Young Sam Kim

Yonsei University Hospital, Seoul, Seoul, South Korea

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Publications (40)95.24 Total impact

  • Article: Phase II study of camtobell inj. (belotecan) in combination with cisplatin in patients with previously untreated, extensive stage small cell lung cancer.
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    ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of belotecan in combination with cisplatin in patients with previously non-treated extensive stage small cell lung cancer. A total of 42 patients were enrolled and treated with combination of belotecan 0.5mg/m(2) on daily basis throughout day 1-4 and cisplatin 60mg/m(2) on day 1 of a 3-week cycle, up to 6 cycles. Treatment was continued until the completion of 6 cycles of the chemotherapy, disease progression, detection of unacceptable toxicity, withdrawal of the consent, or death of the patient. Response was assessed every 2 cycles of chemotherapy by the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.0. Toxicity was assessed by the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE), version 3.0. The overall response rate was 73.8% in an intention to treat population and 83.9% in the evaluable patients. With the median follow up of 9.9 months, the median progression free survival was 6.9 months (95% CI, 6.6-7.2 months), and median overall survival was 11.2 months (95% CI, 9.9-12.5 months). The frequently reported grade≥3 toxicities were neutropenia (90.2%), thrombocytopenia (63.4%), and anemia (34.1%). Febrile neutropenia was reported in 16 patients (39.0%). Although most of non-hematologic toxicities were grade 1 or 2, there were 4 patient deaths caused by pneumonia complicated by septic shock. Belotecan and cisplatin combination chemotherapy demonstrated a promising efficacy in ED SCLC patients. But, the hematologic toxicity of this regimen requires considerable amount of attention.
    Lung cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands) 03/2013; · 3.14 Impact Factor
  • Article: Increased Prevalence of Self-Reported Asthma Among Korean Adults: An Analysis of KNHANES I and IV Data.
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    ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Asthma is one of the most common chronic conditions. Knowing the longitudinal trends of prevalence is important in developing health service planning and in assessing the impact of the disease. However, there have been no studies that examined current asthma prevalence trends in Korea through the analysis of nationwide surveys. METHODS: Data were acquired from patients aged 20-59 years who participated in the First Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys (KNHANES), which was conducted in 1998, and in the second year of the Fourth KNHANES, which was conducted in 2008. To estimate the prevalence of asthma with age and gender standardization, we used data from the Population and Housing Census, which was conducted by Statistics Korea in 2005. RESULTS: The prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma increased from 1998 to 2008 (1998: 0.7 %, 2008: 2.0 %). The prevalence of asthma medication usage also increased from 1998 to 2008 (1998: 0.3 %, 2008: 0.7 %); however, the prevalence of wheezing decreased between 1998 and 2008 (1998: 13.7 %, 2008: 6.3 %). A similar trend was observed after estimating the prevalence of asthma with age and gender standardization. Allergic rhinitis might be the reason for the increased prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma, while the observed decrease in wheezing may be related to the decrease in smoking or the increase in the use of asthma medication. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that the prevalence of both self-reported physician-diagnosed asthma and asthma medication usage increased from 1998 to 2008 in Korea, despite a possible changing pattern of diagnosing asthma.
    Beiträge zur Klinik der Tuberkulose 03/2013; · 1.90 Impact Factor
  • Article: Endobronchial metastases from extrathoracic malignancy.
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    ABSTRACT: Purpose: Endobronchial metastasis is defined as documented extrathoracic malignancies metastatic to the endobronchus within a bronchoscopically visible range. Although the clinical and radiologic findings of endobronchial metastasis are similar to primary lung cancer, treatment and prognosis may be different. We hereby investigated the clinical, radiologic and bronchoscopic aspects of endobronchial metastases (EBM) in Korean patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 43 patients with EBM who underwent bronchoscopic biopsies from June 1991 to December 2009 at Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, Korea, were analyzed retrospectively. We evaluated clinical, radiologic and bronchoscopic characteristics of EBM. Results: The patients consisted of 27 males and 16 females and their ages ranged from 18 to 77 years. The common primary cancers related to EBM were rectal (16.3%), colon (11.6%), breast (9.3%) and uterine (9.3%) cancers. The mean interval from diagnosis of primary cancer to EBM was 36 months, and the mean survival duration from diagnosis of EBM was 16.1 months in 33 deceased patients. Conclusion: EBM develop in various types of malignancies at various times with unremarkable manifestations. Therefore, physicians should consider the possibility of EBM, especially if a patient has a history of any malignancy, regardless of respiratory symptoms. Respiratory symptoms related with EBM can be treated by various safe procedures.
