OBJECTIVE: A number of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) have been shown to be more effective than placebo in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, most course of DMARDs, except methotrexate, are discontinued after 2 or 3 years, because of toxicity, lack of efficacy or escape from control. The multi-drug resistance (MDR) is a phenomenon in which cells develop cross-resistance to many agents such as anthracyclin, vinca alkaloids and colchicine. In our hypothesis, MDR phenomenon could be implicated in acquired resistance to DMARDs in RA. We have established a mdr1 cell line and tested whether DMARDs are substrate for P-glycoprotein (P-gp). METHODS: The mdr1-cDNA was cloned into retroviral vector, and the recombinant retroviral vector was transfected into PA317 cells. The target cells, NIH3T3, were infected with recombinant retroviruses. A colony most resistant to vinblastin was selected for the following experiments; expression of mdr1 gene in NIH3T3 cells was confirmed by RT-PCR, and biological function of mdr1 gene product, P-gp, was tested using Rhodamine-123 (Rh123) efflux assay. Resistance of the target cells expression P-gp which can survive against hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and methotrxate (MTX) were measured by MTT assay. RESULTS: RT-PCR for mdr1 gene showed successful transfer of the gene into the NIH3T3 cells. Rh123 assay revealed expression of P-gp on the selected cells as follows; Rh123 efflux activity of uninfected NIH3T3 cells was 6%, that of PLXSN was 0.2%, and that of selected cells was 44%. The 50% proliferation inhibitory capacity of the selected cells were twice for HCQ but there was no difference of that for MTX. CONCLUSION: We established a mdr1 cell line and using the cell line, HCQ was a substrate of MDR, but MTX was not related to MDR.
Antirheumatic Agents* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Cell Line ; Clone Cells ; Colchicine ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Hydroxychloroquine ; Methotrexate ; P-Glycoprotein ; Retroviridae ; United Nations ; Vinca Alkaloids ; Zidovudine

Subacute combined degeneration is a disease of spinal cord involving the posterior and lateral columns due to vitamin B12 deficiency. We experienced a 56-year-old man suffering subacute combined degeneration, characterised by dysesthesia and disturbance of deep sensation such as position sense, proprioception and vibration sense in the lower extremities, and ataxic gait. We reported one patient with subacute combined degeneration of the cord in association with pernicious anemia resulting from inactivation of intrinsic factor by it's antibodies.
Anemia, Pernicious* ; Antibodies ; Gait ; Humans ; Intrinsic Factor ; Lower Extremity ; Middle Aged ; Paresthesia ; Proprioception ; Sensation ; Spinal Cord* ; Subacute Combined Degeneration* ; Vibration ; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency

PURPOSE: To compare and analyze the rate of prevention of two venous thromboembolism prophylaxis guidelines in patients with artificial joint arthroplasty and hip joint fracture. Proper prophylaxis for preventing thromboembolism in orthopedic surgery is significant because of this fetal complication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study compared and retrospective analyzed the rate of prevention using the medical records and radiographs of patients who underwent orthopedic surgery from March 2009 to February 2011 according to the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) guidelines and from March 2012 to February 2014 according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) guidelines. RESULTS: The guidelines for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis have been applied to patients with artificial joint replacement and hip joint fracture, the compliance rate of the ACCP guidelines was 56.0% before surgery, 67.0% after surgery with chemical prophylaxis, and 80.5% with mechanical prophylaxis. In addition, the compliance rate of the AAOS guidelines was 74.1% with chemical prophylaxis, and 88.3% with mechanical prophylaxis, which was higher than the ACCP guidelines. The compliance rates of mechanical and chemical prophylaxis before and after surgery of the ACCP guidelines, and the compliance rate of mechanical and chemical prophylaxis of the AAOS guidelines were compared and analyzed. The results revealed statistical significance (p<0.05) before and after total knee replacement arthroplasty and hip joint fracture internal fixation and total high risk orthopedic surgery. CONCLUSION: Raising the compliance rate of prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism in high risk orthopedic surgery is necessary and people should follow the guidelines for a unified direction depending on which situation they are in.
Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Compliance ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Joints ; Medical Records ; Orthopedic Procedures ; Orthopedics ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgeons ; Thorax ; Thromboembolism ; Venous Thromboembolism

