The Clinical Significance of Simplified Scoring Criteria as a Diagnostic Tool for Overlap Syndrome in Korea / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The diagnosis of primary billiary cirrhosis (PBC)-autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) overlap syndrome remains challenging. In 2008, a simplified scoring system was proposed by the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group, which aimed for wider applicability in routine clinical practice. We evaluated the performance of the new simplified AIH scoring criteria as a diagnostic tool for overlap syndrome. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical histories, chemistry, autoimmune studies, and liver biopsy results of 25 patients diagnosed with PBC who visited Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Bucheon and Seoul, between November 2004 and December 2009. Parameters relevant to the revised and simplified scoring criteria were recorded, and outcomes were compared between those with and without features of overlap syndrome. RESULTS: Of 25 patients with a definite diagnosis of PBC, five (20%) were diagnosed with overlap syndrome using the revised criteria, and 18 patients (72%) were diagnosed with the simplified criteria. Those patients diagnosed according to the simplified scoring criteria revealed an increased frequency of anti-nuclear antibody (p = 0.030) and serum IgG levels (p = 0.092). Additionally, advanced fibrosis was significantly more frequent in patients with overlap syndrome (p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: The simplified scoring criteria seemed to be useful as a diagnostic tool to recognize overlap syndrome in Korea. However, a relatively small number of patients were included in our study, so further clinical trials based on larger populations should be performed.

Symptomatic Improvement of Diffuse Esophageal Spasm after Botulinum Toxin Injection / 대한소화기학회지

Diffuse esophageal spasm, an uncommon esophageal motility disorder, has recently been defined using high-resolution manometry. Patients with distal esophageal spasm usually complain of chest pain or dysphagia. The etiology and pathophysiology of this disorder are poorly known, and treatment options are limited. However, some options to improve symptoms are available, including endoscopic injection of botulinum toxin. Nevertheless, few reports have described the effects of endoscopic injection of botulinum toxin in patients with symptomatic diffuse esophageal spasm with clear endoscopic and high-resolution manometry images. Here, we report a case of diffuse esophageal spasm diagnosed with high-resolution manometry and treated by endoscopic injection of botulinum toxin with good results at the 7-month follow-up.

Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Pandemic Calm Down the Prevalence of Acute Hepatitis A in the Latter Half of 2009: Korean Population Study / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There was a spiking incidence of acute hepatitis A (AHA) in 2009 summer, but it went down drastically after an outbreak of influenza A (H1N1). We assessed the relationship between 2009 H1N1 pandemic and AHA prevalence from August to December 2009. METHODS: We compared AHA cases nationwide and in our hospital for the period from the latter half of 2008 to the end of 2010. H1N1 cases in our hospital from August 2009 to December 2009 were included in the study and the correlation between 2009 H1N1 pandemic and AHA prevalence was assessed. RESULTS: The national surveillance system reported 2,233, 7,895, 15,231 and 7,660 AHA cases from 2007 to 2010, respectively. A similar trend was noted in our hospital in the same periods. Although the national total incidence was increased in 2009, it showed steep decreasing trend line in the final 21 weeks of 2009 (weeks 32-52), as compared with 2008 and 2010. The mean weekly incidence percentage (AHA cases in a week/total in a year) in weeks 32-52 of 2009 was 1.17+/-0.55%, significantly lower than that in 2008 and 2010 (1.61+/-0.43% and 1.56+/-0.51%; p<0.001). Furthermore, we found a significant negative correlation between 2009 H1N1 pandemic and AHA in our hospital for weeks 32-52 of 2009 (r=-0.597; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The widespread occurrence of 2009 H1N1 pandemic highlighted the benefits of health care and good hygiene, such as effective hand washing and wearing of masks, which may have also interrupted hepatitis A virus transmission.

Jejunal Intussusception with Gastrointestinal Bleeding Caused by Metastatic Lung Cancer / 대한소화기학회지

Intestinal intussusception caused by metastatic tumor is uncommon. Symptomatic small bowel metastases from lung cancer have been rarely reported. Here we report a case of intussusception with gastrointestinal bleeding induced by jejunal metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer with a review of the literature. A 52-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of melena. He had underwent right pneumonectomy and received systemic chemotherapy with radiotherapy for squamous cell lung cancer. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy failed to reveal bleeding focus. Abdominal CT scan revealed jejunal intussusception and histologic examination of resected jejunum showed metastatic mass from lung cancer. In patients with small bowel obstruction and history of malignancies, possibility of small bowel metastatic tumor should be considered.

Both Hydronephrosis Complicated with Emphysematous Pyelitis / 대한신장학회지

Emphysematous pyelonephritis is rare, severe, acute bacterial infection of the kidney characterized by the presence of gas within the renal parenchyma, collecting system or perinephric tissue and requires prompt diagnosis and the emergent intensive treatment. Emphysematous pyelitis is a distinct entity from emphysematous pyelonephritis and describes the presence of gas localized to the renal collecting system. Medical treatment is sufficient therapy if there is no obstruction. We report a case of both hydronephrosis complicated with emphysematous pyelitis which was occurred in 59-year-old diabetic patient. The patient was recovered by medical treatment alone.

Impact of Maximal Sterile Barrier during the Insertion of Central Venous Catheters in Adults Intensive Care Units / 병원감염관리

BACKGROUND: Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSIs) are common, costly, and potentially lethal. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effect of maximal sterile barrier on CR-BSIs in intensive care units. METHODS: We monitored CR-BSIs in intensive care units of Sunlin Hospital in Pohang, before (September 2005 to May 2006) and after (June to December 2006) implementation of maximal sterile barrier. CR-BSIs were identified by using the definition of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RESULTS: During the intervention period, the proportion of conducting maximal sterile barrier was 84%. In the pre-intervention period, 10 episodes of CR-BSIs were recorded out of a total of 1,749 catheter-days, compared to 1 episode of CR-BSI out of a total of 1,277 catheter-days in the post-intervention period. The rate of CR-BSIs was significantly reduced from 5.72 to 0.57 per 1,000 catheter-days (P=0.03). CONCLUSION: Implementation of maximal sterile barrier resulted in a significant reduction in CR-BSIs.