Postherpetic neuralgia is the most frequent complication of herpes zoster. Treatment of this neuropathic pain syndrome is difficult and often disappointing. Although postherpetic neuralgia is generally a self-limited condition, it can last indefinitely. Continuous epidural blockade for patients with acute zoster can shorten the duration of treatment. However, continuous epidural block has some complications such as infection, dural puncture, and total spinal and nerve damages. We report a case of myoclonus during continuous epidural block with ropivacaine, morphine, and ketamine in an acute zoster patient.
Amides ; Analgesia ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Ketamine ; Morphine ; Myoclonus ; Neuralgia ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Punctures

The t(3;21) (q26;q22) is associated with chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis, leukemia evolving from therapy-related myelodysplasia, and with leukemia following other hematopoietic proliferative diseases. The t(3;21) is rare secondary aberration in blast crisis of Philadelphia(Ph)-positive chronic myeloid leukemia, which may be restricted to patients entering myeloid blast crisis. We report here in one case of chronic myeloid leukemia in blast crisis which reveals both t(9;22) (q34;q11), and t(3;21) (q26 ;q22). A 62-year-old male was diagnosed as chronic myeloid leukemia 5 years ago, received hydroxyurea therapy, and admitted because of gingival bleeding and fever. On examination, splenomegaly and leukocytosis with proliferated blasts(91%) in peripheral blood were noted. Bone marrow aspirate showed hypercellularity with severe blast proliferation(92.5%) which revealed all negative in peroxidase and PAS stain. Cytogenetic study of bone marrow cells showed the karyotype 46, XY, t(3;21) (q26;q22), t(9;22) (q34;q11), which might be suspected as myeloid blast crisis. Above finding was confirmed by the result of immunophenotyping(CD13 43.6%, CD34 68.2%, HLA-DR 91.6%). He received intensive chemotherapy, but still sustained proliferation of blasts was noted . The follow up cytogenetic study was as follows: 46, XY, 4(3;21) (q26:22), t(9;22) (q34;q11)/46, XY, t(3;21)(q26;q22), del(8) (q22), t(9:22) (q34,q11)/46, XY (16/3/1). He died soon from severe pancytopenia and sepsis.
Blast Crisis* ; Bone Marrow ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Cytogenetics ; Drug Therapy ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; HLA-DR Antigens ; Humans ; Hydroxyurea ; Karyotype ; Leukemia ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive* ; Leukocytosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancytopenia ; Peroxidase ; Sepsis ; Splenomegaly

BACKGROUND: The combination of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) and monosomy 7(-7) was rarely observed in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). With the results from immunophenotyplc and molecular analysis, Philadelphia chromosome positive ALL with monosomy 7[Ph(+)/-7] has been considered that it may be derived from neoplastic transformation at the pluripotent stem cell level. We compared the clini-cal, laboratory, and hematological findings between 5 cases of Ph(+)/-7 and 5 cases of Ph(+) without monosomy 7 [Ph (+) /N7]. METHODS: During the period from January, 1995 to December, 1996, total 72 cases of ALL were confirmed among 259 cases of hematologic malignancy with bone marrow cytogenetic analysis. Among 72 ALL cases, 5 cases of Ph(+)/-7(monosomy 7 or 7q abnormalities) were compared with Ph only or Ph without monosomy 7(ph(+)/N7] on the hematological, immunophenotypic, other laboratory, clinical findings and event ree survival (EFS) The karyotyping of the bone marrow specimens was analysed byshort-term unsynchronized culture methods such as overnight colcemid treatment and 24 hours incubation following ethidium bromide treatment. RESULTS: The mean age of Ph(+)/-7 was 30.6+/-12.8 years, and it was significantly different from that of Ph(+)/N7 (p=0.009), Four cases of Ph(+)/-7 were classified as ALL L2 subtype, and 2 cases revealed CNS involvements. Immunophenotyping was positive in CD10, CDl9, CD2O, CD22 and HLA-DR. But one case revealed e-B-lymphoid lineage with positivity in CD34, CDl3, and CD33. The response to chemotherapy and EFS was very poor in Ph(+)/-7 group, and the mean EFS was 3.2+/-1.9 months(p=0.014). All of cases showed induction on failure in chemotherapy, relapsed with bone marrow, CNS and extramedullary involvements, and expired due to sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: Ph(+)/-7 ALL had very Poor clinical course with being resistant to chemotherapy and unfavorable prognosis, revealed L2 subtype by FAB classification, and was slightly older in ages compared with Ph(+)/N7 ALL.
Bone Marrow ; Classification ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Demecolcine ; Drug Therapy ; Ethidium ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; HLA-DR Antigens ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Immunophenotyping ; Karyotyping ; Monosomy* ; Philadelphia Chromosome* ; Pluripotent Stem Cells ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Prognosis ; Sepsis