It is known that neutropenia caused by combination pegylated interferon plus ribavirin therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is well tolerated and carries a negligible risk of infection. Neutropenic enterocolitis is encountered most frequently in patients with hemato-oncologic diseases who are undergoing intensive chemotherapy. However, little information exists regarding this life-threatening event in the setting of HCV therapy. We present here an unusual case of fatal neutropenic enterocolitis in a cirrhotic patient receiving combination therapy for HCV infection. This is the first report of a death from neutropenic enterocolitis associated with treatment for chronic HCV infection. The present case suggests that caution should be exercised when continuing HCV therapy in neutropenic patients with advanced fibrosis, and the decision to maintain such therapy should be balanced against the potential for serious adverse events.
Enterocolitis, Neutropenic ; Fibrosis ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Interferons ; Neutropenia ; Ribavirin

The bronchial varices in mitral stenosis are uncommon and incidentally discovered during bronchoscopy. Although bronchial varices are primarily associated with bronchial or pulmonary disease, the bronchial vein can be dilated with increased pulmonary venous pressure secondary to mitral stenosis. The bronchial varices may present massive hemoptysis. The hemoptysis can be controlled by mitral commissurotomy or mitral valve replacement in case of mitral stenosis. We report a case of bronchial varies in a patient with severe mitral stenosis. The bronchial varices were found incidentally during bronchoscopy and they were nearly disappeared by mitral valve replacement.
Bronchoscopy ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Stenosis* ; Varicose Veins* ; Veins ; Venous Pressure

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a method for positioning the femoral stem in neutral position refer to the measured value of "lateral distance" in pre-operative templating and the femoral stem position post-operatively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 81 hips in 76 patients underwent cementless total hip arthroplasty between March 2008 and April 2012 using the C2 stem (Lima Corporate S.P.A, Udine, Italy). We measured the perpendicular distance from the lateral outermost part of the greater trochanter to the lateral outermost part of the femoral stem (lateral distance, LD) in pre-operative templating. We aimed to insert the femoral stem in neutral position by comparing LD measured intra-operatively. We evaluated the position of the femoral stem on post-operative plain radiography. We compared the result of post-operative re-measurement of the LD with that of pre-operative measurement. RESULTS: In all of the 81 cases, the femoral stem was inserted in neutral position, defined as the femoral stem position within 3degreesvalgus or varus. The average angle of the inserted femoral stem was 1.20degrees(0.003-2.85degrees). LD measured in preoperative templating was 15.6 mm(10-21.5 mm), and it showed no correlation ratio with LD; LD re-measured post-operatively was 15.9 mm(10.3-23.5 mm) (P=0.781). CONCLUSION: Measuring LD pre-operatively and using the value intra-operatively is an effective method for insertion of the femoral stem in neutral position.
Arthroplasty ; Femur ; Hip ; Humans

BACKGROUND: This study is to evaluate the effect of systemic corticosteroid on the clinical outcomes and the occurrence of complications in mechanical ventilated patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). METHODS: We retrospectively assessed the clinical outcomes and complications in patients with severe CAP admitted to ICU between March 1, 2003 and July 28, 2009. Outcomes were measured by hospital mortality after ICU admission, duration of mechanical ventilation (MV), ICU, and hospital stay. Complications such as ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP), catheter related-blood stream infection (CR-BSI), and upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeding during ICU stay were assessed. RESULTS: Of the 93 patients, 36 patients received corticosteroids over 7 days while 57 patients did not receive corticosteroids. Age, underlying disease, APACHE II, PSI score, and use of vasopressor were not different between two groups. In-hospital mortality was 30.5% in the steroid group and 36.8% in the non-steroid group (p>0.05). The major complications such as VAP, CR-BSI and UGI bleeding was significantly higher in the steroid group than in the non-steroid group (19.4% vs. 7%, p<0.05). The use of steroids and the duration of ICU stay were significantly associated with the development of major complications during ones ICU stay (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Systemic corticosteroid in patients with severe CAP requiring mechanical ventilation may have no beneficial effect on clinical outcomes like duration of ICU stay and in-hospital mortality but may contribute to the development of ICU acquired complications.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; APACHE ; Catheters ; Hemorrhage ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies ; Rivers ; Steroids

