Overlap syndrome with Sjögren’s syndrome and systemic sclerosis in a steel rolling mill worker: a case report

BACKGROUND: There are few reports about work-related factors associated with Sjögren’s syndrome. We report a case of overlap syndrome with Sjögren’s syndrome and systemic sclerosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 54-year-old man was admitted due to dyspnea on exertion. The results of physical examination and laboratory findings were compatible with Sjögren’s syndrome with systemic sclerosis. The patient had no pre-existing autoimmune disease, and denied family history of autoimmune disease. The patient worked in the large-scale rolling department of a steel manufacturing company for 25 years. Hot rolling is a rolling process performed at between 1100 °C and 1200 °C, generating a high temperature and a large amount of fumes, involving jet-spraying of water throughout the process to remove the instantaneously generated oxide film and prevent the high generation of fumes. In this process, workers could be exposed to silica produced by thermal oxidation. Other potential toxic substances including nickel and manganese seemed to be less likely associated with the patient’s clinical manifestations. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational exposure to silica seemed to be associated with the patient’s clinical manifestations of overlap syndrome with Sjögren’s syndrome and systemic sclerosis. Although the underlying mechanism is still unclear, autoimmune disease including Sjögren’s syndrome affects women more often than men and there was no family history of autoimmune disease. These suggested that there was an association between occupational silica exposure and the disease of the patient. Future research about the association between long-term low dose exposure to silica and the development of autoimmune diseases should be encouraged.

Acute respiratory symptoms and evacuation-related behavior after exposure to chlorine gas leakage

BACKGROUND: A study was performed on the accidental chlorine gas leakage that occurred in a factory of printed circuit boards manufactured without chlorine. Health examination was performed for all 52 workers suspected of exposure to chlorine gas, and their evacuation-related behaviors were observed in addition to analyzing the factors that affected the duration of their acute respiratory symptoms. METHODS: Behavioral characteristics during the incidence of the accidental chlorine gas leakage, the estimated time of exposure, and the duration of subjective acute respiratory symptoms were investigated. In addition, clinical examination, chest radiography, and dental erosion test were performed. As variables that affected the duration of respiratory symptoms, dose group, body weight, age, sex, smoking, work period, and wearing a protective gear were included and analyzed by using the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: Of 47 workers exposed to chlorine gas, 36 (77 %) developed more than one subjective symptom. The duration of the subjective symptoms according to exposure level significantly differed, with a median of 1 day (range, 0–5 days) in the low-exposure group and 2 days (range, 0–25 days) in the high-exposure group. Among the variables that affected the duration of the acute respiratory symptoms, which were analyzed by using the Cox proportional hazard model, only exposure level was significant (hazard ratio 2.087, 95 % CI = 1.119, 3.890). Regarding the evacuation-related behaviors, 22 workers (47 %) voluntarily evacuated to a safety zone immediately after recognizing the accidental exposure, but 25 workers (43 %) delayed evacuation until the start of mandatory evacuation (min 5, max 25 min). CONCLUSIONS: The duration of the subjective acute respiratory symptoms significantly differed between the low- and high-exposure groups. Among the 27 workers in the high-exposure group, 17 misjudged the toxicity after being aware of the gas leakage, which is a relatively high number.

The Relationship between Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D, Parathyroid Hormone and the Glomerular Filtration Rate in Korean Adults: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2009 and 2011 / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decreases with age, while parathyroid hormone (PTH) increases. There are a few reports only on the relationship between GFR and PTH under the category of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentration. METHODS: Using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data, a cross-sectional study was conducted on the association between serum 25(OH)D concentration, GFR and PTH in Korean adults aged 50 years or older. Serum PTH concentration was compared to the tertiles of GFR after adjustment for relevant variables. In addition, the serum PTH concentration was compared with the GFR under the category of serum 25(OH) D concentration (30 ng/mL). RESULTS: The mean estimated GFR (eGFR) was 74.8 mL/min in men and 73.1 mL/min in women. The mean PTH and 25(OH) D was 66.8 pg/mL, 20.5 ng/mL in men and 69.0 pg/mL, 18.2 ng/mL in women. The serum PTH concentration showed a significant negative correlation with the serum 25(OH) D and eGFR in both genders. The serum PTH concentration significantly increased at the lower tertile of eGFR in male adults In addition, a decrease of serum PTH concentration was marked in the vitamin D sufficient male adults (>30 ng/mL). CONCLUSION: This present study demonstrated that serum PTH concentration showed negative correlation with eGFR, however, serum PTH increase may be minimized by maintaining proper serum 25(OH)D concentrations under similar eGFR status in Korean adults aged 50 and above.

