Clinical Features of Iatrogenic Mallory-Weiss Syndrome / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The detection of iatrogenic Mallory-Weiss syndrome during the course of upper GI endoscopy is apparently rare. The aim of this study was identify the clinical features of the disease and associated medical conditions. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 46 cases (0.08%) of iatrogenic Mallory- Weiss syndrome identified from 54,188 consecutive upper GI endoscopies performed at our institution during a period of 85 months. RESULTS: A total of 36 patients (78.2%) had retching or belching during the procedure. Hiatal hernias were noted in 20 patients (43.5%). We identified a difference of the attack rate by sex and age for iatrogenic Mallory-Weiss syndrome; the disorder developed predominantly in men. All of the patients had a mucosal tear and oozing and 16 patients underwent endoscopic hemostasis. After being diagnosed with iatrogenic Mallory-Weiss syndrome, 17 patients underwent follow- up endoscopy and all of the patients showed good results without rebleeding. No patient showed a complicated clinical course. CONCLUSIONS: A small number of patients had iatrogenic Mallory-Weiss syndrome and most of the patients showed a good prognosis. If there is a predictable risk factor identified during an upper GI endoscopy or an associated medical condition, special care needs to be taken to minimize belching or retching.

A Case of Acute Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding from Appendiceal Ulcer / 대한소화기내시경학회지

The common causes of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding include diverticulosis, colonic vascular ectasia, neoplasm and colitis. Acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding from the appendix is a very rare malady and the causes are reported as angiodysplasia, diverticulum, appendicitis and endometriosis. We report here on the case of a 47-year-old man, who was taking enteric coated aspirin, with severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding that was due to appendiceal ulcer. An active bleeding was identified as coming from the appendiceal orifice during colonoscopy. He was treated by simple appendectomy. Histologic evaluation showed ulceration with both acute and chronic inflammation, along with thickened vessel walls in the submucosa of the appendix.

Prostacyclin synthase C1117A polymorphism is not associated with variant angina / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery spasm plays an important role in the pathogenesis of variant angina (VA). Prostacyclin is one of the endothelium derived relaxing factors. The association between the novel single nucleotide polymorphism in the prostacyclin synthase gene and VA is not known. Therefore, we investigated the association between VA and the polymorphysm in the prostacyclin synthase gene. METHODS: We compared 45 variant angina patients who had positive intravenous ergonovine test by coronary angiography with 59 control subjects who had negative intravenous ergonovine test and normal coronary angiogram. Using the polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis, we identified a single nucleotide polymorphism, C1117A, in exon 8. This nucleotide change did not cause an amino acid change in codon 373. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in characteristics between the control group and the VA group, and there was no significant difference in the genotype distributions between the control group and the VA group. CONCLUSION: The C1117A polymorphism in exon 8 of the prostacyclin synthase gene is not associated with variant angina.

Incidence of eNOS gene mutationin Korean patients with coronary artery spasm

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery spasm is an important mechanism in producing myocardial ischemia. But the exact mechanism of the spasm is not well known. We investigated the mutation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) that produce nitric oxide and relationship between eNOS mutation and coronary artery spasm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood were drawn from the patients with angiographically proven coronary artery spasm and normal controls. DNA were extracted and polymerase chain reaction and restriction analysis with Nae I were performed to find T-786--

Incidence of eNOS gene mutationin Korean patients with coronary artery spasm

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery spasm is an important mechanism in producing myocardial ischemia. But the exact mechanism of the spasm is not well known. We investigated the mutation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) that produce nitric oxide and relationship between eNOS mutation and coronary artery spasm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood were drawn from the patients with angiographically proven coronary artery spasm and normal controls. DNA were extracted and polymerase chain reaction and restriction analysis with Nae I were performed to find T-786--

A Case Report of Infective Endocarditis that Caused by Gemella Haemolysans in a Patient with Ventricular Septal Defect

Infective endocarditis is the infectious disease that produces vegetation on endocardium. Acute bacterial endocarditis is most frequently caused by Staphylococcus aureus, occurs on a normal heart valve, and subacute endocarditis usually caused by Streptococcus viridans occurs on damaged valves. Gemella haemolysans are gram-positive cocci that is placed in the family Streptococcaceae. As opportunistic pathogen, Gemella haemolysans are able to cause severe localized and generalized infections and it is known that this organism very rarely causes infective endocarditis. The paucity of reports concerning Gemella haemolysans is probably related to the difficulties associated with their identification. Several laboratory tests to prevent misinterpretation of this organism are now suggested. We have experienced a case of infective endocarditis that is caused by Gemella haemolysans in 37 year old male patient with ventricular septal defect. Gemella haemolysans were detected by blood culture and he was treated with intravenous vancomycin with gentamicin and ceftriaxone, and also underwent cardiac surgery. This is the first case of Gemella haemolysans endocarditis of ventricular septal defect in Korea.