• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.13
• /
• pp.5515-5519
• /
• 2015

The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) ss469415590 in the interferon lambda-4 (IFNL4) gene has recently been reported to have an association with treatment response in chronic hepatitis C. However, any importance of the SNP in association with response to pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is unclear. We retrospectively analyzed data for Thai patients with CHB treated with PEG-IFN for 48 weeks. Virological response (VR) for HBeAg-positive CHB was defined as HBeAg seroconversion plus HBV DNA level <2,000 IU/mL at 24 weeks post-treatment. VR for HBeAg-negative CHB was defined as an HBV DNA level <2,000 IU/mL at 48 weeks. The SNP was identified by real time PCR using the TaqMan genotyping assay with MGB probes. A total 254 patients (107 HBeAg-positive and 147 HBeAg-negative) were enrolled in the study. The distribution of TT/TT, ${\Delta}G/TT$ and ${\Delta}G/{\Delta}G$ genotypes was 221 (87.0%), 32 (12.6%) and 1 (0.4%), respectively. Patients with non-TT/TT genotypes had significantly higher baseline HBV DNA levels than patients with the TT/TT genotype. In HBeAg-positive CHB, 41.2% of patients with TT/TT genotype versus 50.0% with non-TT/TT genotype achieved VR (P=0.593). In HBeAg-negative CHB, the corresponding figures were 40.3% and 43.5%, respectively (P=0.777). There was no significant correlation between the SNP genotypes and HBsAg clearance in both groups of patients. In summary, ss469415590 genotypes were not associated with response to PEG-IFN in Thai patients with HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative CHB.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.121-128
• /
• 2022

Purpose: Abdominal migraine (AM) is a very common functional gastrointestinal disorder in children. This study reports the clinical features and response of AM to prophylactic treatment in children. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted between January 2010 and December 2019 at the Royal Hospital in the Sultanate of Oman. This study included children aged ≤ 13 years with a diagnosis of AM based on the Rome IV criteria for functional diagnoses. Clinical, demographic, and treatment data were collected. Results: Seventy-four children were identified, of which 43 were eligible for inclusion in this study. The median age at the onset of symptoms was 7 years (range, 2-12 years). The most frequent symptoms were headache (81.4%), nausea (79.1%), and vomiting (72.1%). Of the total cohort, 46.5%, 23.3%, and 6.9% received riboflavin, pizotifen, and propranolol monotherapy, respectively. Combination therapy was also used; 16.3% of children received pizotifen and propranolol, 4.7% received riboflavin and pizotifen, and 2.3% received riboflavin and propranolol. Patients treated with propranolol monotherapy showed 100% clinical improvement and those treated with riboflavin or pizotifen monotherapy showed 90% clinical improvement. Response to combination therapy with pizotifen and propranolol was 71.4%, and with riboflavin and pizotifen was 100%. In addition, treatment response was significantly associated with the presence of vomiting (p=0.039). Conclusion: We found a favorable response to various modalities and combination treatments with riboflavin, pizotifen, and propranolol in children with AM. In addition, the presence of vomiting may predict treatment response.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
• /
• v.21 no.10
• /
• pp.1561-1570
• /
• 1997

This study explores the treatment of the max-value cost function over a parameter interval in parametric optimization. To avoid the computational burden of the transformation treatment using an artificial variable, a direct treatment of the original max-value cost function is proposed. It is theoretically shown that the transformation treatment results in demanding an additional equality constraint of dual variables as a part of the Kuhn-Tucker necessary conditions. Also, it is demonstrated that the usability and feasibility conditions on the search direction of the transformation treatment retard convergence rate. To investigate numerical performances of both treatments, typical optimization algorithms in ADS are employed to solve a min-max steady-state response optimization. All the algorithm tested reveal that the suggested direct treatment is more efficient and stable than the transformation treatment. Also, the better performing of the direct treatment over the transformation treatment is clearly shown by constrasting the convergence paths in the design space of the sample problem. Six min-max transient response optimization problems are also solved by using both treatments, and the comparisons of the results confirm that the performances of the direct treatment is better than those of the tranformation treatment.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.19 no.8
• /
• pp.1139-1144
• /
• 2009

