• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.11-22
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• 1999

Sero-epidemiologic survey has been carried out to establish serologically the presence of hantavirus in areas of South Africa. The survey was oriented to search natural infection in both of humans and wild rodents and involvement of human disease. The normal human sera were collected from the residents in urban and rural areas of Western Cape, and rural area of Eastern Cape province. The rodent sera came from various species of rodents trapped in Northern Cape and Western Free provinces. The patient sera were selected from the patients of renal failure, pulmonary syndrome and pyrexia of unknown origin (PUQ) according to diagnostic chart among the patients hospitalized in major hospitals of Cape Town area. The sera were screened and titrated by IFA test using antigens of Hantaan (HTN), Seoul (SEO), Puumala (PUU), and Prospect Hill (PH) viruses primarily. Positive cases were subjected to differential IFA test using HTN, PUU and PH antigens and plaque reduction neutralization test for further confirmation. Anti-hantavirus antibodies were detected from 2 of 352 rural, 1 of 172 urban residents of E. Cape, and 5 of 118 rural, 5 of 368 urban residents of W. Cape. The antibody was also demonstrated from 5 of 221 wild rodents, and it was appeared that 2 different species, Aethomys namaquensis and Tatem leucogaster, are involved. Among 318 patients tested, 3 who were diagnosed as chronic renal failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and glomerulonephritis were proved to be positive. The reaction patterns obtained from all of these positive sera were distinct from hantaviral sero-patterns ever established. This result suggests that new viruses may exist in this area and play an possible etiologic role in human disease. The feature of serologic survey on anti-hantavirus antibody demonstrable newly from African wild rodents which are different from reservoir species in other continents elicits a conjecture that the virus may be different from known hantaviruses ever found. This fact also suggests that an expanded role in etiologic involvement with other unknown human diseases by newly emerging hantaviruses may be possible in this areas.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.818-824
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• 2009

The mechanisms responsible for ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury have direct or indirect relevance to clinical lung injury after severe shock, cardiopulmonary bypass, and transplantation. This study investigated the effects of aspirin on intestinal I/R-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rats. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in A549 and RAW264.7 cells. RAW264.7 macrophages had shown greater expression of COX-2 than A549 cells. In addition, the NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin and p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 attenuated LPS-stimulated COX-2 expression. To induce ALI, intestinal ischemia was performed for 60 min prior to the 4 hr reperfusion by clamping the superior mesenteric artery in Sprague-Dawley rats. In order to test and compare the effect of non-specific COX inhibitor aspirin with the effect of mepacrine, a well known phospholipase$A_{2}$ inhibitor, rats were divided into 4 groups: Sham, I/R, Mepa+I/R (mepacrine, 60 mg/kg, i.p.), ASA+I/R (aspirin, 10 mg/kg, i.p.). In the present investigation, myeloperoxidase activities in the lung and intestinal tissues were increased by I/R. These changes were reduced by single pretreatment of mepacrine (60 mg/kg, i.p.) or aspirin (10 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min before I/R. Structural studies demonstrated that the tissue injuries in the lung and intestine after I/R were also attenuated by the pretreatment of mepacrine or aspirin. These results suggest that I/R-induced ALI is mediated, in part, by the activation of COX. In addition, pretreatment of aspirin might be helpful for the prevention of ALI in ARDS-prone patients. In addition, the p38 MAPK inhibitor and apocynin also might be helpful to ALI through the inhibition of COX-2 expression.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.154-162
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• 1996

