Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor Type 1 (PAI-1) A15T Gene Polymorphism Is Associated with Prognosis in Patients with EGFR Mutation Positive Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), an important regulator of plasminogen activator system which controls degradation of extracellular membrane and progression of tumor cells, and PAI-1 gene polymorphic variants have been known as the prognostic biomarkers of non-small cell lung cancer patients. Recently, experimental in vitro study revealed that transforming growth factor-beta1 initiated PAI-1 transcription through epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway. However, there is little clinical evidence on the association between PAI-1 A15T gene polymorphism and prognosis of Korean population with pulmonary adenocarcinoma and the influence of activating mutation of EGFR kinase domain. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 171 patients who were diagnosed with pulmonary adenocarcinoma and undergone EGFR mutation analysis from 1995 through 2009. RESULTS: In all patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma, there was no significant association between PAI-1 A15T polymorphic variants and prognosis for overall survival. However, further subgroup analysis showed that the group with AG/AA genotype had a shorter 3-year survival time than the group with GG genotype in patients with EGFR mutant-type pulmonary adenocarcinoma (mean survival time, 24.9 months vs. 32.5 months, respectively; p=0.015). In multivariate analysis of 3-year survival for patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma harboring mutant-type EGFR, the AG/AA genotype carriers had poorer prognosis than the GG genotype carriers (hazard ratio, 7.729; 95% confidence interval, 1.414-42.250; p=0.018). CONCLUSION: According to our study of Korean population with pulmonary adenocarcinoma, AG/AA genotype of PAI-1 A15T would be a significant predictor of poor short-term survival in patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma harboring mutant-type EGFR.

A Case of Prothionamide Induced Hepatitis on Patient with Multi-Drug Resistant Pulmonary Tuberculosis / 결핵및호흡기질환

The prevalence of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), which is resistant to isoniazid and rifampin, has been increasing in Korea. And the side effects of 2nd line anti-tuberculosis medications, including drug-induced hepatitis, are well known. Although prothionamide (PTH) is one of the most useful anti-TB medications and although TB medication-induced acute hepatitis is a severe complication, there are only a few published case reports about prothionamide induced hepatitis. In this case report, a 22 year old male was diagnosed with pulmonary MDR-TB and was administered 2nd line anti-TB mediations, including PTH. Afterwards, he had a spiking fever and his liver enzymes were more than 5 times greater than the upper limit of the normal range. He was then diagnosed with drug-induced hepatitis by liver biopsy. His symptoms and liver enzyme elevation were improved after stopping PTH. Accordingly, we report this case of an association between PTH and acute hepatitis.

Utility of Routine Culture for Tuberculosis from Endobronchial Ultrasound-Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration in a Tuberculosis Endemic Country / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a technique developed to allow mediastinal staging of lung cancer and also to evaluate intrathoracic lymphadenopathy. In a tuberculosis-endemic area, tuberculosis should be considered as an etiology of mediastinal lymphadenopathy. The aim of this study was to investigate the utility of the routine culture for tuberculosis from specimens of EBUS-TBNA. METHODS: We prospectively performed routine culture for tuberculosis from aspiration or core biopsy specimens got from 86 patients who had undergone EBUS-TBNA due to mediastinal lymphadenopathy between March 2010 and March 2011. RESULTS: A total of 135 lymph node aspiration and 118 core biopsy specimens were included in this analysis. We confirmed the malignancy in 62 (72.9%), tuberculosis in 7 (8.1%), sarcoidosis in 7 (8.1%), asperogillosis in 2 (2.3%) and pneumoconiosis in 2 (2.3%) patients. One lung cancer patient had pulmonary tuberculosis coincidentally and 5 patients had unknown lymphadenopathy. The number of positive culture for Mycobacterium tuberculsosis by EBUS-TBNA is 2 (1.5%) from 135 lymph node aspiration specimens and 2 (1.7%) from 118 core biopsy specimens. Out of eight patients confirmed with tuberculosis, only one patient had positive mycobacterial culture of aspiration specimen from EBUS-TBNA without histopathologic diagnosis. CONCLUSION: These results propose that routine culture for tuberculosis from EBUS-TBNA may not provide additional information for the diagnosis of coincident tuberculous lymphadenitis. However, if there is any possibility of tuberculous lymphadenopathy or pulmonary tuberculosis, it should be considered to perform EBUS-TBNA in patients who have negative sputum AFB smears or no sputum production.

A Case of Pneumonia with Septic Shock Due to Nocardia farcinia in Liver Transplant Patient / 결핵및호흡기질환

Nocardia farcinia, an aerobic, gram-positive bacilli actinomycetes of the genus Nocardia, is an uncommon pathogen found in humans. The most common Nocardia infection sites are the lung, central nervous system, and skin. Even though hematogenous dissemination can occur, isolation of the organism from blood cultures is very rare. We report a case of Nocardia infection that was isolated on blood cultures. A 59-year-old male with a medical history that includes a liver transplantation 6-years prior due to hepatocellular carcinoma secondary to chronic hepatitis B, developed pneumonia and was transferred to Severance Hospital. At the time of admission, the patient's initial exam showed hypothermia, tachypnea, and hypotension. His chest radiograph showed severe pneumonia and a large abscess on left upper lobe. Under the presumptive diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia or other opportunistic infection, we started broad spectrum antibiotics. However, he developed Nocardia sepsis, rapidly deteriorated, and subsequently died.

A Case of Bronchilolitis Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia in a Patient with Ulcerative Colitis / 결핵및호흡기질환

The ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with an unknown etiology. The major symptoms of ulcerative colitis are diarrhea, abdominal pain and hematochezia. However, arthritis, skin disorders, hepatobiliary inflammation and uveitis are occasionally recognized as systemic complications. Although there are few reports of coexistent pulmonary and inflammatory bowel disease, the lung is not generally considered to be a target organ in ulcerative colitis. We report a patient with ulcerative colitis-related bronchilolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia confirmed by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, who responded to corticosteroid therapy.

The Importance of the Simple Chest X-ray Tend to Make Careless Interpretation: with a Case of Mediastinal Tumor / 결핵및호흡기질환

The middle mediastinum contains several important organs and pluripotent cells. It is difficult to make a definitive diagnosis in patients with middle mediastinal tumors due to a wide range of diseases. The likelihood of malignancy is influenced primarily by the following factors: patient age, size, tumor location, and the presence or absence of symptoms. We describe a case of a middle mediastinal tumor, which was suspected on chest x-ray; chest computed tomography revealed the eccentric mass of distal esophagus. This case emphasizes the diagnostic importance of the chest x-ray to the physicians. The possible differential diagnoses are reviewed.

A Case of Squamous Cell Carcinomatous Lung Abscess with Multiple Metastatic Abscesses / 결핵및호흡기질환

Among the bronchogenic carcinomas, especially squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma frequently present with cavitation, which may result from tumor necrosis. Cavitary lesions of the tumor are occasionally associated with infection and misdiagnosed as benign lung abscess owing to the partial responsiveness to antibiotics. It is very difficult to distinguish the carcinomatous abscess from the benign lung abscess, because of their similar clinical and radiologic features. Delay in diagnosis of underlying lung cancer may result in poor outcome. Therefore, clinicians should remember that the patients with highly suspicious carcinoma of the lung should undergo further precise examinations to find out malignant cells.

A case of biphenotypic acute leukemia with expression of the AML1-ETO gene rearrangement / 대한내과학회지

Biphenotypic acute leukemia (BAL) is a subtype of acute leukemia that expresses two different immunophenotypic lineages, most commonly myeloid and either B- or T-lymphoid lineages. This entity has been defined by a scoring system proposed by the European Group for the Immunological Characterization of Leukemias (EGIL). The prognosis of BAL is regarded as being worse than either acute lymphoid or myeloid leukemia that does not show lineage ambiguity. However, a treatment strategy for BAL has not yet been established. We experienced a case of BAL with the t(8;21) translocation, a favorable cytogenetic rearrangement in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The patient was successfully treated with cytarabine and anthracycline for induction and consolidation. The quantitative value of the AML1-ETO gene decreased after achieving complete hematologic remission. Thus, the AML1-ETO gene rearrangement in BAL may be associated with an acceptable response to the treatment strategy for AML.

Cortical bone thickness and root proximity at mandibular interradicular sites: implications for orthodontic mini-implant placement / 대한치과교정학회지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to provide clinical guidelines to indicate the best location for mini-implants as it relates to the cortical bone thickness and root proximity. METHODS: CT images from 14 men and 14 women were used to evaluate the buccal interradicular cortical bone thickness and root proximity from mesial to the central incisor to the 2nd molar. Cortical bone thickness was measured at 4 different angles including 0degrees, 15degrees, 30degrees, and 45degrees. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in cortical bone thickness between the second premolar/ first permanent molar site, central incisor/central incisor site, between the first/second permanent molar site and in the anterior region. A statistically significant difference in cortical bone thickness was also found when the angulation of placement was increased except for the 2 mm level from the alveolar crest. Interradicular spaces at the 1st/2nd premolar, 2nd premolar/1st permanent molar and 1st/2nd permanent molar sites are considered to be wide enough for mini-implant placement without root damage. CONCLUSIONS: Given the limits of this study, mini-implants for orthodontic anchorage may be well placed at the 4 and 6 mm level from the alveolar crest in the posterior region with a 30degrees and 45degrees angulation upon placement.

A Case of Henoch-Shonlein Purpura Caused by Rifampin / 결핵및호흡기질환

Rifampin is one of the first line drugs for treating tuberculosis, but it might be associated with serious adverse effects, including renal failure. We report here on a case of a 57-year-old patient who developed Henoch-Shonlein purpura during antituberculosis therapy that included rifampin. The patient converted to negative on the AFB smear for tuberculosis two weeks after the initial administration of antituberculosis medication. After treatment for 60 days, this patient was diagnosed with Henoch-Shonlein purpura by the purpura lesion on the lower legs, the leukocytoclastic vasculitis, the renal impairment and the pathological examination. After stopping rifampin, the skin lesions disappeared in about 10 days and his renal function gradually improved. This case study showed that Henoch-Schonlein purpura can be caused by rifampin during antituberculosis therapy and we recommend that the use of rifampin should be restrained when clinical symptoms of Henoch-Shonlein purpura are observed.