It has been known that brassiolide (BL) increased the positive gravitropic response and ethylene production in maize roots. This study examined the relationship between the BL-induced gravitropic response and ethylene Production. The ethylene production was inhibited to about 90% of the control by the treatment of $10^{-4}$ M aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), the ethylene synthesis inhibitor. However, the gravitropic response did not show any significant changes compared to the control at $10^{-4}$ M AVG. In the case of treatment of AVG with BL, the ethylene production decreased to 60% of the control. However, the gravitropic response increased to the level which was induced by BL. Cobalt ions, another ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor, inhibited ethylene production, but not gravitropic response. When roots were treated with BL and cobalt ions, they showed the inhibition of ethylene production and promotion of gravitropic response. To elucidate the possibility that the effect of BL is related to auxin transport, roots were treated with TIBA (2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid), an auxin transport inhibitor. Both treatment of TIBA alone and TIBA with BL stimulated ethylene production to about 96% and 132%, respectively. However, gravitropic response was completely inhibited in both treatments. Further, roots treated with BL in the presence of TIBA and IAA showed a negative gravitropic response, which means that IAA accumulates in the upper side of horizontal roots. Root elongation was also stimulated in this treatment. Taken together, these results suggest that BL might affect the differential distribution of internal IAA on roots, causing the regulation of positive gravitropic response.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.49 no.1
• /
• pp.12-18
• /
• 2022

Botulinum toxin treatment is the most common non-surgical cosmetic treatment. Although there are many available treatments using botulinum toxin, their effects are temporary and repeated injections are required. These frequent injections can trigger an immunological response. In addition, botulinum toxin acts as an antigen in the body; thus, its effect disappears progressively due to this immunological reaction, which may cause treatment failure. Active botulinum toxin consists of a core neurotoxin and complexing proteins, the exact effects of which remain unclear. However, the complexing proteins are closely related to the immune response and the formation of neutralizing antibodies. Since neutralizing antibodies can lead to treatment failure, their formation should be prevented. Furthermore, various methods of detecting neutralizing antibodies have been used to predict treatment failure.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.152-161
• /
• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the information providing program of $I^{131}$ treatment on the pre-treatment anxiety and immune response of patients with thyroid cancer. Method: The used design was a nonequivalent control group design with pretest and post-test. Subjects of this study were 54 patients who had received a total thyroidectomy. They were given a information providing program with a brochure before 4 weeks of the hospitalization for $I^{131}treatment$, with problem solving phone counseling before 2 weeks of the hospitalization. Collected data were analyzed using the SPSS WIN program. Result: Hypothesis one, "The anxiety score of an experimental group would be lower than the score of a control group" was supported(t = -2.12, p = .03). Hypothesis two, "The level of cortisol of an experimental group would be lower than the level of a control group" was supported(t = -3.19, p = .00). However, hypothesis three "The level of T, B and N-K cells of an experimental group would be higher than the level of a control group" was not supported. Conclusion: The information providing program of $I^{131}$ treatment effectively decreased the anxiety of patients with thyroid cancer.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.209-213
• /
• 2014

Purpose: Pathologic aerophagia (PA) may lead to bowel perforation or volvulus in mentally retarded patients. The authors investigated the effects of clonazepam on the management of PA in children with severe to profound mental retardation (MR). Methods: This study was undertaken as a retrospective case analysis of 21 PA patients with MR who were followed for over 12 months and diagnosed as having PA. Patients were assigned to two management groups, that is, to a clonazepam randomized open-labeled, treatment group or a reassurance group. The following were recorded and analyzed; age, response, remission rate to clonazepam treatment, and the side effect of clonazepam. It was defined positive response (response+) as being symptom-free for a whole week within 1 month of commencing treatment and remission(+) as being symptom-free for a whole month within 6 months of treatment. Results: The average age of the 21 PA children with MR was 10 years and 13 patients were female. Symptom duration before diagnosis of PA was 7 months. Clinical features of the clonazepam-trial group (n=11) and the reassurance group (n=10) were non-significantly different. Response(+) was achieved by 2 patients (18.2%) in the clonazepamtrial group and by no patient in the reassurance group. Remission(+) was achieved by 6 patients (54.5%) in the clonazepam-trial group and by one patient (10%) in the reassurance group (p=0.040). Conclusion: When PA children with MR with severe bowel distention are considered for surgical treatment to prevent acute abdomen, a trial of clonazepam could be recommended.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.132-141
• /
• 2006

