• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.3
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• pp.203-209
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• 2015

Background: Induced sputum (IS) has been used to collect airway secretions in subjects who have inadequate sputum production. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of IS for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in adults unable to expectorate sputum. Methods: Medical records of 39 PTB patients who underwent IS due to absence of spontaneous sputum production between January 2011 and March 2014 at a tertiary hospital in South Korea were reviewed. Results of acid fast bacilli smear, Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture and polymerase chain reaction assay for M. tuberculosis (TB-PCR) of IS specimens from these patients were analyzed. Clinical and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) characteristics were also analyzed to find characteristics associated with IS culture positivity. Results: Of the 39 IS specimens from PTB patients, 7 (17.9%) were smear positive and 31 (79.5%) were culture positive. Twenty-four IS specimens were tested for TB-PCR and 13 (54.2%) were positive on TB-PCR. Multivariate analysis showed that younger age (p=0.04) and presence of tree-in-bud appearance on HRCT (p=0.03) were independent predictors of IS culture positivity. Conclusion: IS is useful for the diagnosis of PTB in adults unable to expectorate sputum. Younger age and tree-in-bud appearance on HRCT were associated with IS culture positivity in these patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.3
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• pp.281-285
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• 2015

Statins lower the hyperlipidemia and reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events and related mortality. A 60-year-old man who was diagnosed with a transient ischemic attack was started on acetyl-L-carnitine, cilostazol, and rosuvastatin. After rosuvastatin treatment for 4 weeks, the patient presented with sudden onset fever, cough, and dyspnea. His symptoms were aggravated despite empirical antibiotic treatment. All infectious pathogens were excluded based on results of culture and polymerase chain reaction of the bronchoscopic wash specimens. Chest radiography showed diffuse ground-glass opacities in both lungs, along with several subpleural ground-glass opacity nodules; and a foamy alveolar macrophage appearance was confirmed on bronchoalveolar lavage. We suspected rosuvastatin-induced lung injury, discontinued rosuvastatin and initiated prednisolone 1 mg/kg tapered over 2weeks. After initiating steroid therapy, his symptoms and radiologic findings significantly improved. We suggest that clinicians should be aware of the potential for rosuvastatin-induced lung injury.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.69 no.5
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• pp.348-353
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• 2010

Background: In this study, we tried to investigate whether carbenoxolone, prunetin, and silibinin affect tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$-induced MUC5AC mucin production and gene expression from human airway epithelial cells. Methods: Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with each agent (carbenoxolone, prunetin, and silibinin) for 30 min and then stimulated with TNF-${\alpha}$ for 24 hours. The MUC5AC mucin gene expression and mucin protein production were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Results: Carbenoxolone, prunetin and silibinin inhibited the production of MUC5AC mucin protein induced by TNF-${\alpha}$; the 3 compounds also inhibited the expression of MUC5AC mucin gene induced by TNF-${\alpha}$. Conclusion: This result suggests that carbenoxolone, prunetin and silibinin can inhibit mucin gene expression and production of mucin protein induced by TNF-${\alpha}$, by directly acting on airway epithelial cells.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.74 no.3
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• pp.124-128
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• 2013

Pleural effusion is a rare complication in non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection. We report a case of Mycobacterium intracellulare pleuritis with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in a 69-year-old man presenting with dyspnea. Pleural effusion revealed lymphocyte dominant exudate. M. intracellulare was identified using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method and liquid cultures of pleural effusion and pleural biopsy. After combination therapy for M. intracellulare pulmonary disease, the patient was clinically well at a 1-month follow-up.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.72 no.5
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• pp.401-408
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• 2012

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a series of life-saving actions that improve the chances of survival, following cardiac arrest. Successful resuscitation, following cardiac arrest, requires an integrated set of coordinated actions represented by the links in the Chain of Survival. The links include the following: immediate recognition of cardiac arrest and activation of the emergency response system, early CPR with an emphasis on chest compressions, rapid defibrillation, effective advanced life support, and integrated post-cardiac arrest care. The newest development in the CPR guideline is a change in the basic life support sequence of steps from "A-B-C" (Airway, Breathing, Chest compressions) to "C-A-B" (Chest compressions, Airway, Breathing) for adults. Also, "Hands-Only (compression only) CPR" is emphasized for the untrained lay rescuer. On the basis of the strength of the available evidence, there was unanimous support for continuous emphasis on high-quality CPR with compressions of adequate rate and depth, which allows for complete chest recoil, minimizing interruptions in chest compressions and avoiding excessive ventilation. High-quality CPR is the cornerstone of a system of care that can optimize outcomes beyond return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). There is an increased emphasis on physiologic monitoring to optimize CPR quality, and to detect ROSC. A comprehensive, structured, integrated, multidisciplinary system of care should be implemented in a consistent manner for the treatment of post-cardiac arrest care patients. The return to a prior quality and functional state of health is the ultimate goal of a resuscitation system of care.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.185-191
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• 2000

