Clinical Factors That Potentially Affect the Treatment Outcome of Helicobacter pylori Eradication Therapy with using a Standard Triple Regimen in Peptic Ulcer Patients / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) based triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication has an approximately 20% treatment failure rate. The aim of this study is to examine the clinical factors that influence eradication of H. pylori in patients with peptic ulcers. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 597 endoscopy-proven peptic ulcer and H. pylori-positive patients who were treated at our hospital between July 2004 and March 2007. The eradication rate and the effect of age, gender, smoking, alcohol drinking, activity and the location of ulcer and the kind of PPIs were examined. RESULTS: 597 patients were treated with one-week triple therapy (PPI, amoxicillin 1 g, clarithromycin 500 mg all twice daily). The overall eradication rate was 80.2%. Eradication was significantly more successful in the patients with an age under 60, and in patients over 60 and who had a duodenal ulcer (83.2% vs 73.2%, respectively, p=0.005) or a gastric ulcer (82.5% vs 73.6%, respectively, p=0.041). There was no statistically significant difference according to gender, smoking, alcohol, the activity of the ulcer and the kind of PPIs. CONCLUSIONS: An age over 60 and gastric ulcer were associated with a lower H. pylori eradication rate in patients with peptic ulcers. Therefore, H. pylori eradication in old age patients and in patients with gastric ulcer should be managed differently and the treatment duration should be extended or a new treatment regime developed to overcome the lower eradication rate.

The Change of Pulmonary Artery Pressure in Graves'Disease Before and After Treatment / 대한내분비학회지

BACKGROUND: Exertional symptoms, dyspnea and impaired effort tolerance are common in patients with Graves' disease. Proposed explanations include: high-output left heart failure, ineffective oxygen utilization and respiratory muscle weakness. In addition, pulmonary hypertension has also been reported in patients with Graves' disease. A high prevalence of hypothyroidism and positive thyroid autoantibody were also observed in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Therefore, the pulmonary artery pressure in patients with Graves' disease was evaluated. METHODS: Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic examinations (Hewlett Packard Sonos 2500) were performed to determine the pulmonary artery (PA) pressure in 26 Graves' disease patients, both before and after treatment (23 patients with propylthiouracil and 3 with RAI), and in 10 euthyroid controls. The changes in the PA pressure after treatment were evaluated in 13 patients with Graves' disease, who became euthyroid after treatment. RESULTS: The pulmonary artery pressure was increased in the untreated Graves' disease patients compared to the normal controls (23.5+/-2.32 vs. 29.6+/-10.3 mmHg). 38.5% of the Graves' disease patients (10/26) showed pulmonary arterial hypertension (PA>30 mmHg) and the serum TBII levelwas higher in the Graves' disease patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension than in those with normal PA pressure (P<0.05). In the Graves' patients who became euthyroid after treatment, the PA pressure was significantly decreased. CONCLUSION: 38.5% of the untreated Graves' disease patients showed pulmonary arterial hypertension, and the pulmonary artery pressure was significantly decreased in those who became euthyroid after treatment. The pathogenesis and clinical importance of pulmonary arterial hypertension in Graves' disease requires further studies.

A Study on the Clinical and Microbiologic Features of Community-acquired Acute Pyelonephritis for the Recent 5 Years in a University Hospital / 대한신장학회잡지

Purpose : The clinical features and microbiologic characteristics of acute pyelonephritis (APN) have been changing due to an increased prevalence of chronic disease, overuse and/or misuse of antibiotics and so on. We investigated the causative organisms and their antibiotic sensitivity profile and clinical manifestation with the purpose to suggest a proper empirical therapy of the disease. METHODS: We analysed the medical records of 246 APN patients older than 15 years who were admitted at Hallym University, Kandong Sacred Heart Hospital from January 1997 to December 2001, excluding hospital-acquired infections. RESULTS: Patients were 46.2+/-19.0 years old with male : female ratio of 1 : 10.2. The severity score was 4.43+/-1.63 out of 8. The average duration of hospital admission was 6.1+/-2.8 days and all of the cases were cured without a complication such as septic shock or renal abscess. In 133 cases, their etiologic microorganisms were identified, among which E. coli was the most common (91.7%). Antibiotic sensitivity of the isolated E. coli strains were as follows; 29.8% to ampicillin, 44.2% to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazol, 75% to ciprofloxacin, 86.8% to cefazolin and 99.2% to amikacin. CONCLUSION: E. coli was the most common pathogen of community-acquired APN. Ampicillin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazol and cephalothin are inappropriate for its empirical therapy. Ciprofloxacin, 3rd generation cephalosporins and aminoglycosides are effective as the first-line empirical agent.

