Variceal bleeding and hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) are serious and life-threatening complications of advanced liver disease. Terlipressin is widely used to manage both acute variceal bleeding and HRS due to its potency and long duration of action. The most severe (though rare) adverse event is ischemia. The present report describes the case of a patient with gangrene and osteomyelitis secondary to terlipressin therapy. A 71-year-old male with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh B) and chronic hepatitis C was admitted due to a drowsy mental status. The patient had several experiences of orthopedic surgery. His creatinine level had gradually elevated to 4.02 mg/dL, and his urine output decreased to 500 mL/24 hr. The patient was diagnosed as having grade III hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and type II HRS. Terlipressin and albumin were administered intravenously to treat the HRS over 11 days. Although he recovered from the HE and HRS, the patient developed peripheral gangrene and osteomyelitis in both feet. His right toes were cured with the aid of rescue therapy, but his left three toes had to be amputated. Peripheral gangrene and osteomyelitis secondary to terlipressin therapy occur only rarely, and there is no specific rescue therapy for these conditions. Thus, attention should be paid to the possibility of ischemia of the skin and bone during or after terlipressin therapy.
Aged ; Creatinine/blood ; Foot/pathology ; Gangrene/*etiology ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/complications ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/complications/diagnosis ; Liver Diseases/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Lypressin/adverse effects/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Male ; Osteomyelitis/*etiology ; Severity of Illness Index ; Toe Phalanges/radiography ; Vasoconstrictor Agents/*adverse effects/therapeutic use

The occurrence of Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori) and its relationship with gastric mucosa were studied by light and electron microscopy and culture of biopsy specimens from gastric mucosa of 160 patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. H. pylori were present in 96.6% of patients with active chronic gastritis, 100% of patients with duodenal ulcer and 76.9% of patients with gastric ulcer, while present in only 6.3% of individuals with histologically normal gastric mucosa. The bacteria colonized the antral mucosa more frequently than the body or than the duodenal cap mucosa. The bacteria were rarely seen in the intestinalized epithelium per se, but there was no significant difference in prevalence of H. pylori between gastritis with intestinal metaplasia and gastritis without intestinal metaplasia. H. pylori could be seen in close association with the surface of gastric epithelial cells below the mucus layer without evidence of intracellular parasitism, All of the strains tested were susceptible to penicillin, erythromycin, and most of them susceptible to tinidazole and bismuth salts. It is concluded that H. pylori are highly associated with gastritis and peptic ulcer diseases and its prevalence rates in patients with those diseases is higher than in developed countries. This strong association of H. pylori infection with gastritis and peptic ulcer diseases suggest a possible etiologic role for the bacterium in those diseases.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Duodenal Ulcer/*microbiology/pathology ; Female ; Gastric Mucosa/microbiology/pathology/ultrastructure ; Gastritis/*microbiology/pathology ; *Helicobacter Infections ; Helicobacter pylori/*isolation & purification ; Human ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Stomach Ulcer/*microbiology/pathology ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) with 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin for intractable advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may have survival benefits. We aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of HAIC for advanced HCC as first-line therapy. METHODS: A total of 54 patients who received only HAIC with 5-fluorouracil (750 mg/m2 on days 1-4) and cisplatin (25 mg/m2 on days 1-4) for advanced HCC from Jan. 2009 to Dec. 2011 were selected. According to Child-Pugh class, the overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and adverse events after HAIC were investigated retrospectively. RESULTS: Median OS and PFS between the Child-Pugh A group (n=24) and the Child-Pugh B/C group (n=30) were 8.7 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.7-12.7) vs. 3.7 months (95% CI: 2.0-5.3), and 7.1 (95% CI: 3.8-10.4) vs. 3.6 months (95% CI: 2.0-5.2), respectively. Although median OS and PFS were not statistically significant between the two groups (P=0.079, P=0.196), the Child-Pugh class B/C tended to influence poor OS. Serious adverse events > or = grade 3 occurred frequently in both groups (83.3 vs. 96.7%, P=0.159). Responders (22.2%, complete or partial response) significantly differed in median OS, compared to non-responders (13.1 vs. 4.4 months, P=0.019). Achievement of complete or partial response was an independent prognostic factor of OS (hazard ratio: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2-0.8, P=0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Achievement of response after HAIC provide a survival benefit in patients with advanced HCC, but HAIC should be administered cautiously in patients with Child-Pugh class B/C, because of a relatively low survival and high incidence of serious adverse events.
Adult ; Aged ; Anemia/etiology ; Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*drug therapy ; Cisplatin/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Diarrhea/etiology ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Fluorouracil/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infusions, Intra-Arterial ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Liver Neoplasms/*drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neutropenia/etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Thrombocytopenia/etiology ; Treatment Outcome