Pest insect control is dependent on about 200 insecticides that work by relatively few mechanisms. The targets they disrupt are mostly involved in the nervous system, respiratory chain, growth and development, or the gut. The major nerve targets are: acetylcholinesterase for the organophosphates and methylcarbamates; the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor for the neonicotinoids; the $\gamma$-aminobutyric acid receptor for several chlorinated hydrocarbons and fipronil; the voltage-gated sodium channel for DDT and pyrethroids. Selection of resistant strains often confers cross-resistance to some or all other insecticides working at the same site. The toxicological properties of different compounds acting on the same target are increasingly considered together, summating the risk even though the compounds are of quite diverse chemical types. Continuing attention is also being given to secondary targets not involved in the primary mechanism of toxicity but instead in side effects that must be considered in the overall safety evaluation. Research on insecticide targets is important in learning to keep up with resistance and changing concepts and policies on safety. These relationships are illustrated by recent studies in the Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology Laboratory of the University of California at Berkeley.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.72 no.1
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• pp.59-62
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• 2012

Tube thoracostomy is known to cause complications such as bleeding or infection, but the incidence of chylothorax secondary to tube thoracostomy is under-reported, and therefore, we report this case. A patient was diagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus with pleural and pericardial involvement. During repeated therapeutic thoracentesis, which were performed because of poor response to steroids and cylophosphamide, hemothorax developed and we therefore inserted a chest tube. The pleural effusion changed from red to milky color in several hours and we diagnosed the pleural effusion as chylothorax. Total parenteral nutrition based on medium-chain triglycerides was supplied to this patient and chylothorax was improved after 4 days.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.74 no.1
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• pp.28-31
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• 2013

We present a case of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) in a 25-year-old male who was presented with chronic cough. Chest radiography revealed an abnormal mass-like shadow in the right lower pulmonary zone. A contrast enhanced computed tomography showed an 11 cm solid, cystic mixed mass on the right lower lobe. A right lower lobectomy was performed by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery without complications. The gross specimen showed a massive cavitation with multiloculated cysts of varying size, consistent with CCAM, along with noticeable granulomatous inflammation. Non-tuberculosis mycobacteria were isolated from a bronchial wash specimen, and the resected tissue homogenates were positive for Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex by polymerase chain reaction.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.69 no.6
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• pp.426-433
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• 2010

Background: Persistent cough has recently been found to be associated with Chlamydia pneumoniae infection. We aimed to investigate the infection rate of C. pneumonia in adult patients with chronic cough. Methods: We recruited 68 patients with persistent cough lasting in excess of 3 weeks, who visited Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital from January 2005 to August 2005. On the first visit, chest and paranasal sinuses radiography, skin prick test of common allergens, and induced sputum samples for C. pneumoniae were performed in all of patients. Further evaluation for diagnosis included a methacholine provocation test and eosinophil counts in induced sputum. Results: The most common cause of chronic cough was upper airway cough syndrome (UACS) (26.5%), followed by eosinophilic bronchitis (20.6%) and cough variant asthma (16.2%). Idiopathic chronic cough was the cause in 33.8% of patients. The mean duration of cough was 11.7 months. C. pneumoniae was isolated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from one patient who had upper respiratory air way syndrome. Conclusion: Chlamydia pneumoniae appears to have a minor role as a cause of chronic cough in patients.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.8-16
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• 2018

Purpose: In this study, the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients admitted for viral croup were analyzed to evaluate disease severity based on the organism that caused the infection. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 302 patients who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics at the Wonju Severance Hospital between May 2013 and December 2016 for viral croup. Patients who showed positive results on multiplex polymerase chain reaction were subsequently diagnosed with respiratory virus infection. The Westley scoring system was used to evaluate the severity of viral croup. Results: Of the 302 patients, 149 were admitted due to severe viral croup, including 88 boys and 61 girls, with a boy-to-girl ratio of 1.44:1. About 110 cases of parainfluenza virus infection have been reported, which accounted for almost half of the total cases. The other identified viruses included influenza virus, human rhinovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus. Analysis of the association between severe viral croup and causative pathogen revealed that only parainfluenza type 2 virus showed a significantly high risk. Parainfluenza type 2 virus did not show an age-based difference in frequency but showed relatively a higher frequency of infections during the summer and fall. Conclusions: In this study, parainfluenza virus type 2 was the only virus associated with severe viral croup. To facilitate proper preventive management, treatment, and prognosis evaluation of viral croup, prospective and multicenter studies should assess the additional variables and the severity of the virus. Additionally, further studies should be conducted to assess age-dependent influences, as well as the regional and seasonal incidence of viral infection.