    Yonsei medical journal 03/2013; 54(2):403-9. · 0.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: TGF-β(1) T869C Polymorphism May Affect Susceptibility to Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Disease Severity.
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    ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Transforming growth factor-β(1) (TGF-β(1)) is a key cytokine that plays a critical role in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The genotypes of T869C polymorphism may be associated with the susceptibility to fibrotic lung disease. METHODS: We investigated a single-nucleotide polymorphism at exon 1 nucleotide position 29 (T → C) of the TGF-β(1) gene. Eighty-five healthy controls and 85 subjects with surgically confirmed IPF were investigated using polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme fragment length polymorphism techniques. RESULTS: The IPF patients consisted of 55 men and 30 women. The mean age was 61 ± 8 years. Fifty-one (60 %) of the 85 IPF patients were smokers and 34 were nonsmokers. The distribution of genotypes between IPF patients and controls was significantly different (IPF: TT 43.5 % and TC or CC 56.5 %; controls: TT 27.1 % and TC or CC 72.9 %, p = 0.037). TT genotype was significantly associated with decreased PaO(2) and increased D(A-a)O(2) upon initial diagnosis (p = 0.006 and 0.009, respectively). There was a positive association between TT genotype and IPF development (odds ratio [OR] = 2.1, 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 1.1-4.0, p = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the TGF-β(1) gene T869C polymorphism may affect susceptibility to IPF in Koreans. Larger studies are required to confirm the genetic association of TGF-β(1) gene polymorphism and IPF.
    Beiträge zur Klinik der Tuberkulose 01/2013; · 1.90 Impact Factor
  • Article: Sarcoidosis presenting with massive pleural effusion and elevated serum and pleural fluid carbohydrate antigen-125 levels.
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    ABSTRACT: A 55-year-old woman was admitted for an elevated serum carbohydrate antigen-125 (CA-125) level, and a left pleural effusion, which were detected at a routine health examination. Computed tomography of the chest was performed upon admission, revealing extensive bilateral paratracheal and mediastinal lymph node enlargement with a massive left-sided pleural effusion. Subsequent analysis of the pleural fluid demonstrated consistency with an exudate, no evidence of malignant cells, and a normal adenosine deaminase. However, the pleural fluid and serum CA-125 levels were 2,846.8 U/mL and 229.5 U/mL, respectively. A positron emission tomography did not reveal any primary focus of malignancy. Finally, a surgical mediastinoscopic biopsy of several mediastinal lymph nodes was performed, revealing non-necrotizing granulomas, consistent with sarcoidosis. After a month of treatment of prednisolone, the left pleural effusion had resolved, and after 2 months the serum CA-125 level was normalized.
    Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 12/2012; 73(6):320-4.
  • Article: Urine Cotinine for Assessing Tobacco Smoke Exposure in Korean: Analysis of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).
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    ABSTRACT: The level of urine cotinine is an indicator of tobacco smoke exposure. The purpose of this study is to investigate urine cotinine for the purpose of assessing the smoking status of Korean smokers and non-smokers exposed to tobacco smoke. The subjects were identified from the 2007-2009 and the 2010 data sets of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). They were assigned as non-smokers, current smokers and ex-smokers. Non-smokers were also divided into three subset groups according to the duration of smoke exposure. Each group was stratified by gender prior to analysis. The median value of urine cotinine in the male current smokers was 1,221.93 ng/mL which was the highest among all groups. The difference between levels of urine cotinine for male and the female groups was statistically significant (p<0.01). In the female group, passive smoke exposure groups reported higher urine cotinine levels than non-exposure groups (p=0.01). The cutoff point for the discrimination of current smokers from non-smokers was 95.6 ng/mL in males and 96.8 ng/mL in females. The sensitivity and specificity were 95.2% and 97.1%, respectively, in males, 96.1% and 96.5% in females. However, the determination of urine cotinine level was not useful in distinguishing between passive smoke exposure groups and non-exposure groups. Urine cotinine concentration is a useful biomarker for discriminating non-smokers from current smokers. However, careful interpretation is necessary for assessing passive smoke exposure by urine cotinine concentration.
