Health Effects of Ozone on Respiratory Diseases / 결핵및호흡기질환

Ozone is known to cause bronchial inflammation and airway hyper-responsiveness via oxidative injury and inflammation. While other ambient air pollutants such as particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen dioxide showed decreasing trends in mean annual concentrations, ozone concentrations have not declined recently in most countries across the world. Short-term exposure to high concentrations of ozone has been associated with increased mortality and cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity in many regions of the world. However, the long-term effects of ozone have been less investigated than the short-term exposure due to the difficulty in modeling ozone exposure and linking between individual exposures and health outcome data. A recently developed model of ozone exposure enabled the investigation of long-term ozone effects on health outcomes. Recent findings suggested that long-term exposure to ozone was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and respiratory mortality. Longitudinal studies using large cohorts also revealed that long-term exposure to ozone was associated with a greater decline in lung function and the progression of emphysema. The development of long-term standards for ozone as well as PM should be considered to protect the respiratory health of the general population and people with chronic respiratory diseases.

Health Effects of Ozone on Respiratory Diseases / 결핵및호흡기질환

Ozone is known to cause bronchial inflammation and airway hyper-responsiveness via oxidative injury and inflammation. While other ambient air pollutants such as particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen dioxide showed decreasing trends in mean annual concentrations, ozone concentrations have not declined recently in most countries across the world. Short-term exposure to high concentrations of ozone has been associated with increased mortality and cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity in many regions of the world. However, the long-term effects of ozone have been less investigated than the short-term exposure due to the difficulty in modeling ozone exposure and linking between individual exposures and health outcome data. A recently developed model of ozone exposure enabled the investigation of long-term ozone effects on health outcomes. Recent findings suggested that long-term exposure to ozone was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and respiratory mortality. Longitudinal studies using large cohorts also revealed that long-term exposure to ozone was associated with a greater decline in lung function and the progression of emphysema. The development of long-term standards for ozone as well as PM should be considered to protect the respiratory health of the general population and people with chronic respiratory diseases.

A Case of Cytomegalovirus Gastric Ulcer Mimicking Gastric Cancer in an Immunocompetent Host / 대한소화기내시경학회지

A 27-year-old woman presented with epigastric pain. Abdominal computed tomography revealed an irregular ulcer with circumferential thickening of the gastric antral wall. An endoscopy suggested advanced gastric cancer or gastric lymphoma. Biopsy of the lesion showed an inclusion body of the cytomegalovirus and positive immunohistochemical staining of the infected cell for cytomegalovirus. A thorough evaluation of her immune system revealed no abnormality. General supportive treatment for gastric ulcer did not relieve her symptoms. Intravenous infusion of ganciclovir improved her symptoms and healed the ulcer. We report a case of cytomegalovirus-associated gastric ulcer mimicking malignancy in an immunocompetent woman.

Improvement of Hypoxemia by Repetitive Alveolar Recruitments in Brain-dead Donor: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Brain-dead potential donors manifest devastating physiological changes associated with pulmonary edema, profound hemodynamic and metabolic abnormalities. These derangements may be more significant after apnea tests which result in severe hypoxemia and cardiovascular complications. De-recruitment can occur following apnea tests in the brain-dead donor whose ventilator support has been maintained with high positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), and recruitment maneuvers are intended to open collapsed lung units. We report a brain-dead potential donor with severe hypoxemia and hemodynamic instability after apnea tests, which improved after multiple alveolar recruitments with adequate vasoactive drugs. Multiple high-pressure recruitment maneuvers will be helpful for expansion of lung collapse with improvement of severe hypoxemia after de-recruitment which could be developed with apnea tests in brain-dead organ donor.

Family Outbreak of Trichinosis After Eating a Raw Meat of Wild Swine / 감염과화학요법

Trichinosis is a worldwide parasitic infection caused by ingesting an uncooked raw meat containing viable larvae of nematode Trichinella. Although most cases have been reported in Western countries, the incidence has decreased due to strict control of meat handlings and improved hygiene in these countries. In Korea, the first case of Trichinella spiralis was reported in a patient who ingested an uncooked badger. We have also experienced four cases of Trichinella spiralis infestation among family members who showed typical clinical manifestations and laboratory findings after ingesting raw wild swine meat, and herein report the finding.

Family Outbreak of Trichinosis After Eating a Raw Meat of Wild Swine / 감염과화학요법

Trichinosis is a worldwide parasitic infection caused by ingesting an uncooked raw meat containing viable larvae of nematode Trichinella. Although most cases have been reported in Western countries, the incidence has decreased due to strict control of meat handlings and improved hygiene in these countries. In Korea, the first case of Trichinella spiralis was reported in a patient who ingested an uncooked badger. We have also experienced four cases of Trichinella spiralis infestation among family members who showed typical clinical manifestations and laboratory findings after ingesting raw wild swine meat, and herein report the finding.

A case of Korean hemorrhagic fever with acute pancreatitis / 대한내과학회지

The Korean hemorrhagic fever is an acute febrile disease, which characteristically accompanies high fever, abdominal pain, headache, vomiting, bleeding tendency and renal failure. The Korean hemorrhagic fever displays various clinical manifestations and courses. Complication includes hypertension, intra-organ bleeding, respiratory problems including pulmonary edema, pituitary insufficiency, infection and anemia. In rare cases, cardiac complications, such as acute myocarditis and atrioventricular conduction block were reported. In addition, an acute pancreatitis, which accompanied serum amylase and lipase elevation, was rarely reported as one of the cause of abdominal pain in the patients with the Korean hemorrhagic fever. We report a patient, who were diagnosed with Korean hemorrhagic fever and displayed persistent abdominal pain, elevation of serum amylase and lipase, and detection of diffuse edema of the pancreas and fluid collection in the retroperitoneal space, especially around the pancreas and kidney, in the ultrasound and CT scan.

The Usefulness of B-type Natriuretic Peptide test in Critically Ill, Noncardiac Patients / 결핵

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that a B-type natriuretic peptide(BNP) test can provide important information on diagnosis, as well as predicting the severity and prognosis of heart failure. Myocardial dysfunction is often observed in critically ill noncardiac patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, and the prognosis of the myocardial dysfunction needs to be determined. This study evaluated the predictability of BNP on the prognosis of critically ill noncardiac patients. METHODS: 32 ICU patients, who were hospitalized from June to October 2002 and in whom the BNP test was evaluated, were enrolled in this study. The exclusion criteria included the conditions that could increase the BNP levels irrespective of the severity, such as congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, ischemic heart disease, and renal insufficiencies. A triage B-Type Natriuretic Peptide test with a RIA-kit was used for the fluorescence immunoassay of BNP test. In addition, the acute physiology and the chronic health evaluation (APACHE)IIscore and mortality were recorded. RESULTS: There were 16 males and 16 females enrolled in this study. The mean age was 59 years old. The mean BNP levels between the ICU patients and control were significantly different (186.7+/-274.1pg/mL vs. 19.9+/-21.3 pg/mL, p=0.033). Among the ICU patients, there were 14(44%) patients with BNPlevels above 100 pg/mL. The APACHEIIscore was 16.5+/-7.6. In addition, there were 11 mortalities reported. The correlation between the BNP and APACHEIIscore, between the BNP and mortality were significant (r=0.443, p=0.011 & r=0.530, p=0.002). The mean BNP levels between the dead and alive groups were significantly different (384.1+/-401.7 pg/mL vs. 83.2+/-55.8 pg/mL p=0.033). However, the PaO2/FiO2 did not significantly correlate with the BNP level. CONCLUSION: This study evaluated the BNP level was elevated in critically ill, noncardiac patients. The BNP level could be a useful, noninvasive tool for predicting the prognosis of the critically ill, noncardiac patients.

A Case of Diabetic Gastroparesis Presenting as Acute Gastric Dilatation / 대한소화관운동학회지

Diabetic gastroparesis is a pathologic condition of delayed gastric emptying with gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, early satiety and vomiting in the absence of mechanical obstruction in patients with diabetes mellitus. We report a case of diabetic gastroparesis who had diabetes mellitus for 13 years and suffered from nausea and vomiting with marked gastric dilatation of acute onset. Blood glucose level of the patient was very high and any mechanical obstruction was not found by gastroduodenal endoscopy, hypotonic duodenography, celiac angiography, electrogastrography and CT scan. Acute gastric dilatation was resolved with conservative treatment of gastric drainage, glucose control and hydration. Gastrointestinal symptoms of nausea and vomiting improved and diet was well tolerated thereafter.

Does Milrinone Improve Hemodynamic Variables in Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension Due to Valvular Heart Disease? / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Milrinone is a bipyridine phosphodiesterase III inhibitor that exerts both positive inotropic and direct vasodilatory effects. The efficacy and safety of intravenous milrinone in heart failure has been evaluated in a number of clinical studies. In addition, performance of the right ventricle is improved primarily in reduced right ventricular afterload, and pulmonary vascular resistence as milrinone produces minimal inotropic effects on the right ventricle. Most clinical studies have been performed in left ventricular failure patients. Therefore, we investigated whether intravenous milrinone improves the hemodynamics in patients with pulmonary hypertension due to valvular heart disease. METHODS: This study included 33 patients undergoing a valvular replacement with pulmonary hypertension (mean pulmonary artery pressure > or = 30 mmHg after induction). Patients were randomly divided into two groups, normal saline group (N) and milrinone group (M). In group N, normal saline was infused. In group M, a single intravenous bolus of milrinone (50mug/kg body weight) was injected over 10 min. Hemodynamic data were measured at preinjection, 5, 10, and 20 min after injection. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in systemic mean arterial pressure and central venous pressure between both groups. In group M, systemic vascular resistance was reduced at 5 min after injection and cardiac index was improved at 10 min after injection. There was no significant difference in pulmonary mean arterial pressure and vascular resistance between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Milrinone had no effect on pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance in patients with pulmonary hypertension due to valvular heart disease. However, it increased cardiac index and decreased systemic vascular resistance.