• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.631-637
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• 1993

Background: In normal adults, ventilation is uneven and greater in the base than the apex of the lung in tidal volume breathing. However infants have fragile chest wall and reduced elastic recoil, resulting in easy closure of peripheral airways especially in the dependent portion of the lung. So ventilation in infants is greater in the apex than the base of the lung. We assumed that in adults whose closing volume is increased, dependent portion could be easily collapsed during tidal breathing and ventilation could be greater in the uppear than than the lower portion of the lung. Methods: We measured spirometry and closing volume(CV) in normal controls and in patients with chronic lung disease. Also we measured fractional distribution of ventilation at supine, left lateral and right lateral decubitus with $^{133}Xe$ ventilation scan in normal controls, patients with normal closing volume and patients with increased closing volume. Results: The subjects consisted of 7 normal controls(mean $age{\pm}SD$, $62.9{\pm}6.1$ years). 6 patients with normal CV($62.8{\pm}8.2$ years) and 7 patients with increased CV($63.0{\pm}15.3$ years). 1) Normal controls have mean(${\pm}SD$) FVC $104{\pm}11%$ of predicted value, $FEV_1\;120{\pm}16%,\;FEV_1/FVC\;112{\pm}5%$ and CV $86.9{\pm}12.5%$. Patients with normal CV have FVC $62{\pm}11%,\;FEV_1\;54{\pm}17%,\;FEV_1/FVC\;84{\pm}23%$ and CV $92.6{\pm}15.5%$. Patients with increased CV, have FVC $53{\pm}9%,\;FEV_1\;38{\pm}13,\;FEV_1/FVC\;69{\pm}16%$ and CV $176.1{\pm}36.6%$, CV was significantly different between two patient groups(p<0.02) 2). In normal controls mean fractional ventilation to left lung was $48.1{\pm}5.3%$ at supine, $54.1{\pm}9.8%$ at dependent and $40.9{\pm}6.5%$ at left uppermost position. In patients with normal CV mean fractional ventilation to left lung was $44.6{\pm}2.1%$ at supine, $59.7{\pm}5.6%$ at left dependent and $31.7{\pm}8.3%$ at left uppermost position. In patients with increased CV mean fractional ventilation to left lung was $48.7{\pm}4.5%$ at supine, $41.7{\pm}6.6%$ at left dependent and $60.9{\pm}15.7%$ at left uppermost position. In normal controls and patients with normal CV, ventilation to left lung at left dependent position tends to be higher than that at supine position but without statisitical significance and it was significantly lower at left uppermost than at left lung dependent position. In patients with increased CV, ventilation to left at left dependent position tends to be higher than that at supine position but without significance and it was significantly higher at left uppermost than that at left dependent position. Conclusion: These data suggest that in patients with increased CV ventilation to one side of lung could be higher at uppermost than at dependent position on lateral decubitus during tidal breathing and this fact should be taken into account in positioning of patients with unilateral lung disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.4 s.273
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• pp.280-287
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• 2007

Background: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical results of surgically managing patients with Ebstein's anomaly. Material and Method: Between Feb. f 984 and June 2006, 50 patients who underwent surgical treatment for Ebstein's anomaly at Yonsei Cardiovascular Center were retrospectively reviewed. The mean age of the patients was 26.9 years and 19 patients were male, Associated anomalies included atrial septal defect (33), patent ductus arteriosus (2), ventricular septal defect (1), and pulmonary stenosis (4), and 90%, (45/50) of the patients had more than a moderate degree of tricuspid regurgitation. Carpentier type A was present in 6 patients, type B in 26, type C in 14 and type D in 4. Ten patients were associated with WPW syndrome. Conservative surgery was possible in 31 patients (tricuspid annuloplasty, plication of the atrialized RV), Fontan's operation was peformed in 4 patients, tricuspid valve replacement was done in 12 and palliative surgery was done in 2 patients. Thirteen patients were associated with hi-directional cavopulmonary shunt (BCPS: one and a half ventricular repairs): 10 patients with WPW syndrome and 4 patients with atrial fibrillation underwent concomitant ablation. Result: The postoperative median NYHA functional class $(3{\rightarrow}1)$ and the mean cardio-thoracic ratio $(0.65{\rightarrow}0.59)$ were decreased significantly (p<0.001, p=0.014). The mean oxygen saturation $(86.6{\rightarrow}94.1%)$, and median TR grade $(4{\rightarrow}1)$ were also significantly improved (p=0.004, p<0.001). For comparison of BCPS and conservative surgery, the preoperative right ventricular pressure (33.0 vs. 41.3 mmHg), the ICU stay (2.80 vs. 1.89 days), the hospital say (10.6 vs. 16.8 days), and the left ventricular ejection fraction (64.3 vs. 72.8%) were statistically different. Postoperative mortality occurred in 3 patients (6%) due to biventricular failure in 2 patients and sepsis in the other patient. The mean follow up duration was 101.5 months, and one patient died of Fontan failure and 6 patients required reoperation (bioprosthetic degenerative change (2) and Fontan conversion (4)). The overall survival rate at 10 years was 90.2%, the freedom from reoperation rate and rate of cardiac related events were 78.9% and 49.2%, respectively. Conclusion: Surgical management of Ebstein's anomaly can be performed safely, and the associated BCPS may be helpful for high-risk patients. Adequate application of surgical management may increase the long-term survival with a reduced rate of reoperation.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.25 no.1 s.37
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• pp.88-100
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• 1992

This study was conducted to assess the effects of implementation of the patient referral system started July 1st, 1989. A comparison on the pattern of outpatient services of the Departments of Internal Medicine, General Surgery, and Pediatrics at the Yeungnam University Hospital was conducted for each one year period before and after implementation of the patient referral system. The pre-implementation period was from July 1, 1988 to June 30, 1989 and the post-implementation period was from July 1, 1989 to June 30, 1990. The information used for this study was obtained from official forms, prepared by the Yeungnam University Hospital, and submitted to the Korean Medical Insurance Cooperatives. After implementation of the patient referral system, the number of outpatient cases in the Department of Internal Medicine decreased 36.1% from 9,669 cases to 6,181 cases a year. Cases in the Department of General Surgery decreased 23.7% from 1,864 cases to 1,422 cases a year. The number of cases in the Department of Pediatrics decreased 36.9% from 3,372 cases to 2,128 cases a year. After implementation of the patient referral system, the average age of cases in the Departments of Internal Medicine and General Surgery was 52.5 and 49.7 years old, respectively. This was a significant increase in comparison with the pre-implementation period. After implementation of patient referral system, the proportion of new outpatients in the Department of Internal Medicine decreased from 24.1% to 14.6%, the Department of General Surgery from 36.0% to 23.4%, and the Department of Pediatrics from 15.5% to 8.3%. The number of visits per case decreased significantly in the Department of Internal Medicine(from 1.74 to 1.61), but there was no significant change in the Departments of General Surgery and Pediatrics. The length of treatment per case increased significantly in all three departments(from 16.1 days to 19.3 days in the Department of Internal Medicine, from 12.0 days to 15.2 days in the Department General Surgery, and 8.9 days to 11.2 days in the Department of Pediatrics). The number of clinical tests per case increased significantly in the Department of Internal Medicine (from 2.2 to 2.5), in the Department of Pediatrics(from 0.8 to 1.1) and increased in the Department of General Surgery(from 6.4 to 6.6). The average medical cost per case decreased from 43,900 Won to 42,500 Won in the Department of Internal Medicine, while the cost increased from 75,900 Won to 78,500 Won in the Department of General Surgery and from 12,700 Won to 13,500 Won in the Department of Pediatrics. In case-mix, the chronic degenerative disease(i. e. hypertension, diabetes mellitus, angina pectoris, malignant neoplasm, and pulmonary tuberculosis) ranked higher and acute infectious diseases and simple cases(i. e. gastritis and duodenitis, haemorrhoids, anal fissure, carbuncle, acute URI, and bronchitis) ranked lower after implementation of the patient referral system compared to before implementation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.601-613
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• 2000

