BACKGROUND: Bronchoscopy is an essential procedure for identifying the bleeding site and evaluating cause of hemoptysis. However, it is controversial regarding to the timing of bronchoscopy in patients with hemoptysis. Early bronchoscopy, which was performed during hemoptysis or with 48hour after cessation of bleeding, was better for identifying the site of bleeding compared with delayed bronchoscopy, which was performed 48 hours after cessation of bleeding. The diagnostic yield of identifying the bleeding site by bronchoscopy was variable in reported literature and the safety of early bronchoscopy was not mentioned in previous literature. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of early bronchoscopy in patients with hemoptysis. METHOD: From October 1994 to August 1996 in Samsung Medical Center, bronchoscopy was performed in patients with hemoptysis. Early bronchoscopy was performed prospectively during hemoptysis or within 48 hours after cessation of bleeding from May 1995 to August 1996. Delayed bronchoscopy group included patients who did not recieved early bronchoscopy at the same period or in whom bronchoscopy was performed 48 hour after cessation of bleeding from October 1994 to May 1995. RESULTS: Early bronchoscopy group was performed 73 times in 71 patients. Delayed bronchoscopy was performed in 57 times in 55 patients. There was no difference as to amount and underlying cause of hemoptysis between both groups. Indentification of bleeding site by visualizing active bleeding was significantly higher in early bronchoscopy(38.3%) than delayed bronchoscopy group (8.7%) (p<0.05). Indentification of bleeding site by bleeding after clot removal was 8 in early and 10 in delayed bronchoscopy. Indentification of bleeding site by visualizing active bleeding and bleeding after clot removal was 36 in early and 15 patients in delayed bronchoscopy(p>0.05). Causes of hemoptysis was found in 18 patients in early and 16 patients in delayed bronchoscopy group. patients who had early bronchoscopy underwent surgery. We diagnosed the site of bleeding in 4 patients preoperatively. In 3 patients we made a treatment plan promptly right after bronchoscopy. Among early bronchoscopy group, bleeding over 100cc during bronchoscopy occurred in 2 patients. In early bronchoscopy group there was no other major complication during bronchoscopy. CONCLUSION: In patients with hemoptysis, early bronchoscopy which performed within 48 hours after cessation of bleeding was more effective procedure for indentifying the bleeding site than delayed bronchoscopy which was performed after 48 hour cessation of bleeding.
Bronchoscopy* ; Hemoptysis* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVES: Although bronchoscopy is an important diagnostic tool for lung disease, patients compliance is low due to discomfort. Recently, midazolam which has a favorable anterograde amnesia effect and short action duration, has been used to relieve patients discomfort during bronchoscopy. Midazolam was investigated in order to see the beneficial effect and safety during bronchoscopy. METHODS: The study design was single blind, randomized, prospective. 102 patients were included, in whom bronchoscopy was performed between June, 19% and October, 1995 at Samsung Medical Center. They were categorized into midazolam group and control group. Patients were asked about the amnesic effect, discomfort of procedure and the willingness to repeat procedure. The consciousness level of patients during procedure, patient cooperation during procedure and ease of procedure were also reported by bronchoscopists. RESULTS: 1) The difference of oxygen saturation between two groups: There was no significant difference in oxygen saturation between midazolam group and control group before and after bronchoscopy. During procedure, however, mean oxygen saturations in midazolam group (90+/-6.4%) was significantly lower than in control group (93+/-4.7%)(p<0.05). 2) Evaluations by patients (1) Effect of amnesia: 41 patients (82%) in midazolam group could not recall the procedure but 52 patients (100%) recalled the entire procedure in control group. A favorable amnesic effects could be found in midazolam group(p<0.05). {2) The discomfort during the procedure: 43 patents(86%) did not experience discomfort from procedure in midazolam group but 25 patients(48%) complained of discomfort in control group (p<0.05). (3) Most patients except two(96%) were willing to repeat fiberoptic bronchoscopy in midazolam group but 13 patients (25%) answered that they would never repeat bronchoscapy. There was a statistically significant difference between two groups in the willingness to repeat bronchocopy (p<0.05). 3) The evaluations by bronchoscopists Cooperations of the patients and ease of procedure were not different between two groups. The patients in midazolam group except eight could not respond to verbal stimuli but most patients were awakened during procedure in control group(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Midazolam is a good sedative agent for a patient to give a favorable amnesia, reduction of discomfort during bronchoscopy. We concluded that midazolam is a safe and useful sedative agent and midazolam may be used routinely during bronchoscopy. Monitoring of oxygen saturation, however, is essential to prevent severe hypoxia during procedure.
Amnesia ; Amnesia, Anterograde ; Anoxia ; Bronchoscopy* ; Compliance ; Consciousness ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Midazolam* ; Oxygen ; Patient Compliance ; Prospective Studies*

BACKGROUND: Many clinical measures have been used to assess fall risk in elderly adults. The first objective of this study was to assess the clinical availability of maximal step length (MSL) as a measurement predicting falling probability in future. The second objective of this study was to try to find out how to use MSL more easily in a clinical setting. METHODS: The study population consisted of 50 community-dwelling people (> or =60 yrs). Demographic data were reviewed by self-recorded questionnaire and MSL, US and TUG had been done when the subjects visited a clinic in March and April 2004. They revisited the clinic after one year and information of fall incidence was obtained and their visual acuity was examined. To examine the association between many performance tests (MSL Unipedal stance, Timed up and go) and their real falling after tests, we analysed data by Mann-Whitney rank Test, pearson correlation and multiple regression. RESULTS: The average MSL predicted future falling (P-value 0.025), but Unipedal stance, Timed up and go did not. The predicting ability of MSL was preserved using many MSL measures (average MSL corrected by leg length and height, one direction measure among six directions of MSL, and average of left and right three directions of MSL). CONCLUSION: This study showed that MSL had the ability to predict elderly adults' falling in future. And this study showed that MSL can be used more easily in a clinical setting.
Adult ; Aged ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leg ; Visual Acuity ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: As single donor platelets (SDP) has been increasingly used, the quality of SDP, especially apheresis-induced platelet activation, has become a major issue. This study evaluated the activation of SDP platelets prepared with three different cell separators that are currently being used at the Korean Red Cross. METHODS: CD62p, CD63 and CD42 were measured in 35 units of SDP prepared with Amicus (Baxter, Deerfield, IL, USA), MCS+ (Haemonetics, Braintree, MA, USA), or Trima (Gambro BCT, Lakewood, USA) using flow cytometry. RESULTS: Expression of CD62p gradually increased with storage time, but no difference in expression was noted between cell separators. Expression of CD63 also increased with storage time and platelets prepared with the Amicus displayed significantly higher CD63 expression 72 and 120 hours after collection compared to those prepared with MCS+ and Trima. Expression of CD42b tended to decrease with storage time, but this was only significant for Amicus 120 hours after collection. No difference in CD42b expression was noted between cell separators. CONCLUSIONS: Platelet activation increased with storage time, and platelet activation was more pronounced in the platelets prepared with the Amicus. However, because in vitro results of platelet activation does not necessarily reflect in vivo platelet function and survival, additional studies are needed to clarify clinical effectiveness of activated platelets.
Blood Platelets* ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Platelet Activation* ; Plateletpheresis* ; Red Cross ; Tissue Donors

No abstract available.
Mucous Membrane* ; Pigmentation*

BACKGROUND: Rifampicin (RFP) is a key component of the antituberculous short-course chemotherapy and the RFP resistance is a marker of multi-drug resistant (MDR) tuberculosis. RpoB gene encodes the beta-subunit of RNA polymerase of M. tuberculosis which is the target of RFP. And the mutations of rpoB gene have been found in about 96% of rifampicin resistant clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis. So in order to find a rapid and clinically useful diagnostic method in identifying the REP resistance, we compared the PCR-line probe method with PCR-SSCP for the detection of the rpoB gene mutation in cultured M. tuberculosis. METHODS: 45 clinical isoLates were collected from patients who visited Sung Kyun Kwan University Hospital. The REP susceptibility test was referred to the referral laboratory of the Korean Tuberculosis Institute. 33 were rifampicin resistant and 12 were rifampicin susceptible. The susceptibility results were compared with the results of the PCR-SSCF and PCR-line probe method. RESULTS: We could find rpoB mutations in 27/33(81.8%) RFP-resistant strains by PCR-line probe method, and in 23/33(69.7%) by PCR-SSCP and there was no significant difference between two methods. There was no mutation in rifampicinn susceptible strains by both methods.: Comparison of PCR-line probe and PCR-SSCP methods for detection rifampicin resistance CONCLUSION: PCR-Iine probe method would be a rapid, sensitive and specific method for the detection of rifampicin resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases ; Drug Resistance ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Referral and Consultation ; Rifampin* ; Tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) has been reported to diveres spectrum of chinical presentations and radiologic patterns. The three representative radiologic patterns are followings; 1) a solitary nodule or mass, 2) a localized consolidation, and 3) multicentric or diffuse disease. While, the localized consolidation and solitary nodular patterns has favorable prognosis, the multicentric of diffuse pattern has worse prognosis regardless of treatment BAC presenting as a solitary pulmonary nodule is often misdiagnosed as other benign disease such as tuberculoma. Therefore it is very important to make proper diagnosis of BAC with solitary nodular pattern, since this pattern of BAC is usually curable with a surgical resection. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical and radiologic features of patients with pathologically-proven BAC with solitary nodular pattern from January 1995 to September 1996 at Samsung Medical Center. RESULTS: Total 11 patients were identified. 6 were men and 5 were women. Age ranged from 37 to 69. Median age was 60. Most patients with BAC with solitary nodular pattern were asymptomatic and were detected by incidental radiologic abnormality. The chest radiograph showed poorly defined opacity or nodule and computed tomography showed consolidation, ground glass appearance, internal bubble-like lucencies, air bronchogram, open bronchus sign, spiculated margin or pleural tag in most patients. The initial diagnosis on chest X-ray were pulmonary tuberculosis in 4 patients, benign nodule in 2 patients and malignant nodule in 5 patients. The FDG-positron emission tomogram was performed in eight patients. The FDG-PET revealed suggestive findings of malignancy in only 3 patients. The pathologic diagnosis was obtained by transbronchial lung biopsy in 1 patient, by CT guided percutaneous needle aspiration in 2 patients, and by lung biopsy via video-assited thoracocopy in 8 patients. Lobectomy was performed in all patients and postoperative pathologic staging were T1N0M0 in 8 patients and T2N0M0 in 3 patients. CONCLUSION: Patients of BAC presenting with solitary nodular pattern were most often asymptomatic and incidentally detected by radiologic abnormality. The chest X-ray showed poorly defined nodule or opacity and these findings were often regarded as benign lesion. If poorly nodule or opacity does not disappear on follow up chest X-ray, computed tomography should be performed. If consolidation, ground glass appearance, open bronchus sign, air bronchogram, internal bubble like lucency, pleural tag or spiculated margin are found on computed tomography, further diagnostic procedures, including open thoracotomy, should be performed to exclude the possiblity of BAC with solitary nodular pattern.
Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar* ; Biopsy ; Bronchi ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glass ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Needles ; Prognosis ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule* ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax ; Tuberculoma ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

PURPOSE: To determine the CT findings of consolidative malignant neoplasms of the lung. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen patients in whom pulmonary consolidation was seen on chest radiography were involved in this study. In all cases malignancy was subsequently proven; the neoplasms involved were bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (n = 9), malignant lymphoma (n = 4), mucoepidermoid tumor (n = 1), metastasis from colon cancer (n = 2), and metastasis from pancreatic mucinous adenocarcinoma (n =1). CT images were retrospectively analyzed in terms of enhancement pattern of the consolidation, morphologic appearance of an air-bronchogram, CT angiogram sign, pseudocavitation, and lymphadenopathy. RESULTS: Visually assessed enhancement pattern of the consolidation showed lower attenuation than adjacent muscles in bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (8/9) and metastasis (1/3); isoattenuation in malignant lymphoma (3/4), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (1/1), and metastasis (1/3); and higher attenuation in bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (1/9), malignant lymphoma (1/4), and metastasis (1/3). Among the 15 of 17 patients for whom an air-bronchogram was available, a stretching and squeezing pattern was seen in bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (4/9), malignant lymphoma (3/4), and metastasis (1/3). CT angiogram sign was identified in bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (5/9), malignant lymphoma (2/4), and metastasis (3/3). Pseudocavitation was observed in two patients with bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, while lymphadenopathy was seen in bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (4/9), malignant lymphoma (3/4), and metastasis (1/3). Conglomerate and extrathoracic lymphadenopathy are commonly associated with malignant lymphoma. CONCLUSION: Malignant neoplasms which apper as consolidative lung lesions appear not only as bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, which is well known, but also in other forms. Although these lesions cannot be differentiated on the basis of air-bronchography and CT angiography, poor enhancement of consolidative lesion and pseudocavitation are characteristic findings of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, and conglomerate or extrathoracic lymphadenopathy are also characteristic of malignant lymphoma.
Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Angiography ; Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Lymphoma ; Mucoepidermoid Tumor ; Muscles ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax

Fibrosing mediastinitis is a rare disease which is characterized by excessive fibrosis of mediastinum and symptoms caused by compression and obstruction of mediastinal structures. Afthough the pathogenesis of this disease is unknown, granulomatous infection is cinsidered to be the most common cause of this disease. Histoplasmosis is the most common etiology, especially in the endemic areas in United States. Tuberculosis is another etiology of fibrosing mediastinitis. We experienced two cases of fibrosing mediastinitis associated with tuberculous infection.
Fibrosis ; Histoplasmosis ; Mediastinitis* ; Mediastinum ; Rare Diseases ; Tuberculosis* ; United States

No abstract available.
Animals ; Epithelium* ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Rats*