• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.219-230
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• 2005

Objectives : This study was designed to compare the demographic data, clinical characteristics, developmental delay, and psychological tests between childhood-onset and adolescent-onset schizophrenic in-patients. Methods Medical records of the 17 childhood-onset (very early onset) Schizophrenia and 16 adolescent-onset (early onset) Schizophrenia in-patients were reviewed. Sex, age, psychiatric past history, prodromal symptoms and period, subtype, co-morbid disease, developmental delay, prescribed drug and dosage, treatment response, intelligence quotient (IQ), and Rorschach test were evaluated. Results : The mean admission age of childhood-onset (very early onset) group and adolescent-onset (early onset) group were 12.69$({\pm}2.34)$ and 15.13$({\pm}1.04)$ years. The mean onset age of childhood-onset(very early onset) group and adolescent-onset (early onset) group were 10.79$({\pm}1.95)$ and 14.46$({\pm}0.82)$ years. The mean prodromal period of childhood-onset (very early onset) group and adolescent-onset (early onset) group were 15.94$({\pm}12.33)$ and 8.06$({\pm}6.10)$ month. The time to remission period of childhood-onset (very early onset) group and adolescent-onset (early onset) group were 50.58$({\pm}24.67)$ and 30.06$({\pm}18.04)$ days. Longer time to remission period in childhood-osnet (very early onset) group was associated with earlier age of onset. The mean of total IQ, performance IQ, verbal IQ were at an average level. Discussion : Childhood-onset (very early onset) group and adolescent-onset (early onset) group Schizophrenia had different clinical and psychological features including prodromal period, and IQ subtests.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.33 no.52
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• pp.346.1-346.11
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• 2018

Background: To evaluate the therapeutic benefits of the treat-to-target (T2T) strategy for Asian patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Korea. Methods: In a 1-year, multicenter, open-label strategy trial, 346 patients with early RA were recruited from 20 institutions across Korea and stratified into 2 groups, depending on whether they were recruited by rheumatologists who have adopted the T2T strategy (T2T group) or by rheumatologists who provided usual care (non-T2T group). Data regarding demographics, rheumatoid factor titer, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody titer, disease activity score of 28 joints (DAS28), and Korean Health Assessment Questionnaire (KHAQ) score were obtained at baseline and after 1 year of treatment. In the T2T group, the prescription for disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs was tailored to the predefined treatment target in each patient, namely remission (DAS28 < 2.6) or low disease activity (LDA) ($2.6{\leq}DAS28$ < 3.2). Results: Data were available for 163 T2T patients and 162 non-T2T patients. At the end of the study period, clinical outcomes were better in the T2T group than in the non-T2T group (LDA or remission, 59.5% vs. 35.8%; P < 0.001; remission, 43.6% vs. 19.8%; P < 0.001). Compared with non-T2T, T2T was also associated with higher rate of good European League Against Rheumatism response (63.0% vs. 39.8%; P < 0.001), improved KHAQ scores (-0.38 vs. -0.13; P = 0.008), and higher frequency of follow-up visits (5.0 vs. 2.0 visits/year; P < 0.001). Conclusion: In Asian patients with early RA, T2T improves disease activity and physical function. Setting a pre-defined treatment target in terms of DAS28 is recommended.

• 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.8
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• pp.3541-3546
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• 2014

TEL-AML1 fusion oncogene (t 12; 21) is the most common chromosomal abnormality in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This translocation is associated with a good prognosis and rarely shows chemotherapeutic resistance to 3-drug based remission induction phase of treatment as well as overall treatment. Thus, the higher the frequency of this fusion oncogene, the easier to manage childhood ALL in a given region with less intensive chemotherapy. Although global frequency of TEL-AML1 has been reported to be 20-30%, a very low frequency has been found in some geographical regions, including one study from Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan and others from India. The objective of present study was to investigate if this low frequency of TEL-AML1 in pediatric ALL is only in Lahore region or similar situation exists at other representative oncology centers of Pakistan. A total of 167 pediatric ALL patients were recruited from major pediatric oncology centers situated in Lahore, Faisalabad, Peshawar and Islamabad. Patients were tested for TEL-AML1 using nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Only 17 out of 167 (10.2%) patients were found to be TEL-AML1 positive. TEL-AML1+ALL patients had favorable prognosis, most of them (82.4%, 14/17) showing early remission and good overall survival. Thus, our findings indicate an overall low frequency of TEL-AML1 in Pakistan pediatric ALL patients, in accordance with lower representation of this prognostically important genetic abnormality in other less developed countries, specifically in south Asia, thus associating it with poor living standards in these ethnic groups. It also indicates ethnic and geographical differences in the distribution of this prognostically important genetic abnormality among childhood ALL patients, which may have a significant bearing on ALL management strategies in different parts of the world.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6663-6668
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• 2015

Background: Treatment failure in leukemia is due to either pharmacokinetic resistance or cell resistance to drugs. Materials and Methods: Gene expression of multiple drug resistance protein (MDR-1), multidrug resistance-related protein (MRP) and low resistance protein (LRP) was assessed in 45 pediatric ALL cases and 7 healthy controls by real time PCR. The expression was scored as negative, weak, moderate and strong. Results: The male female ratio of cases was 2.75:1 and the mean age was 5.2 years. Some 26/45 (58%) were in standard risk, 17/45(38%) intermediate and 2/45 (4%) in high risk categorie, 42/45 (93%) being B-ALL and recurrent translocations being noted in 5/45 (11.0%). Rapid early response (RER) at day 14 was seen in 37/45 (82.3%) and slow early response (SER) in 8/45 (17.7%) cases. Positive expression of MDR-1, LRP and MRP was noted in 14/45 (31%), 15/45 (33%) and 27/45 (60%) cases and strong expression in 3/14 (21%), 11/27 (40.7%) and 8/15 (53.3%) cases respectively. Dual or more gene positivity was noted in 17/45 (38%) cases. 46.5 % (7/15) of LRP positive cases at day 14 were in RER as compared to 100% (30/30) of LRP negative cases (p<0.05). All 8 (100%) LRP positive cases in SER had strong LRP expression (p=<0.05). Moreover, only 53.3% of LRP positive cases were in haematological remission at day 30 as compared to 100% of LRP negative cases (p=<0.05). Conclusions: Our study indicated that increased LRP expression at diagnosis in pediatric ALL predicts poor response to early treatment and hence can be used as a prognostic marker. However, larger prospective studies with longer follow up are needed, to understand the clinical relevance of drug resistance proteins.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.818-822
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• 2013

This report is aimed to investigate the effect of Traditional Korean Therapy (TKT) in treating recurred breast cancer metastasized to lung. A 53-year-old woman who was diagnosed as left breast cancer and underwent surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy in early 2009 was admitted for the treatment of recurred, metastatic lung cancer in late 2012. She was treated with TKT including acupuncture, moxibustion and pharmacopuncture. The effect was evaluated with positron emission tomogram and computed tomogram (PET-CT). The metastatic tumors in both lungs were disappeared after the treatment for about 2 months. These results suggest that TKT is a therapeutic method to treat metastatic lung cancer originated from breast cancer.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2019

The incidence of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is increasing worldwide, but the diagnosis is difficult. Most patients are asymptomatic or complain of nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms. As the endoscopic features of gastric MALT lymphoma are variable and nonspecific, the possibility of this condition may be overlooked during esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and it remain undiagnosed. Therefore, this condition needs to be considered when an abnormal mucosa is observed during this procedure. Biopsy performed during endoscopy is the primary diagnostic test, but false negative results are possible; large numbers of samples should be collected from both normal and abnormal mucosae. Endoscopic ultrasonography is useful to assess the depth of invasion and to predict the treatment response. After treatment, follow-up tests are required every 3 months until complete remission is achieved, and annually thereafter. Early diagnosis of gastric MALT lymphoma is difficult, and its diagnosis and follow-up require wide experience and competent endoscopic technique.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.74-81
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• 2022

Colorectal peritoneal metastasis has been an incurable disease for centuries. However, since the new millennium, recent advancements in therapies are achieved with modern chemotherapeutic agents, target agents, and immune checkpoint blockade introduction. Modern chemotherapies, from a nearly nonexistent median survival if untreated, have raised the duration to 16 months with target agents. Experts have once again surpassed its limit by introducing intraperitoneal chemotherapy and cytoreductive surgery (CRS). Numerous clinical trials regarding CRS and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy have now opened new doors in peritoneal carcinomatosis treatment, even securing complete remission. In addition, up-to-date modalities, such as pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy and immunotherapies, showed promising results at an early stage.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.24
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• pp.10967-10970
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• 2015

Objective: To analyze the efficacy and survival associated factors of gefitinib combined with cisplatin and gemcitabine for advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Materials and Methods: A total of 57 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), who received platinum-based chemotherapy regimens for more than 1 cycle, were treated with gefitinib combined with cisplatin and gemcitabine until disease progression. Efficacy, survival time and adverse reactions were observed. The Kaplan-Meier method was adopted for analysis of survival and Cox regression for associated influencing factors. Results: The patients were followed up until October 31, 2013, and the median follow-up time was 19 months. Of 57 patients, there were 4 (7.0%) with complete remission (CR), 8 (14.0%) with partial remission, 31 (54.4%) with stable disease, and 14 (24.6%) with disease progression. The remission rate was 21.1% and the disease control rate was 75.4%. The median progression-free survival (PFS) time and the median overall survival time were 10 months and 15.2 months. The one-year, two-year and three-year survival rates were 47.4%, 23.3% and 10.0%. Gender and pathological types were the independent risk factors influencing PFS time (P=0.028, P=0.009). Tumor pathological type and early efficacy were independent factors for the prognosis (P=0.018, P=0.000). Adverse reactions were mostly rashes of I~II degree and diarrhea and slightly increasing level of aminopherase. The skin adverse event incidence of III degree or above was 1.8% (1/57) and brain metastasis was foudn in 31.6% (18/57). Conclusions: Gefitinib combined with cisplatin andgemcitabine, is effective for patients with IIIb~IV NSCLC who received multiple cycles of chemotherapy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.71 no.4
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• pp.266-270
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• 2011

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is effective in managing small superficial early lung cancer patients who were deemed nonsurgical candidates. However, we do not have any previous report on the usefulness of PDT in early lung cancer in South Korea. Thus we report here our experience of PDT in early lung cancer patients. Methods: 10 patients who underwent PDT for managing early lung cancer between June 2006 and July 2010 were analyzed. PDT was carried out 48 hours after photosensitizer injection. Re-bronchoscopy was carried out 48 hours after PDT in order to remove a necrotic tissue from the PDT site. For evaluation of PDT response, bronchoscopy and chest computed tomography (CT) were performed after 3 months. Results: The median age of patients was 69 (49~77) and all patients were male. The smoking history of patients was 48 (20~75) pack-year and the median follow up of patients was 25 (11~52) months. Complete remission was observed in 10 patients and the recurrence of lung cancer was observed in 3 patients. Out of 10 patients, 3 patients died (one case of lung cancer progression and two cases of pneumonia). Conclusion: The PDT is a safe and effective treatment in early lung cancer patients who are not suitable for surgical resection. The PDT in clinical practice is an attractive option in the treatment of early lung cancer.