Colonoscopic Removal of an Intrauterine Device That Had Perforated the Rectosigmoid Colon

The intrauterine device (IUD) is a widely used contraceptive method. One of the most serious and rare complications of using an IUD is colon perforation. We report a case of colonoscopic removal of an IUD that had perforated into the rectosigmoid colon in a 42-year-old woman who presented with no symptoms. Colonoscopy showed that the IUD had penetrated into rectosigmoid colon wall and that an arm of the IUD was embedded in the colon wall. We were able to remove the IUD easily by using colonoscopy. The endoscopic approach may be considered the first choice therapy for selected patients.

A Case of Gastric Intramural Hematoma after Endoscopic Injection of Hypertonic Saline-Epinephrine for Hemostasis

A gastric intramural hematoma is very rare and commonly associated with trauma, anticoagulation therapy, coagulopathy, pancreatic disease, aneurysm and peptic ulcer disease. This is a case of gastric intramural hematoma which occurred in a patient taking aspirin after hypertonic saline-epinephrine injection for bleeding from a biopsy site. We describe a case of gastric intramural hematoma that was successfully managed with conservative therapy.

Effect of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation According to the Stimulation Site in Stroke Patients With Dysphagia

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) according to the stimulation site in subacute stroke patients with dysphagia. METHODS: This study was designed as a matched comparative study. Twenty-four patients who had dysphagia after ischemic stroke were recruited, and they were divided into two groups after matching for age and stroke lesion. The patients in group A received rTMS over the brain cortex where motor evoked potential (MEP) was obtained from the suprahyoid muscle. Group B received rTMS over the brain cortex where MEP was obtained from the abductor pollicis brevis muscle. rTMS was performed at 110% of MEP threshold, 10 Hz frequency for 10 seconds, and then repeated every minute for 10 minutes. Dysphagia status was measured by the Functional Dysphagia Scale (FDS), the Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS), and the Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (DOSS) using the results of a videofluoroscopic swallowing study. These evaluations were measured before, immediately, and 4 weeks after rTMS. RESULTS: Group A showed significant improvement compared to group B in the DOSS score immediately and 4 weeks after rTMS. There were no significant differences in the changes of FDS and PAS scores between groups A and B immediately and 4 weeks after rTMS. CONCLUSION: rTMS over a hot spot for the suprahyoid muscle caused more improvement in swallowing function when compared to that over the interconnected site.

Dose Ascites Mean More Severe Crohn's Disease? / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ascites that can be induced by various causes is not a rare finding in Crohn's disease. The clinical implication of ascites in Crohn's disease remains unknown in the cases without any specific cause of ascites except Crohn's disease itself. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical implication and characteristics of ascites in Crohn's disease. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of the patients with Crohn's disease who underwent abdominal CT scan. Patients were categorized into two groups: patients with ascites (22 cases) and without ascites (23 cases). We compared clinical features, disease activities and clinical courses of the two groups. RESULTS: Serum albumin level was significantly lower and the C-reactive protein level was significantly higher in the ascites group than in the control group. Harvey and Bradshaw index was significantly higher in the ascites group (8.32 +/- 2.51) than in the control group (6.09 +/- 2.07) (p=0.002). The average dose of prednisolone was higher in the ascites group. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in the number of cases requiring surgery due to complication between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the presence of ascites in Crohn's disease is associated with increased disease activity and inflammations requiring more aggressive treatment.

Clinical Characteristics of Colonic Diverticulitis in Koreans / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In western countries, symptomatic diverticulitis develops in about 20% of the population with colonic diverticula, and it is mainly located at the left-sided colon. The clinical characteristics of diverticulitis have rarely been investigated although its incidence is increasing in Asia including Korea. The aim of this study was to compare diverticulitis with asymptomatic diverticulosis and to compare the clinical characteristics of right-sided diverticulitis with those of left-sided diverticulitis. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated the medical records of the patients who had symptoms and signs of diverticulitis. Their diagnosis was confirmed with computed tomography, barium study, colonoscopy and/or operations at Samsung Medical Center from September 1998 to February 2002. The control cases of asymptomatic and incidental diverticulosis were randomly selected during routine health check-up after matching age and sex. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients with diverticulitis (male : female=14 : 13) were included. The mean age was 53 (27~86). The ratio of right and left diverticulitis was 20:7, which was similar to the ratio of diverticulosis. The complications, especially perforation, were more frequent in the patients with left-sided diverticulitis (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Colonic diverticulitis is more prevalent at the right colon and left colonic diverticulitis has more complications than right colonic diverticulitis in Korea.

