The Clinical Significance of Extraluminal Compressions According to the Site of the Stomach / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It can be difficult to differentiate an extraluminal compression from a true submucosal tumor (SMT) in the stomach. The best method for differentiating an extraluminal compression from a true SMT is endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). Extragastric compression is frequently observed, but its clinical significance has rarely been reported on. We evaluated the clinical findings of extraluminal compression according to the site of the stomach. METHODS: Ninety-one patients were diagnosed by EUS as having extragastric compressions from January 2006 to July 2008. Abdominal sonography or computed tomography was performed in some cases. RESULTS: The causes of normal structures (64 cases) were the vessels, spleen, intestine, gallbladder, liver, mesentery, pancreas and kidney. The causes of pathologic lesions (27 cases) were hepatic cyst, distended gallbladder with sludge, splenic cyst, hepatic hemangioma, polycystic hepatic and renal disease, pancreatic cyst, renal cyst, calcified lymph node and hepatocelluar carcinoma. The great curvature of the fundus was the most frequent site of extraluminal compressions. The lesions in the anterior wall of the body showed a higher frequency of pathologic lesions than did those lesions in other sites. CONCLUSIONS: EUS is useful for finding the causes of extragastric compression. Careful evaluation is needed because many lesions in the anterior wall of the body of the stomach were due to pathologic causes.

Management of Occluded Biliary Uncovered Metal Stents: Covered Self Expandable Metallic Stent vs. Uncovered Self Expandable Metallic Stent / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Unresectable malignant biliary obstruction has usually been treated by placement of a self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS). One of the major complications of SEMS is occlusion of the stent by the ingrowth and overgrowth of tumor. The optimal management of an occluded SEMS is still an unresolved problem. We performed this study to evaluate the usefulness of placing a second stent with using an uncovered SEMS or a covered SEMS in patients with stent occlusion. METHODS: From January 2006 to December 2007, a total of 163 patients were treated with the placement of an uncovered SEMS for treating malignant biliary obstruction, except for the cases with Klatskin's tumor. Thirty four patients were occluded and they underwent a second SEMS insertion. All the patients with an occluded uncovered SEMS were managed with placement of a covered SEMS or an uncovered SEMS by ERCP. RESULTS: The median patent duration after intervention was 98 days (range: 8~300 days) after the second covered SEMS insertion, and the median patent duration after intervention was 90 days (range: 10~643 days) after the second uncovered SEMS insertion. No significant difference in the patent period was observed between the covered SEMS group and the uncovered SEMS group (P=0.832). CONCLUSIONS: The covered SEMS group and the uncovered SEMS group had similar patent periods for the management of occluded uncovered metal stents.

The Balloon Occluded Method for Selective Cannulation of the Intrahepatic Duct: A Case Report / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Selective cannulation into the intrahepatic duct during ERCP can occasionally be difficult and time-consuming depending on the GI tract anatomy and the presence of biliary tree anomalies or pathology. A variety of techniques or devices have been used to enhance the success rate of selective cannulation in these situations. The balloon occluded method for selective cannulation of the LHD (left hepatic duct) with using an inflated balloon catheter to occlude the RHD (right hepatic duct) has also been reported. We report here a case of successful selective cannulation of the RHD with using an inflated balloon catheter to occlude the LHD in a patient who had a GB cancer with liver metastasis. After this maneuver, a guidewire is advanced; it deflects off the inflated balloon and then proceeds to the RHD.

The Usefulness of Applying an Additional Clip When Using a Double-layered Pyloric Stent to Treat Gastric Outlet Obstruction / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It has been reported the placement of a double-layered pyloric combination stent can overcome the disadvantage of the increased ingrowth observed for an uncovered stent and the increased migration for a covered stent. But this did not satisfactorily prevent stent migration and it caused stent migration more frequently than with using the uncovered stent. This study evaluated the usefulness of applying a clip in an effort to reduce stent migration. METHODS: Fifteen patients with malignant gastric outlet obstruction were treated with endoscopic placement of a double-layered combination pyloric stent. Three endoscopic clips were then applied to fix the proximal end of the enteral stent to the gastric or duodenal mucosa. The clinical efficacy and especially the rate of migration were analyzed. RESULTS: The technical and clinical success rate was 100% (15/15) and 93.3% (14/15), respectively. No stent migration was observed in any of the patients. Three patients (20%) experienced complications such as stent collapse. The median stent patency period was 83.4 days. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic clipping for enteral stent placement is effective for preventing stent migration in patients with malignant gastric outlet obstruction.

