Chest CT is the most useful modality in the diagnosis of primary lung cancer, particularly in patients with recurrent pneumonia which are resistant to antibiotic therapy and in high risk age groups for cancer, The purpose of this examination is to assess the usefulness of CT in pneumonia types of lung cancer. The authors retrospectively analyzed 15 histologically proven cases of pneumonic type lung cancer, which had no evidence of primary lung mass, mediastinal lymphadenopathy or other metastatic lesion on piain chest radiography. On CT scan, a primary lung mass was identified in 13 patients(87%, bronchial obstruction was identified in 12 patients(80%), and metastatic foci was found in the bone(one patient), liver(one patient), and spleen(one patients). In Conclusion, CT scan is a useful method to detect the mediastinal lymphadenopathy or pulmonary mass and also should be the initial radiolographic procedure for diagnosis of lung cancer in patients with recurrent pneumonia on simple chest radiography.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Methods ; Pneumonia* ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Castleman's disease(Giant lymph node hyperplasia) is a pathologic entity of unknown etilogy, as attested to bythe number of names it has received, lymphoid hamartoma, angiomatous hamartoma, and giant lymph node, etc.Although the mediastinum is its most common location, it also occures in other areas of the body, usually wherelymph nodes are normally found. Authors have been experienced 2 cases of histologically porven Castleman's diseaseduring recent 3 years in Kyung Hee University Hospital, and present its radiological and pathological findings asmediastinal mass.
Hamartoma ; Lymph Nodes ; Mediastinum

Reconstruction of soft tissue dejects on the lower leg and foot remains a difficult challenge for surgeons. If the deject was large and complicated by bone defects, an excellent result could be obtained with free tissue transfer. In case of no bony problem, no major infection and relatively small defect, a local flap is more Convenient and economic than free tissue transfer because of its simple, one-stage and reliable operation. The vascularization of the subcutaneous tissue reveals the predominance of the vascular network in this layer with regard to the dermal or fascial plane. The dermal vascular network at the donor site is sufficient to let the skin survive without its underlying subcutaneous vascular support. Distally based adipofascial flaps, nourished by the lower perforator originating from the major vessel as link pattern were. used successfully for reconstruction of the bone and/or tendon exposure of the lower leg and foot in 10 patients. Between February 1992 and December 1995, ten cases underwent this procedure to reconstruct soft tissue defect on the lower leg and foot. The average age of the patients was 50.6 years (range 5 - 73years). Follow-up was from 10 months to 38 months (mean 21 months). The average time of the operation was about 2 hours 18 minutes. The length to width ratio of adipofascial flap was 2.4 - 5.0 : 1 (mean 3.4 : 1). The advantages of this method are easy dissection, short operation, preservation of the major vascular pericles of the lower limb, skin preservation at the donor site, thus preserve the shape of the limb and minimize donor site scar, and versatility (it is supple and can adapt to every surface, and it can be grafted on the deep or the superficial side). In conclusion, this technique is an useful and alternative method for reconstruction of soft tissue defects on the lower leg and foot in selected cases.
Cicatrix ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot* ; Humans ; Leg* ; Linear Energy Transfer ; Lower Extremity ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Tendons ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

Background: Previous studies have shown various positive associations between the usual source of care (USC) and medication adherence in chronic diseases. However, no studies specifically on patients with diabetes have been conducted in Korea. This study examined the association between the USC type and medication adherence in patients with diabetes. Methods: Data from the 2021 Korea Health Panel Survey were used. The final sample comprised 1,493 participants aged ≥20 years. The types of USC were categorized into three groups: no USC, place only (without a regular doctor [RD]), and RD. Medication adherence was assessed using detailed items (dose, frequency, time, and discontinuation) and a four-point Likert scale. Logistic regression analysis was conducted with adjustment for control variables. Results: The odds ratios (ORs) for overall medication adherence were significantly higher in the RD group at 1.66 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15– 2.40) than in the no-USC group. No significant difference was observed in the place-only group at 0.73 (95% CI, 0.49–1.09). The ORs for medication adherence for each item (dosage, frequency, and timing) were also significantly higher in the RD group (2.21, 1.95, and 1.67, respectively). No statistically significant differences in these parameters were observed in the place-only group. Conclusion The presence of an RD positively affected medication adherence in patients with diabetes, but the presence of place-only did not. These findings emphasize the importance of an RD for medication adherence.

