A Case of Idiopathic Acute Renal Infarction / 대한내과학회지

Renal thromboembolism almost always occurs in the setting of cardiac disease. Acute renal infarction may occur rarely in middle-aged patients without apparent risk factors for cardiac thromboembolism. We report a 40-year-old man who developed bilateral renal infarction and had no cardiovascular risk factors, except smoking. In middle-aged healthy patients with renal colic without lithiasis, the diagnosis of idiopathic renal infarction should be considered, especially if lactate dehydrogenase is elevated.

Depression, Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: Is There a Relationship? / 대한신장학회지

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the features and severity of depressive symptoms in peritoneal dialysis patients, and the relationship of depressive symptoms with levels of inflammation and oxidative stress (OS). METHODS: The diagnosis of depression was made using DSM-IV-TR and the depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) via a semi-structured interview. Levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARs) were determined as markers of lipid peroxidation. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were measured as antioxidants. RESULTS: 19 (28.8%) patients were diagnosed with depression (Major Depressive Disorder was 18.2%, Dysthymic disorder was 10.6%). OS markers were not different between patients with and without depression. Compared to non-depressed patients, depressed patients showed significantly higher depressed mood, feelings of guilt, suicidal ideation, sleep disturbances, psychomotor retardation, agitation, psychic and somatic anxiety, lower levels of work and activities, gastrointestinal and general somatic symptoms, and hypochondriasis. There was a significant positive correlation between HRSD scores and peritonitis (gamma=0.297, p=0.016), levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) (gamma=0.406, p=0.001) and ferritin (gamma=0.276, p=0.025), while there was a significant negative correlation between scores of HRSD and levels of albumin (gamma=-0.313, p=0.010). CONCLUSION: Major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder were not related to inflammation and oxidative stress in peritoneal dialysis patients; however, depressive symptom severity was correlated with markers of inflammation and malnutrition. These results suggest that inflammation could have influence on depressive symptoms in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Histological comparison of endoscopic forceps biopsy with endoscopic mucosal resection in the gastric lesions / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: The correct histological diagnosis of a gastric adenoma is important, because an adenoma has been reported to be a precancerous lesion and is associated with focal gastric carcinoma. However, there is some discrepancy between the histology of a forceps biopsy and that of the endoscopic mucosal resection. This study compared the histological findings of a gastric mucosal lesion in the specimens of a forceps biopsy and an endoscopic mucosal resection. METHODS: 88 cases of gastric mucosal lesions, which had been removed by the endoscopic mucosal resection, were reviewed retrospectively. All the patients had undergone a forceps biopsy before the endoscopic mucosal resection. The histological findings of the specimens by a forceps biopsy were compared with those by resection. RESULTS: The histological findings were accordant at 52 of the 88 cases (59.1%). Among the 71 cases with adenoma or gastritis in the biopsied specimens, 13 cases (18.3%) were finally diagnosed with gastric cancer in the resected specimens. Among all the gastritis and adenomas determined by the forceps biopsy, the high-risk groups for adenocarcinomas were characterized by the following endoscopic findings: red-colored and depressed lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Biopsy specimens may not be representative of the entire lesion. Therefore, an endoscopic resection of a gastric mucosal lesion is needed for making an accurate histological diagnosis and treatment if adenomas such as red-colored or depressed lesions are suspected.

A Case of Carcinoid Tumors of the Stomach and Duodenum Treated by Endoscopy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

A carcinoid tumor is a slow growing, rare neoplasm arising from enterochromaffin cells with a malignant potential. A primary carcinoid tumor of the stomach and duodenum is uncommon. However, their prevalence has been increasing due to the widespread use of endoscopy. Recently, the use of endoscopic resection for the treatment of small carcinoid tumors is gradually increasing. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of synchronous carcinoid tumors in the stomach and duodenum. We report a case of small, multiple carcinoid tumors of the stomach and duodenum in a 58-year-old man that was endoscopically removed with a snare.

A Case of Granular Cell Tumor of the Colon Treated by Colonoscopy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Granular cell tumor (GCT) is a relatively rare benign tumor that can be located anywhere throughout the body, but it is uncommon in the gastrointestinal tract, and especially in the colon and rectum. A 41-year-old man visited our hospital with a three-month history of intermittent abdominal discomfort at the left lower quadrant area. Colonoscopic examination revealed a hemispheric, submucosal lesion, about 1.5 x 1.2 cm in size, on the opposite side of the ileocecal valve in the proximal ascending colon. The tumor was removed by an endoscopic snare without any immediate complication. The pathologic findings revealed spindled or polygonal large cells that were positive for S-100, neuron-specific enolase and vimentin, and they were negative for smooth muscle actin and desmin, which was consistent with granular cell tumor. We report here on a case of granular cell tumor of the colon that was successfully treated with endoscopic polypectomy.

Clinical Findings of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding and Risk Factors for Early Rebleeding in Patients with Bleeding Peptic Ulcers / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeding may have serious complications. Endoscopic therapy is effective in the hemostasis of active bleeding. We analysed the causes of UGI bleeding and evaluated risk factors and rate of rebleeding in patients with bleeding peptic ulcer. METHODS: Records from 326 patients admitted with upper gastrointestinal bleeding between January 1998 and December 2002 were reviewed. We retrospectively analyzed clinical findings and rebleeding risk factors of peptic ulcers. RESULTS: Common causes of UGI bleeding were esophageal varix (38.0%), peptic ulcer (36.9%), Mallory-Weiss tear (13.8%), stomach cancer (6.4%). Early rebleeding of bleeding peptic ulcer after hemostasis occurred in 23 cases (19.2%). On the basis of univariate analysis, significant predictive factors for early rebleeding were old age (>65) (p=0.034), size of ulcer (>2 cm) (p=0.002), number of ulcer (>1) (p=0.059). In multivariate analysis, old age (odds ratio, OR=2.3), size of ulcer (OR=3.3), number of ulcer (OR=2.6) were independent risk factors of rebleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Common causes of UGI bleeding are esophageal varix, peptic ulcer, Mallory-Weiss tear. Predictive risk factors for early rebleeding in bleeding peptic ulcer may be old age, size of ulcer and number of ulcer.