Higher Serum Heavy Metal May Be Related with Higher Serum gamma-Glutamyltransferase Concentration in Koreans: Analysis of the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V-1, 2, 2010, 2011) / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: Abnormal serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT) may be an early and sensitive marker for oxidative stress. This study was performed to evaluate the association between serum heavy metals and gamma-GT concentration. METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional analysis based on data from Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (V-1, 2, 2010, 2011) regarding serum heavy metal concentrations (lead, mercury, and cadmium) as well as serum gamma-GT. Serum heavy metals were categorized into tertiles, and serum gamma-GT concentration was compared using an analysis of covariance test after relevant variable adjustments. In addition, we evaluated the odds ratio (OR) of having the highest tertile of serum gamma-GT in each heavy metal tertile using logistic regression. RESULTS: The mean serum lead, mercury, and cadmium concentrations were 2.67, 5.08, and 1.02 microg/dL in men and 1.95, 3.60, and 1.21 microg/dL in women, respectively. Partial correlation showed a significant positive relation between each heavy metal and serum gamma-GT concentration. Comparing serum gamma-GT concentration by the tertile of each heavy metal, serum gamma-GT concentration showed a significant increase as the tertiles of serum mercury and cadmium in men and that of serum mercury in women increased, but not with lead. The OR of having the highest tertile of serum gamma-GT was significant for cadmium in men (OR, 4.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.54 to 6.35) and mercury in women (OR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.29 to 3.10) in the top tertile of each heavy metal. CONCLUSION: Higher serum heavy metal concentration may be related with higher serum gamma-GT concentration. In particular, serum cadmium in men and mercury in women showed significant correlation with serum gamma-GT concentration.

The association between shift work and hyperuricemia in steelmaking male workers

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the association between shift work and hyperuricemia among steel company workers. METHODS: We examined 1,029 male workers at a Korean steel company between June 6 and June 28, 2013. We conducted anthropometric measurements, questionnaire surveys, and blood tests. Hyperuricemia was defined as a serum uric acid concentration of > or =7.0 mg/dL. Logistic regression analyses were performed. In the full model, analysis was adjusted for covariates including age, body mass index, lifestyle factors, and comorbidities. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated for all models. RESULTS: The participants included 276 daytime workers and 753 shift workers. Among daytime workers, 72 (26.1%) individuals had hyperuricemia, as did 282 (37.5%) individuals among shift workers (p <0.001). There was a statistically significant association between shift work and hyperuricemia. In the unadjusted model, the OR of shift work was 1.70 (95% CI 1.25-2.31) for hyperuricemia. In the full model, the OR of shift work was also statistically significant after adjustment for covariates (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.02-1.96). CONCLUSIONS: Among male steel workers, a significant association between shift work and hyperuricemia was observed.

The Relevance of Hyperuricemia and Metabolic Syndrome and the Effect of Blood Lead Level on Uric Acid Concentration in Steelmaking Workers

OBJECTIVES: Uric acid concentration is known to increase the prevalence of metabolic syndrome by affecting its components, resulting in increased risk of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases, and long-term lead exposure is known to affect this serum uric acid level. In this study, we aimed to examine the association between the causes of hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome, and to determine whether an increased blood lead level affects hyperuricemia. METHOD: Anthropometric measurements, surveys, and blood tests were conducted between May and June 2012 in 759 men working in the steelmaking process at a domestic steel company. Workers were divided into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of hyperuricemia, and an analysis was performed to examine its association with metabolic syndrome. In addition, the workers were divided into 3 groups according to the blood lead level to analyze the association between blood lead and hyperuricemia. RESULTS: The geometric mean (standard deviation) of the blood lead levels in the hyperuricemia group was significantly higher than that of the healthy group (3.8 [1.8] vs. 3.3 [1.8] microg/dL). The adjusted odds ratio for metabolic syndrome of the hyperuricemia group increased significantly to 1.787 (1.125-2.839) compared with the healthy group. In addition, the adjusted odds ratios for the occurrence of hyperuricemia in the tertile 2 (2.61-4.50 microg/dL) and tertile 3 groups (>4.50 microg/dL) according to blood lead level significantly increased to 1.763 (1.116-2.784) and 1.982 (1.254-3.132), respectively, compared with the tertile 1 group (< 2.61 microg/dL). CONCLUSION: Hyperuricemia is believed to function as an independent risk factor for metabolic syndrome, while lead seems to increase the serum uric acid level even at a considerably low blood level. Therefore, attention should be given to patients with hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome who are prone to lead exposure, and a prospective study should be conducted to identify their causal relationship.

Associated Malformations and Chromosomal Defects in Antenatally Diagnosed Hydronephrosis / 대한주산의학회잡지

PURPOSE: With the increasing use of antenatal sonography, fetal hydronephrosis has been reported more frequently. But, despite extensive clinical and scientific research much controversy still exists about the assessment and management of hydronephrosis. We performed a retrospective study to determine the frequency of associated malformations and chromosomal defects in prenatally diagnosed hydronephrosis. METHODS: The records of 297 neonates who were diagnosed with hydronephrosis through antenatal ultrasonographic screening, were retrospectively analyzed. They were confirmed at 3 days to 1 month after birth with postnatal ultrasonography in Busan Paik Hospital, between January 2000 and December 2008. We karyotyped 297 neonates after ultrasonographic examination revealed hydronephrosis and malformations. RESULTS: Chromosomal abnormalities were detected in 31 (11%) cases of 297 cases and more common in female than male. The commonest chromosomal abnormality was trisomy 21, followed by Turner syndrome, deletion of autosome, unbalanced translocation. 127 cases in 109 infants had associated malformations such as urogenital and cardiovascular and gastrointestinal anomalies. The associated malformations were more common in moderate to severe hydronephrosis than mild and the number of additional abnormalities increased with the chromosomal defects. CONCLUSION: Particular attention should be paid for the cases in congenital hydronephrosis with any associated malformation such as urogenital and cardiac malformation, to investigate chromosomal abnormalities. This will enable clinicians to establish appropriate management and postnatal care.

Impact of Pulmonary Hypertension on the Regional Right Ventricular Strain

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of right ventricular dysfunction in patients with pulmonary hypertension is useful for clinical management and it has prognostic implications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of pulmonary hypertension on the regional strain of the right ventricle and to assess the correlation between pulmonary arterial (PA) pressure and right ventricular (RV) strain. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of fiftyone patients with chronic obstructive lung disease were classified into two groups on the basis of the presence of normal PA pressure (group I, PA pressure<35 mmHg, n=22) or high PA pressure (group II, PA pressure(35 mmHg, n=29), as estimated by the peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity on Doppler echocardiography. The left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction and RV fractional area change were assessed by conventional echocardiography, and the strain values were obtained from the RV, the LV free wall and the septum. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics were similar in both groups except for the peak PA pressure (group I: 30.2+/-3.9 mmHg, group II: 44.4+/-7.5 mmHg, p<0.00001). Group II had statistically reduced basal RV strain (-%) (20.3+/-7.1) compared to group I (24.1+/-6.7, p=0.033). The basal RV strain correlated with the PA pressure (r2=0.269, p=0.004). CONCLUSION: RV strain could determine regional RV dysfunction in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Coronary Artery Size in Korean: Normal Value and its Determinants

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although the size of the coronary artery is known to be closely related to the outcome of coronary artery bypass grafting and percutaneous coronary intervention, its normal value and determinants have not been examined in Koreans. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty seven normal coronary arteriograms were carefully selected from 3,412 studied consecutively. Of these, 53 women and 23 men, with no abnormalities in their cardiac function and not using nitrates, were studied. The lumen diameter was measured at 10 segments in the epicardial coronary arteries. RESULTS: For men, the mean lumen diameter of the proximal left anterior descending and left circumflex coronary arteries were 3.88+/-0.39 and 3.45+/-0.47 mm, respectively, and were not affected by the anatomic dominance. However, the left main and proximal right coronary arteries varied between 4.44+/-0.49 and 5.18+/-0.32 mm (p<0.05) and 3.29+/-0.60 and 4.05+/-0.42 mm (p<0.05), respectively, by the anatomic dominance. Women had a smaller mean coronary artery size than men [for diameter, -7% (p<0.01);for cross-sectional area, -13% (p<0.01)], and the left ventricular (LV) mass was significantly associated with coronary artery diameter (p<0.05). From a multiple linear regression analysis, gender was an only independent predictor of the coronary artery size (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We revealed normal coronary artery dimensions in Koreans. Although, body size, hypertension, use of calcium channel blockers, anatomic dominance and age had no effect on the size of the coronary artery, but the LV mass and gender were shown to have an effect. The multivariate regression analysis showed gender was an only independent predictor of the coronary artery size.

Doppler Tissue Image for Diagnosis of Myocardial Dyssynchronicity in Congestive Heart Failure: Comparison with EKG

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Electrical dyssynchronicity (Dsyn) appears to be prognostic of survival in congestive heart failure (CHF). Recent study has shown some discrepancy between the electrical Dsyn and the Doppler tissue image (DTI) assessed mechanical Dsyn. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between the QRS duration and DTI assessed Dsyn. SUBJCETS AND METHODS: One hundred and forty patients, with CHF and left ventricular ejection fractions 130 msec, standard deviation (SD) of the RS time >40 msec, or a difference in the maximal and minimal RS times (RS time-diff) >100 msec were indicators of'Dsyn'. RESULTS: The prevalence of myocardial Dsyn, by QRS duration, SD of the RS time and the RS time-diff were 19, 43 and 47%, respectively. The SD of the RS time (49.8+/-23.6 vs. 36.6+/-20.7, p130 msec) compared with the narrow QRS group. There was also a weak positive correlation between the QRS duration and the SD of the RS time (R=0.34, p<0.001) and the RS time-diff (R=0.38, p<0.001). However, from a cross-tabulation analysis, more than one third of patients had a discrepancy between QRS duration and DTI assessed mechanical Dsyn. From a multivariate analysis, a major determinant of the SD of the RS time was the QRS duration. CONCLUSION: Although a major determinant of the DTI assessed Dsyn was the QRS duration, more than one-third of patients had a discrepancy between electrical and mechanical Dsyn. Therefore, not only the QRS duration, but the DTI assessed Dsyn, should be measured when considering cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Doppler Tissue Image for Diagnosis of Myocardial Dyssynchronicity in Congestive Heart Failure: Comparison with EKG

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Electrical dyssynchronicity (Dsyn) appears to be prognostic of survival in congestive heart failure (CHF). Recent study has shown some discrepancy between the electrical Dsyn and the Doppler tissue image (DTI) assessed mechanical Dsyn. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between the QRS duration and DTI assessed Dsyn. SUBJCETS AND METHODS: One hundred and forty patients, with CHF and left ventricular ejection fractions 130 msec, standard deviation (SD) of the RS time >40 msec, or a difference in the maximal and minimal RS times (RS time-diff) >100 msec were indicators of'Dsyn'. RESULTS: The prevalence of myocardial Dsyn, by QRS duration, SD of the RS time and the RS time-diff were 19, 43 and 47%, respectively. The SD of the RS time (49.8+/-23.6 vs. 36.6+/-20.7, p130 msec) compared with the narrow QRS group. There was also a weak positive correlation between the QRS duration and the SD of the RS time (R=0.34, p<0.001) and the RS time-diff (R=0.38, p<0.001). However, from a cross-tabulation analysis, more than one third of patients had a discrepancy between QRS duration and DTI assessed mechanical Dsyn. From a multivariate analysis, a major determinant of the SD of the RS time was the QRS duration. CONCLUSION: Although a major determinant of the DTI assessed Dsyn was the QRS duration, more than one-third of patients had a discrepancy between electrical and mechanical Dsyn. Therefore, not only the QRS duration, but the DTI assessed Dsyn, should be measured when considering cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Quantification of Regional Wall Motion Abnormality Using Myocardial Strain in Acute Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Several echocardiographic methods, such as ejection fraction, fractional shortening, and Doppler tissue imaging (DTI), have been developed to quantify systolic function but all had several important limitations. The purpose of this study was to quantify the regional wall motion abnormality, using strain, in an acute myocardial infarction, compared with a visual estimation. SUBJECTS AND MEHTODS: Forty-five patients, with acute anterior (n=28) and inferior myocardial (n=17) infarctions, who underwent color DTI, were examined using longitudinal strain and standard echocardiography, and the results were compared with 54 normal controls. A total of 594 segments [3 segments (apical, mid and basal portion) of septum and inferior wallx99 patients] were evaluated. RESULTS: In the normal control group, the strain was uniformly distributed in all segments (-20%~-23%). In the infarction groups, the strain was negatively related with the wall motion score. The strain of the apical segments and mid-septum was decreased in the anterior wall infarctions, and the strain of basal septum and mid to basal inferior wall was decreased in the inferior wall infarctions. The dyskinetic segments showed positive strain. CONCLUSION: This study validates strain as a superior method for the quantification of the regional wall motion abnormality in an acute myocardial infarction than visual estimation.

