We report a case of accidental epidural ephedrine injection. A 29-year-old male with left femoral artery occlusion was scheduled for thromboembolectomy. The operation was performed under epidural anesthesia. During the operation, ephedrine (30 mg/6 ml) was accidentally injected through epidural catheter instead of ropivacaine (45 mg/6 ml). Following the incident, we injected normal saline (10 ml) in the epidural space to dilute the solution. The patient had no complaint but blood pressure rose to 165/115 mmHg transiently. We observed the patient closely in recovery room and no further complication was found. In previous reports, various attempts have been tried to manage such incidents, but no definitive treatment for accidental injection is known. We present this case to remind the importance of confirming the drug everytime before injection.
Adult ; Amides ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Blood Pressure ; Catheters ; Ephedrine ; Epidural Space ; Femoral Artery ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Male ; Recovery Room

In diamnionic dichorionic twins, the type of placenta consists of fused and separate types. The expansion of one twin placenta often occurs in the direction of the other implantation site in fused type. Placental development often leads to collision, and the growth of one or both placentas may be hindered, which can cause intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). We represent a single case of one placental implantation above the another which caused IUFD in one fetus in diamnionic dichorionic twin pregnancy with a brief review of literatures.
Fetal Death* ; Fetus ; Humans ; Placenta ; Placentation ; Pregnancy, Twin ; Twins*

PURPOSE: We evaluated the prognostic factors, survivals and patterns of failure of the patients with locally advanced cervical cancer who received radical radiotherapy alone and induction chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy respectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between May 1985 to December 1992, one hundred and sixty three patients with locally advaneed cervical cancer received curative radiotherapy. Patients were divided into two groups: control group included 69 patients who received curative radiotherapy and combined group included 94 patients who received induction chemotherapy followed by curative radiotherapy. The curative radiotherapy consisted of external pelvic radiotherapy and intracavitary brachytherapy. Induction chemotherapy was delivered in VBP (vincristine, bleomycin, cisplatin) and FP (5-FU, cisplatin). Follow up period ranged from 2 months to 99 months with median of 50 months. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 94.2% in the control group and 89.4% in the combined group. The response rate by control group was 66.7% for CR (complete response), 27.5% for PR (partial response), 5.8% for NR (no response). The response rate by combined group of CR, PR, NR were 64.9%, 24.5%, 10.6%, respectively. There was no difference in response for control group and combined group (p> 0.05). The 5-year overall survival had no significant difference in between control group and combined group (54.6% vs. 57.3%). The 5-year disease free survival also had no significant difference (52.9% vs. 55.0%). In the control group, 23 patients (33.3%) had treatment failure: twelve (17.4%) at a local recurrence, 9 (13.0%) as distant metastasis, and 2 (2.9%) with both local recurrence and distant metastasis. In the combined group, Thirty patients (31.9%) failed therapy, with local recurrence in 21 patients (22.3%), distant metastasis in 7 patients (7.5%), and both in 2 patients (2.1%). The difference between the two groups was not significant in view of patterns of failure. The major toxicities were nausea/ vomiting, leukopenia, anemia, and diarrhea. The prognostic factors affecting were hemoglobin level, KPS (karnofsky performance status), and treatment response in both group by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: This study did not prove the efficacy of induction chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy in locally advanced cervical cancer.
Anemia ; Bleomycin ; Brachytherapy ; Diarrhea ; Disease-Free Survival ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy* ; Leukopenia ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Radiotherapy* ; Recurrence ; Treatment Failure ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* ; Vomiting

Betula platyphylla var. japonica (Betulaceae), also known as Asian white birch, is an endemic medicinal tree, the bark of which has been used in Chinese traditional medicine for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases. In our continuing search for bioactive compounds from Korean natural resources, a phytochemical investigation of the bark of B. platyphylla var. japonica led to the isolation of 7-oxo-β-sitosterol (1) and soyacerebroside I (2) from its ethanol extract as main components by liquid chromatography (LC)/mass spectrometry (MS)-based analysis. The structures of isolates were identified by comparison of ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic data and physical data with the previously reported values and LC/MS analyses. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that the isolated compounds, 7-oxo-β-sitosterol and soyacerebroside I, were isolated in B. platyphylla var. japonica. We examined the effects of the isolates on the regulation of adipocytes and osteoblast differentiation. These isolates (1 and 2) produced fewer lipid droplets compared to the untreated negative control in Oil Red O staining of the mouse mesenchymal stem cell line without altering the amount of alkaline phosphatase staining. The results demonstrated that both compounds showed marginal inhibitory effects on adipocyte differentiation but did not affect osteoblast differentiation.
Adipocytes ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Betula ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Ethanol ; Humans ; Lipid Droplets ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Mice ; Natural Resources ; Osteoblasts ; Spectrum Analysis ; Trees

This study was carried out to examine the proportion of fatty acids and contents of trans fatty acid in commercial processed foods in Jeon-Buk area. Contents of trans fatty acid in bakery products ranged from 0.2% to 1.0% per 100 g food. Especially garlic bread and pastry contained the highest amount. Popcorns contained trans fatty acid from 0.0% to 13.4%. Among them, instant popcorns for microwave contained the highest amount, while trans fatty acid was hardly detected in popcorns for theater. And trans fatty acid detected in popcorns was mostly in the form of 18 : 1 trans. The content of trans fatty acid in pizza was nearly 0.2%. Amounts of saturated fatty acid and unsaturated fatty acid were similar between each type of pizza and frozen pizza. Fritters such as fried chickens and vegetables contained trans fatty acid less than 0.2% per 100 g food.
Bread ; Chickens ; Fatty Acids ; Garlic ; Microwaves ; Vegetables

Novel agents to treat multiple myeloma (MM) have increased complete respone (CR) rates compared with conventional chemotherapy, and the quality of the response to treatment has been correlated with survival. The purpose of our study was to show how of early response to bortezomib combined chemotherapy influences survival in patients with newly diagnosed MM who are ineligible for stem cell transplantation. We assessed patient responses to at least four cycles of bortezomib using the International Myeloma Working Group response criteria. The endpoints were comparisons of progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) between early good response group (A group) and poor response group (B group). We retrospectively analyzed data from 129 patients registered by the Korean Multiple Myeloma Working Party, a nationwide registration of MM patients. The 3 yr PFS for the A and B groups was 55.6% and 18.4%, respectively (P < 0.001). The 3 yr OS for the A and B groups was 65.3% and 52.9%, respectively (P = 0.078). The early response to at least four cycle of bortezomib before next chemotherapy may help predict PFS in patients with MM who are ineligible stem cell transplantation.
Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents/*therapeutic use ; Boronic Acids/*therapeutic use ; Disease-Free Survival ; drugs Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma/*drug therapy/mortality ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Pyrazines/*therapeutic use ; Registries ; Retrospective Studies ; *Stem Cell Transplantation ; Treatment Outcome

