PURPOSE: Anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) medications represent a major advancement in the management of chronic inflammatory diseases. However, these agents are associated with increased risks of tuberculosis (TB) and other serious infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidences of such disease among tertiary hospitals in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied patients who received anti-TNF-alpha therapy; we reviewed serious infections including TB that developed within 6 months after initiation of anti-TNF-alpha therapy. Data concerning patient demographics, types of anti-TNF-alpha agents, concomitant immunosuppressive drugs use, and infection details were collected. RESULTS: A total 175 patients treated with infliximab (n=72) or adalimumab (n=103) with the following conditions were enrolled: Crohn's disease, 34 (19.4%); ulcerative colitis, 20 (11.4%); ankylosing spondylitis, 82 (46.9%); and rheumatoid arthritis, 39 (22.2%). There were 18 cases (6.0%) of serious infections. The most common site of serious infection was the intra-abdomen (n=6), followed by TB (n=3), skin and soft tissue (n=3), bone and joints (n=2), ocular neurons (n=2), lower respiratory tract (n=1), and urinary tract (n=1). Of the 175 patients, only 3 cases showed development of TB. Furthermore, of all those who developed TB, none had taken anti-TB chemoprophylaxis prior to treatment with an anti-TNF agent due to negative screening results. CONCLUSION: Serious infections with anti-TNF-alpha therapy were uncommon among tertiary hospitals in Korea; TB was the second most frequent infection. Nevertheless, there were no TB reactivations after anti-TB chemoprophylaxis. Accordingly, physicians should be aware of TB in subjects undergoing anti-TNF-alpha therapy, especially in countries with a high prevalence of TB.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Chemoprevention ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Crohn Disease ; Demography ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Joints ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Methods ; Necrosis* ; Neurons ; Prevalence ; Respiratory System ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Tuberculosis* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Urinary Tract

PURPOSE: Despite of the effectiveness of androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer, it progress to androgen independent prostate cancer (AIPC) after various periods of time. The objective of this study was to analyze the clinical and pathological variables that predict progression to AIPC after combined androgen blockade (CAB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 343 patients who were treated with CAB for prostate cancer. Binary logistic regression test was used to analyze the independent predictors for the progression to AIPC. The time to AIPC, according to variables, was assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method and the variables were compared using the Log-Rank test. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 42.1 months (range: 12-120). Seventy seven patients (33.3%) experienced progression to AIPC at a median of 20.2 months (range: 6-72). On univariate analysis, the percentage of positive prostate biopsies, the Gleason score, the T stage, the extent of bone metastasis, lymph node metastasis, the pretreatment PSA level, the nadir PSA and the PSA level at 3 and 6 months all had a significant relationship with the progression to AIPC. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for the nadir PSA showed that the optimal cut-off point to predict progression to AIPC was 0.5ng/ml with an area under curve of 0.769. A multivariate analysis demonstrated that the Gleason score (>7), the nadir PSA (>0.5ng/ml), and the PSA level at 6 months (>4.0ng/ml) were significantly correlated with the progression to AIPC. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that Gleason score, the nadir PSA and the PSA level at 6 months were independent variables to predict progression to AIPC after CAB. The PSA level at 6 months may be the most accurate variable to predict progression to AIPC.
Area Under Curve ; Biopsy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Lymph Nodes ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Grading ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve

Mandible ; Osteotomy, Sagittal Split Ramus

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma is a type of undifferentiated, malignant neuroendocrine tumor. Most of neuroendocrine tumors exhibit well-differentiated features and are classified as carcinoid tumors. However, carcinomas of the liver with anaplastic characters, which are classified as small-cell carcinomas are extremely rare and only few cases have been reported in the literature. We report an unusual case of primary small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the liver in a 67-year-old man. The patient was found to have a palpable mass on right upper quadrant of abdomen on physical examination. The diagnosis was made by immunohistochemical stains of biopsied specimen from the liver. Other possible primary site was excluded by radiologic and endoscopic evaluations. The tumor was composed of small monotonous and hyperchromatic poorly differentiated cells with higher nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio, and were positive for neuroendocrine tissue markers such as synaptophysin, c-kit, and CD56.
Aged ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/*diagnosis/pathology ; Carcinoma, Small Cell/*diagnosis/pathology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology ; Male

