• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2000

The microsurgical reconstruction is necessary for elderly patients to treat severe trauma and head and neck tumor. The aim of this study is to analyze the risks of microvascular surgery and whether or not happening of more complication in elderly patients who are older than 60 years old and to suggest the solution of the complication. The retrospective study included 41 elderly patients who underwent treatment of 44 microsurgical reconstructions among total 271 cases of microsurgical reconstruction from July, 1988 to December, 1998. Their ages ranged from 61 years to 79 years. There were 26 males and 15 females. The involved sites were 23 head and necks, 13 upper gastrointestinal tracts, 3 lower extremities, 1 chest and 1 sacral region. The causes of microsurgical reconstruction were 36 head and neck tumors, 2 radionecrosis, 2 traumas and 1 melanoma in lower limb. The used flaps were 14 radial forearm flaps, 13 jejunal flaps, 10 latissimus dorsi muscle flaps, 3 rectus abdominis muscle flaps, 2 lateral arm flaps, 1 scapular flap, and 1 iliac osteocutaneous flap. They had medical problems which were 29 tobacco abuse, 14 hypertensions, 13 alcohol abuse, 10 chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, 7 diabetes mellituses, 3 ischemic heart diseases. All patients have had successful results without specific complications except 3 cases of free flap failure and 3 perioperative death. The causes of 3 flap failures were 2 flap necrosis due to arterial insufficiency and 1 flap loss due to secondary infection. All of these cases were treated with secondary free flap surgery. However 3 patients died perioperatively due to 2 respiratory arrests and 1 sepsis. It was not related to operate microsurgical reconstruction itself, but was correlated with the complication of postoperative care after head and neck surgery. We conclude that plastic surgeons consider the importance of prevention of expected complication as thorough analysis of operative risk factor and appropriate treatment. We had to select the donor and recipient vessel appropriately to perform successful microsurgery in elderly patients and consider vein graft and end-to-side anastomosis to reduce complication if necessary. In addition, we emphasize the importance of pre, peri and postoperative care in head and neck cancer patients to reduce postoperative complication and morbidity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1471-1478
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• 2008

In this study, nitric oxide (NO) production in a macrophage-lymphocyte co-culture system was used to assess the cytokine producing capability of cells during endotoxin tolerance in mice. Incubation of peritoneal macrophages with interferon-$\tau$ (IFN-$\tau$) in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) augmented NO synthesis. Exogenous tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$(TNF-$\alpha$) could also replace LPS for the stimulation of NO production. Macrophages co-cultured with splenic lymphocytes showed augmented NO synthesis by LPS alone. However, pretreatment of mice with 2.5 mg/kg LPS completely prevented the lethality and the increase of blood TNF-$\alpha$ and IFN-$\tau$ after the second challenge with a lethal dose of LPS. In addition, when macrophages prepared from LPS-tolerant mice were co-cultured with normal splenocytes, LPS also could not induce the production of NO, even in the presence of exogenous TNF-$\alpha$. Moreover, when normal macrophages were co-cultured with splenocytes obtained from LPS-tolerant mice, stimulation with LPS could not evoke the NO production enhancement. However, this down-regulation was able to reverse by exogenous IFN-$\tau$ or concanavalin A (ConA), a stimulator of IFN-$\tau$ production. Our results indicate that not only macrophages but also lymphocytes contribute to LPS tolerance. As INF-$\tau$ can enhance the expression of TNF-$\alpha$, the decrease of INF-$\tau$synthesis from lymphocytes may orchestrate with the decrease of TNF-$\alpha$ synthesis from LPS-tolerant macrophages for the production of tolerant state and the prevention of excessive inflammation. Therefore, LPS tolerance may be exploited for prophylaxis of severe sepsis in patients at risk.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.50-53
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• 2014

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) occurs in the primary form (genetic or familial) or secondary form (acquired). The familial form of HLH (FHL) is a potentially fatal autosomal recessive disorder that occurs because of constitutional defects in cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Here, we report a fatal neonatal case of type 2 FHL (FHL2) that involved a novel frameshift mutation. Clinically, the newborn presented with severe sepsis-like features and required mechanical ventilation and continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration. Flow cytometry analysis showed marked HLH and complete absence of intracytoplasmic perforin expression in cytotoxic cells; therefore, we performed molecular genetic analyses for PRF1 mutations, which showed that the patient had a compound heterozygous mutation in PRF1, that is, c.65delC ($p.Pro22Argfs^*2$) and c.1090_1091delCT ($p.Leu364Glufs^*93$). Clinical and genetic assessments for FHL are required for neonates with refractory fever and progressive multiple organ failure, particularly when there is no evidence of microbiological or metabolic cause.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.11
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• pp.1236-1240
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• 2008

Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) is a rare, autosomal recessive disease caused by an inborn error in cholesterol synthesis. Patients with this disease suffer from multiple malformations due to reduced activity of 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR7), which increases 7-dehydrocholesterol (7DHC) and 8-dehydrocholesterol (8DHC) concentrations and decreases cholesterol concentration in body fluids and tissue. The SLOS phenotypic spectrum ranges from a mild disorder with behavioral and learning problems to a lethal disease characterized by multiple malformations. Here, we describe a newborn male with ambiguous genitalia who was diagnosed to have type II SLOS during the neonatal period. A clinical examination revealed low levels of unconjugated estriol in the maternal serum, and a variety of fetal ultrasound anomalies, including prenatal growth retardation. After birth, the infant was diagnosed to have congenital heart disease (Tetralogy of Fallot with severe pulmonary artery stenosis), cleft lip and palate, micrognathia, postaxial polydactyly, ambiguous genitalia, and cataracts. Clinical investigation revealed extremely low plasma cholesterol levels and the presence of mutation (homozygote of p.Arg352Gln) in the DHCR7 gene. The patient underwent palliative heart surgery (to widen the pulmonary artery) and received intravenous lipid supplementation. Cholesterol levels increased slightly, but not to normal values. The patient died from cardiopulmonary failure and sepsis 72 days after birth. This report provides the first description of a Korean patient with SLOS confirmed by verification of DHCR7 gene mutation and illustrates the need for early recognition and appropriate diagnosis of this disease.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.193-198
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• 2009

Purpose: This study evaluated the characteristics and the prognosis of multiple intraabdominal solid organ injuries, including those to the liver, spleen, and kidney, after blunt trauma. Methods: From January 2001 to March 2009, 39 patients with multiple intraabdominal solid organ injuries, which had been confirmed by contrast-enhanced computed tomography after blunt trauma, were included in this retrospective study. The injury severity score (ISS), abbreviated injury scale (AIS), revised trauma score (RTS), American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) injury grade of solid organs, initial hemodynamic status, blood gas analysis, blood transfusion, and the mortality were the main outcome measurements. Results: Injured groups were classified into liver/kidney (n=17), liver/spleen (n=4), spleen/kidney (n=13), and liver/kidney/spleen (n=5) groups. Patients were older in the liver/kidney group than in the liver/kidney/spleen group (43 vs 18 years, p=0.023). The initial systolic blood pressures tended to be lower in the liver/kidney group than in the other groups (84 vs 105, 112, and 114 mmHg, p=0.087). The amounts of 24-hour packed RBC transfusion were 32 units in the liver/kidney group and 4 units in the liver/kidney/spleen group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Differences were found in neither the RTS, ISS, and AIS for head, chest, abdominal, and pelvic injuries nor the AAST injury grade for solid organ, but injuries to the chest were more severe in the liver/spleen group than in the spleen/kidney group (AIS 4.0 vs 2.8, p=0.028). Conservative treatment was the most frequent applied treatment in all groups. There were 6 mortalities : 3 due to hypovolemia, 2 to sepsis, and 1 to brain injury. Mortalities occurred only in the liver/kidney group. Conclusion: Patients who had intraabdominal solid organ injuries of the liver and the kidney simultaneously, tended to be transfused more at an early time after trauma, to have lower initial systolic blood pressures, and to have a higher mortality.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.126-130
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• 2004

Neisseria meningitidis is a leading cause of meningitis and septicemia in children and young adults. Meningococcemia, the most severe form of infection, represents a part of the various spectrum of the illness, and its clinical manifestations varied from mild fever and occult bacteriemia to fulminant catastrophic events(e.g., sepsis, shock, and death) within a few hours after onset of symptoms. Complement deficiencies, either congenital or acqired, increase the risk for invasive meningococcal disease. Since C3 plays a critical role in the complement cascade, congenital C3 deficiency or conditions that decrease C3(e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus, cirrhosis, nephritis, C3 nephritic factor) increase the risk for invasive disease due to pyogenic bacteria including N. meningitidis. We had experienced a case of meningococcemia and meningococcal meningitis presenting with mild fever, petechiae, and purpura. The patient was a 7-year old male. He had mild fever, vomiting, headache, nuchal rigidity, petechiae and purpura on both lower extremities, which spreaded to the whole body. His blood culture grew Neisseria meningitidis. The diagnosis of meningococcal meningitis was confirmed by examination of cerebrospinal fluid. The clinical symptoms of the illness were improved after treatment of antibiotics(cefotaxime) for 12 days. However the patient had developed generalized edema, microscopic hematuria & proteinuria on the third day after admission. High ASO titer and low serum C3 level were also noted. The microscopic hematuria returned to normal about 2 months after discharge. The C3 level returned to normal range about 3~4 months after discharge. we report a case of combined acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis and acute invasive meningococcal disease with reference review.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.101-105
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• 2008