The Correlation between Bronchostenosis and Changes in the Levels of Interferon-gamma and Transforming Growth Factor-beta during the Treatment in patients with Endobronchial Tuberculosis / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Endobronchial tuberculosis often complicates bronchostenosis, which can cause dyspnea due to an airway obstruction, and can be misdiagnosed as bronchial asthma or lung cancer. This study investigated the possible correlation between the interferon-gamma(IFN-gamma) and transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-beta) levels in the serum and bronchial washing fluid and the treatment results in endobronchial tuberculosis patients. METHODS: Sixteen patients, who were diagnosed as endobronchial tuberculosis using bronchoscopy, and 10 healthy control subjects were enrolled in this study. The IFN-gamma and TGF-beta levels were measured in the serum and bronchial washing fluid of 16 endobronchial tuberculosis patients before and after treatment using the ELISA method. The endobronchial tuberculosis patients were divided into those who showed bronchial fibrostenosis after treatment and those who did not. RESULTS: The IFN-gamma and TGF-beta levels in the bronchial washing fluid in endobronchial tuberculosis patients were elevated comparing to the control (p < 0.05). After treatment, 7 of the 16 endobronchial tuberculosis patients showed bronchial fibrostenosis and the other 9 cases healed without this sequela. In the patients with fibrostenosis after treatment, the initial serum TGF-beta level was lower than the patients without fibrostenosis after treatment (p < 0.05). Moreover, the serum TGF-beta level after treatment further decreased comparing to the patients without fibrostenosis after treatment(p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Elevated IFN-gamma and TGF-beta levels in the bronchial washing fluid in endobronchial tuberculosis patients are believed to be related to the pathogenesis of endobronchial tuberculosis. The decreased initial serum TGF-beta level and the change in the serum TGF-beta level after treatment are believed to be involved in bronchial fibrostenosis during the course of the disease.

A case of complete atrioventricular block in neonatal lupus erythematosus / 대한내과학회지

Neonatal Lupus Erythematosus (NLE) is a disease of the newborn defined by presence of maternal autoantibodies and characteristic clinical features (congenital complete atrioventricular block, skin lesion, etc.). Although the autoantibodies often are not associated with clinical disease in the mother, NLE is likely the result of fetal or neonatal tissue damage caused by maternally transmitted IgG autoantibodies. The majority of morbidity and mortality of NLE results from congenital complete atrioventricular block. Most of the neonates with NLE have maternally transmitted anti-SSA/Ro antibodies. Anti-SSB/La antibodies are found in 40 to 50 percent of patients. Anti-SSA/Ro antibodies are the most important autoantibodies in the pathophysiology of NLE. Noncardiac manifestations of neonatal lupus are transient, resolving at about 6 months of life, coinciding with the disappearance of maternal autoantibodies from neonatal circulation. Congenital complete atrioventricular block is irreversible, and permanent pacemaker insertion is needed. We report a case of NLE with congenital complete atrioventricular block with literature reviews.

Aberrant Promoter Methylation of Death-Associated Protein Kinase in Serum DNA from Lung Cancer Patients / 결핵

BACKGROUND: Promoter methylation of tumor suppressor genes is one of the key epigenetic changes in many human cancers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the promoter methylation status of the Death-associated protein(DAP) kinase gene, which played an important role in lung cancer, in the serum DNA of primary lung cancer patients. METHODS: This study investigated the aberrant methylation of DAP kinase in the serum of 65 primary lung cancer patients by methylation-specific PCR (MSP). RESULTS: Methylation in the serum was detected in 29 of 65(44.6%) for DAP kinase. There was no statistical association between methylation of DAP kinase and age, smoking history, histologic type, or stage. Methylation of DAP kinase was found more frequently in men (p=0.044). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the aberrant methylation of the DAP kinase promoter is readily detectable in the serum DNA of lung cancer patients using MSP analysis.

Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis improved by Treatment with Interferon-alpha / 결핵

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis(RRP) is a chronic disease that is caused by the human papillomavirus(HPV) type 6 and 11. The most common site of the lesions is the larynx, but papillomas can occur throughout the respiratory and upper gastrointestinal tracts. Frequent recurrence of disease, can result in airway compromise and even death when papillomas either obstruct the airway or spread to the lung parenchyma. We encountered a case of a recurrent respiratory papillomatosis in a 23-year-old patient, who improved after treatment with interferon-alpha. The patiented with hoarseness, exertional dyspnea, and a productive cough. We report this case with a brief review of the relevant literature.

Aberrant Methylation of p16 Tumor Suppressor Gene and Death-Associated Protein Kinase in Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / 결핵

BACKGROUND: The p16INK4a (p16) tumor suppressor gene is frequently inactivated in human non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs), predominantly through homozygous deletion or in association with aberrant promotor hypermethylation. Death-associated protein kinase (DAPK) gene influences interferon γ-induced apoptotic cell death and has important role in metastasis of lung cancer in animal model. Hypermethylation of promoter region of DAP kinase gene may suppress the expression of this gene. METHODS: This study was performed to investigate the aberrant methylation of p16 or DAP kinase in 35 resected primary NSCLCs by methylation-specific PCR (MSP), and demonstrated frequency, diagnostic value and clinical implication of aberrant methylation of two genes. RESULTS: Thirty-two cases were male patients, and 3 cases were female patients with an average age was 57.8±10.5 years. The histologic types of lung cancer were 22 of squamous cell carcinoma, 12 of adenocarcinoma, 1 of large cell carcinoma. Pathologic stages were 11 cases of stage I(1 IA,10 IB), 13 cases of stage II (1 IIA, 12 IIB), and 11 cases of stage III(9 IIIA, 2 IIIB). Regarding for the cancer tissue, p16 aberrant methylation was noted in 13 case of 33 cases (39.4%), DAP kinase in 21 cases of 35 cases (60%). Age over 55 year was associated with p16 aberrant methylation significantly (p<0.05). Methylation status of two genes was not different by smoking history, histologic type, size of tumor, lymph node metastasis and disease progression of lung cancer. There was no correlation between p16 and DAP kinase hypermethylation. CONCLUSION: This investigation demonstrates that aberrant methylation of p16 tumor suppressor gene or DAP kinase showed relatively high frequency (74.3%) in NSCLCs, and that these genes could be a biologic marker for early detection of lung cancer.