T cell subsets in chronic hepatitis B and the effect of prednisolone withdrawal and interferon alpha-2b

OBJECTIVES: The evaluations of the pathogenetic roles of cell mediated immunity and of the preventive effect for disease progression with interferon(IFN) treatment in patients with chronic active hepatitis-B(CAH-B) are the objectives of this study. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with CAH-B were treated with interferon alpha-2b(IFN alpha-2b) with prednisolone withdrawal and 30 control patients were treated with conventional hepatotonics for 6 months. Peripheral total T cell fractions and T cell subsets of the patients with CAH-B, treated with IFN alpha-2b with prednisolone withdrawal, were examined 1 month before administration of prednisolone, and compared with 12 normal controls for assessing the potential role of cellular immunity in the development of CAH-B. To estimate the effectiveness of IFN therapy for the patients with CAH-B, levels of various liver function tests, HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg, anti-HBe, HBV DNA, anti-HCV and others were assessed for the treatment group and compared with control patients at pre- and post-treatment period each. RESULTS: The value of CD4 was significantly lower in patients with CAH-B than normal controls (36.3 +/- 7.7% vs 42.1 +/- 5.7%, p < 0.05) and the value of CD8 was significantly higher in patients with CAH-B than normal controls (30.6 +/- 10.3% vs 24.3 +/- 5.2%, p < 0.05) before prednisolone administration. The patients in responder group (n = 26) had significantly lower CD4 cells compared with normal controls, but non-responders (n = 6) did not have. The levels of liver function test(LFT) in the patients with IFN alpha-2b treatment with prednisolone withdrawal were not different from the control patient group at pretreatment, but significantly lower than control patient group's after treatment, regardless of response to IFN alpha-2b treatment with prednisolone withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS: The cellular immunity of the host may have a potential role in the pathogenesis of chronicity of hepatitis B infection. IFN alpha-2b treatment with prednisolone withdrawal may be regarded as one of the effective treatment modalities for the inhibition of disease progression in patients with CAH-B.

Clinical Implication of Gastric Leiomyosarcoma / 대한내과학회지

OBJETIVES: Gastric leiomyosarcomas are uncommon, represent 1 to 3% of primary malignant neoplasms of the stomach and variable in clinical outcomes. This paper is a retrospective study of the clinical behaviour, histopa thologic features and prognostic factors. METHODS: Between January 1990 and August 1996, the records of nine patients with primary gastric leio myosarcoma treated at Chung-Nam National University Hospital were reviewed for clinical presentations and histopathologic features. The statiscal analysis with SAS system was employed for evaluation of prognostic factors. RESULTS: 1) The median age of the patients was 53.4 years with even age distribution from 31 to 76 years. The male and female ratio was 1.25 to 1. 2) The common symptoms were abdominal pain(67%), bleeding(22%) and indigestion(11%). 3) The locations of the tumor was body(56%) and fundus(44%). The growth pattern of the tumor was mostly submucosal(67%). 4) The average size of tumors was 11cm (6-18cm). 5) The central ulcer on the tumor showed 100%. The endoscopically and preoperative diagnosed leiomyosar coma with endoscopic biopsy was 33% . 6) The low grade tumors were 7 cases and high grade was 1 in eight resected primary gastric leiomyosarcomas. 7) The overall resectability was 89%. The resected cases had no lymph node metastasis. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy was done 5 cases and 1 case, respectively in patients with high mitotic number, large size and distant metastases. 8) The follow-up period was 4 to 49 months and 3 patients were died. Two of 3 died patients were initially diagnosed stage IVA and 1 patient was stage II with very large size (18cm). The average survival time of 3 died patients was 37 months. 9) The two patients from surgically resected eight cases were recurred at liver and peritoneum and died 11 months and 31 months after recurrence, respectively. CONCLUSION: The advanced stage and recurred case has short survival time but the more many cases and longer follow-up periods should be need to identify for prognostic factors and the effective postoperative adju vant therapy should be studied for high risk patients.

A Clinical Review of Ischemic Rowel Disease / 대한내과학회지

OBJECTIVE: Despite increased awareness of the fatality of mesenteric ischemia, the diagnosis seldom is made prior to the onset of gangrene. The multiplicity of etiologic factors, the many varied presentations, and splanchnic vasoconstriction all affect the extent of ischemic injury, adding to the complexity of the clinical problem. Extensive acute processes are still catastrophic illnesses with a high mrotality, but there is a potential for both better diagnisis and therapy with an improved outcome. Discussion of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of this entity will be presented. METHODS: A Retrospective review of our experience with ischemic bowel disease was made. Ten consecutive clinical cases admitted in ChungNam National University Hospital from October 1990 to April 1994 were observed. RESULTS: 1) We experienced 5 patients with arterial embolic occlusion, 1 patient with venous thrombosis and 4 patients with colonic ischemia. 2) The peak ages were 6th decade and 8th decade. 3) The major clincal symptoms and signs were abdominal pain (100%), abdominal tenderness (70%), melena (70%), nausea (60%), fever (50%), vomiting (40%) and abdominal distension (30%). 4) On laboratory findings, there were leukocytosis (80%) and thrombocytopenia (20%) 5) In plain film, there were ileus (70%), edematous intestinal wall (50%), mucosal edema (30%), thumb printing (10%) and gasless abdomen (10%). Among the 5 cases performed abdominal CT, there were thickening of intestinal wall in 4 cases, narrowing of intestinal lumen in 2 case and ascites in 3 cases. 6) Bowel resections were perfomed in 7 cases and supportive care was performed in 3 cases. 7) The overall mortality rate was 30%, CONCLUSION: An oggressive approach in patients suspected of having ischemic bowel is indicated if the diagnosis is to be made before necrosis has occurred. A high index of suspicion, early angiography, correction of the underlying cardiac disease, treatment of splanchnic vasoconstriction, surgical revascularization, and resection of gangrenous bowel are necessery if there is to be a significant reduction in the high mortality rates associated with mesenteric ischemia.

The Influence of EIS or EVL to Gastric Varices in Bleeding Esophageal Varices / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Background: Esophageal variceal hemorrhage is the most life threatening complication of portal hypertension secondary to chronic progressive liver disease such as liver cirrhosis. Recently, endoscopic injection sclerotherapy(EIS) and endoscopic variceal ligation(EVL) have been known to be the most effective, simple and safe methods. Gastric varices are sometimes associated with esophageal varices in patients with portal hypertension. However the role of endoscopic sclerotherapy in the treatment of gastric varices has not been adequately evaluated, and the fate of coexisting gastric varices after eradication of esophageal varices is not clearly known. Methods: EIS or EVL was preformed in 174 patients with variceal hemorrhage in CHUNG-NAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL from September 1990 to December 1993. Among the total 174 patients, 50 patients were followed for at least 1 year. Forty four patients were treated with EIS, and 6 witb EVL. We assesed the influence of EIS or EVL on coexisting gastric varices and the development of gastric varices after EIS or EVL in 50 patients.

A Comparison Between Savary - Gilliard and Balloon Dilatation in Benign Esophageal Stricture / 대한소화기내시경학회지

