Clinical Characteristics of a Cutaneous Anthrax Outbreak Occurred in the Chang-Nyeong, Kyoungsangnamdo, Korea / 감염

BACKGROUND: Anthrax is a zoonotic disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, a gram-positive, spore- forming bacillus. Several cases of anthrax have been reported in Korea; it occurred as an outbreak after ingesting raw meat of an anthrax-infected cow. Among those reported cases, most of them were of gastrointestinal anthrax and a case report of cutaneous anthrax was also included. An outbreak of anthrax occurred in a village of Chang-Nyeong, Kyoungsangnamdo, Korea on July, 2000. The source of infection was the meat of an infected cow. We investigated clinical features and epidemiologic characteristics of the outbreak. METHODS: Subjects were inhabitants and visitors who were exposed to the contaminated meat by ingestion or handling. Diagnosis and classification of clinical forms of anthrax were done according to the CDC case definition. A group of investigators composed of epidemiologists and medical doctors visited the village, and examined the residents and visitors exposed to contaminated meat by interviewing with standard questionare and physical examination. RESULTS: Among 40 persons who contacted meat by ingestion and/or handling, 5(12.5%) developed cutaneous anthrax and 2 of them died; 4 were confirmed cases and 1 was suspected case. B. anthracis was isolated from the vesicular lesions of hands or forearms in those 4 confirmed cases and, in one patient who died of meningitis, the organism was also isolated in blood culture. All patients were of cutaneous anthrax, 3 were recovered and 2 died due to complications : one of meningitis and the other of intracranial hemorrhage. All 40 people consumed meat in cooked state not in raw. No anthrax occurred in 28 persons who only ingested cooked meat without any contact with the raw meat. Five cases of cutaneous anthrax were developed among those 12 persons who handled raw meat in preparation for cooking. CONCLUSION: Anthrax should be suspected in patients with cutaneous lesions of vesicle or eschar on their exposed area after contacting animals or animal products, especially in an outbreak.

A case of pachydermoperiostosis with peptic ulcer disease / 대한내과학회지

We experienced a Korean patient with complete form of pachydermoperiostosis. He presented with typical features consisting of clubbing with spade like enlargement of the hand and feet, thickening of facial skin and scalp, irregular thickening of cortex with periosteal new bone formation involving radii, ulnae, tibiae, and fibulae. Classically, pachydermoperiostosis is characterized by a triad of finger clubbing, periostitis, skin and soft tissue changes, giving an acromegaloid look. A variety of associated abnormalities have been described such as cranial suture defects, female escutcheon, bone marrow failure. There are a few reports documenting gastric ulcer, hypertrophic gastropathy and Crohn's disease as accompanying diseases. The patient had upper gastrointestinal bleeding caused by hemorrhagic gastritis and duodenal ulcer. A case is herein reported of pachydermoperiostosis accompanied by peptic ulcer disease.

Comparison of the clinical features and effect of pneumatic balloon dilatation for classic and vigorous achalasia / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Compared with classic achalasia, vigorous achalasia has been defined as achalasia with relatively high esophageal contraction amplitudes, often with minimal esophageal dilation and prominent tertiary contractions on radiographs and the presence of chest pain. The lesser success of pneumatic balloon dilation, also, has been reported for the subset with vigorous achalasia. Nevertheless, some authors have questioned the usefulness of making this distinction. We evaluated the difference of clinical manifestations and response to pneumatic balloon dilation between classic and vigorous achalaisia. METHODS: 28 cases involving patients with achalasia who underwent balloon dilation treatment were available for the review of their clinical findings, radiographic, manometric, esophageal scintigraphic parameters. Patients with vigorous achalasia [n=10] were defined by contraction amplitude >or=37 mmHg on esophageal manometry and patients with classic achalasia [n=18] as contraction amplitude <37 mmHg. RESULTS: Both groups of patients had substantial overlap in clinical findings, radiographic, manometric and esophageal scintigraphic parameters. The success rates of balloon dilation, also, were similar for both groups (classic vs vigorous, 78% vs 70%). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the distiction of achalasia as classic and vigorous by an amplitude criterion is arbitrary and not useful.

A case of primary nasopharyngeal tuberculosis with cervical lymphadenitis of immigrant woman from Vietnam / 대한내과학회지

Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis is a very rare condition and mainly secondary infection from pulmonary tuberculosis by contagious, hematogenous or lymphatic spread. However, nasopharyngeal tuberculosis may arise as a primary infection in adults without active pulmonary disease and is frequently associated with involvement of the cervical lymph node. The nasopharynx may be a portal entry for mycobacterium tuberculosis in patients who develop cervical lymphadenitis. But, involvement of the nasopharynx by tuberculosis may be underdiagnosed because it does not produce obvious symptoms or physical signs. Recently authors experienced a case of primary nasopharyngeal tuberculosis of immigrant woman from Vietnam. Here, we report a case that was confirmed by punch biopsy under telerhinoscopy and improved by combination chemotherapy.