Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer-related deaths in Korea. Nonsmall cell lung cancers account for about 80% of these cases. Because the long term survival of patients after a complete resection is poor, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy seems to be a very promising concept. However, studies on postoperative chemotherapy, to date, have been disappointing. Recently, the International Adjuvant Lung Cancer Trial (IALT) reported an absolute 5% statistically significant 5-year survival benefit (p<0.03). Further studies, which could select patients favored with adjuvant chemotherapy, are necessary.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant* ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung Neoplasms

We have experienced a case of deflation failure of Inoue balloon in the left atrium during mitral balloon valvuloplasty in a 44 year old male patient with tight mitral stenosis, who died just after emergency open heart surgery for removal of undeflated Inoue balloon and mitral valve replacement because of associated acute hemorrhagic myocardial infarction.
Adult ; Balloon Valvuloplasty ; Emergencies ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Male ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Myocardial Infarction ; Thoracic Surgery

PURPOSE: In adults, valproate (VPA) has been reported to be associated with thrombocytopenia. However, few studies have investigated this association in children, and the factors affecting platelet counts remain controversial. This study was undertaken to investigate changes in platelet counts following VPA therapy and related factors in children with epilepsy. METHODS: Our subjects comprised 75 epileptic children who had received VPA monotherapy for at least 1 year between January 2000 and December 2005. We regularly examined platelet counts at intervals of 6 to 12 months after baseline platele t counts before VPA treatme nt. We analyze d changes in platelet counts according to seve ral factors such as sex, seizure type, underlying causes of epilepsy, age at the start of medication as well as at the last follow up, duration of VPA administration, VPA dose, serum VPA level, and body weight at the last follow up. RESULTS: Overall, the platelet counts decreased significantly after VPA therapy. The average baseline platelet count was 312.5+/-109.1x10(6)/mL. At the last follow up, the average platelet count was 261.7+/-72.2x10(6)/mL. We observed the relationship between platelet counts and serum levels of VPA; while children with serum VPA <75 microgram/mL showed no change in platelet counts (P=0.102), children with serum VPA >75 microgram/mL showed a significant decrease in platelet counts. CONCLUSION: VPA may cause a significantly decreased platelet count in children with epilepsy. High serum VPA levels were associated with development of thrombocytopenia.
Adult ; Blood Platelets ; Body Weight ; Child ; Epilepsy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Platelet Count ; Seizures ; Thrombocytopenia ; Valproic Acid

BACKGROUND: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment is a promising tool for dermal tissue regeneration. PRP combined with subcision can synergistically induce dermal tissue regeneration. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of PRP on the proliferation and migration of skin fibroblasts, as well as on the type I collagen, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, and MMP-2 expression in these skin cells. The effect of PRP with subcision on the expression of TGF-beta1 was also investigated in an animal model. METHODS: Human skin fibroblasts were treated with various concentrations of PRP. The proliferation and migration rate of the cells were evaluated by the trypan blue exclusion method and scratch assay, respectively. The expression levels of type I collagen, MMP-1, and MMP-2 were analyzed by western blot or RT-PCR. In addition, the activity levels of MMP-1 and MMP-2 were studied by zymography. Finally, we treated the animal back with PRP, subcision, or PRP with subcision. The specimens were evaluated by H&E, Masson-trichrome, and TGF-beta1 immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Data from this study showed that PRP more effectively promoted the migration and proliferation of cells in a dose-dependent manner. The expression levels of type I collagen, MMP-1, and MMP-2 were increased in PRP-treated fibroblasts at the protein and mRNA levels. The in vivo study revealed that the expression of TGF-beta1 was prominently increased by co-treatment with PRP and subcision rather than by treatment with either PRP or subcision alone. CONCLUSION: PRP treatment promoted fibroblast migration and proliferation, and increased the expression of type I collagen, MMP-1, MMP-2, and TGF-beta1. Therefore, PRP co-application with subcision is an effective method for dermal remodeling and can be a good treatment option for depressed acne scars.
Acne Vulgaris ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cicatrix ; Collagen Type I* ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans ; Models, Animal ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Regeneration ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Trypan Blue

