BACKGROUND: IgE antibodies have been considered to play an important role in the pathogenesis of atapic asthma. However, there have been only few studies on the role of IgE in airway secretion in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. This might be partly due to difficulty in sampling of airway seceretion from asthmatic patients. Recently, sputum induction method by inhalation of nebulized hypertonic saline was developed, and proved to be valid and useful method for obtaining airway secretion from asthmatic patients for studying airway inflammation. OBJECTIVE AND METHOD: To evaluate the usefulness of sputum induction method for studying IgE antibodies in airway secretion from atopic asthmatic patients, total IgE levels in induced sputum from 54 atopic asthmatics were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) and tried to find an association with sputum eosinophilia. RESULT: Total IgE levels in induced sputum were significantly higher in atopic asthmatic patients(1.27+82.066 IU/ml) than in controls(0.203+0.291 IUgmP)(p<0.05). In atopic asthmatic patients, total IgE levels in induced sputum were not significantly different between patients with and without sputum eosinophilia(>5% of 200 counted leukocytes). There was a significant correlation of total IgE levels between induced sputum and serum in atopic asthmatic patients(r=0.60, p<0.05). Total IgE levels in induced sputum(1.278+ 2.066) were significantly higher than saliva sample(0.504 + 1.111 IU/ml) from atopic asthmatic patients(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that total IgE levels are increased in the induced sputum of atopic asthmat,ic patients and sputum induction method is a useful tool for studying IgE antibodies in airway secretion from asthmatic patients.
Antibodies ; Asthma ; Eosinophilia ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Inflammation ; Inhalation ; Saliva ; Sputum*

No abstract available.
Histiocytosis, Sinus* ; Lip*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine the perception of physicians and nurses on family presence during invasive procedures. METHODS: The study population consisted of 100 physicians and 100 nurses from five hospitals which have more than 500 beds in B city. Data collection was done from August 20 to September 19, 2007. The Family Presence During Resuscitation (FPDR) Inventory developed by Fulbrook, Albarran and Latour (2005) was used as the study instrument. The collected data was analyzed by t-test, ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test using SPSS/WIN 14.0 version. RESULTS: Nurses had more positive attitudes to allowing family members to be present during invasive procedures than physicians did. However, compared to physicians, nurses had more concern about problems of confidentiality, arguing with medical team, and increased rate of legal action if family members were present during invasive procedure. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that educational programs and policy for family presence be required within the hospital to enhance the perception of physicians and nurses to the family presence.
Adult ; Attitude of Health Personnel ; Data Collection ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; *Family ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nursing Staff/*psychology ; Organizational Policy ; *Perception ; Physicians/*psychology ; Professional-Family Relations ; Punctures ; *Resuscitation

BACKGROUND: This study purposed to survey the fit rate of respirators by person and by product through conducting a qualitative fit test of high-efficiency respirators; moreover, this study also tests for differences in the fit rates determined by the qualitative fit tests with an increase in the number of the types of respirators tested. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 30 healthcare personnel who had passed a sensitivity test. The fit test of high-efficiency respirators was conducted using FT10 (3M Co., USA), an experimental tool used for performing the qualitative fit test of high-efficiency respirators, and three types of high-efficiency respirators - 1860, PFR95, and N7000 - were tested. RESULTS: The qualitative fit test was performed for the three types of high-efficiency respirators and the fit rate of the respirators that the subjects had been using previously was 43.3%; however, the probability that one or more of the three types of high-efficiency respirators would fit the subjects increased to 83.3%, and this increase was statistically significant (P<0.05). The difference in the fit rates of the three types of high-efficiency respirator types was not statistically significant; however, the differences in the satisfaction of and preference for the different respirator products were all statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Healthcare personnel are using ill-fitting respirators and a qualitative fit test should be performed to improve the fit of their respirator. In the qualitative fit test performed for the high-efficiency respirators, the fit rate increased with the increase in the variety of respirator types. Thus, a large variety of respirators should be made available to increase the fit rate of high-efficiency respirators for healthcare personnel.
Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Respiratory Protective Devices ; Ventilators, Mechanical

