• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권14호
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• pp.5589-5594
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• 2015

Cystitis and proctitis are defined as inflammation of bladder and rectum respectively. Haemorrhagic cystitis is the most severe clinical manifestation of radiation and chemical cystitis. Radiation proctitis and cystitis are major complications following radiotherapy. Prevention of radiation-induced haemorrhagic cystitis has been investigated using various oral agents with minimal benefit. Bladder irrigation remains the most frequently adopted modality followed by intra-vesical instillation of alum or formalin. In intractable cases, surgical intervention is required in the form of diversion ureterostomy or cystectomy. Proctitis is more common in even low dose ranges but is self-limiting and improves on treatment interruption. However, treatment of radiation proctitis is broadly non-invasive or invasive. Non-invasive treatment consists of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anti-oxidants, sucralfate, short chain fatty acids and hyperbaric oxygen. Invasive treatment consists of ablative procedures like formalin application, endoscopic YAG laser coagulation or argon plasma coagulation and surgery as a last resort.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.3-8
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• 1988

Authors have experienced the treatment for the uppermost frequent cases, herpes zoster, frozen shoulder and low back pain among those who visited our pain clinic. 1. Herpes zoster The Patients who received the treatment within 4 weeks of the onset of the disease, not only healed herpes without leaving post herpetic neuralgia but also crust formation was fast. 2. Frozen shoulder Over 90% of the patients who received suprascapular nerve block accompanied with trigger points electric stimulation was very efficient procedure, futhermore, authors felt keenly the necessity each patients co-operation and individual endurance for this treatment. 3. Low back pain An epidural steroid administration to the patients who did not have any organic disturbances was effective treatment. If this non-effective, search other cause of the disease or operation was advisable one.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.37-41
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• 2020

Objectives: Round Acupuncture having blunt end has developed from acupotomy. This case report is to find out that Round Acupuncture is effective in treating patients with recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), which has not improved by steroid injection or acupotomy. Methods: Round Acupuncture was inserted into the distal fibers of transverse carpal ligament and released toward the proximal fibers. Treatment was performed three times in total. T ingling, numbn ess, night pain and swelling sensation were assessed, and provocative maneuvers were also used. Results: After treat ment, all symptoms completely disappeared and the patient had no recurrence until 3 months after treatment. Conclusion: Round Acupuncture co uld be an effective treatment for recurrent CTS.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.51-58
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• 2007

Autoimmune myasthenia gravis (MG) is the neuromuscular junction disorder mostly caused by antibody against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR antibody) at the muscle endplate. The goal of treatment is to induce and maintain remission, i.e., absence of symptoms, with the least cost-to-benefit ratio. Although corticosteroids are effective in inducing remission in most patients, they have numerous potentially serious adverse effects with their long-term use. In addition, some patients do not respond or are intolerant to the conventional treatment. In this article, we discuss the difficulties encountered in long-term immunosuppressive treatment of MG, and review useful tips for the use of corticosteroids. Long-term immunosuppressive agents that can be used in steroid-refractory or -dependent patients will be reviewed with their safety profiles and efficacy in MG.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제26권5호
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• pp.454-458
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• 2008

Sex steroid hormone receptors play a central role in modulating telomerase activity, especially in cancer cells. However, information on the regulation of steroid hormone receptors and their distinct functions on telomerase activity within the mesenchymal stem cell are largely unavailable due to low telomerase activity in the cell. In this study, the effects of estrogen ($E_2$) treatment and function of estrogen receptor alpha ($ER{\alpha}$) and estrogen receptor beta ($ER{\beta}$) on telomerase activity were investigated in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Telomerase activity and mRNA expression of the catalytic subunit of telomerase (hTERT) were upregulated by treatment of the cells with $E_2$. The protein concentration of $ER{\alpha}$ was also increased by $E_2$ treatment, and enhancement of $ER{\alpha}$ accumulation in the nucleus was clearly detected with immunocytochemistry. When $ER{\alpha}$ expression was reduced by siRNA transfection into hMSCs, the effect of $E_2$ on the induction of hTERT expression and telomerase activity was diminished. In contrast, the transient overexpression of $ER{\alpha}$ increased the effect of $E_2$ on the expression of hTERT mRNA. These findings indicate that the activation of hTERT expression and telomerase activity by $E_2$ in hMSCs depends on $ER{\alpha}$, but not on $ER{\beta}$.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제61권11호
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• pp.348-354
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the causes, symptoms, and complications of hypoproteinemia to prevent hypoproteinemia and provide appropriate treatment to children with atopic dermatitis. Methods: Children diagnosed with atopic dermatitis with hypoproteinemia and/or hypoalbuminemia were retrospectively reviewed. The patients' medical records, including family history, weight, symptoms, treatment, complications, and laboratory test results for allergies and skin cultures, were examined. Results: Twenty-six patients (24 boys) were enrolled. Seven cases had growth retardation; 7, keratoconjunctivitis; 6, aural discharges; 5, eczema herpeticum; 4, gastrointestinal tract symptoms; and 2, developmental delays. In 21 cases, topical steroids were not used. According to the blood test results, the median values of each parameter were elevated: total IgE, 1,864 U/mL; egg white-specific IgE, $76.5kU_A/L$; milk IgE, $20.5kU_A/L$; peanut IgE, $30kU_A/L$; eosinophil count, $5,810/{\mu}L$; eosinophil cationic protein, $93.45{\mu}g/L$; and platelet count, $666.5{\times}10^3/{\mu}L$. Serum albumin and total protein levels decreased to 2.7 g/dL and 4.25 g/dL, respectively. Regarding electrolyte abnormality, 10 patients had hyponatremia, and 12, hyperkalemia. Systemic antibiotics were used to treat all cases, and an antiviral agent was used in 12 patients. Electrolyte correction was performed in 8 patients. Conclusion: Hypoproteinemia accompanying atopic dermatitis is common in infants younger than 1 year and may occur because of topical steroid treatment continuously being declined or because of eczema herpeticum. It may be accompanied by growth retardation, keratoconjunctivitis, aural discharge, and eczema herpeticum and can be managed through skin care and topical steroid application without intravenous albumin infusion.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.217-220
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• 2015

