Background: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) are serious threats to worldwide tuberculosis control, but the national burden and the trends of infectious spread are largely unknown. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the results of drug sensitivity tests and medical records of patients that were diagnosed with culture-confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis and were admitted to the National Masan Tuberculosis Hospital between 2001 and 2005. Results: From 2001 to 2005, the proportion of MDR-TB among new cases was 9.2%, 13.8%, 16.9%, 23% and 27.0% in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively, and the proportion of MDR-TB among previously treated cases was 58.5%, 60.2%, 62.7%, 61.7% and 71.3% in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively. A significant increasing trend could be discerned for MDR-TB among both new and previously treated cases (p＜0.001, p=0.002 for trend, respectively). The proportion of XDR-TB among new cases was 0%, 2.3%, 3.1%, 2.5% and 6.3% in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively, and the proportion of XDR-TB among previously treated cases was 9.1%, 15.7%, 17.3%, 19.9% and 19.1% in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively. A significant increasing trend could be discerned for XDR-TB among both new and previously treated cases (p=0.005, p＜0.001 for trend, respectively). Conclusion: Both MDR-B and XDR-TB were gradually increased among both new and previously treated cases. Integrated national surveillance, including the public and private sectors, will be needed to estimate the exact status of antituberculous drug resistance.
Background: Early identification of pathogens can improve the prognosis of patients with ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP). In the present study, we evaluated the feasibility of performing multiplex PCR for endotracheal aspirates to detect three important pathogens (P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae and MRSA) in patients with VAP. Methods: The endotracheal aspirates of 24 patients were collected within 24 hours of the diagnosis of VAP for performing multiplex PCR. Forward and reverse primers were designed to target the specific site of each pathogen (the oprL gene for P. aeruginosa, 16S rRNA for K. pneumoniae and the mec gene for MRSA). We analyzed the clinical data of the VAP patients, including the culture reports for the endotracheal aspirates. Results: Twenty-four patients (M:F=18:6, mean age=70±11) with VAP were enrolled. Pathogens were isolated from 11 patients (P. aeruginosa in 2, K. pneumoniae in 1, MRSA in 2, other enteric Gram negative bacilli in 3, S.pneumoniae in 2 and mixed infection in 1). Multiplex PCR detected three cases of P.aeruginosa (2 cases coincided with the culture reports) and four cases of K. pneumoniae (1 matched with the culture report). PCR detected two MRSA cases, which did not coincide with the culture reports. Conclusion: Multiplex PCR of the endotracheal aspirate showed some ability to detect Gram negative bacilli, although caution is required when interpreting the results.
Background: Tumor angiogenesis plays an important role in tumor growth, maintenance and metastatic potential. Tumor tissue produces many types of angiogenic growth factors. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) have both been implicated to have roles in tumor angiogenesis. In this study, the expression of tissue VEGF and bFGF from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients were analyzed. Methods: We retrospectively investigated 35 patients with a histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, where the primary curative approach was surgery. An ELISA was employed to determine the expression of VEGF and bFGF in extracts prepared from 35 frozen tissue samples taken from the cancer patients. Results: VEGF and bFGF concentrations were significantly increased in lung cancer tissue as compared with control(non-cancerous) tissue. The VEGF concentration was significantly increased in T2 and T3 cancers as compared with T1 cancer. Expression of VEGF was increased in node-positive lung cancer tissue as compared with node-negative lung cancer tissue (p=0.06). VEGF and bFGF expression were not directly related to the stage of lung cancer and patient survival. Conclusion: Expression of VEGF and bFGF were increased in lung cancer tissue, and the expression of VEGF concentration in lung cancer tissue was more likely related with tumor size and the presence of a lymph node metastasis than the expression of bFGF. However, in this study, expression of both VEGF and bFGF in tissue were not associated with patient prognosis.
Chemical pneumonitis is an occupational lung disease that's caused by the inhalation of chemical substances. Its severity depends on the characteristics of the substances, the exposure time and the susceptibility of the patients. Hydrogen sulfide is not only emitted naturally, but it also frequently found in industrial settings where it is either used as a reactant or it is a by-product of manufacturing or industrial processes. Inhalation of hydrogen sulfide causes various respiratory reactions from cough to acute respiratory failure, depending on the severity. Two pharmaceutical factory workers were admitted after being rescued from a waste water disposal site that contained hydrogen sulfide. In spite that they recovered their consciousness, they had excessive cough and mild dyspnea. The simple chest radiographs and high resolution computed tomography showed diffuse interstitial infiltrates, and hypoxemia was present. They were diagnosed as suffering from chemical pneumonitis caused by hydrogen sulfide. After conservative management that included oxygen therapy, their symptoms, hypoxemia and radiographic abnormalities were improved.
Tumor lysis syndrome is a life-threatening complication of anti-cancer therapy that typically occurs in patients with large, rapidly growing and treatment-sensitive tumors such as high-grade lymphomas and acute leukemias. However, its incidence in solid tumors has been known to be very low. Tumor lysis syndrome in solid tumors has a high mortality rate owing to the lack of prophylactic therapy to prevent this complication. We report a case of fatal tumor lysis syndrome developed during chemotherapy in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, along with a brief review of the relevant literature considering the rarity of this manifestation in solid tumor.
Pheochromocytoma is derived from the chromaffin tissue. The typical finding of pheochromocytoma is paroxysmal hypertension accompanied with various signs and symptoms that are due to the excess of catecholamines or other bioactive substances. Yet the diagnosis is sometimes difficult to make because its clinical presentation is quite variable. Especially, hemoptysis is a very rare symptom, so the diagnosis is often missed or delayed. Without making the correct diagnosis and then subsequently administering treatment, the condition may be fatal. We herein report on a 68 year-old woman who was admitted because of abdominal pain and hemoptysis. The initial radiologic findings suggested pulmonary edema with alveolar hemorrhage. The urine catecholamine levels were elevated and she developed catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy. We performed bronchial arterial embolization and we administered alpha blocker medication for controlling the hemoptysis and hypertension. After the temporary symptomatic improvement, her clinical course was aggravated by pneumonia and pulmonary edema. In spite of performing definitive surgery for pheochromocytoma, she died of postoperative hemodynamic instability.
Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare disease that is characterized by multi-organ involvement of foamy histiocytes. It causes systemic inflammation, and also demonstrates various clinical manifestations and has a poor prognosis. We encountered a case of ECD in a patient that had been treated for underlying polycythemia vera. As far as we know, this is the first reported case worldwide where ECD developed in association with polycythemia vera. A 59-year-old man visited our hospital due to pleuric pain at the right side of the chest. Pleural tissue that was obtained following a thoracoscopic biopsy showed non-Langerhan's cell histiocytosis, suggesting the presence of ECD. The histiocytes stained positively for CD68, but were negative for S-100 and CD1a. The patient also complained of pain at both hips and the right shoulder area. An X-ray and magnetic resonance image demonstrated that the lesion showed sclerosis and osteolysis in both the proximal femur and right humerus. Treatment was started with predinisolone, and subsequently cyclophosphamide was added. ECD is a very rare multi-systemic disease, and its cause and therapeutic options have not yet been defined. ECD has a poor prognosis. Therefore, we believe that additional case studies are needed prior to the determination of a novel therapy for ECD.
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A unique case of atypical pulmonary sarcoidosis in a 62-year-old man complaining of dyspnea is presented. Chest CT scan showed an unusual pattern and distribution of pulmonary sarcoidosis manifesting mainly as reticular densities, interlobular septal thickening, and ground-glass opacities, in the subpleural and lower lung predominancy. However, a surgical lung biopsy revealed classical findings of sarcoidosis. Knowledge of this atypical pulmonary involvement may improve understanding sarcoidosis as the great masquerader.