• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.975-991
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• 1997

Background : Many patients with isoniazid and rifampin-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis have organisms that are also resistant to other first-line drugs. Despite of aggressive retreatment chemotherapy, the results are often unsuccessful, with a failure rate approaching 40%. Recently, there has been a revival of resectional surgery for the treatment of multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods : A retrospective analyses of the case records and radiographic findings were done. Between January 1991 and December 1995, 14 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seronegative patients with multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis were selected for resection to supplement chemotherapy. All patients had organisms resistant to many of the first-line drugs, including both isoniazid and rifampin. Results : Despite of aggressive therapy for median duration of 9.5 months, 12 of the 14 patients (86%) were still sputum smear and/or culture positive at the time of surgery. The disease was generally extensive. Although main lesions of the disease including thick-walled cavities were localized in one lung, lesser amounts of contralateral disease were demonstrated in 10 of 14 (71%). Types of surgery performed were pneumonectomy including extrapleural pneumonectomy in six patients, lobectomy or lobectomy plus in six patients, and segmentectomy in two patients. The resected lung appeared to have poor function ; preoperative perfusion lung scan showed only 4.8% of the total perfusion to the resected portion of the lung. There were no operative deaths. Two patients had major postoperative complications including empyema with bronchopleural fistula and prolonged air leak, respectively. Of the 14 patients, 13 (93%) remained sputum-culture-negative for M. tuberculosis for a median duration of 23 months and one remained continuously sputum smear and culture positive for M. tuberculosis. Conclusion : On the basis of comparison with historical controls, adjunctive resectional surgery appears to play a significant beneficial role in the management of patients with multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis if the disease is localized and there are adequate reserve in pulmonary function.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.12
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• pp.1230-1234
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• 2003

Purpose : The aim of this study is to evaluate the value of lung biopsies for the management of children with lung disease. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed 19 lung biopsies done at Asan Medical Center, Seoul between 1993 and 2001. Data gathered included demographic information, underlying conditions, diagnosis before biopsy, final diagnosis, change in therapy, morbidity and mortality. Results : Nineteen patients underwent lung biopsy. Among them, 13 patients were male and six patients were female; the median age was 3.6 years(0.8 to 8.6 years). Twelve patients underwent open lung biopsies and seven patients had thoracoscopic biopsies. The overall diagnosis rate was 95 %. The most common diagnosis was interstitial lung disease(12 patients, 64%) and infection was detected in four patients(21%). The biopsy-proven bronchiolitis obliterance was confirmed in two of seven patients suspected by CT findings. Specific treatment was changed after biopsy in 16 patients (85%). The morbidity & overall mortality rates of the patients were 5%(one patient) and 21%(four patients) respectively. Only one complication was seen : empyema. The causes of death were acute respiratory distress syndrome(one patient), respiratory failure(two patients), and septicemia(one patient). Conclusion : The lung biopsy is a safe procedure and it contributes to more accurate diagnosis and proper management of pediatric lung diseases. We recommend lung biopsies should be considered more positively in the diagnosis of pediatric lung diseases.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2012

Purpose : To investigate the feasibility of in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) for evaluation of lung cancer. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was approved by the institutional review board of our hospital and informed consent was obtained in all patients. Ten patients (7 men, 3 women; mean age, 64.4) with pathologicallyproven lung cancer (mean, 56.8 mm; range, 44-77 mm) were enrolled to 1.5 T MRS using a single-voxel respiration-triggered point-resolved spectroscopic sequence. Technical success rate and the reason of technical failure, if any, were investigated. Results: Out of 10 lung cancers, analyzable MRS spectra were obtained in 8 tumors (technical success rate, 80%). Two MRS datasets were not able to be analyzed due to serious baseline distortion. Choline and lipid signals were detected as major metabolites in analyzable MRS spectra. Conclusion: In vivo proton MRS method using a single-voxel respiration-triggered point-resolved spectroscopic sequence is feasible in obtaining the MR spectra of lung cancer because these spectra were analyzable and high success rate was shown in our study although there was the limitation of small patient group.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.443-448
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• 2004

