Endoscopic metal stent insertion has been widely performed to palliatively treat gastrointestinal (GI) tract obstruction in patients with cancer. The use of metal stents for benign strictures of the GI tract is increasing due to the low risk of major complications other than stent migration. The incidence of acute pancreatitis after placing a GI tract metal stent is rare. Herein, we report a case of acute pancreatitis caused by a covered metal stent that was initially inserted for a benign stricture of a gastroduodenal anastomosis that developed after the operation, then distally migrated, bent into a U-shape, and impacted into the second portion of the duodenum in a 56-year-old female who underwent a Billroth-I gastrectomy due to gastric cancer.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Duodenum ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Gastric Outlet Obstruction ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Incidence ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatitis ; Stents ; Stomach Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: Monocyte chemoattractant protein- 1 (MCP-1) is an important mediator for monocyte/ macrophage infiltration in various inflammatory renal diseases and is produced by renal cells. In the process of renal diseases, endothelin-1 (ET-1) is known to play an active role in cell growth, inflammation and fibrosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether three isoforms of endothelin regulate MCP-1 expression in cultured mesangial cells. METHODS: Mesangial cells were incubated with or without various doses of ET-1, ET-2 or ET-3. To determine the monocyte chemotactic activity, chemotaxis assay was performed in modified Boyden chambers using freshly isolated human monocytes. MCP-1 mRNA expression in mesangial cells was measured by Northern blot analysis. RESULTS: ET-1, ET-2 and ET-3 stimulated monocyte chemotactic activity released from mesangial cells in a dose-dependent manner. ET-1, ET-2 and ET-3 also stimulated MCP-1 mRNA expression in a time-dependent manner, which was seen as early as 4 hours and was maintained up to 24 hours. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that ET-1, ET- 2 and ET-3 stimulate MCP-1 expression in mesangial cells and may contribute to the monocyte/ macrophage infiltration in inflammatory renal diseases.
Animals ; Blotting, Northern ; Chemokine CCL2* ; Chemotaxis ; Endothelin-1* ; Endothelin-2* ; Endothelin-3* ; Endothelins ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Macrophages ; Mesangial Cells* ; Monocytes* ; Protein Isoforms ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger

PURPOSE: Improved survival of patients with childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has drawn attention to the potential for late consequences of previous treatments among survivors, including metabolic syndrome. In this study, we evaluated changes in 3 parameters, namely, random blood glucose, body mass index (BMI), and Z score for BMI (Z-BMI), in children with ALL during chemotherapy and after completion of treatment. METHODS: Patients newly diagnosed with ALL from January, 2005 to December, 2008 at Saint Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, who completed treatment with chemotherapy only were included (n=107). Random glucose, BMI, and Z-BMI were recorded at 5 intervals: at diagnosis, before maintenance treatment, at completion of maintenance treatment, and 6 and 12 months after completion of maintenance treatment. Similar analyses were conducted on 2 subcohorts based on ALL risk groups. RESULTS: For random glucose, a paired comparison showed significantly lower levels at 12 months post-treatment compared to those at initial diagnosis (P<0.001) and before maintenance (P<0.001). The Z-BMI score was significantly higher before maintenance than at diagnosis (P<0.001), but decreased significantly at the end of treatment (P<0.001) and remained low at 6 months (P<0.001) and 12 months (P<0.001) post-treatment. Similar results were obtained upon analysis of risk group-based subcohorts. CONCLUSION: For a cohort of ALL patients treated without allogeneic transplantation or cranial irradiation, decrease in random glucose and Z-BMI after completion of chemotherapy does not indicate future glucose intolerance or obesity.
Blood Glucose ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Cohort Studies ; Cranial Irradiation ; Glucose ; Glucose Intolerance ; Humans ; Korea ; Matched-Pair Analysis ; Obesity ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Saints ; Survivors ; Transplantation, Homologous

PURPOSE: Kidney size (KS) is used to diagnose the patients with renal disease. When the length of a kidney is measured under 9 cm, it is considered to indicate an irreversible disease. Because glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decreases with age, the normal range of KS in the elderly is indefinite. Therefore, we measured KS in adults older than 80 years old and investigated correlated factors. METHODS: One hundreds six adults (51 men, 55 women: mean age 83+/-0.3) without renal disease were included. Their serum creatinine (Scr) levels did not exceed 1.3 mg/dL, and the calculated GFR were over 60 mL/min/1.73m2. Abdominal ultrasonography were performed to all of them and their body indexes (BI) were measured. RESULTS: 1) The mean length of kidney was 9.9+/-0.07 cm. 2) KS in the early eighties was larger than that of adults over ninety. 3) KS showed negative correlations with age and Scr, but a positive correlation with body surface area . 4) The calculated GFR showed correlations with the surface areas of both kidney (BK) by C-G equation and with the size of BK by MDRD equation. 4) The GFR calculated by MDRD and C-G equation presented inverse correlations with Scr, but only MDRD equation showed a statistic significance. CONCLUSION:In the elderly, KS may be smaller than that of younger adults. Other factors such as either surface area or volume of BK and BI should be considered to estimate the individual KS to decide whether the size is within normal range.
Adult ; Aged ; Body Size ; Body Surface Area ; Creatinine ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Kidney ; Male ; Organ Size ; Reference Values

Goodpasture's syndrome is an autoimmune disease characterized by rapid progressive glomerulonephritis, alveolar hemorrhage and autoantibody to the NC1 domain of the alpha 3 chain of type IV collagen (anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody). It was common in Europe with peak incidence at third decades. However, Goodpasture's syndrome was reported only three cases in Korea. We reported a case of Goodpasture's syndrome in a 34 year old male. He admitted our hospital due to dyspnea and hemoptysis. We made diagnosis by detection of Anti-GBM Ab and biopsy of kidney. He was treated with hemodialysis, plasma exchanges and immunosuppressive agents. However, his renal function was not recovered. Currently, he is receiving regular hemodialysis.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Adult ; Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Disease* ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Basement Membrane ; Biopsy ; Collagen Type IV ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Europe ; Glomerulonephritis ; Hemoptysis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Incidence ; Kidney ; Korea ; Male ; Plasma Exchange ; Renal Dialysis

We present a case of liposarcoma related with minimal change nephrotic syndrome. A 49-year-old woman was admitted due to generalized edema and a palpable mass at epigastric area. Her laboratory data were as follows : serum creatinine 0.6mg/dl, BUN 7mg/dl, serum total protein 3.6g/dl(albumin 0.6 g/dl) serum total cholesterol 299mg/dl, 24 hour-urine protein 5.1g. A CT scan of the abdomen revealed huge adult head sized mass(15X10X15cm) consisted with mixed pattern of well enhancing solid, cystic and fat portion which is located between the liver and the stomach. A kidney biopsy showed minimal change nephropathy. At explo-laparostomy the tumor was well differentiated liposarcoma. After operation and steroid therapy, her proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia were a little improved. And then radiation therapy(daily 180 cGy, 5 fx/wk, upto 5040cGy/28 fx/42 day) was done. Complete remission of liposarcoma was followed by regression of the nephrotic syndrome. After radiation therapy, her laboratory data were serum total protein 6.7g/dl (albumin 4.3g/dl), total cholesterol 170mg/dl, 24 hour-urine protein 0.3g. She has been maintained complete remission of the nephrotic syndrome by steroid maintenance dose.
Abdomen ; Adult ; Biopsy ; Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Edema ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Hypoalbuminemia ; Kidney ; Liposarcoma* ; Liver ; Middle Aged ; Nephrosis, Lipoid* ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Proteinuria ; Stomach ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A persistent left superior vena cava(SVC) is found in about 0.3% of healthy individuals and 4.3% of patients with congenital heart disease. This anomaly is most frequently found in conjunction with a right-sided SVC, but may also be solitary. Recently, we experienced a case of persistent left SVC in patient with chronic renal failure. He required subclavian catheterization for hemodialysis due to leakage of peritoneal dialysate into external genitalia and pleural cavity. Because he had had a history of right subclavian catheterization for hemodialysis 3 months ago, the hemodialysis catheter was inserted in the left subclavian vein without any complication. Chest X-ray after insertion of the catheter showed that the distal tip of the catheter seemed to be within the aorta. Venography showed that the catheter was located within the left SVC and MRI showed isolated two SVC. He is receiving hemodialysis through the left subclavian catheter which is positioned within the left SVC without any problem.
Aorta ; Catheterization ; Catheters* ; Genitalia ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Phlebography ; Pleural Cavity ; Renal Dialysis* ; Subclavian Vein ; Thorax ; Vena Cava, Superior*