Myocardial Synchronicity: As a Predictor of Left Ventricle Function Recovery in Severe Congestive Heart Failure

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The recovery of the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) appeared to be prognostic of survival in congestive heart failure (CHF). The aim of our study was to evaluate the parameters that appear to predict the LVEF recovery in CHF. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty-nine patients, with CHF and a LVEF or =5%, n=20). RESULTS: The baseline clinical and echocardiographic parameters were similar in both groups. In group II, the LV end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes were decreased, but the LVEF was increased by up to 44% at the follow-up. The right ventricular annulus velocity (group I: 6.7+/-2.1 vs. group II: 8.0+/-2.0 cm/sec, p< 0.05), the use of beta-blocker (69 vs. 100%, p< 0.05) and the SD of the RS time (46+/-21 vs. 21+/-12, p< 0.01) were significantly different between the two groups. However, the systolic duration and the SD of the RE time were similar in the two groups. From a multivariate analysis, only the SD of the RS time was an independent predictor of the LVEF recovery. CONCLUSION: Myocardial systolic synchronicity is an important predictor of the LVEF recovery.

Surgical Treatments of Intradural Extramedullary Tumor / 대한척추외과학회지

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study on 12 cases of intradural extramedullary tumor. OBJECTIES : To analyze the clinical symptoms and the outcome of the treatments in the 12 patients who had intradural extramedullary tumors. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW : In order to provide a good prognosis and achieve a satisfactory clinical outcome for the treatment of intradural extramedullary tumors, early diagnosis and careful surgical resection is necessary. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve cases of intradural extradmedullary tumors were treated surgically from September 1990 to July 2000. Of the 12 cases, 7 were male and 5 were femal. Average follow-up period was 37 months. Mean age of the cases was 48.3 years. The followings were analyzed; 1)histopathologic diagnoses, 2)locations of tumors, 3)clinical findings, 4)duration of symptoms, and 5)radiologic findings. In addition, both changes of symptoms as well as neurologic findings during the preoperative stage and the postoperative follow-up were evaluated according to the Frankel's and Kim 's criteria. RESULTS: Histiopathologic results were as follows; 6 cases (50%) confirmed as schwannoma, 3 cases (25%) as meningioma, 1 case as epidermoid cyst, 1 case as neurofibroma, and 1 case as arachnoid cyst. Locations of tumors were as follows; 6 cases (50%) located in the thoracic region, 4 cases (33%) located in the lumbar, 1 case located in the cervical region, and 1 case located in the sacrum. Clinical findings were as follows: 6 cases complained of back pain and radiating pain to leg, 6 cases noticed motor weaknesses and sensory changes of varying degrees. The average duration from initial symptoms to admission was 57 months (23-140 months). Laminectomy and complete resection of tumors were performed in all cases. Posterior spinal fusion with instrumentation was necessary only in one case. The preoperative Frankel's grades were as follows; 6 cases were in grade C, 4 cases in grade D, and 2 cases in grade E. At the final follow-up, all cases were graded as E . CONCLUSION: The Early diagnosis and careful surgical resection for intradural extramedullary tumors provide for a good prognosis as well as a positive clinical outcome. Intradural tumors should be included in the differential diagnosis of spine diseases and considered as a subdivision of orthopaedic spine surgery.

