• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.945-953
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• 1996

Background : Many acute and chronic lung diseases including pneumoconiosis are characterized by the presence of increased numbers of activated macrophages. These macrophages generate several inflammatory cell chemoattractants, by which neutrophil migrate from vascular compartment to the alveolar space. Recruited neutrophils secrete toxic oxygen radicals or proteolytic enzymes and induce inflammatory response. Continuing inflammatory response results in alteration of the pulmonary structure and irreversible fibrosis. Recently, a polypeptide with specific neutrophil chemotactic activity, interleukin-8(IL-8), has been cloned and isolated from a number of cells including : monocytes, macrophages and fibroblasts. IL-1 and/or TNF-${\alpha}$ preceded for the synthesis of IL-8, and we already observed high level of IL-1 and TNF-${\alpha}$ in the pneumoconioses. So we hypothesized that IL-8 may be a central role in the pathogenesis of pneumoconiosis. In order to evaluate the clinical utility of IL-8 as a biomarker in the early diagnosis of pneumoconiosis, we investigated the increase of IL-8 in the pneumoconiotic patient and the correlation between IL-8 level and progression of pneumoconiosis. Method : We measured IL-8 in the serum of 48 patients with pneumoconiosis and 16 persons without dust exposure history as a control group. Pneumoconiotic cases were divided into 3 groups according to ILO Classification : suspicious group(n=16), small opacity group(n=16) and large opacity group(n=16). IL-8 was measured by a sandwich enzytne immunoassay technique. All data were expressed as the $mean{\pm}standard$ deviation. Results: 1) The mean value of age was higher in the small opacity and large opacity group than comparison group, but smoking history was even. Duration of dust exposure was not different among 3 pneumoconiosis groups. 2) IL-8 level was $70.50{\pm}53.63pg/m{\ell}$ in the suspicious group, $107.50{\pm}45.88pg/m{\ell}$ in the small opacity group, $132.50{\pm}73.47pg/m{\ell}$ in the large opacity group and $17.85{\pm}33.85pg/m{\ell}$ in the comparison group. IL-8 concentration in all pneumoconiosis group was significant higher than that in the comparison group(p<0.001). 3) IL-8 level tended to increase with the progression of pneumoconiosis. Multiple comparison test using Anova/Scheffe analysis showed a significant difference between suspicious group and large opacity group(p<0.05). 4) The level of IL-8 was correlated with the progression of pneumoconiosis(r=0.4199, p<0.05). Conclusion : IL-8 is thought to be a good biomarker for the early diagnosis of pneumoconiosis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.543-548
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• 2007

Purpose : The anthropometric data of newborns published by Lubchenco et al in the 1960's have been most commonly used in Korea as a standard of newborn growth. We hypothesized that Lubchenco's data have limitations for Korean premature infants born in the 2000's. We analyzed and compared the data of birth weight, length, and head circumference. Methods : The medical records of 1,159 premature infants of 26 to 35 weeks of gestational age born at Il-Sin Christian Hospital of Busan from January 2,000 to August 2,006 were reviewed. The anthropometric data from total 1,010 premature infants were analyzed after excluding the data from infants whose gestational age were estimated by other than ultrasonogram, and infants with major congenital anomalies or chromosomal anomaly, born from foreign parent, and extreme outliers. Results : In the birth weights by gestational age, our 90 percentile values were lower than Lubchenco's 90 percentile values for all gestational age studied, particularly for less than 30 weeks the 90 percentile curve was drawn at the area as that of Lubchenco' 75 percentile. And our 10 percentile values were higher than Lubchenco's 10 percentile values for all gestational age studied. In the birth length and head circumference by gestational age, our 90 percentile values were lower than Lubchenco's 90 percentile values for all gestational age studied, and the 90 percentile curve was drawn at the area as that of Lubchenco's 75 percentile. And our 10 percentile values were higher than Lubchenco's 10 percentile values for all gestational age studied. Conclusion : It is unreasonable to apply Lubchenco's data published before 4th decades to present Korean premature infants and have a risk to underestimate intrauterine growth retardation or small for gestational age and large for gestational age. Considering for the possibility of increasing the mortality and morbidity of premature infants due to delayed diagnosis and treatment by these underestimating, our anthropometric data of premature infant is expected to contribute to lower the mortality and morbidity of premature infants.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.12 s.257
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• pp.844-848
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• 2005

