BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We compared the efficacy and safety of valsartan and rosuvastatin combination therapy with each treatment alone in hypercholesterolemic hypertensive patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients who met inclusion criteria were randomized to receive 1 of the following 2-month drug regimens: valsartan 160 mg plus rosuvastatin 20 mg, valsartan 160 mg plus placebo, or rosuvastatin 20 mg plus placebo. The primary efficacy variables were change in sitting diastolic blood pressure (sitDBP) and sitting systolic blood pressure (sitSBP), and percentage change in low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) in the combination, valsartan, and rosuvastatin groups. Adverse events (AEs) during the study were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 354 patients were screened and 123 of them were finally randomized. Changes of sitDBP by least squares mean (LSM) were -11.1, -7.2, and -3.6 mm Hg, respectively, and was greater in the combination, as compared to both valsartan (p=0.02) and rosuvastatin (p<0.001). Changes of sitSBP by LSM were -13.2, -10.8, and -4.9 mm Hg, and was greater in the combination, as compared to rosuvastatin (p=0.006) and not valsartan (p=0.42). Percentage changes of LDL-C by LSM were -52, -4, and -47% in each group, and was greater in the combination, as compared to valsartan (p<0.001), similar to rosuvastatin (p=0.16). Most AEs were mild and resolved by the end of the study. CONCLUSION: Combination treatment with valsartan and rosuvastatin exhibited an additive blood pressure-lowering effect with acceptable tolerability, as compared to valsartan monotherapy. Its lipid lowering effect was similar to rosuvatatin monotherapy.
Blood Pressure ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Rosuvastatin Calcium ; Valsartan

In this article, on page 230, Fig. 2A needs to be corrected.

BACKGROUND: Studies on cytomegalovirus (CMV) diseases in Korean hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients are lacking and do not reflect the recent trends of advances and changes. Therefore, we tried to analyze the clinical features of CMV diseases in HSCT recipients over the past 10 years at a tertiary university hospital in Korea. METHODS: Retrospective review of medical records was done for all adult HSCT patients who received transplant at the Catholic HSCT Center from January 1998 to January 2008. RESULTS: Forty-four cases (2.2%) of CMV diseases were identified. CMV pneumonia was diagnosed in 17 patients, retinitis in 16 patients, enterocolitis in 7 patients, esophagitis 1 patient, gastritis in 1 patient, duodenitis in 1 patient, and hepatitis in 1 patient. The median onset of symptom was 90 days after transplantation. Late CMV diseases accounted for 47.7%. CMV related death varied from 0 to 58.8% according to the involved organ. CMV retinitis was diagnosed relatively later in the course of transplantation mostly in patients who had chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD). On the contrary, CMV enterocolitis mainly occurred in patients who suffered from acute GVHD. The overall concurrent CMV reactivation was documented to be 63.6%; the concurrent CMV reactivation was observed only in 37.5% of patients with retinitis. CONCLUSIONS: We observed some differences in the pattern of CMV disease manifestation according to the involved organ and reconfirmed the fact that CMV pneumonia is the most common and fatal disease in HSCT recipients. Additionally, CMV retinitis was not uncommon in HSCT recipients. Since specific marker does not exist in predicting retinitis, regular ocular examination should be done thoroughly, especially in patients with chronic GVHD.
Adult ; Cytomegalovirus ; Duodenitis ; Enterocolitis ; Esophagitis ; Gastritis ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Pneumonia ; Retinitis ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Studies on cytomegalovirus (CMV) diseases in Korean hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients are lacking and do not reflect the recent trends of advances and changes. Therefore, we tried to analyze the clinical features of CMV diseases in HSCT recipients over the past 10 years at a tertiary university hospital in Korea. METHODS: Retrospective review of medical records was done for all adult HSCT patients who received transplant at the Catholic HSCT Center from January 1998 to January 2008. RESULTS: Forty-four cases (2.2%) of CMV diseases were identified. CMV pneumonia was diagnosed in 17 patients, retinitis in 16 patients, enterocolitis in 7 patients, esophagitis 1 patient, gastritis in 1 patient, duodenitis in 1 patient, and hepatitis in 1 patient. The median onset of symptom was 90 days after transplantation. Late CMV diseases accounted for 47.7%. CMV related death varied from 0 to 58.8% according to the involved organ. CMV retinitis was diagnosed relatively later in the course of transplantation mostly in patients who had chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD). On the contrary, CMV enterocolitis mainly occurred in patients who suffered from acute GVHD. The overall concurrent CMV reactivation was documented to be 63.6%; the concurrent CMV reactivation was observed only in 37.5% of patients with retinitis. CONCLUSIONS: We observed some differences in the pattern of CMV disease manifestation according to the involved organ and reconfirmed the fact that CMV pneumonia is the most common and fatal disease in HSCT recipients. Additionally, CMV retinitis was not uncommon in HSCT recipients. Since specific marker does not exist in predicting retinitis, regular ocular examination should be done thoroughly, especially in patients with chronic GVHD.
Adult ; Cytomegalovirus ; Duodenitis ; Enterocolitis ; Esophagitis ; Gastritis ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Pneumonia ; Retinitis ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplants

Successful preemptive therapy for cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in transplant patients depends on the availability of sensitive, specific, and timely diagnostic tests for CMV infection. Although the pp65 antigenemia assay has been widely used for this purpose, real-time quantification of CMV DNA has recently been recognized as an alternative diagnostic approach. However, the guidelines for antiviral therapy based on real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) have yet to be established. From November 2004 to March 2005, a total of 555 whole blood samples from 131 hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients were prospectively collected. RQ-PCR was conducted using an Artus(R) CMV LC PCR kit (QIAGEN). Both qualitative and quantitative correlations were drawn between the two methods. Exposure to the antiviral agent influenced the results of the two assays. Additionally, the discrepancy was observed at low levels of antigenemia and CMV DNA load. Via ROC curve analysis, the tentative cutoff value for preemptive therapy was determined to be approximately 2x10(4) copies/mL (sensitivity, 80.0%; specificity, 50.0%) in the high risk patients, and approximately 3x10(4) copies/mL (sensitivity, 90.0%; specificity, 70.0%) in the patients at low risk for CMV disease. Further study to validate the optimal cutoff value for the initiation of preemptive therapy is currently underway.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cytomegalovirus/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Cytomegalovirus Infections/*diagnosis/therapy ; DNA, Viral/*blood ; Female ; *Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphoproteins/analysis/immunology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/*methods ; ROC Curve ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Viral Matrix Proteins/analysis/immunology

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

We trapped a rat (Rattus norvegicus) infected with Capillaria hepatica. At necropsy, grossly yellowish-white nodules (2-3 mm in diameter) were noted to be scattered on the liver's surface. Microscopically, granulomatous and fibrotic nodules that contained the eggs and/or adult worms of Capillaria hepatica were detected in the liver. Septal fibrosis was diffusely formed throughout the liver. There were a number of ED1-positive macrophages located in the sinusoids of the pseudolobules. On the double staining, myofibroblasts and mast cells were generally observed within the fibrous septa with the mast cells in close proximity to the myofibroblasts. We suggest that the interactions between macrophages, myofibroblasts and mast cells play a role in the septal fibrosis observed in rats infected by Capillaria hepatica.
Animals ; *Capillaria ; Enoplida Infections/immunology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Fibroblasts/immunology ; Liver/parasitology/pathology ; Macrophages/immunology ; Mast Cells/immunology ; Rats ; Rodent Diseases/*immunology/*parasitology/pathology

BACKGROUND: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) glycoprotein B (gB) is the major envelope glycoprotein, encoded by the UL55 gene. Based on sequence variation in the UL55 gene, HCMV can be classified into four gB genotypes. Previous studies have suggested an association between HCMV gB genotypes and clinical outcome in the immunocompromised hosts. The goal of this study was to determine the distribution of HCMV gB genotypes and the effect of gB genotype in the developement of HCMV diseases in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DNA was extracted from 94 blood specimen of 52 allogeneic HSCT recipients with HCMV infection. HCMV gB genotype was determined using polymerase chain reaction to amplify a region of UL55, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis based on RsaI and HinfI digestion. RESULTS: The distribution of gB types were as follows: gB1, 73.1% (38/52) of patients; gB2, 13.5% (7/52); gB3, 1.9% (1/52) and mixed infection (gB1 and gB2), 9.6% (5/52). While gB4 was not detected, a new genotype (described as gB7 by Trincado et al, 2000) was identified on the basis of their RFLP pattern. During average 708 days' follow up period, HCMV diseases developed in 5 patients. All of them had gB1 genotype. There was no statistically significant association between the incidence of HCMV diseases and the gB genotypes. Re-infection with gB1 strain was detected in one patient who had been previously infected with gB2. This episode was associated with fever, elevated liver enzyme and positive antigenemia. CONCLUSION: HCMV gB1 was the dominant genotype and no gB4 was detected in allogeneic HSCT recipients in Korea, which is an unique pattern compared with the previous reports. Although we can not find significant association between the HCMV diseases and the gB genotypes, genotyping of HCMV will serve in the study of pathogenesis and transmission of this virus in transplant patients. Further study is underway with large study population.
Coinfection ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Digestion ; DNA ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genotype* ; Glycoproteins ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells* ; Humans* ; Immunocompromised Host ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Liver ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Transplantation*

BACKGROUND: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) glycoprotein B (gB) is the major envelope glycoprotein, encoded by the UL55 gene. Based on sequence variation in the UL55 gene, HCMV can be classified into four gB genotypes. Previous studies have suggested an association between HCMV gB genotypes and clinical outcome in the immunocompromised hosts. The goal of this study was to determine the distribution of HCMV gB genotypes and the effect of gB genotype in the developement of HCMV diseases in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DNA was extracted from 94 blood specimen of 52 allogeneic HSCT recipients with HCMV infection. HCMV gB genotype was determined using polymerase chain reaction to amplify a region of UL55, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis based on RsaI and HinfI digestion. RESULTS: The distribution of gB types were as follows: gB1, 73.1% (38/52) of patients; gB2, 13.5% (7/52); gB3, 1.9% (1/52) and mixed infection (gB1 and gB2), 9.6% (5/52). While gB4 was not detected, a new genotype (described as gB7 by Trincado et al, 2000) was identified on the basis of their RFLP pattern. During average 708 days' follow up period, HCMV diseases developed in 5 patients. All of them had gB1 genotype. There was no statistically significant association between the incidence of HCMV diseases and the gB genotypes. Re-infection with gB1 strain was detected in one patient who had been previously infected with gB2. This episode was associated with fever, elevated liver enzyme and positive antigenemia. CONCLUSION: HCMV gB1 was the dominant genotype and no gB4 was detected in allogeneic HSCT recipients in Korea, which is an unique pattern compared with the previous reports. Although we can not find significant association between the HCMV diseases and the gB genotypes, genotyping of HCMV will serve in the study of pathogenesis and transmission of this virus in transplant patients. Further study is underway with large study population.
Coinfection ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Digestion ; DNA ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genotype* ; Glycoproteins ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells* ; Humans* ; Immunocompromised Host ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Liver ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Transplantation*