BACKGROUND: Although the frequency of respiratory viral infection in patients with pulmonary acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is not uncommon, clinical significance of the condition remains to be further elucidated. The purpose of this study was to compare characteristics and outcomes of patients with pulmonary ARDS infected with influenza and other respiratory viruses. METHODS: Clinical data of patients with pulmonary ARDS infected with respiratory viruses January 2014–June 2018 were reviewed. Respiratory viral infection was identified by multiplex reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Among 126 patients who underwent multiplex RT-PCR, respiratory viral infection was identified in 46% (58/126): 28 patients with influenza and 30 patients with other respiratory viruses. There was no significant difference in baseline and clinical characteristics between patients with influenza and those with other respiratory viruses. The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was more frequent in patients with influenza than in those with other respiratory viruses (32.1% vs 3.3%, p=0.006). Co-bacterial pathogens were more frequently isolated from respiratory samples of patients with pulmonary ARDS infected with influenza virus than those with other respiratory viruses. (53.6% vs 26.7%, p=0.036). There were no significant differences regarding clinical outcomes. In multivariate analysis, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II was associated with 30-mortality (odds ratio, 1.158; 95% confidence interval, 1.022–1.312; p=0.022). CONCLUSION: Respiratory viral infection was not uncommon in patients with pulmonary ARDS. Influenza virus was most commonly identified and was associated with more co-bacterial infection and ECMO therapy.
APACHE ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; Multivariate Analysis ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult

BACKGROUND: Although the frequency of respiratory viral infection in patients with pulmonary acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is not uncommon, clinical significance of the condition remains to be further elucidated. The purpose of this study was to compare characteristics and outcomes of patients with pulmonary ARDS infected with influenza and other respiratory viruses. METHODS: Clinical data of patients with pulmonary ARDS infected with respiratory viruses January 2014–June 2018 were reviewed. Respiratory viral infection was identified by multiplex reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Among 126 patients who underwent multiplex RT-PCR, respiratory viral infection was identified in 46% (58/126): 28 patients with influenza and 30 patients with other respiratory viruses. There was no significant difference in baseline and clinical characteristics between patients with influenza and those with other respiratory viruses. The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was more frequent in patients with influenza than in those with other respiratory viruses (32.1% vs 3.3%, p=0.006). Co-bacterial pathogens were more frequently isolated from respiratory samples of patients with pulmonary ARDS infected with influenza virus than those with other respiratory viruses. (53.6% vs 26.7%, p=0.036). There were no significant differences regarding clinical outcomes. In multivariate analysis, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II was associated with 30-mortality (odds ratio, 1.158; 95% confidence interval, 1.022–1.312; p=0.022). CONCLUSION Respiratory viral infection was not uncommon in patients with pulmonary ARDS. Influenza virus was most commonly identified and was associated with more co-bacterial infection and ECMO therapy.

We present a case of thrombotic coronary aneurysm of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) presenting with recurrent severe orthopnea in an end stage renal disease patient. She was admitted to the hospital with progressive dyspnea, exertional chest pain, and profound orthopnea. The echocardiography revealed a well marginated mass lesion between the main pulmonary artery and the left atrium. Chest CT showed a space-occupying lesion surrounded by the main pulmonary artery, the left atrium and the appendage adjacent to the atherosclerotic calcified lesion. Coronary angiography confirmed a huge thrombotic aneurysm with total occlusion of the proximal LAD. The presentation and management of the coronary aneurysm was reviewed.
Aneurysm ; Arteries ; Atherosclerosis ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Aneurysm ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Pulmonary Artery ; Renal Dialysis ; Thorax

Hemorrhagic complications in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) are common. These abnormal bleeding tendencies are caused by several factors including anticoagulation during hemodialysis, anemia, and uremic platelet dysfunction. The most common clinical manifestation of uremic bleeding is hemorrhage of the gastrointestinal tract from gastric ulcer disease. Mediastinal bleeding, however, is rare in ESRD patients. Here, we report a case of spontaneous mediastinal bleeding in a patient with hemodialysis. A huge periesophageal hematoma was observed on the chest CT scan and the bleeding time representing platelet function was prolonged. This case underlies the diversity of uremic bleeding.
Anemia ; Bleeding Time ; Blood Platelets ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Mediastinum ; Renal Dialysis ; Stomach Ulcer ; Thorax ; Uremia

Replacement lipomatosis of the kidney is a rare disorder in which a massive fatty tissue proliferation occurs within the renal sinus, hilum and perirenal region. Clinical symptoms includes flank pain, hematuria, fever usually associated with urinary tract infection and renal stone. But deep vein thrombosis due to mass effect has not been reported to be associated with replacement lipomatosis of kidney. A 37-year-old male was referred for the initiation of hemodialysis due to chronic rejection of allograft kidney. Collateral superficial veins were observed on his anterior abdominal wall and firm mass was palpable in the right lower quadrant abdomen. Abdominal-pelvis computed tomography revealed huge fatty mass originated from allograft kidney and non-visualization of inferior vena cava with lower density thrombus at both the common femoral veins. We report a rare case of replacement lipomatosis of the kidney complicated by deep vein thrombosis after renal transplantation.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Wall ; Adipose Tissue ; Adult ; Femoral Vein ; Fever ; Flank Pain ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Lipomatosis ; Male ; Rejection (Psychology) ; Renal Dialysis ; Thrombosis ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Veins ; Vena Cava, Inferior ; Venous Thrombosis

PURPOSE: To detect early arteriovenous fistula (AVF) dysfunction, we have developed a new method of intra-access total pressure (pT), and static pressure (pS) measurements. The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between intra-access pressure and vascular stricture in order to establish the clinical validity of the method. METHODS: Total 46 of native AVFs were enrolled. They were measured intra-access pS and pT monthly. In initial angiography, 6 of 10 inflow stricture (As), 6 of 7 outflow stricture (Vs) and 2 having both lesions were taken PTA (percutaneous angioplasty) and compared pressure and ratio changes. If delta p (pT-pS) decreased more than 10% over 3 months or pT/MAP (mean arterial pressure) ratio dropped more than 10% over 3 months with below 0.8, then the patients were referred to angiography. Thirtyone patients were performed final angiography, and we compared the results with those of initial angiography. RESULTS: Although pT/MAP ratio and delta p were increased after PTA, there was no statistical significance in 6 As (+) patients (p>0.05). Six Vs (+) and 2 AS (+) and Vs (+) patients' delta p were increased significantly (p<0.05). Two As (+) and 5 Vs (+) were detected with delta p or pT/MAP ratio change. However, 2 Vs (+) were unable to be detected with delta p, but detected only by final angiography. Among 15 As (-) and Vs (-) patients in both initial and final angiography, pT and MAP were not reproducible (pI<0.4), but pS and delta p showed intermediate reproducibility (pI>0.45). CONCLUSION: Intra-access stricture could be detected with pT/MAP ratio and delta p change. However, more careful MAP and pT measurement should be recommended for accurate diagnosis.
Angiography ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Fistula ; Humans ; Renal Dialysis

PURPOSE: To detect the dysfunction of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) early, we have developed a new method to calculate the intra-vascular conduit flow rate based on the Bernoulli's theory. However, this method has limitation on detection of inflow stenosis. For detection of both in- and out-flow stenosis, we tried to measure intra-access static (pS) and total pressure (pT), and compared with angiographic findings. METHODS: From a total of 46 cases of native AVFs, of at least 3 months of construction, intra-access pS and pT were measured, before starting hemodialysis. deltap (pT-pS) and pT/mean arterial pressure (MAP) ratio were calculated, and compared with angiographic findings. RESULTS: Among 37 patients without outflow stenosis (Vs) in fistulogram, 10 patients with inflow stenosis (As) had significantly lower pT/MAP ratio and deltap than those without As patients (p<0.005). Among 34 patients without As, deltap was significantly lower in 7 patients with Vs than those 27 patients without Vs (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: pT/MAP ratio was correlated with As, and deltap reflects Vs in angiography. The measurement of pS and pT might be useful to predict inflow and outflow stenosis of AVFs.
Angiography ; Arterial Pressure ; Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Renal Dialysis*

