Pancreatic metastases are found in up to 40% of patients with small cell lung cancer, but metastasis-induced acute pancreatitis is rare. Treatment of metastasis-induced acute pancreatitis is initially supportive, but failure of conservative management are common. There are few reports on aggressive treatment with chemotherapy which lead to rapid clinical improvement and prolongation of survival in patients with metastasis-induced acute pancreatitis. We experienced a case of metastasis-induced acute pancreatitis in a patient with small cell lung cancer. Despite conservative treatment with dietary restriction and intravenous fluid supply, serum amylase levels increased persistently with severe abdominal pain. After chemotherapy with irinotecan and carboplatin, abdominal pain and serum amylase levels resolved dramatically.
Acute Disease ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Small Cell/*secondary ; English Abstract ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/*pathology ; Male ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/complications/*secondary ; Pancreatitis/*etiology

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease that characteristically has a relapsing and remitting course. Probiotics might possibly induce remission in the treatment of active UC. Aims of our study were to assess the efficacy of VSL#3 on clinical response and colonic tissue cytokine concentration changes in patients with active UC. METHODS: Twenty-four eligible patients with mild to moderate UC received open-label VSL#3 4 sachets daily in 2 divided doses for 8 weeks. The disease activity pre- and post-VSL#3 therapy was assessed by ulcerative colitis disease activity score and colonic tissue cytokine profiling done at baseline and at week 8. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients (mean age, 43.7 years; range, 20-70 years; male/female, 15/9) were enrolled and 2 patients did not have the final endoscopic assessment. A total of 22 patients were analyzed. Intent to treat analysis demonstrated remission in 45.8% of subjects (n=11); partial response in 20.8% (n=5); no change or worse in 25.0% (n=6) of subjects. The mean ulcerative colitis disease activity index (UCDAI) scores decreased from 7.09+/-1.81 to 1.45+/-1.29 in patients with a remission (p<0.001). The mean endoscopic scores had also significantly decreased from 1.91+/-0.54 to 0.63+/-0.50 in patients with a remission (p<0.001). The concentrations of colonic cytokines did not change significantly during treatment in patients with a remission. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that VSL#3 is effective in achieving clinical responses and remissions in patients with mild-to moderately active UC, further supporting the potential role in UC therapy.
Adult ; Aged ; Colitis, Ulcerative/*therapy ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; Severity of Illness Index

Lamivudine is widely used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection because of it's remarkable antiviral efficacy and safety. We report a case of severe skin eruption caused by lamivudine. A 47-year-old female was admitted because of jaundice and itching sensation. She was diagnosed as chronic hepatitis B infection a few years ago but did not receive any specific treatment. Laboratory data showed acute deterioration of chronic hepatitis B infection. We prescribed lamivudine as a rescue therapy. Her general condition improved and lab data showed improvement in liver function test thereafter. However, she complained of severe skin eruption and itching sensation a few days after the discharge. We stopped lamivudine because the symptoms did not improve despite the use of anti-histamine. Skin biopsy showed interface dermatitis. After stopping lamivudine, her symptoms improved. However, the skin eruption developed again after lamivudine was restarted. Adefovir was used instead, and the patient did not experience any further skin problems since then.
