• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1169-1181
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• 2018

Background/Aims: Data on dexamethasone, cytarabine, and cisplatin (DHAP) as a mobilization regimen, compared to high-dose cyclophosphamide (HDC), for up-front autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is limited. Methods: Consecutive patients with aggressive NHL treated with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) or rituximab-CHOP who underwent chemomobilization using HDC or DHAP plus granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) for up-front ASCT were enrolled from three institutions between 2004 and 2014. Results: Ninety-six patients (57 men) were included. Sixty-five patients (67.7%) received HDC; and 31 (32.3%), DHAP. The total CD34+ cells mobilized were significantly higher in patients receiving DHAP (16.1 vs. $6.1{\times}10^6/kg$, p = 0.001). More patients achieved successful mobilization with DHAP (CD34+ cells ${\geq}5.0{\times}10^6/kg$) compared to HDC (87.1% vs. 61.5%, respectively; p = 0.011), particularly within the first two sessions of apheresis (64.5% vs. 32.3%, respectively; p = 0.003). Mobilization failure rate (CD34+ cells < $2.0{\times}10^6/kg$) was significantly higher in patients receiving HDC (20.0% vs. 3.2%, p = 0.032). On multivariate analysis, the DHAP regimen (odds ratio, 4.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.12 to 15.17) was an independent predictor of successful mobilization. During chemomobilization, patients receiving HDC experienced more episodes of febrile neutropenia compared to patients receiving DHAP (32.3% vs. 12.9%, p = 0.043). Conclusions: The DHAP regimen was associated with a significantly higher efficacy for stem cell mobilization and lower frequency of febrile neutropenia. Therefore, DHAP plus G-CSF is an effective for mobilization in patients with aggressive NHL who were candidates for up-front ASCT.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.327-332
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• 2005

Interstitial lung disease refers to a group of pulmonary disorders characterized by inflammation of the interstitium, derangements and loss of alveolar capillary units leading to disruption of alveolar gas exchange, which induces symptoms of restrictive lung disease. Cases of interstitial pneumonia in children are uncommon and mostly have unknown causes. We have experienced an 8-year old boy who had symptoms of cyanosis, dry cough, dyspnea and abrupt weight loss. He had not been exposed to organic dusts, allergens or any other systemic disease infections. Chest radiology showed diffuse ground glass opacity in both lung fields. High resolution computed tomography(HRCT) showed multiple small patchy areas of consolidation with an underlying ground glass appearance in both lungs. The pathologic findings of lung biopsy tissue showed patchy areas of interstitial fibrosis, alveolar obliteration and nodular fibrotic areas, strongly suggesting interstitial pneumonia. No specific finding of viral inclusion or any other evidence of infection was found under electromicroscopy. We used peak flow meters to compare functional improvement. Forced expiratory volume in one second ($FEV_1$) was decreased to 25 percent of predicted value. The boy was given treatment with prednisone and showed improvements in HRCT findings after two months. He was able to tolerate easy exercise in school and showed clinical improvements after one year of follow up.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.19-28
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the therapeutic effects of oriental medical treatment and oriental-western medical treatment on Bell's palsy. Methods : From 1st June, 2006 to 31th August, 2007, 30 Bell's palsy patients who visited the Facial palsy center at East-West Neo Medical Center within 7days of onset and treated for more than 4weeks were randomly divided into two groups. Group A was treated with oriental medical therapy(Acupuncture, Herb, Physical therapy) and Group B with both oriental and western medical therapy(Acupuncture, Herb, Physical therapy, Administration of prednisone). We evaluated the treatment effect of each group with the House-Brackmann Gross Grading System before treatment, after 1week, 2weeks, 3weeks and 4weeks of treatment. Results : After 1week of treatment, Group A showed better performance compared with Group B. After 3weeks and 4 weeks of treatment, Group B showed better performance than Group A. Conclusions : These results proved that combination treatment of oriental and western medicine was more effective than just oriental medical treatment in long term treatment of Bell's palsy. But we discovered that there were no significant differences between the two groups.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.151-158
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• 2015

Objective: This study was designed to compare pegfilgrastim and filgrastim in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients treated with a rituximab with cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin, oncovin, and prednisone (R-CHOP) regimen in terms of clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness. Method: Clinical efficacy was measured by trough level of absolute neutrophil count (ANC), days of ANC under 50% of baseline value, days of ANC under 90% of baseline value, duration of ANC recovery to baseline value, days of ANC less than $0.5{\times}10^9cells/L$, and difference of peak and trough level of ANC during 1 cycle of R-CHOP regimen. To evaluate cost-effectiveness, total prices of used filgrastim and pegfilgrastim within 1 cycle of R-CHOP were analyzed. Results: In terms of clinical efficacy, trough level of ANC and days to ANC recovery showed statistical significance. The median trough levels of ANC with administration of filgrastim and pegfilgrastim were 0.18 and 1.94 (p = 0.021), respectively, and the median durations of ANC recovery to baseline value were 5.5 days and 2 days (p = 0.023), respectively. For the median days of ANC under 50% of baseline value, days of ANC under 90% of baseline value, days of ANC less than $0.5{\times}10^9cells/L$, and difference of peak and trough level of ANC during 1 cycle of R-CHOP, the pegfilgrastim group performed better than the filgrastim group. However the difference was not statistically significant. In terms of overall expense during 1 cycle of R-CHOP, pegfilgrastim is about 3.43 times more expensive than filgrastim. Conclusion: Pegfilgrastim is more efficient than filgrastim in terms of clinical efficacy. In terms of prices, pegfilgrastim is more expensive than filgrastim for patients, but it is more convenient in clinical use. Therefore, pegfilgrastim should be the preferred choice of G-CSF for neutropenic patients. Further comparative study of pegfilgrastim and filgrastim is needed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.101-104
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• 2016

Background: With advances in diagnostics and treatment approaches, patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) in developed countries can nowadays expect to have excellent outcomes. However, information about the characteristics and outcomes in the developing world is very scarce, and this is important given the fact that there are several reports about differences of disease characteristics depending on geographic location and the development level of the country. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study we assessed the features of 36 adult (${\geq}18$ years old) patients with HL and their diagnosis and treatment and outcomes in the Clinic of Chemotherapy of Muratsan University Hospital of Yerevan State Medical University, Armenia, between 2008-2014. Results: All patients had classic HL and among them 19 (53%) had nodular sclerosis subtype, 8 (22%) mixed cellularity and 9 (25%) lymphocyte-rich. 16 (44.5%) patients were at stage II, 13 (36%) stage III and 7 (19.5%) stage IV. Median follow-up time was 24.5 months (range 1-71 months) and during the whole follow-up period only two relapses (early) were documented and there were no deaths. Twenty-three (64%) patients received a BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone) regimen, and 13 (36%) ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine) regimen. A total of 25 (69.5%) patients received radiation in addition to chemotherapy. Conclusions: Although the number of patients involved in the study is small and the median follow-up time was just two years, this retrospective study shows that treatment of HL can be successfully organized in a resource-limited setting.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.929-934
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• 2013

Aim: To analyze the significance of different clinical factors for prognostic prediction in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. Methods: Two hundred and twenty-seven DLBCL patients were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were managed with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) regimen or rituximab plus the CHOP (RCHOP) regimen. Results: Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), ${\beta}2$-microglobulin (${\beta}2$-M), B symptoms, Ann Arbor stage and genetic subtypes were statistically relevant in predicting the prognosis of the overall survival (OS). In the CHOP group, the OS in patients with germinal center B-cell-like (GCB)(76.2%) was significantly higher than that of the non-GCB group (51.9%, P=0.032). With RCHOP management, there was no statistical difference in OS between the GCB (88.4%) and non-GCB groups (81.9%, P=0.288). Conclusion: Elevated LDH and ${\beta}2$-M levels, positive B symptoms, Ann Arbor stage III/IV, and primary nodal lymphoma indicate an unfavorable prognosis of DLBCL patients. Patients with GCB-like DLBCL have a better prognosis than those with non-GCB when treated with the CHOP regimen. The RCHOP treatment with the addition of rituximab can improve the prognosis of patients with DLBCL.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.96-102
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• 1999

A 40-year-old female presented with fever and cough which had lasted for 3 months. Three years previously systemic lupus erythematosus had been diagnosed, and at that time 10mg of prednisone per day was prescribed. Crackles were heard at the base of the lung and her chest roentgenogram revealed diffuse infitrates in both lower lung fields. Despite of empirical antibiotics and antituberculous medication consisting of isoniczid, rifampicin and ethambutol, the patients condition deteriorated. We performed open lung biosy and numerous nodules with necrosis as well as acid fast bacilli were observed. After biochemical tests and sequencing, the organism was identified as Mycobacterium abscessus. The patient was treated with imipenem and amikacin ; patient's condition, as indicated by both symptoms and roentogenogram, subsequently improved.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 1999

췌장이식의 성공률은 지난 10년 동안 상당히 상승되었다. International Pancreas Transplant Registry에 따르면 1995년 이래 미국에서만 매년 1,000건 이상의 췌장이식이 실시되고 있다. 장기이식후 나타나는 급성 거부반응은 이식 후 6개월 이내에 가장 높은 빈도수로 나타난다. 췌장이식환자에서는 신장을 이식한 것보다 두배나 높은 거부반응을 나타나며 이로 인한 입원율의 증가 항림프제(antilyinphocyte) 사용과 감염의 증가로 이환율이 높다. 더구나 Cyclosporine (CsA)을 기초로 한 면역억제제요법의 사용은 높은 급성 거부반응률(acute graft rejection)을 초래하여 이식한 장기의 조직손실이 문제가 되고 있다. 새로운 면역억제제인 Tacrolimus (FK506)의 사용은 이식환자에서의 거부반응을 감소시켜 생존율을 증가시키는 것으로 알려져 있다. Tacrolimus는 neutral macrolide로 cyclic peptide인 CsA과는 화학 구조는 매우 다르나 비슷한 면역억제 효과를 보인다. 하지만 Tacrolimus의 사용시 신경독성, 신독성, 특히 고혈당증의 발생률이 높아 일부 이식센터에서는 장기 이식 후에 사용하기를 꺼리기도 한다. 하지만 여러 연구논문에서 간과 신장 이식 후 급성 거부반응 예방에 Tacrolimus는 CsA에 비해 이점이 있는 결과를 발표하였다. 결과적으로, 현재 췌장이식 후 Tacrolimus를 기초로 한 면역억제의 효과에 대한 연구가 활발히 진행중이다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 1994-1996년 사이에 Tacrolimus 또는 CsA를 기초로 한 면역억제요법을 투여 받은 췌장이식환자 101명을 후향적으로 조사하여 Tacrolimus (n=54)와 CsA(n=57)의 급성 거부반응 예방 효과와 신부전 발생률을 비교하였다. 모든 환자는 항림프구 약물, Azathioprine, Prednisone을 이식 후 면역억제제로 투여 받았다 기준선으로부터 $20\%$ 이상의 혈청 creatinine의 상승이 있는 환자에서는 급성 신부전으로 정의하였고 신장생검법으로 거부반응을 진단하였다 Matched-pair analysis에 따르면 췌장이식환자의 6개월 생존율은 CsA군에서 $97\%$, Tacrolimus군에서 $96\%$로 별다른 차이가 없었으며 (p=0.57), 6개월간의 이식한 췌장의 보존율은 CsA군에서는 $88\%, Tacrolimus에서 $91\%$. 유의한 차이는 없었다(p=0.29). 췌장이식 후 6개월 동안 Tacrolimus의 사용은 생검으로 증명되는(biopsy-proven) 급성 거부반응의 발생빈도는 CsA보다 유의하게 낮았을 뿐만 아니라 (p<0.05) 거부반응 증상의 심각도 또한 감소시켰다 (p=0.03). 급성거부반응 발생빈도의 감소로 Tacrolimus군에서 antilymphocyte 치료가 유의하게 줄어들었다(p=0.01). CsA군에서 Tacrolimus보다 신부전의 발생률이 높았으나 통계학적 차이는 없었다. 췌장이식후의 최적의 면역억제요법의 결정하기 위해서는 향후 Tacrolimus와 CsA을 비교하는 전향적 무작위 연구가 필요하다.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.199-205
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• 2011

During root canal treatment, overinstrumentation with hand or mechanically driven files can perforate the mandibular canal, allowing the extrusion of endodontic sealers, dressing agents, and irrigant solutions out of the tooth and into the canal. The patient may report symptoms such as pain, hyperesthesia, hypoesthesia, anesthesia, dysesthesia and paresthesia. Such problems must be resolved as quickly as possible to avoid irreversible sequelae caused by certain neurotoxic materials that form part of endodontic sealants. Although there have been no controlled trials of treatment protocols involving endodontically related injuries to the inferior alveolar nerve, the normal therapeutic sequence for this complication is the control of pain and inflammation and, whenever possible, the surgical elimination of the cause. However, total resolution of pain and reduction in or disappearance of paraesthesia after a non-surgical management have been reported. Antiepileptic drugs such as gabapentin or pregabalin have been used for the treatment of neuropathic pain. This article describes a case of inferior alveolar nerve(IAN) damage after endodontic treatment of a mandibular right second molar and the treatment with non-surgical approach using prednisone and gabapentin medication, monitoring the patient's condition with clinical neurosensory examination and current perception threshold test(Neurometer).

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.76-83
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• 2018

Background: Elderly patients with multiple myeloma (MM) are vulnerable to adverse events (AEs). This study evaluated adherence to chemotherapy and treatment outcomes in elderly patients treated with a frontline bortezomib (BTZ), melphalan, and prednisone (VMP) regimen and regimens without BTZ. Methods: One-hundred and forty elderly patients who were diagnosed with MM from March 2007 to March 2015 were included in this retrospective study. To evaluate regimen adherence, patients who were treated with more than 4 cycles were assigned to the good adherence group. Results: Among the 140 patients, 71 were treated with a frontline VMP and 69 with non-BTZ regimens. The median age was 71 years (range, 65-90 years). The VMP group showed a higher complete response rate than the non-BTZ group: 26.8% vs. 7.2%. More patients in the VMP group achieved ${\geq}$very good partial response (VGPR) and ${\geq}PR$. In the VMP group, 27 patients (38.0%) received less than 4 cycles. The VMP good adherence group showed a higher 3-year overall survival (OS) rate (70.9%) than the poor adherence group (60.2%, p=0.059). In the multivariate analysis, treatment with ${\geq}4$ cycles of VMP was a favorable factor for OS. Conclusion: A good adherence to a frontline VMP regimen resulted in favorable long-term survival. Adequate management of AEs will be needed to achieve favorable outcomes in elderly patients with MM.