The Effect of Tegaserod on Symptoms and Quality of Life in Korean Women with Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation

INTRODUCTION: Tegaserod has been used for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) but there is no data regarding its effect on Korean patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of tegaserod on symptoms and quality of life (QOL) in Korean female IBS patients with constipation and to evaluate the usefulness of the IBS-QOL in clinical study. METHODS: A prospective, open labeled, multicenter study was performed. Female patients fulfilling Rome II criteria for IBS received 6 mg of tegaserod twice a day for 4 weeks. The efficacy on IBS symptoms and QOL was assessed using 7-point scaled symptom questionnaire and IBS-QOL questionnaire, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 81 female patients (range 18-73 years of age) were enrolled in this study. Tegaserod therapy significantly reduced the overall symptom scores after 4 weeks (p <0.01). The improved symptoms included abdominal discomfort or pain, hard or lumpy stool, straining during a bowel movement, feeling of incomplete bowel movement, and abdominal fullness or bloating. The IBS-QOL of responders to tegaserod treatment was also significantly improved after 4 weeks (p <0.01). Furthermore, improvement of symptom scores significantly correlated with improvement of the IBS-QOL scores (r = -0.60, p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Tegaserod 6 mg given twice daily improved the QOL as well as the bowel symptoms in Korean female IBS patients with constipation. The IBS-QOL can be used as a reliable end-point in clinical study.

A case of HELLP syndrome accompanied by retinal detachment / 대한내과학회지

Weinstein et al. first described the HELLP (hemolytic anemia, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets) syndrome in 1982. The incidence of HELLP syndrome is 0.2~0.6% in normal pregnant women and 4~12% in women with preeclampsia. This syndrome is accompanied by serious medical complications, including hepatic and renal failure, coagulopathy, hypertension, and pulmonary edema. Retinal detachment is an unusual, but well documented, complication of hypertensive disorder in pregnancy affecting 0.2~2% of patients with severe preeclampsia and 0.9% of patients with HELLP syndrome. This paper reports on a patient with HELLP syndrome accompanied by retinal detachment who recovered after controlling the blood pressure and receiving systemic steroids.

A Case of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Combined with Liver Abscess / 대한소화기학회지

Hepatocellular calcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. It is important to diagnose HCC exactly before management is attempted. But, the clinical presentations and radiologic findings of liver abscess, HCC, and metastatic tumor to the liver may be quite similar, and procedures such as serum tumor marker assay, computerized tomography, and ultrasonography of the liver cannot make a specific diagnosis. We report a case of HCC successfully diagnosed by surgery which was misconceived as liver abscess and not improved by medical treatment.

A Case of Retrograde Jejunogastric Intussusception Diagnosed by Gastroscopy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Retrograde intussusception of the jejunum into the stomach through the stroma of a gastroenterostomy is a very rare, but potentially fatal complication after gastrectomy. Once symptoms develop, the mortality rate is high if this is not treated within 48 hours, so making an early diagnosis with a high index of suspicion and administering prompt treatment are mandatory. Gastroscopy could be a useful diagnostic tool for patients with a history of gastrectomy and who present with abdominal pain and hematemesis, and with considering the possibility of intussusception. A 65-year-old man with a history of Billroth II gastrectomy that was done 35 years ago due to gastric ulcer perforation was admitted with abdominal pain and hematemesis. A necrotic mucosa that was suspicious of an intussuscepted small bowel tissue was detected on gastroscopy. Subsequent open reduction and small bowel resection was performed with successful results. We report here on a case of postoperative retrograde jejunogastric intussusception that occurred 35 years after Billroth II gastrectomy, and it was first diagnosed by performing gastroscopy.

A Case of Eosionophilic Gastroenteritis Involving EntireGastrointestinal Tract with Eosinophilic Ascites / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is a rare condition of unknown cause characterized by pheripheral eosinophilia and eosinophilic infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract. Eosonophilic gastroenteritis is generally classified according to the layer of the gastrointestinal tract that is involved. Serosal eosinophilic infiltration is the rarest form of presentation and can result in the development of eosinophilic ascites. We experienced a case of eosinophlilic gastroenteritis involving the entire gastrointestinal tract in a 34-year-old female patient with abdominal pain that was confirmed by multiple biopsies of the gastrointestinal tract with eosinophilic ascites. The patient was successfully treated with corticosteroids. We report this case with a brief review of the literature.

A Case of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor of the Jejunum with Obscure Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage Diagnosed by Exploratory Laparotomy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumor of the gastrointestinal tract, and they represent about 2% of all neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. GISTs primarily affect the stomach (50~60%), but they can also affect the small intestine (20~30%), large intestine (7%) and esophagus (1%). The clinical manifestations of GISTs vary according to the location and size of the mass. GISTs are generally KIT (CD117)-positive and are diagnosed by immunohistochemistry. Tumor size and mitotic activity are the best predictive prognostic features. The treatment of choice for primary GIST is complete surgical resection with a negative margin. A 78-year-old man who presented with melena and diffuse abdominal pain was admitted to our hospital. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, angiography and an RBC scan were performed but we were unable to locate the focus of the hemorrhage. A gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) of the jejunum was diagnosed after laparotomy.

