No abstract available.
Animals ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries* ; Peripheral Nerves* ; Rats* ; Sciatic Nerve*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination therapy of paclitaxel and cisplatin in advanced, non-small cell, lung cancer patients MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between December 1997 and September 2001, 37 patients with advanced, non-small cell, lung cancer were enrolled in this study. Patients were treated with paclitaxel (135 mg/m2, 24 hr infusion) and cisplatin (75 mg/m2). The treatments were repeated every 4 weeks. RESULTS: Among the 37 patients enrolled, 21 were treated with paclitaxel and cisplatin as a first-line and 16 patients as a second-line. The median age of the patients was 59. In the first-line group, 10 had stage IIIB and 11 had stage IV, non small cell lung cancer. Of 21 patients in first-line treatment group that could be evaluated, objective responses were observed in 6 patients (response rate: 28.6%, CR: 4.8%, PR: 23.8%). The mediansurvival duration for patients was 48 weeks. With the second-line group, 3 patients showed a partial response (response rate: 18.7%) to treatment, with median survival duration of 44 weeks. Grade 3-4 leukopenia was observed in 27.1% of the first-line, and 23.6% in second- line, treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Combination chemotherapy, with paclitaxel and cisplatin, in non-small cell lung cancer has acceptable toxicities in both first and second-line treatment groups. In terms of efficacy, no superior response was shown for either group. More randomized studies, with a larger group of patients, are required to prove the true efficacy.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Cisplatin* ; Drug Therapy, Combination* ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; Lung Neoplasms ; Paclitaxel* ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

Behcet's disease (BD) is a multisystemic chronic inflammatory disease. It is characterized by recurrent oral and genital ulcers, uveitis, skin lesions and other manifestations, including neurologic, vascular, joint, and gastrointestinal ulcers of variable severity. Recurrent aphthous ulcer (RAU) represents a very common, but poorly understood, mucosal disorder. If a patient of RAU without any other typical symptoms of BD has gastrointestinal symptoms, it is difficult to distinguish this RAU from true BD with gastrointestinal involvement. Because pathognomonic clinical features and tools are absent, the differential diagnosis of these two diseases relies on the characteristic clinical features and the judgement of an experienced physician. Sixty-five out of a total 960 RAU patients and forty-four of 556 BD patients with gastrointestinal symptoms between January 1996 and December 2003 participated in this study. All were evaluated with esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy. Clinical, endoscopic and histopathologic findings were analyzed and ELISA tests were conducted to detect serum levels of ASCA and pANCA. No significant difference was found between the two groups. Differential diagnosis between RAU with gastrointestinal symptoms and BD with gastrointestinal involvement requires further prospective, large-scale study.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic/blood ; Antibodies, Fungal/blood ; Behcet Syndrome/*diagnosis/immunology/pathology ; Comparative Study ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/*diagnosis/immunology/pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/immunology ; Serologic Tests ; Stomatitis, Aphthous/*diagnosis/immunology/pathology

Clinical Protocols ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genioplasty ; Humans ; Malocclusion ; Malocclusion, Angle Class III ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Osteotomy

Background: Cranioplasty for the treatment of cephalhematomas in small infants with limited blood volume is challenging because of massive bleeding. This study aimed to elucidate the correlation between cephalhematoma size and intraoperative blood loss and identify criteria that can predict large intraoperative blood loss. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 120 pediatric patients aged less than 24 months who underwent cranioplasty for treatment of a cephalhematoma. The cephalhematoma sizes in preoperative brain computed tomography (CT) were measured using ImageJ. Results: Pearson correlation showed that the cephalhematoma size in the pre-operative brain CT was weakly correlated with intraoperative blood loss (Pearson coefficient = 0.192, P = 0.037). In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, a cephalhematoma size greater than 113.5 cm3 was found to be a risk factor for large blood loss. The area under the curve in the receiver operating characteristic plot of the multivariable model was 0.714 (0.619–0.809). Conclusions A cephalhematoma size cutoff value of 113.5 cm3, as measured in the preoperative CT imaging, can predict intraoperative blood loss exceeding 30% of the total body blood volume. The establishment of a transfusion strategy prior to surgery based on cephalhematoma size could be useful in pediatric cranioplasty.

Background: Cranioplasty for the treatment of cephalhematomas in small infants with limited blood volume is challenging because of massive bleeding. This study aimed to elucidate the correlation between cephalhematoma size and intraoperative blood loss and identify criteria that can predict large intraoperative blood loss. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 120 pediatric patients aged less than 24 months who underwent cranioplasty for treatment of a cephalhematoma. The cephalhematoma sizes in preoperative brain computed tomography (CT) were measured using ImageJ. Results: Pearson correlation showed that the cephalhematoma size in the pre-operative brain CT was weakly correlated with intraoperative blood loss (Pearson coefficient = 0.192, P = 0.037). In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, a cephalhematoma size greater than 113.5 cm3 was found to be a risk factor for large blood loss. The area under the curve in the receiver operating characteristic plot of the multivariable model was 0.714 (0.619–0.809). Conclusions A cephalhematoma size cutoff value of 113.5 cm3, as measured in the preoperative CT imaging, can predict intraoperative blood loss exceeding 30% of the total body blood volume. The establishment of a transfusion strategy prior to surgery based on cephalhematoma size could be useful in pediatric cranioplasty.

