• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.295-301
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• 1995

Background: The serious problems in retreatment of pulmonary tuberculosis are a significant proportion of drug resistance. Preferably retreatment should contain the drugs which has never used before, so drug retreatment is limited in selection. A new antibacterial substance, ofloxacin(OFX) is the activity against mycobacterium tuberculosis and it has been used in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. The present report concerns the result of retreatment of pulmonary tuberculosis patients containing OFX treated at National Kongju Tuberculosis Hospital. Method: A retrospective study was made through the regular follow up of 92 smear positive cases, who were treated by four drugs regimen between Mar 1991 and June 1994 at National Kongju Tuberculosis Hospital. Four drugs were, namely prothionamide, cycloserine, ofloxacin and streptomycin(kanamycin or tuberactinomycin). The duration of follow up was over one year. Results: 1) Out of 92 cases with positive sputum AFB smear, 67(73%) achieved the negative conversion. 2) Considering the negative sputum conversion in all the groups, the vast majority(85%) of sputum conversion occurred within the first 4 months. 3) The roentgenological improvement occurred in 49 percent on the whole and when the extent of disease was minimal, moderately, far advanced pulmonary tuberculosis, sputum AFB smear negative response to retreatment was 100%, 93%, 68%, respectively. 4) When the duration of patient's illness was less than 1 year, 1 to 3 years, 3 to 5 years and more than 5 years, sputum AFB smear negative response to retreatment was 87%, 76%, 65% and 55%, respectively. 5) Adverse reaction to prothionamide, with complaints of gastrointestinal troubles was common and hepatic dysfunction without jaundice was observed in 7 percent, convulsion in 1 percent, that to cycloserine occurred renal dysfunction & psycosis & convulsion, 2%, 1%, 1%, respectively. Tinnitus with KM occurred in 1% and dirrhea with OFX in 4%. Conclusion: The duration of patient's illness was shorter, sputum AFB smear negative response rate was better. Radiologic responses were not remarkable, but extent of disease by national tuberculosis association was smaller, the result of retreatment was better. Adverse reaction of the secondary antituberculosis agent was mainly observed gastrointestinal troubles, as regard to tolerance to the secondary drugs the role of the physician is of very important value and toxic effects can be overcome by the strong confidence.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1154-1166
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• 1998

Background : In the management of patients whose primary chemotherapy has failed, careful assessment is essential. It is important to find out as accurate a chemotherapy history as possible. Preferably it should contain the drugs which has never used before. The purpose of present study is establishment of retreatment regimen for pulmonary tuberculosis. The present report concerns the results of retreatment of pulmonary tuberculosis patients treated at National Masan Tuberculosis Hospital. Methods : Retrospective cohort study was made of 104 drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis patients who were treated by five regimens between Jan. 1994 and Nov. 1996. All the patients taken medicine for second anti-tuberculosis regimens for the first time. We separated the patients by three groups(Group I ; OFX+PTA+CS+PAS+Aminoglycoside, Group II : PZA+PTA+CS+PAS+Aminoglycoside, Group III : PZA+OFX+PTA+PAS+Aminoglycoside). Results : The age distribution was most frequent in fourth decade(36patients, 34.6%) and the mean age was 42.6 year. The sex distribution was more frequent in the males(81 patients, 85.7%). There was 31 patients(29.8%) with combined diseaes, 18 patients with complication and 24 patients(27.9%) with family history. Primary chemotherapy regimens were HERZ(S or K) in 48 patients (46.2%), HER(S or K) in 41 patients(39.4%) and others in 15 patients(14.4%). Result of drug sensitivity test showed that the resistance to INH and RFP is in 68 patients(65.4%), RFP is 12 patients(11.5%), INH is in 3 patients(2.9%) and all sensitive to INH and RFP is 3 patients(2.9%). The clinical symptoms on admission were coughing(89.4%), sputum(69.2%), dyspnea on exertion(37.5%), weight loss(33.7%) blood tinged sputum(15.4%) and others. The extent of disease on the radiograph was far-advanced in 73 patients(70.2%), moderate in 28 patients(26.9%) and minimal in 3 patients(2.9%). The side effects for drugs were gastrointestinal troubles in 31 patients(29.8%), arthralgia in 22 patients(21.2%), skin rash in 12 patients(11.5%) and others. The negative conversion rate on sputum AFB smear was 85.6%(87.5% in Group I, 80.0% in Group II and 90.5% in Group III). The average negative conversion time on sputum was 4 month(4.0 month in Group I, 4.6 month in Group II and 3.0 month in Group III). Conclusion : In the retreatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, ofloxacin is useful drug for the patients who are not available to use PZA and combination of PZA and OFX can be use effectively substituting for CS.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.607-613
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• 2021