Enterobacter sakazakii is implicated in severe forms of neonatal infections such as meningitis and sepsis. This organism has been isolated from a wide range of foods, including cheese, vegetables, grains, herbs, and spices, but its primary environment is still unknown. Generally, dried infant milk formula has been epidemiologically identified as the source of E. sakazakii. Sunsik (a powdered mixture of roasted grains and other foodstuffs) is widely consumed in Korea as a side dish or energy supplement. Sunsik is consumed without heat treatment; thus, lacking an additional opportunity to inactivate foodborne pathogens. Therefore, its microbiological safety should be guaranteed. In this study, the prevalence of E. sakazakii was monitored in 23 different sunsik component flours, using FDA recommended methods; but E. sakazakii medium (Neogen) and Chromogenic E. sakazakii medium (Oxoid) were used as the selective media. In total, presumptive E. sakazakii strains were isolated from 8 different sunsik powders. Subsequently, an API 20E test was conducted, and 15 strains from 5 different sunsik flours (sea tangle, brown rice, non-glutinous rice, cheonggukjang, dried anchovy) were confirmed as E. sakazakii. Fifteen strains were again confirmed by PCR amplification, using three different primer sets (tDNA sequence, ITS sequence, 16S rRNA sequence), and compared to ATCC strains (12868, 29004, 29544, 51329). They were once again confirmed by their enzyme production profiles using an API ZYM kit. Finally, RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA)-genotyping was carried out as a monitoring tool to determine the contamination route of E. sakazakii during processing.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.154-161
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• 2010

Pulmonary sequestration (PS) is a rare congenital malformation of the lower respiratory tract. The anomaly is characterized by absence of communication with the tracheobronchial tree and isolated blood supply from an anomalous systemic vessels. With the utilization of antenatal ultrasound, the diagnosis of asymptomatic neonatal PS has increased. Treatment options include observation, arterial embolization and surgical resection. The aim of the present study is to review the clinical course of PS and to share our experience with thoracoscopic resection. A total of 96 patients with PS were treated at Asan Children's Hospital between 1999 and 2010. The diagnosis of PS was established by CT in the cases managed by observation or embolization, and by tissue pathology in the surgical cases. Medical records and radiographic images were retrospectively reviewed. Thirty-nine patients were managed by embolization and 30 patients by surgery. The remaining 27 patients have been under observation without any procedures. Among 27 observation patients, 1 patient regressed completely and 10 patients were lost to follow up. Of the 39 embolizations patients, 2 had their lesion regress and sepsis was suspected after embolization. In 1 patient, the microcoil migrated to the iliac artery during the embolization procedure, and another patient developed renal abscess caused by renal artery embolization. Among 30 surgical cases, resection by thoracotomy was performed in 27 at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, and thoracoscopic resection in 3 at the Division of Pediatric Sugery. Only one wound complication ocurred. We conclud that surgical excision should be recommended for pulmonary sequestration, whether the sequestration is symptomatic or not because of the risk of infection, the low rate of natural regress, poor compliance, severe complications after embolization, and to exclude other pathology. In summary, thoracoscopic resection of the pulmonary sequestration is feasible, efficacious, safe and cosmetically superior even in neonatal period.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2024

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) activates intracellular oxygen using a photosensitizer activated by light of a specific wavelength and is a potential means of treating wound infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is typically non-pathogenic in healthy individuals but can induce severe illnesses like sepsis in the immunocompromised. Antibiotics have been conventionally used to treat P. aeruginosa infections, but increasing antibiotic resistance caused by drug misuse poses a growing challenge to the management of these infections. This study aimed to investigate the ability of PDT using photosensitizers (PhotoMed, Methyl pheophorbide A, or Radachlorin^®) and a diode laser to inhibit P. aeruginosa. Suspensions of P. aeruginosa and a photosensitizer were inoculated into Petri dishes and incubated for 30 minutes. Samples were then irradiated with the laser at 3 J/cm², and after incubation, colony areas were measured. P. aeruginosa killing rates were 79.65% for PhotoMed, 47.36% for Methyl pheophorbide A, and 40.91% for Radachlorin^®. This study shows that PDT using a diode laser and a photosensitizer constitutes an effective practical therapeutic approach for inhibiting P. aeruginosa.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.386-394
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• 2022

Splenic artery steal syndrome (SASS) is a cause of graft hypoperfusion leading to the development of biliary tract complications, graft failure, and in some cases to retransplantation. Its management is still controversial since there is no universal consensus about its prophylaxis and consequently treatment. We present a case of SASS that occurred 48 hours after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx) in a 56-year-old male patient with alcoholic cirrhosis and severe portal hypertension, and who was successfully treated by splenic artery embolization. A literature search was performed using the PubMed database, and a total of 22 studies including 4,789 patients who underwent OLTx were relevant to this review. A prophylactic treatment was performed in 260 cases (6.2%) through splenic artery ligation in 98 patients (37.7%) and splenic artery banding in 102 (39.2%). In the patients who did not receive prophylaxis, SASS occurred after OLTx in 266 (5.5%) and was mainly treated by splenic artery embolization (78.9%). Splenic artery ligation and splenectomies were performed, respectively, in 6 and 20 patients (2.3% and 7.5%). The higher rate of complications registered was represented by biliary tract complications (9.7% in patients who received prophylaxis and 11.6% in patients who developed SASS), portal vein thrombosis (respectively, 7.3% and 6.9%), splenectomy (4.8% and 20.9%), and death from sepsis (4.8% and 30.2%). Whenever possible, prevention is the best way to approach SASS, considering all the potential damage arising from an arterial graft hypoperfusion. Where clinical conditions do not permit prophylaxis, an accurate risk assessment and postoperative monitoring are mandatory.