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A patient who has achieved resolution of acute hepatitis B and acquired anti-HBs would get protective immunity against hepatitis B virus (HBV). However, reactivation of HBV could happen if the patient was exposed to an immunocompromised state by using immunosuppressive drugs or chemotherapeutic agents. That is because cccDNA could reside within hepatocytes after recovery of acute hepatitis B. Therefore, guidelines for hepatitis B recommend the use of prophylactic antiviral agents such as entecavir or tenofovir in patients with anti-HBc IgG. The reactivation of hepatitis B without exposure to an immunocompromised state is very rare and only 1 case has been reported in the world to date. An 82-year-old male patient visited Dankook University Hospital because of high aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, and total bilirubin. He had shown HBsAg negative/anti-HBs positive when he had blood test examinations 1 year previously. However, the present blood test revealed HBsAg positive/anti-HBs negative and a high titer of HBV DNA (814,815 copies/mL). He had undergone vertebroplasty 5 years previously and had no other medical history. Other blood and radiological examinations failed to show other diseases that could affect host immunity. He started antiviral treatment with entecavir. However, he passed away because of deteriorated hepatic function and hepatorenal syndrome 20 days after admission. It is very rare that a patient with anti-HBs would develop hepatic failure and pass away without trigger factors. Here, we report the case with a literature review.

Although the positive effects of recombinant fibroblast growth factor-2 (rFGF-2) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been implicated in previous studies, knowledge of its role in COPD remains limited. The mechanism of FGF2 in a COPD mouse model and the therapeutic potential of rFGF-2 were investigated in COPD. The mechanism and protective effects of rFGF-2 were evaluated in cigarette smoke-exposed or elastase-induced COPD animal models. Inflammation was assessed in alveolar cells and lung tissues from mice. FGF-2 was decreased in the lungs of cigarette smoke-exposed mice. Intranasal use of rFGF-2 significantly reduced macrophage-dominant inflammation and alveolar destruction in the lungs. In the elastase-induced emphysema model, rFGF-2 improved regeneration of the lungs. In humans, plasma FGF-2 was decreased significantly in COPD compared with normal subjects (10 subjects, P = 0.037). The safety and efficacy of inhaled rFGF-2 use was examined in COPD patients, along with changes in respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function. A 2-week treatment with inhaled rFGF-2 in COPD (n = 6) resulted in significantly improved respiratory symptoms compared with baseline levels (P, Lung disease: Inhaling a protein might help Studies on the role of the protein ‘fibroblast growth factor-2’ (FGF-2) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) suggest that inhaled FGF-2 could help treat the emphysema linked to smoking. Researchers in South Korea led by Young-Koo Jee at Dankook University, Cheonan, and Yeon-Mok Oh at the University of Ulsan, Seoul, studied the role of the reduced FGF-2 levels found in mice with lung inflammation caused by exposure to cigarette smoke. They also uncovered details of a protective effect of inhaled FGF-2, identifying specific cellular and lung structure changes attributed to the administered FGF-2. Reduced FGF-2 levels were also found in patients with COPD. Initial trials revealed some improvement in patients treated with FGF-2, but not at a statistically significant level. Nevertheless, the authors suggest their results justify further investigation of the protein’s therapeutic potential.

Background: Few reports have documented the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of adult patients with Elizabethkingia meningoseptica infection. Methods: Medical records of patients over 18 years of age and suspected of having an E. meningoseptica infection from March 1, 2006 to February 28, 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. Their clinical characteristics, antimicrobial susceptibility results, and treatment outcomes were analyzed. Results: E. meningoseptica was isolated from 30 patients. Median age was 68.5 years, and infections were more frequent in males (17, 56.7%). The most common isolation source was sputum (23, 76.7%), and pneumonia was the most common condition (21, 70%) after excluding two cases of colonization. This bacterium was most susceptible to minocycline (27, 90%) and fluoroquinolones, including levofloxacin (20, 66.7%) and ciprofloxacin (18, 60%). The mortality rate due directly to E. meningoseptica infection was 20% (6/30), and uncontrolled pneumonia was the only cause of death. After isolating E. meningoseptica, the numbers of patients with pneumonia (9/9, 100% vs. 12/21, 57.1%), history of hemodialysis (5/9, 55.6% vs. 3/21, 14.3%), tracheostomy (8/9, 88.9 vs. 10/21, 47.6%), and median Charlson comorbidity index score (6 [range, 3–9] vs. 4 [range, 0–9]) were significantly higher in non-survivors than those in survivors (p < 0.05, for each). However, only 12 (40%) patients received appropriate antibiotics. Conclusions: E. meningoseptica infection most commonly presented as pneumonia in adults with severe underlying diseases. Despite the high mortality rate, the rate of appropriate antibiotic use was notably low.

FOLFOX4 요법은 진행성 대장직장암에서 첫 번째 치료 요법 중 하나이다. 잘 알려진 부작용으로 신경학적, 혈액학적, 소화기 독성이 있다. 그러나 최근 들어 이 요법과 관련된 심각한 폐독성이 보고 되고 있다. 저자들은 FOLFOX4 요법 중 발생한 간질성 폐질환 1예를 보고하는 바이다.

The increasing worldwide incidence of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) has emerged as a threat to public health and tuberculosis (TB) control. Treatment outcomes have varied among studies, and data on long-term survival are still scarce.To retrospectively assess the burden, clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes, and long-term survival rate of patients with XDR-TB in a cohort of patients with HIV-negative multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in South Korea.Medical records were reviewed of patients newly diagnosed with or retreated for MDR-TB from 2000 to 2002. The cohort was monitored for 3 to 7 years after the initiation of treatment. Initial treatment outcomes and cumulative survival rates were analyzed, and predictors of treatment success and survival were defined.Of 1,407 patients with MDR-TB 75 (5.3%) had XDR-TB at treatment initiation. The default rate was high (453/1,407; 32%), and patients with XDR-TB had lower treatment success (29.3 vs. 46.2%; P = 0.004) and higher all-cause (49.3 vs. 19.4%; P0.001) and TB-related disease mortality (41.3 vs. 11.8%; P0.001) than other patients with MDR-TB. The presence of XDR-TB significantly affected treatment success (odds ratio, 0.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.08-0.64; P = 0.005), all-cause mortality (hazards ratio, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.91-5.53; P0.001), and TB-related mortality (hazards ratio, 4.45; 95% CI, 2.48-8.00; P0.001) on multivariate analyses.XDR-TB occurred in a substantial proportion of patients with MDR-TB in South Korea, and was the strongest predictor of treatment outcomes and long-term survival in patients with MDR-TB. Adequate TB control policies should be implemented to prevent the further development and spread of drug resistance.

Two adipokines, leptin and adiponectin, regulate metabolic and inflammatory systems reciprocally. The role of adiponectin in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been studied. However, there are few data evaluating the relationship of plasma leptin with COPD severity or progression.The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship of leptin, adiponectin, and the leptin/adiponectin ratio with COPD severity and progression according to COPD phenotypes.Plasma leptin and adiponectin levels were measured in 196 subjects with COPD selected from the Korean Obstructive Lung Disease cohort. Using a linear regression model and mixed linear regression, we determined the relationship of plasma leptin and adiponectin levels and the leptin/adiponectin ratio to COPD severity and progression over 3 years.The concentration of adiponectin in plasma positively correlated with percent emphysema on initial computed tomography (CT) (adjusted P = 0.022), whereas plasma leptin concentrations and the leptin/adiponectin ratio exhibited a significant inverse correlation with initial FEV1 (adjusted P = 0.013 for leptin and adjusted P = 0.041 for leptin/adiponectin ratio). Increased plasma leptin and leptin/adiponectin ratio were significantly associated with change in percent emphysema over 3 years (adjusted P = 0.037 for leptin and adjusted P = 0.029 for leptin/adiponectin ratio), whereas none of the adipokines demonstrated an association with FEV1 decline over the 3-year period.Plasma adiponectin and leptin vary according to COPD phenotypes. Plasma leptin and the leptin/adiponectin ratio, but not adiponectin, were significantly associated with changes in CT-assessed emphysema, suggesting a potential role as a biomarker in emphysema progression in patients with COPD.

Few large-scale studies have investigated multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatment outcomes relative to drug-resistance patterns.To assess the impact of additional drug resistances on treatment outcomes and long-term survival in a large HIV-negative MDR-TB cohort.Treatment outcomes and long-term survival of patients with MDR-TB newly diagnosed or retreated in 2000 to 2002 were retrospectively analyzed based on drug-resistance patterns after 5-8 years of follow-up.Of 1,407 patients with MDR-TB, 75 (5.3%) had extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB(re)) by the revised definition; 159 (11.3%) had ofloxacin-resistant pre-XDR-TB (pre-XDR-TB(o)); and 117 (8.3%) had second-line injectable drug (SLID)-resistant pre-XDR-TB (pre-XDR-TB(s)). Patients with XDR-TB(re) showed the lowest treatment success rate (29.3%) and the poorest long-term survival, and XDR-TB(re) was more strongly associated with long-term mortality than XDR-TB as originally defined (hazards ratio [HR], 3.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.06-4.83; P0.001 vs. HR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.49-3.09; P0.001). Patients with either form of pre-XDR-TB showed poorer cumulative survival than those with ofloxacin-susceptible/SLID-susceptible MDR-TB (P0.05 for each comparison). Although streptomycin susceptibility did not affect the treatment outcomes of patients with pre-XDR-TB, streptomycin-resistant pre-XDR-TB was more strongly associated with long-term mortality than ofloxacin-susceptible/SLID-susceptible MDR-TB (HR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.22-3.84; P0.008 for pre-XDR-TB(o); and HR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.40-5.16; P = 0.003 for pre-XDR-TB(s)).The revised XDR-TB definition is appropriate for defining patients with MDR-TB with the poorest outcomes. Both pre-XDR-TB(o) and pre-XDR-TB(s) were independently associated with poor long-term survival in patients with MDR-TB. SM susceptibility was linked to better survival in patients with pre-XDR-TB.