Metabolic acidosis and abnormal calcium metabolism in patients on maintenance hemodialysis / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Mild metabolic acidosis is frequently found among the stable patients treated with maintenance hemodialysis. However, its clinical effects have yet to be clarified. This study was undertaken to estimate the prevalence of metabolic acidosis in the patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis and to evaluate the clinical significance of metabolic acidosis, especially in relation to calcium metabolism. METHODS: In 124 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis, analysis of arterial blood gas and measurement of various biochemical markers and parathyroid hormone were carried out with predialysis blood obtained from arterial side of arteriovenous fistula. RESULTS: Ninety two patients(74.2%) had metabolic acidosis. Their arterial pH was 7.32+/-0.01, arterial bicarbonate concentration 17.1+/-0.3 mEq/L, and PaCO2 33.1+/-0.5 mmHg. The patients with metabolic acidosis showed a lower calcium(7.90+/-0.16 vs. 8.68+/-0.17 mg/dL, p< 0.05), and higher phosphorus(4.96+/-0.16 vs. 3.68+/-0.39 mg/dL, p< 0.05), alkaline phosphatase(233.6+/-22.7 vs. 145.9+/-13.7 U/L, p< 0.05) and parathyroid hormone(176.5+/-23.7 vs. 52.8+/-14.4 pg/mL, p< 0.05) levels compared to those with normal acid-base balance. In the patients with metabolic acidosis, PaCO2 level showed a positive correlation with arterial bicarbonate concentration(r=0.62, p< 0.001). The lower arterial bicarbonate was, the higher serum potassium(r=-0.24, p< 0.05), phosphorus(r=-0.42, p< 0.001) and anion gap(r=-0.28, p< 0.01) were. When the patients were divided into two groups according to the dialysate buffer used, the lower calcium-acetate group showed lower total calcium(7.28+/-0.25 vs. 7.96+/-0.17 mg/dL, p< 0.05) and ionized calcium(0.85+/-0.05 vs. 1.08+/-0.04 mmol/L, p< 0.05) levels and higher alkaline phosphatase(457.1+/-170.2 vs. 209.4+/-15.9, p< 0.05) and parathyroid hormone (364.4+/-83.7 vs. 155.4+/-23.6 pg/mL, p< 0.05) levels compared to the higher calcium-bicarbonate group. CONCLUSION: Current hemodialytic practice is less than ideal, as evidenced by a high prevalence of metabolic acidosis. The metabolic acidosis in maintenance hemodialysis is associated with abnormal calcium metabolism, suggesting that a more aggressive correction of metabolic acidosis may be required by individualizing dialysis prescription.

A Case of Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Thymus / 대한내과학회지

Neuroendocrine tumors originate from neuroendocrine cell, so called APUD (amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation). Most neuroendocrine tumors have typical histopathology, immunohistochemical findings, and can be diagnosed by specific electromicroscopic feature of dense core granules. Neuroendocrine tumors are a diverse group of neoplasms that include carcinoid tumors, islet cell tumors, neuroblastoma, and small cell carcinoma. Neuroendocrine carcinoma of thymus bears similarities to neuroendocrine carcinoma in other organs, but it is clinicopathologically distinct from other tumors of thymus. Rare reports have been seen about thymus neuroendocrine carcinoma. Authors experienced a case of neuroendocrine carcinoma of thymus which cannot be classified as carcinoid, atypical carcinoid, or small cell carcinoma. Herein, we report this case with a review of the literatures.

