• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.69 no.3
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• pp.201-206
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• 2010

Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) diseases are increasing worldwide. However NTM lung disease in organ transplant recipients has been rarely reported. Here, we report 2 cases of NTM lung disease in heart transplant recipients. A 37-year-old man, who had undergone a heart transplant one year previous, was admitted to hospital due to a cough. Chest CT scan showed multiple centrilobular nodules in both lower lungs. In his sputum, M. abscessus was repeatedly identified by rpoB gene analysis. The patient improved after treatment with clarithromycin, imipenem, and amikacin. An additional patient, a 53-year-old woman who had undergone a heart transplant 4 years prior and who suffered from bronchiectasis, was admitted because of purulent sputum. The patient's chest CT scan revealed aggravated bronchiectasis; M. intracellulare was isolated repeatedly in her sputum. Treatment was successfully completed with clarithromycin, ethambutol, and ciprofloxacin. NTM lung disease should be considered as a potential opportunistic infection in organ transplant recipients.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1225-1236
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• 2019

Objective: This is a case report on the effect of Korean traditional medicine on deep stupor to semi-coma with intracerebral and intraventricular hemorrhage. Methods: The patient was treated by Korean traditional medicine such as acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine. The change of mental state was evaluated by the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). We used the Modified Medical Research Council Scale (MRC scale) and the Modified Barthel Index (MBI) to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment. Results: After treatment, the physical function and ability to perform activities of daily living were improved. The Modified Barthel Index increased from 0 to 40 after treatment with Korean medicine. Conclusions: According to this study, Korean traditional medicine can be effective for the treatment of quadriparesis in patients with deep stupor to semi-coma in intracerebral and intraventricular hemorrhage.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.658-667
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• 2017

Objectives: This is a case report regarding the effect of Korean traditional medicine on vision disorder and quadriplegia in a patient with neuromyelitis optica. Methods: We treated a patient who was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica with Korean traditional medicine, including acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine (Gigugyanghyeol-tang gamibang) for 106 days. We evaluated the patient with the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) Grade, and Numeric Rating Scale-11 (NRS-11). Results: After treatment, the patient's symptoms were improved. The ISNCSCI scores increased from 42 to 66 in motor score, from 152 to 196 in sensory score, and from A to D in the ASIA impairment scale; the MBI score increased from 9 to 33, while the score of the MAS Grade decreased from I+ to I, and the NRS-11 scores of vision disorder, spasticity, and tingling decreased from 10 to 7, 3, and 2-3, respectively. Conclusions: Korean traditional medicine may be effective for treatment of vision disorder and quadriplegia in patients with neuromyelitis optica.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.71 no.3
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• pp.216-220
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• 2011

Respiratory bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease is one of the smoking-related interstitial lung diseases. Histopathologically, it shows respiratory bronchiolitis, which is characterized by the accumulation of pigmented macrophages within the respiratory bronchioles, accompanying peribronchiolar inflammation. Clinically, it is presented with respiratory symptoms such as a cough, sputum and dyspnea on exertion. It is well known that the incidence of malignancy in interstitial lung disease is high, but in respiratory bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease the report of accompanying malignancy is rare. Here we report a case of a 60-year-old male heavy smoker presented with a cough, sputum and clubbing finger. A chest computed tomography (CT) of the patient did not show any shadow suspected of malignancy, but adenocarcinoma was found on a transbronchial lung biopsy and on a surgical lung biopsy with respiratory bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease.

• Gut and Liver
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.641-647
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• 2018

Background/Aims: Helicobacter pylori eradication rates are decreasing because of increases in clarithromycin resistance. Thus, finding an easy and accurate method of detecting clarithromycin resistance is important. Methods: We evaluated 70 H. pylori isolates from Korean patients. Dual-labeled peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes were designed to detect resistance associated with point mutations in 23S ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene domain V (A2142G, A2143G, and T2182C). Data were analyzed by probe-based fluorescence melting curve analysis based on probe-target dissociation temperatures and compared with Sanger sequencing. Results: Among 70 H. pylori isolates, 0, 16, and 58 isolates contained A2142G, A2143G, and T2182C mutations, respectively. PNA probe-based analysis exhibited 100.0% positive predictive values for A2142G and A2143G and a 98.3% positive predictive value for T2182C. PNA probe-based analysis results correlated with 98.6% of Sanger sequencing results (${\kappa}$-value=0.990; standard error, 0.010). Conclusions: H. pylori clarithromycin resistance can be easily and accurately assessed by dual-labeled PNA probe-based melting curve analysis if probes are used based on the appropriate resistance-related mutations. This method is fast, simple, accurate, and adaptable for clinical samples. It may help clinicians choose a precise eradication regimen.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.727-737
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• 2021

