PURPOSE: In the partial thickness burn management, despite of several advantages, the use of human amniotic membrane has been limited. The authors applied dried bovine amniotic membrane(DBAM) to overcome disadvantages of amniotic membrane for partial thickness burn and to compare the effectiveness of cultured allogenic keratinocytes(CAK) that have been recently used for the management of burn. METHODS: From August 2007 to May 2008, 16 patients with partial thickness burn were assigned to this study. The ages ranged from 12 to 59, with the average of 38. Either DBAM or CAK were applied, and the secondary dressing was removed on the following day. To compare treatment effect, time for epithelization, Vancouver scar scale and chromameteric results were evaluated. RESULTS: The time for epithelization was 10.1 days and 9.1 days in DBAM and CAK, respectively, which are shorter than the previous 2-3 weeks. At the follow up Vancouver scar scale was 2.8 in DBAM and 3.0 points in CAK, both of which showed good results. The results of chromameter showed that the L*, a*, and b* values of the area applied DBAM were 60.1, 13.6, and 13.3, respectively, and the values of the area applied CAK were 60.1, 12.4, and 12.4, respectively. It was found that the skin color of the healed area after burn was darker, the redness was higher, and the yellowness was lower. After dressing, no significant side effects were observed, and in the cases of applying CAK, it was inconvenient as the moving area had to be fixed. CONCLUSION: As CAK, DBAM has several advantages such as the shortening of the epithelization period, reduction of scar and pigmentation, and convenient application, etc., it is an effective method for the partial thickness burn management.
Amnion ; Bandages ; Burns ; Cicatrix ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Pigmentation ; Skin

Iatrogenic postintubation tracheal injury is a rare but potentially fatal complication associated with anesthesia. However, as signs of tracheal injury including subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, and respiratory distress may also be related to surgical technique, diagnosis may be confused and treatment of tracheal injury can be delayed. We report a case of postintubation tracheal laceration, whose diagnosis was delayed because of symptoms were confused with subcutaneous emphysema after septorhinoplasty including osteotomy. As symptoms deteriorated in spite of conventional management, patient underwent evaluation to determine other causes and eventually postintubation tracheal injury was detected. Therefore, even if there is no problem during tracheal intubation, it is necessary to consider postintubation tracheal injury in patients with subcutaneous emphysema that worsens despite appropriate treatment after septorhinoplasty including osteotomy.
Anesthesia ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Lacerations ; Mediastinal Emphysema ; Osteotomy ; Pneumothorax ; Subcutaneous Emphysema

Renal infarction usually occurs in patients with atrial fibrillation, valvular heart disease, trauma, renal artery stenosis, atherosclerosis, vasculitis, and hypercoagulable state. Protein C or S deficiency is an uncommon condition among hypercoagulable states and manifests deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary thromboembolism, cerebrovascular accident. In this report, we present a case of renal infarction occurred in 36-year-old male without underlying diseases except a family history of thromboembolism. He was admitted to our hospital due to an abrupt and continuous left flank pain. He had no previous history of an arterial or venous thrombosis. Tomography and renal angiography showed a left renal artery occlusion. He was treated with heparin and warfarin therapy. In laboratory tests, Protein C antigen level and protein S activity was 51.80% (72-160%) and 48% (65-140%). Thus, we concluded that renal infarction was secondary to combined type 1 protein C deficiency and type 2 protein S deficiency.
Adult ; Angiography ; Atherosclerosis ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Flank Pain ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Heparin ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Male ; Protein C Deficiency ; Protein C* ; Protein S ; Protein S Deficiency ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Renal Artery ; Renal Artery Obstruction ; Stroke ; Thromboembolism ; Vasculitis ; Venous Thrombosis ; Warfarin

PURPOSE: This study was done to evaluate the formal education program provided by the Korean government for care workers for frail elderly people. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional survey in which 438 certified care workers who had completed the education program participated. Data were collected from June to October 2009, using a self-report questionnaire consisting of satisfaction with, and understanding of the education program. RESULTS: The participants had a mean age of 46.7 yr, 87.9% were female and 58.2% were high school graduates. For the theory part of the education, the highest score for understanding was for 'supporting household & activities of daily living' while the lowest score for understanding was for 'care for death and dying'. For the practical education, the highest score for understanding was for 'talking with the client' and the lowest score was for 'first aid & basic life support'. There was a significant difference in satisfaction and understanding of the theoretical and practical parts according to educational level. CONCLUSION: Continuing education programs are needed for care workers for elders, both in the theoretical and practical areas. Also the content of programs should address the weak points of this formal education program.
Adult ; Aged ; Caregivers/*education/psychology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Education, Nursing, Continuing ; Female ; Frail Elderly ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Program Evaluation ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea

Recently we have experienced one case of pulmonary lymphangioleiomymatosis(LAM). A 49 year-old woman visited the outpatient department complaining of longstanding dyspnea, which was aggravated by exercise. Although the chest PA film showed nothing more than a slight increase in interstitial marking, a lung HRCT revealed multiple cystic lesions of a similar size that were scattered through out the whole field in both lungs. An abdominal CT detected an angiomyolipoma located in the midbody of the left kidney. Video-assisted thoracic surgery(VATS) was performed for the pathologic diagnosis. On gross examination of the biopsy lung, a pulmonary LAM was confirmed by a finding of smooth muscle proliferation in the interstitum of the lung. After the final diagnosis, oral medroxyprogesterone was prescribed and she is presently in a stable condition.
Angiomyolipoma* ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Oral ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; Lung ; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis* ; Medroxyprogesterone ; Muscle, Smooth ; Outpatients ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) can now be eradicated in the majority of patients with 7 days of treatment with OAC (omeprazole+amoxicillin+clarithromycin) regimen. It is unclear if additional acid-suppressing treatment should be continued beyond 7 days in patients with active gastric or duodenal ulcers. METHODS: Ninety two patients with endoscopically proven active peptic ulcers who were H. pylori positive were randomized to receive either omeprazole 20 mg plus amoxicillin 1.0g plus clarithromycin 500mg ; twice daily for 1 week alone (OAC group) or same regimen followed by 3 weeks of omeprazole (OACP group). Endoscopy and UBT (urea breath test) were performed 8 weeks after the initiation of treatment. RESULTS: Forty four of forty five (97.8%) of OAC group and forty four of forty seven (93.6%) of OACP group were noted to have healed ulcer at week 8. CONCLUSION: In patients with H. pylori infection and peptic ulcers, one week of OAC therapy without further need for PPI may heal the ulcers. Following an l week course of H. pylori eradication therapy by OAC for peptic ulcers, further 3 weeks of acid-suppressing therapy with PPI was not proven to promote ulcer healing rate.
Amoxicillin ; Clarithromycin ; Duodenal Ulcer ; Endoscopy ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Omeprazole ; Peptic Ulcer* ; Ulcer

Objectives: . A polydioxanone (PDO) stent was developed to treat tracheomalacia in pediatric patients. However, its safety and efficacy need to be verified in animal studies before clinical trials in patients can be conducted. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of a PDO stent in normal and tracheomalacia-model rabbits. Methods: . In total, 29 New Zealand white rabbits were used: 13 for evaluating the biocompatibility of the PDO stent in normal rabbits and 16 for the creation of a tracheomalacia model. The tracheomalacia model was successfully established in 12 rabbits, and PDO stents were placed in eight of those rabbits. Results: . The PDO stent was successfully positioned in the trachea of the normal rabbits using an endoscopic approach, and its degradation was observed 10 weeks later. The stent fragments did not induce distal airway obstruction or damage, and the mucosal changes that occurred after stent placement were reversed after degradation. The same procedure was performed on the tracheomalacia-model rabbits. The survival duration of the tracheomalacia rabbits with and without stents was 49.0±6.8 and 1.0±0.8 days, respectively. Thus, the PDO stent yielded a significant survival gain (P=0.001). In the tracheomalacia rabbits, stent degradation and granulation tissue were observed 7 weeks after placement, leading to airway collapse and death. Conclusion . We successfully developed a PDO stent and an endoscopic guide placement system. The degradation time of the stent was around 10 weeks in normal rabbits, and its degradation was accelerated in the tracheomalacia model. The mucosal changes associated with PDO stent placement were reversible. Placement of the PDO stent prolonged survival in tracheomalacia-model rabbits.

