A Case of Giant Cell Arteritis developed in Polymyalgia Rheumatica / 대한류마티스학회지

Giant cell arteritis is an inflammatory disease that mainly involves the cranial branches of the arteries originating from the aortic arch. It affects the white populations over the age of 50 almost exclusively who live in Northern Europe and in the United states. There is close relationship between giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica. So far, there have been a few reports of temporal arteritis in Korea. However, giant cell arteritis with typical pathological findings in temporal artery has not been reported. We describe a case who showed typical pathological findings of giant cell arteritis in superficial temporal artery. She had been diagnosed as polymyalgia rheumatica in several months ago.

Ileocecal ulcer with a cecocecal fistula in Behcet's disease

We describe a case of Behcet's disease (BD) which showed the ileocecal ulcer and cecocecal fistula. This 38-year-old man had appendectomy six years ago because of colicky pain in the right lower abdomen (RLA). There are some reports on fistula formation in BD. In those, some are related to surgery and others are not. BD with cecocecal fistula, possibly associated with a past operation, has not been reported in the literature.

Evaluation of the Embolic Effect of Polyvinyl Alcohol Foam particles According to Particle Size on the Cerebral Artery of a Cat, Focusing on T2 Weighted MR Images and Pathologic Study After 24 Hours

PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine the embolic effect of PVA particles of various sizes on the cerebral artery of a cat and to determine the appropriate particle size for embolization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 21 cats were divided into three groups according to the PVA particle size injected: group I(n=7), embolized with 45-150 micrometer PVA; group II(n=7), with 150-250 micrometer PVA; and group III(n=7), with 350-500 micrometer PVA. PVA particles were slowly injected into the left common carotid artery of each cat, and T2-weighted coronal MR images were obtained 24 hours after injection. During histologic examination of brain sections we analyzed the size, number of occluded vessels, and the ischemic changes caused by the particles. RESULTS: On T2 weighted images, areas of high signal intensity (infarction) were observed in four of the seven cats (57%) in group Iand in two of the seven (29%) in group II. High signal intensity was not found in group III. The mean percentage of areas of high signal intensity was 11.86 +/-1 . 37 % in group Iand 5.18 +/-1 . 77% in group II( P <0.05). During histologic examination, occlusion of the distal branches of the anterior cerebral (ACA) and/or the middle cerebral arteries(MCA) by PVA particles was observed in all seven cats (100%) in group I, and in four of the seven cats (57%) in group II. No group IIIcat showed occlusion of the distal branches of the ACA and/or MCA. The mean caliber of occluded vessels was 175 micrometer in Group Iand 258 micrometer in Group II. The mean number of occluded vessels seen on all slide sections was 14 in Group I and 5 in Group II. CONCLUSION: Small PVA particles had a greater cerebral embolic effect than did those which were medium or large. For the induction of embolic infarction in cat brain, PVA particles 45-150 micrometer in size are appropriate.

Evaluation of the Embolic Effect of Polyvinyl Alcohol Foam particles According to Particle Size on the Cerebral Artery of a Cat, Focusing on T2 Weighted MR Images and Pathologic Study After 24 Hours

PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine the embolic effect of PVA particles of various sizes on the cerebral artery of a cat and to determine the appropriate particle size for embolization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 21 cats were divided into three groups according to the PVA particle size injected: group I(n=7), embolized with 45-150 micrometer PVA; group II(n=7), with 150-250 micrometer PVA; and group III(n=7), with 350-500 micrometer PVA. PVA particles were slowly injected into the left common carotid artery of each cat, and T2-weighted coronal MR images were obtained 24 hours after injection. During histologic examination of brain sections we analyzed the size, number of occluded vessels, and the ischemic changes caused by the particles. RESULTS: On T2 weighted images, areas of high signal intensity (infarction) were observed in four of the seven cats (57%) in group Iand in two of the seven (29%) in group II. High signal intensity was not found in group III. The mean percentage of areas of high signal intensity was 11.86 +/-1 . 37 % in group Iand 5.18 +/-1 . 77% in group II( P <0.05). During histologic examination, occlusion of the distal branches of the anterior cerebral (ACA) and/or the middle cerebral arteries(MCA) by PVA particles was observed in all seven cats (100%) in group I, and in four of the seven cats (57%) in group II. No group IIIcat showed occlusion of the distal branches of the ACA and/or MCA. The mean caliber of occluded vessels was 175 micrometer in Group Iand 258 micrometer in Group II. The mean number of occluded vessels seen on all slide sections was 14 in Group I and 5 in Group II. CONCLUSION: Small PVA particles had a greater cerebral embolic effect than did those which were medium or large. For the induction of embolic infarction in cat brain, PVA particles 45-150 micrometer in size are appropriate.

The effect of smoking on eradication of helicobacter pylori

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) is a major risk factor for chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and low grade gastric lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue(MALT). Eradication of H. pylori can induce prevention of peptic ulcer relapse and regression of gastric MALT lymphoma. Smoking has also been knawn to be a mapr risk factor for peptic ulcer. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of smoking on eradication of H. pylori according to smoking status, amount of smoking, and smoking cessation. METHODS: We studied 132 patients with H. pylori-positive gastroduodenal diseases. Diseases composed of gastritis in 36.4%, peptic ulcer 62.1%, gastric MALT lymphoma 1.5%. Patients were treated with amoxacillin 1.0g, clarithromycin 500mg, omeprazole 20mg bid for a period of 7 days. Patients underwent a follow-up gastroendoscopy 6 weeks later after eradication treatment. H. pylori status was confirmed by initial and follow up biopsies of gastric antrum and corpus using Hematoxylin-Eosin stain and Wharthin-Starry silver stain. At the begining of treatment, 66.7% of 132 patients were smokers, 9.8% ex-smokers, 23.5% non-smokers. Smokers were advised to stop smoking through education and counseling at each office visit. RESULTS: H. pylori eradication was achieved in 111 patients(84.1%). The number of smokers who had quit smoking sucessfully during treatment were 25(28.4%). The rate of eradication did not seem to influenced by initial smoking status and total amount of smoking(pack-years). Hawever, during treatment, success group for smoking cessation(100%) had a higher rate of eradication than non-cessation group. Daily amount of smoking had an effect on eradication with significant statistical difference ; Non-smokers showed 89.9% eradication rate, mild smokers(20/day) 50%. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that current smoking status and daily amount of smoking during treatment seem to influence the rate of eradication of H. pylori rather than past smoking history alone. There was some improvement in the eradication rate by quitting or reducing smoking together with H. pylori eradication treatment.

Behcet's Disease with Multiple Ulcers in Esophagus and Terminal Ileum: Report of Two Cases / 대한류마티스학회지

Behcet's disease is a chronic polysymptomatic disease of recurrent systemic vasculitis. The etiology remains unclear. This disease affects several organs of the body concurrently or consecutively and sometimes has a serious outcome, depending upon the system involved. Though gastrointestinal symptoms are relatively common in Behcet's disease, ulcerative change of the intestine is infrequent. The most common sites for the intestinal Behcet's disease are terminal ileum and cecum. Only a few literatures report the esophageal ulcers in Behcet's disease. We describe 2 cases of Behcet's disease who have multiple ulcers in esophagus and terminal ileum. Esophageal ulcers have improved with low-dose prednisolone, colchicine and sulfasalazine in these patients.

Sclerosing mesenteritis associated with skin panniculitis and pleural thickening / 대한내과학회지

Sclerosinng mesenteritis is a rare disease that occurs most often among middle aged man. Fewer than 200 cases have been reported in the literature. It is a benign mesenteric lesion characterized by fat necrosis, fibrosis and chronic inflammation. The pathogenesis of this disease is unclear through an autoimmune origin has been proposed. The disease is generally localized and self- limiting. Fatal case is rare but has been reported. In patients with biopsy proven sclerosing mesenteritis having a relentless downhill course, treatment with prednisolone and oral cyclophosphamide in isolated case report has lead to evident clinical and radiological responses. This is a report of a case of sclerosing mesenteritis, who presented to us with history of colicky abdominal pain and weight loss. She was treated with prednisone and intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse therapy and resulted in radiological and clinical improvement. Interestingly this case has associated with skin panniculitis and pleural thickening. The skin panniculitis also showed good response to prednisolone. Our case is the first in which sclerosing mesenteritis was associated with pleural thickening.

CT and MR Findings of Meningioangiomatosis

PURPOSE: To characterize the CT and MR findings in patients with meningioangiomatosis(MA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four patients (18 to 53 years old, two females and two males) with MA were retrospectively reviewed. CTwas used in four cases and MR in three. Pathologic specimens were obtained from all four. RESULT: All lesions were located in the cortical and subcortical areas and showed spotty(n=1), popcornlike(n=2), or gyral(n=1) calcification. The mass were associated with surrounding edema and gliosis. In two patients, lesions were multiple and were accompanied by eccentric cysts. CONCLUSION: MA is a surgically correctable benign disease. Its radiologic characteristics are cortical or subcortical mass with various calcifications, associated peripheral edema and gliosis.