• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제81권2호
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• pp.148-155
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• 2018

Background: Although targeted therapy and immuno-oncology have shifted the treatment paradigm for lung cancer, platinum-based combination is still the standard of care for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy has been approved and increasingly used for patients with nonsquamous NSCLC. However, the efficacy of this strategy has not been proven in patients without driving mutations. The objective of this study was to compare the clinical benefit of pemetrexed continuation maintenance to conventional platinum-based doublet in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-negative lung adenocarcinoma. Methods: A total of 114 patients with EGFR-negative lung adenocarcinoma who were treated with platinum doublet were retrospectively enrolled. We compared the survival rates between patients received pemetrexed maintenance after four-cycled pemetrexed/cisplatin and those received at least four-cycled platinum doublet without maintenance chemotherapy as a first-line treatment. Results: Forty-one patients received pemetrexed maintenance and 73 received conventional platinum doublet. Median progression-free survival (PFS), which was defined as the time from the day of response evaluation after four cycles of chemotherapy to disease progression or death, was significantly higher in the pemetrexed maintenance group compared to conventional group (5.8 months vs. 2.2 months, p<0.001). Median overall survival showed an increasing trend in the pemetrexed maintenance group (22.3 months vs. 16.1 months, p=0.098). Multivariate analyses showed that pemetrexed maintenance chemotherapy was associated with better PFS (hazard ratio, 0.73; 95% confidence interval, 0.15-0.87). Conclusion: Compared to conventional platinum-based chemotherapy, premetrexed continuation maintenance treatment is associated with better clinical outcome for the patients with EGFR wild-type lung adenocarcinoma.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.257-265
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• 2000

Harderian glands are the unique organs in several mammals, which human and non-human primates do not have. We report the ultrastructural changes in the postnatal developmental periods of Harderian glands in Mongolian gerbil(Meriones unguiculatus). Male and female Mongolian gerbils were sacrificed on days 3, 10, 30 and 60 after birth and their Harderian glands were observed by transmission electron microscope. The obtained results were summarized as follows; 1. In 3-day-old Mongolian gerbils, Harderian gland was composed of one excretory duct and immature tubules which have two type cells, dark and light cells, identified electron-dense and electron-lucent respectively. 2. In 10-day-old Mongolian gerbils, small lipid vacuoles began to be found in the cytoplasm of the secretory cells of the Harderian gland. Mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, polysomes and slash were more abundant in the cytoplasm of dark cells than those of light cells. The arrangement of tubules in the gland was much more condensed than that of 3-day-old Mongolian gerbils. 3. In 30-day-old Mongolian gerbils, the secretory cells of the tubule were typically columnar in shape and there was one type cell in the tubule. Most of the columnar secretory cells contained various size vacuoles. 4. In 60-day-old Mongolian gerbils, the Harderian gland possessed the typical structural characteristics of adults. The mature glandular structures were more significant than those of 30-day-old animals.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.88-94
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• 2018

Background: We strived to evaluate the status of nivolumab use and associated factors on the clinical efficacy of the drug. Methods: The study was retrospectively conducted in patients who had been administered nivolumab at least once at the cancer center of Seoul National University Hospital from June 2015 to April 2017. Data were collected from electronic medical records. A medication-use evaluation was performed based on the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists mediation-use guidelines. Results: Sixty-six of the 74 patients (89.2%) showed indications approved for nivolumab use by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS; n=55) or the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA; n=11). Approximately 73.0% of the patients were administered the approved dose of 3 mg/kg but 25.7% were administered an unapproved fixed dose of 100 mg. The overall response rate was 21.7%, and the response rate of non-small cell lung cancer patients, who accounted for the largest number of indications, was 18.8%. Adverse reactions were found in 90.1% of the patients and were mostly mild (86%). The expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) was analyzed as a factor affecting treatment response (p=0.028, odds ratio [OR]=11.331). Conclusion: PD-L1 expression was found to affect treatment response. However, caution is required while using an unapproved dosage and in the absence of monitoring for effectiveness and safety. Therefore, an effective protocol or instruction manual for the proper use of nivolumab should be considered.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제62권2호
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• pp.140-143
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• 2007

A 60-year-old man was diagnosed with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer. He refused treatment with a curative aim and was treated conservatively. Pain had developed on his shoulder and chest wall, which became worse as the cancer progressed. Although his pain initially appeared to be relieved with weak opioids and analgesics, it became more severe Strong opioids (transdermal fentanly patch and oxycodone), antidepressant or epidural block were introduced, However, the background pain became more intense and reached up to 8~9/10 on the visual analog scale (VAS). The dose of the transdermal fentanl patch was gradually increased to $600{\mu}g/hr$, which resulted in a dramatic improvement in his pain (9/10 of VAS) to 3/10 for most of the time. We described the successful experience with a high dose transdermal fentanyl patch for cancer pain relief, which might be an alternative option for cancer patients suffering from severe pain.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제62권2호
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• pp.125-128
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• 2007

Docetaxel is a taxoid antineoplastic drug, which is widely used to treat locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Among the adverse dermatological reactions, nail disorders such as bending, onycholysis, hypoor hyperpigmentation are rare. We report a case of a 62-year-old male with advanced NSCLC (cT4N3M1, stage IV), who developed purulent discharge and onycholysis in the nail of all his fingers and the left great toe after five courses of anti-neoplastic chemotherapy, which included docetaxel (cumulative dose: $370mg/m^2$, 590 mg). Seven days after the final session of chemotherapy, the patient had become aware of discoloration and swelling of the nail beds with out pain. Three days later, greenish-yellow purulent discharge oozed out from the involved nails. Microbiologic studies revealed Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Intravenous and topical antibiotics (mupirocin) were applied. After 2 weeks, regrown nails were observed and the onycholysis had improved.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제74권1호
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• pp.37-40
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• 2013

Epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been widely used for non-small-cell lung cancer patients. Its untoward cutaneous effects are largely well known and developed in many patients treated with EGFR TKIs. However trichomegaly of eyelash is rarely reported. Although trichomegaly is not a drug-limiting side effect, it could be troublesome of continuing the treatment because of cosmetic issue or eyeball irritation by long eyelashes. Therefore clinicians are needed to pay attention to this uncommon effect. We herein describe erlotinib induced trichomegaly of eyelashes in a woman with adenocarcinoma of the lung.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제56권3호
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• pp.315-320
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• 2004

Gemcitabine is an effective newly developed chemotherapeutic agent, which is increasingly being used to treat non-small cell lung, ovarian and breast cancers. Pulmonary toxicity is usually self-limiting mild dyspnea, bronchospasm, but severe pulmonary toxicity is rarely reported. Herein, we report drug induced interstitial lung disease associated with gemcitabine treatment. High resolution computerized tomogram (HRCT) showed an increased ground glass opacity and thickened septal lines. The patient showed a rapid good response with prednisolone treatment.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 고려인삼학회 2002년도 학술대회지
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• pp.317-334
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• 2002

Ginsenosides are metabolized (deglycosylated) by intestinal bacteria to active forms after oral administration. 20(S)-Protopanaxadiol $20-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (M1) and 20(S)-protopanaxatriol (M4) are the main intestinal bacterial metabolites (IBMs) of protopanaxadiol- and protopanaxatriol-type glycosides. M1 was selectively accumulated into the liver soon after its intravenous (i.v.) administration to mice, and mostly excreted as bile; however, some M1 was transformed to fatty acid ester (EMl) in the liver. EM1 was isolated from rats in a recovery dose of approximately $24mol\%.$ Structural analysis indicated that EM1 comprised a family of fatty acid mono-esters of M1. Because EM1 was not excreted as bile as Ml was, it was accumulated in the liver longer than M1. The in vitro cytotoxicity of M1 was attenuated by fatty acid esterification, implying that esterification is a detoxification reaction. However, esterified M1 (EM1) inhibited the growth of B16 melanoma more than Ml in vivo. The in vivo antitumor activity paralleled with the pharmacokinetic behavior. In the case of M4, orally administered M4 was absorbed from the small intestine into the mesenteric lymphatics followed by the rapid esterification of M4 with fatty acids and its spreading to other organs in the body and excretion as bile. The administration of M4 prior to tumor injection abrogated the enhanced lung metastasis in the mice pretreated with 2-chloroadenosine more effectively than in those pretreated with anti-asialo GMl. Both EM1 and EM4 did not directly affect tumor growth in vitro, whereas EM1 promoted tumor cell lysis by lymphocytes, particularly non-adherent splenocytes, and EM4 stimulated splenic NK cells to become cytotoxic to tumor cells. Thus, the esterification of IBM with fatty acids potentiated the antitumor activity of parental IBM through delay of the clearance and through immunostimulation. These results suggest that the fatty acid conjugates of IBMs may be the real active principles of ginsenosides in the body.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• 제28권11호
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• pp.633-639
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• 2018

In anion exchange membrane fuel cells, Pd nanoparticles are extensively studied as promising non-Pt catalysts due to their electronic structure similar to Pt. In this study, to fabricate Pd nanoparticles well dispersed on carbon support materials, we propose a synthetic strategy using mixed organic ligands with different chemical structures and functions. Simultaneously to control the Pd particle size and dispersion, a ligand mixture composed of oleylamine(OA) and trioctylphosphine(TOP) is utilized during thermal decomposition of Pd precursors. In the ligand mixture, OA serves mainly as a reducing agent rather than a stabilizer since TOP, which has a bulky structure, more strongly interacts with the Pd metal surface as a stabilizer compared to OA. The specific roles of OA and TOP in the Pd nanoparticle synthesis are studied according to the mixture composition, and the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR) activity and durability of highly-dispersed Pd nanocatalysts with different particles sizes are investigated. The results of this study confirm that the Pd nanocatalyst with large particles has high durability compared to the nanocatalyst with small Pd nanoparticles during the accelerated degradation tests although they initially indicated similar ORR performance.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.19.1-19.11
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• 2018

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNAs, have been implicated in various diseases and cellular functions as microregulators of gene expression. Although the history of miRNA investigation in autoimmune $Sj{\ddot{o}}gren^{\prime}s$ syndrome (SjS) is fairly short, a substantial amount of data has already been accumulated. These findings clearly indicate potential clinical implications of miRNAs, such as autoantigen expression and autoantibody production, viral miRNAs regulating the calcium signaling pathway, and aberrant immune cell regulation and cytokine production. Research endeavors in the field are currently underway to select disease-specific diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers by utilizing different types of tissues or biological specimens of SjS patients. Various techniques for miRNA analysis with different stringencies have been applied, with the most recent one being next-generation sequencing. This review compiles and highlights differentially-expressed miRNAs in various samples collected from SjS patients and their potential implications in the pathogenesis of SjS. To facilitate the development of miRNA-targeted personalized therapy in the future, we urge more follow-up studies that confirm these findings and elucidate the immunopathological roles of differentially-expressed miRNAs. Furthermore, improved diagnostic criteria for the disease itself will minimize sampling errors in patient recruitment, preventing the generation of inconsistent data.