Purpose: Targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels for solid tumors have been useful in clinical framework for accurate tumor diagnosis and identifying essential molecular aberrations. However, most cancer panels have been designed to address a wide spectrum of pan-cancer models, lacking integral prognostic markers that are highly specific to gliomas. Materials and Methods: To address such challenges, we have developed a glioma-specific NGS panel, termed “GliomaSCAN,” that is capable of capturing single nucleotide variations and insertion/deletion, copy number variation, and selected promoter mutations and structural variations that cover a subset of intron regions in 232 essential glioma-associated genes. We confirmed clinical concordance rate using pairwise comparison of the identified variants from whole exome sequencing (WES), immunohistochemical analysis, and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Results: Our panel demonstrated high sensitivity in detecting potential genomic variants that were present in the standard materials. To ensure the accuracy of our targeted sequencing panel, we compared our targeted panel to WES. The comparison results demonstrated a high correlation. Furthermore, we evaluated clinical utility of our panel in 46 glioma patients to assess the detection capacity of potential actionable mutations. Thirty-two patients harbored at least one recurrent somatic mutation in clinically actionable gene. Conclusion We have established a glioma-specific cancer panel. GliomaSCAN highly excelled in capturing somatic variations in terms of both sensitivity and specificity and provided potential clinical implication in facilitating genome-based clinical trials. Our results could provide conceptual advance towards improving the response of genomically guided molecularly targeted therapy in glioma patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of abdominal massage on alleviating pain caused by the injection of recombinant gonadotropin for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) among infertile women. METHODS: This study employed a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. A total sample of 149 infertile women who never experienced in vitro fertilization was recruited at C fertility center. Seventy women were assigned into experimental group and 79 into controls. The experimental group had been informed to do abdominal massage prior to the injection and to record their subjective pain using visual analogue scale. The control group had been informed to record their subjective pain in the same way just after the injection. RESULTS: Compared to the pre-tested pain scores, the pain scores in experimental group were significantly reduced by 0.7 points, whereas the control group increased by 0.9 points (t=-4.55, p=.001). CONCLUSION: This study confirms that the use of abdominal massage prior to the injection is an effective way to alleviate pain on injection site. This massage may be a useful intervention for infertile women about pain alleviation.
Female ; Fertility ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques* ; Massage*

Development of biliary casts is very unusual, especially in patients who have not undergone liver transplantation. Variable causes of biliary cast formation in nonliver transplantation patients have been suggested. However, stasis of bile flow and/or gallbladder hypocontractility is known to eventually result in the promotion of biliary sludge and subsequent cast formation. Here we present one case of biliary cast syndrome, which developed in a nonliver transplant patient who had biliary sludge for a long period of time, providing evidence that long-standing biliary sludge may lead to cast formation.
Bile ; Biliary Tract ; Gallbladder ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; Sewage ; Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome ; Transplants

Amebiasis is a protozoan disease caused by Entamoeba histolytica and a potential health threat in areas where sanitation and hygiene are inappropriate. Highly sensitive PCR methods for detection of E. histolytica in clinical and environmental samples are extremely useful to control amebiasis and to promote public health. The present study compared several primer sets for small subunit (SSU) rDNA and histone genes of E. histolytica cysts. A 246 bp of the SSU rDNA gene of pure cysts contained in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and in stool samples was successfully amplified by nested PCR, using the 1,147-246 bp primer set, of the primary PCR products which were pre-amplified using the 1,147 bp primer as the template. The detection limit of the nested PCR using the 1,147-246 primer set was 10 cysts in both groups (PBS and stool samples). The PCR to detect histone gene showed negative results. We propose that the nested PCR technique to detect SSU rDNA can be used as a highly sensitive genetic method to detect E. histolytica cysts in stool samples.
DNA Primers/genetics ; DNA, Protozoan/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Entamoeba histolytica/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Entamoebiasis/*diagnosis ; Histones/genetics ; Humans ; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques/*methods ; Parasitology/*methods ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/*methods ; Protozoan Proteins/genetics ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND: Although several hospital-based stroke studies were published, there has not been any reliable data representing the clinical characteristics of stroke in Korea. We analyzed the clinical characteristics of patients with ischemic stroke registered in the Korean Stroke Registry (KSR), which is the largest prospective hospital-based nation-wide stroke registry in Korea. METHODS: The KSR provided standardized protocols for collecting data, which includes the data of demographics, subtypes of stroke, risk factors, and neurological outcome at discharge. The brain imaging studies, including CT or MRI, were performed in all cases. RESULTS: KSR registered 10,811 patients of acute ischemic stroke between Nov. 2002 and Jun. 2004. The large-artery atherosclerosis was the most common subtype (37.3%), followed by small vessel occlusion (30.8%). Hypertension (65.4%) was the most common risk factor, followed by smoking (34.5%) and diabetes (28.3%). Although most of the hypertensive and diabetic patients had been diagnosed before the stroke, less than 45.4% and 32.5% of them were under regular control. The steno-occlusive lesion of extracranial carotid artery was only 29.3% and the ratio of intra- to extracranial artery disease was more than 2 in KSR. Only 20.5% of patients were admitted within 3 hours after stroke onset and 2.1% were treated with intravenous thrombolysis. In-hospital case-fatality was 5.2%, which is relatively comparable to those of previous studies. CONCLUSIONS: The KSR provided informative data in understanding the clinical characteristics of ischemic stroke in Korea. Further analysis of KSR will facilitate clinical trials and development of guidelines for the management of stroke patients.
Arteries ; Atherosclerosis ; Carotid Arteries ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Demography ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuroimaging ; Prospective Studies* ; Registries ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stroke*

