• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.193-196
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• 2004

Acute respiratory distress syndrome after silicone fluid injection is uncommon. Reasons that organic silicone is inactive in the human body and has low surface tension and is not affected by physical factors such as time or temperature make this material to be widely used as a medical product. However, lately some of its side effects have been noted and also cause respiratory problems in rare occasions. The mechanism is not clear but silicone injection cause one to cough, produce hemoptysis, fever, pleuritic chest pain, and dyspnea, and may even lead to acute respiratory failure. In other countries, these side effects were reported from 1970s and several cases started to appear in Korea from 1990s. We report a 58 years-old female who recovered from acute respiratory distress syndrome after injection of silicone fluid into vaginal wall by a conservative therapy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.84 no.3
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• pp.217-225
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• 2021

Background: Despite the proven benefits of dexamethasone in hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, the optimum time for the administration of dexamethasone is unknown. We investigated the progression of COVID-19 pneumonia based on the timing of dexamethasone administration. Methods: A single-center, retrospective cohort study based on medical record reviews was conducted between June 10 and September 21, 2020. We compared the risk of severe COVID-19, defined as the use of a high-flow nasal cannula or a mechanical ventilator, between groups that received dexamethasone either within 24 hours of hypoxemia (early dexamethasone group) or 24 hours after hypoxemia (late dexamethasone group). Hypoxemia was defined as room-air SpO₂ <90%. Results: Among 59 patients treated with dexamethasone for COVID-19 pneumonia, 30 were in the early dexamethasone group and 29 were in the late dexamethasone group. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics, the time interval from symptom onset to diagnosis or hospitalization, or the use of antiviral or antibacterial agents between the two groups. The early dexamethasone group showed a significantly lower rate of severe COVID-19 compared to the control group (75.9% vs. 40.0%, p=0.012). Further, the early dexamethasone group showed a significantly shorter total duration of oxygen supplementation (10.45 days vs. 21.61 days, p=0.003) and length of stay in the hospital (19.76 days vs. 27.21 days, p=0.013). However, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and in-hospital mortality rates were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion: Early administration of dexamethasone may prevent the progression of COVID-19 to a severe disease, without increased mortality.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.2
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• pp.98-100
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• 2016

We present a rare case of critically compromised airway secondary to a massively dilated sequestered colon conduit after several revision surgeries. A 71-year-old male patient had several operations after the diagnosis of gastric cancer. After initial treatment of pneumonia in the pulmonology department, he was transferred to the surgery department for feeding jejunostomy because of recurrent aspiration. However, he had respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. The chest computed tomography (CT) scan showed pneumonic consolidation at both lower lungs and massive dilatation of the substernal interposed colon compressing the trachea. The dilated interposed colon was originated from the right colon, which was sequestered after the recent esophageal reconstruction with left colon interposition resulting blind pouch at both ends. It was treated with CT-guided pigtail catheter drainage via right supraclavicular route, which was left in place for 2 weeks, and then removed. The patient remained well clinically, and was discharged home.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.25-28
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• 2015

Mitochondrial disorders are rare metabolic diseases. They often present during neonatal period but with nonspecific clinical features such as feeding difficulties, failure to thrive, and seizures. Mitochondrial defects have also known to be associated with neurological disorders, as well as cancers. We report the first case of neonatal mitochondrial respiratory chain defect with sarcoma botryoides confirmed by pathologic diagnosis, suggesting another possible link between mitochondrial dysfunction and cancer.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.77 no.2
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• pp.90-93
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• 2014

Hyaluronic acid is widely used in medical procedures, particularly in cosmetic procedures administered by physicians or nonmedical personnel. The materials used for cosmetic procedures by physicians as well as illegally by non-medical personnel can cause nonthrombotic pulmonary embolism (NTPE). We report the case of a woman with acute respiratory failure, neurologic symptoms and petechiae after an illegal procedure of hyaluronic acid dermal filler performed by an unlicensed medical practitioner 3 days before symptom onset. Although a few cases of NTPE after injection of hyaluronic acid have been reported yet, this is the first typical case showing a NTPE manifestation after the facial injection of hyaluronic acid.

• Annals of Geriatric Medicine and Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.200-203
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• 2018

Strongyloides stercoralis is an intestinal nematode that occurs sporadically in temperate areas like Korea. People who are in the immunosuppressed state, over the age of 65 or under the corticosteroid therapy are at risk for developing Strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with alveolar hemorrhage is a rare presentation of Strongyloides hyperinfection. A 78-year-old man had been irregularly injected corticosteroid on his knees, but did not have any immunosuppressive disease. He was initially diagnosed with ARDS and septic shock. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was bloody and its cytology revealed helminthic larvae identified as S. stercoralis. Results of Cytomegalovirus polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Pneumocystis jirovecii PCR, and Aspergillus antigen testing of the BAL fluid were positive. The clinical progress quickly deteriorated with multiple organ failure, shock and arrhythmia, so he finally died. This is a rare case of ARDS in an older patient without any known immunosuppressive conditions, with alveolar hemorrhage and S. stercoralis being found via BAL.

• 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.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Veterinary Clinics Conference
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• 2009.04a
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• pp.137-150
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• 2009

Background: Heart failure can develop secondary to various heart diseases (e.g. mitral valvular insufficiency, congenital heart defects, heart worm infection). The clinical signs of heart failure can be confused with those of other conditions, such as respiratory disease. Therefore, specific, sensitive, rapid and inexpensive blood tests for heart failure are desirable. Cardiac troponins, natriuretic peptides and cytokines have been more recently used as indicators of heart disease in humans and animals. These peptides are sensitive to changes in vasoconstriction and dilation within the heart and are used for the diagnosis and prognosis of heart failure. Methods: Previously developed and newly developed cardiac biomarkers will be discussed for understating clinical implications and diagnostic values in heart diseases in small animals

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.201-205
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• 2006

Immunodeficiency affected by antibody formation is most common among primary immuno-deficiencies. Selective IgA deficiency is more common but, one or more IgG subclass level is low or deficient in some patients. Patients with antibody production deficiency are vulnerable to pneumococci, staphylococci and H.influenzae leading to sinusitis, otitis media and pneumonia. A 10-year-old girl had suffered from frequent upper respiratory infections, a history of tuberculous lymphadenitis tuberculosis medication, and frequent pneumonia that requires hospital adimission. Her height and weight were below 3 percentile normal growth as a manifestation of failure to thrive. When she had another severe pneumonia, all the immunologic test was normal at first, and then we checked the IgG subclass levels. Her IgG1 was within normal, IgG2 was very low, IgG3 and IgG4 was not detected. We report a case of IgG subclass deficiency in frequent upper respiratory infection and failure to thrive.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.435-439
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• 2007

Standard antituberculous therapy, including isoniazid (INH), rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide (PZA), is widely used to treat active tuberculosis. The most important side effect is hepatotoxicity. In a standard four-drug regimen, PZA was the most common cause of drug-induced hepatitis and was dose-related. The incidence of drug-induced hepatitis is high at doses of 40~70 mg/kg per day but has fallen significantly since the recommended dose was reduced. Liver toxicity induced by PZA is rare at doses of 25 mg/kg per day or less. PZA-induced fulminant hepatic failure is also rare but fatal. We report a case of fulminant hepatic failure caused by a re-challenge of PZA.