• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.115-118
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• 2013

An 8-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat was presented with a chief complaint of chronic nasal discharge and dyspnea. Physical examination revealed pyohemorrhagic nasal discharge, inspiratory dyspnea and stertor, and an enlarged right mandibular lymph node. Abnormalities of blood works and serum chemistry included mildly increased hematocrit, and globulin concentration. Serologic tests for FeLV and FIV, and a panel of polymerase chain reaction tests for Chlamydophila felis, Feline Calicivirus, Herpesvirus, Bordetella, Mycoplasma felis, and H1N1 influenza was all negative. Only radiographic finding showed increasing soft tissue density in the right nasal cavity and computed tomography disclosed soft tissue/fluid opacification in the right nasal cavity, paranasal sinus, and pharyinx along with slight deviation to the right of the osseous nasal septum. Focal lysis of ventral nasal septum was also suspected in CT scan. Cytological evaluation of fine needle aspirate smears of the enlarged mandibular lymph nodes revealed numerous fungal yeasts having variably thick capsule both extracellularly and intracellularly with low numbers of macrophages. Some yeasts showed narrow based budding, which was a consistent finding with Cryptococcus organisms. Serum protein electrophoresis was a polyclonal consistent with chronic infection and serum was submitted for a fungal serology panel test. In serologic tests Cryptococcus antigen titer was 1 : 32,768. In vitro culture was unsuccessful. Treatment was initiated with administration of fluconazole, clindamycin, and tocopherol. Clinical signs resolved within 3 days after the initial treatment. The cat was discharged and scheduled for periodic evaluation and continued therapy, but was lost to follow-up thereafter.

• Exercise Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.373-384
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• 2012

The effects of inspiratory muscle training in conjunction with aerobic exercise on inspiratory muscle strength, pulmonary function, and maximal oxygen uptake(VO₂max) were examined. Twenty four healthy collegiate men were divided into three groups; respiratory muscle training group(RTG; n=8), running exercise group(REG; n=8), and both respiratory muscle training and running group(BTG; n=8). Their pulmonary function, maximal inspiratory pressures(PImax), and VO₂max were assessed before and after intervention. RTG underwent inspiratory muscle training(IMT) with load set to 50 % of PImax, 30 times per session, twice a day, 4 days a week REG ran on a treadmill at 70-75 % of VO₂max for 30 min a day, 4 days a week. BTG participated both IMT and the running exercise. Participant's anthropometric parameters and pulmonary function were not changed. VO₂max increased by 6.1±3.3 %, 5.9±6.6 %, and 10.0±8.3 % in RTG, REG, and BTG, respectively(p< .05), and PImax also increased by 21.7±14.3 %, 19.7±12.0 %, and 27.0±12.1 % in RTG, REG, and BTG, respectively, but no group differences were found. Based on the study, although statistically insignificant, BTG showed the biggest increase of VO₂max and PImax indicating a possible synergic effect of inspiratory muscle training and aerobic exercise on respiratory responses.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify clinical characteristics of oncologic patients at a point when they signed their do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders. Methods: From January through December 2014, we retrospectively analyzed the records of 197 patients who passed away after agreeing to a DNR order in the hemato-oncology department of a tertiary hospital. Results: Of all, 121 patients (61.4%) were male and 76 (38.6%) were female, and their average age was 58.7 years. Ninety-four patients (47.7%) had gastrointestinal cancer. The ECOG performance status at admission was grade 3 in 76 patients (36.5%) and grade 4 in 11 (5.6%). The patients' mean hospital stay was 20 days. The mean duration from the admission to DNR decision was 13 days, and the mean duration from DNR decision to death was seven days. Conclusion: Study results indicate that a decision on signing or refusing a DNR order was made by medical staff mostly based on the opinions of patients' guardians rather than the patients themselves. This suggests that patients' own wishes are not well respected. Thus, it is urgent to establish institutional devices to enhance cancer patients' autonomy regarding DNR and to define an adequate timing for withdrawal of treatments.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.214-219
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• 1997

The influence of manure, chemical fertilizers, heavy metals and cleaner on the rate of degradation of alachlor in soil was studied. The degradation rate of alachlor in the soil followed first-order reaction kinetics. The half-life was 6.4 days. The degradation was accelerated by the amendment of manure. Adding chemical fertilizers to the soil enhanced alachlor degradation more in the presence of nitrogen than potassium. On the other hand, adding heavy metals or cleaner to the soil decreased the degradation rate. The half-life of alachlor in soil treated with Cd, Cr, Ni, Zn and Cu was 11.0, 8.3, 7.9, 7.2 and 6.7 days, respectively, and that of the cleaner is 7.5 days. The microbial biomass and the respiration rate in the soil were promoted by the amendment of manure and chemical fertilizers, and inhibited by the addition of heavy metals and cleaner. The degradation rate correlate positively with the microbial biomass and the respiration rate.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1076-1080
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• 1998

Background: Spontaneous hemopneumothorax, occurring in 1% to 12% of patients with spontaneous pneumothorax, is a rare disorder that can potentially lead to life-threatening complications. Materials and methods: We have experienced 15 cases (2.28%) with spontaneous hemopneumothorax among 659 episodes of spontaneous pneumothorax for eight years, from 1990 to 1997, at our hospital. We studied our previously treated patients by retrospective case studies to determine the nature of optimal management. Results: There were 14 male and 1 female patients whose mean age was 27.5 years, ranging from 19 to 58. The sides with disorder were as following: right in 10 cases and left in 5, unilaterally. The amount of initial bleeding ranged from 400 to 1,500 mL and 8 patients received a homologous blood transfusion. Patients exhibited symptoms of chest pain, dyspnea, chest discomfort, and hypovolemic shock. We concluded that causes of this disease in our patients were a torn pleural adhesion (14 cases) and a rupture of vascularized bullae (1 case with an underlying intrinsic lung disease, tuberculosis). All patients underwent closed thoracostomy and had good results except for 3. One patient underwent thoracotomy within 3 days from the onset because of continuous active hemorrhage. Decortication was required in one case because of a reactive fluid collection in the pleural space, which led to impaired lung expansion. Another patient underwent thoracotomy due to a ipsilateral recurrent pneumothorax without blood collection. Conclusions: The goals of treatment include hemostasis and reexpansion of the collapsed lung. Thus, if patients arrive early at hospital, closed thoracostomy and transfusion are thought to be sufficient treatments, although early surgical repair has been considered recently.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.9 s.254
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• pp.595-600
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• 2005

Background: Colchicine with its immunosupressive properties has been used with benefcial effects in autoimmune disease, such as Gout, etc. Whether colchicine, by virtue of the above property, could attenuate the process of cardiac allograft rejection in the rats is investigated in this report. Material and Method: We compared the untreated group (Control, n=6), Cyclosporin A group (10 mg/kg, daily, n=20), and Colchicine derivative group (Colchicine 40 ${\mu}g$/kg, n=20) of cardiac allografts in the rats. Result: In the untreated control group (n=6), all of 6 rats showed rejection within 3 weeks after cardiac allograft. In the cyclosporin A group (n=20), cyclosporin A (10 mg daily oral dose) was administered at a 10 mg daily oral dose and promoted long-term survival (over 100 days). The cyclosporin A group had one mortality at the 18th post-operative day due to infection. Furthermore, in the Colchicine derivatives group (n=20) with a daily IP (Intra Peritoneum) dose (40 ug/kg/day), we observed long-term survival.(> 100 days), except for one rat that died of an anesthetic problem (respiratory failure) at the 9th post-operative day. Conclusion: Experiments have also been performed to evaluate whether the effect of colchicine derivatives allowed prolonged survival of cardiac allografts compared with the cyclosporin A administration group in the rats.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.692-696
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• 1998

