A case of gastric strongyloidiasis in a Korean patient

A 69-year-old Korean man was admitted to emergency room with complaints of abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Laboratory tests revealed eosinophilia, anemia, hypoproteinemia, and hyponatremia. The gastric mucosa showed whitish mottled and slightly elevated lesions on the body angle of antrum. Microscopically, chronic gastritis with incomplete intestinal metaplasia was observed. Many adult worms, larvae, and eggs in cross sections were located in the crypts. Furthermore, the filariform larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis with a notched tail were detected through the culture.

The Relationship between Microvessel Count and the Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, p53, and K-ras in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Using immunohistochemical staining, we studied the relationship between the microvessel count (MC) and the expression of K-ras, mutant p53 protein, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in 61 surgically resected non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) (42 squamous cell carcinoma, 14 adenocarcinoma, 2 large cell carcinoma, 2 adenosquamous carcinoma, and 1 mucoepidermoid carcinoma). MC of the tumors with lymph node (LN) metastasis was significantly higher than that of tumors without LN metastasis (66.1+/-23.1 vs. 33.8+/-13.1, p<0.05). VEGF was positive in 54 patients (88.5%). MC was 58.1+/-25.2 (mean+/-S.D.) in a x200 field, and it was significantly higher in VEGF(+) tumors than in VEGF(-) tumors (61.4+/-23.7 vs. 32.9+/-23.8, p<0.05). VEGF expression was higher in K-ras-positive or mutant p53-positive tumors than in negative tumors (p<0.05). MC was significantly higher in K-ras(+) tumors than in K-ras(-) tumors, although it did not differ according to the level of mutant p53 protein expression. Survival did not differ with VEGF, mutant p53, or K-ras expression, or the level of MC. In conclusion, there is a flow of molecular alterations from K-ras and p53, to VEGF expression, leading to angiogenesis and ultimately lymph node metastasis. Correlations between variables in close approximation and the lack of prognostic significance of individual molecular alterations suggest that tumorigenesis and metastasis are multifactorial processes.

M-mode Ultrasound Assessment of Diaphagmatic Excursions in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Relation to Pulmonary Function Test and Mouth Pressure / 결핵

BACKGROUND: Respiratory muscle interaction is further profoundly affected by a number of pathologic conditions. Hyperinflation may be particularly severe in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) patients, in whom the functional residual capacity(FRC) often exceeds predicted total lung capacity(TLC). Hyperinflation reduces the diaphragmatic effectiveness as a pressure generator and reduces diaphragmatio contribution to chest wall motion Ultrasonography has recently been shown to be a sensitive and reproducible method of assessing diaphragmatic excursion. This study was performed to evaluate how differences of diaphragmatic excursion measured by ultrasonography associate with normal subjects and COPD patients. METHODS: We measured diaphragmatic excursions with ultrasonography on 28 healthy subjects(16 medical studentz 12 age-matched control) and 17 COPD patientc Ultrasonographic measurements were performed during tidal breathing and maxima] respiratory efforts approximating vital capacity breathing using Aloka KEC-620 with 3.5 MHz transducen Measurements were taken in the supine posture. The ultrasonograpbic probe was positioned transversely in the midclavicular line below the right subcostal margin After detecting the right hetnidiaphragm in the B-mode the ultrasound beam was then positioned so that it was approximately parallel to the movement of middle or posterior third of right diaphragm. Recordings in the M-inodc at this position were made throughout the test Measurements of diaphragmatio excursion on M-mode tmcing were calculated by the average gap in 3 times-respiration cycle. Pulmonary functicn test(SensorMedics 2800), maximal inspiratory(Plmax) and expiratory mouth pressure(PEmax, Vitalopower KH-101, Chest) were measured in the seated posture. RESULTS: During the tidal breathing, diaphragmatic excursions were recorded 1.5 +/-0.5cm, 1.7+/-0.5cm and 1.5 +/- 0.6cm in medical students, age-matched control group and COPD patients, respectively. Diaphragm excursions during maximal respiratory efforts were significantly decreased in COPD patients (3.7+/-1.3cm) when compared with medical students, age-matched control group(6.7+/-1.3cm, 5.8+/-1.2cm, p<0.05). During maximal respiratory efforts in control subjects, diaphragm excursions were cowelatal with FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEF, PIF, and height. In COPD patients, diaphragm excursions during maximal respiratory efforts were correlated with PEmax(maxinIal expiratory pressure), age, and %FVC. In multiple regression analysis, The combination of PEmax and age was an independent marker of diaplngnt excursions during maximal respiratory efforts with COPD patients. CONCLUISON: COPD subjects had smaller diaplragmatic excursions during maximal respintoty efforts than control subjects. During maximal respiratory efforts in COPD patients, diaphragm excursions were well correlated with PEmax. Those results suggest that diaphragm excursions during rnaximel respiratory efforts with COPD patients may be valuable at predicting the pulnionmy function.

Nocturnal Arterial Oxygen Saturation Monitoring in Patients with Respiratory Disease / 결핵

To find out the predictors of nocturnal arterial oxygen desaturation in patients with respiratory diseases, transcutaneous oxygen saturation(StcO2) monitoring studies using a pulse oximeter were performed during sleep in 20 patients. StcO2 was decreased more than 4% from the baseline value in 18 patients(90%) and more than 10%('Desaturator') in 8(40%). Five of the seven patients(71.4%) with awake PaO2<60mmHg and three of the thirteen patients(23.1%) with awake PaO2≥60mmHg were 'desaturators'. The awake PaO2/FIO2 and PaO2/PAO2 could distinguish 'desaturator' from 'nondesaturator, and PaO2, SaO2 or StcO2 could not. These results suggest that the nocturnal oxygen desaturation depends on the severity of the underlying disease rather than the baseline PaO2. Anthropomorphic and lung function factors could not separate between 'desaturator' and 'non-desaturator', and about a quarter of patients with a wake PaO2≥60mmHg developed significant desaturation. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the nocturnal arterial oxygen saturation in patients with respiratory diseases regardless of their severity of airflow obstruction or awake PaO2.

Analysis of DNA Ploidy with Bronchoscopic Brushing Specimen as A Diagnostic Aid for Lung Cancer / 결핵

OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: The presence of aneuploidy or high proliferative activity in cytologic specimens is considered as complementary for the diagnosis of malignancy. To evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of DNA ploidy and cell cycle analysis in lung cancer, we compared the diagnostic yielding rates of DNA ploidy test by brushing specimens using flow cytometry with bronchoscopic forceps biopsy and brushing cytology. RESULTS: Of the seventy-six cases, 55 cases proved to have malignant diseases(squamous cell cancer: 27, adenocarcinorna: 7, large cell cancer: 1, undifferentiated: 4 and small cell cancer: 16). The incidence of aneuploidy in lung cancer..patients was 32.y %(18/55), as opposed to no cases in benign disease. And the proportion of high proliferative activity(S+GEM>22%) in lung cancer patients was 42.9% (15/35), but none in benign diseases. In (iffy-six of 75 cases(74.7%), cytology of brushing specimens and DNA analysis(either aneuploidy or high proliferative activity vs. diploidy and low proliferative activity) were in concordance. The sensitivity with only brushing cytology was 41.8%(23/55), but with the addition of DNA analysis, it was increased to 56.4%(31/55), without decreasing the specificity(100%). And there was a case whose clue for malignancy was absent except aneuploidy, and he was confirmed to have squamous cell cancer following open thoracotomy There were no differences in the frequency of aneuploidy or high proliferative activity between histologic subtypes of bronchogenic malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic detection rate of lung cancer was improved with the addition of DNA ploidy and cell cycle analysis, and the presence of aneuploidy or high proliferative activity was a relatively specific indicator of malignant disease. It would be useful to test DNA ploidy and cell cycle analysis with brushing specimen for the diagnosis of bronchogenic malignancy particularly in patients whose biopsy specimen could not be obtainable.

Comparison of dyspnea indices in patients with respiratory disease / 대한내과학회지

No abstract available.

Clinical evaluation on transbronchial needle aspiration(TBNA) of subcarinal lymph node in lung cancer / 결핵

No abstract available.