Lymphocytic hypophysitis is a rare inflammatory disorder which is caused by autoimmune destruction of the pituitary gland. Almost all reported cases have been in women and the disease is often associated with pregnancy. We describe here the first male case of lymphocytic hypophysitis in Korea. The patient presented with headache, impotence, decreased libido, and deteriorated vision. Endocrinologic studies showed panhypopituitarism, and pituitary MRI imaging revealed a homogeneously enhanced pituitary mass with a thickened stalk. Treatment with prednisolone and thyroid hormone for five months was ineffective. Transsphenoidal resection of the pituitary mass was performed successfully with normalization of the visual field defect. Histologic examination revealed diffuse lymphocytic infiltration with dense collagenous fibrosis, consistent with lymphocytic hypophysitis. Lymphocytic hypophysitis should be considered in differential diagnosis even in men with hypopituitarism and an enlarged pituitary gland.

Background/Aims: Zolpidem is a safe and effective drug for the treatment of insomnia. However, there are some reports of adverse effects, such as delirium, after administration of zolpidem. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of and risk factors for zolpidem-induced delirium. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 481 patients who were admitted to hospital and received zolpidem between January and May 2011. We analyzed the incidence and risk factors associated with zolpidem-induced delirium. Results: Zolpidem-induced delirium occurred in 19 of 481 (4.0%) patients. Zolpidem-induced delirium was significantly associated with old age (≥ 65 years; odds ratio [OR] = 4.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.52-12.44, p = 0.006) and co-administration of benzodiazepine (OR = 4.30, 95% CI = 1.52-12.12, p = 0.006). When males > 65 years-old took both benzodiazepine and zolpidem simultaneously, the incidence of delirium was notably elevated (OR = 6.04, 95% CI = 1.80-20.20, p = 0.003). Other factors, including dosage, did not influence the occurrence of delirium. Conclusions: Old age and co-administration of benzodiazepine were independent risk factors for zolpidem-induced delirium. Therefore, a detailed medical history should be taken before prescribing zolpidem to an older person, and zolpidem should be used cautiously, with careful monitoring, in these patients. (Korean J Med 2013;84:804-809)

The combination therapy of pegylated interferon and ribavirin is the mainstay of treatment for chronic hepatitis C patients. Anti-viral therapy is commonly associated with side effects such as headache, fever, myalgia, and arthralgia. However, anti-viral therapy can continue because these side effects are mostly mild and can be improved with supportive management. Anti-viral therapy should be stopped promptly if serious side effects, such as interstitial pneumonitis or hemolytic anemia occur, although those serious side effects are rare. There were a few case reports of interferon-related interstitial pneumonitis worldwide. In Korea, one atypical case report of interstitial pneumonitis has been reported, which followed the combination therapy of interferon-alpha and ribavirin in a patient with chronic hepatitis C. We present a case of interstitial pneumonitis and pancytopenia following the combination therapy of pegylated interferon and ribavirin in a patient with chronic hepatitis C.

Unilateral absence of the pulmonary artery (UAPA) is a rare congenital anomaly that occurs in association with other cardiovascular anomalies, such as tetralogy of Fallot or ventricular septal defects. On the other hand, it is less commonly found as an isolated finding without accompanying diseases. Isolated UAPA is a rare cause of hemoptysis, and massive hemoptysis has been reported to occur in approximately 18~20% of UAPA patients during their clinical course. Even if a lung resection is considered a treatment option to control life-threatening hemoptysis, the procedure is more difficult than an ordinary lung resection because of the excessive collateral vessels from the systemic circulation. We encountered an isolated UAPA occurring in a young male patient suffering from intermittent blood tinged sputum. To our knowledge, only a few cases of isolated UAPA have been reported in Korea. This case is expected to be a good example to help clinicians better understand isolated UAPA as an unusual cause of hemoptysis.

Bronchopulmonary infections caused by trichomonads have been reported principally in patients with pre-existing pulmonary diseases, such as bronchial carcinoma, lung abscess, or bronchiectasis. Pulmonary trichomoniasis is most often caused by Trichomonas tenax, which is usually regarded as a harmless commensal organism of the human mouth. However, pulmonary infection may rarely be caused by other trichomonas species, including Trichomonas vaginalis from the genitourinary tract and Trichomonas hominis from the intestines. Because of the rarity of trichomonas pulmonary infection, and because of its close association with underlying lung and systemic disease, pulmonary trichomoniasis is considered an opportunistic infection. We recently treated a case of pulmonary trichomoniasis occurring in a young, healthy male without obvious underlying pulmonary or systemic illness. To our knowledge, there has been only one reported case of pulmonary trichomoniasis in Korea, and there have been only two reported cases of pulmonary trichomoniasis occurring in normal lung worldwide.