Relation between gastric epithelial cell proliferation and expression of CagA and VacA in Helicobacter pylori infection / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been associated with an increased risk for developing gastric cancer. This risk is further enhanced with CagA positive H. pylori strains. Increased epithelial cell proliferation is associated with an increased risk for gastric cancer. The aim of the study was to investigate whether the gastric epithelial cell proliferation was related to the expression of CagA and VacA in H. pylori infection. METHODS: The subjects were 77 patients who had undergone diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsy; 18 gastritis, 18 gastric ulcer, 17 duodenal ulcer and 24 gastric cancer. The expression of cytotoxic genes was determined indirectly by assaying serum IgG antibodies to specific antigens of H. pylori. Gastric epithelial cell proliferation was assessed using immunohistochemical method using Ki-67 monoclonal antibody. Acute and chronic inflammation, intestinal metaplasia and glandular atrophy were scored according to the updated Sydney system. RESULTS: Ki-67 labeling index, acute and chronic inflammation were significantly higher in H. pylori infected persons (n=70, 90.9%) than in uninfected persons (n=7, 9.1%) (p< 0.05), but the difference in intestinal metaplasia and glandular atrophy between the two groups was not statistically significant. Ki-67 labeling indices in persons infected with CagA positive strains (n=56, 80.0%) were significantly higher than in persons infected with CagA negative strains (n=14, 20%) (0.55+/-0.13 vs 0.37+/-0.17, p< 0.05), but the differences in acute and chronic inflammation, intestinal metaplasia and glandular atrophy between the two groups were not statistically significant. No significant difference was found in Ki-67 labeling index, acute and chronic inflammation, intestinal metaplasia and glandular atrophy according to expression of VacA. CONCLUSION: Gastric mucosal cell proliferation, which might be closely involved in the pathogenesis of gastric carcinoma, was significantly higher in CagA positive H. pylori infected persons.

Effect of High Frequency Ventilation on Tension Pneumothorax Induced by Conventional Ventilator

Four cases of newborn with tension pneumothorax induced by a conventional ventilator were admitted to our nursery from January 1. 1992 to June 30. 1992 and they were managed by high frequency ventilator (Infrasonic Infant Star Ventilator). In contrast, four cases of newborn with tension pneumothorax who were continuously on the conventional ventilator, were included as a control group. They were admitted to our nursery from July 1. 1991 to december 31. 1991 and they were managed by conventional ventilator with conservative treatment. 1) In the control group, who were continuously managed by the conventional ventilator after thoracostomy with water seal drainage, we changed ventilator setting appropriately in control group but they had poor arterial blood gas analysis. The arterial blood gas analysis within 24hr/within 72hr in control group were pH 7.192/7.195, Paco2 72.15/82.25, PaO2 78.92/83.875, HCO3-26.975/27.925 and conventional ventilator care did not show any definite benefit for improvement of arterial blood gas analysis and tension pneumothorax as well. 2) Two cases in control group expired on the 6th day of thoracostomy without any resolution of tension pneumothorax. 3) In contrast, four cases with tension pneumothorax managed by high frequency ventilator were improved. Tension pneumothorax and arterial blood gas analysis to normalize from 6hr of high frequency ventilation and four cases of tension pneumothorax were completely reabsorbed within 4days.

Clinical effect of ifosfamide based regimens for the management of recurrent or persistent gynecologic malignancy / 대한암학회지

No abstract available.

Normal fetal outcome after multimodal therapy for breast carcinoma in the early second trimester of pregnancy / 대한암학회지

No abstract available.