The common data model (CDM) has found widespread application in healthcare studies, but its utilization in cancer research has been limited. This article describes the development and implementation strategy for Cancer Clinical Library Databases (CCLDs), which are standardized cancer-specific databases established under the Korea-Clinical Data Utilization Network for Research Excellence (K-CURE) project by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare. Fifteen leading hospitals and fourteen academic associations in Korea are engaged in constructing CCLDs for 10 primary cancer types. For each cancer type-specific CCLD, cancer data experts determine key clinical data items essential for cancer research, standardize these items across cancer types, and create a standardized schema. Comprehensive clinical records covering diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes, with annual updates, are collected for each cancer patient in the target population, and quality control is based on six-sigma standards. To protect patient privacy, CCLDs follow stringent data security guidelines by pseudonymizing personal identification information and operating within a closed analysis environment. Researchers can apply for access to CCLD data through the K-CURE portal, which is subject to Institutional Review Board and Data Review Board approval. The CCLD is considered a pioneering standardized cancer-specific database, significantly representing Korea’s cancer data. It is expected to overcome limitations of previous CDMs and provide a valuable resource for multicenter cancer research in Korea.

The common data model (CDM) has found widespread application in healthcare studies, but its utilization in cancer research has been limited. This article describes the development and implementation strategy for Cancer Clinical Library Databases (CCLDs), which are standardized cancer-specific databases established under the Korea-Clinical Data Utilization Network for Research Excellence (K-CURE) project by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare. Fifteen leading hospitals and fourteen academic associations in Korea are engaged in constructing CCLDs for 10 primary cancer types. For each cancer type-specific CCLD, cancer data experts determine key clinical data items essential for cancer research, standardize these items across cancer types, and create a standardized schema. Comprehensive clinical records covering diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes, with annual updates, are collected for each cancer patient in the target population, and quality control is based on six-sigma standards. To protect patient privacy, CCLDs follow stringent data security guidelines by pseudonymizing personal identification information and operating within a closed analysis environment. Researchers can apply for access to CCLD data through the K-CURE portal, which is subject to Institutional Review Board and Data Review Board approval. The CCLD is considered a pioneering standardized cancer-specific database, significantly representing Korea’s cancer data. It is expected to overcome limitations of previous CDMs and provide a valuable resource for multicenter cancer research in Korea.

The common data model (CDM) has found widespread application in healthcare studies, but its utilization in cancer research has been limited. This article describes the development and implementation strategy for Cancer Clinical Library Databases (CCLDs), which are standardized cancer-specific databases established under the Korea-Clinical Data Utilization Network for Research Excellence (K-CURE) project by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare. Fifteen leading hospitals and fourteen academic associations in Korea are engaged in constructing CCLDs for 10 primary cancer types. For each cancer type-specific CCLD, cancer data experts determine key clinical data items essential for cancer research, standardize these items across cancer types, and create a standardized schema. Comprehensive clinical records covering diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes, with annual updates, are collected for each cancer patient in the target population, and quality control is based on six-sigma standards. To protect patient privacy, CCLDs follow stringent data security guidelines by pseudonymizing personal identification information and operating within a closed analysis environment. Researchers can apply for access to CCLD data through the K-CURE portal, which is subject to Institutional Review Board and Data Review Board approval. The CCLD is considered a pioneering standardized cancer-specific database, significantly representing Korea’s cancer data. It is expected to overcome limitations of previous CDMs and provide a valuable resource for multicenter cancer research in Korea.

Bioassay and HPLC-UV guided fractionations of the crude extract of marine-derived Streptomyces sp. SNA-077 have led to the isolation of a red pigment, undecylprodigiosin (1). The chemical structure of undecylprodigiosin (1) was revealed by the interpretation of NMR and mass spectroscopic (MS) data. Further, anti-melanogenic effects of undecylprodigiosin (1) were investigated. First, the melanin contents of undecylprodigiosin (1)-treated B16 cells were evaluated. Furthermore, undecylprodigiosin (1) significantly inhibited the key enzymes involved in melanogenesis, including tyrosinase, tyrosinase related protein-1 (TYRP-1), and dopachrome tautomerase (DCT). The mRNA and protein expression levels of Microphthalmia-associated transcriptian factor (MiTF), a critical transcription factor for tyrosinase gene expression, were also suppressed by undecylprodigiosin (1) treatment in B16 analyses. Collectively, our results suggest for the first time that undecylprodigiosin (1), a potent component isolated from an extract of marine Streptomyces sp. SNA-077, critically exerts the anti-melanogenic ability for melanin synthesis.

