Teratoma of the heart is very rare and occurs mainly in children. A 44-year-old male patient was admitted due to foreign body sensation on throat and chest discomfort for a month. Chest CT, MRI and trans- thoracic and transesophageal echocardiographies showed 12x10 cm sized cystic mass with septataion and solid nodules, combined with pericardial and pleural effusion. Excision of the tumor was done and the pathologic diagnosis was mature cystic teratoma arising from pericardium.
Adult ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Foreign Bodies ; Heart ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pericardium ; Pharynx ; Pleural Effusion ; Sensation ; Teratoma* ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

We report the case of a 32-year-old female who developed polymyositis associated with scrub typhus. She exhibited the eschar with high titer of anti-Rickettsia(R)-tsutsugamushi antibody, severe muscle weakness, markedly elevated serum levels of muscle enzymes, EMG changes, and infiltration of macrophages in a muscle biopsy specimen. Initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy resulted in complete healing of scrub typhus and disappearance of symptoms and signs of polymyositis within 1 month after high dose steroid therapy. We suggest that scrub typhus also be included within the causes of idiopathic inflammatory polymyositis.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Female ; Humans ; Macrophages ; Muscle Weakness ; Polymyositis* ; Scrub Typhus*

BACKGROUND: ABO antibody titration is useful for the evaluation of ABO-incompatible bone marrow or solid organ transplantations, yet the results quite vary between different test methods used. We compared the results of microcolumn agglutination and tube methods. METHODS: Anti-A and anti-B isoagglutionin titers were determined in 63 healthy individuals (23 O, 20 A, and 20 B blood groups) using 4 different methods: immediate spin tube (tube), microcolumn agglutination without anti-human globulin (AHG) (CAT), tube with AHG (tube-AHG) and microcolumn agglutination with AHG (CAT-AHG). RESULTS: The median (range) titers of anti-A and anti-B in group O individuals by tube, CAT, tube-AHG, and CAT-AHG methods were 64 (8-512), 64 (8-512), 128 (8-2,048), and 128 (16-2,048); 64 (16-128), 128 (16-256), 128 (16-512), and 256 (16-512), respectively. The median (range) titers of anti-A in group B and anti-B in group A individuals by the four methods were 64 (16-128), 128 (8-128), 128 (8-256), and 256 (8-256); 64 (8-128), 64 (8-128), 32 (8-128), and 64 (8-256), respectively. The isoagglutinin titer measured by CAT-AHGmethod was the highest. The titers measured by CAT and CAT-AHG methods were 0-1 titer higher than those by tube and tube-AHG methods, respectively. Whatever method was used, the isoagglutinin titers were higher in women than in men. CONCLUSIONS: CAT-AHG was the most sensitive method among the four methods tested. Since AHG titer values are critical for the clinical management and CAT has less manual procedures than tube method, CAT-AHG method could be used for the standardization of ABO antibody titration in different institutions.
Agglutination ; Animals ; Bone Marrow ; Cats ; Female ; Humans ; Organ Transplantation ; Transplants

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: An anatomic variant of left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), termed "dual LAD", consists of early bifurcation of the proximal LAD into one early terminating branch (short LAD) which remains in the anterior interventricular sulcus (AIVS) and doesn't reach the apex, and the second (long LAD), which has a variable course outside the AIVS but returns to the distal sulcus and continues to the apex. Its incidence, angiographic features and clinical significance are investigated. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Consecutive 696 coronary angiograms during October 1997 through August 1998 were analyzed. RESULTS: A dual LAD variant was noted in 45 patients (6%) of the 696 patients. Type I, in which the long LAD descends on the left ventricular side of the AIVS before reentering the AIVS, was noted in 24 patients (53%) and type II, in which the long LAD descends on the right ventricular side of the AIVS before reentering the AIVS, in 21(47%). First septal branch was commonly originated from LAD proper in both type (54% vs 52%), but first diagonal branch from LAD proper (63%) in type I, from short LAD (71%) in type II. Presence of dual LAD was recognized before percutaneous coronary intervention (10) or bypass surgery (2) in 12 (63%) of 19 patients. Regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA) were localized in distal septum or anterolateral wall in 2 patients with short or long LAD obstruction, respectively. CONCLUSION: Recognition of dual LAD is essential to prevent errors of interpretation of the coronary angiogram, to plan optimal strategy for percutaneous coronary intervention or bypass surgery, especially in case of total occlusion, and to understand localized septal or anterolateral RWMA.
Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

There have been a few reports of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) with chromosomal abnormalities. Clonal chromosomal abnormalities in HLH patients are usually found in association with hematologic malignancies and rarely with epstein-barr virus (EBV) infection. Here, we report a fatal case of HLH with clonal karyotype abnormalities. A 75-yr-old man was admitted with persistent anorexia and high fever. Laboratory data revealed pancytopenia, hypofibrinogenemia, hyperferritinemia, prolonged prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time, and marked elevated level of serum transaminases. In real time-PCR using whole blood, EBV DNA was not detected but cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA was detected. The bone marrow aspiration smear showed hyperplasia of mature histiocytes with prominent hemophagocytosis. In chromosomal analysis of bone marrow aspirates, complex chromosomal abnormalities were found. In spite of steroid pulse therapy and antibiotic treatment, he died of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy.
Anorexia ; Bone Marrow ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytomegalovirus ; DNA ; Fever ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Karyotype ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic ; Pancytopenia ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Prothrombin Time ; Transaminases

Pseudolymphoma or lymphoid hyperplasia is a rare clinicopathologic disease which occurs in a variety of sites including the skin, orbit, salivary glands, gastrointestinal tract, lung, and other organs. Lymphoid hyperplasia of the gastrointestinal tract can be categorized into four clinicopathologic groups: focal lymphoid hyperplasia of the stomach, focal lymphoid hyperplasia of the small intestine, focal lymphoid hyperplasia of the rectum, and nodular lymphoid hyperplasia of the gastrointestinal tract. We experienced two cases of nodular lymphoid hyperplasia of the small intestine with hypogammaglobulinemia (IgA deficiency) and without hypogammaglobulinemia presented with epigastric discomfort. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and small bowel series showed 0.2~.5 cm sized small, numerous Yamada-I or Yamada-II polypoid lesions from the duodenal bulb to the terminal ileum in two cases. Histologic finding of the duodenal bulb showed small round mature lymphocyte infiltration and reactive follicle with germinal center in two cases. We report two cases with a brief reviews of literature.
Agammaglobulinemia ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Germinal Center ; Hyperplasia* ; Ileum ; Intestine, Small ; Lung ; Lymphocytes ; Orbit ; Pseudolymphoma ; Rectum ; Salivary Glands ; Skin ; Stomach

Chronic hepatitis B viral infection causes membranous nephropathy and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Patients with positive serum HBsAg with membranous nephropathy or membranoproliferative are considered as hepatitis B virus associated glomerulonephritis(HBV-GN) in epidemic areas of hepatitis B viral infection. To elucidate the clinical difference between hepatitis B virus-associated membranous nephropathy and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, and idiopathic membranous nephropathy and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, the authors conducted a clinical study including 71 cases of patients with renal biopsy proven diagnoses. Among the patients with hepatitis B virus antigenemia, the pathologic diagnoses were 7 membranous nephropathy(HBV-MN), 13 membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis(HBV-MPGN) but patients with mixed pattern of both membranous nephropathy and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis were excluded. For the patients with idiopathic glomerulonephritis, 35 of membranous nephropahty(MN) and 16 cases of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) were enrolled in this study. The patients of HBV-GN groups had more than 80% of HBe antigenemia. The nephrotic range proteinuria presented more frequently in HBV-MN(86%) than in MN group(54%). The cases of HBV-MPGN group(4 cases, 31%) showed nephrotic range proteinuria less frequently than those with MPGN(69%, p< 0.05) and significant discrepancy existed in HBV- MN vs HBV-MPGN and HBV-MPGN vs MPGN. The cases with decreased serum C3 level below normal were over 50% of HBV-GN and MPGN group except MN group. Serum levels of SGOT and SGPT were significantly elevated in HBV-MN and HBV- MPGN groups than those of MN and MPGN groups, respectively(p<0.05). The number of cases with increased SGOT, SGPT and gamma-GTP were 4(57%), 2 (29%) and 1(16%) in HBV-MN and 15(83%), 12(67%) and 9(75%) cases in HBV-MPGN group, in respectively. The cases developed progressive renal functional impairment during follow-up period of at least one year were 3 of 5(60%) in HBV-MN, 2 of 8 (25%) in MPGN and 3 of 9(33%) in HBV-MPGN groups which were significantly more than 2 of 22 cases(9%) in MN group(respectively p<0.05, not in HBV-MPGN vs MN). The renal functional impairment rate defined by the ratio of patients with their serum creatinine elevated above 2mg/dL over 3 months in each group was more rapidly increased in HBV-MPGN and HBV-MN than the idiopathic groups by Kaplan-Meier statistic analysis. We suggest that the patients with HBV-associated glomerulonephropathy seem to have worse prognosis in terms of renal functional impairment than those with idiopathic types of glomerulonephropathy with same pathology.
Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Biopsy ; Creatinine ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerulonephritis ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative* ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous* ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Humans ; Pathology ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria

OBJECTIVES: Bedding in childcare centers (CCCs) can hold house dust mite (HDM) allergens. This study examined whether HDM allergen levels can be reduced through the distribution of an educational newsletter on bedding control to parents of CCC children in Korea. METHODS: All 38 CCCs were measured for Der 1 (sum of Der f 1 and Der p 1) concentrations on classroom floors and bedding before the intervention. Educational newsletters on children’s bedding control were sent to 21 CCCs by mail, and teachers were asked to distribute the newsletters to the parents of the children (intervention group). The remaining 17 CCCs were not sent newsletters (control group). The measurement of Der 1 concentrations in 38 CCCs was repeated after the intervention. Dust samples were collected with a vacuum cleaner and analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods. RESULTS: The Der 1 concentrations on the bedding were significantly higher than those on the floors in 38 CCCs at baseline (p<0.05). Although changes of the Der 1 concentrations for the control group (n=17) were not significant, Der 1 concentrations for the intervention group (n=21) decreased significantly from 2077.9 ng/g dust to 963.5 ng/g dust on the floors and from 3683.9 ng/g dust to 610.4 ng/g dust on bedding (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of educational newsletters on bedding control to parents may be an effective means of controlling HDMs in CCCs.
Allergens ; Child ; Dust* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Korea* ; Parents ; Periodicals as Topic* ; Postal Service ; Pyroglyphidae* ; Vacuum

OBJECTIVES: Bedding in childcare centers (CCCs) can hold house dust mite (HDM) allergens. This study examined whether HDM allergen levels can be reduced through the distribution of an educational newsletter on bedding control to parents of CCC children in Korea. METHODS: All 38 CCCs were measured for Der 1 (sum of Der f 1 and Der p 1) concentrations on classroom floors and bedding before the intervention. Educational newsletters on children’s bedding control were sent to 21 CCCs by mail, and teachers were asked to distribute the newsletters to the parents of the children (intervention group). The remaining 17 CCCs were not sent newsletters (control group). The measurement of Der 1 concentrations in 38 CCCs was repeated after the intervention. Dust samples were collected with a vacuum cleaner and analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods. RESULTS: The Der 1 concentrations on the bedding were significantly higher than those on the floors in 38 CCCs at baseline (p<0.05). Although changes of the Der 1 concentrations for the control group (n=17) were not significant, Der 1 concentrations for the intervention group (n=21) decreased significantly from 2077.9 ng/g dust to 963.5 ng/g dust on the floors and from 3683.9 ng/g dust to 610.4 ng/g dust on bedding (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of educational newsletters on bedding control to parents may be an effective means of controlling HDMs in CCCs.
Allergens ; Child ; Dust* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Korea* ; Parents ; Periodicals as Topic* ; Postal Service ; Pyroglyphidae* ; Vacuum

Since an exact ABO blood type match is essential for transfusion therapy, any ABO discrepancies should be resolved prior to the issuing of blood. The authors confirmed the ABO blood group of a 50-year-old male using genotyping. On a routine blood group test, the cell type was A+; however, anti-B was undetected in his serum. To determine the cause of this ABO discrepancy, an adsorption elution test and saliva test were performed. The presence of a weak B substance was suspected despite no evidence of the B antigen on red blood cells. Polymerase-chain-reaction restriction-fragment-length-polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and sequencing analysis of exons 6 and 7 demonstrated that his blood type was A1Bweak (the A allele tested as the A105 subtype, while the B allele was most similar to the B302 subtype). Again, using genotyping, we subsequently confirmed the A1Bweak blood type in a leukemic patient who was in complete remission.
Adsorption ; Alleles ; Erythrocytes ; Exons ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Saliva