Helicobacter pylori Infection is Associated with Elevated Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels in Elderly Koreans

This study was conducted to investigate the association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and the lipid profile among elderly Koreans. A total of 462 subjects (mean age 66.2 +/- 7.6 yr, 84% males) who underwent health check-up were investigated. Each subject underwent gastroduodenoscopy with gastric mucosal biopsy, and H. pylori infection was determined by histopathological examination using the updated Sydney System score. The presence of H. pylori infection was significantly associated with the elevated serum levels of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (P 0.05 for each). After controlling confounders, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio of H. pylori infection for high LDL cholesterol level (> 140 mg/dL) was 3.113 (95% confidence interval, 1.364-7.018; P = 0.007). There were no significant associations between the presence of H. pylori infection and elevated total cholesterol levels (> 200 mg/dL) in this model (P = 0.586). The results of this study demonstrate that H. pylori infection is associated with the elevated serum LDL cholesterol levels in elderly Koreans, supporting the hypothesis that H. pylori plays a role in promoting atherosclerosis by modifying lipid metabolism.

Risk Factors of Epilepsy After Stroke in Children / 대한소아신경학회지

PURPOSE: Post-stroke seizures and epilepsy were mainly studied in adults. Selected groups of children with stroke were studied to evaluate the incidence of seizures and epilepsy and the risk factors of epilepsy after stroke. METHODS: Seventy consecutive stroke children younger than 15 years of age were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate the incidence, times, causes of epilepsy and the risk factors epilepsy after stroke. The number and location of the lesion as imaged on the CT scan, and MRI scan were determined. RESULTS: Epilepsy after stroke was diagnosed in 38(54.3%) of 70 stroke patients:16 (45.7%) of 35 with hemorrhagic stroke and 22(62.9%) of 35 with ischemic stroke. Arteriovenous malformation(18), vitamin K deficiency(7), hemophilia(5) were frequent causes in hemorrhagic stroke, and idiopathic(15), moyamoya disease(11), hemiconvulsion-hemiplegia-epilepsy syndrome(6) were frequent in ischemic stroke. No statistically significant differences were noted with relation to sex, type of stroke, number of the lobar lesions, between cortical and subcortical lesions and onset time of initial seizure. Epilepsy developed more often in patients who had lesions located in the left cerebral hemisphere (76.7%) than on the right(42.3%)(P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Epilepsy developed more often in children who had lesion located in left cerebral hemisphere. No statistically significant differences noted in relation to sex, type of stroke, number of the lobar lesions and between cortical and subcortical lesions.

Two Cases of Multicystic Encephalomalacia in a Surviving Co-twin with One Intrauterine Fetal Death / 대한주산의학회잡지

Various anatomical defects have been described in the surviving co-twin who had stillborn, macerated monozygotic co-twin with disseminated intravascular coagulation. The suggested mechanism was the transfer of emboli or thromboplastic materials of dead fetus to co-twin through placental vascular anastomoses. Multicystic encephalomalacia is the condition defined anatomically by the presence of multiple cavities in the great part of both cerebral hemispheres. The most common pathogenesis is circulatory disturbance caused by neonatal asphyxia during the perinatal period. We experienced two cases of monozygotic twin with deceased co-twin at 26 weeks, 33 weeks of gestation and confirmed the diffuse multicystic encephalomalacia by cranial ultrasonography and MRI in a surviving co-twin. Only one patient has been followed who showed spastic cerebral palsy and severe mental retardation. We report two cases of multicystic encephalomalacia in a surviring co-twin with a intrauterine fetal death and its related literatures.