• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.255-262
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• 1996

The donor pool for heart transplants is severely limited and there is still a legal problem of brain death. This study assessed the function of hearts "absolute anoxic" for ten minutes after asphyxia by perfusing the hearts on a Langendorfr apparatus for 45 minutes with Krebs-Henseleit buffier at 37 t at 80 cm H2O. Forty isolated rat hearts were divided into four groups. Ten control hearts (group 1) were perfused on the circuit without intervening ischemia. Ten hearts (group 2) were harvested, quickly flushed with 5cc of cold University of Wisconsin solution, and stored in the same cold solution for 4 hours. Ten hearts (group 3) were excised, quickly flushed with 5 u of cold Stanford cardioplegic solution and stored in cold saline solution for 4 hours. Ten asphyxiated hearts (group 4) had warm ischemia for ten minutes and were perfused with 5u of cold Stanford cardioplegia containing 7,500 units of urokinase to dissolve intravascular clots, and stored in cold saline solution for 1.5 hours. Time of spontaneous defibrillation (TSD) after perfusion was significantly longer in group 2, group 3 and group 4 than in group 1. TSD in group 3 and group 4 was significantly longer in comparison to that of group 2. Left ventricular developed pressure(LVDP) at 15 minutes was significantly lower in group 3 and group 4 than in group 1 and group 2. In group 4, LVDP at 30 minutes and 45 minutes was significantly lower compared with that in group 1 . In conclusion, asphyxiated rat hear;ts which had absolute anoxia for 10 minutes after as hyxia showed relatively satisfactory cardiac function. function.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1111-1117
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• 1996

Structural deterioration of the bioprosthetic xenograft valves due to primary tissue failure occurs in two modes: from fatigue lesions with tear and wear with or without calcification and from calcification with obstruction. Two groups of consecutive 56 patients with the Hancock porcine ortic valve(HM) and of 1 13 patients with the standard-profile onescu-Shiley bovine pericardial valve(ISM) explanted from mitral position at the time of re-replacement surgery for primary tissue failure at Seoul national University Hospital until 1994, were studied for clinical and pathological features. Their ages at primary implant were 31.9 $\pm$9.2 years In HM and 30.4$\pm$ 12.5 years in ISM. Hemodrnamic dysfunction of the failed mitral bloprostheses were predominantly insufficiency in HM(64.3%) and stenosis in ISM(51.3%)(p<0.001). Pathologic findings of the explanted mitral valves reflected these hemodynamic changes, revealing failure more often from tissue damage(tears and wears) in HM and more often from calcification in ISM(p< 0.001). Explant period(from primary implant to explant) was relatively short in ISM(8.7$\pm$2.6years), compared with the one in HM(10.4 $\pm$2.6 years)(p<0.001). In conclusion, both the Hancock and the lonescu-shiley valves would fail from calcification as well as issue damage. However, while the Hancock porcine valves in mitral position failed more frequently from tissue failure and insufficiency, the standard-profile lonescu-Shiley pericardial valves did from calcification and stenosis, especially in young pAtients . Although the possibility of less occurrence of valve failure from mechanical reasons may be expected with newer generation bloprostheses, it does not seem to Improve durability significantly unless further refinement in antimineralization is achieved. Therefore, clinical use of the glutaraldehyde-treated bioprosthetic valves is, at present, limited to the patients of advanced age groups.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.680-683
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• 2002

Infective endocarditis that involves the right side of the heart has been estimately 5% of all cases of infective endocarditis. It has been shown that about 70% of right-sided heart infective endocarditis cases have preexisting congenital heart disease or acquired valvular lesion. It would occur in intravenous drug users or end-stage renal disease patients with indwelling venous dialysis catheter. Antibiotic therapy is more effective in the right and, when it fails, the consequence of valve disruption and emboli are less. Patients receiving long-term hemodialysis are a unique population with regard in the risk of bacteremia and subsequent infective endocarditis. We experienced one case of the active infective endocarditis with right atrial vegetation without tricuspid or pulmonary valve involvement in patient with end-stage renal disease receiving long-term hemodialysis, who needed surgical correction after medical treatment failure. Then we reported it with references that right-sided heart infective endocarditis is rare, but difficult to diagnose, life-threatening because of delayed medical treatment.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.2
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• pp.142-146
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• 2008

Small cell lung cancer is characterized by an aggressive clinical course and a high tendency for early dissemination in spite of a good chemotherapy response. Topotecan is a topoisomerase I inhibitor, and it is used as second-line treatment for small cell lung cancer. The reported dose-limiting adverse reactions to topotecan are mainly hematologic. Yet pulmonary toxicity associated with topotecan is known to be rare. We report here on a case that showed the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome during the 3rd cycle of topotecan chemotherapy in a patient with small cell lung cancer. He developed dyspnea and respiratory failure, and the chest CT scan revealed diffuse ground-glass opacity that was probably due to chemotherapy-related pulmonary toxicity. He finally died of acute respiratory distress syndrome.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.66 no.6
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• pp.467-470
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• 2009

