Low-dose steroid-induced tumor lysis syndrome in a hepatocellular carcinoma patient.

Tumor lysis syndrome is rare in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but it has been reported more frequently recently in response to treatments such as transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFTA), and sorafenib. Tumor lysis syndrome induced by low-dose steroid appears to be very unusual in HCC. We report a patient with hepatitis-C-related liver cirrhosis and HCC in whom tumor lysis syndrome occurred due to low-dose steroid (10 mg of prednisolone).

Visceral fat as a useful parameter in the differential diagnosis of Crohn's disease and intestinal tuberculosis.

Background/aims: Because of the similarities in the clinical presentations of Crohn's disease (CD) and intestinal tuberculosis (ITB), differential diagnosis is critical. Mesenteric adipose tissue hypertrophy and creeping fat are characteristic features of CD. The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of visceral fat for the differential diagnosis of CD and ITB.

Inverse association between visceral obesity and lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer.

Background: The relationship between fat distribution and lymph node metastasis has not been well studied. The goal of this study was to determine the impact of visceral obesity on lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer.

Materials And Methods: Metastatic lymph node ratio (MLR) was defined as the number of involved nodes by tumor divided by the total number of resected lymph nodes.

Deep biopsy via endoscopic submucosal dissection in upper gastrointestinal subepithelial tumors: a prospective study.

Background And Study Aims: Preoperative pathological diagnosis may improve clinical management decisions in patients with upper gastrointestinal subepithelial tumors (SETs). The aims of this study were to evaluate the diagnostic yield of deep biopsy via an endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) technique, the complications associated with the procedure, and the impact on management of patients with upper gastrointestinal SETs.

Patients And Methods: A total of 68 patients with SETs in the stomach or esophagus were voluntarily assigned to two groups.

Prolonged N200 is the early neurophysiologic change in the patient with minimal hepatic encephalopathy.

Background: In neurophysiological studies, P300, is well known for reflecting early cognitive impairment in minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE). Although P300 is investigated extensively, other early event-related potential (ERP) parameters have not been studied in MHE.

Methods: The subjects were 21 adult cirrhotic patients without clinical encephalopathy and 29 normal controls.

The role of leptin in gastric cancer: clinicopathologic features and molecular mechanisms.

Obesity is associated with certain types of cancer, including gastric cancer. However, it is still unclear whether obesity-related cytokine, leptin, is implicated in gastric cancer. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of leptin in gastric cancer.

Association between symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and methane and hydrogen on lactulose breath test.

Whether hydrogen and methane gas produced during lactulose breath test (LBT) are associated with symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is not determined. We aimed to investigate whether hydrogen and methane on LBT are associated with IBS symptoms. Sixty-eight IBS patients meeting the Rome III criteria for IBS, and 55 healthy controls, underwent LBT.

International live endoscopic multichannel demonstration using superfast broadband internet connections.

Background/aims: Telemedicine is a convenient and efficient tool for remote education in various fields. The telemedicine system can also be used to educate doctors and medical students. The aim of our study was to establish the effectiveness of the telemedical system for use in a live endoscopic multichannel demonstration conference and to test the effectiveness and usefulness of a multicenter-based live endoscopic demonstration through live, interactive, high resolution video transmission using advanced networks and the digital video transport system (DVTS).

Prevention of free fatty acid-induced hepatic lipotoxicity by carnitine via reversal of mitochondrial dysfunction.

Background: Mitochondria are the main sites for fatty acid oxidation and play a central role in lipotoxicity and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Aims: We investigated whether carnitine prevents free fatty acid (FFA)-induced lipotoxicity in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: HepG2 cells were incubated with FFA, along with carnitine and carnitine complexes.

Correlation between complicated diverticulitis and visceral fat.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of complications related to diverticulitis and visceral obesity. The study was based on a retrospective case note review conducted at the Hanyang University Hospital. Patients were diagnosed with diverticulitis based on clinical symptoms and abdominal computed tomography (CT) findings and divided into two groups: those admitted with complicated diverticulitis and those with a simple diverticulitis episode.

The effect of eating lunch before an afternoon colonoscopy.

Background/aims: Traditionally, patients fast from midnight the night before to just prior to the colonoscopy. Many patients find it extremely inconvenient to have to fast for a full day. We sought to compare: a group in which diet was restricted and a group in which diet was not restricted.

Differences in clinical characteristics between patients with non-erosive reflux disease and erosive esophagitis in Korea.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is caused by abnormal reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. GERD can be divided into two groups, erosive esophagitis and non-erosive reflux disease (NERD). The aim of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics of patients with erosive esophagitis to those with NERD.

Antibiotic and synergistic effect of Leu-Lys rich peptide against antibiotic resistant microorganisms isolated from patients with cholelithiasis.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa has eventually developed resistance against flomoxef sodium, isepamicin and cefpiramide. Therefore, in this study, the antibacterial activity and synergistic effects of the amphipathic-derived P5-18mer antimicrobial peptide were tested against pathogens associated with cholelithiasis that have developed resistance against commonly used antibiotics. The results were then compared with the activities of the amphipathic-derived peptide, P5-18mer, melittin and common antibiotics.

Telemedicine system using a high-speed network: past, present, and future.

There is no doubt that telecommunication saves a great deal of time and expense when exchanging information, and recent technological advances have increased its popularity in business and educational applications. Telemedicine is a rapidly developing application of clinical medicine in which medical information is transferred via the Internet or another communication network for the purpose of consultations, and sometimes also for remote medical procedures or examinations. A telemedicine system can also be applied to medical education.

When do we miss synchronous gastric neoplasms with endoscopy?

Background: Accurate detection of synchronous multifocal gastric cancer is mandatory for the successful management of stomach cancer.

Objective: We compared the sensitivities of gastroscopy and the current criterion standard of surgical resection and investigated the risk factors involved when clinicians fail to recognize additional gastric lesions.

Design: We performed a retrospective examination of the clinicopathological features of synchronous multifocal gastric carcinoma in a recent sample of gastrectomy patients.

Endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy: indications and complications.

Background/aims: Although a few recent studies have reported the effectiveness of endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy (EPST), none has compared physicians' skills and complications resulting from the procedure. Thus, we examined the indications, complications, and safety of EPST performed by a single physician at a single center.

Methods: Among 2,313 patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography between January 1996 and March 2008, 46 patients who underwent EPST were included in this retrospective study.

[Is end stage renal disease a poor prognosis factor of ischemic colitis?].

Background/aims: In general, ischemic colitis has a very good prognosis. However, there are a lot of controversies in relation to the prognostic factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors of severe ischemic colitis.

[Colonic metastasis from primary lung adenocarcinoma].

Primary lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Korea. Approximately 50% of patients have metastatic disease at the time of presentation. The preferential sites of extrapulmonary spread include lymph nodes, liver, brain, adrenal glands, and bones.

Significance of colonoscope length in cecal insertion time.

Background: According to a previous study, a longer insertion time was associated with inadequate bowel cleansing, advanced age, constipation, surgical history, sex, and a low body mass index. However, there are only a few studies on the association between cecal insertion time and colonoscope length (long vs intermediate).

Objective: To assess the association of colonoscope length and cecal insertion time.

[A case of acute pancreatitis induced by multiple drugs in a patient with ulcerative colitis].

Acute pancreatitis is a serious disease with fatality rate up to 15%. We recently experienced a case of acute pancreatitis induced by multiple drugs in a patient with ulcerative colitis. A 20-year-old female visited with abdominal pain and hematochezia and diagnosed of ulcerative colitis.