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We performed a cohort-based pharmacoepidemiologic study in order to evaluate the pattern of cephalosporin prescriptions in elderly inpatients in Korea. The Korea Elderly Pharmacoepidemiologic Cohort was composed of a geriatric population of beneficiaries of the Korea Medical Insurance Corporation residing in Busan in 1993. The cohort consisted of 23 649 members, comprising 15 221 women (64.4%) and 8428 men (35.6%). The study population for drug utilization review consisted of those cohort members who were admitted into hospitals during the period January 1993 through December 1994. The number of hospitalized patients was 4262, comprising 2631 women (61.7%) and 1681 men (38.3%). The trend of cephalosporin prescriptions over the 2-year period showed that the use of second and third generation cephalosporins increased relative to the use of first generation. The use of cephalosporins combined with other antibiotics was found to occur in 22.8% aminoglycosides (76.7%) and quinolones (17.1%) being the most common antibiotics combined with cephalosporins. Our result demonstrates an increase in the prescription of second and third generation cephalosporins in Korea, which has implications not only for the elderly population but also for the total population because of the impact on health care costs and the potential for the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Purpose. Chemotherapeutic failure of human solid tumor is attributed to tumor microenvironmental (TME) factors associated with drug resistance. Three dimensional (3D) tumor spheroid (TS) model is known to be in vivo mimic and has demonstrated its clinical relevancy. Fibroblasts in TME have been shown to play a significant role in drug resistance. The present study was to develop and characterize a co-culture of 3D TS with fibroblasts for human colorectal tumor model. Methods. TS of human colorectal cancer cells (HT-29) was prepared by using liquid overlay method and co-cultured in collagen-coated 24-well plates with colon fibroblasts (CCD-18co) grown in Transwell® inserts. Differentail expression of extracellular matrix (ECM), growth signaling molecules, and microRNAs was analyzed using IHC, ELISA, western blot and qRT-PCR. For miRNA transfection study, changes in motility and drug sensitivity were measured by wound healing assays and APH or MTS assay, respectively. Results. Significant resistance to 5-FU was shown in TS either with or without fibroblasts compared to monolayers. Compared to single culture of TS, co-culture with fibroblast showed 1.3-fold increased outgrowth on collagen gel, indicating increased motility. Cell-to-cell adhesion structures, expression of ECM and active form TGFβ1 were higher in TS-fibroblast co-culture. Expression of several growth- and TME-related factors, such as fibronectin, EGFR, β-catenin and CTGF, was higher in fibroblast co-culture up to the level of HT-29 xenograft tissues. Among miRNAs showing differential expressions, miR-96 showed down-regulation in TS. HT-29 cells transfected with miR-96 showed increase in cell motility, proliferation, and sensitivity to 5-FU, suggesting its potential role in regulation of genes associated with 5-FU resistance. Conclusions. Co-culture of 3D TS-fibroblasts was successfully established and demonstrated in vivo mimic characteristics with respect to presence of adhesion microstructures, expression of ECM and growth signaling molecules, and resistance to 5-FU. MiR-96 showed its potential role in 3D drug resistance which warrants further studies. Citation Format: Sun-Ah Kim, Hyo-Jeong Kuh. Co-culture of 3D tumor spheroids with fibroblasts as an in vitro model for drug resistance study. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1970. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1970

The natural graphite was used without a purification process and processing step that results in the folding of the graphite fragments into small spheres. It is well known that spherically shaped anode material is preferable as a means of improving the anode characteristics due to its high tapping density [1]. To reduce movement of impurities and side reaction with electrolyte impurities [2], the amorphous soft carbon was coated on the spherical graphite surface. In this study, we report the characteristics of anode which is made from the amorphous soft carbon coated natural graphite and charge-discharge behavior of half cells. The electrodes were prepared by pasting an aqueous slurry with styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). The charge–discharge tests were performed in CR2032 coin cell. Half cells consisted of the working electrode to be studied, Li metal as the counter electrode, and Celgard 2400 separator. 1 M LiPF6in ethylene carbonate and dimethyl carbonate (1:1 by volume) was used to electrolyte. Anode half-cells were tested between 1.5 V and 5 mV at a C-rate of 0.1 C. Microstructure of the amorphous soft carbon coating layer on graphite particle was observed using TEM to examine the cycle stability. Fig. 1 shows structural stability of carbon layer after charge-discharge cycles and thickness of carbon layer was about 50nm. Fig. 2 shows the charge(Li insertion)-discharge(Li extraction) curves of the amorphous soft carbon coating sample versus non-coating sample for the first cycle, charged in CC-CV mode and discharged in CC mode. The discharge capacity obtained at carbon coated sample is about 330 mAh/g and the columbic efficiency is about 90 %. This research was financially supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy(MOTIE) and Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology(KIAT) through the Promoting Regional specialized Industry References [1] Y. Chen, G.X. Wang, J.P. Tian, K. Konstantinov, H.K. Liu, Electrochim. Acta 50 (2004) 435–441. [2] C. Wang, X. Zhang, A.J. Appleby, X. Chen, F.E. Little, J. Power Sources 112 (2002) 98-104.

