Background/Aims: We evaluated the feasibility and long-term efficacy of the combination of cytarabine, idarubicin, and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) for treating patients with newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Methods: We included 87 patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia and a t(15;17) or promyelocytic leukemia/retinoic acid receptor alpha (PML-RARα) mutation. Patients received 12 mg/m2/day idarubicin intravenously for 3 days and 100 mg/m2/day cytarabine for 7 days, plus 45 mg/m2/day ATRA. Clinical outcomes included complete remission (CR), relapse-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), and the secondary malignancy incidence during a 20-year follow-up. Results: The CR, 10-year RFS, and 10-year OS rates were 89.7%, 94.1%, and 73.8%, respectively, for all patients. The 10-year OS rate was 100% for patients that achieved CR. Subjects were classified according to the white blood cell (WBC) count in peripheral blood at diagnosis (low-risk, WBC < 10,000/mm3; high-risk, WBC ≥ 10,000/mm3). The low-risk group had significantly higher RFS and OS rates than the high-risk group, but the outcomes were not superior to the current standard treatment (arsenic trioxide plus ATRA). Toxicities were similar to those observed with anthracycline plus ATRA, and higher than those observed with arsenic trioxide plus ATRA. The secondary malignancy incidence after APL treatment was 2.7%, among the 75 patients that achieved CR, and 5.0% among the 40 patients that survived more than 5 years after the APL diagnosis. Conclusions Adding cytarabine to anthracycline plus ATRA was not inferior to anthracycline plus ATRA alone, but it was not comparable to arsenic trioxide plus ATRA. The probability of secondary malignancy was low.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Proficient differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into specific lineages is required for applications in regenerative medicine. A growing amount of evidences had implicated hormones and hormone-like molecules as critical regulators of proliferation and lineage specification during in vivo development. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the hormones and hormone-like molecules involved in cell fate decisions is critical for efficient and controlled differentiation of hPSCs into specific lineages. Thus, we functionally and quantitatively compared the effects of diverse hormones (estradiol 17-β (E2), progesterone (P4), and dexamethasone (DM)) and a hormone-like molecule (retinoic acid (RA)) on the regulation of hematopoietic and neural lineage specification. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used 10 nM E2, 3 μM P4, 10 nM DM, and 10 nM RA based on their functional in vivo developmental potential. The sex hormone E2 enhanced functional activity of hematopoietic progenitors compared to P4 and DM, whereas RA impaired hematopoietic differentiation. In addition, E2 increased CD34⁺CD45⁺ cells with progenitor functions, even in the CD43⁻ population, a well-known hemogenic marker. RA exhibited lineage-biased potential, preferentially committing hPSCs toward the neural lineage while restricting the hematopoietic fate decision. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal unique cell fate potentials of E2 and RA treatment and provide valuable differentiation information that is essential for hPSC applications.
Dexamethasone ; Humans ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells ; Pluripotent Stem Cells ; Progesterone ; Regenerative Medicine ; Tretinoin

BACKGROUND: Although bone marrow (BM) or mobilized peripheral blood (PB) is frequently used as the source of hematopoietic stem cells, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) using cord blood (CB) is gradually gaining popularity in many countries. However, BM or PB is still preferred over CB in Korea. Therefore, we tried to assess the awareness of CB transplantation (CBT) among domestic HSCT physicians and develop strategies for boosting its utilization by administering questionnaires to some of these physicians. METHODS: A direct questionnaire survey was conducted using the "Audience Response System" among 301 members who attended the annual meeting of the Korean Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. The data were analyzed for only 67 board certified physicians who were directly involved in HSCT activities. RESULTS: The poor outcomes resulting from insufficient experience in CBT was designated by the physicians as the main reason for the low domestic implementation of HSCT using CB. Other reasons identified in the survey were distrust in the quality and management of domestic CB and the high cost of obtaining CB. CONCLUSION: Increasing the use of donated CB would foremost require increasing the inventory of donated CB containing a sufficient cell number for CBT and securing structured quality control of the CB banks. In addition, it would be necessary to minimize CB supply costs and continue to provide academic data, including CBT guidelines, so that clinicians could perform CBT with more confidence.
Bone Marrow ; Cell Count ; Fetal Blood* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Korea ; Quality Control ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The vast majority of patients with metastatic prostate cancer present with bone metastases and high prostate specific antigen (PSA) level. Rarely, prostate cancer can develop in patients with normal PSA level. Here, we report a patient who presented with a periureteral tumor of unknown primary site that was confirmed as prostate adenocarcinoma after three years with using specific immunohistochemical examination. A 64-year old man was admitted to our hospital with left flank pain associated with masses on the left pelvic cavity with left hydronephrosis. All tumor markers including CEA, CA19-9, and PSA were within the normal range. After an exploratory mass excision and left nephrectomy, the pelvic mass was diagnosed as poorly differentiated carcinoma without specific positive immunohistochemical markers. At that time, we treated him as having a cancer of unknown primary site. After approximately three years later, he revisited the hospital with a complaint of right shoulder pain. A right scapular mass was newly detected with a high serum PSA level (101.7 ng/ml). Tissues from the scapular mass and prostate revealed prostate cancer with positive immunoreactivity for P504S, a new prostate cancer-specific gene. The histological findings were the same as the previous pelvic mass; however, positive staining for PSA was observed only in the prostate mass. This case demonstrates a patient with prostate cancer and negative serological test and tissue staining that turned out to be positive during progression. We suggest the usefulness of newly developed immunohistochemical markers such as P504S to determine the specific primary site of metastatic poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma in men.
Adenocarcinoma ; Flank Pain ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nephrectomy ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Reference Values ; Serologic Tests ; Shoulder Pain ; Biomarkers, Tumor

PURPOSE: The incidence of accidentally detected small renal tumors is increasing throughout the world. In this multi-institutional study performed in Korea, histopathological characteristics of contemporarily surgically removed renal tumors were reviewed with emphasis on tumor size. MATERIALS and METHODS: Between January 1995 and May 2005, 1,702 patients with a mean age of 55 years underwent surgical treatment at 14 training hospitals in Korea for radiologically suspected malignant renal tumors. Clinicopathological factors and patient survival were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 1,702 tumors, 91.7% were malignant and 8.3% were benign. The percentage of benign tumors was significantly greater among those < or = 4cm (13.2%) than those > 4cm (4.5%) (p < 0.001). Among renal cell carcinoma patients, the percentage of tumors classed as stage > or = T3 was significantly less among tumors < or = 4cm (5.2%) than those > 4cm (26.8%) (p < 0.001). The percentage of tumors classed as Fuhrman's nuclear grades > or = 3 was also significantly less among tumors < or = 4cm (27.3%) than tumors > 4cm (50.9%) (p < 0.001). The 5-year cancer-specific survival rate was 82.7%, and T stage (p < 0.001), N stage (p < 0.001), M stage (p = 0.025), and Fuhrman's nuclear (p < 0.001) grade were the only independent predictors of cancer-specific survival. CONCLUSION: In renal tumors, small tumor size is prognostic for favorable postsurgical histopathologies such as benign tumors, low T stages, and low Fuhrman's nuclear grades. Our observations are expected to facilitate urologists to adopt function-preserving approach in the planning of surgery for small renal tumors with favorable predicted outcomes.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms/classification/*pathology/*surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging

OBJECTIVE: We were trying to identify the expression of Wnt 1 and beta-catenin in normal ovarian epithelium and epithelial ovarian tumor. METHODS: We used archival formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues from Comprehensive Gynecologic Cancer Center and the Department of Pathology at Bundang CHA Hospital from 2000 to 2005. Immunohistochemical staining for Wnt 1 and beta-catenin was performed on the ovarian epithelial tissues. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 10.1 for Windows and significance was defined as P<0.05. RESULTS: Of 114 cases, the cases were composed of 54 carcinomas, 40 borderline tumors, 12 benign tumors and 8 normal control ovarian tissues. Abnormal nucleocytoplasmic expression of beta-catenin was found in 4 endometrioid carcinomas. The nuclear expression of beta-catenin was found especially in the components of the endometrioid carcinoma (28.6%, P<0.05). Wnt 1 was overexpressed in all 9 clear cell carcinomas, but not frequent in the other types of malignant tumors (P<0.05). We found a statistically significant correlation between beta-catenin nuclear localization and endometrioid carcinomas. And we found a significant correlation between Wnt 1 expression and clear cell carcinomas. CONCLUSION: It does not seem that Wnt 1 over expression directly provoke the nuclear localization of beta-catenin. But, deregulation of beta-catenin and Wnt 1 may play a role in the pathogenesis of ovarian epithelial carcinogenesis of endometriod carcinoma and clear cell carcinoma. Evaluating this avenue of regulation of beta-catenin and Wnt protein in ovarian epithelial carcinoma may provide a new direction for early diagnosis and treatment in ovarian epithelial carcinoma and provide opportunities for making a certain biomarkers.
beta Catenin ; Carcinoma, Endometrioid ; Early Diagnosis ; Epithelium ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial ; Ovarian Neoplasms

Gitelman's syndrome is a heritable renal disorder characterized by hypomagnesemia, hypokalemia and hypocalciuria. Interestingly, we have experienced one patient who had chronic hypotension, normal serum magnesium level, normal plasma ionized magnesium level, hypokalemia and hypocalciuria. Immunohistochemistry showed the absence of NCCT staining in renal tissues of the patient. We report the case of atypical Gitelman's syndrome with a brief review of related literature.
Gitelman Syndrome* ; Humans ; Hypokalemia ; Hypotension* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Magnesium ; Plasma

We report on a case of ischemic dysfunction of the sinus node as a complication after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of the distal left circumflex artery. After local thrombolytic therapy in the sinus node artery, sinus node arterial flow was re-established and sinus node function normalized over the period of a week. Our experience suggests that immediate reperfusion of a totally occluded nodal artery can be re-established. Ischemic dysfunction of the sinus node, as a complication of angioplasty, is generally transient and requires a prolonged period for recovery. Therefore the decision to implant a permanent pacemaker should be delayed for at least one week after the ischemic insult.
Urinary Plasminogen Activator/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Thrombolytic Therapy/*methods ; Sinoatrial Node/*physiopathology ; Myocardial Ischemia/*complications/radiography/therapy ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Humans ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fibrinolytic Agents/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Electrocardiography ; Coronary Angiography ; Arrhythmia/diagnosis/*drug therapy/etiology ; Angioplasty, Transluminal, Percutaneous Coronary/adverse effects

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a rare, idiosyncratic and potentially lethal side effect that occurs patients receiving neuroleptic drugs. Characteristic sings and symtoms include muscle rigidity, fever, altered consciousness, and autonomic dysfuction. The most common serious complication is rhabdomyolysis, which produces acute myoglobiuric renal failure. We present a case of 32-year-old man in whom had NMS and acute renal failure after he had received a combination of chloropromazine and haloperidol. The patients recorvered after treatment by immediate hydration, diuretics and other conservative measure.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Adult ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Consciousness ; Diuretics ; Fever ; Haloperidol ; Humans ; Muscle Rigidity ; Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome* ; Renal Insufficiency ; Rhabdomyolysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Prolonged atrial conduction time and inhomogeneous electrical atrial activity have been known to be important electrophysiologic characteristics in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). Filtered P wave duration dispersion (Pdisp) is defined as the difference between the maximal and minimal filtered P wave duration of the three X, Y, Z leads of P wave signal averaged ECG (PSAECG). The purpose of this study was to determine and compare conventional PSAECG parameters with this newly developed parameter, Pdisp, for the prediction of PAF risk. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study population, consisting of 65 patients with PAF (Group 1) and 56 age and sex matched controls (Group 2), was further subgrouped by the presence (Group A) and absence (Group B)of organic heart disease. The PSAECG was recorded using P wave triggered SAECG and the following parameters were measured: total filtered P wave duration (TFPD), vector magnitude, RMS10, RMS20, RMS30 and Pdisp. These parameter values were compared between groups. RESULTS: TFPD and Pdisp were significantly longer in the PAF group than in the control group (121.2+/-9.7 msec versus 108.5+/-12.7 msec, p=0.005:25.2+/-11.5 msec versus 14.7+/-7.9 msec, p<0.001, respectively). The presence of organic heart disease and the size of the left atrium did not affect the result. The designation of Pdisp greater than 15 msec as the cut-off value for predicting PAF produced a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 75%, and was more accurate than TFPD (sensitivity 72%, specificity 66%). CONCLUSION: Pdisp might be a more accurate SAECG parameter for predicting the PAF risk than other conventional parameters.
Atrial Fibrillation* ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Atria ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Risk Assessment ; Sensitivity and Specificity