Clinical observations and recent experimental studies have suggested that the longer status epilepticus (SE) persists, the more difficult it is to control SE pharmacologically. These findings imply that there are fundamental pathophysiologic processes, which make more resistant to intervene in the refractory SE. Recently, it has been recognized that ketamine, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists, are effective agents in the treatment of the late stages of SE in the animal model. However, only one clinical experience has been reported. Here, we report two cases with refractory SE, responsive to ketamine.
Ketamine* ; Models, Animal ; N-Methylaspartate ; Status Epilepticus*

Isolated small bowel intussusception accounts for 10% of all pediatric intussusception. It is more common in children older than 2 years of age. Presentation usually is with vomiting and abdominal pain. Currant jelly stool and palpable mass are less frequent than typical intussusception. There are few reported cases of children with transient small bowel intussusception. We describe 3-year-old boy presented with intermittent cyclic crampy abdominal pain for 6 months was diagnosed as having recurrent transient small bowel intussusception by abdominal ultrasonography and small bowel series.
Abdominal Pain ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Intussusception* ; Male ; Ultrasonography ; Vomiting

Carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) is on the rise as a treatment choice for malignant tumor. Compared to conventional radiotherapy, particle beams have different physical and biological properties. Particle beam provides a low entry dose, deposits most of the energy at the endpoint of the flight path, and forms an asymptotic dose peak (the “Bragg peak”). Compared to protons, carbon with its larger mass decreases beam scattering, resulting in a sharper dose distribution border. We report a 50-year-old male who underwent CIRT without surgical resection on osteosarcoma of the mandible. After CIRT, the patient’s pain was gone, and the malignant mass remained stable with accompanying necrosis. Nine months later, however, magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated progression of the left mandibular osteosarcoma with pulmonary metastases. After multidisciplinary discussion, concurrent chemoradiotherapy was conducted. While necrotic bone segments came out of the mandible during subsequent periodic outpatient visits, the tumor itself was stable. Thirty months after his first visit and diagnosis, the patient is waiting for chemotherapy. Although CIRT is superior in treating radioresistant hypoxic disease, CIRT is in its infancy, so care must be taken for its indications and complications.

Carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) is on the rise as a treatment choice for malignant tumor. Compared to conventional radiotherapy, particle beams have different physical and biological properties. Particle beam provides a low entry dose, deposits most of the energy at the endpoint of the flight path, and forms an asymptotic dose peak (the “Bragg peak”). Compared to protons, carbon with its larger mass decreases beam scattering, resulting in a sharper dose distribution border. We report a 50-year-old male who underwent CIRT without surgical resection on osteosarcoma of the mandible. After CIRT, the patient’s pain was gone, and the malignant mass remained stable with accompanying necrosis. Nine months later, however, magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated progression of the left mandibular osteosarcoma with pulmonary metastases. After multidisciplinary discussion, concurrent chemoradiotherapy was conducted. While necrotic bone segments came out of the mandible during subsequent periodic outpatient visits, the tumor itself was stable. Thirty months after his first visit and diagnosis, the patient is waiting for chemotherapy. Although CIRT is superior in treating radioresistant hypoxic disease, CIRT is in its infancy, so care must be taken for its indications and complications.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether changes in plasma concentrations of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) could be used to identify the development of radiation-induced pneumonitis in the lung cancer patients. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Seventeen patients with lung cancer (11 NSCLC, 6 SCLC) were enrolled in a prospective study designed to evaluate clinical and molecular biologic correlation of radiation-induced pneumonitis. The study began in May 1998 and completed in July 1999. All patients were treated with radiotherapy with curative intent : 1.8 Gy per day, 5 fractions per week. Serial measurements of plasma TGF-beta1, TNF-alpha and IL-6 were obtained in all patients before, weekly during radiotherapy and at each follow-up visits after completion of treatment. These measurements were quantified using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All patients were evaluated for signs and symptoms of pneumonitis at each follow-up visit after completion of radiotherapy. High resolution CT (HRCT) scans were obtained when signs and symptoms of pneumonitis were developed after completion of radiotherapy. RESULTS: Thirteen patients eventually developed signs and symptoms of clinical pneumonitis while four patients did not. TGF-beta1 levels were elevated in all 13 patients with pneumonitis, which showed characteristic pattern of elevation (38.45 ng/ml at pretreatment, 13.66 ng/ml during radiotherapy, then 60.63 ng/ml at 2-4 weeks after completion of radiotherapy). The levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 were also elevated in the group of patients who developed pneumonitis but the pattern was not characteristic. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in plasma TGFbeta-1 levels before, during and after radiotherapy appears to be a useful means by which to identify patients at risk for the development of symptomatic pneumonitis. Other cytokines like TNF-alpha and IL-6 shows no meaningful changes in association with radiation pneumonitis.
Cytokines* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Plasma* ; Pneumonia* ; Prospective Studies ; Radiation Pneumonitis ; Radiotherapy ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

