• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1897-1900
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• 2015

Purpose: To evaluate acute toxicity in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) patients treated with intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)/volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) with or without cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: A total of 45 newly diagnosed, histologically proven non-metastatic NPC patients treated with IMRT between May 2010 and December 2012, were evaluated retrospectively, 37 planned with Eclipse and 8 with Prowess Panther treatment planning system. The doses to the planning target volumes of primary tumor and involved lymph nodes, high risk region, and uninvolved regional nodal areas were 70 Gy, 60 Gy, and 54 Gy respectively and delivered simultaneously over 33 fractions to 39 patients. Another 6 patients irradiated with sequential boost technique. Some 84.4% of patients received chemotherapy. Acute toxicities were graded according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group scoring criteria and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) for chemotherapy side effects. Results: Median age was 43 years (14-79) and all patients were WHO type II. Grade 1 mucositis and dysphagia were observed in 17 (37.8%), and 10 (22.2%) patients, respectively. The incidence of acute grade 2 mucositis and dysphagia was 55.6% and 68.9%, respectively. The most common chemoradiotherapy related acute toxicities were nausea, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia. Grade 3 toxicity was detected in 13 (28.8%) cases. No grade 4 toxicity was occurred. Mean weight loss was 9%. None of the patients required the insertion of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy for nutritional support. Radiation therapy was completed without interruption in all patients. Conclusions: IMRT is a safe and effective treatment modality, and well tolerated by patients in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. No unexpected side effects were observed.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.155-158
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• 2016

Sorafenib (Nexavar) has been regarded as a treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with side effects that include hand-foot skin reaction, diarrhea, rash, fatigue, hypertension, nausea, anorexia, weight loss, and alopecia. Thyroid disorder, such as endocrine side effect, has also been reported. However no case involving adrenal insufficiency has been reported. Here, we report a case of adrenal insufficiency which occurred after taking sorafenib in a patient with HCC. A 56-year-old man visited our hospital due to right upper quadrant abdominal pain and he was diagnosed as multiple disseminated and unresectable HCCs with portal vein invasion; therefore transarterial chemoembolization was performed and sorafenib administration was started. Two months later, he was admitted to the hospital complaining of severe fatigue. The laboratory results showed cortisol of <$0.2{\mu}g/dL$ and adrenocorticotropic hormone of <1.00 pg/mL. The patient had no history of taking steroids or herbal medications. Secondary adrenal insufficiency was diagnosed and prednisolone 10 mg per day was started immediately; as a result, fatigue remarkably improved. This may be the first report indicating a possible association between sorafenib and adrenal insufficiency and it implies that the possibility of adrenal insufficiency should be considered in patients taking sorafenib who complain of severe fatigue.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.810-814
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• 2008

Most inflammatory disorders are usually treated using anti-inflammatory drugs including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (SAID). Prolonged uses of NSAIDs and SAIDs may frequently cause adverse side-effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, decreased appetite, kidney and liver failure, ulcers, and prolonged bleeding after an injury or surgery. Thus, it is necessarily required to develop a new anti-inflammatory drug with little side-effects. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) possesses the therapeutic abilities to eliminate body heat and toxins and to remove swelling and inflammation. In order to verify the anti-inflammatory activity of dandelion, TPA(12-O-tetra decanoylphorbol-acetate)-induced or croton oil-induced acute edema was developed in the mouse ears, and dandelion extract dissolved in acetone was applied to both sides of inflamed ears. It was found that dandelion could significantly reduce the ear swelling, compared to that of non-treated control. In the case of $20{\mu}{\ell}$ application of $100mg/m{\ell}$ dandelion solution (DA-100), its anti-inflammatory effect was comparable to that of indomethacin, a non - steroidal anti-anflammatory drug. Taken together, it could be concluded that topically applied dandelion extract exhibited its potentials as a new drug candidate with an effective anti-inflammatory activity.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.361-367
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• 2013