A 33-year-old man was admitted with macroscopic hematuria and systemic edema appearing after an acute upper respiratory tract infection. On admission, hypertension, nephrotic syndrome were evident together with a decreased renal function. Renal biopsy showed markedly increased mesangial cells acompanied with increase of endocapillary cells including neutrophils. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed granular deposits of C3 and IgA. Electron Microscopy revealed so-called "hump" on the subepithelial area. These features were consistent with the coexistence of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and post-infectious glomerulonephritis. It is not clear about the prognosis and the therapeutic regimen in the patient who develop above situation. Although the patient showed still persistent proteinuria, high dose steroid therapy was probably useful for improving the disease.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Edema ; Glomerulonephritis* ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA* ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Immunoglobulin A* ; Mesangial Cells ; Microscopy, Electron ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Neutrophils ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria ; Respiratory Tract Infections

BACKGROUND: Monocyte chemoattractant protein- 1 (MCP-1) is produced by renal cells and an important mediator for monocyte/macrophage infiltration in various inflammatory renal diseases. In the process of renal disease, endothelin-1 is known to play an active role in cell growth, inflammation and fibrosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether endothelin-1 regulates MCP-1 expression in cultured human proximal tubular epithelial cells. METHODS: Primary cultured human proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTEC) were incubated with or without various dose of endothelin-1. MCP-1 concentration in PTEC conditioned medium was measured by sandwich ELISA. MCP-1 mRNA expression was analyzed by Northern blotting. The NF-kB or AP-1 activity in response to endothelin-1 was measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. RESULTS: Endothelin-1 (10(-7) M) stimulated MCP- 1 production in PTEC, which was significant at 48 hours and various doses of endothelin-1 (10(-8)-10(-6) M) increased MCP-1 production from PTEC in a dose-dependent manner. Northern blot analysis revealed that endothelin-1 stimulated MCP-1 mRNA expression. Endothelin-1 (10(-7) M) stimulated both AP-1 binding activity and NF-kB binding activity up to 8 hour. Supershift analysis showed that p65 and p50 are major NF-kB subunit bound to the DNA probe and that c-Fos and c-Jun are major AP-1 subunit bound to the DNA probe. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that endothelin- 1 may stimulate MCP-1 expression in proximal tubular epithelial cells through the activation of NF- kB and AP-1 binding activity.
Blotting, Northern ; Chemokine CCL2* ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; DNA ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; Endothelin-1* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epithelial Cells* ; Fibrosis ; Humans* ; Inflammation ; Monocytes* ; NF-kappa B ; RNA, Messenger ; Transcription Factor AP-1

OBJECTIVE: To clarify specific serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) levels on 11 days after intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) that could predict live birth. METHODS: Three hundred ninety-two pregnancies resulting from IUI and IVF-ET procedures between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2000 were evaluated. Serum quantitative beta-hCG levels were measured 11 days after IUI or ET using standard immunoradiometric assays. Pregnancy outcomes were categorized as spontaneous abortion, biochemical pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, singleton live birth, or multiple live birth. Statistical analyses were performed by analysis of variances, and Student's t-test. The sensitivity and specificity of serum beta-hCG level for predicting live birth were plotted using receiver-operator-characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: The multiple live birth group has significantly higher serum beta-hCG level among the different pregnancy outcome groups. The beta-hCG level on the eleventh day after IUI and IVF-ET was significantly higher in the live birth group than the non viable pregnancy group. At a threshold level of 65 mIU/ml, the serum beta-hCG level on the eleventh day after IUI had a positive predictive value of 78.9% in predicting live birth with 95% specificity. At a threshold level of 115 mIU/ml, the serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin level on the eleventh day after ET had a positive predictive value of 92.1% with 95% specificity. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that serum beta-hCG level on 11 days after IVF-ET could be a reliable indicator predicting pregnancy outcome.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Chorionic Gonadotropin* ; Female ; Humans* ; Immunoradiometric Assay ; Insemination* ; Live Birth ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Sensitivity and Specificity