Cytoplasmic Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody Positive Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage Associated with Methimazole

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a life-threatening condition associated with many disorders. Here, we report a case of 59-year-old female who had diffuse alveolar hemorrhage associated with methimazole. She had been treated with methimazole for two weeks due to the recurrence of Grave's disease, before visiting the emergency room. She had to be intubated on the 3rd day of hospitalization because of unabated massive hemoptysis and rapid progression of diffuse alveolar infiltration on chest radiographs. Since her clinical condition improved substantially after cessation of methimazole and steroid pulse therapy, she was extubated on the 9th day of hospitalization and then discharged. After discharge, DAH did not recur with cessation of steroid and she had radioactive iodine therapy for her Grave's disease. This was a rare and interesting case of life-threatening DAH associated with cytoplasmic-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody and methimazole.

Short-term Evaluation of a Comprehensive Education Program Including Inhaler Training and Disease Management on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Proper education regarding inhaler usage and optimal management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is essential for effectively treating patients with COPD. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a comprehensive education program including inhaler training and COPD management. METHODS: We enlisted 127 patients with COPD on an outpatient basis at 43 private clinics in Korea. The patients were educated on inhaler usage and disease management for three visits across 2 weeks. Physicians and patients were administered a COPD assessment test (CAT) and questionnaires about the correct usage of inhalers and management of COPD before commencement of this program and after their third visit. RESULTS: The outcomes of 127 COPD patients were analyzed. CAT scores (19.6±12.5 vs. 15.1±12.3) improved significantly after this program (p<0.05). Patients with improved CAT scores of 4 points or more had a better understanding of COPD management and the correct technique for using inhalers than those who did not have improved CAT scores (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: A comprehensive education program including inhaler training and COPD management at a primary care setting improved CAT scores and led to patients' better understanding of COPD management.

Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism in Medical Intensive Care Unit: A Multicenter Observational Study in Korea

Patients admitted to medical intensive care unit (MICU) are at increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE); and prophylaxis is recommended. However, the actual range and frequency of VTE prophylaxis administered to MICU patients are not well defined. Patients over 40 yr of age and expected MICU stay of more than 48 hr were eligible for this observational cohort study of 23 MICUs in Korea. Patients already on anticoagulation therapy or those requiring anticoagulation for reasons other than VTE were excluded. Among 830 patients, VTE prophylaxis was given to 560 (67.5%) patients. Among 560 patients, 323 (38.9%) received pharmacoprophylaxis, 318 (38.4%) received mechanical prophylaxis and 81 (9.8%) received both forms of prophylaxis. About 74% of patients in the pharmacoprophylaxis group received low molecular weight heparin and 53% of the patients in the mechanical prophylaxis group used intermittent pneumatic compression. Most of the patients (90%) had more than one risk factor for VTE and the most common risk factor was old age, followed by heart and respiratory failure. In this observational cohort study of 23 MICUs in Korea, 67.5% of patients received thromboprophylaxis. Further studies are needed to clarify the role and efficacy of VTE prophylaxis in Korean critically ill patients.

The Significance of Sedation Control in Patients Receiving Mechanical Ventilation / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Adequate assessment and control of sedation play crucial roles in the proper performance of mechanical ventilation. METHODS: A total of 30 patients with various pulmonary diseases were prospectively enrolled. The study population was randomized into two groups. The sedation assessment group (SAG) received active protocol-based control of sedation, and in the empiric control group (ECG), the sedation levels were empirically adjusted. Subsequently, daily interruption of sedation (DIS) was conducted in the SAG. RESULTS: In the SAG, the dose of midazolam was significantly reduced by control of sedation (day 1, 1.3+/-0.5 microg/kg/min; day 2, 0.9+/-0.4 microg/kg/min; p<0.01), and was significantly lower than the ECG on day 2 (p<0.01). Likewise, on day 2, sedation levels were significantly lower in the SAG than in the ECG. Significant relationship was found between Ramsay sedation scale and Richmond agitation-sedation scale (RASS; rs=-0.57), Ramsay Sedation Scale and Bispectral Index (BIS; rs=0.77), and RASS and BIS (rs=-0.79). In 10 patients, who didn't require re-sedation after DIS, BIS showed the earliest and most significant changes among the sedation scales. Ventilatory parameters showed significant but less prominent changes, and hemodynamic parameters didn't show significant changes. No seriously adverse events ensued after the implementation of DIS. CONCLUSION: Active assessment and control of sedation significantly reduced the dosage of sedatives in patients receiving mechanical ventilation. DIS, conducted in limited cases, suggested its potential efficacy and tolerability.

