Gastric cancer and adenomatous colorectal polyp concomitant with pyogenic liver abscess and bacteremia / 영남의대학술지

Synchronous gastric cancer and adenomatous colorectal polyp in patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae-induced pyogenic liver abscess (KP-PLA) and bacteremia is a rare presentation. A 58-year-old man with a 6-month history of diabetes mellitus (DM) presented with febrile sensation and dull abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. Subsequent to laboratory test results and abdominal computed tomography findings, KP-PLA with bacteremia was diagnosed. After intravenous antibiotic administration, his symptoms improved, and upper endoscopy and colonoscopy were performed to evaluate the cause of KP-PLA. Biopsy specimens of the prepyloric anterior wall revealed a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. Endoscopic mucosal resection of the colon revealed high-grade dysplasia. Early gastric cancer (EGC) and adenomatous colorectal polyps with high-grade dysplasia concomitant with KP-PLA and bacteremia were diagnosed in our patient who had DM. Intravenous antibiotic treatment for KP-PLA, subtotal gastrectomy for EGC, and colonoscopic mucosal resection for the colon polyp were performed. After 25 days of hospitalization, subtotal gastrectomy with adjacent lymph node dissection was performed. Follow-up ultrasound imaging showed resolution of the abscess 5 weeks post-antibiotic treatment, as well as no tumor metastasis. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy should be performed to evaluate gastric cancer in patients with PLA or bacteremia, accompanied with DM or an immunocompromised condition.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Patients with Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion: A Preliminary Study

PURPOSE: Our study aimed to determine whether obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common among branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) patients without systemic risk factors using a Watch PAT-100 portable monitoring device. METHODS: The study participants included consecutive patients with BRVO of less than 3 months duration without any risk factors known to be associated with OSA (diabetes, coronary artery disease, stroke, hematologic diseases, autoimmune disease, etc.) except for hypertension. All patients underwent full-night unattended polysomnography by means of a portable monitor Watch PAT-100 device. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was calculated as the average number of apnea and hypopnea events per hour of sleep, and an AHI score of five or more events was diagnosed as OSA. RESULTS: Among 19 patients (6 males and 13 females), 42.1% (8 of 19) had an AHI reflective of OSA. In the 13 patients who had no concurrent illness, including hypertension, 30.8% (4 of 13) had positive test results for OSA; three of these patients were ranked as mild OSA, while one had moderate OSA. The OSA group had an average AHI of 12.3 ± 7.8, and the average AHI was 2.0 ± 0.9 in the non-OSA group. Although it was not statistically proven, we found that OSA patients experienced a more severe form of BRVO. CONCLUSIONS: We found a higher than expected rate of OSA in BRVO patients lacking concomitant diseases typically associated with OSA. Our findings suggest that OSA could be an additional risk factor in the pathogenesis of BRVO or at least a frequently associated condition that could function as a triggering factor.

CD9 Expression in Colorectal Carcinomas and Its Prognostic Significance

BACKGROUND: CD9, a member of the tetraspanin superfamily, is a tumor suppressor in many malignancies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of CD9 in colorectal carcinomas (CRCs) and determine clinicopathological and prognostic significance of its expression. METHODS: The CD9 expression status of 305 CRCs was evaluated using a semi-quantitative scoring system in tumor cells (T-CD9) and immune cells (I-CD9) by classifying the results as high and low expression. RESULTS: High T-CD9 (T-CD9 [+]) expression was detected in 175 samples (57.6%) and high I-CD9 (I-CD9 [+]) expression was detected in 265 samples (86.9%). Using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, the T-CD9 (+) group showed a tendency for better disease-free survival (DFS) (p = .057). In left-sided tumors, DFS was significantly longer in the T-CD9 (+) group (p = .021) but no statistical significance was observed with right-sided tumors (p = .453). I-CD9 (+) CRCs significantly correlated with well/moderately differentiation (p = .014). In Kaplan-Meier analysis, the I-CD9 (+) group had a tendency towards worse DFS compared to the I-CD9 (–) group (p = .156). In combined survival analysis of T-CD9 and I-CD9, we found that the longest DFS was among patients in the T-CD9 (+)/I-CD9 (–) group, whereas the T-CD9 (–)/I-CD9 (+) group showed the shortest DFS (p = .054). CONCLUSIONS: High expression of T-CD9 was associated with a favorable DFS, especially in left-sided CRCs. Combined evaluation of T-CD9 and I-CD9 is required to determine the comprehensive prognostic effect of CD9 in CRCs.

Correlation between Fluorescein Angiographic Findings and Visual Acuity in Behcet Retinal Vasculitis

PURPOSE: To identify significant fluorescein angiographic (FA) characteristics associated with visual acuity (VA) in Behcet retinal vasculitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of 86 eyes of 48 patients (age: 35.6+/-10.2 years) with Behcet retinal vasculitis were performed. VA and FA findings as well as correlation between them were assessed. RESULTS: The mean initial VA of eyes with posterior pole-involved vasculitis (63 eyes; 73.3%) was significantly worse than that of those with peripheral vasculitis (23 eye; 26.7%) (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution VA: 0.554+/-0.572 vs. 0.078+/-0.148; p<0.0001). Subgroup analysis revealed a more severe and diffuse pattern of vascular leakage in posterior pole-involved vasculitis compared to peripheral vasculitis (p<0.0001). Retinal vascular leakage (beta=0.345; p<0.0001), optic disc hyperfluorescence (beta=0.147; p=0.032), and macular leakage (beta=0.107; p=0.047) were significantly associated with worse initial VA. During the follow up (mean: 33.3+/-17.9 months), the change of leakage showed no significant correlation with change of VA in posterior pole-involved vasculitis (tau=0.199, p=0.092). CONCLUSION: Posterior pole involvement, the degree of retinal vascular leakage, optic disc hyperfluorescence, and macular leakage are significantly associated with VA in Behcet retinal vasculitis.