Background: Previous studies have shown various positive associations between the usual source of care (USC) and medication adherence in chronic diseases. However, no studies specifically on patients with diabetes have been conducted in Korea. This study examined the association between the USC type and medication adherence in patients with diabetes. Methods: Data from the 2021 Korea Health Panel Survey were used. The final sample comprised 1,493 participants aged ≥20 years. The types of USC were categorized into three groups: no USC, place only (without a regular doctor [RD]), and RD. Medication adherence was assessed using detailed items (dose, frequency, time, and discontinuation) and a four-point Likert scale. Logistic regression analysis was conducted with adjustment for control variables. Results: The odds ratios (ORs) for overall medication adherence were significantly higher in the RD group at 1.66 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15– 2.40) than in the no-USC group. No significant difference was observed in the place-only group at 0.73 (95% CI, 0.49–1.09). The ORs for medication adherence for each item (dosage, frequency, and timing) were also significantly higher in the RD group (2.21, 1.95, and 1.67, respectively). No statistically significant differences in these parameters were observed in the place-only group. Conclusion The presence of an RD positively affected medication adherence in patients with diabetes, but the presence of place-only did not. These findings emphasize the importance of an RD for medication adherence.

Background: Previous studies have shown various positive associations between the usual source of care (USC) and medication adherence in chronic diseases. However, no studies specifically on patients with diabetes have been conducted in Korea. This study examined the association between the USC type and medication adherence in patients with diabetes. Methods: Data from the 2021 Korea Health Panel Survey were used. The final sample comprised 1,493 participants aged ≥20 years. The types of USC were categorized into three groups: no USC, place only (without a regular doctor [RD]), and RD. Medication adherence was assessed using detailed items (dose, frequency, time, and discontinuation) and a four-point Likert scale. Logistic regression analysis was conducted with adjustment for control variables. Results: The odds ratios (ORs) for overall medication adherence were significantly higher in the RD group at 1.66 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15– 2.40) than in the no-USC group. No significant difference was observed in the place-only group at 0.73 (95% CI, 0.49–1.09). The ORs for medication adherence for each item (dosage, frequency, and timing) were also significantly higher in the RD group (2.21, 1.95, and 1.67, respectively). No statistically significant differences in these parameters were observed in the place-only group. Conclusion The presence of an RD positively affected medication adherence in patients with diabetes, but the presence of place-only did not. These findings emphasize the importance of an RD for medication adherence.

