• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.4909-4913
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• 2015

Objective: To explore the preventive effect of aspirin on the cardiovascular complications in prostate cancer after endocrinotherapy. Materials and Methods: A total of 92 patients with prostate cancer were divided into observation group (n=44) and control group (n=48). The control group was treated with medical castration plus anti-androgenic drugs. Based on the above treatment, the observation group was added aspirin. The follow-up duration was 2 years. The changes of partial prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), platelet aggregation rate (PAG), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and serum testosterone (T) before and after treatment as well as incidence of cardiovascular disease were observed. Results: The 2-year survival rates of patients without cardiovascular disease in observation group and control group were 95.45% (42/44) and 72.92% (35/48), respectively, and significant difference was presented between two groups by comparison to the survival rates ($x^2=8.5453$, p=0.0035). There was no statistical significance between two groups as well as before and after treatment regarding PT (p>0.05). After treatment, APTT went down and PAG was gradually on the rise in control group, while PAG down and APTT on the rise increasingly in observation group. Significant differences were presented between two groups as well as before and after treatment (p<0.01). Both PSA and T levels were decreased significantly in two groups after treatment (p<0.01), but there was no statistical significant between two groups (p>0.05). Conclusions: Application of endocrinotherapy in prostate cancer can easily lead to occurrence of cardiovascular disease, but cardiovascular complications can be prevented by aspirin, without affecting the effect of endocrinotherapy.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.60-69
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• 2011

Due to its efficacy and tolerability, low dose oral methotrexate (MTX) therapy has been widely used for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, it can rarely cause serious, life-threatening hematologic toxicities, such as pancytopenia. We report here on two patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), who developed severe pancytopenia after 5 years (cumulative dose 1,240 mg) and 4 years (cumulative dose 1,320 mg) of low dose MTX therapy for treatment of RA, respectively. Both patients presented with renal insufficiency, hypoalbuminemia, concurrent use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and elevated mean corpuscular volume of red blood cells (RECs), all of which are known as risk factors of MTX-induced pancytopenia. Despite receiving treatment, which included REC and platelet transfusions, antibiotic therapy, granulocyte colony stimulating factor, and leucovorin rescue, one patient died of sepsis. Based on our case study, prompt investigation of risk factors associated with MTX toxicity is required for all patients receiving MTX therapy. MTX treatment, even at a low dose, should be discontinued in patients with advanced CKD.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.296-301
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• 2013

Objective : We conducted a retrospective study examining the outcomes of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to identify parameters associated with prognosis. Methods : From January 2001 to June 2008, we treated 32 ICH patients (21 men, 11 women; mean age, 62 years) with CKD. We surveyed patients age, sex, underlying disease, neurological status using Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), ICH volume, hematoma location, accompanying intraventricular hemorrhage, anti-platelet agents, initial and 3rd day systolic blood pressure (SBP), clinical outcome using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and complications. The severity of renal functions was categorized using a modified glomerular filtration rate (mGFR). Multifactorial effects were identified by regression analysis. Results : The mean GCS score on admission was $9.4{\pm}4.4$ and the mean mRS was $4.3{\pm}1.8$. The overall clinical outcomes showed a significant relationship on initial neurological status, hematoma volume, and mGFR. Also, the outcomes of patients with a severe renal dysfunction were significantly different from those with mild/moderate renal dysfunction (p<0.05). Particularly, initial hematoma volume and sBP on the 3rd day after ICH onset were related with mortality (p<0.05). However, the other factors showed no correlation with clinical outcome. Conclusion : Neurological outcome was based on initial neurological status, renal function and the volume of the hematoma. In addition, hematoma volume and uncontrolled blood pressure were significantly related to mortality. Hence, the severity of renal function, initial neurological status, hematoma volume, and uncontrolled blood pressure emerged as significant prognostic factors in ICH patients with CKD.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.12-19
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Vitamin D is a pleiotropic hormone that affects various body organ systems. We evaluated the prevalence of a vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and its potential role in the clinical condition of critically ill Korean children. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Patients under 18 years old with a 25(OH) vitamin D measurement on the first day of PICU admission were included from among the children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of our tertiary children's hospital between October 2017 and January 2019. RESULTS: A total of 172 pediatric patients were enrolled. The mean 25(OH) vitamin D level was 17.5 ± 12.8 ng/mL. There was a 65.1% prevalence of VDD (25(OH) vitamin D level < 20 ng/mL). VDD was associated with age at PICU admission, gastrointestinal/hepatobiliary disorders, International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis disseminated intravascular coagulation (ISTH DIC) score, pediatric multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (pMODS) score and with several laboratory test findings including hemoglobin, platelet, C-reactive protein, serum albumin, total bilirubin, prothrombin time, and anti-thrombin III levels. Most of these parameters also showed significant linear correlations with the 25(OH) vitamin D level (P < 0.05). However, no statistically meaningful association was found between VDD and other clinical conditions such as the need for a mechanical ventilator, requirement for vasoactive drugs, duration of the PICU and hospital stays, or PICU mortality. CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of VDD in critically ill Korean children. There were significant associations between the 25(OH) vitamin D level and gastrointestinal/hepatobiliary disorders, the pMODS score and with coagulation related factors. Further large-scale studies with more specific subgroup analyses are required to more precisely assess the clinical implications of VDD in critically ill pediatric patients.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2 s.30
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• pp.100-114
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• 1995