BACKGROUND: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment is a promising tool for dermal tissue regeneration. PRP combined with subcision can synergistically induce dermal tissue regeneration. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of PRP on the proliferation and migration of skin fibroblasts, as well as on the type I collagen, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, and MMP-2 expression in these skin cells. The effect of PRP with subcision on the expression of TGF-beta1 was also investigated in an animal model. METHODS: Human skin fibroblasts were treated with various concentrations of PRP. The proliferation and migration rate of the cells were evaluated by the trypan blue exclusion method and scratch assay, respectively. The expression levels of type I collagen, MMP-1, and MMP-2 were analyzed by western blot or RT-PCR. In addition, the activity levels of MMP-1 and MMP-2 were studied by zymography. Finally, we treated the animal back with PRP, subcision, or PRP with subcision. The specimens were evaluated by H&E, Masson-trichrome, and TGF-beta1 immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Data from this study showed that PRP more effectively promoted the migration and proliferation of cells in a dose-dependent manner. The expression levels of type I collagen, MMP-1, and MMP-2 were increased in PRP-treated fibroblasts at the protein and mRNA levels. The in vivo study revealed that the expression of TGF-beta1 was prominently increased by co-treatment with PRP and subcision rather than by treatment with either PRP or subcision alone. CONCLUSION: PRP treatment promoted fibroblast migration and proliferation, and increased the expression of type I collagen, MMP-1, MMP-2, and TGF-beta1. Therefore, PRP co-application with subcision is an effective method for dermal remodeling and can be a good treatment option for depressed acne scars.
Acne Vulgaris ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cicatrix ; Collagen Type I* ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans ; Models, Animal ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Regeneration ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Trypan Blue

No abstract available.
Colony-Stimulating Factors* ; Granulocytes* ; Humans ; Isotretinoin* ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute* ; Wound Infection* ; Wounds and Injuries*

BACKGROUND: UVB irradiation induces apoptosis or/and autophagy through several molecular pathways in keratinocytes. However, the precise molecular mechanism of UVB-induced autophagy is largely unknown in keratinocytes. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms of UVB-induced apoptosis and autophagy in HaCaT cell lines. METHODS: Cells were irradiated by UVB (Westinghouse FS-40 sunlamps) with various doses (0, 30, 60, 120, 240 mJ/cm2). The expression levels of caspase-3, Bax, Bcl2, Bcl-X(L) and LC3 were confirmed by Western blot analysis in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cell lines. Apoptotic cells were analyzed by PI staining, and autophagy cells were analyzed by immunofluorescent staining. RESULTS: The expression of Bcl-X(L) decreased from UVB 60 mJ/cm2 and Bcl2 decreased from UVB 240 mJ/cm2. The expression of caspase-3 was increased from UVB 120 mJ/cm2. These data showed that UVB-induced apoptosis is mediated by up-regulation of caspase-3 and down-regulation of Bcl2 and Bcl-X(L). Furthermore, the expression of LC3 increased from UVB 120 mJ/cm2. In addition, autophagy formation was observed in few fractions of apoptotic HaCaT cells in immunofluorescent staining; most apoptotic cells did not show autophagy formation. Moreover, autophagy formation inhibitor treatment induced a slight increment of apoptotic cell population under UVB irradiation. CONCLUSION: UVB irradiation induces not only apoptotic cell death but also autophagy formations; these events may create a defense mechanism for the prevention of apoptosis in UVB-treated HaCaT cells.
Apoptosis ; Autophagy ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Death ; Cell Line ; Down-Regulation ; Keratinocytes ; Up-Regulation

No abstract available.
Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis ; Biopsy, Large-Core Needle ; Bone Neoplasms/chemistry/radiotherapy/*secondary ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung Neoplasms/chemistry/*pathology/surgery ; Pneumonectomy ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Pulmonary Sclerosing Hemangioma/chemistry/radiotherapy/*secondary/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

Bilateral choanal atresia is a rare disorder characterized by bilateral obstruction of the posterior end of the nasal cavity. It can be present in isolation or associated with multiple disorders such as coloboma, heart defect, choanal atresia, retarded growth, genital hypoplasia, ear abnormalities (CHARGE) syndrome. Because congenital bilateral choanal atresia presents as respiratory distress at birth, immediate diagnosis and adequate treatment is required. Traditionally, using stents was a part of the postoperative treatment to provide a low rate of restenosis but recently it is controversial. Currently nasal endoscopic approach is mainly used with or without stenting. We report a case of CHARGE syndrome with bilateral choanal atresia treated by transnasal endoscopic approach without stenting.
CHARGE Syndrome ; Choanal Atresia* ; Coloboma ; Diagnosis ; Ear ; Heart ; Nasal Cavity ; Parturition ; Stents*

A 4-year old female patient with a diagnosis of hereditary sensory autonomic neuropathy type IV (congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis) since the age of 1 year, sustained a posterior hip dislocation. During her initial stay at the hospital, an attempt at manual reduction failed. Open reduction, capsulorrhaphy, and Salter operation were done at 36 days after the index dislocation. After the operation there was a 23-degree acetabular index, and there were several abnormal round whitish gray fibrous nodules. There was also severe wound discharge, skin abrasion, and erythema on the patient's back and buttocks due to loss of protective sensation. After conservatively treating the wound and skin problems with prone positioning, we achieved a final acetabular index of 26 degrees. The patient did not have protective sensation in her hip joint. We were able to check for increasing instability after the index operation.
Buttocks ; Dislocations ; Erythema ; Female ; Hip ; Hip Dislocation ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Hypohidrosis ; Sensation ; Skin