Association Between Vitamin D Insufficiency and Metabolic Syndrome in Patients With Psychotic Disorders

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the association between vitamin D and metabolic syndrome in patients with psychotic disorders. METHODS: The study enrolled 302 community-dwelling patients with psychotic disorders. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, including blood pressure, physical activity, and dietary habit were gathered. Laboratory examinations included vitamin D, lipid profile, fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, liver function, and renal function. Vitamin D insufficiency was defined as <20 ng/mL. Clinical characteristics associated with vitamin D insufficiency were identified. RESULTS: Among the 302 participants, 236 patients (78.1%) had a vitamin D insufficiency and 97 (32.1%) had metabolic syndrome. Vitamin D insufficiency was significantly associated with the presence of metabolic syndrome (p=0.006) and hypertension (p=0.017). Significant increases in triglycerides and alanine transaminase were observed in the group with a vitamin D insufficiency (p=0.002 and 0.011, respectively). After adjusting for physical activity and dietary habit scores, vitamin D insufficiency remained significantly associated with metabolic syndrome and hypertension. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D insufficiency was associated with metabolic syndrome and was particularly associated with high blood pressure, although the nature, direction and implications of this association are unclear.

A Case of Tuberculous Peritonitis Developed during Chemotherapy for Tuberculous Pleurisy as Paradoxical Response / 대한소화기학회지

After the start of anti-tuberculous treatment, paradoxical worsening of tuberculous lesions has been described. However, abdominal tuberculosis as paradoxical response is relatively rare. This report describes the 26-year-old female who suffered from peritoneal tuberculosis while treating tuberculous pleurisy with anti-tuberculous medications. It was considered as paradoxical response, rather than treatment failure or else. She was successfully managed with continuing initial anti-tuberculous medications. When a patient on anti-tuberculous medications is presented with abdominal symptoms, the possibility of paradoxical response should be considered to avoid unnecessary tests and treatments, which may result in more suffering of the patient. Herein, we report a case of peritoneal tuberculosis as paradoxical response while treating tuberculous pleurisy.

A Case of Spontaneous Regression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Multiple Lung Metastases / 대한소화기학회지

Spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is extremely rare. We report a case of 67-year-old man having HBV-associated HCC with multiple lung metastases which regressed spontaneously. The patient had single liver mass and received surgical resection. The mass was confirmed as HCC histopathologically. Nine years after surgical resection, a 3.3 cm sized recurred HCC was detected on the resection margin in CT scan. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) was performed 3 times, and lung metastases developed thereafter. The patient received 2 more sessions of TACE, however, metastatic lung nodules were in progress very rapidly. We decided to stop TACE and followed the patient regularly without any anti-cancer treatment. Nine months after development of lung metastasis, the size and number of metastatic lung nodules decreased and were not detected anymore after 14 months. Serum alpha-fetoprotein levels also decreased to normal range and no viable tumor was noted in the liver. The patient is still alive 12 years after the first diagnosis of HCC and 16 months after lung metastasis developed.

Primary Cardiac Angiosarcoma Presenting With Cardiac Tamponade

Primary cardiac angiosarcoma is a very rare disease with a poor prognosis. We report a case of a patient with a primary cardiac angiosarcoma who presented with cardiac tamponade; the angiosarcoma was successfully resected surgically.

A Case of Multiple Venous Thrombosis as the First Manifestation of Lupus Nephritis / 대한신장학회지

Kidney involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is common. The incidence of venous thrombosis in SLE ranges from 5-15%, and venous thrombosis in lupus nephritis associated with nephritic syndrome or antiphospholipid antibody syndrome is reported in 30-35%. Lupus nephritis with nephrotic syndrome is not infrequently encountered at the point of diagnosis of SLE, but venous thrombosis as the first manifestation of SLE is rare. Herein we present our clinical experience with a case of multiple venous thrombosis with nephrotic-range proteinuria as the first manifestation of lupus nephritis.

Acute eosinophilic pneumonia caused by passive smoking / 대한내과학회지

Acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP) is characterized by eosinophilic infiltration in the lungs, respiratory distress, a rapid therapeutic response to corticosteroids, and the absence of relapse. Some cases of AEP are caused by infections, drugs, and inhaled antigens. Cigarette smoking is considered a probable cause of AEP, as AEP has developed soon after starting to smoke in some patients and a challenge with cigarette smoking was positive in some patients. All reported patients with cigarette smoking.induced AEP were active smokers, while no case of AEP caused by passive smoking has been reported. We present a case of AEP presumed to have been caused by passive cigarette smoking.

