No abstract available.
Drug Therapy*

Following the department store building collapse disaster on June 29, 1995, more than 140 people were brought to emergency care center of the Catholic medical center. Among them three starvated people due to long term confined in the collapsed building and one severe crush injured patient developed to prerenal azotemia and ARF. Case 1, 21- year-old man had been confined in the collapsed building debris for 11 days, he had been able to drink water and showed only mild dehydration on admission. Case 2, 3, 18-year-old woman and 19- year-old woman had been confined for 13 and 17 days even without water intake. They were severely dehydrated, hypotensive and hypernatremia on admission. Case 4, 39-year-old man was crushed by building debris and rescued 22 hours later and was diagnosed as ARF due to traumatic rhabdomyolysis. Case 1, 2 and 3 improved immediately only with fluid therapy. Case 4 progressed to acute tubular necrosis, in spite of therapy, and required hemodialysis. Severe dehydration due to long term starvation in young healthy person over 17 days did not progressed to acute tubular necrosis only with adequate fluid therapy. To prevent acute tubular necrosis in crush injured patient, needs more immediate and intensive fluid therapy at the rescue and careful correction of hypernatremia.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Azotemia ; Dehydration ; Disasters* ; Drinking ; Emergency Medical Services ; Female ; Fluid Therapy ; Humans ; Hypernatremia ; Necrosis ; Renal Dialysis ; Rhabdomyolysis ; Starvation ; Structure Collapse* ; Water

Kartagener's syndrome is an autosomal recessively inherited condition characterized by triad of situs inversus, bronchiectasis, and chronic sinusitis. And recently it was classified as a subclass of dyskinetic cilia syndrome, which has a defect in mucociliary transport resulting from immotile or dyskinetic beating of cilia. Electron microscopic examination of the cilia from sperm tails, nasal and bronchial epithelium of patients reveals the partial or the complete absence of dynein arms or radial spoke, or microtubule disposition. This patient had all the triad of Kartagener's syndrome and showed two extracentral microtubules on the electron microscopic examination of the nasal mucosa. Most patients have dynein arms defect, but it is rare to have extracentral microtubules. So we report one case of Kartagener's syndrome with extracentral microtubules confirmed by electron microscopy.
Ammonia ; Apoptosis ; Arm ; Bronchiectasis ; Cilia* ; Dyneins ; Epithelium ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Kartagener Syndrome* ; Microscopy, Electron ; Microtubules* ; Mucociliary Clearance ; Nasal Mucosa ; Sinusitis ; Situs Inversus ; Sperm Tail

Lymphadenitis is a common manifestation in tuberculous diseases. However, papulonecrotic tuberculid is an uncommon cutaneous manifestation, and is considered an allergic reaction against tuberculous bacilli in tuberculous lesions other than the lymph nodes. A wide great variety of cutaneous manifestations arise over a period of a few weeks - i.e., papules, necrosis, crusted and atrophic scars. We described a 27-year-old woman with right cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis and skin lesions involving her arms, legs and both fingers. Histopathologically, a leukocytoclastic vasculitis with V-shaped epidermal necrosis was observed in the upper and deep dermis, including the good response to anti-tuberculosis therapy support the diagnosis of papulonecrotic tuberculid.
Adult ; Arm ; Cicatrix ; Dermis ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fingers ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Leg ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphadenitis ; Necrosis ; Skin ; Tuberculosis, Cutaneous* ; Tuberculosis, Lymph Node* ; Vasculitis

No abstract available.
Acute Lung Injury* ; Hemorrhage* ; Heparin*

No abstract available.
Acute Lung Injury* ; Hemorrhage* ; Heparin*

BACKGROUND: High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a novel, late mediator of inflammation. This study compared the pro-inflammatory effects of LPS and HMGB1. The transcriptional factors that play an important role in mediating the HMGB1-induced stimulation of IL-8 were also evaluated. METHODS: RAW264.7 cells were stimulated with either LPS (100 ng/ml) or HMGB1 (500 ng/ml). The TNF-alpha, MIP-2 and IL-1beta levels in the supernatant were evaluated by ELISA at 0, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24h after stimulation. An acute lung injury was induced by an injection of LPS (5 mg/kg) or HMGB1 (2.5 mg/kg) into the peritoneum of the Balb/c mice. The lung cytokines and MPO activity were measured at 4h (for LPS) or 24h (for HMGB1) after the injection. The transcriptional factor binding sites for NF-IL6, NF-kappaB and AP-1 in the IL-8 promoter region were artificially mutated. Each mutant was ligated with pIL-6luc and transfected into the RAW264.7 cells. One hour after stimulation with HMGB1 (500 ng/ml), the cell lysate was analyzed for the luciferase activity. RESULTS: The expression of MIP-2, which peaked at 8h with LPS stimulation, increased sequentially until 24h after HMGB1 stimulation. An intraperitoneal injection of HMGB1, which induced a minimal increased in IL-1beta expression, provoked the accumulation of neutrophils the lung. A mutation of AP-1 as well as NF-kappaB in the IL-8 promoter region resulted in a lower luciferase activity after HMGB1 stimulation. CONCLUSION: The proinflammatory effects of HMGB1, particularly on IL-8, are mediated by both NF-kappaB and AP-1.
Acute Lung Injury ; Animals ; Binding Sites ; CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; HMGB1 Protein* ; Inflammation ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Interleukin-8* ; Luciferases ; Lung ; Mice ; Negotiating ; Neutrophils ; NF-kappa B ; Peritoneum ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Transcription Factor AP-1 ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

BACKGROUND: Early identification of pathogens can improve the prognosis of patients with ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP). In the present study, we evaluated the feasibility of performing multiplex PCR for endotracheal aspirates to detect three important pathogens (P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae and MRSA) in patients with VAP. METHODS: The endotracheal aspirates of 24 patients were collected within 24 hours of the diagnosis of VAP for performing multiplex PCR. Forward and reverse primers were designed to target the specific site of each pathogen (the oprL gene for P. aeruginosa, 16S rRNA for K. pneumoniae and the mec gene for MRSA). We analyzed the clinical data of the VAP patients, including the culture reports for the endotracheal aspirates. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients (M:F=18:6, mean age=70+/-11) with VAP were enrolled. Pathogens were isolated from 11 patients (P. aeruginosa in 2, K. pneumoniae in 1, MRSA in 2, other enteric Gram negative bacilli in 3, S. pneumoniae in 2 and mixed infection in 1). Multiplex PCR detected three cases of P.aeruginosa (2 cases coincided with the culture reports) and four cases of K. pneumoniae (1 matched with the culture report). PCR detected two MRSA cases, which did not coincide with the culture reports. CONCLUSION: Multiplex PCR of the endotracheal aspirate showed some ability to detect Gram negative bacilli, although caution is required when interpreting the results.
Coinfection ; Humans ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis ; Ventilators, Mechanical

BACKGROUND: The therapeutic effects of surfactants on acute lung injury derive not only from their recruiting action on collapsed alveoli but also from their anti-inflammatory action in the alveolar space. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory action of a surfactant in an acute lung injury model of rats by measuring the WBC count, IL-1beta and IL-6 level of bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL) fluid. In addition, neutrophils were recollected from the BAL fluid and the NF-kappa B activity of the neutrophilic nuclear protein was evaluated. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing approximately 300 gram were divided into 3 groups, which consisted of 6 rats respectively. In the control group, normal saline(3ml/kg) was instilled into the trachea twice with 30 minute interval. In two other groups, acute lung injury was induced by the intra-tracheal instillation of LPS(5mg/kg). Thirty minutes later, either a surfactant(ST group; 30mg/kg) or normal saline(NT group: 3ml/kg) was instilled via the trachea. Twenty-four hours after the LPS instillation, the BAL fluid was retrieved to measure the WBC count and cytokine(IL-1beta and IL-6) levels. The neutrophils were isolated from the BAL fluid and the nuclear protein was extracted to evaluate the NF-kappa Bactivity using a eletrophoretic mobility shift assay(EMSA). RESULTS: The WBC count of the BAL fluid of the ST group(3,221+/-1,914 X 10(3)/micro liter) was higher than that of the control group(356+/-275X10(3)/micro liter)(p<0.05) and lower than that of the NT group(5,561+/-1,757 X 10(3)/micro liter)(p<0.05)). The BAL fluid level of IL-1beta from the NT group(2,064+/-1,082pg/ml) was higher than those of the ST group(360+/-234pg/ml)(p<0.05) and the control group(0pg/ml)(p<0.05). The BAL fluid concentration of IL-6 from the NT group(3,621+/-567pg/ml) was also higher than those of the ST group(1,754+/-1,340pg/ml)(p<0.05) and control group(49+/-62pg/ml)(p<0.05). The NF-kappa B activity of the neutrophilic nuclear protein in the ST group and NT group was similar. CONCLUSIONS: The surfactant attenuates the alveolar inflammation in the acute lung injury of rats model. However, its anti-inflammatory action does no't appear to be mediated by the inhibition of NF-kappa B activity.
Male ; Humans ; Rats ; Animals

BACKGROUND: This study compared the bronchodilator efficacy and safety of tiotropium inhalation capsules (18microgram once daily) with a ipratropium metered dose inhaler (2 puffs of 20microgram q.i.d.) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHOD: After the initial screening assessment and a two-week run-in period, patients received either tiotropium 18microgram once daily or ipratropium 40microgram four times daily over a period of 4 weeks in a double blind, double dummy, parallel group study. The outcome measures were the lung function, the daily records of the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), the patients' questionnaire, and the use of concomitant salbutamol. The forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and the forced vital capacity (FVC) were measured 5 minutes before inhalation, and 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 hours after inhaling the study drug on days 0, 14 and 28. RESULT: In 16 centers, 134 patients with a mean (SD) age of 66 (7) years and a predicted FEV1 of 42 (12)% were analyzed. The trough FEV1 response was significantly higher in the tiotropium group than in the ipratropium group after a four-week treatment period. The weekly mean morning PEFR of the tiotropium group was consistently higher than that of the ipratropium group during the 4-week treatment period with differences ranging from 12.52 to 13.88 l/min, which were statistically significant. Tiotropium was well tolerated by the COPD patients during the 4-week treatment period and had a similar safety profile to ipratropium. CONCLUSION: This study shows that tiotropium administrated once daily has a superior bronchodilator effect with a similar safety profile in treating COPD patients compared with ipratropium, inhaled four times daily.
Adult* ; Albuterol ; Bronchodilator Agents ; Capsules ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Ipratropium* ; Lung ; Mass Screening ; Metered Dose Inhalers ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vital Capacity ; Tiotropium Bromide