Intractable Psoas Abscess due to Delayed Diagnosis of Tuberculosis of the Colon: A Case Report

STUDY DESIGN: A case report. OBJECTIVES: To report a rare case of intractable psoas abscess due to delayed diagnosis of colon tuberculosis. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Most psoas abscesses occur primarily or secondarily due to infection of the vertebral body or discs; however, in rare cases, the etiology is not musculoskeletal in nature. In such cases, since diagnosis and treatment of the causal factor can be delayed, the psoas abscess may recur multiple times and eventually become difficult to treat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An 18-year-old female patient visited our institution complaining of right lower quadrant abdominal pain and right hip pain. On abdominal computed tomography (CT), a psoas abscess was observed and colon tuberculosis was suspected. She was treated with a ultrasonographically guided percutaneous drainage procedure. Considering the possibility of colon tuberculosis and related fistulae, a barium enema was performed; nonetheless, no fistula was found. After 2 months, the psoas abscess recurred, and thus incision and drainage were performed. Symptoms redeveloped 4 months after the incision and drainage; the patient was further evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging and recurrence of psoas abscess was again observed; incision and drainage were performed once again. A gross draining sinus developed on the right lower abdomen 11 months after the last procedure. On barium enema and abdominal CT scan, an enterocutaneous draining sinus was spotted at the right ascending colon, and right hemicolectomy was thus performed. RESULTS: The psoas abscess did not recur during an 8-year follow-up period after right hemicolectomy. CONCLUSIONS: In treatment of secondary psoas abscess, diagnosis and treatment of the etiology is crucial.

Severe hyponatremia and seizures after bowel preparation with low-volume polyethylene glycol plus ascorbic acid solution / 영남의대학술지

The widely used polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based solutions have been proven effective for bowel preparation when 4 L of the solution is administered before colonoscopy. However, large volumes of the solutions are generally poorly tolerated. A new PEG-based solution consisting of 2 L of PEG and a high dose of ascorbic acid has recently become available. Electrolyte abnormalities caused by PEG-based solutions have rarely been reported. We report on a case of acute severe hyponatremia with associated generalized tonic-clonic seizures after bowel preparation with a low-volume PEG plus ascorbic acid solution in a 74-year-old woman with no history of seizures. She took a beta blocker, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, and glimepiride for hypertension and diabetes mellitus. She showed general weakness, nausea, agitation, muscle cramping, and seizures after ingestion of the PEG plus ascorbic acid solution. Her serum sodium level was 112 mEq/L. Her symptoms improved after intravenous administration of hypertonic saline. Physicians should pay attention to screening for electrolytes and development of neurological symptoms during bowel preparation.

A Case of Korean Ginseng-Induced Anaphylaxis Confirmed by Open Oral Challenge and Basophil Activation Test

Two case reports discussing Korean ginseng-induced allergic reactions have been published; both were inhalation-induced respiratory allergies in occupational settings. In this report we discuss the first case of anaphylaxis that developed after an oral intake of ginseng, confirmed by an open oral challenge, a skin prick test (SPT), and a basophil activation test (BAT). A 44-year-old man experienced rhinorrhea and nasal stiffness, followed by respiratory difficulty with wheeze and abdominal pain 10 minutes after oral intake of fresh ginseng. He had suffered from episodes of allergic rhinitis during the spring season for several years. Upon presentation, a physical examination, chest radiograph, and routine laboratory tests were unremarkable. Total serum IgE level was 41 IU/mL. The SPT results showed strong positive responses to alder, birch pollens, and ginseng extracts (1:500 w/v). The methacholine bronchial challenge test revealed a positive result at PC20 of 5.83 mg/mL. The open oral challenge was performed using 50 g of fresh ginseng and showed immediate onset of facial flushing, cough, respiratory difficulty with wheeze, and abdominal pain combined with a significant decrease in FEV1 levels (54% from the baseline). Serum-specific IgE and IgG4 antibodies were not detectable by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. BAT showed a remarkable increase in the expression of CD203c and CD63 with the addition of ginseng extract in a dose-dependent manner, while no changes were noted in the controls. In conclusion, oral intake of Korean ginseng could induce anaphylaxis, which is mediated by non-IgE-dependent direct activation of basophil/mast cells.

Effects of Add-On Therapy with NDC-052, an Extract from Magnoliae Flos, in Adult Asthmatic Patients Receiving Inhaled Corticosteroids

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There is a need for new anti-asthmatic medications with fewer side effects. NDC-052, an extract of the medicinal herb Magnoliae flos, which has a long history of clinical use, was recently found to have anti-inflammatory effects. Herein, we evaluated the effects of NDC-052 as an add-on therapy in patients with mild to moderate asthma using inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). METHODS: In a non-comparative, multi-center trial, 148 patients taking ICS received NDC-052 for eight weeks. We evaluated their forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), morning and evening peak expiratory flow rate (AM and PM PEFR), AM/PM asthma symptom scores, visual analogue symptom (VAS) scores, night-time wakening, frequency of short-acting beta2-agonist usage, and adverse events. RESULTS: After eight weeks, both AM and PM PEFRs were significantly improved. Asthma symptom scores, VAS scores, the frequency of nights without awakening, and the frequency of beta2-agonist use were also reduced. Most of the adverse drug reactions were mild and resolved spontaneously. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of NDC-052 to ICS had a beneficial effect on asthma control in patients with mild to moderate asthma, with good tolerability and fewer side effects. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the effects of NDC-052 in patients with severe and/or refractory asthma.

