Colon Barotrauma Caused by Compressed Air

Colon barotrauma can be mostly caused by elevated intraluminal pressure. Air insufflation during colonoscopy procedure is the most common cause of iatrogenic colon barotrauma. Cat scratch colon can usually be seen in the mild type of colon barotrauma, and colon perforation can be seen in the severe type. We presently report a case of non-iatrogenic colon barotrauma caused by industrial compressed air. Multiple linear mucosal ulcers were noted in the recto-sigmoid colon, but the colon was not perforated. The patient was discharged without any further complications after conservative treatments.

A Case of Successful Recovery from High Dose Intravenous Nicorandil Infusion in Refractory Coronary Vasospasm with Hemodynamic Collapse / 영남의대학술지

A 70-year-old male came to the emergency room of the authors' hospital because of sudden cardiac arrest due to inferior wall ST elevation myocardial infarction. His coronary angiography revealed multiple severe coronary spasms in his very long left anterior descending artery. After an injection of intracoronary nitroglycerine, his stenosis improved. The cardiac arrest relapsed, however, accompanied by ST elevation of the inferior leads, while the patient was on diltiazem and nitrate medication to prevent coronary spasm. Recovery was not achieved even with cardiac massage, intravenous injection of epinephrine and atropine, and intravenous infusion of nitroglycerine. The patient eventually recovered through high-dose nicorandil intravenous infusion without ST elevation of his inferior leads. Therefore, intravenous infusion of a high dose of nicorandil must be considered a treatment option for cardiac arrest caused by refractory coronary vasospasm.

A Case of Severe Pulmonary Thromboembolism in a Young Male With Klinefelter Syndrome

A young male patient diagnosed with Klinefelter syndrome was admitted to our hospital via the emergency room with chief complaints of acute chest pain and dyspnea. Pulmonary thromboembolism was diagnosed from his chest CT images. His symptoms improved after he underwent thrombolysis and anticoagulation treatment. Klinefelter syndrome has a tendency towards hypercoagulability due to hormonal imbalance and one or more inherited thromophilic factors. Thus, Klinefelter syndrome patients with a past medical history of venous thromboembolism require continuous oral anticoagulation therapy for a period of at least six months.

Association of Coronary Artery Disease and Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture in Korean Men and Women

BACKGROUND: The association of osteoporotic vertebral fracture or osteoporosis with coronary artery disease (CAD) was investigated in Korean men and women. METHODS: Four hundred consecutive postmenopausal women and men aged 50 years and older, undergoing coronary angiography, were enrolled for the evaluation of established or suspected coronary artery disease. CAD was diagnosed if there was narrowing of > 50% diameter in one or more major coronary artery. Morphometric vertebral fracture was assessed using lateral thoracic and lumbar spine radiographs. Bone mineral density was performed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Of the 400 subjects in the study (mean age of 61.9 +/- 11.6 years), 256 patients had CAD. Vertebral fracture was observed in 94 (23.5%) patients. There was no difference in vertebral fracture according to the presence or absence of CAD. In logistic regression analysis, vertebral fracture was not significantly associated with CAD after adjustment for multiple risk factors. Although women had lower BMD at any given site than men, BMD was not associated with the presence or absence of CAD among 191 patients. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that osteoporotic vertebral fracture or osteoporosis was not associated with coronary artery disease in Korean men and women.

A Case of Eosinophilic Bronchitis Associated with Tracheal Diverticulum / 영남의대학술지

Tracheal diverticulum is relatively rare. It results from congenital or acquired weakness of the tracheal wall. Most cases are asymptomatic, but when symptoms are present, they are usually nonspecific. A 54-year-old man complained of sputum lasting for several months. Chest computed tomography showed an air-containing cystic structure in the trachea. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy demonstrated ostium arising from the right posterolateral wall at the trachea. Reported herein is a case of eosinophilic bronchitis associated with tracheal diverticulum.

Parameters Measuring Beta-Cell Function Are Only Valuable in Diabetic Subjects with Low Body Mass Index, High Blood Glucose Level, or Long-Standing Diabetes

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify the most precise and clinically practicable parameters that predict future oral hypoglycemic agent (OHA) failure in patients with type 2 diabetes, and to determine whether these parameters are valuable in various subgroups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We took fasting blood samples from 231 patients for laboratory data and standard breakfast tests for evaluation of pancreatic beta-cell function. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were tested, and we collected data related to hypoglycemic medications one year from the start date of the study. RESULTS: Fasting C-peptide, postprandial insulin and C-peptide, the difference between fasting and postprandial insulin, fasting beta-cell responsiveness (M0), postprandial beta-cell responsiveness (M1), and homeostasis model assessment-beta (HOMA-B) levels were significantly higher in those with OHA response than in those with OHA failure. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) measured with postprandial C-peptide to predict future OHA failure was 0.720, and the predictive power for future OHA failure was the highest of the variable parameters. Fasting and postprandial C-peptide, M0, and M1 levels were the only differences between those with OHA response and those with OHA failure among diabetic subjects with low body mass index, high blood glucose level, or long-standing diabetes. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, postprandial C-peptide was most useful in predicting future OHA failure in type 2 diabetic subjects. However, these parameters measuring beta-cell function are only valuable in diabetic subjects with low body mass index, high blood glucose level, or long-standing diabetes.