• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.215-223
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• 2024

Purpose: Patients who receive frequent blood transfusions are at an elevated risk of developing hepatic fibrosis due to iron overload in the liver. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of transient elastography (TE) (FibroScan^®) for assessing liver fibrosis in patients with pediatric cancer. Methods: We enrolled 106 consecutive cases of acute leukemia in individuals under 21 years of age. The participants were followed for 2 years. Based on their serum ferritin (SF) levels, the patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (SF≥300 ng/mL) and group 2 (SF<300 ng/mL). A liver FibroScan^® was performed, and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among the various parameters in the liver function test (LFT), alkaline phosphatase was significantly higher in a subgroup of patients aged 5-8 years in group 2 compared to those in group 1. The indices of liver fibrosis determined by TE, including the FibroScan score, controlled attenuation parameter score, steatosis percentage, and meta-analysis of histological data in viral hepatitis score, as well as indirect serum markers of liver fibrosis such as the aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio, Fibrosis 4 score, and AST to platelet ratio index, did not differ significantly between the two groups. The association between the TE results and LFT parameters was only significant for ALT. Conclusion: Transfusion-associated iron overload does not have a significant correlation with severe liver fibrosis. FibroScan^® is not a sensitive tool for detecting early stages of fibrosis in survivors of pediatric leukemia.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.125-130
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• 1998

To assess the clinical and nutritional status of long-term survivors of biliary atresia, history taking, medical record review, physical examination (height, weight, MAC, TSF), blood tests (LFT, prothrombin time, platelet count, prealbumin, calcium) and liver needle biopsy were performed in 12 patients in whom Kasai procedure were performed more than 10 years ago at Department of Pediatric Surgery in Seoul National University Hospital. None were below the 5th percentile in height and weight. TSF was above the 75th percentile in all patients and showed good subcutaneous fat deposition. MAC was above the 5th percentile in all patients. Serum prealbumin level was abnormal in 2 patients with abnormal liver function and revealed visceral protein malnutrition. Serum calcium level was decreased below normal range in 4 patients with abnormal liver function. One patient had mild ascites. Five patients had abnormal liver function and 7 patients showed clinical manifestation of portal hypertension. Liver needle biopsy was performed in 5 patients and no cirrhotic change was observed. Although some patients who have survived for more than 10 years after Kasai procedure developed protein malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies, growth and development and nutritional status were generally satisfactory. Five patients(42%) showed normal liver function and no portal hypertension. In conclusion, Kasai procedure is satisfactory as a primary treatment in biliary atresia but significant portion of long-term survivors had abnormal liver function and portal hypertension. Continuous and careful follow-up is necessary to determine when liver transplantation may be indicated.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.347-353
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• 2018

There are some controversies about the safety of herbal medicine. In order to examine the safety of herbal medicine, this study investigated the level of liver function test(AST/ALT) in patients taking herbal medicine for more than 6 months We checked liver function in 121 patients who took herbal medicine for more than 6 months. AST/ALT were measured before treatment and every 3 months (from 3 month to 9 month). In 121 patients taking herbal medicine for more than 6 months, mean AST level after 6 months was lower than before treatment and mean ALT level after 6 months was lower than before treatment. In 20 patients with abnormal AST/ALT before herbal treatment, 18 patients's AST/ALT changed to normal after 6 month herbal treatment. 2 patients's AST/ALT was slightly higher than normal. One woman patient met the criteria for herb-induced liver injury(HILI) with RUCAM scores 4 after taking herbal medicine for 6 months. Although her RUCAM score decreased to zero after taking herbal medicine for 9 months. This study suggests that long-term herbal medicine for 6 months or longer is very unlikely to injury liver function. Individual-specific liver damage may occur, it can be recovered.

• 한국임상약학회지
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.330-339
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• 2012

Background : Hypertension is treated with both lifestyle modification and pharmacotherapy. The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC-7), published in 2003, provides a streamlined management approach to hypertension for the primary care physician. The JNC-7 is the gold standard also in Korea. According to the JNC-7, special therapeutic considerations are recommended for high-risk individuals with compelling indications. The presence of compelling indications in any given patient should be considered when selecting specific pharmacotherapy to treat hypertension. However, in patients with compelling indications, it is unknown that hepatotoxicity is caused by Calcium Channel Blocker (CCB), one of 1st anti-hypertensive drugs. Now, the CCB is the most used 1st anti-hypertensive drug in Korea Therefore, we evaluated the changes in blood liver function parameters (ALT, AST, Total bilirubin, serum albumin) for the study group. Methods : We randomly collected and retrospectively analyzed Electronic Medical Record data (n=28,788) of patients, and who took calcium channel blockers(non-dihydropyridines; diltiazem, verapamil, dihydropyridines; amlodipine, barnidipine, benidipine, clinidipine, efonidipine, felodipine, isradipine, lacidipine, lercanidipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, nimodipine), with having liver function tests (LFTs) from July 1st 2009 to June 30th 2010 at the Seoul National University Hospital in Korea. Control groups are two antihypertensive agents: RAS blockade (ARB; candesartan, irbesartan, losartan, olmesartan, telmisartan, valsartan, ACE-I; cilazapril, enalapril, fosinopril, imidapril, perindopril, ramipril) and, Diuretics (loop; furosemide, torsemide, thiazide; hydrochlorothiazide[HCTZ], indapamide). Patients not having LFT results at these three standard points of time(baseline, during, medication, and after finishing medication) were excluded. The collected data were analyzed by using the SPSS (Version12.0) and Microsoft Excel (Version2007). Results : 711 patients who were treated CCB (297), RAS blockade (232) or Diuretics (182) monotherapy were selected for the study. In selected patients, liver damage degree(changes of each LFTs value) was higher in diuretics group than other groups, followed by RAS blockade and CCB. In diuretics group's was loop-diuretics group was higher than thiazide-diuretics group. In CCB group, Nondihydropyridine-CCB's damage degree was higher than Dihydropyrine-CCB's that. Conclusions : Despite the limitations due to the retrospective study, among patients with abnormal LFTs, the use of CCBs led to a less liver damage than other 1st anti-hypertensive agents. It can be recommended CCBs as one of the initial treatments of hypertension in patients with liver disease.

