A simple, rapid and selective liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is developed and validated for quantification of venlafaxine in human plasma with simple liquid-liquid extraction step consisted of extraction with ether and dichloromethane for 10 min and mixing with 1 M sodium acetate in human plasma using fluoxetine as an internal standard (IS). The analyte are separated using an isocratic mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and 5 mM ammonium formate (4/3, v/v) on a isocratic YMC hydrosphere C18 (2.0x50.0 mm, 3.0 microm) column and analyzed by MS/MS in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode using the transitions of respective [M+H](+) ions, m/z 278.2-->260.3 and m/z 310.1-->148.1 for quantification of venlafaxine and IS, respectively. The standard calibration curves showed good linearity within the range of 1.0-200.0 ng/mL (r2=0.9986, 1/chi2 weighting). The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 1.0 ng/mL. The retention times of venlafaxine and IS were 0.6 min and 0.7 min that means the potential for the high-throughput potential of the proposed method. In addition, no significant metabolic compounds were found to interfere with the analysis. Acceptable precision and accuracy were obtained for the concentrations over the standard curve range. The validated method was successfully applied to bioequivalence study after 75-mg of venlafaxine sustained-release (SR) capsule in 24 healthy Korean subjects.
Ammonium Compounds ; Calibration ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Ether ; Fluoxetine ; Humans ; Ions ; Liquid-Liquid Extraction ; Methylene Chloride ; Pharmacokinetics ; Plasma* ; Sodium Acetate ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Therapeutic Equivalency* ; Venlafaxine Hydrochloride

No abstract available.
Fetus* ; Humans ; Pregnancy, Twin*

No abstract available.
Hyperpigmentation*

Glucocorticoids are usually given according to a standard dosing protocol regardless of individual difference. We evaluated the pharmacokinetic characteristics of methylprednisolone and the degree of interpatient variation in stable Korean renal transplant recipients during the period of 15-21 days after transplantation. This study included 23 renal transplant recipients, 13 males and 10 females, who received kidneys from living donors with stable graft function and without episode of acute rejection. On the study day at 8 A.M., 16.3mg of ethylprednisolone sodium succinate (i.v.) was administered to each patient instead of usual dose (20mg) of prednisolone (p.o.) after sampling of 7cc of baseline blood and additional blood samples were drawn after starting infusion. Plasma was separated and analyzed for methylprednisolone level using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay, and parameters for pharmacokinetics were calculated. There was significant interpatient variation in the pharmacokinetics of methylprednisolone in our patients group. There was no significant difference in the pharmacokinetic parameters between patients with and without side effects of steroid. Korean renal transplant recipients had higher volume of distribution than black renal transplant recipients; lower clearance than white renal transplant recipients; longer t1/2 than both black and white renal transplant recipients. Even if the number of patients included in this study was too small to reach conclusion, the differences in the pharmacokinetics of glucocorticoids do not seem to be a significant risk factor for side effects of steroid after transplantation. It may be necessary to individualize the dose of a glucocorticoid to achieve an optimal effect and also we need to establish a new steroid regimen protocol for Korean renal transplant recipients.
Chromatography, Liquid ; Female ; Glucocorticoids ; Humans ; Individuality ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Living Donors ; Male ; Methylprednisolone* ; Pharmacokinetics ; Plasma ; Prednisolone ; Risk Factors ; Sodium ; Succinic Acid ; Transplantation* ; Transplants

PURPOSE: We compared the efficacy, survival rate, and adverse events between bicalutamide 150-mg monotherapy and combined androgen blockade (CAB) in men with locally advanced prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 2003 to July 2012, we retrospectively included 74 patients who were treated for more than 3 months and were followed up for more than 6 months. 25 men were treated with bicalutamide 150-mg only (group 1) and 49 men received CAB (group 2). Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) change, survival rate, and adverse events were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The PSA levels before and after treatment were 37.0+/-32.8 ng/mL and 9.5+/-27.0 ng/mL in group 1 (p<0.001) and 50.2+/-40.0 ng/mL and 20.0+/-35.8 ng/mL in group 2 (p<0.001). Mean survival rates were 78.9% in group 1 and 52.3% in group 2 (p=0.055). There were no statistically significant differences in adverse events between the 2 groups (p=0.304). The International Index of Erectile Function 5 (IIEF-5) score before treatment was 19.3+/-5.9 in group 1 and 18.3+/-5.8 in group 2 (p=0.487). The IIEF-5 score after treatment was 17.1+/-6.3 in group 1 and 14.0+/-6.1 in group 2, which was a statistically significant difference (p=0.036). CONCLUSIONS: The PSA change, mean survival rate, and adverse events in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer treated with bicalutamide 150-mg and CAB did not differ significantly. However, sexual function was better in the bicalutamide 150-mg group. Therefore, bicalutamide 150-mg monotherapy could be considered as a treatment for locally advanced prostate cancer in patients concerned about sexual function.
Humans ; Male ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

The coexistence of extraadrenal pheochromocytoma and renal artery stenosis is extremely rare. The mechanisms of renal artery stenosis with pheochromocytoma include direct compression of the tumor mass on the renal artery and catecholamine-induced vasospasm, fibromuscular hyperplasia, and fibrous adhesion. We report a rare case of renal artery stenosis caused by extraadrenal pheochromocytoma in a 29- year-old female. She was admitted to the hospital because of palpitation and headache. She had been treated for hypertension for 2 years. On admission, her plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine levels were elevated as were her plasma renin activity, urinary vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) and metanephrine levels. Through the use of abdominal computed tomography, 131I-MIBG scan, and renal arteriography, a mass was found in the hilus of the left kidney which affected left renal artery stenosis. Surgical removal of the mass and left kidney restored the catecholamine excretion, plasma renin activity, and blood pressure to normal. Electronmicroscopic examination of the mass confirmed the pheochromocytoma.
Angiography ; Blood Pressure ; Epinephrine ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Hypertension ; Kidney ; Metanephrine ; Norepinephrine ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Plasma ; Renal Artery Obstruction* ; Renal Artery* ; Renin ; Vanilmandelic Acid

We report an extremely specific case of Pendred's syndrome, originally described with an association of thyroid organification defect and hearing impairment; normal-sized thyroid, severe hypothyroidism manifested by profoundly retarded physical and mental development, cardiomegaly and severe hypochromic & microcytic anemia associated with asymmetrical septal hypertrophy.
Adolescent* ; Anemia* ; Cardiomegaly ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Hypertrophy* ; Hypothyroidism ; Thyroid Gland

PURPOSE: This study was performed to identify the etiologic agents and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of organisms responsible for bloodstream infections in pediatric cancer patients for guidance in empiric antimicrobial therapy. METHODS: A 5-year retrospective study of pediatric hemato-oncologic patients with bacteremia in Seoul National University Children's Hospital, from 2006 to 2010 was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 246 pathogens were isolated, of which 63.4% (n=156) were gram-negative, bacteria 34.6% (n=85) were gram-positive bacteria, and 2.0% (n=5) were fungi. The most common pathogens were Klebsiella spp. (n=61, 24.8%) followed by Escherichia coli (n=31, 12.6%), coagulase-negative staphylococci (n=23, 9.3%), and Staphylococcus aureus (n=22, 8.9%). Resistance rates of gram-positive bacteria to penicillin, oxacillin, and vancomycin were 85.7%, 65.9%, and 9.5%, respectively. Resistance rates of gram-negative bacteria to cefotaxime, piperacillin/tazobactam, imipenem, gentamicin, and amikacin were 37.2%, 17.1%, 6.2%, 32.2%, and 13.7%, respectively. Overall fatality rate was 12.7%. Gram-negative bacteremia was more often associated with shock (48.4% vs. 11.9%, P<0.01) and had higher fatality rate than gram-positive bacteremia (12.1% vs. 3.0%, P=0.03). Neutropenic patients were more often associated with shock than non-neutropenic patients (39.6% vs. 22.0%, P=0.04). CONCLUSION: This study revealed that gram-negative bacteria were still dominant organisms of bloodstream infections in children with hemato-oncologic diseases, and patients with gram-negative bacteremia showed fatal course more frequently than those with gram-positive bacteremia.
Amikacin ; Bacteremia ; Bacteria ; Cefotaxime ; Child ; Escherichia coli ; Fever ; Fungi ; Gentamicins ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; Humans ; Imipenem ; Klebsiella ; Neutropenia ; Oxacillin ; Penicillins ; Retrospective Studies ; Shock ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Vancomycin

PURPOSE: It hasn't been developed a new standard growth value for children in Korea since 1985. This study was designed to compare the difference of standard growth value of height, weight and chest circumference for school-age children in Seoul between 1985 and 1994. METHODS: Height, weight and chest circumference were measured in 6,308 students, aged 6-17 years, of 12 elementary schools, 12 junior and 12 senior high schools located in Seoul on 5th to 15th May 1994. And there data were compared with the standard growth value for school-age children of Seoul in 1985. RESULTS: The results were as follows, 1) The height in 50 percentiles in 1994 was compared to 50 to 75 percentiles in 1985 and the height in 3percentiles in 1994 was compared to 10 to 25 percentiles in 1985. 2) The weight in 50 percentiles in 1994 was compared to 50 to 75 percentiles in 1985. 3) The height was increased equally in every percentiles, but weight and chest circumference were increased more markedly in high growth percentiles. CONCLUSIONS: It is mandatory to have a new standard growth value for children in Korea through the nation wide investigation because of difference of growth value between 1994 and 1985 in Seoul.
Child* ; Humans ; Korea ; Seoul* ; Thorax

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