Short-Term Effects of Ginkgo biloba Extract on Peripapillary Retinal Blood Flow in Normal Tension Glaucoma

PURPOSE: Based on the vascular theory of glaucoma pathogenesis, we wanted to evaluate the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) on peripapillary blood flow in patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG). METHODS: Thirty patients with NTG were randomly placed in the GBE-treated or control groups. The GBE-treated group received 80 mg GBE orally, twice a day for four weeks, and the control group received a placebo twice a day for four weeks. Complete ocular examinations including visual field, Heidelberg retina flowmeter, and systemic examinations were performed on the first study day and on the day treatment was completed. RESULTS: After GBE treatment, the mean blood flow, volume, and velocity increased at almost all points, and there was a statistically significant increase in blood flow at almost all points, in comparison to the placebo. Blood volume significantly increased only in the superior nasal and superior temporal neuroretinal rim areas. GBE also significantly increased blood velocity in areas of the inferior temporal neuroretinal rim and superior temporal peripapillary area. CONCLUSIONS: GBE administration appears to have desirable effect on ocular blood flow in NTG patients.

Short-Term Effects of Ginkgo biloba Extract on Peripapillary Retinal Blood Flow in Normal Tension Glaucoma

PURPOSE: Based on the vascular theory of glaucoma pathogenesis, we wanted to evaluate the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) on peripapillary blood flow in patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG). METHODS: Thirty patients with NTG were randomly placed in the GBE-treated or control groups. The GBE-treated group received 80 mg GBE orally, twice a day for four weeks, and the control group received a placebo twice a day for four weeks. Complete ocular examinations including visual field, Heidelberg retina flowmeter, and systemic examinations were performed on the first study day and on the day treatment was completed. RESULTS: After GBE treatment, the mean blood flow, volume, and velocity increased at almost all points, and there was a statistically significant increase in blood flow at almost all points, in comparison to the placebo. Blood volume significantly increased only in the superior nasal and superior temporal neuroretinal rim areas. GBE also significantly increased blood velocity in areas of the inferior temporal neuroretinal rim and superior temporal peripapillary area. CONCLUSIONS: GBE administration appears to have desirable effect on ocular blood flow in NTG patients.

A Pharmacologic Pupillary Test in the Diagnosis of Diabetic Autonomic Neuropathy

PURPOSE: To screen for diabetic autonomic neuropathy of the pupil using 0.5% apraclonidine and 0.1% pilocarpine and to evaluate the early diagnostic value of this pharmacologic pupillary test by assessing the relationship between pupillary and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathies. METHODS: A total of 22 diabetic patients were recruited. Baseline pupillary diameter (PD) and the difference in PD between the test eye and the control eye before and after instillation of apraclonidine and pilocarpine were measured. All patients also underwent cardiovascular autonomic function (CAF) testing. RESULTS: Baseline PD in room light correlated with duration of diabetes mellitus (DM, p=0.049) and the presence of DM retinopathy (DMR, p=0.022). Eleven patients (50%) had positive apraclonidine tests, and two patients had positive pilocarpine tests. The patients who had positive pilocarpine tests also had positive apraclonidine tests. Patients who had a positive pupillary test had a significantly higher rate of positive CAF tests (p=0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Pupillary autonomic neuropathy was related to the duration of diabetes and the degree of DMR. There was also a significant correlation between pupillary autonomic neuropathy and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN). Also, sympathetic nerve dysfunction occurred prior to parasympathetic dysfunction in this study. A simple pharmacologic pupillary test can help manage complications in diabetic patients because patients with pupillary autonomic dysfunction have an increased risk of CAN.

A Case of Post-traumatic Necrobiotic Xanthogranuloma of the Orbit

PURPOSE: To investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO) on the migration of cultured human Tenon's capsule PURPOSE: Necrobiotic xanthogranuloma is a very rare disease characterized by the presence of yellow subcutaneous skin lesions and systemic paraproteinemia. We report a case of post traumatic necrobiotic xanthograuloma that presented with a preseptal mass. CASE SUMMARY: A 31-year-old man presented with ptosis and a mass on the left superior orbit that developed after trauma 3 weeks prior to admission. A computed tomography scan showed a contrast-enhancing preseptal mass, and surgical exploration was performed. CONCLUSIONS: Histopathological examination revealed a tumor that had all the major features of necrobiotic xanthogranuloma, including fat necrosis with granulomatous inflammation, giant multinucleated cells, foamy cells, and several lymphoid follicles with germinal centers. Hematologic evaluation revealed polyclonal gammopathy.

A Case of Retroperitoneal Lymphangioma

No abstract available.

A Case of Febrile Ulceronecrotic Pityriasis Lichenoides et Varioliformis Acuta

No abstract available.

A Case of Febrile Ulceronecrotic Pityriasis Lichenoides et Varioliformis Acuta

No abstract available.

Relationship of Maternal and Cord Serum Ferritin

No abstract available.