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are still a considerable challenge in Myanmar. We undertook a control program for STH infections (especially Trichuris trichiura) among schoolchildren in Myanmar using mass drug administration (MDA) and health education. Around 1,700 schoolchildren from 15 primary schools in 3 suburban districts (Shwe Pyi Thar, Twantay, and Kyauktan) of the Yangon Region were subjected in this study during 2017-2019. All of the schoolchildren in each school were orally administered albendazole (400 mg in a single dose) 2, 3, and 4 times a year in 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively. The results revealed that the egg positive rate of any intestinal helminths (including STH) was reduced from 37.6% (649/1,724) in 2017 to 22.8% (352/1,542) in 2019. The egg positive rate of Ascaris lumbricoides was decreased remarkably from 23.3% (402/1,724) in 2017 to 3.6% (56/1,542) in 2019. However, that of T. trichiura was only slightly reduced from 26.9% (464/1,724) in 2017 to 20.2% (312/1,542) in 2019. The intensity of infection with A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura was both more or less reduced, and the proportion of light infection cases with A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura increased from 35.6% in 2017 to 64.3% in 2019 and from 70.3% in 2017 to 81.7% in 2019, respectively. The results indicated that repeated MDAs (2-4 times a year for 3 years) using albendazole on schoolchildren in Myanmar failed to control T. trichiura infection. For a successful control of trichuriasis in Myanmar, new MDA strategies, using a modified albendazole regimen (multiple daily doses for 2 or 3 days) or an alternative anthelmintic drug, such as oxantel pamoate, is strongly recommended.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.180-186
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• 2006

Background : Para-aminosalicylic acid(PAS) is a 2nd-line drug that can cause severe adverse reactions leading to poor patient compliance. This study evaluated the relapse rate according to the discontinuance of PAS at a certain point after bacteriological conversion during the course of chemotherapy for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis(MDR-TB). Methods : 42 out of 452 MDR-TB patients were enrolled in this study. All subjects were receiving chemotherapy including PAS at National Masan TB Hospital between Jan. 1, 2000 and Dec. 31, 2001. The relapse rate was evaluated after the discontinuance of PAS from their initial regimen as a result of the severe adverse reactions at a certain point after the bacteriological conversion during the course of chemotherapy for MDR-TB. Results : The male to female ratio was 2.5:1, and the mean age was 47.2 years old. The average number of past histories, used drugs and resistant drugs was 1.2, 3.9 and 4.3. The mean number of sensitive drugs included in the inirial regimen was 3.9. The mean time for bacteriological conversion and discontinuance of the PAS was 2.3 months after initiating treatment and 6 months after bacteriological conversion, respectively. There was no relapse after discontinuing PAS during a mean follow up period of 31.6 months. Conclusion : PAS may be discontinued in the cases of serious gastrointestinal problems approximately 6 months after bacteriological conversion without concern about relapse.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.143-149
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• 2006

Background: Irinotecan (topoisomerase I inhibitor) is effective as a monotherapy against small-cell lung cancer(SCLC). Cisplatin is also an important drug against SCLC. A phase II study of irinotecan combined with cisplatin was carried out to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of this combined regimen as a first line treatment in patients with extensive SCLC. Methods: Thirty-nine patients with previously untreated extensive SCLC were enrolled in this study. Irinotecan $60mg/m^2$ was administered intravenously on days 1, 8 and 15, and in combination with cisplatin $60mg/m^2$ on day 1 and every 28 days thereafter. Four cycles of chemotherapy were given to the patients. Results: The overall response rate was 77% with a complete response (CR) rate of 8%. The median survival time, 1- and 2-year survival rate were 14.8 months, 60.9% and 27.6%, respectively. The median progression free survival time, 6-and 12-month progression free survival rate were 8.4 months, 75% and 18.8%, respectively. The WHO grade 3 or more toxicity encountered were leukopenia (23%), diarrhea (26%). Two patients changed their chemotherapeutic regimen and one patient died from severe diarrhea. Conclusion: The combination of irinotecan and cisplatin is effective as a first line therapy in extensive SCLC is effective, but has severe or fatal diarrhea as toxicity.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.177-182
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• 2008

