Carotid Intima-Media Thickness is Inversely Related to Bone Density in Female but not in Male Patients with Acute Stroke.

Background And Purpose: Atherosclerosis and osteoporosis are two major public health problems. It is still uncertain whether an abnormal carotid ultrasonography, either increased intima-media thickness (IMT) or plaque thickness, is associated with osteoporosis in acute ischemic stroke patients. To investigate the possible relationships between osteoporosis and carotid atherosclerosis, we evaluated the correlation between carotid IMT/plaque thickness and bone mineral density (BMD) in acute ischemic stroke patients.

Panophthalmoplegia and vision loss after cosmetic nasal dorsum injection.

We report a case of unilateral blindness and panophthalmoplegia after hyaluronic acid injection into the dorsum of the nose in a healthy young woman. Microspheres of hyaluronic acid are popular fillers for facial rejuvenation. While ocular side effects from injections in the nose and face have been reported following turbinate injection, rhinoplasty and infraorbital nerve block, ocular side effects from injection into the dorsum of the nose are extremely rare.

Carotid intima-media thickness in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Objectives: We measured the carotid intima-media thickness, a surrogate marker of early atherosclerosis, in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome compared to a control group to evaluate the risk of atherosclerotic disease.

Methods: Between January 2011 and December 2011, female patients presenting to the outpatient neurology clinic for pain and paresthesia in the hands were screened for study enrollment. Patients 30 years or older were eligible for the study if they did not have a history of stroke or cardiovascular disease.

The change in cervical length over time as a predictor of preterm delivery in asymptomatic women with twin pregnancies who have a normal mid-trimester cervical length.

Aim: To determine whether or not the change in cervical length (CL) over time is valuable in predicting spontaneous preterm delivery (SPTD) in asymptomatic twin pregnancies with a normal mid-trimester CL (>25 mm).

Methods: This was a prospective study including 190 consecutive asymptomatic twin gestations with a CL>25 mm at 20-24 weeks. The women underwent an initial CL measurement at the time of routine ultrasound examination between 20 and 24 weeks' gestation, followed 4-5 weeks later by a repeat CL measurement.

Bishop score and cervical length at 33-35 weeks of gestation and the risk of intrapartum cesarean delivery of twins.

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the association between Bishop score and cervical length measured at 33-35 weeks of gestation and the intrapartum risk of cesarean delivery of twins.

Methods: This prospective observational study recruited women with vertex/vertex twin gestations at 33-35 weeks of gestation. Determination of the Bishop score and ultrasound measurement of the cervical length were performed.

Noninvasive prediction of intra-amniotic infection and/or inflammation in preterm premature rupture of membranes.

Objective: To develop a model based on noninvasive parameters to predict the probability of intra-amniotic infection and/or inflammation (IAI) in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROMs).

Methods: Maternal blood was collected for determination of the C-reactive protein (CRP) level and white blood cell (WBC) count immediately after amniocentesis in 171 consecutive women with PPROMs. Intra-amniotic infection and/or inflammation was defined as a positive amniotic fluid (AF) culture and/or an elevated AF interleukin 6 level (≥2.

Prediction of imminent preterm delivery in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes.

Aims: To develop a model based on non-invasive clinical parameters to predict the probability of imminent preterm delivery (delivery within 48 h) in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), and to determine if additional invasive test results improve the prediction of imminent delivery based on the non-invasive model.

Methods: Transvaginal ultrasonographic assessment of cervical length was performed and maternal serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell (WBC) count were determined immediately after amniocentesis in 102 consecutive women with PPROM at 23-33+6 weeks. Amniotic fluid (AF) obtained by amniocentesis was cultured and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and WBC counts were determined.

Patient counseling program to improve the compliance to imatinib in chronic myeloid leukemia patients.

To achieve successful therapeutic outcomes in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), continuous and adequate imatinib (Gleevec(®), Glivec(®), Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Basel, Switzerland) dosing is essential. Here, we report a patient counseling program ("Care club", "Happy club" in Korea) performed to improve patient compliance with imatinib. From January 2006 to December 2008, patients diagnosed with chronic phase CML and taking imatinb were eligible for this retrospective study.

Effects of maternal and placental inflammation on retinopathy of prematurity.

Purpose: To identify maternal and placental risk factors for the occurrence and progression of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. The study cohort consisted of 246 infants with gestational age ≤ 32 weeks, with histologic examinations of their placentas.

Clinical outcomes and prognostic factors of metastatic gastric carcinoma patients who experience gastrointestinal perforation during palliative chemotherapy.

Background: We conducted the current study to investigate the clinical outcomes of metastatic gastric carcinoma (MGC) patients who experienced gastrointestinal (GI) perforation during palliative chemotherapy and to examine the prognostic factors associated with survival after perforation.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients at the Center for Gastric Cancer of the National Cancer Center, Korea who developed GI perforation during palliative chemotherapy between January 2001 and December 2008.

Results: Of the 1,856 patients who received palliative chemotherapy for MGC, 32 patients (1.

Pre-emptive treatment with nilotinib after second allogeneic transplantation in a Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia patient with high risk of relapse.

Although a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) targeted for BCR/ABL administered in combination with chemotherapy has been established as the current first-line strategy for Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL), relapse remains common, even among allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) recipients. Recently, preclinical and preliminary clinical studies suggested a potential therapeutic role of nilotinib, a second-generation TKI, in Ph+ ALL, including patients who have undergone prior allo-HSCT. This report presents the case of a patient with a post-transplant persistent positive BCR/ABL value, who was treated with imatinib and dasatinib before a second allo-HSCT.

Genital group B Streptococcus carrier rate and serotype distribution in Korean pregnant women: implications for group B streptococcal disease in Korean neonates.