Experimental Studies on the Effect of Ginsenoside Rg1 Mixtures in an Isolated Rat Heart after Ischemic Arrest and Reperfusion / 대한흉부외과학회지

Panax Ginseng C.A. Meyer has been known for hundreds of years as the most valuable drug having mysterious effects among all the herbal medicines and plants in Korea. Also, many experimental studies have been performed recently that the various effects were identified and applied clinically. So we attempted an experimental study on the effect of ginsenoside Rg1 mixtures in an isolated rat heart with the use of the Langendorff model. The objective of this study was to determine whether this ginsenoside Rg1 mixtures would protect the myocardial injury after ischemic arrest and reperfusion. Isolated rat hearts were allowed to equilibrate for 20 minutes and were then subjected to 15 minutes of normothermic ischemia. After this ischemic period, isolated rat hearts were allowed to reperfusion for 10 minutes (Ischemic Group). In other group , isolated rat hearts were perfused for 60 minutes continuously with normothermia (Normothermic Group). Hemodynamic and biochemical parameters such as heart rate, left ventricular pressure, +dp/dt max, coronary blood flow and cardiac enzymes were measured during initial perfusion, ischemia, reperfusion period (Ischemic group) and 20, 40 and 60 minutes after continuous perfusion (Normothermic group). After completion of the experiment, this data was evaluated and the following results were obtained. 1. Heart rates showed an increase in both ischemic and normothermic experimental groups, but statistically significant differences were not identified. 2. LVP (Left Ventricular Pressure) showed statistically significant differences in both ischemic and normothermic experimental groups (p<0.005, p<0.01). 3. +dp/dt max showed statistically significant differences in both ischemic and normothermic experimental groups (p<0.01, p<0.01). 4. There were no statistically significant differences in coronary blood flow and cardiac cenzymes in all groups, but experimental groups seemed to have better protection and recovery. These results suggest that ginsenoside Rg1 mixtures has a protective effect on the myocardial injury after ischemia and reperfusion.

Spontaneous Submucosal Dissection of the Esophagus: Report of 1 Case / 대한흉부외과학회지

A 55-year-old male was admitted to our hospital complaining of chest discomfort, dysphagia and severe pain on swallowing. Esophageal manometry showed that there was no relaxation of lower esophageal sphincter to swallowing. There was double barrelled esophagus or mucosal stripe appearance on esophagogram. Endoscopy revealed an appearance as if an esophago-tracheal fistula had been made at the level of the upper thoracic esophagus. Also, two slit-like mucosal tears was seen on the lower esophagus. There after, fasting and total parenteral nutrition for several weeks failed to bring about any changes in his symptoms. So, as treatment, primary closure of the upper opening of the false lummen was performed under general anesthesia. Soon after the surgical procedure, the patient's symptoms were improved except for mild dysphagia. He was discharged after oral intake had been juduciously commenced with fluids and soft diet subsequently. During follow-up in out-patient department, he had no specific symptoms including fever or dysphagia and massive dissection of the esophagus was improved on esophagogram. We report the experience of a case of spontaneous submucosal dissection of the esophagus which required conservative and surgical management.

The Effect of Acupuncture on the Post-Thoracotomy Pain Control / 대한흉부외과학회지

The management of post-thoracotomy pain is one of the difficult clinical problems. A variety of pain management methods have been used with variable efficacy. We compared the effect of acupuncture with the effect of analgesics for the post-thoracotomy pain control. From March 1995 to September 1995, 20 patients who underwent elective thoracotomy were randomized into two groups. The patients were treated with analgesics in control group(n=10) and acupuncture in the other group(n=10). Postoperative analgesic effects were evaluated by the scoring system which was made by the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Korea University Medical Center. No significant difference was observed between two groups concerning the subjective pain and limitation of motion of operated side. Although the number of analgesic requirement was reduced significantly in the acupuncture group (P<0.05). We conclude that acupuncture is an effective method to control post-thoracotomy pain and it is safer than the analgesics bacause of its lower side effects.

The Effect of Acupuncture on the Post-Thoracotomy Pain Control / 대한흉부외과학회지

The management of post-thoracotomy pain is one of the difficult clinical problems. A variety of pain management methods have been used with variable efficacy. We compared the effect of acupuncture with the effect of analgesics for the post-thoracotomy pain control. From March 1995 to September 1995, 20 patients who underwent elective thoracotomy were randomized into two groups. The patients were treated with analgesics in control group(n=10) and acupuncture in the other group(n=10). Postoperative analgesic effects were evaluated by the scoring system which was made by the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Korea University Medical Center. No significant difference was observed between two groups concerning the subjective pain and limitation of motion of operated side. Although the number of analgesic requirement was reduced significantly in the acupuncture group (P<0.05). We conclude that acupuncture is an effective method to control post-thoracotomy pain and it is safer than the analgesics bacause of its lower side effects.