Cost-Effectiveness of Empirical Bismuth-Based Quadruple Therapy and Tailored Therapy After Clarithromycin Resistance Tests for Helicobacter pylori Eradication.

Background: The eradication rate of clarithromycin-based standard triple therapy (STT) for Helicobacter pylori infection has decreased due to clarithromycin resistance (CR). We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of tailored therapy according to CR test results, and compared the results of STT with those of empirical bismuth quadruple therapy (BQT).

Methods: The prospectively collected data of 490 H.

3-Dimensional liver volume assessment in patients with hepatitis B virus-related liver cirrhosis during long-term oral nucleos(t)ide analogues therapy.

Aim: To assess the effect of long-term oral nucleos(t)ide analogues (NUCs) therapy on liver volume change in patients with suppress hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver cirrhosis.

Methods: We reviewed the data of naïve patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis, who had taken oral NUCs therapy, between 2003 and 2007 at Chonbuk University Hospital. We analyzed two consecutive sets of abdominal computerized tomography scans-one at the time of treatment initiation and another at the second-year follow-up.

Pulmonary chondroid hamartoma with nontuberculous mycobacterial infection: two case reports.

Solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) can be manifested in a variety of disorders including neoplasms, infection, inflammation, and vascular or congenital abnormalities. In addition, they are often accompanied with other pulmonary pathologic lesions such as consolidations and several pulmonary disorders present as similar pulmonary nodular lesions simultaneously. Diagnostic workup is important for these SPNs; however, many physicians often miss the second diagnosis for multiple pulmonary lesions with SPNs due to lack of clinical suspicion that each pulmonary nodule or pathologic lesion can have each other's diagnosis.

Disease Progression in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients under Long-Term Antiviral Therapy.

Background/aims: We investigated factors associated with the disease progression and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients during long-term oral nucleos(t)ide analog (NA) therapy.

Methods: This retrospective study included 524 naive CHB patients who received oral NA therapy for more than 48 weeks between January 2003 and December 2007. The primary outcome was 5-year cumulative probability of disease progression and HCC development.

Parthenolide Sensitizes Human Colorectal Cancer Cells to Tumor Necrosis Factor-related Apoptosis-inducing Ligand through Mitochondrial and Caspase Dependent Pathway.

Background/aims: Combination therapy utilizing tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in conjunction with other anticancer agents, is a promising strategy to overcome TRAIL resistance in malignant cells. Recently, parthenolide (PT) has proved to be a promising anticancer agent, and several studies have explored its use in combination therapy. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms by which PT sensitizes colorectal cancer (CRC) cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis.

Clinical features and risk factors for severe complications among patients with acute hepatitis A virus infection in the Jeonbuk Province of Korea.

Background/aims: The frequency of symptomatic acute HAV infections in adulthood are increasing in Korea. This study analyzes the clinical severity in patients with acute HAV infection and investigates risk factors associated with three severe complications: prolonged cholestasis, acute kidney injury, and acute liver failure.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 726 patients diagnosed from January 2006 to December 2010 at three tertiary hospitals in Jeonbuk Province, Republic of Korea with acute HAV infection.

Early angiographic embolization is more effective than delayed angiographic embolization in patients with duodenal ulcer bleeding.

Background And Aim: Though angiographic embolization (AE) is a type of effective treatment modality for duodenal ulcer bleeding, the optimum time at which to perform the procedure, early or delayed, is unknown. The authors compared the prognosis of early AE (EAE) and delayed AE (DAE) in patients with duodenal ulcer bleeding.

Methods: A total of 54 patients with duodenal ulcer bleeding were evaluated with first-look endoscopy followed by AE.

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and coexisting hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is an acute viral disease with fever, hemorrhage and renal failure caused by hantavirus infection. Hantavirus induces HFRS or hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). HPS progression to a life-threatening pulmonary disease is found primarily in the USA and very rarely in South Korea.

Multiple pulmonary metastases from giant cell tumor of a hand.

Giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone has been described as the most challenging benign bone tumors. The majority of these tumors, classically, are involved in the epiphysis of long bones; however, on rare occasions, the tumors occur in the small bones of hands and feet. Although this disorder is benign, GCTs show a tendency of significant bone destruction, local recurrence and, occasionally, pulmonary metastasis.