A 56-year-old male with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) underwent surgical resection of the tumor. Nine months after surgery, imatinib therapy was initiated because of the discovery of metastatic tumors in the left adrenal gland and in a lymph node of the peritoneum. Seventeen months later, the patient achieved complete remission (CR) and imatinib therapy was continued. However, 48 months after initiation of imatinib therapy, computed tomography scans revealed a left adrenal gland metastasis and the patient underwent left adrenalectomy. Immunohistochemical staining indicated that the spindle-shaped cells of the resected tumor were positive for C-kit, thus confirming metastasis of the GIST. This is the first report from Korea of an adrenal gland metastasis from a GIST. Worldwide, only two such cases have been reported. Here, we describe the first case of a distant recurrence of a GIST in the left adrenal gland after CR had been achieved with the aid of surgical resection and imatinib therapy.
Adrenal Glands* ; Adrenalectomy ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors* ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Korea ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Peritoneum ; Recurrence

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an elevated risk of venous thromboembolism compared with the general population. The most common sites of venous thromboembolism in IBD patients are the deep veins of the legs, the pulmonary system, and portal and mesenteric veins. However, cerebral venous thrombosis is rarely associated with IBD. This report describes a case of cerebral venous thrombosis in a patient with Crohn's disease. A 17-year-old girl, diagnosed 4 years earlier with Crohn's disease, presented with headache and vomiting. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain with venography showed venous thrombosis in the cortical veins, superior sagittal sinus, right transverse sinus, and right internal jugular vein. The patient immediately started anticoagulation therapy with intravenous heparin infusion followed by daily oral rivaroxaban 10 mg. Follow-up imaging after 2 weeks showed resolution of the thrombosis, with recanalization of the cortical veins, superior sagittal sinus, right transverse sinus, and right internal jugular vein. She continued rivaroxaban therapy for 6 months, and remained well, without neurologic sequelae. A high level of concern for cerebral venous thrombosis may be important when treating active IBD patients, because anticoagulation treatment can prevent fatal complications.
Adolescent ; Brain ; Crohn Disease* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Heparin ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Jugular Veins ; Leg ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mesenteric Veins ; Phlebography ; Rivaroxaban ; Superior Sagittal Sinus ; Thrombosis ; Veins ; Venous Thromboembolism ; Venous Thrombosis* ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: The ideal alternative airway device should be intuitive to use, yielding proficiency after only a few trials. The Clarus Video System (CVS) is a novel optical stylet with a semi-rigid tip; however, the learning curve and associated orodental trauma are poorly understood. METHODS: Two novice practitioners with no CVS experience performed 30 intubations each. Each trial was divided into learning (first 10 intubations) and standard phases (remaining 20 intubations). Total time to achieve successful intubation, number of intubation attempts, ease of use, and orodental trauma were recorded. RESULTS: Intubation was successful in all patients. In 51 patients (85%), intubation was accomplished in the first attempt. Nine patients required two or three intubation attempts; six were with the first 10 patients. Learning and standard phases differed significantly in terms of success at first attempt, number of attempts, and intubation time (70% vs. 93%, 1.4 ± 0.7 vs. 1.1 ± 0.3, and 71.4 ± 92.3 s vs. 24.6 ± 21.9 s, respectively). The first five patients required longer intubation times than the subsequent five patients (106.8 ± 120.3 s vs. 36.0 ± 26.8 s); however, the number of attempts was similar. Sequential subgroups of five patients in the standard phase did not differ in the number of attempts or intubation time. Dental trauma, lip laceration, or mucosal bleeding were absent. CONCLUSIONS: Ten intubations are sufficient to learn CVS utilization properly without causing any orodental trauma. A relatively small number of experiences are required in the learning curve compared with other devices.
Education ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Lacerations ; Learning Curve* ; Learning* ; Lip

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between inhalation anesthetics and hearing in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: As inhalation anesthetics, isoflurane was used. Auditory brainstem response and distortion product otoacoustic emission were used as measurement of hearing. Mice were divided into 2 groups. 'Isoflurane group' consisted of mice that were anesthetized with an inspired concentration of 2.0 vol% isoflurane with 2 L/min of oxygen (n=10). 'Control group' consisted of mice that were anesthetized with ketamine and xylazine (n=10). RESULTS: Auditory brainstem response thresholds in mice anesthetized with ketamine and xylazine was not different from those in mice anesthetized with isoflurane. Threshold of DPOAE was higher in mice with isolurane than with ketamine and xylazine. Changes of efferent control may be induced by isoflurane and consequently change the threshold of DPOAE in mice. CONCLUSIONS: These results infer that, there was a change of central nervous system induced by inhalation anesthetics, this change also can be applied to the strategies for prevention of hearing loss.
Anesthetics ; Anesthetics, Inhalation ; Animals ; Central Nervous System ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Isoflurane ; Ketamine ; Mice ; Oxygen ; Xylazine

BACKGROUND: We investigated the protective effects of propofol in the HK-2 cell line of human kidney proximal tubular cells against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress. METHODS: After pretreatment with different concentrations of propofol (0 microM, 10 microM, 25 microM and 50 microM) for 30 minutes, HK-2 cells were exposed to 8 mM H2O2 for 4 hours. Cell death was assessed by measuring the percentage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and by counting viable cells. The nature of cell death was assessed by doubles-taining cells with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled Annexin V and propidium iodide, and then analyzing the cells using flow cytometry. RESULTS: After exposure to 8 mM H2O2 for 4 hours, the percentage of LDH release was 45.1 +/- 4.2% and the number of viable HK-2 cells was 5.2 +/- 6.0%. Pretreatment with propofol suppressed H2O2-induced LDH release in a concentration-dependent manner, reducing the percentage of LDH release to 38.1 +/- 5.6%, 33.5 +/- 6.3%, and 26.2 +/- 3.8% of the controls at 10 microM, 25 microM and 50 microM propofol, respectively. Numbers of viable cells increased following propofol pretreatment, with 11.4 +/- 10.9%, 19.5 +/- 16.1%, and 32.4 +/- 23.3% cell survival rates after pretreatment with 10 microM, 25 microM and 50 microM propofol, respectively. Analyses of flow cytometry showed that the propofol pretreatment decreased the percentage of necrotic and late apoptotic cells. CONCLUSIONS: Propofol protects HK-2 human kidney proximal tubular cells against H2O2-induced oxidative stress.
Annexin A5 ; Cell Death ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorescein ; Humans ; Hydrogen ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Kidney ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Oxidative Stress ; Propidium ; Propofol

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The increase of colonoscopy procedures has led to an increase in the diagnosis of carcinoid tumors in the lower gastrointestinal tract. The purpose of this study was to identify the clinical and pathological characteristics that affect the treatment and recurrence of carcinoid tumors of the lower gastrointestinal tract. METHODS: A 10-year (1999-2009) retrospective analysis of 41 patients with carcinoid tumors of the lower gastrointestinal tract at the Chungbuk National University Hospital was conducted. Patient and tumor characteristics, treatment and recurrence were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age was 47.4+/-12.4 (range, 22-79 years) and the male to female ratio was 1:0.64. The mean tumor size was 9.4+/-4.8 (3-20) mm. In the lower gastrointestinal tract, the rectum was the most frequent location of the lower gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors (92.7%). Twenty-nine out of 41 patients were treated by endoscopy (mean size of tumor: 8.0+/-3.4 mm) and 12 were treated by surgery (mean size of tumor: 13.8+/-5.8 mm)(P=0.011). Among the patients treated by endoscopy, only one patient had a complete resection. However, the histology showed that 10 patients treated by endoscopy had positive resection margins; all 10 cases (35.7%) had a polypectomy (P=0.013). The mean follow-up duration was 19.2+/-14.5 months, and there were two recurrences of rectal carcinoid tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Both endoscopic and surgical resections were effective methods for the treatment of lower gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors. However, endoscopic polypectomy should be carefully considered because of the possibility of more frequent incomplete histological resections. Moreover, even for small rectal carcinoid tumors, follow-up examination should be performed to evaluate for tumor recurrence.
Carcinoid Tumor ; Colonoscopy ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lower Gastrointestinal Tract ; Male ; Rectum ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

