BACKGROUND: Although Escherichia coli is a common cause of bacterial enteritis in Korea, reports on community-acquired E. coli enteritis in Korean children are scarce. This study aimed to determine the clinical characteristics and pathotype distribution of community-acquired E. coli enteritis diagnosed by a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay in Korean children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of children aged 18 years or less who were diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis by the attending physician between 2013 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical characteristics of children diagnosed with E. coli enteritis were investigated and compared with those diagnosed with Salmonella enteritis. E. coli and Salmonella infections were diagnosed by a stool PCR assay. RESULTS: Among 279 children, in whom PCR assays for E. coli and Salmonella spp. were performed, Salmonella enteritis and E. coli enteritis were diagnosed in 43 (15.4%) and 39 (14.0%) children, respectively. Among the 39 children with E. coli enteritis, enteropathogenic E. coli (n=21, 53.8%) and enteroaggregative E. coli (n=15, 38.4%) were the most common causative agents. Empirical antibiotics were administered to 33 (84.6%) children. A total of 31 (79.5%) children developed fever, and 25 (80.6%) of them had the fever for 3 days or less, which resolved a median of 1 day (range 0-3 days) after hospitalization. The most frequent gastrointestinal symptom was diarrhea (n=36, 92.3%). Significantly more children with E. coli enteritis were aged 2 years or less as compared with those with Salmonella enteritis (41.0% vs. 21.9%, P = 0.021). Children with Salmonella enteritis more frequently complained of fever (97.7% vs. 79.5%, P = 0.012), abdominal pain (90.7% vs. 64.1%, P = 0.004), and hematochezia (46.5% vs. 10.3%, P < 0.001) than those with E. coli enteritis. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein levels were significantly higher in children with Salmonella enteritis than those with E. coli enteritis (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Enteropathogenic E. coli was the most frequent pathotype in Korean children with E. coli enteritis that caused mild clinical symptoms. A stool PCR assay for E. coli may be useful for epidemiological purpose and for an early diagnosis of E. coli enteritis.
Abdominal Pain ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Child* ; Diarrhea ; Early Diagnosis ; Enteritis* ; Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli ; Escherichia coli* ; Escherichia* ; Fever ; Gastroenteritis ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Retrospective Studies ; Salmonella ; Salmonella Infections

Doxifluridine neurotoxicity is more rare than 5-FU neurotoxicity. We report a case of leukoencephalopathy caused by long-term use of doxifluridine and which was resolved after discontinuation. A 37-year-old woman who had been on doxifluridine for 4 months after gastrectomy presented with dysarthria. Diffusion-weighted MRI imaging revealed multifocal hyperintense lesions in subcortical areas. Her symptoms disappeared after discontinuing doxifluridine, and lesions on follow-up MRI were resolved. These findings suggest that doxifluridine is a plausible cause of reversible leukoencephalopathy.
Adult ; Dysarthria ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Leukoencephalopathies ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Stomach Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Planned endoscopic submucosal dissection with snaring (ESD-S) is thought to shorten operating time spent on submucosal dissection, but may lead to uncertainty of en bloc resection or to a possible increase in tumor-positive margins. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the feasibility of ESD-S as a planned procedure for gastric adenoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 99 patients who underwent ESD-S or ESD for gastric adenoma between May 2011 and May 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. We analyzed the differences between the ESD-S and the ESD groups, focusing on rates of en bloc resection and pathologic complete resection, mean operation time, and complications. RESULTS: The mean operation time was significantly lower in the ESD-S group than in the ESD group (19.9+/-11.2 vs. 33.8+/-19.9, P=0.012). Cases with an operation time under 30 minutes were more frequent in the ESD-S group (88.9% vs. 48.1%, OR=8.615, 95% CI=2.949~25.168). There were no significant differences in en bloc resection, histologic complete resection, or complication rates between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: ESD-S has a time advantage over ESD with a comparable compete resection rate. ESD-S can be considered a planned method for available early gastric adenoma.
Adenoma* ; Endoscopy ; Focus Groups ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; SNARE Proteins* ; Uncertainty

