The Korean journal of internal medicine
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Korean J. Intern. Med. · May 2015
High serum and urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels are independent predictors of renal progression in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy.
Tubulointerstitial injury plays an important role in the progression of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is among the most sensitive tubular biomarkers. We investigated whether serum or urine NGAL predicts prognosis in patients with IgAN. ⋯ In patients with IgAN, high serum and urine NGAL levels at the time of kidney biopsy predict renal progression.
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Korean J. Intern. Med. · Jan 2015
Utilization of the respiratory virus multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test for adult patients at a Korean tertiary care center.
Respiratory viruses (RVs) are considered to be important respiratory pathogens in adult patients, and the multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test is used frequently in adult patients with respiratory infections. However, clinical data regarding utilization of the multiplex RT-PCR test for RVs are lacking. ⋯ The multiplex RT-PCR test for RVs was infrequently performed at a tertiary care center, and the test results were often reported late. The test was most often performed for admitted adult patients with community-acquired infections during the flu season. The utilization of multiplex RT-PCR testing for RVs in current clinical practice should be improved.
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Korean J. Intern. Med. · Jan 2015
Multicenter StudyThe efficacy of low-dose transdermal fentanyl in opioid-naïve cancer patients with moderate-to-severe pain.
Little is known about the efficacy of low-dose transdermal fentanyl (TDF) patches in opioid-naïve patients with moderate-to-severe cancer pain. ⋯ Low-dose TDF was an effective treatment for patients with cancer pain of moderate-to-severe intensity. Further randomized trials assessing the efficacy of TDF for severe pain and/or optimal starting doses are warranted.