The prevalence of multiple chronic conditions and medical burden in asthma patients.

Background: The prevalence of multiple chronic conditions (MCC), defined as several coexisting chronic conditions, has increased with the aging of society. MCC is associated with poor outcomes, but most comorbid diseases in asthma patients have been evaluated as asthma-associated diseases. We investigated the morbidity of coexisting chronic diseases in asthma patients and their medical burdens.

Multiple Cavernous Hemangiomas of the Posterior Mediastinum, Lung, and Liver: A Case Report.

A 71-year-old male patient visited Yeungnam University Hospital with abnormal chest computed tomography (CT) findings. Chest CT revealed multiple lung nodules and a posterior mediastinal tumor, the diagnosis of which was confirmed surgically. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen showed multiple small nodules, which were diagnosed as cavernous hemangioma in the liver based on the pathology results of the mediastinal and lung masses in combination with MRI findings.

Production of adipic acid by short- and long-chain fatty acid acyl-CoA oxidase engineered in yeast Candida tropicalis.

In this study, to produce adipic acid, mutant strains of Candida tropicalis KCTC 7212 deficient of AOX genes encoding acyl-CoA oxidases which are important in the β-oxidation pathway were constructed. Production of adipic acid in the mutants from the most favorable substrate C12 methyl laurate was significantly increased. The highest level of production of adipic acid was obtained in the C.

Late cardiac tamponade following Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum.

The Nuss procedure is a recently developed technique for correction of pectus excavatum. A 23-year-old female patient presented at our emergency department with clinical signs of cardiac tamponade, which required an emergency procedure. Sixteen months ago, she underwent the Nuss procedure with a single bar.

Early Aggressive Surgical Treatment of Multiloculated Empyema.

Background: Empyema is the collection of purulent exudate within the pleural space. Overall, 36%-65% of patients with empyema cannot be treated by medical therapy alone and require surgery. Multiloculated empyema is particularly difficult to treat with percutaneous drainage.

Comparison of the Long-Term Results of R3 and R4 Sympathicotomy for Palmar Hyperhidrosis.

Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathicotomy has been determined to be the best way to treat palmar hyperhidrosis. However, satisfaction with the surgical outcomes decreases with the onset of compensatory hyperhidrosis (CH) over time. The ideal level of sympathicotomy is controversial.

Prolonged Air Leakage Caused by Mesenchymal Cystic Hamartoma of the Lung.

A 16-year-old girl was transferred to the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery because of a spontaneous pneumothorax with prolonged air leakage. Chest computed tomography demonstrated a cystic lesion measuring 2×3 cm and involving the left upper lobe. Left upper lobectomy was performed via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Electrocautery-Ignited Surgical Field Fire Caused by a High Oxygen Level during Tracheostomy.

Tracheostomy is a relatively common surgical procedure that is performed easily in an operating room or intensive care unit. Open tracheostomy is needed in patients requiring prolonged ventilation when percutaneous tracheostomy is inappropriate. Sometimes, it is difficult to achieve bleeding control in the peritracheal soft tissue, and in such cases, we usually use diathermy.