Background: Previous studies have shown various positive associations between the usual source of care (USC) and medication adherence in chronic diseases. However, no studies specifically on patients with diabetes have been conducted in Korea. This study examined the association between the USC type and medication adherence in patients with diabetes. Methods: Data from the 2021 Korea Health Panel Survey were used. The final sample comprised 1,493 participants aged ≥20 years. The types of USC were categorized into three groups: no USC, place only (without a regular doctor [RD]), and RD. Medication adherence was assessed using detailed items (dose, frequency, time, and discontinuation) and a four-point Likert scale. Logistic regression analysis was conducted with adjustment for control variables. Results: The odds ratios (ORs) for overall medication adherence were significantly higher in the RD group at 1.66 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15– 2.40) than in the no-USC group. No significant difference was observed in the place-only group at 0.73 (95% CI, 0.49–1.09). The ORs for medication adherence for each item (dosage, frequency, and timing) were also significantly higher in the RD group (2.21, 1.95, and 1.67, respectively). No statistically significant differences in these parameters were observed in the place-only group. Conclusion The presence of an RD positively affected medication adherence in patients with diabetes, but the presence of place-only did not. These findings emphasize the importance of an RD for medication adherence.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the peritonitis-causing bacteria detected in peritoneal fluid using a blood culture bottle in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). METHODS: One-hundred and eleven dialysates from 43 patients suspected of peritonitis related to CAPD were retrospectively evaluated between May 2000 and February 2008. In all cases, 5 to 10 mL of dialysate was inoculated into a pair of BacT/Alert blood culture bottles, and 50 mL of centrifuged dialysate was simultaneously inoculated into a solid culture media for conventional culture. The results were compared to those of the conventional culture method. Isolated microorganisms were compared between the two methods. RESULTS: The blood culture method was positive in 78.6% (88 / 112) of dialysate specimens and the conventional culture method in 50% (56 / 112, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The blood culture method using the BacT/Alert system is useful for culturing dialysates and improves the positive culture rate in patients with suspected peritonitis compared to the conventional culture method.
Culture Media ; Dialysis Solutions ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/*diagnosis/microbiology ; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/*diagnosis/microbiology ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/*therapy ; Microbiological Techniques/*methods ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory/*adverse effects ; Peritonitis/*diagnosis/microbiology ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Icodextrin (glucose polymer) is metabolized by a-amylase to oligosaccharides such as maltose and maltotriose. The presence of these metabolites could have an effect on the enzymatic glucose measurement especially the glucose dehydrogenase pyrroloquinolinequinone (GDH-PQQ) based method. Patients treated with icodextrin are at risk for inaccurate blood glucose measurements. In this study we measured the blood glucose with different methods and analyzed the results to determine the test accuracy. METHODS: The blood glucose was measured, in seven outpatients and in seven inpatients using icodextrin, by the glucose hexokinase laboratory technique method as well as the GDH-PQQ method (Accu Chek Active)at the same time. To estimate an icodextrin residual effect, after discontinuing icodextin, the blood glucose was measured by the two methods after 48 hours in 4 inpatients. RESULTS: In seven outpatients the blood glucose was overestimated by the Accu Chek Active method (mean difference 68 mg/dL, p value 0.012). In seven inpatients the mean difference in the glucose was 56 mg/dL at 6am, 52 mg/dL at 11am, 52 mg/dL at 4pm, and 50 mg/dL at 9pm by the two different methods. In the four inpatients after changing their dialysate, the mean difference in the glucose was 58 mg/dL after 10 hours, 45 mg/dL after 24 hours, 24 mg/dL after 34 hours, and 26 mg/dL after 48 hours. CONCLUSION: Blood glucose was overestimated by the GDH-PQQ method and the inaccuracies were observed for more than 48 hours.
Blood Glucose ; Glucans ; Glucose ; Glucose 1-Dehydrogenase ; Hexokinase ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Inpatients ; Maltose ; Oligosaccharides ; Outpatients ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; Trisaccharides

Flavonoids are plant pigments that have been demonstrated to exert various pharmacological effects including anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the molecular mechanisms in terms of exact target proteins of flavonoids are not fully elucidated yet. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of scutellarein (SCT), a flavonoid isolated from Erigeron breviscapus, Clerodendrum phlomidis and Oroxylum indicum Vent that have been traditionally used to treat various inflammatory diseases in China and Brazil. For this purpose, a nitric oxide (NO) assay, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nuclear fractionation, immunoblot analysis, a kinase assay, and an overexpression strategy were employed. Scutellarein significantly inhibited NO production in a dose-dependent manner and reduced the mRNA expression levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, SCT also dampened nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB-driven expression of a luciferase reporter gene upon transfection of a TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-beta (TRIF) construct into Human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK 293) cells; similarly, NF-kappa B nuclear translocation was inhibited by SCT. Moreover, the phosphorylation levels of various upstream signaling enzymes involved in NF-kappaB activation were decreased by SCT treatment in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. Finally, SCT strongly inhibited Src kinase activity and also inhibited the autophosphorylation of overexpressed Src. Therefore, our data suggest that SCT can block the inflammatory response by directly inhibiting Src kinase activity linked to NF-kappaB activation.
Brazil ; China ; Clerodendrum ; Erigeron ; Flavonoids ; Genes, Reporter ; Humans ; Interferon-beta ; Kidney ; Luciferases ; Macrophages ; NF-kappa B ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases* ; Plants ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; Transfection ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha