• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.859-866
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• 1985

The characteristic features of myasthenia gravis, which are weakness of voluntary muscle and easy fatigability, result from defective neuromuscular transmission caused by an autoimmune response to acetylcholine receptor. Recently, we performed two cases of thymectomy for the treatment of myasthenia gravis, one was 50 year old man who had malignant thymoma and the other was 19 year old girl who had benign thymic hyperplasia. The former had long duration of symptoms, and showed poor postoperative result. The latter had short duration of symptoms, and showed complete remission. Herewith, we suggest that early thymectomy can give the clinical assets for myasthenia gravis. So we report these two experiences with review of literatures.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.167.2-168
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• 2003

Anticancer drug resistance occasionally occurs in malignant hematologic diseases such as acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) treated with chemotherapy and is a major problem to complete remission. Malignant cells primarily induce intrinsic resistance to treatment of anticancer drug, but gradually obtain acquired resistance to cytotoxic activities of chemotherapy. In this study, we monitored the expression profiles of doxorubicin resistance-related genes in AML-2/DX100, a doxorubicin-resistant human acute myelocytic leukemia cell line. (omitted)

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.12
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• pp.1217-1224
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• 2007

Purpose : Due to its high potency against leukemic blasts, our institution has opted for the use of dexamethasone during acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remission induction, but in our most recent treatment protocol, CMCPL-2005, we shortened the length of steroid treatment from 4 to 3 weeks. We compared both the rates of remission induction and significant complications observed during induction with CMCPL-2005, with those noted for our previous protocol, CMCPL-2001. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients diagnosed with ALL from January, 2001 to December, 2006 at the Department of Pediatrics, St. Mary's Hospital, the Catholic University of Korea. Data concerning age, sex, WBC count at diagnosis, immunophenotype, cytogenetic traits, and risk group were collected for each patient. Results of remission induction treatment were compared between the two patient groups. Infection and other major complications resulting from treatment were investigated according to NCI toxicity criteria. Results : A total of 141 and 88 patients received remission induction under CMCPL-2001 and CMCPL-2005 respectively. In the CMCPL-2001 group, 136 (96%) achieved complete remission while 82 (93%) achieved CR in the CMCPL-2005 group. Patients in the CMCPL-2005 group were more likely to undergo remission induction without experiencing major complications. However, with regards to steroid related toxicities such as infection, no significant differences were noted. Conclusion : We shortened the length of steroid administration from four to three weeks, yet found the remission induction rate to be comparable to that of our previous regimen. However, rates of steroid related toxicities such as infectious complications remain unchanged despite shortened exposure to dexamethasone.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.37-47
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• 2002

Purpose: We reviewed the clinical manifestations, responsiveness to treatment, and prognosis in children with nephrotic syndrome. Methods: Medical records of 159 children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome who were admitted to the pediatric department of Chonbuk National University Hospital from January 1979 to December 2000 w ere retrospectively reviewed. Results: There were 32 females and 127 males. The most common age group was between 3 and 5 years of age among the 159 children with nephrotic syndrome. Generalized edema ($75.5\%$), scrotal edema ($20.1\%$), upper respiratory infection ($19.5\%$), and ascites ($28.3\%$) were frequently observed. After the initial steroid therapy, diuresis occurred within tile first two weeks in 138 children, and proteinuria disappeared within the first two weeks in 105 children. Among 159 patients who received initial daily steroid therapy, 110 children were in complete remission, 29 children were in partial remission and 20 children were in poor response state. Hematuria, hypertension and elevated serum creatinine were more frequently observed in the partial and the poor response groups than in the complete remission group. Among 107 children who were followed up for more than one year, 78 children were in complete remission and 55 children were relapsed within the first one year after steroid therapy. Renal biopsy was undertaken in 76 children and 53 children had minimal change nephrotic syndronm. Conclusion: Our study showed that illost children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome have a good responsiveness to steroid therapy and even most children show frequent relapse during 1st year after remission, long term prognosis is excellent.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.136-140
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• 2005

The authors describe two cases of Brown-Sequard syndrome associated with cervical disc herniation. In both cases, magnetic resonance images of the cervical spine showed a large paramedian disc herniation at C5-C6 with ipsilateral severe spinal cord compression. Microsurgical removal of the herniated disc via anterior foraminotomy was performed and complete decompression of the spinal cord was achieved. Postoperatively, the neurological symptoms recovered rapidly and both patients experienced a complete remission of their symptoms. Although Brown-Sequard syndrome is rarely associated with degenerative cervical spine disease, cervical disc herniation should be kept in mind and prompt evaluations are mandatory. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first reported case of Brown-Sequard syndrome produced by cervical disc herniation which was treated by anterior foraminotomy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 1995

