OBJECTIVE: The study’s aim was to develop and standardize a Korean version of the University of California San Diego Performance-based Skills Assessment (K-UPSA), which is used to evaluate the daily living function of patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: Study participants were 78 patients with schizophrenia and 27 demographically matched healthy controls. We evaluated the clinical states and cognitive functions to verify K-UPSA’s reliability and validity. For clinical states, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Clinical Global Impression-Schizophrenia scale, and Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale and Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale-fourth revision were used. The Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale, Short-form of Korean-Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test were used to assess cognitive function. RESULTS: The K-UPSA had statistically significant reliability and validity. The K-UPSA has high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha, 0.837) and test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient, 0.381–0.792; p<0.001). The K-UPSA had significant discriminant validity (p<0.001). Significant correlations between the K-UPSA’s scores and most of the scales and tests listed above demonstrated K-UPSA’s concurrent validity (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The K-UPSA is useful to evaluate the daily living function in Korean patients with schizophrenia.
Adult ; California* ; Cognition ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Quality of Life ; Reproducibility of Results* ; Schizophrenia ; Weights and Measures ; Wisconsin

PURPOSE: In the treatment of breast cancer, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is useful to reduce breast cancer size before surgical intervention. Patients who achieve a pathologic complete response (pCR) to NAC have improved overall survival (OS). However, the relationship between prognosis and partial response is yet unclear. In this study, we evaluated prognostic factors and the tumor response ratio (TRR) method among patients who received NAC. METHODS: Clinicopathologic factors were evaluated to predict OS. The TRR was calculated by dividing pathologic tumor size by clinical tumor size. TRRs were then categorized into four groups, and the survival times for the different TRR groups were compared using statistical evaluation. RESULTS: Clinical N stage (p=0.02), overall stage (p=0.04), pathologic N stage (p=0.03), hormone receptor status (p=0.01), and lymphovascular invasion (p=0.02) were significantly associated with OS. Pathologic overall stage and TRR did not correlate with OS. Patients with a pCR exhibited the best survival rates using the current staging system and the TRR method. CONCLUSION: Clinicopathologic factors can be easily applied to predict OS, and clinicians could use these parameters until an accurate, simple, and highly discriminatory methods is developed to assess breast cancer patients with a partial.

Sequential lymphoma is defined as two different types of lymphoma that occur in the same patient at different anatomic sites and times. In most cases, the two distinct histologies belong to the same lineage (B- or T-cell lymphoma), though cases with both have been observed. A few cases of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphomas arising in patients with angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma (AITL) have been reported. Immune deficits inherent in AITL, combined with the immunosuppressive effects of the therapy, may have allowed unchecked EBV-induced proliferation of latently or newly EBV-infected B cells with eventual clonal selection and progression to aggressive B-cell lymphoma. Here, we report a case of AITL in which EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) arose 9 months after the initial diagnosis of AITL.
B-Lymphocytes ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; T-Lymphocytes

PURPOSE: Although eosinophilia is a common laboratory finding in many neonatal intensive care units (ICUs), its causative mechanisms remain obscure. We aimed to determine the causes of eosinophilia in the neonatal ICU environment. METHODS: Serial eosinophil counts were determined weekly for 288 hospitalized, appropriately grown neonates. Infants were divided into four groups according to gestational age, and the incidence and etiologic factors of eosinophilia were retrospectively studied. RESULTS: Absolute eosinophilia (>700/mm3) was documented in 18% (52/288) of neonates. Twenty-two infants (42.3%) exhibited mild eosinophilia (700-999 cells/mm3), 27 (51.9%) exhibited moderate eosinophilia (1,000-2,999 cells/mm3), and 3 (5.8%) exhibited severe eosinophilia (>3,000 cells/mm3). Of the 288 infants studied, 54 suffered sepsis. Thirty of these 54 infants (55.6%) showed eosinophilia, and 22 out of the remaining 234 infants (9%) without sepsis showed eosinophilia, indicating that eosinophilia was more prevalent in the sepsis group (P <0.05). All 5 infants suffering from bronchopulmonary dysplasia showed eosinophilia, and 47 out of the remaining 283 infants (16.7%) without bronchopulmonary dysplasia showed eosinophilia. Thus, eosinophilia was more prevalent in the bronchopulmonary dysplasia group (P <0.05). Furthermore, increased prevalence of eosinophilia was associated with respiratory distress syndrome, ventilator use, blood transfusion, and total parenteral nutrition (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that eosinophilia is influenced by sepsis and bronchopulmonary dysplasia, although it can also occur idiopathically at birth. Moreover, the potential role of eosinophils in conditions such as wound healing and fibrosis in sepsis or chronic lung disease may be a cause of eosinophilia.
Blood Transfusion ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Fibrosis ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Lung Diseases ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total ; Parturition ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Stress, Psychological ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Wound Healing

Glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitors, such as abciximab, are used as adjunctive therapy for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in high-risk non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), although their effects when used for STEMI are less clear. As the use of GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors becomes more widespread, determining the risks associated with them becomes more important. The major risks associated with the use of GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors are the potential for major bleeding and thrombocytopenia. This is the first reported case in Korea of hemorrhagic pericarditis resulting in cardiac tamponade associated with the use of abciximab, a commonly used GP Ilb/IIa inhibitor, following PCI.
Aged ; Angioplasty, Transluminal, Percutaneous Coronary/*adverse effects ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/*adverse effects ; Anticoagulants/*adverse effects ; Cardiac Tamponade/*etiology/therapy ; Emergency Medical Services ; Hemorrhage/*etiology/therapy ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments/*adverse effects ; Korea ; Male ; Pericardiocentesis ; Pericarditis/*etiology/therapy ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/*adverse effects ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: The role of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD) is still controversial, and the relation between current H. pylori infection and CAD has not been fully examined. This study evaluated the relation between H. pylori infection as confirmed by gastroduodenoscopic biopsy and CAD. METHODS: We determined the presence of H. pylori infections, via gastroduodenoscopy, in 88 patients of the normal coronary angiographic group and also in 175 patients of the CAD group, and the latter patients had more than 50% coronary stenosis angiographically demonstrated. We excluded those patients with a history of previous H. pylori eradication and/or malignancy. A small piece of tissue from the antrum, which was obtained by gastroduodenoscopic biopsy, was stained by Warthin-starry silver stain. We defined a negative staining result that there was no stained tissue in the sample and the stained tissue was also positive for H. pylori infection. RESULTS: There was no significant difference, except for gender, age, smoking and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), of the demographic and laboratory characteristics between the groups. Twenty seven (30.7%) patients of the normal control group and 71 (40.6%) patients of the CAD group were positive of H. pylori infection, yet there was no statistical difference. We angiographically followed up the 80 patients of the CAD group who were treated by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at 6 to 9 months after their primary intervention. Twenty two (37.9%) of the 58 patients of the H. pylori negative group and 10 (45.5%) of the 22 patients of the H. pylori positive group were treated with reintervention, but reintervention was also not significantly different between the group with H. pylori infection and the group without the infection. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicated that H. pylori infection had a modest influence on CAD and progressive atheroma, but the showed a tendency to increase. Further studies are needed to evaluate the relationship between H. pylori infection and CAD.
Aged ; Angioplasty, Transluminal, Percutaneous Coronary ; Biopsy ; Case-Control Studies ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease/*microbiology/radiography/therapy ; Duodenoscopy ; Female ; Gastroscopy ; Helicobacter Infections/complications/*microbiology/pathology ; Helicobacter pylori/*isolation & purification ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pyloric Antrum/pathology ; Time Factors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent endothelial cell-specific mitogen. This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that the neointima hyperplasia induced by a balloon injury is inhibited by blocking VEGF and VEGF receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) with anti-VEGF peptides. Materials and Methods: Anti-VEGF RRKRRR peptide (dRK6) and anti-VEGFR-1 peptide (anti-flt-1) were synthesized at Pohang University of Science and Technology, Korea. Male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 300-350 g, were subcutaneously injected 0.5 mg/kg of dRK6 or 0.5 mg/kg of anti-flt-1, dissolved in phosphate buffer solution, 2 days before induction of a carotid balloon-injury, and then daily in the same manner post carotid balloon injury for 2 weeks. RESULTS: Neointima formation was suppressed in both the dRK6 and anti-flt-1 groups compared to that in the untreated controls at 2 weeks post carotid balloon-injury (neointimal area; control group 0.44+/-0.09 mm2, dRK6 group 0.25+/-0.05 mm2, anti-flt-1 group 0.19+/-0.05 mm2, p<0.01). Anti-flt-1 peptide and dRK6 reduced the numbers of proliferative bromodeoxyuridine-labeled cells in the neointima (control group 16.4+/-10.6%, dRK6 group 3.7+/-2.1%, anti-flt-1 group 5.9+/-3.4%, p<0.05). In addition, an inflammatory response, as determined by monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and interleukin-6 upregulation, which was evident in the controls, was inhibited by both dRK6 and anti-flt-1. CONCLUSION: This study suggests anti-vascular endothelial growth factor peptides can reduce the inflammation and neointima formation in balloon injured rat carotid arteries.
Animals ; Carotid Arteries* ; Carotid Artery Injuries ; Chemokine CCL2 ; Endothelial Growth Factors* ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-6 ; Korea ; Male ; Neointima* ; Peptides* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Up-Regulation ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

PURPOSE : Anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agents act by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation through cytotoxic action, therefore the generally tolerated maximum dose is administered to patients. However, this often results in the production of undesirable toxicities, such as bone marrow suppression, and a long interruption of treatment is necessary for recovery to occur before additional cycles of treatment are administered. Paclitaxel and cisplatin are well known effective chemotherapeutic agents used for the treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NCSLC), however, they have substantial toxicities. To evaluate efficacy and safety of a therapy consisting of a weekly low dose of paclitaxel and therapy in elderly patients with advanced NSCLC. MATERIALS AND METHODS : Thirteen treatment-naive, elderly patients over 65 years old who were diagnosed with stage IV NSCLC at Konyang University from April 2005 to October 2006 were enrolled in the present study. Paclitaxel at a dose of 55 mg/m2 in combination with cisplatin at a dose of 20 mg/m2 was administered intravenously on day 1, 8, and 15 with 1 week of interruption for a total of six cycles of chemotherapy. RESULTS : The mean age of the ten patients included in this study was 69.5 years. Following treatment, 50 % of the patients exhibited a partial response to treatment, whereas the disease remained stable in 40% of the patients, and progressed in 10% of the patients. The median survival time (Kaplan-Meier method) was 15 months (4~24 months), and the 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year survival rates were 80%, 50%, and 10%, respectively. The median progression survival time was 8 months (2~14 months) and the 6- and 12-month progression free survival rates were 60% and 10%, respectively. Grade 3 neutropenia occurred in only 1 case (10%). CONCLUSION : The results of this study indicated that chemotherapy consisting of a weekly low dose of paclitaxel and cisplatin could be more effective and have lesser toxicity when administered to elderly patients with advanced NSCLC. In addition, this treatment regimen showed a promising response rate
Aged* ; Bone Marrow ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Cell Proliferation ; Cisplatin* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Neutropenia ; Paclitaxel* ; Survival Rate

Otocephaly is a rare malformations comprising hypoplasia or absence of the mandible (agnathia), ventromedial displacement and often fusion of external ears (synotia or otocephaly), and hypoplasia of the oral cavity (microstomia) and tongue (hypoglassia). This developmental complex represents a malformation of the first and second branchial arches and occurs sometimes with holoprosencephaly. We present the ultrasound detection of otocephaly and holoprosencephaly with cyclopia in a fetus of 27 gestational weeks 6 days. The use of three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound made additional diagnostic ultrasound tomograms possible, and the volume reconstructions improved the imaging and the understanding of the condition.
Branchial Region ; Diagnosis* ; Ear, External ; Fetus ; Holoprosencephaly ; Mandible ; Mouth ; Tongue ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: Current diagnostic modalities frequently carry false negative evaluations, especially in micro-metastasis. Some metastases are identified incidentally during the operation for primary colorectal cancer. Our study was performed to assess the clinicopathological characteristics of intraoperatively diagnosed liver metastases, to analyze the survival and the prognosis, to compare the results with those for preoperatively diagnosed liver metastases. METHODS: Between July 1989 and December 2001, the cases of 78 patients who underwent treatment for intraoperatively diagnosed liver metastasis at our hospital were analyzed retrospectively. There were 375 patients who were diagnosed with liver metastasis preoperatively during the same period. Metachronous liver metastases were excluded. RESULTS: Intraoperatively diagnosed liver metastases mostly showed clinicopathological characteristics of primary colorectal cancer similar to those for preoperatively diagnosed liver metastases. On the other hand, the preoperative serum CEA level was significantly lower in the intraoperatively diagnosed group than it was in the preoperatively diagnosed group (P<0.001). For the metastatic lesion, the size of the metastasis was smaller in the intraoperatively diagnosed group than it was in the preoperatively diagnosed group (P=0.03). The two-year survival rate of the intraoperatively diagnosed group was significantly better than that of the preoperatively diagnosed group (71.6% vs. 58.4%; P=0.031). Prognostic factors of the intraoperatively diagnosed group were the number of liver metastases, a curative operation for the primary cancer, and an operation for the metastatic lesion. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperatively diagnosed liver metastases had biologic features similar to those of preoperatively diagnosed liver metastases. The survival rate of the intraoperatively diagnosed group was better than that of the preoperatively diagnosed group, possibly due to the curative resection for the hepatic metastases. Therefore, aggressive treatment for primary and metastatic lesions is the therapeutic choice to improve patient's survival for intraoperatively diagnosed synchronous liver metastases.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Hand ; Humans ; Liver* ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate