Predictive Factors for Severe Outcomes in Ischemic Colitis.

Background/aims: Ischemic colitis includes a wide clinical spectrum ranging from mild to severe forms. This study aimed to determine the factors that are related to the occurrence of severe ischemic colitis.

Methods: This multicenter study was conducted retrospectively in Korea.

The clinical features and treatment modality of esophageal neuroendocrine tumors: a multicenter study in Korea.

Background: Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of the esophagus are extremely rare, and few cases have been reported worldwide. Thus, a comprehensive nationwide study is needed to understand the characteristics of and treatment strategy for esophageal NETs.

Methods: We collected data on esophageal NET patients from 25 hospitals in Korea from 2002-2012.

[Prognostic value of preoperative positron emission tomography-computed tomography in surgically resected gastric cancer].

Background/aims: The diagnostic value of PET-CT, in gastric cancer is well known, but the prognostic value of pretreatment PET-CT has not been adequately evaluated. This study aimed to investigate the preoperative prognostic value of PET-CT in gastric cancer patients.

Methods: A total of 107 patients underwent surgical treatment for gastric cancer from April 2007 to December 2010 at Dong-A University Medical Center after confirming the presence of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake on preoperative PET-CT.

Gastric glomus tumor: analysis of endosonographic characteristics and computed tomographic findings.

Among submucosal tumors (SMT), gastric glomus tumors are rare vascular tumors, and only a few cases where glomus tumors have been differentiated from other mesenchymal tumors by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) or computed tomography (CT) have been reported. In this case series, we aimed to analyze the EUS and CT characteristics of gastric glomus tumors. Seven patients with gastric glomus tumors were retrospectively enrolled in this study.

Missed synchronous gastric neoplasm with endoscopic submucosal dissection for gastric neoplasm: experience in our hospital.

Aim: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been widely accepted as a less invasive treatment for early gastric cancer and adenoma, but research on missed synchronous gastric neoplasm (SGN) with ESD has been limited. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the incidence and characteristics of missed SGN during follow-up endoscopy in patients who have undergone ESD.

Method: We investigated the clinicopathological features of 602 patients and gastric neoplasms treated by ESD from January 2005 through July 2009 at our institution.

A case of synchronous esophagus and stomach cancer successfully treated by combined chemotherapy.

Although cases of simultaneous esophagus and stomach cancer have been reported sporadically, there are rare reports of successful treatment using chemotherapy. We report a case of synchronous esophageal and gastric cancer successfully treated using docetaxel and cis-diammineedichloro-platinum (CDDP) combination chemotherapy instead of surgery. A 82-years-old man with anorexia and progressive weight loss was diagnosed with synchronous esophageal and gastric cancer by endoscopy.

Efficacy of I-scan endoscopy in the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease with minimal change.

Background/aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of i-scans for the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease, especially where only minimal change is involved.

Methods: The esophageal mucosa was inspected using an i-scan following conventional white light endoscopy. The examination with iscan was performed under tone enhancement (TE) esophagus (e) mode.

[Gastrointestinal metastasis from a primary adenocarcinoma of the lung presenting with acute abdominal pain].

Symptomatic gastro-intestinal metastasis in lung cancer is extremely rare and only a few case reports have been published. Here, we report a case with lung adenocarcinoma that presented with acute abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting due to duodenum, jejunum, and colon obstruction by the gastro-intestinal metastasis. The patient underwent colonoscopy and the pathologic report was adenocarcinoma.

Prevention of NSAID-associated gastroduodenal injury in healthy volunteers-a randomized, double-blind, multicenter study comparing DA-9601 with misoprostol.

In addition to inhibiting cyclooxygenase and prostaglandin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may cause gastroduodenal injuries due to reactive oxygen species produced by recruited inflammatory cells. DA-9601 is a novel antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and cyto-protective effects. This study was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of DA-9601 with misoprostol for preventing NSAID-associated gastroduodenal injury.

Predictive value of in vitro adenosine triphosphate-based chemotherapy response assay in advanced gastric cancer patients who received oral 5-Fluorouracil after curative resection.

Purpose: To assess the usefulness of adenosine triphosphate-based chemotherapy response assay (ATP-CRA) results in advanced gastric cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-two patients underwent curative surgical resection between January, 2006 and December, 2008. Their highly purified surgical specimens were evaluated by ATP-CRAs.

Optical biopsies by confocal endomicroscopy prevent additive endoscopic biopsies before endoscopic submucosal dissection in gastric epithelial neoplasias: a prospective, comparative study.

Background: Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) allows real-time in vivo histologic evaluation of GI lesions. To our knowledge, there is no reported prospective study comparing endoscopic and optical biopsy using CLE before endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) with post-ESD histopathology.

Objective: We compared endoscopic and optical biopsy before ESD and thereby assessed the ability of CLE to effectively diagnose and differentiate gastric epithelial neoplasia.

Comparison of serum procalcitonin with Ranson, APACHE-II, Glasgow and Balthazar CT severity index scores in predicting severity of acute pancreatitis.

Background/aims: The aim of this study is to assess serum procalcitonin (PCT) for early prediction of severe acute pancreatitis compared with multiple scoring systems and biomarkers.

