BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to obtain the accurate information on the obesity indices, such as body mass index(BMI), relative weight and waist-hip ratio(WHR) and to investigate their relationship in order to assess the childhood and adolescent obesity more appropriately. METHODS: In May, 1995, a total of 6943(male; 3469, female; 3474) students from primary, middle and high schools in Seoul were selected and each students height, weight, waist and hip circumference data were collected. RESULTS: The BMI increased with age in both sexes. From age 12 to 16, values of BMI 50th percentiles for females exceeded those for males. And the BMI 95th percentiles at the age of 13 to 14 years were higher for females than for males. The prevalence of obesity by relative weight was higher in males than in females(male ; 17.9%, female ; 13.1%). The WHR was higher in males than females in all age group and decreased with age in both sexes, showing more sharp reduction in females. Strong correlations were observed between the BMI and the relative weight, and the BMI and the relative weight correlated closely with WHR. The WHR was significanly higher in obese group' than in non-obese group. In the female obese group aged 6 to 11 years, no significant correlation was found between the relative weight and the WHR. CONCLUSIONS: There were significant relationships between the indices of obesity and body fat distribution. This study suggests that WHR as well as BMI and relative weight might be useful in assessing the childhood and adolescent obesity.
Adolescent* ; Body Fat Distribution ; Body Mass Index* ; Child* ; Female ; Hip ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; Pediatric Obesity ; Prevalence ; Seoul* ; Waist-Hip Ratio*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an exercise program on physical function and quality of life of mastectomy patients. METHOD: This study was conducted from October, 2004 to June, 2005. The subjects consisted of 60 patients with breast cancer(30 each in the experimental and control groups). The subjects in the experimental group participated in an exercise program for 16 weeks. Evaluation was performed four times in both the experimental and control group. RESULTS: The results revealed an increase in physical function in the experimental group including wrist circumstance, function of shoulder joint, stretching, and upper endurance. Also, an increase in function scales in quality of life were significantly higher in the experimental group than the control group. In addition subjective comments on how they felt after participating in the exercise program were good in the experimental group. CONCLUSION: The 16-week exercise program showed a large positive effect on physical function and quality of life of breast cancer patients after a mastectomy.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Humans ; Mastectomy* ; Quality of Life* ; Shoulder Joint ; Weights and Measures ; Wrist

No abstract available.
Alternariosis*

Purpose: Breast cancer brain metastases (BCBM) may involve subtypes that differ from the primary breast cancer lesion. This study aimed to develop a radiomics-based model that utilizes preoperative brain MRI for multiclass classification of BCBM subtypes and to investigate whether the model offers better prediction accuracy than the assumption that primary lesions and their BCBMs would be of the same subtype (non-conversion model) in an external validation set. Materials and Methods: The training and external validation sets each comprised 51 cases (102 cases total). Four machine learning classifiers combined with three feature selection methods were trained on radiomic features and primary lesion subtypes for prediction of the following four subtypes: 1) hormone receptor (HR)+/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-, 2) HR+/HER2+, 3) HR-/HER2+, and 4) triple-negative. After training, the performance of the radiomics-based model was compared to that of the non-conversion model in an external validation set using accuracy and F1-macro scores. Results: The rate of discrepant subtypes between primary lesions and their respective BCBMs were 25.5% (n=13 of 51) in the training set and 23.5% (n=12 of 51) in the external validation set. In the external validation set, the accuracy and F1-macro score of the radiomics-based model were significantly higher than those of the non-conversion model (0.902 vs. 0.765, p=0.004; 0.861 vs. 0.699, p=0.002). Conclusion Our radiomics-based model represents an incremental advance in the classification of BCBM subtypes, thereby facilitating a more appropriate personalized therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of single-dose methotrexate injection for ectopic pregnancy and determine the possible predictors of therapeutic failure. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 127 patients' records with methotrexate injection (50 mg/m2) for unruptured ectopic pregnancy from January 2001 to December 2006. The transvaginal sonographic findings in each case were analyzed according to the presence and size of an ectopic mass, endometrial pattern, amount of intraperitoneal fluid, presence of yolk sac and presence of pseudogestational sac. Patient's age, pretreatment beta-hCG levels and clinical symptoms were also recorded. Success of treatment was regarded only when single or another dose of methotrexate injection was needed to lower the beta-hCG levels to non-pregnant state (<5 mIU/ml). RESULTS: Of 127 patients, 65 cases (51.2%) succeeded with single-dose of methotrexate, 44 cases (34.6%) multi-dose of methotrexate, and ultimately 18 cases (14.2%) surgical procedures. Elevated pretreatment beta-hCG levels, size of an ectopic mass, trilaminar endometrial pattern, presence of yolk sac and vaginal bleeding were the main predictors of single-dose methotrexate treatment failure. CONCLUSION: Single-dose methotrexate injection was proved to be safe and effective method for ectopic pregnancy. Transvaginal sonographic findings could be important prognostic factors as well as pretreatment beta-hCG levels.
Female ; Humans ; Methotrexate* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Failure ; Ultrasonography ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Yolk Sac