Objectives: This study investigated the effect of Korean medicine on an elderly patient with posterior circulation cerebral infarction, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and early neurological deterioration (END). Methods: The patient, who already had CKD, was treated with Korean medicine, comprising herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxa, and cupping combined with Western medicine (antiplatelet, diabetes) and physical therapy. A manual muscle test (MMT) and a modified Barthel index (MBI) were used to observe the treatment effects, and blood tests were performed to check estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), which represent renal function. Results: After the treatment, MMT, MBI, and renal function scores had increased. Conclusions: This study suggests that Korean medicine can effectively treat posterior circulation cerebral infarction with END in CKD, but further studies should be conducted.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.881-890
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• 2022

Objectives: This study investigated the effect of complex Korean medicine treatment on decreased mental status in a progressive supranuclear palsy patient with a cerebrovascular accident. Case presentation: The patient was treated with Korean medicine composed of herbal medicine (modified Guibi-tang), acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping combined with Western medicine (a dopamine precursor and an anticholinergic) and physical therapy. The Glasgow Coma Scale, Mini-Mental State Examination, and Hoehn and Yahr Scale were used to evaluate the effects of the treatments. After treatment, Glasgow Coma Scores increased from 9-10 to 12-13, and Mini-Mental State Examination for dementia screen scores increased from 1 to 2. The Hoehn and Yahr score remained at 5. There were no side effects of the treatment. Conclusion: This study suggests that complex Korean medicine treatments may be effective for the decreased mental status of a progressive supranuclear palsy patient with a cerebrovascular accident, but further studies are needed.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.909-917
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Samchilgeun powder (panax notoginseng) on the treatment of hematuria in a patient requiring double antiplatelet therapy due to recurrent cerebral infarction. Methods: The patient was treated with Samchilgeun powder (panax notoginseng) combined with Western medicine (an antiplatelet). Urinalysis was performed to observe hematuria and proteinuria levels, and blood tests were used to evaluate anemia levels. Results: After treatment, hematuria levels decreased without exacerbation of anemia and proteinuria and even recurrence of cerebral infarction. Conclusions: This study suggests that Samchilgeun powder (panax notoginseng) can effectively treat patients with hematuria requiring double antiplatelet therapy due to recurrent cerebral infarction, but further studies should be conducted.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.277-284
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• 2023

Objective: This study investigated the effects of Guibiondam-tang-gamibang on patients in the thyrotoxic phase of painless thyroiditis. Methods: A patient in the thyrotoxic phase of painless thyroiditis was treated with Guibiondam-tang-gamibang combined with Western medicine (i.e., beta blockers). The effect of treatment was evaluated according to the pulse rate, NRS, the frequency of subjective symptoms, and sleep time. In addition, the thyroid function was evaluated with TSH, Free T4, and T3 using blood tests. Results: After treatment, the pulse rate decreased, and the NRS and frequency of subjective symptoms disappeared after improvement. Sleep time increased. In the thyroid function test, a significant normalization of each value was observed. Conclusion: This study suggests that Guibiondam-tang-gamibang can be effectively treated in patients with painless thyroiditis in the thyrotoxic phase. However, further studies should be conducted.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.786-796
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• 1999

Background: It has been anticipated that the amount and composition of mucin are changed in patients with chronic airway diseases. We evaluated whether RTO3(mAb against rat tracheal mucins) could quantify the amount of mucin from the airway in the patients with chronic airway diseases. Methods and results; 1) RTO3 was bound to high molecular weight of mucin based on Western blot in sputum and BALF from patients with chronic airway diseases. 2) The goblet cells and submucosal glands in main bronchus from human were observed by PAS stain. And immunohistochemical stain with RTO3 showed immunoreactivity on some goblet cells. 3) The amount of mucin was more increased in patients with chronic airway diseases compared to those in normal subjects. 4) In the exacerbation of asthmatics, mucin amounts were more increased than stable asthmatics. Conclusion: We suggested that secreted mucin in chronic airway diseases can be quantified by ELISA with RTO3.