Aged ; Colon, Transverse ; Female ; Hernia, Abdominal/*diagnosis/radiography ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; *Mesocolon ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Sleep disturbances and emotional dysfunction are commonly associated with gastroeophageal reflux disease (GERD). The aims of this study were to evaluate GERD symptoms and disturbance in erosive reflux disease (ERD) and nonerosive reflux disease (NERD) patients, and to compare sleep dysfunction, depressive mood, anxiety and quality of life (QOL) among the control, ERD and NERD patients in Korea. METHODS: The Korean subjects were enrolled between 2010 and 2012, classified into 3 groups; the control group with no symptom and normal endoscopic findings, the ERD group with erosive esophagitis and the NERD group with more than one episode of heartburn or acid regurgitation per week, positive response to proton pump inhibitor, and normal endoscopic findings. Questionnaire included GERD symptoms, GERD impact scale (GIS) and daytime pathological sleepiness (Epworth sleepiness scale), sleep dysfunction (Pittsburgh sleep quality index, PSQI), depression and anxiety (Hospital anxiety and depression scale, HADS) and QOL (WHO quality of life scale abbreviated version, WHOQOL-BREF). RESULTS: A total of 217 subjects were enrolled as follows; control (n = 70), ERD (n = 70) and NERD (n = 77). Impact of symptom of GIS score was higher in the NERD (9.2 +/- 0.4) than in the ERD (6.5 +/- 0.3) group (P < 0.001). Sleep dysfunctions were more frequent in GERD than the control group (PSQI score [P = 0.021]). Anxiety subscale of HAD score was higher in NERD (7.0 +/- 0.5, P = 0.002) and ERD (6.2 +/- 0.7, P = 0.004) groups than control (4.3 +/- 0.7) group. WHOQOL-BREF scores in NERD (54.9 +/- 2.3) and ERD (57.8 +/- 2.4) groups were significantly lower than those in the control group (63.8 +/- 2.4) (P = 0.002; P = 0.014, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The patients with NERD than ERD suffered more from the symptoms and disturbance in Korea. Sleep dysfunction and anxiety mood were higher and QOL was decreased in GERD, especially in NERD, suggesting that those factors might affect the severity of NERD.
Anxiety ; Depression ; Esophagitis ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Heartburn ; Humans ; Korea ; Proton Pumps ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II), also known as des-carboxyprothrombin (DCP), can be used as an alternative tool to alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) for surveillance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aims of the present study were to compare PIVKA-II levels between the patients with HCC and patients with non-HCC chronic liver disease, to evaluate the correlation of PIVKA-II and AFP in HCC patients, and finally to estimate the optimal cut-off value for PIVKA-II for the diagnosis of HCC with using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. METHODS: A total of 227 consecutive patients with HCC (n=42) or chronic liver disease (n=185) were enrolled in this study. HCC was diagnosed histologically or by imaging such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging or angiography. The serum PIVKA-II and AFP levels were measured by electrochemiluminoimmunoassay with using the Haicatch PIVKA-II kit and by immunoradiometric assay, respectively. RESULTS: The PIVKA-II level in the HCC patients was significantly higher than the non-HCC chronic liver disease patients (903.0+/-1156.7 vs. 111.7+/-211.0 mAU/ mL, respectively, P<0.01). PIVKA-II and AFP showed a statistical correlation in HCC patients (r=0.46, P<0.01). The sensitivity and specificity of PIVKA-II for the diagnosis of HCC were 66.7% and 74.1%, respectively, and when tasted together with AFP, the sensitivity was increased by 85.7%. For the ROC curve of PIVKA-II in HCC patients, the specificity of a 250 mAU/mL level of PIVKA-II was 95%. CONCLUSIONS: PIVKA-II was as useful surveillance tool for differentiating HCC from chronic liver disease, and a PIVKA-II value of 250 mAU/ mL was proposed as a significant cut-off value for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Adult ; Aged ; Biological Markers/*blood ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Protein Precursors/*blood ; Prothrombin ; ROC Curve ; Tumor Markers, Biological/*blood ; alpha-Fetoproteins/analysis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The major compounds of Cochinchina momordica seed extract (SK-MS10) include momordica saponins. We report that the gastroprotective effect of SK-MS10 in an ethanol-induced gastric damage rat model is mediated by suppressing proinflammatory cytokines and downregulating cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), and the activation of calcitonin gene-related peptide. In this study, we evaluated the gastroprotective effects of SK-MS10 in the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced gastric damage rat model. METHODS: The pretreatment effect of SK-MS10 was evaluated in the NSAID-induced gastric damage rat model using aspirin, indomethacin, and diclofenac in 7-week-old rats. Gastric damage was evaluated based on the gross ulcer index by gastroenterologists, and the damage area (%) was measured using the MetaMorph 7.0 video image analysis system. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blotting was used to analyze the levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, COX-2, cPLA2, and 5-LOX. RESULTS: All NSAIDs induced gastric damage based on the gross ulcer index and damage area (p<0.05). Gastric damage was significantly attenuated by SK-MS10 pretreatment compared with NSAID treatment alone (p<0.05). The SK-MS10 pretreatment group exhibited lower MPO levels than the diclofenac group. The expression of cPLA2 and 5-LOX was decreased by SK-MS10 pretreatment in each of the three NSAID treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: SK-MS10 exhibited a gastroprotective effect against NSAID-induced acute gastric damage in rats. However, its protective mechanism may be different across the three types of NSAID-induced gastric damage models in rats.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/adverse effects ; Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase/drug effects ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide/drug effects ; Cyclooxygenase 1/drug effects ; Cyclooxygenase 2/drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gastric Mucosa/chemistry/drug effects ; Group IV Phospholipases A2/drug effects ; Male ; Momordica/*chemistry ; Peroxidase/drug effects ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seeds/*chemistry ; Stomach Ulcer/chemically induced/*prevention & control ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Colonic diverticular bleeding cases account for 30-40% of the lower gastrointestinal bleeding, among which, 3-5% appear to be massive bleeding. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for colonic diverticular bleeding diagnosed by colonoscopic examination. METHODS: Among the 1,003 patients, who were identified to have colonic diverticulosis including sleeding by diverticulitis and diverticular bleeding coding search, 216 patients had diverculosis, and they were divided into two groups: one with diverticular bleeding, and the other without bleeding. We evaluated the potential risk factors for diverticular bleeding, based on age, gender, location of diverticulum, comorbidities related to atherosclerosis, smoking, alcohol and medications, and compared them between both groups. RESULTS: Among the 216 patients, we observed colonic diverticular bleeding in 35 patients (16.2%). The mean age of the bleeding group was significantly older than that of non-bleeding group. No difference was observed regarding gender ratio. Right colonic diverticula were common in both groups, but there were higher proportion of patients with bleeding in bilateral diverticuosis. Old age, bilateral diverticulosis, presence of atherosclerosis related diseases (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, obesity), use of aspirin, NSAIDs and calcium channel blocker, increased the risk of bleeding. In a multivariate analysis, use of aspirin and bilateral diverticulosis were identified as independent risk factors for colonic diverticular bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Since the patients who took aspirin and/or had bilateral colonic diverticulosis increased the risk of bleeding from divertuculi. As such, caution and education of patients are required.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/therapeutic use ; Aspirin/therapeutic use ; Calcium Channel Blockers/therapeutic use ; Colonic Diseases/*etiology ; Colonoscopy ; Diabetes Complications ; Diverticulum, Colon/*epidemiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/epidemiology/*etiology ; Humans ; Hypertension/complications/drug therapy ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Ischemia/complications ; Obesity/complications ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are heterogeneous clonal stem cell disorders characterized by morphological and functional abnormal hematopoiesis, resulting in cytopenias in the peripheral blood. MDS in children are very rare and their clinical characteristics, natural history, the most effective treatment and prognostic factors need to be elucidated. In addition, consensus for the classification of pediatric MDS has not been reached yet. This multicenter, retrospective study aimed to describe the characteristics and the disease courses of 75 MDS patients from 11 University Hospitals in Korea, seen between 1991 and 2001. METHODS: Kaplan-Meier probability of leukemic transformation and overall survival were plotted. And the usefulness of prognostic scoring systems, including French-American-British (FAB) classification, Bournemouth scoring system (BSS), and International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) in the prediction of transformation to acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and overall survival was evaluated. RESULTS: The median age was 65 months (2~175 months) and the sex ratio was 2.6: 1 (M: F). Fourteen patients (18.7%) were unable to be allocated into any subtype of FAB. The frequency of FAB subtypes in Korea was similar to that of Western countries except for higher proportion of refractory anemia (RA, 47.5%). Median survival was 54 months with Kaplan-Meier 5-yr survival probability of 31.9% and 2-yr probability of transformation to AML was 23.7%. None of the FAB, BSS, and IPSS was capable of discriminating subgroup of patients for the prediction of survival. However, all of the FAB (P=0.004), BSS (P=0.001), and IPSS (P=0.02) were able to subdivide subgroups for the prediction of transformation to AML. CONCLUSION: The characteristics of pediatric MDS in Korea were different from those of other countries, in light of the higher proportion of RA, the low percentage of inherited diseases, and the low percentage of cytogenetic abnormalities. However, the reasons of the differences were not clear. Moreover, none of the prognostic scoring systems, including IPSS, was reliably predictive of survival, reflecting differences from adult cases. With this multicenter study, we suggest the necessity of a prospective study for the classification and treatment. A newer, effective method should be developed for the prediction of disease progression and survival in pediatric MDS.
