OBJECTIVES: In the connective tissue disease patients, esophageal dysfunction is often closely associated with the presence of Raynaud's phenomenon. But there are no previous reports concerning the values of esophageal manometry in the connective tissue disease with Raynaud s phenomenon in Korea. Therefore, we performed this study to evaluate esophageal function in connective tissue disease with Raynaud' s phenomenon. METHODS: Total 86 subjects were employed in this study including 30 normal control group, 14 mixed connective tissue disease(MCTD), 21 systemic sclerosis, 16 systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE), and 5 Raynaud s phenomenon only. In each subject, esophageal manometric study was performed with lower compliance capillary infusion system. RESULTS: The mean age(+SD) of patients and controls were as follows : MCTD 34.1(+8.9), systemic sclerosis 44.9(+9. 3), SLE 32. 1(+7.9), and normal controls 31. 9 (+ 5. 3). All patients with MCTD and systemic sclerosis had Raynaud s phenomenon. Twelve out of 14 patients with MCTD, 17 out of 21 patients with systemic sclerosis, were abnormal in esophageal manometry. Nine out of 16 SLE had Raynaud s phenomenon. Among 9 SLE with Raynaud s phenomenon, 5 patients(55.5%) were abnormal in esophageal manometry, and among 7 SLE without Raynaud's phenomenon, 2 patients (28. 6%) were abnormal in esophageal manometry. Among 5 patients with Raynaud's phenomenon, 3 patients were abnormal in esophageal manometry. Abnormal esophageal manometry finding is more common in the connective tissue disease patients with Raynaud's phenomenon compared with the patients without Raynaud's phenomenon (P=O. 0219). CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal esophageal manometry finding is more common in the connective tissue disease patients with Raynauds phenomenon compared with the patients without Raynaud s phenomenon.
Capillaries ; Compliance ; Connective Tissue ; Connective Tissue Diseases ; Humans ; Korea ; Manometry ; Mixed Connective Tissue Disease ; Scleroderma, Systemic

Catamenial hemoptysis is syndrome characterized by bleeding from the bronchial trees and lungs that occurs synchronously with the female menstrual cycle. Etiologic mechanism of pulmonary endometriosis is still controversial, and the diagnosis is usually made on the basis of the clinical history and exclusion of other causes of recurrent hemoptysis. Serial computed tomograms of the chest during and in the interval between menstruations have been proved to be a useful confirmatory test. We experienced a 33-year-old female patient who had been previously diagnosed as pelvic endometriosis pathologically, experienced cyclic hemoptysis during menstruations. The diagnosis of pulmonary endometriosis was made based on her history and changes in the character of the lesions as documented on radiologic studies of the chest. She was treated successfully with GnRH analogue and there is no evidence of recurrence.
Female ; Humans

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Survivors of pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are at risk for developing hypertension. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of early onset hypertension during the engraftment period after HSCT. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 157 consecutive patients (mean age at HSCT: 9.1+/-5.1 years) who underwent HSCT for acute myeloid leukemia (n=47), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n=43), severe aplastic anemia (n=41), and other reasons (n=26). Blood pressure data were collected at five time points: 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after HSCT. Hypertension was defined as having systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure > or =95th percentile according to age, gender, and height. To analyze the risk factors related to hypertension, data, including patients' demographic and transplant characteristics, were reviewed. RESULTS: Hypertension developed in 59 patients (38%), among whom 12 (7.6%) required long term therapy. Thirty-two (54%) patients had systolic and diastolic, 8 (14%) had only systolic, and 19 (32%) had only diastolic hypertension. Younger age, acute graft-versus-host disease, sinusoidal obstruction syndrome, treatment with antifungal agent, and greater increase in serum creatinine (Cr) levels were associated with hypertension. Multivariate analysis showed that younger age at HSCT and greater increase in serum Cr level were independent risk factors for hypertension. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of hypertension during immediate post-HSCT period is high, especially in younger children. A greater increase in Cr after HSCT was significantly associated with hypertension. Further study is needed to elucidate long-term cardiovascular complications in pediatric HSCT survivors.
Anemia, Aplastic ; Blood Pressure ; Child ; Creatinine ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells* ; Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Incidence* ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Multivariate Analysis ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Survivors

