No abstract available.
Pulmonary Artery*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Coronary Artery Bypass* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Mortality*

Bronchogenic cysts (BCs) are relatively common congenital anomalies in the mediastinum. Most of the patients with BC can be managed both safely and effectively by minimally invasive methods. Selected patients with a BC in a favorable location can have the cyst partially or completely excised by mediastinoscopic techniques. Herein we report on a case of a left lower paratracheal bronchogenic cyst that was completely resected by a video-assisted mediastinoscopic technique, and we discuss the technical aspects of this procedure.
Bronchogenic Cyst ; Humans ; Mediastinal Diseases ; Mediastinoscopy ; Mediastinum

No abstract available.
Choriocarcinoma* ; Female ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Pregnancy

The lymphoid system of the lung represents a complex network of lymphoid tissue and lymphatic vessels. Lymph nodes are normally located in the hila, adjacent to the lobar bronchi and within the lung to the level of the fourth-order bronchi. Clinically apparent intrapulmonary lymph nodes are rare. Although their histogenesis is uncertain, intrapulmonary lymph nodes are probably hyperplastic lymphoid nodules related to inhalation of irritant dusts and attendant distortion of local lymphatic vessels. Intrapulmonary lymph nodes are detected as solitary or multiple pulmonary nodules. These nodules are difficult to differentiate from intrapulmonary metastasis by radiologic finding. We experienced a case of intrapulmonary lymph nodes presenting multiple nodules in a 46 years old man, which was confirmed by thoracoscopic biopsy.
Biopsy ; Bronchi ; Dust ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes* ; Lymphatic Vessels ; Lymphoid Tissue ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Pulmonary Nodules ; Neoplasm Metastasis

BACKGROUND: Development of thoracic aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections (TAAD) is attributed to unbearable wall tension superimposed on defective aortic wall integrity and impaired aortic repair mechanisms. Central to this repair mechanisms are well-balanced and adequately functional cellular components of the aortic wall, including endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells (SMCs), inflammatory cells, and adventitial fibroblasts. Adventitial fibroblasts naturally produce aortic extracellular matrix (ECM), and, when aortic wall is injured, they can be transformed into SMCs, which in turn are involved in aortic remodeling. We postulated the hypothesis that adventitial fibroblasts in patients with TAAD may have defects in ECM production and SMC transformation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adventitial fibroblasts were procured from the adventitial layer of fresh aortic tissues of patients with TAAD (Group I) and of multi-organ donors (Group II), and 4-passage cell culture was performed prior to the experiment. To assess ECM production, cells were treated with TNF-alpha (50 pM) and the expression of MMP-2 / MMP-3 was analyzed using western blot technique. To assess SMC transformation capacity, cells were treated with TGF-beta1 and expression of SM alpha-actin, SM-MHC, Ki-67 and SM calponin was evaluated using western blot technique. Fibroblasts were then treated with TGF-beta1 (10 pM) for up to 10 days with TGF-beta1 supplementation every 2 days, and the proportion of transformed SMC in the cell line was measured using immunofluorescence assay for fibroblast surface antigen every 2 days. RESULTS: MMP-3 expression was significantly lower in group I than in group II. TGF-beta1-stimulated adventitial fibroblasts in group I expressed less SM alpha-actin, SM-MHC, and Ki-67 than in group II. SM-calponin expression was not different between the two groups. Presence of fibroblast was observed on immunofluorescence assay after more than 6 days of TGF-beta1 treatment in group I, while most fibroblasts were transformed to SMC within 4 days in group II. CONCLUSION: ECM production and SMC transformation are compromised in adventitial fibroblasts from patients with TAAD. This result suggests that functional restoration of adventitial fibroblasts could well be a novel approach for the prevention and treatment of TAAD.
Actins ; Aneurysm ; Antigens, Surface ; Aorta ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; Azides ; Blotting, Western ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Line ; Deoxyglucose ; Endothelial Cells ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibroblasts ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Microfilament Proteins ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Tissue Donors ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

No abstract available.
Echocardiography* ; Heart Valves* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the inhibitory effects of N-acetylcysteine(NAC) and methylprednisolone on lung injury in the paraquat-poisoned rat model. METHODS: Sixty rats were divided into four groups(n=15 in each group) accordingly to the drug administered : group I, only intraperitoneally injected paraquat (20 mg/kg); group II, intraperitoneally injected paraquat and NAC(300 mg/kg); group III, intraperitoneally injected paraquat and methylprednisolone(60 mg/kg); and group IV, intraperitoneally injected paraquat, NAC(300 mg/kg), and methylprednisolone(60 mg/kg). On the 7th day after injection, the survival rate of experimental rats and the positive area of collagen fiber in the injured lung stained by Masson's trichrome were evaluated. RESULTS: 1. There were no differences in the 7-day survival rates for the four groups. 2. The percent of collagen fiber for group II(6.3+/-4.7%) was significantly decreased in comparison with that for group I (14.4+/-9.7%). 3. The percent of collagen fiber for Group III(13.2+/-5.9%) was not significantly different from that for group I(14.4+/-9.7%). 4. The percent of collagen fiber for Group IV(6.9+/-4.6%) was significantly decreased in comparison with that for group I, but was not different from that for group II. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that NAC protects against pulmonary fibrosis in paraquat-poisoned rats whereas methylprednisolone does not protect against pulmonary fibrosis.
Acetylcysteine* ; Animals ; Collagen ; Lung Injury* ; Lung* ; Methylprednisolone* ; Models, Animal* ; Paraquat ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Rats* ; Survival Rate

Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) or bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) is one of manifestations of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Recently there are reports about thoracic air-leakage syndrome (TALS), but real incidence, clinical course, and implications of TALS remain unclear. Retrospective review of 18 TALS patients among 2,177 patients who received allogeneic HSCT between January 2000 to July 2007 was done. Clinical manifestations, treatments, and outcomes of TALS were reviewed. The incidence of TALS was 0.83% (18/2,177). The onset of TALS was mean 425.9+/-417.8 days (60-1,825 days) after HSCT, and the duration was mean 16.3+/-21 days (2-90 days). The most common types of TALS were spontaneous pneumothroax (n=14), followed by subcutaneous emphysema (n=6), pneumomediastinum (n=5), interstitial emphysema (n=2), and pneumopericardium (n=1). TALS persisted in six patients, who died during the same hospitalization. The 12 patients recovered from TALS, but only 2 survived, while others died due to aggravation of GVHD. TALS may complicate BO/BOOP and be an initial manifestation of BO/BOOP. TALS is hard to be resolved, and even after the recovery, patients die because of aggravation of GVHD. We suggest specifically in HSCT patients, when once developed, TALS seems hard to be cured, and as a result, be related to high fatality.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease/*mortality/*surgery ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/*mortality ; Hemothorax/*mortality ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumothorax/*mortality ; Prognosis ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Survival Analysis ; Survival Rate ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult