Adventitial cystic disease (ACD) is an uncommon vascular disease of an unknown origin, and this malady can be suspected in a young, healthy patient who has sudden onset of claudication. We describe here a case of ACD of the right popliteal artery. A 43-year-old male presented with 4 month history of severe right leg claudication. He had no other atherosclerotic predisposing history except for 10 pack years of smoking. On examination, the right femoral pulses were normal, the popliteal artery absent and the dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial artey pulses were decreased. The ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) was 0.4. Ultrasonography showed a hypoechoic cystic lesion with a well-defined marin along the arterial wall. Computed tomography showed a round hypodense cystic mass with thin enhancing rim and a non-enhancing center in the popliteal fossa. Operatively, the 2.5 cm-sized expanding cyst indented the popliteal artery, which involved half of its diameter with adhesion to the adhesion to the adjacent structures. The artery had no thrombosis and it was a short-segment lesion with luminal patency, but half of the arterial wall was thickened with inflammation. Partial excision of the cyst wall and evacuation of the gelatineous materials was performed. Postoperatively, his symptoms improved somewhat, but ABI was 0.6. On the angiography, there was residual stenosis and contrast pooling. These findings disappeared after balloon angioplasty. he was asymptomatic 6 months later with an ABI >1 in the right side.
Adult ; Angiography ; Angioplasty* ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Arteries ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Cystotomy* ; Gelatin ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Leg ; Male ; Phenobarbital ; Popliteal Artery ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thrombosis ; Ultrasonography ; Vascular Diseases

Adventitial cystic disease (ACD) is an uncommon vascular disease of an unknown origin, and this malady can be suspected in a young, healthy patient who has sudden onset of claudication. We describe here a case of ACD of the right popliteal artery. A 43-year-old male presented with 4 month history of severe right leg claudication. He had no other atherosclerotic predisposing history except for 10 pack years of smoking. On examination, the right femoral pulses were normal, the popliteal artery absent and the dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial artey pulses were decreased. The ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) was 0.4. Ultrasonography showed a hypoechoic cystic lesion with a well-defined marin along the arterial wall. Computed tomography showed a round hypodense cystic mass with thin enhancing rim and a non-enhancing center in the popliteal fossa. Operatively, the 2.5 cm-sized expanding cyst indented the popliteal artery, which involved half of its diameter with adhesion to the adhesion to the adjacent structures. The artery had no thrombosis and it was a short-segment lesion with luminal patency, but half of the arterial wall was thickened with inflammation. Partial excision of the cyst wall and evacuation of the gelatineous materials was performed. Postoperatively, his symptoms improved somewhat, but ABI was 0.6. On the angiography, there was residual stenosis and contrast pooling. These findings disappeared after balloon angioplasty. he was asymptomatic 6 months later with an ABI >1 in the right side.
Adult ; Angiography ; Angioplasty* ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Arteries ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Cystotomy* ; Gelatin ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Leg ; Male ; Phenobarbital ; Popliteal Artery ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thrombosis ; Ultrasonography ; Vascular Diseases

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We aimed to explore the risk factors contributing to the recurrence of common bile duct (CBD) stones after successful endoscopic stone clearance, focused on the anatomical factors of CBD and presence or absence of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA)/Rowachol(R) medication. METHODS: One hundred fourteen patients who underwent CBD stone(s) extraction by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic sphincterotomy at our institution from August 2004 to January 2007 were included. Univariate and multivariate analyses for the risk factors including the distal CBD angle, length of the distal CBD arm and medication such as ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and/or Rowachol(R) for recurrent CBD stone(s) were performed. RESULTS: The recurrence of CBD stone(s) was found in 22 (19.3%) patients. On univariate analysis, presence of pneumobilia, presence of type 1 or type 2 periampullary diverticulum, mechanical lithotripsy and multiple sessions of ERCP were significant contributors for the recurrence of CBD stone(s). On multivariate analysis, the presence of type 1 periampullary diverticulum (OR 7.90, 95% CI: 1.56-40.16) and multiple sessions of ERCP (OR 7.56, 95% CI: 2.21-25.87) were significant contributors. Acute distal CBD angulation (< or =135degrees), shorter distal CBD arm (< or =36 mm), technical difficulty of CBD stone(s) clearance, and the prescription of UDCA and/or Rowachol(R) were not significantly associated with the recurrence of CBD stone(s). CONCLUSIONS: The recurrence of CBD stone(s) was more commonly found in the patients group with type 1 periampullary diverticulum and multiple sessions of ERCP. Therefore, patients with these risk factors should be on regular follow up.
Aged ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; *Common Bile Duct/radiography ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Female ; Gallstones/prevention & control/radiography/*surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; *Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; Treatment Outcome ; Ursodeoxycholic Acid/pharmacology

