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Tuberculosis of the cystic duct lymph node is very rare. Only four cases have been reported in the literature. This paper presents the case of a young male patient with a tuberculous cystic duct lymph node and chronic cholecystitis, who was diagnosed with cystic duct stones and a gall bladder polyp preoperatively.

Objectives Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) is a widely used technique for the diagnosis of breast lesions. It is carried out with local anesthesia, but procedural pain and stress are still problematic. Dexmedetomidine is a α-2 receptor agonist that can sedate without significant respiratory depression. The study aimed to report the effectiveness of sedation with monitored anesthesia care (MAC) using dexmedetomidine in VABB. Methods This was a retrospective chart review of patients who received VABB under MAC with dexmedetomidine. Forty-seven patients during the period of February 2015 to July 2016 were included. We collected data on patient characteristics, infusion drug and dose, induction to incision time, anesthetic, operation, and recovery time and other complications and vital signs. Results The mean operating time was 50.1 ± 24.9 minutes, and the anesthetic time was 71.2 ± 28.3 minutes. The mean time from induction to incision was 17.0 ± 5.2 minutes, and the recovery time was 20.1 ± 10.3 minutes. None of the patients needed an advanced airway management. Further, none of them showed hemodynamic instability. Conclusions VABB was successfully performed with MAC using dexmedetomidine, and there was no respiratory depression or hemodynamic instability.

Purpose: The catheter vein ratio (CVR) is one of control factors related to the incidence of catheter related thrombosis (CRT). This paper reports a practical CVR to reduce the incidence of CRT in patients receiving PICC. Methods: Information on patients with PICC insertion between January 2018 and December 2018 was extracted retrospectively from a single center. The information was composed of age, sex, BMI, access locations, comorbidities, catheter sizes, catheter days, catheter removal cause, and CRT. The incidence of CRT and other factors were analyzed. Results: Of the 164 patients who underwent PICC and 2,697 catheter days in the study, three patients (1.8%) experienced a symptomatic thrombosis. Without significance to other factors, the incidence of thrombosis was relevant only in those with higher CVR vs. those with lower CVR (P = 0.047). In addition, its cut-off value was 36.5% (AUC 0.813, 95% CI: 1.003–1.495). Compared to the higher and lower than 36.5% CVR, the odd ratio was 38.25 in the group with a higher than 36.5% CVR (95% CI: 3.129–467.611, P = 0.010). Conclusion: CVR is one of the factors that can be controlled to reduce the clinical relevance of CRT. A lower than 36.5% CVR should be maintained to be in the safety zone from PICC related thrombosis.

Spontaneous bleeding from a short gastric artery in the absence of pre-disposing trauma is reported very rarely. To the best of our knowledge, the published literature includes only 14 cases. Young men comprise almost all of the patients, and were induced by vomiting or gagging. The patients usually required emergent surgery. Our patient, a 32-year-old man, was diagnosed with spontaneous hemoperitoneum due to short gastric artery tearing after a few instances of vomiting. We managed him conservatively including fluid, vitamin K and antifibrinolytic agent without surgery. (Korean J Gastroenterol 2016;68:152-155)

Purpose:Local recurrence and distant metastasis are major prognostic factors associated with breast cancer. Lymphovascular invasion is an important pathway of metastatic spread. CD44 and D2-40 are assumed to be related with invasion of malignant cells to the adjacent lymphatic or vascular structures by different mechanisms. This study was conducted to examine whether CD44 and D2-40 expression together have prognostic value in invasive carcinoma of the breast. Methods:A total of 46 surgically resected tissue samples of invasive carcinoma of the breast were analyzed for immunohistochemical expression of CD44 and D2-40, along with other clinicopathologic factors. Association between patient related factors and disease free survival was evaluated by statistical analysis. Results:Disease free survival was shorter in CD44-positive patients (median, 66.5 months) than in CD44-negative patients (median, 112.6 months; P

Purpose: Chronic inflammation induces cancer and cancer induces local tissue damage with systemic inflammation. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the potential relationship between the severity of inflammation and prognosis in cancer patients. Materials and Methods: This study enrolled 220 patients from January 2002 to December 2006 who underwent gastric surgery. We evaluated the relationship between preoperative inflammatory parameters (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) and other clinicopathological factors. Survival outcomes were compared according to the extent of inflammation. Results: Significant elevation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate was related with old age, increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, decreased hemoglobin, increased carcinoembryonic antigen, increased tumor size and advanced TNM stage. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was significantly correlated with old age, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and advanced TNM stage. In the univariate analysis, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio had significantly poorer survival than those without elevation (all P<0.05). However, the multivariate analysis failed to prove erythrocyte sedimentation rate and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as independent prognostic factors. Conclusions: The elevation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were correlated with poor prognosis in the univariate analysis and there was a strong correlation between inflammatory parameters (erythrocyte sedimentation rate and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) and tumor progression. Thus, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio are considered useful as follow-up factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]