Background: Isoniazid (INH, H) is a key drug of the standard first-line regimen for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB), yet some reports have suggested that treatment efficacy was maintained even though INH was omitted from the treatment regimen. Methods: One hundred forty C57BL/6 mice were infected with the H37Rv strain of M. tuberculosis with using a Glas-Col aerosol generation device, and this resulted in depositing about 100 bacilli in the lung. Four weeks after infection, anti-TB treatment was initiated with varying regimens for 4-8 weeks; Group 1: no treatment (control), Group 2 (4HREZ): 4 weeks of INH, rifampicin (R), pyrazinamide (Z) and ethambutol (E), Group 3: 1HREZ/3REZ, Group 4: 4REZ, Group 5: 4HREZ/4HRE, Group 6: 1HREZ/3REZ/4RE, and Group 7: 4REZ/4RE. The lungs and spleens were harvested at several time points until 28 weeks after infection, and the colony-forming unit (CFU) counts were determined. Results: The CFU counts increased steadily after infection in the control group. In the 4-week treatment groups (Group 2-4), even though the culture was negative at treatment completion, the bacilli grew again at the 12-week and 20-week time points after completion of treatment. In the 8-week treatment groups (Groups 5-7), the bacilli did not grow in the lung at 4 weeks after treatment initiation and thereafter. In the spleens of Group 7 in which INH was omitted from the treatment regimen, the culture was negative at 4-weeks after treatment initiation and thereafter. However, in Groups 5 and 6 in which INH was taken continuously or intermittently, the bacilli grew in the spleen at some time points after completion of treatment. Conclusion: TThe exclusion of INH from the standard first-line regimen did not affect the treatment outcome in a murine model of TB in the early stage of disease. Further studies using a murine model of chronic TB are necessary to clarify the role of INH in the standard first-line regimen for treating TB.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.177-196
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• 2004

Objective : Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that pathogenesis is not fully understood and one of the most intractable musculoskeletal diseases. The concern in the immunopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis has been increased since 1980's and many immunotherapeutic agents including disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) were developed and became the mainstay of treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. However, the cure of the disease has hardly been achieved. In oriental medicine, rheumatoid arthritis is related to Bi-Zheng(痺證), that presents pain, swelling, andlor loss of joint function as major clinical manifestations, and also known to be deeply involved in suppression of immune function related to weakness of Jung-Ki(正氣). The herbal medicine, empirically used, could be a potential resource of development of new immunotherapeutic agents for rheumatoid arthritis. Methods : We developed a search strategy using terms to include "rheumatoid arthritis and herbal medicine" combined with "Chinese medicine" and/or "Oriental medicine". The search was focused on experimental studies of herbal medicine (January 1999 to May 2004), which is known to have effects on immune function of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Computerized search used Internet databases including KISS and RISS4U (Korea), CNKI (China), MOMJ (Main Oriental Medicine Journal, Japan), and PubMed. The articles were selected from journals of universities or major research institutes. Results : The literature search for experimental studies on effects of herbal medicine on immunity of rheumatoid arthritis retrieved a total of 21 articles (Korea; 8, China ; 12, Japan ; 1). Of 21 articles, 10 were related to single-drug formula, 2 to drug interaction, and 9 to multi-drug formula. Single-drug formula was mainly used for aqua-acupuncture and researches on active components. Studies of drug interaction emphasized harmony of Ki-Hyul(氣血) and balance of Han-Yeul(寒熱). Multi-drug regimen was mainly found among formulas for Bo-Ki-Hyul(補氣血) and Bo-Sin(補腎). Conclusion : Studies on rheumatoid arthritis were performed both in vitro and in vivo in vitro study, LPS-stimulated splenocytes and synoviocytes were treated with herbal medicine, resulting in proliferation and activation of immune cells and suppression of cytokine activities in vivo study CIA animal model demonstrated that herbal medicine decreased antibody production and improved function of immune cells. In cellular and molecular study herbal medicine showed profound effects on the level of mRNA expression of certain cytokines related to immune function. This study revealed that herbal medicine has significant immune modulatory action and could be used for recovery of immune dysfunction of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.973-977
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• 2002