Background: Thoracic outlet syndrome(TOS) is caused by the compression of neurovascular structures that supply to the upper extremities. Only a few reports have been published in Korea, and this study attempts to investigate the clinical aspects and results of the patients who underwent surgical treatment. Material and Method: This study consist of 16 patients who underwent operations for thoracic outlet syndrome from May, 2002 to October, 2004. The surgical indications were confined to patients with: 1) symptom too severe to perform ordinary daily life because of pain, paresthesia, edema of upper extremities, 2) no improvement after proper physical therapy, 3) definite finding of compression confined by radiologic examinations (MRI, angiography, etc), and 4) no other diseases such as cervical intervertebral herniation, myositis, neurologic diseases below the brachial plexus. The surgical approaches were by transaxillary approaches in 12 cases, supraclavicular approaches in 2 cases, and infraciavicular approaches in 2 cases. Result: There were 15 males and one female with an average age of 23.9 years (range:19$\∼$39). Rib anomalies were observed in four cases (25.0$\%$), but the others had no abnormal ribs. Right lesions were found in eight cases (50.0$\%$), left lesions in five cases (31.3$\%$), and bilateral lesions in three cases (18.7$\%$). The follow-up period was 9$\∼$26 months and recurrence rate was 12.5$\%$ (2/16). Complications were one case of ulnar nerve palsy, one case of persistent pain despite radiologic improvement and three cases of wound dehiscence due to fat necrosis and hematoma. Conclusion: Although the choice of treatment in patients with TOS has been disputed, patients who have no response with proper physical therapies can benefit from the surgical treatment which may help patients to return to normal daily activity in shorter period of time.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.1
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• pp.57-70
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• 1993

This study was carried out to investigate agreement, content and demand for home nursing care of hospital inpatients in brain, spain and musculoskeletal diseases .The data was collected by interviewing with 242 patients who were hospitalized in university hospital on Taegu, from September 6,60 October 9, 1993. Of 242 patients, 66.1% agreed to home nusing care system and rate of agreement was highest between 30 years to 49 years of age as 75.5%, in middle urban area residents as 75.9% and was lowest in medicaid as 40.0% in general chareacteristics. The rate of agreement according to type of diagnosis was highest inpatients with spinal diseases as 75.6% according to functional status was the highest in patients who had daily living activity freely as 69.4% according to prognosis in patients at terminal stage as 80.0% and the rate of agreement to home nursing care of patients who wanted early discharege was 73.9%. The first-ranking reasom of agreement to home nursing care was asking for continuous relationship with doctor as 37.3% and there was statistically significant difference in reasons of agreement to home nursing care according to functional status of patients. The first-ranking reason of eary discharge among patients who wanted early discharge(74.8%) was because of long time stay in hospital. Among 23 items of nursing activity that patient wanted, the first-ranking item was recovery promotion, prevention of complication, education and counseling for health as 76.4%, drug management was 2nd-ranking item as 62.1% and the third was regular checking of vital signs as 55.9%. The lowest item of demand for home unring care was hospice care(3.9%) and airway keep(9.1%).

