BACKGROUND: Plasma levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) provide useful prognostic predictors in patients after cardiac surgery. However, predictive accuracy of NT-proBNP levels has varied significantly according to renal dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to assess whether preoperative NT-proBNP levels could be used as predictors of early postoperative outcomes on the basis of renal function in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB). METHODS: In 219 patients undergoing elective OPCAB, NT-proBNP and an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were assessed preoperatively. All patients were divided into 3 groups according to tertiles of eGFR: the first (eGFR > or = 90 ml/min/1.73 m2), the second (90 ml/min/1.73 m2 > eGFR > or = 72 ml/min/1.73 m2) and the third tertile group (eGFR < 72 ml/min/1.73 m2). End point was the composite of early postoperative complications defined as myocardial infarction, new onset atrial fibrillation, ventricular dysfunction, prolonged mechanical ventilator care (> 48 hr), prolonged ICU stay (> or = 3 days), and in hospital mortality. RESULTS: There was no difference in early postoperative complications among groups. A preoperative NT-proBNP level of 228 pg/ml and 302 pg/ml (sensitivity 70%, specificity 67%, P < 0.001 and sensitivity 73%, specificity 63%, P = 0.001, respectively) were optimal cut-off values predicting complicated early postoperative course in second and third tertile group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative NT-proBNP levels seem to be predictive of early postoperative complications in patients with eGFR < 90 ml/min/1.73 m2 undergoing OPCAB.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Peptide Fragments ; Plasma ; Postoperative Complications ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thoracic Surgery ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Ventricular Dysfunction

Pulmonary hamartoma is uncommon benign tumor-like malformation, which comprises abnormal mixing of the normal components of the lung i.e., cartilage, fat, smooth muscle or respiratory epithelium. The majority occurs in fourth and fifth decades of life, but extremely rare in the pediatric age. Pulmonary hamartoma is clinically classified to endobronchial and intrapulmonary hamartoma. The majority of the pulmonary hamartomas have no clinical symptoms and are detected incidentally by routine chest roentgenograms. But definite diagnosis should be necessary, because of its difficulty to differentiate from malignant and inflammatory lesions. We report a case of intrapulmonary hamartoma which was detected by routine chest roentgenogram check up and diagnosed by fine needle aspiration biopsy and pathological examination with the review of the literature.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Cartilage ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Hamartoma* ; Humans ; Lung ; Muscle, Smooth ; Respiratory Mucosa ; Thorax

Previous studies showed that whole body vibration could prevent bone resorption and stimulate new bone formation. The aim of this study is to detect and track effect of whole body vibration for osteoporotic bone of OVX rats. 12 Female rats were used and allocated into 5 group, CON, SHAM, WBV 17, WBV 30 and WBV 45. Rats except SHAM group were ovariectomised to induce osteoporosis. Rats in WBV groups were stimulated whole body vibration at magnitude of 1 mm(peak-peak) and frequency 17 Hz, 30 Hz and 45 Hz, repectively, for 8 weeks (20 min, 5 days/week). The 4th lumbar in rats were scanned at a resolution of 35 micrometer at baseline, before stimulation, and 8 weeks by In-vivo Micro-CT. To detect and track changes of morphological characteristics in lumbar trabecuar bone of rats, structural parameters were measured and calculated from acquiring images. In the results, changes of structural characteristics of WBV group were smaller than those of CON group. Loss of quantity of trabecular bone in WBV 45 was the least. In contrast, that in WBV 17 was the biggest. These results showed that reasonable whole body vibration beneficially affected osteoporotic bones. In addition to, whole body vibration was likely to be substituted partly for drug treatment.
Animals ; Bone Resorption ; Female ; Humans ; Osteogenesis ; Osteoporosis ; Rats* ; Vibration*

Migraine equivalents include cyclic vomiting, acute confusional states, and benign paroxysmal vertigo. Cyclic vomiting is characterized by recurrent, sometimes monthly, boults of severe vomiting that may be so intense dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities occur, particularly in an infact. We experienced a 3-year-old girl who showed manifestations of cyclic vomiting and abdominal pain. We report this case with a review of related literatures.
Abdominal Pain ; Child, Preschool ; Dehydration ; Female ; Humans ; Migraine Disorders* ; Vertigo ; Vomiting

A study evaluating the therapeutic effect of recombinant interferon-a ointment on several viral skin diseases was done. A total of 204 patients, 92 of herpes simplex, 90 of herpes zoster and 22 of varicella, were included in this study. Two different concentration of recombinant interferon-a ointment(l*10IU/g; group A, 1*10IU/g; group B) and placebo vehicle(control group) were applied topically on the early lesion of the disease. The evaluation of therapeutic effect was done by the measurement of time interval from the day of vesicle formation to the day of crust formation, The results were as follows; 1. Herpes sirnplex: Crust formation observed within 6 days in 70. 1% of group A. 63.9% of group B and 26.7%, of control group. The time of crust formation of group A and B was shorter than that of control group (p<0.01, P<0.05). 2. Herpes zoster: Crust formation observed within 10 days in 64. 3% of group A. 46.7% of group B and 33. 3% of control group. The time of crust formation of group A was shorter than that of control group (p<0.05). 3. Varicella: Crust formation observed within 6 days in 87. 5% of group A, 72.7% of group B and 66.7% of control group. Therefore we have been impressed that recombinant interferon-a ointment is an effective topical therapeutic agent and 1*10IU/g recombinant interferon-a clintment is more effective than 1*10IU/g recombioant interferon-a ointment for above viral skin diseases.
Chickenpox ; Herpes Simplex ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Interferons* ; Skin Diseases, Viral*

Although venous thrombosis is one of the most frequent complications of malignant disease including multiple myeloma, massive pulmonary embolism is an uncommon complication. Free-floating intracardiac thrombus has been rarely reported as a cause of acute pulmonary embolism in patients with multiple myeloma. We report a case presenting acute pulmonary embolism due to free-floating right atrial thrombus in a patient with multiple myeloma.
Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Thrombosis ; Venous Thrombosis

Excess absorption of fluid distention media remains an unpredictable complication of operative hysteroscopy and may lead to lethal conditions. We report an extreme hyponatremia, caused by using an electrolyte-free 5 : 1 sorbitol/mannitol solution as distention/irrigation fluid for hysteroscopic myomectomy. A 34-year-old female developed severe pulmonary edema and extreme hyponatremia (83 mmol/L) during transcervical endoscopic myomectomy. A brain computed tomography showed mild brain swelling without pontine myelinolysis. The patient almost fully recovered in two days. Meticulous attention should be paid to intraoperative massive absorption of fluid distention media, even during a simple hysteroscopic procedure.
Absorption ; Acidosis ; Adult ; Brain ; Brain Edema ; Female ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; Hysteroscopy ; Pulmonary Edema

Stress-induced cardiomyopathy is a recently described acute and transient cardiomyopathy with typical left ventricular apical ballooning mimicking the clinical scenario of an acute myocardial infarction. Cesarean delivery causes intense emotional and physical stresses, which may precipitate stress-induced cardiomyopathy. We report a case presenting stress-induced cardiomyopathy occurring during ICU care in the early postpartum period following cesarean delivery.
Cardiomyopathies ; Myocardial Infarction ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy

Background: Phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) are endocrine-disrupting chemicals and may cause immunological disorders in children. Therefore, according to the region, we investigated urinary phthalates and BPA levels and the relationship between urinary phthalate, aeroallergen sensitization, and eosinophil count during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Methods: In total, 203 schoolchildren (134 residential and 69 industrial) aged 7–10 years were enrolled between July 2021 and July 2022. The BPA, metabolites of four high-molecularweight phthalates (Σ4HMWP) and three low-molecular-weight phthalates (Σ3LMWP), were measured in the urine samples. Total eosinophil count and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were also measured along with the skin prick test. Results: The two groups had no differences in terms of BPA. The industrial group had significantly more plastic container usage, and there was a difference in the Σ3LMWP (P < 0.001) between the two groups but no difference in the Σ4HMWP (P = 0.234). The quartiles of urinary Σ4HMWP and Σ3LMWP (P < were not associated with the total eosinophil count, vitamin D level, or TEWL. After adjusting for cofactors, the quartiles of urinary Σ4HMWP and Σ3LMWP were significantly associated with total eosinophil count (P < 0.001) but not with aeroallergen sensitization or vitamin D. Conclusion Exposure to phthalates was significantly associated with eosinophil count but not with aeroallergen sensitization or vitamin D. Therefore, reducing the use of plastic containers may effectively prevent exposure to phthalates and reduce Th2 cell-mediated inflammation in children.

There were few studies about anatomic characteristics in Korean humerus recently. In addition, there was no comparison between Westerner (European and American) and Korean in anatomic characteristics of humerus. The aims of this paper are therefore to investigate anatomic characteristics in Korean humerus and to compare them with those of Westerner humerus. The seventy-two humerus (male : 66, female : 6) were scanned by computed tomography and three dimensional (3D) models of humerus were then reconstructed from acquired cross-section images. The twenty-one anatomic characteristics of the humerus were analyzed and were measured for each humerus. From the results, humeral head vertical diameter in the present study was generally bigger than that in the previous study (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the anatomic characteristics of the right and left humerus in the present Korean (p>0.05). Humeral head inclination angle, greater tuberosity lateral offset distance, humeral head height in Korean were generally bigger than those in Westerner (p<0.05). This study may contribute to develop an optimal implants and prostheses for the treatment of humerus fractures of Koran.
Female ; Humans ; Humeral Head ; Humerus ; Prostheses and Implants