• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제57권4호
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• pp.171-177
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• 2014

Purpose: Eosinophilia is common in premature infants, and its incidence increases with a shorter gestation period. We investigated the clinical significance of eosinophilia in premature infants born at <34 weeks gestation. Methods: We analyzed the medical records of premature infants born at <34 weeks gestation who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital between January 2003 and September 2010. Eosinophilia was defined as an eosinophil percentage of >3% of the total leukocytes. Perinatal parameters and clinical parameters were also analyzed. Results: Of the 261 infants born at <34 weeks gestation, 22.4% demonstrated eosinophilia at birth. The eosinophil percentage peaked in the fourth postnatal week at 7.5%. The incidence of severe eosinophilia increased after birth up to the fourth postnatal week when 8.8% of all patients had severe eosinophilia. Severity of eosinophilia was positively correlated with a lower gestational age, birth weight, and Apgar score. Respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, nephrocalcinosis, intraventricular hemorrhage, and sepsis were associated with a higher eosinophil percentage. The eosinophil percentage was significantly higher in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia from the first postnatal week and the percentage was the highest in the fourth postnatal week, with the maximal difference being 4.1% (P<0.001). Conclusion: Eosinophilia is common in premature infants and reaches peak incidence and severity in the fourth postnatal week. The eosinophil percentage was significantly higher in bronchopulmonary dysplasia patients from the first postnatal week. Severe eosinophilia was significantly associated with the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia even after adjusting for other variables.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.12-17
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• 2011

Purpose: A rib fracture secondary to blunt thoracic trauma continues to be an important injury with significant complications. Unfortunately, there are no definite treatment guidelines for severe multiple rib fractures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the result of early operative stabilization and to find the risk factors of surgical fixation in patients with bilateral multiple rib fractures or flail segments. Methods: From December 2005 to December 2008, the medical records of all patients who underwent operative stabilization of ribs for severe multiple rib fractures were reviewed. We investigated patients' demographics, preoperative comorbidities, underlying lung disease, chest trauma, other associated injuries, number of surgical rib fixation, combined operations, perioperative ventilator support, and postoperative complications to find the factors affecting the mortality after surgical treatment. Results: The mean age of the 96 patients who underwent surgical stabilization for bilateral multiple rib fractures or flail segments was 56.7 years (range: 22 to 82 years), and the male-to-female ratio was 3.6:1. Among the 96 patients, 16 patients (16.7%) underwent reoperation under general or epidural anesthesia due to remaining fracture with severe displacement. The surgical mortality of severe multiple rib fractures was 8.3% (8/96), 7 of those 8 patients (87.5%) dying from acute respiratory distress syndrome or sepsis. And the other one patient expired from acute myocardial infarction. The risk factors affecting mortality were liver cirrhosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, concomitant severe head or abdominal injuries, perioperative ventilator care, postoperative bleeding or pneumonia, and tracheostomy. However, age, number of fractured ribs, lung parenchymal injury, pulmonary contusion and combined operations were not significantly related to mortality. Conclusion: In the present study, surgical fixation of ribs could be carried out as a first-line therapeutic option for bilateral rib fractures or flail segments without significant complications if the risk factors associated with mortality were carefully considered. Furthermore, with a view of restoring pulmonary function, as well as chest wall configuration, early operative stabilization of the ribs is more helpful than conventional treatment for patients with severe multiple rib fractures.

• 의료관련감염관리
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.50-56
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• 2016

ESBL을 생성하는 균주에 의한 요로 감염에서 카바페넴 계열 이외의 항생제를 사용할 수 있는 지를 후향적으로 평가한 연구이다. 만약 in vitro 결과에서 감수성이 있다면 사용이 가능하다는 결과이나 환자의 중증도가 높다면 실패할 수 있음을 강조하였다. 이번 연구 결과를 바탕으로 전향적 연구를 기대해 본다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제53권1호
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• pp.28-32
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• 2010

목 적 : 신생아 호산구증가증은 전혈검사 상 흔하게 발견되지만 아직 정확한 원인은 규명되지 않고 있어 호산구증가증의 빈도와 원인을 확인하기위해 신생아 중환자실에 입원한 환아들을 대상으로 후향적으로 연구를 시행하였다. 방 법 : 2006년 1월부터 12월까지 부산 좋은 문화병원에서 신생아 중환자실에 입원한 환아 전체를 대상으로 31주 미만, 31주 이상부터 34주 미만, 34주 이상부터 37주 미만, 37주 이상의 네군으로 나누어 출생당일과 그 후 일주일 간격으로 최대 4주간 절대 호산구치를 측정하여 호산구증가군과 호산구정상군을 비교하였다. 결 과 : 전체 대상 환아 288명 중 52명에서 호산구증가증 (>$700/mm^3$)이 발생하여 18%의 발생률을 보였다. 경증 호산구증은 22명(42.3%), 중등증 호산구증은 27명(51.9%), 중증 호산구증은 3명(5.8%) 발생하였다. 패혈증군 54명 중 30명(55.6%)이 호산구증가증을 보였고 비패혈증군 234명 중 22(9%)명이 호산구증가증을 보였다. 패혈증 발생률이 높은 군에서 호산구 증가증이 유의하게 증가하였다(P<0.05). 만성폐질환이 발생한 5명 중 5명(100%) 모두 호산구증가증이 발생하였고, 만성폐질환이 발생하지 않은 283명 중 47명(16.7%)이 호산구증가증을 보였다. 만성폐질환 발생군에서 호산구증가증이 유의하게 호발하였다(P<0.05). 그 외 신생아 호흡곤란증, 인공호흡기 사용, 수혈, 정맥 내 영양을 한 군에서 호산구증가증이 호발하였다. 결 론 : 본 연구에서 호산구증가증은 감염 후나 만성폐질환 시 호산구증가증이 발생하였다. 또한 출생 초기 특발성으로 발생하기도 하였다. 패혈증이나 만성폐질환 시 상처 재생과 섬유화에 관여하는 호산구의 잠재적 기능이 호산구증가증의 원인으로 사료된다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.217-224
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• 2000

패혈증에서는 지속적인 내독소 자극에 의해 염증 반응이 계속 유발될 수 있으나, 염증반응에 주도적인 역할을 하는 말초혈액 단핵구는 반응도를 스스로 낮춤으로서 염증 반응을 감소시키는 경향을 보이는데, 이러한 현상을 내독소 내성(endotoxin tolerance)라고 한다. 내독소 내성은 과다한 염증반응에 대한 자체의 방어작용으로 이해되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 조직액에서 감염균이 증명된 패혈증 환자를 대상에서 추출한 말초 혈액 단핵구에서 내독소 내성의 현상을 관찰하고자 하였다. 방법 : American College of Chest Physician-Society의 Critical Care Medicine Consensus Conference에서 정한 sepsis의 기준을 만족하고, 감염균이 확인된 14명의 환자를 대상으로 하였으며 질환의 중증도는 APACHE II score를 이용하여 평가하였다. 대상환자의 혈청에서 TNT-$\alpha$와 IL-1$\beta$의 농도를 측정한 뒤, 말초혈액 단핵구를 추출, 배양하여, 내독소(100 ng/ml)로 자극하였다. 내독소 자극 후 24시간 뒤에 배양 상층액에서 ELISA 방법으로 TNT-$\alpha$와 IL-1$\beta$의 농도를 측정하였다. 결과 : 대상 환자는 총 14명(남자 : 8 명, 여자 6명)으로 APACHE II score는 12.2$\pm$5.7 이었다. 감염의 원발 부위는 뇨관감염, 폐렴, 아급성심내막염, 도관감염, 급성담관염 등이었다. 감염 원인균은 그람음성 간균 10례, 그람 양성균 6례였고, 이 중에는 복합감염이 2례가 있었다. 환자군의 혈청 TNF-$\alpha$는 4명에서 측정이 기능했고 평균치는 29.7$\pm$527.7 pg/ml 이었다. IL-1$\beta$는 1명에서 측정가능했고 측정치는 16.1 pg/ml 이었다. 내독소 자극 후 말초혈액 단핵구 배양 상층액의 TNF-$\alpha$농도는 패혈증 환자는 2,703$\pm$2,066 pg/ml, 대조군은 2,101$\pm$1914 pg/ml 이었고, IL-1$\beta$ 농도는 환자군은 884$\pm$1,050 pg/ml, 대조군은 575$\pm$558 pg/ml으로 두 군 사이에 의미있는 차이는 없었다. 결론 : 본 연구에서는 예상과는 달리 패혈증 환자의 말초혈액 단핵구에서 내독소내성을 관찰할 수 없었다. 향후 보다 중증의 환자를 대상으로 하고, 조기에 혈액을 채취하며, 말초혈액 상층액에 혈청을 추가하는 등의 보완을 통하여 재평가가 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.236-240
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• 2007

Objective : The aim of this study is to analyze on the external ventricular drainage [EVD] related ventriculitis, especially on their risk factors, management, and prevention. Methods : From January 2003 to December 2005, a total of 174 EVD catheters were placed in 112 patients at our institution. Of these patients, EVD-related ventriculitis were developed in 15 cases. Clinical variables such as age, sex, prior clinical diagnosis, placement of EVD insertion, duration of EVD, total numbers of EVD per person, and outcome were analyzed in theses cases to verify the risk factors, causative agents and outcomes. Results : Fifteen cases of EVD related ventriculitis were noted presenting infection incidence of 13.39 % per patient and 8.62% per procedure. Of these, five patients died from sepsis, seven patients were recovered from infection but neurological complications remained and three patients were recovered without any complications. Microbes were obtained from cerebrospinal fluid only in six patients. Acinetobactoer baumanii was the most common pathogen in our study [4 cases]. Among the various risk factors, only the prior clinical diagnosis showed the statistical significance. Patients who underwent decompressive craniectomy after severe brain trauma showed unfavorable outcome because of possible contaminative environment compared with other cases. Conclusion : EVD is considered as a safe procedure with good control of intracranial pressure if meticulous care is provided for EVD procedure and maintenance. With regards to risk factors and prevention, the higher incidence and unfavorable outcome was seen especially in patients with severe head trauma. Thus, special attention is required in these clinical settings.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.197-201
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• 2013

Background: Most traumatic tracheobronchial injuries are fatal and result in death. Some milder cases are not life threatening and are often missed at the initial presentation. Tracheobronchial rupture is difficult to diagnose in the evaluation of severe multiple trauma patients. We reviewed the traumatic tracheobronchial injuries at Konyang University and Eulji University Hospital and analyzed the clinical results. Materials and Methods: From January 2001 to December 2011, 23 consecutive cases of traumatic tracheobronchial injury after blunt trauma were reviewed retrospectively. We divided them into two groups by the time to diagnosis: group I was defined as the patients who were diagnosed within 48 hours from trauma and group II was the patients who diagnosed 48 hours after trauma. We compared the clinical parameters of the two groups. Results: There was no difference in the age and gender between the two groups. The most common cause was traffic accidents (56.5%). The Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 19.6 in group I and 27.5 in group II (p=0.06), respectively. Although the difference in the ISS was not statistically significant, group II tended toward more severe injuries than group I. Computed tomography was performed in 22 cases and tracheobronchial injury was diagnosed in 5 in group I and 6 in group II, respectively (p=0.09). Eighteen patients underwent surgical treatment and all four cases of lung resection were exclusively performed in group II (p=0.03). There were two mortality cases, and the cause of death was shock and sepsis. Conclusion: We believe that close clinical observation with suspicion and rigorous bronchoscopic evaluation are necessary to perform diagnosis earlier and preserve lung parenchyma in tracheobronchial injuries from blunt trauma.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.60-69
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• 2011

Due to its efficacy and tolerability, low dose oral methotrexate (MTX) therapy has been widely used for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, it can rarely cause serious, life-threatening hematologic toxicities, such as pancytopenia. We report here on two patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), who developed severe pancytopenia after 5 years (cumulative dose 1,240 mg) and 4 years (cumulative dose 1,320 mg) of low dose MTX therapy for treatment of RA, respectively. Both patients presented with renal insufficiency, hypoalbuminemia, concurrent use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and elevated mean corpuscular volume of red blood cells (RECs), all of which are known as risk factors of MTX-induced pancytopenia. Despite receiving treatment, which included REC and platelet transfusions, antibiotic therapy, granulocyte colony stimulating factor, and leucovorin rescue, one patient died of sepsis. Based on our case study, prompt investigation of risk factors associated with MTX toxicity is required for all patients receiving MTX therapy. MTX treatment, even at a low dose, should be discontinued in patients with advanced CKD.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.20-26
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• 2012

Purpose: To evaluate outcome and morbidity in patients with vulvar cancer treated with radiotherapy, concurrent chemoradiotherapy or postoperative radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: The records of 24 patients treated with radiotherapy for vulvar cancer between July 1993 and September 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients received once daily 1.8-4 Gy fractions external beam radiotherapy to median 51.2 Gy (range, 19.8 to 81.6 Gy) on pelvis and inguinal nodes. Seven patients were treated with primary concurrent chemoradiotherapy, one patient was treated with primary radiotherapy alone, four patients received palliative radiotherapy, and twelve patients were treated with postoperative radiotherapy. Results: Twenty patients were eligible for response evaluation. Response rate was 55% (11/20). The 5-year disease free survival was 42.2% and 5-year overall survival was 46.2%, respectively. Fifty percent (12/24) experienced with acute skin complications of grade III or more during radiotherapy. Late complications were found in 8 patients. 50% (6/12) of patients treated with lymph node dissection experienced severe late complications. One patient died of sepsis from lymphedema. However, only 16.6% (2/12) of patients treated with primary radiotherapy developed late complications. Conclusion: Outcome of patients with vulvar cancer treated with radiotherapy showed relatively good local control and low recurrence. Severe late toxicities remained higher in patients treated with both node dissection and radiotherapy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제30권9호
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• pp.927-931
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• 1997

신생아에서 선천적 삼첨판 폐쇄부전은 자주 보고되지만 건삭파열에 의한 이차성 삼첨판 폐쇄부전은 아주 드물다. 환아는 생후 1일의 남아로 출생 직후부터 심한 호흡곤란, 청색증 및 산혈증이 관찰되었고, 무호흡과 함께 서맥이 빈번히 나타났다. 심초음파도 검사를 시행하여 폐동맥 판막을 통한 우심유출로 혈류가 관찰되지 않아서 폐동맥 폐쇄증으로 진단되었다. 수술 소견에서 폐동맥 및 폐동맥 판막의 기형은 전혀 없었고, 삼첨판의 전방 유두근 건삭파열이 새로이 확인되었다. 삼첨판 폐쇄부전은 건삭 형성술을 실시하여 성공적으로 교정하였으며, 술전 심초음파도에서 주폐 동맥에 폐혈류가 관찰되지 않았던 것은 심한 삼첨판 폐쇄부전 때문이었던 것으로 판단되었다.