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.201-210
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• 2001

Background : Approximately 10-13% of patients with interstitial lung disease(ILD) die of lung cancer, and patients with ILD have been reported to have a 7 fold higher incidence of lung cancer compared to the normal population. Recently, overexpression of the p53 and p21 proteins were observed in the epithelial cells from pathologic specimens of ILD. Overexpression of these proteins may result from chronic or recurrent DNA damage by unknown causes of inflammation. However, these proteins may also contribute to oncogenesis if other genetic alterations such as K-ras are superimposed. Methods : Immunohistochemical stains for p53 and K-ras proteins were performed with pathologic specimens from 38 cases with ILD(M/F : 27/11, mean agea : $54{\pm}10$ years) and from 10 control subjects. Results : The p53 protein was expressed in 21.1% (8/38 ILD cases) and K-ras protein expression was observed in 65.8% (25/38 ILD cases). However, neither p53 nor the K-ras protein staining was observed in the control subjects. Conclusion : A significant proportion of cases with ILD expressed the p53 and K-ras proteins in their bronchial epithelial cells. These proteins may be potentially oncogenic with the addition of further genetic alterations. However, to clarify the significance of these findings, further studies looking for correlations with the incidence of lung cancer and other genetic changes are needed.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2009

Purpose: To investigate the physical and biochemical parameters related with elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in obese children. Methods: One hundred forty-two obese or overweight children who visited the out-patient clinics of Chungnam National University Hospital between January 2006 and August 2008 were enrolled. Physical measures and biochemical tests were performed in all patients. Liver sonography was performed in 43 patients. They were divided into the following 2 groups based on ALT levels: group I, normal ALT levels (n=65); and group II, elevated ALT levels (n=77). We compared the physical measures, biochemical results, and ultrasonographic findings of the livers in both groups. Other causes of elevated serum ALT levels were ruled out. Results: The male-to-female ratios were 1.6:1 in group I and 7.6:1 in group II. Among physical parameters, the waist circumference-to-height ratio and hip circumference-to-height ratio were significantly higher in group II (p=0.001 and 0.046, respectively). Among biochemical parameters, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ${\gamma}$-glutamyltransferase (${\gamma}$-GT), and total cholesterol levels were significantly higher in group II (p<0.001, 0.001, and 0.001, respectively). The AST/ALT ratio was <1 (mean, 0.55) and statistically lower in group II. There was a positive correlation between the serum ALT level and ${\gamma}$-GT (p<0.001, r=0.750), and a positive correlation between the serum ALT level and the waist circumference-to-height ratio in group II (p<0.001, r=0.401). Conclusion: The results suggest that the waist circumference-to-height ratio and ${\gamma}$-GT may be associated with elevated alanine aminotransferase activity in obese children.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.741-747
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• 2003

Background: Coronary artery bypass graf t (CABG) has been settled as most safe surgery among the open heart surgeries. However, in patients with cardiogenic shock, the emergency CABG has higher mortality than elective CABG. We analyzed thirty four patients who underwent emergency CABG and report the middle and long-term results. Material and Method: From June 1994 to December 2001, 34 patients who underwent emergency CABG at Kang-dong Sacred Heart Hospital were include in this study. On the basis of hospital databases and Out Patient Department (OPD) follow up data, preoperative diagnosis, risk factor, coronary artery anatomy, operation technique, postoperative mortality, complication, recurrence of symptom, and mid and long term mortality were analyzed retrospectively. Result: Indications for emergency CABG were 29 cardiogenic shocks (85.3%), 4 intractable chest pains (11.8%), and 1 polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (2.9%). Preoperative angiographic diagnoses were triple vessel disease in 16 (47.1%) and left main disease in 8 (23.5%) patients. We used saphenous vein grafts in 81 and left internal thoracic artery grafts in 14 anastomosis. The mean number of grafts per patients was 2.8$\pm$0.8. The mean aortic cross clamp time was 91.9$\pm$34.6 minutes and the mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 262.7$\pm$198.3 minutes. Early mortality was 50% and the most common cause of early mortality was low cardiac output in 7 (20.6%) patients. The mean follow-up period was 30.9$\pm$35.7 months. There were no recurrences of symptom and late mortality. Conclusion: In the case of emergency operation, aggressive and proper management with drugs and IABP should be done for preoperative hemodynamic stability and early surgical intervention is the most important factor for patient salvage.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.162-166
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study were to evaluate the results of arthroscopic PCL reconstruction and posterolateral structure reconstruction. Materials and Methods: We performed 10 cases of arthrocopic PCL and posterolateral structure reconstruction using allo-achilles tendon. The average follow-up period was 25 months. We performed KT-2000 testing and posterior drawer test for posterior instability and tibial external rotation test for posterolateral rotatory instability, and measure Tegner and Lysholm score preoperatively and compared these with the results of a final evaluation in each cases. Results: The Preoperative average KT-2000 tests was 7.1 mm, posterior drawer test was Grade III and tibial external rotation test was positive at both 30 and 90 degrees of knee flexion in all cases. Preoperative average Lysholm score was 65.9 and Tegner score was 3.1. At the final evaluation, an average KT-2000 test was 2.2 mm, posteior drawer test, Grade 0 was 2 cases, Grade 1.4 cases, Grade II, 3 cases, Grade III, 1 cases. The tibial external rotation test at both 30 and 90 degrees of knee flexion was positive in 1 cases and positive at only 90 degrees in 2 cases. Lysholm score was 87.6 and Tegner score was 5.7. The objective and subjective score of final evaluation is increased in compare with preoperative one. Conclusion: Arthrocopic PCL and posterolateral structure reconstruction using allo-achilles tendon is one of the good surgical treatment method in patients having posterior and posterolateral rotatory instability.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.22-26
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• 2001

Purpose : To confirm the efficacy of arthroscopic synovectomy fur the pigmented villonodular synovitis in the knee. Materials and Methods : Between October 1996 and February 2000, the arthroscopic synovectomy had been performed in six patients(six knee joints), whose diagnoses were confirmed by pathologist. All patients complained of painful swelling in involved knee and four of the six patients had trauma history. There were three male and three female patients. Average age was 35.8 years ranging from 16 to 67 years. Follow up period was average 22.7 months(range, $13\~53$ months). Results : According to arthroscopic findings, there were three localized forms and three diffuse forms. At their last follow-up examinations, all patients had improvement in pain, swelling and range of motion and there was no evidence of recurrence. Conclusion : Complete arthroscopic excision is the definitive treatment for localized pigmented villonodular synovitis and meticulous arthroscopic excision through all portals including posterior portal can be considered as a valid alternative to traditional open synovectomy for the patients with diffuse pigmented villonodular synovitis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.659-664
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• 2006

Purpose : To evaluate the morbidity and mortality of children with status epilepticus(SE) as an initial seizure and to compare these according to age groups. Methods : The 78 cases(38 cases <2 years and 38 cases ${\geq}2$ years) with SE as an initial seizure admitted to the Chonnam national university hospital from Jan. 2000 to Jan. 2004 were reviewed. Developmental profiles, laboratory findings, etiologies and seizure types of SE and outcomes were compared in between two age groups, under and over 2 years. Results : SE occurred predominantly in less than 5 years old. Febrile causes were the most common, which is significantly more in those under 2 years than over 2 years(P<0.05). whereas idiopathic and acute symptomatic causes were more common in those over 2 years(P<0.05). Generalized tonic-clonic seizures was the most common type. The mortality rate was 6.4 percent(5 cases : 1 case <2 years and 4 cases ${\geq}2$ years). The estimated occurrence of epilepsy after SE was 24.4 percent(19 cases : 8 cases <2 years and 11 cases ${\geq}2$ years). The neurologic sequelae after SE in cases that had developed normally before SE(62 cases : 32 cases <2 years and 30 cases ${\geq}2$ years) were observed in 20 cases(32.3 percent), and were more frequent over 2 years(21.9 percent vs. 43.3 percent, P<0.05). Conclusion : In this study death was less common and the neurologic sequelaes of SE as an initial seizure were less severe in children under 2 years of age. The reason seemed to be the difference in the etiology of SE with age.