Endotracheal intubation has many advantage such as airway protection, maintenance of patent airway, pulmonary toilet, application of positive pressure ventilation, and maintenance of adequate oxygenation. But risks that develop complications related to endotracheal tube always present, when we insert a tube into the trachea. We have experienced an armored tube obstruction with bulged inner wall after EO gas sterilization. So, it is important that we have to pretest a tube and check pateney of the inside of a tube, before endotracheal intubation.
Airway Obstruction* ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Oxygen ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; Sterilization ; Trachea

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new type of epidemic infectious disease that threatens the world after it first broke out in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. By early March, Korea had the second largest number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the world after China, among which about 90% of patients reported in Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do province. As a neurologist, the author experienced various neurological diseases while working at hub-hospitals for COVID-19 in Daegu. I would like to describe the role of a neurologist in the emerging outbreak of infectious diseases, along with my experience working at the hub-hospital for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2015.

Human astrovirus (HAstV) is a major cause of acute diarrhea among children, resulting in outbreaks of diarrhea and occasionally hospitalization. Improved surveillance and application of sensitive molecular diagnostics have further defined the impact of HAstV infections in children. These studies have shown that HAstV infections are clinically milder (diarrhea, vomiting, fever) than infections with other enteric agents. Among the 8 serotypes of HAstV identified, serotype 1 is the predominant strain worldwide. In addition to serotype 1, the detection rate of HAstV types 2 to 8 has increased by using newly developed assays. HAstV is less common compared with other major gastroenteritis viruses, including norovirus and rotavirus; however, it is a potentially important viral etiological agent with a significant role in acute gastroenteritis. A better understanding of the molecular epidemiology and characteristics of HAstV strains may be valuable to develop specific prevention strategies.
Child ; Diarrhea ; Disease Outbreaks ; Gastroenteritis ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Mamastrovirus ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Norovirus ; Pathology, Molecular ; Sprains and Strains ; Vomiting

Human astrovirus (HAstV) is a major cause of acute diarrhea among children, resulting in outbreaks of diarrhea and occasionally hospitalization. Improved surveillance and application of sensitive molecular diagnostics have further defined the impact of HAstV infections in children. These studies have shown that HAstV infections are clinically milder (diarrhea, vomiting, fever) than infections with other enteric agents. Among the 8 serotypes of HAstV identified, serotype 1 is the predominant strain worldwide. In addition to serotype 1, the detection rate of HAstV types 2 to 8 has increased by using newly developed assays. HAstV is less common compared with other major gastroenteritis viruses, including norovirus and rotavirus; however, it is a potentially important viral etiological agent with a significant role in acute gastroenteritis. A better understanding of the molecular epidemiology and characteristics of HAstV strains may be valuable to develop specific prevention strategies.
Child ; Diarrhea ; Disease Outbreaks ; Gastroenteritis ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Mamastrovirus ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Norovirus ; Pathology, Molecular ; Sprains and Strains ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress is important in both diabetic complications and the development and the progression of type 2 diabetes via the effects on the pancreatic beta-cells. EGCG (epigallocatechin galleate), a major constituent of green tea, has been known to have beneficial effects on various diseases through the mechanisms of antioxidant and cell signaling modulation. But, very small numbers of studies were published about the direct effects of EGCG on the pancreatic beta cell lines. We performed this study to see the protective effect of EGCG on pancreatic beta cell line under H2O2 and the mechanisms of this phenomenon. METHODS: We used INS-1 cells and hydrogen peroxide as an oxidative stressor. Their viabilities were verified by MTT assay and FACS. The activity of glutathione peroxidase was assessed by total glutathione quantification kit. Western blot and semi-quantitative RT-PCR for the catalase, SOD (superoxide dismutase), PI3K and Akt were performed. Functional status of INS-1 cells was tested by GSIS (glucose stimulated insulin secretion). RESULTS: The biological effects of EGCG were different according to its concentrations. 10 micrometer EGCG effectively protected hydrogen peroxide induced damage in INS-1 cells. The expression and the activity of SOD, catalase and the glutathione peroxidase were significantly increased by EGCG. EGCG significantly increased PI3K and Akt activity and its effect was inhibited partially by wortmannin. GSIS was well preserved by EGCG. CONCLUSION: EGCG in low concentration effectively protected INS-1 cells from the oxidative stress through the activation of both antioxidant systems and anti-apoptosis signaling. Further studies will be necessary for the more detailed mechanisms and the clinical implications.
Androstadienes ; Blotting, Western ; Catalase ; Diabetes Complications ; Glutathione ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Insulin ; Insulin-Secreting Cells ; Oxidative Stress ; Tea

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to establish optimal imaging acquisition conditions for the GE Advance(TM) PET imaging system by performing the acceptance tests designed by National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) protocol and General Electric Medical Systems (GEMS) test procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Performance tests were carried out with 18FDG radioactivity source and phantoms by using a standard acquisition mode. Transaxial resolution and scatter fraction tests were performed with a line source and axial resolution with a point source, respectively. A cylindrical phantom made of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) was used to measure sensitivity, count rate losses and randoms, uniformity correction, and attenuation inserts were added to measure remaining tests. The test results were acquired in a diagnostic acquisition mode and analyzed mainly on high sensitivity mode. RESULTS: Transaxial resolution and axial resolution were measured as average of 4.65 mm and 3.98 mm at 0 cm, and 6.02 mm and 6.71 mm at 20 cm on high sensitivity mode, respectively. Average scatter fraction was 9.87%, and sensitivity was 225.8 kcps/micronCi/cc of trues. Activity at 50% deadtime was 4.6 Ci/cc, and the error of count rate correction at that activity was from 1.49% to 3.83%. Average nonuniformity for total slice was 8.37%. The accuracy of scatter correction was -0.95%. The accuracies of attenuation correction were 5.68% for air, 0.04% for water and -6.51% for polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). CONCLUSION: The results satisfied most acceptance criteria, indicating that the GE AdvanceTM PET system can be optimally used for clinical applications.
Electrons* ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Positron-Emission Tomography* ; Radioactivity ; Water

Asthma is a common pulmonary disease with several different forms. The most studied form of asthma is the allergic form, which is mainly related to the function of Th2 cells and their production of cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) in association with allergen sensitization and adaptive immunity. Recently, there have been many advances in understanding non-allergic asthma, which seems to be related to environmental factors such as air pollution, infection, or even obesity. Cells of the innate immune system, including macrophages, neutrophils, and natural killer T cells as well as the newly described innate lymphoid cells, are effective producers of a variety of cytokines and seem to play important roles in the development of non-allergic asthma. In this review, we focus on recent findings regarding innate lymphoid cells and their roles in asthma.
Adaptive Immunity ; Air Pollution ; Asthma* ; Cytokines ; Immune System ; Interleukin-5 ; Lung Diseases ; Lymphocytes* ; Macrophages ; Natural Killer T-Cells ; Neutrophils ; Obesity ; Th2 Cells

PURPOSE: We investigated the prognostic role of volume-based parameters measured on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) scans in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) treated with chemoradiation therapy (CRT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 60 patients with LAPC who underwent FDG PET/CT before CRT. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) of primary pancreatic cancers were measured on FDG PET/CT scans. Treatment response was evaluated according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine independent prognostic factors. RESULTS: The progression-free survival (PFS), locoregional progression-free survival (LRFPS), and overall survival (OS) for this population were 6.2, 10.9, and 13.2 months, respectively. The overall treatment response rate was 16.7% at 4 weeks after CRT, and the disease control rate (DCR) was 80.0%. DCR was significantly higher in patients with low SUVmax, MTV, or TLG, and showed strong correlation with longer survival times. On univariate analysis, MTV and TLG were significant prognostic factors for PFS, LRPFS, and OS, together with pre-CRT and post-CRT CA19-9 levels. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that MTV together with the pre-CRT CA19-9 level were independent prognostic factors for PFS, LRPFS, and OS, as was TLG for LRPFS and OS. CONCLUSION: MTV and the pre-CRT CA19-9 level provided independent prognostic information in patients with LAPC treated with CRT. Volume-based PET/CT parameters may be useful in identifying which subgroup of patients would benefit from radiation therapy as a part of CRT.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; *Chemoradiotherapy ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18/*diagnostic use ; Glycolysis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multimodal Imaging ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*diagnosis/*therapy ; *Positron-Emission Tomography ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Survival Analysis ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tumor Burden

Perfusion scintigraphy has proved to be an essential part for the diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism. The wedge shaped perfusion defect extending to lung base is a highly probable finding of pulmonary embolism. Occasionally, great perfusion defects could be presented as a false positive finding under the circumstance of nonthromboembolic origin, such as neoplastic compression or invasion of pulmonary artery. We report an unusual case of massive perfusion defect resulting from pulmonary arterial compression by bronchogenic carcinoma. A 71-year-old man visited our hospital because of productive cough and was diagnosed as bronchogenic carcinoma. The perfusion scintigraphy showed unilateral total defect of lung, not accompanied by any clinical evidence of thromboembolism. A contrast enhanced computed tomogram showed heterogeneous mass shadow in left hilum, abutting to the descending aorta and compressing left main pulmonary artery. These findings suggested a nonembolic mechanism of perfusion defects which were produced by the neoplastic compression of pulmonary artery.
Aged ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic* ; Cough ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lung* ; Perfusion Imaging ; Perfusion* ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Thromboembolism

The paper by Lee YJ et al. [1] was printed with spelling errors.