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Antibiotic resistance and poor compliance are the main causes of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication failure. Proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-based triple therapy is the most preferred regimen in clinical practice. However, a critical fall in the H. pylori eradication rate has been observed in the recent years. A novel 10 day-sequential therapy consists of five days of dual therapy followed by five days of triple therapy regimen has recently been described. We aimed to evaluate whether 10 day-sequential therapy eradicated H. pylori infection better than the PPI-based triple therapy in Korea. METHODS: 158 patients with proven H. pylori infection were randomized to receive either 10 day-sequential therapy (20 mg of omeprazole, 1.0 g of amoxicillin, each administered twice daily for the first 5 days, followed by 20 mg of omeprazole, 500 mg of clarithromycin, 500 mg of metronidazole, each administered twice daily for the remaining 5 days) or PPI-based triple therapy (20 mg of omeprazole, 1.0 g of amoxicillin, 500 mg of clarithromycin, each administered twice daily for 1 week). Outcome of eradication therapy was assessed 8 weeks after the cessation of treatment. RESULTS: Eradication rates of 10 day-sequential therapy and PPI-based triple therapy were 77.9% (60/77) and 71.6% (58/81) by intention to treat analysis, respectively (p=0.361). By per protocol analysis, eradication rates of 10 day-sequential therapy and triple therapy were 85.7% (60/70) and 76.6% (58/76), respectively (p=0.150). There were no significant differences in adverse event rates and treatment compliance between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The 10 day-sequential therapy regimen failed to achieve significantly higher eradication rates than PPI-based triple therapy.
Adult ; Amoxicillin/administration & dosage ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*administration & dosage ; Anti-Ulcer Agents/administration & dosage ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections/*drug therapy/microbiology ; *Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Metronidazole/administration & dosage ; Middle Aged ; Omeprazole/administration & dosage ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ascites is a fairly common condition, but the clinical features of pseudomembranous colitis with ascites are not well-known. The aim of this study was to determine how the existence of ascites is related to the clinical factors. METHODS: Between March 2002 and June 2006, 67 pseudomembranous colits patients were diagnosed by performing lower endoscopy and biopsy. The patients' ascites was identified by abdominal plain radiography, ultrasonography or computerized tomography. The extension of colitis was evaluated by ultrasonography or computerized tomography. RESULTS: 16 patients (23.9%) had ascites. The serum WBC (p=0.01), hypoalbuminemia (p<0.01), CRP (p<0.01), recurrence (p<0.01), and extension of colitis (p<0.01) were associated with the existence of ascites. The four patients who had undergone paracentesis had a low SAAG level and PMN dominant ascites. CONCLUSIONS: There were correlations of ascities with leukocytosis, hypoalbuminemia, CRP, extension of colitis and recurrence of PMC.
Ascites* ; Biopsy ; Colitis ; Endoscopy ; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous* ; Humans ; Hypoalbuminemia ; Leukocytosis ; Paracentesis ; Radiography ; Recurrence ; Ultrasonography

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has evolved as a central treatment modality for the management of various hematologic malignancies. Despite adequate posttransplantation immunosuppressive therapy, acute GVHD remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality, even for the patients who have received HLA identical sibling grafts. Once established, acute GVHD is difficult to treat, and the best primary treatments such as corticosteroid have shown responses of approximately 50%. Once GVHD becomes steroid-refractory, the chances of survival are slim at best, and the possibility of long-term complications from chronic GVHD is almost always the rule. Many agents are currently being evaluated to treat this malady, including ATG, monoclonal antibodies, pentostatin, denileukin diftitox, etc. We reported here on a case of steroid refractory acute GVHD that was treated with IL-2 and TNF-alpha blocker in myelodysplastic syndrome patient who underwent unrelated allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Interleukin-2* ; Mortality ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes* ; Pentostatin ; Siblings ; Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Stem Cells* ; Transplants ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*