Amebic liver abscesses resulting in diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus infection / 영남의대학술지

Amebic liver abscess (ALA) is the most common extraintestinal manifestation of amebiasis. Amebiasis, a parasitic infection caused by Entamoeba histolytica, used to be a prevalent protozoan disease in Korea, however, with an improving sanitary system, it has been among very uncommon etiology of liver abscess. A recent report suggested that ALA is an emerging parasitic infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients even in areas where the disease is not endemic and recommended HIV screening in patients in areas where ALA is not endemic, particularly those without history of travel to a disease-endemic area. We report on two patients who were admitted for treatment of ALA and then diagnosed as HIV infection. We also reviewed the etiology and characteristics of ALA in our hospital during the last 5 years.

Amebic liver abscesses resulting in diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus infection / 영남의대학술지

Amebic liver abscess (ALA) is the most common extraintestinal manifestation of amebiasis. Amebiasis, a parasitic infection caused by Entamoeba histolytica, used to be a prevalent protozoan disease in Korea, however, with an improving sanitary system, it has been among very uncommon etiology of liver abscess. A recent report suggested that ALA is an emerging parasitic infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients even in areas where the disease is not endemic and recommended HIV screening in patients in areas where ALA is not endemic, particularly those without history of travel to a disease-endemic area. We report on two patients who were admitted for treatment of ALA and then diagnosed as HIV infection. We also reviewed the etiology and characteristics of ALA in our hospital during the last 5 years.

Recent Trends in the Eradication Rates of Second-Line Quadruple 14 Therapy for Helicobacter Pylori and the Clinical Factors that Potentially Affect the Treatment Outcome / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of second-line quadruple therapy for treating patients with Helicobacter Pylori, and these patients were treated at our hospitals for September, 2003 through April, 2008 in Seongnam, Korea. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-three patients who failed to respond to the initial PPI-based triple therapy received quadruple therapy, whcih consisted of PPI, bismuth, tetracycline and metronidazole. The patients were divided into two groups. One group was treated for 7 days and the other group was treated for 14 days. Four to six weeks after completing the schedule, a 13C-urea breath test was performed to detect the presence of H. pylori. RESULTS: The overall intention-to-treat and per-protocol (PP) eradication rates were 75.2% and 81.1%, respectively. The PP eradication rates for the years 2003~2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007~2008 were 76.5%, 82.5%, 91.3% and 75%, respectively. There was no significant difference of the eradication rates according to gender, age and the duration of treatment. Yet the eradication rate of the chronic gastritis group (66.7%) was significantly lower than that of the peptic ulcer group (84.7%) (p=0.030). CONCLUSIONS: There was no definite downward trend for the eradication rates of second-line quadruple therapy during the 6 year study period. However, the eradication rate in the recent 2 years guaranteed only a 75% cure rate and the quadruple therapy was less effective for the patients with chronic gastritis. Therefore, a novel, more potent novel second-line regimen may be needed for the eradication of H. pylori.

Clinical features of hepatic tuberculosis in biopsy-proven cases / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: Hepatic involvement is frequently observed in patients with miliary tuberculosis, but primary hepatic tuberculosis with no clinical extrahepatic manifestations of tuberculosis is uncommon. With the ever-increasing number of immunocompromised patients, it is expected that hepatic tuberculosis will occur more frequently. The aim of the present study was to establish the clinical manifestations and course of the disease. METHODS: From January 1989 to September 2008, 12 patients were diagnosed with hepatic tuberculosis by liver biopsy at Seoul National University Hospital. We retrospectively evaluated their clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings by medical record review. RESULTS: Four patients had primary hepatic tuberculosis, and eight patients had hepatic tuberculosis secondary to pulmonary or miliary tuberculosis. Three patients were immunocompromised, and six patients had no previous medical problem. An elevated serum level of alkaline phosphatase was the most frequently observed finding in laboratory tests. Imaging studies showed variable findings, including hepatosplenomegaly, multiple hepatic nodules, abscess formation, and even normal findings. Ten patients responded to antituberculosis drugs, and two cases with tuberculous liver abscess had persistent disease despite prolonged therapy. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with a protracted illness, hepatosplenomegaly and/or abnormal liver function tests, hepatic tuberculosis should be suspected, even in healthy young patients or patients with normal imaging findings. Patients with tuberculous abscess formation tend to respond poorly to antituberculosis therapy, and surgery could be considered in these patients.

