Pancreatic metastasis from papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is extremely rare; only 18 cases have been reported in the literature. However, several reviews have highlighted similar characteristics between metastatic and primary pancreatic tumors. The patient was a 51-year-old male with a history of total thyroidectomy, modified radical neck dissection, and radioactive iodine ablation for PTC in 2014. Nodules suspected of metastasis were found in both lungs on chest computed tomography (CT). However, after 6 months, a follow-up chest CT showed no increase in size; thus, a follow-up observation was planned. Six years after his initial diagnosis, abdominal CT and pancreas magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 4.7 cm cystic mass with a 2.5 cm enhancing mural nodule in the pancreas tail. We diagnosed the pancreatic lesion as either metastatic cancer or primary pancreas cancer. The patient underwent distal pancreato-splenectomy. After surgery, the pathological report revealed that the mass was metastatic PTC. Pancreatic metastasis from PTC indicates an advanced tumor stage and poor prognosis. However, pancreatectomy can increase the survival rate when the lesion is completely resectable. Therefore, surgical resection should be considered as a treatment for pancreatic metastasis from PTC.

The transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) cation channel, a member of the TRP vanilloid subfamily, is expressed in a broad range of tissues where it participates in the generation of Ca2+ signals and/or depolarization of the membrane potential. Regulation of TRPV4 abundance at the cell surface is critical for osmo- and mechanotransduction. Defects in TRPV4 are the cause of several human diseases, including brachyolmia type 3 (MIM:113500) (also known as brachyrachia or spondylometaphyseal dysplasia Kozlowski type [MIM:118452]), and metatropic dysplasia (MIM:156530) (also called metatropic dwarfism or parastremmatic dwarfism [MIM:168400]). These bone dysplasia mutants are characterized by severe dwarfism, kyphoscoliosis, distortion and bowing of the extremities, and contractures of the large joints. These diseases are characterized by a combination of decreased bone density, bowing of the long bones, platyspondyly, and striking irregularities of endochondral ossification with areas of calcific stippling and streaking in radiolucent epiphyses, metaphyses, and apophyses. In this review, we discuss the potential effect of the mutation on the regulation of TRPV4 functions, which are related to human diseases through deviated function. In particular, we emphasize how the constitutive active TRPV4 mutant affects endochondral ossification with a reduced number of hypertrophic chondrocytes and the presence of cartilage islands within the zone of primary mineralization. In addition, we summarize current knowledge about the role of TRPV4 in the pathogenesis of several diseases.
Humans ; *Mutation ; Osteochondrodysplasias/*genetics ; Osteogenesis/genetics ; TRPV Cation Channels/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism

We report on a 41-year-old woman with a chest wall desmoid tumour who was successfully treated with a computed tomography (CT)-guided steroid injection. She presented with a palpable mass in the right upper chest wall and was treated by surgical excision and postoperative radiation therapy due to recurrence of the mass at the surgical site. At 20 months after the second operation, a recurrent mass was again detected in the anterosuperior portion of the previous surgical site on CT. We performed a CT-guided steroid injection weekly for 4 weeks by applying a mixture of 3 mL of triamcinolone acetonide (40 mg/mL) and 3 mL of 1% Lidocaine, administering 4-6 mL of the mixture, to the lesion. Six months later, CT showed a marked decrease in the size of the mass.
Adult ; Female ; Fibromatosis, Aggressive/*drug therapy/*radiography ; Glucocorticoids/*therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lidocaine/therapeutic use ; *Radiography, Interventional ; Recurrence ; Thoracic Wall/*pathology ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Triamcinolone/*therapeutic use

BACKGROUND: From November 2006, The national health insurance system in the Republic of Korea began to cover prescribed long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) in patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency. This study examined the current status of LTOT after national health insurance coverage. METHODS: Between November 1, 2006 and June 30, 2008, the medical records of patients who were prescribed LTOT by chest physicians were reviewed. The data was collected from 13 university hospitals. RESULTS: 197 patients (131 male and 66 female) were prescribed LTOT. The mean age was 64.3+/-13.0 years. The most common underlying disease was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (n=103, 52.3%). Chest physicians prescribed LTOT using arterial blood gas analysis or a pulse oxymeter (74.6%), symptoms (14%), or a pulmonary function test (11.2%). The mean oxygen flow rate was 1.56+/-0.68 L/min at rest, 2.08+/-0.91 L/min during exercise or 1.51+/-0.75 L/min during sleep. Most patients (98.3%) used oxygen concentrators. Only 19% of patients used ambulatory oxygen supplies. The oxygen saturation before and after LTOT was 83.18+/-10.48% and 91.64+/-7.1%, respectively. After LTOT, dyspnea improved in 81.2% of patients. The mean duration of LTOT was 16.85+/-6.71 hours/day. The rental cost for the oxygen concentrator and related electricity charges were 48,414+/-15,618 won/month and 40,352+/-36,815 won/month, respectively. Approximately 75% of patients had a regular visit by the company. 5.8% of patients had personal pulse oxymetry. 54.9% of patients had their oxygen saturation checked on each visit hospital. 8% of patients were current smokers. The most common complaint with LTOT was the limitation of daily activity (53%). The most common complaint with oxygen concentrators was noise (41%). CONCLUSION: The patients showed good compliance with LTOT. However, only a few patients used an ambulatory oxygen device or had their oxygen saturation measured.
Blood Gas Analysis ; Compliance ; Dyspnea ; Electricity ; Equipment and Supplies ; Fees and Charges ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Insurance, Health ; Korea ; Male ; Medical Records ; National Health Programs ; Noise ; Oxygen ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Republic of Korea ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: The incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasing and the disease is becoming an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It is important to implement evidence-based guidelines by primary care physicians (PCPs) to establish qualified management of COPD patients. The aim of this survey is to investigate the pattern of COPD management among PCPs and to apply it to the development of Korean COPD guidelines. METHODS: A web-based questionnaire was prepared that consisted of 25 questions on the pattern of COPD management. A total of 217 PCPs participated in the survey from June 2006 to May 2007. RESULTS: Many PCPs (61.8%) possessed a spirometer, but the application rate was relatively low (35.8%) and more than half of the COPD patients (57%) did not receive a diagnosis based on spirometry. Administration of oral medication was preferred than the administration of inhaled medication for both stable COPD and acutely exacerbated COPD. More than 90% of the PCPs endorsed educational measures to quit smoking and vaccinate against influenza. It was noted that 56.7% of the PCPs were aware of the GOLD guidelines, but only 7.3% tended to fully implement the recommendations of the guidelines in daily practice. CONCLUSION: The results of the survey indicate that despite the high awareness rate of the current COPD guidelines, deficits exist among the PCPs with respect to the diagnosis and treatment of COPD. The results of this survey should be applied for the development of new COPD guidelines in order to decrease the discrepancy between the guidelines and the daily practice of the PCPs.
Health Surveys ; Humans ; Incidence ; Influenza, Human ; Korea ; Physicians, Primary Care ; Primary Health Care ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Spirometry

A 24-year-old man that had previously undergone a complete resection of a cervical paraganglioma presented with multiple well-defined intrapulmonary nodules on contrast-enhanced computed tomography. All of the nodules showed homogeneously intense enhancement. The largest nodule was a hot spot on F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. It was diagnosed as a paraganglioma using wedge resection via video-assisted thoracoscopic resection. Paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors and are exceedingly rare in the lung parenchyma. A few reports have described one or two intrapulmonary lesions, including primary tumors and metastases. We report a unique case of a multiple metastatic paraganglioma in the parenchyma of both lungs.
Humans ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Paraganglioma* ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: This study compared the bronchodilator efficacy and safety of tiotropium inhalation capsules (18microgram once daily) with a ipratropium metered dose inhaler (2 puffs of 20microgram q.i.d.) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHOD: After the initial screening assessment and a two-week run-in period, patients received either tiotropium 18microgram once daily or ipratropium 40microgram four times daily over a period of 4 weeks in a double blind, double dummy, parallel group study. The outcome measures were the lung function, the daily records of the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), the patients' questionnaire, and the use of concomitant salbutamol. The forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and the forced vital capacity (FVC) were measured 5 minutes before inhalation, and 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 hours after inhaling the study drug on days 0, 14 and 28. RESULT: In 16 centers, 134 patients with a mean (SD) age of 66 (7) years and a predicted FEV1 of 42 (12)% were analyzed. The trough FEV1 response was significantly higher in the tiotropium group than in the ipratropium group after a four-week treatment period. The weekly mean morning PEFR of the tiotropium group was consistently higher than that of the ipratropium group during the 4-week treatment period with differences ranging from 12.52 to 13.88 l/min, which were statistically significant. Tiotropium was well tolerated by the COPD patients during the 4-week treatment period and had a similar safety profile to ipratropium. CONCLUSION: This study shows that tiotropium administrated once daily has a superior bronchodilator effect with a similar safety profile in treating COPD patients compared with ipratropium, inhaled four times daily.
Adult* ; Albuterol ; Bronchodilator Agents ; Capsules ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Ipratropium* ; Lung ; Mass Screening ; Metered Dose Inhalers ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vital Capacity ; Tiotropium Bromide

BACKGROUND: We performed this stody to find out about antimicrobial effect of lidocaine which is commonly used local anesthetic, and thrombin and epinephrine used for hemostasis during bronchoscopic procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The microorganisms that were cultured from specimens obtained during bronchoscopy were Staphylococcus aureus (n=42), Streptococcus pneumoniae (n=42), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=42), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=43) collected from St. Mary's Hospital, from March to Sep 2004 were used for susceptibity testing. Susceptibility to lidocaine, thrombin, and epinephrine were tested according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. RESULT: MIC50 and MIC90 of lidocaine for S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa were all 20,000 microgram/mL and that for K. pneumoniae were 10,000 microgram/mL. MIC50 and MIC90 of thrombin for both S. aureus and P. aeruginosa was 500 IU/mL and above 500 IU/mL, respectively; that for K. pneumoniae were all above 500 IU/mL and for S. pneumoniae they were 125 IU/mL, MIC50 and MIC90 of epinephrine for K. pneumoniae and S. pneumoniae were above 500 microgram/mL; that for S. aureus and P. aeruginosa were 500 microgram/mL. CONCLUSION: We observed possible antimicrobial effect of lidocaine, thrombin, and epinephrine in vitro against pathogens such as S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, which are common respiratory microorganisms. The use of these agants could affect the result of bacterial culture.
Bronchoscopy ; Epinephrine* ; Hemostasis ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Lidocaine* ; Pneumonia ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Thrombin*

BACKGROUND: We performed this stody to find out about antimicrobial effect of lidocaine which is commonly used local anesthetic, and thrombin and epinephrine used for hemostasis during bronchoscopic procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The microorganisms that were cultured from specimens obtained during bronchoscopy were Staphylococcus aureus (n=42), Streptococcus pneumoniae (n=42), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=42), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=43) collected from St. Mary's Hospital, from March to Sep 2004 were used for susceptibity testing. Susceptibility to lidocaine, thrombin, and epinephrine were tested according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. RESULT: MIC50 and MIC90 of lidocaine for S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa were all 20,000 microgram/mL and that for K. pneumoniae were 10,000 microgram/mL. MIC50 and MIC90 of thrombin for both S. aureus and P. aeruginosa was 500 IU/mL and above 500 IU/mL, respectively; that for K. pneumoniae were all above 500 IU/mL and for S. pneumoniae they were 125 IU/mL, MIC50 and MIC90 of epinephrine for K. pneumoniae and S. pneumoniae were above 500 microgram/mL; that for S. aureus and P. aeruginosa were 500 microgram/mL. CONCLUSION: We observed possible antimicrobial effect of lidocaine, thrombin, and epinephrine in vitro against pathogens such as S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, which are common respiratory microorganisms. The use of these agants could affect the result of bacterial culture.
Bronchoscopy ; Epinephrine* ; Hemostasis ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Lidocaine* ; Pneumonia ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Thrombin*

Lung transplantation in the treatment of end-stage emphysema has been increasing in number since the recent rise in the 5 year survival rate. For the shortage of donor lungs, the single lung transplantation or transplantation in ABO compatible, nonidentical recipients has also been increasing. The lung transplantation in compatible, nonidentical recipients show good results as with identical recipients with the proper application of immunosuppressive agents. We transplanted the left lung of a 41 year-old male donor to a 35 year-old female recipient who had been suffering from severe dyspnea due to end-stage emphysema. For postoperative immunosuppression, we applied conventional triple immunotherapy(cyclosporine, azathioprine, prednisolone) and we could suppress the rejection response of transplanted lung by adding the anti-CD3 antibody(OKT3) during the operation. The patient could be discharged without any specific problem at 18th postoperative day.
Adult ; Azathioprine ; Dyspnea ; Emphysema ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Lung Transplantation* ; Lung* ; Male ; Survival Rate ; Tissue Donors