No abstract available.
Sarcoma*

PURPOSE: After recent epidemics of measles in Korea, Korean Pediatric Society recommended 2 dose measles vaccination schedule instead of 1 dose since 1991. However, the studies that supported the modification of vaccination schedule were insufficient yet. This study was performed to evaluate the vaccination efficacy of 1 dose and 2 dose vaccination. METHODS: One dose vaccination group consisted of 19 infants(mean: 13.5 months of age) and two dose vaccination group consisted of 17 infants(mean: 20.4 months of age). We measured the serum level of measles specific IgG antibody in vaccinated infants during 2 to 8month after vaccination using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). RESULTS: 1) There was no significant difference between one dose and two dose vaccination group in measles specific IgG antibody level(479+/-203AU/ml vs. 442+/-119AU/ml). 2) There was no significant difference between one dose and two dose vaccination in seropositivity of measles specific IgG antibody(94.7% vs. 88.2%). 3) Seropositivity of measles specific IgG antibody in all subjects has gradually decreased after vaccination and it was not related to the dose of vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that two dose vaccination of measles is not effective than one dose. Therefore, to confirm the current vaccination schedule of measles in Korea, more studies about effective method of vaccination should be performed.
Appointments and Schedules ; Child* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Infant* ; Korea ; Measles* ; Vaccination*

No abstract available.
Gram-Positive Cocci*

PURPOSE: Gastric adenocarcinoma is the most common malignant tumor in Korea and immunochemotherapy can be alternative method of the treatment for it. So we evaluated several immunologic markers, Major Histocomatibility (MHC) Antigen and Intercellular Adhesion Molecule (ICAM)-1 which play an important roles in cellular immune response of the host to the tumar cells, HLA-DR/DP antigens, one of the MHC class II which is expressed in various conditions, CD 68 antigen which are also important factor in immune response to the tumor cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared the expression of MHC class II (HLA-DR/DP) antigens, ICAM-1 and the number of tumor-infiltrating macrophages presenting CD68 antigen in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections of 95 gastric adenocarcinomas using immunohistochemistry. In addition to analyze the relationship between expression of these antigens in gastric adenocarcinoma, histolopathologic findings such as tumor invasion, regional lymph node metastasis and histologic differentiation are evaluated. RESULTS: The rate of HLA-DR/DP expression was 60% and strongly associated with tumor differentiation, invasion and regional lymph node metastasis. ICAM-1 was expressed in 15% and slightly increased in well-differentiated carcinoma. The lack of expression of ICAM-1 was observed in high invasive tumor (T 4). CD 68(+) macrophages counts were significantly increased in around the tumor cells, compared to normal epithelia. HLA-DR/DP expression and infiltrating CD 68(+) macrophage numbers were significantly associated (p<0.05), but there was no correlationship between ICAM-1 and CD 68(+) macrophage numbers. CONCLUSION: It was considered that enhanced expression of HLA-DR/DP antigens, ICAM-1 and CD68(+) macrophages in gastric adenocarcinomas may be an immunophenotypic deviation. HLA-DR/DP and CD68(+) macrophages infiltration showed correlationship with tumor invasion and regional lymph node metastasis, that they may be used as a prognostic factor of the tumor growth.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Biomarkers ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1* ; Korea ; Lymph Nodes ; Macrophages* ; Neoplasm Metastasis

PURPOSE: Routine liver function test follow up is done in epileptic children receiving antiepileptic drugs to prevent hepatotoxicity induced by these drugs. But rarely seen are the abnormalities of liver function test, and seldomly are these abnormalities accompanied by the clinical manifestation. This study is carried out to assess the efficacy of routine liver function test follow up in epileptic children. METHODS: We determined the changes of the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, total protein, albumin, gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT) and alkaline phosphatase before and 3, 6, 12 months and 2 years after antiepileptic drug medication in 59 epileptic children who had been receiving carbamazepine (n=16), phenobarbital (n=14), valproic acid (n=10) and combination of these (n=19) for 2 to 5 years. RESULTS: 1) The difference in liver function test follow up according to the age and sex was not found and there was no statistical correlationship between drug medication time and the serum drug level. 2) AST and ALT had been within normal range for all the study period in any group. 3) Total bilirubin had been within normal range for all the study period in any group. Direct bilirubin had decreased for the first 6 months in valproic acid group, but the changes had been within normal range for all the study period. 4) Total protein and albumin had been within normal range for all the study period in any group. 5) gamma-GT had the increasing tendency for all the study period in valproic acid group, but the values had been within normal range for all the study period. 6) Alkaline phosphatase had decreased for the first 6 months in valproic acid group, but the changes had been within normal range for all the study period. 7) No clinically significant hepatic manifestation had developed during study period in any group. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that routine liver function test follow up itself can not be the indicator of hepatotoxicity and that liver function test in need when accompanied by the development of clinical hepatic manifestation is more efficacious than routine liver function test follow up.
Alanine Transaminase ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Anticonvulsants ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Bilirubin ; Carbamazepine ; Child* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; Humans ; Liver Function Tests* ; Liver* ; Phenobarbital ; Reference Values ; Valproic Acid

