A 67-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital under suspicion of a hepatic tumor, which had been previously diagnosed to be an adenocarcinoma by fine needle aspiration. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large tumor measuring 9 cm in diameter in Couinaud's hepatic segments 4, 5, and 8. We diagnosed the patient to have primary liver cancer, and suspected intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma preoperatively. We performed a central hepatectomy. According to the immunohistochemical findings of the resected specimen, the tumor was diagnosed to be a primary neuroendocrine carcinoma in the liver. The patient is presently alive without recurrence at 3 months after hepatic resection.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Chromogranin A ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Neoplasms ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination has been reported to be an effective treatment for asthma in several animal models. This study investigated whether the response to BCG treatment in asthma depends on subject clinical characteristics. METHODS: Stable asthma patients were vaccinated with BCG. One month later, alterations in pulmonary function after vaccination and their relationships with subject clinical characteristics were determined. RESULTS: Of 149 patients with asthma, 54 (36.2%) showed a good or fair response to BCG. The DeltaFEV1 after vaccination was significantly related to age (r=-0.348, P<0.001), peripheral blood eosinophil counts (r=0.315, P<0.001) and baseline FEV1, expressed as % personal best value (r=-0.474, P<0.001), but not to FEV1 % predicted value (r=-0.066, P>0.05). A good/fair response was highly prevalent in atopic females compared with atopic males, especially among those aged < or =50 years (90.9% vs. 40.0%, P=0.024). Age (P<0.001, odds ratios (OR)=0.92, confidence interval (CI)=0.88-0.96) and atopy (P<0.01, OR=4.95, CI=1.70-14.44) were significant predictors for a good/fair response in females. However, blood eosinophil counts (P<0.05, OR=1.18, CI=1.01-1.39) and FEV1 % best (P<0.001, OR=0.86, CI=0.79-0.94), but not age or atopy, were significant predictors in males. Approximately three-quarters of the males were smokers. CONCLUSIONS: The therapeutic effect of BCG in asthma may differ according to patient clinical characteristics. The greatest benefit occurred in young atopic females. Asthma activity indices, such as eosinophilia and FEV1 % best, were more predictive of a good/fair response in males; this may have been related to cigarette smoking.
Aged ; Asthma ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Mycobacterium bovis ; Odds Ratio ; Smoking ; Vaccination

BACKGROUND: There are reports that food deprivation causes emphysematous changes in the lungs of rats and humans. However, the meaning of this phenomenon in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to determine the correlations between the caloric intake and parameters of the lung function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. METHODS: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who had visited the respiratory clinic from March, 2006 for one year were enrolled in this study. The patients underwent pulmonary function tests, and a dietitian evaluated their nutritional intake using a food record method. RESULTS: There was no correlation between the total caloric intake and forced vital capacity (FVC, %predicted) or forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1, %predicted). The total caloric intake showed a positive correlation with the diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO %predicted, DLCO/VA %predicted), and a negative correlation with the total lung capacity (TLC, %predicted). Of the calories taken, only calories from protein intake correlated with the diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO %predicted, DLCO/VA %predicted). CONCLUSION: The total caloric intake of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease showed a positive correlation with the diffusing capacity of the lung, and a negative correlation with the total lung capacity. Further study on the linkage between the caloric intake and severity of emphysema is needed.
Animals ; Carbon Monoxide ; Emphysema ; Energy Intake ; Food Deprivation ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lung ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Rats ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Total Lung Capacity ; Vital Capacity

Multiple primary cancer is defined as the multiple occurrence of malignant neoplasm in the same individual. The incidence of multiple primary cancer is 0.26~1.43% in Korea, but this malady is increasing due to development of diagnostic modalities, the treatment of cancer and the recording of accurate cancer statistics. The most common site of multiple primary cancer in Korea is the stomach, colon, breast, cervix, liver and lung. We report here on a case of triple cancer that was located at the middle esophagus, stomach and duodenum in 75 year-old man.
Aged ; Breast ; Cervix Uteri ; Colon ; Duodenum* ; Esophagus* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Liver ; Lung ; Stomach*

Allergic reactions developed in parturients can cause fetal asphyxia and some difficulties in anesthetic management. We performed general anesthesia for an emergent cesarean section on 30 yrs old woman who showed an allergic reaction to an antibiotic. Dyspnea, urticaria, sweating, generalized edema and fetal bradycardia suddenly occurred after an intravenous injection of the antibiotic. Dexamethasone 10 mg was administered intravenously. General anesthesia was induced with pentothal and succinylcholine. Despite of severe airway edema, endotracheal intubation was successful. During the operation, the allergic signs became decreased. After the operation, no additional problems were evident. Potential epitopes should be removed in susceptible parturients and medical staff should be familiar with anesthetic management in allergic patients during pregnancy.
Anesthesia, General ; Asphyxia ; Bradycardia ; Cesarean Section* ; Dexamethasone ; Dyspnea ; Edema ; Epitopes ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Injections, Intravenous ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Medical Staff ; Pregnancy ; Succinylcholine ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Thiopental ; Urticaria

Although the occurrence of fatal pulmonary embolism may be diminishing, it still accounts for a substantial proportion of postoperative deaths in the middle-aged and older persons, especially among those undergoing major orthopedic surgery, despite improvements in patient management. We experienced cardiac arrest during bipolar endoprosthesis. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was started and the transesophageal echocardiogram showed right heart failure. We suspected acute pulmonary thromboembolism and decided to perform thromboembolectomy with cardiopulmonary bypass. A massive old blood clot and a 1.0 x 1.5 cm thrombus were removed from both pulmonary arteries. However, despite massive fluid therapy and the use of inotropic agent, the patient failed to recover successfully with postoperative management in the intensive care unit.
Cardiopulmonary Bypass* ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Fluid Therapy ; Heart Arrest ; Heart Failure ; Hip* ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Orthopedics ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Thrombosis

BACKGROUND: Monitored anesthesia care (MAC) has become increasingly important as a means of ensuring patient comfort, safety and satisfaction during surgery under local anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of monitored anesthesia care using alfentanil and ketorolac in patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). METHODS: We studied 47 adult patients premedicated with glycopyrrolate 0.2 mg and midazolam 0.02 mg/kg IV. Using a 5.0 endotracheal tube, 5 L/min of oxygen was delivered via mouth. A mixture of 30 mg of ketorolac and 2,500microgram of alfentanil in 25 ml of saline was infused to patients at a rate of 1microgram/kg/min alfentanil after a bolus injection of 5microgram/kg alfentanil before operation. During operations we monitered vital signs, SpO2, OAA/S (Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation) scale and BIS scores. Six hours postoperatively we assessed patient degree of satisfaction via NRS (1-10) with the anesthetic technique and side effects. RESULTS: Mean duration of drug infusion was 35 +/- 10.1 min, and the mean infusion rate of alfentanil was 1.09 +/- 0.23microgram/kg/min. Significant differences were observed between OAA/S scale scores at 10 min and 30 min after drug infusion and those in the waiting room (4.63, 4.65 vs 5, P <0.05)(Fig. 4). The mean patient satisfaction score was 8.3 out of 10, and 93.6% (44/47) of patients said they would recommend this anesthetic technique to others for ESS. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that MAC using a mixture of alfentanil and ketorolac during ESS is a good way of relieving patient anxiety and pain without respiratory depression or excessive sedation. This study also showed a high level of patient satisfaction for those undergoing ESS under local anesthesia.
Adult ; Alfentanil* ; Anesthesia* ; Anesthesia, Local ; Anxiety ; Glycopyrrolate ; Humans ; Ketorolac* ; Midazolam ; Mouth ; Oxygen ; Patient Satisfaction ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Vital Signs

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients undergoing major gynecologic surgery with those undergoing Cesarean-section during intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). METHODS: Seventy two patients received general anesthesia with enflurane. Group 1 patients underwent major gynecologic surgery, and group 2 patients were parturients who underwent Cesarean-section. Postoperatively, fentanyl was continuously infused i.v. using Accufuser PLUS (basal, 2 ml/h; bolus, 0.5 ml; lockout interval, 15 min) containing fentanyl 25microgram/kg in saline. PONV was evaluated at 6, 12, 24 and 36 h after starting continuous infusion and compared in the two groups. RESULTS: The incidence of PONV was significantly lower in group 2 (14%) than in group 1 (67%) (P < 5). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that the incidence of PONV was lower for Cesarean-section than for gynecologic surgery.
Analgesia, Patient-Controlled* ; Anesthesia, General ; Enflurane ; Female ; Fentanyl* ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting*

BACKGROUND: One of the limitation during the irradiation of malignant tumor is hazard to normal tissue although it is important and effective tool for treating malignant tumor. We studied the role of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the radiation-induced lung injury especially on fibrosis. METHODS: We irradiated right-side lungs of thirty Sprague-Dawley rats with single fraction of 20 Gy and then sacrificed the animals until 20th week at intervals of two weeks. Both irradiated and unirradiated lung tissues were stained hematoxilin and eosin, Masson trichrome, reticulin and immunohistochemical staining for IL-1alpha and IL-6. The degree of the staining for IL-1alpha and IL-6 were examined semiquantitatively. RESULTS: Two weeks after irradiation interstitial edema and capillary congestion appeared, followed by increase of the monocytes infiltration and proteinaceous material during 4th and 8th week. After eight weeks of irradiation, collagen and reticulin fibers were detected along alveolar wall. 12th to 20th week, fibrosis in interstitium, decreased number of alveoli and thickening of bronchial wall were observed. The degree of immunohistochemical staining for IL-1alpha and IL-6 was increased rapidly during the first three week and then decreased slowly, but remain incresed until 20th week. CONCLUSION: Our Study demonstrate the early and persistent elevation of cytokines IL-1alpha and IL-6 by immunohistochemical stain in rat lung following pulmonary irradiation. We think cytokines are produced immediately after irradiation, make collagen genes turn on and perisist until the expression of late effects become apparent pathologically and clinically.
Animals ; Capillaries ; Collagen ; Cytokines ; Edema ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Fibrosis ; Interleukin-1* ; Interleukin-1alpha ; Interleukin-6* ; Lung Injury ; Lung* ; Monocytes ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reticulin

BACKGROUND: Pleural effusion is one of most common clinical mainifestations associated with a variety of pulmonary disease such as malignancy, tuberculosis, and pneumonia. However, there are no useful laboratory tests to determine the specific cause of pleural effusion. Therefore, an attempt was made to analyze the various types of pleural effusion and search for useful laboratory tests for pleural effusion in order to differentiate between the disease, especially between a malignant pleural effusion and a non-malignant pleural effusion. METHODS: 93 patients with a pleural effusion, who visited the Severance hospital from January 1998 to August 1999, were enrolled in this study. Ultrasound-guided thoracentesis was done and a confirmational diagnosis was made by a gram stain, bacterial culture, Ziehl-Neelsen stain, a mycobacterial culture, a pleural biopsy and cytology. RESULTS: The male to female ratio was 56:37 and the average age was 47.1±21.8 years. There were 16 cases with a malignant effusion, 12 cases with a para-malignant effusion, 36 cases with tuberculosis, 22 cases with a para-pneumonic effusion, and 7 cases with transudate. The LDH2 fraction was significantly higher in the para-malignant effusion group compared to the para-pneumonic effusion group [30.6±64.% and 20.2±7.5%, respectively (p<0.05)] and both the LDH and LDH2 fraction was significantly in the para-malignant effusion group compared to those with tuberculosis [16.4±7.2% vs. 7.6±4.7%, and 30.6±6.4% vs. 17.6±6.3% respectively (p<0.05)]. The pleural effusion/serum LDH4 fraction ratio was significantly lower in the malignant effusion group compared to those with tuberculosis [1.5±0.8 vs. 2.1±0.6, respectively (p<0.05)]. The LDH4 fraction and the pleural effusion/serum LDH4 fraction ratio was significantly lower in the para-malignant effusion group compared to those with tuberculosis [17.0±5.8% vs. 23.5±4.6% and 1.3±0.4 vs. 2.1±0.6, respectively(p<0.05)]. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the LDH isoenzyme was the only useful biochemical test for a differential diagnosis of the various disease. In particular, the most useful test was the pleural effusion/serum LDH4 fraction ratio to distinguish between a para-malignant effusion and a tuberculous effusion.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Exudates and Transudates ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Male ; Pleural Effusion* ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant ; Pneumonia ; Tuberculosis