The Efficacy and Safety of GCWB104 (Flos Lonicera Extract) in Functional Dyspepsia: A Single-Center, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study

Background/Aims@#The Flos Lonicera extract GCWB104 has been shown to have significant protective effects against gastritis and gastric ulcers in vivo. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of GCWB104 in subjects with functional dyspepsia (FD). @*Methods@#In this single-center, double-blind, randomized clinical trial, 92 subjects diagnosed with FD using the Rome III criteria were allocated to either the test group (300 mg of GCWB104, containing 125 mg of Flos Lonicera extract, twice daily) or the placebo group (300 mg placebo, twice daily). The total score improvement on the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) for individual symptoms, changes in antioxidant levels, changes in dyspepsia-related quality of life according to the Nepean Dyspepsia Index (NDI), and adverse effects were compared before and after 8 weeks of treatment. @*Results@#The differences in total GSRS scores and score improvements after 8 weeks of treatment were significant between the GCWB104 and control groups (p=0.0452 and p=0.0486, respectively). Thirteen of 15 individual symptoms on the GSRS improved in the GCWB104 group, while six symptoms improved in the control group. In addition, statistically significant changes in rumbling, loose stool, and stool urgency were observed in the GCWB104 group. Blood 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels, known as antioxidants, showed significant reductions after 8 weeks of administration of GCWB104. There were no adverse events related to treatment with GCWB104. @*Conclusions@#GCWB104 safely contributed to improvements in mild to moderate FD and irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Antioxidant effects of GCWB104 were also suggested (Clinicaltrials.gov number NCT04008901).

A case of portal hypertension by presumed as plexiform neurofibroma at the hepatic hilum

Neurofibromas can occur anywhere in the body, but they usually involve the head, neck, pelvis, and extremities. Abdominal visceral involvement is rare, and intrahepatic involvement is even less common. We describe a patient who suffered from plexiform neurofibromatosis with liver involvement. A 49-year-old man, who had previously been diagnosed with neurofibromatosis, underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and abdominal ultrasonography for screening purposes. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed grade 2 esophageal varices and abdominal ultrasonography showed conglomerated nodules with echogenic appearances in the perihepatic space. Magnetic resonance imaging showed presumed plexiform neurofibroma involving the lesser sac and hepatic hilum and encasing the common hepatic artery celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery left portal triad. We report an unusual case of portal hypertension attributed to the compressive narrowing of the portal vein by presumed as plexiform neurofibroma at the lesser sac and hepatic hilum.

Pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma misconceived as pulmonary metastasis of other malignancies / 영남의대학술지

Pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (PEH) is a rare, low-to-intermediate malignant tumor of endothelial origin. Computed tomography (CT) findings of PEH demonstrate multiple small bilateral nodules; however, to the best of our knowledge, there were no reports on PEH coexisting with other malignancies. Here, we reported on a case involving PEH in a patient with colon cancer and breast cancer which was misconceived as pulmonary meta-stasis. A 63-year-old woman who suffered from constipation for 2 weeks visited our hospital. Colonoscopy showed a large mass with obstruction on hepatic flexure. The histological diagnosis was adenocarcinoma of the ascending colon. Multiple nodules in both lungs and breast were observed on a chest CT scan. A core biopsy of a breast nodule was performed and a diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma of the left breast was made. Pulmonary nodules observed on the chest CT scan was considered as pulmonary metastasis from colon or breast cancer. Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy was performed. At the same time, wedge resection of the lung was performed and pathological diagnosis was PEH. Radiologic features of PEH were difficult to distinguish from lung metastasis. Therefore the author reported a rare case involving PEH in a patient with primary malignancy of colon and breast.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Presenting with Abdominal Tuberculosis / 이화의대지

The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) had gradually been declining all over the world, but in recent years, TB has been increasing due to the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). When immune-suppression status deteriorates further, extrapulmonary TB generally appears more often. Abdominal TB is one type of extra-pulmonary TB, which may involve the gastrointestinal tract, peritoneum, lymph nodes or solid viscera. We encountered a case who had initially been diagnosed as having abdominal TB, had progressed to acute respiratory distress syndrome and was eventually confirmed as having developed acquired immune deficiency syndrome. In cases of coinfection of TB and HIV, it is reported that immunological responses become poor and complications with higher morbidity frequently occur. Therefore, the Korean guidelines for TB should be revised to ensure whether HIV infection exists in TB patients.

The Prevalence of Sarcopenia in Korean Hospitalized Elderly

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is a syndrome characterized by the progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength. Although data exist on the prevalence of sarcopenia among the community-dwelling elderly, there is no systematic research on hospitalized elderly patients in Korea, in accordance with the newly developed criteria. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Daejin Medical Center, Bundang Jesaeng Hospital, Korea, from May 2013 to March 2015. In this study, we evaluated the levels of hemoglobin, total cholesterol, serum albumin, serum prealbumin, and serum zinc. Handgrip strength was measured with a hand grip dynamometer (FT-7110). Furthermore, the skeletal muscle mass was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Sarcopenia was defined by skeletal muscle mass as measured with BIA, according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. RESULTS: Of the hospitalized elderly subjects, 40 (46.5%) had a definite diagnosis of sarcopenia and 46 (53.5%) had no sarcopenia. The prevalence of sarcopenia of the subjects was higher in males than females (males, 46.9% vs. females, 46.3%). The correlation analysis showed that the score of skeletal muscle index (SMI) was negatively correlated with age; whereas, it was positively correlated with the BMI, body weight, and serum prealbumin level. CONCLUSION: The results of the study showed that sarcopenia was associated with several factors, including age, BMI, serum prealbumin level, among the study subjects. Sarcopenia can be used as a sensitive predictive marker for prognosis of the hospitalized elderly.