The aim of this study was to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration(MIC) of cefi- xime, which is a 3rd generation of cefalosporin, against 6 species of putative periodon- topathogens; Fusobacterium nucleatum, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Prevotella inter- media, Prevotella nigrescens, Tannerella forsythia and Porphyromonas gingivalis. The efficacy of cefixime was examined by comparing it with that of several antibiotics(amoxicillin, Aug- mentin(R) ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, and tetracycline), which were used as the control. The MIC was measured using a microdilution method. The MIC of cefixime against the putative periodotopathogens, as a single use regimen, was relatively lower than that of the other antibiotics. The MIC of cefixime/metronidazole against P. intermedia ChDC KB14, P. nigres- cens ChDC KB50, F. nucleatum ChDC PV-F37, F. nucleatum ChDC F130, and F. nucleatum ChDC F175, as a simultaneous regimen, was lower than that of the other antibiotics. The concentration of cefixime in the crevicular fluid of volunteers who received 250mg every 12 hours for 3 days was 9microgram/ml after 9 hours. In conclusion, cefixime showed good anti- microbial activity in a single treatment or as a combined therapy with amoxicillin, Aug- mentin(R) or metronidazole against 6 periodontopathogens.
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans ; Amoxicillin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cefixime* ; Ciprofloxacin ; Forsythia ; Fusobacterium nucleatum ; Metronidazole ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; Prevotella ; Prevotella nigrescens ; Volunteers

PURPOSE: Current results of autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT) suggest that this procedure may prolong disease free survival in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Autologous SCT is increasingly used as treatment for AML in first remission. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of autologous SCT for patients with AML in first remission treated by autologous SCT using cytarabine, melphalan and total body irradiation (TBI) as the conditioning regimen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1995 and December 1999, 29 patients with AML in first remission underwent autologous SCT. The median age of patients was 33 years (range, 16 to 47). The conditioning regimen consisted of cytarabine (3.0 gm/m2 for 3 days), melphalan (100 mg/m2 for 1 day) and TBI (total 1000 cGy in five fractions over 3 days). RESULTS: The median follow up was 40 months with a range of 3 to 58 months. The 4-year cumulative probability of disease free survival was 69.0%, and median survival was 41.5 months. The 4-year relapse rate was 27.6%. The factor influencing disease free survival and relapse rate was the French-American-British (FAB) classification (M3 group vs. other groups; p=0.048, p=0.043). One patient died from treatment-related toxicity. CONCLUSION: Although the small number of patients does not allow us to draw any firm conclusion, our results were encouraging and suggest that the association of cytarabine, melphalan and TBI as a conditioning regimen for autologous SCT for AML in first remission appears to be safe and effective.
Classification ; Cytarabine* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Melphalan* ; Recurrence ; Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Stem Cells* ; Whole-Body Irradiation*

The JNK inhibitor SP600125 strongly inhibits cell proliferation in many human cancer cells by blocking cell-cycle progression and inducing apoptosis. Despite extensive study, the mechanism by which SP600125 inhibits mitosis-related effects in human leukemia cells remains unclear. We investigated the effects of SP600125 on the inhibition of cell proliferation and the cell cycle, and on microtubule dynamics in vivo and in vitro. Treatment of synchronized leukemia cells with varying concentrations of SP600125 results in significant G2/M cell cycle arrest with elevated p21 levels, phosphorylation of histone H3 within 24 h, and endoreduplication with elevated Cdk2 protein levels after 48 h. SP600125 also induces significant abnormal microtubule dynamics in vivo. High concentrations of SP600125 (200 microMeter) were required to disorganize microtubule polymerization in vitro. Additionally, SP600125-induced delayed apoptosis and cell death was accompanied by significant poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage and caspase-3 activity in the late phase (at 72 h). Endoreduplication showed a greater increase in ectopic Bcl-2-expressing U937 cells at 72 h than in wild-type U937 cells without delayed apoptosis. These results indicate that Bcl-2 suppresses apoptosis and SP600125-induced G2/M arrest and endoreduplication. Therefore, we suggest that SP600125 induces mitotic arrest by inducing abnormal spindle microtubule dynamics.
Anthracenes/*therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents/*therapeutic use ; Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Cell Cycle/drug effects ; Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Humans ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/*antagonists & inhibitors/*metabolism ; Leukemia/drug therapy ; Tubulin/*metabolism