Adult ; Anemia, Refractory ; Child ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Classification ; Consensus ; Disease Progression ; Hematopoiesis ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Korea* ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes* ; Natural History ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Ratio ; Stem Cells

PURPOSE: Immune pathophysiology of aplastic anemia (AA) has been indirectly inferred from responses to immunosuppressive agents. An association between AA and HLA-A2, or HLA-DR2 (its serologic split, HLA-DR15; or its molecular correspondents, DRB1*1501) has been implicated. The presence of HLA-DR15 (including DR2 or DRB1*15) has been closely associated with a favorable response to immunosuppression in AA. This study was aimed to characterize Korean patients with AA by determining the association with certain HLA alleles, such as HLA-DR2 or HLA-A2, and their implications in terms of the response to immunosuppression. METHODS: One-hundred eighteen children with AA from 10 university hospitals between 1990 and 2001 were enrolled in this multicenter, retrospective study. Among them, HLA data were available from 80 patients. Tests of proportions were used to compare allelic frequencies. RESULTS: The frequency of HLA-A2 (58.8%) or HLA-DR2 (24.7%) in AA was not significantly different from those of the controls. Analysis of the patients treated with immunosuppression (N=86) showed that, 50.0% of patients showed a response, including 16.0% of complete response at 6 months. The presence of DR2 allele did not portend a favorable response to immunosuppressive therapy. CONCLUSION: Unlike Western countries, the association of AA with certain HLA alleles was not documented in the Korean population. Moreover, the presence of HLA-DR2 did not predict a favorable response to immunosuppression. This peculiar characteristics of Korean AA needs to be investigated whether these findings reflect ethnic differences, different contribution of immune-mediated AA, different immune mechanisms, or mere limitation by number of study patients.
Alleles* ; Anemia, Aplastic* ; Child* ; HLA-A2 Antigen ; HLA-DR2 Antigen ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastroesophageal reflux disease is one of the most common and frequent chronic disease requiring considerable cost. We investigated the medical care costs in the erosive reflux disease (ERD) and non-erosive reflux disease (NERD). METHODS: The risk factors and the direct medical care costs were analyzed retrospectively in the ERD (178 patients) and NERD (183 patients) groups for a follow up period of 2 years. RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis showed that the ERD was more frequent in the groups of male gender, alcohol consumption, higher body mass index (> or =25 kg/m2), hiatal hernia, and higher triglyceride levels (> or =150 mg/dL). The direct medical care costs per person for 2 years were found to be $384.8 (ERD) and $412.9 (NERD) without statistically significant differences (p = 0.364). However, 9.3% (17/183) of the NERD patients had visited the emergency room compared to 3.4% (6/178) of the ERD patients (p = 0.029). In addition, more NERD patients were hospitalized than ERD patients (p = 0.006), and because of the longer hospitalization period, the medical costs in NERD patients were higher than ERD patients (p = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: In spite of the different risk factors for ERD and NERD, total direct medical care costs were similar between the ERD and NERD group. However, more visits to emergency room and longer hospitalization period with more hospitalization costs in NERD patients account for the differences in medical service and usage distribution between the 2 groups.
Alcohol Drinking ; Body Mass Index ; Chronic Disease ; Emergencies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Health Care Costs ; Hernia, Hiatal ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors