• Title/Summary/Keyword: Life-threatening disease

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Anti-Toxoplasmosis Effect of the Halophyte Suaeda maritime (염생식물 해홍나물의 항톡소포자충 효과)

  • Hong, Sunhwa;Lee, Hyun-A;Lee, Yun-Seong;Kim, Dong-Woo;Jeong, Jae-Hyeok;Kim, Tae-Wan;Kim, Okjin
    • Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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    • v.27 no.5
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    • pp.415-420
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    • 2014
  • Toxoplasmosis is an important cause of foodborne, inflammatory illnesses, as well as congenital abnormalities. Currently available therapies are ineffective for persistent chronic disease and congenital toxoplasmosis or have severe side effects which may result in life-threatening complications. There is an urgent need for safe and effective therapies to eliminate or treat this cosmopolitan infectious disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro anti-Toxoplasma activities of Suaeda maritime, one of the halophytes, using tachyzoit of T. gondii RH strain infected HeLa cells. As the results, the selectivity of Suaeda maritime extract was 6.63, which was higher than Sulfadiazine selectivity (2.06). Also, we perfomed the cell proliferation inhibition test and the morphological study to evaluate the anti-T. gondii activity of Suaeda maritime extract with HeLa cells. As the results, the inhibition rate of the Suaeda maritime extract was high inhibition rate. This indicates that the Suaeda maritime extract may be used for new anti-T. gondii agent.

A Twin diagnosed with Duarte Variant/Classical (D/G) Galactosemia (Duarte Variant/Classical Galactosemia (D/G) Heterozygote으로 진단된 일란성 쌍둥이 1례)

  • Koo, Kyo Yeon;Lee, Chul Ho;Yang, Jeong Yoon;Lee, Jin-Sung
    • Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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    • v.12 no.1
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    • pp.58-63
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    • 2012
  • Classical galactosemia (OMIM# 230400) is an autosomal recessive disorder of carbohydrate metabolism, due to a complete loss in galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GALT; E.C.2.7.7.12) enzyme activity. It caused by mutations in the GALT gene (OMIM$^*$ 606999) that is located at chromosome 9p13. The GALT enzyme deficiency results in a build-up of galactose and galactose-1-phosphate, causing life threatening complications such as feeding problems, failure to thrive, hepatocellular damage, bleeding and sepsis. However, Duarte galactosemia, a variant form of GALT deficiency, has residual GALT enzyme activities in erythrocytes and do not have manifest the symptoms of classical galactosemia. Since the advent of newborn screening (NBS) for galactosemia, we rarely encounter such overwhelmingly ill newborns. The positive NBS with no symptoms indicates the possibility of Duarte galactosemia besides a simple false positive and it has to be differentiated from classical galactosemia which is a medical emergency. In Korea, detection rate of Duarte galactosemia is very low and its genetic information is restrictive, too. We report a case of monozygotic twins with D/G galactosemia compound heterozygote in proven by the mutational analysis of GALT gene, which revealed N314D polymorphism and -119 to -116 delGTCA.

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Anti-Toxoplasmosis Effect of the Herbal Extracts Plantago asiatica L. (차전초(Plantago asiatica L.)의 항톡소포자충증 효과)

  • Hong, Sunhwa;Kim, Okjin
    • Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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    • v.29 no.1
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    • pp.26-31
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    • 2016
  • Toxoplasmosis is an important cause of foodborne, inflammatory illnesses, as well as congenital abnormalities. Currently available therapies are ineffective for persistent chronic disease and congenital toxoplasmosis or have severe side effects which may result in life-threatening complications. There is an urgent need for safe and effective therapies to eliminate or treat this cosmopolitan infectious disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro anti-Toxoplasma activities of Plantago asiatica L., one of the herbal extracts, using tachyzoit of T. gondii RH strain infected HeLa cells. As the results, the selectivity of Plantago asiatica L. extract was 4.5, which was higher than Sulfadiazine selectivity (0.4). Also, we perfomed the cell proliferation inhibition test and the morphological study to evaluate the anti-T. gondii activity of Plantago asiatica L. extract with HeLa cells. As the results, the inhibition rate of the Plantago asiatica L. extract was high inhibition rate. This indicates that the Plantago asiatica L. extract may be used for new anti-T. gondii agent.

Renal manifestations in tuberous sclerosis complex (결절성 경화증 환자에서의 신장 발현)

  • Jeong, Il Cheon;Kim, Ji Tae;Hwang, You Sik;Kim, Jung A;Lee, Jae Seung
    • Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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    • v.50 no.2
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    • pp.178-181
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    • 2007
  • Purpose : The renal manifestations of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) are remarkably diverse, including polycystic kidney disease, simple renal cysts, renal cell carcinomas, and angiomyolipomas. All of these occur in children as well as adults in TSC. Angiomyolipomas, which can cause spontaneous life-threatening hemorrhages, are by far the most prevalent and the greatest source of morbidity. Here, we will address our experience, adding to the literature on pediatric patients with TSC requiring evaluation and treatment for renal manifestations. Methods : A retrospective analysis was made on 19 patients in whom TSC was diagnosed between May 2001 and Oct. 2005 at Severance Hospital. All patients had clinical diagnoses of TSC as defined by the 1998 tuberous sclerosis complex consensus conference. Results : The patients consisted of 13 boys and 6 girls with a mean age of 7.3 years (range 1 to 22). The renal disease associated with TSC included angiomyolipoma in nine patients (47.4 percent), renal simple cyst in one (5.3 percent), hydronephrosis in one (5.3 percent) patient. Eight patients (42.1 percent) presented with normal kidney contours at abdominal ultrasonography. One patient underwent renal replacement therapy due to chronic renal insufficiency after nephrectomy. Hemorrhage from angiomyolipoma was not detected. Conclusion : In our review of 19 cases of TSC, renal manifestations are reported in 57.9 percent of patients. Asymptomatic angiomyolipoma associated with TSC grow gradually, although severe hemorrhages are rare. So patients with TSC should be followed up with serial computerized tomography or abdominal ultrasonography. And also, renal function should be monitored conservatively.

Predictive Factors of Hope in Patients with Cancer (암환자의 희망 예측요인)

  • Lee, Hwa Jin;Sohn, Sue Kyung
    • Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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    • v.12 no.2
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    • pp.184-195
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    • 2000
  • It has been believed that cancer is an omnious factor threatening the future and life itself. Patients having the disease experience anxiety, fear, feeling of weakness, depression and feelings of uncertainty and hopelessness. Most cancer patients, however, have expectations of possible recovery and a better future, very different from the patients who feel hopeless. Therefore. hope allows people to respond effectively to the fatal disease they have and prevents them from detoriorating physically and spiritually, positively influencing their survival, response to treatment and sense of security. Studies previously performed showed that hope is positively correlated with social and family supports, self-esteem, spiritual well-being, responsive action, health promotion behavior and quality of life. Thus, the study attempted to provide basic information on nursing cancer patients by investigating their levels of hope and determining predictive factors which influence hope. For the study 200 cancer patients in two university hospitals located in Pusan were sampled as subjects. Data were collected for twenty nine days from Feburary 1, 1999 to March 1. Instrumets for the study included 10 items from the self-esteem scale by Rosenberg (1965), 39 hope measurements by Kim and Lee(1965), 16 of the social support scale by Tae(1986) and 16 of the general characteristics scale, all of which totaled 81 items. The data were analyzed using the SPSS program. General characteristics of the investigated based on numbers and percentage. Hope, self-esteem and social support were analyzed using means, minimum, maximum and standard deviation. Relations among the foregoing three factors were analyzed using Pearson' correlation coefficient. Levels of hope in cancer patients were determined using t-test, ANOVA and Scheffe test. Predictive factors influencing hope were investigated using multiple stepwise regression analysis. Results of the study are summarized as follows: 1. An average level of hope was $185.55{\pm}23.39$ points(96 min. and 234 max.) 2. Levels of hope showed a significant difference among them according to sex (t=-3.69, P=.000), age(F=4.714, P=.000), job(F=3.247, P=.008), monthly income (F=6.113, P=.003), treatment charge (F=3.796, P=.011), supportive resources (F=10.554, P=.000), diagnosis(F=2.287, P=.029), perceived health status(F=22.184, P=.000), level of pain(F=3.334, P=.021), religion (F=4.911, P=.001) and religion's effect in life (F=11.706, P=.000), 3. For the subjects, self-esteem and social support were $38.32{\pm}7.21$(13 min, and 50 max.) and $52.97{\pm}8.49$points(28 min, 80 max.). Concerning social support, average levels of family support and medical support were found $35.95{\pm}6.05$(18 min, and 40 max) and $27.02{\pm}4.99$ points(20 min and 40 max). The hope the cancer patients showed significant correlations with self-esteem (r=.588, P=.000), family support(r=.224, p=.001) and medical support(r=.221, P=.002). 4. The five variables related to hope (self-esteem, religion's effect in life, perceived health status, social support and age) accounted for 54.2 percent of the hope level; especially, self-esteem was the highest at 34.6%. As shown in the above results, predictive factors which most influence hope in cancer patients were self-esteem and religion's effect of life. Therefore, nursing interventions to increase self-esteem should be developed. Regarding religion's effects, studies on spiritual aspects should be carried out in a way that contributes to promotion of hope.

