BACKGROUND: Recently, it has been established that plateletpheresis needs more efficiency and shorter processing time. Fenwall laboratories developed a new collection chamber for CS-3000 Plus, PLT-30TM collection chamber, which can reduce the processing time with efficient collection. We evaluated the PLT-30TM collection chamber by comparing it with A-35 collection chamber that has been used as a standard collection chamber of CS-3000 Plus us. METHODS: Thirty platelet collection procedures were performed using the CS 3000 Plus with A-35 collection chamber and PLT-30TM collection chamber. The changes of the hematologic parameters between pre- and post-donation in donors and the total platelets yields and the contaminated WBCs in the plateletpheresis products were evaluated. In processing, the yield predictor calibration was adjusted to 1.00 and 1.13 in A-35 and PLT-30TM respectively. Yield predictors of pheresis were the same as 3.5x1011 in both and end point volumes were calculated from the CS-3000 Plus. Processing volume and processing times were compared between A-35 and PLT-30TM groups. RESULTS: With PLT-30TM collection chamber, 3.38+/-0.72x1011/L platelets were harvested, whereas 3.20+/- 0.73x1011/L were collected with A-35 collection chamber, which was not significantly different. But processing time with the PLT-30TM collection chamber was more reduced than that with the A-35 collection chamber by about 20 minutes (PLT-30TM : 88.6+/-8.4 min, A-35 : 106.7+/-11.7min). Collection efficiency of PLT-30TM chamber was 50.7+/-12.5% and that of A-35 chamber was 44.4 + 8.8%. The leukocyte contamination of the platelet concentrates were not statistically different(PLT-30TM: 0.0-3.6x106, A-35 : 0.1-4.1x106). CONCLUSIONS: PLT-30TM collection chamber has the advantages of shortening the donation time and decreasing the processing volume with better collection efficiency and flexibility of platelet concentrate volume.
Blood Component Removal ; Blood Platelets ; Calibration ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Plateletpheresis ; Pliability ; Tissue Donors

It is well recognized that radiation can be carcinogenic for a wide variety of tumors, especially, in breast, thyroid, and bone marrow which appear to be radiosensitive. The criteria for establishing the dignosis of radiation- induced malignancy are the knowledge of prior irradiation and the appearance of a malignancy in the irradiated area. We report a case of carcinoma of the thyroid and esophagus following prior neck irradiation for thyroid mass.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/*etiology ; Esophageal Neoplasms/*etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neck/*radiation effects ; *Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced ; Thyroid Neoplasms/*etiology

Ischemic colitis is a medical condition in which inflammation and injury of the large intestine result from inadequate blood supply. Although uncommon in the general population, ischemic colitis occurs with greater frequency in the elderly, and is the most common form of bowel ischemia. Other possible causes include medications such as NSAIDs(non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs), oral contraceptives, diuretics and others. In recent years, many of NSAID use in young age can cause ischemic lesions, but it is not common. Here we report a case of ischemic colitis in a 31-year-old man who had no specific medical history except taking 200mg of ibuprofen three times a day for seven days. It suggests the importance of precise history taking, including medications usage such as NSAIDs and other risk factors.
Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Colitis, Ischemic* ; Contraceptives, Oral ; Diuretics ; Humans ; Ibuprofen* ; Inflammation ; Intestine, Large ; Ischemia ; Risk Factors

Diffuse esophageal spasm (DES) is an uncommon motility disorder of unknown etiology in which the abnormal motility has been offered as a possible cause for the patient's dysphagia or chest pain. Esophageal manometry is the gold standard for the diagnosis of DES and the diagnostic hallmark is identification of simultaneous contractions in at least 20% of wet swallows, alternating with normal peristalsis. Recently, a new diagnostic technique, high-resolution manometry has been reported to improve the accuracy and detail in describing esophageal function. We report a female patient with intermittent dysphagia and chest pain occurring only when swallowing a large amount of water. On HRM, this patient had esophageal spasms, increased pressurization front velocity attributable to rapid contractile wave front, associated with symptoms, which were provoked by a multiple rapid swallowing test, and thereby was diagnosed with DES.
Chest Pain ; Contracts ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; Esophageal Spasm, Diffuse ; Female ; Humans ; Manometry ; Peristalsis ; Swallows ; Water

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastric mucus should be removed before endoscopic examination to increase visibility. In this study, the effectiveness of premedication with pronase for improving visibility during endoscopy was investigated. METHODS: From April 2010 to February 2011, 400 outpatients were randomly assigned to receive endoscopy with one of four premedications as follows: dimethylpolysiloxane (DMPS), pronase and sodium bicarbonate with 10 minutes premedication time (group A, n=100), DMPS and sodium bicarbonate with 10 minutes premedication time (group B, n=100), DMPS, pronase and sodium bicarbonate with 20 minutes premedication time (group C, n=100), and DMPS and sodium bicarbonate with 20 minute premedication time (group D, n=100). One endoscopist, who was unaware of the premedication types, calculated the visibility scores (range, 1 to 3) of the antrum, lower gastric body, upper gastric body and fundus. The sum of the scores from the four locations was defined as the total visibility score. RESULTS: Group C showed significantly lower scores than other groups (p=0.002). Group C also had the lowest frequency of flushing, which was significantly lower than that of group D. Groups C and D had significantly shorter durations of examination than groups A and B. CONCLUSIONS: Using pronase 20 minutes before endoscopy significantly improved endoscopic visualization and decreased the frequency of water flushing.
Dimethylpolysiloxanes ; Endoscopy ; Flushing ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; Mucus ; Outpatients ; Premedication ; Pronase ; Sodium Bicarbonate ; Unithiol

