Effect of balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration on the natural history of coexisting esophageal varices.

Background And Aims: Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) provides an effective mean of controlling gastric variceal (GV) bleeding; however, increased portal pressure after the obliteration of gastrorenal shunts may lead to a worsening and subsequent rupture of esophageal varices (EV). The aim of this study was to determine whether the natural history of coexisting EV is affected by BRTO.

Methods: Two hundred thirty-seven patients with gastric varices and no history of EV or GV bleeding at the time of diagnosis were included.

[The age-specific seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus antibody in Korea].

Backgrounds And Aims: The epidemiology of hepatitis A is associated with socioeconomic and hygiene status. Recently, the prevalence of hepatitis A in young adults has been steadily increasing in Korea. This study is to investigate the age-specific seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus in Korea.

A phase II study of single-agent gemcitabine as a second-line treatment in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the single-agent gemcitabine in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as second-line chemotherapy.

Methods: Between February 2002 and November 2004, a total of 27 patients, who had previously been treated with paclitaxel and platinum as first line chemotherapy, were enrolled in the study. Patients were treated with gemcitabine (1000 mg/m(2)) on days 1, 8 and 15 in a 28 day cycle.

[A case of vanishing bile duct syndrome associated with hypersensitivity to allopurinol].

Allopurinol is frequently used for the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout. Sometimes, a life-threatening reaction develops, as is illustrated by the following case report. We describe a 60-year-old male patient who was treated with allopurinol because of asymptomatic hyperuricemia, and he was presented with fever, skin rash, eosinophilia, worsening renal function and vanishing bile duct syndrome.