BACKGROUND: In the measurement of bronchodilator reversibility, the forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV(1)) and the forced vital capacity(FVC) are commonly used parameters and recommended criteria for the reversibility requiring an increase of more than 200ml and 12% above the baseline, respectively. However, aged patients do not often meet the criteria of an increase in volume(>200ml) even though the medical history of that patient is adequate for asthma. This study investigated the role of the forced expiratory volume in six seconds(FEV(6)) in the bronchodilator reversibility test in elderly patients. METHODS: A total of 236 patients more than 65 years of age with a FEV(1)/FVC ratio<80% were enrolled in this study. The bronchodilator revesibility tests were examined. With the setting FEV(1) as the baseline, the patients were divided into three groups; Group I: FEV(1)> or = 80% of the predicted value, Group II: 60% Aged ; Asthma ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans

BACKGROUND: The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) can be categorized as a group of clonal hematopoietic disorders characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis and peripheral cytopenias. Although the natural history of MDS varies, traditional treatments are not curative and allogeneic marrow transplantation offers potentially curative treatment for MDS. METHODS: In our center, 10 patients underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) between December 1989 and May 1997. The minimum follow-up of 3 months was possible in 10 patients, for whom treatment-related complications and clinical outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: The median age of the 10 patients was 33 (range 20~40) years. The median time from diagnosis to BMT was 34 (3~116) months. By morphology, 5 patients had advanced MDS (i.e., RAEB, RAEB-t, CMML) and 5 patients had less advanced MDS (RA). By Bournemouth score, 8 patients had a score 2~3 and two patients had a score 4. By IPSS, 5 patients were in intermediate-1 group, 3 patients in intermediate-2 group and 2 patients in high risk group. Patients were prepared for transplant with either a total body irradiation (TBI)+cyclophosphamide (n=7), busulfan+TBI (n=2) and busulfan+cyclophophamide (n=1). All patients received CsA+short course MTX for GVHD prophylaxis. Successful engraftment was confirmed in all patients. The overall incidence of acute GVHD was noted in 70% (7/10 patients) and grade IV acute GVHD developed in 2 patients (20%). Five patients were evaluable for the development of chronic GVHD and 2 patients (40%) developed limited chronic GVHD. The duration of median follow-up was 8.1 months. At present five patients are alive and disease-free 3 to 21 months (median survival duration : 8.2 months) post-transplantation resulting in a 2-year disease-free survival of 44%. 2-year disease free survival was 63% in less advanced MDS and 25% in advanced MDS. CONCLUSION: Allogeneic BMT should be considered when any clinical evidence of disease progression to a more advanced stage becomes apparent. International prognostic scoring system (IPSS) and Bournemouth score can also be used to gauge timing for BMT. For patients were in intermediate-1 or intermediate-2 group by IPSS, BMT can be justified if the patient is young and has an HLA matched sibling donor.
Anemia, Refractory, with Excess of Blasts ; Bone Marrow Transplantation* ; Bone Marrow* ; Diagnosis ; Disease Progression ; Disease-Free Survival ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematopoiesis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes* ; Natural History ; Siblings ; Tissue Donors ; Whole-Body Irradiation

No abstract available.
Humans ; Idarubicin* ; Induction Chemotherapy* ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute*

BACKGROUND: We assessed the toxicity and feasibility of the three-alkylator combinations as conditioning regimens for allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in 23 adult patients with acute leukemia. METHODS: Sixteen patients were transplanted for acute myeloid leukemia, six for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and one for myelodysplastic syndrome. Group A included thirteen cases of relapsed refractory, 2 relapsed after first HSCT and group B eight patients in first complete remission or two in second complete remission. Eleven cases received G-CSF mobilized CD34+allogeneic peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) in addition to bone marrow (BM) and three in vivo expanded BM by G-CSF and eight unmanipulated BM and one from syngeneic BM after conditioned with busulfan, thiotepa and melphalan (n=14) or cyclophosphamide, thiotepa and melphalan (n=6) or TBI, melphalan and thiotepa (n=3). RESULTS: Twelve of thirteen patients in group A patients engrafted successfully and only one patient failed to achieve complete remission (CR). All patients in group B had successful engraftment. The median days reaching absolute neutrophil count (ANC) more than 500/microliter and platelet more than 30,000/microliter in group A and group B were 13.4 days (7-22), 17.9 days (9-40) and 16.3 days (10-21), 22.6 days (13-38), respectively. Acute graft vs host disease (GVHD) developed in both groups with the incidence of seven (78%) for group A and six (60%) for group B. The major regimen-related toxicity was mucositis with incidence of 95.7% (22/23). The disease free survival rate after HSCT with median follow-up of 161 days (31-283 days) and 101 days (22-163 days) in each group were 24% and 62.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although the observation period is limited, this study shows that the combination of triple-alkylating regimens are tolerable as a preparative regimen for allogeneic HSCT for both high-risk and standard-risk leukemic patients. We need to confirm effects of these regimens in prospective randomized-controlled studies in the future. (allo-BMSCT) and 14 cases of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (aPBSCT) were underwent. With a median follow-up of 293 days (range, 35~510), the relapse rate was 34.1% (14/41 cases) in chemotherapy-only group and 13.5% (5/37 cases) in transplant-group. The probability of disease-free survival (DFS) at 2 years of chemotherapy-only group, aPBSCT group, and allo-BMSCT group were 20.1%, 44.9%, and 90%, respectively. The relapse-probability at 2 years of three groups were 76.1%, 55.1% and 11.1% in order, respectively. Univariate analyses showed that age (P=0.0274) and augmentation with BHAC (p=0.0334) were significant factors for achieving CR.
Adult ; Blood Platelets ; Bone Marrow ; Busulfan ; Cyclophosphamide ; Disease-Free Survival ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Humans ; Incidence ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Leukemia* ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Melphalan ; Mucositis ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; Neutrophils ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Prospective Studies ; Recurrence ; Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Stem Cells* ; Thiotepa

The nocardiae are gram-positive, aerobic actinomycetes causing opportunistic infections in compromised hosts, such as recipients of solid organ transplants, patients with AIDS, and patients with cancer receiving immunosuppressive therapy, and those with chronic illnesses. Because cellular immunity and neutrophil function are critical for the clearance of Nocardia, frequent infection with the organism would be expected amongmarrow recipients, but reports of nocardiosis are surprisingly rare among these patients. We report a case of nocardiosis sixteen months after an allogenic bone marrow transplantation. The patient was successfully treated with imipenem and amikacin for 4 weeks and then with oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
Actinobacteria ; Amikacin ; Bone Marrow Transplantation* ; Bone Marrow* ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Imipenem ; Immunity, Cellular ; Neutrophils ; Nocardia ; Nocardia Infections* ; Opportunistic Infections ; Transplants ; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) has become a significant treatment modality for hematopoietic and solid organ malignancy. Recipients of BMTs lose immunity to measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and hepatitis B infections which are preventable with vaccination. There is no consensus regarding a vaccination schedule after BMT and time of vaccination is variable according to each institution. We analyzed sequential changes in antibody titers of MMR and hepatitis B during the first year after BMT in an attempt to identify the time, dose, and needs for revaccination. METHODS: Total 20 patients with hematologic malignancies were studied. Serum levels of IgG antibodies of MMR and hepatitis B virus (HBV) were determined every three months post-BMT by enzyme immunoassay (EIA), chemical luminescence immunoassay (CLIA) and immunofluorescence assay (IFA). RESULTS: IgG antibody levels of measles, rubella, HBV were 1:746, 80 85 IU/mL, 214 343 IU/L before BMT, declined to 1:633, 18 11 IU/mL, 4 6 IU/L one year after BMT, respectively. All the antibody levels were still above cut-off value for positive immunity. Mumps antibody titers were 1:62 before BMT, declined to 1:25 significantly from 6 months after BMT, but the antibody level was still above cut-off value. CONCLUSION: Antibody titers of MMR and hepatitis B decline during the first year after BMT, but the levels are still above cut-off value. Thus, the timing of revaccination should be after the first year post-transplantation. Long-term studies are needed to determine the optimal time for revaccination.
Antibodies ; Appointments and Schedules ; Bone Marrow Transplantation* ; Bone Marrow* ; Consensus ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunization, Secondary ; Immunoassay ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Immunoglobulin G ; Korea* ; Luminescence ; Measles* ; Mumps* ; Rubella* ; Vaccination