Association between Genetic Variations of MERTK and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Koreans

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a debilitating lung disease. To date, a large number of clinical studies have been conducted to investigate the association between genetic variations and COPD. However, little is known regarding the genetic susceptibility of Koreans to this disease. MER receptor tyrosine kinase (MERTK) plays important roles in the inhibition of inflammation and in the clearance of apoptotic cells. Here, we investigated the association between genetic variations in MERTK and the development of COPD in Koreans. METHODS: We conducted genetic analysis of MERTK using genomic DNA samples from 87 patients with COPD and 88 healthy controls and compared the frequency of each variation or haplotype between the patient and control groups. Subsequently, the effect of each variation was evaluated using in vitro assays. RESULTS: Ten variations were identified in this study, four of them for the first time. In addition, we found that the frequency of each variation or haplotype was comparable between the patient and control groups. However, we observed that the frequency for the wild-type haplotype was higher in the control group, compared to that in the group of patients with COPD, in the subgroup analysis of current smokers, although the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.080). In in vitro assays, we observed that none of the variations affected the activity of the promoter or the expression of MERTK. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that the susceptibility to COPD is not related to the genetic variations or haplotypes of MERTK in Koreans.

Silicosis Caused by Chronic Inhalation of Snail Shell Powder

A 70-yr-old woman visited our hospital for shortness of breath. Chest CT showed ground glass opacity and traction bronchiectasis at right middle, lower lobe and left lingular division. Video-assisted thoracic surgical biopsy at right lower lobe and pathologic examination revealed mixed dust pneumoconiosis. Polarized optical microscopy showed lung lesions were consisted of silica and carbon materials. She was a housewife and never been exposed to silica dusts occupationally. She has taken freshwater snails as a health-promoting food for 40 yr and ground shell powder was piled up on her backyard where she spent day-time. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy of snail shell and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy of lung lesion revealed that silica occupies important portion. Herein, we report the first known case of silicosis due to chronic inhalation of shell powder of freshwater snail.

Four Year Trend of Carbapenem-Resistance in Newly Opened ICUs of a University-Affiliated Hospital of South Korea / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Carbapenem-resistance is rapidly evolving among the pathogenic microbes in intensive care units (ICUs). This study aimed to determine annual trend of carbapenem-resistance in the ICU for 4 years, since the opening of a university-affiliated hospital in South Korea. METHODS: From 2005 to 2008, microbial samples from consecutive 6,772 patients were screened in the ICU. Three hundred and ninety-seven patients (5.9%) and their first isolates of carbapenem-resistant pathogens were analyzed. RESULTS: The percentage of patients infected with carbapenem-resistant organisms increased constantly during the initial three years (2.3% in 2005, 6.2% in 2006, 7.8% in 2007), then it declined to 6.5% in 2008. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) III score at admission was 58.0+/-23.5, the median length of the ICU stay was 37 days, and the mortality rate was 37.5%. The sampling sites were endotracheal suction (67%), catheterized urine (17%), wound (6%) and others (10%). Bacteria with carbapenem-resistance were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (247 isolates, 62%), Acinetobacter baumannii (117 isolates, 30%), Enterobacteriaceae (12 isolates, 3%), and others (21, 5%). Of note, peak isolation of carbapenem-resistant microorganisms in medical ICU was followed by the same epidemic at surgical ICU. CONCLUSION: Taken together, carbapenem-resistant pathogens are of growing concern in the ICU.

A Case of Diabetic Mastopathy

Diabetic mastopathy is an unusual fibroinflammatory breast lesion that is characteristically presented in premenopausal women with long-standing diabetes with multiple microvascular complications. This patient was a 49-year-old postmenopausal woman with diabetic nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy. Although palpable mass was detected on the left breast, an ultrasonography could not distinguish it from breast cancer. Excisional biopsy was conducted. Histological findings indicated diabetic mastopathy with keloid-like fibrosis, perivascular lymphocytic infiltration, and lymphocytic lobulitis without evidence of malignancy. After excision, there has been no recurrence until now.

H1N1 Influenza/A Associated ARDS Recovered without Mechanical Ventilatory Support: A Case Report / 대한구급학회지

An eighteen year-old female visited the ER in our hospital with fever of 38.5degrees C for 2 days. She also had cough, myalgia, and dyspnea. Chest PA and lung HRCT showed mild pulmonary edema at both hilar areas. However, she had severe hypoxia (PaO2; 58 mmHg in room air). RT-PCR for H1N1 influenza/A of pharyngeal swab was positive. Tamiflu (150 mg/d) with broad-spectrum antibiotics was prescribed. Two days later, her dyspnea aggravated and chest PA showed diffuse bilateral infiltration. PaO2 dropped to 70 mmHg (O2 10 L/min by face mask with reservoir bag). She was transferred to the MICU and the Tamiflu dose was doubled (300 mg/day). Mechanical ventilator was set aside to prepare respiratory failure. Fortunately, her symptoms and oxygenation improved and she was discharged with full recovery. Although, most cases of ARDS require mechanical ventilatory support, early and adequate dose of Tamiflu may avoid it in the case of ARDS developed by H1N1 influenza/A.

Cell Differentiation Might Predict the Recurrence in Surgically Resected Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer mortality in Korea. The TNM stage at presentation in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has the greatest impact on prognosis. Patients who undergo a complete resection for NSCLC are likely to develop recurrent and/or metastatic disease. There are several factors influencing the development of recurrence. We explored risk factors of recurrence in patients with stages I and II NSCLC, who had undergone curative resection. METHODS: We reviewed patients who had complete surgical resection as definitive treatment for stage I or II. Patients followed up for more than 36 months. We evaluated several factors which might have relationship with recurrence, such as patient's demographic factors, TNM staging, pathologic finding, tumor markers and surgical technique. RESULTS: A total of 75 patients were enrolled for analysis, of whom 58 were men and 17 were women with mean age of 61 (range, 37 to 76) years. The average size of tumors was 3.9 cm (0.7 to 10 cm). There were 64 patients with stage I NSCLC and 11 with stage II NSCLC. Among 64 patients with stage I NSCLC, 35 patients showed recurrences whereas 8 patients have recurred in stage II NSCLC. Grade of differentiation of tumor was closely related to the recurrence. Seventy-five percent of patients who had poor tumor differentiation experienced a recurrence. In contrast, 3 patients of twelve had recurrences, who revealed differentiation in their tissue (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Tumor differentiation could be a predictive factor for tumor recurrence in patients who have undergone curative resection for stage I or II NSCLC.