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Clinical Characteristics of Aspergilloma (국균종의 임상적 고찰)

  • Kim, Ki-Up;Gil, Hyo-Wook;Lee, Suk-Ho;Kim, Do-Jin;Na, Moon-Jun;Uh, Soo-Taek;Kim, Yong-Hoon;Park, Choon-Sik
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.52 no.1
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    • pp.46-53
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    • 2002
  • Background: Pulmonary aspergilloma is relatively common in korea. It arises from the colonization and proliferation of Aspergillus in preexisting lung parenchymal cavities, in particular tuberculosis. The most common symptom in this disorder is hemoptysis, which mayor may not be massive and life threatening. A routine chest radiography and computed tomography (CT) are the most important diagnostic procedures. A surgical resection of the aspergilloma has recently been recommended, because of the relatively low incidence of postoperative complications than in the past. A more concentrated sample of patients with aspergilloma, who either underwent a thoracotomy or tested positive for aspergillus antibodies, were reviewed. Method : The medical records of twenty-two patients with aspergilloma, who had a proven thoracotomy (9 cases), or who tested positive for the diagnostic procedure and/or aspergillus antibodies (13 cases) from January 1995 to December 2000, were reviewed retrospectively. Results : The most common underlying lung disease was a current or old healed tuberculosis, and 3 patients had cultures of mycobacterium other than tuberculosis (MOTT). The mean time until the aspergilloma was detected 5.91 years in the healed tuberculosis cases. The others cases involved a lung abscess, bronchiectasis and without lung disease. The extrapulmonary disease was alcoholism and diabetes. Hemoptysis was most common in 72.7%. A computed tomography (CT) is useful for diagnosis. The right upper lobe, especially the posterior segment, is the most common location. Bronchial artery embolization is ineffective for a long term follow-up. A lobectomy is most common in a thoracotomy, and intra-operative and post-operative complications are rare. During follow-up, the mortality rate, not from the aspergilloma but from respiratory failure, was 13.6%. Conclusion : Aspergilloma is a common cavitary lung disease, It mainly arises from tuberculosis, either current or healed, but extra-pulmonary disease including alcoholism or diabetes are other possible risk factors. Their most common problem in aspergilloma is hemoptysis. Surgery has a low risk of post-operative complications and is recommended in relatively preserved lung function or healthy patients. Medical maneuvers including embolization, and the local insertion of certain materials needs to be studied more closely.

Short-term Results of Endobronchial Brachytherapy for Malignant Airway Obstructions (악성 기도 폐쇄에 대한 기관내 근접 조사 방사선치료의 단기 임상 경험)

  • Ahn Yong Chan;Lim Do Hoon;Choi Dong Rak;Kim Moon Kyung;Kim Dae Yong;Huh Seung Jae;Kim Ho Joong;Chung Man Pyo;Kwon O Jung;Rhee Chong Heon
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.14 no.4
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    • pp.299-306
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    • 1996
  • Purpose : Respiratory symptoms related with malignant airway disease have been the main causes of lowered qualify of life and also sometimes may be life-threatening if not properly managed. The authors report the short-term experiences of endobronchial brachytherapy for symptomatic malignant airway obstruction using high dose rate after-loading brachytherapy unit. Materials and Methdos : Twenty-five Patients with symptomatic malignant airway obstruction were treated with endobronchial brachytherapy between the period of December 1994 and March 1996 at Department of Radiation Oncology of Samsung Medical Center Twenty-one ($84\%$) were patients with non-small cell lung cancer, three with tracheal malignancies, and one with recurrence of esophageal cancer. Twenty Patients were given elective external beam radiation therapy, while six were given endobronchial laser evaporation therapy on emergency bases in addition to endobronchial brachytherapy. Three procedures for each patient were planned and total of 70 procedures were completed. Results : Improvement rates of major respiratory symptoms after endobronchial brachytherapy procedures were $88\%$(22/25). $96\%$(22/23), $100\%$ (15/15), and $100\%$(9/9) for cough, dyspnea, hemoptysis and obstructive pneumonia, respectively. ECOG performance scores were improved in $56\%$ of total patients group, while there was no case with worsened ECOG score. Fifteen patients died and the median interval from the start of treatment to death was 4 months (range: $1\~17$ months), while that of ten survivors was 9 months (range $5\~19$ months). There were five patients with controlled intrathoracic disease, who have survived over one rear. All deaths were associated with uncontrolled local and/or distant disease. Four Patients died of massive fatal hemoptysis, three of who received emergency endobronchial laser evaporation therapy before the start of endobronchial brachytherapy. Conclusion : Endobronchial brachytherapy has been confirmed as an excellent palliative treatment modality improving respiratory symptoms as well as patients' general performance status. Based on the current observations, use of endobronchial brachytherapy in curative setting as a boost technique may be warranted.

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Analysis of Physical Status on COVID-19: Based on Impacts of Physical Activity (COVID-19에 대한 운동중재효과 분석)

  • Kim, Kwi-Baek;Kwak, Yi Sub
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.31 no.6
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    • pp.603-608
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    • 2021
  • The purpose of this perspective research is to discuss the potential role of exercise-interventions in COVID-19, terms of prevention and prognosis in the periods of the COVID-19 vaccine. SARCO-CoV-2. COVID-19 was detected as a new virus causing severe cardiovascular and respiratory complications. It emerged as a global public health emergency and national pandemic. It caused more than 1 million deaths in the first 6 months of the pandemic and resulted in huge social and economic fluctuations internationally. Unprecedented stressful situations, such as COVID-19 blue and COVID-19 red impact on many health problems. In healthy individuals, COVID-19 infection may induced no symptoms (i.e., asymptomatic), whereas others may experience flu-like symptoms, such as ARDS, pneumonia, and death. Poor health status, such as obesity and cardiovascular and respiratory complications, are high risk factors for COVID-19 prevention, occurrence, and prognosis. Several COVID-19 vaccines are currently in human trials. However, the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines, including potential side effects, such as anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic reaction) and rare blood clots, still need to be investigated. On the basis of direct and indirect evidence, it seems that regular and moderate physical exercise can be recommended as a nonpharmacological, efficient, and safe way to cope with COVID-19. Physical inactivity and metabolic abnormalities are directly associated with reduced immune responses, including reduced innate, CMI, and AMI responses. Due to prolonged viral shedding, quarantine in inactive, obese and disease people should likely be longer than physical active people. Multicomponent and systemic exercise should be considered for the obese, disease, and elderly people. More mechanism research is needed in this area.

Detection of Antibodies Against SARS-Coronavirus Using Recombinant Truncated Nucleocapsid Proteins by ELISA

  • Lee, Hyun-Kyoung;Lee, Byoung-Hee;Dutta, Noton Kumar;Seok, Seung-Hyeok;Baek, Min-Won;Lee, Hui-Young;Kim, Dong-Jae;Na, Yi-Rang;Noh, Kyoung-Jin;Park, Sung-Hoon;Kariwa, Hiroaki;Nakauche, Mina;Mai, Le Quynh;Heo, Suk-Jin;Park, Jae-Hak
    • Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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    • v.18 no.10
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    • pp.1717-1721
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    • 2008
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a life-threatening emerging respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, SARS-CoV. The nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS-CoV is highly antigenic and may be a suitable candidate for diagnostic applications. We constructed truncated recombinant N proteins (N1 [1-422 aa], N2 [1-109 aa], and N3 [110-422 aa]) and determined their antigenicity by Western blotting using convalescent SARS serum. The recombinants containing N1 and N3 reacted with convalescent SARS serum in Western blotting. However, the recombinant with N2 did not. In ELISA using N1 or N3 as the antigens, positive results were observed in 10 of to (100%) SARS-CoV-positive human sera. None of 50 healthy sera gave positive results in either assay. These data indicate that the ELISA using N1 or N3 has high sensitivity and specificity. These results suggest that the middle or C-terminal region of the SARS N protein is important for eliciting antibodies against SARS-CoV during the immune response, and ELISA reactions using N1 or N3 may be a valuable tool for SARS diagnosis.

Tracheoplasty for Congenital Tracheal Stenosis-Two case reports- (선천성 기관 협착 환자의 기관성형술 2예)

  • Lim Hong Gook;Lee Chang-Ha;Hwang Seong Wook;Lee Cheul;Kim Jae Hyun;Seo Hong Joo;Jung Sung Chol
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
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    • v.38 no.8 s.253
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    • pp.583-588
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    • 2005
  • Congenital tracheal stenosis can be a life-threatening disease, especially in cases involving the long-segment of the trachea. When patients are symptomatic immediately after birth or develop an accompanying complex cardiac anomaly, surgical repair can be a considerable challenge. We experienced a tracheoplasty in one early infant weighing 2.6 kg and one neonate who had ventilator dependency from long-segment congenital tracheal stenosis and congenital cardiac anomaly. One early infant, who had diffuse stenosis of distal trachea after ventricular septal defect closure, underwent resection and extended end to end anastomosis. One neonate who had diffuse stenosis of proximal trachea with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), underwent slide tracheoplasty with total correction for TOF Postoperative chest computed tomography showed widely patent trachea. Both infants are now well without symptoms.