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Is the BRCA Germline Mutation a Prognostic Factor in Korean Patients with Early-onset Breast Carcinomas? (한국의 젊은 여성유방암 환자에서 BRCA 배선유전자 돌연변이는 예후인자인가?)

  • Choi Doo Ho;Lee Min Hyuk;Haffty Bruce G.
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.21 no.2
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    • pp.149-157
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    • 2003
  • Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if there were prognostic differences between BRCA related and BRCA non-related Korean patients with early-onset breast carcinomas. Materials and Methods: Sixty women who had developed breast cancers before the age of 40, and who were treated at the Soonchunhyang University Hospital, were studied independently of their family histories. The age range was 18 to 40 with a median of 34.5 years. Lymphocyte specimens from peripheral blood were studied for the heterozygous mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA2 using direct sequencing methods. Immunohistochemistry was peformed on the paraffin-embedded tissue blocks that were available. Results: Eleven deleterious mutations (18.3%, 6 in BRCA1 and 5 in BRCA2) and 7 missense mutations of unknown significance (11.7%), were found among the 60 patients. More than half of the mutation were novel, and were not reported in the database. Most of the BRCA-associated patients had no history of breast cancer. No treatment related failures were observed in the BRCA carriers, with the exception of one patient that had experienced a new primary tumor of the contralateral breast. The seven year relapse free survival rate were 50 and 79% In the BRCA carrier and BRCA negative patients, respectively. Although the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors were less common, and histological features more aggressive, in the BRCA associated tumors, the outcome of the patients with BRCA mutations was not poorer than that on the patients without deleterious mutations. Conclusion.: Despite the BRCA mutation carriers having adverse prognostic features, the recurrence rate was relatively lower than that in the BRCA non-carrying Korean patients wi4h early-onset breast carcinomas. In addition, although the prevalence of the BRCA mutation in Korean patients was higher than that in white patients, the penetrance of the cancer seemed to be relatively low in Korean women carrying BRCA mutations. A large population based study of the BRCA mutation, with a long-term follow-up of the study patients will be required to confirm these results.

Effect of Biozyme on Alcohol Metabolism

  • Park, Seung-Hee;Nam, Suk-Woo;Sungpil Yoon;Minsik Son;Nam, Tae-Kyun;Seo, Dong-Wan;Sungyoul Hong;Lee, Hyang-Woo
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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    • 1995.04a
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    • pp.91-91
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    • 1995
  • 에탄올에 의한 급성독성은 에탄올, 아세트알데히드 및 에탄을 대사산물의 변형생성물질 등에 기인하므로 알콜 섭취 후 혈중 에탄을 농도 및 아세트알데히드의 농도를 낮추는 것은 음주에 의한 급성 중독상태에 머무는 시간을 단축시키는데 중요하다. 본 실험에서는 Bacillus subtilis natto sp.를 식물 추출액을 배지로 하여 배양한 후 단백 분해효소로 고분자물질을 절단하여 얻은 발효액인 바이오짐(상품명: Biozyme)을 주성분으로 한 '비지니스(조선무약합자회사)' 의 인체 혈중 알콜대사 촉진작용을 검색하였으며, 비지니스 및 바이오짐이 랫드의 에탄을 대사에 미치는 효과를 검토하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 인체 혈중 알콜대사 촉진작용을 검색하기 위해 알콜 섭취 전과 후의 혈중 에탄올 농도를 비교하였는데, 대조군에 비해 비지니스 투여군이 30분 후부터 2시간 후까지 혈청 알콜농도가 낮게 나타났다. 대조군의 혈청 알콜농도를 100으로 하였을 때 알콜 투여 30분, 60분, 90분, 120분 경과 후 시험군은 각각 대조군의 84.3%, 89,0%, 85.9%, 75.8%를 나타내어 평균 16% 정도 낮았다. 시험군의 AUC는 대조군의 AUC의 89%로 비지니스 투여군에서 혈액내 알콜의 제거가 빠르게 진전된다는 것을 보여주었다. 또한, 랫드의 에탄을 대사에 미치는 효과를 알아보고자 바이오짐 및 비지니스 투여 후 채혈하여 혈중 에탄을 및 아세트알데히드 농도를 측정하였다. 비즈니스 투여시 혈중 알콜 농도는 알콜 투여 60분 경과후 가장 큰 감소 효과(대조군:83.70$\pm$11.80mg/이, 시험군:45.12$\pm$6.63mg/d1, 47% 감소)를 나타내었으며, 시험군의 AUC는 대조군에 비해 30% 감소하였다. 혈중 아세트알데히드 농도는 투여 60분 후 비지니스 투여군(4.56$\pm$0.51nmol/$m\ell$)이 대조군(6.45$\pm$0.64nmo1/$m\ell$)에 비해 유의성 있는 감소(29%)를 나타내었으며, 시험군의 AUC는 대조군에 비해 35% 감소하였다. 바이오짐 투여시 혈중 에탄을 농도가 알콜 투여 2시간 경과 후 가장 큰 감소 효과(대조군:49.10$\pm$5.20mg/dl, 시험군:25.90$\pm$7.16mg/d1, 47% 감소)를 나타내었으며, 시험군의 AUC는 대조군에 비해 39% 감소하였고, 혈중 아세트알데히드의 농도는 투여 60분후 시험군(3.96$\pm$0.07nmo1/$m\ell$)이 대조군(6.45$\pm$0,64nmo1/$m\ell$)에 비해 유의성 있는 감소(39%)를 나타내었으며, 시험군의 AUC는 대조군에 비해 48% 감소하였다 한편, 시험관내 에탄올 대사 효소에 대한 바이오짐의 효과를 검색해본 결과 바이오짐(2.0 $\mu\textrm{g}$/assay)에 의해 Aldehyde dehydrogenase(1.5unit/assay)의 활성이 14% 증가되었다. 본 연구의 결과로 볼 때, 비지니스 및 바이오짐은 음주 후 상승된 혈중 에탄을 농도 및 아세트알데히드의 농도를 현저히 감소시키는 효과가 있었다.