A Study on the Clinical and Microbiologic Features of Community-acquired Acute Pyelonephritis for the Recent 5 Years in a University Hospital / 대한신장학회잡지

Purpose : The clinical features and microbiologic characteristics of acute pyelonephritis (APN) have been changing due to an increased prevalence of chronic disease, overuse and/or misuse of antibiotics and so on. We investigated the causative organisms and their antibiotic sensitivity profile and clinical manifestation with the purpose to suggest a proper empirical therapy of the disease. METHODS: We analysed the medical records of 246 APN patients older than 15 years who were admitted at Hallym University, Kandong Sacred Heart Hospital from January 1997 to December 2001, excluding hospital-acquired infections. RESULTS: Patients were 46.2+/-19.0 years old with male : female ratio of 1 : 10.2. The severity score was 4.43+/-1.63 out of 8. The average duration of hospital admission was 6.1+/-2.8 days and all of the cases were cured without a complication such as septic shock or renal abscess. In 133 cases, their etiologic microorganisms were identified, among which E. coli was the most common (91.7%). Antibiotic sensitivity of the isolated E. coli strains were as follows; 29.8% to ampicillin, 44.2% to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazol, 75% to ciprofloxacin, 86.8% to cefazolin and 99.2% to amikacin. CONCLUSION: E. coli was the most common pathogen of community-acquired APN. Ampicillin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazol and cephalothin are inappropriate for its empirical therapy. Ciprofloxacin, 3rd generation cephalosporins and aminoglycosides are effective as the first-line empirical agent.

A Case of Cerebral Salt Wasting Syndrome associated with Tuberculous Meningitis / 대한내분비학회지

Hyponatremia in patients with central nervous system disorders is suggestive of the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH), and volume restriction is recommended for its correction. However, if volume depletion is present in a situation otherwise compatible with SIADH, cerebral salt wasting syndrome (CSWS) should be considered as the cause of the hyponatremia to avoid hypovolemic shock that may be induced by the standard management of SIADH, i.e. volume restriction. We present a case of a 17-year-old male patient with CSWS associated with tuberculous meningitis. The clinical feature of the patient comprised hyponatremia, excessive natriuresis, polyuria, and hypovolemia. Following the administration of saline and fludrocortisone, natriuresis and polyuria were decreased, and the hyponatremia improved

A Case of Acute Myocardial Infarction In Man Treated with Chemotherapy containing Doxorubicin for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Anthracyclines have been widely used in cancer therapy because of their efficacy in the treatment of various solid tumors and hem -atologic malignancy. Cumulative dose-related cardiotoxicity was a well-known toxicity of anthracyclines. Particularly, at total doses of more than 550 mg/m2, therapy with anthracyclines could produce irreversible cardiac injury. Anthracycline-induced cardiac toxicity was usually manifested by congestive heart failure or arrhythmia. In co- ntrast, acute myocardial infarction is a rare event of anthracycline-induced heart diseases. A 31-year-old man with non-Hodgkin lymphoma(NHL) and single cardiac risk factor, including smoking, was presented with chest pain after receiving 2nd CEOP-BLAM chemo-therapy. An electrocardiogram revealed ST segment elevation in inferior leads consistent with acute myocardial infarction. An echocardiogram revealed an ejection fraction of 60% and severe hypokinesia in inferior and anteroseptal wall. Three days later, coronary angiography revealed 50% of luminal stenosis of right coronary artery(RCA) and near total occlusion with large thrombi in m-RCA. After balloon angioplasty and stent insertion, the patient was transferred to coronary care unit and continuous intravenous heparin infusion was started. On the 10th days, the patient was discharged in good condition. Six months later, follow-up coronary angiography showed no significant lesion in right coronary artery. In a young man with NHL, we report an acute myocardial infarction after 2nd course of CEOP-BLAM chemotherapy with a review of relevant literatures.

A Case of Acute Myocardial Infarction In Man Treated with Chemotherapy containing Doxorubicin for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Anthracyclines have been widely used in cancer therapy because of their efficacy in the treatment of various solid tumors and hem -atologic malignancy. Cumulative dose-related cardiotoxicity was a well-known toxicity of anthracyclines. Particularly, at total doses of more than 550 mg/m2, therapy with anthracyclines could produce irreversible cardiac injury. Anthracycline-induced cardiac toxicity was usually manifested by congestive heart failure or arrhythmia. In co- ntrast, acute myocardial infarction is a rare event of anthracycline-induced heart diseases. A 31-year-old man with non-Hodgkin lymphoma(NHL) and single cardiac risk factor, including smoking, was presented with chest pain after receiving 2nd CEOP-BLAM chemo-therapy. An electrocardiogram revealed ST segment elevation in inferior leads consistent with acute myocardial infarction. An echocardiogram revealed an ejection fraction of 60% and severe hypokinesia in inferior and anteroseptal wall. Three days later, coronary angiography revealed 50% of luminal stenosis of right coronary artery(RCA) and near total occlusion with large thrombi in m-RCA. After balloon angioplasty and stent insertion, the patient was transferred to coronary care unit and continuous intravenous heparin infusion was started. On the 10th days, the patient was discharged in good condition. Six months later, follow-up coronary angiography showed no significant lesion in right coronary artery. In a young man with NHL, we report an acute myocardial infarction after 2nd course of CEOP-BLAM chemotherapy with a review of relevant literatures.