Background : Small-cell carcinomas of lung have a tendency for rapid growth and early wide metastasis. Despite the high response rates of combination chemotherapy alone or with radiotherapy, the overall long-term survival rate is very disappointing. According to autopsy findings, the common cause of failure is local recurrence in the primary cancer site. Therefore, surgical resection with combined chemotherapy has recently been attempted for very early stage small-cell carcinomas of the lung. Methods : 10 patients (TNM I & II: 5 cases each) undergoing surgical resection for small-cell carcinomas of the lung were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy in an attempt to prolong survival. Of these, 9 patients received chemotherapy, and a retrospective study for survival undertaken (Kaplan-Meier analysis). Results : The median survival time was 26 months, and the 2- and 5-year survival rates were 68.6 and 46.7%, respectively. If the 1 patient not having undergone chemotherapy was excluded, the 2-, 5-year survival rates were 76.2 and 50.8%, respectively? No difference in the survival rate was seen between patients with TNM stages I and II. Conclusion : Adjuvant chemotherapy after surgical resection results in prolonged survival for patients with TNM stages I and II small-cell carcinomas of the lung.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.68 no.3
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• pp.168-174
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• 2010

Background: Sepsis still has a high mortality rate despite adequate supportive care. Newer therapeutic modalities have been developed but they have generally ended in failure. Recently, insulin was reported to have an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the $I{\kappa}B/NF-{\kappa}B$ pathway, and may have therapeutic potential in sepsis. However, the precise mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effect of insulin is unclear. This study examined the role of insulin in activating $I{\kappa}B/NF-{\kappa}B$ in macrophage. Methods: Raw 264.7 cells, a murine macrophage cell line, were used in this experiment. Western blotting using $I{\kappa}B$ Ab and phosphor-specific $I{\kappa}B$ Ab was performed to evaluate the degradation and phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B$ cells. For the $I{\kappa}B$ Kinase (IKK) activity, an immune complex kinase assay was performed. The level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) was measured by ELISA to determine the level of proinflammatory cytokine. Results: $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation began 30 min after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. However, an insulin pretreatment suppressed the $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation caused by the LPS treatment. The phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and IKK activity was also inhibited by the insulin pretreatment. Finally, the insulin pretreatment showed a tendency to suppress the induction of IL-6 by LPS. Conclusion: Insulin might have an anti-inflammatory effect though partial inhibition of the $I{\kappa}B/NF{\kappa}B$ pathway in macrophage cell lines.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.396-401
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• 1997

Tailoring thoracoplasty is employed prior to, following, or concomitant with pulmonary resection when it is anticipated that insufHclent lung tissue will remain to fill the pleural space following a pulmonary resection. This study reviewed a series of eight patients treated with tailoring thoracoplasty between 1990 and 1995. Indications were to close a persistent space In four patients and to tailor the thoracic cavity to accept diminished lung volume concomitant with a pulmonary resection in the other four patients. The primary underlying disease was lung cancer in three patients and pulmonary tuberculosis In five patients, two of whom had concomitant aspcrgilloma, two, pneumothora , and one, empyema with bronchopleural fistula. In four patients with a prior pulmonary resection, the tailoring thoracoplasty was performed within eight days after the resection surgery. There was no failure to accommodate the thoracic cavity to insufficient lung tissue, even though two patients needed a second thoracoplasty. We conclude that tailoring thoracoplasty may be performed to close anticipated persistent pleural space and to accommodate diminished lung volume with acceptable cosmetic results Early, after, or concomitant with pulmonary resection in selected patients.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2011

Purpose: Recently, the use of radiosurgery as a local therapy in patients with early stage non-small cell lung cancer has become favored over surgical resection. To evaluate the efficacy of radiosurgery, we analyzed the results of stereotactic body radiosurgery in patients with primary or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer. Materials and Methods: We reviewed medical records retrospectively of total 24 patients (28 lesions) with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received stereotactic body radiosurgery (SBRT) at Inha University Hospital. Among the 24 patients, 19 had primary NSCLC and five exhibited recurrent disease, with three at previously treated areas. Four patients with primary NSCLC received SBRT after conventional radiation therapy as a boost treatment. The initial stages were IA in 7, IB in 3, IIA in 2, IIB in 2, IIIA in 3, IIIB in 1, and IV in 6. The T stages at SBRT were T1 lesion in 13, T2 lesion in 12, and T3 lesion in 3. 6MV X-ray treatment was used for SBRT, and the prescribed dose was 15~60 Gy (median: 50 Gy) for PTV1 in 3~5 fractions. Median follow up time was 469 days. Results: The median GTV was 22.9 mL (range, 0.7 to 108.7 mL) and median PTV1 was 65.4 mL (range, 5.3 to 184.8 mL). The response rate at 3 months was complete response (CR) in 14 lesions, partial response (PR) in 11 lesions, and stable disease (SD) in 3 lesions, whereas the response rate at the time of the last follow up was CR in 13 lesions, PR in 9 lesions, SD in 2 lesions, and progressive disease (PD) in 4 lesions. Of the 10 patients in stage 1, one patient died due to pneumonia, and local failure was identified in one patient. Of the 10 patients in stages III-IV, three patients died, local and loco-regional failure was identified in one patient, and regional failure in 2 patients. Total local control rate was 85.8% (4/28). Local recurrence was recorded in three out of the eight lesions that received below biologically equivalent dose 100 $Gy_{10}$. Among 20 lesions that received above 100 $Gy_{10}$, only one lesion failed locally. There was a higher recurrence rate in patients with centrally located tumors and T2 or above staged tumors. Conclusion: SBRT using a CyberKnife was proven to be an effective treatment modality for early stage patients with NSCLC based on high local control rate without severe complications. SBRT above total 100 $Gy_{10}$ for peripheral T1 stage patients with NSCLC is recommended.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1998