    Tuberculosis and respiratory diseases. 10/2012; 73(4):210-8.
  • Article: The responses of multiple cytokines following incubation of whole blood from TB patients, latently infected individuals, and controls with the TB antigens ESAT-6, CFP-10, and TB7.7.
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    ABSTRACT: The development of clinically relevant biomarkers is important for diagnosing latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and active tuberculosis (TB) and predicting their prognoses. This study examined whether the responses of multiple cytokines can be used as a biomarker to distinguish the TB infection status and mycobacterial load. We analyzed the responses of multiple cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17, and TNF-α) in the supernatant from the QuantiFERON- TB Gold In-Tube assay following stimulation of whole-blood from the TB group (n = 32), LTBI group (n = 19), and healthy controls (n = 30) with TB antigens (ESAT-6, CFP-10, and TB7.7). The median responses of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-10, and IL-13 were higher in the LTBI and active TB groups than in the non-TB control group (IFN-γ, p < 0.001; IL-2, p < 0.001; IL-10, p = 0.012; IL-13, p < 0.001). The median IL-2/IFN-γ ratio of the LTBI group was higher than that of the active TB group (p = 0.014) and differed significantly among LTBI, smear-negative TB, and smear-positive TB patients (p = 0.027). This difference was especially evident between the LTBI and smear-positive TB patients (p = 0.047). In conclusion, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-10, and IL-13 can serve as biomarkers for distinguishing TB infection. In addition, the IL-2/IFN-γ ratio appears to be a biomarker for diagnosing LTBI and may be useful as a prognostic factor and for evaluating treatment responses.
    Scandinavian Journal of Immunology 09/2012; · 2.23 Impact Factor
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    Article: Risk factors for occurrence and 30-day mortality for carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii bacteremia in an intensive care unit.
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    ABSTRACT: To assess the risk factors for carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) bacteremia and for 30-day mortality in patients with CRAB bacteremia in the intensive care unit (ICU), we conducted a retrospective study in the ICU at Severance Hospital in Korea from January 2008 to December 2009. Patients who acquired CRAB bacteremia in the ICU were enrolled as the case group and patients whose specimens of blood culture, sputum/endotracheal aspirate and urine revealed no AB were enrolled as controls. The case group comprised 106 patients and 205 patients were included as controls. Risk factors independently associated with CRAB bacteremia included prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment (Odds ratio [OR], 3.6; P = 0.003), recent central venous catheter insertion (OR, 5.7; P < 0.001) or abdominal drainage insertion (OR, 21.9; P = 0.004), the number of antibiotics treated with (OR, 1.3; P = 0.016), and respiratory failure in the ICU (OR, 2.5; P = 0.035). The 30-day mortality was 79.8%. Renal failure during ICU stay was independently associated with 30-day mortality (OR, 3.7; P = 0.047). It is important to minimize invasive procedures, and to restrict excessive use of antibiotics, especially in immunocompromised patients, in order to prevent the development of CRAB bacteremia. Greater concern for CRAB bacteremia patients is needed when renal failure develops during ICU stay.
    Journal of Korean medical science 08/2012; 27(8):939-47. · 0.84 Impact Factor
  • Article: Poor prediction of potentially drug-resistant pathogens using current criteria of health care-associated pneumonia.
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    ABSTRACT: Health care-associated pneumonia (HCAP) includes a broad range of patients having frequent or chronic contact with health care systems. However, the relationship between current defining criteria for HCAP and the risk of potentially drug-resistant (PDR) pathogens is controversial. We retrospectively evaluated patients admitted to Severance Hospital in South Korea with culture-positive pneumonia from January 2008 to December 2009. We analyzed the associations between risk factors for HCAP and infection with PDR pathogens, and developed a new scoring system to predict infection with PDR pathogens. Among 339 patients, PDR pathogens were observed in 122 (36.0%). PDR pathogens were more common in HCAP than community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) (48.5% versus 23.8%, P<0.001). In a logistic regression, prior hospitalization within 90 days of pneumonia (OR=2.51, P=0.003), recent treatment with antimicrobials (OR=2.35, P=0.039), and nasogastric tube feeding (OR=15.28, P<0.001) were independently associated with PDR pathogens. For the prediction of PDR pathogens, the sensitivity and specificity of current HCAP criteria were 66.4% and 60.4%, respectively, and 68.0% and 67.3%, respectively, for the new scoring system. Moreover, the new scoring system showed better diagnostic accuracy than current HCAP criteria (area under curve=0.711 versus 0.634, P<0.001). The current HCAP criteria are poor predictors of PDR pathogens and all patients with HCAP should not be empirically treated for these pathogens. To avoid excessive antibiotic use, individual risk stratification approaches should be considered.