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Evaluation of Future Turbidity Water and Eutrophication in Chungju Lake by Climate Change Using CE-QUAL-W2 (CE-QUAL-W2를 이용한 충주호의 기후변화에 따른 탁수 및 부영양화 영향평가)

  • Ahn, So Ra;Ha, Rim;Yoon, Sung Wan;Kim, Seong Joon
    • Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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    • v.47 no.2
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    • pp.145-159
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    • 2014
  • This study is to evaluate the future climate change impact on turbidity water and eutrophication for Chungju Lake by using CE-QUAL-W2 reservoir water quality model coupled with SWAT watershed model. The SWAT was calibrated and validated using 11 years (2000~2010) daily streamflow data at three locations and monthly stream water quality data at two locations. The CE-QUAL-W2 was calibrated and validated for 2 years (2008 and 2010) water temperature, suspended solid, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and Chl-a. For the future assessment, the SWAT results were used as boundary conditions for CE-QUAL-W2 model run. To evaluate the future water quality variation in reservoir, the climate data predicted by MM5 RCM(Regional Climate Model) of Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) A1B for three periods (2013~2040, 2041~2070 and 2071~2100) were downscaled by Artificial Neural Networks method to consider Typhoon effect. The RCM temperature and precipitation outputs and historical records were used to generate pollutants loading from the watershed. By the future temperature increase, the lake water temperature showed $0.5^{\circ}C$ increase in shallow depth while $-0.9^{\circ}C$ in deep depth. The future annual maximum sediment concentration into the lake from the watershed showed 17% increase in wet years. The future lake residence time above 10 mg/L suspended solids (SS) showed increases of 6 and 17 days in wet and dry years respectively comparing with normal year. The SS occupying rate of the lake also showed increases of 24% and 26% in both wet and dry year respectively. In summary, the future lake turbidity showed longer lasting with high concentration comparing with present behavior. Under the future lake environment by the watershed and within lake, the future maximum Chl-a concentration showed increases of 19 % in wet year and 3% in dry year respectively.

Frameless Fractionated Stereotactic Radiaton Therapy in Recurrent Head & Neck Cancers (국소재발된 두경부종양의 무고정틀 정위적 분할방사선치료)

  • Kim In-Ah;Choi Ihl-Bhong;Jang Ji-Young;Kang Ki-Mun;Jho Seung-Ho;Kim Hyung-Tae;Lee Kyung-Jin;Choi Chang-Rak
    • Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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    • v.14 no.2
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    • pp.156-163
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    • 1998
  • Background & Objectives: Frameless fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy(FFSRT) is a modification of stereotactic radiosurgery(SRS) with radiobiologic advantage of fractionation without losing mechanical accuracy of SRS. Local recurrence of head and neck cancer at or near skull base benefit from reirradiation. Main barrier to successful palliation is dose limitation secondary to normal tissue tolerance. We try to evaluate the efficacy and safety of FFSRT as a new modality of reirradaton in these challenging patients. Materials & Methods: Seven patients with recurrent head & neck cancer involving at or near skull base received FFSRT from September 1995 to November 1997. Six patients with nasopharyngeal cancer had received induction chemotherapy and curative radiation therapy. One patient with maxillary sinus cancer had received total maxillectomy and postoperative radiation therapy as a initial treatment. Follow-up ranged from 11 to 32 months with median of 24 months. Three of 7 patients received hyperfractionated radiation therapy(1.1-1.2Gy/fraction, bid, total 19.8-24Gy) just before FFSRT. All patients received FFSRT(3-5Gy/fraction, total 15-30Gy/5-10fractions). Chemotherapy(cis-platin $100mg/m^2$) were given concurrently with FFSRT in four patients. Second course of FFSRT were given in 4 patients with progression or recurrence after initial FFSRT. Because IF(irregularity factor; ratio of surface area of target to the surface area of sphere with same volume as a target) is too big to use conventional stereotactic RT using multiple arc method for protection of radiation damage to critical normal tissue, all patients received FFSRT with conformal method using irregular static ports. Results: Five of 7 patients showed complete remission in follow-up CT &/or MRI. Three of these five patients who developed marginal, in-field, and out-field recurrences, respectively. Another one of complete responders has been dead of G-I bleeding without evidence of local recurrence. One partial responder who showed progressive disease 15 months after initial FFSRT has received additional FFSRT, and then he is well-being with symptomatic improvement. One minmal responder who showed progression of locoregional disease 9 months after $1^{st}$ FFSRT has received 2nd FFSRT, and then he is alive with stable disease. Five of 7 case had showed direct invasion to skull base and had complaint headache and various symptoms of cranial nerve involvement. Four of these five case showed improvement of neurologic symptoms after FFSRT. No significant neurologic complicaltion related to FFSRT was observed during follow-up periods. Tumor volumes were ranged from 3.9 to 50.7 cc and surface area ranged from 16.1 to $114.9cm^2$. IF ranged from 1.21 to 1.74. The average ratio of volume of prescription isodose shell to target volume was 1.02 that indicated the improvement of target coverage and dose distribution with FFSRT with conformal method compared to target coverage with FFSRT with multiple arc method. Conclusion: Our initial experience suggests that FFSRT with conformal method was relatively effective and safe modality in the treatment of recurrent head and neck cancer involving at or near skull base. Treatment benefit included good palliation of symptoms and reasonable radiographic response. However, more experience and additional follow-up are needed to better assess its ultimate role in treating these challenging patients.

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Emotional State and Personality Characteristics in Patients with Vitiligo (백반증 환자의 정서상태와 성격특성)

