A Case of Recovery from Suspended Animation caused by Puffer fish Poisoning: a case report

Tetrodotoxin is a neurotoxin produced by about 90 species of puffer fish and causes paralysis of central nervous system and peripheral nerves by blocking the movement of all monovalent cations. Ingestion of tetrodotoxin produces clinical manifestations such as paresthesias(within 10-45 min), vomiting, lightheadedness, salivation, muscle twitching, dysphagia, difficulty in speaking, convulsion and death that expressed by cardiopulmonary arrest with loss of brain stem reflex sometimes. Tetrodotoxin prevents or delays ischemia induced neuronal death by way of following 3 mechanisms. Firstly, it reduces the energy demand of the brain tissues. Secondly, it delays or even prevents anoxic depolarization. Finally, it diminishes ischemia induced cell swelling and cerebral edema. We report a case of puffer fish poisoning which presented with cardiopulmonary arrest and loss of brain stem reflex, but completely recovered by aggressive cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

A case of hemolytic uremic syndrome associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection

The precise etiology of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is unknown. However, it has been associated with bacterial (Shigella, Salmonella, E. coli, S. pneumoniae), Bartonella, and viral (coxsackie, ECHO, influenza, varicella. Epstein-Barr) infections and with endotoxemia. Recently, we experienced a case of HUS in a 16-year-old boy who was in the acute phase of an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. He had typical manifestations of HUS and EBV infection. He also transiently presented disseminated intravascular coagulation. His renal dysfunction recovered by supportive care, including hemodialysis, plasmapheresis, antihypertensive medication and aspirin. We present this case with a review of the literature as the second report of HUS associated with EBV infection.

Treatment Using an Endoscopic Sphincterotomy for Two Patients with Choledochocele / 대한소화기내시경학회지

A choledochocele is a cyst like herniation of the intramural segment of the distal common bile duct protruding into the duodenal lumen. It is controversial whether this disease entity represents a type III variation of a choledochal cyst or an acquired lesion due to a calculus, papillitis or sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. The choledochocele is the rarest form of choledochal cysts and represents only 1.4-5.0% of all choledochal cysts. The diagnosis of choledochocele can be confirmed with certainly using a cholangiography. During a side viewing duodenoscopy followed by retrograde cholangiopancreatography, the mucosa appears normal but the papilla may be larger than usual. When probing the choledochocele with a cannulating catheter, its surface may be appear to be soft and compressible, similar to the pillow sign. After contrast dye is instilled into the bile duct, a round, cyst-like contrast filled structure can be identified adjacent to the terminatian of the common bile duct and an air halo sign may be visible around it. The established treatment of choledochocele is surgical resection of the cyst with anastomosis of the common bile duct to the small intestine, but transduodenal sphincteroplasty or endoscopic sphincterotomy has been advocated as an alternative to excision because of the very low risk of malignant degeneration, operative complications and morbidity. The choice of therapy for the patients with symptomatic choledochchocele is to establish effective drainage of the common bile duct and pancreatic duct. The objective can be achieved using an endoscopic sphincterotomy or transduodenal sphinateroplasy. It has been determined in recent years that endoscopic sphincterotomy is v effective and often followed by a positive prognosis. We report two patients with reicurrent pancreatitis and the common bile duct dilatation secondary to a choledochoce]e, who were treated effectively by endoscopic sphincterotomy.

Adult Onset Still's Disease: Clinical Features and Prognostic Factors in Korea / 대한류마티스학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to review the disease course, clinical and laboratory manifestations, prognosis and treatment of adult onset Still s disease (AOSD) in Korea. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with AOSD were enrolled from 1986 to 1997 in Hanyang University Hospital. Diagnosis of AOSD was based on the criteria proposed by Yamaguchi. We classified the disease course into self-limited, inter mittent, or chronic disease course. RESULTS: Twenty-four (75%) patients were female. Skin rash occurred in 28 (88%) patients, lymphadenopathy in 8 (25%), hepatomegaly in 4 (13%), and pericarditis in 2 (6%) out of 32 patients. The most commonly affected joints were knee joints (88%). Elevated LDH was seen in 18 (60%) patients and decreased CK in 17 (61%) patients. Rheumatoid factor was detected in 4 (13%) patients and ANA in 12 (38%) patients. Anemia (Hb < 10 g/dL) was seen in 13 (41%) patients and hypoalbuminemia (<3. 5 g/dL) in 14 (52%) patients. Elevated ferritin (300 ng/mL) level was seen in 23 (79%) patients. Twenty-five (78%) patients had elevated serum transaminase. Bone marrow studies were performed in 16 patients. Nine out of 16 patients showed hyperplasia of the myeloid series and 2 patients displayed the features of a hemophagocytic syndrome. The mean duration of follow up of 32 patients was 32 months (range 3- 108). Eight (27%) patients had a self-limited, 9 (30%) an intermittent, and 13 (43%) a chronic disease course. The hypoalbuminemia was significantly associated with an "intermittent or chronic disease group" (p<0. 05). Thirty-two patients received systemic corticosteroids and 21 patients received single or combination of disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. CONCLUSION: We found that hypoalbuminemia at presentation was significantly associated with an unfavorable outcome, intermittent or chronic disease group. The clinical manifestations and disease course of AOSD in Korea were similar to those previously reported in other countries except significantly lower incidence of lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, and pericarditis.

Analysis of Hypokalemia in Emergency Patients / 대한신장학회잡지

OBJECTIVES: Hypokalemia is one of the most common electrolyte disorders encountered in clinical medicine. It is important electrolyte disorder because it is account for neuromuscular, cardiovascular and renal disturbance. But there are few studies to evaluate the incidence and cause of hypokalemia in emergency patients. Present study was performed to evaluate the incidence and cause of hypokalemia and coincidental changes of other electrolyte and chemical parameters of blood and urine. METHODS: Hypokalemia was defined as a serum potassium concentration less than 3.5mEq/L. A total 80 medical patient without renal failure were prospectively studied for 62 days. Electrolytes and chemical parameters of the blood and urine were determined at emergency room. RESULTS: 1) Of medical inpatients through emergency room, hypokalemia was detected in high frequency(32%) and mild degree(mean; 3.1+/-0.1mEq/L). 2) The most common cause of hypokalemia was diuretics(23%), other causes were vomiting, SIADH, diarrhea, alkalemia, and unidentified cause(each; 15.4%). 3) Compared to the normokalemic group, the hypokalemic group showed significant decrease in urinary anion gap(P=0.003). 4) There was no significant difference of spot urine potassium concentrations between renal and extrarenal origin of hypokalemia. CONCLUSION: The hypokalemia in emergency patients was detected in high frequency and mild degree. Urine anion gap was significantly decreased in hypokalemic group than normokalemic group. Spot urine potassium concentration was less effective in differentiation of renal and extrarenal origin of hypokalemia.