High frequency ventilation considerably reduces the risk of barotrauma due to low peak airway pressure compared to conventional mechanical ventilation. This risk, however, is also preaent with high frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) if excessive driving preasure are used and, above all if expiration is impeded. We investigated the effects of outflow resistance, which was varied by connecting different size of tube (ID 8.0, 7.5, 7.0, 6.5, 5.5, 5.0, 4.5, 4.0 mm), which was cut in 10 cm length, to the proximal site of endotracheal tube (ID 8.0 mm), which was inserted into the trachea of anesthetized dogs with a attached airway pressure monitoring catheter externally, in different driving pressure (2 kg/cm2, 1 kg/cm2) and frequency (100beats/min, 200beats/min) on the intra-airway preesure during HFJV. HFJV was performed with a catheter (diameter 2.5 mm) which was inaerted through endotracheal tube and located 1 cm proximal to the tip of endotracheal tube. Intra-airway pressure was acutely increased with the tube size of smaller than 5.5 mm in driving pressure 2 kg/cm2 and 5.0 mm in driving pressure 1 kg/cm2 compared to previous size of tube. 2 kg/cm2 of driving pressure showed significant higher airway pressure compared to 1 kg/cm in any size of tube. There was no difference in airway pressure by varing of frequency with same driving preasure. In summary, pulmonary barotrauma due to higher airway pressure may be occur if HFJV catheter occupied more than 25% of outflow tract area especially in higher driving pressure.
Airway Resistance ; Animals ; Barotrauma ; Catheters ; Dogs ; High-Frequency Jet Ventilation* ; High-Frequency Ventilation ; Respiration, Artificial ; Trachea ; Ventilation

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the ultrasound (US) features of normal parathyroid glands (PTGs) and to evaluate whether normal PTGs can be differentiated from metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) in thyroid cancer. Methods: This retrospective study included 10 normal PTGs and 95 metastatic LNs from thyroid cancer showing suspicious US features. The echogenicity, echotexture, echogenic foci (calcifications), cystic change, abnormal vascularity, size, shape, and location were retrospectively assessed and compared between normal PTGs and metastatic LNs. Results: The echogenicity of normal PTGs was significantly different from that of metastatic LNs (P<0.001). Normal PTGs exhibited marked hyperechogenicity (100%), homogeneous echotexture (80%), focal intraglandular hypoechogenicity (20%), ovoid shape (90%), and focal cystic change in one case (10%). The echogenicity of metastatic LNs was markedly hyperechoic (0%), moderately hyperechoic (15.8%), mildly hyperechoic (53.7%), and hypoechoic (28.4%). The size and long axis/short axis ratios of normal PTGs were significantly smaller and larger than those of metastatic LNs (P<0.01 and P=0.022, respectively). Conclusion Marked hyperechogenicity was found only in normal PTGs, and small, ovoid, markedly hyperechoic structures in the paramedian central neck characterized normal PTGs. Normal PTGs may be differentiated from metastatic LNs in thyroid cancer.

High frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) has advantage for laryngomicrosurgery that the transit of a small airway tube through the surgical field causes much less interference with surgery. We experienced a case of tension pneumothorax during high frequency jet ventilation. The possible cause of barotrauma in this case was obstruction of gas escape. It is recommened that meticulous care is taken to ensure and adequate pathway for expiration when HFJV is used.
Barotrauma ; High-Frequency Jet Ventilation ; Pneumothorax* ; United Nations ; Ventilation*

PURPOSE: This is a retrospective descriptive study to determine the incidence of congenital heart disease(CHD) in Jeju and to estimate the suitability of the Jeju population as the subject for a regional birth cohort study. METHODS: All patients with CHD diagnosed by two dimensional echocardiography in Cheju National University Hospital and Halla General Hospital from January 1999 to March 2003 were included in this study. RESULTS: From April 1999 to March 2002, the crude incidence rate was 10.06 per 1,000 live births (236 cases/23,464 live births). Among the 236 cases, the proportion of each type was as follows: Ventricular septal defect(44.9%), atrial septal defect(21.2%), pulmonary stenosis(11.0%), patent ductus arterios us(9.3%), tetralogy of Fallot(3.4%), transposition of great arteries(2.1%), aortic stenosis(1.3%), hypoplastic left heart syndrome(1.3%), coarctation of aorta(0.8%), total anormalous pulmonary venous return(0.8%), tricuspid atresia(0.8%), heterotaxia(0.4%), single ventricle(0.4%), atrioventricular septal defect(0.4%), Ebstein anomaly(0.4%). The male to female ratio was 1:1.380(P=0.011). For unknown reasons, females showed significantly higher incidence in VSD(P=0.005) and PDA(P=0.019). Mortality rate was 0.34 per 1,000 live births. The types of VSD were 72.1% of perimembranous, 16.4% of trabecular muscular, 5.7% of subarterial, and 5.7% of unknown. CONCLUSION: This is the first regional study on the incidence of CHD in Korea. The incidence of CHD in Jeju was 10.06 per 1,000 live births. Most of our cases were VSDs and ASDs. Jeju would be a good subject for a regional cohort study in the future.
Cohort Studies ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart ; Heart Defects, Congenital* ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Jeju-do ; Korea ; Live Birth ; Male ; Mortality ; Parturition ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate pregnancy outcomes after placental needle penetration during midtrimester diagnostic amniocentesis. METHODS: We collected 726 singleton pregnancy cases from 1054 pregnancies of midtrime-ster diagnostic amniocentesis, and analysed pregnancy outcomes after the procedure based on medical records. To compare the outcomes, we divided 726 cases into two groups; placental penetration group by aspiration needle(170 cases) and non-penetration group(556 cases). RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between two groups about maternal age and gestational age at the time of procedure, and the distribution of amniocentesis indication. In comparison of complications between two groups after procedure, a. There was no statistically significant difference in amniotic fluid leakage: in penetration group, 1 case (0.58%) and in non-penetration group, 5 cases(0.89%) were observed. b. There was no statistically significant difference in vaginal bleeding: in penetration group, 2 cases (1.18%) and in non-penetration group, 3 cases(0.54%) were observed. c. There was no statistically significant difference in developing abruptio placentae: in penetration group, no case developed and in non-penetration group, one case(0.18%) was observed. d. As for fetal loss, there was no statistically significant difference : in penetration group, 4 cases (2.35%) and in non-penetration group, 10 cases(1.80%) were occurred. e. As for birth weight, there was no statistically significant difference : in penetration group, 3.26+/-0.8 kg and in non-penetration group, 3.21+/-0.9 kg were measured. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that placental penetration by aspiration needle during diagnostic mid-trimester amniocentesis does not increase the risk of post-procedure complication.
Abruptio Placentae ; Amniocentesis* ; Amniotic Fluid ; Birth Weight ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Maternal Age ; Medical Records ; Needles* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Uterine Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of core strengthening on trunk balance in patients with subacute stroke. METHOD: Fifty-nine subacute hemiparetic stroke in-patients participated in this study. All patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the control group and the experimental group. Both groups received the same conventional physical therapies for 4 weeks. The experimental group received an additional core strengthening program (CSP). Korean mini-mental state examination (K-MMSE) and Korean Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI) were performed on admission. CSP was performed for 30 minutes a day, 3 days per week for 4 weeks. We selected nine exercises available for stroke patients, and divided them as three steps according to the degree of difficulty. Because of the muscle weakness in stroke patients, a physical therapist often helped them during exercise. Outcome measurement included trunk control test (TCT), trunk impairment scale (TIS), and Berg balance scale (BBS) and we compared both groups before and after the period of training. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in baseline general characteristics and initial values between the two groups. After rehabilitation therapy, both groups showed significant improvements in BBS, TIS, and TCT (p<0.05). Following 4 weeks of therapy, changes of BBS, TIS score in the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group (p<0.05). However, the change of TCT score was not significantly different. CONCLUSION: Analysis of different clinical parameters showed that better outcomes in BBS, TIS scores were achieved from CSP. This study suggests that CSP conducted for 4 weeks may be beneficial as a therapeutic technique for use in improvement of trunk balance in patients with subacute hemiparetic stroke.
Exercise ; Humans ; Muscle Weakness ; Physical Therapists ; Stroke

The objective of study was to compare biomechanical parameters between normal and arch building gait in healthy subjects. A total of 40 feet from 20 healthy adults were evaluated in this study. The participants were asked to walk on a treadmill comfortably at 2 km/hr for 30 seconds. Then, they were asked to walk after making arch building through raising arches with their feet by pulling the big toe toward the heel. Gait parameters such as geometry, center of pressure, maximum force, and maximum pressure were measured in normal and the arch building gait using a gait analysis system equipped with pressure sensor. Arch building gait demonstrated significantly (p<0.01) decreased forefoot maximum force but significantly (p=0.024) increased heel maximum force compared to normal gait. Maximum pressures of the midfoot and heel were also significantly (both p<0.01) increased. However, the maximum pressures of the forefoot were not significantly (p>0.05) different between the two conditions. Geometry, phase, and time parameters were not significantly (p>0.05) different between the two conditions, either. Although forefoot and midfoot maximum force were significantly decreased in arch building gait compared to those in normal gait, the maximum pressure of forefoot was not significantly changed, indicating decreased area of forefoot contact during arch building gait. The arch building gait moves the center of presser to the hind foot and redistributes the contact area, thus changing the distribution of maximum pressure.
Adult ; Foot ; Gait* ; Hallux ; Healthy Volunteers ; Heel ; Humans

A multicenter prospective study was done in four-university hospital to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cyclosporin A(CyA, Cipol-N(R)) in 64 patients with adult nephrotic syndrome mean age 34.8 years, male:female 2.4:1, duration of disease 38.0+/-40.9months, 31 patients with MCD, 33 patients with Non-MCD (8 FSGS, 14 MGN, 7 MPGN, 2 lupus nephritis, 1 HBsAg associated GN)]. The prior steroid responses of these patients were 17 steroid dependent, 9 frequent relapser, 4 steroid resistant and 1 other in MCD patients, and 5 steroid dependent, 5 frequent relapser, 22 steroid resistant and 1 other in Non-MCD patients. After a 2-week steroid (predni-solon 10mg/day or deflazacort 12mg/day) run-in period, CyA 5mg/kg/day and prednisolone 10mg/day (or deflazacort 12mg/day) were administered for up to 16 weeks. Of the 64 patients enrolled, ll patients were dropped out prematurely due to adverse events or protocol violation. Of the 53 patients who completed the study, 27 had MCD and 26 had Non- MCD. High response (CR and PR) rate of 68% (36/53) were obtained with CyA treatment in all patients. Although the response rate in MCD was significantly higher than that in Non-MCD (89 vs. 46%, p<0.05) and response rates were significantly different according to the previous steroid responses by univariate analysis, only previous steroid responses affected the response to CyA significantly by Logistic multiple regression analysis (p=0.03, RR 7.08); responses were 84% (27/32) in steroid dependent and frequent relapser patients, and 37% (7/19) in steroid resistant patients. 24-hr proteinuria significantly decreased after 2 weeks and serum albumin and cholesteroi increased significantly after 4 weeks of treatment compared to baseline level. The serum creatinine level was not changed during the study. No serious and unexpected side event was observed. In conclusion, cyclosporine therapy is a safe and effective mode of treatment in patients with ne-phrotic syndrome, especially in those who need prolonged administration of steroids with resulting in unavoidable steroid complications such as frequent relapser and steroid dependent type. The patients with steroid resistant type and contraidications of steroid administration such as DM, aseptic bone neerosis etc. can also be candidates for this treatment.
Adult* ; Creatinine ; Cyclosporine* ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Humans ; Lupus Nephritis ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Prednisolone ; Prospective Studies ; Proteinuria ; Serum Albumin ; Steroids

The funding acknowledgment in this article was omitted as published.

Viral load and the duration of viral shedding of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are important determinants of the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019.In this study, we examined the effects of viral doses on the lung and spleen of K18-hACE2 transgenic mice by temporal histological and transcriptional analyses. Approximately, 1×105 plaque-forming units (PFU) of SARS-CoV-2 induced strong host responses in the lungs from 2 days post inoculation (dpi) which did not recover until the mice died, whereas responses to the virus were obvious at 5 days, recovering to the basal state by 14 dpi at 1×102 PFU. Further, flow cytometry showed that number of CD8+ T cells continuously increased in 1×102 PFU-virusinfected lungs from 2 dpi, but not in 1×105 PFU-virus-infected lungs. In spleens, responses to the virus were prominent from 2 dpi, and number of B cells was significantly decreased at 1×105PFU; however, 1×102 PFU of virus induced very weak responses from 2 dpi which recovered by 10 dpi. Although the defense responses returned to normal and the mice survived, lung histology showed evidence of fibrosis, suggesting sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our findings indicate that specific effectors of the immune response in the lung and spleen were either increased or depleted in response to doses of SARS-CoV-2. This study demonstrated that the response of local and systemic immune effectors to a viral infection varies with viral dose, which either exacerbates the severity of the infection or accelerates its elimination.