• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2010

Purpose : Although the incidence of polymicrobial bloodstream infection (PBSI) has increased, only a few studies have so far focused on children. Therefore, in an effort to prevent more serious situations in pediatric patients, we analyzed the clinical features, organisms, and laboratory results of PBSI. Methods : We performed a retrospective review of the case records of 97 patients with polymicrobial bloodstream infection in the Severance hospital, from 2001 to 2008. Using t-test and chi-square test, we analyzed the underlying medical conditions, clinical characteristics, organisms, and laboratory results of those patients. Results : Annual incidence of polymicrobial bloodstream infection increased from 1.4 % in 2001 to 10.9% in 2008 in pediatric patients. Immunocompromised hemato-oncological malignancy was found in 31 (31.9%) patients, and was the most common underlying medical condition; cardiovascular disease was found in 15 patients (15.4%), neurologic disease in 10 patients (10.3%), and so on. Gram positive organisms were recovered in 143 cases and gram negative organisms were recovered in 101 cases of PBSI. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common organism. Factors affecting mortality included underlying medical disease, immune status, nosocomial infection, and central catheter-related infection, for which the rate of mortality showed a greater increase (P<0.05). Conclusion : Due to the close connection between PBSI and fatal conditions or high mortality, it requires more aggressive management. Compared with previous studies, we discovered that immunocompromised hemato-oncological malignancy was the most common underlying medical condition and that frequency of gram-positive bacteria and fungus isolated has increased.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.36-44
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• 2008

Purpose : Orbital cellulitis is rare, but it could be from the serious complication of sinusitis in children. It is often difficult to distinguish periorbital cellulitis from orbital cellulitis. The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical features of orbital and periorbital cellulitis in a pediatric population and to assess the predisposing factors and their complications. Methods : Forty-one patients aged 18 years and younger who were admitted between January 2000 and December 2006 to Hanil General Hospital and Kyunghee University Hospital with orbital or periorbital cellulitis. The retrospective analyses included clinical characteristics of orbital and periorbital cellulitis, dermographics, past history, predisposing factors, clinical presentations, treatments, and complications. Results : Among 41 patients, 34 patients had periorbital cellulitis, 7 patients had orbital cellulitis. While paranasal sinus disease was the most common predisposing cause in orbital cases, skin lesion, insect bite, dacrocystitis and conjunctivitis were the common causes in periorbital cases. In comparison with periorbital cases, orbital cases had higher level of white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein. Blood cultures were taken in 23 patients, but only one had Staphylococcus aureus from blood. Only one case had surgical incision and drainage and recovered without complications. Conclusion : From the results of our data, when patient shows erythematous swelling of periorbital area with opthalmoplegia, chemosis and proptosis, orbital CT scan is required to make diagnosis of orbital cellulitis. Most cases of orbital cellulitis can be treated successfully without surgical intervention. If there is no clinical improvement, repeated CT scan and/or surgical intervention should be considered.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.107-116
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• 2002

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases(MMP) are essential enzymes for tumor invasion and metastasis. Among the MMP family, elevated MMP-9 and stromelysin-3(STR-3) expression have been reported to be poor prognostic factors in lung cancer patients. To evaluate the possibility of a molecular diagnosis of lung cancer using peripheral blood, the mRNA expression level of MMP-9 and STR-3 was measured using a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in patients with lung cancer. Methods : Ninety six patients(44 patients with lung cancer, 19 pulmonary infection, and 33 control) were included. To detect MMP-9 and STR-3 mRNA expression, RT-PCR was performed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. ELISA was also used to measure the serum level of MMP-9. Results : MMP-9 was expressed more frequently in patients with a pulmonary infection(18/19, 94.7%) compared to lung cancer patients(26/44, 59.1%) or the controls (23/33, 69.7%) (p=0.018). On the other hand, STR-3 expression was observed more frequently in patients with lung cancer(37/44, 84.1%) compared to the lung infection patients(8/19, 42.1%) or control(20/33, 60.6%) (p=0.003). Among the lung cancer patients, MMP-9 was expressed more frequently when a tumor invaded the lymph nodes(17/24, 70.8%) compared to when a tumor did not(3/13, 23.1%) (p=0.005). The MMP-9 and STR-3 expression levels had no relationship with age, sex, tumor size, distant metastasis, or tumor histology. The serum MMP-9 concentration was not higher in lung cancer patients compared to patients with a pulmonary infection or the control subjects. Conclusion : STR-3 may be used as a diagnostic marker in the peripheral blood of lung cancer patients using RT-PCR. Further studies to evaluate the clinical significance of elevated STR-3 expression in lung cancer patients is recommended.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.267-277
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• 2020

