Kwan Hyung Kim

CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), which binds the stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), has been shown to play a critical role in mobilizing the bone marrow (BM)-derived stem cells and inflammatory cells. We studied the effects of AMD3100, CXCR4 antagonist, on a murine bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis model. Treatment of mice with AMD3100 in bleomycin-treated mice resulted in the decrease of SDF-1 in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids at an early stage and was followed by the decrease of f

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO) is generally increased during inflammatory airway diseases. This increased NO stimulates the secretion of mucin from the goblet cell and submucosal glands but the mechanism is still unknown precisely. In this study, we investigated potential signaling pathways involving protein kinase C (PKC) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the NO-induced MUC5AC mucin gene and protein expression in A549 cells. METHODS: Nitric oxide was donated to the A549 cells by NOR

INTRODUCTION: Neutropenia recovery may be associated with deterioration in oxygenation and exacerbation of pre-existing pulmonary disease. However, risk factors for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) during neutropenia recovery in patients with hematologic malignancies have not been studied. METHODS: We studied critically ill patients with hematologic malignancies with the dual objectives of describing patients with ARDS during neutropenia recovery and identifying risk factors for ARDS d

1. Pravastatin is best known for its antilipidemic action. Recent studies have shown that statins have immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study aimed to determine whether or not pravastatin can attenuate acute lung injury and fibrosis in a mouse model. 2. Bleomycin was given to C57BL6 mice through intratracheal instillation. Pravastatin was given through intraperitoneal injection. To study the effect of pravastatin on the early inflammatory phase and the late fibrotic ph

Asthma is a prevalent and serious health problem in Korea. Recently, the Korean Asthma Guideline has been updated by The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (KATRD) in an effort to improve the clinical management of asthma. This guideline focuses on adult patients with asthma and aims to deliver up to date scientific evidence and recommendations to general physicians for the management of asthma. For this purpose, this guideline was updated following systematic review and met

Evidence suggests that diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). According to the new IPF guidelines, high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is an essential means of diagnosing IPF. We investigated the relationship between IPF and DM in patients treated between 2003 and 2007. Newly diagnosed IPF patients in large university teaching hospitals in Korea were enrolled from January 2003 to December 2007. We retrospectively analyzed 1,685 patients using the in

PURPOSE: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a proinflammatory cytokine that has been implicated in many aspects of the airway pathology in asthma. TNF-alpha blocking strategies are now being tried in asthma patients. This study investigated whether TNF-alpha blocking therapy inhibits airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in a mouse model of asthma. We also evaluated the effect of TNF-alpha blocking therapy on cytokine production and adhesion molecule expression. MATERI

OBJECTIVES: The limitations of current early warning scores have prompted the development of deep learning-based systems, such as deep learning-based cardiac arrest risk management systems (DeepCARS). Unfortunately, in South Korea, only two institutions operate 24-hour Rapid Response System (RRS), whereas most hospitals have part-time or no RRS coverage at all. This study validated the predictive performance of DeepCARS during RRS operation and nonoperation periods and explored its potential bey

This study sought to determine whether intraoperative dexmedetomidine infusion might reduce the incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) and alleviate the neuroinflammatory response in patients who have undergone arthroscopic shoulder surgery. A total of 80 patients over 60 years of age who had undergone arthroscopic shoulder surgery in the beach chair position were randomly allocated to either the dexmedetomidine group (Group D) or the control group (Group C). Dexmedetomidine (0.

Negative pressure pulmonary edema (NPPE) related to upper airway obstruction is a well-described phenomenon [1], but NPPE related to bronchospasm has only rarely been reported [2]. We experienced NPPE during recovery from anesthesia in 77-year-old male with gastric cancer patient who underwent robot-assisted total gastrectomy. The patient was 157 cm tall and weighed 47.5 kg, and was a non-smoker with no allergy or medico-surgical history except for antihypertensive medication (bisoprolol for 1 y

Although the incidence is not high in the general surgical population, pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents can result in serious long-term morbidity and mortality. We report a case of early use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to correct severe hypoxemia refractory to conventional mechanical ventilation in a patient with massive aspiration of gastric contents immediately followed by acute lung injury during general anesthesia induction.

A 46-year-old female patient was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after liver transplantation. About an hour later after the ICU admission, she had no pupillary light reflex. Both pupils were also fixed at 5 mm. Patients who undergo liver transplantation are susceptible to neurologic disorders including hepatic encephalopathy, thromboembolism and intracranial hemorrhage. Abnormal pupillary light reflex usually indicates a serious neurologic emergency in these patients; however, benign n