• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.1311-1315
• /
• 2012

Objectives: Thrombotic risk is increased in patients with cancer and there are important implications for those who suffer a venous thromboembolism (VTE). We undertook this study to determine the frequency, clinical patterns, and outcome of VTE in Saudi patients with cancer. Methods: Cancer (solid tumors and lymphoma) patients who developed VTE from January 2004 to January 2009 were studied retrospectively. Demographics and clinical characteristics related to thrombosis and cancer were evaluated. Results: A total of 701 patients with cancer were seen during the study period. VTE was diagnosed in 47 (6.7%) patients (median age 52, range 18-80 years). Lower limb DVT was the most common type, seen in 47% patients, followed by PE in 19%, and 19% patients had both DVT & PE. Thrombosis was symptomatic in 72% patients while it was an incidental finding on routine workup in 28%. Cancer and VTE were diagnosed at the same time in 38% of patients, and 47% patients developed VTE during the course of disease after the cancer diagnosis. The majority of VTE post cancer diagnoses occurred during the first year (median 4 months, range 1-14). Additional risk factors for VTE were present in 22 (47%) patients and 14 (30%) of these patients were receiving chemotherapy at the time of thrombosis. Only 5 (10.6%) patients were receiving thrombo-prophylaxis at the time of VTE diagnosis. Most common types of tumors associated with thrombosis were breast cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and lung cancer. The majority of the affected patients (79%) had advanced stage of cancer. After a median follow-up of 13 (range 0.5-60) months, 38 (81%) patients had died. There was no difference in the mortality of patients with symptomatic or asymptomatic thrombosis (82% vs 78.6%). Conclusions: Thrombotic complications can develop in a significant number of patients with cancer, and almost half of the patients have additional risk factors for VTE. Thrombosis is usually associated with advanced disease and can be asymptomatic in more than a quarter of cases. Thromboprophylaxis in cancer patients is under-utilized. Community based studies are needed to accurately define the extent of this problem and to develop effective prophylactic strategies.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.67-73
• /
• 2006

Purpose: The arterial base deficit (BD) has proven to be useful in the evaluation and management of trauma patients. Indicators such as the Triage-Revised Trauma Score (t-RTS) and the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) score have been used as triage tools for emergency trauma patients in Korea. The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of the initial BD in predicting injury severity and outcome in the trauma population. Methods: The medical records of 308 consecutive trauma patients admitted to the Emergency Center of Masan Samsung Hospital from January 2004 to December 2004 were carefully examined prospectively and retrospectively, and 291 patients were selected as subjects for this research. The SIRS score and the t-RTS were calculated based on the records from the emergency department, and the BD was calculated based on the arterial blood gas analysis obtained within 30 minutes of admission. The efficiency of the three indicators as triage tools was evaluated by using cross tabulations in two - by - two matrices and by using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: When the mortality was used as the outcome parameter, the sensitivity and the accuracy of the initial BD were higher than those of the SIRS score (p<0.05) and were same as those of the t-RTS. The areas under the ROC curves of the initial BD, the SIRS score, and the t-RTS were $0.740{\pm}0.087$, $0.696{\pm}0.082$, and $0.871{\pm}0.072$, respectively (95% confidence interval). When emergency operation and blood transfusion requirements were used as outcome parameters, the comparisons of the sensitivities and the accuracies of the initial BD and the other two indicators showed the same pattern as mentioned above. The areas under the ROC curves of the initial BD were 0.7~0.8 and were larger than those of the SIRS score (p<0.05). Conclusion: The ability of the initial BD to predict injury severity and outcome was similar to those of the t-RTS and the SIRS score. Therefore, the authors suggest that the initial BD may be used as an alternative to previous triage tools for trauma patients.

• Journal of fish pathology
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.45-54
• /
• 2006

The immunogenicity of Edwardsiella tarda was surveyed under two different culture conditions. In SDS-PAGE patterns of the outer membrane proteins (OMPs) extracts of E. tarda, grown under Trypic soy broth (TSB) and TSB supplemented iron chelate 2,2‘-dipyridyl iron-restricted condition, were examined. The results showed that the iron-regulated outer membrane protein (IROMPs) with molecular masses of 68 and 73 kDa were expressed by bacteria grown in iron-chelate TSB.The pathogenicity was examined by intraperitoneal injection with live E. tarda grown under TSB, iron-chelate TSB and iron-supplemented TSB. The result of pathogenicity test showed significantly high mortality in the group of live E. tarda grown under iron-chelate TSB.The effect of formalin killed cell (FKC) of TSB cultured bacteria and 2,2'-dipyridyl FKC (DP-FKC) of cultured bacteria on the iron-chelate TSB on the development of protective immunity in olive flounder was studied. The level of immune response was evaluated with immunized fish at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after immunization. The numbers of specific antibody secreting cells (SASCs) showed significantly increased level at 2 week after immunization in each group. The agglutination titre of immunized fish was significantly high level at 3 weeks after immunization.The level of protection in olive flounder at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after vaccination was examined by intraperitoneal challenge test with live E. tarda.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.71 no.5
• /
• pp.335-340
• /
• 2011

