• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.50 no.12
• /
• pp.1180-1187
• /
• 2007

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an episodic, multi-system, autoimmune disease characterized by widespread inflammation of blood vessels and connective tissues and by the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs), especially antibodies to native (double-stranded) DNA (dsDNA). Its clinical manifestations are extremely variable, and its natural history is unpredictable. Untreated, SLE is often progressive and has a significant fatality rate. The most widely used criteria for the classification of SLE are those of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), which were revised in 1982 and modified in 1997. The presence of four criteria have been diagnosed as a SLE. Rashes are common at onset and during active disease. The oral mucosa is the site of ulceration with SLE. Arthralgia and arthritis affect most children and these symptoms are short in duration and can be migratory. Lupus nephritis may be more frequent and of greater severity in children than in adults. The initial manifestation of nephritis is microscopic hematuria, followed by proteinuria. The most common neuropsychiatric symptoms are depression, psychosis(hallucination and paranoia) and headache. CNS disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Pericarditis is the most common cardiac manifestation. Libman-Sacks endocarditis is less common in children. The most frequently described pleuropulmonary manifestations are pleural effusions, pleuritis, pneunonitis and pulmonary hemorrhage. During the active phase ESR, CRP, gamma globulin, ferritin and anti-dsDNA are elevated. Antibodies to dsDNA occur in children with active nephritis. Antibodies to the extractable nuclear antigens (Sm, Ro/SS-A, La/SS-B) are strongly associated with SLE. Specific treatment should be individualized and based on the severity of the disease. Sepsis has replaced renal failure as the most common cause of death.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.58 no.1
• /
• pp.33-36
• /
• 2015

Group D streptococci are known to cause newborn septicemia and meningitis, but the Streptococcus bovis group strains rarely cause serious neonatal infections in Korea. Central nervous system (CNS) complications of neonatal S. bovis group infection have rarely been reported. In adults, S. bovis group strains cause bacteremia and endocarditis, and are associated with gastrointestinal malignancy. However, only a few studies have reported meningitis and septicemia in infants. Here, we describe a case of bacteremia and meningitis due to Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus with a delayed CNS complication in an infant. A 28-day-old male infant was admitted to the hospital with a 1-day history of fever. Cultures of blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and urine showed the presence of S. bovis group strain-S. gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus. He was discharged after 21 days of intravenous ampicillin and cefotaxime administration. Two weeks later, he was readmitted with a fever and short episodes of tonic-clonic movements. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed marked bilateral frontal subdural effusion. He was discharged after 31 days of antibiotic therapy, and no neurological sequelae were observed at the 9-month follow-up. In conclusion, we present a rare case of neonatal S. gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus infection causing urinary tract infection, septicemia, meningitis, and delayed CNS complications. This case emphasizes the need for physicians to be aware of S. bovis infection in infants.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.673-682
• /
• 1987

The principal feature of bioprosthetic valve which remains to be completely defined is long-term durability, especially, with regard to the impact of patient age. This report provides extended data regarding valve durability derived from a data base of 515 patients who received lonescu-Shiley bioprosthetic valve between 1978 and 1985; cumulative duration of follow-up was 1562.3 patient-years, with a maximum follow-up duration of 8.7 years. The results of this survey showed as follows: 1] The actuarial freedom from valve failure at 6 years were 43*7% for 0-19 year-old group, 70*1% for 20-39 year-old group and 75*1% for over 40 year-old group separately. 2] Of the causes of valve failure, only the primary tissue failure was markedly influenced by patient`s age [p<0.001], but the prosthetic valve endocarditis was not [p>0.1]. 3] The linealized incidences of primary tissue failure were 7.31% per patient-year in 0-19 year-old group and 0.12% in 20-39 year-old group. 4] The primary tissue failure rate in 0-19 year-old group was 6.36% during first 4 years, but then increased upto 10.95% at postoperative 5 year. Thus we find that in bioprosthetic valve the primary tissue failure is apt to occur when patient is young [especially less than 20 years old] and the postreplacement time passes [especially over 5 years]. The rate of bioprosthesis failure among children and adolescents is clearly higher than that observed in adult patients; however, conclusive quantification of time-related risk for young patient is not yet possible on the basis of existing data. Therefore, the advisability of bioprosthesis implantation in children remains to be determined.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.293-299
• /
• 1997

