• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5469-5475
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• 2012

Background and Objectives: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a complex genetic disease involving many fusion oncogenes (FO) having prognostic significance. The frequency of various FO can vary in different ethnic groups, with important implications for prognosis, drug selection and treatment outcome. Method: We studied fusion oncogenes in 101 pediatric ALL patients using interphase FISH and RT-PCR, and their associations with clinical features and treatment outcome. Results: Five most common fusion genes i.e. BCR-ABL t (22; 9), TCF3-PBX1 (t 1; 19), ETV6-RUNX1 (t 12; 21), MLL-AF4 (t 4; 11) and SIL-TAL1 (del 1p32) were found in 89/101 (88.1%) patients. Frequency of BCR-ABL was 44.5% (45/101). BCR-ABL positive patients had a significantly lower survival ($43.7{\pm}4.24$ weeks) and higher white cell count as compared to others, except patients with MLL-AF4. The highest relapse-free survival was documented with ETV6-RUNX1 (14.2 months) followed closely by those cases in which no gene was detected (13.100). RFS with BCR-ABL, MLL-AF4, TCF3-PBX1 and SIL-TAL1 was less than 10 months (8.0, 3.6, 5.5 and 8.1 months, respectively). Conclusions: This is the first study from Pakistan correlating molecular markers with disease biology and treatment outcome in pediatric ALL. It revealed the highest reported frequency of BCR-ABL FO in pediatric ALL, associated with poor overall survival. Our data indicate an immediate need for incorporation of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the treatment of BCR-ABL+ pediatric ALL in this population and the development of facilities for stem cell transplantation.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.891-895
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• 2002

Purpose : The prevalence of renal anomalies in Turner syndrome(TS) has been reported to vary from 33% to 60%. The purpose of this study was to clarify the true incidence of renal malformations in Korean TS. Methods : We evaluated 33 patients with Turner syndrome diagnosed by karyotype in Inje University Busan Paik hospital and Youngnam University from January 1995. Intravenous pyelography(IVP) was performed on all patients; abdominal ultrasonography and 99mTc-DMSA renal scan were performed on some. Cytogenetic analysis was performed on all patients with peripheral blood lymphocytes. Results : Of the total 33 patients, the karyotype showed 45, X in 18(54.5%) patients, mosaicism in 11(33.3%) patients and structural aberration in 4(12.2%) patients. The overall incidence of renal anomalies was 36.4%. The renal anomalies included four cases of horeshoe kidney, six cases of abnormal renal collecting system one case of single kidney and one case of malrotation. The incidence of renal anomalies in 45, X karotype(44.4%) showed a higher rate than that of mosaicism and structural aberration(26.7%), but there is no statistical significance. Conclusion : The incidence of renal anomalies in Korean TS reveals 36.4%. This rate is similar to other foreign TS studies. We recommend that renal ultrasonography or IVP for investigation of renal anomalies should be done as a screening procedure for the better quality of life in patients with TS.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.33 no.2 s.97
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• pp.121-130
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibile clinical application of electroplating to increase diameter of an orthodontic wire, through examining the change of physical properties. The diameter of stainless steel orthodontic wire was increased from 0.016 inch to 0.018 inch by electroplating in a bath of nickel sulfate 100g/L, nickel chloride 60g/L, boric acid 30g/L, and sodium chloride 50g/L, under the conditions of 1.7V, $25\~29^{\circ}C\;and\;3.1\~3.3pH$. During the electroplating, the rate of diameter increase was measured every minute. To investigate uniformity, the diameter was measured at three different locations of each wire specimen aster electroplating. An X-ray diffraction test was performed to analyze the nature of the electroplated metal. Following heat treatment to improve adhesion between the wire and electroplated metal, a three-point bending test was conducted to compare stiffness, field strength, and ultimate strength among four wire groups; 0.016 inch, electroplated 016, electroplated and heat-treated 016, and 0.018 inch wires. Through the comparison of each wire group, following results were obtained. 1. In the load-deflection graph, the curve of the electroplated group was Placed between that of the 0.016 inch group and the 0.018 inch group, and the owe was closer to the 0.018 inch group by heat treatment. 2. In the electroplated and heat-treated 016 wire group, the values of stiffness, yield strength and ultimate strength showed higher tendency than in the original 0.016 Inch group. Stiffness and ultimate strength showed statistically significant differences between two groups. 3. Stiffness, yield strength, and ultimate strength of electroplated wire presented lower values than those of 0.018 inch wire group. 4. Stiffness, yield strength, and ultimate strength of electroplated and heat-treated wire showed higher tendency than those of electroplated wire group, and ultimate strength showed statistically significant difference between two groups. 5. After electroplating, the difference in diameter between the three locations was within $0.1\~0.3\%$ variation, and showed no statistical significance.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.430-437
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• 2007

The probability table of Moyers and prediction equation of Tanaka and Johnston that have been the most frequently used, cannot produce accurate prediction when used in Korean because they are based on the Caucasian popularity of the Northern European race. The method of Moyers or Tanaka and Johnston predicts sizes of the unerupted canine and premolars on the basis of the sizes of mandibular incisors. However, some of the recent papers raise a question as to whether the mandibular incisors are the best combination to predict the sizes of the unerupted canine and premolars. The purpose of this study is to determine which sum or combination of sums of permanent tooth widths present the best prediction for the unerupted canine and premolars in a Korean sample, to calculate a specific linear regression equation for this population, and to evaluate the clinical significance. A new linear regression equation was calculated based on the data of 178 Korean young adults(70 women, 108 men, mean age 21.63 years) with complete permanent dentitions. Fifty three more children(28 girls, 25 boys, mean age 14.22 years) were used as a validation sample for the application of the multiple linear regression equation. The conclusions were as follows: 1. The combination of the sums of permanent upper central incisors, lower lateral incisors and upper first molars was the best predictor for the unerupted canine and premolars in this sample($r=0.65{\sim}0.80$). 2. The multiple linear regression equation was calculated including sex and arch as additional predictor variables. male, upper: $Y\;=\;0.332{\times}X_0\;+\;6.195$ male, lower: $Y\;=\;0.332{\times}X_0\;+\;5.269$ female, upper: $Y\;=\;0.332{\times}X_0\;+\;5.929$ female, lower: $Y\;=\;0.332{\times}X_0\;+\;5.003$. The determination coefficient of the equation was 64% and a standard error of the estimate was 0.71mm. 3. In about 97% of the validation sample, the estimation of the tooth width sums of unerupted canine and premolars using the new multiple linear regression equation was smaller than 1mm compaired with the actual values.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2017

Objectives: Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) has been debated with regard to its clinical significance and diagnostic criteria. The current diagnostic criterion for PLMD in adults has been changed from periodic limb movement index (PLMI) > 5/hour to PLMI > 15/hour by the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD). In this study, we aimed to investigate the changes in polysomnographic sleep variables according to PLMI and to determine the relevance of the diagnostic criterion for PLMD. Methods: Out of 4195 subjects who underwent standard polysomnography, we selected 666 subjects (370 males and 296 females, aged $47.1{\pm}14.8$) who were older than 17 years and were not diagnosed with primary insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or REM sleep behavior disorder. Subjects were divided into three groups according to PLMI severity: group 1 ($PLMI{\leq}5$), group 2 (5 < $PLMI{\leq}15$), and group 3 (PLMI > 15). Demographic and polysomnographic sleep variables and Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) were compared among the three groups. Results: There were significant differences among the three groups in age and gender. Sleep efficiency (SE) and stage 3 sleep percentage in group 1 were significantly higher than those in groups 2 and 3. The wake after sleep onset (WASO) score in group 1 was significantly lower than those in groups 2 and 3. However, there were no significant differences in SE, stage 3 sleep percentage, or WASO between groups 2 and 3. Sleep latency (SL) in group 1 was significantly lower than that in group 3, but there was no difference in SL between group 2 and group 3. ESS score in group 1 was significantly higher than that in group 3, but there was no difference between group 2 and group 3. Partial correlation analysis adjusted by age showed that PLMI was significantly related to SE and WASO. Conclusion: This study suggests that PLMI influences polysomnographic sleep variables. In addition, we found the individuals who did not have PLMD but had PLMI > 5 were not different in polysomnographic sleep variables from the individuals who had PLMD according to the current criterion. These results raise questions about the relevance of the current diagnostic criterion of PLMD.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.1324-1330
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• 2009

