Two Cases of Paraproteinemic Keratopathy

Purpose@#To report two cases of paraproteinemic keratopathy (PK).Case summary: A 57-year-old man visited the ophthalmology clinic complaining of decreased visual acuity since 1 year earlier. White crystalline deposits were observed on both corneas and the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of both eyes was 1.0. After 3 months, the BCVA decreased to 0.8 in the right and 0.6 in the left. Increased corneal deposits were observed. To rule out PK, his medical records were checked. The patient had been diagnosed with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma 3 years earlier. Diagnosing PK, the patient was referred back to the Hemato-Oncology department. After 3 months of chemotherapy, the corneal deposits decreased and BCVA returned to 1.0. A 69-year-old woman presented complaining of decreased visual acuity for 2 years. The uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was 0.4 in the right and finger count at 30 cm in the left. Brown deposits were observed on both corneas and lenses. The serum copper level was elevated. She was referred to the internal medicine department and diagnosed with multiple myeloma. After treatment, the laboratory results returned to normal, but the UCVA decreased to hand motion in the left. A left white cataract was noted and cataract surgery was performed. 1 month postoperatively, the BCVA was 0.9, with no change in the corneal deposits. @*Conclusions@#When there are corneal deposits, we should consider PK in the differential diagnosis. In such cases, systemic treatment is the first line. Therefore, diagnosing and referring PK patients to the internal medicine department is crucial.

Characteristics and Clinical Correlations of Staphylococcus aureus Discovered in Stools from Children Hospitalized at a Secondary Hospital

PURPOSE: Research on the clinical role of Staphylococcus aureus as a pathogen in acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children has been scarce. This study aimed to clarify the prevalence and clinical correlation of S. aureus detection in children with AGE. METHODS: Fecal samples were collected from children with symptoms of AGE who visited a secondary hospital between January 2012 and December 2015. The samples were sent to the Seoul Metropolitan Government Research Institute of Public Health and Environment to test for pathogenic organisms. Clinical patterns were analyzed through medical record review. RESULTS: Among the 663 participants, the bacteria detection rate was 26.2% (n=174), the virus detection rate was 29.7% (n=197), and the non-detection rate was 43.1% (n=286). S. aureus was tested positive from 102 cases and was confirmed as a single pathogen in 53 cases. It was the third most common pathogen. The prevalence by age was highest (45.3%) in 0–2 year-olds. Most cases occurred in summer. Symptoms included diarrhea (71.7%), vomiting (67.9%), fever (49.1%), and abdominal pain (37.7%). Only vomiting showed a significant difference between the S. aureus group and the non-detection group (67.9% vs. 43.0%; P=0.001). Among enterotoxins, the higher incidence of vomiting was associated with classical staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEA, SEB, SEC, SED, and SEE) and SEH (P=0.027). CONCLUSIONS: S. aureus was the bacteria commonly isolated from children with AGE. Our study identified cases of staphylococcal AGE in children based on fecal samples and confirmed the characteristic symptoms, affected age groups, seasonal distribution, and correlation with enterotoxins.

Etiology and Clinical Features of Acute Bacterial Gastroenteritis in Children Mananged at a Secondary Hospital

PURPOSE: Acute bacterial gastroenteritis (ABG) can cause more severe symptoms than acute viral gastroenteritis in children. This study was aimed at determining the etiologic trends and to examine the clinical characteristics of ABG in children. METHODS: We sent stool samples from the children with acute gastroenteritis who were treated at a secondary hospital located in Seoul, Korea between January 2011 and December 2014 to Seoul Metropolitan Government Research Institute of Public Health and Environment to find the causative organisms. Clinical characteristics of patient were analyzed through a medical records review. RESULTS: Out of 664 stool samples, 183 (27.6%) yielded bacterial pathogens. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common bacterial pathogen, found in 72 cases (39.3%), even though it was only tested for since 2012. The monthly isolation rate was the highest (24.6%) in August. The isolation rate of Campylobacter spp. by patient's age group was high (16.7%) in the 12- to 18-year-age group (P =0.04). In patients with bloody stool, Campylobacter spp. was the most commonly isolated (31.0%, P =0.04). When comparing C-reactive protein, the Salmonella spp.- or Campylobacter spp.-isolated group showed higher values than the S. aureus - or pathogenic Escherichia coli -isolated group (5.7±0.6 mg/dL vs. 2.1±0.3 mg/dL, P <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: S. aureus, Salmonella spp., pathogenic E. coli , and Campylobacter spp. were important pathogens of ABG among children. Considering the differences in pathogens found according to age, a clinical symptom and inflammation index might be helpful in assuming the causative organism.

A Case of Delayed Recovery from Antibody-Mediated Rejection / 대한내과학회지

Antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) in kidney transplant recipients is mediated by donor-specific antibodies. It is the major cause of graft failure in noncompliant patients and is associated with reduced long-term graft survival. We present a case of delayed recovery of renal function despite aggressive therapy after acute ABMR. A 49-year-old male on triple-drug maintenance immunosuppression (prednisolone, cyclosporine, and azathioprine), who underwent cadaveric donor renal transplantation 14 years earlier, visited our clinic with a serum creatinine level (SCr) of 1.9 mg/dL. The kidney biopsy revealed acute ABMR with diffuse C4d immunopositivity. We started steroid pulse therapy and bortezomib with plasmapheresis. Nevertheless, the SCr increased. Consequently, antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and intravenous immunoglobulin were administered. The SCr increased further to 4.1 mg/dL. Therefore, we performed a second kidney biopsy, which showed no change. Finally, we used rituximab. Fortunately, the SCr decreased gradually and returned to baseline.

Eosinophilic organ infiltration without eosinophilia or direct parasite infection

No abstract available.

A Case of Cryptococcal Myofascitis in a Patient with Iatrogenic Cushing's Syndrome / 대한내과학회지

The skin is the third most common site of cryptococcosis after infections of the central nervous system and lungs. However, cryptococcosis rarely involves deep soft tissue. Here, we report a case of cryptococcal cellulitis and myofascitis in a 72-year-old woman with iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome. Despite the administration of antibiotics, the patient continued to suffer from aggravated wounds and pain. Cultures of pus and an excisional biopsy of the skin revealed Cryptococcus neoformans. She was treated successfully with intravenous fluconazole (400 mg/day) for 14 days followed by oral fluconazole (400 mg/day) for 12 months.

Red ginseng extract increases the functional components of silkworm Bombyx mori L. used as an anti-diabetes medicinal resource / 동물의과학연구지

The anti-diabetes mechanism of silkworm Bombyx mori L. powder and extracts was found to inhibit the activity of alpha-glycosidase. The major functional component of silkworm powder was 1-deoxynojirimycin (1-DNJ), which exerts a blood glucose-lowering effect. In this study, we aimed to compare the effects of the supplements, including red ginseng extract on the functional components of silkworm. Fifty silkworm larvae were divided into the control group (Con, N=50), group A (A, artificial diet 95% and mulberry leaf powder 5%), group B (B, artificial diet 95% and mulberry powder 5%), group C (C, artificial diet 95% and Rubus coreanus remainders 5%), group D (D, artificial diet 95% and red ginseng extract 5%), and group E (E, artificial diet 95% and yeast powder (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Body weights and length of silkworm larvae showed significant improvement in group A, D. In particular, the growth rate in group D (artificial diet 95% and red ginseng extract 5%) was larger than that of Con. In addition, the results showed that 1-DNJ concentration was significantly largest in group D. From these results, it is concluded that the addition of red ginseng extract may be effective for larval growth and 1-DNJ accumulation in silkworm rearing with an artificial diet.

Treatment of eggshell with casein phosphopeptide reduces the severity of ovariectomy-induced bone loss / 한국실험동물학회지

It has been generally accepted that calcium intake prevents bone loss, and frequent fracture resulted from osteoporosis. However, it is still elusive as to how effective sole calcium intake is in preventing or attenuating the severity of osteoporosis. Here, we demonstrate the effects of eggshell-casein phosphopeptide (ES-CPP), and compared these effects those of calcium supplement, for restoring ovariectomy-mediated bone loss. CPP, synthesized from the hydrolysis of casein (0.5%) using trypsin, was added to the grinded ES and was then administered to the ovariectomized (OVX) rat at 100 mg/kg for 4 weeks. Urine and feces from each group were collected each day, and were used to calculate the apparent calcium absorption rate in a day. After 4 weeks incubation, blood and femoral bones were isolated for the analysis of parameters representing osteoporosis. The apparent calcium absorption rate was significantly increased in the ES-CPP treated groups, in comparison to both the OVX and the commercial calcium supplement (CCS) treated group. Notably, treatment with ES-CPP markedly enhanced the calcium content in femoral bone and the relative weight of femoral bone to body weight, though calcium content in serum was barely changed by treatment with ES-CPP. Parameters of osteoporosis, such as osteocalcin in serum and bone mineral density, were rescued by treatment with ES-CPP, compared to treatment with commercial calcium supplement. This finding strongly suggests the possible use of ES-CPP in preventing or attenuating the severity of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

A Case of Pleural Endometriosis Presented as Right Sided Hemothorax in a Patient Who Underwent Kidney Transplantation / 영남의대학술지

Thoracic endometriosis is an uncommon disease that has four main forms: catamenial pneumothorax, hemothorax, hemoptysis, and pulmonary nodules. Since the growth of endometrial tissue depends on the presence of estrogen, thoracic endometriosis usually occurs in menstruating women between 25 and 35 years of age. Menstrual disturbances are common in women with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, they could be reversed after kidney transplantation. Therefore, previously asymptomatic endometriosis may become symptomatic after kidney transplantation. A 49-year-old woman with CKD underwent kidney transplantation. A month later, she experienced dyspnea, and hemothorax in her right hemithorax. However, there was no evidence of infectious diseases and malignancy in thoracentesis, pleural biopsy, and computed chest tomography (CT). The serum and pleural fluid levels of his carbohydrate antigen 125 were elevated. Hemothorax secondary to pleural endometriosis was suspected. We tried hormonal therapy, and the hemothorax disappeared. At the sixth-month follow-up, there was no recurrence of hemothorax.

Dapsone-induced drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome, misdiagnosed as lymphoma

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a life-threatening adverse drug reaction with systemic manifestations. Dapsone is known to be useful for treatment of leprosy and various dermatologic conditions. We report a patient with prurigo pigmentosa who developed DRESS syndrome after dapsone treatment. She presented with lymphadenopathy, fever, eosinophilia, skin rash, and elevated liver enzymes. Initial lymph node and skin biopsy was suggestive of peripheral T-cell lymphoma. Initially, she was treated with chemotherapy. A week later after complete remission of skin symptoms, new skin lesions recurred. TCR-gene rearrangement was examined to show negative results and she was diagnosed as dapsone induced DRESS syndrome. This case emphasizes the importance of differential diagnosis of lymphoma and DRESS syndrome.

Usefulness of a Helicobacter pylori stool antigen test for diagnosing H. pylori infected C57BL/6 mice / 한국실험동물학회지

Among several diagnostic tests, a Helicobacter pylori stool antigen (HpSA) test may offer a useful noninvasive method for diagnosing infection without sacrificing animals. In this study, male C57BL/6 mice (n=6) were infected with H. pylori ATCC 49503 (1x10(8) CFU/mouse) by intragastric inoculation three times at 2-day intervals, and H. pylori infected stool specimens were collected 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21 days after infection to assess reliability of the HpSA test. Five of six specimens were positive at 5-21 days after infection, and the sensitivity of the HpSA test was 83.33%. The presence of H. pylori infection was confirmed by the rapid urease test and genomic DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and showed the same results as the HpSA. However, the rapid urease test and genomic DNA PCR are invasive tests and require animal sacrifice to detect H. pylori in gastric biopsy samples. We suggest that an HpSA test kit would be useful and effective for monitoring H. pylori in various laboratory animals, as H. pylori can be easily monitored without sacrificing animals.