Background : Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal progressive fibrous disease of the lung of unknown etiology. Recently it has been classified into several distinct entities on the basis of pathologic and clinical characteristics, ie : usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), desquamative interstitial pneumonia (DIP), acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP), bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia (BOOP), and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP). IPF is now applied only for UIP, which has the worst prognosis. The previous reports of 3-5 year median survival appears to be overoptimistic because other types with better prognosis like NSIP or BOOP might have been included. Therefore, this study was performed to determine the clinical course and the prognostic factors of UIP as diagnosed by surgical lung biopsy. Methods : The subjects were 72 UIP patients (age $58.2{\pm}11.6$ years, M : F=45 : 27, median follow up period : 18.1 months (0.7-103.6) diagnosed by surgical lung biopsy at the Asan Medical Center (68 patients) and the Paik Hospital in Seoul (4 patients). Clinical scores (level of dyspnea : 1-20 points), radiologic score (honeycombing : HC score 0-5 points, ground glass : GG score 0-5 points), and physiologic scores (FVC : 1-12 points, $FEV_1$ : 0-3 points, TLC : 0-10 points, $D_{LCO)$ : 0-5 points, $AaDO_2$ : 0-10 points) were summed into a total CRP score. Results : 1) The one year survival rate was 78.3%, while the rate for three year survival was 58.1%, and the median survival period was 42.5months. 2) Short term (1 year) prognosis : The patients who died within one year of diagnosis (14 patients) had the higher initial total CRP score ($28.6{\pm}8.3$ vs. $16.6{\pm}9.7$) than those who lived longer than one year (46 patients). The difference in the total CRP score was attributed to the symptom score ($8.4{\pm}2.1$ vs. $5.7{\pm}3.9$) and the physiologic score ($15.7{\pm}7.1$ vs. $6.7{\pm}5.7$) including FVC, $D_{LCO)$ and $AaDO_2$. 3) Long-term (3year) prognosis : The total CRP score ($12.2{\pm}6.7$ vs. $28.7{\pm}7.9$ : including symptom score, FVC, $D_{LCO)$ and $AaDO_2$) at the time of diagnosis were also different for the long-term survivors and those who lived less than 3 years. 4) Cox regression analysis showed $D_{LCO)$ (${\geq}$60%) (Hazard ratio : 4.56, 95% CI : 2.30-16.04) was the independent prognostic factors of UIP (P<0.05). Conclusion : These results suggest that $D_{LCO)$ at the time of diagnosis seem to be a prognostic markers of biopsy-proven UIP.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.846-854
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• 1995

Background: Cytokeratin 19 is a subunit of cytokeratin intermediate filament expressed in simple epithelia such as respiratory epithelial cells and their malignant counterparts. An immunoradiometric assay is available to detect a fragment of the cytokeratin, referred to as Cyfra 21-1 in the serum. This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical utility of this new marker in the diagnosis of lung cancer compared with established markers of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC Ag) and carcino-embryonic antigen(CEA). In addition, we compared the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of Cyfra 21-1 with those of SCC Ag in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. We also measured the level of Cyfra 21-1 in the different stages of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. Method: We measured Cyfra 21-1(ELSA-CYFRA 21-1), SCC Ag(ABBOTT SCC RIABEAD) and CEA(ELSA2-CEA) in 79 patients with primary lung cancer and in 78 persons as a comparison group including 32 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, 23 patients with benign lung disease and 23 cases with healthy individual. Cyfra 21-1 is measured by a solid-phase immunoradiometric assay(CIS Bio International, France) based on the two-site sandwich method. SCC Ag is measured by a radioimmunoassay(Abbott Laboratories, USA). CEA is measured by a immunoradiometric assay(CIS Bio International, France). All data were expressed as the mean$\pm$standard deviation. Results: 1) The mean value of Cyfra 21-1 was $18.38{\pm}3.65\;ng/mL$ in the lung cancer and $1.l6{\pm}0.53\;ng/mL$ in the comparison group(p<0.0001). SCC Ag was $3.53{\pm}6.06\;ng/mL$ in the lung cancer and $1.19{\pm}0.5\;ng/mL$ in the comparison group(p<0.01). CEA was $35.03{\pm}13.9\;ng/mL$ in the lung cancer and $2.89{\pm}1.01\;ng/mL$ in the comparison group(p<0.0001). 2) Cyfra 21-1 level in squamous cell carcinoma($31.52{\pm}40.13\;ng/mL$) was higher than that in adenocarcinoma($2.41{\pm}1.34\;ng/mL$)(p<0.0001) and small cell carcinoma($2.15{\pm}2.05\;ng/mL$)(p=0.007). SCC Ag level in squamous cell carcinoma($5.1{\pm}7.68\;ng/mL$) was higher than that in adenocarcinoma($1.36{\pm}0.69\;ng/mL$)(p=0.009) and small cell carcinoma($1.1{\pm}0.24\;ng/mL$) (p=0.024). 3) The level of Cyfra 21-1 was not correlated with the progression of stage in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. 4) Using the cut-off value of 3.3ng/mL, the diagnostic sensitivity of Cyfra 21-1 was 83% in squamous cell carcinoma, 22% in adenocarcinoma and 17% in small cell carcinoma. The sensitivity of SCC Ag and CEA were 39% and 20%, respectively in squamous cell carcinoma, 11% and 39% in adenocarcinoma, and 0% and 33% in small cell carcinoma. 5) Comparison of the receiver operating characteristics curves(ROC curve) for Cyfra 21-1, SCC Ag and CEA revealed that Cyfra 21-1 showed highest diagnostic sensitivity among them in the diagnosis of lung cancer. Conclusion: Cyfra 21-1 is thought to be a better tumor marker for the diagnosis of lung cancer than SCC Ag and CEA, especially in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.