Effects of Particulate Matter Exposure on the Eustachian Tube and Middle Ear Mucosa of Rats

Objectives@#. Particulate matter (PM) is a risk factor for various diseases. Recent studies have established an association between otitis media (OM) and PM exposure. To confirm this relationship, we developed a novel exposure model designed to control the concentration of PM, and we observed the effects of PM exposure on the Eustachian tube (ET) and middle ear mucosa of rats. @*Methods@#. Forty healthy, 10-week-old, male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3-day, 7-day, 14-day exposure, and control groups (each, n=10). The rats were exposed to incense smoke as the PM source for 3 hours per day. After exposure, bilateral ETs and mastoid bullae were harvested, and histopathological findings were compared using microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The expression levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the middle ear mucosa of each group were compared using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). @*Results@#. In the ET mucosa of the exposure group, the goblet cell count significantly increased after PM exposure (P=0.032). In the middle ear mucosa, subepithelial space thickening, increased angio-capillary tissue, and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed. Moreover, the thickness of the middle ear mucosa in the exposure groups increased compared to the control group (P<0.01). The TEM findings showed PM particles on the surface of the ET and middle ear mucosa, and RT-PCR revealed that messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of IL-1β significantly increased in the 3-day and 7-day exposure groups compared to the control group (P=0.035). VEGF expression significantly increased in the 7-day exposure group compared to the control and 3-day exposure groups (P<0.01). @*Conclusion@#. The ET and middle ear mucosa of rats showed histopathologic changes after acute exposure to PM that directly reached the ET and middle ear mucosa. Therefore, acute exposure to PM may play a role in the development of OM.

Job Analysis of the Nursing Unit Managers of Women's Hospital Using DACUM Analysis / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: To analyze the job of nursing unit managers working at women's hospital, using DACUM (developing a curriculum), DACUM is a method for analyzing job-focused competency. METHODS: This study involved a descriptive survey. A DACUM workshop was held to define women's hospital nursing unit managers' role and identify their duties and tasks. For the workshop, a committee was formed consisting of 5 women's hospital nursing unit managers. Finally, after validation, the developed contents were made into a survey asking about nursing unit manager's duties and tasks. RESULTS: Sixteen duties and 83 tasks were identified on the DACUM chart. The importance, difficulty, and frequency of the tasks were ranked in terms of A, B, and C, with A being the highest degree. Eight tasks received A's all in importance, difficulty, and frequency of performance. The 8 tasks were: ‘taking over’, ‘taking care of seriously ill patients on handover’, ‘ward rounding’, ‘analyzing and resolving demands identified during handover and patient tour’, ‘reporting patient status during rounding’, ‘promoting breast-feeding’, ‘uterine contraction, and training for breast-feeding’. The duty with the biggest determinant coefficient (DC) was ‘patients complaint management’ (DC=7.09). Based on tasks, the one with the biggest DC was ‘solving patient and patient guardian's complaints’ (DC=7.53), followed by ‘making infection control guidelines’ (DC=7.5). CONCLUSION: When expanding the nursing staff of the hospital, women's hospitals nursing unit managers also need to use administrative functions as intermediaries to focus on the operation management of the entire hospital rather than direct nursing to suit their role.

The Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitor Roflumilast Protects against Cigarette Smoke Extract-Induced Mitophagy-Dependent Cell Death in Epithelial Cells / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Recent studies show that mitophagy, the autophagy-dependent turnover of mitochondria, mediates pulmonary epithelial cell death in response to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) exposure and contributes to the development of emphysema in vivo during chronic cigarette smoke (CS) exposure, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. METHODS: In this study, we investigated the role of mitophagy in the regulation of CSE-exposed lung bronchial epithelial cell (Beas-2B) death. We also investigated the role of a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, roflumilast, in CSE-induced mitophagy-dependent cell death. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that CSE induces mitophagy in Beas-2B cells through mitochondrial dysfunction and increased the expression levels of the mitophagy regulator protein, PTEN-induced putative kinase-1 (PINK1), and the mitochondrial fission protein, dynamin-1-like protein (DRP1). CSE-induced epithelial cell death was significantly increased in Beas-2B cells exposed to CSE but was decreased by small interfering RNA-dependent knockdown of DRP1. Treatment with roflumilast in Beas-2B cells inhibited CSE-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and mitophagy by inhibiting the expression of phospho-DRP1 and -PINK1. Roflumilast protected against cell death and increased cell viability, as determined by the lactate dehydrogenase release test and the MTT assay, respectively, in Beas-2B cells exposed to CSE. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that roflumilast plays a protective role in CS-induced mitophagy-dependent cell death.

Combined Effect of Bilateral Ovariectomy and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Transection With Medial Meniscectomy on the Development of Osteoarthritis Model

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the combined effect of bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) and anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) with medial meniscectomy (MM) on the development of osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Twenty female 15-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Five rats in each group underwent bilateral OVX (OVX group), bilateral ACLT with MM (ACLT with MM group), bilateral OVX plus ACLT with MM (OVX plus ACLT with MM group), and sham surgery (SHAM group). All the rats were subjected to treadmill running for 4 weeks. The behavioral evaluation for induction of OA used the number of rears method, and this was conducted at 1, 2, and 4 weeks post-surgery. Bone mineral density (BMD) was calculated with micro-computerized tomography images and the modified Mankin's scoring was used for the histological changes. RESULTS: The number of rears in the OVX plus ACLT with MM group decreased gradually and more rapidly in the ACLT with MM group. Histologically, the OVX plus ACLT with MM group had a significantly higher modified Mankin's score than the OVX group (p=0.008) and the SHAM group (p=0.008). BMDs of the OVX plus ACLT with MM group were significantly lower than the SHAM group (p=0.002), and the ACLT with MM group (p=0.003). CONCLUSION: We found that bilateral OVX plus ACLT with MM induced definite OA change in terms of histology and BMD compared to bilateral OVX and ACLT with MM alone. Therefore, OVX and ACLT with MM was an appropriate degenerative OA rat model.

Anaphylaxis after consumption of abalone

Abalone is popular seafood in Asia; however, allergy to abalone was rarely reported. We report a case of anaphylaxis after consumption of abalone. A 24-year-old female visited an Emergency Department, complaining of cough, dyspnea, rhinorrhea, generalized urticaria, facial edema, and wheezing that had developed 1 hour after consumption of abalone. She was discharged when her symptoms subsided after antihistamine and dexamethasone were given. One month later, she was referred to our outpatient clinic. We performed skin prick tests, measurement of serum specific IgE antibody level, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) with IgE immunoblotting. Both skin prick and specific IgE antibody tests were positive for abalone crude extract. In SDS-PAGE with IgE immunoblotting, we identified possible antigens sized 55, 100, and 25 kDa, respectively. This is the first case of abalone-induced anaphylaxis in Korea.

A combination of early warning score and lactate to predict intensive care unit transfer of inpatients with severe sepsis/septic shock

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The modified early warning score (MEWS) is used to predict patient intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mortality. Lactate (LA) in the blood lactate (BLA) is measured to evaluate disease severity and treatment efficacy in patients with severe sepsis/septic shock. The usefulness of a combination of MEWS and BLA to predict ICU transfer in severe sepsis/septic shock patients is unclear. We evaluated whether use of a combination of MEWS and BLA enhances prediction of ICU transfer and mortality in hospitalized patients with severe sepsis/septic shock. METHODS: Patients with severe sepsis/septic shock who were screened or contacted by a medical emergency team between January 2012 and August 2012 were enrolled at a university-affiliated hospital with ~2,700 beds, including 28 medical ICU beds. RESULTS: One hundred patients were enrolled and the rate of ICU admittance was 38%. MEWS (7.37 vs. 4.85) and BLA concentration (5 mmol/L vs. 2.19 mmol/L) were significantly higher in patients transferred to ICU than those in patients treated in general wards. The combination of MEWS and BLA was more accurate than MEWS alone in terms of ICU transfer (C-statistics: 0.898 vs. 0.816, p = 0.019). The 28-day mortality rate was 19%. MEWS was the only factor significantly associated with 28-day mortality rate (odds ratio, 1.462; 95% confidence interval, 1.122 to 1.905; p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of MEWS and BLA may enhance prediction of ICU transfer in patients with severe sepsis/septic shock.

Taxonomy of Ganoderma lucidum from Korea Based on rDNA and Partial beta-Tubulin Gene Sequence Analysis

In the present study, a phylogenetic analysis was undertaken based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA and partial beta-tubulin gene sequence of the Ganoderma species. The size of the ITS rDNA regions from different Ganoderma species varied from 625 to 673 bp, and those of the partial beta-tubulin gene sequence were 419 bp. Based on the results, a phylogenetic tree was prepared which revealed that Korean Ganoderma lucidum strains belong in a single group along with a G. lucidum strain from Bangladesh.

A Primary Repair with Hemoclips and Fibrin Glue Injection in Biliary Stent Induced Duodenal Perforation / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Duodenal perforations caused by biliary prostheses are uncommon, but they are potentially life threatening and require immediate treatment. Here we describe an unusual case of duodenal perforation induced by a plastic biliary stent. It masqueraded as a case of cholecystitis and combined systemic upset with a localized peritonitis and fever. Primary endoscopic closure by hemoclips was difficult due to the position of the lateral wall and the complexity of aligning the perforation with the endoscope. To approximate the perforated hole and adherent hemoclips, glue injection and sprayings were successfully performed under cap-fitted endoscopy. The patient recovered without additional complications.

Successful Bile Duct Cannulation Guided by Indigocarmine Injection via PTGBD / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Even though percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) is performed prior to ERCP or following ERCP because of the patients' medical condition or failed bile duct cannulation, there are no definite endoscopic landmarks that are useful for successful bile duct cannulation in some cases. We report here on 4 patients in whom selective bile duct cannulation, as guided by the endoscopic landmarks, was successful following indigocarmine injection via PTGBD.

Four Cases of Guidewire Induced Periampullary Perforation During Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Duodenal perforation associated with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is very uncommon. However, it usually requires early diagnosis and surgical management. Perforations are commonly caused by endoscopic sphincterotomy, biliary or duodenal stent placement, guidewire-related causes, and endoscopy itself. Perforatioins can follow various clinical courses, and management depends on the cause of the perforation. Among the above causes, guidewire-induced perforation is very rare and related reports and analyses are limited. Herein we describe four cases of guidewire-induced periampullary perforation during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and analyze clinical characteristics and management.

Cap-assisted ERCP in Surgically Altered Anatomy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a difficult procedure to perform on patients who have undergone a Billroth II gastrectomy, Whipple's operation or Roux-en-Y gastrobypass surgery. Our study was designed to evaluate the clinical usefulness of cap-assisted ERCP for beginner endoscopists in cases of surgically altered anatomy. METHODS: From April 2008 to March 2010, 16 patients with biliary diseases and who had previously undergone abdominal surgery such as Billroth II gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y operation were analyzed. A single endoscopist performed all the procedures using a cap-assisted gastroscope, after ERCP training. RESULTS: Cap-assisted ERCP was attempted in 24 sessions of 16 patients. Afferent loop intubation and selective bile duct cannulation was successfully achieved in 19 sessions (79.1%). Among the patients who had undergone a Billroth II gastrectomy, 19 out of 20 sessions were successfully conducted. Only 4 patients who had undergone a previous Roux-en-Y operation failed afferent loop intubation. Duodenal free wall perforation developed in one case. There were no cases of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Therapeutic cap-assisted ERCP was useful in patients who had previously undergone a Billroth II gastrectomy and this may be helpful for inexperienced endoscopists.

Rectal Endometriosis That Is Difficult to Differentiate from Endoscopically Resectable Subepitherial Lesion / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Endometriosis occurs most frequently in the intestine. In the pelvic organs intestinal endometriosis presents with various symptoms and endoscopic findings. If an asymptomatic submucosal lesion is found in the sigmoid colon or rectum of reproductive women, a differential diagnosis should be done. Owing to advancements in endoscopic therapy, endoscopic excision has been attempted for various subepithelial lesions. To successfully do an endoscopic excision, accurate diagnosis should be obtained through diagnostic tests such as endoscopic ultrasonography prior to excision. Here the authors report a case of rectal endometriosis in an asymptomatic woman of reproductive age. They attempted endoscopic resection based on the endoscopic finding that the subepithelial lesion was limited to the submucosal layer in endoscopic ultrasonography. This conclusion turned out to be a mistaken one. Because of tumor adhesion to the proper muscular layer, we failed to successfully conduct an endoscopic excision. Ultimately, we did surgery and diagnosed rectal endometriosis.

A Case of Double Primary Cancer in the Esophagus / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Double primary cancer is usually accompanied by gastrointestinal cancer. The incidence of histologically different cancers in the same organ is less than that of double cancers arising from different organs. The cancers accompanied by esophageal squamous cell carcinoma are laryngopharyngeal cancer, gastric adenocarcinoma and primary hepatocarcinoma. Esophageal cancer is supposed to be frequently accompanied by squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck or the upper respiratory tract because of such common carcinogens as smoking and alcohol ingestion. On the other hand, it is vary rare that a synchronous double primary cancer is diagnosed at the esophagus. We present here a case of double esophageal cancer in a 77 year-old patient who visited our hospital because of progressive dysphagia that she'd experienced for 3 weeks.

Three Cases of Double Primary Cancer in the Esophagus and Stomach / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Double primary cancer means that more than 2 cancers occur independently in an individual. There have been many reports on double primary cancer since Billroth reported it for the first time in 1889 and Warren and Gates established it. The incidence of esophageal cancer is low, about 1~2% of all cancer and, 7% of all gastrointestinal cancer, but double cancer with including esophageal cancer is 9.5~27% of all double primary cancer. Double primary cancer of the esophagus and stomach has occasionally been reported. We have experienced three cases of double primary cancer of squamous carcinoma in the esophagus and adenocarcinoma in the stomach. In this study we reviewed the clinical characteristics of the reported cases of double primary esophageal and gastric cancer that have been reported in Korea and these three cases we experienced at our hospital.

A Case of Iliopsoas Abscess Complicating Active Crohn's Disease during Infliximab Induction Treatment

Psoas abscesses are rare clinical entities complicating Crohn's disease (CD). However, psoas abscesses can cause poor outcomes because the diagnosis is frequently delayed due to the non-specific clinical features. Recently, we managed a case of a huge iliopsoas abscess in a 21-year-old man with a 4-year history of CD who presented with a limping gait and flexion contractures of the sacroiliac joint. Notably, the iliopsoas abscess developed during induction treatment with infliximab. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics, surgical drainage, and a right hemicolectomy. Herein we present the case with a brief review of the literature.

A Case of Iliopsoas Abscess Complicating Active Crohn's Disease during Infliximab Induction Treatment

Psoas abscesses are rare clinical entities complicating Crohn's disease (CD). However, psoas abscesses can cause poor outcomes because the diagnosis is frequently delayed due to the non-specific clinical features. Recently, we managed a case of a huge iliopsoas abscess in a 21-year-old man with a 4-year history of CD who presented with a limping gait and flexion contractures of the sacroiliac joint. Notably, the iliopsoas abscess developed during induction treatment with infliximab. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics, surgical drainage, and a right hemicolectomy. Herein we present the case with a brief review of the literature.

The effect of priming with rocuronium on onset time and intubation conditions during endotracheal intubation with low-dose rocuronium / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: A priming dose of rocuronium can shorten the onset time of neuromuscular blockade. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of priming with rocuronium on the onset time and intubation conditions during tracheal intubation with low-dose rocuronium (0.35 mg/kg) and to compare results with those for rocuronium 0.45 mg/kg. METHODS: One hundred twenty four patients were randomly allocated to three groups. Following induction of anesthesia, groups I and III received normal saline while group II received a priming dose of rocuronium (0.05 mg/kg). Three minutes after priming, groups I, II and III received, respectively, 0.45 mg/kg, 0.3 mg/kg and 0.35 mg/kg rocuronium. Intubation was performed 2 minutes after the administration of an intubating dose and intubation conditions were evaluated. Neuromuscular blockade was assessed by accelerography. RESULTS: The proportion of cases having optimal intubation conditions in group I was higher than in groups II and III. There was no significant difference in the onset times among groups. Neuromuscular blockade at 60, 90 and 120 seconds after an intubating dose was similar among all groups except at 60 sec. Maximal blockade for group I was deep compared to groups II and III. CONCLUSIONS: Rocuronium 0.35 mg/kg does not provide satisfactory intubation conditions. There are no effects on onset time and intubation conditions due to priming during tracheal intubation with rocuronium 0.35 mg/kg.

Comparative acute toxicity of quaternary ammonium lidocaine derivative QX-314 to lidocaine in mice

BACKGROUND: The current study examined the acute systemic toxicity of QX-314 that there have been few research results for this so far. In order to be useful as a drug, it must be shown to have minimal toxicities. Hence, we compared the CNS and cardiac toxicities of QX-314 to the conventional local anesthetic lidocaine. METHODS: Acute toxicity was evaluated by determining the individual intravenous CD50 and LD50 of QX-314 and lidocaine. There were four doses for each LD50 determination and 8 animals per dose level. Animals were observed for several hours immediately following drug administration and recorded overt effects and fatalities. Both lidocaine and QX-314 were dissolved in saline. Lidocaine and QX-314 were diluted to 1, 2, 4, 6 and 0.5, 1, 2, 4%, respectively with saline and injected at the same volume to minimized cardiovascular effect. RESULTS: The intravenous CD50 and LD50 were 12.7 and 14.1 mg/kg for QX-314 and 15.7 and 28.8 mg/kg for lidocaine. Electrocardiograms showed intraventricular block (widened QRS complex) at high doses of lidocaine compared to AV block (loss of QRS complex) at high concentrations of QX-314. There are no evidence that CNS toxicity led mouse to death. CONCLUSIONS: QX-314 is about 1.5 times as toxic as lidocaine. Although QX-314 may still be useful clinically as a long-lasting local anesthetic, its safety relative to other available local anesthetics must be considered.

Clinical Features of Ischemic Colitis in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease / 대한신장학회지

PURPOSE: Hemodialysis patients are at an increased risk of ischemic colitis because of accelerated arterial vascular disease rate and hypotension during dialysis. But few data exist on the clinical features of ischemic colitis in patients with chronic kidney disease including dialysis patients in Korea. The aim of this study is to identify the clinical features of ischemic colitis in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed total 68 patients (63.9+/-16.2 years) with ischemic colitis. We analyzed medical history, colonoscopic findings, clinical characteristics, and compared them according to kidney function. RESULTS: Twenty-two (33.9%) patients had CKD stage > or =3 at diagnosis of ischemic colitis. Prevalence of hypertension and diabetes was higher in patients with CKD than those with normal kidney function. High leukocyte count and low hemoglobin level were demonstrated at diagnosis in CKD patients. In addition, duration of hospitalization in patients with CKD was longer than patients with normal kidney function. However, there was no significant difference in right colonic involvement, cardiovascular diseases, surgical intervention, and mortality. Hospitalization days was positively correlated with increased leukocyte count (p=0.015) and decreased albumin level (p=0.002), while that was negatively correlated with age-adjusted estimated glomerular filtration rate (p=0.002). CONCLUSION: Ischemic colitis in patients with CKD had longer hospitalization than in those with normal kidney function. However, there was no significant difference in surgical intervention and mortality.

A Case of Malignant Duodenocolic Fistula / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Malignant duodenocolic fistula is a rare complication of colon cancer, and this usually develops as the right-side colon cancer or colonic hepatic flexure cancer infiltrates into the second portion of the duodenum. Six Korean cases of this malignancy have been previously reported on. The patients usually complain of watery diarrhea, feculant vomiting and weight loss that can be attributed to the altered normal flora. Barium enema has been the diagnostic procedure of choice to demonstrate the fistulous tract, but with the technical development of gastroendoscopy, the primary procedure is also changing. Curative resection is not possible in many cases. Palliative ileotransverse colostomy with gastrodjejunostomy is performed to relieve symptoms, but it cannot completely prevent the vomiting or diarrhea. We herein present a case of malignant duodenocolic fistula in a patient who had been suffering from indigestion, loose stool and feculant vomiting for one year. This case was diagnosed by endoscopy and the patient underwent a palliative operation.