Background: and Purpose The accurate prediction of functional outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is crucial for informed clinical decision-making and optimal resource utilization. As such, this study aimed to construct an ensemble deep learning model that integrates multimodal imaging and clinical data to predict the 90-day functional outcomes after AIS. Methods: We used data from the Korean Stroke Neuroimaging Initiative database, a prospective multicenter stroke registry to construct an ensemble model integrated individual 3D convolutional neural networks for diffusion-weighted imaging and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), along with a deep neural network for clinical data, to predict 90-day functional independence after AIS using a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of 3–6. To evaluate the performance of the ensemble model, we compared the area under the curve (AUC) of the proposed method with that of individual models trained on each modality to identify patients with AIS with an mRS score of 3–6. Results: Of the 2,606 patients with AIS, 993 (38.1%) achieved an mRS score of 3–6 at 90 days post-stroke. Our model achieved AUC values of 0.830 (standard cross-validation [CV]) and 0.779 (time-based CV), which significantly outperformed the other models relying on single modalities: b-value of 1,000 s/mm2 (P<0.001), apparent diffusion coefficient map (P<0.001), FLAIR (P<0.001), and clinical data (P=0.004). Conclusion The integration of multimodal imaging and clinical data resulted in superior prediction of the 90-day functional outcomes in AIS patients compared to the use of a single data modality.

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is considered a relatively safe procedure. However, the procedure and the materials used in EGD with conscious sedation can cause stress to the patient. Adverse events during EGD have been reported, represented by cardiopulmonary complications. To date, five cases have reported worldwide to be associated with gastrointestinal endoscopy. Stress cardiomyopathy (SCMP) is a reversible cardiomyopathy that typically occurs in postmenopausal women due to stress and may resolve within a few weeks. SCMP resembles acute myocardial infarction but differs in terms of treatment and prognosis. Here, we describe two cases of SCMP with shock during EGD with conscious sedation.
Cardiomyopathies ; Conscious Sedation ; Endoscopy, Digestive System* ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Female ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Prognosis ; Shock ; Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy*

Posttransplant erythrocytosis (PTE) is a common complication of renal transplantation, which can occur in approximately 10% to 15% of renal transplant patients and usually affects males with relatively good renal function. It is also associated with an increased incidence of thromboembolic events. Clinical manifestations of PTE include malaise, headache, plethora, lethargy, and dizziness. It is correlated with use of cyclosporin, gender, posttransplant renal function, and type of antihypertensive medication. The angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor is preferred as an initial treatment for PTE because these agents are effective and reasonably safe in the majority of patients with PTE, and can also provide a necessary antihypertensive effect for kidney transplant patients. We report here on a 35-year-old male who had erythrocytosis after renal transplantation. After renal transplantation, his level of hemoglobin was 21 g/dL. We treated this patient with ARB and his symptoms and signs have been completely relieved.
Adult ; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists ; Angiotensins ; Cyclosporine ; Dizziness ; Headache ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney Transplantation ; Kidney* ; Lethargy ; Male ; Polycythemia

Hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach (HAS) is a rare form of gastric cancer that histologically resembles hepatocellular carcinoma and is characterized by large amounts of alpha fetoprotein in the serum. The prognosis of HAS is poor compared to that of primary gastric cancer with five-year survival rates of 9% and 44%, respectively. Here, we report five patients diagnosed with HAS. Our experience suggests that an advanced stage of HAS has an extremely poor prognosis, but early detection and radical surgery can help improve the prognosis of the disease.
Adenocarcinoma* ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Colorectal cancer (CRC) develops from colonic adenomas. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with a higher risk of CRC and metformin decreases CRC risk. However, it is not certain if metformin affects the development of colorectal polyps and adenomas. This study aimed to elucidate if metforminaffects the incidence of colonic polyps and adenomas in patients with type 2 DM. METHODS: Of 12,186 patients with type 2 DM, 3,775 underwent colonoscopy between May 2001 and March 2013. This study enrolled 3,105 of these patients, and divided them in two groups: 912 patients with metformin use and 2,193 patients without metformin use. Patient clinical characteristics, polyp and adenoma detection rate in the two groups were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The Colorectal polyp detection rate was lower in the metformin group than in the non-meformin group (39.4% vs. 62.4%, P<0.01). Colorectal adenoma detection rate was significantly lower in the metformin group than in the non-metformin group (15.2% vs. 20.5%, P<0.01). Fewer advanced adenomas were detected in the metformin group than in the non-metformin group (12.2% vs. 22%, P<0.01). Multivariate analysis identified age, sex, Body mass index and metformin use as factors associated with polyp incidence, whereas only metforminwas independently associated with decreased adenoma incidence (Odd ratio=0.738, 95% CI=0.554-0.983, P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with type 2 DM, metformin reduced the incidence of adenomas that may transform into CRC. Therefore, metformin may be useful for the prevention of CRC in patients with type 2 DM.
Adenoma* ; Body Mass Index ; Colon ; Colonic Polyps* ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Metformin* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Polyps ; Retrospective Studies

Kaposi's sarcoma was the first malignancy to be recognized as a cancer defining acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Kaposi's sarcoma, a rare tumor, usually presents itself with skin lesions but it may be widely disseminated internally such as digestive, respiratory organ, spleen, or lymph node. The incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma in patients with AIDS has declined in the era of effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), and cases of disseminated Kaposi's sarcomas have rarely been reported in Korea. Chemotherapy is usually used in symptomatic or rapidly progressive disease, and interferon-alpha can be applied as a treatment option. We report a successfully treated case of gastrointestinal and cervical lymph nodal Kaposi's sarcoma in a patient with AIDS who had combined treatment with ART, interferon-alpha, and paclitaxel.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Humans ; Incidence ; Interferon-alpha ; Korea ; Lymph Nodes ; Paclitaxel ; Sarcoma, Kaposi ; Skin ; Spleen

OBJECTIVE: Shunt-dependent chronic hydrocephalus (SDCH) is known to be a major complication associated with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Old age is known to be one of numerous factors related to the development of SDCH. This study investigated whether postoperative cisternal drainage affects the incidence of SDCH and clinical outcome in elderly patients with aSAH. METHODS: Fifty-nine patients participated in this study. All patients underwent aneurysmal clipping with cisternal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage. Clinical variables relevant to the study included age, sex, location of ruptured aneurysm, CT finding and clinical state on admission, clinical outcome, and CSF drainage. We first divided patients into two groups according to age (<70 years of age and > or =70 years of age) and compared the two groups. Secondly, we analyzed variables to find factors associated with SDCH in both groups (<70 years of age and > or =70 years of age). RESULTS: Of 59 patients, SDCH was observed in 20 patients (33.9 %), who underwent shunt placement for treatment of hydrocephalus. Forty seven percent of cases of acute hydrocephalus developed SDCH. In the elderly group (> or =70 years of age), the duration and amount of CSF drainage did not affect the development of chronic hydrocephalus. CONCLUSION: In elderly patients, although the incidence of SDCH was significantly higher, clinical outcome was acceptable. The duration and the amount of cisternal drainage did not seem to be related to subsequent development of chronic hydrocephalus within elderly patients aged 70 or older.
Aged ; Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Dependency (Psychology) ; Drainage ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Incidence ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: It has been suggested that elevated cardiac troponin T (cTnT) level is a marker of increased risk of mortality in acute ischemic stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). However, the association of serum cTnT level and prognosis of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has been sparsely investigated. The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between cTnT level and the outcome in patients with spontaneous ICH. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated 253 patients identified by a database search from records of patients admitted in our department for ICH between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2007. The patients were divided into 2 groups; the patients in group 1 (n=225) with serum cTnT values of 0.01 ng/mL or less, and those in group 2 (n=28) with serum cTnT values greater than 0.01 ng/mL. RESULTS: The serum cTnT level was elevated in 28 patients. There were significant differences in sex, hypertension, creatine kinase-myocardial band, midline shift, side of hematoma, and presence of intraventricular hemorrhage between the 2 groups. Logistic regression analysis identified the level of consciousness on admission, cTnT and midline shift as independent predictors of hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: Theses results suggest that increased serum cTnT level at admission is associated with in-hospital mortality and the addition of a serum cTnT assay to routine admission testing should be considered in patients with ICH.
Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Consciousness ; Creatine ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Logistic Models ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Troponin ; Troponin T

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The serum Helicobacter pylori IgG antibody test has been widely used by primary care physicians for over two decades. We assessed its usefulness as a screening strategy for organic gastrointestinal disease in routine check-up. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 10,080 subjects who received a routine check up at the Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital from January 2004 to April 2005. All subjects underwent the H. pylori IgG antibody test and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy or a barium contrast study. RESULTS: The overall seropositive rate for H. pylori detection was 61.0% (6,150/10,180). The 13C-urea breath test (UBT) was performed in 340 subjects. The H. pylori antibody test showed 55% accuracy in comparison to the standard 13C-UBT. The number of patients with peptic ulcer in the seropositive group was 475 (7.7%) compared to only 168 patients (4.3%) in the seronegative group (p<0.001). Stomach cancer was observed in eight (0.1%) and two (0.1%) patients in the seropositive and seronegative groups, respectively. The positive and negative likelihood ratios for the H. pylori IgG antibody test for peptic ulcer were 1.22 and 0.66, respectively, compared to 1.31 and 0.26 for stomach cancer. CONCLUSIONS: In view of its low accuracy and likelihood ratios, we do not recommend the H. pylori antibody test as a diagnostic tool for H. pylori infection or as a screening strategy for organic gastrointestinal disease during routine check-ups.
Barium ; Breath Tests ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Helicobacter ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Mass Screening ; Medical Records ; Peptic Ulcer ; Physicians, Primary Care ; Retrospective Studies ; Serologic Tests ; Stomach Neoplasms

Pheochromocytoma is derived from the chromaffin tissue. The typical finding of pheochromocytoma is paroxysmal hypertension accompanied with various signs and symptoms that are due to the excess of catecholamines or other bioactive substances. Yet the diagnosis is sometimes difficult to make because its clinical presentation is quite variable. Especially, hemoptysis is a very rare symptom, so the diagnosis is often missed or delayed. Without making the correct diagnosis and then subsequently administering treatment, the condition may be fatal. We herein report on a 68 year-old woman who was admitted because of abdominal pain and hemoptysis. The initial radiologic findings suggested pulmonary edema with alveolar hemorrhage. The urine catecholamine levels were elevated and she developed catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy. We performed bronchial arterial embolization and we administered alpha blocker medication for controlling the hemoptysis and hypertension. After the temporary symptomatic improvement, her clinical course was aggravated by pneumonia and pulmonary edema. In spite of performing definitive surgery for pheochromocytoma, she died of postoperative hemodynamic instability.
Abdominal Pain ; Cardiomyopathies ; Catecholamines ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Hemoptysis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Pheochromocytoma ; Pneumonia ; Pulmonary Edema