In the past, abdominoperineal resection was routinely performed for anal canal cancer, yet it is now known that squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal has a favorable prognosis and it rarely requires radical surgery. Furthermore, T1 anal cancer, which represents about 10% of all anal canal cancers, has an excellent prognosis. Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), which has been used for removal of early-stage adenocarcinoma of the rectum, has not been reported as a treatment option for squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal because making the endoscopic diagnosis of early-stage anal canal cancer is very difficult. We have experienced a case of early-stage squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal that was identified without symptoms during routine screening colonoscopy and it was removed by EMR. As far as we know, it is the first case of early-stage anal canal cancer that was diagnosed and treated by endoscopic mucosal resection.
Adenocarcinoma ; Anal Canal ; Anus Neoplasms ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Colonoscopy ; Mass Screening ; Prognosis ; Rectum

BACKGROUND: Propofol and barbiturates are both known to protect cells of several organs against ischemia/reperfusion injury, but there are few reports on any possible protective effects on human hepatocytes. We investigated the activities of both agents on human hepatic SNU761 cells under hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress. METHODS: To determine whether propofol and pentobarbital protect hepatocytes from H2O2-induced toxicity, we used SNU761 cells, a human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line. Cells were pretreated with different dosages (1, 10, 50 micrometer) of propofol or pentobarbital (1, 10, 50, 100, 400 micrometer) 30 min before H2O2 application. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was measured to assess and quantify cell death. To determine the nature of cell death, treated hepatocytes were doubly stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled Annexin V and propidium iodide (PI), and analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Pretreatment with propofol, but not pentobarbital, suppressed H2O2-induced LDH release. In Annexin V-FITC/PI binding analysis, propofol decreased the number of necrotic and late apoptotic cells, but no significant decreases in such cell numbers were seen when pentobarbital was used. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike pentobarbital, propofol, at clinical concentrations, protected SNU-761 HCC cells against oxidative stress.
Annexin A5 ; Apoptosis ; Barbiturates ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Cell Count ; Cell Death ; Cell Line ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorescein ; Hepatocytes ; Humans ; Hydrogen ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Isothiocyanates ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Necrosis ; Oxidative Stress ; Pentobarbital ; Propidium ; Propofol

BACKGROUND: The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the protective effect of propofol and etomidate against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) induced oxidative damage in human hepatic SNU761 cells by measuring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). METHODS: The cell line of human hepatocellular carcinoma was grown for 24 hours in dissociated cell culture. They were divided into eight groups: negative control (NC) group with no drug administration, positive control (PC) group with H2O2 250 micrometer and other groups pretreated with propofol (P; 1, 10, 50 micrometer) or etomidate (ET; 1, 10, 50 micrometer) followed H2O2 administration. After 7 hours, cell death was assessed by morphology under the light microscope and quantified by measuring the LDH in the culture media. RESULTS: In the light microscopic findings, the intact cells were increased in all three propofol groups compared to group PC. H2O2-induced LDH production was also significantly suppressed in all three propofol groups compared to group PC (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the microscopic findings and LDH production between the etomidate groups and group PC. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the propofol has protective effect on the hepatocyte against H2O2-induced oxidative stress.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Death ; Cell Line ; Culture Media ; Etomidate ; Hepatocytes ; Humans ; Hydrogen ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Light ; Oxidative Stress ; Propofol