A Case of Radiolucent Foreign Body (Temporary Resin Bridge) Aspiration Accompanied by Inflammatory Polyps / 결핵및호흡기질환

This case demonstrates the rare occurrence of a radiolucent temporary resin bridge aspiration in adults while they are in a conscious and awaken state and the resultant formation of inflammatory polyps. Although no unique findings were noted in a chest x-ray, careful history taking accompanied by physical examinations can lead to clinical suspicion of foreign body aspiration in an earlier stage. Moreover, flexible bronchoscopy is a tool useful not only for the evaluation process but also for managing the aspirated foreign material.

The Diagnosis of pneumoniae following bone marrow transplantation by bronchoscopy / 결핵

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary complications following bonemarrow transplantation(BMT) are common and associated with a high mortality rate, We investigated the yield, safety, and impact of fiberoptic bronchoscopy(FOB) for diagnosis of postBMT pneumoniae. METHODS: From May 1997 to April 2000, 56 FOBs were performed in 52 post BMT patients for clinical pneumoniae. BMT patients with repiratory symptoms and/or pulmonary infiltrates had a thoracic HRCT(high resolution computed tomography) and bronchoscopic examination including BAL(bronchoalveolar lavage), TBLB(transbronchial lung biopsy), PSB(protected specimen brush). RESULTS: The characteristics of the subjects were as follows:37 males, 15 females, mean age of 31.3 years(17-45), 35 sibling donor allogenic BMTs, 15 nonrelated donor allogenic BMTs, and 2 autologous BMTs. Fiftynine percent of FOBs (33 FOBs, 31 patients) were diagnostic. Isolated pathogens included the following:12 cytomegalovirus(CMV) (21.4%), 7 pneumocystis carinii(PC) (12.5%), 11 CMV with PC (19.6%), 2 Mycobacaterium tuberculosis (3.6%), and 1 streptococcus (1.8%). Most of the radiographic findings were diffuse interstitial lesions. CMV pneumoniae had mainly diffuse interstitial nodular lesion, and PC pneumoniae had diffuse, interstitial ground glass opacity(GGO). When CMV was accompanied by PC, a combined pattern of nodular and GGO was present. Of the 56 cases(23.2%), 13 died of CMV pneumoniae(n=2), PCP(n=2), mixed infection with CMV and PC(n=3), underlying GVHD(n=1), underlying leukemia progression(n=1), or respiratory failure of unknown origin(n=4). There was no major complication by bronchoscopy. Only 3 cases developed minor bleedig and 1 episode temporary hypoxemia. CONCLUSION: Based on our findings, CMV and PC are the major causes of postBMT pneumoniae. In addition, BAL can be considered a safe and accurate procedure for the evaluation of pulmonary complications after BMT.

A Multicenter, Randomized, Open, Comparative Study for the Efficacy and Safety of Oral Moxifloxacin 400 mg Once a Day and Clarithromycin 500 mg Twice Daily in Korean Patients with Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Bronchitis / 결핵

BACKGROUND: Moxifloxacin is a newly developed drug which is more potent and safe compared to previous fluoroquinolones. This drug effectively eradicates organisms such as beta-lactamase-producing or other resistant bacteria. Moxifloxacin is known to be effective in treating respiratory infections such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Legionella spp. and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. METHODS: In a multicenter, randomized, open, comparative study, the efficacy and safety of oral moxifloxacin taken 400 mg once a day and clarithromycin taken 500 mg twice daily for 7 days were compared for the treatment of Korean patients with acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. RESULTS: A total of 170 patients were enrolled, and they were divided into two groups:87 in the moxifloxacin group and 83 in the clarithromycin group. Of those enrolled, 76 (35 for bacteriologic efficacy) in the moxifloxacin group and 77 (31 for bacteriologic efficacy) in the clarithromycin group were included in the efficacy analysis. All were included in the safety analysis. Clinical success was noted in 70 (92.1%) of 76 moxifloxacin-treated patients and 71 (92.2%) of 77 clarithromycin-treated patients. Bacteriologic success rate seemed to be higher in moxifloxacin group (73.5%) than in clarithromycin group (54.8%), but statistically insignificant (p=0.098). Drug susceptibility among organisms initially isolated was higher in moxifloxacin group on Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae(p<0.001). Adverse events were reported by 12.8% of 86 patients receiving moxifloxacin and 21.7% of 83 patients receiveing clarithromycin. Headache (4.7% vs 4.8%, moxiflosacin group vs clarithromycin group, respectively) and indigestion (2.3% vs 6.0%, moxifloxacin group vs clarithromycin group, respectively) were the most frequent side effects in the two groups. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that for the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis a 7-days course of moxifloxacin 400 mg od was clinically equivalent and microbiologically superior to clarithromycin 500 mg bid.

The Effect of glucocorticoid on the change of nitric oxide and cytokine levels in induced sputum from patients with bronchial asthma / 결핵

BACKGROUND: It has been well known that bronchial asthma is a chronic airway inflammatory disorder. Recently, sputum specimen induced with hypertonic saline was introduced as a simple and useful noninvasive medium to investigate airway inflammation and symptom severity in patients with asthma. We examined the eosinophil, cationic protein (ECP), interleukin(IL)-3, IL-5, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and nitric oxide (NO) derivatives in induced sputum from patients with bronchial asthma in order to determine the role of NO and various inflammatory cytokines as a useful markers of airway inflammation of changes in pulmonary function tests and symptoms. METHODS: A total 30 patients with bronchial asthma received oral prednisolone 30 mg daily for 2 weeks. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV), total blood eosinophil count, and induced sputum eosinophil count, ECP, IL-3, IL-5, GM-CSF, and NO derivatives were determined before and after the administration of prednisolone. RESULTS: Of the 30 patients, 13 (43.3%) were male and 17 (56.7%) were female. The mean age of patients was 41.8 years (range 19-64 years). Two patients could not produce sputum at the second study and 3 could not be followed up after their first visit. Two weeks after the prednisolone administration, there was a significant increase in FEV1 (% of predicted value) from 78.1±20.6% to 90.3±18.3% (P<0.001). The eosinophil percentages in induced sputum were significantly decreased after treatment with prednisolone, with values of 56.1±27.2% versus 29.6±21.3% (P<0.001), and ECP were 134.5±68.1 µm/L versus 41.5±42.4 µm/L (P<0.001) respectively. After the prednisolone treatments, the eotaxin concentration also showed a decreasing tendency from 26.7±12.8 pg/ml to 21.7±8.7 pg/ml. There was a decreasing tendency but no significant differences in total blood eosinophil count(425.7±265.9 vs 287.7±294.7) and in the concentration of NO derivatives (70.4±44.6 µmol%/L vs 91.548.3 µmol/L) after the predinisolone treatments. IL-3, IL-5, GM-CSF were undetectable in the sputum of most subjects either before the prednisolone treatments of after the treatments. Before the prednisolone treatments, a significant inverse correlation was observed between FEV1 and sputum ECP (r=-0.364, P<0.05) and there was a significant correlation between sputum eosinophils and eotaxin (r=0.369, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The eotaxin and ECP concentration in induced sputum may be used as markers of airway inflammation after treatments in bronchial asthma. In addition, the measurement of sputum eosinophil percentages is believed to be a simple method displaying the degree of airway inflammation and airway obstruction before and after the predinisolone treatment in bronchial asthma. However, unlike exhaled NO, the examination of NO derivatives with Griess reaction in induced sputum is considered an ineffective marker of changing airway inflammation and obstructing symptoms.