Journal of Korean medical science
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Apr 2014
Phylogenetic analyses of HBV pre-s/s genes in mother-child pairs with long-term infection by presumed vertical transmission.
Vertical transmission from mother to child, the main route of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the East Asia, is considered one of the most important predictors for the response to antiviral therapies as well as its complications such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, it is critical in both etiologic and prognostic aspects to confirm whether or not chronic HBV infection is acquired vertically. This study investigated whether mother-to-child infection could be proved by the phylogenetic analyses of HBV pre-S/S genes ever since several decades have elapsed in mother-child pairs with presumed vertical transmission. ⋯ The divergence between mothers and offsprings was 0 to 1.5%. Phylogenetic trees revealed that 17 of 18 pairs (94%) with presumed vertical transmission were grouped into the same cluster. Vertical transmission from mother to child could be strongly suggested even in adults with a history of several decades of HBV infection using the phylogenetic analyses of pre-S and S genes.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Apr 2014
Trends in hospitalized acute myocardial infarction patients with heart failure in Korea at 1998 and 2008.
Heart failure (HF) complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is common and is associated with poor clinical outcome. Limited data exist regarding the incidence and in-hospital mortality of AMI with HF (AMI-HF). We retrospectively analyzed 1,427 consecutive patients with AMI in the five major university hospitals in Korea at two time points, 1998 (n = 608) and 2008 (n = 819). ⋯ However, overall in-hospital mortality rates (6.4% vs 11.1%, P = 0.071) of AMI-HF patients were unchanged and still high even after propensity score matching analysis, irrespective of types of AMI and revascularization methods. In conclusion, more evidence-based medical and advanced procedural managements were applied for patients with AMI-HF in 2008 than in 1998. However the incidence and in-hospital mortality of AMI-HF patients were not significantly changed between the two time points.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Apr 2014
Case ReportsA case of pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital extrahepatic portocaval shunt.
Congenital extrahepatic portocaval shunt (CEPS) is a rare anomaly of the mesenteric vasculature in which the intestinal and splenic venous drainage bypasses the liver and drains directly into the inferior vena cava, the left hepatic vein or the left renal vein. This uncommon disease is frequently associated with other malformations and mainly affects females. ⋯ The patient was treated by inhalation of iloprost (40 µg/day) with improved condition and walking test. Physicians should note that congenital portocaval shunt may cause pulmonary hypertension.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Apr 2014
Achalasia in Korea: an epidemiologic study using a national healthcare database.
Owing to the rarity of the disease, epidemiologic information on achalasia is limited. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology and treatment patterns of achalasia in the population of Korea using a national healthcare database. The diagnostic code K22.0 of the International Classification of Diseases was used to identify cases of achalasia between 2007 and 2011. ⋯ A total of 191 incident cases of achalasia (82 men; mean age, 49.5 yr), which were not diagnosed as achalasia in the previous 4 yr, were detected in 2011, indicating an incidence of 0.39/100,000 (95% CI, 0.15-0.63) for that year. During the study period, balloon dilation therapy was performed a total of 975 times in 719 patients, and surgical esophago-cardiomyotomy was performed once per patient in 17 patients. This is the first population-based epidemiologic study of achalasia in Korea.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Apr 2014
Case ReportsPneumonectomy case in a newborn with congenital pulmonary lymphangiectasia.
Congenital pulmonary lymphangiectasia (CPL) is a rare lymphatic pulmonary abnormality. CPL with respiratory distress has a poor prognosis, and is frequently fatal in neonates. We report a case of pneumonectomy for CPL in a newborn. ⋯ Histologic examination indicated CPL. She is currently 12 months old and developing normally. Pneumonectomy can be considered for treating respiratory symptoms for improving chances of survival in cases with unilateral CPL.