In Korean, there has been an increasing concern on rickettsiosis as a possile common cause of unknown febrile illness since Tsutsugamushi fever among koreans was reported first in 1986. We experienced 10 cases of Tsutsugamushi fever ocurring in the Mokpo area during the period of 3 months (Oct, to Dcc.) in 1990, which were diagnosed clinically and serologically by indirect immunofluorescent antibody test. The following results were obtained. The most frequent symptoms were fever (100%), headache (90%), chill (60%), conjunctival injection, and lymphadenopathy. Common laboratory findings were leukopenia (WBC<5000/mm3 30%), elevated ESR (>20mm/hr, 30%), positive CRP (60%), and elevated Alt/AST. Antibody titers against R. tsutsugamushi ranged from 1:80 to 1:1,280, but they showed no antibody reaction to Hantaan virus and leptospira. All patients showed good response to antibiotic therapy with chloramphenicol.
Chloramphenicol ; Fever ; Hantaan virus ; Headache ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Leptospira ; Leukopenia ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Scrub Typhus*

PURPOSE: The expression of c-Fos protein has been shown to be a useful marker for elevated levels of neuronal activity generated in the brain following different stimuli, including seizures. This study was conducted to investigate distribution and numbers of neurons where dentate and cingulate gyrus become activated following pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures by means of expression patterns of c-Fos protein. METHODS: Rats were sacrificed at increasing times(1 hour, 2 hours, 8 hours, 1 day, 4 days and 7 days) after pentylenetetrazol-induced seizure. Rat brains were removed and sliced in rat brain matrix. Brain slices were coronal sectioned at interaural 5.70-6.70mm. Serial sections were immunohistochemically reacted with polyclonal c-Fos antibody. The distribution and numbers of c-Fos protein immunoreactive neurons in dentate gyrus and cingulate gyrus were examined and analyzed statistically with Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: The numbers of c-Fos protein immunoreactive neurons in dentate gyrus peaked at 1 hours and reached almost normal conditions at 7 days after seizure. Also, same patterns were occurred in cingulate gyrus. Concentration value that pentylenetetrazol can induce was different from each animals and c-Fos immunoreactive cells were various kinds of neurons. CONCLUSION: Higher numbers of c-Fos protein immunoreactive neurons were found in dentate and cingulate gyrus at the same times after seizure. These findings suggest that neurons of dentate and cingulate gyrus play a crucial role in seizure onset following pentylenetetrazol-induced seizure.
Animals ; Brain* ; Dentate Gyrus ; Gyrus Cinguli ; Neurons ; Pentylenetetrazole ; Rats* ; Seizures*

Takayasu's arteritis is generally recognized as a chronic, idiopathic, inflammatory disease, which affects the aorta and the proximal portions of its major branches. We experienced a patient with Takayasu's arteritis who was presented with main pulmonary artery stenosis and right coronary ostial occlusion without involvement of aorta nor its major branches. She was managed with pulmonary arterioplasty and coronary artery bypass graft. This case emphasize that the disease cannot affect the aorta.
Aorta ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Takayasu Arteritis* ; Transplants

Fifteen cases of the primary duodenal malignancies were radically resected from July 1989 to September 1996. These cases were analysed retrospectively with the literature review. The male to female ratio was 8:7. The mean age was 49 years. Histopatholgically, adenocarcinomas were 10 cases, sarcomas were 4 cases and malignant lymphoma was 1 case. The symptoms and signs were abdominal pain and discomfort, weight loss, nausea and vomiting, jaundice, melena and diarrhea in the order of the frequency. We performed Whipple's operations in 11 cases, regional pancretectomy in 1 case, Whipple's operation with Right hemicolectomy in 2 cases and local resection in 3 cases. There was no operative mortality. The perioperative morbidity was 33%. The post operative complications were abscess in abdomen in 3 cases and wound infections in 2 cases. 1 year and 2 years survival rate were 93.3% and 33.3%. Aggressive and radical treatment with curative intention even in the presence of locally advanced disease, could be performed with acceptable mortality and morbidity and expect a better outcome.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Pain ; Abscess ; Adenocarcinoma ; Diarrhea ; Female ; Humans ; Intention ; Jaundice ; Lymphoma ; Male ; Melena ; Mortality ; Nausea ; Retrospective Studies ; Sarcoma ; Survival Rate ; Vomiting ; Weight Loss ; Wound Infection

Purpose: Despite decreased prevalence of tuberculosis, the incidence of the diseases associated with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) has been increasing in South Korea and around the world. The present retrospective study was conducted to determine longitudinal changes in the epidemiology and distribution of NTM over 13 years at a tertiary care hospital in Korea. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data on Mycobacterium species over 13 years (January 2007 to December 2019) by utilizing the laboratory information system. Mycobacterium species were identified using biochemical tests and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and Mycobacteria GenoBlot assays. Results: After excluding duplicates from the initial pool of 17996 mycobacterial isolates, 7674 strains were analyzed and 2984 (38.9%) NTM were isolated. The proportion of NTM continuously increased over the 13-year period, from 17.0% in 2007 to 57.5% in 2019. Among the NTM isolates, the most common species were Mycobacterium intracellulare (50.6%), M. avium (18.3%), M. fortuitum complex (4.9%), M. abscessus (4.5%), M. gordonae (3.3%), M. kansasii (1.1%), M. chelonae (1.0%), and M. massiliense (0.9%).In patients over the age of 70 years, the proportion of NTM among the isolates increased from 26.6% in 2007 to 62.0% in 2019, and that of M. intracellulare isolates among the NTM increased from 13.9% (11/79) in 2007 to 37.4% (175/468) in 2019. Conclusion The number of NTM isolates continuously increased over the study period, and the increase in the proportion of M. intracellulare in patients aged over 70 years was notable.

Purpose: Despite decreased prevalence of tuberculosis, the incidence of the diseases associated with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) has been increasing in South Korea and around the world. The present retrospective study was conducted to determine longitudinal changes in the epidemiology and distribution of NTM over 13 years at a tertiary care hospital in Korea. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data on Mycobacterium species over 13 years (January 2007 to December 2019) by utilizing the laboratory information system. Mycobacterium species were identified using biochemical tests and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and Mycobacteria GenoBlot assays. Results: After excluding duplicates from the initial pool of 17996 mycobacterial isolates, 7674 strains were analyzed and 2984 (38.9%) NTM were isolated. The proportion of NTM continuously increased over the 13-year period, from 17.0% in 2007 to 57.5% in 2019. Among the NTM isolates, the most common species were Mycobacterium intracellulare (50.6%), M. avium (18.3%), M. fortuitum complex (4.9%), M. abscessus (4.5%), M. gordonae (3.3%), M. kansasii (1.1%), M. chelonae (1.0%), and M. massiliense (0.9%).In patients over the age of 70 years, the proportion of NTM among the isolates increased from 26.6% in 2007 to 62.0% in 2019, and that of M. intracellulare isolates among the NTM increased from 13.9% (11/79) in 2007 to 37.4% (175/468) in 2019. Conclusion The number of NTM isolates continuously increased over the study period, and the increase in the proportion of M. intracellulare in patients aged over 70 years was notable.

Biliary-enteric fistula is in 0.5% to 5% of patients undergoing biliary tract surgery. The most common cause of biliary-enteric fistula is gallstones and their complications, Much less common causes are complieation of peptic ulcer, malignancy, trauma, and rarely, Crohns, disease. The most common type of biliary-enteric fistula is cholecysto-duadenal. Cholecysto-colic, cholecysto-gastric, and choledocho-duodenal fistula are reported much less frequently. The combination of cholecysto-duodenal fistula with cholecysto-colic fistula is a very rare. Symptoms are generally nonspecific, so diagnosis has depended on plain film of abdomen and barium studies. Recently, endoscopic examination and cannulation of the fistula for precise radiographic delineation will help to make a diagnosis. A 78-year-old man was admitted our hospital because of epigastric discomfort, indigestion, nausea and vomiting for 10 days. He was confirmed as cholecysto-duodeno-colic fistula by gastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, and endoscopic cholangio-graphic techniques. So, we report a case of cholecysto-duodeno-colic fistula of the patient with a review of relevant literatures.
Abdomen ; Aged ; Barium ; Biliary Tract ; Catheterization ; Colic* ; Colonoscopy ; Diagnosis ; Dyspepsia ; Fistula* ; Gallstones ; Humans ; Nausea ; Peptic Ulcer ; Vomiting

