BACKGROUND: In smokers, smoking causes many disease entities including cancers, chronic pulmonary diseases and cardiovascular diseases. Passive smoking is also accepted as a carcinogen and its adverse health effects are emphasized. We measured blood vitamin A, C, E (alpha-, beta- and gamma-tocopherol), coenzyme Q10 and urine cotinine concentrations in nonsmokers and smokers. METHODS: Twenty-one healthy nonsmokers and 24 healthy smokers were included in this study. Smoking status was assessed with a self-reported questionnaire. Plasma was analyzed for coenzyme Q10 and serum for vitamin A, C, E using HPLC (Agilent Technologies Inc., USA) and random urine for cotinine using LC/tandem mass spectrometry (Applied Biosystems Inc., Canada). RESULTS: Smokers had significantly lower serum concentrations of vitamin C than nonsmokers (P=0.0005). No significant differences in concentrations of serum vitamin A, E, and plasma coenzyme Q10 were observed. Smokers had highly elevated urine cotinine levels (1,454+/-903 ng/mL). In 16 (76.2%) of 21 nonsmokers, urine cotinine was detected (3.25+/-4.08 ng/mL). The correlations between urine cotinine and blood antioxidants levels were not found. Neither, the correlation between smoking status and blood antioxidants & urine cotinine was found. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that smokers had significantly lower vitamin C levels among nonenzymatic antioxidants, namely, vitamin A, C, E and coenzyme Q10. High detection rate of urine cotinine in nonsmokers show the seriousness of passive smoking exposure, therefore more social efforts should be directed to reduce passive smoking exposure.
Adult ; Ascorbic Acid/*blood ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cotinine/*urine ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; *Smoking ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; Tocopherols/*blood ; Ubiquinone/*blood ; Vitamin A/*blood

In biomedical research, researchers frequently use statistical procedures such as the t-test, standard analysis of variance (ANOVA), or the repeated measures ANOVA to compare means between the groups of interest. There are frequently some misuses in applying these procedures since the conditions of the experiments or statistical assumptions necessary to apply these procedures are not fully taken into consideration. In this paper, we demonstrate the correct use of repeated measures ANOVA to prevent or minimize ethical or scientific problems due to its misuse. We also describe the appropriate use of multiple comparison tests for follow-up analysis in repeated measures ANOVA. Finally, we demonstrate the use of repeated measures ANOVA by using real data and the statistical software package SPSS (SPSS Inc., USA).
*Analysis of Variance ; Chemistry, Clinical ; *Models, Statistical ; Multivariate Analysis ; Reproducibility of Results

Tracheobronchial foreign bodies can remain undetected for months, or even years, and often present as chronic respiratory symptoms, such as an intractable cough. We report the case of a 51-year-old woman with a cough for over 3 years and hemoptysis for 2 weeks. She had been treated for asthma for the previous 3 years because of her cough, wheeze, and positive bronchodilator response. Her symptoms waxed and waned. Her chest X-ray showed a new mass-like opacity and ill-defined infiltration in the right lower lobe. Computed tomography showed a 2.5-cm mass-like lesion in the right infrahilar area. At fiberoptic bronchoscopic, a solid foreign body was found in the right lower lobe bronchus and was identified as a fish bone. Tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration should always be considered in the differential diagnoses of radiographic lesions or chronic respiratory symptoms that cannot be easily explained.
Asthma ; Bronchi ; Cough ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Foreign Bodies ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Thorax

Melanoma develops in the skin or the mucosa of organs. It spreads via lymphatic channels or the bloodstream to the regional lymph nodes or organs such as the brain, liver, and lung. Melanoma of the lung is nearly always metastatic, and primary malignant melanoma of the lung is very rare, with only 30 cases reported in the English literature. The possibility of skin lesions that have disappeared, or of undetected primary sites, makes it difficult to confirm true primary tumors. Therefore, a thorough workup is needed to make the diagnosis. Since metastatic melanoma is incurable, the goal of treatment is palliation. However, because of the rare experience of primary melanoma of the lung, it is difficult to predict the prognosis. We experienced one patient with primary malignant melanoma of the lung with metastases who had been managed with surgery, interferon-alpha, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy over 5 years. This case report presents the diagnosis and management of primary malignant melanoma of the lung.
Brain ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; Liver ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lymph Nodes ; Melanoma ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Skin

A malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is a rare soft tissue tumor defined as any malignant tumor arising from or differentiating toward the cells of the peripheral nerve sheath. It is one of the malignant tumors associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 (von Recklinghausen's disease). They occur most commonly on the lower and upper extremities, trunk, head, and neck, while intrathoracic tumors are very rare. We report an intrathoracic MPNST in a 66-year-old female with neurofibromatosis type 1.
Aged ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Neck ; Nerve Sheath Neoplasms ; Neurofibromatoses ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; Peripheral Nerves ; Upper Extremity

Spontaneous ureteral rupture is rare, and refers to leakage in the absence of prior ureteral manipulation, external trauma, previous surgery, or any destructive kidney disease. It presents a major diagnostic challenge due to the diversity at presentation. Here, we present a rare case of spontaneous ureteral rupture in a 62-year-old man with a history of fungal pyonephrosis (Candida) on maintenance hemodialysis, causing a large infected urinoma and abscess and a review the literature.
Abscess ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; Middle Aged ; Pyonephrosis ; Renal Dialysis ; Rupture ; Ureter ; Urinoma

A case of Tsukamurella peritonitis associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) in a 54-year-old woman is described. Peritonitis is a common complication of peritoneal dialysis in patients with end-stage renal disease. Tsukamurella has been reported to cause rare opportunistic infections in humans, and most cases have been reported in immunocompromised patients or patients with indwelling foreign bodies. This organism is difficult to identify and has been mistaken for Corynebacterium and atypical Mycobacteria. Here, we describe the first case of CAPD-related peritonitis caused by Tsukamurella tyrosinosolvens in Korea. It was treated with CAPD catheter removal.
Catheters ; Corynebacterium ; Female ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria ; Opportunistic Infections ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; Peritonitis

Allopurinol is widely used to reduce serum uric acid levels and, generally, has mild side effects. Rarely, allopurinol hypersensitivity syndrome occurs and this consists of severe systemic skin lesions, fever, reduced kidney and liver function, and leukocytosis with eosinophilia. Extremely rarely, allopurinol-induced pure red cell aplasia is reported. We report a case of allopurinol hypersensitivity syndrome and pure red cell aplasia following allopurinol therapy for eight weeks and the disease response to steroid therapy in a patient with chronic renal insufficiency.
Allopurinol ; Eosinophilia ; Fever ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Kidney ; Leukocytosis ; Liver ; Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Skin ; Uric Acid

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common malignancy in Korea and the prognosis of patients with HCC is generally poor. Most patients with HCC have unresectable disease at presentation and only a small proportion of patients diagnosed early receive curative treatment. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a widely used palliative treatment for advanced HCC and its prognostic benefit has been proven in several studies. TACE is contraindicated for patients with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVT) because it carries a potential risk of acute hepatic failure. Recently, however, a few studies have provided evidence of a survival benefit after TACE in patients with PVT if they have good hepatic reserve and collateral circulation around the portal trunk. We experienced a case of HCC with PVT, with long-term survival and no evidence of recurrence or hepatic failure after TACE, and present this case with a review of the relevant literature.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Collateral Circulation ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Failure ; Liver Failure, Acute ; Palliative Care ; Portal Vein ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Thrombosis

A 59-year-old female with breast cancer, who had been treated with cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy, visited the hospital with a 2-week history of epigastric pain. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed multiple ulcers with gastric hypertrophy. In the biopsy specimen, no malignant cells were observed, but some cells were positive on immunochemistry examination for cytomegalovirus (CMV). Ganciclovir was administered for 2 weeks. Her symptoms improved and the immunochemistry finding of a subsequent gastric mucosal specimen was negative. However, the lumen of the gastric antrum was too narrow for the endoscope to pass the pylorus easily. A gastric perforation resulted and was treated with total gastrectomy and esophagojejunostomy, while an endoscopic stent was inserted to allow oral intake. Here, we report a case of gastric ulcer resulting from CMV infection and stenosis as a complication in an immunosuppressant patient.
Biopsy ; Breast Neoplasms ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Cytomegalovirus ; Endoscopes ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Female ; Ganciclovir ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Immunochemistry ; Immunosuppression ; Middle Aged ; Pyloric Antrum ; Pylorus ; Stents ; Stomach Ulcer ; Ulcer