A single emergency center study for evaluation of P-POSSUM and Mannheim Peritonitis Index as a risk prediction model in patients with non-traumatic peritonitis

Objective@#Peritonitis is a life-threatening, emergent surgical disease with very high mortality and morbidity. Currently, there are insufficient Korean studies using the P-POSSUM (Portsmouth-Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity) and the Mannheim Peritonitis Index (MPI) as risk prediction models for nontraumatic peritonitis patients who visit the emergency room. @*Methods@#This retrospective study was carried out on 196 cases of non-traumatic peritonitis in a single emergency center from January 2015 to December 2019. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were obtained and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was compared using both P-POSSUM and MPI. The observed mortality and expected mortality for P-POSSUM were compared using the goodness of fit assessed using the Hosmer-Lemeshow equation. @*Results@#Diastolic blood pressure, blood urea nitrogen, potassium, length of stay, and intensive care unit admissions were significantly different between survivors and non-survivors. The AUC was 0.812 for P-POSSUM and 0.646 for MPI. The observed-to-expected mortality ratio for P-POSSUM indicated fewer than expected deaths in all quintiles of risk and this was more pronounced, especially when the expected mortality was over 60%. @*Conclusion@#In non-traumatic peritonitis patients, P-POSSUM was more useful in predicting risk than the MPI score. However, P-POSSUM overestimated the risk in high-risk patients. Although the MPI score is only somewhat useful for predicting mortality in patients with non-traumatic peritonitis, it is useful as an adjuvant.

General Characteristics for Poisoning-Induced Transient or Sustained Hyperammonemia

PURPOSE: In patients with altered mentality caused by drugs or unknown causes, ammonia is checked to facilitate differential diagnosis or diagnose hepatic coma. This helps early prevention and treatment of brain damage due to hyperammonemia. This study was conducted to evaluate clinical characteristics of intoxicated adult patients with hyperammonemia. METHODS: We evaluated 95 patients with hyperammonemia among intoxicated patients above the age of 15 who visited our ED from January 2013 to December 2015. We analyzed the demographic characteristics and type of poisoning substance, reason for ingestion, toxicological characteristics such as elapsed time from ingestion to hospital visit, lab, clinical progression and complications. Data were evaluated using the student's t test or Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables, and Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test for frequency analysis of categorical variables. RESULTS: When compared to healthy individuals, patients with hyperammonemia showed statistical significance on their SOFA score (p=0.016) and poison severity score (p<0.001). Additionally, patients with hyperammonemia showed significantly different initial serum AST level (p=0.012) and maximum serum AST level during the hospital stay (p=0.026) when compared to healthy individuals. Moreover, individuals with sustained hyperammonemia compared to transient hyperammonemia showed clinically significant SOFA scores (p<0.001), poison severity scores (p=0.007), mortality rates in the ICU (p=0.021), as well as different duration of hospital stay (p=0.037), serum creatinine level (p=0.002), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p=0.025), and serum myoglobin (p=0.015). CONCLUSION: Most poisoning-induced hyperammonemia cases were transient and recovered without special treatment. Therefore, hyperammonemia is almost non-specific among poisoning patients.

Correlation Between Salivary Alpha-Amylase Level and Heart Rate Variability in Pediatric Subjects with Sleep-Disordered Breathing

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) and heart rate variability (HRV) indices in SDB children based on objective parameters of polysomnography (PSG). MATERIALS AND METHOD: This prospective study enrolled 67 children who underwent a physical examination and full-attended in-lab PSG with continuous electrocardiographic signal. The sAA were measured at night before PSG and in the early morning after PSG. RESULTS: The subjects were divided into control [n=26, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)≤1] and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS, n=41, AHI>1) groups; the OSAS group was subdivided into mild (1

Diagnostic Efficacy of the Modified Alvarado Score for Acute Appendicitis in Pregnant Women

