• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.65-77
• /
• 2005

Present article reviews about clinical pharmacology of mycophenolic acid (MPA), the active form of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), as widely used component of immunosuppressive regimens in the organ transplantation field. MMF, used alone or concomitantly with cyclosporine or tacrolimus, has approved in reducing the incidence of acute rejection and has gained widespread use in solid organ such as kidney, heart and liver transplantation. The application of MPA and development of MMF has shown a considerable impact on immunosuppressive therapy for organ transplantation as a new immunosuppressive agent with different mechanism of action from other drugs after early 1990s. In particular aspect, use of MMF, a morpholinoethyl ester of MPA, represented a significant advance in the prevention of organ allograft rejection as well as allograft and patient survival. In considering MMF clinical data, it is important to note that there is a strong correlation between high MPA area under curve(AUC) values and a low probability of acute allograft rejection. Individual trials have shown that MMF is generally well tolerated and revealed that MMF decreased the relative risk of developing chronic allograft rejection compared with azathioprine. Recent clinical investigations suggested that improved effectiveness and tolerability will results from the incorporation of MPA therapeutic drug monitoring into routine clinical practice, providing effective MMF dose individualization in renal and heart transplant patients. Therefore, MMF has a selective immunosuppressive effect with minimal toxicity and has shown to be more effective that other agents as next step of immunosuppressive agents and regimens that deliver effective graft protection and immunosuppression along with a more favorable side effect.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.102-113
• /
• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of long term osteoporosis management education consist of exercise, drug therapy, and nutrition on bone mineral density (BMD) and medication compliance among postmenopausal women who have just been diagnosed with osteoporosis. Methods: The research design consisted of a pre-and post-test quasi-experimental design through a nonequivalent control group. The participants in this study were 60 individuals with osteoporosis, and who were classified according to two groups; the control group (n=30) who were given general clinical guidelines, and the experimental group (n=30) who received management education once for 60 minutes every three months using a standardized educational sheet. After one year, BMD was assessed using band dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and medication possession ratio (MPR) for medication compliance. Analysis of collected data was performed using descriptive statistics t-test, chi-test, and paired t-test. Results: No significant difference in BMD (t=-1.02, p=.311) and MPR (t=-0.77, p=.440) was observed between the two groups. However, a significant increase in femur neck BMD was observed in the experimental group compared with the control group (t=-2.18, p=.033). Conclusion: Conduct of further study will be needed for examination of the effect of long-term osteoporosis management education on BMD Level and Medication Compliance in Postmenopausal Women.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.125-136
• /
• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze the proportion of fundus examination of DM patients for preventing microvascular complication and to examine the factors related to fundus examination in DM patients. Methods: This study used 2005 Korean national health and nutrition survey data. We selected all 1,129 diabetes mellitus patients from the data. And we choose 8 factors related to diabetes mellitus patients. These are sex, age group, type of residential area(rural or urban), education level, income level, comorbidity with hypertension, current insulin use, and duration of suffering from DM. We have analysed these factors by whether he had been examined fundus or no through Chi-square and logistic regression analysis. Results: Female DM patients have tendency to get more fundus examination than Male DM patients. And Young patients, patients who live in urban area, well educated patients, high income patients, comorbidity with hypertension, patients have got the insulin injection, patients have long duration of suffering from DM are to get more fundus examination. According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, sex and education level, income level, and duration of suffering from DM, comorbidity with hypertension, patients have got the insulin injection are significant factors on fundus examination for prevent microvascular diabetes mellitus complications. Conclusions and Discussion: We have concluded that physicians and policy makers should consider to fundus examination especially of man and DM patients who have more shorter disease period and low educated patients and low incomed patients and patients who have taken insulin therapy.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.15 no.9
• /
• pp.5637-5643
• /
• 2014

This study examined the degree of life satisfaction and quality of life of elderly people living in abandoned mine regions as well as the life quality factors that affected their degree of life satisfaction. A structured survey was used to look at their degree of life satisfaction and quality of life. The subjects were 167 elderly people aged 60 or older residing in abandoned mine regions in Gangwon-do. Their quality of life and degree of life satisfaction was moderate and when they had worked for a mine for a long time, their current degree of life satisfaction was high. In addition, religion affected their degree of life satisfaction and the residential environment and pleasant environment were highly influential in their degree of life satisfaction. Therefore, to improve the degree of life satisfaction of elderly people living in abandoned mine regions, it is essential to recover their hollow areas and create a pleasant environment by organizing their residential areas and enhancing their environment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.23
• /
• pp.10273-10276
• /
• 2015

Objective: To explore the clinical effects of nimotuzumab combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of late gastric cancer. Methods: A total of 34 reoccurrence or metastatic patients with late stage gastric cancer who were confirmed by histopathology and/or cytology were selected and randomly divided into observational and control groups, of 17 cases each. Patients in the control group were treated with the standard DCF plan, while patients in observational group additionally received nimotuzumab. The short-term and long-term efficacy and adverse reactions in the 2 groups were followed. Results: The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 64.7% (11/17) and 82.4% (14/17) in observational group and 25.0%(4/16) and 37.5%(6/16) in the control group(ORR and DCR between 2 groups, ${\chi}^2=5.2412$, P=0.0221 and ${\chi}^2=6.9453$, P=0.0084). The median progression-free survival (PFS) time and median overall survival (OS) time were 6.50 months and 12.50 months in observational group and 4.50 months and 8.25 months in the control group (P=0.0212; P=0.0255). The main toxic and side effects in the 2 groups were reduced leukocytes and hemoglobin, gastrointestinal reactions and hair loss and these were relieved after symptomatic treatment and nutrition support therapy. There were no differences in the occurrence of toxic and side effects between the 2 groups. Conclusions: Nimotuzumab combined with DCF plan is effective in treating late stage gastric cancer. A larger scale study is now warranted for confirmation of the findings.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.58 no.8
• /
• pp.283-287
• /
• 2015

