BACKGROUND: The correlation between the high resolution computed tomography(HRCT) emphysema score and the physiologic parameters including resting and exercise pulmonary function test was investingated in 14 patients(60.6±10.3 years) with pulmonary emphysema. METHODS: The patients underwent a HRCT, a resting pulmonary function test, and incremental exercise testing(cycle ergometer, 10 W/min). Computed tomography scans were obtained on a GE highlight at 10 mm intervals using 10 mm collimation, from the apex to the base after a full inspiration. The emphysema scores wer determined by a CT program 'Density mask' outlining the areas with attenuation values less than -900 HU, indicating the emphysema areas, and providing an overall percentage of lung involvement by emphysema. RESULTS: Among the resing PFT parameters, only the diffusing capacity(r=-0.75) and PaO2 (r=-0.66) correlated with the emphysema score(p<0.05). Among the exercise test parameers, the emphysema score correlated significantly with the maximum power(r=-0.74), maximum oxygen consumption(r=-0.68), anaerobic threshold(V-slope method : r=-0.69), maximal O2-pulse(r=-0.73), and the physiologic dead space ratio at the maximum workload(r=-0.80)(p<0.01). CONCLUSION: We could find that exercise testing parameters showed a much better correlation with the HRCT emphysema score, which is known to have a good correlation with the pathologic severity than the resting PFT parameters. Therefore it is suggested that exercise testing is superior to resting PFT for estimating in the estimation of the physiologic disturbance in emphysema patients.
Emphysema* ; Exercise Test ; Humans ; Lung ; Oxygen ; Pulmonary Emphysema ; Respiratory Function Tests

We found errors in our published article.

We found errors in our published article.

The safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of an oral cholera vaccine (OCV) was assessed in adult Korean male through an open-label, non-comparative clinical study. Two doses of vaccine with an interval of 2 weeks were given to 20 healthy subjects. A total of 7 adverse events occurred in 6 subjects. However, no clinically significant change was observed in electrocardiograms, vital signs, physical examinations, and clinical laboratory tests. The immunogenicity of OCV was evaluated by serum vibriocidal assay where anti-Vibrio cholerae O1 and O139 antibodies were measured at day 0, 14, and 28 of vaccine administration. The antibody titers ranged from < 2.5-5,120 for V. cholerae O1 Inaba, < 2.5-10,240 for V. cholerae O1 Ogawa and < 2.5-480 for V. cholerae O139. In addition, the fold increase in antibody titers ranged from 1-4,096 for O1 Inaba, 1-8,192 for O1 Ogawa, and 1-384 for O139. The seroconversion rate was 95% and 45% for O1 and O139 antibodies, respectively. Our study clearly shows that administration of two doses of OCV at a 2 week-interval increases an appropriate level of antibody titer in the serum of healthy Korean adult males (Clinical Trial Number, NCT01707537).
Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Antibodies, Bacterial/*blood/immunology ; Antibody Formation ; Cholera/*prevention & control ; Cholera Vaccines/adverse effects/*immunology ; Creatine Kinase/blood ; Humans ; Male ; Republic of Korea ; Toothache/etiology ; Vibrio cholerae O1/immunology

PURPOSE: Several studies have suggested that hyperlipidemia might be a causative factor contributing to the progression of initial glomerular injury through the development of glomerulosclerosis. We examined the potential beneficial effect of atorvastatin - which blocks the rate limiting step of cholesterol synthesis by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase - in PAN- induced nephrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Glomerulosclerosis was induced in Sprague-Dawley male rats by repeated administration of PAN. Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into 3 groups:group I(control), group II(PAN 20 mg/kg, subcutaneous injection), group III(PAN 20 mg/kg subcutaneous injection and atorvastatin 50 mg/kg/day per oral). On the 11th week, upon sacrifice of the experimental animals, blood sampling, 24-hr urine collection and nephrectomy were performed. RESULTS: Group III had significantly lower BUN and higher serum albumin(30.9+/-17.2 vs. 17.3+/-2.5 mg/dL; 2.3+/-0.1 vs. 2.5+/-0.2 g/dL, P<0.05) compared with group II. In the lipid profiles, group III was associated with a reduction in total cholesterol and LDL(291+/-173 vs. 167+/-72 mg/dL; 57+/-53 vs. 27+/-12 mg/dL, P>0.05) compared with group II. Atorvastatin administration lowered the glomerular sclerosing index significantly(26.2% vs. 13.3%, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Puromycin-induced glomerulosclerosis could be ameliorated by the reduction of hyperlipidemia with atorvastatin. This suggests that hyperlipidemia contributes to the pathogenesis of glomerulosclerosis.
Animals ; Cholesterol ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Male ; Nephrectomy ; Nephrosis* ; Oxidoreductases ; Puromycin* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Urine Specimen Collection

Streptococcal toxic shock like syndrome is a rapidly progressive and a fatal disease like staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome. In spite of the wide expansion and development of potent antibiotics, streptococcal infection still threatens human being. Recently we experienced a patient with toxic shock like syndrome who was suffered from fever and neck pain with rapid progression to hypotension and multiorgan failure. Streptococcus pyogenes was proven in his throat culture which was done on admission. Pleural effusion and suspicious carditis with aortic and mitral valve regurgitation were examined on the third hospital day. He was treated successfully with antibiotics but we wanted to emphasize potentially fatal streptococcal toxic shock like syndrome in pediatric patients.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Fever ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Myocarditis ; Neck Pain ; Pharynx ; Pleural Effusion* ; Shock, Septic* ; Streptococcal Infections ; Streptococcus pyogenes

In order to evaluate whether Wisconsin Card Sorting Test(WCST) could be used to detect the vulnerability markers of schizophrenia, three groups such as offsprings of schizophrenic patients(n=28), offsprings of alcoholic patients(n=18), and offsprings of psychiatrically normal persons(n=41) were examined for their concept formation and abstract thinking by means of WCST.The results were as follows; 1) No significant differences were noted in all variables of the WCST such as number of totol administered trials, total correct response %,total error response $,perseverative response %,perseverative error response %,nonperseverative error response %,conceptual level response %,number of completed category,number of trials to complete 1st category,number of failure to maintain a set,and learning to learn among three groups. 2) There was no difference in the number of cases with extreme low WCST total correct % of lower 10% of the normal controls among three groups. These results suggest that Wcst could be an ineffective instrument for using to detect the vulnerability markers of schizophrenia.
Alcoholics ; Concept Formation ; Humans ; Learning ; Schizophrenia ; Thinking ; Wisconsin*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the portal venous anatomy in the right lobe of the liver, focusing particularly on the location and size of the anterior and posterior segmental branches of the portal vein and the relationship of the right subdiaphragmatic peripheral portal vein to the right hepatic vein. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 1995 to December 1995, 100 spiral CT scan which showed no abnormal findings in the hepatic area were retrospectively analysed. Portal dominant phase images were obtained after the administration of contrast media, with a delay of 60-65 seconds (100 - 120ml, 2-3ml/sec injection rate), slice thickness 10 mm and table speed 10mm/sec. On spiral CT scans, we assessed the location and size of the right portal vein and its branches and also observed the relationship of this vein to the right hepatic vein. RESULTS: In all patients, the right portal trunk divided into anterior and posterior branches. The anterior segmental portal vein was located cephalad to the posterior segment in 81 cases (81%), at the same level in 17 (17%), and caudad in two (2%). Its diameter was greater (>2mm)than that of its posterior segment in 33 cases (33%), smaller in three (3%), and similar in 64 (64%). In 95 cases, the right anterior segmetal portal vein which was directed posteriorly, supplied the subdiaphragmatic portion of segment 7. CONCLUSION: In 81% of cases, the position of the anterior segmental portal vein cephalad, and in 64%of cases it was similar in size to the posterior portal vein. In almost all cases, the subdiaphragmatic portion of segment 7 was supplied by the portal vein from segment 8. Therefore, the right hepatic vein is not in all cases an adequate landmark for dividing Couinaud segments 7 and 8 in the subdiaphragmatic portion.
Contrast Media ; Hepatic Veins ; Humans ; Liver* ; Portal Vein ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Veins

PURPOSE: To evaluate the portal venous anatomy in the right lobe of the liver, focusing particularly on the location and size of the anterior and posterior segmental branches of the portal vein and the relationship of the right subdiaphragmatic peripheral portal vein to the right hepatic vein. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 1995 to December 1995, 100 spiral CT scan which showed no abnormal findings in the hepatic area were retrospectively analysed. Portal dominant phase images were obtained after the administration of contrast media, with a delay of 60-65 seconds (100 - 120ml, 2-3ml/sec injection rate), slice thickness 10 mm and table speed 10mm/sec. On spiral CT scans, we assessed the location and size of the right portal vein and its branches and also observed the relationship of this vein to the right hepatic vein. RESULTS: In all patients, the right portal trunk divided into anterior and posterior branches. The anterior segmental portal vein was located cephalad to the posterior segment in 81 cases (81%), at the same level in 17 (17%), and caudad in two (2%). Its diameter was greater (>2mm)than that of its posterior segment in 33 cases (33%), smaller in three (3%), and similar in 64 (64%). In 95 cases, the right anterior segmetal portal vein which was directed posteriorly, supplied the subdiaphragmatic portion of segment 7. CONCLUSION: In 81% of cases, the position of the anterior segmental portal vein cephalad, and in 64%of cases it was similar in size to the posterior portal vein. In almost all cases, the subdiaphragmatic portion of segment 7 was supplied by the portal vein from segment 8. Therefore, the right hepatic vein is not in all cases an adequate landmark for dividing Couinaud segments 7 and 8 in the subdiaphragmatic portion.
Contrast Media ; Hepatic Veins ; Humans ; Liver* ; Portal Vein ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Veins

This paper reports a novel method for reconstructing the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) using hamstring tendon autografts, based on the results of an anatomical study by cadaveric dissection. Five fresh frozen cadaveric knees were studied. MPFL was found present in all cases, and the average length was 54 mm (49.6-59.3 mm). The shape of the MPFL was triangular wherein the femoral attachment was narrow and the patellar attachment was relatively broad. The MPFL was less stiff and a weaker structure compared to the other ligaments. This study could refl ect a novel surgical technique for the MPFL reconstruction with its anatomical and biomechanical properties. The study population comprises of 9 patients (5 males and 4 females) who underwent primary MPFL reconstruction at our clinic between April 2008 and February 2010. The mean follow-up period was 17.6 months. The Kujala score improved signifi cantly from 51.1 points to 81.4 points (p<0.001), the Lysholm score improved signifi cantly from 47.8 points to 84.9 points (p<0.001) and the Tegner activity level improved signifi cantly from 2.9 to 5.1 (p<0.001). There was no case of recurrent dislocation and complications according to the short term follow-up results. Our novel soft tissue fixation method using double bundle reconstruction with hamstring tendon autografts would not only be an anatomic reconstruction but also would be effective for reconstruction of the MPFL.
Cadaver ; Dislocations ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Ligaments ; Male ; Patellar Dislocation ; Tendons ; Tissue Fixation