Retraction: Signal Transduction System of Experimentally Induced Cholesteatoma in the Mongolian Gerbil / 대한이비인후과학회지

No abstract available.

Retraction: Expression of PLC-1 in Human Middle Ear Cholesteatoma / 대한이비인후과학회지

No abstract available.

Evaluation of Respiratory Parameters in Patients with Acute Lung Injury Receiving Adaptive Support Ventilation / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Adaptive support ventilation (ASV), an automated closed-loop ventilation mode, adapts to the mechanical characteristics of the respiratory system by continuous measurement and adjustment of the respiratory parameters. The adequacy of ASV was evaluated in the patients with acute lung injury (ALI). METHODS: A total of 36 patients (19 normal lungs and 17 ALIs) were enrolled. The patients' breathing patterns and respiratory mechanics parameters were recorded under the passive ventilation using the ASV mode. RESULTS: The ALI patients showed lower tidal volumes and higher respiratory rates (RR) compared to patients with normal lungs (7.1+/-0.9 mL/kg vs. 8.6+/-1.3 mL/kg IBW; 19.7+/-4.8 b/min vs. 14.6+/-4.6 b/min; p<0.05, respectively). The expiratory time constant (RCe) was lower in ALI patients than in those with normal lungs, and the expiratory time/RCe was maintained above 3 in both groups. In all patients, RR was correlated with RCe and peak inspiratory flow (rs=-0.40; rs=0.43; p<0.05, respectively). In ALI patients, significant correlations were found between RR and RCe (rs=-0.76, p<0.01), peak inspiratory flow and RR (rs=-0.53, p<0.05), and RCe and peak inspiratory flow (rs=-0.53, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: ASV was found to operate adequately according to the respiratory mechanical characteristics in the ALI patients. Discrepancies with the ARDS Network recommendations, such as a somewhat higher tidal volume, have yet to be addressed in further studies.

Evaluation of Respiratory Parameters in Patients with Acute Lung Injury Receiving Adaptive Support Ventilation / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Adaptive support ventilation (ASV), an automated closed-loop ventilation mode, adapts to the mechanical characteristics of the respiratory system by continuous measurement and adjustment of the respiratory parameters. The adequacy of ASV was evaluated in the patients with acute lung injury (ALI). METHODS: A total of 36 patients (19 normal lungs and 17 ALIs) were enrolled. The patients' breathing patterns and respiratory mechanics parameters were recorded under the passive ventilation using the ASV mode. RESULTS: The ALI patients showed lower tidal volumes and higher respiratory rates (RR) compared to patients with normal lungs (7.1+/-0.9 mL/kg vs. 8.6+/-1.3 mL/kg IBW; 19.7+/-4.8 b/min vs. 14.6+/-4.6 b/min; p<0.05, respectively). The expiratory time constant (RCe) was lower in ALI patients than in those with normal lungs, and the expiratory time/RCe was maintained above 3 in both groups. In all patients, RR was correlated with RCe and peak inspiratory flow (rs=-0.40; rs=0.43; p<0.05, respectively). In ALI patients, significant correlations were found between RR and RCe (rs=-0.76, p<0.01), peak inspiratory flow and RR (rs=-0.53, p<0.05), and RCe and peak inspiratory flow (rs=-0.53, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: ASV was found to operate adequately according to the respiratory mechanical characteristics in the ALI patients. Discrepancies with the ARDS Network recommendations, such as a somewhat higher tidal volume, have yet to be addressed in further studies.

Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 Dependent Overexpression of Sulfiredoxin and Peroxiredoxin III in Human Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Oxidative stress results in protein oxidation and is implicated in carcinogenesis. Sulfiredoxin (Srx) is responsible for the enzymatic reversal of inactivated peroxiredoxin (Prx). Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) binds to antioxidant responsive elements and upregulates the expression of Srx and Prx during oxidative stress. We aimed to elucidate the biological functions and potential roles of Srx in lung cancer. METHODS: To study the roles of Srx and Prx III in lung cancer, we compared the protein levels of Nrf2, Prxs, thioredoxin, and Srx in 40 surgically resected human lung cancer tissues using immunoblot and immunohistochemical analyses. Transforming growth factor-beta1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and camptothecin treatment were used to examine Prx III inactivation in Mv1Lu mink lung epithelial cells and A549 lung cancer cells. RESULTS: Prx I and Prx III proteins were markedly overexpressed in lung cancer tissues. A significant increase in the oxidized form of a cysteine sulfhydryl at the catalytic site of Prxs was found in carcinogenic lung tissue compared to normal lung tissue. Densitometric analyses of immunoblot data revealed significant Srx expression, which was higher in squamous cell carcinoma tissue (60%, 12/20) than in adenocarcinoma (20%, 4/20). Also, Nrf2 was present in the nuclear compartment of cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: Srx and Prx III proteins were markedly overexpressed in human squamous cell carcinoma, suggesting that these proteins may play a protective role against oxidative injury and compensate for the high rate of mitochondrial metabolism in lung cancer.