OBJECTIVES: To assess the extent of generalized osteoporosis in Korean rheumatoid arthritis patients and evaluate the importance of disease activity, duration of disease, menopausal status, corticosteroid use and markers of bone metabolism. METHODS: Bone mineral density was measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at 3 locations in 134 rheumatoid arthritis patients, aged 21~80 (57 premenopausal and 66 postmenopausal patients). Markers of bone metabolism were measured and assessed in relation to the disease activity and corticosteroid use. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 49 years and mean age of the menopause was 48.1+/-3.6 years. Decreased bone mineral density was observed at all 3 locations measured in the study population (Z-score -0.36, -0.14 and -0.66 for BMD of L-spine, femoral neck and femur Ward? triangle respectively). Fifty nine percent of the patients showed osteopenia (T-score <-1) and 13.4% showed T-score lower than -2.5. The best independent predictors of bone mass (stepweise multiple regression analysis) was body mass index, cortocosteroid use, and CRP in premenopausal patients and years post menopause, age, alkaline phosphatase and rheumatoid factor in postmenopausal patients. Urinary excretion of deoxypyridinoline was increased in both pre- and postmonopausal RA patients while serum osteocalcin level was normal in both groups. Deoxypyridinoline level was significantly correlated with CRP in premenopausal RA patients. CONCLUSION: Generalized osteoporosis is also prevalent in Korean rheumatoid arthritis patients. Bone metabolism appears to be uncoupled. Deoxypyridinoline correlated best with CRP and thus can provide a rational approach for selecting and treating patients with RA to reduce the risk of osteoporotic fracture.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Body Mass Index ; Bone Density ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Female ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Menopause ; Metabolism ; Osteocalcin ; Osteoporosis* ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; Postmenopause ; Rheumatoid Factor

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether characteristics of sperm motility obtained by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) could predict pregnancy after intrauterine insemination (IUI) in couples with unexplained infertility. METHODS: Three hundred eighty-three cycles of intrauterine insemination with superovulation were retrospectively analyzed. Semen analysis was performed with CASA before and after swim-up and the parameters were compared between pregnant and non-pregnant women. RESULTS: The pregnancy rate per cycle was 14.1%. Pregnant and non-pregnant women were comparable in terms of age, infertility duration, the number of dominant follicles. While sperm concentration, motility, and parameters such as average path velocity (VAP) and percentage rapid (RAPID) before semen preparation were significantly different between the pregnancy and non-pregnancy groups, there were no differences in sperm parameters when comparing the two groups after preparation. Using a receiver operating characteristic curve to measure sensitivity and specificity, the optimal threshold value for the predictors of pregnancy was revealed to be a concentration of > or =111x10(6)/mL, a motility of > or =51.4%, and RAPID > or =30.1% before preparation for IUI. CONCLUSION: Sperm parameters including concentration, motility, and RAPID before sperm preparation could have predictive value for pregnancy outcome after intrauterine insemination with superovulation in couples with unexplained infertility, and would be helpful when counseling patients before they make the decision to proceed with IVF/ICSI-ET.
Counseling ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Infertility ; Insemination ; Insemination, Artificial ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; Superovulation

