Esophageal involvement of pemphigus vulgaris is rare, and when present, the most common presenting symptoms reported in the medical literature are odynophagia and dysphagia. Here, we present two cases of pemphigus vulgaris presenting with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage because of esophageal involvement of the disease. In case 1, a 41-year-old female patient with a prior diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris presented with hematemesis. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed diffuse mucosal exfoliation and oozing bleeding of the oropharynx and esophagus. The patient recovered after the administration of high-dose corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. In case 2, a 30-year-old female patient with known pemphigus vulgaris also presented with hematemesis, showing similar endoscopic findings to the first case. She also responded to the same treatment. Esophageal involvement of pemphigus vulgaris responds to high-dose corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. Thus, in patients with pemphigus vulgaris with signs or symptoms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, an early endoscopy for the evaluation of esophageal involvement is beneficial.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Adult ; Deglutition Disorders ; Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Esophagus ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hematemesis ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Oropharynx ; Pemphigus*

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in immunocompromised patients is associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and adverse clinical outcome. However, CMV infection in immunocompetent patients has been considered to have subclinical and self-limited course, and does not require treatment. We reports a case of CMV colitis, presented with colon perforation and lower gastrointestinal bleeding in a immunocompetent 31-year-old young male. After conservative treatment, colonoscopy revealed multiple ulcers in transverse colon. CMV colitis was confirmed by microscopic findings and immunohistochemistry. After successful treatment with ganciclovir, the patient improved without invasive procedure.
Adult ; Colitis* ; Colon* ; Colon, Transverse ; Colonoscopy ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Ganciclovir ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Immunocompetence ; Immunocompromised Host ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mortality ; Ulcer

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Korean Anxiety Screening Assessment (K-ANX) developed for screening anxiety disorders. METHODS: Data from 613 participants were analyzed. The K-ANX was evaluated for reliability using Cronbach’s alpha, item-total correlation, and test information curve, and for validity using focus group interviews, factor analysis, correlational analysis, and item characteristics based on item response theory (IRT). The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the K-ANX were compared with those of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7). RESULTS: The K-ANX showed excellent internal consistency (α=0.97) and item-total coefficients (0.92–0.97), and a one-factor structure was suggested. All items were highly correlated with the total scores of the BAI, GAD-7, and Penn State Worry Questionnaire. IRT analysis indicated the K-ANX was most informative as a screening tool for anxiety disorders at the range between 0.8 and 1.6 (i.e., top 21.2 to 5.5 percentiles). Higher sensitivity (0.795) and specificity (0.937) for identifying anxiety disorders were observed in the K-ANX compared to the BAI and GAD-7. CONCLUSION: The K-ANX is a reliable and valid measure to screen anxiety disorders in a Korean sample, with greater sensitivity and specificity than current measures of anxiety symptoms.
Anxiety Disorders* ; Anxiety* ; Focus Groups ; Mass Screening* ; Psychometrics ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Vibrio cholerae is mainly known to cause gastrointestinal infection after seawater exposure or raw seafood intake. It is rarely reported to cause cellulitis or sepsis, but threre has been no known case after acupuncture. Herein, We report a 56-year-old cirrhotic patient of non-O1, non-O139 Vibrio cholerae septicemia caused by cellulitis of both lower extremities after acupuncture.
Acupuncture* ; Cellulitis ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Lower Extremity ; Middle Aged ; Seafood ; Seawater ; Sepsis* ; Vibrio cholerae* ; Vibrio*

Vibrio cholerae is mainly known to cause gastrointestinal infection after seawater exposure or raw seafood intake. It is rarely reported to cause cellulitis or sepsis, but threre has been no known case after acupuncture. Herein, We report a 56-year-old cirrhotic patient of non-O1, non-O139 Vibrio cholerae septicemia caused by cellulitis of both lower extremities after acupuncture.
Acupuncture* ; Cellulitis ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Lower Extremity ; Middle Aged ; Seafood ; Seawater ; Sepsis* ; Vibrio cholerae* ; Vibrio*