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate whether the modified Alvarado score-which is currently being used to diagnose acute appendicitis-can be applicable in the diagnosis of diseases in pregnant women. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 252 pregnant women who visited our emergency department (ED) with a chief complaint of abdominal pain and a suspicion of acute appendicitis, and ultimately underwent appendix ultrasonography or appendix magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The modified Alvarado score was calculated for each pregnant woman. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn for each subject, those in the first trimester, second trimester, and third trimester, from which the best cut-off value, sensitivity and specificity were induced. RESULTS: For all 252 pregnant women who visited our ED, the area under the curve was 0.742 (p<0.001), with sensitivity and specificity of 75.41% and 62.30%, respectively, when using the value of 5 as the cut-off point for the modified Alvarado score. The area under the curve was 0.811 (p<0.001) for those in their first trimester and 0.749 (p<0.001) for those in the second trimester, while it was 0.641, with the p-value of 0.109, for those in the third trimester. CONCLUSION: There is a limitation using the modified Alvarado score alone in pregnant woman, and if there is uncertainty in the diagnosis, other imaging studies, such as appendix ultrasonography or appendix MRI, should be considered.

Radiation Exposure through Private Health Examinations in Korea

BACKGROUND: Due to the increase in general health examination centers, health examination programs are becoming more diversified in Korea. Some of the general health examination tests, such as computed tomography, result in substantial levels of radiation exposure. However, the amount of radiation exposure from these examinations has not been studied in Korea. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the level of radiation exposure from general health examinations. METHODS: Through the Korean Hospitals Association website and portal sites, 296 general health examination facilities were included in the study. The information about whether radiation-related tests are included in the health examination program of each facility was collected from their internet website. The radiation exposure dose for each test was obtained from the Database Construction Report by the Korean Institute of Nuclear Safety. RESULTS: The mean base exposure dose of health examination programs from 296 health facilities was 2.49+/-2.50 mSv. The mean maximum exposure dose was 14.82+/-9.55 mSv (maximum 40.1 mSv). The maximum exposure dose was the highest at university-associated hospitals (21.63+/-7.54 mSv) and lowest at hospitals with < or =30 beds (7.84+/-7.64 mSv). The contribution of computed tomography on the maximum exposure dose was the highest of all examinations (72%). CONCLUSIONS: This study verified that examinees are exposed to substantial levels of radiation during general health examinations. It is necessary to establish evidence-based screening programs considering radiation exposure during general health examinations.

A Case of Amyloid Goiter Masquerading as Graves' Disease

Amyloidosis is an abnormal extracellular deposit of amyloid in various organs of the body. Amyloid goiter, defined by a clinically detectable thyroid enlargement due to amyloid deposition, is a rare cause of hyperthyroidism. We report the case of amyloid goiter mimicking Graves' disease in a 62-year-old woman. Graves' disease was diagnosed by diffuse goiter, hyperthyroidism, and positive TSH receptor antibody. Total thyroidectomy was planned due to progression of Graves' disease and respiratory distress. At surgery thyroid gland was very friable and fragmented like cobblestones when grasped with forceps. A diagnosis of amyloid goiter was established by the presence of diffuse amyloid deposits in the parafollicular areas. After systemic evaluation for amyloidosis, coexisting both multiple myeloma and systemic amyloidosis involving kidney and heart were detected. She underwent palliative chemotherapy but disease progressed. Amyloid goiter might be suspected in patient with thyroid enlargement and concomitant systemic disease such as renal or heart failure.

A Case of Frontal Mococele Treated with Transblepharoplasty Approach Combined with Endoscopic Approach

In recent years, endoscopic sinus marsupialization has become the treatment of choice for the treatment of paranasal sinus mucoceles due to its noninvasiveness and successful outcome. However, mucoceles located at the lateral portion of the frontal sinus and protruding into the orbit with erosion of the frontal sinus floor arestill difficult to address with standard endoscopic sinus surgery techniques. Here, we report a case of a mucocele located atthe lateral side of the frontal sinus and successfully marsupialized with a transblepharoplasty approach combined with an endoscopic approach.