Vibrio metschnikovii is worldwidely distributed in the aquatic environment and human infections are very rarely associated, such as septicemia, urinary tract infection, wound infection, and peritonitis. V. metschnikovii is negative in nitrate reduction and oxidase reaction, and these findings are different from other vibrio species. V. metschnikovii was isolated from the ascitic fluid and blood of a patient with peritonitis, sepsis and renal insufficiency. This patient was a 41-year old man who suffered from post-necrotic liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis B, gastric ulcer, esophageal varix bleeding, and alcoholism. He had neither history of ingestion of seafoods nor exposure to seawater before onset of illness. He was successfully treated with antimicrobial agents. This is the first case report of septicemia and peritonitis by V. metschnikovii in Korea.
Adult ; Alcoholism ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Ascitic Fluid ; Eating ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Hemorrhage ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Oxidoreductases ; Peritonitis* ; Renal Insufficiency ; Seafood ; Seawater ; Sepsis* ; Stomach Ulcer ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vibrio* ; Wound Infection

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In this study, potential anti-inflammatory effect of enzymatic hydrolysates from Styela clava flesh tissue was assessed via nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccahride (LPS) induced RAW 264.7 macrophages and in vivo zebrafish model. MATERIALS/METHODS: We investigated the ability of enzymatic hydrolysates from Styela clava flesh tissue to inhibit LPS-induced expression of pro-inflammatory mediators in RAW 264.7 macrophages, and the molecular mechanism through which this inhibition occurred. In addition, we evaluated anti-inflammatory effect of enzymatic hydrolysates against a LPS-exposed in in vivo zebrafish model. RESULTS: Among the enzymatic hydrolysates, Protamex-proteolytic hydrolysate exhibited the highest NO inhibitory effect and was fractionated into three ranges of molecular weight by using ultrafiltration (UF) membranes (MWCO 5 kDa and 10 kDa). The above 10 kDa fraction down-regulated LPS-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), thereby reducing production of NO and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. The above 10 kDa fraction suppressed LPS-induced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. In addition, the above 10 kDa fraction inhibited LPS-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38. Furthermore, NO production in live zebrafish induced by LPS was reduced by addition of the above 10 kDa fraction from S. clava enzymatic hydrolysate. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggested that hydrolysates derived from S. clava flesh tissue would be new anti-inflammation materials in functional resources.
Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Cytokines ; Dinoprostone ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; Macrophages* ; Membranes ; Molecular Weight ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Phosphorylation ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Ultrafiltration ; Zebrafish*

No abstract available.
Plasma Exchange* ; Plasma*

No abstract available.
Down Syndrome* ; Leukemia, Megakaryoblastic, Acute*

We have experienced a case of pericardial tuberculoma, a very rare disease, with massive pericardial effusion in a 63-year-old veteran. He wdimensional echocardiography. Computed tomographic scans confirmed the presence of a pericardial mass and clinically unsuspected "lung mass". The presence of the lung mass led us a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. Surgery confirmed the pericardial mass which revealed tuberculosis by patholohy and loculated pleural effusion at the major fissure, so-called "phantom tumor", not a lung mass.
Echocardiography ; Humans ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pleural Effusion ; Rare Diseases ; Tuberculoma* ; Tuberculosis ; Veterans