The pharmacokinetic of paclitaxel (1 mg/kg, i.v.) was investigated in rabbits with carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic failure. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of paclitaxel was significantly (p<0.01) increased in severe carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic failure rabbits ($1364.54{\pm}382.07$ ng/ml$\cdot$hr) compared to that of normal rabbits ($567.52{\pm}141.88$ ng/ml$\cdot$hr), but not significantly in moderate carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic failure rabbits ($803.1{\pm}208.81$ ng/ml$\cdot$hr). The volume of distribution (Vd) (6.25$\pm$1.56 L) and the elimination rate constant($\beta$) ($0.09{\pm}0.025{\;}hr^{-1}$) of paclitaxel in severe carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic failure rabbits were significantly (p<0.05) decreased compared to those of normal rabbits ($11.65<{\pm}2.91$L, $0.12{\pm}0.030{\;}hr^{-1}$), but not significantly in moderate carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic failure rabbits ($9.46{\pm}2.37$ L, $0.10{\pm}0.026{\;}hr^{-1}$). Total body clearance ($CL_t$) of paclitaxel in severe carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic failure rabbits ($0.733{\pm}0.183$ L/hr/kg) was significantly (p<0.01) decreased compared to that of normal rabbits ($1.762{\pm}0.440$ L/hr/kg), but not significantly in moderate carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic failure rabbits ($1.245{\pm}0.311$ L/hr/kg). The half-life(t1/2) of paclitaxel in severe carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic failure rabbits ($7.71{\pm}2.16$ hr) was significantly (p<0.05) increased compared to that of normal rabbits ($5.75{\pm}1.44$hr), but not significantly in moderate carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic failure rabbits ($6.77{\pm}1.76$hr). This results could be due to inhibition of paclitaxel metabolism in liver disorder rabbits since paclitaxel is essentially metabolized in liver. The findings suggest that the dosage regimen of paclitaxel should be adjusted when the drug would be administered in patients with liver disorder in a clinical situation.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.41-53
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• 2006

1. Objectives Nursing's meaning in Oriental medicine is prevention of disease more than treatment. The parts of defination are methods of non-medicine precisely, care of health and recuperation. 2. Methods This paper was written in order to understand of ${\ulcorner}$Dongyi Suse Bowon${\lrcorner}$ written in 1894(Old Edition} through the study to focus on the Sasang Constitutional nursing theory. 3. Results & Conclusions (1) Dialectic of Sasang Constitutional nursing are necessary to assesment about four fundamental factors (perspira­tion, defecation, digestion, urination). (2) Medicational guidance are different from character, dosage of medication, degree of disease, a poisonous drug etc. (3) Preservation of health are medication and food regimen. If 'Inherent vitality' is in a disadvantageous position, recuperation is first more than medication. The most important is protectional management. There are necessary about mind of 'liquor-sex- property-authority' & 'joy-anger- sorrow-pleasure'. It is the same application as nursing.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4481-4485
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• 2012

Background: Chemotherapy induced leutropenia has been shown to be associated with improved treatment outcomes in selected solid tumors. We studied the association of chemotherapy induced leutropenia with treatment related outcomes in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Methods: This is a prospective analysis of patients receiving chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC at the Shandong Cancer Hospital from 2005-07.The chemotherapy included cisplatin $35mg/m^2$, IV on $d_{1,2}$ and vinorelbine $25mg/m^2$ IV on $d_{1,8}$ every 21 days. Patients were stratified into three groups (A) those experiencing grades 0 leucopenia, group (B) grades 1-2 and group (C) grades 3-4. The outcomes studied were response rate (RR), disease control rate (DCR), and time to progression (TTP). Results: 128 patients were studied. The RRs in groups A, B and C were 30.8%, 56.8% and 71.4%, respectively, p=0.010. The DCRs were 61.5%, 83.8% and 92.9%, respectively, p=0.009 and the median TTPs were 150 days (95%CI: 91-209), 189 days (95%CI: 181-197) and 207 days (95%CI: 172-242), p=0.009. The differences in RR and TTP were significant. In patients whose CIL kept on 10 days at least, the TTP was significantly prolonged, p=0.0213, and the same was the case for those experiencing grades 1-2 leucopenia and ECOG 0, p=0.0412. Conclusions: Occurrence of CIL correlated with RR and TTP in patients with advanced NSCLC receiving cisplatin and vinorelbine chemotherapy, especially in patients experiencing grades 1-2 leucopenia and ECOG 0, and the same for those with CIL persisting for 10 days at least. CIL could be a biological measure of drug activity and a marker of efficacy.