This study was carried out to figure out the dietary intake of pregnant women in Daegu area. A total of 467 pregnant women was recruited at two hospitals in this area to collect the information on dietary intakes, general characteristics, and anthropometric measurements using an interview. Forty-seven women (10.1%) were in the first trimester, 101 women (21.6%) in the second trimester, and 319 women (68.3%) in the third trimester. The mean age, prepregnant weight and height of subjects were not significantly different among the trimester groups. The mean daily nutrient intakes of energy, fat, protein, carbohydrates, phosphate, sodium, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and vitamin C were significantly different among the trimester groups, but the other nutrients were not different. For the calcium and iron, the percentage of subjects consumed less than 75% of the Korean RDA was over 80%, and for other nutrients such as energy, vitamin B1, and vitamin B2 over 50% of subjects consumed less than 75% of the Korean RDA in the first trimester. The correlations between nutrient intakes and weight gain during pregnancy showed different patterns among the trimester groups. The mean adequacy ratio and dietary variety scores were not significantly different among the trimester groups. The amount of food intake from cereals and cereal products were higher during the second and the third trimester compared to the first trimester, but those of the other food groups were not significantly different. In conclusion, nutrient intakes of the pregnant women for iron, calcium and some vitamins were inadequate and nutritional management programs for these nutrients are necessary.
Ascorbic Acid ; Calcium ; Carbohydrates ; Edible Grain ; Daegu* ; Eating ; Female ; Humans ; Iron ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnant Women* ; Riboflavin ; Sodium ; Thiamine ; Vitamins ; Weight Gain