An Adult Case of Small Bowel Intussusception Caused by Hemangioma Presenting with Intestinal Bleeding / 대한소화기학회지

Intussusception is primarily a disease of children, and is relatively rare in adults. Unlike childhood intussusception, adult intussusception has an identifiable leading lesion such as malignant or benign neoplasm. However, intussusception caused by hemangioma is very rare. There were few cases of small bowel intussusception caused by hemangioma in adults, but those reports were presented with abdominal pain. This report describes a 65-year-old female who suffered from small bowel intussusception caused by hemangioma presenting with intestinal bleeding. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy were performed, but bleeding focus was not found. Abdominal computed tomography showed the target sign of small bowel with a leading point of mass. This mass turned out to be a hemangioma after the small bowel resection. Therefore, small bowel intussusception by hemangioma should be also considered as a bleeding focus when an adult patient presented intestinal bleeding without bleeding focus in the stomach and colon. Herein we report a case of small bowel intussusception caused by hemangioma presenting with intestinal bleeding.

A Case of Acute Renal Failure Associated with Tsutsugamushi Disease

Tsutsugamushi disease is acute febrile illness, transmitted by Rickettsia tsutsugamushi. R. tsutusgamushi invade and proliferate in the endothelial cells of small blood vessels. Destruction of endothelial cells occurs from the proliferation of the organism and eventual disruption, and thus vascular rich organs must be carefully examined such as the kidney, lung, heart, liver. Recently we experienced a case of acute renal failure associated with R. tsutsugamushi infection in a child. Renal biopsy showed diffuse interstitial edema and mononuclear cell infiltration in the deep cortex. R. tsutusgamushi should be included as one of the causes of acute interstitial nephritis causing ARF in children, especially when the children have a acute febrile illness with rash in the fall and winter.

A Case of Dyskeratosis Congenita with Myelodysplastic Syndrome / 대한혈액학회지

Dyskeratosis congenita is a rare form of ectodermal dysplasia consisting of dystrophic nails, reticular hyperpigmentation and leukoplakia, that is often associated with aplastic anemia. We have experienced a 17 year-old-man who had reticular pigmentation of the skin and dystrophic changes of the fingers and toe nails. The tongue was smooth and lingual papillae disappeared with formation of adherent white leukoplakic patches. Laboratory data revealed pancytopenia. Bone marrow study showed mild hypocellular marrow with dyserythropoiesis, suggesting the refractory anemia of myelodysplastic syndrome. We report one case of dyskeratosis congenita with myelodysplastic syndrome with a review of literature.

A Case of Pulmonary Paragonimiasis

Paragonimiasis is a parasitic disease found in carnivorous animals which is caused by trematodes of the genus Paragonimus. Human infestation occurs by ingestion of raw or not incompletely cooked freshwater crab or crayfish with the metacercaria. Recently, the prevalence of human paragonimiasis has decreased markedly, however, about one hundred clinical cases have been diagnosed annually by antibody test in Korea. The symptoms, such as chronic cough, hemoptysis, and radiological findings are often confused with those of tuberculosis. Therefore, differential diagnosis between tuberculosis and paragonimiasis is important in Korea which has a high prevalence of tuberculosis. Recently, we experienced a case of pulmonary paragonimiasis in a 13yearold girl with hemoptysis and chest pain. Chest roentgenogram with subsequent tomography demonstrating multiple cavitary lesions and linear tubular densities. Strong positive was noted in intradermal skin test for Paragonimus westermani as well as in IgG antibody detection using ELISA method. Diagnosis was confirmed by stool with multiple P. westermani ova, which was treated with a two day course of praziquantel.

A Case of Primary Pulmonary Histiocytosis-X associated With Central diabetes insipidus / 결핵

Pulmonary histiocytosis X is a granulomatous disorder of the lung of unknown cause. Patients with this disease often complain of cough, dyspnea on exertion and , occaionally, chest pain from pneumothorax or bone involvement. However, DI is uncommon in these patients. We report a case of primary pulmonary histiocytosis X with central diabetes insipidus. A 23-year-old man presented with dyspnea suffered from dry cough, exertional dyspnea, polydipsia and polyuria for 4 months. He was a heavy smoker. He was found to have reticulonodular interstitial opacities on chest X-ray film. High-resolution computed tomography revealed thin-walled cysts of various sizes in both lungs. Open lung biopsy was done. On light microscopic examination revealed proliferation and infiltration of Langerhans cells. Immunohistochemically, Langerhans cells showed strong cytoplasmic staining with S-100 protein and electronmicroscopic examination showed Birbeck granules in Langerhans cells. Water deprivation test showed central-type diabetes insipidus and brain MRI showed no abnormal lesion on suprasellar region. Smoking cessation was recommended. He was treated with oral desmopressin.

A Case of Pancreatic Abscess Due to Salmonella Typhi / 대한내과학회지

Salmonella infection occurs in 5 different clinical forms; gasteroenteritis, enteric fever, bacteremia, chronic carried state and localization at one or more sites. Extraintestinal pyogenic infections caused by salmonella species include soft tissue abscesses, bone and joint infections, cholecystitis, liver abscess and splenic abscess etc. Pancreatic abscess due to Salmonella typhi is a very rare extraintestinal manifestation of salmonellosis. Infection pathways may be considered as reflux of infected bile through the pancreatic duct, hematogenous spread from a distant site or lymphatic spread from the intestinal tract. Treatment of pancreatic abscess needs surgical intervention and antibiotics therapy. We have experienced a case of a 40-years-old female with pancreatic abscess due to Salmonella typhi. She was treated with ultrasonography-guided catheter drainage and intravenous ceftriaxone for 18 days. After 14 days, the sonographic examination revealed the abscess cavity in pancreas almost disappeared. We report this case with review of literatures.

A Case of Forestier's Disease with Dyspnea / 결핵

Forestier's disease, also known as diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperstosis(DISH), is a peculiar type of senile ankylosing hyperostosis of the spine characterized by flowing ossification of the anterior and right lateral aspect of the vertebral column, particularly in the thoracic region Although these patients are typically asymptomatic, there is documentation of a number of extraspinal manifestations including dysphagia, respiratory distress, dysphonia and cervial myelopathy. We report a case of Forestier's disease presenting with dyspnea in a 57-year old man, who have chronic cervical pain and bronchiectasis. Forestier's disease was diagnosed by cervical spine X-ray, neck CT. The patient was treated with oral steroid and then improved.

Clinical Significance of Antiphospholipid Syndrome / 대한내과학회지

OBJECTIVES: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is characterized by arterial or venous thrombosis, recurrent fetal loss, many neurological deficits, and presence of anticardiolipin antibody (ACA) or lupus anticoagulant (LA). This study was done to know the clinical and serological characteristics of antiphospholipid syndrome. METHODS: Clinical and laboratory features of 18 patients with APS who had antiphopholipid antibodies and histories of obstetric events and thrombosis were studied. RESULTS: Of the 18 patients, 4 were male, and 14 were female, and the ages ranged from 19 to 64 years. 11 patients were primary APS. 17 patients had ACAs: 11 had IgG ACA; 2 had IgM ACA; 3 had both IgG and IgM; 1 had both IgG and IgA; 1 patient had LA. Antinuclear antibodies were positive (>1:40) in 15 patients, and anti-ds-DNA (>1:10) were present in 8 patients. Hemolytic anemia was noted in 4 patients with positive in only direct Coomb's test, and all were secondary APS. Thrombocytopenia (<150,000/mm3) was observed in 14 patients, 9 patients ranged between 100,000/mm3 and 150,000/mm3. Initial presentation were deep vein thrombosis in 7 patients, pulmonary embolism in 3, arterial occlusion in 3, leg ulcer in 1, spontaneous abortion in 2, preeclampsia in 1, preterm labor in 1. Combined diseases were SLE, Sj gren syndrome, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, hypertension. In 7 patients associated with cardiac abnormalities, 3 were mitral regurgitation, 4 were pericardial effusion, 1 was dilated cardiomyopathy. Venous thrombosis were present in 11 patients, 6 had deep vein thrombosis only, 3 had both deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Arterial occlusion were present in 4 patients, 3 had small multiple cerebral infarction, 1 had right common femoral arterial occlusion. Obstetric complications were present 5 patients of 14 female patients: 3 had spontaneous abortion, preeclampsia was present in 1 and preterm labor was present in 1. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical and serological features of APS in this study were similar to those of previous reports (Oeffinger et al.,1994: Edelman et al., 1995). Treatment with prednisolone, anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents was used. Of the 10 follow-up patients, none had recurrence of thrombotic events.

Two Cases of Cerebral Toxoplasmosis in AIDS Patients / 대한내과학회지

Toxoplasmosis of the central nervous system occurs in 3 to 40 percent of all patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and it is the most common opportunistic infection to cause encephalitis or focal intracerebral lesions. We experienced two cases of cerebral toxoplasmosis in AIDS patients presenting as high fever, seizure and general weakness.

A Case of Cutaneous Extramedullary Hematopoiesis in Idiopathic Myelofibrosis / 대한혈액학회지

Idiopathic myelofibrosis is characterized by replacement of the bone marrow with fibrous tissue and the development of extramedullary hematopoiesis. The latter involves mainly the spleen and liver but also occurs in lymph nodes, kidneys, retroperitoneal fat, and more rarely, the skin. We report a 48-year-old male with idiopathic myelofibrosis who was admitted due to numerous papules and nodules on his trunk. The skin lesions were histologically defined as cutaneous extramedullary hematopoiesis.

The Clinical Study of Hematoimmunologic Features and Opportunistic Infections of Patients with AIDS / 대한내과학회지

The number of persons with HIV infection in Korea have increased steadily, total number of HIV infection in Korea were 478 on August, 1995. To investigate the clinicoimmunologic manifestation of AIDS in Korea, we reviewed complete blood counts (CBC), CD4 counts, serum beta2-microglobulin level, opportunistic infections and cause of death for 19 AIDS patients who had been admitted or visited at Pusan national university hospital during the period of January, 1990 to August, 1995. 1) The predominant mode of HIV transmission was heterosexual contact(18), other modes of transmission were homosexual contact(1). Clues of diagnosis of HIV infection were routine occupational health examination(14), and opportunistic infection symptoms such as fever, coughing(4). 2) Mean CD4 cell counts(/mm3) were 53 +/- 72 totally, 22 +/- 27 for 8 dead patients at mean 2 month before, 91 +/- 87 for 7 living patients. There were not significant difference(p>0.05). 3) Serum beta2-microglobulin(MG;ug/ml) was measured at 12 patients, mean serum beta2-MG level was4.8 +/- 7.3 totally, 7.1 +/- 10.3 for 6 dead patients at mean 1.3 month before, 2.5 +/- 0.4 for 6 living patients. There were not significant(p>0.05). 4) At CBC examination, WBC(/mm3) was 5,932 +/- 2,899 totally, 5,452 +/- 3,436 for 10 dead patients, 6,500 +/- 2,221 for 9 living patients(p>0.05). Hb(g/dl) was 11,4 +/- 2.8 totally, 9.4 +/- 1.8 for dead patients, 13.6 +/- 1.8 for living patients(p<0.05). Lymphocyte count(/mm) was 1,255 +/- 800 totally, 731 +/- 424 for dead patients, 1,838716 for living patients(p<0.05). ESR(mm/h) was 72 +/- 47 totally, 97 +/- 33 for dead patients, 47 +/- 47 for living patients(p<0.05). 5) Opportunistic infections had developed at 14 patients, candidiasis 7, pneumocystis carinii pneumonia 5, tuberculosis 3, cytomegalovirus infection 2, herpes zoster 3, toxoplasmosis 1, cryptococcal infection 2, bacterial pneumonia 5, and herpes simplex l. Malignant lymphoma had developed in 1 patient. 6) Mean survival interval from diagnosis of HIV infection to death was 32.8 +/- 19.1 months, and the most common cause of death was pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, and other causes of death were meningitis, bacterial pneumonia and AIDS-wasting syndrome. Based on these results, We concluded that CD4 counts, serum beta2-microglobulin level, Hb, total lymphocyte count and ESR in AIDS patients are specific laboratory markers of progression and prognosis of AIDS, the most common opportunistic infection was candidiasis, and the most common cause of death in AIDS patients was pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.