The balloon dilatation or Savary-Gilliard dilatation was performed in 59 patients with benign esophageal stricture in Chungnam National University Hospital from September 1990 to August 1995. We reviewed the effect and the safty of each therapeutic method and the results were as foillows: 1) The cause of stricture were corrosive stricture(28 cases, 49,4%), anastomotic stenosis after gastroesophageal surgery(26 cases, 44.1%), stricture after endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy(3 cases, 5.1%), esophageal web(1 case, 1.7%) or stricture complicated by reflux esophagitis(l case). 2) The overall cure rate of balloon dilatation was 50%(l2/24 cases) and that of Savary-Gilliard dilatation was 77.1%(27/35 cases). The Savary-Gilliard dilatation group had a better result than the balloon group. 3) The perforation after Savary-Gilliard dilatation occurred in 4 cases~(6.7%). One case was treated surgically and three cases wiere treated medically. But there was no fatal complication. 4) The overall cure rate of anastomotic stenosis was 84.6%(32/38 cases) and that of corrosive stricture was 46.4%(13/28 cases). 5) The cure rate of Savary-Gilliard dilatation in corrosive esophageal stricture was 64.7%(ll/17) and that of balloon dilatation was 18.1%(2/11). 6) According to site of stricture, the cure rate of dilatation was 84.2% (32/38) in thoracic esophagus, 42.8%(3/7) in cervical esophagus and 28,5%(4/14) in multiple or long segmented stricture.(continue...)

Hemostatic Effect of Endoscopic Injection with Hypertonic Saline - Epinephrine (HS-E) Solution in Petic Ulcer Bleeding / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Peptic ulcer bleeding is the most common cause of upper gastromtestinal bleeding. The efficacy of local injection of hypertonic saline-epinephrine(RS-E)solutiom around the base of the bleeding vessels under endoscopy was assessed, During the period between January 1991 and August 1994, 83 patients with active bleeding or stigmata of recent hemorrhage in peptic ulcers were included to this study. The major cause of bleeding in this study consisted of gastric ulcers(60) and duodenal ulcers(23). Twenty patients rebled and seven required emergency surgery and two patients were died. Definitive hemoatasis was achieved in 74(89.3%). Two patients rebled due to mucosal ischemia induced by HS-E injection, other significant complication was not found. We conclude that the endoscopic injection with hypertonic saline-epinephrine solution is one of the effective and safe therapeutic modality in peptic ulcer bleeding.

A Case of Arteriovenous Malformation of the Colon / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Arteriovenous malformations occur predominantly in the cecum and ascending colon and is not associated with vascular lesions of the skin, central nerveous system. or lung Arteriovenous malformations involving gastrointastinal tract is often to be found to be cause of the recurrent painless bleeding without specific past history and family history and usually diagnosed by selective mesenteric arteriography or colonoscopy, But because of small size of the lesion and local occurence, diagnosis of the arteriovenous malformation is very difficult. Authors exprienced a case of arteriovenous maltormation in the colon. The patient had a history of repeated gastrointestinal bleeding, and were diagnosed by colonoscopy and were treated with colonoscopic resection.

Clinical Observaton of 148 Endoscopic Gastrointestinal Polypectomy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Gastrointesinal polyp is a premalignant lesion, it is recommanded to be removed. Endoscopic polypectomy has long been considered as a safe and effective method for removal of polyps. One hundred forty eight endoscopic gastrointestinal polypectomy were done in 111 patients who visited Chungnam National University Hospital from January in l991 to August in l993, and clinical character including histopathology were evaluated. (continue...)

A Case of Esophageal Cancer Showing Intramural Metastasis to the Stomach in Complete Remission with Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Esophageal carcinoma is a rare malignant neoplasm consisting of about 1.5% of the whole gastrointestinal tract neoplasm and has poor prognosis of which survival rate is below 5%. The squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus could be multicentric in character and may have occured in 9.5-27% of incidence. The most common site is head and neck region. The metastasis of esophageal carcinoma occur through hematogenous, lymphatic spread, direct invasion and rarely intramural metastasis. Of theses, intramural metastasis has been occured in 7-14.3% of incidence and its presence has been regared to poor prognostic factor due to early regional or distant metastasis. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy alone or combination of these has been used as treatment modalities of esophageal cancer, but combination chemoradiotherapy with or without operation is prefered method than other at present. Authors report a case of esophageal carcinoma showing intramural metastasis to the gastric wall, which had the complete remission with preoperative chemoradiotherapy.