The Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Four-Weekly Docetaxel as First-Line Therapy in Elderly Lung Cancer Patients with Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Docetaxel is one of the standard treatments for advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Docetaxel is usually administered in a 3-week schedule, but there is significant toxicity. In this phase II clinical study, we investigated the efficacy and safety of a 4-weekly schedule of docetaxel monotherapy, as first-line chemotherapy for advanced squamous cell carcinoma in elderly lung cancer patients.

Clinical Effectiveness of High-Flow Nasal Cannula in Hypoxaemic Patients during Bronchoscopic Procedures.

Background: Bronchoscopy is a useful diagnostic and therapeutic tool. However, the clinical use of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in adults with acute respiratory failure for diagnostic and invasive procedures has not been well evaluated. We present our experiences of well-tolerated diagnostic bronchoscopy as well as cases of improved saturation in hypoxaemic patients after a therapeutic bronchoscopic procedure.

Clinical and molecular characteristics of pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma.

Background/aims: Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC) is a poorly differentiated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that contains components of spindle or giant cells. Owing to its low prevalence, there are insufficient data regarding its clinical features, therapeutic strategies and prognosis.

Methods: The medical records of 26 patients diagnosed with PSC from January 2009 to June 2015 were reviewed and analyzed for clinicopathological characteristics, treatment modality, and outcomes.

Evaluation of Appropriate Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Korea: Based on Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) Claims.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an ambulatory care-sensitive condition, and effective treatment of outpatients can prevent worsening of the illness and hospitalization. Current COPD guidelines provide appropriate guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with COPD. In fact, it has been shown that when appropriate guidance and treatment are performed, the morbidity and mortality rates of COPD patients are reduced.

Dengue-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in an adult: A case report and literature review.

Background: Infection-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (IAHS) is potentially a fatal disease caused by systemic infection complicated by hemophagocyticlymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Here, we report a case of HLH associated with dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) after a trip to Thailand.

Case Summary: A 33-year-old healthy female patient presented with 3 days of fever, myalgia, and skin rash.

Evaluation of sensory processing abilities following stroke using the adolescent/adult sensory profile: implications for individualized intervention.

[Purpose] The present study aimed to understand characteristics of sensory processing in patients who have experienced a stroke using the previously established, self-diagnostic Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP). [Subjects and Methods] Data from 180 total Korean patients who had been diagnosed as having experienced a stroke were collected and analyzed between May and August of 2015. [Results] Average scores for each sensory processing domain were as follows: low registration (32.

Positive response of a primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma to pemetrexed plus cisplatin followed by pemetrexed maintenance chemotherapy: A case report.

Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma (PMPM) is a rare tumor with poor prognosis. Surgery is the treatment of choice, but numerous cases are inoperable. For the treatment of inoperable or metastatic cases, systemic chemotherapy is required.

Kidney function changes with aging in adults: comparison between cross-sectional and longitudinal data analyses in renal function assessment.

The study evaluated whether the renal function decline rate per year with age in adults varies based on two primary statistical analyses: cross-section (CS), using one observation per subject, and longitudinal (LT), using multiple observations per subject over time. A total of 16628 records (3946 subjects; age range 30-92 years) of creatinine clearance and relevant demographic data were used. On average, four samples per subject were collected for up to 2364 days (mean: 793 days).

The QT prolongation and clinical features in patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy: Experiences of two tertiary cardiovascular centers.

Objective: There are few data regarding clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings in takotsubo cardiomyopathy patients presenting with QT prolongation. Aim of this study was to investigate the differences in these parameters between takotsubo cardiomyopathy patients presenting with and those without QT prolongation.

Methods: We performed an observational retrospective study.

Cardiogenic shock accompanied by dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and myocardial bridging after transient complete atrioventricular block mimicking ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a case report.

Background: Dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction with or without mitral regurgitation is typically observed in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but is also occasionally seen without left ventricular hypertrophy. In this report, we present a case of cardiogenic shock that mimics ST-elevation myocardial infarction, due to dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction with transient mitral regurgitation and myocardial bridging after transient complete atrioventricular block.

Case Presentation: A 65-year-old man with hypertension presented himself at the emergency department with syncope after chest pain.

Evaluation of microvascular angina with TIMI frame count using nitroprusside induced hyperemia.

TIMI frame count (TFC) provides a quantitative index of coronary microvascular dysfunction. Previous studies suggested the degree of frame count reserve (FCR) and slow coronary flow (SCF) correlated with microvascular dysfunction. We investigated the clinical implication of FCR and SCF for the evaluation of microvascular angina (MA).

Chronobiological variation in the occurrence of Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy: experiences of two tertiary cardiovascular centers.

Background: There have been few data to review and analyze the temporal preference of the onset of Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC). Aim of this study was to investigate chronobiological variations in the occurrence of TTC and changes of these variations according to age and gender.

Methods: One hundred and thirty-seven patients were enrolled from our TTC registry database from January 2004 to December 2010 in Korea.

Slow Coronary Flow is Related to Increased Carotid Intima-Media Thickness but Not Pulse Wave Velocity.

Background And Objectives: Slow coronary flow (SCF) is characterized by delayed contrast dye opacification without significant stenosis of epicardial coronary arteries. However, the pathophysiology and clinical implications of SCF are not fully understood. Some reports have suggested that SCF might be caused by atherosclerosis in the coronary artery microvasculature.

Carotid intima-media thickness and plaque as a predictor for ischemic etiology in patients with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Background And Objectives: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of heart failure associated with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD). The prognosis of LVSD is significantly influenced by the etiology of heart failure and therefore, differentiation of significant CAD from other etiologies is important. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque are useful predictors for cardiovascular events, including stroke and CAD.

Aortic upper wall tissue Doppler image velocity: relation to aortic elasticity and left ventricular diastolic function.

Background: Aortic stiffening contributes to the left ventricular (LV) afterload, hypertrophy, and substrate for diastolic dysfunction. It is also known that aortic elastic properties could be investigated with color tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in aortic upper wall. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relation of aortic upper wall TDI and aortic stiffness and other parameters of LV diastolic function.

Induction of unfolded protein response during neuronal induction of rat bone marrow stromal cells and mouse embryonic stem cells.

When we treated rat bone marrow stromal cells (rBMSCs) with neuronal differentiation induction media, typical unfolded protein response (UPR) was observed. BIP/GRP78 protein expression was time-dependently increased, and three branches of UPR were all activated. ATF6 increased the transcription of XBP1 which was successfully spliced by IRE1.