Lindera obtusiloba Blume (LO), which is widely distributed in Korea, Japan and China, has traditionally been used as a popular folk medicine for the treatment of fever, abdominal pain, bruise and extravation. The purpose of this study was to examine the toxicities of the single and 14-day repeated doses in Sprague-Dawley rats orally administrated with LO at doses of 0, 500, 1000, 2000 (14-day repeated toxicity test) and 5000 (single toxicity test) mg (dry weight)/kg of body weight/day. The results showed that there was no difference in body weight change, food intake, water consumption, or organ weight among different dose groups. Also we observed no death and abnormal clinical signs during the experimental period. Between the groups orally administered LO and the control group, there was no statistical significance in hematological test or serum biochemical values. There were no evidences of histopathological alteration as well as abnormal gross finding mediated by single and 14 days treatments with LO. These results suggest that no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of the oral application of LO was considered to be more than 2000 mg/kg in rats under the conditions employed in this study.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.189-196
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• 2011

Purpose: Surfactants have been used to improve oxygenation for infants with meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). We evaluated the change of pulmonary indices after surfactant therapy for MAS through a systematic meta-analysis. Methods: Relevant randomized controlled studies (RCTs) were identified by database searches in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL, up to June 2011, and by additional hand searches. Data were extracted regarding pulmonary indices, such as the oxygen index and arterial alveolar oxygen gradient. Meta-analyses were separately conducted for the studies of surfactant lavage therapy and surfactant bolus therapy. The risk of bias was assessed, and clinical as well as statistical heterogeneities were also investigated. Results: Two RCTs for bolus surfactant therapy and two RCTs for surfactant lavage therapy were identified. The oxygenation index results were heterogeneous between the two studies in which bolus surfactant therapy was given, while a/A $PO_2$ showed significantly better results in the treatment group over time after use of surfactant (12 hours: WMD 0.08, 95% CI 0.04-0.12; 24 hours: WMD 0.17, 95% CI 0.06-0.28). For surfactant lavage therapy, both studies consistently suggested an interventional benefit in terms of the pulmonary indices although it did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: Surfactant therapy appeared to improve oxygenation of infants with MAS. Since a limited number of RCTs are available in the current literature and those studies were also clinically heterogeneous in terms of illness severity and the method of surfactant use, further research is needed to gather evidence to support surfactant therapy in MAS.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.456-463
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• 2008

Purpose: We evaluated the incidence and malignant risk of focal breast lesions incidentally detected by $^{18}F-FDG$ PET/CT. Various PET/CT findings of the breast lesions were also analyzed to improve the differentiation between benign from malignant focal breast lesions. Materials & Methods: The subjects were 3,768 consecutive $^{18}F-FDG$ PET/CT exams performed in adult females without a history of breast cancer. A focal breast lesion was defined as a focal $^{18}F-FDG$ uptake or a focal nodular lesion on CT image irrespective of $^{18}F-FDG$ uptake in the breasts. The maximum SUV and CT pattern of focal breast lesions were evaluated, and were compared with final diagnosis. Results: The incidence of focal breast lesions on PET/CT in adult female subjects was 1.4% (58 lesions in 53 subjects). In finally confirmed 53 lesions of 48 subjects, 11 lesions of 8 subjects (20.8%) were proven to be malignant. When the PET/CT patterns suggesting benignancy (maximum attenuation value>75 HU or <30HU; standard deviation of mean attenuation > 20) were added as diagnostic criteria of PET/CT to differentiate benign from malignant breast lesions along with maximum SUV, the area under ROC curve of PET/CT was significantly increased compared with maximum SUV alone ($0.680{\pm}0.093$ vs. $0.786{\pm}0.076$, p<0.05). Conclusion: The malignant risk of focal breast lesions incidentally found on $^{18}F-FDG$ PET/CT is not low, deserving further diagnostic confirmation. Image interpretation considering both $^{18}F-FDG$ uptake and PET/CT pattern may be helpful to improve the differentiation from malignant and benign focal breast lesion.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2012