Objectives: . A polydioxanone (PDO) stent was developed to treat tracheomalacia in pediatric patients. However, its safety and efficacy need to be verified in animal studies before clinical trials in patients can be conducted. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of a PDO stent in normal and tracheomalacia-model rabbits. Methods: . In total, 29 New Zealand white rabbits were used: 13 for evaluating the biocompatibility of the PDO stent in normal rabbits and 16 for the creation of a tracheomalacia model. The tracheomalacia model was successfully established in 12 rabbits, and PDO stents were placed in eight of those rabbits. Results: . The PDO stent was successfully positioned in the trachea of the normal rabbits using an endoscopic approach, and its degradation was observed 10 weeks later. The stent fragments did not induce distal airway obstruction or damage, and the mucosal changes that occurred after stent placement were reversed after degradation. The same procedure was performed on the tracheomalacia-model rabbits. The survival duration of the tracheomalacia rabbits with and without stents was 49.0±6.8 and 1.0±0.8 days, respectively. Thus, the PDO stent yielded a significant survival gain (P=0.001). In the tracheomalacia rabbits, stent degradation and granulation tissue were observed 7 weeks after placement, leading to airway collapse and death. Conclusion . We successfully developed a PDO stent and an endoscopic guide placement system. The degradation time of the stent was around 10 weeks in normal rabbits, and its degradation was accelerated in the tracheomalacia model. The mucosal changes associated with PDO stent placement were reversible. Placement of the PDO stent prolonged survival in tracheomalacia-model rabbits.

Chitinase-3-like-1 (CHI3L1) is known to induce inflammation in the progression of allergic diseases. Previous our studies revealed that 2-({3-[2-(1-cyclohexen-1-yl)ethyl]-6,7-dimethoxy-4-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2-quinazolinyl}sulfanyl)-N-(4-ethylphenyl)butanamide (K284-6111; K284), the CHI3L1 inhibiting compound, has the anti-inflammatory effect on neuroinflammation. In this study, we investigated that K284 treatment could inhibit the development of atopic dermatitis (AD). To identify the effect of K284, we used phthalic anhydride (5% PA)-induced AD animal model and in vitro reconstructed human skin model. We analyzed the expression of AD-related cytokine mediators and NF-κB signaling by Western blotting, ELISA and quantitative real-time PCR. Histological analysis showed that K284 treatment suppressed PA-induced epidermal thickening and infiltration of mast cells.K284 treatment also reduced PA-induced release of inflammatory cytokines. In addition, K284 treatment inhibited the expression of NF-κB activity in PA-treated skin tissues and TNF-α and IFN-γ-treated HaCaT cells. Protein-association network analysis indicated that CHI3L1 is associated with lactoferrin (LTF). LTF was elevated in PA-treated skin tissues and TNF-α and IFN-γ-induced HaCaT cells. However, this expression was reduced by K284 treatment. Knockdown of LTF decreased the expression of inflammatory cytokines in TNF-α and IFN-γ-induced HaCaT cells. Moreover, anti-LTF antibody treatment alleviated AD development in PA-induced AD model. Our data demonstrate that CHI3L1 targeting K284 reduces AD-like skin inflammation and K284 could be a promising therapeutic agent for AD by inhibition of LTF expression.

Chitinase-3-like-1 (CHI3L1) is known to induce inflammation in the progression of allergic diseases. Previous our studies revealed that 2-({3-[2-(1-cyclohexen-1-yl)ethyl]-6,7-dimethoxy-4-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2-quinazolinyl}sulfanyl)-N-(4-ethylphenyl)butanamide (K284-6111; K284), the CHI3L1 inhibiting compound, has the anti-inflammatory effect on neuroinflammation. In this study, we investigated that K284 treatment could inhibit the development of atopic dermatitis (AD). To identify the effect of K284, we used phthalic anhydride (5% PA)-induced AD animal model and in vitro reconstructed human skin model. We analyzed the expression of AD-related cytokine mediators and NF-κB signaling by Western blotting, ELISA and quantitative real-time PCR. Histological analysis showed that K284 treatment suppressed PA-induced epidermal thickening and infiltration of mast cells.K284 treatment also reduced PA-induced release of inflammatory cytokines. In addition, K284 treatment inhibited the expression of NF-κB activity in PA-treated skin tissues and TNF-α and IFN-γ-treated HaCaT cells. Protein-association network analysis indicated that CHI3L1 is associated with lactoferrin (LTF). LTF was elevated in PA-treated skin tissues and TNF-α and IFN-γ-induced HaCaT cells. However, this expression was reduced by K284 treatment. Knockdown of LTF decreased the expression of inflammatory cytokines in TNF-α and IFN-γ-induced HaCaT cells. Moreover, anti-LTF antibody treatment alleviated AD development in PA-induced AD model. Our data demonstrate that CHI3L1 targeting K284 reduces AD-like skin inflammation and K284 could be a promising therapeutic agent for AD by inhibition of LTF expression.