Common complications in a patient with IgG subclass deficiency include recurrent respiratory infections and concomitant inflammatory lung disease. The most effective therapy in these patients is the administration of intravenous immunoglobulin. The authors report a case of severe aspirin-sensitive asthma and recurrent pneumonia with combined IgG1, and IgG3 subclass deficiency in a 19-year-old man. The patient was treated with 0.4g/kg at monthly intervals for 6 months, and is still receiving 0.2g/kg every 2 weeks at our clinic. After the replacement of intravenous immunoglobulin, the patient has clinically improved.
Aspirin* ; Asthma* ; Humans ; Immunization, Passive* ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Immunoglobulins* ; Lung Diseases ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: We evaluared the risk factors, clinical characteristic, diagnosis and treatment of neonatal systemic fungal infection in 28 cases in order to find ways to prevent development of and to improve the prognosis of neonatal systemic fungal infection METHODS: From November 1994 to August 1996, 28 premature infants who were diagnosed as systemic fungal infection at Ilsin Christian Hospital NICU were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: 1) The mean gestational age was 30.7 weeks(27-35.5weeks) and the mean birth weight was 1528g(975-2980g). 2) The risk factors associated with the development of neonatal systemic fungal infection included long-term use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, prolonged hyperalimentation, prolonged use of aminophylline and steroid, and endotracheal intubation. 3) The most common presenting clinical manifestations were temperature instability, feeding intolerance, and apnea. 4) In laboratory studies, blood, urine, and CSF culture positivity was 92.8%, 92.8%, and 10.7%, respectively and renal and cranial sonogram were helpful to evaluate the renal and CNS involvement. 5) The principal treatment was intravenous amphotericin B administration for 4 weeks. The side effects, such as renal toxicity, hepatotoxicity, hypokalemia, and vomiting, developed but were reversible. 6) The mortality rate was 7.1%, and ventriculo-peritoneal shunts was performed in 3 cases who had fungal meningitis for the management of postmeningitic hydrocephalus. CONCLUSION: For was beformedin the diagnosis of neonatal systemic fungal infection is very difficult and the mortality is high, we recommend that antifungal therapy be initiated in clinically ill infants who are not responsive to antibiotic therapy and have negative culture findings and have some of the risk factors associated with systemic fungal infection.
Aminophylline ; Amphotericin B ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Apnea ; Birth Weight ; Diagnosis ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Hypokalemia ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Meningitis, Fungal ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to explore the factors related to internet addiction in college students in Korea. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional survey of college students in Seoul, and data was collected through self-report questionnaires. Data was analyzed by one-way analysis of variance, Fisher's exact test, Kruskal-Wallis rank test, and ordinary logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: In the ordinary logistic regression analysis, the factors related to a higher risk of internet addiction were lower frequency of exercise (P=0.017), lower level of self-control (P<0.001), higher level of stress (P<0.001), living with parents (P=0.011), using the internet for extended periods of time (P<0.001), and using the internet in their own rooms (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that exercise, self-control, stress, living with parents, and duration and place of internet use are associated with internet addiction in college students. This information can be used to design methods for preventing internet addiction. More specific studies on internet addiction in college students are needed.
Behavior, Addictive ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Internet ; Logistic Models ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Parents ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) is the most common cause of acute renal failure in children and is comprised of the combination of hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure. Atypical HUS, rare in childhood, has worse prognosis than that of typical HUS and is associated with chemotherapy drug, other bacterial (especially Streptococcus pneumoniae) or viral infections, and so on. We report a case of HUS caused by pneumococcal infection in 4-year-old boy. While he was admitted with pneumonia and pleural effusion, pneumococcal infection could be revealed. Although HUS progressed rapidly, he immediately received 3-time hemodialysis and recovered completely after two weeks.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Therapy ; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome* ; Humans ; Male ; Pleural Effusion ; Pneumococcal Infections* ; Pneumonia ; Prognosis ; Renal Dialysis ; Streptococcus ; Thrombocytopenia

The aim of this study is to appraise the efficacy of both recent therapeutic modalities and the prognosis after the biliary drainage procedure of various biliary diseases. A retrospective review of biliary drainage procedures for biliary disease was done from January 1986 to June 1996. We have experienced 252 cases at Pusan National University Hospital. The results were obtained as follows: 1) The most common age group was the 6th decade, and the ratio of male to female was 1:1.3. 2) Operative procedures consisted of sphincteroplasty in 62 cases(24.6%), choledochoduodenostomy in 63 cases(25%), choledochojejunostomy in 72 cases(28.6%), and choledochojejunostomy with defunctionalized jejunal limb in 55 cases(21.7%). 3) The indications for operative procedures of biliary drainage were as follows: intrahepatic stone in 67 cases(26.6%), dilated CBD with muddy stones in 57 cases(22.6%), CBD stone with stenosis of sphincter in 15 cases(5.9%), recurrent or residual stones in 89 cases(35.3%), and malignant disease in 24 cases(9.6%). 4) The preoperative diagnostic procedures were operative cholangiography, T-tube cholangiogram, ultrasound, ERCP, PTC, and abdominal CT. 5) The postoperative procedures for remaining stones after operation were choledochoscopic extraction, saline irrigation and reoperation. 6) The postoperative complications included wound infection (18 cases, 7.1%), respiratory infection (4 cases, 1.6%), GI trouble (19 cases, 7.5%), cholangitis ( 2 cases, 0.8%), residual stone (25 cases, 11%), pancreatitis ( 1 case, 0.4%), and biliary fistula (5 cases, 1.9%). Recently many therapeutic techniques have contributed to improving biliary drainage. We suggest that an apprapriate operation be selected according to the situation when performing biliary drainage for biliary diseases.
Biliary Fistula ; Busan ; Cholangiography ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis ; Choledochostomy ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Drainage* ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pancreatitis ; Postoperative Care ; Postoperative Complications ; Prognosis ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Wound Infection

Antibiotics induced anaphylaxis is one of the most acute and potentially fatal drug-related adverse reactions. Cefaclor, an oral second-generation cephalosporin with a beta lactam ring, is used various infectious diseases of the respiratory tract. Few cases of cefaclor anaphylaxis have been rarely reported. Here we report a case of anaphylactic reaction to cefaclor in a 40-year-old female patient. She developed systemic reaction comprised of generalized hives with itching, vomiting, abdominal pain, and hypotension. She was treated on our ER with intravenous fluids, intravenous diphenhydramine and subcutaneous epinephrine. Since four month ago, she had developed generalized pruritic eruptions with flu-like symptoms. The rash resolved the same day after treated with intravenous diphenhydramine. On detailed history taking for medication, we had known that she received a same prescription containing a cefaclor at every episode. Subsequently we tested the patient with cefaclor and conducted an intradermal skin test and an ELISA to cefaclor-HSA conjugate. She showed a positive response. Cefaclor is widely used for common infections, physicians should anticipate the possibility of anaphylactic reaction treated with this agent, particularly in cases of multiple exposure.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Anaphylaxis* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cefaclor* ; Communicable Diseases ; Diphenhydramine ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epinephrine ; Exanthema ; Female ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Immunoglobulin E ; Prescriptions ; Pruritus ; Respiratory System ; Skin Tests ; Urticaria ; Vomiting