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), originally discovered and cloned as a powerful mitogen for hepatocytes, is a four kringle-containing growth factor which specifically binds to membrane-spanning tyrosine kinase, c-Met/HGF receptor. HGF has mitogenic, motogenic (enhancement of cell movement), morphogenic (e.g., induction of branching tubulogenesis), and anti-apoptotic activities for a wide variety of cells. During embryogenesis, HGF supports organogenesis and morphogenesis of various tissues, including liver, kidney, lung, gut, mammary gland, and tooth. In adult tissues HGF elicits an organotrophic function which supports regeneration of organs such as liver, kidney, lung, and vascular tissues. HGF is also a novel member of neurotrophic factor in nervous systems. Together with the preferential expression of HGF in mesenchymal or stromal cells, and c-Met/HGF receptor In epithelial or endothelial cells, the HGF-Met coupling seems to orchestrate dynamic morphogenic processes through epithelial-mesenchymal (or-stromal) interactions for organogenesis and organ regeneration. HGF or HGF gene may well become unique therapeutic tools for treatment of patients with various organ failure, through its actions to reconstruct organized tissue architectures. This review focuses on recently characterized biological and physiological functions integrated by HGF-Met coupling during organogenesis and organ regeneration.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.77 no.4
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• pp.161-166
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• 2014

Since tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health concern and the incidence of multi-drug resistant (MDR)-TB is increasing globally, new modalities for the detection of TB and drug resistant TB are needed to improve TB control. The Xpert MTB/RIF test can be a valuable new tool for early detection of TB and rifampicin resistance, with a high sensitivity and specificity. Late-generation fluoroquinolones, levofloxacin, and moxifloxacin, which are the principal drugs for the treatment of MDR-TB, show equally high efficacy and safety. Systemic steroids may reduce the overall TB mortality attributable to all forms of TB across all organ systems, although inhaled corticosteroids can increase the risk of TB development. Although fixed dose combinations were expected to reduce the risk of drug resistance and increase drug compliance, a recent meta-analysis found that they might actually increase the risk of relapse and treatment failure. Regarding treatment duration, patients with cavitation and culture positivity at 2 months of TB treatment may require more than 6 months of standard treatment. New anti-TB drugs, such as linezolid, bedaquiline, and delamanid, could improve the outcomes in drug-resistant TB. Nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease has typical clinical and immunological phenotypes. Mycobacterial genotyping may predict disease progression, and whole genome sequencing may reveal the transmission of Mycobacterium abscessus. In refractory Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease, a moxifloxacin-containing regimen was expected to improve the treatment outcome.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.102-106
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• 1976

The management of infection occurring in the space which remains after removal of lung presents considerable difficulties both for the patient and the surgeon. We have during the past one year, developed a procedure, which has been successfully applied in 4 cases of postpneumonectomy empyema by modification of Clagett's procedure. All their underlying lung diseases were pulmonary tuberculosis. The diagnosis of postpneumonectomy empyema was confirmed by thoracentesis, and bacteriologic cultures were obtained in all patients. Dead space thoracis was irrigated with various kind of antiseptic Solutions and debrided, filled with antibiotics saline solutions. The patients had a smooth post operative course except one case and was discharged from the hospital on the 3 weeks post-operative day in average. The failure case was wound leaking & redeveloped empyema, & waiting for reoperation.