The serious complication after endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) was bleeding and perforation. Most of bleedings could be controlled by endoscopic procedure. However, the strategy of treatment for perforation was not established. A 60-year-old man was admitted to our center for EMR of gastric adenomatous lesion. After EMR, perforation in stomach was detected by peumoperitoneum on plain upright chest X-ray. We treated with conservative management such as withholding of oral intake, administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics, parenteral nutrition and close monitoring. There were no worsening clinical sings of peritoneal inflammation except mild leukocytosis during the in-hospital course. On the third hospital day after EMR, the patient resumed oral intake. The seventh hospital day, he was discharged. Our experience showed that selected small microperforation in stomach after EMR could be treated by not endoscopic procedures or surgical interventions but conservative management.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intestinal Perforation ; Leukocytosis ; Middle Aged ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Stomach* ; Thorax

Idiopathic atrophoderma of Pasini and Pierini is a form of dermal atrophy of unknown etiology, usually affecting women during their adolescence and young adulthood. A 2-yr-old girl was presented with erythematous atrophic lesion on the right shoulder, which appeared from birth. The histologic findings were consistent with atrophoderma. This patient, to the best of our knowledge, is the first case of atrophoderma with an onset since birth.
Atrophy/congenital/metabolism ; Biopsy ; Child, Preschool ; Collagen/metabolism ; Erythema/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Skin/*pathology

PURPOSE: Inhalational therapy is now one of the major method in managing asthma. Nebulizer is widely used at home nowadays, but there has been no survey on the usage of home nebulizer in Korea yet. This study was performed using questionnaires to evaluate that how the asthmatic patients use the personal nebulizer properly as an treatment tool for asthma. METHODS: Forty-six asthmatic children living in Chunlabukdo area in Korea who use the personoa nebulizer at home from October 1999 to March 2000 were enrolled. Personal history, purpose of personal nebulizer, understanding of the instruction to use were analyzed using questionnaires. RESULTS: 1) The sex ratio was not statistically significant (M : F ratio was 1.3 : 1) and the mean age was 3.7 years. 2) Thirty-seven cases (80.4%) purchased nebulizer by doctor's recommendation. 6 cases (13.1%) by personal need without doctor's recommendation and 3 cases (6.5%) by acquaintances' recommendation. 47.8% of patients purchased through small-scale suppliers. 32.6% purchased through hospital, and 19.6% through large nebulizer manufacturers. 3) Sixty-three percents of patients had an explanations about the basic instructions to use the nebulizer. Explanations on maintenance were given only in 19.6% of total and was mostly given through large nebulizer manufacturers. 4) Proper washing with sterilization took place in 54.3%, replacement of kits and air filters were done in only 15.2% of the total, but nobody was recommended annual check up. 5) There was no difference in the techniques of using nebulizers by the parents' level of knowledge about asthma. CONCLUSION: Many problems on the usage of personal home nebulizer in asthmatic children were revealed by this study. Education of patients on how to use and manage nebulizers is necessary when prescribe or sell the nebulizers.
Air Filters ; Asthma ; Child* ; Humans ; Korea ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers* ; Patient Education as Topic ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sex Ratio ; Sterilization

BACKGROUND: Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a multicentric proliferative vascular tumor which involves cutaneous and visceral tissues. Recent study has clearly identified human herpes virus 8 (HHV8) in all Kaposi's sarcoma patients, indicating that HHV8 is closely involved in the pathogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to document clinical and histopathological features of KS and to emphasize the necessity of detection of HHV8 in the differential diagnosis of KS from other vascular lesions. METHODS: The medical records and histopathological slides of patients with KS diagnosed at Ajou University Hospital from January 1995 to December 2004 were reviewed. We performed immunohistochemical stain and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based analysis to detect HHV8 in KS and other vascular lesions. RESULTS: Among 12 patients, classic KS was found in 9 patients, AIDS-associated KS in 1 patient, and iatrogenic immunosuppressive KS in 2 patients. Patients with KS presented with various clinical features, showing purple- colored macules to nodules or tumors. Although lower extremities are most frequently involved sites, involvement of other sites such as arm and neck was noticed. Mucosal and systemic involvement was detected in AIDS- associated case. Immunohistochemical stains for HHV8 were positive in all KS, but they were negative in other vascular lesions. PCRs for HHV8 were positive in 8 of 11 (72.7%) KS, but they were negative in other vascular lesions. Classic KS responded well to surgical and radiation therapies and showed indolent course. Immunosuppressive KS regressed partially after dose reduction of immunosuppressive drug therapy, but the lesions persisted. CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemical stain and/or PCR for HHV8 are useful means to differentiate KS from other vascular tumors.
Arm ; Coloring Agents ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drug Therapy ; Humans* ; Lower Extremity ; Medical Records ; Neck ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sarcoma, Kaposi*