Background: Nefopam is a centrally acting analgesic that is used to control pain. The aim of this study was to find an appropriate dose of nefopam that demonstrates an analgesic effect when administered in continuous infusion with fentanyl at the end of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: Ninety patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly assigned to receive analgesia with fentanyl alone (50 ${\mu}g$, Group 1, n = 30), or with fentanyl in combination with nefopam 20 mg (Group 2, n = 30) or in combination with nefopam 40 mg (Group 3, n = 30) at the end of surgery. Pain and side effects were evaluated at 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 6 hours, and 12 hours after arrival in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). Results: Pain was statistically significantly lower in Groups 2 and 3 than in Group 1 at 10 minutes, 2 hours, and 6 hours after arrival in the PACU. Nausea was statistically significantly lower in Group 2 than in Groups 1 and 3 at 10 minutes after arrival in the PACU. Shivering was statistically significantly lower in Groups 2 and 3 than in Group 1 at 10 minutes after arrival in the PACU. Conclusions: Nefopam is a drug that can be safely used as an analgesic after surgery, and its side effects can be reduced when fentanyl 50 ${\mu}g$ is injected with nefopam 20 mg.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.193-198
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• 1994

The analgesic efficacy and side-effects of combined continuous epidural infusion of bupivacaine and morphine, in comparison with intramuscular (IM) administration of narcotics, for postoperative pain relief after cesarean section and hysterectomy were evaluated. We divided 60 patients into 4 groups randomly. IM (meperidine) group after cesarean section (Group 1, n = 20); Continuous epidural group after cesarean section (Group 2, n=20); IM (meperidine) group after hysterectomy (Group 3, n=10); Continuous epidural group after hysterectomy (Group 4, n=10). Following each operation, the epidural groups had an epidural catheter placed ($L_{2{\sim}3}$ or $L_{3{\sim}4}$), and a bolus of 1.5mg of morphine was injected, and followed by continuous infusion of 0.3% bupivacaine 2ml/hour and morphine 2.5mg/day for 48 hours. The IM groups had received meperidine 50mg IM injection every 4 hours as needed. We evaluated analgesic efficacy with VAS (visual analogue scale) at 1, 2, 24, 48, and 72 hours after operation. The side-effects (nausea &, vomiting, respiratory depression, pruritus and urinary retention) were evaluated with 4 points scale at day 1, 2, and 3 after operation. The results were as follows 1) The continuous epidural (bupivacaine+morphine) groups were superior to the IM (meperidine) groups with respect to postoperative analgesia at 1, 2, and 24 hours after cesarean section, and at 1, 2, 24, and 48 hours after hysterectomy. 2) Vomiting were more frequent in the epidural groups 2 days after cesarean section. 3) Pruritus was more frequent in the epidural groups 1 and 2 days after cesarean section.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 1993

Despite their sometimes fatal complications such as respiratory depression when used for postoperative pain control, intravenous and epidural narcotics remain the mainstay of treatment regimens. Because of the problems, anesthesiologists are seeking alternatives. We compared the analgesic effect and complications of continuous intravenous morphine with ketorolac. Ketorolac is a non-steroidal agent with potent analgesics and moderate anti-inflammatory activity. Forty ASA physical status I or II patients were given morphine(20 patients) or ketorolac(20 patients):In the morphine group, an initial bolus dose of 2 mg i.v. was given followed by continuous infusion at a rate of 1 mg/hr for 48 hours. The ketorolac group was given initial bolus of 30 mg i.v. This was followed by continuous infusion at a rate of 3.75 mg/hr for 48 hours using a Baxter Daymate Infuser. We checked systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure, heart rate, visual analogue scale(VAS) and the Prince Henry Score(PHS). This was done before the initial bolus, at 5, 15, 30 and 60 min, at 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after administration. We observed the side effects nausea and vomiting, pruritus, hypotension, somnolence, urinary retention and respiratory depression. From our study we believe ketorolac in selected patients, is as effective as morphine in alleviating postoperative pain without side effects of morphine.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.117-121
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• 2014

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a widely accepted nonsurgical modality used for the treatment of multinodular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The careful selection of the candidate is important due to the risk of developing various side effects. Fever, nausea, abdominal pain, and liver enzyme elevation are commonly known side effects of TACE. Hepatic failure, ischemic cholecystitis, and cerebral embolism are also reported, although their incidence might be low. Pulmonary complication after TACE is rare, and the reported cases of lipiodol pneumonitis are even rarer. A 53-year-old man was treated with TACE for ruptured HCC associated with hepatitis B virus infection. On day 19 after the procedure, the patient complained of dyspnea and dry cough. Chest computed tomography showed diffuse ground glass opacities in the whole-lung fields, suggesting lipiodol-induced pneumonitis. After 2 weeks of conservative management, the clinical symptoms and radiologic abnormalities improved. Reported herein is the aforementioned case of lipiodol-induced pnemonitis after TACE, with literature review.