Albizia julibrissin Durazz. (AJ; family Minosaceae) is widely distributed worldwide, and its stem bark has been used as a traditional herbal medicine. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a clinical syndrome that results in sudden loss of renal function. This study aimed to investigate the effects of AJ against cisplatin-induced AKI using a human kidney proximal tubule epithelial cell line (HK-2) and cisplatin-treated mice. In vitro, cisplatin treatment increased apoptosis in HK-2 cells. However, AJ treatment decreased apoptosis of cisplatin-treated HK-2 cells. In vivo, cisplatin treatment accelerated renal injury by increasing the levels of renal injury markers, such as blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, kidney injury molecule 1, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, which were reversed by AJ treatment. Histopathologically, AJ treatment resulted in decreased renal damage with less tubular necrosis and brush border desquamation compared with the AKI group. Additionally, cisplatin treatment upregulated mitochondrial fission, a pathological characteristic of AKI, which was downregulated by AJ treatment. Along with increased mitochondrial fission, AJ treatment also reduced cisplatin-induced apoptosis.These results suggest that AJ may be a potential therapeutic agent for cisplatin-induced AKI.

Recommended infant vaccination in Korea includes DTaP-IPV and Hib vaccines administered as separate injections. In this randomized, open, controlled study we assessed the non-inferiority of immunogenicity of DTaP-IPV//Hib pentavalent combination vaccine (Pentaxim™) compared with licensed DTaP-IPV and Hib (PRP~T) vaccines. We enrolled 418 healthy Korean infants to receive either separate DTaP-IPV and Hib vaccines (n = 206) or the pentavalent DTaP-IPV//Hib (n = 208) vaccine at 2, 4, 6 months of age. Antibodies to all components were measured before the first vaccination and one month after the third, and safety was assessed after each vaccination including recording of reactions by parents. We confirmed the non-inferiority of DTaP-IPV//Hib compared with DTaP-IPV and Hib vaccines; 100% of both groups achieved seroprotection against D, T, IPV and PRP~T, and 97.5%-99.0% demonstrated seroresponses to pertussis antigens. Antibody levels were similar in both groups, except for those to the Hib component, PRP~T. In separate and combined groups geometric mean concentrations of anti-PRP~T antibodies were 23.9 and 11.0 µg/mL, respectively, but 98.3% and 97.4% had titers ≥ 1 µg/mL, indicative of long-term protection. All vaccines were well tolerated, with no vaccine-related serious adverse event. Both groups had similar safety profiles, but the combined vaccine group had fewer injection site reactions. The immunological non-inferiority and similar safety profile of DTaP-IPV//Hib vaccine to separate DTaP-IPV and Hib vaccines, with the advantage of fewer injections and injection site reactions, supports the licensure and incorporation of DTaP-IPV//Hib into the Korean national vaccination schedule (Clinical trial registry, NCT01214889).
Antibodies ; Appointments and Schedules ; Haemophilus influenzae type b* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Korea ; Licensure ; Parents ; Vaccination ; Vaccines* ; Whooping Cough