Background: In breast cancer, axillary lymph node status is one of the most important prognostic variables and a crucial component to the staging system. Moreover, cancers underlying skin are willing to access to the lymphatics and cause lymphatic dissemination. Therefore, there seems an association between proximity of breast cancer to the skin and the incidence of axillary node positivity or local recurrence. The aim of this study was to determine whether distance of breast cancers from the skin affects the the clinical and pathologic features including the likelihood of axillary nodal metastases, ipsilateral breast cancer recurrence, and recurrence free survival. Methods: Between January 2003 and December 2009, data were collected prospectively regarding 1005 consecutive breast cancer patients who underwent surgical treatment. The exclusion criteria were non-invasive carcinoma (e.g. Ductal Carcinoma In Situ), prior breast surgery, previous radiotherapy or neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and previous endocrine therapy. The distance of the tumor from the skin surface was measured from the skin to the most anterior hypoechoic leading edge of the lesion. Results: A total of 891 patients were included in the statistical analysis, 603(68%) had no axillary nodal metastasis, 288(32%) had axillary nodal metastasis. Distance of breast cancer from the skin less than 3mm induced more axillary nodal metastasis (P = 0.039). However, there was no statistical significant correlation between distance of breast cancer from the skin less than 3mm and ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (P = 0.788) or recurrence-free survival (P = 0.353). Conclusion: Breast cancers located closer to the skin have a higher incidence of axillary nodal metastasis. When evaluating a breast cancer patient and considering the risk of nodal metastasis the distance of the tumor from the skin should be considered. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-03-01.

Objectives This report describes the development process of a drug dosing database for ethical drugs approved by the Korea Food & Drug Administration (KFDA). The goal of this study was to develop a computerized system that supports physicians' prescribing decisions, particularly in regards to medication dosing. Methods The advisory committee, comprised of doctors, pharmacists, and nurses from the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, pharmacists familiar with drug databases, KFDA officials, and software developers from the BIT Computer Co. Ltd. analyzed approved KFDA drug dosing information, defined the fields and properties of the information structure, and designed a management program used to enter dosing information. The management program was developed using a web based system that allows multiple researchers to input drug dosing information in an organized manner. The whole process was improved by adding additional input fields and eliminating the unnecessary existing fields used when the dosing information was entered, resulting in an improved field structure. Results A total of 16,994 drugs sold in the Korean market in July 2009, excluding the exclusion criteria (e.g., radioactivity drugs, X-ray contrast medium), usage and dosing information were made into a database. Conclusions The drug dosing database was successfully developed and the dosing information for new drugs can be continually maintained through the management mode. This database will be used to develop the drug utilization review standards and to provide appropriate dosing information.

We developed a cathepsin B-sensitive nanoprobe (CB-NP) with a cathepsin B substrate peptide probe and tumor-targeting glycol chitosan nanoparticles. The CB-NP could accumulate in tumor tissues, enter into tumor cells, and generate fluorescent signals in cytosol in response to cathepsin B. The results of non-invasive fluorescence imaging in a tumor-bearing mouse model demonstrated the potential of CB-NP for tumor diagnosis in clinical fields.

To evaluate changes in the spherical equivalent (SE) refractive error and astigmatism in Korean patients with accommodative esotropia.Retrospective cases series.A total of 111 patients with accommodative esotropia who received at least 2 years of follow-up after receiving prescription spectacles.Patients were divided into groups according to the age at which spectacles were prescribed (youngest, middle, and oldest age groups), initial degree of SE refractive error (lowest, moderate, and highest SE group), initial degree of astigmatism (least, moderate, and most astigmatic group), and presence of amblyopia (amblyopic or nonamblyopic). Changes in SE refractive error and astigmatism were compared between groups. Factors that significantly influenced changes in refractive error were analyzed using mixed linear models.Changes in SE refractive error and changes in astigmatism according to the duration of time after the initiation of wearing spectacles.Patients were followed up for a mean of 7.55 ± 3.59 years. Although an initial increase in SE was noted in the youngest-age group, an overall decreasing tendency in SE refractive error during the follow-up period was noted in the youngest (P0.01, mixed linear model), the middle (P0.01), and the oldest (P0.01) age groups. Amblyopic eyes showed greater decreases in SE compared with nonamblyopic eyes (P=0.01). The most hyperopic group showed the greatest decrease in hyperopia over time (P=0.01). The initial degree of hyperopia (P0.01) and amblyopia (P0.01) showed significant associations with changes in SE refractive error. The initial degree of astigmatism (P0.01) showed a significant association with changes in astigmatism.Patients with accommodative esotropia showed a continuous decrease in SE refractive error over time. Changes in refractive error in patients with accommodative esotropia may be influenced by both spectacle wearing and amblyopia.The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of age wearing prescription glasses on changes in refractive error in accommodative esotropia Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 63 patients with accommodative esotropia. The patients were divided into three groups according to their age when glasses were prescribed. Changes of the refractive error between the three groups were compared. Results: The mean age at the first visit was 4.12.0 years and the mean follow-up period was 5.72.7 years. In children that began wearing glasses before two years of age, the spherical equivalent (SE) refractive error initially increased, peaked 2.5 years after starting to wear glasses, and slowly decreased thereafter. In children who started wearing glasses after two years but not before four years of age the SE refractive error increased and peaked 1.5 years after starting to wear glasses. For children who began wearing glasses after four years of age the SE refractive error increased and peaked after one year. Changes in the refractive error in the youngest age group were significantly different from the other two groups (p=0.064). Conclusions: The age when glasses are prescribed may influence normal emmetropization in accommodative esotropia. However, further studies with longer follow-ups will be needed to determine the effect of wearing glasses on the final SE refractive error.