A case of glutathione-induced life-threatening asthma attack

Baek-ok injection (glutathione) has been widely used antioxidant therapy to whiten and has antiaging effects in Korea. Glutathione is an enzyme which synthesizes leukotriene, then it can induce asthma attack theoretically; however, there have been few case reports concerning this therapy. In this report, we described a 41-year-old woman who developed glutathione-induced life-threatening asthma attack. She has asthma history controlled by an intermittent salbutamol inhaler. She developed general weakness and dyspnea right after glutathione injection, and injection was discontinued. Dyspnea was progressively aggravated, and she lost consciousness with shock. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was started, and she arrived at the Emergency Department with wheezing, hypoxia, severe respiratory acidosis, and nonmeasurable blood pressure. Intubation and mechanical ventilation were started with intramuscular epinephrine/intravenous methylprednisolone injection and repeated salbutamol/ipratropium/budesonide inhalation. After 5 hours, extubation and spontaneous breathing were successful without wheezing. Next day, pulmonary function test showed moderate an obstructive airway disease pattern, and she was discharged with inhaled fluticasone/salmeterol, oral methylprednisolone, and montelukast. We can exclude anaphylaxis, because serum tryptase obtained at the Emergency Department was 0.0 mg/dL and the absence of skin lesions and angioedema at arrival. Baek-ok injection (glutathione) should be carefully performed in asthma patients.

Tuberculosis Relief Belt Supporting Project (Tuberculosis Patient Management Project for Poverty Group) / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: The “Tuberculosis Relief Belt Supporting Project (Tuberculosis Patient Management Project for Poverty Groups)” is a national program for socioeconomically vulnerable tuberculosis (TB) patients. We sought to evaluate the clinical and socioeconomic characteristics of poverty-stricken TB patients, and determined the need for relief. METHODS: We examined in-patients with TB, who were supported by this project at the National Medical Center from 2014 to 2015. We retrospectively investigated the patients' socioeconomic status, clinical characteristics, and project expenditures. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients were enrolled. Among 55 patients with known income status, 24 (43.6%) had no income. Most patients (80%) lived alone. A total of 48 patients (82.8%) had more than one underlying disease. More than half of the enrolled patients (30 patients, 51.7%) had smear-positive TB. Cavitary disease was found in 38 patients (65.5%). Among the 38 patients with known resistance status, 19 (50%) had drug-resistant TB. In terms of disease severity, 96.6% of the cases had moderate-to-severe disease. A total of 14 patients (26.4%) died during treatment. Nursing expenses were supported for 12 patients (20.7%), with patient transportation costs reimbursed for 35 patients (60%). In terms of treatment expenses for 31 people (53.4%), 93.5% of them were supported by uninsured benefits. CONCLUSION: Underlying disease, infectivity, drug resistance, severity, and death occurred frequently in socioeconomically vulnerable patients with TB. Many uninsured treatment costs were not supported by the current government TB programs, and the “Tuberculosis Relief Belt Supporting Project” compensated for these limitations.

Comparative Study on Self-care Behavior Related Factors for Good, Inadequate and Poor Glycemic Control Groups: Based on Variables from Theory of Planned Behavior, Habit, and Family Support / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to compare self-care behaviors and self-care behavior related factors for groups of patients with good, inadequate and poor glycemic control. The study was based on variables of the Theory of Planned Behavior by Ajzen, habit and family support. (1991). METHODS: Participants were 134 patients with type 2 diabetes (good glycemic control group: 57, inadequate glycemic control group: 40, poor glycemic control group: 37). Self-care behaviors, intention to self-care behavior and self-care behavior related variables (attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavior control, habits and family support) were measured. Data were collected from August 12 to September 25, 2014 and were analyzed using χ²-test, Fisher's exact test, ANCOVA, and logistic regression with SPSS/WIN 21.0. RESULTS: Among the three glycemic groups, there were significant differences in self-care behavior, subjective norms, perceived behavior control, family support, and habits. Multinomial logistic regression showed that poor blood glucose probability was associated with duration of diabetes mellitus, method of DM therapy, perceived behavior control and habits. CONCLUSION: The study findings reveal the important role of self-care behavior, subjective norms, perceived behavior control, family support, and habits in blood glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Risk Factors for Mortality in Patients with Serratia marcescens Bacteremia

