Herpes simplex virus has rarely been identified as a cause of esophagitis in immunocompetent children. This virus affects predominantly males presenting with symptoms of fever, odynophagia, dysphagia, and retrosternal pain of acute onset. Esophagoscopy typically reveals exudative well-circumscribed ulcerations of the distal and/or mid-esophagus. Further investigations using biopsy, viral culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and seroconversion of antibodies to Herpes simplex are recommended to assist with a definitive diagnosis. This esophagitis is often a self-limited infection in immunocompetent children. Nevertheless, antiviral treatment may expedite symptom relief with Herpes simplex virus infection. It is imperative to document herpes esophagitis in cases with subsequent severe odynophagia in immunocompetent children. Here we present the case of a 12-year-old immunocompetent boy with herpes esophagitis.
Antibodies ; Biopsy ; Child ; Deglutition Disorders ; Esophagitis ; Esophagoscopy ; Fever ; Herpes Simplex ; Humans ; Male ; Methylmethacrylates ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polystyrenes ; Simplexvirus ; Ulcer ; Viruses

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) and plasma cytokines and angiogenic factors (CAFs) as pharmacodynamic and prognostic biomarkers of bevacizumab monotherapy in colorectal cancer with liver metastasis (CRCLM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 2011 to March 2012, 28 patients with histologically confirmed CRCLM received bevacizumab monotherapy followed by combined FOLFOX therapy. The mean age of the patients was 57 years (range, 30 to 77 years). DCE-MRI (K(trans) and IAUC₆₀) was performed at baseline, first follow-up (3 days after bevacizumab monotherapy), and second follow-up (3 days after combined therapy). CAF levels (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], placental growth factor [PlGF], and interleukin-8) were assessed on the same days. Progression-free survival (PFS) time distributions were summarized using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using log-rank tests. RESULTS: The median PFS period was 11.2 months. K(trans), IAUC₆₀, VEGF, and PlGF values on the first follow-up day were significantly different compared with baseline values. No differences were observed on the second follow-up day. A > 40% decrease in K(trans) from baseline to first follow-up was associated with a longer PFS (hazard ratio, 0.349; 95% confidence interval, 0.133 to 0.912; p=0.032). Changes in CAFs did not show correlation with PFS time. CONCLUSION: DCE-MRI parameters and CAFs are pharmacodynamic biomarkers of bevacizumab for CRCLM. In our study, change in K(trans) at 3 days after bevacizumab monotherapy was a favorable prognostic factor; however, the value of CAFs as a prognostic biomarker was not found.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Bevacizumab* ; Biomarkers ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Cytokines ; Disease-Free Survival ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Methods ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Plasma ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

PURPOSE: Peanut allergy is a major cause of fatal food-induced anaphylaxis. Cooking methods can affect the allergic properties of peanut proteins. The aim of this study was to determine the allergenicity of peanut according to cooking methods. METHODS: Eight kinds of peanut were included in the study: raw peanut, boiled peanut, roasted peanut (10 min, 20 min and 30 min), peanut butter, fried peanut and vinegarish peanut. The proteins were extracted with PBS and analyzed using the SDS-PAGE IgE immunoblot assay with pooled sera from 8 patients with atopic dermatitis. These patients had peanut- specific IgE levels greater than 15 kU/L, which were measured by the CAP-FEIA. RESULTS: The SDS-PAGE IgE immunoblot assay revealed more intense protein bands of Ara h 2 in roasted peanut and peanut butter than in raw, boiled, fried and vinegarish peanut. The protein band of Ara h 1 was not undetected in fried and vinegarish peanut. Ara h 3 had a stable band pattern in all samples, but there was the most prominent band at 37-40 kDa in vinegarish peanut. The IgE immunoblot assay revealed that 10 min roasted peanut had more IgE binding to Ara h 2, and there was no IgE binding to Ara h 1 in fried and vinegarish peanut. In vinegarish peanut, there was almost no IgE binding to it. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the roasted peanut may increase the allergenicity of Ara h 2 as compared to Ara h 1. Fried and vinegarish peanut may reduce the allergenicity of peanut.
Anaphylaxis ; Butter ; Cooking ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Peanut Hypersensitivity ; Proteins