This study was conducted to assess the effect of highly concentrated onion intake on rodents. The experimental animals were divided two groups as follows; water administered group (CON) and Allium cepa administered group (ACE). The ACE group showed a slightly increases in the number of erythrocytes (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (Hct) levels compared to the control group (p<0.05). Hemoglobin, monocyte, lymphocyte and neutrophil had no significant change (p>0.05) in ACE group and control group. The analysis of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) levels showed a significant decrease in ACE group compared to the control group (p<0.05). The blood glucose, total protein, HDL-cholesterol were slightly high in ACE group, while triglyceride, total cholesterol levels were lower in ACE group compared to the control group (p<0.05). The levels of cytokines (interluekin-1α (IL-1α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interferon-γ (INF-γ), interleukin-18 (IL-18), interleukin-2 (IL-2), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)) involved in immunity and inflammation in liver tissue and blood have all been confirmed to be within normal range. These findings could be used as basic data to show that highly concentrated dietary onion extract is not toxic to hematological indicators and immune functions.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.137-144
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• 1985

Radiation therapy was the treatment of choice for CML in the past, in the form of SI or radioactive phosphorus. Its use has been replaced to a large extent by various chemotherapeutic agents. Recently SI in CML has been used, both to relieve painful splenomegaly and to take advantage of an indirect effect of SI on unirradiated bone marrow. We have treated 15 CML cases who had a huge spleen during chemotherapy or even after chemotherapy by 6 MV linear accelerator during the past two years at the Division of Radiation Therapy, Kang Nam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic College. Response to SI has been rated according to the scoring system of Roger W. Byhardt, et al. which evaluated the splenic and hematologic response as well as the response of disease-related systems. According to this scoring system, most patients demonstrated a significant relief of splenomegaly along with improvement of hemogram. And we observed the change of Karnofsky Performance Status after SI, and survival after a confirmative diagnosis and SI.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.205-213
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• 2000

Purpose : To determine the role of cytokines in the apoptosis of rat's liver following irradiation. Materials and Methods : Sprague-Dawley rats were irradiated to entire body with a single dose of 8 Gy. The rats were divided Into 5 groups according to the sacrlfice day after irradiation. The liver and blood after 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 days irradiation were sampled for evaluation of mechanism of apoptosis and role of cytokine in relation to radiation-induced tissue damage. The study was composed of microscopic evaluation of liver tissue, in situ detection method for apoptosis, immunohistochemical stain of IL-1, IL-4, IL-6 and TNF, bioassay and radioimmunoassay of IL-6 in liver tissue and blood. Results : Radiation-induced liver damage was noted from first day of radiation, and most severe parenchymal damage associated with infiltration of chronic inflammatory cells was seen in the groups of 5 days after radiation. A number of apoptosis were observed 1 day after radiation on both light microscope and in situ method. Afterwards, the number of apoptosis was gradually diminished. On immunohistochemical study, IL-1 and TNF were expressed 1, 3 days after radiation, but not expressed after that. IL-4 was not expressed in the entire groups. IL-6 was expressed with strong positivity in 1, 3 days after radiation. Bioassay and RIA of IL-6 in liver tissue and blood showed the highest value in 1 day after radiation, and the value is diminished after then. Conclusion. Apoptosis seemed to be the important mechanism of radiation-induced liver damage, and is possibly induced by the release of cytokines, such as IL-1, IL-6, TNF in view the simultaneously increased appearance of pooptosis and cytokines.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 2017

Purpose: This study investigated changes in life-sustaining treatments in terminally ill cancer patients after consenting to a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order. Methods: Electronic medical records were reviewed to select terminally ill cancer patients who were treated at the oncology unit of the Asan Medical Center, a tertiary hospital in South Korea and died between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013. Results: The median (range) age of the 200 patients was 59 (22~89) years, and 62% (124 persons) were male. Among all patients, 83.5% were aware of their medical condition, and 47.0% of the patients had their DNR order signed by their spouses. The median of the patients' hospital stay was 15 days, and time from admission to DNR decision was 10 days. After signing a DNR order, 35.7~100% of the life-sustaining treatments that had been provided at the time of the DNR decision making were administered. The most commonly discontinued interventions were transfusion (13.5%), blood test (11.5%) and parenteral nutrition (8.5%). Conclusion: It is necessary to define the scope of life-sustaining treatments for DNR patients. Treatment guidelines should be established as well to secure terminal patients' death with dignity after their consent to a DNR order, thereby avoiding meaningless life-sustaining treatments and allowing administration of active terminal care interventions.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 1993

