Perceptions of and Practices for the Management of Constipation: Results of a Korean National Survey.

Background/aims: Although guidelines exist regarding the evaluation and management of patients with chronic constipation (CC), little is known about real-world clinical practice patterns. This study aimed to evaluate the various practices used to manage CC patients in various clinical settings in South Korea.

Methods: A nationwide web-based survey was conducted, randomly selecting gastroenterologists and non-gastroenterologists.

Randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fexuprazan compared with esomeprazole in erosive esophagitis.

Background: Fexuprazan, a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker, reversibly suppresses the K/H-ATPase enzyme in proton pumps within gastric parietal cells. Fexuprazan's suppression of gastric acid was maintained in healthy individuals for 24 h in a dose-dependent manner.

Aim: To compare fexuprazan to esomeprazole and establish its efficacy and safety in patients with erosive esophagitis (EE).

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Active-Control, Noninferiority, Multicenter, Phase 4 Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Esomeprazole/Sodium Bicarbonate 20/800 mg in Patients with Nonerosive Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

Background/aims: Efficacy of proton pump inhibitors is limited in patients with nonerosive reflux disease (NERD). The aim of this study was to comparatively evaluate the efficacy and safety of esomeprazole with sodium bicarbonate and esomeprazole alone.

Methods: This was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, noninferiority comparative study.

Self-reported Non-celiac Gluten Sensitivity in the Korean Population: Demographic and Clinical Characteristics.

Background/aims: Non-celiac gluten sensitivity is characterized by intestinal and extra intestinal symptoms associated with the consumption of gluten-containing food. Since biomarkers for non-celiac gluten sensitivity are lacking, its prevalence is estimated based on self-reported symptoms. However, no data exist on self-reported non-celiac gluten sensitivity in the Korean population.

2020 Seoul Consensus on the Diagnosis and Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which gastric contents regurgitate into the esophagus or beyond, resulting in either troublesome symptoms or complications. GERD is heterogeneous in terms of varied manifestations, test findings, and treatment responsiveness. GERD diagnosis can be established with symptomatology, pathology, or physiology.

Effectiveness of oral phloroglucinol as a premedication for unsedated esophagogastroduodenoscopy: A prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized trial.

Background: Anti-spasmodic agents are commonly injected during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) to improve visualization of the gastric mucosa by inhibiting gastrointestinal (GI) peristalsis. The availability of oral anti-spasmodic agents would increase convenience. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of oral phloroglucinol (Flospan®) as a premedication for unsedated EGD.

Perceptions and Behaviors of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease during the COVID-19 Crisis.

Background/aims: This study aimed to investigate the perceptions and behaviors of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) during the early coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the major epidemic area in Korea.

Methods: Between April and May 2020, a cross-sectional survey was performed at two tertiary hospitals in Daegu, South Korea, on patients' experiences, coping strategies and perceptions.

Results: Most of the 544 patients participating in the survey strictly adhered to personal protection guidance against COVID-19.

Gender difference in the overlap of irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia: a prospective nationwide multicenter study in Korea.

Background: The overlap between functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is associated with more severe gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and lower quality of life. However, the gender differences in FD-IBS overlap remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the gender differences in patients with FD-IBS overlap.

Pain Intensity at Injection Site during Esophagogastroduodenoscopy Using Long- and Medium-Chain versus Long-Chain Triglyceride Propofol: A Randomized Controlled Double-Blind Study.

Background/aims: The intensities of injection pain resulting from the use of long- and medium-chain triglyceride (LCT/MCT) propofol and conventional LCT propofol during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) have yet to be compared. We aimed to determine the pain intensity caused by different formulations of propofol and to evaluate the formulation that would be preferred by patients as a sedative agent during their next procedure.

Methods: This study was a single-center, randomized, controlled, and double-blind trial.

Efficacy and Safety of DWJ1252 Compared With Gasmotin in the Treatment of Functional Dyspepsia: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Active-controlled Study.

Background/aims: Prokinetics such as mosapride citrate CR (conventional-release; Gasmotin) are commonly used in functional dyspepsia (FD). This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of once-a-day mosapride citrate SR (DWJ1252), a sustained-release formulation of mosapride citrate, compared with mosapride citrate CR 3 times a day, in patients with FD.

Methods: In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, non-inferiority study, 119 patients with FD (by the Rome III criteria, 60 for mosapride citrate SR and 59 for mosapride citrate CR) were randomly allocated to mosapride citrate SR once daily or mosapride citrate CR thrice daily for 4 weeks in 16 medical institutions.

Co-existence of relapsing polychondritis and Crohn disease treated successfully with infliximab.

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare, progressive immune-mediated systemic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology, characterized by recurrent inflammation of cartilaginous structures. Approximately 30% of RP cases are associated with other autoimmune diseases. However, the co-occurrence of RP and Crohn disease (CD) has rarely been reported.

Feasibility of Attachable Ring Stimulator for Intraoperative Neuromonitoring during Thyroid Surgery.

Objective: Stimulator-attached dissecting instruments are useful for intraoperative nerve monitoring during thyroidectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of an attachable ring stimulator (ARS) by comparing the electromyography (EMG) amplitudes evoked by an ARS and a conventional stimulator.

Methods: Medical records of fourteen patients who underwent thyroidectomy using intraoperative neuromonitoring between June and August 2019 were retrospectively reviewed.

Treatment pattern and overall survival in esophageal cancer during a 13-year period: A nationwide cohort study of 6,354 Korean patients.

Using data from the real world to solve clinical questions that cannot be answered using data from clinical trials is attracting more attention. Clinical outcomes for patients with esophageal cancer in a real-world setting might be different from data in randomized controlled trials. This study aimed to provide real world data on treatment and prognosis in Korean patients with esophageal cancer.

2019 Seoul Consensus on Esophageal Achalasia Guidelines.

Esophageal achalasia is a primary motility disorder characterized by insufficient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation and loss of esophageal peristalsis. Achalasia is a chronic disease that causes progressive irreversible loss of esophageal motor function. The recent development of high-resolution manometry has facilitated the diagnosis of achalasia, and determining the achalasia subtypes based on high-resolution manometry can be important when deciding on treatment methods.

Actinomycosis of the Appendix Mimicking Cecal Tumor Treated by Single-Port Laparoscopic Approach.

Actinomycosis is an inflammatory disease with various clinical presentations including inflammation and formation of masses. There are several reports suggesting the infiltrative mass-like nature of actinomycosis that is misunderstood as a tumor. A 39-year-old male clinically presented with a fungating mass-like lesion during colonoscopy for healthcare screening.

Natural elimination of a video capsule after retention for 1 year in a patient with small bowel Crohn disease: A case report.

Introduction: Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) is a useful tool to differentiate small intestinal bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease, and other small bowel disease. The most common adverse effect of VCE is capsule retention; the incidence varies greatly depending on the underlying disease, which is known to increase from 1.5% in healthy individuals to 21% in patients with small bowel Crohn disease.

Duodenal-Jejunal Bypass Surgery Stimulates the Expressions of Hepatic Sirtuin1 and 3 and Hypothalamic Sirtuin1.

Background: Sirtuins mediate metabolic responses to nutrient availability and slow aging and accompanying decline in health. This study was designed to assess the expressions of sirtuin1 (SIRT1) and sirtuin3 (SIRT3) in the liver and hypothalamus after duodenal-jejunal bypass (DJB) surgery in rats.

Methods: A total of 38 rats were randomly assigned to either sham group (n=8) or DJB group (n=30).

Positive Association Between Helicobacter pylori Infection and Metabolic Syndrome in a Korean Population: A Multicenter Nationwide Study.

Background And Aim: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection causes extra-gastrointestinal as well as gastric diseases. This analytical cross-sectional study was performed to investigate the association between H.

[Chronic Functional Constipation].

Constipation is a common functional problem of the digestive system and may occur secondary to diet, drugs, endocrine diseases, metabolic diseases, neurological diseases, psychiatric disorders, or gastrointestinal obstruction. When there is no secondary cause, constipation is diagnosed as functional constipation. The first steps that should be taken to relieve symptoms are diet and lifestyle modifications, and if unsuccessful, laxative therapy should be initiated.

Randomised phase 3 trial: tegoprazan, a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker, vs. esomeprazole in patients with erosive oesophagitis.

Background: Tegoprazan is a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker that has a fast onset of action and can control gastric pH for a prolonged period, which could offer clinical benefit in acid-related disorders.

Aim: To confirm the non-inferiority of tegoprazan to esomeprazole in patients with erosive oesophagitis (EE).

Methods: In this multicentre, randomised, double-blind, parallel-group comparison study, 302 Korean patients with endoscopically confirmed EE (Los Angeles Classification Grades A-D) were randomly allocated to either tegoprazan (50 or 100 mg) or esomeprazole (40 mg) treatment groups for 4 or 8 weeks.

Self-reported Food Intolerance in Korean Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Background/aims: Various foods trigger and/or worsen the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, Korean food-related gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in IBS patients have not yet been investigated. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of self-reported food intolerance in Korean IBS patients and determine the Korean food items and food groups perceived by patients to worsen their GI symptoms.

Corrigendum.

The original version of this article contains one mistake. The term "protein pump inhibitors (PPIs)" in the Introduction of page 219 should have been written as "proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)."

Medical Professionals' Review of YouTube Videos Pertaining to Exercises for the Constipation Relief.

Background/aims: The primary aims of this study were to evaluate the content quality of YouTube videos on exercises to help relieve constipation and to assess whether the video source, exercise types, and popularity affected their quality.

Methods: Eight gastroenterologists independently evaluated the exercises presented in the constipation YouTube videos for seven items: image quality, usefulness in relieving constipation (quality 1), usefulness for general physical health (quality 2), difficulty in following, activity intensity, fun, and overall quality. Raters were asked open-ended questions to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the videos.

Female Gender is a Poor Predictive Factor of Functional Dyspepsia Resolution after Eradication: A Prospective, Multi-center Korean Trial.

Background/aims: The predictive factors of functional dyspepsia (FD) remain controversial. Therefore, we sought to investigate symptom responses in FD patients after eradication and used predictive factor analysis to identify significant factors of FD resolution at one-year after commencing eradication therapy.

Methods: This prospective, multi-center clinical trial was performed on 65 FD patients that met Rome III criteria and had infection.