Bezoars are persistent concretions of indigestible material, usually seen in the stomach. Esophageal bezoars are very rare and generally occur in elderly patients with anatomic defects such as diverticulum or stricture, or with esophageal motility disorders. However, it is quite unusual that a gastric bezoar would be regurgitated into a normal esophagus during forceful vomiting. Endoscopic removal of a bezoar is safe and successful in most cases. A case of a gastric bezoar regurgitated into the esophagus was recently experienced and removed by an endoscopic polypectomy snare and bezoar (lithotripsy) basket.
Aged ; Bezoars* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diverticulum ; Esophageal Motility Disorders ; Esophagus* ; Humans ; SNARE Proteins ; Stomach* ; Vomiting

Acute sensory neuropathy (ASN) is rare and is characterized by acute onset of sensory ataxia, loss of deep tendon reflexes and impaired vibratory and joint position sensations. Similar to Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) with prominent sensory ataxia, a few cases of ASN associated with antiganglioside antibodies have been reported. This suggests that a common autoimmue mechanism operates in some cases of ASN and of GBS with sensory ataxia. We report a patient with ASN associated with anti-GD1b IgG antibody.
Antibodies ; Ataxia ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Joints ; Reflex, Stretch ; Sensation

PURPOSE: Continuous cardiac monitoring in a stroke unit (SU) may improve detection of atrial fibrillation (AF), and SU care may improve the rate of anticoagulation by better adherence to a standardized treatment protocol in patients with AF. We investigated the effects of the SU on the detection of AF and the rate of warfarin therapy in patients with AF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Acute stroke patients who had been admitted before or after the opening of the SU were included in our study. SU patients were monitored continuously with electrocardiography. Rates of AF and warfarin therapy were compared between patients admitted to the SU (SU group) and those admitted to the general ward (GW) prior to the opening of the SU (GW group). RESULTS: Total 951 patients had been admitted to the GW prior to the opening of the SU (from January 2000 to November 2002), and 2349 patients to the SU (from January 2003 to December 2008). AF was found in 149 patients (15.7%) in the GW group and in 487 (20.7%) in the SU group. Most of AF detected during admission was paroxysmal AF (84.8%). The frequency of newly detected AF was higher in the SU group than the GW group (2.5% vs. 0.7%, p=0.001). The rate of anticoagulation consideration was also higher in the SU group. CONCLUSION: SU care improved the detection of AF and the rate of anticoagulation consideration in acute stroke patients. Our findings support the benefits of continuous cardiac monitoring in the SU for stroke patients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anticoagulants/therapeutic use ; Atrial Fibrillation/*diagnosis ; Child ; Electrocardiography/*methods ; Female ; *Hospital Departments ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; *Neurology ; Recurrence ; Stroke/*diagnosis ; Treatment Outcome ; Warfarin/therapeutic use

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of combination chemotherapy with low-dose paclitaxel and cisplatin in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chemotherapy-naive patients with unresectable, pathologically proven non-small cell lung cancer were eligible for inclusion in the study. Patients received paclitaxel (145 mg/m2 iv 3 hour D1) and cisplatin (60 mg/m2 iv D1) every 3 weeks. RESULTS: Forty-two patients were enrolled between February 2000 and February 2001. The median age was 53.5 years. Patients with adenocarcinoma numbered 29, squamous cell carcinoma 7, large cell carcinoma 3, and undifferentiated carcinoma 3. Seventeen patients had stage IIIB, 19 had stage IV disease and the remaining 6 displayed recurred disease after previous surgical resection. Four patients terminated treatment early because of hypersensitivity (1) and severe emesis (3). Of the 38 evaluable patients, 14 had PR and the response rate was 36.8%. Among partial responders, 6 patients received additional chest radiation. The median duration of response was 47.9 weeks and the median overall survival was 54.0 weeks. Of the total 176 courses, 14 were delayed, 22 required dose reduction, and grade 3~4 neutropenia occurred in 5.6% of courses. Only one episode of neutropenic fever developed and there were no treatment- related mortalities. Other toxicities were generally mild. CONCLUSION: The combination chemotherapy with low-dose paclitaxel and cisplatin was effective and tolerable in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Large Cell ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cisplatin* ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Fever ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Mortality ; Neutropenia ; Paclitaxel* ; Thorax ; Vomiting

No abstract available.
Aneurysm, False ; Brachial Plexus Neuropathies ; Vertebral Artery ; Vertebral Artery Dissection

BACKGROUND: To investigate the clinical significance of flow diversion (FD) of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) or posterior cerebral artery (PCA), a transcranial doppler (TCD) was used in patients with middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusive disorders. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 51 patients from 1999 to 2001. FD was determined using TCD. Leptomeningeal collateral channels (LMCs) were identified by conventional angiography. The author analyzed the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictability of FD of ACA or PCA to predict the LMCs, and also evaluated the relationship between FD and leptomeningeal collateral circulation. RESULTS: LMC was noted in 41% of patients with M1 (MCA) occlusive disorders. It showed a tendency of increasing prevalence with an increasing degree of M1 MCA stenosis (rho=0.605, p<0.001). FD was noted in 47% of patients with MCA occlusive diseases. It also had a tendency of high prevalence with an increasing degree of M1 MCA stenosis (rho=0.382, p=0.006). To predict the presence of LMCs, FD of ACA or PCA had a sensitivity of 81%, specificity of 76%, positive predictive value of 71% and negative predictive value of 85%. FD of ACA or PCA had a good correlation with LMCs in patients with MCA occlusive disorders (rho=0.568, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that FD had good sensitivity and specificity to predict the LMCs, and demonstrated that FD was a reliable source of evidence of LMCs in patients with M1 MCA occlusive disorders. Patients with M1 MCA stenosis had heterogeneous hemodynamics in the development of collateral circulation.
Angiography ; Anterior Cerebral Artery ; Collateral Circulation* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Posterior Cerebral Artery ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Increasing evidence suggests that manganese deposition in globus pallidus is responsible for MRI signal hyperintensity and for extrapyramidal symptoms in cirrhotics. However, the relationships between blood manganese, the severity of liver dysfunction, the pallidal signal intensity, and neurological signs have not been well established. METHODS: Blood manganese concentrations were measured together with brain MRI and neurological evaluation in six controls, six patients with Parkinson's disease with normal liver function, and fourteen cirrhotic patients with hepatic encephalopathy including six cirrhotics with extrapyramidal symptoms. The neurological state was evaluated using the Columbia scale and the pallidal index (PI). The ratio of globus pallidus to frontal subcortical white-matter signal intensity was measured-multiplied by 100. RESULTS: Pallidal signal hyperintensity was observed in 85.7% of cirrhotics, and the PI was higher in cirrhotics with extrapyramidal signs or high grade varices than those without them, but there was no increase in the Parkinson's disease patients. No correlations were demonstrated between the blood manganese level and PI as well as the Child-Pugh score. The blood manganese level was not significantly different between cirrhotics and other groups. However, there was an overt increase only in two cirrhotic patients with extrapyramidal signs. The Columbia scale did not reveal any correlations with the blood manganese level and the Child-Pugh score. CONCLUSIONS: Cirrhotics with extrapyramidal signs showed a significant increase in PI, but there was no increase in the patients with Parkinson's disease. The PI was not significantly correlated with the blood manganese level. These findings suggest that extrapyramidal signs in cirrhotics might be caused by a different mechanism than those in Parkinson's disease, which could possibly be related with manganese.
Brain ; Globus Pallidus ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Manganese* ; Parkinson Disease ; Varicose Veins