• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.825-830
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• 2009

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of Calendula officinalis extract (CE) on the activation of murine lymphocytes and macrophages. CE was administered p.o. once a day for 7 days at the concentration of 500 mg/kg. The administration of CE increased the viability of thymocytes, but decreased the viability of splenocytes. Also, CE increased the viability of thymocytes and splenocytes at the concentration of $5{\mu}g$/ml in vitro. The administration of CE did not affect the population of thymic $CD4^+$/$CD8^+$ cells and splenic $CD4^+$/$CD8^+$ cells. Furthermore, the administration of CE enhanced the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages, but decreased the phagocytic activity in vitro. CE decreased the production of nitric oxide from peritoneal macrophages in vivo and in vitro system. These results suggest that CE enhance of cell viability by a direct influence on thymocytes and phagocytic activity by an indirect influence on peritoneal macrophages.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.87-89
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• 2002

A 30 year-old female patient with papillary thyroid carcinoma received her fifth radioiodine ablation therapy after the subtotal thyroidectomy. The scan, which was peformed one week after the last therapy, revealed residual uptake in the thyroid bed and uptake in the anterior mediastinum suggesting metastasis. However, further evaluation of the thorax with chest CT and camera-based FDG PET confirmed normal thymus without metastatic focus. Occasionally thymus remains intact in adult and has avidity for I-131 and FDG. Therefore, normal thymus (instead of metastasis) should be considered in patients with well differentiated thyroid carcinoma and anterior mediastinal radioiodine uptake.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.54-58
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• 1994

BALB/C mice were intraperitoneally injected with methamphetamine (5 mg/kg) to observe the effect of methamphetamine on the immune system. Body weights were decreased in both acutely treated group (twice for 2 weeks with 7 days interval) and subchronically treated group (daily injection for 14 days). The relative spleen weights and the numbers of splenocytes were unexpectedly increased (p<0.05) in acutely treated group, but subchronically treated group showed the trend of decrease without significance. But there was no significant effect on antibody formation to hen egg Iysozyme which was immunized during the treatment of methamphetamine and on plaque forming cell number. The relative thymus weights of both groups were significantly decreased by the treatment of methamphetamine (acutely treated group, p<0.05; subchronically treated group, p<0.01). These results suggest that the effect of methamphetamine on the immune system may be caused by thymic dysfunction.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1516-1522
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• 1992

Thirty patients with myasthenis gravis[MG] underwent transternal extended thymectomy between 1983 and 1992 in Pusan National University Hospital. The age of patients was 11 to 62 years[mean; 35.2 years] with female dominant[M: F=l: 4]. According to modified Osserman classification, group I was in 6, II A in 7, II B in 13, III in 2, IV in 2 patients respectively. Their clinical response to thymectomy was evaluated. The follow-up period ranged from 2 months to 9.5 years[average; 51.3 months]. Fourteen patients[13.3%] had remission and eleven[43.3%] were improved after operation; half of patients were benefited from operation. Twenty patients had thymic hyperplasia and seven had non-infiltrating thymoma. In thymomatous MG one patient had remission and five were improved. Postoperative death was in a female patient. The cause of death was respiratory failure in the severe generalized MG preoperatively.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.563-570
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• 1983

For the purpose of evaluation of clinical characteristics and histopathological properties in mediastinal tumors, 130 patients with mediastinal tumors treated during the period from 1958 to 1982 were reviewed. Cancers of unidentified primary site of origin, nonneoplastic lesions and the cases with clinical diagnosis only were excluded from this report. There were 69 males and 61 females, and their ages ranged from 2 months to 66 years, with the average age of 31.3 years. 19.2% of patients were younger than 15 years of age. The most frequently encountered tumors were teratodermoids, followed by neurogenic tumors, thymic tumors, benign cysts, malignant lymphomas and miscellaneous tumors in order of decreasing frequency. 75.4% of the mediastinal tumors were benign and 24.6% were malignant. 16.6% of the patients were asymptomatic at admission. There were 2 postoperative deaths with 1.7% of operative mortality rate, and 2 other deaths who were not operated upon, showing overall hospital mortality rate of 3.1%. Postoperative follow up was possible in 84 cases, and there were 4 late deaths.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.312-315
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• 2013

In chest wall reconstruction after wide chest wall resection, the use of a musculocutaneous flap or prosthetic materials is inevitable for maintaining thoracic movement and a closed pleural cavity. We report a case of a 63-year-old male with a large invasive thymic carcinoma in the anterior mediastinum. The mass measured 6.8 cm and involved the sternum, left side of the parasternal area, ribs, and intercostal muscles. The patient underwent subtotal sternectomy, radical thymectomy, and reconstruction with biological mesh (Permacol). Successful chest wall reconstruction without any other complications was achieved, demonstrating the effectiveness of Permacol.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.689-694
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• 1994

A retrospective analysis was performed on 36 patients with primary cysts and tumors of the mediastinum seen at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery of Maryknoll Hospital from January 1983 to December 1993. There were 21 female and 15 male patients in the study. Ages ranges from 2 years to 72 years, with a mean of 34.7. There were 9 malignant tumors and 27 benign tumors.Thymic neoplasms were the most common. For the whole series, 29 of the patients had tumors in the anterior mediastinum. There appears to be an in6rease in tumors in the anterior compartment. There were 30 symptomatic patients in our series. Of the patients with malignant disease, 89 % were symptomatic. All of benign tumors were completely removed and malignant tumors were treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy after operation. There were 9[27.3 %] postoperative complications. There was no postoperative mortality. Follow-up was available on 27 patients. There was no recurrence, malignant degeneration, or growth of any tumor. It is hoped that careful evaluation and aggressive treatment of mediastinal tumors will continue to provide improvement in the prognosis for these patients.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.946-951
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• 2003

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of Maekmoondong-tang(MMDT) on the activity of immune cell. The addition of MMDT(10 ㎍/㎖) enhanced the proliferation of cultured-splenocytes and thymocytes. And administration of MMDT(250, 500 ㎎/㎏) accelerated subpopulation of splenic T lymphocytes in BALB/c mice. In contrast, the treatment of the high concentration (500 ㎎/㎏)of MMDT were decreased thymic T lymphocytes. Administration of MMDT(250, 500 ㎎/㎏) eminently enhanced the production of IFN-γ. And MMDT did not affect the cell viability of Jurkat leukemia cells. These results suggest that MMDT have a immunoregulatory effect via enhanced cell mediated immunity

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.65-68
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• 2022

Thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) is the most common congenital cyst in the neck and usually presents in children. It is most commonly located at the infrahyoid level. However, intrathyroid TGDC in the adult is extremely rare and its pathogenesis remains unclear. Curiously, an intrathyroid TGDC was found on the lateral aspect of the inferior pole of the thyroid gland. Given the unique position of this lesion, and its capacity to stimulate other nodules in the thyroid, it should be differentiated from other lateral neck masses, such as: thymic cysts, branchial cleft cysts, cystic hygroma, lipomas, lymphadenopathies, cervical teratomas, and lymphomas. In this case, a separate cystic mass was found in the right inferior pole of the thyroid gland and extended to the mediastinum. We confirmed it as TGDC by pathology and histological examination.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.314-318
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• 2021

In this paper, I present the technique of subxiphoid single-port video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) thymectomy for thoracic surgeons to perform this procedure safely. This procedure is indicated for all anterior mediastinal masses and may be extended to lung cancer. The patient is placed in the lithotomy position, and the operator should be on the midline. Below the xiphoid process, a skin incision is made 4-5 cm horizontally at a single thumb's width down. Under two-lung ventilation, CO₂ is insufflated, maintaining 10 mm Hg. The fat tissue and thymic tissue are all resected from the sternum and pericardium between both phrenic nerves using an articulated grasper and an energy device. After retrieval of the mass with a wrap bag, a Jackson-Pratt drain is inserted instead of a chest tube. One of the advantages of this procedure is less postoperative pain than intercostal VATS. The subxiphoid approach can be used for bilateral pneumothorax, bilateral pulmonary metastasectomy, and simple lobectomy for both upper lobes and the right middle lobe.