  • Lee, Kyung-Kyu;Lee, Jong-Hyun;Kim, Hyun-Woo;Paik, Ki-Chung;Kim, You-Chan
    • Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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    • v.8 no.1
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    • pp.88-97
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    • 2000
  • Objectives : This study was aimed to investigate the emotional state and personality factors of patients with vitiligo, and the impacts of clinical characteristics. Methods : Twenty one patients with vitiligo and 20 normal controls were studied. Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), Spielberg's State and Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI) and Cattell's 16 Personality Factors Questionnaire(16-PF) were used for assessment. Statistically, t-test, Oneway ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U test and Pearson's correlation test were used. Results : The Results were as follows. 1) The comparison of total score of BDI, state anxiety and trait anxiety between the patients with vitiligo and normal controls were not significantly different. 2) In first-stratum source traits of 16-PF, normal control group was significantly higher than the patients with vitiligo in H-factor(Boldness) and I-factor(Tender-mindedness). In second-stratum source traits of 16-PF, there was no significant difference between the patients with vitiligo and normal control in all factors. 3) According to sex, the comparison of total scores of BDI, STAI between male and female patients with vitiligo were not significantly different. In the comparison of 16-PF, female patients were higher than male patients in I-factor only. 4) As according to age(under and over 30 years of age), the comparison of total scores of BDI, STAI between patients over 30 years of age and under 30 years of age were not significantly different. In the comparison of 16-PF, patients over 30 years of age were higher than patients under 30 years of age in E-, G-, L-, M-, Q2-, Q3-, IND-, SUP-, and CRE-factor. 5) As according to the presence of progression of vitiligo and the presence of visible lesion, the comparison of total scores of BDI, STAI and 16-PF were not significantly different. 6) There were no significant correlation between the duration of the vitiligo and BDI, STAI-S, STAI-T, and 16-PF. Conclusions : There were no significant difference between patients with vitiligo and normal controls on the emotional state and personality characteristics. But patients with vitiligo were more bolder and tender-minded than normal controls on 16-PF. The author propose that methods of treatment to resolve problems of the interpersonal relations will be helpful.

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Analgesic Effect of Hippophae rhamnoides Extract in Orofacial Pain in Rats (구강안면통증모델에서 산자나무 추출물의 진통효과)

  • Kim, Yun-Kyung;Choi, Ja-Hyeong;Kim, Hee-Jin;Yoon, Hyun-Seo;Hyun, Kyung-Yae;Lee, Min-Kyung
    • Journal of dental hygiene science
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    • v.17 no.6
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    • pp.495-500
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    • 2017
  • Hippophae rhamnoides L. (sea buckthorn) is a shrub wood that belongs to the bamboo tree family, and is rich in vitamin C, D, and E; it is referred to as a vitamin tree. It is mainly grown in the high mountains of Europe and Central Asia, and has been widely used in China and Russia as natural medicine. Recent studies have shown that it is effective in the treatment of cancer, liver diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and gastrointestinal diseases. However, results of studies on its effect on the regulation of pain are insufficient. In this study, we investigated the effect of sea buckthorn on the development and control of pain in two facial areas. The experimental animals included 7- to 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats (240~260 g). Formalin (5%), which is known as an inflammation inducer, was injected into the vibrissa pad or temporomandibular joints to induce orofacial acute pain. Rubbing or scraping of the region injected with formalin was regarded as a pain index, and the behavioral response was observed for 45 minutes after the injection. Sea buckthorn extract diluted to 150, 300 mg/kg (in 1 ml of distilled water) was orally administered 30 minutes prior to the acute pain. The facial pain behavior was effectively reduced in the 300 mg/kg group when compared to the control group (vehicle). Likewise, in an experiment in which formalin was injected into the temporomandibular joints, effective pain alleviation was confirmed at the same drug concentration. These results suggest that sea buckthorn extract may be useful in the development of therapeutic agents for acute inflammatory pain in the orofacial area and for controlling temporomandibular joint pain.

Changes in $A_{1}$, Adenosine Receptor-Adenylyl Cyclase System of Rat Adipocytes Fellowing Induction of Experimental Diabetes by Streptozotocin Treatment (Streptozotocin으로 당뇨병을 유발시킨 쥐의 지방세포에 나타나는 $A_{1}$, Adenosine Receptor-Adenylyl Cyclase System의 변화)