PURPOSE: The risk of invasive fungal infection is greater for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) than for autologous transplantation. Therefore, many transplantation centers use antifungal prophylaxis for allogeneic HSCT, however, there exists no standard guidelines or consensus regarding autologous HSCT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective double-blind randomized study was conducted in autologous HSCT recipients who were divided into prophylaxis and empirical treatment groups, and we investigated the efficacy of itraconazole prophylaxis in pediatric autologous HSCT. RESULTS: Total 87 autologous HSCT episodes in 55 children with high-risk solid tumors were studied. No invasive fungal infections occurred in either group. However, patients in the prophylaxis group had a significantly shorter duration of fever (p < 0.05) and received antibacterial treatment of shorter duration (p < 0.05) with fewer numbers of antibiotics (p < 0.05 for the use of second line antibiotics) than those in the empirical group. No significant additional adverse events were found with itraconazole prophylaxis. CONCLUSION: Although beneficial effects such as a shorter duration of fever and reduced need for antibiotic use were observed in the prophylaxis group, the results were not sufficient to draw a definite recommendation about the routine use of antifungal prophylaxis in pediatric autologous HSCT recipients with high-risk solid tumors (Trial registration: NCT00336531).
Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Antifungal Agents/*therapeutic use ; Child, Preschool ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Double-Blind Method ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/*adverse effects ; Humans ; Itraconazole/*therapeutic use ; Mycoses/*prevention & control ; Neoplasms/*surgery ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study examined the clinical characteristics of patients with lung cancer who were diagnosed at the Gachon University of Medicine and Science Gil Hospital from January 2006 to December 2008. METHODS: The lung cancer data were downloaded from the hospital medical information system using cancer registration information. The patient clinical characteristics were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 713 patients were diagnosed with lung cancer. Their median age was 69 years, 78.1% were over 60 years old, and 73.1% and 58.2% were men and smokers, respectively. Adenocarcinoma (32.7%) was the most common histologic type, followed by squamous carcinoma (25.9%), unclassifiable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (17.3%), and small-cell carcinoma (SCLC) (15.0%). In the NSCLC group, the stage at diagnosis was IA (1.5%), IB (5.6%), IIA (1.3%), IIB (4.3%), IIIA (5.4%), IIIB (23.1%), IV (47.7%), and unknown (11.1%). In the SCLC group, 20.6% of the patients were in the limited stage, 76.6% were in the extensive stage, and 2.8% were unknown. The patients were treated by surgery (9.8%), concurrent chemoradiotherapy (6.7%), radiotherapy only (5.9%), chemotherapy (32.4%), or best supportive care only (29.7%). The median overall survival was 15.3 months (95% CI, 11.5~19.1). The median survival based on histology was adenocarcinoma (35.0 months), squamous (13.5 months), NSCLC (14.2 months), and SCLC (11.8 months) (p=0.0445). CONCLUSIONS: Adenocarcinoma was the most common histologic type at our institute. Most patients were over 60 years of age (78.1%) and had stage III/IV (76.3%) cancer. The survival of patients with adenocarcinoma was longer than that for the other histological types.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Humans ; Information Systems ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: We evaluated characteristics of infectious complications in pediatric patients who received monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT).METHODS: Between February 2004 and May 2009, 17 pediatric patients (<19 years at diagnosis) who received mAbs were identified as a study group (mAb group). One hundred twenty-two pediatric allogeneic HCT patients (<19 years at diagnosis) who did not receive mAb during the same period were identified as a control group (non-mAb group). A retrospective chart review of medical records was performed for the incidence of infectious complications and mortality.RESULTS: In the mAb group, 12 of the 17 patients (70.6%) had 29 infectious complications (1.71 episodes per person), whereas 89 of the 122 patients (73.8%) had 162 infectious complications (1.32 episodes per person) in the non-mAb group (P=0.838). Although, there were no significant differences in characteristics or incidence of infectious complications between the two groups, the infection-associated mortality rate was significantly higher in the mAb group compared to non-mAb group (29.4% vs. 8.2% P=0.021; RR 3.44, 95% CI, 1.407 to 8.433).CONCLUSION: The mAb therapy was associated with significantly high mortality in pediatric allogeneic HCT recipients.
Cell Transplantation ; Child ; Humans ; Incidence ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplants