Rare causes of hyperbilirubinemia after lung transplantation: our experience at a single center.

Background: Lung transplantation is the last treatment option for end-stage lung disease, and the number of lung transplantations has been steadily increasing. Hyperbilirubinemia is a rare complication after lung transplantation. The aim of this study was to review rare causes of hyperbilirubinemia after lung transplantation at our center.

Active Tuberculosis Incidence and Characteristics in Patients Treated with Tumor Necrosis Factor Antagonists According to Latent Tuberculosis Infection.

This study aimed to determine the incidence and characteristics of active tuberculosis (TB) in patients treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists according to baseline latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Data were retrospectively obtained from 702 patients aged ≥20 years treated with TNF antagonists between November 2005 and June 2016 at Severance Hospital, a tertiary referral hospital in Seoul, South Korea. The interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) with or without a tuberculin skin test (TST) was used to diagnose LTBI.

MYC expression correlates with PD-L1 expression in non-small cell lung cancer.

Objectives Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is a widely used biomarker for predicting immune checkpoint inhibitors, but is of limited usefulness in the prediction of drug response. MYC, a transcription factor that is overexpressed in cancers, is involved in preventing immune cells from attacking tumor cells through inducing PD-L1 expression. This study evaluated the relationship between MYC and PD-L1 expression in 84 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who underwent curative surgical resection.

Risk factors for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) in kidney transplantation recipients.

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is a potentially life-threatening infection that occurs in immunocompromised patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors for PJP in kidney transplantation recipients. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patient data from 500 consecutive kidney transplants performed at Severance Hospital between April 2011 and April 2014.

Implications of Plasma Renin Activity and Plasma Aldosterone Concentration in Critically Ill Patients with Septic Shock.

Background: The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is closely associated with volume status and vascular tone in septic shock. The present study aimed to assess whether plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) measurements compared with conventional severity indicators are associated with mortality in patients with septic shock.

Methods: We evaluated 105 patients who were admitted for septic shock.

A Pilot Study of the Effectiveness of Medical Emergency System Implementation at a Single Center in Korea.

Background: An automatic alarm system was developed was developed for unexpected vital sign instability in admitted patients to reduce staffing needs and costs related to rapid response teams. This was a pilot study of the automatic alarm system, the medical emergency system (MES), and the aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the MES before expanding this system to all departments.

Methods: This retrospective, observational study compared the performance of patients admitted to the pulmonary department at a single center using patient data from three 3-month periods (before implementation of the MES, December 2013-February 2014; after implementation of the MES, December 2014-February 2015 and December 2015-February 2016).

Changes in the prevalence of COPD in Korea between 2001 and 2011 in the KNHANES data.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a serious public health problem. Understanding the longitudinal trend in prevalence is important for characterizing the burden of COPD and planning health services.

Methods: We analyzed the prevalence of airflow obstruction between 2001 and 2011 using data from Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys (2001, n = 2217; 2011, n = 3101).

Value of Serum Cystatin C Measurement in the Diagnosis of Sepsis-Induced Kidney Injury and Prediction of Renal Function Recovery.

Purpose: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in critically ill patients. Serum cystatin C has emerged as a reliable marker of AKI. We sought to assess the value of serum cystatin C for early detection and prediction of renal function recovery in patients with sepsis.

ABT-737 Synergizes with Cisplatin Bypassing Aberration of Apoptotic Pathway in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

A subset of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which does not have a druggable driver mutation, is treated with platinum-based cytotoxic chemotherapy, but it develops resistance triggered by DNA damage responses. Here, we investigated the effect of activation of STAT3 by cisplatin on anti-apoptotic proteins and the effectiveness of a co-treatment with cisplatin and a BH3 mimetic, ABT-737. We analyzed the relationship between cisplatin and STAT3 pathway and effect of ABT-737, when combined with cisplatin in NSCLC cells and K-ras mutant mouse models.

The influence of protein provision in the early phase of intensive care on clinical outcomes for critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation.

Background And Objectives: Mechanically ventilated patients often face progressive and rapid losses of body mass and muscle because of hypermetabolism and increased protein catabolism. To investigate the impact of adequate nutritional provision during the early phase of intensive care unit (ICU) admission on the clinical outcomes in patients with medical illnesses receiving mechanical ventilation support.

Methods And Study Design: Two hundred and eleven mechanically ventilated patients admitted to a 30-bed medical ICU were included.

Prevalence and Impact of Diabetes Mellitus Among Patients with Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis in South Korea.

Objective: South Korea has an increasing prevalence of diabetes and a relatively high burden of tuberculosis. We aimed to determine the prevalence of diabetes in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and examine the effect of diabetes on tuberculosis treatment outcomes.

Setting And Design: Data from patients ≥30 years diagnosed with and treated for PTB between January 2010 and December 2012 at Severance Hospital, a 2000-bed tertiary referral hospital in Seoul, South Korea, were analyzed and compared with data from a contemporaneous general population sample extracted from KNHANES V.

Risk factors and outcome of primary graft dysfunction after lung transplantation in Korea.

Background: Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is a severe, acute and post-transplantation lung injury associated with early morbidity and mortality. We aimed to identify clinical risk factors for PGD, as well as the outcome of PGD after lung transplantation in Korea.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed lung transplant patients in a South Korean Hospital.

Clinical Implications of Sarcopenia on Decreased Bone Density in Men With COPD.

Background: Sarcopenia and osteoporosis are systemic features of COPD. The present study investigated the association between sarcopenia and osteopenia/osteoporosis and the factors associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) in men with COPD.

Methods: Data from 777 men with COPD who underwent both pulmonary function test and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry were extracted from the Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey database between 2008 and 2011.

Characterization of microbiome in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with lung cancer comparing with benign mass like lesions.

Objectives: Disruption in the stability of respiratory microbiota is known to be associated with many chronic respiratory diseases. However, only few studies have examined microbiomes in lung cancer. Therefore, we characterized and compared the microbiomes of patients with lung cancer and those with benign mass-like lesions.

Association of serum ferritin levels with smoking and lung function in the Korean adult population: analysis of the fourth and fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Background: Iron-catalyzed oxidative stress contributes to lung injury after exposure to various toxins, including cigarette smoke. An oxidant/antioxidant imbalance is considered to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of COPD. Ferritin is a key protein in iron homeostasis, and its capacity to oxidize and sequester the metal preventing iron prooxidant activity implicates its possible role in the alteration of antioxidant imbalance.

Cut-off value of FEV1/FEV6 as a surrogate for FEV1/FVC for detecting airway obstruction in a Korean population.

Background: Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)/forced expiratory volume in 6 seconds (FEV6) has been proposed as an alternative to FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) for detecting airway obstruction. A fixed cut-off value for FEV1/FEV6 in a Korean population is lacking. We investigated a fixed cut-off for FEV1/FEV6 as a surrogate for FEV1/FVC for detecting airway obstruction.

Inhibition of EphA2/EphrinA1 signal attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury.

Eph-Ephrin signalling mediates various cellular processes, including vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, cell migration, axon guidance, fluid homoeostasis and repair after injury. Although previous studies have demonstrated that stimulation of the EphA receptor induces increased vascular permeability and inflammatory response in lung injury, the detailed mechanisms of EphA2 signalling are unknown. In the present study, we evaluated the role of EphA2 signalling in mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung injury.

Functional and Prognostic Implications of the Main Pulmonary Artery Diameter to Aorta Diameter Ratio from Chest Computed Tomography in Korean COPD Patients.

Background: The ratio of the diameter of the main pulmonary artery (mPA) to the diameter of the aorta (Ao) on chest computed tomography is associated with diverse clinical conditions. Herein, we determined the functional and prognostic implications of the mPA/Ao ratio in Korean chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.

Methods: The study population comprised 226 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients from the Korean Obstructive Lung Disease cohort who underwent chest computed tomography.

The Risk Factors and Characteristics of COPD Among Nonsmokers in Korea: An Analysis of KNHANES IV and V.

Purpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasing in prevalence and mortality. This study evaluated the prevalence, risk factors, characteristics, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of COPD among nonsmokers in Korea.

Methods: This was a population-based cross-sectional study using data obtained from the Fourth and Fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which was conducted from 2007 to 2011.

Risk factors for tuberculosis after gastrectomy in gastric cancer.

Aim: To examine incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in gastrectomy patients and investigate the risk factors for developing TB after gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of gastrectomy patients with gastric cancer was performed at a university-affiliated hospital in Seoul, South Korea between January 2007 and December 2009. We reviewed patient medical records and collected data associated with the risk of TB, surgery, and gastric cancer.

A Case of Extensive IgG4-Related Disease Presenting as Massive Pleural Effusion, Mediastinal Mass, and Mesenteric Lymphadenopathy in a 16-Year-Old Male.

IgG4-related disease is an immune-mediated fibro-inflammatory disease, characterized by lymphoplasmacytic infiltration composed of IgG4-positive plasma cells of various organs with elevated circulating levels of IgG4. This disease is now reported with increasing frequency and usually affects middle-aged men. Massive pleural effusion in children is an uncommon feature in IgG4-related disease.

Prognostic Implications of Serum Lipid Metabolism over Time during Sepsis.

Background: Despite extensive research and an improved standard of care, sepsis remains a disorder with a high mortality rate. Sepsis is accompanied by severe metabolic alterations.

Methods: We evaluated 117 patients with sepsis (severe sepsis [n = 19] and septic shock [n = 98]) who were admitted to the intensive care unit.

Relationship between blood levels of heavy metals and lung function based on the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV-V.

Background: Heavy metal exposure may contribute to inflammation in the lungs via increased oxidative stress, resulting in tissue destruction and obstructive lung function (OLF). In this study, we evaluated the relationship between lead and cadmium levels in blood, and lung function in the Korean population.

Methods: Pooled cross-sectional data from 5,972 subjects who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2012 were used for this study.

Comorbidities in obstructive lung disease in Korea: data from the fourth and fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Background: Comorbidities can occur frequently in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and can influence mortality and morbidity independently. It is increasingly recognized that many patients with COPD have comorbidities that have a major impact on their quality of life and survival. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of comorbidities in Korean COPD populations.