Aims: We investigated the genital group B streptococcus (GBS) carrier rate in Korean pregnant women and the serotype distribution in face of the recent increase of late-onset GBS disease in Korea.

Methods: GBS screening was performed on 4045 healthy pregnant women at 35-37 weeks' gestation. In case of positive GBS culture, serotyping was performed by using GBS typing antisera.

Predictive value of pretreatment risk group and baseline LDH levels in MDS patients receiving azacitidine treatment.

This study analyzed the outcomes of myelodysplastic syndrome patients treated with azacitidine. Between August 2006 and June 2008, a total of 126 patients were treated with azacitidine at a dose of 75 mg/m(2)/day subcutaneously for 7 days, which was repeated every 28 days. The median age of the patients was 64 (range, 20-82) years.

No association of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and VEGF-C expression with survival in patients with gastric cancer.

Purpose: Although the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) superfamily has been identified to critically influence tumor-related angiogenesis, the prognostic significance of a VEGF expression in gastric cancer is still controversial. Accordingly, the present study analyzed the VEGF-A and VEGF-C expressions and their impact on the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer.

Materials And Methods: Three hundred seventy-five consecutive patients who underwent surgical resection for gastric adenocarcinoma with a curative intent were enrolled in the present study.

Mobilization effects of G-CSF, GM-CSF, and darbepoetin-alpha for allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

The effects of GM-/G-CSF and darbepoetin-alpha on stem cell mobilization were investigated. From February 2005 to March 2007, 30 allogeneic sibling donors were randomly assigned to a G-CSF group (5 microg/kg/day for 5-7 days) or triple group (GM-CSF 10 microg/kg/day on 1st and 2nd day, G-CSF 5 microg/kg/day for 5-7 days, and darbepoetin-alpha 40 mg on 1st day). The MNCs and CD34(+) cells were not different between the two groups, although the doses (x10(8)/kg of recipient body weight) of CD3(+) cells (3.

Chronic myeloid leukemia patient manifesting fatal hepatitis B virus reactivation during treatment with imatinib rescued by liver transplantation: case report and literature review.

Imatinib mesylate (imatinib) is now a standard treatment for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Although imatinib is known to have a potential impact on various infectious organisms by altering the T-cell mediated immune response, only two cases of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation during imatinib treatment have actually been reported. The role of liver transplantation (LT) after fatal HBV reactivation in patients with potentially treatable or curable hematologic malignancy is also unknown.

Lymphotoxin alfa and receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 gene polymorphisms may correlate with prognosis in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma treated with R-CHOP.

Purpose: Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a heterogenous disease entity due to diverse clinical outcomes to treatment. Most anticancer agents, regardless of their distinct mechanisms of action, ultimately kill cancer cells by inducing apoptosis. Accordingly, the present study analyzed the impact of polymorphisms of apoptosis-related genes on outcome in DLBCL patient treated with R-CHOP.

Clinical significance of autoantibody expression in allogeneic stem-cell recipients.

Background: The occurrence of autoantibodies has been reported in allogeneic stem-cell recipients, but the association of this occurrence with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) or survival remains uncertain.

Methods: A total of 121 consecutive patients who underwent allogeneic stem-cell transplantation from November 2001 to March 2008 and survived at least 3 months after transplantation were included in this study.

Results: Forty-seven patients (38.

Phase II study of gemcitabine in combination with vinorelbine versus gemcitabine followed by vinorelbine for metastatic breast cancer.

Background: No clear data are available concerning the superiority of combination chemotherapy to sequential therapy using agents beyond 1st or 2nd line chemotherapy for treating patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Methods: Patients were randomized to receive a combination of gemcitabine and vinorelbine or gemcitabine until disease progression followed by vinorelbine monotherapy. Quality of life was assessed using EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaires.

No association of the NFKB1 insertion/deletion promoter polymorphism with survival in patients with gastric cancer.

Objective: The present study analyzed the functional insertion/deletion polymorphism in the promoter region of NFKB1 gene and their impact on the prognosis for patients with gastric adenocarcinoma.

Methods: Four hundred and seventy two consecutive patients with curatively resected gastric adenocarcinoma were enrolled in the present study. The genomic DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue and the -94 insertion/deletion ATTG polymorphism of NFKB1 determined using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay.

Body mass index, Bishop score, and sonographic measurement of the cervical length as predictors of successful labor induction in twin gestations.

Aims: To evaluate the predictive value of body mass index (BMI), Bishop score, and sonographic measurement of cervical length for predicting successful labor induction (defined as an ability to achieve the active phase of labor corresponding to a cervical dilatation of > or =4 cm within 12 h of initiating oxytocin) in near-term twin gestations.

Methods: This prospective, observational study enrolled 72 consecutive women with twin gestations at >36.0 weeks' gestation who were scheduled for induction of labor.

Outpatient-basis chemotherapy of oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin as first-line treatment for patients with metastatic or recurrent colorectal cancer.

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an outpatient-basis chemotherapy of oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin as the first-line treatment for patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Forty-three histologically confirmed patients with metastatic or recurrent colorectal cancer were enrolled. The chemotherapy consisted of oxaliplatin 85 mg/m(2) as a 2-hr infusion on day 1, plus leucovorin 30 mg/m(2) over 10 min, followed by bolus 5-fluorouracil 400 mg/m(2) and an 8-hr infusion of 5-fluorouracil 600 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 2 (modified FOLFOX4), all of which were administered on an outpatient basis every 2 weeks.

Unpredicted severe toxicity after 5-fluorouracil treatment due to dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency.

Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) is the initial and rate-limiting enzyme in the catabolism of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Thus, patients with a DPD deficiency are at risk of developing severe 5-FU-associated toxicity. A 37-year-old female with gastric cancer underwent a curative operation, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of 5-FU and epirubicin.