This study was performed to evaluate the relation of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) with several cardiovascular risk factors such as age, blood pressure, smoking habit and serum lipids, body mass index, blood glucose, regular exercise, alcohol drinking, white blood cell counts in a cross-sectional survey. Plasma hsCRP was measured by immunoturbidimetry in 202 subjects, aged over 50 yr, who participated in health-check survey in a rural area of Jeollanamdo, Korea. Plasma hsCRP level was 1.9 +/- 3.0 mg/dL. There were significant associations between hsCRP levels and age, white blood cell counts, blood glucose, diastolic blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol, body mass index and smoking status. In stepwise multivariate regression analysis, white blood cell counts, age, blood glucose, smoking status and body mass index were independent correlates of hsCRP levels. In conclusion, plasma hsCRP levels were associated with several cardiovascular risk factors, and these data are compatible with the hypothesis that CRP levels may be a marker for preclinical cardiovascular disease. Further what we need now are prospective studies to evaluate the association of C-reactive protein concentrations with subsequent cardiac events.
Alcohol Drinking ; Blood Glucose/metabolism ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; C-Reactive Protein/*metabolism ; Cardiovascular Diseases/*blood/physiopathology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Educational Status ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Marital Status ; Multivariate Analysis ; Regression Analysis ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; Socioeconomic Factors

Most reports on serious MTX toxicity have focused on hepatic abnormalities, while other effects, including hematologic reactions, have not been emphasized. We experienced a case of pancytopenia secondary to MTX therapy in a patient with RA and renal insufficiency. A 67-year-old woman with a 12-year history of active seropositive RA that was a response to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hydroxychloroquinine and intra-articular steroid injections, had been followed up and was diagnosed as early chronic renal failure in October, 1993. Recently, because of significant morning stiffness and polyarthralgia, the decision was made to institute MTX treatment. This was begun as a single oral dose of 5mg/week. After 2 doses, the patient was admitted to the hospital with general weakness. Laboratory tests showed a hemoglobin level of 7.9 g/dl, WBC count 1800/mm3 and platelet count of 64000/mm3. The serum creatinine level was 6.1 mEq/dl and the BUN level was 82 mEq/dl. Liver function test results were normal, but the serum albumin level was 2.7 g/dl. The patient subsequently developed fever and blood transfusions, granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and intravenous prophylactic antibiotic therapy were required. Her condition was improved. In summary, Low-dose MTX-related adverse hematologic side effects, including fatal pancytopenia, are rare but are a cause of increasing concern in patients with RA and renal insufficiency. Close monitoring of associated risk factors, particularly impaired renal function, should be mandatory for all patients who are receiving MTX therapy.
Aged ; Antirheumatic Agents/adverse effects* ; Antirheumatic Agents/administration & dosage ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/complications ; Case Report ; Female ; Human ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/complications ; Methotrexate/adverse effects* ; Methotrexate/administration & dosage ; Pancytopenia/chemically induced* ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: Bronchogenic carcinoma is generally considered as a disease that predominantly affects middle-aged and elderly men. A small percentage of patients with lung cancer are diagnosed in the third or fourth decade of life or earlier. The current study was performed to review the clinical characteristics of bronchogenic carcinoma in patients younger than 40 years of age at Chungnam National University Hospital. METHOD: To determine the clinicopathologic characteristics including survival rates of lung cancer patients younger than 40 years of age and to compare them with those of patients older than 40 years of age at diagnosis, data of 905 patients diagnosed as lung cancer from January 1990 to March 1997 were analyzed. RESULT: Twenty-three of 805 patients(2.5%) belonged to the young age group (less than 40 years). Male to female ratios of young age group and control group were 2.8 : 1 and 5.3 : 1, respectively. The mean duration of symptoms from onset to the definite diagnosis was 3.2 months in the young age group. The most common initial symptoms in the young age group were cough(52.2%) and dyspnea(43.5%). Adenocarcinoma(43.5%) was more frequent in the young age group than in the control group(20.1%). Stage III and IV(70%) tumors were more frequent in the young age group than in the control group(52.3%). Distant metastasis rae of the young age group(56.6%) was higher than that of the control group(22.3%). CONCLUSION: The predominance of adenocarcinoma, the lower male-female ratio, and the high incidence of advanced stage tumor at diagnosis are the characteristics of lung cancer in patients younger than 40 years of age.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Survival Rate