Prospective multi-center trial for the efficacy of ecabet sodium on the relief of dyspepsia in korean patients with chronic gastritis.

Anti-peptic and anti-inflammatory actions of ecabet sodium might be beneficial in either improving gastritis or relieving dyspeptic symptoms. This study was designed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of ecabet sodium on dyspeptic symptoms and to elucidate the molecular mechanism attributable to symptom relief in patients with chronic gastritis. Two hundred and sixty eight chronic gastritis patients with persistent dyspepsia received ecabet sodium 1 g b.

Endoscopic reflux esophagitis in patients with upper abdominal pain-predominant dyspepsia.

Background: Reflux symptom assessment had reliable accuracy in the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, patients may recognize heartburn or regurgitation as dyspepsia because of inaccurate understanding or atypical presentation. The aim of the present study was to estimate endoscopic reflux esophagitis in patients with upper abdominal pain as a predominant symptom in the absence of heartburn or regurgitation.

Screening colonoscopy in asymptomatic average-risk Koreans: analysis in relation to age and sex.

Background And Aims: Although the incidence of colorectal cancer is rising in Asian countries, there are no guidelines for its screening in this region due in part to the lack of epidemiological data regarding colorectal neoplasms. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of colorectal neoplasms in average-risk Koreans and to assess the effectiveness of screening colonoscopy in Korea.

Methods: The prevalence of colorectal neoplasms was assessed by primary screening colonoscopy in 5,086 consecutive asymptomatic adults (males 70.

A prospective analysis of low-grade gastric malt lymphoma after Helicobacter pylori eradication.

Background: Primary gastric low-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) is known to be successfully treated with anti-Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) therapy alone. However, there are few reports on long-term results after eradication therapy.

[Comparison of double balloon enteroscopy and small bowel series for the evaluation of small bowel lesions].

Background/aims: The role of double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) is still evolving. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic yield of DBE with that of small bowel series (SBS).

Methods: We enrolled patients with suspected small bowel disease consecutively, and performed both DBE and SBS in all patients.

Clinical usefulness of telomerase for the detection of colon cancer in ulcerative colitis patients.

Background And Aim: Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is a complication of ulcerative colitis (UC). Although stool occult blood and colonoscopy are used to detect CRC in UC, these methods have drawbacks, in that bleeding is associated with UC and the underlying mucosa is irregular, making it difficult to detect dysplasia. Telomerase and its catalytic subunit, telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), are specifically expressed in cancers, making them candidate markers for the early detection of cancer.

[The expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) and angiogenesis in relation to the depth of tumor invasion and lymph node metastasis in submucosally invasive colorectal carcinoma].

Background/aims: Lymph node (LN) metastasis occurs in approximately 10% of patients with submucosally invasive colorectal carcinoma. This study was performed to determine the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) production and microvessel formation on the LN metastasis in submucosally invasive colorectal carcinoma.

Methods: A total of forty-one subjects with surgically resected submucosally invasive colorectal carcinoma were included in this study.

Clinical course of distal ulcerative colitis in relation to appendiceal orifice inflammation status.

Background: Although appendiceal orifice inflammation (AOI) is frequently observed as a skip lesion of ulcerative colitis (UC), its clinical significance is not clearly understood. We aimed to evaluate whether AOI is associated with the clinical course of UC.

Methods: Ninety-four patients with newly diagnosed distal UC were prospectively enrolled at the Asan Medical Center between March 1996 and October 2002.

[Clinical usefulness of glucocorticoid receptor beta expression and NF-kappaB activity in patients with ulcerative colitis].

Background/aims: Glucocorticoid resistance poses a challenging clinical problem in inflammatory bowel disease because more than one fourth of patients with severe ulcerative colitis do not respond to anti-inflammatory steroids. Recently, it has been reported that glucocorticoid response is related to the expression of human glucocorticoid receptor beta (hGRbeta) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) activity. The aims of this study were to clarify whether these factors may predict the responsiveness before treatment.

[Clinical characteristics of patients with chronic constipation after radical hysterectomy or delivery].

Background/aims: This study was aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of patients who developed constipation after radical hysterectomy or delivery and to investigate the results of biofeedback therapy for these patients.

Methods: Thirty-five chronic constipation patients with radical hysterectomy (radical hysterectomy group), 27 chronic constipation patients with delivery (delivery group) and 27 constipation patients with no history of hysterectomy or delivery (control group) were included. Clinical characteristics of these patients, including the results of biofeedback therapy, were analyzed.

[The usefulness of colonoscopic biopsy in the diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis and pattern of concomitant extra-intestinal tuberculosis].

Background/aims: Intestinal tuberculosis can be difficult to diagnose because it may mimic many other intestinal diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of colonoscopic biopsy and frequency of concomittent extra-intestinal tuberculosis in intestinal tuberculosis.

Methods: The medical records of 225 consecutive patients with intestinal tuberculosis (81 men, 144 women; mean age 40.

Clinicopathological significance of vascular endothelial growth factor-C and cyclooxygenase-2 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) is a specific growth factor of lymphatics, which is known to play some role in tumor growth and metastasis to lymph nodes and distant organs in various malignancies. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the expression of VEGF-C in human esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC) to elucidate its role in tumor progression and lymph node metastasis. Another aim of the study was to investigate the relation between VEGF-C and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in ESCC.

[Prophylactic effect of Lactobacillus GG in animal colitis and its effect on cytokine secretion and mucin gene expressions].

Background/aims: Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) has been used in acute colitis treatment. However, it is unclear whether the LGG prevents chronic colitis. The aim of this study was to examine the prophylactic effect of LGG on animal colitis, cytokine secretion, and mucin gene expression.

Functional constipation with impaired rectal sensation improved by electrical stimulation therapy: report of a case.

Patients with intractable constipation often complain of social, physical, and psychologic stress. Recently, biofeedback therapy has been widely used for the management of intractable constipation, particularly in cases of constipation associated with pelvic floor dyssynergia. However, some constipated patients often complain of absent or diminished sense of wanting to defecate.

[Clinical characteristics at diagnosis and course of Korean patients with Crohn's disease].

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and course of Korean patients with Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: A total of 113 patients who were newly diagnosed as having CD at the Asan Medical Center between October 1989 and December 2001 were included.

Results: The male to female ratio was 1.

[A case of enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma presenting with recurrent hematochezia].

Enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL) is an unusual primary gastrointestinal lymphoma, particularly associated with celiac sprue. This tumor usually affects the jejunum and grossly presents as multiple circumferential ulcers without the formation of definite tumor masses. Moreover, mesenteric lymph nodes are commonly involved.

[Clinical factors associated with response to biofeedback therapy for patients with chronic constipation].

Background/aims: Biofeedback therapy has been widely used for the treatment of constipated patients. However, there are only a few reports about the clinical factors that can predict the effectiveness of biofeedback therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate prognostic factors before the initiation of biofeedback treatment in constipated patients.

[Clinically important gastroenterologic disorders in Korean elderly].

Although the function of most organ systems in the body decreases with age, aging has relatively little effect on the function of the gastroenterologic organs. This is probably due to the large functional reserve capacity, such as redundancy in the structure of the organ system and excessive production of hormones and enzymes. Most gastroenterologic disorders developed in younger persons may also develop in the elderly.

[Measurement of telomerase activity and telomerase reverse transcriptase expression in gastric fluid and tissue for early diagnosis of stomach cancer].

Background/aims: Telomerase activity and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) expression have been proposed as a marker for malignancy. However, little is known about those markers in intestinal metaplasia (IM). This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of telomerase activity in gastric washing fluid and TERT expression in tissue as a marker for early diagnosis of stomach cancer.

[A case of jejunal stricture due to extramedullary plasmacytoma].

Extramedullary plasmacytoma is a rare disease in which a neoplastic proliferation of plasma cells originates from the outside of the bone marrow. The jejunum is the most common site of extramedullary plasmacytoma of the gastrointestinal tract and its common complications are intestinal obstruction due to mass, gastrointestinal bleeding, and intussusception. A 68-year-old woman presented with intermittent postprandial abdominal pain, vomiting, and weight loss.

Effect of diet and Helicobacter pylori infection to the risk of early gastric cancer.

Background: The association of dietary habits and Helicobacter pylori infection with early gastric cancer is still unclear.

Methods: A hospital-based case-control study was conducted in Korea. Sixty-nine patients were newly diagnosed as having early gastric cancer at the Division of Gastroenterology, Asan Medical Center, and 199 healthy subjects who visited the Health Promotion Center of the this same hospital for annual health examinations were selected as controls.

Effect of electrical stimulation in constipated patients with impaired rectal sensation.

Background And Aims: A subgroup of constipated patients complain of absent or diminished sense of wanting to defecate, suggesting that one of the causes of constipation is impaired rectal sensation. Electrical stimulation therapy (EST) has recently been used to treat patients with urinary and/or fecal incontinence. This study evaluated the efficacy of EST in constipated patients, especially those with impaired rectal sensation.

Clinicopathologic features of ileocolonic malignant lymphoma: analysis according to colonoscopic classification.

Background: The aims of this study were to classify primary ileocolonic lymphomas according to colonoscopic findings and to determine the clinicopathologic relationship according to classes.

Methods: Thirty-two patients (22 men, 10 women; age range 29 to 75 years) with primary malignant lymphoma of the terminal ileum and/or colorectum were studied. The clinicopathologic features were evaluated according to colonoscopic findings.