• Archives of Obesity and Metabolism
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.78-82
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• 2022

Liraglutide (Saxenda^R) is prescribed to induce and sustain weight loss in obese patients. The starting dose of liraglutide is 0.6 mg/day for 1 week, which is increased by 0.6 mg/day every week until the full maintenance dose of 3 mg/day is achieved. Such dose titration is needed to prevent side effects, which primarily include gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, dyspepsia, and abdominal pain. A 35-year-old, reportedly healthy obese man receiving liraglutide treatment for obesity visited the emergency room complaining of generalized weakness and dizziness accompanied by repeated diarrhea and vomiting. He reported over 20 episodes of diarrhea starting the day after liraglutide dose escalation from 1.2 mg/day to 1.8 mg/day. Laboratory findings suggested pre-renal acute kidney injury, including serum creatinine 4.77 mg/dl, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 37 mg/dl, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 15 ml/min/1.73 m², and Fractional excretion of sodium 0.08. After volume repletion therapy, his renal function recovered to a normal range with laboratory values of creatinine 1.08 mg/dl, BUN 14 mg/dl, and eGFR 88 ml/min/1.73 m². This case emphasizes the need for caution when prescribing glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, including liraglutide, given the risk of serious renal impairments induced by volume depletion and dehydration through severe-grade diarrhea and vomiting.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.296-304
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was conducted to demonstrate objective stability of postoperative pain management status managed by nurse-based, anesthesiologist-supervised Acute Pain Service (APS). Methods: A retrospective descriptive review was conducted with 5,748 patients who had used intravenous Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) from January to December 2017. Data were analyzed using descriptive statics, Frequency analysis, ANOVA, Cross tabulation with χ2test, and Correlation coefficient. Results: As the APS nurse's education date increased, the period of using PCA was statistically significantly longer, and the period of stopping PCA while using it became shorter (p<.001). Statistically significant, the most painful operations were extremities, spine, upper abdomen, and thorax, while the least painful surgery was lower abdomen (p<.001). Lower abdominal surgery used the highest amount of PCA (p<.001), and extremities and spinal surgery, the lowest amount of PCA and frequently stop using it (p<.001). The most common side effects were nausea and vomiting after surgery, with an incidence of 16.0% within 24 hours and 9.8% within 48 hours. The overall error caused by PCA was 1.5%, with 84.3% being caused by human errors. Conclusion: With the pain management effect of APS nurses, patients used PCA more effectively. There were also fewer side effects and error rates compared to prior studies. Therefore, it is suggested that this system is safe and effective for pain management.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.78-83
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• 1994

Morphine, a $\mu$-receptor agonist, produces strong analgesic effect with some side effects such as nausea, vomiting, urinary retension, somnolence, and respiratory depression. Buprenorphine also provides strong analgesic effects, and hemodynamic changes after continuous infusion of morphine, or buprenorphine-ketorolac combination in gynecologic patients. Analgesic effect was assessed by visual analogue scale(VAS) and Prince Henry scale(PHS). Morphine group, initial 2 mg of bolus morphine was followed by 48 mg/96 ml of continuous infusion. Buprenorphine group, initial 0.1 mg of buprenorphine was followed up with infusion by 2.3 mg/100 ml. Half dose of both initial bolus and maintenance buprenorphine with ketorolac 15 mg for bolus and 60 mg for maintenance were infused in buprenorphine-ketorolac combination group. No significant hemodynamic changes were seen in any of the groups. VAS significantly decreased after 15 minutes of infusion in all three groups, and was significantly lower in morphine group than the other 2 groups, after 60 minutes. PHS was decreased significantly 15 minutes after infusion in the morphine group, and after 60 minutes in two other groups. The incidence of side effects were similar between morphine and buprenorphine groups, but significantly reduced in buprenorphine-ketorolac combination group. We concluded that buprenorphine could be an alternative to morphine for postoperative pain, and smaller dose of buprenorphine could be used if it is combined with ketorolac with less side effects.