A Case of Pylephlebitis of the Inferior Mesenteric Vein and Portal Vein

Pylephlebitis is defined as septic thrombophlebitis of the portal vein or one of its tributaries. Pylephlebitis is an uncommon and often fatal complication of intra-abdominal infections, such as diverticulitis and appendicitis. The most common bacteria isolated from patients with pylephlebitis are Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis. The overall mortality rate is 32%. We describe a case of septic thrombophlebitis of the main portal vein and inferior mesenteric vein successfully treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and anticoagulants. The early diagnosis and treatment with the timely administration of antibiotics is most important for pylephlebitis.

A Case of Pylephlebitis of the Inferior Mesenteric Vein and Portal Vein

Pylephlebitis is defined as septic thrombophlebitis of the portal vein or one of its tributaries. Pylephlebitis is an uncommon and often fatal complication of intra-abdominal infections, such as diverticulitis and appendicitis. The most common bacteria isolated from patients with pylephlebitis are Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis. The overall mortality rate is 32%. We describe a case of septic thrombophlebitis of the main portal vein and inferior mesenteric vein successfully treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and anticoagulants. The early diagnosis and treatment with the timely administration of antibiotics is most important for pylephlebitis.

Role of Anti-secretory Treatment in Addition to Helicobacter pylori Eradication Triple Therapy in the Treatment of Peptic Ulcer / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It is not clear whether the anti-secretory therapy should be continued for symptomatic relief and ulcer healing before or after the eradication of H. pylori in patients with peptic ulcer disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of additional anti-secretory therapy before or after H. pylori eradication in peptic ulcer disease. METHODS: Thirty eight patients with H. pylori-positive active peptic ulcer were included. Patients were randomly allocated into 3 groups; standard 1-week triple therapy followed by omeprazole (20 mg, qd) for 3 weeks (group A), standard 1-week triple therapy only (group B), and omeprazole (20 mg, qd) for 3 weeks followed by 1-week triple therapy (group C). Endoscopy with the rapid urease test and histology for H. pylori was performed 4-8 weeks after the completion of treatment. The symptom was scored by a visual analog scale. RESULTS: Of the 38 patients, 10 were excluded from the per-protocol analysis of this study. The H. pylori eradication rates were 87.5% (group A), 80.0% (group B) and 90.0% (group C) respectively. The peptic ulcer healing rates were 100% in group A, 70.0% in group B, and 90.0% in group C. There was no difference in H. pylori eradication rates and ulcer healing rates among three groups (p>0.05). Symptom score differences between pre-treatment and post-treatment group were not significantly different (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The standard one week triple therapy with or without 3-weeks anti-secretory treatment with omeprazole before or after the therapy does not affect H. pylori eradication rates, peptic ulcer healing rates, and symptom score improvement.

Efficacy of Levofloxacin-based Triple Therapy as Second-lineHelicobacter pylori Eradication / 대한소화기학회지

BACKROUND/AIMS: Bismuth-based quadruple therapy for second-line eradication treatment achieves the eradication rate ranging from 70% to 81% due to antimicrobial resistance and poor compliance. The aim of this study was to compare the eradication rate of levofloxacin-based triple therapy with that of bismuth-based quadruple therapy in second-line Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication therapy. METHODS: Seventy-six outpatients with persistent H. pylori infection after first-line triple therapy were enrolled in this prospective randomized trial. The subjects were randomized to receive levofloxacin 300 mg, amoxicillin 1 g, and pantoprazole 20 mg, given twice daily for 7 days (LAP group), or metronidazole 500 mg twice, tetracycline 500 mg four times, and pantoprazole 20 mg twice, bismuth subcitrate 600 mg twice daily for 7 days (MTPB group). Eradication was confirmed with 13C-urea breath test or rapid urease test 4 weeks after the cessation of therapy. RESULTS: Among Seventy-six patients initially included, eleven were lost during follow-up. The eradication rates, expressed as intention to treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP) analyses, were 51.6% and 53.3% in the LAP group, and 48.9% and 62.9% in the MTPB group, respectively. There was no significant difference in H. pylori eradication rates between the two groups (p=0.815 by ITT, p=0.437 by PP). LAP regimen was better tolerated than MTPB regimen with lower incidence of side effects (10.0% versus 31.4%, p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori eradication rates of levofloxacin-based triple therapy and bismuth-based quadruple therapy were not significantly different in second-line H. pylori eradication therapy, and low incidence of side effects was observed in levofloxacin-based triple therapy.

