PURPOSE: Brain metastases are the most frequent metastatic neurologic complication of systemic cancer. Even if the prognosis of brain metastases is grave, with available treatments, most patients experience effective palliation of neurologic symptoms and meaningful extension of life. We evaluated the clinical features and prognostic factors of the patients who were diagnosed as solid tumors with brain metastasis and received radiotherapy for brain metastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1987 and January 1998, 71 patients with brain metastases from solid malignancy were included. We reviewed neurologic symptoms and signs of patients and evaluated improvememt of neurologic symptoms and signs. Survival durations after brain metastasis were analysed according to several factors such as age, performance status, primary malignancies, the presence of brain metastasis at initial diagnosis of primary tumor, multiplicity of brain metastass, the presence of metastases other than brain, and treatment method. RESULTS: Frequent symptoms associated with brain metastasis were headache (47.9%), motor weakness (40.8%), nausea and vomiting (19.7%) and mental change (19.7%). Palliation of these symptoms was accomplished in 64.9% of cases. The overall median survival time was 16 weeks and 1- and 2-year survival rates were 15.0% and 5.1% respectively. Patients without extracranial metastases (n=27) had longer median survival than patients with extracranial metastases (33 weeks vs 10 weeks, p=0.0018). In patients with single brain metastasis (n=37), the median survival time was longer in patients treated with surgery plus radiotherapy than in patients treated with radiotherapy alone (40 weeks vs 16 weeks, p=0.0438). CONCLUSION: Patients who has brain metastases only constitute a prognostically favorable group and they may be benefited from radiotherapy and surgery if indicated.
Brain* ; Diagnosis ; Headache ; Humans ; Nausea ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy* ; Survival Rate ; Vomiting

PURPOSES: The respiratory tract infection is one of the most prevalent and serious complications following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Reports not only for the respiratory tract infection but, unlikely for bacteria or fungi, for the infections caused by the respiratory viruses have been rarely reported in Korea. During the winter of 2000~2001, authors wanted to know the prevalence rate of the respiratory tract infection and the kinds of causative microorganisms, especially the community respiratory viruses (CRV). Based on these data, we attempted to evaluate the clinical courses and prognosis of the patients. METHODS: From October 2000 to February 2001, specimens were collected from the patients who visited Catholic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation center, showing symptoms and signs of respiratory tract infection after HSCT. Standard methods have been applied to isolate and identify bacterial and fungal species. Measles was diagnosed based on the typical symptoms, rash, fever, and Koplik spot. For the four different CRV (adenovirus, RSV, influenza virus, parainfluenza virus), multiplex PCR and conventional culture method were used for the identification. RESULTS: Eighty-four specimens were collected from 66 patients for 4 month period. Average age of patients was 35+/-8 years. Sixty patients (90%) were received allogeneic HSCT. Sample collection was performed between 10 and 3,740 days (average 370 days, median 215 days) after HSCT. Forty-seven patients (71.2%) have been received immunosuppressants at the time of respiratory tract infection. Forty patients (60.6 %) were suffered lower respiratory tract infection and forty-four patients (66.7%) had community-acquired infection. Sixty microorganisms were identified from 45 patients out of total 66 patients. Identified microoganisms were bacteria accounting for 2 cases (3.4%), fungi for 11 (18.3%), tuberculosis for 5 (8.3%), and viruses for 42 (70.0%). Among viruses, 16 cases were measles (39%), 14 adenovirus (33%), 9 cytomegalovirus (21%), 2 parainfluenza virus (5%), 1 was influenza virus (2%). However, no RSV was identified. Most of patients showed good prognosis without any complications. Ten (15.2%) out of total 66 patients were expired. The direct cause of death for all 8 among 10 patients was pneumonia. CONCLUSION: Of the respiratory tract infection fol-lowing HSCT, most common causative microorganisms were viruses - measles, adenovirus in order. No case of RSV infection was found. No epidemic must be occurred by influenza virus because only 1 case was found. Fourteen patients were infected by more than one microorganisms. Overall mortality rate was 15.2%. This study is still undergoing and once accumulated data for more than 1 year, it might be possible to work out a strategies of treatment and prevention for respiratory tract infections. We also expect that these data might be able to provide the basis of efficient infection control in HSCT unit.
Adenoviridae ; Bacteria ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Cause of Death ; Community-Acquired Infections ; Cytomegalovirus ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Fungi ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells* ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Infection Control ; Korea ; Measles ; Mortality ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Paramyxoviridae Infections ; Pneumonia ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Respiratory System* ; Respiratory Tract Infections* ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Tuberculosis

Recently the reverse genetics system contributed to the progresses in the investigation of positive-stranded RNA viruses. Here, we report the successful construction of a stable full-length infectious cDNA clone of the live attenuated JEV vaccine strain SA14-14-2. The eleven kilobase viral RNA genome was reverse transcribed, amplified as four overlapping DNA fragments and successively ligated into the low copy number plasmid pACYC184, which contains the p15A origin of replication. In vitro-transcribed RNAs had a specific infectivity of approximately 104 PFU/microgram RNA, and the resulting virus exhibited growth kinetics and plaque morphology similar to the parental virus in cell culture. The structural and functional integrity of the cDNA clone was stably maintained even after at least 150 generations in Escherichia coli strain TOP10. The cDNA clone was engineered to contain single nucleotide change to create a XhoI site and knock out a XbaI site (A to C at nt 9134) acting as a genetic marker. This genetic marker was retained in the recovered progeny virus. Our results suggest that the instability of the full-length infectious JEV cDNA clone can be overcome by employing low copy number plasmid pACYC184. This infectious JEV cDNA clone will aid future studies of pathogenesis, virulence, and replication. Furthermore, it will facilitate the development of SA14-14-2 based recombinant vaccines.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Clone Cells* ; DNA ; DNA, Complementary* ; Encephalitis Virus, Japanese* ; Encephalitis, Japanese* ; Escherichia coli ; Family Characteristics ; Genetic Markers ; Genome ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Parents ; Plasmids* ; Replication Origin ; Reverse Genetics ; RNA ; RNA Viruses ; RNA, Viral ; Vaccines, Synthetic ; Virulence

Recently the reverse genetics system contributed to the progresses in the investigation of positive-stranded RNA viruses. Here, we report the successful construction of a stable full-length infectious cDNA clone of the live attenuated JEV vaccine strain SA14-14-2. The eleven kilobase viral RNA genome was reverse transcribed, amplified as four overlapping DNA fragments and successively ligated into the low copy number plasmid pACYC184, which contains the p15A origin of replication. In vitro-transcribed RNAs had a specific infectivity of approximately 104 PFU/microgram RNA, and the resulting virus exhibited growth kinetics and plaque morphology similar to the parental virus in cell culture. The structural and functional integrity of the cDNA clone was stably maintained even after at least 150 generations in Escherichia coli strain TOP10. The cDNA clone was engineered to contain single nucleotide change to create a XhoI site and knock out a XbaI site (A to C at nt 9134) acting as a genetic marker. This genetic marker was retained in the recovered progeny virus. Our results suggest that the instability of the full-length infectious JEV cDNA clone can be overcome by employing low copy number plasmid pACYC184. This infectious JEV cDNA clone will aid future studies of pathogenesis, virulence, and replication. Furthermore, it will facilitate the development of SA14-14-2 based recombinant vaccines.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Clone Cells* ; DNA ; DNA, Complementary* ; Encephalitis Virus, Japanese* ; Encephalitis, Japanese* ; Escherichia coli ; Family Characteristics ; Genetic Markers ; Genome ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Parents ; Plasmids* ; Replication Origin ; Reverse Genetics ; RNA ; RNA Viruses ; RNA, Viral ; Vaccines, Synthetic ; Virulence

Congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunt is a rare entity and is mostly reported in adults. In embryonic period, the vitelline vein is broken up into the vitelline sinusoids, which become the intrahepatic portal vein branches and the hepatic veins. The portosystemic venous shunts may develop from embryonic vascular remnants, including the vitelline vein and ductus venosus. We report for the first time in Korea a case of congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in a newbom infant presenting with congestive heart failure and hepatomegaly, successfully treated by coil embolization via umbilical vein.
Adult ; Embolization, Therapeutic* ; Heart Failure ; Hepatic Veins ; Hepatomegaly ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Portal Vein ; Portasystemic Shunt, Surgical* ; Umbilical Veins* ; Veins ; Vitellins

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the complications of percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy using CT-based imaging modalities for needle guidance in comparison with fluoroscopy in a large retrospective cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was approved by multiple Institutional Review Boards and the requirement for informed consent was waived. We retrospectively included 10568 biopsies from eight referral hospitals from 2010 through 2014. In univariate and multivariate logistic analyses, 3 CT-based guidance modalities (CT, CT fluoroscopy, and cone-beam CT) were compared with fluoroscopy in terms of the risk of pneumothorax, pneumothorax requiring chest tube insertion, and hemoptysis, with adjustment for other risk factors. RESULTS: Pneumothorax occurred in 2298 of the 10568 biopsies (21.7%). Tube insertion was required after 316 biopsies (3.0%), and hemoptysis occurred in 550 cases (5.2%). In the multivariate analysis, pneumothorax was more frequently detected with CT {odds ratio (OR), 2.752 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.325–3.258), p < 0.001}, CT fluoroscopy (OR, 1.440 [95% CI, 1.176–1.762], p < 0.001), and cone-beam CT (OR, 2.906 [95% CI, 2.235–3.779], p < 0.001), but no significant relationship was found for pneumothorax requiring chest tube insertion (p = 0.497, p = 0.222, and p = 0.216, respectively). The incidence of hemoptysis was significantly lower under CT (OR, 0.348 [95% CI, 0.247–0.491], p < 0.001), CT fluoroscopy (OR, 0.594 [95% CI, 0.419–0.843], p = 0.004), and cone-beam CT (OR, 0.479 [95% CI, 0.317–0.724], p < 0.001) guidance. CONCLUSION: Hemoptysis occurred less frequently with CT-based guidance modalities in comparison with fluoroscopy. Although pneumothorax requiring chest tube insertion showed a similar incidence, pneumothorax was more frequently detected using CT-based guidance modalities.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Needle ; Chest Tubes ; Cohort Studies ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Ethics Committees, Research ; Fluoroscopy ; Hemoptysis ; Image-Guided Biopsy ; Incidence ; Informed Consent ; Lung Neoplasms ; Multivariate Analysis ; Needles ; Pneumothorax ; Referral and Consultation ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

On page 323, the grant number was incorrectly numbered as HI15C1234. The correct number is HI15C3390.

Salmonella septic arthritis in a healthy, immunocompetent patient is extremely rare. We experienced a case of septic arthritis of the knee caused by Salmonella Group D in a patient with Non-small cell lung cancer. A 43-year-old female receiving steroid therapy for treatment of Non-small cell lung cancer with metastasis to the spinal cord complained of painful swelling of the right knee joint. Culture of synovial fluid obtained by aspiration yielded growth of Salmonella Group D. The patient was treated with ceftriaxone; however, she expired on the ninth day after treatment.
Arthritis ; Arthritis, Infectious ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Female ; Humans ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Salmonella ; Salmonella enteritidis ; Spinal Cord ; Synovial Fluid

OBJECTIVE: To measure the diagnostic accuracy of percutaneous transthoracic needle lung biopsies (PTNBs) on the basis of the intention-to-diagnose principle and identify risk factors for diagnostic failure of PTNBs in a multi-institutional setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 9384 initial PTNBs performed in 9239 patients (mean patient age, 65 years [range, 20–99 years]) from January 2010 to December 2014 were included. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of PTNBs for diagnosis of malignancy were measured. The proportion of diagnostic failures was measured, and their risk factors were identified. RESULTS: The overall accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 91.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 90.6–91.7%), 92.5% (95% CI, 91.9–93.1%), 86.5% (95% CI, 85.0–87.9%), 99.2% (95% CI, 99.0–99.4%), and 84.3% (95% CI, 82.7–85.8%), respectively. The proportion of diagnostic failures was 8.9% (831 of 9384; 95% CI, 8.3–9.4%). The independent risk factors for diagnostic failures were lesions ≤ 1 cm in size (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.86; 95% CI, 1.23–2.81), lesion size 1.1–2 cm (1.75; 1.45–2.11), subsolid lesions (1.81; 1.32–2.49), use of fine needle aspiration only (2.43; 1.80–3.28), final diagnosis of benign lesions (2.18; 1.84–2.58), and final diagnosis of lymphomas (10.66; 6.21–18.30). Use of cone-beam CT (AOR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.13–0.75) and conventional CT-guidance (0.55; 0.32–0.94) reduced diagnostic failures. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of PTNB for diagnosis of malignancy was fairly high in our large-scale multi-institutional cohort. The identified risk factors for diagnostic failure may help reduce diagnostic failure and interpret the biopsy results.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Cohort Studies ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Image-Guided Biopsy ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung ; Lymphoma ; Needles ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; Sensitivity and Specificity