    Respiratory medicine 05/2012; 106(9):1311-9. · 2.33 Impact Factor
  • Article: Efficacy and toxicity of belotecan for relapsed or refractory small cell lung cancer patients.
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    ABSTRACT: Belotecan (Camtobell, CKD602) is a new camptothecin-derivative antitumor agent that belongs to the topoisomerase inhibitors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of belotecan monotherapy as a second-line therapy in patients with relapsed or refractory small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Between June 2008 and August 2011, a total of 50 patients with relapsed or refractory SCLC were treated with belotecan 0.5 mg/m for 5 consecutive days, every 3 weeks. We evaluated the overall response rate (ORR), the progression-free survival (PFS), and the overall survival (OS), and toxicity according to sensitivity to initial chemotherapy. The median age was 66 years (range, 43-84 years) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance was 0 or 1 in 34 patients (68%) and 2 in 16 patients (32%). Twenty patients (40%) had sensitive relapse and 30 patients (60%) had refractory disease. The ORR, PFS, and OS for sensitive patients were 20% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8-40), 2.8 months (95% CI, 0.53-5.06), and 6.5 months (95% CI, 1.58-11.42), respectively. In the refractory group, the ORR, PFS, and OS were 10% (95% CI, 1-21), 1.5 months (95% CI, 1.25-1.75), and 4.0 months (95% CI, 3.40-4.60), respectively. Most commonly reported grade-3 or -4 adverse events included neutropenia (54%), thrombocytopenia (38%), and anemia (32%). Belotecan showed modest activity with an acceptable safety profile as a second-line therapy in patients with relapsed or refractory SCLC.
    Journal of thoracic oncology: official publication of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer 04/2012; 7(4):731-6. · 4.55 Impact Factor
  • Article: The major determinants of arterial stiffness in Korean patients with rheumatoid arthritis are age and systolic blood pressure, not disease-related factors.
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    ABSTRACT: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are at increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease, and to identify factors, especially those related to rheumatoid arthritis, influencing arterial stiffness in Korean patients with rheumatoid arthritis. A total of 262 patients with rheumatoid arthritis managed in a tertiary clinic were included. Ankle-brachial index and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity were measured. Rheumatoid arthritis-related factors were determined, as well as the traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The prevalence of peripheral arterial disease was only 1.5%. Mean pulse wave velocity was 1,559 ± 354 cm/s. Age, body mass index, blood pressure, lipid profile, and glucose, not rheumatoid arthritis-related factors such as disease duration, seropositivity and disease activity, were significantly correlated with pulse wave velocity. Moreover, stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that only age over 65 (OR = 9.1, 95% CI 4.3-19.1, P < 0.001), systolic blood pressure over 140 mmHg (OR = 15.7, 95% CI 7.4-33.1, P < 0.001), and corticosteroid use (OR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.03-4.3, P = 0.04) were independent risk factors for high pulse wave velocity. The prevalence of peripheral arterial disease in Korean patients with rheumatoid arthritis is very low. Among the many factors related to arterial stiffness, only old age, high systolic blood pressure, and, to a certain extent, corticosteroid use appear to be major determinants, especially in clinical setting with relatively well controlled patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
    Rheumatology International 11/2011; · 1.88 Impact Factor
  • Article: Risk factors for false-negative results of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube assay in non-HIV-infected patients with culture-confirmed tuberculosis.
