Tolvaptan reduces height-adjusted total kidney volume (htTKV) and renal function decline in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). This study was aimed at investigating the efficacy and safety of tolvaptan in Korean patients with ADPKD during the titration period. Methods: This study is a multicenter, single-arm, open-label phase 4 study. We enrolled 108 patients with ADPKD (age, 19–50 years) with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of >30 mL/min/1.73 m2 and factors defined as indicative of rapid disease progression. After tolvaptan titration, we evaluated efficacy and side effects and assessed factors associated with the effects. Results: After titration for 4 weeks, eGFR and htTKV decreased by 6.4 ± 7.9 mL/min/1.73 m2 and 16 ± 45 mL/m, respectively. No serious adverse drug reactions were observed during the titration period. The greatest eGFR decline was observed in the first week, with a starting tolvaptan dose of 45 mg. Multivariate linear regression for htTKV decline showed that the greater the change in urine osmolality (Uosm), the greater the decrease in htTKV (β, 0.436; p = 0.009) in the 1D group stratified by the Mayo Clinic image classification. Higher baseline eGFR was related to a higher htTKV reduction rate in the 1E group (β, –0.642; p = 0.009). Conclusion: We observed short-term effects and safety during the tolvaptan titration period. The decline of htTKV can be predicted as a short-term effect of tolvaptan by observing Uosm changes from baseline to end of titration in 1D and baseline eGFR in 1E groups.

In 2010, symptoms of leaf and stem rot were observed on potted plants (Peperomia quadrangularis) in a greenhouse in Yongin, Korea. The causative pathogen was identified as Myrothecium roridum based on morphological data, internal transcribed spacer sequence analysis, and pathogenicity test. To our knowledge, this is the first report of M. roridum causing leaf and stem rot disease on P. quadrangularis in Korea and elsewhere worldwide.
Gyeonggi-do ; Korea ; Peperomia* ; Sequence Analysis ; Virulence

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence and clinical features of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Korea. METHODS: Web-based (www.armd-nova.or.kr) registration was conducted for AMD patients aged 50 or more who were newly diagnosed by retinal specialists in Korea from August 20, 2005 to August 20, 2006. Patient data including ophthalmologic examination, fundus photography, fluorescein angiogram and/or indocyanin green angiogram (ICG), past medical history, behavioral habit, combined systemic diseases were up-loaded. RESULTS: Among finally enrolled 1,141 newly diagnosed AMD patients, 690 patients (60.5%) were male and 451 patients (39.5%) were female. The average age of AMD patients was 69.7+/-8.0. Early AMD was observed in 190 patients and 951 patients had late AMD. Classic choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) was observed in 18.6% of exudative AMD patients and 63.4 % had occult CNVM. Subfoveal CNVM was observed in 80.4% of the patients with CNVM. Among the 580 exudative AMD eyes that performed indocyanin green angiography (ICG), 184 eyes (31.7%) had polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and 36 eyes (6.2%) showed retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP). Age, male gender, smoking, diabetes and hypertension significantly increased the risk of the AMD among Koreans. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the low rate of participation by retinal specialists, definite incidence of AMD was not obtainable. However, the estimated 1-year AMD incidence in the Pusan area of Korea is at least 0.4%. In contrast to Western people, 31.7% of exudative AMD cases were revealed to be PCV and 6.2% were revealed to be RAP. This discrepancy between ethnic groups should be considered in the diagnosis and treatment modality selection of Korean AMD patients.
Aged ; Angiography ; Choroid ; Ethnic Groups ; Eye ; Female ; Fluorescein ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Korea ; Macular Degeneration ; Male ; Membranes ; Photography ; Retinaldehyde ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Specialization

Esophagorespiratory fistulas resulting from Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection are rare. Whereas most esophagorespiratory fistulas are absolute indication for direct surgical closure, this may not be necessary in the case of those of tuberculous origin. If diagnosed early, the infection and the complicating fistula could be treated effectively with anti- tuberculous chemotherapy without the need for surgical intervention. Despite the sugges- tion of a trend away from direct surgical closure in recent years, it seems that anti tuberculous chemotherapy may not result in healing of the fistula in all patients. So we report a case of tuberculous esophagorespiratory fistula that has severe aspiration pneumorua and effectively treated with implantation of silicone-covered self-expandable metal stent and antituberculous chemotherapy.
Drug Therapy ; Fistula* ; Humans ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Silicones* ; Stents* ; Tracheoesophageal Fistula

BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer can induce progressive dysphagia and occasionally develop esophagorespiratory fistulas. Surgically incurable disease is present in over 60% of patients at the time of presentation and in such a means, relief of dysphagia is one of the important treatment modes in the majority of these patients. Implantation of stents is widely used for improvement of dysphagia and sealing of esophagorespiratary fistulas. METHODS: Silicone-covered self-expandable metal stents were used in 19 consecutive patients with malignant esophageal obstruction (n=14) or esophageal obstruction with esophagorespiratory fistulas (n=5). RESULTS: The stents were successfully inserted in all patients. Dysphagia improved in 18 of 19 patients (95%). All fistulas were sealed and symptoms due to bronchial aspiration disappeared. Complications occurred during follow-up including chest pain (11 patients), aspiration pneumonia (4 patients), reflux esophagitis (2 patients), stent migration (2 patients), tumor overgrowth (2 patients) and hemorrhage (1 patient). Three of the 4 patients with aspirtion pneumonias and a patient with hemorrhage suffered from dysfunction of upper esophageal sphincter after implantation of stents in upper esophageal carcinoma. But, Tumor ingrowth and perforation did not occur. Two patients died of massive hemorrhage and respiratory failure caused by aspiration pneumonia. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that implantation of silicone-covered self-expandable metal stents is a rapid and effective procedure for the palliative treatment of malignant esophageal obstruction and esophagorespiratory fistulas.
Chest Pain ; Deglutition Disorders ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Esophageal Sphincter, Upper ; Esophagitis, Peptic ; Fistula* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Palliative Care ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Aspiration ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Silicones* ; Stents*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Mallory-Weiss syndrome refers to a laceration or lacerations in the region of the gastroesophageal junction due to vomiting, retching, or coughing induced by several causes, and preceding hematemesis. In the last several years, endoscopic therapies have dramatically changed the need for emergency surgery in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. There is only little information however, regarding the indication criteria and the efficacy of endoscopic therapies in severe upper gastrointestinal bleeding, due to Mallory-Weiss syndrome. This study was designed to assess the usefulness and the indications of endoscopic O-ring band ligation. METHODS: Thirty patients with Mallory- Weiss syndrome who were experiencing a related hemorrhage were studied. Among these, 5 patients with active bleeding or a visible vessel revealed during an endoscopic examination were treated with O-ring band ligation. Patients with blood clots or linear tears received only conservative treatment.
Cough ; Emergencies ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Hematemesis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lacerations ; Ligation* ; Mallory-Weiss Syndrome ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: Implantation of esophageal stents is nowadays considered as the method of choice for the management of esophagorespiratory fistula. However, implantation of conventional plastic prosthesis is inconvenient for the patient and associated with relativelty high mortality and complications. Silicone coated self expandable metal stents have been developed to overcome these limitations of plastic tubes. And then, the efficacy of silicone-coated self expandable metal stents in esophagorespiratory fistulas was investigated. METHODS: Six patients with esophagorespiratory fistulas were treated with silicone-coated self expandable metal stents(Song's esophageal stents). All six patients were unable to swallow food or water before treatment due to aspiration via esophagorespiratory fistula. The stents were inserted under endoscopic and fluoroscopic guidence. Clinical improvement was determined by grading food intake capacity on five-point scale : none, liquid, soft food, solid food, or all food. RESULTS: The stents were successfully inserted in all patients. All stents spontaneously showed sufficient expansion without further endoscopic control. After procedure, all fistulas were sealed and symptoms due to branchial aspiration were disappeared. Dysphagia improved by at least two grades in 5 of the 6 patients(83.3%). One patient died due to massive hemoptysis 11 days after stent placement, which could be regarded as a complication. Retrosternal and epigastric pain were observed in three patients. In the follow-up, tumor overgrowth at the end of the stent was found in one patient, who was retreated with implantation of another stent. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that implantation of silicone-coated self expandable metal stents is a rapid, and effective procedure for the palliative treatment of malignant esophagorespiratory fistulas and other cause of esophagorespiratory fistula.
Deglutition Disorders ; Eating ; Fistula* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Mortality ; Palliative Care ; Plastics ; Prostheses and Implants ; Silicones ; Stents* ; Water

