Occupational asthma induced by the inhalation of the spore of Ganoderma lucidum was demonstrated in a 43-year-old woman who had cultivated it indoors for 6 years. She had suffered from paroxysmal cough and rarely wheezing dyspnea for two years. Recently she also had chest tightness and paroxysmal and repeated cough immediately after the exposure to Ganoderma lucidum spores. Her pulmonary function was normal. But, her PC20 was 6.4mg/ml in MBPT (methacholine bronchial provocation test). She showed not only positive reaction to skin prick test but also dual asthmatic reaction to the bronchial challenge test with antigenic extract of Ganoderma lucidum spores.
Adult ; Asthma, Occupational* ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Ganoderma* ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Reishi ; Respiratory Sounds ; Skin ; Spores* ; Thorax

A 25-year-old male with asthma suffered from generalized urticaria, angioedema and syncope associated with exercise after ingestion of food made with wheat flour. Skin prick test with bread showed strong positive reaction(++++), but with wheat flour, a weak positive(+). Challenge test with wheat flour, and food made with wheat flour, without or with exercise, were done several times. Exercise such as 25 min of running on treadmill following 30 min after 50 grams of bread or 50 grams of hot pepper-stuffed rice cake only showed positive reaction such as generalized urticaria, angioedema and hypotension, but not with 15 grams of bread or 15 grams of hot pepper-stuffed rice cake. Ingestion of bread in such high amounts as 15 grams alone did not trigger reaction, not even with is min of exercise. This is the first clear case of food dependent exercise induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA) in which the allergic reaction depended on both the amount of food ingested and the amount of exercise was clarified.
Adult ; Anaphylaxis* ; Angioedema ; Asthma ; Bread ; Eating ; Flour* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Hypotension ; Male ; Running ; Skin ; Syncope ; Triticum* ; Urticaria

Acute cavitating pulmonary infection with a mycetoma is sometimes occur in immunocompromised patient. Most mycetoma lesions are due to Aspergillus species, and lesion caused by Candida species is rare. So we report an experienced case that pulmonary and rib infection caused by Candida species-'in -AML patient and complete remission with previous reports.
Aspergillus ; Candida albicans* ; Candida* ; Candidiasis ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Lung Diseases, Fungal ; Mycetoma* ; Ribs

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

Background: Positive end-expiratory pressure(PEEP) ventilation causes reduction in cardiac output and increase of intra-thoracic pressure, hence reduction of hepatic blood flow. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the changes of hepatic venous oxygen saturation, tension and content during increase and removal of PEEP and to evaluate hemodynamic variable which has the greatest effect on hepatic oxygenation. Method: Eight dogs were anethetised with 1.0 vol% isoflurane and 100% oxygen. After 30 minutes of stabilization of vital signs, PEEP were increased from 0 cmH2O to 5 cmH2O and 10 cmH2O and lowered to 0 cmH2O again, and hemodynamic data (heart rate, arterial blood pressure, central venous pressure(CVP), pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary arterial occlusion pressure and cardiac output(CO)) and hepatic venous oxygenation data (hepatic venous oxygen saturation(ShvO2), tension(PhvO2) and content(ChvO2)) were measured at each step. Results: CO, ShvO2, PhvO2 and ChvO2 decreased significantly at 10 cmH2O PEEP compared to the baseline and 5 cmH2O PEEP and CO, ShvO2 and ChvO2 increased signicantly with removal of PEEP. CVP increased significantly at 10 cmH2O PEEP and decreased significantly with PEEP removal. PEEP showed close correlationship with CO and CVP considering all steps of PEEP and PEEP removal. ShvO2 and PhvO2 showed most close correlationship with CO considering all steps of PEEP and PEEP removal. Conclusion: ShvO2 with PEEP therapy is dependent upon CO. Therefore cardiac output maintenance is essential during PEEP therapy. For exact evaluation of hepatic oxygenation, it is valuable to monitor ShvO2.
Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Dogs* ; Hemodynamics ; Isoflurane ; Oxygen* ; Positive-Pressure Respiration* ; Ventilation ; Vital Signs

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate a new postoperative analgesic which minimize the physiological changes of patients. Recently, it has become popular to administer opioids to epidural space rather than intravenously or by intramuscular administration. However, the side effects of opioids have limited the usefulness of this procedure. We tried to find out a way of providing postoperative analgesia while minimizing the side effects of opioids. This study has tested the effects of administering a mixture of small doses of morphine, fentanyl and bupivacaine and epidural morphine alone. The data of this study has taken from 20 paturients who have scheduled for cesarean section. We have classified into two groups which consist of 10 paturients each. We have administered epidural morphine alone to the first group and a small doses of morphine-fentanyl-bupivacaine mixture to second group. We have evaluated analgesic effects by comparing both groups' pain scores of the operative day and of the first postoperative day and evaluated such side effects as the degree of itching, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and respiratory depression by asking to paturients. This study has found the followings: 1) Pain scores of the first group in the operative day and the first postoperative day are 1.2+/-0.4 and 0.4+/-0.5. The second group's pain scores are 0.2+/-0.4 and 0, and the second group's pain scores have significantly reduced (p<0.05). 2) Frequencies of such side effects as itching, nausea and vomiting are higher in the first group (8) than in the second group(4). In conclusion, small doses of morphine-fentanyl-bupivacaine mixture has demonstrated a more effective postoperative analgesia with minimum side effects in pain controlling after cesarean section than epidural morphine alone.
Analgesia* ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Bupivacaine ; Cesarean Section* ; Dizziness ; Epidural Space ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Morphine* ; Nausea ; Pregnancy ; Pruritus ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Vomiting

A 70-year-old woman with Parkinson disease was admitted to the emergency department with altered consciousness, fever and convulsive movements without experiencing withdrawal from antiparkinsonian medication. Six hours after the emergency department visit, the patient had a hyperpyrexia (>40℃) and a systolic blood pressure of 40 mmHg. There was no evidence of bacterial infection based on extensive workups. The patient was discharged without aggravation of Parkinson disease symptoms after treatment that included administration of dantrolene sodium, enforcement of continuous renal replacement therapy and cooling blankets. Malignant syndrome should be suspected if high fever occurs in Parkinson disease patients without evidence of a definitive infection.
Aged ; Bacterial Infections ; Blood Pressure ; Consciousness ; Dantrolene ; Dehydration ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Parkinson Disease* ; Renal Replacement Therapy

PURPOSE: To examine the expression of Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF) in osteosarcoma and to evaluate its role in osteosarcoma invasion and proliferation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The mRNA expression of CTGF from 23 patient-derived osteosarcoma cell lines was examined, and the role of CTGF in cell invasion and proliferation was examined using siRNA transfection. RESULTS: The over-expression of CTGF mRNA was observed in 17 cell lines (74%). CTGF-specific siRNA transfection into SaOS-2 and MG63 cell lines resulted in efficient knockdown of CTGF expression on Western blot analysis. siRNA transfected cells showed decreased migration on Matrigel invasion assay and decreased cell proliferation on WST-1 assay. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that the CTGF expression may play an important role in osteosarcoma progression, and may be a therapeutic target of osteosarcoma.
Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; Osteosarcoma* ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Transfection

PURPOSE: To evaluate intrahepatic nodular lesions detected on CTAP but not on conventional contrast CT in regard to its relationship with satellite nodules or borderline malignancies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 1991 to March 1994, CTAP was undertaken in 132 cases with confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), of which 35 cases having 82 lesions were suitable for analysis(excluding the cases which had no follow-up studies, showed segmental abnormal portal perfusion, no additional lesions and, or inumerable lesions). The CTAP findings were compared with those on artery dominant imaging studies (angiography, DSA, bolus dynamic CT, arterial CT, Lipiodol CT) taken during the same period(to confirm the presence of lesions) and the findings on follow-up imaging studies(to assess the developemerit of malignancy). RESULTS: Arterial vascularity was identified in 35 of 82 lesions(42.7%) on arterial dominant imaging studies. Developement into malignancy was identified on follow-up imaging studies in 25 of remained 47 lesions(53.2%). CONCLUSION: The total positive predictive value of nodules on CTAP was 73.2%(35+25/82), but the predictive value for HCC by follow-up only was 53.2%. Given'the difficulties in detecting intranodular arterial flow and the short follow-up duration in many patients, the actual positive value might be higher.
Arteries ; Ethiodized Oil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Perfusion

PURPOSE: To evaluate intrahepatic nodular lesions detected on CTAP but not on conventional contrast CT in regard to its relationship with satellite nodules or borderline malignancies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 1991 to March 1994, CTAP was undertaken in 132 cases with confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), of which 35 cases having 82 lesions were suitable for analysis(excluding the cases which had no follow-up studies, showed segmental abnormal portal perfusion, no additional lesions and, or inumerable lesions). The CTAP findings were compared with those on artery dominant imaging studies (angiography, DSA, bolus dynamic CT, arterial CT, Lipiodol CT) taken during the same period(to confirm the presence of lesions) and the findings on follow-up imaging studies(to assess the developemerit of malignancy). RESULTS: Arterial vascularity was identified in 35 of 82 lesions(42.7%) on arterial dominant imaging studies. Developement into malignancy was identified on follow-up imaging studies in 25 of remained 47 lesions(53.2%). CONCLUSION: The total positive predictive value of nodules on CTAP was 73.2%(35+25/82), but the predictive value for HCC by follow-up only was 53.2%. Given'the difficulties in detecting intranodular arterial flow and the short follow-up duration in many patients, the actual positive value might be higher.
Arteries ; Ethiodized Oil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Perfusion