Optimal Methods for the Management of Iatrogenic Colonoscopic Perforation.

Background/aims: Colonoscopic perforations have been managed with exploratory laparotomy, and have resulted in some morbidity and mortality. Recently, laparoscopic surgery is commonly performed for this purpose. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of several management strategies for iatrogenic colonoscopic perforations.

TWIST1 and SNAI1 as markers of poor prognosis in human colorectal cancer are associated with the expression of ALDH1 and TGF-β1.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important factor in cancer invasiveness and metastatic progression. During EMT, cancer cells acquire stem cell properties. The role of EMT and stemness in colon cancer has not been fully understood.

Polymorphisms of the pri-miR-34b/c promoter and TP53 codon 72 are associated with risk of colorectal cancer.

The microRNA (miR)-34 family is a direct transcriptional target of tumor-suppressor TP53 and loss of miR-34 function may impair TP53-mediated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In the present study, we investigated whether the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs4938723 (T>C) in the promoter region of miR-34b/c and Arg72Pro (G>C) in codon 72 of TP53 are independently or complementarily associated with the risks and clinical outcomes of colorectal cancer (CRC) and whether the combined effect of these SNPs and metabolic risk factors are related to CRC. We evaluated the SNPs in 545 CRC patients and 428 healthy controls using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and DNA sequence analysis.

Endoscopic resection of giant colonic lipoma: case series with partial resection.

Colonic lipoma, a very rare form of benign tumor, is typically detected incidentally in asymptomatic patients. The size of lipoma is reported variously from 2 mm to 30 cm, with higher likelihood of symptoms as the size is bigger. Cases with symptom or bigger lesion are surgically resected in principle; endoscopic resection, which has developed recently with groundbreaking advance of endoscopic excision technology, is being used more often but with rare report of success due to high chance of complications such as bowel perforation or bleeding.

Gastrointestinal cancers in a peutz-jeghers syndrome family: a case report.

A 17-year-old man was diagnosed as Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) because of pigmented lip and multiple gastrointestinal polyps. He had anemia and underwent polypectomy on the duodenum and colon. His maternal family members were patients with PJS.

Endoscopic treatment of refractory gastroesohageal reflux disease.

Though efficient acid suppression with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) remains the mainstay of treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), some of the patients showed refractory response to PPIs, necessitating further intervention. After increasing dose of PPIs and other kinds of pharmacological intervention adopting prokinetics or others, variable endoscopic treatments are introduced for the treatment of these refractory cases. The detailed introduction regarding endoscopic treatment for GERD is forwarded in this review article.

Promoter polymorphisms of pri-miR-34b/c are associated with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Numerous studies have focused on the association between miR-34 family members, which are direct p53 targets, and carcinogenesis of many cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to assess whether polymorphisms in the single-nucleotide polymorphism miR-34b/c T>C (rs4938723) and TP53 Arg72Pro (rs1042522) increase the risk of HCC and influence outcome in patients with HCC.

Patients And Methods: We enrolled 157 HCC patients and 201 cancer-free control subjects from the Korean population.

Prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection in hemodialysis patients.

Background/aims: The prevalence of occult HBV infection depends on the prevalence of HBV infection in the general population. Hemodialysis patients are at increased risk for HBV infection. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of occult HBV infection in hemodialysis patients.

[Effect of proton pump inhibitor in patients with acute pancreatitis - pilot study].

Background/aims: Oxygen free radicals play an important role in acute pancreatitis. Pantoprazole as a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) has pancreatic anti-secretory effect and a pronounced inhibitory reactivity towards hydroxyl radicals. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of pantoprazole on the course of acute pancreatitis.

Rifaximin Plus Levofloxacin-Based Rescue Regimen for the Eradication of Helicobacter pylori.

Background/aims: This study assessed the efficacy of a rifaximin plus levofloxacin-based rescue regimen in patients that had failed both triple and quadruple standard regimens for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori.

Methods: We treated patients for H. pylori between August 2009 and April 2011.

An impacted pancreatic stone in the papilla induced acute obstructive cholangitis in a patient with chronic pancreatitis.

Obstructive jaundice is very rarely caused by impaction of a pancreatic stone in the papilla. We report here on a case of obstructive jaundice with acute cholangitis that was caused by an impacted pancreatic stone in the papilla in a patient with chronic pancreatitis. A 48-year-old man presented with acute obstructive cholangitis.

Association study of microRNA polymorphisms with hepatocellular carcinoma in Korean population.

Background: Recent studies have suggested that common genetic polymorphisms alter the processing of microRNA (miRNA) and may be associated with the development and progression of cancer.

Patients And Methods: The association of miRNA polymorphisms with HCC survival was analyzed in 159 HCC patients and 201 controls by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method.

Results: The risk of HCC was significantly lower for the miR-499A>G, AG+GG in HCC patients (AOR=0.

The role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the evaluation of gastric cancer recurrence after curative gastrectomy.

Purpose: (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET/CT) scans are frequently performed for the screening or staging of malignant tumors. This study aimed to assess the usefulness of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in detection of gastric cancer recurrence after curative gastrectomy.

Materials And Methods: Eighty nine patients who had undergone curative gastrectomy due to gastric cancer and had (18)F-FDG PET/CT and contrast CT scans within 2 weeks for surveillance in asymptomatic patients (n = 11) or to clarify suspected recurrence (n = 78) were consecutively collected and retrospectively analyzed.

Colonoscopic clipping as a treatment for appendiceal bleeding.

Bleeding from the appendix has been reported very rarely in patients with lower-gastrointestinal-tract bleeding. In general, after a colonoscopic diagnosis of appendiceal bleeding, laparoscopic or surgical appendectomy would be recommended. Two patients with continuous bleeding from the appendix were treated with partial occlusion of the appendiceal orifice by colonoscopic clipping.

Fatal biliary-systemic air embolism during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: a case with multifocal liver abscesses and choledochoduodenostomy.

We report a rare case of a massive fatal embolism that occurred in the middle of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and retrospectively examine the significant causes of the event. The patient was a 50-year old female with an uncertain history of previous abdominal surgery for multiple biliary stones 20 years prior. The patient presented with acute right upper quadrant pain.

Bowel obstruction caused by an intramural duodenal hematoma: a case report of endoscopic incision and drainage.

Complications associated with an intramural hematoma of the bowel, is a relatively unusual condition. Most intramural hematomas resolve spontaneously with conservative treatment and the patient prognosis is good. However, if the symptoms are not resolved or the condition persists, surgical intervention may be necessary.

STAT3 expression in gastric cancer indicates a poor prognosis.

Background And Aim: Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) behave as signal transducers in the cytoplasm and as transcription factors in the nucleus. In the current study, we analyzed the immunohistochemical staining patterns of gastrectomy tissue specimens. We investigated the expression of STAT3 and STAT5 and estimated the relationship between STAT and cancer prognosis.

[Clinical characteristics of health screen examinees with nonalcoholic fatty liver and normal liver function test].

Background/aims: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is known to be closely associated with various metabolic abnormalities including metabolic syndrome. However, there are few data available on the association of metabolic syndrome with the sonographically fatty liver and normal range of liver function test. The purposes of this study were to find the incidence of ultrasonographic fatty liver with normal range of liver function test and to evaluate the association with metabolic syndrome in apparently healthy Korean adults.

Associations of Expressions of HBcAg and HBsAg with the Histologic Activity of Liver Disease and Viral Replication.

Background/aims: Subcellular localization of hepatitis B virus (HBV) core antigen (HBcAg) and HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) is known to be related to the activity of liver disease and the level of HBV replication. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between histologic activity, viral replication, and the intracellular distributions of HBcAg and HBsAg.

Methods: We enrolled 670 patients with chronic hepatitis B who underwent liver biopsy at Bundang CHA hospital between 1997 to 2007.

[Hepatitis B core antigen expression pattern predicts response to lamivudine therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B].

Backgrounds/aims: Negative hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) staining in hepatocytes is indicative of viral replication by an active immune response. HBcAg is expressed mainly in the cytoplasm in patients with active hepatitis and hepatocyte regeneration, and mainly in the nuclei of hepatocytes in patients with minimal liver injury in the absence of hepatocyte regeneration. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether the existence and expression pattern of HBcAg predicts the response to antiviral treatment.

Occult hepatitis B virus infection in pregnant woman and its clinical implication.

Background/aims: The objective of this study was to document the prevalence rate of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) in healthy pregnant woman and the possibility of transmission to the foetus.

Methods: This study was performed prospectively with 202 healthy pregnant women. HBV-DNA testing was performed using two specific quantitative tests with two independent sets of sera and cord blood.

[Abnormal liver function tests in pregnancy: a single institution experience].

Background/aims: Elevated transaminase levels are often detected during pregnancy. Causes are variable and difficult to differentiate. Furthermore, there is no practical guideline for abnormal transaminase levels in pregnancy.

[A case of duodenal intramural hematoma treated by percutaneous external drainage].

Complicating intramural hematoma is an interesting, relatively unusual condition. Various etiologic factors have been described, with the most common being blunt trauma, anticoagulant therapy, Henoch-Sch nlein purpura and blood dyscrasias. Most intramural hematomas resolve spontaneously with conservative treatment, and the prognosis is good.

The usefulness of angiotensin converting enzyme in the differential diagnosis of Crohn's disease and intestinal tuberculosis.

Background: Since the pathologic findings of Crohn's disease (CD) and intestinal tuberculosis (IT) overlap to a large degree, the development of other biomarkers will be of great help for making the differential diagnosis of these 2 diseases. The aim of the present study is to examine the clinical efficacy of using the tissue angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) assay in making the differential diagnosis between CD and IT.

Methods: Tissue specimens were obtained from 36 patients who were diagnosed with CD or IT by the colonoscopic biopsy, as well as by the clinical findings.

[Validation of the Korean version of liver disease quality of life (LDQOL 1.0) instrument].

Background And Aims: Assessment of Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes in treatment of chronic disease is increasingly important. The objective of this study was to validate a Korean translation of the Liver Disease Quality of Life instrument (LDQOL version 1.0) for use in patients with chronic liver disease.