• 혜화의학회지
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.383-397
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• 2000

Background/Aims: Dong-Moo Lee Jae-Ma(1837-1900) confirmed the sasangchaejil theory based on the sasang-medicine. This theory has been the main-stem of oriental medicine during 100 years in Korea. But rarely anyone has tried to prove this theory systemicaly. So we have a trial to clarify any relationship between the sasangchaejil and the laboratory and clinical results of mass screening tests. Methods: We evaluated the laboratory values of 280 people who had taken many clinical and laboratory tests. The laboratory examinations were complete blood count, liver and kidney function test, ultrasonogram of the abdomen and breasts, gastrofiberscope, many tumor markers body mass index, blood pressure, glucose, and electrocardiogram, etc. Results: 1) Among the 280 subjects, 187/66.8% were sowumin, 58/20.7% were taewumin and 35/12.5% were soyangin. 2) Those who reacted positive to HBsAb were 22 subjects(62.8%) in soyangin, 57.2% in sowumin and 55.1% in raewumin. But there were no significant correlations. 3) 45 subjects(72.4%) in taewumin had obesity, fatty liver and hyperlipidemia.(P<0.05) 4) 20.6% in taewumin had abnormal LFT suggesting hepatic disease. It was statistically sigificant.(P<0.05) 5) An anemic state was present in women of soyangin and sowumin mostly. Since an iron deficiency anemia is common in women, there were no significant corelations among sasangchaejil. Also urinary tract infectons were common in women. 6) 6 subjects in taewumin(10.3%) had cardiac problems, while only one case(2.8%) occured in soyangin and 7 cases(3.7%) in sowumin. Taewumin was significantly high.(P<0.05) 7) In the case of gastric disease, there was no distinguishable difference among sasangchaejil.(taewumin 37.9%, soyangin 31.4% and sowumin 35.2% rrespectively) 8) There was no significant difference beteen subjects with different blood types using sasangchaejil. Conclusions: There were some significant relationship between sasangchaejil and diseases prevalent to them by the theory of sasang-medicine. But Lee didn't considered the differences of gender, the change of body status according to the development of culture, and circumstances of their lives. Also he didn't consider the existence of infectious agents. Now more systemic study with larger populations are requied.

• 약학회지
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• 제55권4호
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• pp.352-360
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• 2011

Standard combination chemotherapy including isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol is very effective against tuberculosis. But, these medicines can cause hepatotoxicity which is the main reason for treatment interruption or change in drug regimen. In order to identify risk factors associated with hepatotoxcity in Koreans and assess elevated baseline LFTs' contributions to hepatotoxicity, a retrospective case control study was performed. The medical records of 277 patients who diagnosed with tuberculosis at a community hospital from January 1st, 2007 to June 30th, 2010 were reviewed. Patients were categorized into 3 groups (non toxic group, patients without increase in LFT levels; mild to moderate hepatotoxic group and severe hepatotoxic group). And the correlation between risk factors and hepatotoxicity was analyzed by using SPSS program. The overall incidence of hepatotoxicity was 18% and 8.7% of patients developed severe toxicity. Patients in the severe toxic group had the longest treatment period among the three groups. In 75% of severe toxic group, hepatotoxicity occurred within 18.3 days after starting medication. Hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin <3 g/dl) was a significant risk factor for development of severe toxicity. Elevated baseline transaminase (except ALT), total bilirubin, and preexisting hepatitis were also risk factors which were more than twice as likely to increase risk of severe hepatotoxicity (p>0.05). In conclusion, hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin level <3 g/dl) was a significant risk factor for anti-tuberculosis druginduced severe toxicity. Therefore, before starting antituberculosis chemotherapy, serum albumin level should be assessed at baseline. In high-risk patients (hypoalbuminemia, elevated LFTs) for hepatotoxicty, liver function should be closely monitored up to at least 21 days after taking medication.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.75-83
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• 2018

목적: 호스피스 완화의료에서 환자의 기대 여명 예측뿐 아니라 퇴원형태를 예측하여 적절한 치료를 제공할 필요가 있다. 이번 연구에서는 입원 초기 환자의 퇴원 형태 예측에 유의한 요소들을 알아보고 효율적인 완화의료의 방향에 대해 제시하고자 한다. 방법: 2016년 4월 1일부터 2017년 12월 31일까지 P병원 호스피스 병동에 입원한 말기암환자 568명 중 377명을 대상으로 하였으며 입원 시 사정한 환자의 수행 지수, 증상 및 징후, 사회 경제적 상태와 혈액검사 자료를 바탕으로 연구를 진행하였다. 결과: 입원 당시 높은 수행지수, 양호한 증상 및 징후, 정상에 가까운 혈액검사 수치를 보일 때 생존 퇴원할 가능성이 높았다. 결론: 환자의 퇴원형태 예측에 ECOG, KPS, Global health, Mental status와 같은 수행지수, dyspnea, anorexia, dysphagia, fatigue와 같은 증상 및 징후, CBC, LFT, BUN, CRP 혈액검사 수치가 유의한 지표임을 확인하였다.