Portal vein occlusion has previously been considered as a contraindication for TIPS placement. Several recent reports have suggested that placement of TIPS may be effective in patients with occluded portal veins to embolize varices and recanalize venous obstruction. We experienced a case of variceal bleeding associated with portal vein thrombosis who was successfully treated with TIPS placement. So we report the case with a brief review of literatures.
Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Humans ; Portal Vein* ; Portasystemic Shunt, Surgical* ; Varicose Veins ; Venous Thrombosis*

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was: (a) to determine the frequency of p53 mutations by single strand conformational polymorphism analysis of polymerase chain reaction products (PCR-SSCP), Non-Isotopic RNase Cleavage Assay (NIRCA) and immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal antibody; and (b) to compare the correlations among these methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Abberations of the p53 gene in 24 primary gastric carcinomas were examined by PCR-SSCP, NIRCA and immunohistochemical staining. Of these surgically resected gastric adenocarcinomas, 23 were advanced gastric carcinomas and 1 was early gastric cancer. Using PCR-SSCP and NIRCA, the presence of mutations in exons 4-9 was evaluated. Using the mouse specific anti-human p53 monoclonal antibody, we also looked for overexpression of the p53 protein in tissue sections. RESULTS: In 5 cases shifted bands were reproducibly identified by PCR-SSCP, and two mutations were identified in exon 4 and three in 5 & 6. The mutations of exon 4 were detected by NIRCA in 5 cases, exon 5 & 6 in 6 cases, and exon 7 in 2 cases. The p53 mutations detected by PCR-SSCP were also detected by NIRCA except one case. Thirteen of the tumor samples were positively stained with the monoclonal antibody for p53 protein. There was no correlation between p53 mutations detected by NIRCA and expression of p53 protein by immunohistochemical staining. CONCLUSIONS: Our results in this group of patients suggest that NIRCA is more sensitive than PCR-SSCP in detecting p53 mutations, and expression of p53 protein by immunohistochemical staining does not directely represent the genetic changes of p53 gene.
Adenocarcinoma ; Animals ; Exons ; Genes, p53* ; Humans ; Mice ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Ribonucleases* ; Stomach Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Paracentesis is an acceptable therapeutic modality for the symptomatic relief of dyspnea or abdominal fullness due to tense ascites in patients with cirrhosis. Whereas studies about the effects of paracentesis focused on the changes about hemodynamics, electrolytes and renal function in great detail, the effects of paracentesis on the changes about respiratory system have undergone limited investigations which are defined large-volume paracentesis. METHODS: We performed pulmonary function tests with arterial blood gas analysis just before and 24 hr after paracentesis. The paracentesis of average 2,300ml was carried out in ten liver cirrhosis patients with tense ascites who were free from underlying cardiopulmonary impairment. RESULTS: 1. The results of pulmonary function test just before paracentesis were as followings; FVC( functional vital capacity), FEV1(forced expiratory volume in 1 sec), FEF25 75(forced expiratory effort 25% 75%) and TLC(total lung capacity) were decreased as 78%, 79%, 62.3% and 89% of normal control value respectively, whereas RV(residual volume) was not decreased. DLCO(lung diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide)was decreased as 61.6%. 2. The results of pulmona function test 24 hr after paracentesis were as followings,' The symptomatic relief of dyspnea was achieved in all participated ten patients. Among lung volume parameters, FVC and VC were increased significantly(p=0.003, p=0.004). Whereas TLC was increased without statistical significance(p=0.228), and RV and FRC(functional residual capacity) showed no change. FEV1 was increased significantly(p=0.039), but FEF25 75 and the ratio of FEF1/FVC showed no change. DLCO was not increased. PaOy(partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood) was impr'oved without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the patients of liver cirrhosis with ascites have restrictive ventilatory impairment with additional obstructive ventilatory impairment. After paracentesis, the restrictive ventilatop impairment is improved by the relief of diaphragmatic motion limitation caused by ascites. Also, paracentesis of(not large volume, like 5000ml, but) relatively small volume, of 2000 3000ml can achieve objective improvement of dyspnea due to tense ascites.
Ascites ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Carbon ; Diffusion ; Dyspnea ; Electrolytes ; Fibrosis* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Lung ; Oxygen ; Paracentesis* ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Respiratory System ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation