In order to investigate the safety and efficacy of low energy laser irradiation to the arthritis of the patients with rheumatoid arthrtis, a multi-center double blind comparative study was conducted.
Sixty eight patients with rheumatoid arthritis were randomly allocated into two groups of laser and sham irradiation. The each inflamed knee joint received 3 minut's irradiation of Ga-AI-As laser at 20mw with wave length of 830nm or 3 minut's sham irradiation, twice a week during 5 weeks. Evaluation items included pain and swelling of the knee joint, 15m walking time, ESR and morning stiffness. Routine laboratory tests including CBC, blood chemistry such as GOT, GPT, and LDH were also examined at the entry of the study and the completion of 10 times irradiation. Among various evaluation items, 15m walking time showed significant decrease in the laser group comparing with that in the sham group (P<0.01). The remaining items showed no significant differences between two groups. Laboratory data showed no remarkable changes during the study and no apparent adverse effect with irradiation was observed.
These results show some beneficial effect of low energy laser therapy to the patient with rheumatoid arthritis and also safety of irradiation.

We report a case of hemangiopericytoma of the soft palate of 60-year-old patient, who noticed a mass of the soft palate and experienced difficulty in speaking. We found a pediculate, hard, elastic mass measuring 38 mm (cross-sectional diameter). Computed tomography (CT) scans and dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed irregularly shaped mass and revealed a heterogeneous internal composition, consistent with vascular tumors. We excised the tumor under general anesthesia. Histopathological diagnosis was based on positive immunoreactivity of CD99 and vimentin and weak, positive staining of CD34. Three and half years following tumor excision, there is no recurrence or metastasis.
12E7 Antigen ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Articulation Disorders ; etiology ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; analysis ; Deglutition Disorders ; etiology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangiopericytoma ; complications ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Palatal Neoplasms ; complications ; Palate, Soft ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vimentin ; analysis

Esophageal achalasia is a primary motility disorder characterized by insufficient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation and loss of esophageal peristalsis. Achalasia is a chronic disease that causes progressive irreversible loss of esophageal motor function. The recent development of high-resolution manometry has facilitated the diagnosis of achalasia, and determining the achalasia subtypes based on high-resolution manometry can be important when deciding on treatment methods. Peroral endoscopic myotomy is less invasive than surgery with comparable efficacy. The present guidelines (the “2019 Seoul Consensus on Esophageal Achalasia Guidelines”) were developed based on evidence-based medicine; the Asian Neurogastroenterology and Motility Association and Korean Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility served as the operating and development committees, respectively. The development of the guidelines began in June 2018, and a draft consensus based on the Delphi process was achieved in April 2019. The guidelines consist of 18 recommendations: 2 pertaining to the definition and epidemiology of achalasia, 6 pertaining to diagnoses, and 10 pertaining to treatments. The endoscopic treatment section is based on the latest evidence from meta-analyses. Clinicians (including gastroenterologists, upper gastrointestinal tract surgeons, general physicians, nurses, and other hospital workers) and patients could use these guidelines to make an informed decision on the management of achalasia.