Ectopic pancreas rarely produces clinical symptoms. Most commonly reported symptoms were abdominal pain, epigastric discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and bleeding. However, presentation of specific symptoms due to its size and location, including obstructive jaundice, and pyloric obstruction are possible. Ectopic pancreas is subject to various pathological changes occurring in the pancreas itself; namely, cyst, pancreatitis, hemorrhage, necrosis, and neoplastic change. We present a case of 60-year old woman with right upper quadrant pain in whom the surgical pathologic diagnosis was ectopic pancreas of the stomach complicated by pancreatitis and pseudocyst formation.
Abdominal Pain ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; Necrosis ; Pancreas* ; Pancreatitis* ; Stomach ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to determine the correlations between inflammatory factors-including absolute lymphocyte count, lactate dehydrogenase, beta2-microglobulin, albumin, C-reactive protein, and ferritin-and the prognosis for survival in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) treated with induction chemotherapy containing thalidomide and who underwent autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). METHODS: Data from patients at 13 university hospitals in South Korea were collected retrospectively between December 2005 and May 2013. RESULTS: The median age of the 232 patients was 57 years (range, 33 to 77) and the male to female ratio was 1.09:1. In the multivariate analysis, fewer than two combined abnormal inflammatory factors was the only independent prognostic factor for superior progression-free survival (relative risk [RR], 0.618; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.409 to 0.933; p = 0.022), and platelet count > 100 x 109/L and fewer than two combined abnormal inflammatory factors were independent prognostic factors for superior overall survival (RR, 4.739; 95% CI, 1.897 to 11.839; p = 0.001 and RR, 0.263; 95% CI, 0.113 to 0.612; p = 0.002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with two or more than two combined inflammatory factors who were treated with thalidomide induction chemotherapy and who underwent ASCT showed significantly shorter survival compared to those with fewer than two combined inflammatory factors. These results could be helpful for predicting prognosis in patients with MM.
Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Biomarkers, Tumor/*blood ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Inflammation Mediators/*blood ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma/blood/diagnosis/*drug therapy/immunology/mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Odds Ratio ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Thalidomide/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Time Factors ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to compare lipid peroxide level, total peroxyl radical-trapping antioxidative parameter (TRAP) value, and antioxidant vitamin level in the maternal venous plasma between normal pregnancy and preeclampsia. METHODS: Samples of venous plasma were obtained from 38 normal and 24 preeclamptic women. Lipid peroxides levels were measured by thiobarbituric acid reaction. The TRAP values were measured by Wayner's method, although some reaction conditions were modified. Ascorbic acid, retinol, alpah-tocopherol, and gamma-tocopherol were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: There was no significant correlation between the lipid peroxides level in the maternal venous plasma and gestational age in normal pregnancy (n=38, r=0.04, p=NS). The lipid peroxide level in the maternal venous plasma of preeclampsia (n=24) was significantly higher than that of gestational age-matched normal pregnancy (n=26), (4.39 +/- 0.38 vs. 3.23 +/- 0.15 nmol/mg protein, p<0.01). There was no significant correlation between the TRAP value in the maternal venous plasma and gestational age in normal pregnancy (n=38, r=0.02, p=NS). The TRAP value in the maternal venous plasma of preeclampsia (n=24) was significantly lower than that of gestational age-matched normal pregnancy (n=26), (0.33 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.38 +/- 0.02 mM, p<0.05). Ascorbic acid level in the maternal venous plasma of preeclampsia was significantly lower than that of normal pregnancy (377.8 +/- 23.6 vs. 552.2 +/- 52.1 nmol/mL, p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in maternal venous plasma retinol, alpah-tocopherol, and gamma-tocopherol levels between normal pregnancy and preeclampsia. CONCLUSION: The above results suggest that the imbalance of increased lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidant activity were in the maternal blood of preeclampsia, and an antioxidant vitamin, ascorbic acid, may be decreased result from counteracting free radical-mediated cell disturbance.
Antioxidants ; Ascorbic Acid ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Female ; gamma-Tocopherol ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Lipid Peroxides ; Oxidative Stress ; Plasma* ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy ; Vitamin A ; Vitamins*

Purpose: The role of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) in multiple myeloma (MM) treatment remains controversial. We conducted a retrospective, multicenter, nationwide study in Korea to evaluate the outcomes of alloSCT in Asian patients with MM. Materials and Methods: Overall, 109 patients with MM who underwent alloSCT between 2003 and 2020 were included in this study. Data were collected from the Korean Multiple Myeloma Working Party Registry. Results: The overall response rate and stringent complete response plus complete response (CR) rates were 67.0 and 46.8%, respectively, after alloSCT. At a median follow-up of 32.5 months, the 3-year probability of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 69.3% and 71.8%, respectively. The 3-year probabilities of OS rates in the upfront alloSCT, tandem auto-alloSCT, and later alloSCT groups were 75.0%, 88.9%, and 61.1%, respectively. Patients who achieved CR before or after alloSCT had significantly longer OS (89.8 vs. 18 months and 89.8 vs. 15.2 months, respectively). Even though patients who did not achieve CR prior to alloSCT, those who achieve CR after alloSCT had improved PFS and OS compared to those who had no achievement of CR both prior and after alloSCT. Patients who underwent alloSCT with 1-2 prior treatment lines had improved PFS (22.4 vs. 4.5 months) and OS (45.6 vs. 15.3 months) compared to those with three or more prior treatment lines. Conclusion AlloSCT may be a promising therapeutic option especially for younger, chemosensitive patients with earlier implementation from relapse.