Distant subcutaneous recurrence of a parathyroid carcinoma: abnormal uptakes in the 99mTc-sestamibi scan and 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging

We report a rare case of distant subcutaneous parathyroid carcinoma recurrence. A 50-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of sustained hypercalcemia despite surgical removal of a parathyroid carcinoma. A focal uptake in the upper mediastinal area was detected in a 99mTc-sestamibi scan, and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron-emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging demonstrated a subcutaneous mass. She underwent tumor resection, and the pathological findings were consistent with a parathyroid carcinoma. The postoperative serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) level remained within normal limits. However, a new palpable solitary mass was identified in the upper portion of the left breast 1 year postoperatively. Both a 99mTc-sestamibi scan and 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging revealed an abnormal lesion in the upper breast, and subsequent pathology reports confirmed parathyroid carcinoma metastasis. Serum PTH and calcium levels fell within normal ranges after tumor resection. Two subcutaneous recurrent lesions appeared likely due to tumor seeding during the previous endoscopic operation at a local hospital.

Two Cases of Bilateral Tonsillar Carcinoma with Extensive Metastasis / 대한이비인후과학회지

Tonsillar carcinoma is the most common cancer of oropharynx. Panendoscope guided biopsy has been estabilished as a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure for patients with cervical nodes from metastasis of unknown origin. There is a controversy about regarding bilateral tonsillectomy as the standard procedure. In studies where bilateral tonsillectomy are routinely performed for diagnosis of unknown primaries, the rates of occult tonsillar carcinoma could be as high as 40%. On the other hand, the incidence of synchronous tonsil carcinoma is exceedingly rare with less than 15 reports in the English literature although synchronous, metachronous carcinomas are more common in head and neck carcinomas than in other sites because the risk factors for the development of carcinomas are shared between the two. We report two cases of bilateral tonsillar carcinoma with literature reviews. In these particular cases, they present an aggressive clinical feature despite small size of the primary lesion. A careful, systemic work up should be performed in bilateral tonsillar carcinoma.

Correlation Between Serum Vitamin D Level and the Severity of Atopic Dermatitis Associated With Food Sensitization

PURPOSE: A growing body of literature has linked vitamin D deficiency with allergic diseases, particularly atopic dermatitis (AD). In this study, we investigated the association between serum vitamin D status and the clinical manifestation of AD. We also developed an analytical method for the simultaneous determination of 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 (25(OH)D3), using liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). METHODS: This study included 157 patients (79 males and 78 females) with AD, aged 4 months to 56 years. We evaluated disease severity using the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index. Serum levels of 25(OH)D3 were determined by LC coupled with MS/MS. Total IgE and specific IgE levels were assayed using the immunoCAP system. ANOVA was used for statistical evaluation. RESULTS: We found mild, moderate, and severe AD in 30 (11.1%), 87 (55.4%), and 40 (25.5%) patients, respectively. There was no significant correlation between serum levels of 25(OH)D3 and AD severity. However, among the 36 patients with food sensitization, the mean+/-SD serum levels of 25(OH)D3 were significantly higher (P<0.05) in patients with mild disease (21.2+/-5.18 ng/mL) compared with the levels in patients with moderate (17.9+/-4.02 ng/mL) or severe AD (13.3+/-5.11 ng/mL) disease. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that vitamin D deficiency is related to the severity of AD associated with food sensitization. Thus, these data suggest a role for vitamin D in a select group of AD patients.

Orbital Apex Syndrome Related to Isolated Sphenoid Fungal Sinusitis

Orbital apex syndrome (OAS) has been described as malfunction of cranial nerve II in the optic canal and cranial nerves III, IV, V1, and VI in the superior orbital fissure due to vascular compromise, compression, or infiltration. Symptoms include ophthalmoplegia, ptosis, decreased corneal sensation, and vision loss. There are many potential causes of OAS including inflammation, infection, iatrogenic, neoplasm, vascular disease, or trauma. Among these, however, fungal sinusitis is one of the more rarely reported etiologies. Infections of the sphenoid sinuses typically occur in conjunction with other paranasal sinuses, while isolated sphenoid sinusitis is uncommon. In this case report, we describe OAS due to isolated sphenoid fungal sinusitis in a 67-year old man who presented with periorbital pain, acute vision loss, and ophthalmoplegia. He was treated surgically and was given postoperative antifungal agents as well as steroids for three months. We present this rare case along with a literature review of OAS.

Orbital Apex Syndrome Related to Isolated Sphenoid Fungal Sinusitis

Orbital apex syndrome (OAS) has been described as malfunction of cranial nerve II in the optic canal and cranial nerves III, IV, V1, and VI in the superior orbital fissure due to vascular compromise, compression, or infiltration. Symptoms include ophthalmoplegia, ptosis, decreased corneal sensation, and vision loss. There are many potential causes of OAS including inflammation, infection, iatrogenic, neoplasm, vascular disease, or trauma. Among these, however, fungal sinusitis is one of the more rarely reported etiologies. Infections of the sphenoid sinuses typically occur in conjunction with other paranasal sinuses, while isolated sphenoid sinusitis is uncommon. In this case report, we describe OAS due to isolated sphenoid fungal sinusitis in a 67-year old man who presented with periorbital pain, acute vision loss, and ophthalmoplegia. He was treated surgically and was given postoperative antifungal agents as well as steroids for three months. We present this rare case along with a literature review of OAS.

Effectiveness of the Atopy Camp for Primary School Students in Seoul / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: In this study, we attempted to analyze the effectiveness of the atopic dermatitis camp for primary school students in the Seoul area. METHODS: Seoul city's atopy camp 2010 was conducted 10 times from May 22nd to October 24th for primary school students at an atopy friendly school and their parents. A total of 374 atopic dermatitis patients participated in the camp and questionnaires for 363 were analyzed, except 11 participants who had left several questions unanswered. In a 3-month follow-up survey, 167 participants out of 374 responded to the mailing questionnaire to evaluate the efficiency of the camp. The response rate was 44.7%. RESULTS: Satisfaction with the educational program of the camp was higher for lower grade students than for higher grade students.(P<0.001) Before camp, higher grade students (P<0.001) or students with severe symptoms were more knowledgeable of atopic dermatitis.(P<0.01) After the camp, the higher the grade, the more the knowledge the student had about atopic dermatitis.(P<0.001) Three months after the camp, there was positive change in the lifestyle of atopic dermatitis patients.(P<0.001) CONCLUSION: Knowledge on atopic dermatitis increased and the lifestyle of atopic dermatitis patients was improved due to the camp. Consequently, Seoul city's atopy camp can be utilized as a method to improve the quality of life of atopic dermatitis patients and their family. And Seoul city's atopy camp is expected to be a model for atopy camps in other local communities.

Prognostic Significance of Preoperative C-Reactive Protein Elevation and Thrombocytosis in Patients with Non-Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) elevation and thrombocytosis with the prognosis of patients with non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective review of the medical records of 177 patients (130 men and 47 women) with non-metastatic RCC who underwent a radical nephrectomy between March 2000 and May 2008 and for whom preoperative CRP and platelet data were available for analysis. Preoperative CRP elevation and thrombocytosis were compared with clinical and pathological variables. RESULTS: There were 38 patients with CRP elevation and 11 patients with thrombocytosis. The mean follow-up time was 48.3 months (median, 48.0; range, 13-111 months). Twenty-three patients (13.0%) developed metastases and six patients died during the follow-up period. CRP elevation was significantly correlated with anemia (p=0.001), T stage (p=0.004), grade (p=0.025), and metastasis (p<0.001). Thrombocytosis was significantly correlated with anemia (p=0.003), T stage (p=0.002), and metastasis (p=0.001). The univariate analysis identified anemia, CRP elevation, thrombocytosis, tumor histology subtype, tumor size, T stage, and grade as significant prognostic factors associated with recurrence-free survival, whereas the multivariate analyses showed that CRP elevation (p=0.033) and tumor size (p=0.007) were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative CRP elevation and thrombocytosis were associated with a poorer prognosis and a higher recurrence rate in patients with non-metastatic RCC. Moreover, preoperative CRP elevation appeared to be an independent predictor of tumor recurrence and prognosis. Preoperative thrombocytosis, however, was not an independent prognostic factor for tumor recurrence and prognosis.

Nutritional Status According to Sensitized Food Allergens in Children With Atopic Dermatitis

PURPOSE: Food allergies can affect the growth and nutritional status of children with atopic dermatitis (AD). This study was conducted to determine the association between the number of sensitized food allergens and the growth and nutritional status of infants and young children with AD. METHODS: We studied 165 children with AD, aged 5 to 47 months, and who visited the Atopy Clinic of the Seoul Medical Center. We recorded the birth weight, time at which food weaning began, scoring of atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) index, eosinophil counts in peripheral blood, and total serum IgE and specific IgE to six major allergens (egg white, cow's milk, soybean, peanut, wheat, and fish). The height and weight for age and weight for height were converted to z-scores to evaluate their effects on growth and nutritional status. Specific IgE levels > or =0.7 kUA/L, measured via the CAP assay, were considered positive. RESULTS: As the number of sensitized food allergens increased, the mean z-scores of weight and height for age decreased (P=0.006 and 0.018, respectively). The number directly correlated with the SCORAD index (r=0.308), time at which food weaning began (r=0.332), eosinophil counts in peripheral blood (r=0.266), and total serum IgE (r=0.394). Inverse correlations were observed with the z-scores of weight for age (r=-0.358), height for age (r=-0.278), and weight for height (r=-0.224). CONCLUSIONS: A higher number of sensitized food allergens was associated with negative effects on the growth and nutritional status of infants and young children with AD. Therefore, a thorough evaluation of both growth and nutritional status, combined with adequate patient management, is crucial in pediatric AD patients presenting with numerous sensitized food allergies.

Thyroid Dysfunction Induced by Metastatic Thyroid Cancer: Report of Two Cases

Metastases to the thyroid gland are not frequently observed in clinical practice, although an overall incidence of secondary thyroid malignant tumors has been reported to range from 1.25% to 24% in autopsy series. Generally, patients with metastatic thyroid cancer present with euthyroidism and they do not develop thyroid dysfunction. Thyroid dysfunctions, including hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, rarely occur in patients with metastatic thyroid cancer. We describe here a case of hypothyroidism induced by thyroid metastasis from cancer of an unknown primary site in a 53-year-old man and another case of thyrotoxicosis induced by thyroid metastasis from lung cancer in a 65-year-old man.

High Glucose and/or Free Fatty Acid Damage Vascular Endothelial Cells via Stimulating of NAD(P)H Oxidase-induced Superoxide Production from Neutrophils / 당뇨병

