A Case of Type I Duodenal Perforation Treated with Covered Metal Stent / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has played an important role in diagnosis and management of biliary disease. Traditionally, duodenal perforations, rare complication of ERCP, have been managed surgically. However, in the past decade, there were arguments for surgical and nonsurgical management of ERCP-related duodenal perforations and reports of successful conservative treatment were increasing especially in patients with old age and poor medical conditions. We experienced a case of type I duodenal perforation following ERCP treated with covered metal stent in 74 years old female with duodenal invasion by Klatskin tumor.

Clinical Significance of Thymidylate Synthase and Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Gene Polymorphism in Korean Patients with Gastric Cancer / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Thymidylate synthase (TS) is a target enzyme of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and has a polymorphic 28 bp tandem repeated sequence. TS enhancer region (TSER) polymorphism has been associated with the efficacy of 5-FU-based chemotherapy in colon cancer. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) plays a central role in converting folate to methyl donor for DNA methylation. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical value of TSER and MTHFR polymorphism in gastric cancer. METHODS: From October, 1995 to February, 2002, 40 gastric cancer patients underwent operation and 25 patients among those patients have received postoperative 5-FU-based chemotherapy (5-FU (+) group). Peripherial blood were sampled for TSER and MTHFR genotype analysis by PCR amplification of genomic DNA. The survival of patients according to TSER and MTHFR polymorphism were compared. RESULTS: We observed a longer survival in stage II than stage III of the patients (p=0.0037). However, the TSER and MTHFR C677T polymorphisms were not associated with better survival of gastric cancer patients as well as combined TSER and MTHFR genotypes with 5-FU chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The TSER and MTHFR genotypes are not effective markers for tumor sensitivity to 5-FU-based chemotherapy in Korean gastric cancer patients after curative resection. These results may suggest further large-scale study about TSER and MTHFR polymorphism for the prediction of efficacy of 5-FU-based chemotherapy in gastric cancer in Korea.

A case of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in Gaucher's disease type III and recovery of enzyme activity documented by Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorter (FACS) analysis / 대한내과학회지

Gaucher's disease (GD) is the most common inherited lysosomal storage disease, manifested by generalized accumulation of glucocerebroside in macrophages of the reticuloendothelial system due to a deficient lysosomal beta-glucocerebrosidase (GC). It is inherited by an autosomal recessive pattern in which three clinical phenotypes have been described based on the presence and severity of neurologic involvement. GD is treated possible by GC enzyme replacement therapy, allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT), and gene therapy. We here report the exprience of successful allogeneic BMT in a 16-year-old female patient with GD type III which was demostrated markedly increased Gaucher cells in bone marrow and absence of GC activity in peripheral blood monocytes by FACS using 5'- pentafluorobenzoylaminofluorescein-di-beta-D-glucoside (PFBFDGlu) as substrate. Donor marrow engraftment was confirmed by chromosome analysis using microsatellite and by bone marrow examination. Assay of GC activity using FACS revealed normal level of enzyme activity. She remains alive and well after 12 months of BMT.

Intracavitary 166 Holmium - chitosan Complex Therapy in Patients with Malignant Peritoneal or Pleural Effusions / 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: Most malignant peritoneal or pleural effusions caused by advanced malignancy are unresponsive to systemic chemotherapy except for chemotherapy sensitive tumors, and they are equally ineffective to regional therapy or radiotherapy. Thus, for the purpose of palliating the symptoms related to malignant effusion and to reduce fluid reaccumulations, we evaluated the therapeutic feasibility and efficacy of intracavitary ' Ho-CHICO (chito- san complex) instillation for intractable malignant effusions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty one patients with cytologically or pathologically proven malignant effusions underwent intracavitary 166Ho-CHICO therapy from May 1996 to March 1998 at Ajou University Hospital. The subjective and objective responses were evaluated 4 weeks after the treatment, including the changes of symptoms, weight, abdominal girth, doses of diuretics, frequencies and amounts of repeat aspirations for fluid reaccumulations, and imaging studies of chest radiograph and ultrasounds. RESULTS: The response rates treated with Ho-CHICO were 50% in patients with peritoneal effusion and 46% in patients with pleural effusion (overall 49%). The response rates between 166Ho-CHICO doses of 50-80 mCi and 90-100 mCi were similar (50% vs 47%). Response rate of 70% was noted in patients with even distribution of radioisotope on the post-therapy scan, but, the response rate was lower in cases with focal (44%) and uneven (29%) distribution pattern. There was no difference in response by the effusion sites. All patients tolerated intracavitary 166Ho-CHICO instillation well, although the majority of patients experienced Grade I/II side effects such as pain, fever, weakness and dyspnea. But, no serious complications of Grade lII or IV degree were observed with 166Ho-CHICO therapy. CONCLUSION: Intracavitary 166Ho-CHICO instillation was clinically efficacious in controlling malignant effusions without a significant toxicity seen with conventional sclerotic therapy. The therapeutic modality appeared to offer similar benefits obtained with the conventional intracavitary therapy.