Immunostimulatory activity of the aqueous extract from the leaves of subsp. through TLR4‑dependent JNK activation in RAW264.7 cells.

subsp. (SRP) is an endemic plant of Korea, exclusively found on Ulleungdo Island. SRP is widely used as both a traditional medicine and food source.

Higher prevalence of obesity in gastric cardia adenocarcinoma compared to gastric non-cardia adenocarcinoma.

Background And Aims: Obesity is one of the main risk factors for gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA) in the West. Also, recent studies have suggested that GCA is distinct from distal stomach tumor, with differing risk factors, tumor characteristics, and biological behavior. The objective of our research was to evaluate the relationship between obesity and GCA compared to non-cardia adenocarcinoma.

Chronic hepatitis B, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and effect of prophylactic antiviral therapy.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can be associated with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and prophylactic antiviral therapy is recommended for NHL patients with chronic HBV infection who are receiving anticancer chemotherapy.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate the association between HBV infection and NHL, and to evaluate the application rate and the effect of prophylactic antiviral therapy for HBV-infected NHL patients.

Study Design: A retrospective, case-control study was performed.

Learning curves for colonoscopy: a prospective evaluation of gastroenterology fellows at a single center.

Background/aims: Colonoscopy training programs and the minimal experience with colonoscopy required to be considered technically competent are not well established. The aim of this study was to determine the colonoscopy learning curves and factors associated with this difficult procedure at a single center.

Methods: A total of 3,243 colonoscopies were performed by 12 first-year gastroenterology fellows, and various clinical factors were assessed prospectively for 22 months.

Validation of diagnostic tests for Helicobacter pylori with regard to grade of atrophic gastritis and/or intestinal metaplasia.

Background And Aims: To evaluate the validity of the biopsy-based tests (histology, culture, and urease test) and serology in detecting current Helicobacter pylori infection against a background of atrophic gastritis (AG) or intestinal metaplasia (IM).

Methods: Helicobacter pylori infection was diagnosed in 651 subjects, using the predefined gold standard for H. pylori tests.

Hepatitis a in Korea: epidemiological shift and call for vaccine strategy.

Objective: The number of adult hepatitis A cases has progressively been increasing during the last several years in Korea. The aim of the present study was to describe the recent clinical features of hepatitis A and the seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV), and to discuss HAV vaccine strategy in Korea.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical characteristics of hepatitis A from 109 patients consecutively enrolled at a community hospital between 2003 and 2006 as well as cross-sectional study of seroprevalence of HAV from 307 patients of hospital population group during the same period were performed.

[Recent etiology and clinical features of acute viral hepatitis in a single center of Korea].

Background And Aims: The etiology of acute viral hepatitis in Korea has been dynamically changing during the recent years. The aim of this study was to investigate the recent etiology and the clinical features of acute viral hepatitis in a single center of Korea.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort of 55 patients who were diagnosed with acute viral hepatitis A to E during the period from May 2005 to August 2006.

[The prevalence of peripheral iron overload and the presence of HFE gene (H63D) mutation among the Korean patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease].

Backgrounds/aims: There are controversies on the role of iron overload in the mechanism of liver injury in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of peripheral iron overload, and to study the presence of HFE mutations (C282Y, H63D, S65C) in a cohort of Korean NAFLD patients.

Methods: 255 patients with NAFLD were included.