  • Park, Kyung-Sun;Lee, Myung-Soon;Kim, Kyung-Hwan
    • The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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    • v.29 no.1
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    • pp.97-105
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    • 1993
  • Adenosine receptors in rat adipose tissues have been reported to be of $A_{1}$ subclass, and their stimulation leads to inhibition of adenylyl cyclase, resulting in inhibition of lipolysis. In the present study we investigated changes in $A_{1}$ adenosine receptor-adenylyl cyclase system of adipocytes following induction of experimental diabetes in rats. One week following experimental diabetes were induced by intravenous injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg body wt.), adipocytes from rats $(170{\sim}230g)$ fed ad libitum were isolated using collagenase. When adipocytes were incubated for 1 h with 1 unit/ml adenosine deaminase and $1\;{\mu}M$ isoproterenol, and assayed for glycerol formation, it was found that the inhibition of lipolysis in diabetic adipocytes by $(-)-N^{6}-(R-phenylisopropyl)adenosine$ (PIA), an $A_{1}$, adenosine receptor agonist, was twice that of control adipocytes. In an effort to delineate the mechanism(s), $[^{3}H]PIA$ binding to adipocytic membranes from diabetic and control rats were determined. Neither the affinities nor numbers of $A_{1}$ adenosine receptor were significantly different from each other (Best fit parameters for the one-site model are: $K_{d}=0.51{\pm}0.09nM$ and $B_{max}=1.60{\pm}0.12\;pmoles/mg$ protein for control membranes; $K_{d}=0.54{\pm}0.21\;nM$ and $B_{max}=1.72{\pm}0.31\;pmoles/mg$ protein for diabetic membranes). However, the inhibiton by PIA of the isoproterenol-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activities was found to be 1.9 times higher in adipocytic membranes from diabetic rats than those from controls. These results suggest that the increased sensitivity of inhibition of lipolysis to PIA in adipocytic membranes from diabetic rats is due to changes in signal transduction pathways, rather than alterations of $A_{1}4 adenosine receptor molecules themselves.

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Effect of Broccoli Sprouts on Cholesterol-lowering and Anti-obesity Effects in Rats Fed High Fat Diet (브로콜리 싹 에탄올 추출물이 고지방식이를 급여한 흰쥐의 콜레스테롤 저하 및 비만 억제효과에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee, Jae-Joon;Shin, Hyoung-Duck;Lee, Yu-Mi;Kim, Ah-Ra;Lee, Myung-Yul
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.38 no.3
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    • pp.309-318
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    • 2009
  • This study was conducted to investigate the cholesterol lowering and anti-obesity effects of an ethanol extract of broccoli sprouts (BS) in rats fed high fat diet. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing $150{\sim}155g$, were divided into 6 groups; a normal diet group (ND), a high fat diet group (HFD), a normal diet and BS with 200 mg/kg treated group (ND-BSL), a normal diet and BS with 400 mg/kg treated group (ND-BSH), a high fat diet and BS with 200 mg/kg treated group (HFD-BSL), and a high fat diet and BS with 400 mg/kg treated group (HFD-BSH). The body weight gain and mesenteric adipose tissue weight were increased by high fat diet, but gradually decreased to the corresponding level of ND group after administration of BS extract. The liver and epididymal adipose tissue weights of HFD group were the highest among the six groups, although the difference was not significant. Food intake was lower in high fat diet groups compared with normal diet groups. The serum ALT and AST activities that were elevated by the high fat diet were significantly decreased after BS administration. Levels of serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride and the atherogenic index tended to be decrease in the BS administered groups compared with HFD group. However, HDL-cholesterol level in serum decreased in HFD group and markedly increased in BS administered groups. There were no differences in the contents of serum triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol between normal diet groups. Levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride in liver and adipose tissues were also lower in BS administrated groups than in HFD group. The activities of heparin-releasable lipoprotein lipase (HR-LPL) and total-extractable LPL (TE-LPL) in adipose tissue were increased in HFD group compared with the BS administered groups, but those of the ND-BSL group and ND-BSH group were similar to ND group. These results suggest that BS ethanol extract may exert cholesterol-lowering effect and potentially reduce lipid storage.

Study for Clinical Characteristics of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Diseases (폐 비결핵향산균종의 임상적 특징에 관한 연구)

  • Pae, H.H.;Lee, J.H.;Yoo, C.G.;Lee, C.T.;Chung, H.S.;Kim, Y.W.;Shim, Y.S.;Han, S.K.
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.47 no.6
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    • pp.735-746
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    • 1999
  • Background: As the prevalence of nontuberculous mycobacteriosis has been increasing rapidly, there has been recent advance in diagnostic methods and drug therapies for disease. Although the incidence of pulmonary disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria(NTM) has been increasing in Korea since 1990, detailed clinical description about the disease were very few. In this study we described the clinical manifestations, radiologic findings, and therapeutic outcomes of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease. Methods: Medical records and radiologic findings were retrospectively reviewed in 27 patients who were fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of ATS guideline for NTM pulmonary disease between January of 1990 and August of 1998 in Seoul National University Hospital(SNUH). Results: Of the 27 patients, 15 were male. The mean age was 51.5 yr($\pm$11.9). Twenty patients(74.1%) had preexisting pulmonary diseases. Among them, 19 patients had previous pulmonary tuberculosis. Sixteen patients(59.2%) had cavitary lesions and the majority showed slow progression over 1 yr during follow up period on radiography. Susceptibility test to standard antituberculous drugs showed 100% resistance to INH, 72.2% to RMP, 81.5% to EMB, 92.6% to PZA. The average resistance rate to 2nd-line antituberculous drugs was 66.1%. Among twenty-one patients(77.8%) who received drug therapy over 6 months, 11 subjects were improved and 10 subjects were aggravated. Of six subjects(22.2%) without therapy, 5 patients were aggravated. Presence of cavity and less than 3 sensitive drugs in the regimen were indicators for adverse outcome. Conclusion : The nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary diseases in our hospital developed predominantly in older patients with preexistent pulmonary disease. The results of antituberculous drug therapy has been frustrating and disappointing. To improve treatment response, different susceptibility tests and drug regimens for different species of NTM should be performed. Also, diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines of Korea should be made in the recent future.

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Semi-quantitative Procalcitonin Assay in Critically ill Patients with Respiratory infections (중환자 호흡 감염에서 반정량적 Procalcitonin 분석)

  • Kim, Ji-Youn;Kim, Cheol-Hong;Park, Sunghoon;Lee, Chang-Youl;Hwang, Yong Il;Choi, Jeong-Hee;Shin, Taerim;Park, Yong-Bum;Jang, Seung-Hun;Lee, Jae Young;Park, Sang Myeon;Kim, Dong-Gyu;Lee, Myung-Goo;Hyun, In-Gyu;Jung, Ki-Suck
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.67 no.3
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    • pp.205-211
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    • 2009
  • Background: Serum procalcitonin level has been considered prognostic during sepsis and septic shock. We investigated the significance of procalcitonin in critically ill patients with respiratory infections. Methods: The patients who had radiographically diagnosed diffuse lung infiltrations were enrolled on a prospective basis. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid for the purpose of quantitative cultures (${\geq}10^4$ cfu/mL) was obtained from all patients. Serum procalcitonin levels determined by PCT-Q kit were measured on BAL day and classified as follows; <0.5 ng/mL, 0.5~2.0 ng/mL, 2.0~10.0 ng/mL and >10.0 ng/mL. We analyzed the patient's characteristics according to outcome; favorable or unfavorable, defined as death. Results: Patients from the following categories were included: medical 17 (47.2%), surgical 9 (25%), and burned 10 (27.8%). APACHE II scores on admission to intensive care unit were 11.5${\pm}$6.89 and 11 (30.6%) had unfavorable outcomes. A procalcitonin level ${\geq}$0.5 ng/mL was in 17 (47.2%) of all. On univariate analysis, the frequencies of burn injury, mechanical ventilation, multiple organ failure, and a procalcitonin level ${\geq}$0.5 ng/mL were more often increased in patients with unfavorable outcomes than in those with favorable outcomes (p<.05). Also, a higher procalcitonin range and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) were more closely associated with an unfavorable outcome (p<.05). However in multivariate analysis, a strong predictor of unfavorable outcome was burn injury (p<.05). A procalcitonin level ${\geq}$0.5 ng/mL was more sensitive in predicting VAP than unfavorable outcome. Conclusion: A higher procalcitonin level seems to be associated with VAP, but further study is required to know that procalcitonin would be a prognostic marker in critically ill patients with respiratory infections.