Achalasia is a motility disorder of the esophagus characterized by absence of peristalsis and failure of relaxation of lower esophagus sphincter. The introduction of high resolution manometry (HRM) and per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has made a new chapter in diagnosis and treatment of achalasia. HRM allows classify according to the subtype of achalasia, and help predict prognosis and therapeutic response. POEM is a minimally invasive, effective option for treating achalasia. The management of achalasia required tailored application of various therapies such as botox injection, pneumatic balloon dilatation, POEM, or Heller's myotomy. In this review, we state the important aspects of diagnosis as well as management of achalasia.
Consensus ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Esophageal Achalasia ; Esophagus ; Manometry ; Peristalsis ; Prognosis ; Relaxation

On December 31, 2018, an incident occurred where a doctor was attacked and killed by a patient carrying a lethal weapon in the outpatients' clinic of the psychiatric department of a tertiary general hospital. The suspect was diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder (manic depressive disorder) and has been hospitalized and cared for in the psychiatric ward of this hospital. This incident illustrates the necessity of more active cures and therapeutic intervention for mental patients with intellectual developmental disorders who require treatment considering the fact that a radical outcome has been caused by such a patient. However, on the other hand, there is also a need for an approach and analysis from the perspective of crime prevention for all medical departments. The reason for this is that even a tertiary general hospital equipped with the largest human resources, medical devices, facilities, and so forth, is susceptible to violence. As for illegal actions perpetrated against health and medical service personnel in medical institutions, such as verbal abuse, assault, injury, etc. there have neither been understanding shown for the current extent of damage in detail, nor discussions of active institutional improvement related to the seriousness of the act. It can be said that violence in the field of medical treatment is a realm requiring serious discussion and appropriate remedial actions. This is because when such incidents take place, if a patient who is supposed to get treatment from the damaged health care provider is in an urgent situation or on the waiting list of serious cases, he or she could suffer serious damage caused by deprivation of treatment opportunity, or secondary damage might be caused to the patient and/or a guardian who can hardly have an opportunity to take action. Accordingly, in this review, we would like to help create the necessary conditions for both health and medical service personnel and patients/guardians, respectively, to provide and receive medical treatment in a more secure environment. Therefore, objective assessment of the institution and issues relating to this aforementioned incident and general cases of violence occurring in medical institutions, and by suggesting legal and institutional improvements and solutions.
Crime ; Hand ; Health Personnel ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Mentally Ill Persons ; Mood Disorders ; Violence ; Waiting Lists ; Weapons

Achalasia is a motility disorder of the esophagus characterized by absence of peristalsis and failure of relaxation of lower esophagus sphincter. The introduction of high resolution manometry (HRM) and per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has made a new chapter in diagnosis and treatment of achalasia. HRM allows classify according to the subtype of achalasia, and help predict prognosis and therapeutic response. POEM is a minimally invasive, effective option for treating achalasia. The management of achalasia required tailored application of various therapies such as botox injection, pneumatic balloon dilatation, POEM, or Heller's myotomy. In this review, we state the important aspects of diagnosis as well as management of achalasia.
Consensus ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Esophageal Achalasia ; Esophagus ; Manometry ; Peristalsis ; Prognosis ; Relaxation

OBJECTIVE: A substantial portion of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) patients present with localized disease limited to the upper respiratory tract, however; disease spectrum and prognosis of these patients are unclear. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with localized GPA. METHODS: This was a retrospective descriptive case series of patients with a biopsy proven localized GPA presenting to a single tertiary rheumatology service between January 1995 and September 2015. RESULTS: A total of 5 patients, median age 56 years (range 48 to 59 years) at diagnosis and 80% female, were identified. The median follow-up period was 42 months (range 15 to 62 months). Diagnosis was delayed with median time to diagnosis of 12 months (range 3 to 36 months), and patients underwent 1-3 ear, nose, and throat surgeries during the period of diagnostic delay. Sinusitis was the most frequent symptom in all patients, followed by otomastoiditis with cranial nerve palsies (n=2) and orbital mass (n=1). Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) was positive initially in 2/5 patients (40%). Two patients with otomastoiditis and cranial nerve palsies progressed to systemic disease with ANCA positive conversion. These two cases along with a case with orbital mass were refractory to standard treatment of cyclophosphamide with glucocorticoids requiring rituximab treatment. CONCLUSION: Patients with localized GPA may progress to systemic disease over the disease course, and may have aggressive disease refractory to standard treatment. Close monitoring for systemic symptoms and repeated ANCA testing is required in patients with localized GPA.
Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic ; Biopsy ; Cranial Nerve Diseases ; Cyclophosphamide ; Diagnosis ; Ear ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glucocorticoids ; Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis* ; Humans ; Nose ; Orbit ; Pharynx ; Prognosis ; Respiratory System ; Retrospective Studies ; Rheumatology ; Rituximab ; Sinusitis

Osteomyelitis is a bone infection caused by bacteria or other germs. Gram-positive cocci are the most common etiological organisms of calcaneal osteomyelitis; whereas, non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are rarely documented. We reported a case of NTM calcaneal osteomyelitis in a 51-year-old female patient. She had been previously treated in many local clinics with multiple local steroid injection over 50 times and extracorporeal shock-wave therapy over 20 times with the impression of plantar fasciitis for 3 years prior. Diagnostic workup revealed a calcaneal osteomyelitis and polymerase chain reaction assay on bone aspirate specimens confirmed the diagnosis of non-tuberculous mycobacterial osteomyelitis. The patient had a partial calcanectomy with antitubercular therapy. Six months after surgery, a follow-up magnetic resonance imaging showed localized chronic osteomyelitis with abscess formation. We continued anti-tubercular therapy without operation. At 18-month follow-up after surgery and comprehensive rehabilitation therapy, she was ambulating normally and able to carry out her daily activities without any discomfort.
Abscess ; Bacteria ; Diagnosis ; Fasciitis, Plantar ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gram-Positive Cocci ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria ; Osteomyelitis* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rehabilitation

In post-stroke patients, the pain or paresthesia of the affected limb is common. These symptoms may be caused by a variety of pathologic conditions. Considering the debilitating effects of the pain, it is important to determine the exact cause and manage appropriately. A 41-year-old woman who had experienced a hemorrhagic lesion in the right basal ganglia and corona radiata 4 months previously presented with an irritating tingling sensation in her left upper extremity. She failed to respond to a number of treatment options including medications and physical agent modalities. Following a diagnosis of disputed thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) caused by scalene muscle dysfunctions, she received ultrasound-guided electrical twitch-obtaining intramuscular stimulation (ETOIMS) which significantly alleviated the pain. This case suggests that the disputed TOS should be considered as one of the possible causes of post-stroke pain, and that detailed history-taking and physical examination, as well as imaging or electrophysiological studies, might be required for accurate diagnosis. Furthermore, ultrasound-guided ETOIMS can be used as a safe and minimally invasive technique for the treatment of the disputed TOS with fewer systemic and local side effects.
Adult ; Basal Ganglia ; Diagnosis ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Muscles* ; Paresthesia* ; Physical Examination ; Sensation ; Stroke ; Thoracic Outlet Syndrome ; Upper Extremity*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between functional level and muscle thickness (MT) of the rectus femoris (RF) and the gastrocnemius (GCM) in young children with cerebral palsy (CP). METHODS: The study participants were comprised of 26 children (50 legs) with spastic CP, aged 3–6 years, and 25 age-matched children with typical development (TD, 50 legs). The MT of the RF, medial GCM, and lateral GCM was measured with ultrasound imaging. The functional level was evaluated using the Gross Motor Function Measurement-88 (GMFM-88), Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), and based on the mobility area of the Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI). The measurement of spasticity was evaluated with the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). RESULTS: We note that the height, weight, body mass index, and MT of the RF, and the medial and lateral GCM were significantly higher in the TD group (p < 0.05). There was a direct relationship between MT of the RF and medial GCM and the GMFM-88, GMFCS, and mobility scores of the K-MBI in individuals with early CP. In addition, we have noted that there was a direct relationship between MT of the lateral GCM and the GMFM-88 and GMFCS. Although there was a tendency toward lower MT with increasing MAS ratings in the knee and ankle, the correlation was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: In young children with CP, MT of the RF and GCM was lower than in age-matched children with TD. Furthermore, it is noted with confidence that a significant positive correlation existed between MT and functional level as evaluated using the GMFM-88, GMFCS, and mobility area of K-MBI.
Ankle ; Body Weight ; Cerebral Palsy* ; Child* ; Classification ; Humans ; Knee ; Muscle Spasticity ; Quadriceps Muscle ; Ultrasonography

Although patients with cirrhosis are known to be in a state of “rebalance” in that pro- and anticoagulant factors increase the risk for both bleeding and thrombosis, the prevalence of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in patients with cirrhosis can be up to 26%. Therefore, physicians should consider anticoagulation for the prevention and management of PVT in patients with cirrhosis who are at high risk of PVT. Vitamin K antagonist or low molecular weight heparin is suggested as the standard treatment for PVT in cirrhosis. With the advent of new direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs), there is a paradigm shift of switching to DOACs for the treatment of PVT in patients with cirrhosis. However, the safety and efficacy of DOACs in the treatment of PVT was not well-known in patients with cirrhosis. Therefore, this review focused on the current knowledge about the efficacy, safety concerns, and hepatic metabolism of DOACs in patients with cirrhosis and PVT.

Although patients with cirrhosis are known to be in a state of “rebalance” in that pro- and anticoagulant factors increase the risk for both bleeding and thrombosis, the prevalence of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in patients with cirrhosis can be up to 26%. Therefore, physicians should consider anticoagulation for the prevention and management of PVT in patients with cirrhosis who are at high risk of PVT. Vitamin K antagonist or low molecular weight heparin is suggested as the standard treatment for PVT in cirrhosis. With the advent of new direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs), there is a paradigm shift of switching to DOACs for the treatment of PVT in patients with cirrhosis. However, the safety and efficacy of DOACs in the treatment of PVT was not well-known in patients with cirrhosis. Therefore, this review focused on the current knowledge about the efficacy, safety concerns, and hepatic metabolism of DOACs in patients with cirrhosis and PVT.

Pancreatic cancer tends to be delayed in diagnosis because of the lack of early symptom and less than 20% of patients present with resectable masses. A 95-year-old male visited due to recurrent abdominal pain and vomiting. About 2 years ago, a polypoid lesion was detected at the post-bulbar area on esophagogastroduodenoscopy for medical check-up. Endoscopic biopsy noted chronic inflammation with glandular atypia. On the CT scan, there was an intraluminal polypoid mass lesion with mixed hypodensity at the duodenal second portion. Ultrasound guided biopsy targeting the hypodense lesion was performed and revealed chronic pancreatitis. The vomiting persisted and the patient received a palliative gastrojejunostomy. Twenty-five days after gastrojejunostomy, jaundice occurred and an ill-defined mass at the pancreas head was noted on the CT. Pylorus preserving pancreatoduodenectomy was performed and a 3.5 cm sized, moderate to poorly differentiated ductal adenocarcinoma of pancreas head was diagnosed. Nineteen days after operation, the patient was discharged in good condition.
Abdominal Pain ; Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Duodenal Obstruction* ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Gastric Bypass ; Head ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Jaundice ; Male ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Neoplasms* ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Pancreatitis ; Pancreatitis, Chronic ; Pylorus ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Vomiting