Phylogenetic Analyses of HBV Pre-S/S Genes in Mother-Child Pairs with Long-Term Infection by Presumed Vertical Transmission

Vertical transmission from mother to child, the main route of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the East Asia, is considered one of the most important predictors for the response to antiviral therapies as well as its complications such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, it is critical in both etiologic and prognostic aspects to confirm whether or not chronic HBV infection is acquired vertically. This study investigated whether mother-to-child infection could be proved by the phylogenetic analyses of HBV pre-S/S genes ever since several decades have elapsed in mother-child pairs with presumed vertical transmission. The pre-S and S regions of HBVs were compared and analyzed phylogenetically in a total of 36 adults (18 mother-child pairs) with chronic HBV infection. All of the isolates of HBV were genotype C and serotype adr. The divergence between mothers and offsprings was 0 to 1.5%. Phylogenetic trees revealed that 17 of 18 pairs (94%) with presumed vertical transmission were grouped into the same cluster. Vertical transmission from mother to child could be strongly suggested even in adults with a history of several decades of HBV infection using the phylogenetic analyses of pre-S and S genes.

A Case of Septic Shock by Prevotella Species associated with Acute Periapical Abscess / 감염과화학요법

A healthy 34-year-old man was admitted to the intensive care unit through the emergency room with a drowsy mentality and severe chilling. Following a diagnosis of septic shock of unknown origin, the patient was treated with broad spectrum antibiotics and massive hydration. After recovery of consciousness, he complained of a severe toothache that originated from the right lower teeth. Under dental consultation, he was diagnosed as having an acute periapical abscess of the right mandibular first molar. The patient underwent extraction and cyst enucleation. Gram negative bacilli isolated from blood culture on day 5 after admission were identified as Prevotella species. After receiving antibiotic treatment and undergoing dental procedures, the patient made a full recovery. We report on a case of septic shock due to infection by Prevotella species in association with an acute periapical abscess.

Adrenal Metastasis from Hepatocellular Carcinoma without Intrahepatic Recurrence after Hepatic Resection / 대한소화기학회지

Although the adrenal gland is a common site of metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), adrenal metastases are rarely seen in clinical practice because of its lower metastatic potential compared to the other malignancies. Adrenal metastases usually were detected at the time of diagnosis of primary HCC or simultaneously with intrahepatic recurrence after curative management of HCC. It is very rare that only metastatic HCC is detected without evidence of intrahepatic recurrence. Hereby, we report two cases of adrenal metastasis from HCC without intrahepatic recurrence after hepatic resection.

Normalization of Negative T-Wave on Electrocardiography and Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Patients with an Acute Pulmonary Embolism

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) is associated with poor prognosis in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE). Echocardiography and computed tomography (CT)-angiography may be difficult to perform in a serial follow up, unlike electrocardiography (ECG). Many ECG findings specific for APE have been reported, and many studies have found that negative T-waves (NTW) in precordial leads are most frequently observed in patients with APE. We analyzed serial changes in precordial NTW to detect RVD and predict the recovery of RVD in patients with APE. METHODS: We examined 81 consecutive patients diagnosed with APE using CT-angiography or echocardiography. ECG, transthoracic echocardiography, and laboratory tests were performed within 24 hours of admission, and daily ECG follow-up was performed. Precordial NTWs were defined by the new development of pointed and symmetrical inverted T-waves in at least three leads. Recovery of NTW was defined as flattening or upright inverted T-waves in more than two leads. RESULTS: Of the 81 patients with APE, 52 (64%) had RVD according to echocardiography. Among the patients with RVD, 33 (63%) showed precordial NTW. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that NTW was the strongest independent predictor for RVD (odds ratio, 22.8; 95% confidence interval, 2.4 to 221.4; p = 0.007). Time to normalization of NTW was associated with improvement of RVD on echocardiography (r = 0.84, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Precordial NTW was a reliable finding to identify RVD in patients with APE. Improvements in RVD can be predicted by normalizing precordial NTW.

The Comparison between 6th and 7th International Union Against Cancer/American Joint Committee on Cancer Classification for Survival Prognosis of Gastric Cancer / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging is an useful system to assess the prognosis of any solid cancer. As new TNM staging classification of 7th stomach cancer was revised in 2009, we evaluated the prognostic predictability of the 7th International Union Against Cancer/American Joint Committee on Cancer (UICC/AJCC) TNM classification compared to 6th UICC/AJCC TNM classification in gastric cancer. METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2009, 5-year survival rates of 266 patients with gastric cancer were calculated by the 6th and 7th UICC/AJCC TNM classification. RESULTS: Using the 7th UICC/AJCC TNM classification, there was no significant difference in the 5-year cumulative survival rates (5 YSR) between stage IIA and IIB, IIB and IIIA, and IIIA and IIIB (70% vs. 71%, p=0.530; 71% vs. 80%, p=0.703; 80% vs. 75%, p=0.576, respectively) though significant differences of the survival rates were observed among stages of 6th edition. Using T stage of 7th edition, 5 YSR was not different between T2 and T3 (86% vs. 82%, p=0.655). Using N stage of 7th edition, 5 YSR were not different between N1 and N2, N3a and N3b (79% vs. 81%, p=0.506; 41% vs. 17%, p=0.895, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The 7th UICC/AJCC TNM classification had poor prognostic predictability in gastric cancer compared to the 6th edition.

Comparison of the BACTEC Blood Culture and Conventional Culture Methods for Isolation of Microorganisms Causing Peritonitis in CAPD Patients / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Peritonitis is the most frequent complication of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Prompt recognition and treatment of peritonitis is important. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of isolation of the microorganisms causing CAPD peritonitis by the BACTEC blood culture and conventional methods. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 38 episodes of peritonitis in 34 CAPD patients between September 2007 and February 2010. Two methods of processing dialysate from patients on CAPD were used. Blood culture was performed using two 10-mL effluents, which were inoculated into a pair of BACTEC culture bottles. The conventional method was performed using 50 mL of centrifuged dialysate. The sedimented dialysate was inoculated onto blood agar and MacConkey agar plates or into thioglycollate broth. To evaluate effectiveness, we compared the rate of positive culture results and the time to identify the causative organism of the two culture methods. RESULTS: Use of the BACTEC bottle method resulted in more positive culture results than did conventional culture (86.8 vs. 57.9% p = 0.003). The time taken to identify the causative organism from culture-positive peritonitis was more rapid using the blood culture compared with the conventional culture method (90 vs. 109 hr, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Blood culture using the BACTEC bottle is more effective than the conventional culture technique for detection of causative microorganisms in CAPD peritonitis.