~86 months). The 3 year DFS for 29 patients was 55.3%+/-10.1%. The following prognostic factors showed no significant association with DFS in testicular relapse : age and WBC count at initial diagnosis, age at testicular relapse, and concomitant relapse. Whether testicular relapse occurred on initial therapy or off initial therapy has prognostic value in predicting DFS. The 3 year DFS for boys with testicular relapse on and off initial therapy were 40.0%+/-12.9% and 78.8%+/-13.4%, respectively(P: 0.046). CONCLUSION: With the use of chemotherapy and testicular irradiation, prolonged second re mission can be achieved in many patients with testicular leukemia. The patients with testicular relapse off initial therapy fared significantly better than patients on therapy. So, to improve the DFS for boys with testicular leukemia, a better understanding of its biology and prognostic factors is needed.
Biology ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leukemia ; Missions and Missionaries ; Orchiectomy ; Pediatrics ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Recurrence ; Seoul ; Survival Rate ; Testis

BACKGROUND: Cytokine-mediated ex vivo expansion has been proposed as a means of increasing the number of cord blood (CB) hematopoietic stem cells for transplantation. As well as stem cell number, stromal cells are necessary for functional maturation of hematopoiesis. The purpose of this study was to analyze the development of stromal cells during ex vivo expansion of CB CD34+ cells. METHODS: CD34+ cells were purified from CB by magnetic bead selection. The levels of of interleukin-3, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were measured in culture supernatants on 0, 1, 2, and 3 weeks, using ELISA techniques. CB CD34+ cells were expanded in Iscoves modified Dulbeccos medium in the presence of several cytokines. The expression of E-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule- 1, intercellular adhesion molecule- 1, platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1, von Willebrand factor, vimentin, and CD14 in newly developed stromal cells was examined by immunocytochemical method. Relevant extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and proper cytokines were also assayed for the most suitable condition for expansion of stromal cells. RESULTS: Several cytokines were found to have been produced by CB CD34+ cells as well as bone marrow-derived CD34+ cells. During ex vivo expansion of CB CD34+ cells, stromal cells appeared in the culture by day 4 and expanded over the following 7- 10 days before being confluent by day 2 1. These cells expressed surface markers characteristic of cells of endothelial lineage. Furthermore, these stroaml cells also expanded effectively when treated with thrombopoietin+flt-3 ligand+stem cell factor+leukemia inhibitory factor or 0. 1% poly-L-lysine-coated wells. CONCLUSION: Stromal cells were developed during ex vivo expansion of CB CD34+ cells and that this development could be enhanced further by treating the stromal cells with cytokines or ECM.
Cell Adhesion ; Cytokines ; E-Selectin ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fetal Blood* ; Granulocytes ; Hematopoiesis ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Interleukin-1beta ; Interleukin-3 ; Interleukin-6 ; Stem Cells ; Stromal Cells* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Vimentin ; von Willebrand Factor

Congenital absence of the gallbladder is a rare anomaly and an interesting subject. The overall incidence of gallbladder agenesis is said to approximately 0.035% to 0.065%. It is extremely difficult to make the correct diagnosis of gallbladder agenesis preoperatively in symptomatic patients because its clinical and radiological features are like those of cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, or choledocholithiasis in patients with anatomically normal biliary tracts. Gallbladder agenesis is suspected when the surgeon or the pathologist has failed to identify the gallbladder in its usual position but ectopic location or necrosis of the gallbladder from any causes should be ruled out. Recently, two cases of gallbladder agenesis were encountered in adult patients. We summarize our experience and give a brief review of the literature.
Adult ; Biliary Tract ; Cholecystitis ; Choledocholithiasis ; Cholelithiasis ; Diagnosis ; Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Necrosis

PURPOSE: This study was performed to identify perceptions on fixed night shift system and turnover intention of general hospital nurses and to explore a desirable application plan for a fixed night shift system. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional survey. Participants were 300 nurses working at one general hospital in GyeongGi-Do, Korea. Data were collected from November 3 to 7, 2014, with a structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS/PC ver 20.0 programs. RESULTS: Of the participants 73.5% had thought about turnover because of night shifts and the preconditions for desirable fixed night shift system were a payment plan differentiated according to work conditions and an adequate number of nursing staff. Economic and administrative supports like 'raising extra-pay for night shift' and 'increasing the number of paid holidays' were very important for a desirable fixed night shift system. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the most important factor for a desirable fixed night shift system to decrease nurses' turnover intention is economic and administrative support according to the needs of the nurses. So nursing managers need to find a desirable fixed night shift system considering nurses' demographic characteristics and organizational characteristics.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hospitals, General* ; Humans ; Intention* ; Korea ; Nursing ; Nursing Staff

No abstract available.
Burkitt Lymphoma* ; Tumor Lysis Syndrome*

We report a case of polycythemia vera combined with coagulation disorder. The patient was 54 years old man who complained of continuous bleeding after incision of skin abscess 20days ago. Laboratory tests were revealed prolonged aPTT and slightly prolonged PT. Coagulation factor, I, VIII, IX, XI and fibrinogen decreased, however FDP did not increased. It appears that patient with polycythemia vera have chronic activation of coagulation system, probably initiated by activation of factor XII. Platelet aggregation test to ADP, collagen, epinephrine was also revealed poor response.
Abscess ; Adenosine Diphosphate ; Blood Coagulation Factors ; Collagen ; Epinephrine ; Factor XII ; Fibrinogen ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Platelet Aggregation ; Polycythemia Vera* ; Polycythemia* ; Skin

No abstract available.
Burkitt Lymphoma* ; Child* ; Humans