Background: The purpose of this study is to administer conservative treatment in 30 patients diagnosed with idiopathic frozen shoulder, following the suggested frozen shoulder rehabilitation program and to assess the clinical outcome using a prospective study. Methods: Thirty patients diagnosed with idiopathic frozen shoulder, treated with steroid hormone injection on the articular joint with an intra-articular steroid (triamcinolone 40 mg+lidocaine 4 ml) injection and started on stepwise shoulder extension exercise were chosen. The subjects were divided into two groups of 15 people each with one group undergoing rehabilitation with continuous passive motion (CPM) and the other group without it. Follow-ups were done before rehabilitation and at 4-week intervals with the 24th being the final week. At every follow-up, passive range of motion (ROM) was measured and surveys on pain and clinical score were administered. Results: In the last follow-up, both groups showed statistically significant improvements in all evaluation criteria. However, no statistical difference in all values of the ROM and Constant score evaluation criteria was observed between the groups. Only in the last follow-up, group 1 had a visual analog scale (VAS) score of $2.4{\pm}2.1$ points, which was lower, with statistical significance, than the VAS score of group 2, which was $4.4{\pm}3.1$ points (p<0.001). Conclusions: Study using CPM in treatment of frozen shoulder has been inadequate, meaning that there is still room for improvement and need for more study on setting a more specific protocol and guidelines for this procedure.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제67권4호
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• pp.359-363
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• 2009

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) related autoimmune diseases are characterized by high serum IgG4 concentrations, sclerosing inflammation of numerous IgG4-positive lymphoplasma cells of varying origin, and a positive response to steroid treatment. Autoimmune pancreatitis, sclerosing cholangitis, and retroperitoneal fibrosis are representative presentations of IgG4 related autoimmune disease. Herein, we describe 2 patients (40-years-old woman and 47-years-old man) diagnosed with pulmonary involvement of IgG4-related autoimmune disease. The patients were admitted for an evaluation of the lung mass or multiple lung nodules found on chest radiography. Surgical lung biopsies were performed and pathologic finding revealed lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing inflammation with numerous IgG4 positive cells. The patients had elevated serum total IgG and IgG4 levels. Treatment consisted of high dose methylpredinisolone (1 mg/kg/day) and demonstrated good responsiveness. However, one patient experienced 2 relapses while being tapered off of steroid treatment.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.1-6
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• 2018

Rituximab (RTX) is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that inhibits CD20-mediated B-cell proliferation and differentiation. Several studies have examined its use in intractable nephrotic syndrome (NS) with some positive results. However, those studies examined such effects for a short-term period of 1 year, and some patients continued to relapse after a lapse in RTX treatment. Our use of RTX as a maintenance therapy (RTX injection when the CD19 cell count exceeded $100-200/{\mu}L$ before relapse) showed some noticeable efficacy. We used RTX in 19 patients with steroid-dependent NS (SDNS). In 12 patients treated with RTX maintenance therapy, only one relapse occurred. The mean treatment period was $23.4{\pm}12.7months$, and the mean number of RTX administrations was $3.9{\pm}1.6$. The relapse rates were decreased (from 2.68/year to 0.04/year), and the drug-free period also increased (from 22.5 days/year to 357.1 days/year) during maintenance therapy. The other seven patients were treated with one cycle of RTX or additional cycles in case of relapse (non-maintenance therapy). Relapse rates were significantly decreased after RTX treatment (from 1.76/year to 0.96/year, P=0.017). The relapse-free period was $15.55{\pm}7.38$ (range, 5.3-30.7) months. No severe side effects of RTX were found except for a hypersensitivity reaction such as fever and chills during its infusion. In conclusion, RTX is considered an effective and safe option to reduce the relapse rate by a single- or maintenance-interval therapy in SDNS.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.136-142
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• 2008

Background: A transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) is one of the methods for the conservative treatment of the lumbar spinal stenosis. As efforts to prolong the therapeutic duration and to predict the outcome of TFESI are very important, we analyzed factors considered to be associated with the therapeutic duration of a TFESI. Methods: Between August 2006 and March 2007, 69 patients (Group A: patients with no pain relief, Group B: patients with pain relief of less than 6 months, Group C: patients with pain relief of more than 6 months) who failed to the medical treatment were included to undertake a fluoroscopic-guided TFESI. Prior to treatment, the VAS (visual analogue scale), ODI (Oswestry disability index), BDI (Beck depression inventory), and BAI (Beck anxiety inventory) scores were determined to evaluate the degree of pain, disability, and psychological status. The VAS and ODI scores were used to assess the degree of pain relief. To identify the total duration of pain relief, regular outpatient visits for six months were conducted, and for the patients who were not able to visit the outpatient clinic regularly, outcome was assessed by telephone interviews after six months. Results: The dural sac cross-sectional area (DSCSA), ODI, pain duration, BDI, BAI, and age showed similar distribution for patients in the A, B, and C groups. Conclusions: The DSCSA, ODI, pain duration, BDI, BAI, and age were not associated with the therapeutic duration of TFESI in lumbar spinal stenosis patients.