We evaluated frequency and types of chromosomal aberrations by ionizing radiation in cancer patients treated with radiotherapy in our institution. Twenty-five patients with various types of carcinomas such as lung, uterine cervix, esophagus, rectum, head and neck and pancreatic cancers were studied immediately before and after external beam radiotherapy. The frequency of aberrant metaphase prior to treatment was $4.93{\%}$, which was higher than that of control group. Especially in lung cancer, the freuqency of aberrant metaphase was three times higher than control group. A comparison of chromosomal abnormalities observed before and after radiotherapy demonstrated that proportion of aberrant rnetaphases was significantly inreased to $22.13{\%}$. Major chromosomal aberrations like structural abnormalities showed remarkalbe increase from 65.45 to $88.45{\%}$ after the treatment. Also the numbers of chromosomal alterations per cell were increased by a factor of 6.5. Aberrations with two or more break points were more prominently increased, compared with aberrations with single break point. The number of chromosomal break points was noted to be higher than expected value in No.1, 3, 8 and 11 chromosomes and lower in No.13, 15, 17 and 21 chromosomes. Based on this study, we believe that the distribution of chromosomal breakage is related with gene and chromosomal rearrangement which could result in the development of cancers.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.197-204
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• 2018

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the leading cause of death among hematologic neoplasms. Recently, microRNA has been reported to be useful in the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. This study examined whether miR-221 could be used as a diagnostic marker for multiple myeloma. The study was performed on 20 patients with multiple myeloma without any other hematological diseases. MicroRNA extraction was performed using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues obtained from the bone marrow of patients with multiple myeloma. miR-15a, miR-16, miR-21, miR-181a, and miR-221 were selected as the microRNA target genes for multiple myeloma. The significance of microRNA was based on a fold change of <1.5. To quantify the fold changes, data normalized to the human gene, SNORD43, were used as the values of the patient group. Fold change values greater than 1.5 were defined as "overexpression", whereas values less than -1.5 were defined as "underexpression". Of note, 65.0% (13/20) of samples showed significant "overexpression" in the levels of miR-221 expression and plasma cells with a group of more and less than 30% in MM patients did not show any significance of plasma cell (P<0.05). The results of other studies showing a correlation between the expression of miR-221 and MM in Caucasians were confirmed. These results suggest that miR-221 may be a useful indicator for diagnosing patients with MM. In conclusion, miR-221 is useful in the diagnosis and determining the prognosis of multiple myeloma in Koreans.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.93-99
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• 2009

This study aimed to determine whether or not glycoprotein isolated from Cudrania tricuspidata Bureau fruit(CTB glycoprotein) exerts a hepatoprotective effect on liver injury induced by the administration of carbon tetrachloride($CCl_4$, 1.0mL/kg) to A/J mice. Following the administration of CTB glycoprotein(0-20mg/kg), the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase(CAT), and glutathione peroxidase(GPx)), and the quantities of measured thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), and nitric oxide(NO) were evaluated from the murine liver tissues and plasma. Additionally, the activity of nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-${\kappa}B$) was assessed after pretreatment with $CCl_4$. When the mice were treated with $CCl_4$ alone, the activities of antioxidative enzymes reduced but amounts of TBARS, LDH, and NO increased. However, the results of treatment with CTB glycoprotein(10 and 20 mg/kg) revealed significantly increased activities of antioxidant enzymes(SOD, CAT, and GPx), as compared with $CCl_4$ alone. On the other hand, the result showed significant diminutions of the quantities of TBARS, LDH, and NO after treatment with CTB glycoprotein(10 and 20 mg/kg), as compared to $CCl_4$ alone. The activity of NF-${\kappa}B$ also declined after pretreatment with CTB glycoprotein, as compared with $CCl_4$ treatment alone. Thus, it is suggested that the CTB glycoprotein exerts a protective effect against $CCl_4$-induced liver injury in A/J mice.