Purpose : To assess the efficacy and toxicity of the preoperative radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer Methods : Forty three patients (clinically diagnosed stages above or equal to Astler-Coiler stage B2 without distant metastasis) were assigned to preoperative radiotherapy alone arm (n=16) or combined preoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy arm (n=27). Preoperative radiotherapy of 4500 cGy to whole pel-vis +/-540 cGy boost to primary site and concurrent chemotherapy of 2 cycles of 5-FU (500 mg/$m^2$) and leucovorin (20 mg/$m^2$) were used. Fifteen patients of preoperative radiotherapy alone arm and 19 of combined arm received surgical resection after preoperative treatment. Results : During the preoperative treatment, no significant complication was developed in both groups. Pathologic results were as follows; complete remission 1, Bl 1, B2 6, C1 2, C2, 5 in preoperative radiotherapy alone arm and complete remission 2, Bl 8, B2 4, C2 3, D 2 in combined arm. Postoperative complications were delayed perineal wound healing in three patients, intestinal obstruction in three patients (one managed by conservative medical treatment, two by surgical treatment). Conclusion : The combined preoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy arm was more effective in pathological response and lymph node negativity rate than the preoperative radiotherapy alone arm. Both the preoperative radiotherapy alone arm and the combined arm were generally well tolerated and did not result in an increased postoperative morbidity.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.227-233
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• 1988

During the period between March 1979 and August 1986, 177 patients with carcinoma of the esophagus were treated with radiotherapy in the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, SNUH. Among these, 25 patients who had incomplete treatment were excluded. So a retrospective analysis was undertaken of 152 patients who were treated by curative radiotherapy. More than $80\%$ showed response: Complete remission $(22\%)$, partial remission $(63\%)$ and no response $(15\%)$. The overall two-year and five-year actuarial survival rate were $22.9\%\;and\;13.3\%$ respectively. Prognostic factor was analyzed by its site, size, T stage, and tumor response. Patients with the best five-year survival rate were those who had the tumor no more than 5cm in length $(17\%)$ or confined to the upper third of the esophagus $(20.6\%)$. Complete responders had $34.3\%$ of 5-year actuarial survival, but no responders had $0\%$ of survival.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.229-233
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• 2015

We retrospectively reviewed lung cancer patients who were treated with stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR). We investigated the value of response evaluation after treatment by measuring the volume change of tumors on serial chest computed tomography (CT) examinations. The study included 11 consecutive patients with early-stage (T1-T2aN0M0) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were treated with SABR. The median dose of SABR was 6,000 cGy (range 5,000~6,400) in five fractions. Sequential follow-up was performed with chest CT scans. Median follow-up time was 28 months. Radiologic measurement was performed on 51 CT scans with a median of 3 CT scans per patient. The median time to partial response ($T_{PR}$) was 3 months and median time to complete remission ($T_{CR}$) was 5 months. Overall response rate was 90.9% (10/11). Five patients had complete remission, five had partial response, and one patient developed progressive disease without response. On follow-up, three patients (27.2%) developed progressive disease after treatment. We evaluated the the response after SABR. Our data also showed the timing of response after SABR.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8855-8859
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• 2014

Purpose: To investigate the impact of hyperglycemia during inductive treatment on the prognosis of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in children. Materials and Methods: Clinical data of 159 ALL childhood cases were reviewed. The patients were divided into the hyperglycemia group (fasting $glucose{\geq}126mg/dl$ and/or random blood $glucose{\geq}200mg/dl$) and the euglycemia group according to the blood glucose values. The X2 test was performed to compare the complete remission rates of the two groups, and Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests were performed to compare the 5-year overall and relapse-free survival. Results: The incidence of hyperglycemia in the $age{\geq}10-year-old$ group was higher than the younger-age group (P=0.009). Values in the interim- and high-risk groups were higher than the standard-risk group (P=0.028), while there was no significant difference between genders (P=0.056). The complete remission rates of the 2 groups demonstrated no significant difference (P=0.134), while the 5-year OS of the hyperglycemia group was lower than in the euglycemia group ($83.8{\pm}6.0%$ vs $94.9{\pm}2.4%$, P=0.014). The 5 -year RFS was significantly lower than the euglycemia group ($62.9{\pm}8.7%$) vs $80.2{\pm}9.1%$, P<0.001). Conclusions: Children with $age{\geq}10year$ old, and in the middle- and high-risk groups appear prone to complicating hyperglycemia during inductive chemotherapy, associated with lower 5-year OS and RFS.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.70-76
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• 2011

Rhabdomyosarcomas are soft tissue sarcomas; while extremely rare in adults, they are one of the most common neoplasms in children and adolescents. Histologically, they can be classified into embryonal (ERMS), alveolar (ARMS), pleomorphic, and undifferentiated types. The ARMS type is very rare, and is associated with a poor prognosis. Common primary sites of ARMS are the trunk and extremities. We report on a case of paraaortic, supraclavicular, and axillary lymph node metastasis from paratesticular ARMS treated with VAC (vincristine, dactinomycin, cyclophosphamide)/ IE(ifosfamide, etoposide) chemotherapy in a young adult. Administration of six cycles of chemotherapy with VAC/IE resulted in complete remission. The patient has maintained complete remission over the past 27 months.