No abstract available.
Granulomatous Disease, Chronic* ; Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole Combination

Substernal goiter is defined as a thyroid mass of which more than half is located below the thoracic inlet. As substernal goiter enlarges within the bony thoracic cavity, and vascular and visceral structures may slowly become compressed and compromised. Airway obstruction can occur due to the compression or the displacement of the trachea. Tracheal compression may rarely lead to severe respiratory compromise. Recently, we experienced a case of huge substernal goiter causing acute respiratory failure in a 63-year old female. We present this case with a review of the literature.
Airway Obstruction ; Bays ; Displacement (Psychology) ; Female ; Goiter, Substernal ; Humans ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Thoracic Cavity ; Thyroid Gland ; Trachea

Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia is a disorder caused by impaired DNA synthesis. Vitamin B12 binds to the intrinsic factor produced by the parietal cells and is absorbed in the distal ileum. After total gastrectomy, megaloblastic anemia is developed due to the absence or deficiency of the intrinsic factor. Concomitant iron deficiency states such as various malabsorption syndromes and alcoholism induce that the bone marrow erythroid megaloblastosis and peripheral blood macroovalocytosis are masked because of countervailing the tendency of iron deficiency to produce microblasts and hypochromic microcytic erythrocytes. We experienced a case of Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia with low RBC mean corpuscular volume (MCV) due to combined with iron deficiency anemia in 42 year-old female patient and report the case with literature review.
Adult ; Alcoholism ; Anemia ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency* ; Anemia, Megaloblastic ; Bone Marrow ; DNA ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Ileum ; Intrinsic Factor ; Iron* ; Malabsorption Syndromes ; Masks ; Rabeprazole ; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency* ; Vitamin B 12* ; Vitamins*

INTRODUCTION: In human IVF-ET only a few oocytes develop to be good quality embryos depending on the incubation conditions and the quality of ovum and sperm, while the rest show abnormal morphology due to unequal cell division or fragmentation of the cell. Fragmented embryos limit developmental potential and rarely result in implantation. Such abnormal embryo development have been reported to be due to genetic defects or inadequate culture environment. This in-vitro environment differs from in-vivo conditions in that the oxygen concentration is higher(20 %) and in such conditions, the mouse embryos show a higher ROS in simple culture media. ROS is believed to cause damage to the cell membrane and DNA fragmentation in somatic cells. This study was conducted to ascertain the level of ROS within embryos and morphological features of cell damage induced by ROS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 53 human oocytes and embryos(31 fragmented and 10 nonfragmented embryos, 12 unfertilized oocytes) were obtained in IVF-ET programs. The relative intensity of ROS within embryos was reassured using 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCHFDA ; Molecular Probes, USA) by Quanti cell 500(Imaging Co. UK), and DNA fragmentation was observed via TEM(Zeiss EM 902A, Germany) and ApopTag kit(Oncor Co. USA). RESULTS: The ROS levels was significantly higher in fragmented embryos(72.21 +/- 9.62) compared to nonfragmented embryos(31.30 +/- 3.50, p<0.05) and unfertilized oocytes(30.75 +/- 2.67, p<0.05). Apoptosis was only observed in fragmented embryos, and was absent in nonfragmented embryos. Also the DAPI staining showed that the nuclei of fragmented embryos were broken up into irregular shapes, and the EM showed confirmation of apoptotic bodies and cytoplasmic condensation in the fragmented blastomeres. CONCLUSION: We conclude that there is a direct relationship between increased ROS and apoptosis, and that further studies should be undertaken.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blastomeres ; Cell Division ; Cell Membrane ; Culture Media ; Cytoplasm ; DNA Fragmentation ; Embryonic Development ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Humans* ; Mice ; Molecular Probes ; Oocytes ; Ovum ; Oxygen* ; Pregnancy ; Spermatozoa

BACKGROUND: Stem cell transplantation with high dose chemoradiotherapy has made it possible to cure a significant proportion of patients with hematopoietic malignancies. RBC purging is an essential step prior to transplantation in ABO mismatched setting. The purpose of this study is to develop a new simple method for RBC depletion from harvested stem cells. METHODS: Ten cord bloods were collected during deliveries at Kyungpook National University Hospital, Taegu, Korea at August, 1998. All nucleated cells were collected after the compression of bags with 6% hydroxyethyl starch and cord blood for 4 hours. The cell viability of mononucleated cell (MNC) was calculated after 24~72 hours. RESLUTS: The collected mean volume of cord blood was 37.1 +/- 6.7 ml. The WBC count was 10,852 +/- 1,137/microL. The 3.90 +/- 0.62x108 TNC and 1.82 +/- 0.36x108 MNC were obtained per collection. TNC efficiency was 83.8 +/- 7.01% and MNC efficiency was 90.9 +/- 9.23% by compression method with 6% hydroxyethyl starch. RBC contamination was negligible. The cell viabilities of mononuclear cell were kept in a range of 99~100% after 24~72 hours. CONCLUSION: Because compression method with 6% hydroxyethyl starch progresses in closed system is simple & easy, has high erythrocyte depletion efficacy, and can maintain high viability of stem cells, it can be used for RBC purging in ABO mismatched stem cell transplantation.
Cell Survival ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Daegu ; Erythrocytes* ; Fetal Blood* ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Humans* ; Korea ; Starch* ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Stem Cells ; Umbilical Cord*

An epidemiological study was performed to know the infection status of E. hortense among the human residents and fish intermediate hosts in Chongsong-gun, Kyongsangbuk-do. Out of 263 people examined, 59(22.4 per cent) were positive for the eggs of E. hortense. Total 152 fresh water tishes (9 species) were examined, and Odontobutis obscura interrupta, Misgurnus angullicaudatus and Squalidus coreanus were found to harbour the metacercariae of E. hortense. Juvenile or adult E. hortense were expelled from 35 out of 54 cases treated with praziquantel. The number of worms per individual ranged from l to 649, with the average burden of 51. The eosinophil count of infected persons ranged 1-24 per cent (6 per cent in average). The number of eggs per day per worm (EPDPW) in human host was estimated about 1,478. The results showed that Chongsong-gun is an endemic area of E. hortense.
parasitology-helminth-tematoda ; Echinostoma hortense ; Hippeutis cantori ; epidemiology

BACKGROUND: Chest wall tumors can classified into soft tissue tumors and bone tissue tumors and can be subclassified into benign and malignant tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report an analysis of 68 patients with primary chest wall tumors treated at the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at Hanyang University Hospital from January, 1973 to September 1997. RESULTS: Among a total of 68 patients 33 (48.5%) were males and 35 (51.5%) were females. The ages of the patients ranged from 10 to 79 years with a mean age of 39.3 years. According to the age distribution, 23 patients (33.8%) were from the 4th decade, 12 patients (17.6%) were from the 6th decade, and 10 patients (14.7%) were from the 5th decade. Among the primary chest wall tumors, 53 cases were benign and 15 cases were malignant. Among the benign tumors, 17 cases (32.1%) were in the 4th decade and among the malignant tumors, 6 cases (40%) were in the 4th decade. In both malignant and benign tumors the most common ages were in the 4th decade. The most common tumors were fibrous dysplasia and chondroma, each with a total of 14 cases (26.4%). Osteochondroma and lipoma each had 8 cases (15.1%). Among malignant tumors, osteosarcoma was most common with 8 cases (53.3%). According to location, 49 cases occured in both bone and cartilage tissue, 19 cases occurred in cartilage. Among the presenting symptoms, palpable mass was present in all cases. Fifty-one patients complained of tenderness and among cases with involvement of the lung, 3 patients had complained of respiratory distress. Among the malignant tumors 6 cases underwent a radical operation and 4 cases of benign tumors underwent a radical operation. Postoperativly, there was one case with recurrence from a desmoid tumor. There were no deaths postoperativly and no deaths due to complications (and their postoperative courses were uneventful). CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with primary chest wall tumors initially present with mass at admission. Resection is sufficient treatment for benign tumors but in malignant tumors wide resection of the chest wall is needed and mchest wall reconstruction.
Age Distribution ; Bone and Bones ; Cartilage ; Chondroma ; Female ; Fibromatosis, Aggressive ; Humans ; Lipoma ; Lung ; Male ; Osteochondroma ; Osteosarcoma ; Recurrence ; Thoracic Wall* ; Thorax*

OBJECTIVES: Bioterrorism (BT) preparedness and response plans are particularly important among healthcare workers who will be among the first involved in the outbreak situations. This study was conducted to evaluate the current status of education for BT preparedness and response in healthcare-related colleges/junior colleges and to develop learning objectives for use in their regular curricula. METHODS: We surveyed all medical colleges/schools, colleges/junior colleges that train nurses, emergency medical technicians or clinical pathologists, and 10% (randomly selected) of them that train general hygienists in Korea. The survey was conducted via mail from March to July of 2007. We surveyed 35 experts to determine if there was a consensus of learning objectives among healthcare workers. RESULTS: Only 31.3% of medical colleges/schools and 13.3% of nursing colleges/junior colleges had education programs that included BT preparedness and responses in their curricula. The most common reason given for the lack of BT educational programs was 'There is not much need for education regarding BT preparedness and response in Korea'. None of the colleges/junior colleges that train clinical pathologists, or general hygienists had an education program for BT response. After evaluating the expert opinions, we developed individual learning objectives designed specifically for educational institutions. CONCLUSIONS: There were only a few colleges/junior colleges that enforce the requirement to provide education for BT preparedness and response in curricula. It is necessary to raise the perception of BT preparedness and response to induce the schools to provide such programs.
*Bioterrorism ; Curriculum ; Disaster Planning/*organization & administration ; Humans ; Korea ; Schools, Health Occupations/*organization & administration

Acute respiratory failure with diffuse pulmonary infiltration was occurred in a patient with malignant lymphoma 1month after the 8th CHOP chemotherapy. The ground glass and consolidation appearances on chest C-T in this immunodeficient patient could be presented in many clinical situations such as pneumonia by opportunistic infections(fungal, parasites, viral, and usual bacterial pathogens), anti-tumor drug's pulmonary toxicity and tumor invasion. And the other diseases of acute interstitial pneumonitis, alveolar proteinosis, BOOP, pulmonary edema and alveolar hemorrhage, which could present the same radiological findings, should included in differential diagnosis. This patient was diagnosed as the opportunistic pneumonia by Pneumocystis carinii and probably Cytomegalovirus through bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial lung biopsy.
Biopsy ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia ; Cytomegalovirus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drug Therapy* ; Glass ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Lymphoma* ; Parasites ; Pneumocystis carinii ; Pneumonia ; Pulmonary Edema ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Thorax

Amyloidosis limited to the tracheobronchial respiratory tract is a relatively rare condition. Fewer than 100 cases of tracheobronchial amyloidosis are reported. It is characterized by deposits of amyloid in airway walls. Bronchoscopy, although carrying a risk of bleeding, is the procedure of choice diagnostically and therapeutically. 49-year old man suffered from cough and exertional dyspnea over 20s years and recently hemoptysis, atelectasis of right middle lobe and postobstructive pneumonia. He was diagnosed as amyloidosis and treated by bronchoscopy with Nd : YAG laser. We discussed this case with review of literatures.
Amyloid ; Amyloidosis* ; Bronchoscopy ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Hemoptysis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Laser Therapy* ; Lasers, Solid-State ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Respiratory System