Morning sickness during pregnancy is a very common functional problem with different kinds of symptom, but little data are available concerning the nutrition intervention program for pregnant women in local area. A total of 152 pregnant women who had experienced morning sickness were surveyed to investigate the relationships between morning sickness, nutrient intakes and pregnancy outcome. The results showed that prevalent symptoms were nausea (68.4%), heartburn (59.2%), morning sickness (48.7%), vomiting (42.1%), and constipation (44.7%). The onset of the symptom occurred during the first 3 months (9.3 +/- 2.3 weeks); 21.1% of the subjects was experienced two symptom at the same time. This significantly correlated with vomiting (p < 0.01), nausea (p < 0.001), morning sickness (p < 0.001), and heartburn (p < 0.01) with pregnancy weight. There were also correlations between the four symptoms and nutrient intakes. Mean birth weight of 21 newborns was 3.06 +/- 0.42 kg, and the one and five minutes of Apgar scores were 7.74 +/- 0.99 and 8.84 +/- 0.69, respectively. There were negative correlations between vomiting and pregnancy outcomes (p < 0.05). Our data support that morning sickness, especially vomiting during pregnancy is associated with Apgar score and body weight of newborn.
Apgar Score ; Birth Weight ; Body Weight ; Constipation ; Female ; Heartburn ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Morning Sickness ; Nausea ; Nutritional Status* ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: Despite the advancement in chemotherapy and supportive care, a persisting problem in patients with leukemia is infectious complications, which are the leading cause of death. We evaluated infectious complications in acute leukemic patients to understand the current features and also evaluated risk factors for death in acute leukemia. METHODS: The medical records of 186 cases of acute leukemia who underwent chemotherapy in St. Mary's Hospital between January 1995 and December 1997 were reviewed. And we compared these data to our previous data published in 1994. RESULTS: One hundred (95%) cases among 126 leu- kemic patients who received induction chemotherapy and 42 (70%) of 60 cases who received consolidation chemotherapy experienced at least one febrile episodes during treatment. Microbiologically defined infection (MDI), clinically defined infection (CDI), and unexplained fever (UF) were evenly distributed. In MDI, the isolation rate of gram positive organism was markedly increased but that of fungus was decreased. The common clinical manifestations were bacteremia, pneumonia, neutropenic enterocolitis, and catheter infection, in the order of decreasing frequency. The overall mortality rates reduced from 50% (early of the 1980s) to 12.9%, but the infection-related mortality increased up to 80% in spite of improvement in supportive care, antimicrobials and administration of hematopoietic growth factors. Refractory or relapsed acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) had 5 times higher risk of death than primarily diagnosed AML and MDI had 10.9 times higher risk of death than UF. And one more febrile day increased the risk of death by 1.4 times. CONCLUSION: Infection is still the most important cause of morbidity and mortality in acute leukemia patients. Dominant infecting organisms are changing from gram-negative bacilli to gram-positive cocci. New preventive, diagnostic, and treatment strategies should be developed and prophylactic use of antimicrobials should be restricted as much as possible to prevent emergence of resistant microorganisms.
Bacteremia ; Catheters ; Cause of Death ; Consolidation Chemotherapy ; Drug Therapy ; Enterocolitis, Neutropenic ; Fever ; Fungi ; Gram-Positive Cocci ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Leukemia* ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Neutropenia ; Pneumonia ; Risk Factors

A 55 years old female was admitted for nausea, vomiting and right upper quadrant pain. On the admission physical examination revealed icteric sclera and right upper quadrant tenderness. She had no history of surgery and alcoholic intake. The levels of bilirubin and liver enzyme(ALT, AST) were elevated without evidence of viral hepatitis. After abdominal sonography, CT and ERCP, diagnosis was cholelithiasis. The laparoscopic cholecystectomy was done under enflurane anesthesia for 90 minutes without transfusion of blood and blood products. On the 9th postoperative day, she was discharged with symptomatic improvement and almost normal laboratory data. On the 20th postoperative day, she was admitted for follow up study and elevated liver enzyme were found. On the 30th postoperative day, she had suffered from acute hepatitis with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, chilling and jaundice and marked elevation of ALT, AST and eosinophilia. There were no evidence of viral hepatitis and remnant stone. The liver function was more aggravated and more advanced parenchymal damage of liver was shown by liver scan and sonography but liver function was improved gradually after 55th postoperative day. She recovered gradually and went home in good health on the 105th postoperative day. Postoperative hepatotoxicity might be developed as a result of many causes and we had suspected enflurane but the exact causes in this case were still unknown.
Alcoholics ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General* ; Bilirubin ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Cholelithiasis ; Diagnosis ; Enflurane* ; Eosinophilia ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Liver ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; Physical Examination ; Sclera ; Vomiting

In the anesthesia for the Cesarean section, the anesthetists should select the agent and technique carefully which is safe for both the mother and baby. If a light plane of general anesthesia is chosen for fetal safety and rapid recovery, there may be increased incidence of maternal recall and intraoperative pain perception. We studied the effect of nalbuphine(N group) and fentanyl(F group) used as main analgesics in balanced anesthesia in 60 full term parturients, ASA physical status class I or II, scheduled for elective Cesarean section. The patients were questioned for recall, pain perception and unpleasant dreams during anesthesia. The results were as follows, 1) The 12 patients had positive reactions. Among them, 3 patients(10%) were in the N group and 9 patients(30%) in the F group. 2) The sedation was more in the N group(30%) than in the F group(6.6%). We concluded that the balanced anesthetic technique using nalbuphine caused less maternal recall and pain perception with more sedation than using fentanyL.
Analgesics ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthetics ; Balanced Anesthesia* ; Cesarean Section* ; Dreams ; Female ; Fentanyl* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mothers ; Nalbuphine* ; Pain Perception ; Pregnancy