A fibrovascular polyp is a rare benign disease of the upper digestive tract and is usually located in the esophagus. To our knowledge, this is the first case of gastric fibrovascular polyp presenting with melena reported in the English literature. The polyp was well visualized on endoscopy and removed with laparoscopic wedge resection. Histology confirmed fibrovascular polyp of the stomach.
Endoscopy ; Esophagus ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Melena ; Polyps ; Stomach

Choledochoduodenal fistula (CDF) occurring simultaneously with pancreaticoduodenal fistula is extremely rare. CDF has known to be a chronic sequela of cholelithiasis, but it is unknown whether pancreaticoduodenal fistula results from chronic cholelithiasis as well. We report a case of cholelithiasis accompanied with choledochoduodenal and pancreaticoduodenal fistula opening into small suprapapillary diverticulum in a 80-year-old woman.
Aged, 80 and over ; Biliary Fistula/*complications ; Cholelithiasis/complications ; Common Bile Duct Diseases/*complications ; Diverticulum/*complications ; Duodenal Diseases/*complications ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula/*complications ; Pancreatic Fistula/*complications

Sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma (SEF) is a rare and poorly recognized variant of fibrosarcoma of deep soft tissue. We report the case of a 34-year-old woman who presented with a painful and palpable mass in the left buttock that was diagnosed as SEF.
Adult ; Buttocks ; Female ; Fibrosarcoma ; Humans

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Several studies have validated the clinical efficacy of computerized cognitive training applications. However, few studies have investigated the neural substrates of these training applications using simultaneous multimodal neuroimaging modalities. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of computerized cognitive training and corresponding neural substrates through a multimodal approach. METHODS: Ten patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), six patients with subjective memory impairment (SMI), and 10 normal controls received custom-developed computerized cognitive training in the memory clinic of a university hospital. All of the participants completed 24 sessions of computerized cognitive training, each lasting 40 minutes and performed twice weekly. They were assessed using neuropsychological tests (both computerized and conventional), electroencephalography, fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography (FDG-PET), volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) at pre- and posttraining. RESULTS: The patients with MCI exhibited significant improvements in the trail-making test–black & white-B, and memory domain of the computerized cognitive assessment. Subjects with normal cognition exhibited significant improvements in scores in the language and attention-/psychomotor-speed domains. There were no significant changes in subjects with SMI. In the pre- and posttraining evaluations of the MCI group, FDG-PET showed focal activation in the left anterior insula and anterior cingulate after training. Volumetric MRI showed a focal increase in the cortical thickness in the rostral anterior cingulate. DTI revealed increased fractional anisotropy in several regions, including the anterior cingulate. CONCLUSIONS: The anterior cingulate and anterior insula, which are parts of the salience network, may be substrates for the improvements in cognitive function induced by computerized cognitive training.
Anisotropy ; Cognition ; Electroencephalography ; Gyrus Cinguli ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Memory ; Mild Cognitive Impairment ; Neuroimaging ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Treatment Outcome

Emphysematous prostatitis is a rare condition that is characterized by gas and abscess accumulation in the prostate. This uncommon but serious disease requires special attention because of its nonspecific presentation such as dysuria, frequency, urgency, fever, acute urinary retension and/or perineal pain. We report here on a case of emphysematous prostatitis that was combined with a liver abscess caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae. A 55-year-old man was admitted due to a 3-day history of urinary retention with a febrile sensation. He had histories of liver cirrhosis and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. After blood and urine cultures, levofloxacin 500 mg was started intravenously. On the third hospital day, he displayed septic shock. The kidneys-ureters bladder (KUB) X-ray showed pockets of air-accumulation in the lower pelvic cavity, and abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) with contrast enhancement taken on the third day showed a 5-cm liver abscess with an emphysematous prostate. Intravenous antibiotics was changed to metronidazole 500 mg q.i.d. and cefotaxime 2 g t.i.d. On the sixth day, transurethral resection and drainage were performed under spinal anesthesia. However, the postoperative bleeding continued and hypovolemic shock persisted, which then provoked multiorgan failure. The patient died on the 11th hospital day. K. pneumoniae was cultured from the liver abscess aspirate, blood and prostatic tissue, and the bacteria were sensitive to both levofloxacin and cefotaxime. Emphysematous prostatitis is a difficult to diagnose because of its rarity and nonspecific symptoms. A delayed diagnosis can cause high mortality and morbidity, so making a prompt clinical diagnosis of this condition is essential. Appropriate antibiotics with early adequate incision and drainage are also needed.
Abscess ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Cefotaxime ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Drainage ; Dysuria ; Fever ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Klebsiella ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Liver ; Liver Abscess ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Metronidazole ; Middle Aged ; Ofloxacin ; Pneumonia ; Prostate ; Prostatitis ; Sensation ; Shock ; Shock, Septic ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Retention

BACKGROUND: Demineralized bone matrix (DBM) is used for bone healing due to its osteoinductivity, but it requires a carrier for clinical application. Here, we report the effects on the osteoinductivity of DBM by use of a poloxamer 407-based hydrogel as the carrier, compared to sterile water. METHODS: DBM-W and DBM-H represent 27 wt% of DBM with sterile water and DBM with a poloxamer 407-based hydrogel, respectively. Both of the compositions were applied to human mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) cultures, and monitored for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and ALP activity. Six 10-week-old athymic nude rats were used for abdominal muscle grafting with either DBM-W or DBM-H, and were tested by plane radiography, microfocus X-ray computed tomography (CT), and decalcified histology to evaluate ectopic bone formation. RESULTS: The DBM-W group showed stronger ALP staining at 7, 14, and 21 days of treatment, and significantly higher ALP activity at 7 and 14 days of treatment, compared to the DBM-H group. Plane radiography could not confirm the radio-opaque lesions in the rat ectopic bone formulation model. However, ectopic bone formation was observed in both groups by micro-CT. Compared to the DBM-H group, the DBM-W group showed higher bone volume, percent bone volume and trabecular number, and the difference in percent bone volume was statistically significant. Decalcified histology found bony tissue with lamellation in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that poloxamer 407-based hydrogel has efficacy as a DBM carrier since it shows ectopic bone formation, but its effects on the quality and quantity of osteoblastic differentiation in rat abdominal ectopic bone and MSC are considered negative.
Animals ; Bone Matrix/*physiology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Decalcification Technique ; Excipients/*pharmacology ; Hydrogels/pharmacology ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/*drug effects ; Osteogenesis/*drug effects ; Poloxamer/*pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Nude

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a negative impact on growth and development in children and is a risk factor for neurocognitive impairment; however, there is limited research on the cognitive function of children and adolescents with CKD. This study therefore aimed to investigate the mean intelligence and risk factors for low intelligence in children and adolescents with CKD. Methods: Eighty-one patients with CKD under 18 years old were included in the KoreaN cohort study for Outcomes in patients With Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-Ped CKD). Participants completed either the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (6–16 years), or Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (> 16 years). Results: The mean full-scale intelligence quotient (IQ) was 91 ± 19; 24.7% of participants scored a full-scale IQ below 80. Participants with a short stature (height Z scores < −1.88), failure to thrive (weight Z scores < −1.65), more severe CKD stage (≥ IIIb), longer duration of CKD (≥ 5 years), and those who were Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries, had significantly lower mean full-scale IQs. Conclusion On linear regression analysis, the association between the full-scale IQ, and longer duration of CKD and growth failure, remained significant after controlling for demographic and clinical variables. It is therefore necessary to investigate cognitive impairment in pediatric patients with CKD who exhibit growth failure or for a longer postmorbid period. It is believed that early interventions, such as kidney transplantation, will have a positive effect on IQ in children with CKD, as the disease negatively affects IQ due to poor glomerular filtration rate over time.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a negative impact on growth and development in children and is a risk factor for neurocognitive impairment; however, there is limited research on the cognitive function of children and adolescents with CKD. This study therefore aimed to investigate the mean intelligence and risk factors for low intelligence in children and adolescents with CKD. Methods: Eighty-one patients with CKD under 18 years old were included in the KoreaN cohort study for Outcomes in patients With Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-Ped CKD). Participants completed either the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (6–16 years), or Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (> 16 years). Results: The mean full-scale intelligence quotient (IQ) was 91 ± 19; 24.7% of participants scored a full-scale IQ below 80. Participants with a short stature (height Z scores < −1.88), failure to thrive (weight Z scores < −1.65), more severe CKD stage (≥ IIIb), longer duration of CKD (≥ 5 years), and those who were Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries, had significantly lower mean full-scale IQs. Conclusion On linear regression analysis, the association between the full-scale IQ, and longer duration of CKD and growth failure, remained significant after controlling for demographic and clinical variables. It is therefore necessary to investigate cognitive impairment in pediatric patients with CKD who exhibit growth failure or for a longer postmorbid period. It is believed that early interventions, such as kidney transplantation, will have a positive effect on IQ in children with CKD, as the disease negatively affects IQ due to poor glomerular filtration rate over time.