• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.185-194
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• 2002

Purpose: We studied clinical aspects and courses of patients with pulmonary radioactivity on liver scintigraphy and speculated the mechanism of pulmonary uptake of radiocolloids. Materials and Methods: Forty-nine patients with pulmonary radioactivity were classified into 5 disease groups-liver disease, infection, cancer, ischemic necrosis of liver, etc.- and their presence or absence of chronic liver disease (CLD), Child-Pugh class, serum levels of AST and ALT, results of follow-up liver scintigraphy and clinical course were checked. Results: Of total 49 patients 25 had CLD; there were 23 liver disease patients, 16 infection patients, 7 advanced cancer patients, 2 ischemic necrosis of liver patients, and 1 hemolytic anemia patient. Reversible rise of serum levels of AST and ALT was observed in all patients with liver disease and ischemic necrosis of liver; on one-way ANOVA, these rise were statistically significant (p<0.01). Serum level of ALT of liver disease group patients without CLD was significantly higher than that of infection group patients without CLD (p<0.05). Among 17 patients who underwent follow-up liver scintigraphy, 13 showed no pulmonary radioactivity. Total 12 patients died during follow-up and most of them were terminal cancer patients or CLD patients of Child-Pugh class C. Conclusion: Pulmonary radioactivity of radiocolloid liver scintigraphy could be attributed to the mobilization of reticuloendothelial system (RES) cells by the activation of RES cells in severe infection and terminal cancer, and also by the extensive liver destruction in liver diseases.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.205-215
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• 2013

Most terminally ill cancer patients experience various physical and psychological symptoms during their illness. In addition to pain, they commonly suffer from fatigue, anorexia-cachexia syndrome, nausea, vomiting and dyspnea. In this paper, I reviewed some of the common non-pain symptoms in terminally ill cancer patients, based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines to better understand and treat cancer patients. Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a common symptom in terminally ill cancer patients. There are reversible causes of fatigue, which include anemia, sleep disturbance, malnutrition, pain, depression and anxiety, medical comorbidities, hyperthyroidism and hypogonadism. Energy conservation and education are recommended as central management for CRF. Corticosteroid and psychostimulants can be used as well. The anorexia and cachexia syndrome has reversible causes and should be managed. It includes stomatitis, constipation and uncontrolled severe symptoms such as pain or dyspnea, delirium, nausea/vomiting, depression and gastroparesis. To manage the syndrome, it is important to provide emotional support and inform the patient and family of the natural history of the disease. Megesteol acetate, dronabinol and corticosteroid can be helpful. Nausea and vomiting will occur by potentially reversible causes including drug consumption, uremia, infection, anxiety, constipation, gastric irritation and proximal gastrointestinal obstruction. Metoclopramide, haloperidol, olanzapine and ondansetron can be used to manage nausea and vomiting. Dyspnea is common even in terminally ill cancer patients without lung disease. Opioids are effective for symptomatic management of dyspnea. To improve the quality of life for terminally ill cancer patients, we should try to ameliorate these symptoms by paying more attention to patients and understanding of management principles.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.182-192
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• 2002

Purpose : This study was performed to characterize the epidemiologic and clinical features of acute adenoviral lower respiratory tract infections(LRTIs). Methods : Virological analysis was done from respiratory specimens obtained from patients with LRTIs hospitalized to other hospitals and referred to the Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children's Hospital(SNUCH) from June 1998 to July 2000. Viral diagnosis was made by isolation of viruses employing HEp-2 cell culture and indirect immunofluorescent staining with monoclonal antibodies. Serotypes of adenoviruses were determined by neutralization test using antiserum for types 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 11. Medical records of children admitted to the SNUCH were reviewed retrospectively. Results : Adenovirus was isolated from 118(9.0%) of 1,305 children with LRTIs. Serotypes were 3(39.0%), 7(16.9%), 1(11.0%), 2(7.6%), 4(7.6%), 6(5.9%), 11(2.5%), and 5(0.8%) and 10 strains(8.5%) were not neutralized by antisera included in the study. Infections by type 3 and type 7 occurred in outbreaks. Male to female ratio was 1.0:0.9 and mean age was 1.95 years. The clinical diagnoses were pneumonia(83%), acute tracheobronchitis(12%) and bronchiolitis(5%). Associated symptoms, signs and abnormal laboratory findings included cough(100%), sputum(73.5%), fever(54.2%), rale(59.3%), wheezing(34%), anemia(35%) and leukopenia(15.8%). Mortality was in 13.5%. Residual radiologic sequelae was identified in 32.6% of the patients followed. Conclusion : These data confirms that adenovirus may cause severe lower respiratory tract diseases, and infections by type 3 and 7 may occured in outbreaks.