No abstract available

No abstract available.
Stem Cells*

Hepatic changes in eight cases of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE), were studied to evaluate the nature of hepatic injury of SLE and its relation to lupoid hepatitis. Common histologic changes of the liver in SLE included intralobular necro-inflammatory activities, fatty change, canalicular bile stasis and mild perivenular and Disse space fibrosis. The fatty change and intralobular fibrosis were thought not to be due to SLE itself but associated with steroid administration or chronic alcoholic consumption. The necro-inflammatory changes were usually mild and features of chronic active hepatitis with periportal destruction occured in one case. Symptoms related to the involvement of many other organs than the liver appeared much frequently in patients with SLE than lupoid hepatitis, suggesting that the SLE involving liver and the lupoid hepatitis are different diseases.

Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus syndrome, or Bean's syndrome is a very rare disease characterized by an association of 1) hemangioma cutis in which the nevi feel like rubber blebs; 2) hemangiomas of the digestive organs; 3) iron-deficiency anemia due to hemorrhage from the digestive tract. Sometimes, the bleeding is so severe and massive that the patient needs blood transfusions and/or emergency operations. We present a 29-year-old man with Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus syndrome. This patient was admitted to out hospital due to recently aggrevated dizziness and intermittent rectal bleeding. Multiple bluish tumors were noted on the palm, sole and glans penis. Laboratory examination revealed severe iron-deficiency anemia. Barium studies revealed multiple polypoid masses in the stomach, small bowel and colorectum. On esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy, three or four dozens of hemangiomas with variable size and shape were noted in the stomach, duodenum at or around the ampulla of Vater and colorectum. This patient was of particular interest because rectal bleeding occurred from rectal lesion which protruded out of anus and caused bleeding during defecation, and which showed as a 2.0 cm Yamada type III polypoid lesion. Endoscopic ultrasonography confirmed us that this lesion was confined to the mucosa and submucosa without extension into muscle layer. Endoscopic polypectomy of this lesion was performed because which considered as the main focus of current rectal bleeding. He was discharged without any complication and 4 months later, he was well without rectal bleeding and his hemoglobin level increased upto 13.5 g/dl. To our knowledge, this is the first case of Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus syndrome in Korea.
Adult ; Ampulla of Vater ; Anal Canal ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Barium ; Blister* ; Blood Transfusion ; Colonoscopy ; Defecation ; Dizziness ; Duodenum ; Emergencies ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Endosonography ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemangioma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Nevus* ; Penis ; Rare Diseases ; Rubber* ; Stomach

Pancreatic cancer is currently the major leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the Western countries with an overall 5-year survival rate of less than 3. The key aim of investigation is to identify the cellular population in which some of the earliest molecular events occur, presumably the ultimate target for carcinogenic insult. Advances in pathological classification and genetics have improved our descriptive understanding of this disease. However, important aspects of pancreatic cancer biology remain poorly understood. Factors associated with the increased risk of pancreatic cancer include smoking, chronic pancreatitis, diabetes, prior gastric surgery, and exposure to radiation or chemicals. A number of syndromes have been identified with the increased incidence of pancreatic cancer, including familial atypical multiple-mole melanoma syndrome, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, and hereditary pancreatitis, etc. Recently, there have been growing evidences that stem cell biology could provide new insights into the understanding of cancer biology. Three postulates regarding the relationship between stem and tumor cells have been proposed. First, the similarities in the mechanims that regulate self-renewal of normal stem cells and cancer cells. Second, the possibility that tumor cells might arise from normal stem cells and third, the notion that tumors might contain 'cancer stem cells' - rare cells with indefinite proliferative potential which drive the formation and growth of tumors. New insights for the cancer stem cells and their possible markers in pancreatic cancer have been suggested recently. Further observations of molecular and cellular events in the early stage of pancreatic carcinogenesis may have important implications regarding the cellular lineage responsible for pancreatic ductal metaplasia and neoplasia, and provide further support for the presence of stem cell capabilities within mature pancreatic epithelium.
Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/*etiology/genetics/pathology ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Mutation ; Neoplasm Proteins/genetics ; Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary/genetics ; Oncogenes ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/diagnosis/*etiology/genetics ; Risk Factors ; Tumor Markers, Biological

The art and science of gastrointestinal endoscopy will continue to evolve at an amazing pace, with both endoscopists and industry providing new techniques and technologies for us to learn, investigate and apply to the benefit of our patients. It is not difficult to imagine that the next decade may see the maturation of a distinct specialty of gastrointestinal endoscopic surgery, currently in its adolescence, which crosses traditional boundaries. Practitioners will originate from a variety of backgrounds--gastroenterological, surgical or radiological--but must be trained specifically to perform the wide range of endoscopic procedures already in existence and those continually being introduced. Such 'endotherapists' will be an integral part of multidisciplinary units where optimal management strategies are planned based on available scientific evaluation of techniques irrespective of who performs them. Currently, numerous gastroinestinal diseases including both benign and malignant conditions have been managed using only endoscopic measurements. Control of gastrointestinal bleeding (variceal and non-variceal), dilation of benign and malignant strictures, antireflux management for esophagogastric reflux, endoscopic curative resection of premalignant and malignant lesions, treatment of submucosal tumors, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy or jejunostomy, stenting for malignant stricture of hollow viscus or pancreaticobiliary diseases, tumor ablation, and removal of biliary or pancreatic duct stones, etc. have been widely performed and various fascinating techniques and instruments have been continuously developed. It would be difficult to handle all of these various treatment modalities in a limited space. In this review we would like to discuss the fields of gastrointestinal tumors.
Endoscopy, Digestive System* ; Esophageal Neoplasms/surgery ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Human ; Palliative Care ; Stents ; Stomach Neoplasms/surgery