Gastric metaplasia of the duodenum, defined as the presence of groups of gastric mucosal cell within normal duodenal epithelium, is an almost constant feature of duodenal ulcer. The pathogenesis of gastric metaplasia is unclear, but acid and Helicobacter pylori infection are contributory factors to the development of gastric metaplasia. Generally, endoscopic finding of gastric metaplasia in duodenum is typically patchy distribution in duodenal bulb, but polypoid gastric metaplasia in duodenum is very rare. We report that the patient who complaints of abdominal pain has a villous, polypoid gastric metaplasia in duodenal bulb without duodenal ulcer.
Abdominal Pain ; Duodenal Ulcer ; Duodenum ; Epithelium ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Metaplasia*

Fungal prosthetic valve endocarditis is a rare, poo-prognostic disease. The risk factors for fungal valve endocardits are open heart surgery, hyperalimentation, antibiotic therapy, IV drug abuse, concomitant bacterial endocarditis and immunosuppression. We report a case of aspergillus endocarditis in the aortic valve, which extended to ascending aorta after Redo-aortic valve replacement surgery. A 22-year-old male patient underwent Redo-aortic valve replacement surgery with 23mm-sized Sorin valve(bi-leaflet tilting disc valve) due to prosthetic valve failure. He was readmitted because of development of cough, anorexia, fatigue and fever after operation. The results of repeated blood culture were negative, and the symptoms continued in spite of 2 week treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics. Echocardiography and spiral computed tomographic angiography revealed multiple, huge masses in the aortic valve extending to ascending aorta. Emergent surgery was performed. Infected valve and surrounding areas were widely excised and aortic homograft was inserted. Resected aorta and prosthetic valve showed multiple mass-forming vegetations, measuring up to 4cmx3cmx3cm. Microscopically, they revealed fungal organisms, showing sharp-angle branching and septate hyphae. Aspergillus flavus was isolated in culture of resected tissue. The patient suddenly died of ventricular fibrillation 3 weeks after surgery in spite of treatement with intravenous amphotericin B.
Allografts ; Amphotericin B ; Angiography ; Anorexia ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Aorta ; Aortic Valve ; Aspergillus ; Aspergillus flavus ; Cough ; Echocardiography ; Endocarditis* ; Endocarditis, Bacterial ; Fatigue ; Fever ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Immunosuppression ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Substance-Related Disorders ; Thoracic Surgery ; Ventricular Fibrillation ; Young Adult

Granular cell tumors (GCT), previously termed granular cell myoblastorna, was first described as a myoblastic myoma of the tongue in 1926 by Abrikossoff and has been reported in many different locations throughout the body. In 1931, Abrikossaff described the first granular cell tumor of the esophagus. The gastrointestinal tract is one of the more uncommon locations for granular cell tumors. Until recently, granular cell tumors had been considered rare but, the incidence of granular cell tumors has been slowly raising since endoscopy has been used more commonly as a diagnostic tool. In this study, we report three cases of esophageal granular cell tumors which were successfully diaganosed by an esophagoscopy and an endoscopic ultrasonography and confirmed using an endoscopic esophageal mucosal resection (EEMR).
Endoscopy ; Endosonography ; Esophagoscopy ; Esophagus ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Granular Cell Tumor* ; Incidence ; Myoblasts ; Myoma ; Tongue