Emphysema as a Risk Factor for the Outcome of Surgical Resection of Lung Cancer

It is unclear whether emphysema, regardless of airflow limitation, is a predictive factor associated with survival after lung cancer resection. Therefore, we investigated whether emphysema was a risk factor associated with the outcome after resection for lung cancer. This study enrolled 237 patients with non small cell lung cancer with stage I or II who had surgical removal. Patient outcome was analyzed based on emphysema. Emphysema was found in 43.4% of all patients. Patients with emphysema were predominantly men and smokers, and had a lower body mass index than the patients without emphysema. The patients without emphysema (n=133) survived longer (mean 51.2+/-3.0 vs. 40.6+/-3.1 months, P=0.042) than those with emphysema (n=104). The univariate analysis showed a younger age, higher FEV1/FVC, higher body mass index, cancer stage I, and a lower emphysema score were significant predictors of better survival. The multivariate analysis revealed a younger age, higher body mass index, and cancer stage I were independent parameters associated with better survival, however, emphysema was not. This study suggests that unfavorable outcomes after surgical resection of lung cancer should not be attributed to emphysema itself.

Selectively Decreased Expression of Peroxiredoxins Induced by Silica in Pulmonary Epithelial Cells

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Peroxiredoxin (Prx) belongs to a ubiquitous family of antioxidant enzymes that regulates many cellular processes through intracellular oxidative signal transduction pathways. Silica-induced lung damage involves reactive oxygen species (ROS) that trigger subsequent toxic effects and inflammatory responses in alveolar epithelial cells resulting in fibrosis. Therefore, we investigated the role of Prx in the development of lung oxidant injury caused by silicosis, and determined the implication of ROS in that process. METHODS: Lung epithelial cell lines A549 and WI26 were treated with 1% silica for 0, 24, or 48 hours, following pretreatment of the A549 cells with N-acetyl-L-cysteine and diphenylene iodonium and no pretreatment of the WI26 cells. We transfected an HA-ubiquitin construct into the A549 cell line and then analyzed the cells via Western blotting and co-immunoprecipitation. RESULTS: Silica treatment induced cell death in the A549 lung epithelial cell line and selectively degraded Prx I without impairing protein synthesis in the A549 cells, even when the ROS effect was blocked chemically by N-acetyl-L-cysteine. A co-immunoprecipitation study revealed that Prx I did not undergo ubiquitination. CONCLUSIONS: Silica treatment induces a decrease of Prx I expression in lung epithelial cell lines regardless of the presence of ROS. The silica-induced degradation of Prx does not involve the ubiquitin-proteasomal pathway.

What kind of medical equations and decision trees do physicians want in their daily activities? : Analysis of one-year MedCalc 3000(R) log data / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVE: Medical personnel require many evidence-based medical equations and decision trees for their daily medical practice, medical education and research. Among the hundreds of medical equations, the essential or frequently used equations are not revealed yet. We tried to reveal the most frequently used medical equations and decision trees. METHODS: A Korean version of medical equation tool was implemented on the Intranet, which provides 288 medical equations and decision trees. One year after implementation of the system, the log file was analyzed for the use status. RESULTS: Of the 288 equations and decision trees, 170 items were visited more than once. The creatinine estimation equation was most frequently used (545 times, 18.7%). Body mass index, Apache II score, diabetes screening decision tree, and unit conversion were followed. CONCLUSIONS: We found the frequently used medical equations and decision trees in practice by analyzing the server log file. The list would be a reference for incorporation of selected equations into a computerized prescriber-order entry system.

Correlation of Nitric Oxide and Corticosteroids Along the Course of Sepsis / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: The nitric oxide (NO) released by inducible NO synthase (iNOS) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of sepsis. Corticosteroids also play a role in the hemodynamic and inflammatory reactions in sepsis. Both have been shown to have a relationship theoretically, but their correlation and clinical impacts have rarely been evaluated. METHODS: 26 patients with sepsis and 14 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The initial random plasma total NO and the serum cortisol levels were measured. The same measurements were serially carried out on the 3rd, 5th, and 7th days. RESULTS: The initial total plasma levels of NO and cortisol were higher in the patients with sepsis than in the healthy controls. The total NO levels were higher in patients with severe sepsis than in the those with mild sepsis. There was a correlation between the total NO and cortisol level throughout the study. CONCLUSION: In patients with sepsis, the levels of plasma NO and cortisol were well correlated during the first week of sepsis, which suggests an interrelationship. However, the clinical and pathogenetic implications await further evaluation.