BACKGROUND: External ventricular drainage (EVD) is an important procedure for draining excessive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and monitoring intracranial pressure. Generally, EVD is performed in the operating room (OR) under aseptic conditions. However, in emergency circumstances, the operation may be performed in the intensive care unit (ICU) to save neuro-critical time and to avoid the unnecessary transfer of patients. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the risk of EVD-induced CNS infections and their outcomes according to the operating place (ICU versus OR). In addition, we compared mortalities as well as hospital and ICU days between the CNS infection and non-CNS infection groups. METHODS: We reviewed medical records, laboratory data and radiographic images of patients who had received EVD operations between January, 2013 and March, 2015. RESULTS: A total of 75 patients (45 men and 30 women, mean age: 58.7 +/- 15.6 years) were enrolled in this study. An average of 1.4 catheters were used for each patient and the mean period of the indwelling catheter was 7.5 +/- 5.0 days. Twenty-six patients were included in the ICU group, and EVD-induced CNS infection had occurred in 3 (11.5%) patients. For the OR group, forty-nine patients were included and EVD-induced CNS infection had occurred in 7 (14.3%) patients. The EVD-induced CNS infection of the ICU group did not increase above that of the OR group. The ICU days and mortality rate were higher in the CNS infection group compared to the non-CNS infection group. The period of the indwelling EVD catheter and the number of inserted EVD catheters were both higher in the CNS infection group. CONCLUSIONS: If the aseptic protocols and barrier precautions are strictly kept, EVD in the ICU does not have a higher risk of CNS infections compared to the OR. In addition, EVD in the ICU can decrease the hospital and ICU days by saving neuro-critical time and avoiding the unnecessary transfer of patients. Therefore, when neurosurgeons decide upon the operating place for EVD, they should consider the benefits of ICU operation and be cautious of EVD-induced CNS infection.
Catheter-Related Infections ; Catheters ; Catheters, Indwelling ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Drainage* ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units* ; Critical Care* ; Intracranial Pressure ; Male ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Operating Rooms* ; Retrospective Studies ; Ventriculostomy

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is one of the most useful diagnostic tool in biliary and pancreatic disease. However, ERCP cannot be performed successfully in all patients. Cannulation failure is the most common cause of failure of ERCP. Mechanical pathologies, such as peri-Vater diverticulum, cancer of the papilla of Vater, and impacted stone were the common causes of cannulation failure. We experienced two cases of carcinoma of the papilla of Vater in whom cholangiography and insertion of the nasobiliary tube were performed througth an artificial choledoehoduodenal fistula made by a needle type diathermy knife, beacuse cannulation to the duct was failed due to the tumor.
Catheterization ; Cholangiography* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Diathermy ; Diverticulum ; Fistula* ; Humans ; Needles ; Pancreatic Diseases ; Pathology

The bleeding duodenal varices are a rare complication in patients with portal hypertension, but present a difficult diagnostic problem. If there is no bleeding esophageal, gastric fundal varices or ulcer in a patient with upper gastrointestinal bleeding and portal hypertension, the possibility of bleeding duodenal varices should be kept in mind. Thorough endoscopic examination of the entire duodenal mucosa is essential to document bleeding from duodenal varices. As an initial treatment, endoscopic sclerotherapy has had limited success in controlling active duodenal variceal bleeding. However, rebleeding rate is high, surgical treatment including shunt operation may be required for permanent control of bleeding and portal decompression. We report three cases of duodenal varices causing massive hemorrhage. All the patients had portal hypertension caused by liver cirrhosis of various etiologies and had varices in their esophagus. The second portion of the duodenum was the site of duodenal varices in all cases. The management was tailored to the condition of each patient, but only one patient among three survived.
Decompression ; Duodenum ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Esophagus ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Mucous Membrane ; Sclerotherapy ; Ulcer ; Varicose Veins*

The safety of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) in patients with acute pancreatitis(AP) was confirmed in the past decade. Especially in ease of acute gallstone panereatitis, early ERCP/EST(endoscopic sphincterotomy) may reduce the incidence of complications by removing gallstone which causes acute attack of pancreatitis. To assess clinical usefulness of ERCP/EST in the setting of AP, we reviewed clinical records of 58 patients with AP who had undergone ERCP /EST during the same period of admission.(continue...)
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde* ; Gallstones ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pancreatitis*