• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제14권12호
• /
• pp.7415-7419
• /
• 2013

The diagnosis of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is recommended in hematological malignancy patients and before hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Guidelines for the prevention and management of infectious complications of solid organ transplantation, 2004). Compared to traditional methods such as tuberculin skin test (TST), T-SPOT.TB has been shown to be more specific. In the present study we enrolled 536 patients for whom T-SPOT.TB was performed, among which 295 patients also received the TST test. The agreement (79%) between T-SPOT.TB and TST was poor (x=0.274, P<0.001). The patients with positive T-SPOT.TB results numbered 62 (11.6%), in which only 20 (48.8%) of the 41 receiving the TST test had positive results. A majority of the patients with T-SPOT.TB positive results had some other evidence ofTB, such as TB history, clinical symptoms and an abnormal chest CT scan. Active TB was found in 9 patients, in which 2 had negative TST results. We followed up the patients and no one developed active TB. Our study suggested that the T-SPOT.TB may be more useful for screening LTBI and active TB in hematological malignancy patients and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients than the TST test.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제16권14호
• /
• pp.6007-6010
• /
• 2015

Background: Chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL) is a malignant hematopoietic disorder, the most common of all adult leukemias with a distinctive immunophenotype. It is well established that CLL patients can have autoimmune complications, amongst them autoimmune hemolytic anemia as the most frequent. This study was carried out to determine the frequency of direct Coombs Test positivity in CLL patients and its possible correlation with Rai staging, hematological parameters and biochemical markers. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross sectional study was carried at Liaquat National Hospital from January 2011 to June 2013. Sixty untreated patients with B- chronic lymphoid leukemia were enrolled. Complete blood count, direct Coombs test, serum urea, creatinine, uric acid and LDH levels were determined. Data were compiled and analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results: Out of 60 patients, 42(70%) were males and 18(30%) were females. Mean age was $59{\pm}9.2years$. Male to female ratio was 2.1: 1. The frequency of direct antiglobulin test (DAT) positivity was found to be 23.3%. The monospecific IgG was positive in 11 patients (18.3%); C3d positivity was evident in 1 patient (1.6%) and 2 patients (3.3%) had dual IgG and C3d positivity. The mean hemoglobin was $10.8{\pm}2.4gm/dl$. Significantly low mean hemoglobin of $8.3{\pm}3.0gm/dl$ was seen in Coombs positive patients compared with negative patients having a mean hemoglobin level of $11.7{\pm}1.6gm/dl$ (P<0.001). DAT positivity also demonstrated a positive association with advanced Rai stage III disease (P<0.01). No associations were noted with age, gender and biochemical markers. Conclusions: Direct Coombs test positivity in CLL in our patients, unlike in Western studies, appears relatively high, indicating significant autoimmune hemolytic anemia and advanced Rai stage in our setting. DAT positivity can be considered as a surrogative marker for advanced clinical disease.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• 제26권10호
• /
• pp.583-592
• /
• 2023

Celebes rainbow (Marosantherina ladigesi) is one of Indonesia's exported ornamental fish commodities, but the exploitation of this fish only relies on wild catches. The rise of unlimited fishing, especially those using poison, has changed the aquatic environment, threatening sustainability and causing fish extinction. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of several types of feed in improving the absolute growth rate (AGR), specific growth rate (SGR), survival rate (SR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed efficiency (FE), hematology, and immune response of Celebes rainbow. The fish used in this study were male ornamental Celebes rainbow (M. ladigesi) weighing 1.32 ± 0.21 g/ind, reared in 54 L-aquariums at a stocking density of 30 individuals/aquarium for six weeks. The fish were fed according to the test diet consisting of live Tubifex sp worms, dry Tubifex sp worms, Spirulina platensis, and crumble pellets. The parameters observed were AGR, SGR, SR, FCR, FE, hematology, intestinal histology, liver histology, and a challenge test with the pathogenic bacteria Aeromonas hydrophila. The results showed that fish-fed live Tubifex sp worms had better AGR, SGR, SR, FCR, FE, hematology, and disease resistance compared to all other treatments. These results indicate that live Tubifex sp worms are the best feed for rearing Celebes rainbow.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제17권4호
• /
• pp.2265-2270
• /
• 2016

Background: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is one of the most frequent hematopoietic malignancies in the elderly population; however, knowledge is limited regarding the genetic factors associated with increased risk for CML. Polymorphisms affecting microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis or mRNA:miRNA interactions are important risk factors in the development of different types of cancer. Thus, we carried out a case-control study to test the association with CML susceptibility of gene variants located in the miRNA machinery genes AGO1 (rs636832) and GEMIN4 (rs2740348), as well as in the miRNA binding sites of the genes BRCA1 (rs799917) and KRAS (rs61764370). Materials and Methods: We determined the genotype of 781 Mexican-Mestizo individuals (469 healthy subjects and 312 CML cases) for the four polymorphisms using TaqMan probes to test the association with CML susceptibility. Results: We found a borderline association of the minor homozygote genotype of the KRAS_rs61764370 polymorphism with an increased risk for CML susceptibility (P = 0.06). After gender stratification, this association was significant only for women (odds ratio [OR] = 13.41, P = 0.04). The distribution of the allelic and genotypic frequencies of the four studied SNPs was neither associated with advanced phases of CML nor treatment response. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to show a significant association of the KRAS_rs61764370 SNP with CML. To further determine such an association of with CML susceptibility, our results must be replicated in different ethnic groups.

• 대한한방내과학회지
• /
• 제41권3호
• /
• pp.542-551
• /
• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively assess the effectiveness of Chunggan plus extract (CGX) in improving liver function in a Korean medical clinic. Methods: We collected the data of inpatients who received CGX to improve abnormal liver function test (LFT) results from March 2016 to February 2020. We analyzed the changes in LFT and adverse events based on subjective symptom changes and creatinine results. Results: The data of eight patients, three male and five female, were selected by inclusion criteria (patients who did LFT before and after the prescription of CGX and who prescribed CGX more than 6 days) and exclusion criteria (patients who administered other herbal medicine for improving liver function except CGX and who are diagnosed with terminal stage of hepatobiliary cancer). As a cause of abnormal LFT, one case was diagnosed with alcoholic liver disease, two cases with non-alcoholic fatty hepatitis, and one case with cholecystitis. Three of the other four were suspected to have drug-induced hepatitis, and one case was determined to have an unknown cause. Most patients showed a decrease in LFT results (Aspartate transaminase 87.5%, Alanine transaminase 87.5%, and Alkaline Phosphatase 100%) without any critical adverse events. Conclusions: CGX may be an efficient and convenient herbal medicine for improving liver function regardless of the chief impression. Further study should be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of CGX.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• 제26권2호
• /
• pp.69-79
• /
• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the involvement of patients who died from hematologic neoplasms in the decision-making process surrounding the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment (LST). Methods: A total of 255 patients diagnosed with hematologic neoplasms who ultimately died following decisions related to LST during their end-of-life period at a university hospital were included in the study. Data were retrospectively obtained from electronic medical records and analyzed utilizing the chi-square test, independent t-test, and logistic regression. Results: In total, 42.0% of patients participated in the decision-making process regarding LST for their hematologic neoplasms, while 58.0% of decisions were made with family involvement. Among these patients, 65.1% died in general wards and 34.9% in intensive care units (ICUs) as a result of decisions such as the suspension of LST. The period from the LST decision to death was longer when the decision was made by the patient (average, 27.15 days) than when it was made by the family (average, 7.48 days). Most decisions were made by doctors and family members in the ICU, where only 20.6% of patients exercised their right to make decisions regarding LST, a rate considerably lower than 79.4% observed in general wards. Decisions to withhold or withdraw LST were more commonly made by patients themselves than by their families. Conclusion: The key to discussing the decision to suspend hospice care and LST is respecting the patient's self-determination. If a patient is lucid prior to admission to the ICU, considerations about suspending LST should involve the patient input.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• 제13권1호
• /
• pp.24-31
• /
• 2010

목적: 암환자에게 있어 중심 정맥관 삽입은 항암치료나 수혈, 비경구 영양공급 목적으로 흔히 시행된다. 중심정맥관 삽입으로 인해 발생하는 합병증으로는 감염, 혈전, 물리적 합병증이 있는데, 이 연구는 합병증의 빈도와 관련 인자들을 규명하기 위해 계획되었다. 방법: 2001년 3월부터 2006년 8월까지 중심 정맥관을 삽입한 고형암과 혈액암 환자를 대상으로 경과기록 분석을 통한 후향적 연구를 시행하였다. 감염, 혈전, 물리적 합병증 각각의 빈도를 조사하였고, 감염과 혈전의 발생에 영향을 미치는 여러 인자들과 그 연관성을 분석하기 위해 교차 분석을 사용하였다. 또한, 삽입관 수명에 영향을 미치는 인자들을 알기 위해 단변량 분석에는 log-rank test를 이용한 Kaplan-Meier 방법과 다변량 분석에는 Cox regression analysis 를 사용하였다. 결과: 310명의 암환자들에게 310개의 중심 정맥관 삽입이 시술되었고, 남자 157명, 여자 153명이었고, 혈액암 환자가 132명, 고형암 환자 178명이었으며, 평균 연령은 52세였다(range: 15~82). 60예(19%)의 환자에서 합병증이 나타났으며, 혈전을 가진 환자에서 감염이 더 빈번하게 일어났고(P=0.003), 암이나 삽입관의 종류, 수혈 및 비경구 영양 시행 여부와 합병증 발생과는 큰 연관성이 없었다. 삽입관의 평균수명은 99일(range: 2~1,330)이었는데 삽입관의 수명은 터널식 삽입관(P=0.000)을 가진 경우에, 그리고 중심정맥관을 통해 수혈을 하지 않은 경우(P=0.030) 더 연장되었다. 결론: 중심 정맥관 삽입의 주요 합병증은 혈전과 감염이었다. 터널식 정맥관은 장기적인 사용에 효과적인 방법이며, 특히 중심정맥관을 통해 수혈을 받지 않는 경우에 그러하다. 중심 정맥관 장기 사용을 위해 혈전과 감염의 예방 및 치료에 대한 연구가 더욱 이루어져야할 것으로 여겨진다.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• 제38권4호
• /
• pp.344-349
• /
• 2021

