No abstract available.
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* ; Rehabilitation*

Acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP) has been described as an idiopathic febrile illness with a duration of less than seven days with severe hypoxemia, pulmonary infiltrates, and no history of asthma. It has been reported that AEP is associated with smoking. Although the pathogenesis of smoking induced AEP is being actively studied, there is no direct histological evidence that smoking actually induces AEP. Recently, we encountered a case of AEP that may have been caused by smoking. We performed a cigarette smoking challenge test to verify that smoking was indeed the cause of AEP in this patient. Smoking induced an increase the proportion of eosinophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid without any respiratory symptoms or abnormal radiological findings. This result suggests that smoking was the cause of AEP in this patient.
Anoxia ; Asthma ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Pulmonary Eosinophilia* ; Smoke* ; Smoking*

No abstract available.
Korea* ; Lung*

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate discrepancies between self-awareness of memory functions and actual memory functions in the elderly community. METHODS: A total of 369 individuals aged over 65 years from four elderly community centers completed clinical evaluation, neuropsychological batteries of the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's disease (CERAD-K), the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), and the Hachinski Ischemic Score. RESULTS: Among the elderly particpants, 26.3% showed incorrect awareness regarding their memory function. Those with subjective memory complaints included 73.5% with no memory impairment, while those without memory complaints included 11.3% of those with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and 4.3% of those with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Subjective memory complaints were significantly associated with depression. Among the elderly with no memory complaints, incorrect awareness was associated with 'no previous education' (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.3-9.8), 'age over 80' (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1-5.4), and 'male' (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.0-5.2) ; however, it was not significantly associated with depression. CONCLUSION: Incorrect awareness of memory impairment is prevalent among the elderly. Further, elderly individuals of an advanced age with no education may have memory impairment without memory complaints.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Alzheimer Disease ; Depression ; Humans ; Memory ; Mild Cognitive Impairment

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence and type of low attenuation seen on high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) performed after artificially induced pulmonary embolism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using permanent embolic materials, pulmonary embolism was induced in ten Yorkshire pigs. Pre- and postembolic pulmonary angiography was performed, and HRCT was performed immediately and 1, 3, and 6 weeks after embolization. The incidence and type of low attenuation of all segments, as seen on HRCT, was evaluated. Low attenuation was classified as mottled, lobular, segmental, or peripheral. The pigs were sacrified after 6 weeks and contact radiographs were obtained. RESULTS: Low attenuation developed in eight of ten pigs. Pulmonary angiography revealed arterial occlusion in 15 large and 19 small segmental arteries (34 of 45 segments). In the remaining 11 segments, follow-up HRCT demonstrated areas of low attenuation. This was present in 25 of 35 segments (71%) as seen on HRCT images obtained immediately; in 16 of 41 segments (39 %) on images obtained 1 week after embolization; in 17 of 41 segments (41 %) on those acquired at 3 weeks; and in 25 of 45 segments (56 %) on those acquired at 6 weeks. The overall incidence of low attenuation was 83/166 (50 %). The types of low attenuation were mottled in 32/83 cases, lobular in 13/83, segmental in 13/83, and peripheral in 25/83. In large segmental arterial occlusion, the incidence of low attenuation on HRCT was 100% immediately, 57% at 1 week, 60% at 3 weeks, and 80 % at 6 weeks. In small segmental arterial occlusion, the incidence was 47%, 25 %, 11 %, and 21 % respectively. The overall incidence of low attenuation was 40/55 (73 %) in large segmental arterial occlusion and 18/71 ( 25%) in small segmental arterial occlusion. CONCLUSION: Low attenuation on HRCT is a finding of pulmonary embolism and is more common on HRCT performed immediately after embolization (71%) and in large segmental arterial occlusion (73%). Low attenuation on HRCT is an ancillary finding and may be useful in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Incidence ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Swine*

Purpose: Recently, there has been a rise in the interest to understand the composition of indoor dust due to its association with lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. Furthermore, it has been found that bacterial extracellular vesicles (EVs) within indoor dust particles can induce pulmonary inflammation, suggesting that these might play a role in lung disease. Methods: We performed microbiome analysis of indoor dust EVs isolated from mattresses in apartments and hospitals. We developed diagnostic models based on the bacterial EVs antibodies detected in serum samples via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in this analysis. Results: Proteobacteria was the most abundant bacterial EV taxa observed at the phylum level while Pseudomonas, Enterobacteriaceae (f) and Acinetobacter were the most prominent organisms at the genus level, followed by Staphylococcus. Based on the microbiome analysis, serum anti-bacterial EV immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgG1 and IgG4 were analyzed using ELISA with EV antibodies that targeted Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterobacter cloacae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The levels of anti-bacterial EV antibodies were found to be significantly higher in patients with asthma, COPD and lung cancer compared to the healthy control group. We then developed a diagnostic model through logistic regression of antibodies that showed significant differences between groups with smoking history as a covariate. Four different variable selection methods were compared to construct an optimal diagnostic model with area under the curves ranging from 0.72 to 0.81. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that ELISA-based analysis of anti-bacterial EV antibodies titers can be used as a diagnostic tool for lung disease. The present findings provide insights into the pathogenesis of lung disease as well as a foundation for developing a novel diagnostic methodology that synergizes microbial EV metagenomics and immune assays.