Background/Aims: Helicobacter pylori infection is presumably associated with iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia (IDA). This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between H. pylori infection and the decline in iron stores in non-elderly adults during their health check-ups. Methods: We identified a total of 1,069 subjects who were tested for iron, ferritin, and total iron-binding capacity during their health check-ups, from January 2016 to May 2017. Of these, subjects who underwent endoscopy via rapid urease test and those aged 65 years or below were finally enrolled. Results: Overall, 281 subjects were enrolled, and 187 patients (66.5%) tested positive for H. pylori. The mean age was 36.1 years (range, 22 to 65), and 176 subjects (62.6%) were male. The mean levels of hemoglobin (14.1 ± 1.7 g/dL vs. 14.6 ± 1.4 g/dL, p = 0.019) and ferritin (121.7 ± 106.9 ng/mL vs. 151.8 ± 107.8 ng/mL, p = 0.027) in the H. pylori-positive group were significantly lower than those in the H. pylori-negative group. Iron deficiency (ferritin < 30 ng/mL) was more common in patients with H. pylori infection (p = 0.002). There was no significant difference in anemia (hemoglobin < 13 g/dL in men, < 12 g/dL in women) or IDA (anemia, ferritin < 10 ng/mL, and transferrin saturation < 16%) with H. pylori. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that female sex (odds ratio, 197.559; 95% confidence interval, 26.461 to 1,475.015) and H. pylori infection (odds ratio, 3.033; 95% confidence interval, 1.216 to 7.567) were factors associated with iron deficiency. Conclusions H. pylori infection is associated with iron deficiency, suggesting a decline in iron stores among infected non-elderly adults.

Achalasia, a rare motility disorder of the esophagus, is generally accepted as a premalignant disorder. This paper presents the case of a 72-year-old male with achalasia and synchronous superficial esophageal cancer who experienced dysphagia symptoms for five years. As achalasia is associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer, both can be treated simultaneously if detected at the time of diagnosis. Achalasia and synchronous esophageal cancer are rarely detected and treated endoscopically. This paper reports a case of concurrent successful treatment.

The term ""collagenous colitis"" was coined by Lindstrom in 1976 to describe the patient with chronic watery diarrhea who had normal rectal mucosa by proctoscopy but who had a thick subepithelial collagenous deposit on biopsy, and now collagenous colitis is recognized as one of the more common causes of chronic diarrhea of obscure origin. But in this country only a few case has been reported. We have seen a 68-year-old man with chronic watery diarrhea with abdominal pain. Physical examination, laboratory and radiologic studies were no abnormal finding. Colonoscopy disclosed grossly normal mucosa through the entire colon but by histologic examination there are chronic inflammation in the lamina propria and thickened subepithelial collagen layer. Symptoms and pathologic findings of patient improved after treatment with sulfasalazine and prednisolone.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Colitis, Collagenous* ; Collagen* ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Diarrhea ; Esophagus* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intestines* ; Mucous Membrane ; Numismatics ; Physical Examination ; Prednisolone ; Proctoscopy ; Stomach* ; Sulfasalazine

Gastric carcinoid tumors have been regarded as rare neoplasms, accounting for just 0.3% of all gastric tumors and fewer than 2% of all carcinoid tumors. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of reported studies of gastric carcinoid tumors with the widespread use of gastroscopy and improvements in immunohistochemical methods. Gastric carcinoid tumors are classified into three types. For type III gastric carcinoids not associated with hypergastrinemia, which tend to be larger and demonstrate a biologically more aggressive behavior with metastasis, and also for sporadic lesions, excision with regional lymph node clearance has been recommended. Tumors that are less than 1cm in size are called minute carcinoids, which seldom give rise to regional lymph node metastasis, except in rare cases. We report here a rare case of a minute gastric carcinoid tumor with regional lymph node metastasis that was misdiagnosed as an intraabdominal mass in a 42-year-old woman. Furthermore, we review the available literature on this entity.
Adult ; Carcinoid Tumor* ; Female ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Neoplasm Metastasis*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study examined the efficacy and safety of oxaliplatin-5-fluorouracil-leucovorin (FOLFOX-4) combination chemotherapy as first-line treatment in patients with advanced gastric cancer. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 35 patients diagnosed with pathologically proven surgically unresectable gastric cancer who received FOLFOX-4 combination chemotherapy between August 2006 and February 2009, using medical records. The administered dose of oxaliplatin was 85 mg/m2 for 2 hrs and leucovorin 200 mg/m2 for 2 hrs on day 1, 5-fluorouracil 400 mg/m2 as a bolus and 5-fluorouracil 600 mg/m2 for 22 hrs on days 1 and 2, every 2 weeks. The response was assessed every three cycles. Toxicity was evaluated for every course of chemotherapy according to the NCI toxicity criteria ver. 2.0. RESULTS: The median patient age was 61 (range 27-77) years. The median overall survival was 8.50 (6.23-10.90) months and the median time to progression was 4.50 (0.38-9.75) months. With FOLFOX-4, there was no complete remission and 19 partial responses, for a response rate of 54.3%. Over 298 cycles, anemia worse than NCI toxicity grade 3 occurred in 1.3%, leukopenia in 1.6%, neutropenia in 9%, and thrombocytopenia in 3.2%. Grade 1-2 neuropathy occurred in 14.7% of the cycles. Neutropenic fever occurred in two cycles and the regimen was changed because of side effects in one cycle. CONCLUSIONS: FOLFOX-4 has a very high response rate with mild toxicity in patients with advanced gastric cancer as a first-line treatment.
Anemia ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Fever ; Fluorouracil ; Humans ; Leucovorin ; Leukopenia ; Medical Records ; Neutropenia ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Thrombocytopenia