ABSTRACT
Background@#The objective of this study was to investigate whether alcohol consumption might affect the quality of life (QOL), depressive mood, and metabolic syndrome in patients with obstructive lung disease (OLD). @*Methods@#Data were obtained from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2014 and 2016. OLD was defined as spirometry of forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity <0.7 in those aged more than 40 years. QOL was evaluated using the European Quality of Life Questionnaire-5D (EQ-5D) index. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to assess the severity of depressive mood. Alcohol consumption was based on a history of alcohol ingestion during the previous month. @*Results@#A total of 984 participants with OLD (695 males, 289 females, age 65.8±9.7 years) were enrolled. The EQ-5D index was significantly higher in alcohol drinkers (n=525) than in non-alcohol drinkers (n=459) (0.94±0.11 vs. 0.91±0.13, p=0.002). PHQ- 9 scores were considerably lower in alcohol drinkers than in non-alcohol drinkers (2.15±3.57 vs. 2.78±4.13, p=0.013). However, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that alcohol consumption was not associated with EQ-5D index or PHQ-9 score. Body mass index ≥25 kg/m2, triglyceride ≥150 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein <40 mg/dL in men and <50 mg/dL in women, and blood pressure ≥130/85 mm Hg were significantly more common in alcohol drinkers than in non-alcohol drinkers (all p<0.05). @*Conclusion@#Alcohol consumption did not change the QOL or depressive mood of OLD patients. However, metabolic syndrome-related factors were more common in alcohol drinkers than in non-alcohol drinkers.
ABSTRACT
Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a rare, but almost always fatal, central nervous system infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, which are thermophilic free-living amoeba. Here, we report the first case of PAM detected in South Korea, probably imported from Thailand. Despite antimicrobial treatment for N. fowleri infection with a combination of intravenous liposomal amphotericin B, fluconazole, azithromycin, and oral rifampin, the patient died 13 days after the onset of symptoms. Clinicians in South Korea treating severe meningoencephalitis, especially in individuals returning from tropical areas, are encouraged to include PAM in the differential diagnoses, given the accelerated global warming and increased overseas trips.
ABSTRACT
Background@#Although bronchoscopic cryotherapy (BC) is a pragmatic modality for recanalization of central airway obstruction (CAO), the risk of complications, such as bleeding, remains a concern. This study aimed to present the clinical outcomes of BC and evaluate the factors associated with its complications. @*Methods@#In this retrospective study, we reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent BC for CAO at the Asan Medical Center, South Korea. Most sessions were conducted via flexible bronchoscopy under moderate sedation. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with the success rate and complications. @*Results@#BC was performed in 262 sessions in 208 patients between January 2009 and December 2020. The most common cause of cryotherapy was recanalization of the endobronchial tumor related CAO (233/262, 88.9%). More than partial re-establishment of airway patency was achieved in 211 of 233 (90.6%) sessions. The success rate did not differ significantly in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. The most common complication was intrabronchial bleeding (78/233, 35.5%); however, severe bleeding occurred only in one case (0.4%). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that diabetes mellitus (odds ratio [OR] = 2.820, P = 0.011), respiratory failure before BC (OR = 3.546, P = 0.028), and presence of distal airway atelectasis (OR = 0.417, P = 0.021) were independently associated with moderate to severe intrabronchial bleeding, while the histologic type of tumor was not related to bleeding. BC for CAO caused by blood clot or foreign body was successful in most cases, and there were no complications. @*Conclusion@#BC is an efficient and relatively safe intervention for patients with CAO. Our findings suggest that diabetes, respiratory failure before BC, and the absence of distal airway atelectasis may be risk factors of moderate to severe intrabronchial bleeding.