The Korean Society of Nephrology participated in the task force team consisting of government authorities and civilian experts to prevent and control the spread of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in 2015. The Korean Society of Nephrology MERS Task Force Team took an immediate action and drafted ‘the clinical recommendation for hemodialysis facilities’ to follow when the first and the only confirmed case was reported in the hemodialysis unit. Owing to the dedicated support from medical doctors, dialysis nurses, and related medical companies, we could prevent further transmission of MERS infection successfully in hemodialysis units. This special report describes the experience of infection control during MERS outbreak in 2015 and summarizes the contents of ‘the clinical practice guideline for hemodialysis facilities dealing with MERS patients’ built upon our previous experience.
Advisory Committees ; Coronavirus Infections* ; Dialysis ; Infection Control ; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus ; Middle East* ; Nephrology ; Quarantine ; Renal Dialysis*

Tumoral calcinosis (TC) is a condition resulting from extensive calcium phosphate precipitation, primarily in the periarticular tissues around major joints. Calciphylaxis is a fatal ischemic vasculopathy mainly affecting dermal blood vessels and subcutaneous fat. This syndrome is rare and predominantly occurs in patients with end-stage renal disease. Here, we report on a rare case involving a patient with TC complicated with calciphylaxis. Our patient was a 31-year-old man undergoing hemodialysis who presented with masses on both shoulders and necrotic cutaneous ulcers, which were associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism, on his lower legs. He underwent subtotal parathyroidectomy, and sodium thiosulfate (STS) was administered for 27 weeks. Twenty months after beginning the STS treatment course, he experienced dramatic relief of his TC and calciphylaxis.
Adult ; Blood Vessels ; Calcinosis* ; Calciphylaxis* ; Calcium ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary ; Joints ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Leg ; Parathyroidectomy* ; Renal Dialysis ; Shoulder ; Sodium* ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Ulcer

Left ventricular hypertrabeculation/noncompaction (LVHT) is an uncommon type of genetic cardiomyopathy characterized by trabeculations and recesses within the ventricular myocardium. LVHT is associated with diastolic or systolic dysfunction, thromboembolic complications, and arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias, atrioventricular block and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Herein, we describe a patient who presented with heart failure and wide-complex tachycardia. Echocardiography showed LVHT accompanied with severe mitral regurgitation. The electrophysiologic study revealed a fasciculo-ventricular accessory pathway and atrial flutter (AFL). The AFL was successfully treated with catheter ablation.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Atrial Flutter ; Atrioventricular Block ; Cardiomyopathies ; Catheter Ablation ; Echocardiography ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Isolated Noncompaction of the Ventricular Myocardium ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Myocardium ; Pre-Excitation, Mahaim-Type ; Tachycardia ; Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

PURPOSE: The incidence of complete remission is lower and the relapse is more frequent in adult-onset minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) are observed especially when compared with those in children. This study was designed to examine the effect of methylprednisolone pulse therapy in adultonset MCNS comparing to oral steroid as an initial therapeutic modality. METHODS: We have retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 25 adult-onset MCNS patients. Twelve patients were treated with three intravenous pulses of methylprednisolone (1 g daily) followed by oral prednisolone 1 mg/kg daily for 4-8 weeks and also by low doses of oral prednisolone for 4-6 months (MP group) Thirteen patients were initially treated with oral prednisolone 1 mg/kg daily for 4-8 weeks and then with low doses of oral prednisolone (PD group). RESULTS: The response to therapy was similar between MP and PD group, with a complete remission obtained in 83.3% and 84.6%, respectively. No statistically significant difference between the two groups was observed in the rate of response at 8 weeks (58.3% versus 69.2%). The mean time to response was not different between MP group (37.9+/-28.0 days) and PD group (45.5+/-40.2 days). No difference was recognized between the two groups with respect to relapse rate. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that a short course of methylprednisolone pulse therapy followed by oral prednisolone is not superior to oral prednisolone therapy as an initial therapeutic modality in adult-onset MCNS.
Child ; Humans ; Incidence ; Methylprednisolone* ; Nephrosis, Lipoid* ; Prednisolone ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although Gore-Tex is popularly used in nasal augmentation in human, studies about the histological changes have been carried out only in animal models. The purpose of this study is to investigate histological changes of Gore-Tex used in nasal augmentation in human. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Gore-Tex of 24 patients who underwent nasal augmentation using Gore-Tex (non-reinforced sheets) 2-36 months ago and had re-operated for the sole cosmetic problems was obtained. Histologic examination was performed from specimens including Gore-Tex and the surrounding soft tissue with light microscope and electromicroscope. RESULTS: Histologically, connective tissue ingrowth was observed in all specimen. But the degree of foreign body reaction and collagen deposit varied from specimen to specimen and had no relationship with the duration. Neovascularization was observed from specimen whose duration was longer than 12 months and degenerative calcification was observed from 36 month old specimen. CONCLUSION: Unlike the findings of previous reports, individual differences and partial degenerative lesions in Gore-Tex were observed. Additional studies are required to confirm the stability of Gore-Tex as an implant to be used in human.
Child, Preschool ; Collagen ; Connective Tissue ; Foreign-Body Reaction ; Humans* ; Individuality ; Models, Animal ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Rhinoplasty

The lithium is widely employed as a psychotropic agent, specially in manic illness. Lithium nephrotoxicity can be divided into three main categories: nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, acute intoxication, chronic nephropathy including interstitial nephropathy and glomerulopathy manifested as nephrotic syndrome. But, nephrotic syndrome induced by lithium is very rare. We reported a nephrotic syndrome induced by lithium in a 27-year-old woman who was taking lithium carbonate for 11 years due to bipolar disorder. Renal biopsy showed membranous nephropathy. After withdrawal of lithium, clinical symptoms and proteinuria significantly improved.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Bipolar Disorder ; Diabetes Insipidus, Nephrogenic ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous* ; Humans ; Lithium Carbonate ; Lithium* ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Proteinuria

Neurofibroma in gastrointestinal tract are presented as localized forms or in associated with neurofibromatosis. Previous reported cases were presented as relatively large sized esophageal mass and treated by surgical resection. However, a neurofibroma was found incidentally during endoscopy in this case. It was presented as palisade like solitary nodules with or without connecting mucosal bridges in lower esophagus. It was treated by mucosectomy and followed up without recurrence.
Endoscopy ; Esophagus* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Neurofibroma* ; Neurofibromatoses ; Recurrence

Patients of choriocarcinoma with brain metastases are considered to have a very poor prognosis due to chemo-refractoriness and recurrence. So, selection and individualization of patients then followed by multimodality therapy are very important. We present a case of a patient who experienced twice of craniotomies due to intracranial hemorrhage and an emergent explorative laparotomy due to intestinal perforation of the metastatic sites of choriocarcinoma. She was treated with 12 cycles of high-dose MTX/EMA-CO, intrathecal MTX and WBRT. Eventually she has obtained a complete remission that ongoing for 2 years. So, we report this case with a brief review of the literatures.
Brain* ; Choriocarcinoma* ; Craniotomy ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Perforation ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Laparotomy ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Pregnancy ; Prognosis ; Recurrence

The nephrotic syndrome has been reported in association with a wide variety of neoplastic disease. The relationship between early gastric cancer and glomerulonephritis has not been well elucidated. Only 6 cases (5 cases in Korea and 1 case in Japan) have been reported associated with glomerulonephritis by this time. 5 cases in Korea included three cases of membranous glomerulonephritis, one case of IgA nephropathy and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Four out of six cases including presented case were mucin secreting adenocarcinomas of stomach. Minimal change disease associated with solid tumors has been reported very rarely. Three cases of colon adenocarcinoma have been reported in association with minimal change disease by this time. Complete remission of nephrotic syndrome with tumor resection without corticosteroid therapy was reported in one of three cases, but two of them had to be on corticosteroid therapy in addition to tumor resection to get complete remissions. We report a 44-year-old man case with nephrotic syndrome associated with early gastric cancer. Renal biopsy findings were indicative of minimal change disease but with scanty IgA deposition. Low grade IgA nephropathy was suggested. Endoscopic biopsy on stomach demonstrated the adenocarcinoma with signet ring cells. Serum IgA concentration was 543 mg/dL, and decreased to 336 mg/dL after tumor resection. But, owing to persistent proteinuria and acute renal failure complicated, corticosteroid therapy was applied on the 30th day after operation. So we could not prove definite relationship between early gastric cancer and the development of IgA nephropathy mimicking minimal change disease. But, it is regarded that normalized serum IgAlevel and the complete remission of nephrotic syndrome with tumor resection and corticosteroid therapy can be indirect evidences for the relationship between early gastric cancer and the development of IgA nephropathy mimicking minimal change disease.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Adenocarcinoma ; Adult ; Biopsy ; Colon ; Glomerulonephritis ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA* ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A* ; Korea ; Mucins ; Nephrosis ; Nephrosis, Lipoid* ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Proteinuria ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms*

Paraquat, a very potent herbicide, has produced many fatalities through indiscriminate usage and suicides. It is known that with ingestion of more than one mouthful of 20% paraquat, death usually occurs by pulmonary fibrosis. We experienced two cases of successful outcome in patients with paraquat poisoning complicated with pulmonary fibrosis through active, intensive treatment from the early phase after ingestion. They swallowed one to two mouthfuls of the 20% commercial paraquat, and received hemoperfusion within 2-3 hours after ingestion. Then, combination therapy with steroid, vitamin C, D-penicillamine, allopurinol, colchicine was administered from the early phase. They showed moderate to severe hypoxemia and pulmonary fibrosis on chest HRCT during hospital course, but recovered from hypoxemia and remained very well on follow up over 3 months and 12 months after ingestion, respectively. We report these cases with literature review on treatment and prognosis of paraquat poisoning.
Allopurinol ; Anoxia ; Ascorbic Acid ; Colchicine ; Eating ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemoperfusion ; Humans ; Mouth ; Paraquat* ; Penicillamine ; Poisoning* ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Fibrosis* ; Suicide ; Thorax