PURPOSE: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is very common among patients with a urological malignancy. We assessed the prevalence and patterns of use of complementary therapies among patients with bladder, prostate and renal cancers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between May and July 2004, we conducted a survey to assess the use of CAM at 13 outpatient clinics in Korea. Seven hundred and eleven patients with bladder (269), prostate (300) or renal cancers (142) were selected to answer a self-administered questionnaire on CAM, which were then analyzed. RESULTS: Among 711 patients with urological malignancies, 279 (39.2%) had been treated with at least one type of CAM, in addition to conventional Western treatment. The cancer patients treated with radiation therapy or immunotherapy were more likely to employ CAM than those using other therapies. Age, gender, cancer type, occupations, religions, level of education and disease status (stable or progressive) were not associated with the prevalence of CAM. 44.3% of CAM users wanted to discuss CAM techniques with their doctors, but only 24.8% received an explanation of there use. CONCLUSIONS: CAM is used by a large number of patients with urological malignancies, particularly in those undergoing radiation therapy or immunotherapy. Urologists need to have an accurate knowledge and apprehension of CAM. The possible effects and side effects should be defined, with appropriate guidelines recommended for patients with a urological malignancy.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Complementary Therapies* ; Education ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Kidney Neoplasms ; Korea ; Occupations ; Prevalence ; Prostate ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

BACKGROUND/AIMS: At present, triple therapy schemes are recommended by national and international consensus conferences for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. However, even with the most effective current treatment regimens, about 10-20% of patients fail to eradicate H. pylori, necessitating alternative strategy to eradicate H. pylori in primary treatment failure. Therefore, we performed this study to evaluate the efficacy of quadruple therapy and to compare 1 and 2-week quadruple regimen as a second-line therapy. METHODS: The hospital records of 155 patients who failed to the standard triple therapy (proton pump inhibitor, amoxicillin, clarithromycin) were reviewed retrospectively, and divided the 1 or 2 weeks OBMT regimen (omeprazole 20 mg bid, bismuth salt 120 mg qid, metronidazole 500 mg tid, tetracycline 500 mg qid). Presence of H. pylori infection and side-effects of the treatment regimen were assessed 4 weeks after the cessation of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: One hundred and eight male and 47 female (mean age, 52.2+/-15.4) patients were enrolled. The overall eradication rate of H. pylori with quadruple therapy was 83.9% and the eradication rate was similar between 1 and 2 weeks of OBMT regimen (76.8% in OBMT 1 week, 87.9% in OBMT 2 weeks, respectively p=0.110). CONCLUSIONS: Quadruple therapy is an effective salvage regimen for H. pylori eradication after the failure of standard triple therapy. One week quadruple therapy is not significantly different from 2-weeks regimen as the second-line option for H. pylori eradication.
Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage ; Anti-Ulcer Agents/administration & dosage ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections/*drug therapy ; *Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proton Pumps/antagonists & inhibitors

PURPOSE: We wanted to determine the safety and efficacy 1 year after intravesical keyhole-limpet hemocyanin (KLH) therapy for the patients suffering with superficial transitional cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 patients with bladder cancer who had undergone transurethral resection were treated with a one-year protocol (once a week for 6 weeks and 12 further treatments every 4 weeks) of KLH 20mg. The local and systemic safety and efficacy were evaluated. RESULTS: In terms of the safety of KLH, 4 patients (6.7%) reported dizziness and slight fever, and 2 (3.3%) experienced urgency. The remaining 54 patients (90.0%) did not report any local side effects during the treatment period. In terms of efficacy, recurrence developed in 32 patients (53.3%) at a mean of 4.5 months after transurethral resection; 28 patients (46.7%) were disease free after 14 months. The univariate analysis showed a greater level of efficacy in the patients suffering with bacille Calmette-Gu rin (BCG)-refractory disease (p=0.0150). No significant differences were found between the low, the intermediate-risk and the high-risk patients in terms of efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study have confirmed the good tolerability of intravesical KLH and better efficacy in the BCG-refractory patients. However, in terms of overall efficacy, intravesical KLH therapy had no superiority over that of other intravesical treatments in terms of the overall efficacy.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Dizziness ; Fever ; Hemocyanin* ; Humans ; Prospective Studies* ; Recurrence ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Polyethyleneglycol (PEG) is safe but its large volume and bad taste reduces patients' compliance. Sodium phosphate (NaP) is a hyperosmotic agent and its small volume can increase patients' compliance but electrolyte imbalance is a problem. Therefore, we conducted a study to determine whether patients' compliance can be enhanced and electrolyte imbalance reduced by combining these two agents. METHODS: Forty-one admitted patients receiving colonoscopy at Korea University Hospital from June 28, 2004 to August 14, 2004 were randomly divided into two groups for colon cleansing with either PEG 4 L (n=21) or PEG 2 L plus NaP 45 mL (n=20). Patients were assessed for patient tolerance, quality of preparation, and changes of biochemical parameters. RESULTS: Overall discomfort was statistically lower in the combination group, PEG 2 L plus NaP 45 mL (p=0.035). Although patients in the combination group reported less fullness (p=0.076) and nausea (p=0.087), the findings were not statistically significant. The quality of the preparation was comparable between the two groups (p=0.872). The phosphorus level in the combination group showed a statistically significant increase (0.58+/-0.46) after colon cleansing (p=0.020) but was not clinically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of NaP 45 mL and PEG 2 L showed less overall discomfort with comparable quality of preparation and without serious electrolyte abnormality compared to 4 L of PEG. Therefore, the combination of NaP 45 mL and PEG 2 L could be used as an alternative colonoscopic colon cleansing agent when patients have trouble taking 4 L of PEG alone.
Colon* ; Colonoscopy* ; Compliance ; Detergents ; Humans ; Korea ; Nausea ; Phosphorus ; Prospective Studies* ; Sodium*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Rhabdomyolysis is a serious and lethal condition that can be induced not only by traumatic causes but also by a variety of nontraumatic causes. However, there are few reports about rhabdomyolysis developed in patients with liver cirrhosis. We carried out this study to elucidate the clinical characteristics and courses of rhabdomyolysis in patients with liver cirrhosis. METHODS: We analyzed 19 cases of nontraumatic rhabdomyolysis in patients with liver cirrhosis who had admitted at Korea University Ansan Hospital between October 2001 and September 2004. RESULTS: Alcohol (50%) was the main etiology of rhabdomyolysis in alcoholic liver cirrhosis patients, and the precipitating factors were not apparent (69.2%) in majority of nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis patients with rhabdomyolysis. Nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis patients had complaints of pain referable to the musculoskeletal system, but alcoholic liver cirrhosis patients had no typical complaints. Mortality of rhabdomyolysis in liver cirrhosis patients was high (42.1%), especially in decompensated liver cirrhosis patients (p=0.04). In nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis patients, the development of oliguria (p=0.007) and acute renal failure (p=0.049) in the course of rhabdomyolysis increased the mortality significantly. CONCLUSIONS: In cirrhosis patients, rhabdomyolysis showed a poor prognosis, especially in nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis with oliguria, acute renal failure, or decompensated liver cirrhosis. It is believed that a high clinical suspicion for the occurrence of rhabdomyolysis in liver cirrhosis patients can lead to quicker recognition and better patient care.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Acute/complications ; Liver Cirrhosis/*complications ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rhabdomyolysis/*diagnosis/etiology/mortality ; Survival Rate

Pancreatic metastasis of gastric cancer almost takes the form of direct continous invasion to the pancreas from the primary lesions or dissemination. Isolated lymphogenous pancreatic metastasis of stomach cancer is rare. A 39-year-old woman was admitted to our institution due to high serum CA 19-9 level. Abdominal computed tomography showed a diffusely enlarged pancreas, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography revealed a segmental stricture of pancreatic duct on mid-body. Ultrasonography guided pancreatic biopsy revealed a metastatic poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with lymphatic tumor emboli. We perfomed esophagogastroduodenoscopy and total colonoscopy. There was a ulcerative lesion at the posterior wall of high body with clubbing change of surrounding mucosal folds. Endoscopic biopsy of the stomach lesion revealed a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan revealed bone metastasis in the sternum. Herein, we report a case of 39 year old female with the diagnosis of gastric adenocarcinoma, with lymphogenous pancreatic metastasis and solitary sternal metastasis detected by elevated serum CA 19-9 level.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adult ; Biopsy ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Colonoscopy ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Electrons ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Female ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Sternum ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Ulcer ; Ultrasonography