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    ABSTRACT: Limited information is available on the risk factors for false-negative results with the new generation of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) tests in non-HIV-infected patients with tuberculosis (TB). We sought to identify risk factors for false-negative QFT-GIT results in culture-confirmed TB patients. We reviewed the microbiological, laboratory, radiographic, and clinical data of 362 patients with positive M. tuberculosis cultures who received QFT-GIT tests at a Korean tertiary hospital between September 2006 and March 2010. Of these, 311 (85.9%) had true-positive and 51 (14.1%) had false-negative results. The false-negative group was more likely to have immunosuppressant diseases and lower platelet, protein, and albumin levels than the true-positive group. An immunosuppressive condition was an independent risk factor for false-negative QFT-GIT results in non-HIV-infected patients with active TB (odds ratio, 2.98; 95% confidence interval, 1.38-6.47; P = .006). Careful interpretation of negative QFT-GIT results is thus necessary in immunocompromised patients suspected of having active TB.
    Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease 07/2011; 70(3):324-9. · 2.45 Impact Factor
  • Article: Prognostic utility of changes in N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic Peptide combined with sequential organ failure assessment scores in patients with acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome concomitant with septic shock.
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    ABSTRACT: We investigated the prognostic utility of changes in N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in combination with Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score in patients with acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) concomitant with septic shock. Forty-nine mechanically ventilated patients with ALI/ARDS concomitant with septic shock were studied. N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels were measured on the first 3 days (days 0, 1, and 2) in the intensive care unit. The median NT-proBNP levels in survivors and nonsurvivors were 3,999 vs. 2,819 pg/mL on day 0 (P = 0.719); 4,495 vs. 5,397 pg/mL on day 1 (P = 0.543); and 2,325 vs. 14,173 pg/mL on day 2 (P = 0.028). N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels increased significantly from baseline values in nonsurvivors only. We observed a monotonic increase in 28-day mortality associated with increasing quartiles of percent change in NT-proBNP on day 2 (P < 0.0001). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that mortality was significantly higher in patients with a change in NT-proBNP of 30% or more (log-rank P < 0.0001). On day 2, areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for predicting 28-day mortality were 0.74 for SOFA alone and 0.85 (P = 0.028) for SOFA combined with percent change in NT-proBNP. In conclusion, in patients with ALI/ARDS concomitant with septic shock, a rising trend (high percent change) in NT-proBNP levels had better prognostic utility than absolute levels. The combination of percent change in NT-proBNP with SOFA may provide superior prognostic accuracy to SOFA alone.
    Shock (Augusta, Ga.) 04/2011; 36(2):109-14. · 2.87 Impact Factor
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    Article: Healthcare-associated pneumonia among hospitalized patients in a Korean tertiary hospital.
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    ABSTRACT: Healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) has more similarities to nosocomial pneumonia than to community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). However, there have only been a few epidemiological studies of HCAP in South Korea. We aimed to determine the differences between HCAP and CAP in terms of clinical features, pathogens, and outcomes, and to clarify approaches for initial antibiotic management. We conducted a retrospective, observational study of 527 patients with HCAP or CAP who were hospitalized at Severance Hospital in South Korea between January and December 2008. Of these patients, 231 (43.8%) had HCAP, and 296 (56.2%) had CAP. Potentially drug-resistant (PDR) bacteria were more frequently isolated in HCAP than CAP (12.6% vs. 4.7%; P = 0.001), especially in the low-risk group of the PSI classes (41.2% vs. 13.9%; P = 0.027). In-hospital mortality was higher for HCAP than CAP patients (28.1% vs. 10.8%, P < 0.001), especially in the low-risk group of PSI classes (16.4% vs. 3.1%; P = 0.001). Moreover, tube feeding and prior hospitalization with antibiotic treatment within 90 days of pneumonia onset were significant risk factors for PDR pathogens, with odds ratios of 14.94 (95% CI 4.62-48.31; P < 0.001) and 2.68 (95% CI 1.32-5.46; P = 0.007), respectively. For HCAP patients with different backgrounds, various pathogens and antibiotic resistance of should be considered, and careful selection of patients requiring broad-spectrum antibiotics is important when physicians start initial antibiotic treatments.
    BMC Infectious Diseases 03/2011; 11:61. · 3.12 Impact Factor
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    Article: The risk of obstructive lung disease by previous pulmonary tuberculosis in a country with intermediate burden of tuberculosis.
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    ABSTRACT: We evaluated the effects of previous pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) on the risk of obstructive lung disease. We analyzed population-based, the Second Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001. Participants underwent chest X-rays (CXR) and spirometry, and qualified radiologists interpreted the presence of TB lesion independently. A total of 3,687 underwent acceptable spirometry and CXR. Two hundreds and ninety four subjects had evidence of previous TB on CXR with no subjects having evidence of active disease. Evidence of previous TB on CXR were independently associated with airflow obstruction (adjusted odds ratios [OR] = 2.56 [95% CI 1.84-3.56]) after adjustment for sex, age and smoking history. Previous TB was still a risk factor (adjusted OR = 3.13 [95% CI 1.86-5.29]) with exclusion of ever smokers or subjects with advanced lesion on CXR. Among never-smokers, the proportion of subjects with previous TB on CXR increased as obstructive lung disease became more severe. Previous TB is an independent risk factor for obstructive lung disease, even if the lesion is minimal and TB can be an important cause of obstructive lung disease in never-smokers. Effort on prevention and control of TB is crucial in reduction of obstructive lung disease, especially in countries with more than intermediate burden of TB.
    Journal of Korean medical science 02/2011; 26(2):268-73. · 0.84 Impact Factor
  • Article: Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Korea: the fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2008.
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    ABSTRACT: Because the mortality and social burden associated with COPD is increasing, repeated surveys of the prevalence of COPD have been used to assess risk factors, detect potential patients, and establish early diagnoses and management protocols. We report the prevalence of spirometrically detected COPD in Korea in 2008, using data from the fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey.   Using nationwide stratified random sampling, based on the Korean Statistical Office census, 6840 subjects aged ≥19years underwent spirometry, which was performed by four trained technicians, during 2008. The place of residence, levels of education and income and smoking status, as well as other results from a COPD survey questionnaire were also assessed. Airflow obstruction (FEV(1) /FVC<0.7) was detected in 8.8% of subjects aged ≥19years (11.6% of men and 5.9% of women) and COPD was detected in 13.4% of subjects aged ≥40years (19.4% of men and 7.9% of women). Of the 6840 subjects, 27.3% were current smokers and 17.2% were former smokers, and the prevalence of COPD was higher in current and former smokers than in never smokers. Approximately 94% of patients with COPD had mild-to-moderate disease, without apparent symptoms; only 2.4% had been diagnosed by a physician and only 2.1% of patients had been treated. The independent risk factors for COPD were smoking, advanced age and male gender. Although the prevalence of COPD in Korea is high, the disease is underdiagnosed and most COPD patients are under-treated.
    Respirology 02/2011; 16(4):659-65. · 2.42 Impact Factor
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    Article: Delta neutrophil index as an early marker of disease severity in critically ill patients with sepsis.
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    ABSTRACT: The immature granulocyte count has been reported to be a marker of infection and sepsis. The difference in leukocyte subfractions (delta neutrophil index, DNI) in ADVIA 2120 reflects the fraction of circulating immature granulocytes in the blood. This study evaluated the clinical utility of DNI as a severity and prediction marker in critically ill patients with sepsis. One hundred and three patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit with sepsis were studied. DNI (the difference in leukocyte subfractions identified by myeloperoxidase and nuclear lobularity channels) was determined using a specific blood cell analyzer. Forty four patients (42.7%) were diagnosed with severe sepsis/septic shock. Overt disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) occurred in 40 (38.8%). DNI was significantly higher in patients with severe sepsis/septic shock and overt DIC than in patients without (p < 0.05). DNI correlated with DIC score (r = 0.54, p < 0.001). We observed a monotonic increase in the proportion of overt DIC and severe sepsis/septic shock associated with increasing quartiles of DNI (p < 0.001). A DNI value > 6.5% was a better indicator of severe sepsis/septic shock than C-reactive protein, lactate, white blood cell count, and absolute neutrophil count (sensitivity, 81.3%; specificity, 91.0%; positive predictive value, 88.6%; and negative predictive value, 84.7%). In 36 (82%) of the 44 patients with severe sepsis/septic shock, DNI values were already elevated up to 12 hours before the onset of organ/circulatory failure. DNI may be used as a marker of disease severity in critically ill patients with sepsis. High levels of DNI may help to identify patients with an impending risk of developing severe sepsis/septic shock.
