• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.83 no.2
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• pp.147-156
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• 2020

Background: Limited studies have been performed to assess readmission following hospitalization for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in an Asian population. We evaluated the rates, reasons, and risk factors for 30-day readmission following hospitalization for CAP in the general adult population of Korea. Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study of 1,021 patients with CAP hospitalized at Yeungnam University from March 2012 to February 2014. The primary end point was all-cause hospital readmission within 30 days following discharge after the initial hospitalization. Hospital readmission was classified as pneumonia-related or pneumonia-unrelated readmission. Results: During the study period, 862 patients who survived to hospital discharge were eligible for inclusion and among them 72 (8.4%) were rehospitalized within 30 days. In the multivariable analysis, pneumonia-related readmission was associated with para/hemiplegia, malignancy, pneumonia severity index class ≥4 and clinical instability ≥1 at hospital discharge. Comorbidities such as chronic lung disease and chronic kidney disease, treatment failure, and decompensation of comorbidities were associated with the pneumonia-unrelated 30-day readmission rate. Conclusion: Rehospitalizations within 30 days following discharge were frequent among patients with CAP. The risk factors for pneumonia-related and -unrelated readmission were different. Aspiration prevention, discharge at the optimal time, and close monitoring of comorbidities may reduce the frequency of readmission among patients with CAP.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.90-94
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• 1998

Hinman syndrome is a condition representing urinary voiding dysfunction in the neurologically intact child. The syndrome is probably caused by acquired behavioral and psychosocial disorders manifested by bladder and/or bowel dysfunction mimicking neurologic disease. Clinically, the symptom complex may include day and night time enuresis, encopresis, constipation, and recurrent urinary tract infections. Cystoscopy frequently demonstrates normal vesicourethral anatomy. Voiding films usually demonstarate a carrot-shaped proximal urethra with a persistent narrowing at the external sphincter. The bladder is large and often appears trabeculated with a thickened wall and significant postvoid residual. A 13-year-old male child was admitted due to fever, urinary tract infection, enuresis and flank pain. His neurologic examination was normal. Renal sonograms showed moderate hydronephrosis. Voiding cystourethrograms showed a huge, trabeculated bladder without vesicourethral reflux and urethral valves. No abnormal findings was found in spinal MRI.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.3E
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• pp.119-130
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• 2010

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is simply evolved from extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy known as a revolutionary non-invasive technique for treating kidney stone diseases. Since ESWT was approved for treating plantar fasciitis by FDA in 2000, it has been rapidly accepted into various clinical practices. Its indication includes chronic tendinitis and pseudoarthrosis, and has been widened to various applications other than orthopeadics. Little has been reported on their acoustic properties, yet, even if a number of clinical ESWT systems are readily available. This article reviews the acoustical aspects of ESWT and discusses critical issues towards acoustic exposure optimization and shock wave dosimetry.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.196-199
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• 1998

The classical manifestation of asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy comprise narrow chest, short limbs, and pelvic changes. The degree of respiratory distress varied from negligible to lethal. The development of progressive renal failure may indicate that the condition is asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy. We have experienced a case of asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy who died from chronic renal failure in a 5-month old infant. Abriefreviewofassociatedliteratureisalsopresented.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.3-8
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• 2023

Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) is a sleep-related movement disorder characterized by involuntary, rhythmic limb movements during sleep. While PLMD itself is not considered life-threatening, its association with certain underlying health conditions raises concerns about mortality risks. PLMD has been found to be associated with cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease. The fragmented sleep caused by the repetitive limb movements and associated arousals may contribute to sympathetic activation, chronic sleep disruption, sleep deprivation, and subsequent cardiovascular problems, which can increase mortality risks. The comorbidities and health factors commonly associated with PLMD, such as obesity, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease, may also contribute to increased mortality risks. PLMD is often observed alongside other neurological disorders, including restless legs syndrome (RLS) and Parkinson's disease. The presence of PLMD in these conditions may exacerbate the underlying health issues and potentially contribute to higher mortality rates. Further research is needed to elucidate the specific mechanisms linking PLMD to mortality risks and to develop targeted interventions that address these risks.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.19-24
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• 2021