Methods: Forty-four patients with acute pancreatitis confirmed by radiological evidences, laboratory assessments, and clinical manifestation were prospectively enrolled. All blood samples and image studies were obtained within 24 hours of admission.

A study of metachronous cancer after endoscopic resection of early gastric cancer.

Objective: Endoscopic resection is commonly used for early gastric cancer (EGC) in Korea and Japan. There are only a few reports of metachronous cancer after endoscopic resection. The aim of this study was to identify clinical factors associated with metachronous gastric cancer after endoscopic resection.

Modified FOLFOX-4 as first-line and salvage treatment in advanced gastric cancer.

Background/aims: Oxaliplatin, leucovorin and fluorouracil combination therapy (FOLFOX) was effective and safe treatment in AGC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the modified FOLFOX-4 using low dose leucovorin for patients with advanced gastric cancer and analyze the efficacy of this regimen as first-line and salvage treatment.

Methodology: Forty-two patients with recurrent or metastatic gastric cancer received oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 and leucovorin 20 mg/m2 followed by 5-FU bolus 400 mg/m2 and then 5-FU 600 mg/m2 every 2 weeks.

Delayed viral clearance of chronic hepatitis C in patients after treatment failure.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection usually progresses to chronic hepatitis, with rare cases of spontaneous viral eradication. We present herein four cases involving patients that were initially declared to have failed to respond to treatments, based on the presence of HCV RNA that was still detectable after completion of the standard treatment for chronic hepatitis C with genotype 2. However, the HCV RNA became undetectable, with a delayed response, after discontinuation of therapy.

[Clinical features of gas-forming liver abscesses: comparison between diabetic and nondiabetic patients].

Background/aims: Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are more likely to have a pyogenic liver abscess with gas formation, which is associated with higher morbidity and mortality. The morbidity and mortality in pyogenic liver abscess are also higher in DM patients than in non-DM patients. This study evaluated the morbidity, mortality, and clinical features in patients with gas-forming liver abscesses associated with DM.

Risk factors for immediate and delayed bleeding associated with endoscopic submucosal dissection of gastric neoplastic lesions.

OBJECTIVE. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of gastric neoplasia has been reported to have a higher bleeding rate than conventional endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for bleeding associated with ESD.

Long-term outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection in gastric neoplastic lesions at a single institution in South Korea.

OBJECTIVE. Although endoscopic treatment for early gastric cancer (EGC) is an accepted therapy in South Korea and Japan, long-term outcomes remain unknown. We evaluated the clinical outcome of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for gastric dysplasia and EGC.

Expression of VEGF, EGFR, and IL-6 in gastric adenomas and adenocarcinomas by endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Background: The degree of intratumoral microvascular density is thought to affect tumor metastasis and prognosis in various human cancers, including gastric cancer. Despite recent medical advancements, gastric adenoma or adenocarcinoma remains a considerable therapeutic challenge. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a more recent approach that is now commonly used for radical resection of gastric adenoma and adenocarcinoma.

[Predictive significance of serum IL-6, VEGF, and CRP in gastric adenoma and mucosal carcinoma before endoscopic submucosal dissection].

Background/aims: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is commonly used for radical resection of gastric adenoma and mucosal cancer, but there is about 30% of discrepancy rate between the histology of the endoscopic biopsy and that of the resected specimen obtained from the same lesion by ESD. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical significance of IL-6, VEGF, CRP before ESD.

Methods: We investigated the correlation between serum IL-6, VEGF, CRP level and discrepancy rate of gastric neoplastic lesions (10 low-grade dysplasias, 18 high-grade dysplasias, and 25 early gastic cancers).

Early detection of recurrence after endoscopic treatment for early gastric cancer.

Objective: Although there have been many reports regarding clinical outcomes of endoscopic treatment for early gastric cancer (EGC), little is known about detection of recurrence after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). This study aims to clarify the clinical value of serological marker or imaging tools, including conventional CT and PET-CT scans, in detecting recurrent gastric cancer after ESD in Korea.

Material And Methods: From July 2004 to March 2008, 212 patients who had received ESD for EGC were enrolled in the study.

EMR for early gastric cancer in Korea: a multicenter retrospective study.

Background: EMR has been accepted as a treatment modality for selected cases of early gastric cancer (EGC) in Japan. However, long-term outcomes after EMR for EGC have not been fully documented.

Objectives: We reviewed the experiences of EMR for EGC in Korea, with emphasis on the long-term outcome.

Development and psychometric evaluation of a chronic liver disease-specific quality of life questionnaire.

Background And Aims: There has been no reliable and valid instrument to measure health-related quality of life for Asian patients with chronic liver disease. The aim of the present study was to develop and evaluate a chronic liver disease-specific quality of life (CLD-QOL) questionnaire for Korean patients with chronic liver disease.

Methods: Content-validated items were evaluated psychometrically in 271 patients with chronic liver disease recruited from seven university hospitals in Korea.

[Endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer and gastric adenoma].

Background/aims: Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD) is a new endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) technique which enables en bloc resection even in large and depressed lesions. The aims of this study were to assess the therapeutic efficacy and the safety of ESD in gastric adenoma and in early gastric cancer (EGC).

Methods: We analyzed 101 lesions in 101 patients.