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world in all age groups. Viral causes of CAP are less well characterized than bacterial causes. We analyzed the characteristics of hospitalized patients with CAP who had a viral pathogen detected by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methods: Multiplex real-time PCR was performed for respiratory viruses in samples collected from 520 adults who developed CAP at Chungnam National University Hospital. Clinical, laboratory, and radiological features at presentation as well as other epidemiological data were analyzed. Results: Of 520 patients with CAP, a viral pathogen was detected in 60 (11.5%), and influenza A was the most common. The virus detection rate in patients with CAP was highest in November. Two or more pathogens were detected in 13 (21.7%) patients. Seven patients had severe disease and were administered in the intensive care unit. Most patients (49/60, 81.7%) had comorbidities. However, nine (15%) patients had no comorbidities, and their age was <60 years. The ground glass opacity pattern was the most common radiological feature. Seven (11.7%) patients died from CAP. Conclusion: Viral pathogens are commonly detected in patients with CAP, and a respiratory virus may be associated with the severity and outcome of pneumonia. Careful attention should be paid to the viral etiology in adult patients with CAP.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.118-126
• /
• 2005

In our study, osteoporosis was induced by ovariectomized in female Sprague-Daweley (SD) rats, and the prevention and treatment efficacy of the climacteric disease the ostmenopausal type I pattern was examined by using the experimental substance soybeans and arowroot. No clinical signs and mortality after continuous oral administration of experimental substances for 14 weeks were not observed, however, the weight of experimental animals underwent ovariectomized was increased significantly in comparison with control group (p<0.01). The atrophy of the uterus due to T3 group was 23.64% after 7 weeks, 24.44% after 14 weeks (in comparison with N.C. group), and it was statistically significantly increased. In regard to the change of blood cells, it was observed that platelets were statistically significantly reduced in the ovariectomized group, and administered orally experimental substances continuously for 7 weeks, in all groups administered experimental substances, it was found that platelets had the tendency to be increased more than N. C. group. In regard to He change of blood biochemistry, removed the ovary, the concentration of ALP showed the tendency to be increased than control group, and particularly in T3 group, it was increased significantly. In regard to the concentration of cholesterol, in comparison with negative control group, it was reduced 68% at 7 weeks and 35% at 14 weeks. After ovariectomized, the amount of estrogen was found to be reduced by 21.37% in comparison with control group, it showed the tendency to be increased by 4.49% in T1 group and 7.62% in T2 group, the concentration of estrogen in each group showed the tendency to be increased than negative control group, and in T3 group, it was increased to 100.46% and 117.65% in T4 group, and it was increased more than control group. Based on the above experimental results, in the experimental animals female rats, because of the hormonal imbalance induced by ovariectomized, a large mount of fat is accumulated in the body and due to it osteoporosis, obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, fat of the liver, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, and other metabolic diseases were developed. Hence, when the experimental substance Extraction of ferment arrowroot was orally administered continuously for 14 weeks, it was thought that a certain proportion of the hormonal balance was maintained that functioned as a substance interfering the accumulation of fat, and it was considered to be of help in the treatment of not only osteoporosis Type I, but also for the prevention and treatment of various endocrinal diseases.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.96 no.1
• /
• pp.107-114
• /
• 2007

Establishments of the seedlings inside the natural forest from adjacent artificial forests would be an important factor in forest stand dynamics. This study was conducted to see the invasion of Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) seedlings which is not native in this region, into the natural deciduous broad-leaved forest in Gwangneung, Korea. There is no mother tree at the I ha study site while the number of naturally regenerated P. koraiensis seedlings was 345 trees and 56% of them were clumped with more than two seedlings at each point. Applying the image segmentation method to IKONOS satellite image of January, 2003, the distance from the center of 1 ha study site to the nearest mother tree and plantation of Korean pine were 200 m and 270 m, respectively. The average height and root-collar diameter of the seedlings were 34 em and 7 mm, respectively and the age of 207 seedlings (60%) were below 5 years old. Most abundant range of soil moisture gradient and LAl (leaf area index) were from 16 to 20% and those of LAI were from 3.1 to 3.5. To understand the dynamics and seed dispersal pattern of Korean pine in the Gwangneung natural deciduous broad-leaved forests, additional studies not only long-term monitoring of growth and mortality of naturally regenerated Korean pine seedlings but also application of stable isotope analysis and molecular genetic techniques was recommended.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.28-41
• /
• 2003