The petroleum refinery industry handles a variety of complex chemical substances and employs a large number of people around the world. According to previous research, diseases caused by exposure to chemicals were quite common among workers in refineries until the 1980s. More recently, it is unusual for oil refinery workers to suffer from these serious diseases. The objective of this study was to identify the occurrence level of general diseases and any differences in lifestyle habits of workers in refineries in Korea compared with the general population. In this study, we used the results of health examinations from 2014 for workers at a large oil refinery in South Korea. In addition, based on the results of KNHANES from 2014 as representative of the population, hypertension, diabetes, anemia, hyperlipidemia, liver function abnormality, and kidney function abnormality were calculated using the standardized incidence rate. Hypertension showed a low result with an SIR of less than 1, but a high result in the case of abnormal liver function. The workers' occurrence rates of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, kidney dysfunction, and anemia were lower than those of ordinary salaried employees. however, their occurrence rate for abnormal liver function was markedly higher. In lifestyle habits, the smoking rate of workers was low while the alcohol consumption rate was quite high. This study has improved the understanding of the health status of workers in a large oil refinery in Korea, and has shown the impact of lifestyle habits related to the work environment on chronic diseases.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.145-148
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• 2013

Thoracic endometriosis is an uncommon disease that has four main forms: catamenial pneumothorax, hemothorax, hemoptysis, and pulmonary nodules. Since the growth of endometrial tissue depends on the presence of estrogen, thoracic endometriosis usually occurs in menstruating women between 25 and 35 years of age. Menstrual disturbances are common in women with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, they could be reversed after kidney transplantation. Therefore, previously asymptomatic endometriosis may become symptomatic after kidney transplantation. A 49-year-old woman with CKD underwent kidney transplantation. A month later, she experienced dyspnea, and hemothorax in her right hemithorax. However, there was no evidence of infectious diseases and malignancy in thoracentesis, pleural biopsy, and computed chest tomography (CT). The serum and pleural fluid levels of his carbohydrate antigen 125 were elevated. Hemothorax secondary to pleural endometriosis was suspected. We tried hormonal therapy, and the hemothorax disappeared. At the sixth-month follow-up, there was no recurrence of hemothorax.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.147-160
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a high concentration of uremic toxins in their blood and often experience muscle atrophy. Indoxyl sulfate (IS) is a uremic toxin produced by tryptophan metabolism. Although an elevated IS level may induce muscle dysfunction, the effect of IS on physiological concentration has not been elucidated. Additionally, the effects of ursolic acid (UA) on muscle hypertrophy have been reported in healthy models; however, it is unclear whether UA ameliorates muscle dysfunction associated with chronic diseases, such as CKD. Thus, this study aimed to investigate whether UA can improve the IS-induced impairment of mitochondrial biogenesis. MATERIALS/METHODS: C2C12 cells were incubated with or without IS (0.1 mM) and UA (1 or 2 μM) to elucidate the physiological effect of UA on CKD-related mitochondrial dysfunction and its related mechanisms using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: IS suppressed the expression of differentiation marker genes without decreasing cell viability. IS decreased the mitochondrial DNA copy number and ATP levels by downregulating the genes pertaining to mitochondrial biogenesis (Ppargc1a, Nrf1, Tfam, Sirt1, and Mef2c), fusion (Mfn1 and Mfn2), oxidative phosphorylation (Cycs and Atp5b), and fatty acid oxidation (Pdk4, Acadm, Cpt1b, and Cd36). Furthermore, IS increased the intracellular mRNA and secretory protein levels of interleukin (IL)-6. Finally, UA ameliorated the IS-induced impairment in C2C12 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that UA improves the IS-induced impairment of mitochondrial biogenesis by affecting differentiation, ATP levels, and IL-6 secretion in C2C12 cells. Therefore, UA could be a novel therapeutic agent for CKD-induced muscle dysfunction.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.463-469
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• 2002

A 49-year old man who had been treated for five months at a private clinic due to chronic paranasal sinusitis was admitted to our hospital because of recently aggravated nasal stuffiness, headache, and cough. The X-ray film of paranasal sinuses and facial CT scan showed marked mucosal thickening of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. The plain chest film and chest CT scan showed multiple, vatiable sized, pulmonary nodules in both lungs. The level of c-ANCA was elevated and urinalysis revealed proteinuria and hematuria. Percutaneous lung and kidney biopsies were performed for confirmative diagnosis. Histologic examination of the lung nodule demonstrated extensive necrosis and poorly-formed granulomatous inflammation. The histologic finding of the kidney showed focal necrotizing glomerulonephritis. A diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis involving the paranasal sinuses, lung and kidney was made, and treatment was successfully performed with cyclophosphamide and prednisone.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.64-68
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• 2001

The nutcracker syndrome is the congestion of left renal vein due to the compression of left renal vein by the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery and has been known as tile cause of hematuria with or without left renal flank pain, mild to moderate proteinuria and orthostatic proteinuria. We present here one case of 13.5 year of girl has severe typical nutcracker syndrome with orthostatic protinuria and idiopathic chronic fatigue. (J. Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 5 . 64- 8, 2001)