Thymomas are associated with different paraneoplastic syndromes, with the most clinically important association being with myasthenia gravis, hypogammaglobulinemia, and pure red cell aplasia (PRCA). The optimal therapy for PRCA that complicates a thymoma is unknown, given the rarity of the clinical situation. It has been suggested that remission following surgery alone is uncommon and most patients will require some other form of therapy. We report a case of PRCA with a thymoma in a 59-year-old man who remained in complete remission of the PRCA after surgical resection of the thymoma.
Agammaglobulinemia ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myasthenia Gravis ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes ; Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure* ; Thymoma*

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to analyze the factors that affect the decision to approve workers compensation claims for cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases and to analyze the worker characteristics. METHODS: Three hundred, sixty-nine cases were collected based on the workers compensation records of three Seoul and Incheon Regional centers of the Labor Welfare Corporation between 1998 and 1999. They contained the general characteristics, injury information and past medical histories. The x2-test and logistic regression were performed to investigate the factors affecting the approvals. Seventy-two survivors were surveyed by telephone for job stress. Job stress was surveyed in three parts: job demands, decision latitude and personal free time. RESULTS: Of the cases, 167 obtained approval from the Corporation; the others did not. Regardless of approval, 62% of all subjects had more than one of the cerebral and cardiovascular risk factors. Especially, 53.9% of subjects had hypertension. According to the logistic regression, the fatal cases had a higher approval rate (OR=26.4, CI=9.13-76.22). The cases with working condition change (OR=6.5, CI=3.45-12.07), accidents on worksite (OR=4.9, CI=2.39-10.07), female (OR=4.0, CI=1.21-13.3), accidents at night duty (OR=2.9, CI=.156-5.39), cases occurring on duty (OR=.25, CI=1.34-4.72) and cases without past disease history (OR=1.8, CI=1.02-3.36) also had higher approval rates. Telephone survey found that the approval rate increased with decreasing freedom of personal time schedule. However, the logistic regression revealed that job stress didnt affect the approvals. CONCLUSION: To prevent cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases, the most important aspect is to control hypertension which is the most common risk factor among the victims. Moreover, job stress and over working should be considered in the just approval of the workers compensation claims.
Appointments and Schedules ; Cardiovascular Diseases* ; Female ; Freedom ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incheon ; Logistic Models ; Occupational Diseases* ; Risk Factors ; Seoul ; Survivors ; Telephone ; Workers' Compensation ; Workplace

PURPOSE: Efonidipine, which inhibits both T- and L-type calcium channels, has been shown to be effective in reducing proteinuria and preserve renal function. This study was conducted to compare the effects of efonidipine versus amlodipine on the management of hypertension and proteinuria in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) receiving ACE inhibitors or ARB. METHODS: This study included 41 CKD patients who were at stages 2-4 and had a urine spot protein/ creatinine ratio of >0.5. Patients were administered amlodipine (5 mg/day) and efonidipine (40 mg/ day) for 3 months in a cross-over design. Blood pressure and spot urine protein/creatinine ratio were compared before and after the cross-over treatment. RESULTS: There were 24 male patients and 17 female patients. The mean age of the patients was 55.9+/-12.9 years. When the patients' medication was changed to eponidifine, we obtained the following results. First, there were no significant changes in blood pressure and serum creatinine. Second, the urine spot protein/creatinine ratio was significantly decreased (before the cross-over, 2.9+/-2.6; after the cross-over, 2.3+/-1.9 g/g; p=0.02). Finally, the reduction rate of proteinuria was significantly higher in patients with CKD at stages 2-3 than in those with CKD at stage 4 after the cross-over (stage 2, - 26.1%; stage 3, -17%; stage 4, +12.8%; p=0.03). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that efonidipine may significantly decrease proteinuria compared with amlodipine in CKD patients receiving ACE inhibitors or ARB. Further double-blind clinical trials with a larger sample size are needed to confirm our results.
Amlodipine ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; Blood Pressure ; Calcium Channels, L-Type ; Creatinine ; Cross-Over Studies ; Dihydropyridines ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Nitrophenols ; Organophosphorus Compounds ; Proteinuria ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Sample Size

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic upper airway obstruction attributable to adenotonsillar hypertrophy is the most common cause of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in children. The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of adenotonsillectomy on the degree of SDB and growth in children with SDB. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Forty-three children (mean age, 6.1+/-2.4 years) clinically diagnosed as SDB were enrolled, and they were scheduled for adenotonsillectomy (T&A ) based on their response to the validated, 22-item sleep related breathing disorder (SRBD) scale and a physical examination that showed adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Weight, height, and BMI (body mass index) were evaluated before and three years after T&A. RESULTS: SRBD scales decreased significantly after T&A(p<0.001). Their Z scores (standard deviation scores) for weight, height, and BMI of 43 children were significantly higher three years after T&A compared with before T&A (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Children with SDB who underwent adenotonsillectomy showed significant long-term increases in weight, height, and BMI as well as a significant long-term improvement in quality of the sleep.
Adenoidectomy ; Airway Obstruction ; Child ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Physical Examination ; Respiration ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; Tonsillectomy ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The present study evaluated the results of skin prick test using 55 allergens at 20 centers in the Republic of Korea in 2006, 2010, and 2014–2015. The aim was to assess changes in the positive rate of allergens according to temporal, regional, and environmental factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 20 hospitals were selected based on the population distribution in the Republic of Korea. A skin prick test panel comprising 55 aeroallergens was distributed to 18 hospitals for this prospective study. The 2006 and 2010 skin prick test results were collected and analyzed retrospectively from 20 hospitals, while the 2014/2015 skin prick test results (from June 2014 to May 2015) were collected prospectively from 18 hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 14,897 SPT test results were analyzed: 4,319 in 2006, 7,431 in 2010, and 1,852 in 2014/2015. The overall rate of skin prick test positivity to more than two allergens was significantly higher in males than females. The positive rates of alder pollens and birch, oak and ragweed pollen positivity were increased in older patients. Several positive rates were increased according to the temperature in spring. The positive rates for beech pollen, birch pollen, hazel pollen, oak pollen, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, mugwort, cat, Acarus siro, Lepidoglyphus destructor and Tyrophagus putrescentiae were significantly increased, while those of Cult rye pollen and dandelion were significantly decreased over the three test periods. The overall positive rate for allergens in Jeju province varied significantly from Seoul and other cities. CONCLUSION: Change in the positive rate of multiple aeroallergens was evaluated in the Republic of Korea over time. Our findings can be used to recommend aeroallergens suitable for inclusion in skin prick test panels in the Republic of Korea and will facilitate further investigation of changes in the patterns of allergic diseases.
Allergens* ; Alnus ; Ambrosia ; Animals ; Artemisia ; Betula ; Cats ; Demography ; Fagus ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Mites ; Pollen ; Prospective Studies ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Secale ; Seoul ; Skin* ; Taraxacum

BACKGROUND: Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is the most common cause of leukemia in adults. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for the treatment of AML is done worldwide now. METHODS: Between November 1987 and June 1998, we performed allogeneic BMT for 27 patients with AML from HLA-identical sibling donors. We reviewed medical records of these patients. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 31 (range, 15~43) and male to female ratio was 18 : 9. Conditioning regimens were BU/CY (busulfan, cyclophosphamide) for 22 patients, TBI/CY (total body irradiation, cyclophosphamide) for 3 patients, and TBI/VP/CY (TBI, VP-16, cyclophosphamide) for 2 patients. Cyclosporine and methotrexate were used in 18 patients for prophylaxis of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and cyclosporine and methyl-prednisolone were used in 9 patients. The median nucleated cell dose given to patients was 4.1x108 /kg. All evaluable patients achieved absolute neutrophil count of 500 /microliter after median 15 days after BMT (range, 11~45 days). Twenty-five percent of patients developed acute GVHD (> or = grade II) and there was no patient with grade IV acute GVHD. Twenty-nine percent developed chronic GVHD. Hepatic venoocclusive disease (VOD) occurred in 7 patients (26%). At the time of BMT, 16 patients were in the first remission status and 11 patients were in the advanced disease status. After a median follow-up of 27 months (range 7~127 months), the actuarial disease-free survival at 5 years was significantly higher in the first remission group than the others (44% vs. 9%; P=0.05). The difference of 5 year overall survival between these two groups approached statistical significance (50%for the first remission group and 12% for the others; P=0.13). There were 17 deaths. The causes of death were relapse (8 patients, 47%), VOD (3 patients, 18%), sepsis (2 patients, 12%), interstitial pneumonia (2 patients, 12%), chronic GVHD (1 patient, 6%), and drug-toxicity (1 patient, 6%). Eary deaths (<100 days) occurred in 6 patients (22%). CONCLUSION: Allogeneic BMT for patients with AML was most successful when done during the first remission. Clinical features of patients with AML treated with allogeneic BMT were similar to those from Western countries, but the incidence and severity of acute GVHD seem to be lower.
Adult ; Bone Marrow Transplantation* ; Bone Marrow* ; Cause of Death ; Cyclosporine ; Disease-Free Survival ; Etoposide ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leukemia ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Male ; Medical Records ; Methotrexate ; Neutrophils ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies* ; Sepsis ; Siblings ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: The outcome of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) in Seoul National University Hospital was analyzed retrospectively. METHODS: Between January, 1990 and March, 1999, 25 patients with SAA underwent HSCT. Their medical records were reviewed. Statistical analyses were done about survival and complication after HSCT. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 22 (range, 14~43) and male to female ratio was 18 : 7. Twenty two were HLA matched non- identical siblings. Three were one identical twin, one one-locus mismatched father and one HLA matched unrelated donor, respectively. Conditioning regimens were CY/TLI (cyclophosphamide, total lymphoid irradiation) for 18 patients, CY/ATG (CY, antithymocyte globulin) for 3, CY/ buffy (CY, unirradiated buffy- coat) for 2, CY/ ATG/TLI for 1, BU/CY (busulfan, CY) for 1. For prophylaxis of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), cyclosporine and methotrexate were used in all patients except for identical twin. The median nucleated cell dose given to patients was 4.5x108/kg (range, 2.0~5.9). All evaluable patients achieved absolute neutrophil count of 500/microliter after median 17 days of HSCT (range, 12~27) and untransfused platelet count over 20,000/microliter after median 21 days of HSCT (range, 13~67). Six patients (24%, grade I : 3, II : 1, III : 1, IV : 1) developed acute GVHD and 8 (32%, limited : 4, extensive : 4) developed chronic GVHD. Hepatic venoocclusive disease (VOD) occurred in 2 patients (8%). Rejection occured in 4 patients (16 %), but among 22 allogeneic transplant recipients from HLA matched siblings, only one (5%) lost graft. After a median follow-up of 32 months (range 9~120 months), 5 year overall survival of all patients was 87%, and that of 22 allogeneic recipients from HLA matched sibling donors was 95%. Four patients (16%) died. Causes of death were VOD in one case, rejection with pneumonia one, acute GVHD one. One died from traffic accident in a cured state. CONCLUSION: Experiences from our center suggest that HSCT is an effective treatment for patients with severe aplastic anemia. Long- term survival is especially excellent for patients who have matched related donors.
Accidents, Traffic ; Anemia, Aplastic* ; Cause of Death ; Cyclosporine ; Fathers ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells* ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Methotrexate ; Neutrophils ; Platelet Count ; Pneumonia ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Siblings ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation ; Transplants ; Twins, Monozygotic ; Unrelated Donors

