Only few studies have shown the efficacy and safety of glucose-control strategies using the quadruple drug combination. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the usefulness of the quadruple combination therapy with oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Purpose: Effectiveness and safety of clofarabine (one of the treatment mainstays in pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL]) was assessed in Korean pediatric patients with ALL to facilitate conditional coverage with evidence development. Materials and Methods: In this multicenter, prospective, observational study, patients receiving clofarabine as mono/combination therapy were followed up every 4-6 weeks for 6 months or until hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Response rates, survival outcomes, and adverse events were assessed. Results: Sixty patients (2-26 years old; 65% B-cell ALL, received prior ≥ 2 regimen, 68.3% refractory to previous regimen) were enrolled and treated with at least one dose of clofarabine; of whom 26 (43.3%) completed 6 months of follow-up after the last dose of clofarabine. Fifty-eight patients (96.7%) received clofarabine combination therapy. Overall remission rate (complete remission [CR] or CR without platelet recovery [CRp]) was 45.0% (27/60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 32.4 to 57.6) and the overall response rate (CR, CRp, or partial remission [PR]) was 46.7% (28/60; 95% CI, 34.0 to 59.3), with 11 (18.3%), 16 (26.7%), and one (1.7%) patients achieving CR, CRp, and PR, respectively. The median time to remission was 5.1 weeks (95% CI, 4.7 to 6.1). Median duration of remission was 16.6 weeks (range, 2.0 to 167.6 weeks). Sixteen patients (26.7%) proceeded to HSCT. There were 24 deaths; 14 due to treatment-emergent adverse events. Conclusion Remission with clofarabine was observed in approximately half of the study patients who had overall expected safety profile; however, there was no favorable long-term survival outcome in this study.

Only few studies have shown the efficacy and safety of glucose-control strategies using the quadruple drug combination. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the usefulness of the quadruple combination therapy with oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Background: Only few studies have shown the efficacy and safety of glucose-control strategies using the quadruple drug combination. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the usefulness of the quadruple combination therapy with oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: From March 2014 to December 2018, data of patients with T2DM, who were treated with quadruple hypoglycemic medications for over 12 months in 11 hospitals in South Korea, were reviewed retrospectively. We compared glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels before and 12 months after quadruple treatment with OHAs. The safety, maintenance rate, and therapeutic patterns after failure of the quadruple therapy were also evaluated. Results: In total, 357 patients were enrolled for quadruple OHA therapy, and the baseline HbA1c level was 9.0%±1.3% (74.9± 14.1 mmol/mol). After 12 months, 270 patients (75.6%) adhered to the quadruple therapy and HbA1c was significantly reduced from 8.9%±1.2% to 7.8%±1.3% (mean change, –1.1%±1.2%; P<0.001). The number of patients with HbA1c <7% increased significantly from 5 to 68 (P<0.005). In addition, lipid profiles and liver enzyme levels were also improved whereas no changes in body weight. There was no significant safety issue in patients treated with quadruple OHA therapy. Conclusion This study shows the therapeutic efficacy of the quadruple OHA regimen T2DM and demonstrates that it can be an option for the management of T2DM patients who cannot use insulin or reject injectable therapy.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is characterized by clonal proliferation and accumulation of abnormal dendritic (Langerhans) cells in various organs. Pulmonary involvement, although rare in children, has been reported in 20%–50% of childhood cases of multisystem LCH. Isolated pulmonary LCH in children, especially in infants, is still rarer, but should be suspected in those with cystic lung disease. We report a case of a 10-month-old boy who presented with chronic dyspnea and whose chest computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated cystic lesions. Lung biopsy established the diagnosis of LCH; microscopy revealed a background of lymphocytes and eosinophils with kidney-shaped abnormal cells. These abnormal cells were positive for S-100, CD207 (Langerin), and CD1a on immunohistochemical staining. Chemotherapy was administered using a cytotoxic agent (vinblastine) and a steroid. After 12 weeks of induction chemotherapy, although no significant change in cyst size was noted on chest CT, clinical symptoms improved. Consolidation chemotherapy was then administered for 1 year. Thereafter, chest CT findings demonstrated a significant decrease in cyst size and a significant increase in the volume of normal lung parenchyma. Therefore, aggressive treatment of isolated pulmonary LCH in infants with severe tissue destruction and symptoms seems warranted.
Biopsy ; Child ; Consolidation Chemotherapy ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Dyspnea ; Eosinophils ; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell* ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Infant* ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Microscopy ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The objective of this study was to examine job satisfaction status and its related factors among dietitians working in hospitals. A survey questionnaire was sent to dietitians working in tertiary, general, and convalescent hospitals in Korea. The study sample hospitals included all tertiary hospitals (n=43), and the sample of general hospitals (n=114) and convalescent hospitals (n=240) was randomly selected using a stratified sampling method. A total of 665 dietitians completed the survey questionnaire. The questionnaire included 27 job satisfaction questions on task, stability.vision, working conditions, and relationship areas, and the questions on task improvement need. The job satisfaction scores in all four areas ranged from 2.53/5.00 to 3.89/5.00, implying generally low job satisfaction level in hospital dietitians. The job satisfaction levels in the convalescent hospital group were significantly lower compared to those in the tertiary and general hospital groups. Whereas job satisfaction levels of tertiary and convalescent hospital groups did not differ by number of beds, those of the general hospital group increased significantly with the number of beds for all four areas. Multivariate regression analysis results showed that hospital type was a significant predictor of job satisfaction level for all four areas. Job satisfaction of relationship area was also significantly affected by the number of beds, whereas that of working conditions was influenced by annual income and working experience. The study findings provide useful information in planning clinical dietitians' optimal supply outlook for the improvement of clinical nutrition services.
Hospitals, Convalescent ; Hospitals, General ; Job Satisfaction* ; Korea ; Nutritionists* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tertiary Care Centers

BACKGROUND: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is one of the most important armamentarium against various hematologic malignancies or some solid tumors. We investigated the number of patients who might need transplants and compared with that of actual transplants to conceptualize current status and circumstances of HSCTs in Korean children. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to Korean Society of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (KSHSCT) members who were taking care of children with malignancies or hematologic diseases. Almost all of the newly diagnosed patients between Jan, 1st and Dec, 31st, 2003 were enrolled in the study. RESULTS: Seven hundred forty eight children (male to female ratio = 1.4:1) were enrolled. The median age was 6.1 years old (8 days~28.8 years old). Malignant diseases consisted of 695 cases (92.9%), and among them almost half were hematologic malignancies. The participating members speculated that HSCTs should be indicated in 285 children (38.1%) which included 209 allogeneic, and 76 autologous transplants. In reality, however, allogeneic HSCTs were performed only in 140 children (67.0%) with the median interval of 5.9 month, and autologous transplants in 44 children (57.9%) with 8.3 month. In autologous setting, all the patients received peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs), whereas bone marrow (61%), cord blood (34%), and PBSC (5%) were used in allogeneic HSCTs. Donor types were as follows: unrelated donor (37%), cord blood (34%), sibling donor (25%), and family (4%). The reasons for not performing HSCTs were unfavorable disease status or death, no availability of suitable donor, economical situation, and refusal by parental preferences. Under the strict insurance regulations, many transplants were not covered by insurance. More autologous transplants were performed without insurance coverage than allogeneic HSCTs (P=0.013). Those cases were advanced cases and HLA mismatch transplants for allogeneic setting, and relatively rare diseases still awaiting favorable results of transplants for autologous setting. CONCLUSION: HSCTs are essential part of treatment strategies for children with various diseases. Unfortunately, however, a third of patients who were in need of transplants did not receive HSCTs due to various reasons. It is necessary to expand unrelated donor pool or cord blood banks for the cases lacking HLA-identical sibling donors. Also medical insurances should cover HSCTs for rare diseases as well as for less favorable but novel situations where there are no suitable alternatives.
Autografts ; Bone Marrow ; Child* ; Disulfiram ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; Hematologic Diseases ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells* ; Humans ; Insurance ; Insurance Coverage ; Parents ; Rare Diseases ; Siblings ; Social Control, Formal ; Stem Cells ; Tissue Donors ; Unrelated Donors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Ropivacaine is a long acting, amide-type local anesthetic with a chemical structure similar to that of bupivacaine. In this study we investigated the efficacies of 18 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine, and of 0.5% and 0.75% ropivacaine to provide caudal anesthesia. METHODS: Sixty ASA physical status 1 or 2 patients undergoing hemorrhoidectomy were randomly allocated to 3 parallel treatment groups to receive either 18 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine, or 0.5% or 0.75% ropivacaine. Caudal anesthesia was performed using the loss of resistance method via sacral hiatus. Soft touch testing around the anal sphincter muscle, the pin prick method at the S3 dermatome, onset time of loss of anal sphincter reflex, and sensory block were checked following local anesthetic injection. Duration of sensory block was assessed at 30 minute intervals through out block duration. Quality of muscle relaxation was assessed by the surgeon at the end of each operation. Blood pressures were measured and the incidences of nausea, vomiting and dizziness were recorded. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between the 0.5% ropivacaine and 0.75% ropivacaine groups (P <0.05) with regard to onset time of loss of anal sphincter muscle reflex and sensory block. The 0.75% ropivacaine group showed a longer duration of analgesia. No significant differences were found between the 0.5% bupivacaine, or the 0.5% or 0.75% ropivacaine groups in terms of the onset time of loss of anal sphincter muscle reflex or sensory block, or the duration of analgesia. Quality of muscle relaxation was similar in the three groups. CONCLUSION: In our study the 0.75% ropivacaine group showed rapid loss of anal sphincter tone, rapid onset of sensory block, and longer analgesia duration than the 0.5% ropivacaine group, and 0.75% ropivacaine was similar to 0.5% bupivacaine in these respects. These results suggest that 0.5% or 0.75% ropivacaine may be as useful as 0.5% bupivacaine in caudal anesthesia for hemorrhoidectomy.
Anal Canal ; Analgesia ; Anesthesia, Caudal* ; Bupivacaine* ; Dizziness ; Hemorrhoidectomy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Muscle Relaxation ; Nausea ; Reflex ; Vomiting

A 14-month-old female patient was admitted for the laparoscopic excision of a complicated urachal cyst. General anesthesia was induced with thiopental and rocuronium and maintained with sevoflurane and the intermittent administration of vecuronium. During the insufflation of CO2 her intra-abdominal pressure was maintained below 12 cmH2O to avoid excessive hypercarbia. Thirty minutes after CO2 insufflation initiation, end tidal CO2 increased to 74 mmHg at a peak inspiratory airway pressure of 24 cmH2O. Laparoscopic excision of the urachal cyst was performed within 2 hours without a further change in end tidal CO2, blood pressure, heart rate, or O2 saturation. Before extubation, O2 saturation by pulse oxymetry was 99% and end tidal CO2 was 45-50 mmHg. The patient was discharged without any problem 5 days after the operation. We report on this clinical experience and include a brief review of the literature.
Anesthesia, General ; Blood Pressure ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Infant ; Insufflation ; Thiopental ; Urachal Cyst* ; Vecuronium Bromide

PURPOSE: Wilms tumor is the most common malignant renal tumor in children. We investigated the epidemiology, clinical features and treatment outcome of the children with Wilms tumor in Korea during the recent 10 years. METHODS: Two hundred forty six patients were enrolled between January 1991 and December 2000 from 26 major hospitals in Korea. The data regarding the clinical features including sex, age, pathologic type, prognostic factor and treatment outcome of patients were analyzed retrospectively by review of patient's medical records. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were constructed, The differences between groups were analyzed by log-rank test. RESULTS: There were 130 males and 116 females. The incidence between the age of 1~4 years was the highest with 66.2%. The annual incidence rate per 1, 000, 000 population varied from 1.9 to 2.1. The 10 years overall survival rate according to sex, clinical stage, pathologic type and relapse were as follows: 88.6% in male, 90.9% in female, 100% in stage I, 94.7% in stage II, 92.1% in stage III, 63.4% in stage IV, 85.7% in stage V, 95.3% in favorable histology, 64.1% in unfavorable histology, 94.8% in non-relapse, and 40.9% in relapse. The relapse rate was 12%. The 10 years overall survival rate of 246 patients were 89.1%. CONCLUSION: Our results could provide the most recent and important clinical information on Wilms tumor of children in Korea.
Child ; Epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Korea* ; Male ; Medical Records ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Wilms Tumor*