• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.736-743
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• 1986

Thymus gland is a kind of endocrine organ which secretes thymosin and thymoprotein. There can be developed variable lesions like thymoma, thymic hyperplasia, thymic cyst, thymolipoma, and carcinoid tumor of the thymus gland. We have experienced 25 patients of thymic disease: thymoma 12, thymic hyperplasia 11, thymic cyst 1, carcinoid tumor 1. The age distribution were ranged from 3 to 66 years and the sex ratio was 1:1.8 [male to female]. Thymectomy was performed in all cases, but 3 cases with deep infiltration to the adjacent structures were not resectable completely. Malignancy [all thymoma] were 5 and the rest were benign. Two cases were died of recurrence after tumor resection. Myasthenia gravis occurred in 10 cases. Among them, 2 were thymoma and 8 were thymic hyperplasia. We could obtained the result that thymectomized cases reached 2 remission and 5 improvement. Myasthenia gravis treated medically [18 cases] had no remission and only 2 clinical improvement. In the light of these results, early radical thymectomy would be most favorable treatment in not only thymic tumor, but generalized myasthenia gravis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 1994

Between January 1990 and June 1993, the retrospective analysis was done in 48 consecutive patients with hemoptysis. According to clinical condition of patients, managements were divided into 3 subgroups; group 1[percutaneous bronchial artery embolization, group 2[operation after percutaneous bronchial artery embolization],group 3[delayed and emergency operation]. It was characterized that recurrence of hemoptysis was very frequent and most frequent underlying cause was pulmonary tuberculosis. In 40 patients[83%] urgent examination with flexible broncoscope was done and localization of the bleeding source was possible only in 24[60%] patients. The amount of hemoptysis was variable but there are no difference between groups and 22 patients[45%] had a prior episode of hemoptysis usually within 3 months of their admission. The recurrence was limited only in group 1[3/22] and the mortality rate was 6%[3/48]. We suggest that percutaneus bronchial artery embolization may be effective in recurrent massive hemoptysis but definitive management was operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.847-850
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• 1999

Tracheobronchomegaly or Mounier-Kuhn syndrome a is rare disease characterized by marked dilatation of the trachea and main bronchi. It is thought to be due to a congenital anomaly, but is uncertain. It has variable clinical manifestations from causing chronic respiratory infections and bronchiectasis to being asymptomatic for the lifetime. Recently, we experienced a case of Mounier-Kuhn syndrome patient with tracheal diverticulum, who had lung cancer. Our case is reported with literature reviews.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.357-364
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• 2011

Selenium is an antioxidant trace element linked to cardiovascular disease and cancer. Although diet is a major source, relatively little else is known about independent determinants of selenium levels in free-living humans. In this study, we aimed to investigate the independent demographic. lifestyle, and dietary determinants of selenium levels in 1,997 men and 1,905 women in two large prospective U.S. cohorts. Toenail selenium levels were quantified using neutron activation analysis. Diet, geographic residence, demographic, and environmental factors were assessed by validated self-administered questionnaires. Multivariate generalized linear models were conducted to assess the independent relations of these factors with toenail selenium levels, correcting for measurement error in the diet. In multi variable-adjusted analyses, independent predictors of higher selenium were male gender (6.3% higher levels); living in West and Northern-Midwest U.S. regions (8.9% and 7.4% higher than Southern-Midwest regions, respectively); consumption of beef and bread products (between 0.7 - 2.5% higher per daily serving); and selenium supplement use (6.9% higher than non-users); whereas cigarette smoking (5-10% lower than never smokers), older age (0.6% lower per 5 years), and consumption of eggs, white rice, dairy products, coffee, and alcohol (between 0.1 to 2.0% lower per daily serving) were associated with lower selenium. Multiple dietary and non-dietary factors independently predicted selenium levels, suggesting that both consumption and non-dietary processes (e.g.. related to oxidant status) may affect levels. Significant geographic variation in selenium levels exists in the US.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.187-194
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• 1997

The management of post-thoracotomy pain is on of the difficult clinical problems. A variety of pain management methods have been used with variable efficacy. We compared the effect of acupuncture with the effect of analgesics for the post-thoracotomy pain control. From March 1995 to September 1995, 20 patients who underwent elective thoracotomy were randomized into two groups. The patients were treated with analgesics in control group(n=10) and acupuncture in the other group(n: 10). Postoperative analgesic effects were evaluated by the scoring system which was made by the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Korea University Medical Center. No significant difference was observed between two groups concerning the subjective pain and limitation of motion of operated side. Although the number of analgesic requirement was reduced significantly in the acupuncture group(P < 0.05). We conclude that acupuncture is an effective method to control post-thoracotomy pain and it is safer than the analgesics bacause of its lower side effects.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.552-555
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• 2001

Noonan syndrome is characterized by a Turner-like phenotype and a normal karyotype associated with congenital abnormalities, such as short stature, variable mental retardation, hypertelorism, webbed neck, low posterior hair line, skeletal malformation and congenital cardiovascular defect. Two third of Noonan syndrome have cardiac anormalies, half with pulmonary stenosis. We have experienced two cases of pulmonary stenosis associated with other cardiac anomalies in Noonan syndrome. The first 31-year-old male patient had characteristic appearance of Noonan syndrome with severe infundibular pulmonic stenosis and patent foramen ovate. The second 28-year-old male patient had valvular and subvalvular Pulmonary stenosis with typical Noonan\`s face and stature. Pulmonary valvotomy and hypertrophied muscle bundles in the right ventricular cavity were resected in both cases. Patent foramen ovate was closed directly in the first case. Postoperative follow-up examinations revealed no symptoms and successful outcome.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.655-661
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• 2000

Backgound: This study was performed to evaluate the incidences, the risk factors, and the clinical course of the hyperamylasemia in patients who underwent open heart surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass. Material and Method: Thirty seven patients who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass were studied at Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, Yeungnam University Hospital, from July 1997 to June 1998. The thirty seven patients were divided into two groups, 13 patients in group I had normal serum amylase levels and 24 patients in group II had hyperamylasemia. Result: Mean serum amylase(IU/l) levels and 24 patients in group II had hyperamylasemia. Result: Mean serum amylase(IU/l) levels of gorup II showed 54.3$\pm$4.6, 78.0$\pm$9.2, 372.0$\pm$103.4, 460.5$\pm$80.4, 280.4$\pm$46.6, and 131.0$\pm$15.6, preoperative, immediate postoperative, at postoperative 1, 2, 3, and 7 days, respectively. In group II, serum amylase level of the postoperative day 2 was the highest and was significantly higher than that of the preoperative day(p<0.001). Serum amylase level started to decreased at postoperative day 3 and returned to the normal level at postoperative day 7. Significant clinical symtoms of overt pancreatitis were not shown in patients in group II. The following perioperative variable such as diagnosis, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross clamping time, mean systemic pressure during bypass, and administration of steroid were compared between groups. There were no significant differences between groups. In all patients, Serum amylase level of postoperative day 2 and aortic cross clamping time were correlated significantly(p=0.047). Conclusion: Serum amylase level after cardiopulmonary bypass could be elevated postoperatively and serum amylase level of POD 2 was considered to have significant correlation with aortic cross clamping time. Shortening of aortic cross clamping time will help in reducing the hyperamylsemia. In this study, although significant clinical symptoms and overt pancreatitis were not seen from hyperamylsemic patients, careful clinical observation of hyperamylasemia would be necessary.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.416-424
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• 1989

We have performed eight, single transplantations of right lung in dogs from September, 1988 to March 1989 at the Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgical department, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. We wrapped bronchial anastomosis site with great omentum and used cyclosporin in preoperative and postoperative periods in seven cases except one. The one without wrapping the bronchial anastomotic site with omentum and using cyclosporin died due to bronchial anastomotic site rupture in postoperative fourth day. If there is no reason to choose one side over the other, we would generally choose to do left-sided transplant as this is technically somewhat easier because of the long length of recipient bronchus and the ease of clamping the left atrium proximal to the pulmonary veins. The right atrium limits the amount of left atrium that can have incorporated into the clamp proximal to the pulmonary veins on the right side. But we had chosen to do right-sided transplant of lung because we must take variable technical experiences on right sided lung transplant in dogs. We have to anastomose one of pulmonary vein and left atrial wall on right-sided transplant easily only with double ligation of one pulmonary vein because right atrium limited the clamp of left atrium proximal to pulmonary veins with decreased venous return and cardiac output in some dogs. All seven dogs with right-sided lung transplant had survived more than one day with good condition except one. The one dog have to be sacrificed to evaluate the difference between the gas analysis in pulmonary venous and arterial blood in post-operative eight hours. We found hemorrhagic pulmonary edematous changes of contralateral left lung in this dog. And also all dogs have to be sacrificed for the evaluation of surgical problems, anytime in post-operative periods without any cardiopulmonary resuscitative efforts when the general condition would be worse progressively. We found no any surgical technical errors in seven dogs except one with thrombi in suture site of left atrium. There were hemorrhagic pulmonary edematous changes of transplanted right lung in one, of contralateral left lung in one, of contralateral left lung with double ligation of its pulmonary artery in one, thrombi around left atrial sutures sites in one, multiple air leakage in one bronchial rupture in one due to rejection or infection. There were accidental extubation and delayed intubation in one and unknown cause of death in one.

• Korean Journal of Family Medicine
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.325-332
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• 2018

Background: Hypertension is a major contributor to the global disease burden of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. The aim of this study was to determine demographic and clinical factors associated with adherence to antihypertensive medication. Methods: From August 2012 to February 2015, we recruited 1,523 Korean patients with hypertension who visited family physicians. The study was conducted in 24 facilities located in urban and metropolitan areas. Of these facilities, two were primary care clinics and 22 were level 2 or 3 hospitals. Adherence was assessed using the pill count method; a cut-off value of 80% was used as the criterion for good adherence. Sociodemographic and lifestyle factors were compared between the adherent and nonadherent groups using the chi-square test for categorical variables and t-test for continuous variables. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed with medication adherence as the outcome variable. Results: Of the 1,523 patients, 1,245 (81.7%) showed good adherence to antihypertensive medication. In the multivariate logistic analysis, age ${\geq}65$ years, exercise, treatment in a metropolitan-located hospital, being on ${\geq}2$ classes of antihypertensive medication and concomitant medication for diabetes, and a family history of hypertension or cardiovascular diseases were associated with good adherence. Patients who had a habit of high salt intake were less adherent to medication. Conclusion: Multiple classes of antihypertensive medications, concomitant medication, and exercise were associated with good adherence to antihypertensive medication, and high salt intake was associated with poor adherence to antihypertensive medication. These factors should be considered to improve hypertension control.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.378-387
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• 2016

This study sought to investigate interrelationships and differences of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), body composition and cardiovascular variables between genders who have been exercised or not in elderly. One hundred fifty participants were classified four groups. Especially out of variables, in male elderly group who had participated in exercise program the PWV range were significantly correlated with muscle mass (r=0.357, p=0.026), SBP (r=0.468, p=0.003), right baPWV (r=0.406, p=0.010), and left baPWV (r=0.333, p=0.038). In male elderly group who had not participated in exercise program, the PWV range were significantly correlated with heart rate (r=0.395, p=0.014), right baPWV (r=0.598, p=0.000), and left baPWV (r=0.602, p=0.000). In female elderly group who had participated in exercise program, the PWV range were significantly correlated with name of diagnosis (r=0.321, p=0.044), SBP (r=0.399, p=0.011), DBP (r=0.545, p=0.000), right baPWV (r=0.648, p=0.000), and left baPWV (r=0.676, p=0.000). In female elderly group who had not participated in exercise program, the PWV range were significantly correlated with age (r=0.471, p=0.003), right baPWV (r=0.836, p=0.000), and left baPWV (r=0.801, p=0.000). The PWV among four groups were not significant different after experiment. However, there were significant differences in the waist/hip ratio (F=9.197, p=0.000), muscle mass (F=74.295, p=0.000), and %fat (F=35.045, p=0.000) from body composition. And there were significant differences in the SBP (F=3.525, p=0.017) after experiment. In conclusion, these data show that regular exercise is associated with arterial compliance (PWV range, right or left PWV) and differed from genders. In other words, this paper may support the concept that regular exercise program may exert a protective effect on arterial compliance, body composition and cardiovascular systems.