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress and inflammation are important factors in the pathogenesis of diabetes and contribute to the development of diabetic complications. To understand the mechanisms that cause vascular complications in diabetes, we examined the effects of high glucose and/or free fatty acids on the production of superoxide from neutrophils and their role in endothelial cell damage. METHODS: Human neutrophils were incubated in the media containing 5.5 mM D-glucose, 30 mM D-glucose, 3 nM oleic acid, or 30 microM oleic acid for 1 hour to evaluate superoxide production through NAD(P)H oxidase activation. Human aortic endothelial cells were co-cultured with neutrophils exposed to high glucose and oleic acid. We then measured neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells, neutrophil activation and superoxide production, neutrophil-mediated endothelial cell cytotoxicity and subunits of neutrophil NAD(P)H oxidase. RESULTS: After 1 hour of incubation with various concentrations of glucose and oleic acid, neutrophil adherence to high glucose and oleic acid-treated endothelial cells was significantly increased compared with adhesion to low glucose and oleic acid-treated endothelial cells. Incubation of neutrophils with glucose and free fatty acids increased superoxide production in a dose-dependent manner. High glucose and oleic acid treatment significantly increased expression of the membrane components of NAD(P)H oxidase of neutrophil (gp91(phox)). Endothelial cells co-cultured with neutrophils exposed to high glucose and oleic acid showed increased cytolysis, which could be prevented by an antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that high glucose and/orfree fatty acidsincrease injury of endothelial cells via stimulating NAD(P)H oxidase-induced superoxide production from neutrophils.

The Relation between Autonomic Nervous System Activity and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: An Analysis of Heart Rate Variability in Men with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

PURPOSE: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common, but their etiology and mechanism are still unclear. We believe that changes in autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity may be contributory, because the lower urinary tract is regulated through the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a tool by which autonomic nervous function can be measured, and therefore we measured and compared parameters of heart rate variability between men with LUTS and healthy subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine men with LUTS [mean age 56.9+/-8.9 years old, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS)> or =8] and 23 healthy men (mean age 57.0+/-1.8 years old, IPSS<8) were included in the present study. HRV is known to be a useful tool for evaluating ANS activity, and we measured and compared HRV in the resting state. RESULTS: The standard deviation of the N-N interval (SDNN) and total power (TP) for patients with LUTS revealed no significant differences from those in the control group. On frequency domain analysis, there was evidence of decreased high frequency (HF) in patients with LUTS (p<0.05), but there were no significant differences in other parameters such as heart rate, square root of the mean squared differences of successive N-N intervals (RMSSD), very low frequency (VLF), low frequency (LF), or the LF/HF ratio. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with LUTS exhibited different HRV parameters compared with normal controls. Their decreased HF indicated that they may have had some kind of disease or imbalance in the autonomic nervous system, which may distinguish patients with LUTS from healthy men.

Clinical Studies on Postcoital Hematuria / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: A study was conducted to evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with postcoital hematuria without bloody ejaculate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 21 men(mean age 48.6 years, range 27-64 years) with isolated postcoital hematuria without bloody ejaculate were retrospectively reviewed. Patients underwent routine laboratory testing including coagulation studies and urological evaluation which included urinalysis, urine cytology, abdominal and transrectal ultrasonography, and cystourethroscopy. RESULTS: Among total 21 patients, there were no detectable abnormalities in 11(52.4%) patients. Lesions were found in 10(47.6%) patients, which included 1 pathologically proven prostatic urethral hemangioma, 5 benign prostatic hyperplasia, 1 bladder neck obstruction, and 3 ultrasonographically identified seminal vesicle dilatation. In 19(90.5%) patients, symptom subsided after treatment or simple observation without recurrences. In the remaining two patients, postcoital hematuria has still persisted intermittently. CONCLUSIONS: Thorough evaluations are necessary in the case of postcoital hematuria as treatable lesions could be identified. In cases without identifiable causes, the patients could be reassured that the condition is benign and self-limiting.

Mixed Epithelial and Stromal Tumor of the Kidney / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Mixed epithelial and stromal tumor of the kidney(MEST) is a rare, recently described benign renal neoplasm that predominantly affects perimenopausal women. It is composed of dual components of epithelial and stromal cells, and the tumor is characterized by admixed cystic and solid growth patterns. Herein, we report on a case of MEST in a 35-year-old woman who presented with an incidentally found renal tumor. The patient has had no evidence of disease 4 years after the surgery.