PURPOSE: Here, we report a case of an infant with fetal alcohol syndrome with esotropia who was born to a mother who consumed a large quantity of alcohol during her pregnancy. METHODS: A 1-year-old female infant visited our hospital for the main symptom of the esodeviation of the eye. The medical history of the mother and the delivery history were reviewed, and a physical examination and ophthalmic examination of the infant were performed. RESULTS: At the first examination, the patient was 15 months old, her mass was 5, 600 grams, her height was 70 cm, her head circumference was 39.5 cm, and her chest circumference was 41 cm; all the measurements were below the 3rd percentile. From the gestation age of 24 weeks, the mother consumed 1-2 bottles of sojoo every day, and the infant patient was delivered at the gestation age of 42 weeks by Cesarean section. The infant's birth weight was 1, 510 grams. Upon physical examination, her philtrum was found to be shallow, and microcephaly was detected. Upon ophthalmic examination, a refractive error +1.25 Dsph. was detected. With regard to the horizontal length of the palpebral fissure, the right and the left were 1.7 cm and 1.6 cm, respectively, which is considered short; telecanthus and esotropia were also present. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of fetal alcohol syndrome with accompanying esotropia.
Birth Weight ; Cesarean Section ; Esotropia* ; Female ; Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders* ; Head ; Humans ; Infant ; Lip ; Microcephaly ; Mothers ; Physical Examination ; Pregnancy ; Refractive Errors ; Strabismus ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: Radioiodine treatment is effective for the removal of remnant thyroid tissues after thyroidectomy in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. To induce the elevation of serum TSH level which facilitates the uptake of radioiodine into remnants, a 4 to 6 week interval between thyroidectomy and radioiodine administration has been established. During the period of preparation, most patients have experienced overt symptoms of hypothyroidism which have led to the development of alternative strategies. Some reports have suggested that the interval could be reduced to about 3 weeks with less symptoms. We reevaluated the adequate time needed for the elevation of serum TSH level above 30microU/mL after thyroidectomy. METHODS: Forty five patients who had undergone total thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma were investigated. Serum TSH and free T4 levels were measured one or more times within 3 weeks after operation(total 97 blood samples). Eighty nine blood samples were obtained within 15 days. RESULTS: In 41 patients (91.1%) serum TSH levels increased to 30 microU/mL until 15 days after operation. Until postoperative 21 days, serum TSH levels in all the other patients reached 30microU/mL. In linear equation, the daily increment of serum TSH levels was 2.62microU/mL for the first 8 days after operation and 5.34micorU/mL for the next 7 days. The half-life of serum free T4 levels showed marked individual variations. CONCLUSION: Measurement of serum TSH level at about 15 days after total thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma may be useful in determining the time of radioiodine administration.
Half-Life ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy ; Thyrotropin

Severe hypoglycemia induces neuroglycopenic symptoms, including mental alteration, as glucose is the exclusive fuel for the central nervous system. However, some reports have shown that non-glucose fuels, like lactates and ketones, could be utilized by the brain during severe hypoglycemia. Herein, a case of extreme hypoglycemia in a 44-year old woman, subsequently diagnosed as congestive heart failure accompanied by ischemic hepatitis and lactic acidosis, is presented. In two episodes of extreme hypoglycemia, she was fully alert without obvious neurological deficits. In this unusual case, an increased supply of lactate might have maintained the cerebral function and prevented cerebral injury during the hypoglycemia that was induced as a result of starvation and hepatic and cardiac dysfunctions
Acidosis, Lactic* ; Adult ; Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Female ; Glucose ; Heart Failure ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia* ; Ketones ; Lactates ; Lactic Acid ; Masks* ; Starvation