A Case of Double Cancer of the Esophagus and Stomach in Situs Inversus Totalis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Left-to-right transposition of the normally asymmetrical organs of the body is termed situs inversus. Situs inversus is a rare congenital anomaly; according to Varano and Merklin, the reported incidence is estimated at 1:5,000 to 10,000 in adults. Its etiology is obscure but it apparently does not influence normal health or life expectancy. Many cases of malignant neoplasms with situs inversus have been found in corresponding English literature, but there was no documentation of double cancer of the esophagus and stomach associated with situs inversus totalis. We present a case of double cancer of the esophagus and stomach in a 49-year-old male with situs inversus totalis. Chest X-rays and an abdominal CT scan revealed situs inversus totalis. A chest and abdominal CT scan, and gastroscopy with tissue biopsy determined esophageal and gastric cancer.

Usefulness of Fibrinogen B beta 448 Polymorphism as a Marker of Cerebral Infarction in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus / 대한내과학회지

OBJECTIVES: Cerebral infarction as a macrovascular complication in patients with diabetes mellitus is frequent. However, mechanisms for the development of cerebral infarction were not well known until today. The aims of this study were 1) to determine the relationship between the fibrinogen B beta 448 polymorphism and fibrinogen levels in patients with cerebral infarction, and 2) to assess usefulness of fibrinogen B beta 448 polymorphism as a marker of cerebral infarction in patients with diabetes mellitus. METHODS: We studied 60 diabetes mellitus patients, 26 diabetes mellitus patients with cerebral infarction, 17 cerebral infarction patients, and 121 normal controls. Fibrinogen B beta 448 genotype was determined by the PCR-RFLP method using restriction enzyme Mnl I. RESULTS: Fibrinogen levels in each patient group were not significantly different from one another. Fibrinogen B beta 448 genotype frequencies of the patient groups did not significantly differ from those of the normal controls. CONCLUSION: This study didn't show the relationship between the fibrinogen B beta 448 polymorphism and fibrinogen levels in patients with cerebral infarction. Moreover, these data didn't suggest the fibrinogen B beta 448 polymorphism as a marker of cerebral infarction in patients with diabetes mellitus. Further studies are needed to find the other polymorphic sites of fibrinogen gene which can affect the levels of fibrinogen.