Clinical Features of Re-infection of Helicobacter pylori after Successful Eradication / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS:Studies on re-infection of Helicobacter pylori are limited. This study was designed to determine if there are clinical features of H. pylori re- infection related to gastroduodenal diseases or histological findings. METHODS: From a population of patients that were treated for H. pylori eradication from May 2003 to September 2007, 129 subjects were enrolled. Regimens were PPI-based triple or quadruple agents and follow-up methods were UBT, CLO or histology. RESULTS: A total of 29 subjects experienced a recurrence (within one year, 17 subjects; between one and two years, eight subjects; more than two years, four subjects). Recurrence periods were 2 to 32 months, and the mean period was 12.62+/-8.40 months. Among 29 subjects, eight subjects had chronic atrophic gastritis, 14 subjects had a peptic ulcer, five subjects had stomach cancer and two subjects had a MALT lymphoma; there were no statistical differences of the odds ratio between matched diseases. By use of the Updated Sydney System, neither H. pylori colonization density nor neutrophil infiltration nor monocyte infiltration grade in histology was associated with recurrence or re-infection. CONCLUSIONS: Neither histological findings nor gastroduodenal diseases was associated with H. pylori re-infection. The re-infection rate in this study was approximately 6.2%. This rate was slightly higher than rates reported in other recent studies in Korea.

The Advantage of Laparoroscopic Appendectomy in Acute Appendectomy

OBJECTIVE: The laparoscopic appendectomy was developed as an alternative procedure to be used in acute appendicitis. Some surgeons dispute the advantages of laparoscopic procedures for acute appendicitis. Specifically, there are many controversies associated with perforated appendicitis. We reviewed the results of appendectomies to assess the feasibility of a laparoscopic appendectomy in acute appendicitis that included perforated appendicitis. METHODS: Three hundred thirty-nine consecutive patients with laparoscopic appendectomies, which include 27 patients with perforated appendicitis, were analysed. This study considered the lengths of the operation and the hospital stay. Differences in complications between non-perforated and perforated appendicitis were also evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 388 patients underwent appendectomies, 339 patients with laparoscopy and 49 patients with conventional open appendectomies, from April 1994 to June 1996. The mean duration of laparoscopic appendectomies was 48.9 minutes. This was slightly longer than that of open appendec tomies (44.9 minutes) in the same hospital. The duration of hospital stay was on the average of 4.9 days. Six patients (1.8%) were converted to conventional surgery because of difficult mobilization in 4 patients and uncontrollable bleeding in the remaining two. The surgeries on patients who were converted to conventional surgery were performed by rotating residents without staff supervision. Minor complications developed in eight patients (2.4%). In comparing the results between non-perforated and perforated appendicitis, durations of operation (47.3 vs. 78.3 minutes) and the hospital stay (4.6 vs. 8.6 days) were longer in perforated appendicitis. However, the complication rate (2.6 vs. 0%) was unexpectedly found to be lower in perforated appendicitis. CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic appendectomy is a safe, feasible procedure for acute appendicitis. It is an excellent procedure for perforated appendicitis and has minor complications compared to an open appendectomy with its large incision that is followed by a high rate of wound infection and/or post operative adhesion. There aree various reports on prospective randomized studies evaluating the benefits of a laparoscopic appendectomy compared to a conventional open appendectomy. The reports by laparo scopic surgeons in various centers are different with regard to operative time, postoperative recovery, morbidity, and postoperative complications. For complicated appendicitis, most surgeons are not in agree ment with the laparoscopic approach. We obtained excellent results with laparoscopic appendectomies in perforated appendicitis which included periappendiceal abscesses.