Background : Because unplanned readmissions to intensive care unit(ICU)might be related with undesirable patient outcomes, we investigated the pattern of and reason for unplanned ICU readmission to provide baseline data for reducing unplanned returns to ICU. Methods : The subjects included all patients who readmitted to ICU during the same hospitalization at a tertiary referral hospital between January 1st and June 30th 2002. Quality improvement(QI) nurse collected the data through medical records and a medical director reviewed the data collected. Results : 1) The average unplanned ICU readmission rate was 5.6%(gastroenterology 14.6%, pediatrics 12.7%, pulmonology 11.9%, neurosurgery 6.3%, general surgery 5.3%, chest surgery 3.9%, and cardiology 3.3%). 2) Among the unplanned readmissions, more than 50% of cases were from patients older than 60 years, and the main categories of diagnose at hospital admission were neurologic disease(29.9%) and cardiovascular disease(27.6%). 3) Of unplanned ICU readmissions, 41.8% had recurrence of the initial problems, 44.8% had occurrence of new problems. And 9.7% required post-operative care after unplanned operations. 4) The most common cause responsible for unplanned ICU readmission were respiratory problem(38.3%) and cardiovascular problem(14.3%). 5) About 40% of unplanned ICU readmission occurred within 3 days after ICU discharge. 6) Average length of stay of the readmitted patients to ICUs were much longer than that of non-readmitted patients. 7) Hospital mortality rate was much higher for unplanned ICU readmitted patients(23.6%) than for non-readmitted patients(1.5%) (P<0.001). Conclusions : This study showed that the unplanned ICU readmitted patients had poor outcomes(high morality and increased length of stay). In addition study results suggest that more attention should be paid to patients in ICU with poor respiratory function or elderly patients, and careful clinical decisions are required at discharged from ICU to general ward.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.169-174
• /
• 1988

The role of passive cell-mediated transfer of immunity against primary amoebic meningoen- cephalitis(PAME) in mice was studied. Waegleria fowleri, ITMAP 359, were cultured in CGVS medium. The ICR mice used were six week-old males of average weight of 15 g. Immunization was done by three intraperitoneal injections of $1{\times}10^6$ N. fowleri trophozoites at the interval of one week. Splenocytes were obtained from normal and immune mice spleens, and Ix107 cells were administered intraperitoneally into mice 3 days before challenge infection. Mice were infected intranasally with $7{\times}10^4$ N. fowleri trophozoites in a $3{\;}{\mu}l$ suspension under secobarbiturate anesthesia. Transplants of normal or immune splenocytes seem to alter the pattern of the PAME level- opment. The splenocytcs transferred from immune mice reduced the mortality rate in the JV. fowleri infected mice, as compared with the mice transferred with the same number of normal splenocytes or without splenocyte, The blastogenic response of the splenocytes to both lipopoly- saccharide and concanavalin A was elevated on duty 7 after infection the mice transinoculated with immune splenocytes. The serum antibody titers in the mice transferred with immune spleno- cytes were increased gradually from day 7 up to day 20 after infections by mean of ELISA. It is suggested that the transfer of splenocytes from immuniged mice conferred immunity against N. fowleri infection.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.52 no.2
• /
• pp.125-131
• /
• 2012

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease is a highly acute and fatal viral disease caused by rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV). Since first outbreak in Korea 1987, RHDV has been continually affected in the country, but the pattern of outbreak seem to be changed. In this study, to understand the pathogenesis of the new RHDVa serotype, we therefore carried out to inoculate RHDVa to rabbits, and to examine the sequential histopathologic changes and viral distribution. Macroscopically, various sized dark red or white spots or appearance were observed in the liver, lung, kidney uterus and ureter. In euhanized rabbits, significant pathologic findings such as infiltration of heterophils and mononuclear cells were observed at 24 hours after inoculation (HAI), and these were sequentially extended periportal to centrilobular area. However, in dead rabbits, severe hepatic degeneration and/or necrosis with relatively weak inflammatory responses were observed. RHDV antigens began to detect in liver, spleen, and lung from 12 HAI by PCR. Immunohistochemically, RHDV positive cells were seen in only liver from 24 HAI, and the degree of immunogen reactivity was stronger in dead rabbits than in euthanized ones. In conclusion, RHDVa caused the subacute or chronic infection accompanying low mortality and moderate to severe inflammatory reaction in rabbits, suggesting the possibility that RHD could become endemic.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.129-136
• /
• 2007

To investigate the effect of large patch infection on oxidative stress induction, growth, $H_2O_2$ concentration and lipid peroxidation were compared between pathogen-infected and healthy (control) zoysiagrass. The sampling for leaves and roots were carried out every 2 days for a period of 6 days. Pathogen-infection increased root mortality by 30% compared to control. Dry mass was not significantly affected by pathogen-infection until day 4, but significant decreases in both leaves (-14%) and roots (-20%) were observed at day 6. The $H_2O_2$ concentration in pathogen-infected leaves rapidly increased within the first 2 days(+28%) and then slightly decreased. The increase of $H_2O_2$ in pathogen-infected roots was distinct, showing 1.7-fold higher level than control at day 6. The extent of lipid peroxidation caused by pathogen-infection continuously increased for the first 4 days. This was then stagnated until day 6. In roots, the significant increase of lipid peroxidation was observed only at day 2. These results indicate that large patch-infection induces oxidative stress, and that the oxidative stress responsive pattern was plant organ specific.