• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.41 no.5
• /
• pp.911-925
• /
• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to report a case of a patient with advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis treated with chemotherapy and Korean medicine Methods: A patient with advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis was treated with Xeloda/cisplatin since April 2019. The cycle was repeated every three weeks for a total of 11 times. At the same time, the patient was treated with Korean medicine. The tumor size was measured by computed tomography (CT) and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Adverse events were evaluated by the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE), version 5.0. Results: After treatment with Xeloda/cisplatin and Korean medicine for nine months, the extent of the proximal portion of the primary tumor and the size and number of multiple nodules around the stomach decreased and the cancer cells with peritoneal metastasis disappeared. The symptoms of discomfort and physical activity were gradually improved. As a result, the patient underwent conversion surgery. Conclusions: This case study suggests that the combination of chemotherapy and Korean medicine may contribute to the reduction in tumor size as well as the improvement in the quality of life.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.44 no.6
• /
• pp.1294-1317
• /
• 2023

Background: Post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis (PCPF) is a common complication in severe COVID-19 cases, often associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome or mechanical ventilation. Patients with PCPF frequently experience a decline in their quality of life due to persistent COVID-19 sequelae, including cough and chest pain. However, there is currently no established standard treatment, and the efficacy of existing medications remains uncertain. Case Report: A 65-year-old female patient presenting with cough, dyspnea, chest pain, and fatigue due to PCPF received Korean medicine treatment for 25 days. Symptom evaluation utilized the modified Medical Research Council scale, the Leicester Cough Questionnaire, and the Numeral Rating Scale. Quality of life and functional status were assessed using the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status and the EuroQol 5-Dimensional 5-Level. The extent of pulmonary fibrosis was assessed by comparing chest computed tomography (chest CT) scans before and after hospitalization. Following treatment, the patient demonstrated clinically meaningful improvement in clinical symptoms, enhanced quality of life, and decreased fibrotic lesions on CT scans. Conclusion: This case report suggests that Korean medicine treatment may be effective in improving clinical symptoms, such as cough and dyspnea caused by PCPF, while also enhancing post-COVID-19 quality of life and ameliorating pulmonary fibrotic lesions.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.87 no.1
• /
• pp.100-114
• /
• 2024

Background: Long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) improves the survival of patients with hypoxemia due to chronic respiratory diseases. The clinical outcomes of LTOT are strongly associated with patient adherence. To improve the adherence of patients, physicians have focused on the efficacy of LTOT. However, poor adherence may stem from patients' perceptions of LTOT. Herein we evaluated patients' perceptions of LTOT affecting adherence. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey study using descriptive, open, and closed-ended questionnaire. Patients using oxygen therapy (OT) or requiring it but avoiding OT responded to the questionnaires at three university hospitals. Results: Seventy-nine patients responded to the questionnaires. The number of patients using home and portable OT was 69 (93%) and 37 (46.3%), respectively. Patients with good adherence were 22 (30.1%). Among patients with good adherence, 90.9% used oxygen according to physicians' prescriptions whereas only 37.3% of those with poor adherence followed physicians' prescriptions (p<0.01). The reasons for avoiding using home OT were fear of permanent use (50%), unwanted attention (40%), and lack of symptoms (40%). They avoided portable OT because of unwanted attention (39%), heaviness (31.7%), and lack of symptoms (21.6%). Conclusion: Patients on LTOT had the perception of the misunderstanding the effects of OT and of psychosocial barriers to initiate or use LTOT. Considering these findings, health professionals need to provide effective education on the purpose of LTOT to improve patient adherence to OT and provide sufficient support for the management of psychosocial barriers in patients using LTOT.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.57 no.6
• /
• pp.589-593
• /
• 2004

Aspergillus fumigatus causes a variety clinical syndrome in lung including aspergilloma, chronic necrotizing aspergillosis, invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. Aspergilloma develops by a colonization and growing of Aspergillus inside lung cavities with underlying lung disease. There is a few report of endobronchial aspergilloma without lung parenchymal lesion. We experienced a case of endobronchial aspergilloma did not fit any category of Aspergillus-induced lesion, who show minimal fibrostreaky denstities on chest PA and chest CT. Massive hemoptysis was improved by a removal of the aspergilloma in this patient. Here, we report a rare case of endobronchial aspergilloma showing massive hemoptysis with review of literatures.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.77 no.5
• /
• pp.219-222
• /
• 2014

Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is a very rare condition that is defined as the presence of gas within the subserosal or submucosal layer of the bowel. PI has been described in association with a variety of conditions including gastrointestinal tract disorders, pulmonary diseases, connective tissue disorders, organ transplantation, leukemia, and various immunodeficiency states. We report a rare case of a 74-year-old woman who complained of dyspnea during the management of acute asthma exacerbation and developed PI; but, it improved without any treatment.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.53 no.2
• /
• pp.223-226
• /
• 2015

We report here a case of strongyloidiasis in a 72-year-old diabetic patient (woman) accompanied by gastrointestinal stromal tumor receiving imatinib therapy, first diagnosed as hypereosinophilic syndrome and treated with steroids for uncontrolled eosinophilia. She suffered from lower back pain and intermittent abdominal discomfort with nausea and diagnosed with gastrointestinal stromal tumor. After post-operative imatinib treatment eosinophilia persisted, so that steroid therapy was started under an impression of hypereosinophilic syndrome. In spite of 6 months steroid therapy, eosinophilia persisted. Stool examination was performed to rule out intestinal helminth infections. Rhabditoid larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis were detected and the patient was diagnosed as strongyloidiasis. This diagnosis was confirmed again by PCR. The patient was treated with albendazole for 14 days and her abdominal pain and diarrhea improved. This case highlights the need for thorough investigation, including molecular approaches, to test for strongyloidiasis before and during steroid therapies.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.78 no.3
• /
• pp.258-261
• /
• 2015

Eosinophilic lung diseases are heterogeneous disorders characterized by varying degrees of pulmonary parenchyma or blood eosinophilia. Causes of eosinophilic lung diseases range from drug ingestion to parasitic or fungal infection as well as idiopathic. The exact pathogenesis of eosinophilic lung disease remains unknown. Urushiol chicken can frequently cause allergic reactions. Contact dermatitis (both local and systemic) represents the most-common side effect of urushiol chicken ingestion. However, there has been no previous report of lung involvement following urushiol chicken ingestion until now. A 66-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with exertional dyspnea. Serial chest X-ray revealed multiple migrating infiltrations in both lung fields, with eosinophilic infiltration revealed by lung biopsy. The patient had ingested urushiol chicken on two occasions within the 2 weeks immediately prior to disease onset. His symptoms and migrating lung lesions were resolved following administration of oral corticosteroids.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.51
• /
• pp.18.1-18.12
• /
• 2021

Hair, having distinct stages of growth, is a dynamic component of the integumentary system. Nonetheless, derangement in its structure and growth pattern often provides vital clues for the diagnosis of systemic diseases. Assessment of the hair structure by various microscopy techniques is, hence, a valuable tool for the diagnosis of several systemic and cutaneous disorders. Systemic illnesses like Comel-Netherton syndrome, Griscelli syndrome, Chediak Higashi syndrome, and Menkes disease display pathognomonic findings on hair microscopy which, consequently, provide crucial evidence for disease diagnosis. With minimal training, light microscopy of the hair can easily be performed even by clinicians and other health care providers which can, thus, serve as a useful tool for disease diagnosis at the patient's bedside. This is especially true for resource-constrained settings where access and availability of advanced investigations (like molecular diagnostics) is a major constraint. Despite its immense clinical utility and non-invasive nature, hair microscopy seems to be an underutilized diagnostic modality. Lack of awareness regarding the important findings on hair microscopy may be one of the crucial reasons for its underutilization. Herein, we, therefore, present a comprehensive overview of the available methods for hair microscopy and the pertinent findings that can be observed in various diseases.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.206-208
• /
• 2020

An 80-year-old Korean woman who previously experienced penicillin allergy presented to a dental hospital for treatment of a fractured tooth. A dentist extracted the tooth and prescribed her A-cillin (amoxicillin hydrate) 250 mg orally 3 times a day for 3 days and Carol-F^® (ibuprofen arginine) orally 3 times a day for 3 days. She received the prescriptions, returned home, and took one dose of each drug. One hour later, she experienced hypertension, itching, shortness of breath, and was unable to move her tongue to pronounce words. Approximately 6 hours after drug administration, the symptoms persisted, and the patient was admitted to an emergency medical center (EMC). The patient was discharged from the EMC after a one-night stay in the hospital for symptomatic treatment.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.91-98
• /
• 2021

Objective : The purpose of this study is to report a case of lacquer allergy improved by Korean medicine treatment. Methods : The patient visited our hospital complaining of rash, and pruritus which lasted for 10days after eating lacquer chicken. Considering that patient's symptoms occurred due to food allergen, we prescribed Injinho-tang(Yinchenhao-tang) and acupuncture at Daejang-Junggyeok for 7days. Results : On the 4th day of treatment, pruritus decreased to less than half of the initial treatment, and skin symptoms also improved to a mild level. About a week later, most of the skin symptoms disappeared (Total Objective Symptom score decreased 10 to 3), and subjective symptoms such as pruritus improved to about 30% of the time of the first visit (Total Subjective Symptom score decreased 12 to 3). Conclusions : After 7days of Korean medicine treatment, lacquer tree allergy with skin lesions and pruritus has improved considerably.