The role of surgery after incomplete endoscopic mucosal resection for early gastric cancer.

Purpose: Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is a relatively new treatment option for early gastric cancer (EGC). However, cases of incomplete EMR resulting in a positive lateral margin or submucosal invasion (positive vertical margin) have been reported. We conducted this study to evaluate the role of surgery after incomplete EMR for EGC.

Comparison of 7-day and 14-day proton pump inhibitor-containing triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication: neither treatment duration provides acceptable eradication rate in Korea.

Background And Aims: Although triple combination therapy containing a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and two antibiotics is considered as a standard regimen for the first-line anti-Helicobacter pylori treatment, there are still debates on the ideal duration of treatment. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacies of 7-day and 14-day PPI-containing triple therapy.

Materials And Methods: This study was performed in a randomized, multicenter, prospective manner.

[Clinical usefulness of fecal occult blood test as a screening method for asymptomatic patients with colon polyps].

Background/aims: Detection of asymptomatic benign colon polyp is increasing because colonoscopy is widely used as a screening and diagnostic method. Fecal occult blood test is usually performed for the selection of patients requiring colonoscopy as well as mass screening for colon cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of fecal occult blood test performed prior to colonoscopy as a screening method of benign colon polyps.

Simvastatin inhibits NF-kappaB signaling in intestinal epithelial cells and ameliorates acute murine colitis.

Statins, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors exert pleiotropic anti-inflammatory properties in vitro and in vivo, and are associated with the risk reduction of colorectal cancer. It remains unknown, however, whether statin is effective for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Therefore, we investigated anti-inflammatory effects of simvastatin on intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) and on an experimental murine colitis model, and elucidated its molecular mechanisms.

Plant sterol guggulsterone inhibits nuclear factor-kappaB signaling in intestinal epithelial cells by blocking IkappaB kinase and ameliorates acute murine colitis.

Background/aims: The plant sterol guggulsterone has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. It remains unknown, however, whether guggulsterone is effective for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Therefore, we investigated anti-inflammatory effects of guggulsterone on intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) and on experimental murine colitis models and elucidated its molecular mechanisms.

Progression of atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia drives Helicobacter pylori out of the gastric mucosa.

This study was performed to evaluate the implication of anti-H. pylori IgG positivity when CLOtest, histological test, and culture in the antrum and body are all negative, and to find out the specific disease category that is more affected by the hostile relationship of atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia (IM) with H. pylori.

[Efficacy of combination of intravenous cyclosporin A and steroid therapy versus prolonged intravenous steroid therapy alone in patients with severe ulcerative colitis refractory to initial intravenous steroid therapy].

Background/aims: Maximal duration of intravenous (IV) corticosteroid (CS) treatment and efficacy of cyclosporin A (CsA) have not been clarified for patients with severe ulcerative colitis. We aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of CS and CsA combination therapy with prolonged CS therapy alone in patients with severe UC refractory to initial CS therapy.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 84 episodes of severe UC in 59 patients between April 1999 and May 2005.

[The trend of eradication rates of first-line triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection: single center experience for recent eight years].

Background/aims: The prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has been reported to be increasing. However, the recent trend of eradication rates of H.

Institutional difference of antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori strains in Korea.

Goals: This study was performed to evaluate whether the prevalence rates of primary antibiotic resistance in Helicobacter pylori isolates could be different between 2 institutions, which are located in the different areas in Korea, and to evaluate the effect of antibiotic resistance on the eradication rate of H. pylori.

Study: H.

Combinations containing amoxicillin-clavulanate and tetracycline are inappropriate for Helicobacter pylori eradication despite high in vitro susceptibility.

Background: The purpose of the present paper was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of amoxicillin-clavulanate and tetracycline-based quadruple therapy as an alternative second-line treatment for H. pylori infection.

Methods: The study subjects consisted of 54 patients infected with H.

Histologic characteristics of gastric polyps in Korea: emphasis on discrepancy between endoscopic forceps biopsy and endoscopic mucosal resection specimen.

Aim: To investigate histological characteristics of gastric polyps in the Korean population.

Methods: We reviewed endoscopic photographs and medical records of patients with gastric polyps who underwent endoscopic mucosal resection from April 1996 through February 2003.

Results: A total of 85 gastric polyps from 74 patients were reviewed.

Comparison of primary and secondary antimicrobial minimum inhibitory concentrations for Helicobacter pylori isolated from Korean patients.

In this study we assessed minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values and resistance rates of several antibiotics in 65 primary and 324 secondary Helicobacter pylori isolates from Korean patients. Primary resistance to amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, tetracycline, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and moxifloxacin was 18.5%, 13.

[Usefulness of NCI-N87 cell lines in Helicobacter pylori infected gastric mucosa model].

Background/aims: The unavailability of human gastric cell lines representative of the normal gastric epithelial function such as polarized monolayer restricts the application of cell culture system in approaching the field of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infected gastric mucosa models. The present investigation aimed at assessing the usefulness of NCI-N87 cell line as an adequate cellular model to study the pathophysiology of human H.

Long-term outcomes after Helicobacter pylori eradication with second-line, bismuth-containing quadruple therapy in Korea.

Objectives: To determine the long-term outcomes in terms of Helicobacter pylori and ulcer recurrence after second-line eradication with bismuth-containing quadruple regimens in Korea.

Methods: Sixty-seven patients with peptic ulcer disease after successful eradication using second-line quadruple therapies were prospectively followed up 1 month after treatment and then every 6 months or when dyspeptic symptoms reappeared to ascertain H. pylori and ulcer status.

The effects of genetic polymorphisms of IL-1 and TNF-A on Helicobacter pylori-induced gastroduodenal diseases in Korea.

Objective: To evaluate whether or not genetic polymorphism of IL-1B, IL-1RN, and TNF-Alpha is an important factor in the different expression of gastroduodenal diseases after Helicobacter pylori infection.

Methods: This study consisted of 1360 subjects: control, gastric cancer (GC, intestinal type, and diffuse type), benign gastric ulcer (BGU), duodenal ulcer, and first-degree gastric cancer relative (GCR). IL-1Beta-511 and TNF-A-308 biallelic polymorphism were genotyped by 5' nuclease polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

Discrepancies between primary physician practice and treatment guidelines for Helicobacter pylori infection in Korea.

Aim: To evaluate the attitude of primary care physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection.

Methods: Primary care physicians in the Seoul metropolitan area answered self-administered questionnaire from January to March 2003.

Efficacy of moxifloxacin-based triple therapy as second-line treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection.

Background And Aim: Metronidazole and tetracycline-based second-line quadruple therapy, widely used for Helicobacter pylori infection, often ends up in failure due to antibiotic resistance and poor compliance in Korea. Our aim is to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of moxifloxacin-based triple therapy as an alternative second-line treatment for H. pylori infection.

Gastric mucosal protection via enhancement of MUC5AC and MUC6 by geranylgeranylacetone.

The mucus layer that covers gastric mucosa is a powerful barrier that protects tissues from the hazardous gastric environment; however, the role of each gastric MUC type, such as MUC1, MUC5AC, and MUC6, has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study is to identify the MUC type, which plays a predominant role in this protective process by use of geranylgeranylacetone (GGA), a promising cytoprotective agent. In addition, the mechanism of mucus secretion promoted by GGA was investigated.

Seroconversion of Helicobacter pylori in Korean male employees.

Objective: Helicobacter pylori infections are acquired primarily during childhood, but also occur in adults. As no published estimates are available on the seroconversion rate of H. pylori in the Korean population, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and prevalence of H.

Distribution of fluoroquinolone MICs in Helicobacter pylori strains from Korean patients.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence rate of primary fluoroquinolone resistance in Helicobacter pylori isolates from Korean patients over the past 16 years.

Methods: One hundred and thirty-five strains of H. pylori (34 strains in 1987, 36 in 1994 and 65 in 2003) were isolated from antral gastric mucosal biopsy specimens.

[The trend of eradication rates of second-line quadruple therapy containing metronidazole for Helicobacter pylori infection: an analysis of recent eight years].

Background/aims: Failure rates of Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment turned out to be exceeding 10%, causing recurrence of peptic ulcers. In the case of eradication failure, the Korean College of Helicobacter Research and Practice recommends quadruple therapy consisting of proton pump inhibitor, bismuth, tetracycline and metronidazole. Many reports regarding the eradication rates of quadruple therapy have been reported.

[Efficacy and safety of treatment with infliximab in Crohn's disease-the experience of single center in Korea].

Background/aims: Infliximab has been shown to be effective and safe for treating refractory luminal and fistulizing Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of this study was to report the efficacy and adverse effect of infliximab therapy in patients with CD at our center.

Methods: Medical records of thirteen patients who were treated with infliximab for refractory luminal or fistulizing CD were reviewed.

[Frequency analysis of NOD2 gene mutations in Korean patients with Crohn's disease].

Background/aims: Several studies from Western populations have recently shown that three mutations in NOD2 gene (C2104T, G2722C, and 3020insC) are associated with susceptibility to Crohn's disease (CD). However, three mutations were shown not to be associated with CD in Japanese and Chinese population. Here, we have analyzed the frequency of three NOD2 mutations in Korean patients to determine whether the NOD2 mutations are associated with susceptibility to CD in Korean population.

[Trial of moxifloxacin-containing triple therapy after initial and second-line treatment failures for Helicobacter pylori infection].

Background/aims: Proton-pump inhibitor (PPI)-based triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication is widely used with considerable failure rate. Bismuth-based, second-line therapy is also associated with failures in more than 20% of cases in Korea. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of third-line therapy containing moxifloxacin as a rescue in Korea.