BACKGROUND: AND PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic performance and safety of a new ¹⁸F-labeled amyloid tracer, ¹⁸F-FC119S. METHODS: This study prospectively recruited 105 participants, comprising 53 with Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, 16 patients with dementia other than AD (non-AD), and 36 healthy controls (HCs). In the first screening visit, the Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery cognitive function test was given to the dementia group, while HC subjects completed the Korean version of the Mini Mental State Examination. Individuals underwent ¹⁸F-FC119S PET, ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET, and brain MRI. The diagnostic performance of ¹⁸F-FC119S PET for AD was compared to a historical control (comprising previously reported and currently used amyloid-beta PET agents), ¹⁸F-FDG PET, and MRI. The standardized uptake value (SUV) ratio (ratio of the cerebral cortical SUV to the cerebellar SUV) was measured for each PET data set to provide semiquantitative analysis. All adverse effects during the clinical trial periods were monitored. RESULTS: Visual assessments of the ¹⁸F-FC119S PET data revealed a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 84% in detecting AD. ¹⁸F-FC119S PET demonstrated equivalent or better diagnostic performance for AD detection than the historical control, ¹⁸F-FDG PET (sensitivity of 80.0% and specificity of 76.0%), and MRI (sensitivity of 98.0% and specificity of 50.0%). The SUV ratios differed significantly between AD patients and the other groups, at 1.44±0.17 (mean±SD) for AD, 1.24±0.09 for non-AD, and 1.21±0.08 for HC. No clinically significant adverse effects occurred during the trial periods. CONCLUSIONS ¹⁸F-FC119S PET provides high sensitivity and specificity in detecting AD and therefore may be considered a useful diagnostic tool for AD.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a hyperglycemic condition caused by increased insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion during pregnancy. It is known to be temporary, but it can cause perinatal complications in the mother and baby. Additionally, it may progress to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In the present study, we evaluated the risk factors for complications and progression to T2DM in patients with GDM. METHODS: The study included 130 pregnant women who were diagnosed with GDM at gestational weeks 24-28 in 2011. Body mass index and the levels of glucose, total cholesterol, lipoproteins, and coagulation factors (von Willebrand factor and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1) were assessed in all patients. RESULTS: The level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was significantly lower and the triglyceride/HDL ratio and coagulation factor levels were significantly higher in the group of patients with perinatal complications compared to those in the group of patients without complications. After delivery, the level of HDL was lower and the value of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was higher in women with impaired glucose metabolism compared to those in women with normal glucose metabolism. In logistic regression analysis, perinatal complications were independently associated with HDL and PAI-1 levels (OR = 0.929 and 1.101, respectively). CONCLUSION: The findings of our study show that the levels of HDL and coagulation factors are notable risk factors of perinatal complications. Additionally, we showed that lower HDL level may influence the progression to T2DM. Large-scale population studies are needed to verify our findings.
Blood Coagulation Factors ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetes, Gestational* ; Female ; Glucose ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Lipoproteins ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; Logistic Models ; Metabolism ; Mothers ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; Plasminogen Activators ; Postpartum Period* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Risk Factors* ; von Willebrand Factor

Asymptomatic right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) myxoma is quite rare. We report an unusual case of asymptomatic myxoma arising from the RVOT which was successfully surgically removed.
Echocardiography ; Heart Ventricles ; Myxoma*

PURPOSE: Clostridium difficile colitis (CDC) is a nosocomial infection. We attempted to discover the risk factors for the development of CDC in patients admitted to our surgical ward. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of all patients admitted to our surgical ward between January 2010 and July 2011. CDC was confirmed when toxin A/B or toxin B polymerase chain reaction was detected in the stool and clinical symptoms, such as diarrhea, were present. We divided patients into the CDC and non-CDC groups, and compared the clinical features between the two groups. RESULTS: The rate of CDC occurrence was 0.4% (19/4,720 patients). Univariate analysis showed that colectomy (P < 0.001), hospital stays longer than 10 days (P < 0.001), aged over 55 years (P < 0.001) and transfer from medical ward (P = 0.009) were significant parameters for CDC. Multivariate analysis showed that colectomy (P < 0.001; odds ratio [OR], 8.405; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.927 to 24.132) and hospital stays longer than 10 days (P = 0.035; OR, 10.253; 95% CI, 1.176 to 89.392) were high risk factors for CDC occurrence in the surgical ward. CONCLUSION: The risk factors for CDC in a surgical ward could be colectomy and a long duration of hospitalization. Therefore, clinicians should consider the possibility of CDC when patients undergo colectomy, are admitted for a long time, and have postoperative diarrhea.
Aged ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Clostridium ; Clostridium difficile ; Colectomy ; Colitis ; Cross Infection ; Diarrhea ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Primary ovarian lymphoma is a rare malignancy whose symptoms or signs are usually nonspecific. In this article, we report a very rare case initially presenting as a rectal submucosal-tumor-like lesion with a defecation disturbance caused by primary ovarian lymphoma with bilateral involvement. A 42-year-old woman visited chungnam national university hospital complaining of persistent defecation disturbance for 6 months. Colonoscopy demonstrated compression of the rectum by an extrinsic mass mimicking a rectal submucosal tumor. Magnetic resonance imaging detected bilateral ovarian tumors, 9.3 cm and 5.4 cm each in diameter, compressing the rectum without enlarged lymph nodes. The diagnosis was established following a bilateral adnexectomy and histological studies of the excised tissue. The tumor was classified as a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The patient was prescribed six cycles of standard CHOP (cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin, vincristine, prednisolone) regimen and is presently on treatment.
Adult ; Colonoscopy ; Defecation ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Rectum ; Vincristine

Liver transplantation with preservation of the recipient vena cava (piggyback technique) has been performed as an alternative to the conventional method. Outflow disturbance or obstruction of the vena cava in the early period after liver transplantation is associated with high morbidity and mortality. We used side-to-side cavo-caval anastomosis (modified piggyback technique) in a deceased-donor liver transplantation (DDLT) for venous outflow reconstruction. On postoperative day 9, the patient developed abdominal discomfort, and abnormal liver function showing serum total bilirubin of 6.2 mg/dl and serum AST/ALT of 297/597 IU/L. Doppler ultrasound showed mono-phasic wave forms of the hepatic vein. Computed tomography showed focal narrowing of 9.5 mmx12 mm in diameter at the cavo-caval anastomosis site. Liver biopsy was showed that there was no evidence of acute allograft rejection. Direct venogram showed stenosis of the cavo-caval anastomosis with a pressure gradient of 12 mmHg. An interventional stent was inserted in the stenotic site of the inferior vena cava, and the pressure gradient decreased to 2 mmHg. He was discharged from hospital on postoperative day 23 without any other complications. Herein we report a case of deceased-donor liver transplantation using the modified piggyback technique, who received an inferior vena cava stent due to stricture of the reconstructed orifice of the vena cava.
Bilirubin ; Biopsy ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Hepatic Veins ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Transplantation ; Rejection (Psychology) ; Stents ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Vena Cava, Inferior

Protein S (PS) deficiency is a rare blood disorder associated with thrombosis. Only a small number of cases of isolated celiac artery dissection can be found in the literature. We now report a case of isolated celiac artery dissection and splenic infarction in a 44-year old male with PS deficiency. Abdominal computed tomography revealed celiac artery dissection and splenic infarction. The patient's PS activity was 64% (nl : 70~140%) upon admission and 52% four weeks later. He was started on a regimen of NPO, antibiotics, and analgesics. He resumed oral intake of food and drugs on hospital day 3 and was discharged to his home on hospital day 8. We report a case of isolated celiac artery dissection with splenic infarction in a patient with PS deficiency that improved with conservative treatment. The patient's management did not include anti-platelet/thrombotic agents or endovascular/operational procedures.
Analgesics ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Celiac Artery ; Humans ; Male ; Protein S ; Protein S Deficiency ; Splenic Infarction ; Thrombosis

Bordetella (B) bronchiseptica is a common veterinary pathogen, but has rarely been implicated in human infections. Most patients with B. bronchiseptica infections are compromised clinically such as in patients with a malignancy, AIDS, malnutrition, or chronic renal failure. We experienced a case of relapsing peritonitis caused by B. bronchiseptica associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). A 56-yr-old male, treated with CAPD due to end stage renal disease (ESRD), was admitted with complaints of abdominal pain and a turbid peritoneal dialysate. The culture of peritoneal dialysate identified B. bronchiseptica. The patient was treated with a combination of intraperitoneal antibiotics. There were two further episodes of relapsing peritonitis, although the organism was sensitive to the used antibiotics. Finally, the indwelling CAPD catheter was removed and the patient was started on hemodialysis. This is the first report of a B. bronchiseptica human infection in the Korean literature.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Bordetella Infections/*diagnosis/microbiology ; Bordetella bronchiseptica/*metabolism ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Kidney Failure/microbiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory/*methods ; Peritoneum/pathology ; Peritonitis/*microbiology ; Recurrence

It has been demonstrated that inhibitors of advanced glycation end products (AGE), such as aminoguanidine, can suppress peritoneal AGE in rats on peritoneal dialysis (PD). However, it is unknown whether late administration of a putative crosslink breaker, alagebrium, could reverse peritoneal AGE. We therefore compared alagebrium with aminoguanidine in their ability to reverse peritoneal AGE in rats on PD. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: group I dialyzed with 4.25% glucose solution for all exchanges; group II dialyzed with 4.25% glucose solution containing aminoguanidine, and group III dialyzed with 4.25% glucose solution containing alagebrium for last 8 weeks of 12-week dialysis period. Dialysis exchanges were performed 2 times a day for 12 weeks. Immunohistochemistry was performed using a monoclonal anti-AGE antibody. One-hour PET was performed for comparison of transport characteristics. The immunolabelling of AGE in peritoneal membrane was markedly decreased in the alagebrium group. Consistent with this, the alagebrium group exhibited significantly higher D/Do glucose and lower D/P urea, suggesting low peritoneal membrane transport. But there were no significant differences between the control and the aminoguanidine group. These results suggest that the alagebrium may be the optimal therapeutic approach, compared with treatment with inhibitors of AGE formation, in rats on PD.
Animals ; Biological Transport ; Body Weight ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Glycosylation End Products, Advanced/*metabolism ; Guanidines/metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry/methods ; Male ; Peritoneal Dialysis/*methods ; Peritoneum/metabolism/*pathology ; *Permeability ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Solitary fibrous tumor, a mesenchymal neoplasm that arises most commonly from the pleura of the lung, has been described in a variety of extrapleural sites including the abdominal cavity, soft tissue, upper respiratory tract and rarely in head and neck region. We present a rare case of solitary fibrous tumor that occurred in the sublingual gland. A 52-year old woman presented with a painless mass in the left side of the floor of mouth. The tumor was well-demarcated and easily dissected, and it showed highly cellular areas of spindle cells with pattern-less architecture alternating with hypocellular areas. The tumor cells were positive for CD34 but negative for cytokeratins and S-100 protein. During the 12 months of follow-up, there was no recurrence of tumor growth.
Abdominal Cavity ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Humans ; Keratins ; Lung ; Mouth Floor ; Neck ; Pleura ; Recurrence ; Respiratory System ; S100 Proteins ; Salivary Glands ; Solitary Fibrous Tumors ; Sublingual Gland