Aneurysm of the mitral valve, although uncommon, occurs most commonly in association with infective endocarditis of the aortic valve and true mitral valve aneurysm is a rare cause of mitral regurgitation. We report a case with perforated mitral valve aneurysm in the posterior leaflet without concurrent infective endocarditis initially mistaken diagnosis of cystic mass, which was confirmed at operation with successful mitral valve annuloplasty.
Aneurysm ; Aortic Valve ; Echocardiography ; Endocarditis ; Heart Aneurysm ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Annuloplasty ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and carotid artery atherosclerosis beyond metabolic disorders. METHODS: We studied 320 non-diabetic patients with ultrasonographically diagnosed NAFLD and 313 non-diabetic patients without NAFLD who have less than 40 g alcohol/week drinking history. Carotid atherosclerotic burden was assessed by carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque. All subjects were divided to the metabolic syndrome (MetS) according to International Diabetes Federation criteria. RESULTS: NAFLD patients had a significantly increased mean carotid IMT (0.79 +/- 0.18 vs. 0.73 +/- 0.13 mm; p < 0.001) than those without the condition. The prevalence of increased IMT, defined as IMT > or = 1 mm, and carotid plaque were 52.5% and 34.1% in the patients with NAFLD vs. 35.8% and 18.8% in the patients without this condition (p < 0.001). The difference in IMT and prevalence of plaque was also significant even in patients without MetS as well as those with MetS (all p < 0.05). NAFLD-associated adjusted odds ratio for increased IMT was 1.236 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.023-1.467, p = 0.016] without MetS and 1.178 (95% CI, 1.059-1.311, p = 0.003) with MetS. NAFLD-associated adjusted odds ratio of carotid plaque was 1.583 (95% CI, 1.309-1.857, p = 0.024) without MetS and 1.536 (95% CI, 0.512-4.604, p = 0.444) with MetS. CONCLUSION: NAFLD is significantly associated with carotid atherosclerosis in non-diabetic outpatients even without MetS. Carotid screening for NAFLD might be beneficial for assessment of future atherosclerotic complications.
Atherosclerosis ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Drinking ; Fatty Liver ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Odds Ratio ; Outpatients ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND: Bovine pericardium is one of the most widely used materials in bioprosthetic heart valves. Immunologic responses have been implicated as potential causes of limited durability of xenogenic valves. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of decellularization and alpha-galactosidase (alpha-gal) to remove major xenoreactive antigens from xenogenic tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Recombinant Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (B. thetaiotaomicron) alpha-gal or decellularization, or both were used to remove alpha-gal from bovine pericardium. It was confirmed by alpha-gal-bovine serum albumin-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), high-performance anion exchange chromatography, flow cytometry, 3,3'-diaminobenzidine-staining, and lectin-based ELISA. The mechanical properties of bovine pericardium after decellularization or alpha-gal treatment were investigated by tests of tensile-strength, permeability, and compliance. Collagen fiber rearrangement was also evaluated by a 20,000x transmission electron microscope (TEM). RESULTS: Recombinant B. thetaiotaomicron alpha-gal could effectively remove alpha-gal from bovine pericardium B. thetaiotaomicron (0.1 U/mL, pH 7.2) while recombinant human alpha-gal removed it recombinant human alpha-gal (10 U/mL, pH 5.0). There was no difference in the mechanical properties of fresh and recombinant alpha-gal-treated bovine pericardium. Furthermore, the TEM findings demonstrated that recombinant alpha-gal made no difference in the arrangement of collagen fiber bundles with decellularization. CONCLUSION: Recombinant B. thetaiotaomicron alpha-gal effectively removed alpha-gal from bovine pericardium with a small amount under physiological conditions compared to human recombinant alpha-gal, which may alleviate the harmful xenoreactive immunologic responses of alpha-gal. Recombinant alpha-gal treatment had no adverse effects on the mechanical properties of bovine pericardium.
alpha-Galactosidase ; Bacteroides ; Bioprosthesis ; Chromatography ; Collagen ; Compliance ; Electrons ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epitopes ; Flow Cytometry ; Heart Valves ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Pericardium ; Permeability ; Tissue Engineering

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular apical (RVA) pacing induces left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony, increases the risk of persistent atrial fibrillation in the long term. The aim was to investigate the effects of RVA pacing on left atrial (LA) function, which are unknown. METHODS: Echocardiographic evaluation including LV dyssynchrony based on conventional Doppler, tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking strain echocardiography was done before and after (12 months) single-chamber ventricular pacemaker implantation in 40 patients with sick sinus syndrome. Patients were divided to 2 groups, according to the RVA pacing frequency (group I had higher pacing rate of more than 50% and group II, less than 50%). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in LV ejection fraction, however, mean global LV strain, myocardial performance index, and parameters of LV dyssynchrony had shown significant changes after 12 months of RVA pacing. There were also significant increase in the LA volume index and the reduction of peak systolic LA strain and strain rate (SR), peak early and late diastolic SR after RVA pacing. Moreover, there was significant deterioration of LV dyssynchrony and both LA and LV longitudinal function in even group II. LA functional deterioration and LA volume was significantly correlated with the frequency of RVA pacing. CONCLUSION: LV dyssynchrony, induced by RVA pacing, significantly impaired active LA contraction and passive stretching, and these findings were shown in the patients with even less than 50% of RVA pacing. Impairment of LA strain/SR was significantly correlated with the frequency of RVA pacing.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Atrial Function ; Atrial Function, Left ; Contracts ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Muscle Stretching Exercises ; Sick Sinus Syndrome ; Sprains and Strains ; Track and Field

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular apical (RVA) pacing induces left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony, increases the risk of persistent atrial fibrillation in the long term. The aim was to investigate the effects of RVA pacing on left atrial (LA) function, which are unknown. METHODS: Echocardiographic evaluation including LV dyssynchrony based on conventional Doppler, tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking strain echocardiography was done before and after (12 months) single-chamber ventricular pacemaker implantation in 40 patients with sick sinus syndrome. Patients were divided to 2 groups, according to the RVA pacing frequency (group I had higher pacing rate of more than 50% and group II, less than 50%). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in LV ejection fraction, however, mean global LV strain, myocardial performance index, and parameters of LV dyssynchrony had shown significant changes after 12 months of RVA pacing. There were also significant increase in the LA volume index and the reduction of peak systolic LA strain and strain rate (SR), peak early and late diastolic SR after RVA pacing. Moreover, there was significant deterioration of LV dyssynchrony and both LA and LV longitudinal function in even group II. LA functional deterioration and LA volume was significantly correlated with the frequency of RVA pacing. CONCLUSION: LV dyssynchrony, induced by RVA pacing, significantly impaired active LA contraction and passive stretching, and these findings were shown in the patients with even less than 50% of RVA pacing. Impairment of LA strain/SR was significantly correlated with the frequency of RVA pacing.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Atrial Function ; Atrial Function, Left ; Contracts ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Muscle Stretching Exercises ; Sick Sinus Syndrome ; Sprains and Strains ; Track and Field

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to identify changes in left ventricular (LV) performance in patients with a myocardial bridge (MB) in the left anterior descending coronary artery during resting and in an inotropic state. METHODS: Myocardial strain measurement by speckle-tracking echocardiography and conventional LV wall-motion scoring was performed in 18 patients with MB (mean age, 48.1 +/- 1.7 years, eight female) during resting and intravenous dobutamine challenge (10 and 20 microg/kg/min). RESULTS: Conventional LV wall-motion scoring was normal in all patients during resting and in an inotropic state. Peak regional circumferential strain increased dose dependently upon dobutamine challenge. Longitudinal strains of the anterior and anteroseptal segments were, however, reduced at 20 microg/kg/min and showed a dyssynchronous pattern at 20 microg/kg/min. Although there were no significant differences in radial strain and displacement of all segments at rest compared with under 10 microg/kg/min challenge, radial strain and displacement of anterior segments at 20 microg/kg/min were significantly reduced compared with posterior segments at the papillary muscle level (44.8 +/- 14.9% vs. 78.4 +/- 20.1% and 5.3 +/- 2.3 mm vs. 8.5 +/- 1.8 mm, respectively; all p < 0.001), and showed plateau (40%) or biphasic (62%) patterns. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced LV strain of patients with MB after inotropic stimulation was identified. Speckle-tracking strain echocardiography identified a LV myocardial dyssynchrony that was not demonstrated by conventional echocardiography in patients with MB.
Adrenergic beta-1 Receptor Agonists/*diagnostic use ; Adult ; Aged ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Angiography ; Diastole ; Dobutamine/*diagnostic use ; Echocardiography, Stress/instrumentation/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Myocardial Contraction ; *Myocardium ; Physical Exertion ; Systole ; *Ventricular Dysfunction, Left ; Ventricular Function, Left/*drug effects

Coronary artery fistula to pulmonary artery is common. However, to the best of our knowledge, a case of coronary artery fistula to pulmonary artery associated with aortopulmonary fistula remains unreported. We herein report a 64-year-old female with a left anterior descending coronary artery and ascending aorta to pulmonary artery fistulas, and conduct a brief review of the literature.
Aorta ; Arterio-Arterial Fistula ; Coronary Vessels ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Fistula ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Artery