Purpose: We assessed the relationships between iron and vitamin D statuses in breastfed infants and their mothers and evaluated the determinants of iron and vitamin D deficiencies in breastfed infants. Methods: Seventy breastfed infants aged 4-24 months and their mothers participated in this study from February 2012 to May 2013. Complete blood counts, total iron binding capacity, and levels of C-reactive protein, iron, ferritin, calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in infants and their mothers were measured. Results: A history of maternal prepregnancy anemia was associated with lower ferritin and 25(OH)D levels in both infants and their mothers. The 25(OH)D level of infants correlated with maternal 25(OH) D levels. The independent risk factors for iron deficiency in breastfed infants were the duration of breastfeeding (odds ratio [OR], 6.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-39.2; P=0.04) and infant body weight (OR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.07-6.56; P=0.04). The determinants for vitamin D deficiency were the infant's age (OR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.02-0.97; P=0.046) and maternal 25(OH)D level (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.59-0.92; P=0.01). Conclusion: A maternal history of prepregnancy anemia requiring iron therapy was associated with lower current ferritin and 25(OH)D levels in both infants and their mothers. Therefore, physicians should monitor not only iron but also vitamin D levels in infants who are breastfed by mothers who had prepregnancy anemia.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.3781-3788
• /
• 2014

This study examined the age-related bone mineral density (BMD), accumulated bone loss rate (ABLR) at different skeletal sites in Korean men using the data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES)(the 1st (2010), 2nd (2010) and the year at the 5th survey). The cubic regression model was found to be the best for describing the age-related changes in BMD. The lumbar spine, total hip, femoral neck, trochanter, Ward's triangle in the bone mineral density difference were analyzed by ANOVA. The peak BMD was at 20-24 years at the lumbar spine, total hip, femoral neck, trochanter, Ward's triangle, and the 75-79 years of age group had the highest Accumulated Bone Loss Rate. Therefore, intensive management will be necessary for men over 75 years, and a diagnosis of osteoporosis in Korean men should be made according to The International Society for Clinical Densitometry; ISCD.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.287-292
• /
• 2017

A five-year-old, male, Great Dane weighing 107 kg was presented with anorexia, abdominal distension, and dyspnea for 5 days. Physical examination, blood works, radiography, electrocardiography (ECG), and echocardiography were performed. Based on severely low fractional shortening (FS) and marked four chamber enlargement in echocardiography, continuous atrial fibrillation and occasional ventricular premature complex (VPC) on ECG, the dog was diagnosed as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) concurrent with congestive heart failure. Pleural effusion and ascites were modified transudate. In accordance with DCM scoring system recommended by European Society of Veterinary Cardiology (ESVC), DCM score was 13/15 in this case. Concentrations of cTnI and NT-pro-BNP were 1.0 ng/mL and 693 pmol/L, respectively. Since the former and the latter were remarkably high values, it was certain that the patient had grave prognosis. Intensive care was performed for the dog and the clinical signs as well as the radiographic abnormalities were resolved. However, when he presented serious dyspnea again at 25 days post therapy, the dog was dead. In case of canine DCM, the scoring system for the diagnosis and cardiac biomarkers including NT-pro-BNP and cTnI could be useful to advise owners on the status and prognosis of their dog with DCM.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.208-213
• /
• 2010

We sought to optimize parboiled rice preparations with respect to nutritional composition and to compare the physicochemical properties of polished, glutinous rices and Olbyossal (parboiled rice). Crude lipid contents (all w/w) were: brown glutinous rice (1.92%) > Olbyossal (1.13%) > glutinous rice (1.08%) > polished rice (0.32%). The crude ash content of Olbyossal was greater than that of polished rice. There was no significant difference in crude protein level between Olbyossal and polished rice. Total dietary fiber content (all figures are w/w) was higher in Olbyossal (3.79%) than in polished rice (1.67%). With respect to mineral content, P (249.16 mg%), K (144.67 mg%), Na (35.41 mg%), and Mg (30.24 mg%) levels were higher in Olbyossal than in polished rice. There was no significant difference in fatty acid or amino acid content between polished rice and Olbyossal. The L value (lightness) of Olbyossal was lower than that of polished rice but the hardness of Olbyossal was greater.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.1981-1984
• /
• 2013

Objective: The optimal duration of adjuvant trastuzumab treatment in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer is not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of 6 months of adjuvant trastuzumab treatment in patients with stage II or III HER2-positive breast cancer. Methods: The records of patients with HER2-positive stage II or III breast cancer who were admitted to the Breast Center of Taipei Medical University Hospital and Yuan's General Hospital between 2000 and 2008 were reviewed. All patients received adjuvant trastuzumab at an initial dose of 4 mg/kg followed by a maintenance dose of 2 mg/kg/week for 22 weeks in combination with chemotherapy. Results: A total of 51 patients were included with a mean age of 46.9 years. Approximately 55% of the patients had stage III disease. The mean follow-up time from initiation of treatment was 45.2 months (range, 0.9 to 85 months). During follow-up, 46 patients (90.2%) did not experience tumor recurrence. The mean estimated disease free survival was 80.2 months. The estimated 1-, 2-, 5-, and 7-year survival rates were 97.9%, 93.1%, 93.1%, and 93.1%, respectively. The most common adverse effects were gastrointestinal symptoms (21.6%), chills (17.6%), dizziness (9.8%), and bone pain (7.8%). No cardiac or hematologic adverse events occurred. Conclusion: Adjuvant therapy with trastuzumab for 6 months resulted in a clinical benefit in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.