Variable Number of Tandem Repeats (VNTR) Disparity between Donor and Recipient has a Potential to Predict the Outcomes of HLA-identical Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation / 대한혈액학회지

BACKGROUND: Detection of variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) between recipient and donor has been adopted to monitor the degree of chimerism after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). In allogeneic SCT, besides MHC-disparity, the disparity of various polymorphous proteins encoded by several genes may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). However, the biologic effect of VNTR disparity has been scarcely studied. METHODS: We analyzed 84 patients receiving SCT from HLA-identical sibling (n=68) or unrelated donors (n=16). Enrolled diseases included AML 48, ALL 8, CML 15, NHL 10, and high-risk MDS 3. The PCR was performed to amplify 3 VNTR regions (D1S80, D1S111, and D17S5). RESULTS: We observed strong correlation between the D1S80 disparity and transplant outcomes in terms of OS (P=0.0179) or non-relapse mortality (NRM) (P=0.0305), but not for D1S111 or D17S5 disparity. The D1S80-fully matched pair showed a better OS (72% vs 38%) and lower NRM (17% vs 50%) compared to partially matched or mismatched pairs. In multivariate analyses, D1S80-fully matched pair was found to be independent favorable prognostic factor for OS (P=0.03) or NRM (P=0.05). In addition, the D1S80 disparity was significantly associated with the myeloid engraftment speed (P=0.01) or the occurrence of gut chronic GVHD (P=0.05). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that disparities in D1S80-located on chromosome1-seemed to be associated with increased incidence of gut chronic GVHD and NRMs, thus suggesting the existence of unknown genes of minor histocompatibility antigens targeting gut or cytokine/cytokine receptor on chromosome 1.

A Case of Traumatic Acute Pericarditis Mimicking Acute Myocardial Infarction, Caused by Swallowing Fishhook

A patient, with severe chest pain and isolated ST segment elevation, was evaluated in order to differentiate ischemic heart disease, such as acute myocardial infarction. A fishhook was incidentally found during coronary angiography, chest CT and esophagoscopy. With this information, the patient was re-interviewed, and it was learned that the patient had swallowed the fishhook from cooked fish after fishing trip. The patient was diagnosed as traumatic acute pericarditis with acute mediastinitis, associated with esophageal and pericardial perforation. The patient was successfully treated by surgical treatment drainage and adequate antibiotic use. We report a case of traumatic acute pericarditis, which mimicked an acute myocardial infarction, with a review of the literature.

Effectiveness of Single-dose Sodium Phosphate on Bowel Preparation / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Oral sodium phosphate has been shown to be effective and safe but causes intravascular volume contraction, changes in serum calcium and phopshate level, and sleep disturbance when given two doses every 12 hours. Because the evening dose is inconvenient for many patients, we gave single morning dose, and compared it with conventional 12-hour-split dose. METHODS: Sixty one patients drank 90 mL of sodium phosphate at 7:00 AM and 58 patients drank 45 mL of sodium phosphate at 7:00 PM and 7:00 AM respectively. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in bowel cleansing between two groups (p=0.871). There was no significant difference in patient's tolerance and symptoms between two groups except sleep deprivation which was more frequent in the split dose group. None of the patients complained of postural dizziness or presyncope in both groups. Serum phosphate levels were increased and serum calcium levels were decreased after preparation in both groups, but patients showed no significant clinical symptoms such as tetany. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that giving a single morning dose of sodium phosphate is effective, well tolerated and safe in most patients for precolonoscopic cleansing, compared to conventional split dose of 12-hour interval.

Clinical and Echocardiographic Findings in Patients who Underwent Mitral Valve repair Surgery

No abstract available.

Echocardiographic Findings and Clinical Manifestations of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Including 3 Cases of Anomalous Insertion of Papillary Muscle

OBJECTIVES: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) has been of great interest to clinicians because of its diverse clinical, morphologic, pathophysiologic and molecular genetic manifestations. We investigated the frequencies and clinical manifestations according to the types in Maron's classification of HCM. METHODS: Patients with HCM who were seen at our institution from June 1999 to July 2001 were retrospectively reviewed. Echocardiographic patterns were classified by Maron's classification. RESULTS: Of 62 patients (M/F=39/23, 56+/-14.8 years), 6 patients (9.7%) were type I (relatively mild left ventricular hypertrophy confined to the anterior portion of ventricular septum), 10 patients (16.1%) were type II (hypertrophy of the anterior and posterior septum in the absence of free-wall thickening), 25 patients (40.3%) were type III (diffuse hypertrophy of substantial portion of both the ventricular septum and anterolateral free wall), 1 patients (1.6%) were type IV (hypertrophy in the posterior septum or anterolateral free wall) and 20 patients (32.3%) were type V (apical hypertrophy). Compared with western countries in which the type III was most common, type III was also most common in Korea, but type V was more common in Korea. Systolic anterior motion of mitral leaflet (SAM) were noted in 12 patients in which 10 patients had type III. 43 of 62 patients (69.4%) had chest pain (33.9%), dyspnea on exertion (30.6%), palpitation (1.6%) and syncope (3.2%). 19 of 62 patients (30.6%) had no subjective symptoms, and there was no significant statistical difference between types. Three of 62 patients had anomalous insertion of papillary muscle at mitral valve. SUMMARY: The most common type was type III, and SAM was found mostly in type III. Anomalous insertion of papillary muscle was noted in 3 out of 62 cases. There was no differences in subjective symptom between the types.

A Case of Acute Myocardial Infarction Associated with Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection

A spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare cause of acute myocardial ischemia. However, its precise etiology, pathogenesis, prevalence and treatment is unclear. The clinical presentation of a spontaneous coronary artery dissection can be sudden death or an acute coronary syndrome and sometimes no symptoms are present. We report a case of a 39-year-old man with a spontaneous coronary artery dissection in the right coronary artery. He presented with a history of chest pain persisting for 4 hours. The initial electrocardiogram showed a ST segment elevation in lead II III and aVF. He received intravenous urokinase, but no improvement in his symptoms was observed and the electrocardiographic changes did not resolve. A rescue coronary angiogram was performed, which demonstrated an area of dissection in the distal right coronary artery with resultant TIMI II flow. A 3.5x36 mm MAC stent was deployed across the lesion. After implanting the stent, the remainder of his stay was uncomplicated and he has remained asymptomatic at the time of this review.

Clinical Characterization of Reverse Redistribution Pattern in 99mTC-Sestamibi Myocardial Perfusion Scan

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Reverse redistribution pattern (RRP), that is defined as the worsening of the perfusion defect at rest image, can be observed in 99mTC-sestamibi (methoxy isobutyl isonitrile) myocardial scan with standard stress-rest protocol. This study was prepared to evaluate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of RRP in stress 99mTc-sestamibi myocardial scan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 1304 images of 99mTC-sestamibi myocardial perfusion scan performed between January 1995 and June 1997, and scintigraphic findings were compared with clinical and angiographic data. RESULTS: The prevalence of RRP was 5.2%(68 of 1,304). RRP was noted in 6.0% (41 of 679) of the adenosine study and 4.3% (27 of 625) of the exercise study. The mean coronary artery stenosis at RRP territory was 51.5+/-38.9%. However, normal coronary artery at RRP territory was noted in 45.8% (11 of 24). There was no significant differences in luminal narrowing of coronary arteries, TIMI flow grade and LV wall motion between the patient with RRP positive and RRP negative at the infarct related artery territory. CONCLUSION: Reverse redistribution pattern on 99mTC-sestamibi myocardial SPECT does not seem to indicate the presence of significant coronary artery disease or patency of the infarct related arteries in the patients with acute MI.