Purpose: This study aimed to analyze whether patients with lung cancer have a higher susceptibility of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), severe presentation, and higher mortality than those without lung cancer. Materials and Methods: A nationwide cohort of confirmed COVID-19 (n=8,070) between January 1, 2020, and May 30, 2020, and a 1:15 age-, sex-, and residence-matched cohort (n=121,050) were constructed. A nested case-control study was performed to compare the proportion of patients with lung cancer between the COVID-19 cohort and the matched cohort. Results: The proportion of patients with lung cancer was significantly higher in the COVID-19 cohort (0.5% [37/8,070]) than in the matched cohort (0.3% [325/121,050]) (p=0.002). The adjusted odds ratio [OR] of having lung cancer was significantly higher in the COVID-19 cohort than in the matched cohort (adjusted OR, 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05 to 2.10). Among patients in the COVID-19 cohort, compared to patients without lung cancer, those with lung cancer were more likely to have severe COVID-19 (54.1% vs. 13.2%, p < 0.001), including mortality (18.9% vs. 2.8%, p < 0.001). The adjusted OR for the occurrence of severe COVID-19 in patients with lung cancer relative to those without lung cancer was 2.24 (95% CI, 1.08 to 4.74). Conclusion The risk of COVID-19 occurrence and severe presentation, including mortality, may be higher in patients with lung cancer than in those without lung cancer.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze whether patients with lung cancer have a higher susceptibility of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), severe presentation, and higher mortality than those without lung cancer. Materials and Methods: A nationwide cohort of confirmed COVID-19 (n=8,070) between January 1, 2020, and May 30, 2020, and a 1:15 age-, sex-, and residence-matched cohort (n=121,050) were constructed. A nested case-control study was performed to compare the proportion of patients with lung cancer between the COVID-19 cohort and the matched cohort. Results: The proportion of patients with lung cancer was significantly higher in the COVID-19 cohort (0.5% [37/8,070]) than in the matched cohort (0.3% [325/121,050]) (p=0.002). The adjusted odds ratio [OR] of having lung cancer was significantly higher in the COVID-19 cohort than in the matched cohort (adjusted OR, 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05 to 2.10). Among patients in the COVID-19 cohort, compared to patients without lung cancer, those with lung cancer were more likely to have severe COVID-19 (54.1% vs. 13.2%, p < 0.001), including mortality (18.9% vs. 2.8%, p < 0.001). The adjusted OR for the occurrence of severe COVID-19 in patients with lung cancer relative to those without lung cancer was 2.24 (95% CI, 1.08 to 4.74). Conclusion The risk of COVID-19 occurrence and severe presentation, including mortality, may be higher in patients with lung cancer than in those without lung cancer.

The tumor embolism is defined as tumor cells within the vascular system such as pulmonary artery that is not contiguous with the other metastatic foci. The incidence of tumor embolism varies widely ranging from 3% to 26% among several studies; whereas lung cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, pancreas cancer are associated with high risks for tumor embolism. However thyroid cancer is rarely associated with tumor embolism. Among the rare cases, tumor embolism was reported as being mostly of follicular carcinoma or undifferentiated carcinoma, but few of papillary carcinoma. We report an unusual presentation that pulmonary tumor embolism from thyroid papillary carcinoma was diagnosed with positron emission tomography/computed tomography (CT) and chest CT.
Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Electrons ; Incidence ; Lung Neoplasms ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Pulmonary Artery ; Thorax ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms

Amiloride and benzamil showed antinocicepitve effects in several pain models through the inhibition of acid sensing ion channels (ASICs). However, their role in neuropathic pain has not been investigated. In this study, we investigated the effect of the intrathecal amiloride and benzamil in neuropathic pain model, and also examined the role of ASICs on modulation of neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain was induced by L4-5 spinal nerve ligation in male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 100-120 g, and intrathecal catheterization was performed for drug administration. The effects of amiloride and benzamil were measured by the paw-withdrawal threshold to a mechanical stimulus using the up and down method. The expression of ASICs in the spinal cord dorsal horn was also analyzed by RT-PCR. Intrathecal amiloride and benzamil significantly increased the paw withdrawal threshold in spinal nerve-ligated rats (87%+/-12% and 76%+/-14%, P=0.007 and 0.012 vs vehicle, respectively). Spinal nerve ligation increased the expression of ASIC3 in the spinal cord dorsal horn (P=0.01), and this increase was inhibited by both amiloride and benzamil (P<0.001 in both). In conclusion, intrathecal amiloride and benzamil display antinociceptive effects in the rat spinal nerve ligation model suggesting they may present an alternative pharmacological tool in the management of neuropathic pain at the spinal level.
Acid Sensing Ion Channels/genetics/metabolism ; Amiloride/*analogs & derivatives/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Analgesics/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Neuralgia/*drug therapy ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spinal Cord/metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic/drug effects

BACKGROUND: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen are widely used in the treatment of tension headache. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of single doses of acetaminophen and NSAIDs using meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trial studies. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane, KMbase, KoreaMed, RiCH, National Assembly Library, Riss4u, and DBPIA for studies released through 27th July 2010. Two authors independently extracted the data. To assess the risk of bias, the Cochrane Collaborations risk of bias tool was used. Review Manager 5.0 was used for statistics. RESULTS: We identified 6 studies. The relative benefit of the NSAIDs group compared to the acetaminophen group for participants with at least 50% pain relief was 1.18 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.99 to 1.39; I2 = 85%). We did subgroup analysis based on allocation concealment versus non-allocation concealment, and low-dose NSAIDs versus high-dose NSAIDs. The relative benefit of the low-dose NSAIDs subgroup to the acetaminophen group was 0.98 (95% CI, 0.91 to 1.06; I2 = 0%). However, the heterogeneity of other subgroup analysis was not settled. The relative risk for using rescue medication of the NSAIDs group compared to the acetaminophen group was 0.84 (95% CI, 0.64 to 1.12; I2 = 47%). The relative risk for adverse events was 1.31(95% CI, 0.96 to 1.80; I2 = 0%). CONCLUSION: In this meta-analysis, there was no difference between low-dose NSAIDs and acetaminophen in the efficacy of the treatment for tension type headache. The results suggested that high-dose NSAIDs have more effect but also have more adverse events. The balance of benefit and harm needs to be considered when using high-dose NSAIDs for tension headache.
Acetaminophen ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Cooperative Behavior ; Population Characteristics ; Tension-Type Headache

BACKGROUND: Intrathecal sildenafil has produced antinociception by increasing the cGMP through inhibition of phosphodiesterase 5. Spinal opioid receptor has been reported to be involved in the modulation of nociceptive transmission. The aim of this study was to examine the role of opioid receptor in the effect of sildenafil on the nociception evoked by formalin injection. METHODS: Rats were implanted with lumbar intrathecal catheters. Formalin testing was used as a nociceptive model. Formalin-induced nociceptive behavior (flinching response) was observed. To clarify the role of the opioid receptor for the analgesic action of sildenafil, naloxone was administered intrathecally 10 min before sildenafil delivery, and formalin was then injected 10 min later. RESULTS: Intrathecal sildenafil produced dose-dependent suppression of flinches in both phases during the formalin test. Intrathecal naloxone reversed the analgesic effect of sildenafil in both phases. CONCLUSIONS: Sildenafil is active against the nociceptive state that's evoked by a formalin stimulus, and the opioid receptor is involved in the analgesic action of sildenafil at thespinal level.
Analgesia ; Animals ; Catheters ; Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5 ; Formaldehyde ; Naloxone ; Nociception ; Pain Measurement ; Rats* ; Receptors, Opioid* ; Sildenafil Citrate

PURPOSE: To investigate the general epidemiologic features of upper extremity fractures in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of the 589 in-patient children treated for upper extremity fractures over a 1-year period at 7 different hospitals were collected prospectively and analyzed. The severity of trauma was classified as slight, moderate or severe. This study examined the incidence of various upper extremity fractures and performed statistical analysis according to the epidemiologic parameters including age, gender and season. RESULTS: The average age of the children was 7.8 years. The average age of boys (8.5 years) was older than girls (6.4 years). The majority of fractures occurred at between 4 and 7 years of age (36%). The male to female ratio was approximately 2:1. The male predominance increased with age and increased dramatically in the age group, 12-16 years (5.8:1). The left side was injured more frequently (56%), and there was no difference between genders. The occurrence of fractures varied with the seasons with peaks in May (14.1%) and August (12.2%), and it was closely related to the temperature (r=0.778). The most common fractures were the supracondylar fractures of the humerus (32.6%), followed by distal radius fractures (18.2%), lateral condylar fractures (15.8%), radio-ulna shaft fractures (8%), clavicle fractures (4.2%), proximal humerus fractures (2.6%) and humerus shaft fractures (2.4%). Ninety seven percent of fractures were caused by a slight and moderate trauma. Fifty four percent of injured children underwent surgery, and 84% of operations were performed on the fractures around the elbow. CONCLUSION: This study examined the epidemiologic features of the upper extremity fractures in children.
Child ; Male ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence

OBJECTIVE: Although hemodialysis using heparin bound Hemophan (HBH-HD) has been reported to be a possible modality in patients at risk of bleeding, the efficiency and safety of HBH-HD is not certain. Therefore, we prospectively compared the safety and efficiency of HBH-HD with those of saline flushing HD (SF-HD) and HD using low dose heparin (LDH-HD) in 13 HD patients at risk of bleeding in a cross-over design. METHODS: The safety and efficiency were evaluated by measuring activated partial prothrombin time (aPTT) before and during HD, hemostasis time after needle removal, total blood compartment volume (TBCV) loss of dialyzer, urea clearance (K) and Kt/V. RESULTS: There was no difference in compression time needed to achieve hemostasis at puncture site after needle removal between HBH-HD, SF-HD and LDH-HD. During HBH-HD, there was a slight increase in aPTT at 15 min (50.6+/-4.5 sec), compared to predialysis levels (40.9+/-4.7 sec). In this cross- over study, aPTT during dialysis session was markedly higher in LDH-HD than those in HBH-HD or SF-HD (p<0.05). The loss of TBCV of the dialyzer was greater in SF-HD than HBH-HD or LDH-HD (17.4+/-1.9% vs. 12.4+/-1.4% vs. 10.1+/-1.8%). However, there was no difference in K (212.0+/-30.7 vs. 217.2+/-36.9 vs. 221.6+/- 29.5 mL/min) and Kt/V (1.22+/-0.12 vs. 1.24+/-0.16 vs. 1.26+/-0.18). CONCLUSION: We concluded that the safety and efficiency of HBH-HD are not different compared to SF-HD or LDH-HD and HBH-HD could an alternative hemodialysis method in patients at risk of bleeding.
Anticoagulants ; Cross-Over Studies ; Dialysis ; Flushing* ; Hemorrhage* ; Hemostasis ; Heparin* ; Humans ; Needles ; Prospective Studies ; Prothrombin Time ; Punctures ; Renal Dialysis* ; Urea

BACKGROUND: Plasma clearance of iohexol (Omnipaque(r)) which used widely in radiologic procedure is considered as useful method for estimation of GFR because iohexol is neither reabsorbed nor secreted from tubule after filtered as inulin and its extrarenal clearance is negligible. Plasma clearance of iohexol can be calculated from two compartment model or one compartment model with Brochner-Mortensen (B-M) modification which convenient and reliable. But there were controversies about sufficient sampling numbers and times for B-M modification of iohexol clearance. METHODS: Nineteen healthy Korean without renal disease underwent measurement of iohexol clearance. Iohexol was given as a single iv dose, and 14 blood sample were drawn up to 300 min. A reference GFR was iohexol clearance calculated from two-compartment model using 14 samples (CL-T). From 8, 3 and 2 samples clearances were calculated by B-M modification (CL-M8, 3 and 2 respectively). The accuracy of estimates was evaluated as percent of estimates falling within 10% above or below the reference GFR. Accuracy of CCr and equations for GFR estimation were also compared. RESULTS: CL-T, CL-M8, CL-M3 and CL-M2 were not different (101.9+/-24.0, 101.9+/-18.7, 101.7+/-18.6, 101.9+/-19.5 mL/min/1.73 m2 respectively). Accuracy of CL-M8, 3 and 2 were not different (74%, 84% and 79% respectively, p>0.05). MDRD equation had higher accuracy (47%) compared with other equations. CONCIUSION: These results indicate that sampling number for measuring iohexol plasma clearance using simplified method might be reduced to only two without accuracy loss in Korean without renal disease.
Inulin ; Iohexol* ; Plasma*

Isolated spontaneous renal artery dissection (SRAD) associated with fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a rare condition that can result in renal infarction. Treatment and long-term management of patients with this condition is controversial. We report the case of a patient with SRAD secondary to FMD who was treated by renal arterial stenting. A previous healthy 50-year-old white male presented to the emergency department with acute right flank pain. Blood pressure was 150/90 mmHg and serum creatinine was 1.6 mg/dL. A CT scan of the abdomen showed multifocal right renal infarction. The patient was started on anticoagulant regimen of heparin. Renal angiography showed the dissection of right renal artery and stenosis of mid-segment of right main renal artery and intrarenal branches. We decided to perform percutaneous balloon angioplasty and stenting for the purpose of dilating the stenotic renal artery, preventing recurrence of the disease and controlling hypertension and elevated creatinine. A dissected intimal flap was closed successfully by renal artery stenting and stenotic renal artery was dilated by stenting and balloon angioplasty. Five days after the procedure, he was discharged with warfarin. Three months later, he had normal renal function and blood pressure without antihypertensive medication was mildly elevated at 145/104 mmHg. Conclusively, stent implantation to renal artery dissection can be effective, reliable and feasible and can be an alternative to surgical treatment.
Abdomen ; Angiography ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Blood Pressure ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Creatinine ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Fibromuscular Dysplasia* ; Flank Pain ; Heparin ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Infarction ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Renal Artery* ; Stents* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Warfarin