Background: The risk of device thrombosis and device-oriented clinical outcomes with bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) was reported to be significantly higher than with contemporary drug-eluting stents (DESs). However, optimal device implantation may improve clinical outcomes in patients receiving BVS. The current study evaluated mid-term safety and efficacy of Absorb BVS with meticulous device optimization under intravascular imaging guidance. Methods: The SMART-REWARD and PERSPECTIVE-PCI registries in Korea prospectively enrolled 390 patients with BVS and 675 patients with DES, respectively. The primary endpoint was target vessel failure (TVF) at 2 years and the secondary major endpoint was patientoriented composite outcome (POCO) at 2 years. Results: Patient-level pooled analysis evaluated 1,003 patients (377 patients with BVS and 626 patients with DES). Mean scaffold diameter per lesion was 3.24 ± 0.30 mm in BVS group.Most BVSs were implanted with pre-dilatation (90.9%), intravascular imaging guidance (74.9%), and post-dilatation (73.1%) at proximal to mid segment (81.9%) in target vessel.Patients treated with BVS showed comparable risks of 2-year TVF (2.9% vs. 3.7%, adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.283, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.487–3.378, P = 0.615) and 2-year POCO (4.5% vs. 5.9%, adjusted HR, 1.413, 95% CI, 0.663–3.012,P = 0.370) than those with DES. The rate of 2-year definite or probable device thrombosis (0.3% vs. 0.5%, P = 0.424) was also similar. The sensitivity analyses consistently showed comparable risk of TVF and POCO between the 2 groups. Conclusion With meticulous device optimization under imaging guidance and avoidance of implantation in small vessels, BVS showed comparable risks of 2-year TVF and device thrombosis with DES.

PURPOSE: Wilms tumor is the most common malignant renal tumor in children. We investigated the epidemiology, clinical features and treatment outcome of the children with Wilms tumor in Korea during the recent 10 years. METHODS: Two hundred forty six patients were enrolled between January 1991 and December 2000 from 26 major hospitals in Korea. The data regarding the clinical features including sex, age, pathologic type, prognostic factor and treatment outcome of patients were analyzed retrospectively by review of patient's medical records. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were constructed, The differences between groups were analyzed by log-rank test. RESULTS: There were 130 males and 116 females. The incidence between the age of 1~4 years was the highest with 66.2%. The annual incidence rate per 1, 000, 000 population varied from 1.9 to 2.1. The 10 years overall survival rate according to sex, clinical stage, pathologic type and relapse were as follows: 88.6% in male, 90.9% in female, 100% in stage I, 94.7% in stage II, 92.1% in stage III, 63.4% in stage IV, 85.7% in stage V, 95.3% in favorable histology, 64.1% in unfavorable histology, 94.8% in non-relapse, and 40.9% in relapse. The relapse rate was 12%. The 10 years overall survival rate of 246 patients were 89.1%. CONCLUSION: Our results could provide the most recent and important clinical information on Wilms tumor of children in Korea.
Child ; Epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Korea* ; Male ; Medical Records ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Wilms Tumor*