Purpose : This study was aimed to determine the predictive risk factors for the treatment response and relapse rate in children diagnosed with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. Methods : We analyzed the medical records of children who were diagnosed and treated for childhood idiopathic nephrotic syndrome from November 1991 to May 2005. Variables selected in this study were age at onset, sex, laboratory data, concomitant bacterial infections, days to remission, and interval to first relapse. Results : There were 46 males and 11 females, giving a male:female ratio of 4.2:1. The age($mean{\pm}SD$) of patients was $5.8{\pm}4.1$ years old. Of all patients who were initially given corticosteroids, complete remission(CR) was observed in 54(94.7%). Of the 54 patients who showed CR with initial treatment, 40(70.2%) showed CR within 2 weeks and 14(24.6%) showed CR after 2 weeks. The levels of serum IgG were lower in the latter group who showed CR after 2 weeks(P=0.036). Of the 54 patients who showed CR with initial treatment, 47(82.5%) relapsed. Of these patients, 35.1% were frequent relapsers and 43.9% were infrequent relapsers. There was no significant correlation between the frequency of relapse and the following variables : sex, days to remission, and laboratory data. However, age at onset and interval to first relapse had a negative correlation with the frequency of relapse(Pearson's coefficient=-0.337, -0.433, P<0.012, P<0.01). Conclusion : The age at onset and the interval to first relapse were found to be predictive clinical parameters for the relapse rate, while the levels of serum IgG at initial presentation were a predictive laboratory factor for treatment response in childhood idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.sup3
• /
• pp.287-291
• /
• 2016

Cervical cancer is one of the most common gynecological cancers in Iranian women. This study was initiated to assess whether the combination of paclitaxel and cisplatin with radiation might feasible for these patients. The aim was to assess tumor response and toxicity of weekly cisplatin and paclitaxel along with radiotherapy in the treatment of cervical cancer. Women with primary untreated squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix with FIGO stages IB2 to IIIB were treated with weekly injections of cisplatin 30 mg/m2 and paclitaxel 35 mg/m2 for 5-6 weeks along with radiotherapy. A total of 25 patients were enrolled in this study who completed the intended treatment. Disease was assessed prior to treatment by pelvic examination and contrast enhanced MRI of the abdomen and pelvis. Response was assessed 1 month after completion of treatment by physical examination and 3 months after also by MRI.Toxicity was assessed and was graded using RTOG grading. There was a complete response rate of 84% after 3 months. The major toxicity was grade 1 and 2 anemia (92%). The mean duration of treatment was 58 days. In conclusion, combination chemotherapy with cisplatin and paclitaxel along with radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of cervixwas well tolerated, in contrast to other studies, but it seems that there was no increase in tumor response and progression free survival with this treatment regimen.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.177-185
• /
• 1998

For the purpose of enhanceing soybean-sprouts quality, the optimum conditions for ozone treatment of soybean during soaking before cultivation at 18~2$0^{\circ}C$ were evaluated with ozone concentration, treatment time and treatment frequency by response surface methodology. Germination rates of cleaned soybean by ozone water in the conditions of solubilized-ozone concentrations of 0.15 to 0.35ppm, ozone-treatment frequency of 1.5 to 2.3 times and ozone-treatment time of 30 to 36min. increased 18.8 to 24.0% for the control products. And, length of hypocotyl in conditions of 0.12 to 0.33ppm, 1.7 to 2.7 times and 45 to 90min. were also increased by 69.36 to 79.40%. On the other hand, weight of roots with ozone treatment were decreased in the conditions of solubilized ozone concentrations of 0.1 to 0.2ppm and ozone-treatment time of 30 to 57min. But, ozone-treatment frequency did not affected root growth. Putrefaction rates of the control were 5 to 15%, but those of ozone-treated samples during cultivation did not show. The overall optimum conditions for above 16% germination rates, above 9% hypocotyl yields compared to the control samples and below 98% of the control root weight were solubilized-ozone concentrations of 0.25 to 0.30ppm, ozone-treatment time of 43 to 49min. and ozone-treatment frequency of one time.