Purpose: The incidence of community-acquired urinary tract infection (UTI) due to extended-spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamase producing $Escherichia$ $coli$ (ESBL(+) $E.$ $coli$) has increased worldwide. ESBL causes resistance to various types of the newer ${\beta}$-lactam antibiotics, including the expanded spectrum cephalosporins and monobactams. We aimed to investigate the severity of UTI and associated genitourinary malformations in children with febrile UTI caused by ESBL(+) $E.$ $coli$. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 290 patients diagnosed as febrile UTI caused by $E.$ $coli$ between January 2008 and October 2010 at Korea University Medical center. We classified the patients into two groups with ESBL(+) and ESBL(-) $E.$ $coli$ group according to the sensitivity of urine culture. Fever duration, admission period, white blood cell (WBC) counts and C-reactive protein (CRP) in peripheral blood, the presence of hydronephrosis, cortical defects, vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and renal scar were compared between the two groups. Results: Patients with ESBL(+) $E.$ $coli$ were 32, and those with ESBL(-) $E.$ $coli$ were 258. If we excluded those tested with a sterile urine bag, patients with ESBL(+) $E.$ $coli$ were 22, and those with ESBL(-) $E.$ $coli$ were 212. Whether the results of sterile urine bag tests were included or not, there was no significant difference in all parameters between the two groups statistically. Conclusion: Our data shows that ESBL(+) $E.$ $coli$ may not be related to the severity of UTI and associated genitourinary malformations.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2007

[ $\underline{Purpose}$ ]: The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the incidence and aspects of myocardial perfusion defects in patients who were subjected to either two-dimensional or three-dimensional simulation techniques for early left-sided breast cancer. The myocardial perfusion defects were determined from using single photon emitted computerized tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion images. $\underline{Materials\;and\;Methods}$: Between January 2002 and August 2003, 32 patients were enrolled in this study. The patients were diagnosed as having early (AJCC stage T1-T2N0M0) left-sided breast cancer and were treated with tangential irradiation after breast-conserving surgery and systemic chemotherapy. The patients were divided into two groups according to the type of simulation received: two-dimensional simulation using an X-ray fluoroscope simulator or three-dimensional simulation with a CT simulator. All patients underwent technetium-99m-sestamibi gated perfusion SPECT at least 3 years after radiotherapy. The incidence and area of myocardial perfusion defects were evaluated and were compared in the two groups, and at the same time left ventricular ejection fraction and cardiac wall motion were also analyzed. The cardiac volume included in the radiation fields was calculated and evaluated to check for a correlation between the amount of irradiated cardiac volume and aspects of myocardial perfusion defects. $\underline{Results}$: A myocardial perfusion defect was detected in 11 of 32 patients (34.4%). There were 7 (46.7%) perfusion defect cases in 15 patients who underwent the two-dimensional simulation technique and 4 (23.5%) patients with perfusion defects in the three-dimensional simulation group (p=0.0312). In 10 of 11 patients who had myocardial perfusion changes, the perfusion defects were observed in the cardiac apex. The left ventricular ejection fraction was within the normal range and cardiac wall motion was normal in all patients. The irradiated cardiac volume of patients in the three-dimensional simulation group was less than that of patients who received the two-dimensional simulation technique, but there was no statistical significance as compared to the incidence of perfusion defects. $\underline{Conclusion}$: Radiotherapy with a CT simulator (three-dimensional simulation technique) for early left-sided breast cancer may reduce the size of the irradiated cardiac volume and the incidence of myocardial perfusion defects. Further investigation and a longer follow-up duration are needed to analyze the relationship between myocardial perfusion defects and clinical ischemic heart disease.