Sigmoid Diverticular Bleeding Detected by Capsule Endoscopy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Colonic diverticulosis is small outpouching from the lumen of the colon, and this caused by mucosal herniation. Most patients are asymptomatic, but 5~15% of those affected manifest diverticular bleeding. Because most of them stop bleeding spontaneously, the source of the bleeding can not be found by colonoscopy in 15% of these cases. We report here on a case of sigmoid diverticular bleeding that detected by capsule endoscopy in a 68-year old woman who presented with acute obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

A Case of Bleeding from Proximal Jejunal GIST Diagnosed by Colonoscopy through the Oral Approach / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Gastrointestinal bleeding from small bowel lesions is uncommon but it is the most common cause of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding that can go undiagnosed using traditional upper endoscopy and colonoscopy. Recently, various new methods, including wireless capsule endoscopy and double-balloon enteroscopy have been used to detect and manage small bowel lesions. A 51-year-old man was admitted with hematochezia. The source of bleeding could not be identified using conventional upper endoscopy and colonoscopy. Wireless capsule endoscopy revealed a mass-like lesion with active blood spurting in the proximal jejunum. Finally, a tumor with central ulceration was detected at the proximal jejunum using a clean colonoscope through the oral approach. This lesion was surgically resected, and the histology findings were consistent with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor. We report a case of gastrointestinal bleeding from a proximal jejunal GIST diagnosed by clean colonoscopy through the oral approach with a review of the relevant literature.

Primary Esophageal Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is common in the salivary glands but rare in the esophagus. Routine esophagogastroscopy performed in a 54-year-old woman as part of a medical check-up revealed a submucosal tumor (1.5x1.0 cm) at the mid-esophagus. Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed a lesion with mixed echogenicity in the submucosal layer. The submucosal mass was removed by incisional endoscopic enucleation, and pathological analysis revealed epithelial cells with small hyperchromatic angular nuclei in tubular and cribriform patterns. The lesion was pathologically confirmed as an ACC of the esophagus.

A Case of Cronkhite-Canada Syndrome Showing Resolution with Helicobactor pylori Eradication and Omeprazole / 대한소화기학회지

We describe a 58-year-old woman who was incidentally found to have gastric and colonic polyposis, hypoalbuminemia, cutaneous hyperpigmentation and onychodystrophy (Cronkhite-Canada syndrome). Histology of polyps from the stomach showed features of juvenile or retention type (hamartomatous) polyps with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. The large pedunculated colonic polyps showed hamartomatous polyps with adenomatous component and polypectomy was performed. After the treatment with H. pylori eradication and omeprazole, the gastric polyposis, hypoalbuminemia and anemia regressed, and endoscopic polypectomy of gastric polyps were performed. After the continuous use of omeprazole for 14 months, the patient showed complete resolution of clinical features of Cronkhite-Canada syndome. The experience of this case suggests that eradication of H. pylori and proton pump inhibitor treatment might be considered in patients with gastric polyposis combined with Cronkhite-Canada syndome.

Predictors of Long-term Mortality after Hospitalization for Acute Exacerbation of COPD / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Acute exacerbations form a major component of the socioeconomic burden of COPD. As yet, little information is available about the long-term outcome of patients who have been hospitalized with acute exacerbations, although high mortality rates have been reported. The aim of this study was to determine predictors of long-term mortality after hospitalization for acute exacerbation of COPD. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients admitted to the hospital for COPD exacerbation between 2000 through 2004. Patients who had died in hospital or within 6-months after discharge, had tuberculosis scar, pleural thickening or bronchiectasis by chest radiography or had been diagnosed with malignancy during follow-up periods were excluded. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 69.5 years, mean follow-up duration was 49 months, and mean FEV1 was 1.00L (46% of predicted). Mortality was 35% (17/48). In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, heart rate of 100/min or more (p=0.003; relative risk [RR], 11.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.34-61.44) and right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) of 35mmHg or more (p=0.019; RR, 6.85; 95% CI, 1.38-34.02) were independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSION: Heart rate and RVSP in stable state may be useful in predicting long-term mortality for COPD patients admitted to hospital with acute exacerbation.

Gefitinib Trial in a Fanconi's Anemia Patient with Multiple Squamous Cell Carcinomas and Hepatocellular Carcinoma / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

FA (Fanconi's Anemia) is an autosomal recessive disorder that is characterized by pancytopenia with bone marrow hypoplasia, diverse congenital abnormalities and an increased predisposition towards malignancy. The mainstay of the treatment for these cancers has been surgery, because of the hypersensitive reactions of FA patients to DNA cross- linking agents or radiation. Therefore, there has been no effective therapy for advanced squa mous cell carcinoma. We report here on a patient suffering from advanced multiple squamous cell carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma along with an FA, and this patient was treated with gefitinib.

Effect of Asthma Management Educational Program on The Disease Related Knowledge, Stress, and Self-efficacy of Asthmatics Allergic to House Dust Mite / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the asthma management educational program given to the allergic asthmatics receiving immunotherapy due to house dust mite on the disease related to knowledge, stress, and self-efficacy. METHOD: The subjects of this study were the patients received immunotherapy to house dust mite at a week interval after being diagnosed for house dust mite allergic asthma at the respiratory center of a hospital affiliated to the university. They were divided into the experimental group of 29 patients who received asthma management education, the control group of 32 patients, and 61 patients in total. Experimental treatment, as an asthma management educational program, was the group education of one time and the reinforcement education of three times with environmental therapy and immunotherapy to house dust mite. RESULTS: The results revealed that the improvement in disease related knowledge, the improvement in self-efficacy and the decrease in stress, were significantly higher in the experimental group than the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The asthma management educational program had an effect on improving the disease related knowledge and self-efficacy, and decreasing the stress of the patients asthmatics allergic to house dust mite.

A Case of Diffuse Infiltrative Colon Cancer Coexisting with Colonic Tuberculosis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Inflammatory bowel disease has a potential risk of developing colorectal cancer. However, there is little causal relationship between intestinal tuberculosis and colon cancer because intestinal tuberculosis is curable disease and has relatively short disease course. But there were a few case reports of intestinal tuberculosis associated with colon cancer. Diffuse infiltrating colon cancer, characterized by tumor cells in the presence of inflammatory changes with much fibrosis, is very rare in the colon. We experienced a 49-year-old woman who had tuberculous colitis combined with diffuse infiltrative colon cancer. She visited our hospital because of chronic diarrhea and abdominal pain. Colonoscopy showed multiple geographic ulcers in the transverse colon and partial intestinal obstruction. Histological examination revealed non-caseating granuloma and Mycobacterium tuberculosis was cultured in biopsied tissue. She took an anti-tuberculosis drug for 2 weeks, but her symptoms were aggravated. Therefore, extended right hemicolectomy was performed and revealed mucin-secreting, diffuse infiltrating adenocarcinoma. Herein, we report a rare case of diffuse infiltrative colon cancer coexisting with colonic tuberculosis with a review of liferatures.

Clinical Significance of Serum CA 125 in Patients with Chronic Liver Diseases / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The clinical significance of serum CA 125 levels in patients with chronic liver disease has not been widely appreciated in relation to the severity of the disease. We examined serum CA 125 levels in patients with chronic liver disease according to the severity of liver disease and the presence of ascites. METHODS: Fasting serum CA 125 levels were measured by a commercial RIA kit in 92 patients with chronic liver disease: 22 with chronic hepatitis and 70 with liver cirrhosis (Child class A, 19; B, 28; C, 23). Forty-one patients (45%) had ascites. RESULTS: The patients with Child class C liver cirrhosis had significantly higher mean serum CA 125 level than those with class A (p<0.05). In Child class B patients, the mean serum CA 125 level was significantly higher in patients with ascites than in those without (p<0.05). A multiple regression analysis showed that the presence of ascites, serum albumin, and prothrombin time were independent factors related to the increase of serum CA 125 levels. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of ascites is more closely related to the increase of CA125 levels in patients with liver cirrhosis than the severity of liver disease.

Expression of Open Reading Frame 5 Protein of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Using Semliki Forest Virus Expression System

The ORF5 gene encodes a major envelope glycoprotein (GP5), which is one of the three major proteins of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). The GP5 protein has been known to be a 24.5-26kDa N-glycosylated envelope protein. The GP5 is involved in inducing neutralizing antibodies. For this reason, the GP5 is primary candidate for the PRRSV subunit vaccine. To produce the native form of GP5 in mammalian cells, we have cloned the ORF5 gene from PRRSV CNV-1 into the Semliki Forest virus (SFV)-based expression vector, resulting in recombinant pSFV-ORF5. By the infection with recombinant pSFV-ORF5 to BHK-21 cells, the GP5 expression was confirmed by immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting assay. The recombinant virus particle harboring ORF5 gene was infectious to BHK-21 and MARC-145. The RNA synthesis and expression of GP5 in the infected cell was also confirmed by RT-PCR.