No abstract available.
Barium* ; Enema* ; Intussusception*

PURPOSE: We studied the effectiveness and toxicities of 5-fluorouracil+leucovorin, combination chemotherapy in advanced or recurred colo-rectal cancer patients, who didn't have previous chemotherapy and enrolled from August 1993 to July 1998. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients were treated with leucovorin followed by 5-fluorouracil for 5 consecutive days every 4 weeks. Among 43 patients who were enrolled, 40 patients received treatment at least 2 courses, and they were evaluable. Male to female ratio was 21 to 19. In serum CEA level, 27 patients were greater than 5 ng/ml and 13 were less than 5 ng/ml. And primary site was colon in 21 patients and rectum in 19 patients. RESULTS: The complete response rate was 7,5% and the partial response rate was 25%. The median survival duration was 14.7 months, the median response duration was 16.0 months, and median time to progression was 7.3 months. In the analysis of response, survival duration, time to progression according to various characteristics of patients, serum CEA level and liver involvement were revealed significant difference in survival duration, time to progression (p=0.0122, 00350 & 0.0202, 0.0123) on univariate analysis, but no significant difference on multivariates. Hematologic and non-hematologic toxicities were mild and tolerable. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that the combination of 5-fluorouracil (370 mg/m) and leucovorin (20 mg/m) is effective and tolerable regimen in advanced or recurred colo-rectal cancer patients without previous chemotherapy.
Colon ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination* ; Female ; Fluorouracil* ; Humans ; Leucovorin* ; Liver ; Male ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Rectum

Wells' syndrome or eosinophilic cellulitis is an uncommon cutaneous disorder characterized by recurrent erythematous and edematous plaques that often resemble acute cellulitis. The characteristic microscopic findings are diffuse dermal eosinophilia with marked edema, and flame figures consisting of amorphous or granular eosinophilic material around collagen bundles of the dermis. Etiology and pathogenesis are unknown, but the disease has been found to be associated with infections, arthropod bites, drug administration, surgery and hematologic disorders. We report the case of a 55-year-old man with pancreatic carcinoma who was presented with an asymptomatic erythematous to brownish subcutaneous nodule on the left buttock of several days' duration. A biopsy specimen taken from the erythematous to brownish nodule showed many flame figures and diffuse infiltration of eosinophils in the dermis and subcutaneous fat tissue. The rapid resolution of the skin lesion with chemotherapy of the pancreatic carcinoma supports a relationship between the two conditions.
Arthropods ; Biopsy ; Buttocks ; Cellulitis ; Collagen ; Dermis ; Drug Therapy ; Edema ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Fat

No abstract available.
Epidermal Cyst ; Molluscum Contagiosum ; Molluscum contagiosum virus

Cardiac arrest associated with hyperkalemia during red blood cell transfusion is a rare but fatal complication. Herein, we report a case of transfusion-associated cardiac arrest following the initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in a 9-month old infant. Her serum potassium level was increased to 9.0 mEq/L, soon after the newly primed circuit with pre-stored red blood cell (RBC) was started and followed by sudden cardiac arrest. Eventually, circulation was restored and the potassium level decreased to 5.1 mEq/L after 5 min. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) priming is a relatively massive transfusion into a pediatric patient. Thus, to prevent cardiac arrest during blood-primed ECMO in neonates and infants, freshly irradiated and washed RBCs should be used when priming the ECMO circuit, to minimize the potassium concentration. Also, physicians should be aware of all possible complications associated with transfusions during ECMO.
Blood Transfusion ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Erythrocyte Transfusion ; Erythrocytes ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation* ; Heart Arrest* ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia* ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Potassium

PURPOSE: To correlate the findings of perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI) with clinical outcomes in patients with acute lacunar infarction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven patients (7 males and 4 females) with acute lacunar infarction who were examined within 50 (mean, 29) hours of the onset of symptoms underwent conventional MRI, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and PWI. Gadolinium (0.2 mmol/kg) was injected at a rate of 2 ml/sec, and PWI was performed using a gradient-echo EPI pulse sequence and the following parameters: TR/TE, 2000/60; flip angle, 90 degree; matrix size, 128X128. Relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) maps were derived from gadolinium bolus perfusion-weighted images where rCBV ratios between infarcted areas were detected by DWI, and contralateral control areas were obtained. In each case, the resulting rCBV ratio at a lesion site was compared with the clinical outcome determined on the basis of the difference between National Institute Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores at admission and discharge. RESULTS: With the aid of the time-intensity curve obtained at PWI, the rCBV maps revealed a hypoperfused area in 10 of 11 patients, and there was positive correlation (r=0.81) with clinical outcome. CONCLUSION: Although PWI has a lower detection rate than DWI, it may be a useful modality for helping determine prognosis in cases of acute lacunar infarction.
Blood Volume ; Diagnosis* ; Gadolinium ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Male ; Perfusion* ; Prognosis ; Stroke ; Stroke, Lacunar*

To evaluate the hypertensive effect of guanbenz acetate, we performed a prospective clinical study for 10 weeks or more in 27 patients with essential hypertension(mean age: 51, mean supine blood pressure: 176/105mmHg). The daily dose of guanabenz acetate was 8-49 mg. The results were as follows; 1) After 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of treatment, average supine systolic and diastolic blood pressures reduced to 156/94, 150/94, 149/93 and 144/93mmHg respectively(all P<0.05). 2) Pulse rate decreased slightly from pre-treatment average of 75 beats per minute to 71 beats per minute at the end of the study(P<0.05). 3) Average body weight, serum levels of total cholesterol, AST, ALT, BUN, creatinine, sodium and potassium were not significantly changed from pre-treatment values. 4) A few side effects in order of frequency were dry mouth, dizziness, sedation, weakness, etc. We conclude that guanabenz acetate may be used as an effective first line antihypertensive agent in essential hypertension.
Blood Pressure ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Dizziness ; Guanabenz* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Mouth ; Potassium ; Prospective Studies ; Sodium

PURPOSE: To determine whether C-reactive protein (CRP) can be used as a parameter to assess the safety of discontinuing antibiotic therapy and allows a shorter course of therapy in neonates treated for suspected bacterial infection. METHODS: We have experienced 193 cases of suspected neonatal bacterial infection at Pusan Maryknoll Hospital. CRP levels were measured daily by immunonephelometry. Infants with initial CRP levels less than 0.8mg/dL were considered unlikely to be infected, and antibiotic therapy was stopped (group A; n=82). If three daily serial CRP levels were less than 0.8mg/dL, antibiotics were discontinued (group B; n=51). Sixty cases were treated for at least 7 days irrespective of CRP results (group C; n=60), and relapse rates of bacterial infection were compared between the three groups within one month after discharge. RESULTS: Within the one month follow-up period, two infants (2.4%) in group A, one infant (1.3%) in group B, two infants (3.3%) in group C received antibiotics for possible relapse of bacterial infection. The relapse rate in these groups was very low and frequency of a second course of antibiotic therapy between these groups was not different. CONCLUSION: These data allow considerably shorter courses of antibiotic therapy, safe discontinuation by three serial CRP measurement and show that CRP can be a key parameter for guiding the duration of antibiotic treatment. In addition, it would cut the length and cost of hospital stays and diminish the side effects of parenteral antibiotics.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacterial Infections* ; Busan ; C-Reactive Protein* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Length of Stay ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: To determine whether C-reactive protein (CRP) can be used as a parameter to assess the safety of discontinuing antibiotic therapy and allows a shorter course of therapy in neonates treated for suspected bacterial infection. METHODS: We have experienced 193 cases of suspected neonatal bacterial infection at Pusan Maryknoll Hospital. CRP levels were measured daily by immunonephelometry. Infants with initial CRP levels less than 0.8mg/dL were considered unlikely to be infected, and antibiotic therapy was stopped (group A; n=82). If three daily serial CRP levels were less than 0.8mg/dL, antibiotics were discontinued (group B; n=51). Sixty cases were treated for at least 7 days irrespective of CRP results (group C; n=60), and relapse rates of bacterial infection were compared between the three groups within one month after discharge. RESULTS: Within the one month follow-up period, two infants (2.4%) in group A, one infant (1.3%) in group B, two infants (3.3%) in group C received antibiotics for possible relapse of bacterial infection. The relapse rate in these groups was very low and frequency of a second course of antibiotic therapy between these groups was not different. CONCLUSION: These data allow considerably shorter courses of antibiotic therapy, safe discontinuation by three serial CRP measurement and show that CRP can be a key parameter for guiding the duration of antibiotic treatment. In addition, it would cut the length and cost of hospital stays and diminish the side effects of parenteral antibiotics.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacterial Infections* ; Busan ; C-Reactive Protein* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Length of Stay ; Recurrence

The lipid lowering effects of bezafibrate were evaluated in 18 patients with hyperlipidemia, i.e. over 200mg/dl of cholesterol and/or of cholesterol and/or triglyceride before treatment. The materials were 18 patients(male:8, female:10);7 with diabetes mellitus, 8 with congestive cardiomyopathy, 1 with parkinsonism, The serum lipid concents were measured with enzyme method before and 6 weeks after the treatment with daily 600mg of bezafibrate administered per oral and the differences were observed. 1) The level of serum cholesterol was reduced from 262.8mg/dl(+/-58.9SD) before treatment to 191.3gm/dl(+/-31.3SD) after 6 weeks treatment(p<03.005). 2) The level of serum triglyceride was reduced from 231.8mg/dl(+/-104SD) before treatment to 144.4mg/dl(+/-51SD) after 6 weeks treatment(p<0.005). 3) The level of serum HDL increased from 47.2mg/dl(+/-19.7SD) before treatment to 61.3mg/dl(+/-13.9SD) after 6 weeks treatment(p<0.005). 4) The level of serum LDL was reduced from 169.3mg/dl(+/-52.4SD) before treatment to 101.2mg/dl(+/-29.5SD) after 6 weeks treatment(p<0.05). 5) HDL/Cholesterol ratio was increased from 17.8%(+/-5.4SD) before treatment to 32.6%(+/-7.9SD) after 6 weeks treatment(p<0.005). 6) HDL/LDL ratio was increased from 29.2%(+/-10.8SD) before treatment to 67.2%(+/-30.8SD) after 6 weeks treatment(<0.005). The side effects of bezafibrate such as G-I trouble, myositis, hypersensitivity, elevation of BUN and creatinine were not observed.
Bezafibrate* ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias* ; Hypersensitivity ; Myositis ; Parkinsonian Disorders ; Triglycerides