Lovastatin, a competitive inhibitor of the rate limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis was administered to 34 patients with primary hypertlipidemia, 20 mg once daily with the evening meal. Patients experienced mean total and LDL cholesterol reductions of 30.9% and 34.0% respectively. HDL cholesterol level was significantly increased by 15.4% and plasma triglyceride level was decreased by 11.2%. maximal hypocholesterolemic effects were evident at 8 weeks, after which the effects were stable. Adverse effects were noted in 2 patients who had mild gastrointestinal symptoms, that subsided after discontinuing the drug. We concluded that lovastatin is a well tolerated and effective agent for the treatment of primary hyperlipidemia.
Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias* ; Lovastatin ; Meals ; Plasma* ; Triglycerides

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Despite multiple approaches of treatments for salivary duct carcinoma, there has been a need for more successful treatment methods because of its poor prognosis. Treatment options like immunotherapy using new technologies have been attempted. Based on recent study results indicating that targeting programmed death receptors are effective in treating various cancers, this study aimed to identify the frequency of PD-L1 expression and its impact on survival rate in salivary duct carcinoma.MATERIALS #SPCHAR_X0026; METHODS: We studied 33 patients with salivary gland cancer who were available for histologic specimens. We examined the expression of PD-L1 in the tissues and analyzed the association with the survival rate and the association with various clinical parameters.RESULTS: According to this study and review of similar studies, we discovered that the expression of PD-L1 in salivary duct carcinoma was lower than other types of cancers. The impact of PD-L1 on survival rate also showed inconsistency in salivary duct carcinoma.CONCLUSION: Immunotherapy by PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint blockade in salivary duct carcinoma needs further evaluation for clinical application.
Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Prognosis ; Receptors, Death Domain ; Salivary Ducts ; Salivary Gland Neoplasms ; Survival Rate

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) presenting as subepithelial tumor-like growth is a very rare form of the disease. We report a case of primary ESCC with intramural growth, covered with normal esophageal epithelium. The patient was initially referred due to a subepithelial tumor at the mid-esophagus, butendoscopic ultrasonography revealed a heterogeneously hypoechoic mass, which disrupted the structure of the muscularis propria. An endoscopic submucosal dissection was performed for accurate diagnosis, and the lesion was diagnosed histopathologically as moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Computed tomography revealed an enlarged left upper paratracheal lymph node, which showed increased uptake on positron emission tomography. The patient underwent subtotal esophagectomy with total mediastinal lymphadenectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy. Primary ESCC with intramural growth is extremely rare. For accurate diagnosis, when there is a high index of suspicion, additional investigations such as endoscopic ultrasonography or diagnostic endoscopic submucosal dissection might be needed.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Endosonography ; Epithelial Cells* ; Epithelium ; Esophagectomy ; Esophagus ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma in Situ ; Adenocarcinoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Phenotype

Pheochromocytoma (PCC) is a neuroendocrine tumor that mainly arises from the medulla of the adrenal gland. Some PCCs become malignant and metastasize to other organs. For example, it typically involves skeletal system, liver, lung, and regional lymph nodes. However, only a few cases of PCC with brain metastasis have been reported worldwide. We report a case of metastatic brain tumor from PCC in South Korea in 2016. A 52-year-old man presented with headache, dizziness and motor aphasia. He had a medical history of PCC with multi-organ metastasis, previously underwent several operations, and was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Brain MRIs showed a brain tumor on the left parietal lobe. Postoperative pathology confirmed that the metastatic brain tumor derived from malignant PCC. This is the first report PCC with brain metastasis in South Korea.
Adrenal Glands ; Aphasia, Broca ; Brain Neoplasms ; Brain* ; Dizziness ; Drug Therapy ; Headache ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Parietal Lobe ; Pathology ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Radiotherapy

Malignant gastrointestinal neuroectodermal tumor (GNET) is a very rare disease entity, especially in the esophagus. The diagnosis of GNET is based on histologic, immunohistochemical, and genetic findings. The choice of treatment is complete resection, and further treatment options can be considered. Herein, we describe a case of successful surgical treatment of a 23-year-old man with recurrent malignant esophageal GNET.
Diagnosis ; Esophagus ; Humans ; Neural Plate* ; Neuroectodermal Tumors* ; Rare Diseases ; Young Adult

Myoclonus is one of the rare complications after the neuroaxial blockade. We report a patient who developed propriospinal myoclonus following cervical epidural steroid injection. An outpatient, 73-years-old man, complaining of a tingling sensation from the right shoulder of supraspinatous region to the ipsilateral hand, particularly along the C6 dermatome, visited our pain clinic center. In cervical magnetic resonance imaging scan, the disc between 6th and 7th cervical vertebrae was herniated and pressed the nerves to the right side. We performed cervical epidural steroid injection, using triamcinolone acetonide 40 mg with 0.25% bupivacaine HCL 5 ml. After the first injection, he had no problem, but following the second injection, myoclonic movements were developed and lasted for 6 hours along only the right side of the whole body without other neurologic complications. The myoclonic movement improved by intravenous injection of clonazepam 0.5 mg and the patient completely recovered without any neurologic sequelae on that day.
Bupivacaine ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Clonazepam ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myoclonus ; Outpatients ; Pain Clinics ; Sensation ; Shoulder ; Triamcinolone Acetonide

Myoclonus is one of the rare complications after the neuroaxial blockade. We report a patient who developed propriospinal myoclonus following cervical epidural steroid injection. An outpatient, 73-years-old man, complaining of a tingling sensation from the right shoulder of supraspinatous region to the ipsilateral hand, particularly along the C6 dermatome, visited our pain clinic center. In cervical magnetic resonance imaging scan, the disc between 6th and 7th cervical vertebrae was herniated and pressed the nerves to the right side. We performed cervical epidural steroid injection, using triamcinolone acetonide 40 mg with 0.25% bupivacaine HCL 5 ml. After the first injection, he had no problem, but following the second injection, myoclonic movements were developed and lasted for 6 hours along only the right side of the whole body without other neurologic complications. The myoclonic movement improved by intravenous injection of clonazepam 0.5 mg and the patient completely recovered without any neurologic sequelae on that day.
Bupivacaine ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Clonazepam ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myoclonus ; Outpatients ; Pain Clinics ; Sensation ; Shoulder ; Triamcinolone Acetonide

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pronto Dry test, a new rapid urease test, is consisted of a dry filter paper containing urea and has been reported to have a more rapid reaction time than others. We performed this study to compare the accuracy of Pronto Dry test with the other conventional tests for detection of H. pylori. METHODS: One hundred patients underwent gastroscopy in our hospital for gastrointestinal symptoms. Biopsy specimens were taken for Pronto Dry test, polymerase chain reaction, culture, and histologic examination (Warthin-Starry stain). 13C-urea breath test was also performed. The results of Pronto Dry test were read after 1 hour. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of Pronto Dry test to diagnose H. pylori infection were 90.0%, 100%, 100%, and 90.9%, respectively. The kappa statistic between H. pylori status and Pronto Dry test was 0.90, demonstrating an acceptable level of reliability. CONCLUSIONS: Pronto Dry test has a high sensitivity and specificity, and can be used as a rapid test to diagnose H. pylori infection.
Biopsy ; Breath Tests ; Diagnosis* ; Gastroscopy ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reaction Time ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Urea ; Urease

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pronto Dry test, a new rapid urease test, is consisted of a dry filter paper containing urea and has been reported to have a more rapid reaction time than others. We performed this study to compare the accuracy of Pronto Dry test with the other conventional tests for detection of H. pylori. METHODS: One hundred patients underwent gastroscopy in our hospital for gastrointestinal symptoms. Biopsy specimens were taken for Pronto Dry test, polymerase chain reaction, culture, and histologic examination (Warthin-Starry stain). 13C-urea breath test was also performed. The results of Pronto Dry test were read after 1 hour. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of Pronto Dry test to diagnose H. pylori infection were 90.0%, 100%, 100%, and 90.9%, respectively. The kappa statistic between H. pylori status and Pronto Dry test was 0.90, demonstrating an acceptable level of reliability. CONCLUSIONS: Pronto Dry test has a high sensitivity and specificity, and can be used as a rapid test to diagnose H. pylori infection.
Biopsy ; Breath Tests ; Diagnosis* ; Gastroscopy ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reaction Time ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Urea ; Urease