• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.6
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• pp.516-522
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• 2007

Background: Postoperative pulmonary complications are important problems that prolong the length of the hospital stay and increase patient mortality. However, our knowledge of the postoperative factors that increase the risk of these complications is less than complete. Methods: We conducted a prospective study to determine the risk factors for postoperative pulmonary complications. A total of 199 patients were referred to the Pulmonology Department for preoperative pulmonary evaluation. We reviewed the perioperative variables according to the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP). Postoperatively, we collected data on the occurrence of postoperative pulmonary complications and we evaluated the relationship between the perioperative variables and outcomes. Results: Twenty two patients (11%) had pulmonary complications; 6 had respiratory failure, 4 had pneumonia, 13 had pleural effusion and, 2 had atelectasis. Five variables were statistically significantly associated with pulmonary complications on the bivariate analyses. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that three of these variables were independently associated with an increased risk of pulmonary complications; a high cardiac risk index (OR 16.5, p=0.002), emergency surgery (OR 10.3, p=0.017), and thoracic/abdominal surgery (OR 3.8, p=0.047). Conclusion: The risk factors for postoperative pulmonary complications are a high cardiac risk index, emergency surgery and thoracic/abdominal surgery.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.318-323
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• 2008

It is difficult to distinguish a lung cancer from a pulmonary tuberculoma or other benign nodule. It is even more difficult to identify the type of lesion if the mass shows no change in size or demonstrates slow growth. Only a pathological confirmation can possibly reveal the nature of the lesion. A 61-year-old-woman was referred for a solitary pulmonary nodule. The nodule showed no change in size for the first two years and continued to grow slowly. Pathological and immunological analyses were conducted for confirmation of the nodule. The nodule was identified as a well-differentiated primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma. An LULobectomy was performed, and the post surgical stage of the nodule was IIIA (T2N2M0). Even though there are few risk factors, there is still the possibility of a malignancy in cases of non-growing or slow growing solitary pulmonary nodules. Therefore, pathological confirmation is encouraged to obtain a firm diagnosis.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.205-290
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• 2007

In Korea, abortion in the Criminal Law is an illegal act in exception of limited cases stated in the Mother and the Child Health Law. There are grounds on which abortion may be carried out - though the grounds are very limited and related such as emergency situation of woman's physical health, rape, incest and genetic diseases. The Criminal Law regulates the mother's act of abortion and the doctor's surgical performance of abortion. The Mother and the Child Health Law prescribes the medical, ethical, and genetic grounds for the legal permission of abortion. Many people tend to abuse of abortion even though they are fully aware of its illegality. The law lead to be inconsistent with its enforcement. In this paper, I would like to suggest some proposals about the legal analysis of the Abortion Regulations to reform the existing regulations and increase the effectiveness of the regulations. A national survey was carried out using telephone interview with Korean citizens from August 1th to August 31th in 2005. A total of 1,025 citizens (male: female = 49.2%:50.8%) were randomly sampled in proportion to the number of population of 17 regions. The major findings of this survey were as follows. First, 91.4% of the respondents approved of abortion based on the medical grounds. Second 83.3% of the respondents perceived that abortion may be carried out based on ethical grounds for example rape. Third, 74.3% were agreed to abortion based on genetic diseases. Forth, 64.7% were approved the abortion that unmarried woman may be carried out. In contrast 45.0% were approved the abortion that girls may be carried out, whereas 46.4% were perceived that the abortion may not be permitted. Fifth, 58.3% were disagreed the permission of abortion based on social and economic grounds. According to the survey Korean citizens seem to have positive perception on the abortion that may be carried out based on medical, ethical and genetic grounds. Whereas they worried about the abortion based on social and economic grounds. Now the Mother and the Child Health Law prescribes the medical, ethical, and genetic grounds for the legal permission of abortion. But this law does not include social and economic grounds. In cases of when the mother has a impossibility to breed her child because of her social situations and financial conditions, we should accepted the legal acceptance of abortion due to social and economic grounds.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.805-811
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• 1996

Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the Lung(CCAM) is characterized by anomalous fetal development of terminal respiratory structures, resulting in an adenomatoid proliferation of bronchiolar elements and cystic formation. CCAM was first described and differentiated from other cystic lung disease in the English literature by Ch'in and Tang in 1949. CCAN is a rare, potentially lethal form of congenital pulmonary cystic disease and the salient features of lesion are an irregular network of terminal respiratory bronchiole-like structures and macrocysts variably lined by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium and simple cuboidal epithelium. Adult presentation of CCAM of the lung is so rare that only 9 cases have been reported in the literature of date. The pathogenesis of CCAM remains disputed and reseachers have variously proposed that the lesion represents a developmental anomaly, hamartoma, or a fonn of pulmonary dysplasia. Van Dijk and Wagenvoort divided CCAM into three subtypes : cystic, intermediated, and solid. These correspond to types I, II, and III of Stocker. In adults, the evaluation of cystic or multi cystic lung disease requires consideration of a differential diagnosis including the acquired lesions of lung abscess, cavitary neoplasm or inflammatory mass, bullous disease, bronchiectasis, and postionflammatory pneumatocele. Congenital lesions such as sequestration, bronchopulmonary-foregut anomalies, and bronchogenic cyst are also encounted. The definitive treatment for CCAM is complele removal of the involved lobe. Panial lobectomy leads to multiple complications, including severe post-operative infection. We report a case of CCAM in a 14-year-old female presentated with a pneumothorax and large bullae, who was treated by surgical remove of the involved lobe.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.68-73
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• 2005

Pulmonary sequestration is a very rare congenital malformation in which a mass of pulmonary tissue is detached from the normal lung and receives its blood supply from a systemic artery. It may be clinically asymptomatic or it has a wide spectrum of various clinical manifestations. The clinical therapeutic approach is to resect the sequestered lobe to prevent frequent complication such as infection. The arterial embolization of feeding artery is a new technique and a less invasive treatment than conventional surgical removal. We have experienced a 17-year-old male with pulmonary sequestration whose complaints were pain in left lower chest. He was diagnosed by computed tomography and aortography and successfully treated with embolization of feeding artery. We report a case of pulmonary sequestration treated with arterial embolization instead of surgery.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.72 no.4
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• pp.360-366
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• 2012

Background: Carbapenem-resistance is rapidly evolving among the pathogenic microbes in intensive care units (ICUs). This study aimed to determine annual trend of carbapenem-resistance in the ICU for 4 years, since the opening of a university-affiliated hospital in South Korea. Methods: From 2005 to 2008, microbial samples from consecutive 6,772 patients were screened in the ICU. Three hundred and ninety-seven patients (5.9%) and their first isolates of carbapenem-resistant pathogens were analyzed. Results: The percentage of patients infected with carbapenem-resistant organisms increased constantly during the initial three years (2.3% in 2005, 6.2% in 2006, 7.8% in 2007), then it declined to 6.5% in 2008. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) III score at admission was $58.0{\pm}23.5$, the median length of the ICU stay was 37 days, and the mortality rate was 37.5%. The sampling sites were endotracheal suction (67%), catheterized urine (17%), wound (6%) and others (10%). Bacteria with carbapenem-resistance were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (247 isolates, 62%), Acinetobacter baumannii (117 isolates, 30%), Enterobacteriaceae (12 isolates, 3%), and others (21, 5%). Of note, peak isolation of carbapenem-resistant microorganisms in medical ICU was followed by the same epidemic at surgical ICU. Conclusion: Taken together, carbapenem-resistant pathogens are of growing concern in the ICU.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.68 no.4
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• pp.212-217
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• 2010