Background: Cancer patients have been disproportionally affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, with high rates of severe outcomes and mortality. Fever is the most common symptom in COVID-19 patients. During the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians may have difficulty in determining the cause of fever (COVID-19, another infection, or cancer fever) in cancer patients. Furthermore, there are no specific guidelines for managing cancer patients with fever during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, this study evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of cancer patients with fever during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 328 cancer patients with COVID-19 symptoms (fever) admitted to five hospitals in Daegu, Korea from January to October 2020. We obtained data on demographics, clinical manifestations, laboratory test results, chest computed tomography images, cancer history, cancer treatment, and outcomes of all enrolled patients from electronic medical records. Results: The most common COVID-19-like symptoms were fever (n=256, 78%). Among 256 patients with fever, only three (1.2%) were diagnosed with COVID-19. Most patients (253, 98.8%) with fever were not diagnosed with COVID-19. The most common solid malignancies were lung cancer (65, 19.8%) and hepatobiliary cancer (61, 18.6%). Twenty patients with fever experienced a delay in receiving cancer treatment. Eighteen patients discontinued active cancer treatment because of fever. Major events during the treatment delay period included death (2.7%), cancer progression (1.5%), and major organ dysfunction (2.7%). Conclusion: Considering that only 0.9% of patients tested for COVID-19 were positive, screening for COVID-19 in cancer patients with fever should be based on the physician's clinical decision, and patients might not be routinely tested.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제13권5호
• /
• pp.2415-2418
• /
• 2012

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of voriconazole in treating Chinese patients with hematological malignancies and invasive aspergillosis. Methods: From March 2007 to April 2012, patients with diagnoses confirmed by CT, GM test and/or PCR assays, were recruited into this study. Aspergillosis of all patients were treated with voriconazole 6 mg/kg intravenous infusion (iv) every 12 h for 1 day, followed by 4 mg/kg IV every 12 h for 10-15 days; Then, switch to oral administration that was 200mg every 12h for 4-12 weeks. Efficacy and safety were evaluated according to Practice Guideline of Infectious Diseases Society of America. Results: The overall response rate of 38 patients after voriconazole treatment was 81.6%. The median time to pyretolysis was 4.5 days. Treatment related side effects were mild and found in only 15.8% of cases. No treatment related deaths occurred. Conclusions: Voriconazole can considered to be a safe and effective front-line therapy to treat patients with hematological malignancies and invasive aspergillosis. Alternatively it could be used as a remedial treatment when other antifungal therapies are ineffective.

• 대한한방내과학회지
• /
• 제42권3호
• /
• pp.444-454
• /
• 2021

Objectives: High natural killer cell activity (NKA) is associated with a clinically favorable status in patients with cancer. This study explores whether traditional Korean medicine (TKM) improves NKA in patients with cancer. Methods: We report three clinical cases involving patients with cancer who underwent NKA tests while they received TKM treatment, including acupuncture, moxibustion, wild ginseng pharmacopuncture, and Korean herbal medicines. We analyzed the treatment process and NKA test results of each patient. Results: The NKA of all three patients presented with an increasing tendency during the treatment process. Patient 1, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, received inpatient treatment 3 times between September 16, 2017 and February 27, 2019. The NKA increased from 7.2 pg/mL to 571.7 pg/mL. Patient 2, who had thyroid cancer, was hospitalized 4 times between July 23, 2019 and August 27, 2020. The NKA improved from 317.4 pg/mL to 2000 pg/mL. Patient 3, who had liver cancer, received inpatient treatment 4 times between May 27, 2016 and January 10, 2017. The NKA increased from 22.2 pg/mL to 459.5 pg/mL. The chief complaints of these patients also were alleviated. Conclusions: TKM may be an effective treatment for accelerating NKA. Further research is needed to establish evidence that TKM stimulates NKA.