OBJECTIVE: The Valsalva maneuver is recognized as an effective method to dilate the internal jugular vein (IJV). However, this maneuver cannot be performed in many cases, such as children and unconscious patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of proximal IJV compression, which can easily be performed, regardless of patient cooperation. METHODS: Healthy adult volunteers were recruited from tertiary hospital employees. Basic anatomic and physiologic data were collected. The subjects lay down as if they were undergoing IJV catheter insertion, in the supine position with their necks turned 30 degrees to the left. The main outcome was the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the distal IJV as measured by ultrasound in four stages. The first stage was sham without any maneuver. The second was Valsalva maneuver, the third was digital IJV compression, and the fourth was digital compression accompanied by simultaneous Valsalva maneuver. RESULTS: A total of 41 volunteers were enrolled. Twenty-six (63.41%) were male with an average age of 28.15±2.85 years. Mean height was 170.74±8.66 cm and mean neck circumference was 35.28±3.87 cm. The mean CSA-IJV was 1.06±0.36 cm² without any maneuver. It increased to 1.34±0.45 cm² with Valsalva maneuver (P<0.001), to 1.26±0.41 cm² with digital compression (P<0.001), and to 1.41±0.47 cm² with the two maneuvers combined (P=0.01). CONCLUSION: Digital proximal IJV compression effectively dilates the distal IJV. When performed simultaneously with the Valsalva maneuver, the effect was enhanced.
Adult ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Child ; Humans ; Jugular Veins* ; Male ; Methods ; Neck ; Patient Compliance ; Supine Position ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Ultrasonography ; Valsalva Maneuver* ; Volunteers

OBJECTIVE: Although specific temperaments have been known to be related to autonomic nervous function in some psychiatric disorders, there are few studies that have examined the relationship between temperaments and autonomic nervous function in a normal population. In this study, we examined the effect of temperament on the sympathetic nervous function in a normal population. METHODS: Sixty eight healthy subjects participated in the present study. Temperament was assessed using the Korean version of the Cloninger Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Autonomic nervous function was determined by measuring skin temperature in a resting state, which was recorded for 5 minutes from the palmar surface of the left 5th digit using a thermistor secured with a Velcro(R) band. Pearson's correlation analysis and multiple linear regression were used to examine the relationship between temperament and skin temperature. RESULTS: A higher harm avoidance score was correlated with a lower skin temperature (i.e. an increased sympathetic tone; r=-0.343, p=0.004) whereas a higher persistence score was correlated with a higher skin temperature (r=0.433, p=0.001). Hierarchical linear regression analysis revealed that harm avoidance was able to predict the variance of skin temperature independently, with a variance of 7.1% after controlling for sex, blood pressure and state anxiety and persistence was the factor predicting the variance of skin temperature with a variance of 5.0%. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that high harm avoidance is related to an increased sympathetic nervous function whereas high persistence is related to decreased sympathetic nervous function in a normal population.
Anxiety ; Blood Pressure ; Cloning, Organism ; Linear Models ; Skin ; Skin Temperature ; Temperament

Objective: Intractable massive oronasal bleeding can become a life-threatening condition. The success rate of conventional bleeding control methods other than transarterial embolization (TAE) is not expected to be high. We investigated the efficacy of Sengstaken-Blakemore tube (SBT) balloon tamponade in patients with sustained and intractable oronasal bleeding secondary to facial injury. Methods: This study is a retrospective chart review from traumatic patients with sustained and intractable oronasal bleeding who were admitted to the emergency center of Ajou University Hospital and Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital from January 2014 to December 2016. Results: Twelve patients were included in the study, of whom nine (75%) were male. The median age was 31 years (range, 20–73 years). Bleeding was controlled in 11 of the 12 patients (91.7%) either temporarily or definitively. One patient without hemostasis underwent TAE. TAE was performed in an additional three patients out of the 11 patients with hemostasis who experienced continued nasal bleeding after the removal of SBTs. There were no complications from performing the procedure. Conclusion Using SBTs as a hemostatic tool will aid patients with life-threatening intractable oronasal bleeding. Furthermore, this method may be used in patients with continual and intractable oronasal bleeding after facial trauma as a bridging procedure from the emergency department or the intensive care unit to the interventional radiology.

Objective: Intractable massive oronasal bleeding can become a life-threatening condition. The success rate of conventional bleeding control methods other than transarterial embolization (TAE) is not expected to be high. We investigated the efficacy of Sengstaken-Blakemore tube (SBT) balloon tamponade in patients with sustained and intractable oronasal bleeding secondary to facial injury. Methods: This study is a retrospective chart review from traumatic patients with sustained and intractable oronasal bleeding who were admitted to the emergency center of Ajou University Hospital and Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital from January 2014 to December 2016. Results: Twelve patients were included in the study, of whom nine (75%) were male. The median age was 31 years (range, 20–73 years). Bleeding was controlled in 11 of the 12 patients (91.7%) either temporarily or definitively. One patient without hemostasis underwent TAE. TAE was performed in an additional three patients out of the 11 patients with hemostasis who experienced continued nasal bleeding after the removal of SBTs. There were no complications from performing the procedure. Conclusion Using SBTs as a hemostatic tool will aid patients with life-threatening intractable oronasal bleeding. Furthermore, this method may be used in patients with continual and intractable oronasal bleeding after facial trauma as a bridging procedure from the emergency department or the intensive care unit to the interventional radiology.

OBJECTIVES: The association between smoking and obesity is a significant public health concern. Both are preventable risk factors of cardiovascular disease and a range of other conditions. However, despite numerous previous studies, no consensus has emerged regarding the effect of smoking on obesity. We therefore carried out a novel study evaluating the relationship between smoking and obesity. METHODS: A total of 5,254 subjects aged 19 years or older drawn from the 2010-2013 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included in this cross-sectional study. Smoking was examined both in terms of smoking status and the quantity of cigarettes smoked by current smokers. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between smoking and obesity. Overall obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2, and central obesity was defined as a waist circumference ≥90 cm for males and ≥85 cm for females. We adjusted for the possible confounding effects of age, sex, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and the presence of hypertension or diabetes. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference in central obesity according to smoking status was identified. Current smokers were more likely to be centrally obese than never-smokers (adjusted odds ratio,1.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.02 to 1.67). However, no significant association was found between smoking and obesity defined by BMI. Moreover, among current smokers, no statistically significant association was found between the daily amount of smoking and obesity or central obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking was positively associated with central obesity. Current smokers should be acquainted that they may be more prone to central obesity.
Alcohol Drinking ; Body Mass Index ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Consensus ; Cross-Sectional Studies* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea* ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Motor Activity ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Obesity* ; Obesity, Abdominal* ; Public Health ; Risk Factors ; Smoke* ; Smoking* ; Tobacco Products ; Waist Circumference

Disseminated adenovirus infection can result in high mortality and morbidity in immunocompromised patients. Here, we report the case of a 10-year-old renal allograft recipient who presented with hematuria and dysuria. Adenovirus was isolated from his urine. His urinary symptoms decreased after intravenous hydration and reduction of immunosuppressants. However, 2 weeks later he presented with general weakness and laboratory tests indicated renal failure necessitating emergency hemodialysis. Adenovirus was detected in his sputum; therefore, intravenous ganciclovir and immunoglobulin therapy were initiated. Renal biopsy revealed diffuse necrotizing granulomatous tubulointerstitial nephritis compatible with renal involvement of the viral infection. Adenovirus was detected in his serum. Despite cidofovir administration for 2 weeks, adenovirus was also detected in the cerebrospinal fluid, resulting in generalized tonic-clonic seizure. The patient died 7 weeks after the onset of urinary symptoms. Adenovirus should be considered in screening tests for post-renal transplantation patients who present with hemorrhagic cystitis.
Adenoviridae Infections* ; Adenoviridae* ; Allografts* ; Biopsy ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Child* ; Cystitis ; Dysuria ; Emergencies ; Ganciclovir ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Immunization, Passive ; Immunocompromised Host ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Kidney Transplantation ; Mass Screening ; Mortality ; Nephritis, Interstitial ; Opportunistic Infections ; Pediatrics ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Seizures ; Sputum

Background/Aims: Although the incidence of nontuberculous mycobacteria pulmonary disease (NTM-PD), a chronic infectious disease, is increasing, lung and gut microbiota dysbiosis in NTM patients has rarely been studied and was therefore the focus of this study. Methods: We analyzed the microbiota diversity in sputum and stool samples from 10 healthy subjects and 10 patients with NTM-PD through sequencing of the V3 and V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene. In NTM-PD patients, we comparatively evaluated the microbiota diversity according to the body mass index (BMI), with BMI ≤ 18.5 kg/m2 defined as “underweight” and BMI > 18.5 kg/m2 as “others.” Results: The sputum microbiota from NTM-PD patients tended to have lower index values of amplicon sequence variant richness, Shannon evenness, and beta diversity than those from the control group. Furthermore, NTM-PD patients with a low BMI had a lower microbiota diversity than patients with high BMI. Fecal samples from NTM-PD patients also significantly differed in alpha and beta diversity compared with the control group and exhibited a diversity pattern similar to that found in sputum samples. Conclusions Our results reveal that the lung and gut microbiota of patients with NTM-PD exhibit an altered distribution and reduced richness and diversity.

A percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is known to be one of effective methods in the treatment of coronary artery disease. However, restenosis remains a major limitation to a PCI. Although neointimal cell proliferation is suspected to be the major cause of coronary stent restenosis, few histological characterizations of recurrent instent restenosis exist. We report a case of a 61-year-old man suffering from unstable angina due to secondary coronary in-stent restenosis in the proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD). An atherectomized tissue, obtained by a directional coronary atherectomy, showed myxoid tissue, characterized by a few stellate smooth muscle cells in the abundant extracellular matrix, which was blue-colored proteoglycan on modified Movat staining.
Angina, Unstable ; Arteries ; Atherectomy, Coronary ; Cell Proliferation ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Extracellular Matrix ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Proteoglycans* ; Stents

CD40-CD40L-mediated help from CD4 T cells is essential to induce primary CD8 T cell responses specific to the non-inflammatory cell-based antigen H60. In this study, using H60 as a model antigen, we generated recombinant vaccinia viruses (rVVs) expressing the H60 CD8 epitope and investigated whether CD4 help was required to activate the CD8 T cell response specific to the virally expressed H60. The immune response after infection with rVVs expressing H60 was similar to that after immunization with H60 congenic splenocytes, with a peak frequency of H60-specific CD8 T cells detected in the blood on day 10 post-infection. A CD8 T cell response specific for virally derived H60 was not induced in CD4-depleted mice, but was in CD40-deficient mice. These results provide insights into the characterization of the CD8 T cell response specifically for antigens originating from cellular sources compared to viral sources.
Animals ; Immunization ; Mice ; T-Lymphocytes ; Vaccinia virus