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to analyze the current problems in completing death certificates and to identify the correct method for completing death certificates. METHODS: We reviewed 262 death certificates in three hospitals from March 1 to April 30, 2000, and 119 death certificates in one hospital from March 1 to 31, 2000. We identified major and minor errors and analyzed and compared them retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 381 death certificates were reviewed: 59 in Seoul National University Hospital, 101 in Ewha Woman's University Hospital, and 102 in Gachon Medical College Hospital, which has no education program for completing death certificates in postgraduate training, and 119 in Samsung Medical Center which has an education program for completing death certificates. 358 certificates(94.0%) had at least one error. There were only 23 death certificates(6.0%) without an error. In 182 cases(47.8%), there was one major error. In 321 death certificates(84.3%), there were more than two errors. A comparison of Samsung Medical Center with the other hospitals showed that the number of total errors was statistically different(p=0.001). CONCLUSION: There were few death certificates without an error in this study. In a hospital which has postgraduate training in completing death certificates, there are fewer errors than in other hospitals which have no training course. Emergency physicians actually certify many deaths, so they must know the correct method of completing death certificates for statistics on morbidity and mortality.
Death Certificates* ; Education ; Emergencies ; Mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul

Hidradenoma papilliferum (HP) is a benign neoplasm arising from mammary-like glands which typically involves the dermal layer of the female anogenital area. The prognosis for HP is good. Recurrence is unusual and is typically attributed to incomplete excision of the primary tumor. Malignant transformation is rare and HP of the breast has not yet been reported. Ectopic HP is usually solitary, small, and asymptomatic. It appears as a well-circumscribed, complex cystic mass in the dermis on ultrasound. We present a case of HP arising from the axillary tail of the breast.
Acrospiroma ; Breast ; Dermis ; Female ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: TATA box mutation/polymorphism in the promoter region of the bilirubin uridinediphosphoglucuronate glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT-1A1) gene is known to be an etiology of hyperbilirubinemia. This study examined if a TATA box mutation/polymorphism in UGT-1A1 gene promoter could be associated with the development of severe early neonatal jaundice in Korean infants. METHODS: Thirty-nine neonatal jaundice patients and 40 controlled infants were analyzed for UGT-1A1 promoter genotypes by using DNA sequencing. RESULTS: The homozygote for (TA)7TAA mutation was not found in this study. Comparison of the prevalence of UGT-1A1 promoter (TA)7TAA heterozygotes revealed no difference between the group with jaundice and the controlled group (15.4% vs. 10%). The peak bilirubin level was higher and the onset of jaundice was earlier in the jaundice group with (TA)7TAA heterozygote compared to the jaundice group without (TA)7TAA heterozygote (23.2+/-1.0 mg/dL vs. 19.7+/-2.4 mg/dL, P=0.004, 5.0+/-1.5 days vs. 8.3+/-4.1 days, P= 0.057). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that TATA box polymorphism in UGT-1A1 gene promoter did not increase the prevalence of severe early neonatal jaundice in Korean infants.
Bilirubin ; Genotype ; Glucuronosyltransferase ; Heterozygote ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal* ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Jaundice ; Jaundice, Neonatal ; Prevalence ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; TATA Box

BACKGROUND: To review the important features and treatment modalities of phalloides syndrome. METHOD: We performed a retrospective analysis of 16 patients with phalloides syndrome who visited the Emergency Center of Seoul National University ospital, Uijongbu St. Mary 's Hospital, Gachon Medical College Hospital, and Kyungpook National University Hospital from July 1st to August 31st, 1998. Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis(p < 0.05). RESULTS: 9 were male and 7 were female. The mean age was 54 years(men 46 years, women 65 years). Fourteen cases(88%) occurred in Kyungpook area. All cases of phalloides syndrome RESULT:ed from mistaking toxic mushrooms for edible mushrooms. The doses of ingestion of mushroom were not available because the patient could not remember the exact amounts. The identification of mushrooms in 4 cases was confirmed by mycologist, 6 cases by mushroom photoatlas, and remained 6 cases were not confirmed. The initial symptoms of mushroom poisoning were abdominal pain, nausea, and watery diarrhea. The time intervals from the ingestion of mushroom to the onset of symptom were from 6 to 13 hours(mean 11.3 +/-2.68 hours). The laboratory data showed the increased GOT and GPT, prolonged prothrombin time, elevated serum creatinine level, and decreased platelet count. The initial management of phalloides mushroom poisoning was done conservatively, but the early specific treatments such as gastrointestinal decontamination, administration of activated charcoal, IV penicillin or silymarin were not perfomed in all cases. The mortality rate was 18.8%. There were significant differences in total bilirubin, prothrombin time, platelet count, and serum creatinine between survival and non-survival group(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: It is important to know the morphological differences between edible and toxic mushroom for prevention of phalloides syndrome. If the patient with acute gastroenteritis has a history of mushroom ingestion, the emergency physician should suspect phalloides syndrome and start early proper treatment. For the identification of mushroom, it is desirable to contact a mycologist.
Abdominal Pain ; Agaricales ; Bilirubin ; Charcoal ; Creatinine ; Decontamination ; Diarrhea ; Eating ; Emergencies ; Female ; Gastroenteritis ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Male ; Mortality ; Mushroom Poisoning ; Nausea ; Penicillins ; Platelet Count ; Prothrombin Time ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Silymarin

We experienced a case of Cushings syndrome due to adrenal adenoma associated with pregnancy 23th week in a 26 year old female patient. On physical findings, hypertension, moon face, hirsutism, abdominal striae and buffalo hump were noticed. Laboratory findings showed increased serum cortisol, increased 24 hours-urinary cortisol, and decreased plasma ACTH. Abdominal MRI demonstrated 4 cm sized in long diameter, well marginated, and ovoid-shape right adrenal mass. Unilateral total adrenalectomy was performed at the 23th week of pregnancy and the mass it was confirmed to benign adrenal adenoma. Steroid replacement therapy was continued with 7.5 mg prednisolone during remaining pregnancy. At the 38th week of pregnancy, labor was developed and she delivered healthy female weighing 2.5 kg through normal vaginal delivery without complication. Pregnancy rarely occurs in patients with Cushings syndrome. We think she was the first case in Korea who had normal 38th week transvaginal delivery after adrenalectomy in adrenal Cushings syndrome during pregnancy.
Adenoma ; Adrenalectomy ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Adult ; Buffaloes ; Cushing Syndrome* ; Female ; Hirsutism ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Plasma ; Prednisolone ; Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Massive and untreated hemoptysis is associated with a mortality of greater than 50 percent. Since the bleeding is from a bronchial arterial source in the vast majority of patients, embolization of the bronchial arteries(BAE) has become an accepted treatment in the management of massive hemoptysis because it achieves immediate control of bleeding in 75 to 90 percent of the patients. METHODS: Between 1990 and 1996, we treated 146 patients with hemoptysis by bronchial artery embolization. Catheters(4, 5, or 7F) and gelfoam, ivalon, and / or microcoil were used for embolization. RESULTS: Pulmonary tuberculosis and related disorders were the most common underlying disease of hemoptysis(72.6%). Immediate success rate to control bleeding within 24hours was 95%, and recurrence rate was 24.7%. The recurrence rate occured within 6 months after embolization was 63.9%. Initial angiographic findings such as bilaterality, systemic-pulmonary artery shunt, neovascularity, aneurysm were not statistically correlated with rebleeding tendency(P>0.05). Among Initial radiographic findings,only pleural lesions were significantly correlated with rebleeding tendency(P<0.05). At additional bronchial artery angiograpy done due to rebleeding, recanalization of previous embolized arteries were 63.9%, and the presence of new feeding arteries were 16.7%, and 19.4% of patients with rebleeding showed both. The complications such as fever, chest pain, headache, nausea and vomiting, arrhythmia, paralylytic ileus, transient sensory loss(lower extremities), hypotension, urination difficulty were noticed at 40 patients(27.4%). CONCLUSION: We conclude that bronchial artery embolization is relatively safe method achieving immediate control of massive hemoptysis. At initial angiographic findings, we could not find any predictive factors for subsequent rebleeding. It may warrant further study whether patients with pleural disease have definetely increased rebleeding tendency.
Aneurysm ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Arteries ; Bronchial Arteries* ; Chest Pain ; Fever ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; Headache ; Hemoptysis* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Ileus ; Mortality ; Nausea ; Pleural Diseases ; Recurrence ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; Urination ; Vomiting

The aim of this project was to use 3D scanning data collected at incident scenes and various evidence to 1) develop surveying methods based on 3D data consisting of overall and detailed scene evidence, captured by long-range and micros-canner, which can be shared by personnel working in different fields such as forensic medicine, video analysis, physical analysis, traffic engineering, and fire investigation; 2) create digital storage for human skeletons and set the foundation for virtual anthropology; and 3) improve the credibility of 3D evidence by virtual remodeling and simulation of incident scenes and evidence to provide a basis for advanced and high-tech scientific investigation. Two complete skeletons of male and female were scanned using 3D micro-scanner. Each bone was successfully reproduced and assembled in virtual space. In addition, recreating evidence scheduled for invasive examination by creating RP (rapid prototype) was possible. These outcomes could play an important role in setting up the new field of virtual anthropology. Case-specific surveying methods were developed through analysis of 3D scanning data collected by long-range surface scanners at the scenes of vehicular accidents, falls, shootings, and violent crimes. A technique and recording method was also developed for detecting forged seals by micro-scanning the pressure exerted on the seal. Appraisal methods developed in this project could be utilized to secure 3D data of human skeletal remains and incident scenes, create a standard for application, and increase objectivity, reproducibility, and accuracy of scanning methods. We plan to develop case-specific 3D data analysis techniques to improve the credibility of analysis at the NFS and to establish a 3D data collection and analysis team.
Crime ; Data Collection ; Female ; Fires ; Forensic Medicine ; Forensic Sciences ; Humans ; Male ; Skeleton ; Statistics as Topic