SARS-CoV-2-Infected Pregnant Woman Requiring 38 Days of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Experiences Rectal Ulcer Bleeding: A Case Report

Pregnancy has been shown to be associated with an adverse clinical course and symptomatic patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is rarely used in pregnant or postpartum women with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here, we report the rare case of a pregnant woman diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection placed on ECMO postpartum who subsequently received treatment for active rectal ulcer bleeding. Despite being placed on ECMO for 38 days and receiving a massive transfusion of 95 packs of red blood cells, she recovered and was discharged on hospital day 112. ECMO can be used in most patients with severe COVID-19, including pregnant patients, although potential coagulopathy complications must be considered.

Procalcitonin as a Predictive Factor for the Clinical Outcome of Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019

Purpose@#The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues. It has been reported that patients with bacterial coinfection have a higher mortality rate than patients without coinfection. However, there are no clear standard guidelines for the use of antibacterial drugs. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of procalcitonin, a specific indicator of bacterial infection, as a biomarker for predicting death in COVID-19 patients. @*Methods@#This was a retrospective study of confirmed COVID-19 patients (N = 283) between December 2020 and February 2021 who survived or died. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine whether there was an association between the level of procalcitonin and death. In addition, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine the usefulness of procalcitonin as a predictor of death. @*Results@#In the non-survivor group, age, the number of patients transferred from a health care center, segment neutrophil ratio, C reactive protein, ferritin, and procalcitonin were significantly higher in the survivor group. In multivariate analysis, procalcitonin was identified as an independent factor associated with death (hazard ratio 6.162, confidential interval 2.285-26.322, p = 0.014). In addition, the predictive power of procalcitonin level and mortality was statistically significant using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis which gave an area under the curve value of 0.823, a cut-off value of 0.05, a sensitivity of 72.2%, a specificity of 87.5% (p < 0.001). @*Conclusion@#Measurement of procalcitonin and other biomarkers may be useful to determine whether to use or discontinue use of antibacterial drugs in patients with COVID-19.

ABT-737, a BH3 Mimetic, Enhances the Therapeutic Effects of Ionizing Radiation in K-ras Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Preclinical Model

Purpose@#Tumor radioresistance and dose-limiting toxicity restrict the curative potential of radiotherapy, requiring novel approaches to overcome the limitations and augment the efficacy. Here, we investigated the effects of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation and autophagy induction by irradiation on antiapoptotic proteins and the effectiveness of the BH3 mimetic ABT-737 as a radiosensitizer using K-ras mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and a Kras G12D :p53 fl/fl mouse (KP mouse) model. @*Materials and Methods@#A549 and H460 cells were irradiated, and the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins, JAK/STAT transcriptional pathway, and autophagic pathway were evaluated by immunoblotting. The radiosensitizing effects of ABT-737 were evaluated using A549 and H460 cell lines with clonogenic assays and also by a KP mouse model with microcomputed tomography and immunohistochemistry. @*Results@#In A549 and H460 cells and mouse lung tissue, irradiation-induced overexpression of the antiapoptotic molecules BclxL, Bcl-2, Bcl-w, and Mcl-1 through JAK/STAT transcriptional signaling induced dysfunction of the autophagic pathway. After treatment with ABT-737 and exposure to irradiation, the number of surviving clones in the cotreatment group was significantly lower than that in the group treated with radiation or ABT-737 alone. In the KP mouse lung cancer model, cotreatment with ABT-737 and radiation-induced significant tumor regression; however, body weight changes in the combination group were not significantly different, suggesting that combination treatment did not cause systemic toxicity. @*Conclusion@#These findings supported the radiosensitizing activity of ABT-737 in preclinical models, and suggested that clinical trials using this strategy may be beneficial in K-ras mutant NSCLC.

Methionyl-tRNA Synthetase is a Useful Diagnostic Marker for Lymph Node Metastasis in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

PURPOSE: Identification of lymph node (LN) metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is critical for disease staging and selection of therapeutic modalities. Sometimes it is not possible to obtain LN core tissue by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspirate (EBUS-TBNA), resulting in low diagnostic yield. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 138 specimens were collected from 108 patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA under the suspicion of LN metastasis of NSCLC. Diagnostic yields of anti-CD45 and anti-methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MRS), immunofluorescent (IF) staining on cytology specimens were compared with those of conventional cytology and positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT). RESULTS: MRS was strongly expressed in NSCLC cells metastasized to LNs, but weakly expressed in cells at the periphery of the LN germinal center. The majority of cells were CD20 positive, although a few cells were either CD3 or CD14 positive, indicating that CD45 staining is required for discrimination of non-malignant LN constituent cells from NSCLC cells. When the diagnostic efficacy of MRS/CD45 IF staining was evaluated using 138 LN cellular aspirates from 108 patients through EBUS-TBNA, the sensitivity was 76.7% and specificity was 90.8%, whereas those of conventional cytology test were 71.8% and 100.0%, respectively. Combining the results of conventional cytology testing and those of PET-CT showed a sensitivity and specificity of 71.6% and 100%, and the addition of MRS/CD45 dual IF data to this combination increased sensitivity and specificity to 85.1% and 97.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: MRS/CD45 dual IF staining showed good diagnostic performance and may be a good tool complementing conventional cytology test for determining LN metastasis of NSCLC.

Lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia in a patient with Sjögren's syndrome / 영남의대학술지

Lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia (LIP) is a rare benign lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by diffuse infiltration of the pulmonary parenchymal interstitium by polyclonal lymphocytes and plasma cells. LIP has been associated with a variety of clinical conditions; such as connective tissue disorders and other immune system abnormalities. Treatment usually involves administration of corticosteroids and other immunosuppressants. We report on a 38-year-old female patient who complained of shortness of breath, dry mouth, and dry eyes for more than 1 month, and was positive for Raynaud's phenomenon. Based on surgical biopsy, she was diagnosed as having LIP accompanied by Sjögren's syndrome. The patient was treated with high-dose steroids followed by maintenance therapy for approximately 2 years, and her condition improved.

A Case of Extensive IgG4-Related Disease Presenting as Massive Pleural Effusion, Mediastinal Mass, and Mesenteric Lymphadenopathy in a 16-Year-Old Male / 결핵및호흡기질환

IgG4-related disease is an immune-mediated fibro-inflammatory disease, characterized by lymphoplasmacytic infiltration composed of IgG4-positive plasma cells of various organs with elevated circulating levels of IgG4. This disease is now reported with increasing frequency and usually affects middle-aged men. Massive pleural effusion in children is an uncommon feature in IgG4-related disease. Here, we report a case of a 16-year-old male patient with extensive IgG4-related disease presenting with massive pleural effusion, mediastinal mass, and mesenteric lymphadenopathy.

A late onset solitary mediastinal cystic lymphangioma in a 66-year-old woman who underwent kidney transplantation / 영남의대학술지

Lymphangioma is a congenital abnormality of the lymphatic system detected primarily in early childhood. There are rare reports of mediastinal lymphangioma in older adults. We hereby report on a 66-year-old female patient who underwent kidney transplantation 20 years previously and who developed pathologically confirmed solitary mediastinal lymphangioma 1 year ago. Chest radiography showed a mediastinal nodule, which was not observed 2 year previously, therefore she was referred to the pulmonary division. She had no symptoms, and chest computed tomography demonstrated a 25-mm, well-defined, low-density nodule located at the anterior mediastinum. The size of the nodule had increased from 25 mm to 34 mm 1 year later, and it was completely resected via video-assisted thoracic surgery. The histological diagnosis was cystic lymphangioma. Therefore, we recommend that clinicians consider cystic lymphangioma as a possible diagnosis even in older patients with a mediastinal cystic mass that shows progressive enlargement.

Clinical Study of Galeazzi's Fracture / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Galeazzis frature has been described as a fracture of the radius complicated by a dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint. This fracture, with angulation of the distal radius and dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint, shows the tendency to redisplacement after reduction due to a variety of factors including the brachioradialis muscle, the pronator quadratus muscle and the thumb abductors and extensors. Because of these factors, this fracture may rarely be treated by manipulation and plaster immobilization alone. The treatment of choice for Galeazzis fracture is open reduction and internal fixation. The author reviewed the cases of 28 patients with Galeazzis fracture who had been treated at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicie from January 1978 to December 1986. This study emphasized the nature of the injury, the level of the radial fracture, treatment and results. The results were as follows ; 1. The subjects included 2 children and 26 adults. Males were affected more frequently than females, and the sex ratio was 6: 1 2. The causes of injury included car accidents in ten cases(36%), falls in eight cases(29%), injuries from machinery in five cases(18%), direct blows in four cases(14%) and explosion in one case(3%). 3. The fracture occured most often at the junction of the middle and distal thirds of the radial shaft in thirteen cases(47%), and less often in the middle third of the radial shat, eitht cases(29%). Infrequent sites of fracture included the junction of the proximal and middle thirds in four cases(14%), the distal third in two cases(7%) and the proximal third of the radius in one case(3%). 4. Twenty-two cases(78%) experienced fracture composed of only two fragmented, but six cases(22%) were multifragment fractures. The frature was oblique and in one case, spiral. In twenty-two cases, the fractures were closed and in six cases, open. Three cases of open fractures had grade III soft tissue injuries. 5. Roentgenograpghic diagnosis of the distal radioulnar joint disruption was possible in 82% of the cases. 6. Associated injuries were noted in 57% of the cases including six cases of head injuries, four cases of head injuries, two cases of injury to the lower extremities, two cases of spinal injury, one cases of a fractured humerus. 7. Conservative treatment was given in five cases and operative treatment twenty-two cases. Conservative treatment gave excellent results in one case, fair results in two cases, while operative treatment resulted in an excellent outcome in thirteen cases, a fair outcome in eight cases and poor in one case. 8. Six cases experienced complications including delayed union in two cases, subluxation of the distal radioulnar joint in two cases, ahgulation in one case and infection in one case.

Treatment of Complete Acromioclavicular Dislocation with Kirschner Wire/Tension-Band Wiring / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Injuries to the acromioclavicular joint are usually the result of force applied downward to the acromoion. Surgery treatment modalities for grade IU complete acromioclavicular dislocation are extremely varied and usually successful. 13 cases of complete acromioclavicular dislocation were operated by techniuqe of Kirschner wire with tension-band wiring at Wonju Christian Hospital from June 1984 to Oct. 1985. And they had been followed for average 17.8 months and following results were obtained. l. Of the 13 cases, male was 8 cases(61%) and female was 5 cases(39%) . 2. The most common cause of injury was traffic accident. Nexts were fall down, slip down and direct blow. 3. Results were evaluated by using Weaver and Dunn criteria, 12 cases(92.3%) were good and 1 case was fair but this technique involved a more extensive implant removal that required general anesthesia. Therefore, AO tension-band wiring is thought useful operative method in the treatment of acromioclavicular dislocation.