This bibliographic study was designed to research indications of the Moschus which was representatively used for resuscitation in acute stage of stroke throughout successive books of oriental medicine. Especially, in this study, severe cases with disturbance of consciousness and acute stage of stroke were investigated. The results were summarized as the followings: 1. The Moschus was dried material which secreted from aromatic vescicle of Moschus moschiferus L.. which was pungent in flavor, warm in nature, nontoxic and strongly aromatic. The Moschus removed the obstruction in the channels and used to early stage of stroke. 2. The Moschus was aromatic resuscitatable medicine, which recovered disturbance of consciousness due to stroke. 3. The Moschus had excitatory actions of respirtory center and vascular motor center, heart stimulating action, inhibitatory action of the platelet aggregation and anti thrombin action and recovered cerebral ischemic change. According to these actions, the Moschus could be used cerebral infarction. 4. Prescriptions included the Moschus was used to symptoms of unconsciousness, secretion, stuporous mental state, dysarthria, facial palsy and hemiplegia. That was Angungwoohwangh wan(安宮牛黃丸), Woohwangchungshimwon(牛黃淸心元), Sahyangsohaphangwon(麝香蘇合香元), etc. According to the above mentioned results, the Moschus was aromatic resuscitatable medicine which was used for symptoms of conscius disturbance, convulsion, sudden fainting etc., promoted cerebral blood flow and had good effect on acute stage of stroke and severe cases with conscious disturbance. Therefore, it is considered that the Moschus must be studied for effect of cerebral infarction and hemorrhage in clinic with animal's and pharmacological experimental results.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.123-127
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• 2011

Purpose: Kawasaki disease (KD) is the main cause of acquired heart disease in children. In addition to cardiovascular involvement, many complications have been recognized in KD. However, respiratory complications have been rarely reported. We investigated the differences in clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, radiography findings, and echocardiography findings of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and other types of pneumonia in KD patients. Methods: Among 358 patients with KD, 54 developed concurrent pneumonia. Among the 54 patients, 12 (22.2%) with high titers of anti-M. pneumoniae antibody (AMA) (>1:640) were grouped in the M. pneumoniae group and 42 were included in the control group. Serum AMA was measured in each patient. Clinical laboratory findings and total duration of fever were analyzed. Results: The duration of fever, serum hemoglobin, white blood cell count, platelet count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein level, albumin level, and the incidence of coronary arterial lesions showed no statistical difference in the 2 groups. Neutrophil count was significantly higher in the M. pneumoniae group than in the control group. Among various radiography findings observed in pneumonia, consolidation and pleural effusion were more frequent in the M. pneumoniae group than in the control group. On the other hand, parahilar peribronchial opacification, diffuse interstitial lesion, and normal findings prevailed in the control group. Conclusion: KD patients can have concurrent infections, especially pulmonary symptoms. The cause of KD is likely to be associated with M. pneumoniae infection. Thus, immediate treatment of M. pneumoniae infection in KD patients is very important.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.80 no.4
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• pp.392-400
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• 2017

Background: Most patients with influenza recover spontaneously or following treatment with an anti-viral agent, but some patients experience pneumonia requiring hospitalization. We conducted a retrospective review to determine the incidence and risk factors of pneumonia in hospitalized patients with influenza A or B. Methods: A total of 213 patients aged 18 years or older and hospitalized with influenza between January 2012 and January 2015 were included in this study. A reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay was used to detect the influenza A or B virus in the patients' sputum samples. We collected demographic and laboratory data, combined coexisting diseases, and radiologic findings. Results: The incidence of pneumonia was higher in patients in the influenza A group compared to those in the influenza B group (68.6% vs. 56.9%), but this difference was not statistically significant. The presence of underlying respiratory disease was significantly associated with pneumonia in the influenza A group (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 3.975; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.312-12.043; p=0.015). In the influenza B group, the white blood cell count (adjusted OR, 1.413; 95% CI, 1.053-1.896; p=0.021), platelet count (adjusted OR, 0.988; 95% CI, 0.978-0.999; p=0.027), and existence of an underlying medical disease (adjusted OR, 15.858; 95% CI, 1.757-143.088; p=0.014) were all significantly associated with pneumonia in multivariate analyses. Conclusion: The incidence of pneumonia was 65.7% in hospitalized patients with influenza A or B. The risk factors of pneumonia differed in hospitalized patients with influenza A or B.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2004

In a continuation of our previous studies on blood compatibility profiles of anion-substituted poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) membranes, in which hydroxyl groups have been replaced with carboxymethyl (C-PVA) and sulfonyl groups (S-PVA), we have studied the activation of complement components and the changes in white cell and platelet count in vitro and compared them with those of unmodified PVA, Cuprophane, and low-density polyethylene. Complement activation of fluid phase components, C3a, Bb, iC3b, and SC5b-9, and of bound phases, C3c, C3d, and SC5b-9, were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblot, respectively. The changes in the number of white cells and platelets following complement activation were counted using a Coulter counter. C-PVA and S-PVA activated C3 to a lesser extent than did PVA, which we attribute to the diminished level of surface nucleophiles of the samples. In addition, C- and S-PVA exhibit increased inhibition of Bb production, resulting in a decrease in the extent of C5 activation. Consequently, because of the reduced activation of C3 and C5, C- and S-PVA samples cause marked decreases in the SC5b-9 levels in plasma. We also found that the negatively charged sulfonate and carboxylate groups of the samples cause a greater extent of adsorbtion of the positively charged anaphylatoxins, C3a and C5a, because of strong electrostatic attraction, which in turn provides an inhibition of chemotaxis and activation of leukocytes. The ability to inhibit complement production, together with the binding ability of anaphylatoxins of the C- and S-PVA samples, leads to a prominent decrease in lysis of leukocytes as well as activation of platelets.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1658-1663
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• 2006

Panax notoginseng (Buck) F.H chen. root (PNS) is used as a therapeutic agent to stop haemorrhages and a tonic to promote health in Korean and Chinses medicine. The pharmacokinetic profiles of the main PNS are still not accurately investigated. Our preliminary aim is to elucidate the pharmacokinetics features of the PNS in rats. Objective of this study is to determine whether PNS affects hepatic microvascular dysfunction elicited by gut ischemia and reperfusion (I/R), since gut I/R causes hepatic microvascular dysfunction, and to investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO). No has been found to be a modulator of the adhesive interactions between platelet and endothelial cells. Male Wistar rats were exposed to 30 min of gut ischemia followed by 60 min of reperfusion. Intravital microscopy was used to monitor the number of non-perfused sinusoids (NPS). In another set of experiments, PNS (1 g/kg pre day intragastrically) was administered to rats for 7 days. In some experiments, dexamethasone (ST) (2 mg/kg per day intravenously) was administered. In control rats, gut I/R elicited increases in the number of NPS, and plasma TNF-${\alpha}$ and ALT activities, and these changes were mitigated by the pretreatment with PNS. Pretreatment with an No synthase inhibitor diminished the protective effects of PNS on the increase in NPS and plasma TNF-${\alpha}$ levels, but not its effect on the increase in plasma ALT activities. Pretreatment with PNS increased plasma nitrite/nitrate levels. The responses caused by gut I/R were attenuated by the pretreatment with ST. Pretreatment with an NO synthase inhibitor did not affect the effect of ST. These results suggest that PNS attenuates the gut I/R-induced hepatic microvascular dysfunction and inflammatory responses such as TNF-${\alpha}$ production in the early phase via enhancement of NO production, and sequential hepatocellular damage via its anti-inflammatory effect like corticosteroid effect.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.59-65
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• 2012

Previous studies have shown that modified Je-Ho-Tang (MJHT) has anti-platelet effects. Je-Ho-Tang (JHT), a Korean court beverage, is a traditional Korean herbal medicine that has been used for the treatment of a disease attended by great thirst, and for prevention of illness in hot summers. We made MJHT from JHT by excluding honey. The present study was performed to determine the acute oral toxicity of crude extract of MJHT in male and female ICR mice. We investigated the in vivo single dose acute toxicity of MJHT hot-water extraction. This test was orally administered once by gavage to 20 mice of each sex received doses of 0 (control group), 1250, 2500 and 5000 mg/kg body weight. Mortalities, clinical findings, autopsy findings and body weight changes were monitored daily for 14 days following the administration. We observed survival rates, general toxicities, changes of body weight, and autopsy. No significant lethality was observed after single oral administration of MJHT at the different dosages. Autopsies on the animals revealed no gross abnormalities. Therefore, the LD50 value of MJHT for ICR mice was estimated more than 5000 mg/kg by the oral route. These results suggest that no toxic dose level of MJHT in mice is considered to be more than 5000 mg/kg. Consequently, it was concluded that MJHT have no effect on acute toxicity and side effect in ICR mice.