The Impact of Arterial Micro-calcification of the Vascular Access on Coronary Artery Calcification and Cardiovascular Mortality in Incident Hemodialysis Patients / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between arterial micro-calcification (AMiC) and coronary artery calcification, and to determine the impact of AMiC on cardiovascular mortality in incident hemodialysis patients. METHODS: One hundred and nineteen hemodialysis patients who received vascular access surgeries between April 2011 and May 2015 were included in this study. AMiC was diagnosed by pathologic examination of arterial specimens acquired during surgery, using von Kossa stain. All patients underwent multi-detector computed tomography imaging, and coronary artery calcium scores (CACS) were calculated. We evaluated the association between AMiC and CACS in these patients, and examined the incidence of cardiovascular death (through Febraury 2017) in patients with and without AMiC. RESULTS: The mean age of the patient group was 64.3 ± 13.0 years, and 64% were male (n = 76). Of 119 patients, 67 (56.3%) were positive for AMiC of the vascular access. The mean CACS was 430.4 ± 720.2 (0-3,954), and 99 patients were considered positive for CAC (83.1%). By multivariate logistic regression analysis, CACS was independently associated with AMiC. The mean follow- up period was 35.5 ± 17.8 months. During this time there were 26 all-cause deaths, of which 17 were cardiovascular. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that AMiC was associated with cardiovascular mortality (log rank = 9.0, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: AMiC may be associated with coronary artery calcification in incident hemodialysis patients, and may also be a risk factor for cardiovascular mortality.

A Case of Severe Arterial Steal Syndrome with Skin Necrosis Developing after Percutaneous Angioplasty / 대한내과학회지

Arterial steal syndrome is a rare but serious complication that disrupts antegrade flow distal to an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) because of excess blood flow through the AVF. A 65-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus and undergoing hemodialysis was admitted for coldness and pain in the right hand ipsilateral to an AVF. AVF stenosis had developed 6 months after an upper-arm AVF operation. These manifestations developed 2 days after a successful radiological intervention for a stenotic lesion in the AVF, which became worse until the skin on her hand ulcerated. The symptoms became aggravated, particularly during dialysis. Fistulography revealed that the AVF anastomosis site was patent but blood flow toward the forearm had decreased severely. Arterial steal syndrome developing after percutaneous angioplasty for an AVF stenosis was suspected, and the AVF was ligated, which resolved the hand pain and ulceration.

A Case of Acute Infective Endocarditis Initially Presenting as Acute Pyelonephritis

Infective endocarditis carries high risk of morbidity and mortality. Rapid diagnosis and effective treatment are essential to good patient outcome. However, nonspecific symptoms and various clinical manifestations make early diagnosis difficult. Here we report on an unusual case of infective endocarditis initially presenting as acute pyelonephritis (APN). A 44-year-old female with a history of heart surgery was admitted for fever and both flank pain. The patient had undergone dental extraction 3 weeks prior to admission. Her lab work and physical examination revealed pyuria, positive bacterial culture of both blood and urine, costovertebral knocking tenderness, and CT findings consistent with APN, leading to her initial diagnosis as APN. Despite treatment with antibiotics, her symptoms did not improve while further physical examination revealed newly developed Osler's nodes and Janeway lesions. Echocardiography showed vegetation of the aortic valve with severe aortic regurgitation. She was diagnosed as a case of infective endocarditis and was treated successfully.

Esophageal Cancer Initially Presenting as Severe Paraneoplastic Hypercalcemia Requiring Hemodialysis / 대한소화기학회지

Paraneoplastic hypercalcemia without bone metastasis occurs rarely in esophageal cancer. A 75-year-old man was admitted for general weakness and lethargy. Laboratory data showed high serum calcium level (corrected calcium 14.6 mg/dL), low parathyroid hormone level (3.3 pg/mL) and high parathyroid hormone-related peptide level (3.5 pmol/L). Esophagogastroscopy showed a malignant tumor in the esophagus. Histology showed moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Bone scan showed no evidence of bone metastasis. Since the patient's calcium levels remained high and mental state did not show improvement despite intravenous fluid therapy, diuretics and intravenous bisphosphonate, hemodialysis was started. After hemodialysis treatment, the serum calcium level subsequently normalized and his mental status improved. Herein, we report a rare case of paraneoplastic hypercalcemia in a patient with esophageal cancer.

HPV-Related Retroperitoneal Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Unknown Primary: A Case Report / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

A 56-year-old female was referred to our hospital due to a mass measuring 5 cm in size in the left pelvic cavity, which was found incidentally during a health examination by ultrasonography. Exploratory laparotomy was performed and the mass was located at the left retroperitoneal parametrium without invasion of the uterus and ovary. The pathology report confirmed squamous cell carcinoma. Even after further studies, we did not find any other primary lesion. Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA chip test (HPV 9G DNA Membrane Kit, Biometrixtechnology Inc.) showed that the surgical specimen was positive for HPV 18. She received adjuvant chemotherapy and would receive radiation therapy for the possibility of occult gynecologic cancer. Retroperitoneal squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary is extremely rare and little is known about it. It is reported that HPV may be associated with the disease. Hence, the result of HPV test could have an impact on finding a suspicious primary lesion and treatment modality in this case.

Emphysematous pyelonephritis initially presenting as a spontaneous subcapsular hematoma in a diabetic patient

Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a life-threatening infection characterized by the formation of gas. Complications of EPN include septic shock, acute renal failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Spontaneous subcapsular hematoma (SCH) has also been reported as a rare complication of EPN, although there have been no reports to date of this occurring prior to the presentation of EPN. We report a case of EPN that initially presented as spontaneous SCH. The patient was admitted for left flank pain, and initial computed tomography revealed SCH without any air shadows. Laboratory findings and clinical symptoms suggested the presence of urinary tract infection and the patient was started on antibiotics. Fever developed 24 hours after admission. On follow-up computed tomography 7 days later, EPN was newly observed, and a percutaneous drain was inserted. Blood, urine, and drainage fluid cultures all revealed growth of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-negative Escherichia coli.

Risk Factors and the Clinical Course of Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with a Femoral Fracture / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Femoral fracture occurs most often in elderly patients and is highly associated with medical problems such as acute kidney injury (AKI); however no reports of AKI in femoral fracture patients have been published. This study was performed to identify risk factors and the clinical course of AKI in patients with femoral fracture. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of 110 patients with femoral fracture between November 2006 and December 2011 at Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital. We investigated the incidence and clinical course of AKI in femoral fracture patients and compared the clinical findings between AKI and normal kidney function (NKF) groups. RESULTS: Of the 110 femoral fracture patients, AKI was observed in 19 (17.3%). The peak serum creatinine level in patients with AKI was 2.59 +/- 1.57 mg/dL. Two of 19 patients with AKI died and two progressed to chronic kidney disease. When compared to the NKF group, the AKI group had a higher incidence of elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (63.2% vs. 34.1%, p = 0.020), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (31.6% vs. 6.6%, p = 0.008), and C-reactive protein (57.9% vs. 46.2%, p = 0.042). The AKI group also had a longer hospitalization duration, and more patients were prescribed an angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitor than in the NKF group. Multivariate analysis demonstrated elevated LDH, ESR and ACE inhibitor prescriptions as independent risk factors for AKI in patients with a femoral fracture. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of AKI in patients with a femoral fracture was 17.3%, and AKI was associated with a longer clinical course. We recommend monitoring of laboratory findings and medications and early management to reduce the morbidity of patients with AKI.

Characteristics of Pain Threshold and Pain Experience in Elderly Patients with Dementia / 정신신체의학

OBJECTIVES: We compared the characteristics of the pain threshold and pain experience between demented group and non-demented group. METHODS: This study was part of Gangwon projects for early detection of dementia in 2010. We recruited 8302 local resident ages over 65 years old. Of theses, 1259 people who scored low MMSE were selected and 365 of them completed CERAD-K(Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's disease). Finally, 90 in non-demented group and 57 in demented group(mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease) were analyzed. Pain threshold was experimentally measured by pressure algometer and we investigated the pain experience, by Brief pain inventory (BPI), a self-report test. RESULTS: In the demographic characteristics, there are more female, higher ages, lower education in the demented group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the pain threshold. On the BPI results, 'shoulder pain', 'the number of pain' and 'interference of working' were significantly more prevalent in non-demented group. However, there are no significant differences between the groups in the 'pain severity', 'prevalence of pain' and 'pain treatment'. CONCLUSIONS: Demented group report less pain experience but, still perceived pain. It support previous studies that patient with dementia have increased pain tolerance but preserved pain threshold. Thus, active pain assessment and treatment for patients with dementia is needed.

Non-invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation for Pulmonary Edema in Kidney Transplanted Patient / 대한마취과학회지

Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) was mainly applied to acute respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to intrinsic lung disease such as neuromuscular disorders. It has been reported that this maneuver reduces morbidity, mortality and hospital stay in patients in the intensive care unit. We observed a 32-year-old female renal transplantation patient who developed pulmonary edema during the perioperative state. The mainteance of an endotracheal tube in intubated patients who were on immunosuppresive therapy might increase nosocomial pneumonia significantly. In this case, the mortality increase was expected, therefore we considered that early extubation and mask continuous positive airway pressure (mask CPAP) could help. By using mask CPAP, the patient showed a good response and the pulmonary edema was improved. We report a case about the benefits of NIPPV in the treatment of pulmonary edema in an immunosuppressed patient of which the result was very satisfactory.