• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.183-190
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• 1997

Tocolytics are agents widely used in the treatment of premature labor to inhibit uterine contractions. Ritodrine is most commonly used tocolytic agent and acts by increasing intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate, which decreases the activity of myosin light-chain kinase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the signal network leading to contraction. Physiologic effects associated with the use of ritodrine are due to their effect on bera-l as well as beta-2 receptors. Some of maternal complications of therapy are rachycardia, hyperglycemia, hypokalemia, lactic acidosis, myocardial ischemia, and pulmonary edema. Tocolytics induced pulmonary edema is a serious complication that can lead to marternal death, although infrequent, The incidence varies from 0.5% to 5% of those receiving these agents. Predisposing factors include the concommitant use of corticosteroid, twin gestation, fluid overload (particularly with saline), and anemia. Several mechanisms have been postulated, but the pathogenesis is uncertain. It is suggested that both types of mechanism, hydrostatic and permeability induced, might be involved. The association of tocolytic therapy with pulmonary edema appears to be unique to the pregnant state, because this complication has never been reported in asthmatic patients exposed to high dosages. We report a case of tocolytic induced pulmonary edema developed in 24 hours after delivery.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.69 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2010

Background: A novel 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus emerged and disseminated to all over the world. There are few reports on the clinical characteristics of patients with complications. We describe the clinical features of pneumonia in adult patients hospitalized, who have novel influenza infection. Methods: There were 43 adult patients enrolled into the study with pneumonia of 528 hospitalized patients confirmed influenza A (H1N1) virus infection by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction testing, between 24 August 2009 and 31 January 2010. The clinical data of patients with pneumonia were collected retrospectively. Results: There were 22 of 43 (51.2%) influenza patients with pneumonia that had higher risk factors for complications. Compared to 28 patients with influenza A (H1N1) viral pneumonia and 15 patients, who had isolated bacteria from cultures, those with mixed viral and bacterial pneumonia were significantly more likely to have unilobar consolidations on chest radiographs (53.3 vs. 10.7%, p<0.01) and higher scores of pneumonia severity index (PSI; 90 [66~100] vs. 53 [28~90], p=0.04). Six patients required mechanical ventilation support in an Intensive Care Unit and were more likely to have dyspnea (83.3 vs. 29.3%, p=0.02) and low levels of $PaO_2$ (48.3 [37.0~70.5] vs 64.0 [60.0~74.5] mm Hg, p=0.02) and high levels of pneumonia severity index (PSI) score (108.0 [74.5~142.8] vs. 56.0 [40.5~91.0], p=0.03). Conclusion: The majority of pneumonia patients infected with novel influenza improved. Chest radiographic findings of unilobar consolidations suggest that mixed pneumonia is more likely. Initial dyspnea, hypoxemia, and high levels of PSI score are associated with undergoing mechanical ventilation support.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.68 no.5
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• pp.280-285
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• 2010

Background: $QuantiFERON^{(R)}$-TB Gold In Tube (QFT-G IT) has been used for diagnosing latent tuberculosis infection and active tuberculosis (TB) since 2007. However, there has not been enough data on QFT-G IT for universal use in children. In this study, we evaluated the clinical usefulness of the QFT-G IT in pediatric practice. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 70 patients younger than 18 years of age who had taken QFT-G IT and had a tuberculin skin test (TST) between July 2007 and July 2009 at Wonju Christian Hospital. The subjects were divided into two groups, asymptomatic TB exposure group and disease group. Four patients who were taking immunosuppressants during the study period were excluded. Results: A total of 66 immunocompetent children were included in this study. Among 27 asymptomatic children who had contact histories of TB, 6 (22.2%) were found to be positive by QFT-G IT. Eleven (40.7%) and 5 (18.5%) children were found to be positive by TST with cutoff values of ${\geq}5mm$ and ${\geq}10mm$, respectively. Agreement was fair to good between QFT-G IT and TST (${\kappa}=0.59$: cutoff value ${\geq}5mm$, ${\kappa}=0.7$: cutoff value ${\geq}10mm$). In disease group, 14 patients (35.9%) were diagnosed with active tuberculosis, 8/14 (57.1%) were positive on TST and 9/14 (64.3%) on QFT-G IT. The positive rate of acid-fast bacilli smear, TB-polymerase chain reaction, and culture for tuberculosis was 11% (1/9), 27.3% (3/11) and 33.3% (3/9), respectively. Conclusion: Our data support that the QFT-G IT can be used as an additional diagnostic tool for latent and active tuberculosis infection in children.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.69-81
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• 2013

Objectives In this study, effects of Macmundongtang (MMT) on ATP or TNF-${\alpha}$ or PMA or EGF induced MUC5AC mucin production and gene expression from human airway epithelial cells and the increase in airway epithelial mucosubstances of rats were investigated. Materials and Methods Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated for 30min in the presence of MMT and treated with ATP ($200{\mu}M$) or PMA (10 ng/ml) or EGF (25 ng/ml) or TNF-${\alpha}$ (0.2 nM) for 24hrs, to assess the effect of MMT both on ATP- or PMA- or EGF- or TNF-${\alpha}$-induced MUC5AC mucin production using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and on gene expression by the same inducers using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). At the same time, hypersecretion of airway mucus was induced by exposure of rats to SO2 during 3 weeks. Effect of orally-administered MMT during 2 weeks on increase in airway epithelial mucosubstances from tracheal goblet cells of rats was assesed using histopathological analysis after staining the epithelial tissue with PAS-alcian blue. Possible cytotoxicity of MMT was assessed by investigating the potential damage of kidney and liver functions by measuring serum GOT/GPT activities and serum BUN concentration of rats and the body weight gain during experiment, after administering MMT orally. Results (1) MMT did not only inhibit but also increased MUC5AC mucin productions and expression levels of MUC5AC gene from NCI-H292 cells. (2) MMT did not decrease the amount of intraepithelial mucosubstances of trachea of rats. (3) MMT did not show renal and hepatic toxicities and did not affect body weight gain of rats during experiment. Conclusions The result from the present study suggests that MMT might normalize the production and gene expression of airway mucin observed in various respiratory diseases accompanied by yin-deficiency, without in vivo toxicity to liver and kidney functions after oral administration.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1457-1461
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• 2012

Purpose: Non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading worldwide source of cancer-related deaths. Although some drugs targeting EGFR mutations have been developed, most advanced cases are still incurable. New targets for anticancer drugs are demanded. The kringle 1 domain of hepatocellular growth factor alpha chain (HGFK1) is a potent anti-angiogenesis factor. It has also emerged as a potential anticancer factor in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The expression of HGFK1 protein in patients with NSCLC has not been reported to date. Method: Here, we assessed HGFK1 expression by Western blotting in 103 cases with advanced NSCLC to investigate the impact of HGFK1 on survival. Results: Results revealed 33 (30.1%) patients were classified as high expressors, this being significantly associated with less remote metastasis (P = 0.002) but not with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.062). There was also a significant association between HGFK1 expression and tumor size (P = 0.025) as well as clinical stage (P = 0.012). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that both overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) of patients with HGFK1 expression were longer than those of patients without HGFK1 expression (P = 0.004 and P = 0.001 respectively). HGFK1 reversed gefitinib inhibition in the resistent NSCLC cell line A431/GR but did not inhibit the proliferation of NSCLC cells A431 and A431/GR directly. Reversion of gefitinib inhibition in A431/GR cells by HGFK1 was related to decreased phosphorylation of ERK and STAT5. Conclusions: HGFK1 may be a useful prognostic factor of advanced NSCLC patients and a potential drug for gefitinib resistant patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.281-289
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• 2000

Background : Mycobacterial culture is a confirmatory test to detect. M. tuberculosis, but it takes at least 6 weeks to diagnose. PCR is a rapid and sensitive method, but it is known that PCR has a high false positive rate due to contamination, and a high false negative rate due to inhibitors. It is also known that LCR and PCR-Hybridization, recently developed methods, are more specific methods than PCR in terms of detecting M. tuberculosis. In this study, we estimated the clinical utility of in house PCR, LCR and PCR-Hybridization for the detection of M. tuberculosis. Methods : We evaluated 75 specimens, upon which M. tuberculosis culture based testing was requested, by PCR LCR, and PCR-Hybridization and compared results. Mycobacterial culture was performed on 3% Ogawa media for 8 weeks, and an in house PCR, LCx Mycobacterium tuberculosis assay kit (Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, III) and the AMPLICOR M. tuberculosis test kit (Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. Branchburg, NJ. USA). Results : In the view of the culture results, the sensitivities of the three tests were 40%, 80%, and 100% and their specificities were 98.6%, 94.3%, and 94.3%. Conclusion : LCR and PCR-Hybridization are rapid and sensitive methods for detecting M. tuberculosis in clinical laboratories.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.31-46
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• 2016

Objectives In this study, the effects of Ja-eum-gang-hwa-tang (JGT) on the increase in airway epithelial mucosubstances of rats and ATP- or PMA- or EGF- or TNF-${\alpha}$-induced MUC5AC mucin production and gene expression from human airway epithelial cells were investigated. Materials and Methods Hypersecretion of airway mucus was produced by exposure of $SO_2$ to rats for 3 weeks. The effect of orally-administered JGT for 2 weeks on increased epithelial mucosubstances from tracheal goblet cells of rats was assessed by using histopathological analysis after staining the epithelial tissue with Hematoxylin-eosin and PAS-alcian blue. Possible cytotoxicity of JGT was assessed by investigating the potential damage on kidneys and liver functions by measuring serum GOT/GPT activities and serum BUN concentration of rats and the body weight gain during experiment. Also, the effect of JGT on ATP- or PMA- or EGF- or TNF-${\alpha}$-induced MUC5AC mucin production and gene expression from human airway epithelial cells (NCI-H292) were investigated. Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated for 30 min in the presence of JGT and treated with ATP ($200{\mu}M$) or PMA ($10ng/ml$) or EGF ($25ng/ml$) or TNF-${\alpha}$ (0.2 nM) for 24 hrs to assess the effect of JGT both on ATP- or PMA- or EGF- or TNF-${\alpha}$-induced MUC5AC mucin production by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and on gene expression by the same inducers using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results (1) JGT decreased the amount of intraepithelial mucosubstances of trachea of rats. (2) JGT did not show any renal and hepatic toxicities, and did not affect body weights either. (3) JGT significantly inhibited ATP-, PMA-, EGF-, and TNF-${\alpha}$-induced MUC5AC mucin productions from NCI-H292 cells. (4) JGT inhibited EGF-, and PMA-induced expression levels of MUC5AC gene in NCI-H292 cells. However, ATP- and TNF-${\alpha}$-induced MUC5AC gene expression levels were not affected in NCI-H292 cells. Conclusions The result from the present study suggests that JGT might control the production and gene expression of airway mucin observed in various respiratory diseases which accompanied by mucus hypersecretion. Also, JGT did not show liver toxicity or impact on kidney functions. The effect of JGT should be further studied by using animal experimental models which can show proper pathophysiology of airway diseases.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2005

Background : An insertion-deletion polymorphism of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene has been shown to be associated with enzyme activity levels of ACE. Reported results that have been mutually contradictory about asthmatic hypersensitiveness and occurrence according to ACE gene insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism. Also, the involvement of the ACE genes as the genetic basis of bronchial asthma is currently controversy. We investigated whether there was any association between polymorphisms of the ACE genes and airway hyper-responsiveness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods : A total of 100 patients with COPD were enrolled in this study. The ACE genotypes were determined in all subjects by polymerase chain reaction. Pulmonary function test including bronchodilator response (BDR), methacholine bronchial provocation test (MBPT) were done in those patients. Airway hyper-responsiveness include any findings of positive BDR or MBPT. Results : In COPD patients, the ACE genotype distribution did not differ significantly among groups of patients with severities of COPD, and with or without airway hyper-responsiveness. Conclusions : These results suggest that polymorphisms of the ACE gene may not be associated with airway hyper-responsiveness, development and severity of COPD.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.285-291
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• 2008

Background: We conducted a case-control study to evaluate the potential association between SERPINA1 genotypes ($M1_{Val}$, $M1_{Ala}$, S, and Z) and the risk COPD. Methods: The study population consisted of 93 patients with COPD and 112 healthy controls. The polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism for detecting the SERPINA1 variants. Results: The M2 allele of the SERPINA1 gene was significantly associated with the risk of COPD in Koreans. The effect of the M2 allele on the risk of COPD was more pronounced in the subgroup<64 years. Conclusion: These results suggest that SERPINA1 polymorphisms may contribute to a genetic predisposition for COPD. However, additional studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm our findings.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.87-93
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• 1995

For understanding physiological nature of phototaxis in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 PTX(S. 6803 PTX), we examined the effects of some metabolic inhibitors and cation ionophore on the phototactic movement. In the presence of DCMU, which blocks the photosynthetic electron transport just after photosystem II acceptor, there was no inhibitory effect on the phototaxis up to $100\;\mu\textrm{M}$. Instead, the respiratory electron chain inhibitor such as sodium azide dramatically impaired the phototaxis in S. 6803 PTX. These observations indicate that the phototaxis is linked not to photo-phosphorylation, but to respiratory phosphorylation. When the cells were treated with un couplers such as CCCP or DNP, which dissipate the electrochemical gradient of proton($\Delta\mu_{H}+$) across the cytoplasmic membrane, these chemicals did not affect phototaxis. In contrast, when cells were treated with DCCD or NBD which deprive cells of A TP but leave $\Delta\mu_{H}+$ intact across the membrane, the phototactic movement was severly reduced. These results imply that ATP production, not proton motive force, is involved in the phototactic movement in this organism as a driving motive force. The application of specific calcium ionophore A23187 strongly impaired positive phototaxis. Calcium fluxes should be engaged in the sensory trans-duction of phototactic orientation. Finally, when ethionine was supplimented to culture media, the photomovement of this organism was inhibited. This implies that methylation/demethylation mechanism controls the process of phototaxis in S. 6803 PTX like chemotaxis in E. coli and Salmonella typhimurium.murium.