Purpose: Recently, there has been a rise in the interest to understand the composition of indoor dust due to its association with lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. Furthermore, it has been found that bacterial extracellular vesicles (EVs) within indoor dust particles can induce pulmonary inflammation, suggesting that these might play a role in lung disease. Methods: We performed microbiome analysis of indoor dust EVs isolated from mattresses in apartments and hospitals. We developed diagnostic models based on the bacterial EVs antibodies detected in serum samples via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in this analysis. Results: Proteobacteria was the most abundant bacterial EV taxa observed at the phylum level while Pseudomonas, Enterobacteriaceae (f) and Acinetobacter were the most prominent organisms at the genus level, followed by Staphylococcus. Based on the microbiome analysis, serum anti-bacterial EV immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgG1 and IgG4 were analyzed using ELISA with EV antibodies that targeted Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterobacter cloacae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The levels of anti-bacterial EV antibodies were found to be significantly higher in patients with asthma, COPD and lung cancer compared to the healthy control group. We then developed a diagnostic model through logistic regression of antibodies that showed significant differences between groups with smoking history as a covariate. Four different variable selection methods were compared to construct an optimal diagnostic model with area under the curves ranging from 0.72 to 0.81. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that ELISA-based analysis of anti-bacterial EV antibodies titers can be used as a diagnostic tool for lung disease. The present findings provide insights into the pathogenesis of lung disease as well as a foundation for developing a novel diagnostic methodology that synergizes microbial EV metagenomics and immune assays.

It has been demonstrated that spider mites such as the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) are important allergens for fruit farmers. A total of 2,467 adults (795 metropolitan urban, 788 non-metropolitan urban, and 884 rural subjects) were enrolled. They responded to the questionnaire, and underwent methacholine bronchial provocation tests as well as skin prick tests to locally common aeroallergens including the two-spotted spider mite. The prevalences of asthma and rhinitis as reported on the questionnaire were 7.8% and 16.4% of adults aged 20-35, 9.4% and 24.7% of those 36-50, and 17.7% and 21.7% of those older than 50, respectively. Among the older group, the two-spotted spider mite was the most common sensitizing allergen, although it was second of that of house dust mites among the other two age groups. Sensitization to the two-spotted spider mite was significantly associated with the prevalence of asthma and rhinitis among the younger age group, and associated with the prevalence of rhinitis among the older age group. The twospotted spider mite might be a common sensitizing allergen in the general population of adults, and sensitization to this mite may play a role in the manifestation of asthma and rhinitis symptoms during adulthood.
Tetranychidae/*immunology ; Risk Factors ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/*etiology/immunology ; Questionnaires ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Humans ; Female ; Asthma/*etiology/immunology ; Animals ; Allergens ; Aged ; Age Factors ; Adult

PURPOSE: To assess the difference in the appearance of the proximal humeral epiphyseal ossification center, as seen on chest radiograph, between preterm and full-term infants at the same corrected ages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty two preterm infants born at 26-35 weeks of gestational age and 218 normal full-term infants born at 38-42 weeks were investigated. Because of various perinatal problems, the preterm infants were treated at a neonatal intensive care unit. Proximal humeral epiphyseal ossification centers were evaluated from chest radiographs, and in cases of preterm infants, the corected age of 0 month was defined as postconceptional 40 weeks. In preterm infants, the numbers of chest radiographs obtained were 42 at 0 month, 40 at 1 month, 37 at 2 months and 36 at 3 months of corrected age, while in those who were full-term, the numbers were 103 cases at 0 month, 42 at 1 month,42 at 2 months and 31 at 3 months of age. In the preterm group, alkaline phosphatase, calcium, phosphorus levels and simple wrist radiographs were checked. We then evaluated the difference of appearance of the proximal humeral epiphyseal ossification center between preterm and full-term infants at the same corrected ages, as well as the difference between causative diseases, between the normal and abnormal serologic group and between the normal and abnormal wrist group in preterm infants at the same corrected ages. Using Fisher's exact test, the data were analysed. RESULTS: The incidences of the proximal humeral epiphyseal ossification center in preterm infants were 2.4% (1/42) at 0 month, 20.0% (8/40) at 1 month, 43.2% (16/37) at 2 months and 69.4% (25/36) at 3 months; infull-term infants, the figures were 24.3% (25/103) at 0 month, 66.7% (28/42) at 1 month, 83.3% (35/42) at 2 months and 90.3% (28/31) at 3 months. At 0, 1, and 2 months, the incidences were thus seen to be lower in preterm than infull-term infants(p<0.001), though at 3 months there was no difference(p>0.05). In preterm infants, there were no statistical differences between causative diseases, between the normal and abnormal serologic group and between the normal and abnormal wrist group(p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Up to the age of two months, the proximal humeral epiphyseal ossification center of preterm infants appears later than that of full-term infants at the same corrected age.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Calcium ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Phosphorus ; Radiography, Thoracic* ; Thorax* ; Wrist

There are few reports of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) in the esophagus. The authors report a patient with an esophageal GIST that was found incidentally during an endoscopy. The endoscopy revealed a 1 cm sized mass with a granular surface at the 32 cm site from the upper incisor. Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed the tumor to be located in the muscularis mucosa of the esophageal wall. Histologically, the tumor consisted of spindle cells, with no mitotic index, that were immunoreactive for KIT and S-100. The tumor was diagnosed as a gastrointestinal stromal tumor with neural differentiation (GINT). An endoscopic mucosal resection was performed and the patient has been on routine follow up at the out patient department for three months.
Endoscopy ; Endosonography ; Esophagus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors* ; Humans ; Incisor ; Mitotic Index ; Mucous Membrane