PURPOSE: Diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) can induce and trigger airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of long-term DEP exposure on AHR, inflammation, lung fibrosis, and goblet cell hyperplasia in a mouse model. METHODS: BALB/c mice were exposed to DEPs 1 hour a day for 5 days a week for 3 months in a closed-system chamber attached to a ultrasonic nebulizer (low dose: 100 microg/m3 DEPs, high dose: 3 mg/m3 DEPs). The control group was exposed to saline. Enhanced pause was measured as an indicator of AHR. Animals were subjected to whole-body plethysmography and then sacrificed to determine the performance of bronchoalveolar lavage and histology. RESULTS: AHR was higher in the DEP group than in the control group, and higher in the high-dose DEP than in the low-dose DEP groups at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The numbers of neutrophils and lymphocytes were higher in the high-dose DEP group than in the low-dose DEP group and control group at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The levels of interleukin (IL)-5, IL-13, and interferon-gamma were higher in the low-dose DEP group than in the control group at 12 weeks. The level of IL-10 was higher in the high-dose DEP group than in the control group at 12 weeks. The level of vascular endothelial growth factor was higher in the low-dose and high-dose DEP groups than in the control group at 12 weeks. The level of IL-6 was higher in the low-dose DEP group than in the control group at 12 weeks. The level of transforming growth factor-beta was higher in the high-dose DEP group than in the control group at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The collagen content and lung fibrosis in lung tissue was higher in the high-dose DEP group at 8 and 12 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that long-term DEP exposure may increase AHR, inflammation, lung fibrosis, and goblet cell hyperplasia in a mouse model.
Airway Remodeling ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Collagen ; Fibrosis ; Goblet Cells ; Hyperplasia ; Inflammation* ; Interferon-gamma ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-13 ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Lung ; Lymphocytes ; Mice* ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers ; Neutrophils ; Plethysmography ; Pneumonia ; Ultrasonics ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vehicle Emissions*

From 1979 to 2006, fifty eight patients with esophageal atresia were treated by one pediatric surgeon at Hanyang University Hospital. We analyzed the clinical findings and outcome of these 58 patients. There were 30 males and 28 females. Their mean birth weight was 2,960 +/- 400 g (1,170~4,020 g). The most common type of anomaly was Gross type C (49 patients; 84.5 %). There was no type B. Fifty-two patients underwent definitive surgery. Postoperative complications were as follows: anastomotic leakage in 17 patients (32.7 %), anastomotic site stricture in 15 (28.8 %), gastroesophageal reflux in 10 (19.2 %) and recurrent TEF in 1 (1.9 %). A total of 152 associated anomalies were detected from 48 patients (82.2 %). The cardiovascular system was the most commonly affected (30 patients with 46 anomalies). The VACTERL association was present in 14 patients (24.1 %). Operative mortality was 17.3 % including self-discharge patients after operation.
Anal Canal ; Anastomotic Leak ; Birth Weight ; Cardiovascular System ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Esophageal Atresia ; Esophagus ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Kidney ; Limb Deformities, Congenital ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; Spine ; Trachea

PURPOSE: This study was performed to compare the characteristics and perceptions of medical school students and professional graduate medical school students. METHODS: Study subjects were 131 medical students from a national university and 113 applicants of a professional graduate medical school. We developed a self-reported questionnaire asking about socio-demographic characteristics; the level of satisfaction of educational environment; perception of missions of medical education and career plan and student activities during school. RESULTS: Students from the professional graduate medical school were significantly different from medical students in socio-demographic characteristics. They also showed higher satisfaction with their education, were more supportive of student union activities and were more anxious about economic and health problems than medical students. However, there was no difference between the two groups regarding perception of missions of medical education and career plan after graduation. CONCLUSION: Based on the above results, it is necessary to consider the characteristics and perceptions of professional graduate medical students when developing educational policies for these older students. The limitation of this study includes a restricted sample, and generalization of results should be done carefully. Thus, more extensive, wide-ranging studies would be useful.
Education ; Education, Medical ; Generalization (Psychology) ; Humans ; Missions and Missionaries ; Schools, Medical* ; Students, Medical ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Multiple primary tumors are defined as cases involving primary malignant tumors of different histologic origins in one person. Recently, the number of reports dealing with multiple primary tumors has been increasing due to more developed diagnostic procedures and patients with longer survival rates. Both the occurrence of multiple primary tumors and the primary adenocarcinoma of the duodenum are infrequent, accounting for less than 1% of all carcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract. Also, It has been reported that duodenal bulb cancer combined with early gastric cancer is extremely rare. One case was experienced involving duodenal bulb cancer combined with early gastric carcinoma, and is herein reported with a review of related literatures.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Duodenum ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate

Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy is a useful tool for the diagnosis and management for diseases of the airway. Although it has been known to be a relatively safe procedure; in some cases, mild complications can occur after fiberoptlc bronchoscopy. However, fatal complications such as bacteremia, pneumonia, myocardial infarction, severe obstruction of the airways, respiratory failure or death have been reported. Among them, infectious complications following flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy occur sometimes, although most of them are self-limited. We recently experienced a case of severe Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia in a patient presenting with fever following flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy, We report this case to discuss the potential complications of fiberoptic bronchoscopy with a review of literature.
Bacteremia* ; Bronchoscopy* ; Diagnosis ; Fever ; Humans ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Klebsiella* ; Myocardial Infarction ; Pneumonia* ; Respiratory Insufficiency

Papillary cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are uncommon. They occurs almost entirely in young women. Generally, the lesion averages 10 cm 17 size and are usually located in the pancreatic tail, resulting in displacement of the pancreatic duct. A varialbe amount of hemorrhage and liquefaction necrosis occurs, resulting in pseudopapillae cysts. Resection of the tumor is usually associated with a excellent prognosis because of the lack of metastases and rare recurrences. In this report present a case of a papillary cystic neoplasm of the pancreas with a review of references. Unlike most, the neoplasm we discovered was small (about 1.5 x 1.5 cm), and, occured in the pancreatic head of eldcrly woman. Moreover it was communicated by the main pancreatic duct via a side branch.
Female ; Head ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreas* ; Pancreatic Ducts* ; Prognosis ; Recurrence

While intussusception can occur at any age, the disease is most often seen in children and no etiologic factor can be seen in most cases of childhood intussusception. In contrast, the adult intussusception is rare and usually has an identifiable causes such as benign tumor, malignant tumor, sarcoma, Meckel's diverticulum and congenital anomaly. Especially, adult intussusception due to primary malignant lymphoma of small intestine is rare clinical condition. Here, we describe the case of a 49-year-old male patient with ileo-ileo-colic intussusception due to primary malignant lymphoma of the small intestine. The clinical, radiographic and pathologic findings are described with brief review of the literature.
Adult* ; Child ; Humans ; Intestine, Small* ; Intussusception* ; Lymphoma* ; Male ; Meckel Diverticulum ; Middle Aged ; Sarcoma

No abstract available.
Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative* ; Glucose* ; Humans ; Insulin* ; Metabolome*

No abstract available.
Edema* ; Gallbladder* ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome*

A case of sudden paraplegia as the first symptom of a ruptured internal carotid artery bifurcation aneurysm is reported. Sudden appearance of paraparesis or paraplegia is an exceptional event in patients with intracranial aneurysms. The various pathogenic mechanisms are briefly discussed. Insufficient blood perfusion of both paracentral areas was the cause of paraplegia in this case.
Aneurysm* ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Paraparesis ; Paraplegia ; Perfusion