For the management of a secondary spontaneous pneumothorax, videothoracoscopic surgery may offer the potential therapeutic benefits of a minimally invasive approach. We report on a series of 36 patients(33 men and 3 women) with a mean age of 56.3 years(range, 31 to 80 years) who underwent thoracoscopic surgical procedures for the treatment of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax. Twenty-one patients had emphysema and 20 patients had old pulmonary tuberculosis. Nineteen patients presented a persistent severe air leak more than 3 days preoperatively and 15 patients had more than one recurrence. Bullectomy or exclusion of the lesion was performed in 33 patients. Mechanical pleurodesis was performed in the entire patients, talc was sprayed in 22 and vibramycin in 14. Mild pleural adhesion at the upper lobe was shown in 10 patients and severe pleural adhesion in 7 patients. One patient with persistent air leak died of persistent air leak and respiratory failure. The mean postoperative stay was 7.0 days(range, 2 to 17 days). At a mean follow-up of 15.8 months (range, 5 to 45 months), no pneumothorax had recurred. In comparison with the result of the treatment for 112 patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax, the operating time was not significantly longer and there were no more primary treatment failures, but the duration of postoperative chest drainage and hospital stay was longer. Videothoracoscopic surgery has proved to be an effective treatment for secondary spontaneous pneumothorax in elderly patients who represent high-risk candidates for thoracotomy.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.354-362
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• 2017

Due to population aging and westernized lifestyle, ischemic heart diseases are increasing, and Korea has one of the highest lengths of stay for ischemic heart diseases. Since the increase in the length of stay is a major cause of the increase in medical expenses, it is necessary to prepare a plan to manage the length of stay. Accordingly, this study was conducted to identify the factors influencing the length of stay of ischemic heart disease, and provide the elementary resources necessary for the management of the length of stay. The study subjects were 566 ischemic heart disease patients of a tertiary hospital. As the result of the study, first, the number of inpatients with chest pain as the chief complaint was the largest. Second, the average length of stay was 4.89 days, and the length of stay varied depending on the type of ischemic heart disease. Third, the age of over 75 years, diabetes, and dyspnea were the factors increasing the length of stay. Therefore, for management of adequate length of stay for ischemic heart disease, it is important to prevent the progression of illness through blood sugar control for ischemic heart disease patients with diabetes. Also, it is necessary to prepare a system where patients can visit hospitals as fast as possible if they have any symptoms.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.148-154
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• 2016

A urea cycle disorder is a condition caused by a defect of the enzymes in the urea cycle, and deficiency of ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC), which converts carbamoyl phosphate and ornithine into citrulline, is the most common type of the disorder. OTC deficiency induces the accumulation of precursors of urea, ammonia, and glutamine, leading to neurological symptoms including hypotonia, respiratory failure, seizure, lethargy, and coma and sometimes to death. Because OTC deficiency is inherited in an X-linked manner, typical symptoms such as vomiting, poor feeding, and lethargy appear mainly in male neonates. We recently had a case that presented with neonatal onset lethargy, vomiting, and apnea in a 4-day-old boy. He was diagnosed with OTC deficiency by biochemical phenotype, including hyperammonemia and an increased orotic acid level in the urine. Genetic analysis of the OTC gene showed a novel mutation c.780_781insCAGGCAGTGT (p.Ile261Glnfs*35). He was treated for hyperammonemia using continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) at 118 hours after birth. After 4 days of CVVH, his consciousness and blood ammonia concentration were normalized, and he was discharged at the age of 53 days. At around 12 months of age, bilateral femur fractures and osteomyelitis occurred in this patient. Two months after the fracture, he died of septic shock, insulin-resistant hyperglycemia, and multi-organ failure.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.71-79
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• 1997

Commercial Bio- Green(B.G.) functional water was manufactured through a series of processes : water - ultra-purification - adding catalysts - energy imprinting fermenting with energized water ＋ zeolite and others ＋ photosynthetic bacteria in fermenter longrightarrow filtering. Control(0), 5 or 10 liters per plant of B.G. functional water were supplied to the orchard soil under canopy of 10 year- old ‘Tsugaru’/M26 apple trees on March 20, May 20 and June 20, 1995, respectively. pH and content of Ca and Mg of orchard soil were increased by supply with B.G. functional water. However, P$_2$ $O_{5}$, K, and B contents were not influenced by the treatment. At harvest time soluble solid content of flesh tissue and anthocyanin of fruit skin were increased by the treatment. B.G functional water treatment showed higher root activities, and photosynthesis of leaves than that of control. Also B.G. functional water treatment enhanced Ca content in fruit skin and flesh tissues, whereas not affected N, K, and Mg contents. During storage at 4$^{\circ}C$ cold room, the more volume of B.G. functional water supply showed lower bitter pit symptom. Respiration and ethylene evolution in fruit decreased, while fruit firmness increased by the treatment during storage.