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether characteristics of sperm motility obtained by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) could predict pregnancy after intrauterine insemination (IUI) in couples with unexplained infertility. METHODS: Three hundred eighty-three cycles of intrauterine insemination with superovulation were retrospectively analyzed. Semen analysis was performed with CASA before and after swim-up and the parameters were compared between pregnant and non-pregnant women. RESULTS: The pregnancy rate per cycle was 14.1%. Pregnant and non-pregnant women were comparable in terms of age, infertility duration, the number of dominant follicles. While sperm concentration, motility, and parameters such as average path velocity (VAP) and percentage rapid (RAPID) before semen preparation were significantly different between the pregnancy and non-pregnancy groups, there were no differences in sperm parameters when comparing the two groups after preparation. Using a receiver operating characteristic curve to measure sensitivity and specificity, the optimal threshold value for the predictors of pregnancy was revealed to be a concentration of > or =111x10(6)/mL, a motility of > or =51.4%, and RAPID > or =30.1% before preparation for IUI. CONCLUSION: Sperm parameters including concentration, motility, and RAPID before sperm preparation could have predictive value for pregnancy outcome after intrauterine insemination with superovulation in couples with unexplained infertility, and would be helpful when counseling patients before they make the decision to proceed with IVF/ICSI-ET.
Counseling ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Infertility ; Insemination ; Insemination, Artificial ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; Superovulation

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Transient elastography is a new noninvasive tool for measuring liver stiffness that accurately predicts significant fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, several studies have indicated that liver stiffness can be significantly influenced by major changes in aminotransferase in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. The aim of this study was to determine the factors influencing liver stiffness in patients with chronic liver disease. METHODS: We studied 158 patients with chronic liver disease who underwent transient elastography and liver biopsy sampling. Histologic findings on fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity in the biopsy specimens were evaluated according to the Korean Society of Pathologists Scoring System. Routine biochemical tests were performed according to standard methods. RESULTS: Liver stiffness was strongly correlated with liver fibrosis stage (Spearman coefficient=0.636, P<0.001), lobular activity (Spearman coefficient=0.359, P<0.001), and portoperiportal activity grade (Spearman coefficient=0.448, P<0.001). Liver stiffness was significantly associated with serum levels of total bilirubin (P=0.025), direct bilirubin (P=0.049), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (P=0.014), platelet count (P=0.004), albumin (P<0.001), and international normalized ratio (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that fibrosis stage (B 3.50, P=0.009) and lobular activity grade (B 3.25, P=0.047) were independently associated with liver stiffness. CONCLUSIONS: Liver stiffness as measured by transient elastography is associated with the grade of necroinflammatory activity and the stage of fibrosis, irrespective of serum ALT levels.
Adult ; Aged ; Bilirubin/blood ; Biopsy ; Chronic Disease ; Elasticity ; *Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/*complications ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/*complications ; Humans ; International Normalized Ratio ; Liver Cirrhosis/etiology/pathology/*ultrasonography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Count ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase/blood

BACKGROUND: This study examined the effects of the method of delivery of brief advice on the readiness to change in at-risk drinkers. METHODS: The participants were 103 at-risk male drinkers who visited Chungnam National University Hospital for general health examinations. Baseline data on drinking behavior, readiness to change drinking behavior, and sociodemographic characteristics were obtained from a questionnaire. Family physicians gave two minutes of advice by telephone or in-person. The brief advice comprised a simple statement that the patient's drinking exceeded the recommended limits and could lead to alcohol-related problems. It also included advice to moderate one's drinking. One month later, the readiness to change was assessed again by telephone. The improvement in the readiness to change according to each method of delivery was investigated. RESULTS: Initially, among the 58-patient in-person advice group, 12 patients were in the precontemplation stage, 38 in the contemplation stage, and 8 in the action stage. One month after the advice was given to the patients, the distribution had changed significantly (P < 0.001) to 1, 21, and 36 patients, respectively. Among the 45-patient telephone advice group, 7 patients were in the precontemplation stage, 32 patients were in the contemplation stage, and 6 patients were in the action stage before the advice. The distribution had changed significantly (P < 0.001) to 1, 17, and 27 patients, respectively, 1 month after the advice. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that brief advice by family physicians is effective in improving the readiness to change of at-risk drinkers, regardless of the delivery method.
Counseling ; Drinking ; Drinking Behavior ; Humans ; Male ; Physicians, Family ; Telephone