Significance of Corticosteroids and Their Relationship with Other Parameters in Patients with Sepsis / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Corticosteroids are known to be significant prognostic parameters in sepsis. Recently, an absolute and relative insufficiency of the corticosteroids system has often been reported to often develop particularly in severe sepsis. Degree of such an adrenal insufficiency not only has prognostic implications but also can be used to guide corticosteroids replacement therapy. The 24-hour urinary cortisol levels as well as serum cortisol concentrations were measured to assess the clinical significance and their relationship with the other parameters of sepsis, and also evaluated the clinical implications of the relative adrenal insufficiency. METHODS: 26 consecutive patients with sepsis were enrolled. The basal random serum cortisol, ACTH, ADH, lactate levels and 24-hour urinary free cortisol amount were measured. The rapid ACTH (250 microgram) stimulation test was also performed. RESULTS: Basal serum cortisol levels were higher in the non-survivors than in the survivors. The 24-hour urinary free cortisol levels were higher in the patients with severe sepsis than in those without. The serum cortisol levels strongly correlated with the serum ADH and lactate levels. The 24-hour urinary free cortisol levels strongly correlated with the serum cortisol and lactate levels. The fractional changes in the cortisol levels after the rapid ACTH stimulation tests correlated with the serum cortisol, ADH, and lactate levels. CONCLUSION: Both the serum cortisol and 24-hour urinary cortisol were found to be significant prognostic factors in sepsis, and showed a strong correlation with the other parameters. The relative adrenal insufficiency might also be an important clinical parameter.

Development of a Medical Ontology Library: Analysis of the Clinical Terms in the Medical Records of a COPD Patient / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVE: The medical records of a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) were analyzed to extract medical concepts and their relationships in order to construct a basic medical ontology. METHODS: The medical records included the admission note, vital signs record, doctors' order sheets, progress notes, emergency notes, discharge summary, surgical record, and anesthesia record. RESULTS: A total of 396 concepts, 16 relationships, and 460 connections were created. Fourteen top-level concepts, such as body, sign, and procedure, were found. The most common relationship was 'isA' and the second was 'isPartOf'. All the relationships between the concepts were displayed using the graphic tool GraphViz. CONCLUSION: A pilot ontology on COPD was constructed through a medical record analysis. The asynchronous cooperation using a web interface for the ontology construction was helpful.

Infective Endocarditis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae / 감염과화학요법

Streptococcus pneumoniae has been a rare cause of endocarditis in the postantibiotic era. The incidence of pneumococcal endocarditis now accounts for less than 3% of all cases and most often occur in patients with risk factors, especially alcoholism. We report the case of a 68-year-old male with acute infective endocarditis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. We stressed the low frequency of this agent as a cause of endocarditis and the atypical evolution of this case.

Infective Endocarditis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae / 감염과화학요법

Streptococcus pneumoniae has been a rare cause of endocarditis in the postantibiotic era. The incidence of pneumococcal endocarditis now accounts for less than 3% of all cases and most often occur in patients with risk factors, especially alcoholism. We report the case of a 68-year-old male with acute infective endocarditis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. We stressed the low frequency of this agent as a cause of endocarditis and the atypical evolution of this case.

Oxidative Inactivation of Peroxiredoxin Isoforms by H2O2 in Pulmonary Epithelial, Macrophage, and other Cell Lines with their Subsequent Regeneration / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are a relatively newly recognized, novel family of peroxidases that reduce H2O2 and alkylhydroperoxide into water and alcohol, respectively. There are 6 known isoforms of Prxs present in human cells. Normally, Prxs exist in a head-to-tail homodimeric state in a reduced form. However, in the presence of excess H2O2, it can be oxidized on its catalytically active cysteine site into inactive oxidized forms. This study surveyed the types of the Prx isoforms present in the pulmonary epithelial, macrophage, endothelial, and other cell lines and observed their response to oxidative stress. METHODS: This study examined the effect of exogenous, excess H2O2 on the Prxs of established cell lines originating from the pulmonary epithelium, macrophages, and other cell lines, which are known to be exposed to high oxygen partial pressures or are believed to be subject to frequent oxidative stress, using non-reducing SDS polyacrylamide electrophoresis (PAGE) and 2 dimensional electrophoresis. RESULT: The addition of excess H2O2 to the culture media of the various cell-lines caused the immediate inactivation of Prxs, as evidenced by their inability to form dimers by a disulfide cross linkage. This was detected as a subsequent shift to its monomeric forms on the non-reducing SDS PAGE. These findings were further confirmed by 2 dimensional electrophoresis and immunoblot analysis by a shift toward a more acidic isoelectric point (pI). However, the subsequent reappearance of the dimeric Prxs with a comparable, corresponding decrease in the monomeric bands was noted on the non-reducing SDS PAGE as early as 30 minutes after the H2O2 treatment suggesting regeneration after oxidation. The regenerated dimers can again be converted to the inactivated form by a repeated H2O2 treatment, indicating that the protein is still catalytically active. The recovery of Prxs to the original dimeric state was not inhibited by a pre-treatment with cycloheximide, nor by a pretreatment with inhibitors of protein synthesis, which suggests that the reappearance of dimers occurs via a regeneration process rather than via the de novo synthesis of the active protein. CONCLUSION: The cells, in general, appeared to be equipped with an established system for regenerating inactivated Prxs, and this system may function as a molecular "on-off switch" in various oxidative signal transduction processes. The same mechanisms might applicable other proteins associated with signal transduction where the active catalytic site cysteines exist.

Expression of Peroxiredoxin and Thioredoxin in Human Lung Cancer and Paired Normal Lung / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Continuous growth stimulation by various factors, as well as chronic oxidative stress, may co-exist in many solid tumors, such as lung cancer. A new family of antioxidant proteins, the peroxiredoxins (Prxs), have been implicated in the regulation of many cellular processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. However, a real pathophysiological significance of Prx proteins, especially in lung disease, has not been sufficiently defined. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the distribution and expression of various Prx isoforms in lung cancer and other pulmonary conditions. METHOD: Patients diagnosed with lung cancer, and who underwent surgery at the Ajou Medical Center, were enrolled. The expressions of Prxs, Thioredoxin (Trx) and Thioredoxin reductase (TR) were analyzed using proteomic techniques and the subcellular localization of Prx proteins was studied using immunohistochemistry on normal mouse lung tissue. RESULT: Immunohistochemical staining has shown the isoforms of Prx I, II, III and V are predominantly expressed in bronchial and alveolar lining epithelia, as well as in the alveolar macrophages of the normal mouse lung. The isoforms of Prx I and III, and thioredoxin were also found to be over-expressed in the lung cancer tissues compared to their paired normal lung controls. There was also an increased amount of the oxidized form of Prx I, as well as a putative truncated form of Prx III, in the lung cancer samples when analyzed using 2-dimensional electrophoresis. In addition, a 43 kDa intermediate molecular weight protein band, and other high molecular weight bands of over 20 kDa, recognized by the anti-Prx I antibody, were present in the tissue extracts of lung cancer patients on 1-Dimensional electrophoresis, which require further investigation. CONCLUSION: The over-expressions of Prx I and III, and Trx in human lung cancer tissue, as well as their possible chaperoning function, may represent an attempt by tumor cells to adjust to their microenvironment in a manner advantageous to their survival and proliferation, while maintaining their malignant potential.

Central Venous Catheter Colonization and Bloodstream Infection: Influence of Catheter Insertion Site and Duration / 감염과화학요법

BACKGROUND: Although central venous catheters have become lifelines for the critically ill patients, these devices represent a major source of nosocomial bloodstream infections. We performed a study to investigate the rates of catheter colonization and bloodstream infection associated with the site of placement and indwelling time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied prospectively the rate of central venous catheter related infections and colonization from May to August 2002. At the time of central venous catheter removal, two sets of peripheral blood cultures were obtained and catheter tip culture was performed using roll-plate semiquantitative method and broth culture. RESULTS: The rates of catheter colonization and bloodstream infection were 10.1%, 8.9%, respectively. Based on catheter indwelling time, catheter colonization and bloodstream infection occurred in 10.6 and 5.0 cases per 1000 catheter day, respectively. The leading organisms causing catheter related bloodstream infection were Candida species (44%) and S. aureus (33.3%). Catheter colonization and bloodstream infection all began 7days after central venous catheter insertion and mean time were 20.5+/-9.8, 19.8+/-9.9 days respectively. CONCLUSION: The rate of central venous catheter colonization and bloodstream infection is high and it begins 7 days after central venous catheter insertion and mean time is about 20 days. There were no differences among sites of catheter placement.