Background: Acyl protein thioesterase-1 (APT1) is a cytosolic protein that may function in the depalmitoylation of numerous proteins, including the Ras family. However, the clinical role of depalmitoyl thioesterase in human cancer is not known. We evaluated the APT1 expression in lung cancer tissue and its clinicopathological findings according APT1 expression pattern. Methods: APT1 expression was examined by immunohistochemistry in the tumor tissue from 79 patients, who had undergone curative surgical removal of the primary lesion; all patients had been diagnosed with stage I non-small cell lung cancer between 1993 and 2004, at Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. Results: The APT1 expression was seen in 50 out of 79 (63.3%) cases. The positive APT1 expression was significantly related with histologic subtype and T stage, but was not influenced by differentiation. The positive APT1 expression was not significantly related to patient age, gender, or smoking history. The median follow-up duration was 10.0 years; the 5-year survival rate was 71.0%. The positive APT1 expression group showed significantly worse overall survival and worse disease-free survival without statistical significance. Conclusion: We conclude that positive APT1 expression in stage I lung cancer after surgery is closely associated with overall survival. To evaluate APT1 as a prognostic marker in lung cancer, comprehensive studies on advanced stage cases are needed.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.383-388
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• 1999

Background: Tracheal hamartoma is a very rare cause of upper airway obstruction. Its clinical features can mimic medical conditions, such as bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, and so on. Case; This report presents the case of a 65 year old man whose major symptom was dyspnea. We found a tumor in his distal tracheal lumen, and the tumor was removed with success using rigid bronchoscope. The tumor was histologically proven to be a hamartoma, and his symptoms were much improved. Conclusion: It is important to distinguish it from other conditions because medical management is often not helpful. Surgical correction-with or without thoracotomy-is inevitable.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.420-425
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• 2004

Fistula between coronary artery and pulmonary artery is a type of coronary artery anomalies. It can cause atypical chest pain and fatigue, angina pectoris, endocarditis, finally myocardial steal can result in heart failure and myocardial infarction. But only 0.1-0.2% of coronary angiographic studies reveal the communications between coronary artery and other spaces. (heart chamber, pulmonary artery etc.) It is frequently congenital, but acquired types are increasing because chest and heart manipulations such as opertion of tetralogy of Fallot, endomyocardial biopsy, radiation therapy, or penetrating blunt trauma are increasing. There are reports about repair of fistula using thrombogenic tips, coil embolization and surgical intervention. We report a connection between coronary artery and pulmonary artery in 79 years old female. She was 30 pack-years smoker and suffered from dyspnea several years with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. She presented with atypical chest pain and palpitation after admission. Electrocardiography showed ST-T wave abnormality. Emergency coronary angiography and chest CT scan revealed coronary-pulmonary artery fistula. Transcatheter embolization was performed and she was relieved from discomforts.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.505-515
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• 1997

Background : We assessed the accuracy of staging in evaluation of bronchial invasion, thus found the role of CT in patients who underwent resective surgery in primary lung cancer. Materials and Methods : Authors retrospectively analized the preoperative CT scans of 156 patients receiving pneumonectomy(n = 95) and lobectomy(n = 61). Among lobectomy patients, 7 patients subsequently performed pneumonectomy because of positive resection margin of bronchus in frozen biopsy. We also retrospectively analized CT scans of non-operated 60 patients who performed sufficient bronchoscopic biopsy. Bronchial wall thickness more than 3mm, irregular wall thickening and reduction of diameter by CT were defined as bronchial invasion. The pathologic examination of resection margin were positive in 20, stump recurrence occurred in 6 of the operated group, and the pathologic examination of biopsy of bronchial wall were positive in 34 of the non operated group, and these were an regarded as bronchial invasion. Results : The CT assessment of bronchial invasion revealed low sensitivity (11.5%), low positive predictability(38%), but high specificity(96%) and relatively high accuracy (84%) in the operated group and higher sensitivity (62%), higher positive predictability(95%) in non-operated group. Conclusion : In lung cancer patients who underwent operation, CT showed very low sensitivity and positive predictability in evaluation of bronchial invasion. Because the usefulness of CT in evaluation of bronchial invasion is limited, therefore aggressive fiberoptic bronchoscopic biopsy is thought to be necessary before surgical attempt.