With the introduction of new cardiac prosthesis, it behooves surgeons and cardiologists to monitor its performance carefully. ATS (Advancing The Standard) prosthetic valve has been used first in Guro hospital in Korea, since August 1994. Between August 1994 and July 1995, 21 patients received 28 ATS prosthesis(9 aortic, 19 mitral).19mi1ra1 valves were implanted through the "Extended Transseptal Approach" 10 were ma e and 11 were female, ranging from 20 to 54 years of age(Mean age : 37 years). The follow up period 126 patient-months(mean 6.1 months), varied from 1 month to 12 months. NYHA functional class was improved significantly, from $2.9\pm0.7$ preoperatively to $1.4\pm0.5$ postoperatively. Ejection fraction was also improved from $55.5\pm6.1%$ preoperatively to 59.8 $\pm7.4%$ postoperatively. Lactic dehydrogenase(LDH) was used as an indicator of hemolysis. The value of LDH changed from 483.3 $\pm$ 162 lUlL preoperatively to $527\pm274$ lUff postoperatively with no clinical significailce. Valve related complications, such as thromboembolism, valve thrombosis, anticoagulant related hemorrhage and prosthetic valve endocarditis did not develop except one anticoagulant related intracranial hemorrhage. There were no mortalities. This experience encourages us to continue using the ATS prosthetic valve, and this study will help those patients who need to have their heart valves replaced. replaced.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.47 no.6
• /
• pp.510-516
• /
• 2014

Background: Acute cerebral infarction is a major risk factor for postoperative neurologic complications in cardiac surgery. However, the outcomes associated with acute silent cerebral infarction (ASCI) have not been not well established. Few studies have reported the postoperative outcomes of these patients in light of preoperative Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI). We studied the postoperative neurologic outcomes of patients with preoperative ASCI detected by DWI. Methods: We retrospectively studied 32 patients with preoperative ASCI detected by DWI. None of the patients had preoperative neurologic symptoms. The mean age at operation was $68.8{\pm}9.5$ years. Five patients had previous histories of stroke. Four patients had been diagnosed with infective endocarditis. Single cerebral infarct lesions were detected in 16 patients, double lesions in 13, and multiple lesions (>5) in three. The median size of the infarct lesions was 4 mm (range, 2 to 25 mm). The operations of three of the 32 patients were delayed pending follow-up DWI studies. Results: There were two in-hospital mortalities. Neurologic complications also occurred in two patients. One patient developed extensive cerebral infarction unrelated to preoperative infarct lesions. One patient showed sustained delirium over one week but recovered completely without any neurologic deficits. In two patients, postoperative DWI confirmed that no significant changes had occurred in the lesions. Conclusion: Patients with preoperative ASCI showed excellent postoperative neurologic outcomes. Preoperative ASCI was not a risk factor for postoperative neurologic deterioration.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.495-504
• /
• 2002

Streptococcus suis is an important swine pathogen in nearly all countries with an extensive pig industry. It is associated with meningitis, arthritis, endocarditis, septicaemia, bronchopneumonia and sudden death. Attempts to control the disease are still hampered the lack of effective vaccines and sensitive diagnostic tools. A PCR method which can be used for the detection of virulent strains of serotype 2, which is most prevalent serotype, and serotype 1 was developed. However, serotype 1, 2, 7 and 9 strains are frequently isolated from diseased pigs. In European countries, S suis serotype 2 is the most prevalent type isolated from diseased pigs, followed by serotype 9 and 1. In Japan, capsular serotype 2 was also the most prevalent serotype, followed by capsular serotype 7. Most of S suis isolated from diseased pigs belong to a limited number of capsular serotype, often those between 1 and 9. We investigated the distribution of S suis serotype 1, 2, 7 and 9 from 740 pig lungs at abattoir in Jeolla and Chungcheong by rapid multiplex PCR assay. Fifty of 740 lung samples, 6.8%, were S suis postitive and identified S suis were divided by 38% (19/50) in serotype 2, 2% (1/50) in serotype 7 and 4% (2/50) in serotype 9. The distribution of S suis serotype in Korea was similar to other countries. Moreover, the multiplex PCR assay may be an useful diagnostic tool for the detection of pigs carrying serotype 1, 2, 7, 1/2, 9 and 14 strains in epidemiological and transmission studies and facilitate control and eradication programs.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.281-288
• /
• 1987

A total and consecutive 163 patients underwent cardiac valve replacement using the Hancock porcine xenograft cardiac valves from 1 976 to 1984. Of 198 substitute valves, 177 were the Hancock valves. One hundred twenty-nine patients[79.1%] had single valve replacement: MVR 118, AVR 8 and TVR 3; 33[20.3%] had double valve replacement: MVR+AVR 27 and MVR+TVR 6; and a single case had triple valve replacement. Other surgical procedures were added in 34 patients. The operative mortality rate within 30 days of surgery was 6.1%, and it was, however, 4.2%, with single MVR. Late mortality rate was 6.7% or 1.95%/patient-year of a linealized mortality rate. Early survivors of 153 patients were followed up for a total of 565.1 patient-years [a mean of 44.3*27.1 months]. The linealized annual complication rates were: 1.95% emboli/patient-year, 0.89% bleeding/patient-year 1.24% endocarditis/patient-year, and 4.25% overall failure/patient-year. Primary tissue failure occurred at a rate of 1.59%/patient-year. The actuarial survival rates including operative mortality were 87.0*4.1% and 77.3*6.6% at 5 and 11 years after surgery respectively. The probability of freedom from thromboembolic complication of 89.2*3.4% at 5 years after surgery lasted unchanged upto 11 years. The probability of freedom from overall valve failure was 81.3*4.5% at postoperative 5 years, and it dropped down to 26.2*19.4% at 11 years, although the latter was statistically insignificant because of a small number of patients entering into the years approaching the follow-up end. However, the probability of freedom from the primary tissue failure was 81.3*10.6% at postoperative 9 years, which coincides closely with the speculated rate of tissue degeneration of about 20% in 10 years. These clinical results confirm the low thrombogenicity of the Hancock porcine valve and the reasonable failure rate of tissue degeneration.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.30-34
• /
• 2012

Background: The long-term results of homografts used in systemic circulation are controversial. We assessed the long-term results of using a cryopreserved homograft for an aortic root or aorta and its branch replacement. Materials and Methods: From June 1995 to January 2010, 23 patients (male:female=15:8, $45.4{\pm}15.6$ years) underwent a homograft replacement in the aortic position. The surgical techniques used were aortic root replacement in 15 patients and aortic graft interposition in 8 patients. Indications for the use of a homograft were systemic vasculitis (n=15) and complicated infection (n=8). The duration of clinical follow-up was $65{\pm}58$ months. Results: Early mortality occurred in 2 patients (8.7%). Perioperative complications included atrial arrhythmia (n=3), acute renal failure (n=3), and low cardiac output syndrome (n=2). Late mortality occurred in 6 patients (26.1%). The overall survival rates at 5 and 10 years were 66.3% and 59.6%, respectively. Six patients (28.6%) suffered from homograft-related complications. Conclusion: Early results of homograft replacement in aortic position were favorable. However, close long-term follow-up is required due to the high rate of homograft-related events.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.40 no.4 s.273
• /
• pp.305-308
• /
• 2007

Vasoplegic syndrome occurs in $8{\sim}10%$ of patients following cardiac surgery, and this happens in part because of inducing the inflammatory response. Nitric oxide and guanylate cyclase play an important role in this response, and this is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. For our case, we administered methylene blue (MB), an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, early after performing cardiopulmonary bypass in a patient with vasoplegic syndrome. The patient recovered immediately after MB administration and maintained an optimal blood pressure without the aid help of any vasopressors.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.296-299
• /
• 2010

A right coronary artery to left ventricular fistula with a giant right coronary artery aneurysm is a very rare condition. This requires surgical treatment because of the possibility of rupture of aneurysm, heart failure and infective endocarditis. A 47 years old male patient with dyspnea on exertion for 3 months was diagnosed as having a right coronary artery to left ventricular fistula with a giant right coronary artery aneurysm according to the CT and coronary artery angiography. We resected the aneurysm and performed a coronary artery bypass graft.