PURPOSE: To study the effect of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) on oral mucositis induced by cisplatin and radiotherapy in a mouse model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four ICR mice were divided into three groups? the normal control group, the no rhEGF group (treatment with cisplatin and radiation) and the rhEGF group (treatment with cisplatin, radiation and rhEGF). A model of mucositis induced by cisplatin and radiotherapy was established by injecting mice with cisplatin (10 mg/kg) on day 1 and with radiation exposure (5 Gy/day) to the head and neck on days 1~5. rhEGF was administered subcutaneously on days -1 to 0 (1 mg/kg/day) and on days 3 to 5 (1 mg/kg/day). Evaluation included body weight, oral intake, and histology. RESULTS: For the comparison of the change of body weight between the rhEGF group and the no rhEGF group, a statistically significant difference was observed in the rhEGF group for the 5 days after day 3 of the experiment. The rhEGF group and no rhEGF group had reduced food intake until day 5 of the experiment, and then the mice demonstrated increased food intake after day 13 of the of experiment. When the histological examination was conducted on day 7 after treatment with cisplatin and radiation, the rhEGF group showed a focal cellular reaction in the epidermal layer of the mucosa, while the no rhEGF group did not show inflammation of the oral mucosa. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that rhEGF has a potential to reduce the oral mucositis burden in mice after treatment with cisplatin and radiation. The optimal dose, number and timing of the administration of rhEGF require further investigation.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Cisplatin* ; Eating ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Head ; Humans* ; Inflammation ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Mouth Mucosa ; Mucositis ; Mucous Membrane ; Neck ; Radiotherapy* ; Stomatitis*

Between March 1983 and December 1989, ninety-six patients with intracranial glioma were treated in the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College. We retrospectively reviewed each case to evaluate variable factors influencing the treatment results and to develop an optimal therapy Policy. Median follow-up is 57 months(range:31~133 months). Of the 96 patients, 60(63%) were males and 36(37%) were females. Ages ranged from 3 to 69 years (median 42 years). The most common presenting symtoms were headache(67%) followed by cerebral motor and sensory discrepancy(54%), nausea and vomiting(34%), seizure (19%), mental change(10%) and memory and calculation impairment(8%). Eighty five(88.5%) patients all, except 11(11.5%) brain stem lesions, were biopsy proven intracranial glioma. The distribution by histologic type was 64 astrocytomas(75%), 4 mixed oligoastrocytomas(5%), and 17 oligodendrogliomas(20%). Fourty nine patients (58%) were grade I,II histology and 36 (42%) patients were grade III, IV histology. Of the 96 patients, 64(67%) recieved postoperative RT and 32(33%) were treated with primary radiotherapy. Gross total resection was performed in 14(16%) patients, subtotal resection in 29(34%), partial resection in 21(25%), and biopsy only in 21(25%). Median survival time was 53 months(range 2~133 months), and 2- and, 5-year survival rate were 69%, 49% respectively. 5-year survival rate by histologic grade was gradeI, 70%, gradeII, 58%, grade III, 28%, and grade IV, 15%. Multivariated analysis demonstrate that age at diagnosis (p=0.121), Karnofsky performance Status(KPS)(p=0.0002), histologic grade(p=0.0001), postoperative radiation therapy(p=0.0278), surgical extent(p=0.024), cerebellar location of tumor(p=0.0095) were significant prognostic factors influencing on survival.
Biopsy ; Brain Stem ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glioma* ; Humans ; Male ; Memory ; Nausea ; Radiation Oncology ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies* ; Seizures ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: It is not common to evaluate the response of the fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) to primary hepatoma as compared with conventional radiotherapy. The purpose of the study was to take the preliminary result on the clinical trial of primary hepatoma by SRT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 1999 to March 2000, thirty three patients were hospitalized in the St. Mary's Hospital, and treated with SRT for extracranial tumors. Among them, 13 patients were diagnosed to primary hepatoma and then applied by frameless SRT using 6 MV linac accelerator. There were 12 male and 1 female patients. They had the age of 44~66 year old (median : 59) and the tumor size of 10~825 cc (median : 185 cc). SRT was given to them 3~5 fractions a week (5 Gy/fraction, 90% isodose line) for 2~3 weeks. Median dose of SRT was 50 Gy and the range was 30~50 Gy. RESULTS: Follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 13 months with median of 8 months. After treating SRT to thirteen patients with primary hepatoma, the response of the tumor was examined by abdominal CT : they are classified by 1 complete regression (7.7%), 7 partial regression (53.8%), 4 minimal regression (30.8%), 1 stable disease (7.7%). The positive responses more than partial remission were 8 patients (61.5%) after the treatment. The level of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) after the treatment as compared with pretreatment had been 92.3% decreased. There was no severe complication except dyspepsia 84.6%, mild nausea 69.2%, transient decreased of hepatic function 15.4% and fever 7.7%. CONCLUSION: SRT to the patients with primary hepatoma was potentially suggested to become the safe and more effective tool than the conventional radiotherapy even though there were relatively short duration of follow-up and small numbers to be tested.
alpha-Fetoproteins ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Dyspepsia ; Female ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Nausea ; Radiotherapy* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

We report here a case of oral myiasis in the Republic of Korea. The patient was a 37-year-old man with a 30-year history of Becker's muscular dystrophy. He was intubated due to dyspnea 8 days prior to admission to an intensive care unit (ICU). A few hours after the ICU admission, 43 fly larvae were found during suction of the oral cavity. All maggots were identified as the third instars of Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae) by morphology. We discussed on the characteristics of myiasis acquired in Korea, including the infection risk and predisposing factors.
Adult ; Animals ; Diptera/anatomy & histology/*classification ; Humans ; Larva/anatomy & histology/classification ; Male ; Mouth/*parasitology ; Myiasis/*diagnosis/*parasitology ; Republic of Korea

Purpose: We aimed to investigate manifestations and patterns of care for patients with brain metastasis (BM) from breast cancer (BC) and compared their overall survival (OS) from 2005 through 2014 in Korea. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 600 BC patients with BM diagnosed between 2005 and 2014. The median follow-up duration was 12.5 months. We categorized the patients into three groups according to the year when BM was initially diagnosed (group I [2005-2008], 98 patients; group II [2009-2011], 200 patients; and group III [2012-2014], 302 patients). Results: Over time, the median age at BM diagnosis increased by 2.2 years (group I, 49.0 years; group II, 48.3 years; and group III, 51.2 years; p=0.008). The percentage of patients with extracranial metastasis was 73.5%, 83.5%, and 86.4% for group I, II, and III, respectively (p=0.011). The time interval between BC and BM was prolonged in patients with stage III primary BC (median, 2.4 to 3 years; p=0.029). As an initial brain-directed treatment, whole-brain radiotherapy alone decreased from 80.0% in 2005 to 41.1% in 2014. Meanwhile, stereotactic radiosurgery or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy alone increased from 13.3% to 34.7% during the same period (p=0.005). The median OS for group I, II, and III was 15.6, 17.9, and 15.0 months, respectively, with no statistical significance. Conclusion The manifestations of BM from BC and the pattern of care have changed from 2005 to 2014 in Korea. However, the OS has remained relatively unchanged over the 10 years.