PURPOSE: Over the last 30 years, Serratia marcescens (S. marcescens) has emerged as an important pathogen, and a common cause of nosocomial infections. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors associated with mortality in patients with S. marcescens bacteremia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 98 patients who had one or more blood cultures positive for S. marcescens between January 2006 and December 2012 in a tertiary care hospital in Seoul, South Korea. Multiple risk factors were compared with association with 28-day all-cause mortality. RESULTS: The 28-day mortality was 22.4% (22/98 episodes). In a univariate analysis, the onset of bacteremia during the intensive care unit stay (p=0.020), serum albumin level (p=0.011), serum C-reactive protein level (p=0.041), presence of indwelling urinary catheter (p=0.023), and Sequential Oran Failure Assessment (SOFA) score at the onset of bacteremia (p<0.001) were significantly different between patients in the fatal and non-fatal groups. In a multivariate analysis, lower serum albumin level and an elevated SOFA score were independently associated with 28-day mortality [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.206, 95% confidential interval (CI) 0.044-0.960, p=0.040, and adjusted OR 1.474, 95% CI 1.200-1.810, p<0.001, respectively]. CONCLUSION: Lower serum albumin level and an elevated SOFA score were significantly associated with adverse outcomes in patients with S. marcescens bacteremia.

Clinical characteristics of respiratory virus infection in children admitted to an intensive care unit

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical characteristics and the risk factors for mechanical ventilator treatment and incidence of complications in children admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) with detected respiratory viruses. METHODS: Eighty-two patients who were detected respiratory viruses by multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction from nasopharyngeal aspirates were enrolled among the 123 children admitted to ICU with acute respiratory manifestations during the study period from January 2006 to December 2012. RESULTS: Detection rate of respiratory viruses were 66% and 13 patients (16%) had two viruses isolated. The most common respiratory virus isolated was respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (35%) followed by rhinovirus (19%), adenovirus (13%), parainfluenza virus (11%), influenza virus (11%), human metapneumovirus (6%), and human coronavirus (5%). Pneumonia (70%) was the most common clinical diagnosis. The mean age of patient with RSV infection was the youngest and with influenza virus infection was the oldest among other viruses infection (mean+/-standard deviation, 5.9+/-10.1 months vs. 51.0+/-26.1 months; P=0.01). Forty Patients (49%) who had the underlying diseases were not associated with incidence of mechanical ventilator treatment and complications. Bacterial coinfection with respiratory virus was the significant risk factor of mechanical ventilator care and incidence of complications (odds ratio [OR], 50.003; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.955-632.144; P=0.003, and OR, 15,569; 95% CI, 1.803-134.452; P=0.013). CONCLUSION: The significant morbidity of pediatric patient admitted to ICU with respiratory virus infection (RVI) was associated with bacterial coinfection. Furthermore, multicenter study should be performed to investigate the epidemiology of RVI in pediatric patients admitted to ICU in domestic.

Detection of human papillomavirus type 16 and 18 by PCR in patients with cervical neoplasia / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the detection rate of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA Test (type 16 and 18) and to investigate the clinical significance of HPV DNA test in patients with cervical neoplasia. METHODS: Of the 708 patients aged 21~83 years who had undergone both conventional Papanicolaou cervical cytologic test and HPV DNA test by polymerase chain reaction, 383 cases underwent histologic diagnoses. RESULTS: Of the 708 cytologic diagnoses, there were 11 positive HPV DNA test diagnoses in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 41 in high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), 20 in low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), 41 in atypical squamous cells (ASC), and 86 in negative cytology. Of the 383 histologic diagnoses, there were 24 positive HPV DNA test diagnoses in SCC, 42 in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 3, 12 in CIN 2, 12 in CIN 1, 7 in atypical change, and 45 in negative histology. Of the 239 patients with negative HPV DNA test, 28.5% cases showed histologic diagnoses of CIN 1 or worse lesion. Of the 46 patients with negative cytology and positive HPV DNA test, 50.0% cases showed histologic dianoses of CIN 1 or worse lesion. Pap cytology revealed sensitivity of 72.5%, specificity of 66.4%, and false negative rate of 27.5%, whereas HPV DNA test showed 57.5%, 76.7%, and 42.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that the primary standard Pap cytology and HPV DNA test were adjunctive. Also this study showed that physicians always should not overrate Pap cytology or HPV DNA test in managing the patient with cervical neoplasia. Combined test was a very effective diagnostic method for detecting cervical neoplasia.

Evaluation of Seeplex(TM) Pneumobacter Multiplex PCR Kit for the Detection of Respiratory Bacterial Pathogens in Pediatric Patients / 대한진단검사의학회지

BACKGROUND: Rapid identification of the causative agent among potential bacterial and viral pathogens is important for the management of acute respiratory disease. In this study, we evaluated the analytical performance and clinical usefulness of a recently-introduced multiplex PCR assay, Seeplex(TM)Pneumobacter detection kit (Seegene Inc., Korea) for the identification of respiratory bacterial pathogens. METHODS: One hundred and eighty one nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from pediatric patients with respiratory symptoms and analysed by multiplex PCR for the detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae (S.P), Haemophilus influenzae (H.I), Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M.P), Chlamydophila pneumoniae (C.P), Bordetella pertussis (B.P) and Legionella pneumophila (L.P). A comparison of multiplex PCR with conventional culture for the isolation of S.P and H.I was performed on 112 specimens. The cross reactivity of multiplex PCR was also evaluated. RESULTS: Of 181 cases, 81 cases were positive by multiplex PCR (44.8%): 52 cases for S.P (28.7%), 47 cases for H.I (26.0%), 9 cases for M.P (5.0%), 3 cases for B.P (1.7%) and 1 case for C.P (0.6%) including multiple infection cases. The agreement rates between multiplex PCR and culture for S.P and H.I were 92.9% (kappa index=0.84, P<0.001) and 91.1% (kappa index=0.75, P<0.001), respectively. There was no cross reactivity with common bacterial and viral pathogens. CONCLUSIONS: Seeplex(TM) Pneumobacter detection kit could be a useful screening tool for the rapid detection of respiratory bacterial pathogens. Further studies with lower respiratory tract specimens would be needed for the clinical evaluation of S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae detected by multiplex PCR.

Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Pertussis in Children, Cheonan, Korea / 소아감염

PURPOSE: A number of countries have experienced an increase in pertussis during the past decade. In particular, there has been an increase in the incidence rate among adolescents and adults. To learn more about the current epidemiology of pertussis, we studied the prevalence and clinical characteristics of pertussis in children in Cheonan, South Korea. METHODS: We collected nasopharyngeal aspirates of 118 patients who were treated for respiratory symptoms at Dankook Univeristy Hospital between March 2008 and September 2009. We performed multiplex PCR for detection of Bordetella pertussis in those aspirates. RESULTS: Of the 118 patients, 10 (8%) were positive by PCR for B. pertussis. Six episodes occurred during the period July to September 2009. Nine of the 10 patients were less than 3 months old. Seven of them had not received DTaP vaccine. The mean duration of coughing before diagnosis was 10.9+/-5.2 days. Ten patients (100%) had paroxysmal cough and 8 (80%) had post-tussive vomiting. Only one patient had fever. One who had complications that include pneumonia, atelectasis and pneumomediastinum developed an absolute increase in leukocyte count (84,400/mm3). There was a statistically significant relation between vaccine being received and development of complications (P=0.033). CONCLUSION: We suspect that there was an epidemic of pertussis between July and September 2009. Further investigation by a pediatric or nationwide surveillance system is needed to monitor the changing epidemiology for pertussis.

The Priming Effect of the Old Age People with Mild Cognitive Impairment / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: In this study, the cognitive characteristics, especially priming effect, of above 50 years old age group who had less than 25 points in K-MMSE were investigated. METHODS: In this study, an implicit memory test measuring priming effect was made and adminis-tered to old age people who had less than 25 points in K-MMSE in screening session. To control the effect of age, educational level and intelligence, demographic variables were measured, and the subtests of KWIS, vocabulary and block design were administered. Descriptive statistical analysis of the two priming measures and correlational analysis between variables were done. To test the effect of cognitive functioning on priming effect multiple regression analysis was done. RESULTS: Correlational analysis revealed priming score obtained from correct identification response was positively correlated with K-MMSE and ADAS-Cog. And priming score obtained from mean reaction time was positively correlated with age and negatively correlated with vocabulary substest of KWIS. The regression analysis results indicated general cognitive functioning measured by ADAS-Cog has significant effect on priming score obtained from correct identification response, whereas age has significant effect on priming score obtained from mean reaction time. CONCLUSIONS: The results revealed that as cognitive deterioration progresses priming effect which identify primed stimulus correctly diminish, and as one grow older within age 50 to 70, priming effect which identifies primed stimulus quickly increase.

The Postoperative Analgesic Effect of Transdermal Fentanyl with Patch in Total Abdominal Hysterectomy / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Compared with conventional routes of delivering potent analgesics to postoperative patients, transdermal administration of fentanyl offers the advantages of simplicity and noninvasiveness. The analgesic efficacy and safty of transdermal fentanyl patch (TDFP) were evaluated postoperatively. METHOD: TDFP releasing 25 mcg/hr (Group 1) or placebo (Group 2) were applied to 40 women 6 hours before total abdominal hysterectomy under the general anesthesia. Postoperatively, self-administered intravenous fentanyl was maintained with a 20-mcg incremental dose and a 10-min. locking interval. Each group was assessed following 48 hours with respects to vital signs, VAS pain scores, hourly-used fentanyl doses, satisfaction scores and side effects. RESULT: VAS observed 24 hours, 36 hours after operation were significantly lower in group 1 than group 2. Hourly-used fentanyl doses were significantly lower in group 1 than group 2 at 2 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours after operation. The incidence of side effects were similar between group 1 and group 2. CONCLUSION: TDFP-25 mcg applied 6 hours before operation provides supplementary analges-ia after the postoperative period without significant side effects such as respiratory depression.