BK virus nephropathy has emerged as an important cause of renal allograft dysfunction. Reduction in immunosuppression is the mainstay of BK virus nephropathy treatment. However, decreasing immunosuppressive medications is not sufficient for treatment of BK virus nephropathy. Therefore, there is a need for other treatment strategies such as cidofovir, leflunomide, and intravenous immunoglobulin in combination with immunosuppression reduction. Ciprofloxacin has recently been reported to have antiviral activity and decrease BK viral load in kidney transplant recipients. These findings suggest that the use of ciprofloxacin represents a valuable treatment strategy in patients with BK virus nephropathy. Here, we report on our experience with three patients who developed presumptive BK virus nephropathy after kidney transplantation, who, after 2 months of ciprofloxacin treatment, showed disappearance of BK viremia and improvement in the estimated glomerular filtration rate. Ciprofloxacin may be considered an effective treatment option for BK viremia in kidney transplant recipients.
Allografts ; BK Virus ; Ciprofloxacin ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Immunosuppression ; Kidney Transplantation ; Kidney* ; Transplantation* ; Viral Load ; Viremia

The classic presentation of renal cell carcinoma (pain, hematuria, and flank mass) occurs in a minority of patients and often is indicative of advanced disease. Common sites of metastatic renal cell carcinoma are lung, soft tissues, bone, and liver. Paranasal sinus is an unusual site for metastasis of renal cell carcinoma. One 73-year-old male presented to Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital with melena. Renal cell carcinoma with metastasis to duodenum was diagnosed by computed tomography (CT). He underwent right radical nephrectomy and Whipple's operation. Positron emission tomography/CT was performed postoperatively, and then metastasis to maxillary sinus was found by accident. He was treated with molecular targeted therapy (pazopanib hydrochloride 800 mg).
Aged ; Bone and Bones ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Duodenum ; Electrons ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Liver ; Lung ; Male ; Maxillary Sinus* ; Melena ; Molecular Targeted Therapy ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Nephrectomy ; Seoul

Hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) is a rare disease presenting as acute abdomen. The presence of the air in the portal vein has been associated with a mortality rate of more than 75%. Because of high mortality rate, most HPVG requires emergent surgical interventions and intensive medical management. HPVG is most commonly caused by mesenteric ischemia but may have a variety other causes. Clostridium perfringens is the most common pathogen of gas forming bacteria that can cause of HPVG, but Clostridium perfringens blood stream infection with HPVG is not yet reported in Korea. We experienced a case of HPVG caused by Clostridium perfringens blood stream infection at mesenteric venous hemangioma with portal hypertension due to mesenteric arteriovenous malformation.
Abdomen, Acute ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; Bacteria ; Clostridium perfringens* ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal* ; Ischemia ; Korea ; Mortality ; Portal Vein ; Rare Diseases ; Rivers

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of emphysema during life is based on a combination of clinical, functional, and radiographic findings, but this combination is relatively insensitive and nonspecific. The development of rapid, high-resolution third and fourth generation CT scanners has enabled us to resolve pulmonary parenchymal abnormalities with great precision. We compared the chest HRCT findings to the pulmonary function test and arterial blood gas analysis in pulmonary emphysema patients to test the ability of HRCT to quantify the degree of pulmonary emphysema. METHODS: From October 1994 to October 1995, the study group consisted of 20 subjects in whom HRCT of the thorax and pulmonary function studies had been obtained at St. Mary's hospital. The analysis was from scans at preselected anatomic levels and incorporated both lungs. On each HRCT slice the lung parenchyma was assessed for two aspects of emphysema: severity and extent. The five levels were graded and scored separately for the left and right lung giving a total of 10 lung fields. A combination of severity and extent gave the degree of emphysema. We compared the HRCT quantitation of emphysema, pulmonary function tests, ABGA, CBC, and patients characteristics(age, sex, height, weight, smoking amounts etc.) in 20 patients. RESULTS: 1) There was a significant inverse correlation between HRCT scores for emphysema and percentage predicted values of DLco(r = -0.68, p < 0.05),DLco/VA(r = -0.49, p < 0.05),FEVl(r = -0.53, p < 0.05),, and FVC(r = -0.47, p < 0.05). 2) There was a significant correlation between the HRCT scores and percentage predicted values of TLC(r = 0.50, p < 0.05),RV(r = 0.64, p < 0.05). 3) There was a significant inverse correlation between the HRCT scores and PaO2(r = -0.48, p < 0.05) and significant correlation with D(A-a)02(r = -0.48, p < 0.05) but no significant correlation between the HRCT scores and PaCO2. 4) There was no significant correlation between the HRCT scores and age, sex, height, weight, smoking amounts in patients, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and wbc counts. CONCLUSION: High-Resolution CT provides a useful method for early detection and quantitating emphysema in life and correlates significantly with pulmonary function tests and arterial blood gas analysis.
Blood Gas Analysis ; Diagnosis ; Emphysema* ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Lung ; Pulmonary Emphysema ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thorax

Herbal remedies and health foods are widely used, and their side effects have been reported. Glucosamine is a naturally occurring amino-monosaccharide and a safe health food; rarely, however, it can cause cholestatic and hepatocellular hepatitis. We describe a case of drug-induced autoimmune hepatitis after ingestion of glucosamine. A middle-aged woman who had no history of liver disease complained of jaundice after taking glucosamine. The diagnosis of drug-induced acute autoimmune hepatitis was made using the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method score based on the patient's history and laboratory data, and percutaneous liver biopsy. After supportive care and administering prednisolone and azathiprine, the patient showed rapid improvement in clinical symptoms and laboratory findings.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Drug-Induced Liver Injury ; Eating* ; Female ; Glucosamine* ; Food, Organic ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis, Autoimmune* ; History ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Prednisolone

Herbal remedies and health foods are widely used, and their side effects have been reported. Glucosamine is a naturally occurring amino-monosaccharide and a safe health food; rarely, however, it can cause cholestatic and hepatocellular hepatitis. We describe a case of drug-induced autoimmune hepatitis after ingestion of glucosamine. A middle-aged woman who had no history of liver disease complained of jaundice after taking glucosamine. The diagnosis of drug-induced acute autoimmune hepatitis was made using the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method score based on the patient's history and laboratory data, and percutaneous liver biopsy. After supportive care and administering prednisolone and azathiprine, the patient showed rapid improvement in clinical symptoms and laboratory findings.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Drug-Induced Liver Injury ; Eating* ; Female ; Glucosamine* ; Food, Organic ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis, Autoimmune* ; History ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Prednisolone

Educating primary care physicians about blood donation and transfusion is critical. The Division of Hematology and Oncology at Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital in Korea introduced an on-site educational program termed the Blood Donation Center Visiting Program in the clerkship education for final-year medical students. We evaluated the educational outcomes and changes in perception among medical students after the Blood Donation Center Visiting Program based on a survey. The program was implemented from 2021 to 2023. As part of the program, students visited a blood donation center each week, one group at a time. They gained practical knowledge about the blood donation process, and some students actively participated in blood donation. After the program, 287 students were eligible for an online survey of the program, of whom 203 participated in the survey. Among the 203 students, 126 (62.1%) donated blood during their visit to the blood donation center as part of the program, and 88.7% of the students reported an increase (from 71.4% to 90.1%) in their knowledge and willingness to donate blood. The onsite educational Blood Donation Center Visiting Program appears to have generated positive changes in perceptions among students and enhanced their knowledge about blood donation.

Educating primary care physicians about blood donation and transfusion is critical. The Division of Hematology and Oncology at Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital in Korea introduced an on-site educational program termed the Blood Donation Center Visiting Program in the clerkship education for final-year medical students. We evaluated the educational outcomes and changes in perception among medical students after the Blood Donation Center Visiting Program based on a survey. The program was implemented from 2021 to 2023. As part of the program, students visited a blood donation center each week, one group at a time. They gained practical knowledge about the blood donation process, and some students actively participated in blood donation. After the program, 287 students were eligible for an online survey of the program, of whom 203 participated in the survey. Among the 203 students, 126 (62.1%) donated blood during their visit to the blood donation center as part of the program, and 88.7% of the students reported an increase (from 71.4% to 90.1%) in their knowledge and willingness to donate blood. The onsite educational Blood Donation Center Visiting Program appears to have generated positive changes in perceptions among students and enhanced their knowledge about blood donation.

Educating primary care physicians about blood donation and transfusion is critical. The Division of Hematology and Oncology at Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital in Korea introduced an on-site educational program termed the Blood Donation Center Visiting Program in the clerkship education for final-year medical students. We evaluated the educational outcomes and changes in perception among medical students after the Blood Donation Center Visiting Program based on a survey. The program was implemented from 2021 to 2023. As part of the program, students visited a blood donation center each week, one group at a time. They gained practical knowledge about the blood donation process, and some students actively participated in blood donation. After the program, 287 students were eligible for an online survey of the program, of whom 203 participated in the survey. Among the 203 students, 126 (62.1%) donated blood during their visit to the blood donation center as part of the program, and 88.7% of the students reported an increase (from 71.4% to 90.1%) in their knowledge and willingness to donate blood. The onsite educational Blood Donation Center Visiting Program appears to have generated positive changes in perceptions among students and enhanced their knowledge about blood donation.

Educating primary care physicians about blood donation and transfusion is critical. The Division of Hematology and Oncology at Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital in Korea introduced an on-site educational program termed the Blood Donation Center Visiting Program in the clerkship education for final-year medical students. We evaluated the educational outcomes and changes in perception among medical students after the Blood Donation Center Visiting Program based on a survey. The program was implemented from 2021 to 2023. As part of the program, students visited a blood donation center each week, one group at a time. They gained practical knowledge about the blood donation process, and some students actively participated in blood donation. After the program, 287 students were eligible for an online survey of the program, of whom 203 participated in the survey. Among the 203 students, 126 (62.1%) donated blood during their visit to the blood donation center as part of the program, and 88.7% of the students reported an increase (from 71.4% to 90.1%) in their knowledge and willingness to donate blood. The onsite educational Blood Donation Center Visiting Program appears to have generated positive changes in perceptions among students and enhanced their knowledge about blood donation.