Purpose : Adenoviruses(Ad) have been shown to play an important role in the etiology of severely acute respiratory diseases, particulary in infants and young children, and the occurrence of fatal outcome and chronic pulmonary sequelae in association with adenoviral infection has been a cause of great interest and concern. This report presents the resul of a retrospective analysis on 30 cases of lower respiratory infection from which adenovirus was isolated. Patients & Methods : The 30 patients in this study represent all detected cases of adenovial infection out of 240 children who were admitted to Sang Sung Medical Center between February to June 1996 showing signs and symptoms of lower respiratory tract infection. The diagnosis of adenovirus infection was based on microscopic visualization of typical cytopathic effect in HEp-2 tissue culture and used monoclonal Ab with nasopharyngeal aspiration. Results : The male/female ratio was 2:1 and the majority of age range was below 36months. Clinical diagnoses in all 30 patients were pneumonia(n=21), bronchitis and Bronchiolitis(n=5) and ARDS(n=4). We recieved the most of patients in the month of May. The chief complaints were fever(93.3%) and cough(80%) and extrapulmonary symptoms were diarrhea(n=5), seizure(n=4), abdominal pain(n=1). The mean duration of fever was $11.95{\pm}6.54$days. Physical examination on admission were crackles(73.3%), coarse breathing sounds(60%), hepatosplenomegaly(33.3%), decreased brething sounds(30%). In WBC counts, 8cases were below $4000/mm^3$ and 14 cases were above $10,000/mm^3$. In platelets counts, 4cases were below $150,000/mm^3$ and 10 cases were above $450,000/mm^3$. 21 cases were above 1 in CRP. GOT and GPT were abnormal in some cases. Chest X-ray revealed diffuse pulmonary infiltration(n=15), pleural effusion(n=6), consolidation(n=4) and hyperaeration(n=3). Seven patients were treated at the peditric intensive care unit with respiratory support and high dose of gammaglobulin. However, one patients died even through he was treated with NO ventilation and high frequency ventilation. Conclusion : Those with adenoviral pneumonia and respiratory infection having long fever duration and symptoms like bacterial pneumonia must be carefully differentiated in order to provide proper treatement and preventive measures due to possible fatal outcome.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.662-668
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• 2000

Background: Many recent results of clinical trials show that pre-operative concurrent chemoradiotherapy and surgical resection could increase the survival of N2 positive stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer. This study was performed to assess the feasibility, toxicity, and affect rates of concurrent chemoradiotherapy and surgical resection in N2 positive stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer. Material and Method: Thirty-one patients who underwent preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy for N2 positive stage IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer from May 1997 to April 1999 were entered into the study. Mean age was 61 yrs(43∼70 yrs), There were 24 men and 7 women. The confirmation of N2 disease were achieved through mediastinoscopic biopsy(24) and CT scans(7). Induction was achieved by two cycles of cisplatin and etoposide(EP) plus concurrent chest radiotherapy to 45 Gy. Resections were done at 3 weeks after the complection of preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Resections were performed in 23 patients, excluding 5 refusals and 3 distant metastasis. Result: All patients were compled the thoracic radiotherapy except one who had distant metastasis. Twenty three patients were completed the planned 2 cycles of EP chemotherapy, and 8 patients were received only 1 cycle for severe side effects(6), refusal(1), and distant metastasis(1). There was one postoperative mortality, and the cause of death was ARDS. Three patients who had neutropenic fever and one patient who had radiation pneumonitis were required admission and treatment. Esophagitis was the most common acute side effect, but relatively well-tolerated in most patients. The complection rate of concurrent chemoradiotherapy was 74%, resection rate was 71%, pathologic complete remission rate was 13.6%, and pathologic down-staging rate was 68%. Conclusion: Morbidity related to each treatment was acceptable and many of the patients have benefited down staging of its disease. Further prospective, preferably randomized, clinical trials of larger scale may be warranted to confirm the actual benefit of preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy and surgical resection in N2-positive stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.338-342
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• 1994

Pulmonary clearance of Tc-99m-DTPA(PCD) has been used for the measurement of polmonary epithelial permeability. It has been reported to be increased not only in variety of polmonary diseases including ARDS, interstitial fibrosis, and smokers, but also in normal subjects on positive end expiratory pressure respirator, or after exercise. It was also noted that decrease of pulmonary blood flow due to pulmonary arterial obstruction results in delayed PCD. Normal range of PCD varies with institutes. We prospectively measured PCD in 17 normals (5 males and 12 females) consisted of staffs and trainees in the department of radiology of Kangnam St. Mary's hospital using original Bark Nebulizer (India). Age ranged from 32 to 43 years. 370 MBq of Tc-99m-DTPA was inhaled in supine position and supine posterior images were subsequently obtained with 1 min/frame, $64{\times}64$ matrix and word mode for 30min. Regions of interest were set on each lung, whole lungs, and upper, middle and lower thirds of right lung, respectively. Best fit regression curve was obtained by least square method from initial 7min after peak activity on each curve and time for half clearance of maximum activity (t1/2) was calculated. Mean t1/2 was $51{\pm}11.2min$ for whole lung. There was no significant difference between t1/ 2 of right and left lungs. Initial uptake was higher in the lower third and t1/2 was shorter in the lower third than in the upper third(P<0.05). We reviewed several reports on PCD and compared our data with the others. In this study, faster clearance in the lower third may be due to the position imaged with or the environment the subjects belong to, and further investigation is under way.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.224-232
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• 2005

The use of the lung assist device (LAD) would be well suited for acute respiratory failure (ARF) patients, combining the simplicity of mechanical ventilation with the ability of extracoporeal membrane oxygenators (ECMO) to provide temporary relief for the natural lungs. This study's specific attention was focused on the effect of membrane vibration in the LAD. Quantitative experimental measurements were performed to evaluate the performance of the device, and to identify membrane vibration dependence on blood hemolysis. We tried to decide upon excited frequency band of limit hemolysis when blood hemolysis came to through a membrane vibration action. The excited frequency of the module type 5, consisted of 675 hollow fiber membranes, showed the maximum gas transfer rate. We concluded that the maximum oxygen transfer rate seemed to be caused by the occurrence of maximum amplitude and the transfer of vibration to hollow fiber membranes. It was excited up to $25{\pm}5$ Hz at each blood flow rate of module type 5. We found that this frequency became the 2nd mode resonance riequency of the flexible in blood flow. Blood hemolysis was low at the excited frequency of $25{\pm}5$ Hz. Therefore, we decided that limit hemolysis frequency of this LAD was $25{\pm}5$ Hz.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.532-541
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• 2003

Background : Phospholipase $A_2$ ($PLA_2$) has been known to be involved in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI) including ARDS. Since doxycycline has the property of inhibiting secretory group II $PLA_2$, the therapeutic effect of doxycycline hyclate was investigated for gut ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced ALI in Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods : ALI was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by clamping of the superior mesenteric artery for 60 min, followed by 120 min of reperfusion. To confirm the pathogenetic mechanisms of this ALI associated with neutrophilic oxidative stress, we measured bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) protein content and lung MPO, and performed cyto-chemical electron microscopy for detection of free radicals, assay of $PLA_2$ activity and cytochrome-c reduction assay. Results : In gut I/R-induced ALI rats, protein leakage, pulmonary neutrophil accumulation, free radical production and lung $PLA_2$ activity were all increased. These effects were reversed by doxycycline hyclate. Conclusion : Doxycycline appears to be effective in ameliorating the gut I/R-induced ALI by inhibiting $PLA_2$, thereby decreasing the production of free radicals from neutrophils.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.70 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 2011

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 ($7.1{\pm}0.9$ mL/kg vs. $8.6{\pm}1.3$ mL/kg IBW; $19.7{\pm}4.8$ b/min vs. $14.6{\pm}4.6$ 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 ($r_s$=-0.40; $r_s$=0.43; p<0.05, respectively). In ALI patients, significant correlations were found between RR and RCe ($r_s$=-0.76, p<0.01), peak inspiratory flow and RR ($r_s$=-0.53, p<0.05), and RCe and peak inspiratory flow ($r_s$=-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.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.270-275
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• 1999

Background: In the patients with thoracic injury, we suspect simultaneous cardiac contusion or concussion. We analyzed the patients with possible cardiac injury by electrocardiography, serum creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase isoenzyme fraction (CK-MB) screening, followed by two dimentional echocardiogram (2-DE) to access the severity of injury. Material and Method: From January 1997 to April 1998, 15-month retrospective study of suspicious myocardial injury was undertaken in including 24 patients admitted for suspected cardiac injury. All patients with history or signs of blunt chest injury were checked serially and the serial CK, CK-MB fraction, electrocardiography (EKG) analysis screening were followed by 2-DE. Result: The age range was between 20-40 years and were predominant male patients in(M:F=3:1). Most common causes of injury were traffic accidents, 15 patients(62.5%). Associated injuries involved multiple rib fractures, sternal fracture and such. EKG findings on the cardiac concussion were within normal limits, EKG findings on the cardiac contusion were nonspecific ST and T wave abnormality. In cardiac contusion patients, CK-MB fraction did not increase significantly on admission but on 2nd, 3rd, 4th hospital days, it increased significantly (p=0.0080, 0.0130, 0.0130). The average admission days were 9.22 in concussion and 26.18 in contusion patients(p=0.0075). Most common complication was the adult respiratory distress syndrome(7 cases), 5 out of the patients with ARDS were mechanically ventilated. There were no deaths. Conclusion: We believe the serial checks of CK-MB, EKG and subsquent two-dementional echocardiographic sector scanning are presently the most sensitive indicators available for structural and functional cardiac injury.