Serum Total Homocysteine as a Risk Factor for Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Homocysteine is a metabolite of methionine metabolism with atherogenic and thrombotic properties. Increased blood homocysteine has been recognized as a risk factor for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, but it is not much to be clarified in this country. MATERIALS AND METHOD: In a case-control study, we examine the relationship between the risk of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease and serum total homocysteine, folate, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, and other conventional risk factors. Thirty nine patients with significant stenosis of epicardial coronary artery and 20 healthy age-sex matched control subjects were included. Fasting venous blood was obtained and serum total homocysteine (tHCY) concentration was measured by high performance liquid chromatography and fluorescent detection method. RESULTS: Compared with control group, case group had higher tHCY concentrations (14.9+/-6.9 vs 10.8+/-4.2 mol/L, p<0.05) and lower folic acid concentration (6.7+/-3.6 vs 11.0+/-5.7 ng/mL,p<0.05). There were higher tHCY concentrations of patients with 2 vessel and 3 vessel disease than that of patients with 1 vessel disease (17.2+/-6.7 and 18.4+/-9.8 micro mol/L vs 12.4+/-3.9 micro mol/L,p<0.05). Vitamin B12 and vitamin B6 concentrations showed no significant difference between case group and control group. Compared with control group, there were more smokers (51.5% vs 25.0%, p<0.05), and patients with hypertension (39.4% vs 0%, p<0.001) and diabetes (30.3% vs 0%, p<0.001) in case group. Increased tHCY (tHCY over 14.7 mol/L) was an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (OR; 6.75, 95% CI; 1.15 - 40.99, p<0.05) together with smoking (OR; 5.4, 95% CI; 1.22 - 23.95, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These data support the hypothesis that elevated serum tHCY concentration is a risk factor for Korean patients with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, and low folate concentration may be responsible for elevated tHCY concentration.

Phase 2 Trial of FLP ( 5-FU , Leucovorin , Cisplatin ) Combination Chemotherapy for Advanced Gastric Cancer / 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: Advanced gastric cancer, the most common malignancy in Korea is a kind of systemic disease. At dignosis, 50~80% of patients have systemic cancer. Therefore, the most patients require systemic chemotherapy. Cisplatin and 5-FU have been suggested to be active in the treatment of gastric cancer, a high response rate was observered with a combination of 5-FU infusion and cisplatin, and the biochemical modulation of 5-FU by leucovorin has been demonstrated to enhance the activity of 5-FU in gastrointestinal tract cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patients with advanced gastric cancer whose disease had relapsed or unresectable were treated with 5-FU(800 mg/m2 12 hr IV infusion, D 1~5), leucovorin(20 mg/m2 IV, D 1~5, max. 30 mg), cisplatin(100 mg/m2 15min IV dripping, D1). The cycles of treatment were repeated at 3-weeks intervals. RESULTS: Between Sep. 1994 and Aug. 1996, previously untreated 44 patients(39 eligible patients) were admitted to this study, the median age was 55 years(range 17~73) and male to female ratio was 20:19. The rate of complete remission was 5%(2/39), the rate of partial remission was 21%(8/39). The median-response duration was 26 weeks(5+~38+ ). The median-time to progression was 25 weeks(4+~62+). The range of overall survival time was from 4 to 62+ weeks. 24 weeks survival rate was 71.5% but the median survival time was not reached. The leukopenia and anemia were the main hematologic toxicities. Non-hematologic side effects were nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomatitis, peripheral neuropathy. These toxicities were observed commnonly, but tolerable. Two treatment-related deaths were associated with sepsis. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, FLP combination chemotherapy seems to be a moderate efficacy for advanced gastric cancer with tolerable toxicities. To confirm the efficacy further, the long-term follow up and a large scale of clinical studies are needed.

Correlation of Urine Ammonium with Urine Osmolal Gap in High Anion Gap Matabolic Acidosis: Comparison to Urine Anion Gap / 대한내과학회지

OBJECTIVES: Urine anion gap(UAG) and urine osmolal gap(UOG) were proposed as indirect measures of urine ammonium(NF4+). While the former is known to have its usefulness limited to hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis, the latter is reported to have its correlation with urine NE4+ in ketoacidosis. This study was undertaken to evaluate the correlation of urine NH with IJOG in high anion gap metabolic acidosis(AGMA) and to compare it with UAG. METHODS: We measured urine NH' by enzymatic determination, UOG(=0.5 X [urine osmolality-{2 X (Na++K+)+urea+glucose)]), and UAG(=Na++K+-Cl-) in 18 patients(serum AG=24.4+/-1.6mmol/L ) with AGMA. RESULTS: When they were grouped into those with acute disorders(n=11) and those with chronic disorder(n=7), urine Nk4+ concentration was higher (p40mmol/d) had the UOG>40mmol/L. CONCLUSION: In contrast to the UAG, the UOG has a significant correlation with urine NH4+ in AGMA.