Serum CA 125 is the most useful marker for monitoring patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. However, it can be elevated above normal level in a variety of conditions other than ovarian cancer such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammation disease, and other malignant or nonmalignant disorders, including pulmonary diseases. Recently, we experienced a case of bronchiectasis in which the serum CA 125 level was elevated, changing with the patient's condition. There was no evidence of underlying malignant disease on positron emission tomography or on gynecologic examination, including transvaginal ultrasonography. During follow-up for 14 months, we could not find any clue of malignant disease that could have been the cause of the elevated levels of serum CA 125. Elevated serum CA 125 level should be interpreted carefully according to the patient's clinical condition. In addition, our case suggests that CA 125 may be used as a surrogate marker for acute inflammatory status for chronic pulmonary diseases.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.6 s.263
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• pp.456-461
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• 2006

Background: Distal anastomosis using artificial vascular graft is difficult when luminal size mismatch occurred owing to severe occlusion of popliteal artery and its branches. So we reconstructed blood flow to ischemic lower limb by using autologous greater saphenous vein in situ graft (GSVISG) as vascular graft material. Material and Method: From July 2000 to July 2005, 26 patients treated using GSVISG. We analyzed clinical results retrospectively by chart review. Result: There was no in hospital or early postoperative death and 6 late deaths occurred during follow up period. Postoperative complications were 5 cases of early graft obstruction, 2 cases of wound dehiscence, 1 case of graft aneurysmal change, 1 case of seroma formation at inguinal wound and 1 case of graft injury during valvulotomy. Overall patency rate during follow up period was 69.3%. Conclusion: Greater saphenous vein in situ graft is acceptable vascular graft for arterial occlusive disease of lower extremity.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.6 s.263
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• pp.475-478
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• 2006

Background: The simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax is a rare clinical event. Contrary to the unilateral pneumothorax, the patients with simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax sometimes complains of severe respiratory distress, cyanosis and chest pain without tention pneumothorax. It is often dangerous; therefore, the chest drain should be inserted immediately. Material and Method: Between March 1994 and February 2004, 802 patients were treated in our department for spontaneous pneumothorax. Among these, the simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax developed in 14 patients (1.7%). Result: Out of fourteen patients, two females and twelve males presented with simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax. The patient age ranged between 0 and 79 years with mean age of 31.2 years. In eleven patients, this was the first episode of pneumothorax. One patient had combined hemopneumothorax and two patients had combined pyopneurnothorax. Six patients had smoking history (42.8%, average 17.3 p-y). Five patients had pulmonary tuberculosis history and among these, two patients had active pulmonary tuberculosis. Three patients were died due to meconium-aspiration pneumonia (1 patient) and ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) with pneumonia (2 patients). We treated these patients with nasal oxygen inhalation, chest drain insertion, thoracotomy, VATS (Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery) and chemical pleurodesis. Conclusion: The simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax developed in 14 patients (1.7%) among 802 patients. Prompt insertion of chest drain is needed for a relief of severe symptoms, and to reduce the risk of recurrence, early thoracotomy or VATS should be performed rather than chest drain insertion only.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.109-112
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• 2003

Stromal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, especially of the esophagus, are rare. We had a case of malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST) of the esophagus. A 46 years old woman was admitted for abnormal mass shadow in the chest radiograph. The mass was originated from the lower thoracic esophagus, and compressed the right lower pulmonary vein and the inferior vena cava. We removed the tumor externally without injuring of the esophageal mucosa via right posterolateral thoracotomy. The tumor was positive for CD 34 and CD 117, and diagnosed malignant CIST of the esophagus.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.86-90
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• 2003

Bulla is an air-filled space within the lung parenchyma resulting from deterioration of the alveolar tissue. Molecular mechanism of the formation of the bulla is not well described. Fibroblast growth factor(FGF)-7, bone morphogenetic protein(BMP) receptor, and transforming growth factor(TGF)-$\beta$ receptor are known to have a stimulatory or inhibitory role in the lung formation. We investigated to see if these growth factor or cytokine receptors are involved in the bulla formation by immunohistochemical staining of bullous lung tissues from patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Material and Method: Bullous lung tissues were obtained from 31 patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax, including 30 males and 1 female from 15 to 39 years old. The bullous tissues were obtained by video-thoracoscopic surgery and/or mini-thoracotomy and fixed in formalin. Blocks of the specimens were embedded with paraffin and cut into 5-6 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ thick slices. The sections were deparaffinized and hydrated and then incubated with primary antibodies against FGF-7, BMP-RII, or TGF-RII. Result: Of the 31 patients, 24 were TGF-RII positive including 18 strong and 6 weak positives. Observation with high magnification showed that strong immunostaining was detected in the boundary region between bullous and normal lung tissues. In contrast, all of the sections were negative with FGF-7 or BMP-RII antibodies. Conclusion: These results suggest that overexpression of TGF- P RII may be involved in the formation of bulla, although further molecular studies are needed to find out more detailed molecular mechanisms.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.8
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• pp.630-632
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• 2003

In off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), multiple proximal anastomosis may increase the risk of cerebral embolism (air, debris) and aortic injury (dissection, pseudoaneurysm). Radial artery (RA) has no intraluminal valve such as saphenous vein. We applied Cabrol technique using aortic root replacement for proximal anastomosis in off-pump CABG. Cabrol technique using RA graft can reduce numbers of proximal anastomosis and reduce number of aortic manipulation in off-pump CABG. We report a Cabrol technique for proximal anastomosis in off-pump CABG with RA graft.