• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.76-82
• /
• 2003

Purpose : The aim of this study was to determine whether differences exist in the presentation, clinical course, and outcome of Graves' disease between prepubertal children and adolescents. Methods : A retrospective chart review of 14 prepubertal(PREPUB, $7.2{\pm}0.9yr) and 38 pubertal (PUB, $12.4{\pm}1.5yr$) children with Graves' disease between January 1989 and November 1995 at St. Mary's Hospital and Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital was undertaken. Results : There were no significant differences in $T_3$, $T_4$, TSH between two the groups at diagnosis. The PUB group had significantly higher titers of antimicrosomal antibody(positive dilution factor $11,727.3{\pm}22,888.4$) than did the PREPUB group($2,111.5{\pm}2,285.0$, P<0.001). The PREPUB group had significantly higher titers of TSH-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin(TBII, $62.5{\pm}39.6$) than did the PUB group($44.9{\pm}10.4$, P<0.05) before treatment started. The duration(months) of medical therapy before thyroid function tests were normalized was longer in the PREPUB group than in the PUB group($T_3:6.8{\pm}5.0$ vs. $5.4{\pm}13.2$, $T_4:2.3{\pm}1.9$ vs. $2.1{\pm}2.2$, $TBII:26.7{\pm}24.0$ vs. $20.8{\pm}12.1$), especially that of TSH was significantly longer in the PREPUB group($14.6{\pm}11.0$ vs. $6.8{\pm}7.8$, P< 0.05). Total length of medical therapy was significantly longer in the PREPUB group than the PUB group($52.3{\pm}19.3$ vs. $37.9{\pm}16.3months$, P<0.01). During three years of antithyroid drug therapy, in the PREPUB group, the remission rate was lower and the relapse rate was higher than in the PUB group. Total length of treatment correlated negatively with chronological age(P=0.03). Conclusion : Prepubertal children require longer medical therapy to achieve a remission than do pubertal children. But there is an obvious need for more studies because of the small number of patients and the short duration of the follow-up.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.147-157
• /
• 1998

Purpose : The aim of this retrospective study is to assess the necessity of s1aging laparotomy in the management of supradiaphragmatic CS I-II Hodgkin's disease. Prognostic factors and the usefulness of prognostic factor groups were also analyzed. Materials and Methods : From 1985 to 1995, fifty one Patients who were diagnosed as supradiaphragmatic CS I-II Hodgkin's disease at Yonsei Cancer Center in Seoul, Korea were enrolled in this study Age range was 4 to 67 with median age of 30. The number of patients with each CS IA, II A, and IIB were 16, 25, and 10, respectively. Radiotherapy(RT) was delivered using 4 or 6 MV photon beam to a total dose of 19.5 to 55.6Gy (median dose : 45Gy) with a 1.5 to 1.BGy per fraction. Chemotherapy(CT) was given in 2-12 cycles(median : 6 cycles). Thirty one Patients were treated with RT alone, 4 patients with CT alone and 16 patients with combined chemoradiotherapy. RT volumes varied from involved fields(3), subtotal nodal fields(18) or mantle fields(26). Results : Five-year disease-free survival rate(DFS) was $78.0\%$ and overall survival rate(05) was $87.6\%$. Fifty Patients achieved a complete remission after initial treatment and 8 patients were relapsed. Salvage therapy was given to 7 patients, 1 with RT alone, 4 with CT alone, 2 with RT+CT. Only two patients were successfully salvaged. Feminine gender and large media-stinal adenopathy were significant adverse prognostic factors in the univariate analysis for DFS. The significant adverse prognostic factors of OS were B symptom and clinical stage. When patients were analyzed according to European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer(EORTC) prognostic factor groups, the DFS in Patients with very favorable, favorable and unfavorable group was 100, 100 and $55.8\%$(p<0.05), and the 05 in each patients' group was 100, 100 and $75.1\%$(p<0.05), respectively. In very favorable and favorable groups, the DFS and 05 were all $100\%$ by RT alone, but in unfavorable group, RT with CT had a lesser relapse rate than RT alone. The subtotal nodal irradiation had better OFS than mantle RT in patients treated with RT. Conclusion : In present study, the DFS and OS in patients who did not undergo s1aging laparotomy were similar with the results in the literatures of which patients were surgically staged. Therefore, we may suggest that staging laparotomy would not influence the outcome of treatments. In univariate analysis, gender, large mediastinal adenopathy. B symptoms and clinical stage were significant prognostic factors for the survival rate. We confirm the usefulness of EORTC prognostic factor groups which may be a good.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.1143-1153
• /
• 1998

Background : Recent outbreaks of pulmonary disease due to drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis have resulted in significant morbidity and mortality in patients worldwide. We reviewed our experience to evaluate the effects of pulmonary resection on the management of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Method : A retrospective review was performed of 41 patients undergoing pulmonary resection for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis between January 1993 and December 1997. We divided these into 3 groups according to the radiologic findings : (1) patients who have reasonably localized lesion (Localized Lesion Group ; LLG) (2) patients who have cavitary lesions after pulmonary resection on chest roentgenogram (Remained Cavity Group : RCG) (3) patients who have Remained infiltrative lesions postoperatively (Remained infiltrative group : RIG). We evaluated the negative conversion rate after resection and overall response rate of the groups. Then they were compared with the results of the chemotherapy on the multi drug-resistant tuberculosis which has been outcome by Goble et al. Goble et al reported that negative conversion rate was 65% and overall response rate, 56% over a mean period of 5.1 months. Results : Seventy five point six percent were men and 24.4% women with a median age of 31 years (range, 16 to 60 years). Although the patients were treated preoperatively with multidrug regimens in an effort to reduce the mycobacterial burden, 22 of 41 were still sputum culture positive at the time of surgery. 20 of 22 patients(90.9%, p<0.01) responded which is defined as negative sputum cultures within 2 months postoperative. Of 26 patients with the sufficient follow up data, 19 have Remained sputum culture negative for a mean duration of 25.7 months (73.1%, p<0.05). The bulk of the disease was manifest in one lung, but lesser amounts of contralateral disease were demonstrated in 15, consisted of 8 in RIG and 7 in RCG, of 41. 12 of 12 patients (100%, p<0.01) who were sputum positive at the time of surgery in LLG converted successfully. 14 of 15 patients (93.3%, p<0.05) with the follow up have completed treatment and not relapsed for a mean period of 25. 7 months. The mean length of postoperative drug therapy of LLG was 12.2 months. In RIG, postoperative negative conversion rate was 83.3% which was not significant statistically. There was a statistical significance in overall response rate (100%, p<0.05) of RIG for a mean period of 24.4 months with a mean length of postoperative chemotherapy, 11.8 months. In RCG a statistically lower overall response rate (14.3%, p<0.01) has been revealed for a mean duration of follow up, 24.2 months. A negative conversion rate of RCG was 75% which was not significant statistically. Conclusion : Surgery plays an important role in the management of patients with multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Aggressive pulmonary resection should be performed for resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection to avoid treatment failure or relapse. Especially all cavitary lesions on preoperative chest roentgenogram should be resected completely. If all of them could not be resected perfectly, you should not open the thorax.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.871-881
• /
• 1996

Objective: In the early short-term therapy of pulmonary tuberculosis, PZA is used for the first two months on 6EHRZ therapy but PZA is not effective in the case of long-tenn use PZA for retreatment in the sensitive relapse or acquired drug resistance for PZA. But in the endemic area as Korea, if we can't use PZA in the retreatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, we can't expect the success for retreatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, therefore we need new drugs substituting for PZA. In these days, 4 - fluoroquinolone derivatives were investigated and only ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin of derivatives were known to be effective but the effectiveness was also not certain because the result was experimental or combined with other bacteriocidal drugs and datas on effectiveness of pulmonary tuberculosis were so little. Therefore these drugs should be use with other two or three strong-acting drugs in the last period of retreatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. The ofloxacin or ciprofloxacin is used in some area in Korea but randomly and needed more study. We did this study for proving the effectiveness of these drugs and establishment of retreatment regimen for pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 83 drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis patients at National Masan Tuberculosis Hospital from Jan. 1994 to dec. 1995 was made. All the patients taken medicine for 2nd ami-tuberculosis regimens for the first lime. We separated the patients by two groups.(Group I : OFX+ PTA + CS+PAS + Injection, Group II: PZA + PTA+ CS + PAS + Injection). We compared the difference between two groups and tested the confidence limit about results after treatment by $\chi$2-test and T-test. Results : 1. The age distribution was most frequent in fourth decade(29.2% in Group I, 37.1% in Group II) and the mean age was 43.9 year in Group I, and 39.0 year in Group II, but had no significant difference between two groups. The sex distribution was more frequent in the males(68.8% in Group I, 85.7% in Group II), but had no significant difference. 2. Family history was 29.2% in Group I, 28.6% in Group II, but had no significant difference. 3. In the respect of extent of disease, far-advanced stare was 60.4% in Group I, 74.3% in Group II, but had no significant difference. 4. The side effects for drugs showed in 58.3% in Group I and 65.7% in Group II, and the gastrointestinal trouble showed 25.0% in Group and arthralgia 34.3% in Group II predominantly respectively and had the significant difference(p<0.05). 5. The negative conversion rate on sputum AFB smear was 87.5% in Group I and 80.0% in Group II, but had no significant difference. But the negative conversion rate on sputum AFB culture was 83.3% in Group I and 57.1 % in Group II and had the significant difference(p<0.05). 6. The success rate of treatment was 87.5 % in Group I and 83.3 % in Group II but had no significant difference. Conclusion : In the retreatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, ofloxacin is useful drug for the patients who are not available to use PZA and can be use effectively substituting for PZA.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.559-573
• /
• 1997

Background : Asthma causes recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and cough. These symptoms are usually associated with widespread but variable airflow limitation that is partly reversible either spontaneously or with treatment. The inflammation also causes an associated increase in airway responsiveness to a variety of stimuli. Method : Of the 403 adult bronchial asthma patients enrolled from March 1992 to March 1994 in Allergy Clinics of Severance Hospital in Yonsei University, this study reviewed the 97 cases to evaluate the treatment effects and to analyse prognostic factors. The patients were classified to five groups according to treatment responses ; group 1 (non control group) : patients who were not controlled during following up, group 2 (high step treatment group) : patients who were controlled longer than 3 months by step 3 or 4 treatment of "Global initiative for asthma, Global strategy for asthma management and prevention" (NHLBI/WHO) with PFR(%) larger than 80%, group 3 (short term control group) : patients who were controlled less than 1 year by step 1 or 2 treatment of NHLBI/WHO, group 4 (intermediate term control group) : patients who were controlled for more than 1 year but less than 2 years by step 1 or 2 treatment of NHLBI/WHO, group 5 (long term control group) : patients who were controlled for more than 2 years by step 1 or 2 treatment of NHLBI/WHO. Especially the patients who were controlled more than 1 year with negatively converted methacholine test and no eosinophil in sputum were classified to methacholine negative conversion group. We reviewed patients' history, atopy score, total IgE, specific IgE, methacholine PC20 and peripheral blood eosinophil count, pulmonary function test, steroid doses and aggrevation numbers after treatment. Results : On analysis of 98 patients, 20 cases(20.6%) were classified to group 1, 26 cases(26.8%) to group 2, 23 cases(23.7%) to group 3, 15 cases(15.5%) to group 4, and 13 cases(13.4%) to groups 5. There were no differences of sex, asthma type, family history, smoking history, allergic rhinitis and aspirin allergy among the groups. In long term control group, asthma onset age was younger, symptom duration was shorter, and initial pulmonary function was better. The long term control group required lower amounts of oral steroid. had less aggrevation during first 3months after starting treatment and shorter duration from enrollment to control Atopy, allergic skin test, sputum and blood eosinophil, total IgE, nonspecific bronchial responsiveness was not significantly different among the groups. Seven out of 28 patients who were controlled more than 1 years showed negatively converted methachloine test and no eosinophils in the sputum. The mean control duration was $20.3{\pm}9.7$ months and relapse did not occur. Conclusion : Patients who had asthma of onset age younger, shorter symptom duration, better PFT, lower treatment initial steps, lower amounts of steroid needs and less aggravation numbers after starting treatment were classified in the long term control groups compared to the others.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.38 no.1 s.246
• /
• pp.44-49
• /
• 2005

Although thymomas are relatively common mediastinal tumors, to date not only has a universal system of pathologic classification not been established but neither has a clearly defined predictable relationship between treatment and prognosis been made. Recently, a new guideline for classification was reported by WHO, and efforts, based on this work, have been made to better define the relationship between treatment and pro­gnostic outcome. In the present study a comparative analysis between the WHO classification and Masaoka stage system with the clinical disease pattern was conducted. Material and Method: A total of 98 patients undergoing complete resection for mediastinal thymoma between Juanuary 1993 and June 2003 were included in the present study. The male female ratio was 48 : 50 and the mean age at operation was $49.6{\pm}13.9\;years.$ A retrospective analytic comparison studying the relationship between the WHO classification and the Masaoka stage system with the clinical disease pattern of thymoma was conducted. Pathologic slide specimens were carefully examined, details of postoperative treatment were documented, and a relationship with the prognostic outcome and recurrence was studied. Result: There were 7 patients in type A according to the WHO system of classification, 14 in AB, 28 in B 1, 23 in B2, 18 in B3, and 9 in type C. The study of the relationship between the Masaoka stage and WHO classification system showed 4 patients to be in WHO system type A, 7 in type AB, 22 in B 1, 17 in B2, and 3 in type B3 among 53 $(54{\%})$ patients shown to be in Masaoka stage I. Among 28 $(28.5{\%})$ patients in Masaoka stage II system, there were 2 patients in type A, 7 in AB, 4 in B 1, 2 in B2, 8 in B3, and 5 in type C. Among 15 $(15.3{\%})$ in Masaoka stage III, there were 1 patient in type B1, 3 in B2, 7 in B3, and 4 in type C. Finally, among 2 $(2{\%})$ patients found to be in Masaoka stage IV there was 1 patient in type B1, and 1 in type B2. The mean follow up duration was $28{\pm}6.8$ months. There were 3 deaths in the entire series of which 2 were in type B2 (Masaoka stages III and IV), and 1 was in type C (Masaoka stage II). Of the patients that experienced relapse, 6 patients remain alive of which 2 were in type B2 (Masaoka III), 2 in type B3 (Masaoka I and III) and 2 in type C (Masaoka stage II). The 5 year survival rate by the Kaplan-Meier method was $90{\%}$ for those in type B2 WHO classification system, $87.5{\%}$ for type C. The 5 year freedom from recurrence rate was $80.7{\%}$ for those in WHO type B2, $81.6{\%}$ for those in type B3, and $50{\%}$ for those in type C. By the Log-Rank method, a statistically significant correlation between survival and recurrence was found with the WHO system of classification (p<0.05). An analysis of the relationship between the WHO classification and Masaoka stage system using the Spearman correction method, showed a slope=0.401 (p=0.023), showing a close correlation. Conclusion: As type C of the WHO classification system is associated with a high postoperative mortality and recurrence rate, aggressive treatment postoperatively and meticulous follow up are warranted. The WHO classification and Masaoka stage system were found to have a close relationship with each other and either the WHO classification method or the Masaoka stage system may be used as a predict prognostic outcome of Thymoma.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.339-353
• /
• 1994

Background : The p53 gene codes for a DNA-binding nuclear phosphoprotein that appears to inhibit the progression of cells from the G1 to the S phase of the cell cycle. Mutations of the p53 gene are common in a wide variety of human cancers, including lung cancer. In lung cancers, point mutations of the p53 gene have been found in all histological types including approximately 45% of resected NSCLC and even more frequently in SCLC specimens. Mutant forms of the p53 protein have transforming activity and interfere with the cell-cycle regulatory function of the wild-type protein. The majority of p53 gene mutations produce proteins with altered conformation and prolonged half life; these mutant proteins accumulate in the cell nucleus and can be detected by immunohistochemical staining. But protein overexpression has been reported in the absence of mutation. p53 protein overexpression or gene mutation is reported poor prognostic factor in breast cancer, but in lung cancer, its prognostic significance is controversial. Method : We investigated the p53 abnormalities by nucleotide sequencing, polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism(PCR-SSCP), and immunohistochemical staining. We correlated these results with each other and survival in 75 patients with NSCLC resected with curative intent. Overexpression of the p53 protein was studied immunohistochemically in archival paraffin- embedded tumor samples using the D07(Novocastra, U.K.) antibody. Overexpression of p53 protein was defined by the nuclear staining of greater than 25% immunopositive cells in tumors. Detection of p53 gene mutation was done by PCR-SSCP and nucleotide sequencing from the exon 5-9 of p53 gene. Result: 1) Of the 75 patients, 36%(27/75) showed p53 overexpression by immunohistochemical stain. There was no survival difference between positive and negative p53 immunostaining(overall median survival of 26 months, disease free median survival of 13 months in both groups). 2) By PCR-SSCP, 27.6%(16/58) of the patients showed mobility shift. There was no significant difference in survival according to mobility shift(overall median survival of 27 in patients without mobility shift vs 20 months in patients with mobility shift, disease free median survival of 8 months vs 10 months respectively). 3) Nucleotide sequence was analysed from 29 patients, and 34.5%(10/29) had mutant p53 sequence. Patients with the presence of gene mutations showed tendency to shortened survival compared with the patients with no mutation(overall median survival of 22 vs 27 months, disease free median survival of 10 vs 20 months), but there was no statistical significance. 4) The sensitivity and specificity of immunostain based on PCR-SSCP was 67.0%, 74.0%, and that of the PCR-SSCP based on the nucleotide sequencing was 91.8%, 96.2% respectively. The concordance rate between the immunostain and PCR-SSCP was 62.5%, and the rate between the PCR-SSCP and nucleotide sequencing was 95.3%. Conclusion : In terms of detection of p53 gene mutation, PCR-SSCP was superior to immunostaining. p53 gene abnormalities either overexpression or mutation were not a significant prognostic factor in NSCLC patients resected with curative intent. However, patients with the mutated p53 gene showed the trends of early relapse.