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Argon laser photocoagulation in patients with conjunctival nevus. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients (27 eyes) who were clinically diagnosed with conjunctival nevus from January to September 2003 were included in this study. The conjunctival nevus was eliminated by Argon laser after topical anesthesia with proparacaine. The power density varied between 200 and 400 mW and the spot size ranged from 100 to 300 microgram. The duration of argon laser was 0.15~0.2 sec. The spot count was varied according to the size and degree of pigment density of conjunctival nevus. The mean follow-up period was 7.0 months. RESULTS: The wounds after Argon laser treatment were completely healed within 1 week. Twenty-three eyes were treated completely with only one laser treatment but 4 needed an additional laser treatment for more satisfactory cosmetic results. There were no postoperative complications such as infections, conjunctival degeneration or recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Argon laser treatment for conjunctival nevus has benefits such as no intraoperative hemorrhage, low recurrence rate, easier method and good cosmetic results.
Anesthesia ; Argon* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Light Coagulation ; Nevus* ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Wounds and Injuries

No abstract available.
Colony-Stimulating Factors* ; Granulocytes* ; Humans ; Isotretinoin* ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute* ; Wound Infection* ; Wounds and Injuries*

No abstract available.

We conducted a retrospective study to investigate the incidence, risk factors, and clinical features of hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Adult patients who developed HC after allo-HCT were identified from the HCT database of the Asan Medical Center and their medical records were reviewed. From December 1993 to August 2001, a total of 210 adult patients underwent allo-HCT. Fifty-one patients developed HC with a cumulative incidence of 25.7%. The median onset of HC was post-transplant day 24 (range, -2 to 474), and the median duration was 31 days (range, 8 to 369). Significant risk factors for HC by univariate analysis included diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia (p=0.028), unrelated HCT (p=0.029), grade III-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (p<0.001), extensive chronic GVHD (p=0.001), and positive cytomegalovirus antigenemia between post transplant days 31 and 60 (p=0.031). Multivariate analysis showed that grade III-IV acute GVHD was the most important risk factor for the occurrence of HC after allo-HCT (odds ratio, 3.38; 95% CI, 1.36-8.39). Late-onset HC, which occurred beyond 3 weeks after allo-HCT, was more frequently associated with GVHD than earlyonset HC (p=0.007). Our data suggest that a portion of late-onset HC might be a manifestation of GVHD.
Adult ; Cystitis/epidemiology ; Cystitis/etiology* ; Cystitis/pathology ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease/complications ; Graft vs Host Disease/pathology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells/physiology* ; Hemorrhagic Disorders/epidemiology ; Hemorrhagic Disorders/etiology* ; Hemorrhagic Disorders/pathology ; Human ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects* ; Transplantation Conditioning

BACKGROUND: To see whether there has been improvement in the survival of patients with acute leukemia over the last 14 years, a retrospective analysis was performed. METHODS: Clinical and laboratory data were obtained form the medical records. Patient survival data was obtained from the hospital records, national cancer registry or by direct phone contacts. RESULTS: Between June, 1989 and August 2002, 714 adult patients were diagnosed with acute leukemia at Asan Medical Center in Seoul. Fourteen patients were lost to follow-up within 100 days of the diagnosis and excluded. There were 535 patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and 165 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). There were 65 patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) among 535 patients with AML. Patients with non-APL AML and ALL were divided into 3 cohorts according to the year of the diagnosis: cohort I, 1989~1994; cohort II, 1995~1998; cohort III, 1999~2002. Patients with APL were also divided into 3 cohorts: cohort I, pre-all-transretinoic acid (ATRA) period (1989~1994. 2); cohort II, ATRA with or without chemotherapy (1994. 3~2000. 8); and cohort III, ATRA plus idarubicin (2000. 9~2002). Univariate analysis showed significant improvement in patient survival in non-APL AML (4-year projected survival rates of 10%, 19%, and 33% for cohorts I, II, and III, respectively, P=0.0000), in ALL (27%, 28%, and 52%, P=0.03), and in APL (36%, 56%, and 80%, P=0.04). Multivariate analysis showed that the year of diagnosis was a significant independent variable for patient survival in non-APL AML and ALL. CONCLUSION: Our study showed significant survival improvement in acute leukemia over the last 14 years. This improvement is not likely due to change in patient demographics. Rather, it is likely that introduction of newer methods of treatment of acute leukemia, such as multi-cycle combination chemotherapy for ALL, high dose cytarabine consolidation for AML, ATRA for APL, and wider application of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation, has resulted in a better patient survival.
Adult ; Cell Transplantation ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Cohort Studies ; Cytarabine ; Demography ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Hospital Records ; Humans ; Idarubicin ; Leukemia* ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Survival Rate ; Transplants