Tuberculous bronchoesophageal fistula is a rare disease. We experienced a case of the tuberculous bronchoesophageal fistula, which was found by endoscopy and surgically confirmed. A sixty seven years old female patient complained of foreign body sensation in the throat and frequent aspiration, especially after liquid meal. Esophagoscopic ex- aminatian showed the orifice of the fistula in the midesophagus at the level of 28 cm from the incisors. Esophagogram showed bronchoesophageal fistula between midesophagus and the right intermediate bronchus. A bronchoscopy visualized fistulous tract with granulation in the right intermediate bronchus. Biopsy specimens obtained from the bronchus revealed the esophageal tissue with granulation and multinucleated giant cells. Fistulectomy with wrapping procedure was performed successfully. Surgical pathologic findings confirmed a small focal granuloma and chronic inflammations, compatible with tuberculosis. There was no evidence of malignancy at the specimens. She was treated with anti-tuberculous agents and became well.
Biopsy ; Bronchi ; Bronchoscopy ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Fistula* ; Foreign Bodies ; Giant Cells ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Incisor ; Inflammation ; Meals ; Pharynx ; Rare Diseases ; Sensation ; Tuberculosis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine the educational suitability of the video-laryngoscope in teaching endotracheal intubation to students. METHODS: Medical students participated in a course on the use of a Macintosh direct laryngoscope and McGrath MAC videolaryngoscope for intubation. The course comprised a 1-hour lecture and 30 minutes of practice on a manikin. After the course, in each of the three simulated patient scenarios-normal airway, cervical spine fixation, and tongue edema-time to intubate, success rate, and chance of complications were measured. A questionnaire was administered before and after the course to determine the suitability of intubation by video-laryngoscope for a medical education course. Also, changes in the perception and stance on the video-laryngoscope were evaluated. RESULTS: Time to intubate decreased as attempts were repeated. The first-attempt success rate in the cervical spine fixation scenario was higher using the video-laryngoscope (p=0.028). Rates if tooth injury were lower in the cervical spine fixation (p=0.005) and tongue edema scenarios (p=0.021) using the video-laryngoscope. Based on the questionnaires, students responded positively with regard to their knowledge of the video-laryngoscope, its practical value, and its suitability for medical education (p<0.001). Also, the preference for the video-laryngoscope was greater (p=0.044). Students felt that repeated attempts and feedback on intubation were helpful. CONCLUSION: The students' evaluations and surveys showed positive results to intubation by video-laryngoscope. Thus, based on its suitability for medical education it is reasonable to consider learning intubation using the video-laryngoscope.
Clinical Competence ; Education, Medical, Undergraduate/*methods ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal/*methods ; Laryngoscopes ; Laryngoscopy/*education/methods ; Manikins ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Video Recording ; Video-Assisted Surgery/*education/methods

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The widespread use of cytotoxic chemotherapy and immunosuppressants has resulted in reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) recently becoming an issue. Although rituximab (an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) has revolutionized the treatment of lymphoma, recent reports have suggested that rituximab therapy increases the risk of viral-mediated complications, and particularly HBV reactivation. This study analyzed real clinical practice data for rituximab-related HBV reactivation. METHODS: Between January 2005 and December 2011, 169 patients received treatment with rituximab. Screening status of the HBV infection and frequency of preemptive therapy were determined in these patients, and the clinical features of HBV reactivation were analyzed. RESULTS: Seventy-nine of the 169 patients with chronic or past HBV infection were selected for evaluation of HBV reactivation. Of the 90 patients who were excluded, 22 (13.0%) were not assessed for HBsAg and anti-HBc, and 14 (8.3%) were not assessed for anti-HBc due to seronegativity for HBsAg. The selected patients were divided into those with chronic HBV infection (n=12) and those with past HBV infection (n=67); six patients (7.6%) experienced HBV reactivation. Eight patients received preemptive therapy, but three patients (37.5%) underwent HBV reactivation. Although HBsAg seropositivity was an independent risk factor for HBV reactivation (P=0.038), of the six patients with HBV reactivation, two (33.3%) had past HBV infection and three (50%) died of liver failure. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study demonstrate that adherence to guidelines for screening and preemptive therapy for HBV reactivation was negligent among the included cohort. Attention should be paid to HBV reactivation in patients with past as well as chronic HBV infection during and after rituximab therapy.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antibodies/blood ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived/*adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Hepatitis B/etiology/mortality/virology ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens/immunology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood ; Hepatitis B virus/*physiology ; Humans ; Lymphoma/*drug therapy ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; *Virus Activation ; Young Adult

We evaluated gastric emptying time (GET) by using Tc99m-sulfur colloid gastric emptying scintigraphy in 11 patients with CAPD (6 male, 5 female) and 14 healthy volunteers. We investigated the effect of dialysate dwelling on GET by studying twice, once without dialysate in the abdomen (drained) and once with 2 L of dialysate in the abdomen (full), and the relationship between body surface area (BSA) and delayed gastric emptying. 1) The mean of gastric emptying rate in 120 minute in patients with CAPD when drained (67.8+/-13.4%) was not different from that in healthy volunteers (65.4+/-8.6%) 2) The mean of gastric emptying rate in 120 minute when full (55.6+/-14.6%) was significantly lower than that when drained (67.8+/-13.4%) (P<0.05). In four of the 11 patients (36.4%), gastric emptying was extremely delayed from normal to abnormal range when full. 3) The BSA (1.5+/-0.11m2)of patients who had extremely delayed GET from normal to abnormal range was smaller than that (1.74+/-0.22m2) of patients who had minimal delayed or unchanged GET when full. This study showed the patient with CAPD had normal gastric emptying when drained, and that gastric emptying was delayed by dialysate dwelling, especially in the patients who has less than 1.5m2 of body surface area. Therefore, we suggest that intermittent nocturnal peritoneal dialysis or a small volume of dialysate may be considered for the patient with small body surface area based on the adequacy.
Abdomen ; Body Surface Area ; Colloids ; Gastric Emptying* ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Male ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Radionuclide Imaging

Cockcroft and Gault's formula is frequently used to estimate creatinine (Ccr) in clinical practice. To determine the accuracy of such estimation in Korean patients, we measured simultaneously, serum creatinine and 24-hour urinary creatinine excretion in 696 Korean patients (male:350, female:346). Measured Ccr was significantly different from estimated Ccr in several age groups and the decrease of creatinine excretion with age is less than Cockcroft and Gault's estimation. We assumed that this difference can be due to difference of the body habitus and difference of urinary creatinine excretion per body weight between different races. So we divided the sample population into two groups and derived the new formula in one group with regression analysis between age and 24 hour urinary creatinine excretion per body weight for estimation of Ccr as Cockcroft and Gault derived their formula and applied it to another group to compare the new formula with Cockcroft and Gault's formula in Korean patients. The new formula was Ccr (mL/min)=[ (260-age)x weight (kg)]/[160 x serumCr (mg/dL)] for male and Ccr (mL/min)-[ (236-age) x weight (kg)]/[180 x serum Cr (mg/dL)] for female. Predictive accuracy of the new formula was significantly better than the Cockcroft and Gault's formula in the other sample population and also in subgroup of the patients with azotemia.
Azotemia ; Body Weight ; Continental Population Groups ; Creatinine* ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Male

Insulinoma is a functional endocrine tumor arising from the beta cells of islets of Langerhans of pancreas. The only effective treatment of insulinoma was surgical removal of the tumor. Recently, laparoscopic surgery for islet cell tumors of the pancreas is introduced. Laparoscopic enucleation or resection of benign islet tumors results in a shorter hospital recovery and is a good alternative to open surgery We report a case of insulinoma that was treated sucessfully by laparoscopic enucleation.
Adenoma, Islet Cell ; Insulinoma* ; Islets of Langerhans ; Laparoscopy ; Pancreas

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis, one of the most common metabolic bone disease, might be influenced by the severity of Parkinson's disease (PD). Objectives : We investigated the relationship between the Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and the severity of PD in postmenopausal and senile women. METHODS: We measured BMD of lumbar spine (L1-L4) by Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA; Hologic QDR-4500A). We compared BMD between patient group (30 patients with PD) and control (183 postmenopausal and senile health women). The patients were divided into two groups according to osteoporosis and analyzed the following potential factors influencing BMD in PD; age, duration of symptom, age of onset, Hoehn and Yahr stage (H-Y stage), UPDRS motor score, duration of treatment, body mass index (BMI), dominant symptom such as tremor or rigidity. RESULTS: 1. BMD was significantly decreased with aging (p <0.01) in control group, but BMD tend to decreased with aging in PD (p=0.08). 2. BMD of patient group was significantly lower than that of control group (p<0.001). 3. BMD of osteoporosis group was significantly related to BMI (p<0.05) and conversely related to H-Y staging(p <0.05), UPDRS motor score (p <0.01). 4. However, BMD of osteoporosis group were not related to age, duration of symptom, age of onset, dominant symptom and duration of treatment (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Osteoporosis is related to H-Y stage, UPDRS motor score and BMI as well as aging in PD.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Age of Onset ; Aging ; Body Mass Index ; Bone Density* ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Female ; Humans ; Osteoporosis ; Parkinson Disease* ; Spine ; Tremor