    BMC Infectious Diseases 01/2011; 11:299. · 3.12 Impact Factor
  • Article: N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide as a marker of right ventricular dysfunction after open-lung approach in patients with acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome.
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    ABSTRACT: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the utility of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) as a marker of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction after open-lung approach (OLA) in patients with acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Twenty-seven patients with ALI/ARDS underwent OLA (2-minute steps of fixed pressure-controlled ventilation with progressive positive end-expiratory pressure levels up to 30 cm H(2)O, followed by stepwise decrement of positive end-expiratory pressure level by 2 cm H(2)O). Patients who showed a PaO(2)/FiO(2) increase of more than 50% from baseline were defined as responders. Plasma NT-proBNP levels were taken immediately before OLA and 2 and 6 hours later. A minimum 30% increase in NT-proBNP level from baseline was considered significant. Right-over-left ventricular stroke work ratio and its percentage change did not differ between responders and nonresponders, whereas these values were higher in patients showing NT-proBNP increase (P < .05). The NT-proBNP percentage change correlated with right-over-left ventricular stroke work ratio percentage change (r = 0.83), pulmonary vascular resistance (r = 0.81), and RV ejection fraction (r = -0.79) and correlated with plateau pressure in nonresponders only (r = 0.82). In patients with ALI/ARDS, intraindividual NT-proBNP changes correlated with RV afterload following OLA, thereby serving as a potential marker for RV dysfunction after OLA.
    Journal of critical care 11/2010; 26(3):241-8. · 2.13 Impact Factor
  • Article: Screening for latent tuberculosis infection in South Korean healthcare workers using a tuberculin skin test and whole blood interferon-gamma assay.
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    ABSTRACT: This study compared the results of a tuberculin skin test (TST) and a whole-blood interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) to screen latent tuberculosis (TB) infection (LTBI) according to risk of TB exposure in South Korea. A cross-sectional comparison of 82 healthcare workers (HCWs) was performed from June 2009 to January 2010. Participants were grouped according to their risk for TB exposure: group 1, frequent and direct contact with active TB patients (n = 35); group 2, no known history of direct contact with active TB patients (n = 47). For the TST (10-mm induration cut-off), the positive response rate was 42.9% in group 1 and 34.0% in group 2 (p = 0.42). For the IGRA, the positive response rate was 40% in group 1 and 10.6% in group 2 (p = 0.002). Results obtained from the TST and the IGRA were not in significant agreement. The working duration of HCWs in TB-related departments was the only significant risk factor for LTBI (odds ratio 1.03; p = 0.031). Further, the IGRA can more accurately discriminate LTBI compared to the TST, based on the risk of TB exposure. These results suggest that the IGRA is diagnostically useful for LTBI in South Korean HCWs.
    Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases 09/2010; 42(9):672-8. · 1.72 Impact Factor
  • Article: Screening for latent tuberculosis infection in South Korean healthcare workers using a tuberculin skin test and whole blood interferon-γ assay
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    ABSTRACT: Abstract This study compared the results of a tuberculin skin test (TST) and a whole-blood interferon-γ release assay (IGRA) to screen latent tuberculosis (TB) infection (LTBI) according to risk of TB exposure in South Korea. A cross-sectional comparison of 82 healthcare workers (HCWs) was performed from June 2009 to January 2010. Participants were grouped according to their risk for TB exposure: group 1, frequent and direct contact with active TB patients (n = 35); group 2, no known history of direct contact with active TB patients (n = 47). For the TST (10-mm induration cut-off), the positive response rate was 42.9% in group 1 and 34.0% in group 2 (p = 0.42). For the IGRA, the positive response rate was 40% in group 1 and 10.6% in group 2 (p = 0.002). Results obtained from the TST and the IGRA were not in significant agreement. The working duration of HCWs in TB-related departments was the only significant risk factor for LTBI (odds ratio 1.03; p = 0.031). Further, the IGRA can more accurately discriminate LTBI compared to the TST, based on the risk of TB exposure. These results suggest that the IGRA is diagnostically useful for LTBI in South Korean HCWs.
    08/2010; 42(9):672-678.