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Osteolytic lesions with activated osteoclast (OC) and suppressed osteoblast (OB) activity are characteristics of myeloma bone lesion. Recently, it has been shown that bortezomib treatment enhances OB function. To evaluate the effect of bortezomib on myeloma bone lesions, we performed bone scans, where increased uptake of the radiopharmaceutical by OBs is associated with re-building activity. Bortezomib treatment markedly enhanced bone metabolic activity and increased alkaline phosphatase levels, and decreased monoclonal protein levels. These findings suggest that bortezomib has potent anti-myeloma activity and bone-protecting effects, with enhanced OB function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycythaemia vera is a well-known cause of symptomatic chorea, however, the pathophysiology of this correlation remains unclear. We report on a patient with generalized chorea-ballism associated with polycythaemia vera, and we present the findings of 99mTc-hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (HMPAO) SPECT done in both the choreic state and the non-choreic state. The SPECT during both the choreic and the non-choreic states did not reveal any definite perfusion changes in specific regions of the brain, as compared with 6 age-matched controls. In addition, the subtraction SPECT co-registered to MRI (SISCOM) analysis did not show any difference in cerebral blood flow during the choreic and non-choreic states. This result suggests that the basic mechanism of chorea associated with polycythaemia vera does not appear to be associated with a reduction in cerebral perfusion to a specific cerebral area, such as the basal ganglia or its thalamocortical connections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  Mucormycosis is an uncommon opportunistic fungal infection that may develop in immunocompromised patients with conditions such as diabetes mellitus, leukemia, lymphoma, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or after transplantation with immunosupperessive therapy. We report a case of gastric perforation caused by a mucormycosis infection in a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). The patient was treated successfully with gastrectomy and the aggressive use of intravenous amphotericin B. He is still alive 1 year after his operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a national survey of that status of plasma exchange in Korea in 2001–2002. Expansion of the clinical application of plasma exchange; Establishment of a nationwide registry for plasma exchange in the country; Categories of indications for plasma exchange.