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy(HBO) is defined as breathing 100% oxygen while in an enclosed system pressurized to greater than on atmosphere(sea level). This increased oxygen delivery furthers your body's ability to kill germs and to increase healing. HBO is a supplemental therapy to be used in addition to the current medical and surgical therapy you are receiving. HBO typically is used to complement treatments of medical problems such as bone infections, complication of radiotherapy, and certain chronic, non-healing wounds. On an emergency basis, the chamber also is used to treat problems such as carbon monoxide poisoning and the decompression sickness. We analysed stastically cases which are treated by hyperbaric oxygen therapy in point of oral and maxillofacial region on the Kangnam General Hospital for aid in comprehension and application of this therapy. Total 760 patients were treated at Gangnam Gneral Hospital from July 1996 to September 1999. They were classifed by region to Decompression sickness(DCS), Carbon monoxide poisoning(CO), General surgery(GS), Orthopedics(OS), Oral and Maxillofacial surgery(OMFS), others. Patients of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery were divided by diseses to Osteomyelitis, Osteoradionecrosis, Reconstruction, Bone graft, Difficult wounds, others. The results were as follows. 1. This institute conducts HBO therapy for DCS which takes up 62% and 10.5% for OMF region. 2. In OMF region, Osteomyelitis is 40%, Osteoradionecrosis is next, Bone graft, and Reconstruction is a row. 3. According to our precious study, HBO has been frequently conducted in OMF region compared to past, however, it is less actively conducted in this area for reserch than other conturies. Therefore, We need further application to the clinical use.
Carbon Monoxide ; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ; Complement System Proteins ; Comprehension ; Decompression ; Decompression Sickness ; Emergencies ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation ; Osteomyelitis ; Osteoradionecrosis ; Oxygen* ; Radiotherapy ; Respiration ; Surgery, Oral ; Transplants ; Wounds and Injuries

Purpose: The value of the genomic profiling by targeted gene-sequencing on radiation therapy response prediction was evaluated through integrated analysis including clinical information. Radiation response prediction model was constructed based on the analyzed findings. Materials and Methods: Patients who had the tumor sequenced using institutional cancer panel after informed consent and received radiotherapy for the measurable disease served as the target cohort. Patients with irradiated tumor locally controlled for more than 6 months after radiotherapy were defined as the durable local control (DLC) group, otherwise, non-durable local control (NDLC) group. Significant genomic factors and domain knowledge were used to develop the Bayesian Network model to predict radiotherapy response. Results: Altogether, 88 patients were collected for analysis. Of those, 41 (43.6%) and 47 (54.4%) patients were classified as the NDLC and DLC group, respectively. Somatic mutations of NOTCH2 and BCL were enriched in the NDLC group, whereas, mutations of CHEK2, MSH2, and NOTCH1 were more frequently found in the DLC group. Altered DNA repair pathway was associated with better local failure–free survival (hazard ratio, 0.40; 95% confidence interval, 0.19 to 0.86; p=0.014). Smoking somatic signature was found more frequently in the DLC group. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the Bayesian network model predicting probability of 6-month local control was 0.83. Conclusion Durable radiation response was associated with alterations of DNA repair pathway and smoking somatic signature. Bayesian network model could provide helpful insights for high precision radiotherapy. However, these findings should be verified in prospective cohort for further individualization.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the characteristics and prognostic factors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in the emergency departments (EDs) in Daegu, Korea, the region with the second regional outbreak worldwide. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational multicenter study using a population-based COVID-19 registry of EDs. We included the demographic, clinical and laboratory data. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was performed to identify the prognostic factors of mortality. Results: A total of 241 patients were included in this study. In the Cox hazard regression model (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]), age (65-79 years: 3.531 [1.529-8.156], ≥80 years: 5.335 [2.229-12.770]), respiratory rate (RR) (>20 breaths/min: 2.025 [1.205-3.403], ≤11 breaths/min: 111.292 [30.845-401.555]), lymphocyte counts <1.0×109/L (2.611 [1.494-4.739]), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels>23 mg/dL (2.047 [1.233-3.399]), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels>40 IU/L (1.785 [1.009-3.158]) and neutrophil counts>6.3×109/L (1.638 [1.014-2.644]) were associated with mortality. Conclusion Age, RR, lymphocyte counts, BUN levels, AST levels and neutrophil counts were prognostic factors in COVID-19 patients in the ED. These factors can help effectively treat and reduce mortality through optimized management of COVID-19 patients, in places with limited emergency medical resources such as massive regional outbreaks.