A case of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome: localization of gastrinoma by selective intra-arterial calcium injection / 대한내과학회지

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is a very rare disease that's caused by tumor having gastrin-producing cells, and this is accompanied by hypergastrinemia leading to gastric acid hypersecretion, peptic ulcer and their complications. A 60-year-old man presented with epigastric pain and soreness he had experienced for 7 days. The endoscopic findings showed reflux esophagitis and multiple active ulcers at the antrum, the duodenal bulb and the 2nd and 3rd portions of the duodenum. The fasting serum gastrin level was markedly elevated above 1,470 pg/mL and this was consistent with the findings of gastrinoma. We confirmed the presence of gastrinoma via the abdomen CT scan and selective intra-arterial calcium injection. This is the first Korean case report of gastrinoma that was localized by selective intra-arterial calcium injection.

Retrieval of a Retained Capsule due to Isolated Crohn's Enteritis by Means of Double Balloon Enteroscopy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Capsule endoscopy is being increasingly used for investigating GI bleeding of an obscure origin and also the bleeding that's due to Crohn's disease. Capsule endoscopy is a safe procedure with few complications. Complications of capsule endoscopy are capsule retention, incomplete small bowel examination, swallowing disorders and technical complications. However, capsule retention still remains a major concern. Crohn's disease may rarely show its first manifestation as GI bleeding. We present here a case of obscure GI bleeding in which the diagnosis of isolated Crohn's enteritis was made by using wireless CE. The retained capsule at the jejunal stricture of Crohn's disease was successfully retrieved by performing double balloon enteroscopy.

A Case of Epithelioid Type Gastric Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor with Gastrointestinal Bleeding / 대한소화기내시경학회지

The stomach is the most frequently noted site (50~60%) of gastrointestinal stromal tumor. This tumor is categorized into three subtypes (the spindle cell type, the epithelioid type or mixed type) according to the shape of the cells that make up the tumor. We herein report on a case of gastrointestinal stromal tumor with an epithelioid subtype in a 60-year-old male. On admission, the patient presented with epigastric pain and melena. Endoscopy revealed a submucosal tumor with a central ulcer at the gastric body. Gastric wedge resection was performed. The tumor cells showed a rounded shape and positive staining for CD117. Because the epithelioid type gastrointestinal stromal tumor is unusual in Korea, we report here on this case along with a review of the relevant literature.

A Case of Epithelioid Type Gastric Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor with Gastrointestinal Bleeding / 대한소화기내시경학회지

The stomach is the most frequently noted site (50~60%) of gastrointestinal stromal tumor. This tumor is categorized into three subtypes (the spindle cell type, the epithelioid type or mixed type) according to the shape of the cells that make up the tumor. We herein report on a case of gastrointestinal stromal tumor with an epithelioid subtype in a 60-year-old male. On admission, the patient presented with epigastric pain and melena. Endoscopy revealed a submucosal tumor with a central ulcer at the gastric body. Gastric wedge resection was performed. The tumor cells showed a rounded shape and positive staining for CD117. Because the epithelioid type gastrointestinal stromal tumor is unusual in Korea, we report here on this case along with a review of the relevant literature.

Single Blinded, Randomized, Active Drug Comparative, Multi-center Study to Evaluate the Therapeutic Efficacy of Gliptide(R)Tab (Sulglycotide 200 mg) in Gastritis Patients; Phase IV Study / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Sulglycotide is a sulphoglycopeptide with antiulcer and cytoprotective activity that is derived from the porcine duodenal mucosa. This study carried out a 3-week single blinded, randomized, multicenter, noninferiority trial to compare the efficacy of oral sulglycotide in treating symptomatic erosive gastritis with that of rebamipide. METHODS: Seventy-three patients with symptomatic erosive gastritis were randomized to receive 3 weeks of treatment with either sulglycotide or rebamipide. The primary efficacy parameter was the endoscopic cure rate and the endoscopic improvement rate, and the secondary parameter was the improvement rate in the dyspepsia symptom scores. RESULTS: Of the 73 patients recruited, 36 received sulglycotide and 37 received rebamipide. The endoscopic cure rate in the sulgycotide and rebamipide group was 29.6% and 25.0% according to per protocol (PP) analysis, respectively (p=0.69). The endoscopic improvement rate in the sulglycotide and rebamipide group was 63.0% and 62.5% according to PP analysis, respectively (p=0.97). The symptomatic improvement rate in the sulgycotide and rebamipide group was 51.9% and 53.1% according to PP analysis, respectively (p=0.74). The result of 90% CIs for the difference in endoscopic cure rate, endoscopic improvement rate and symptom improvement rate between the two groups met the criteria for the non-inferiority of sulglycotide to rebamipide. CONCLUSIONS: Sulglycotide was not inferior to rebamipide in both erosion healing and symptom relief in patients with acute and chronic gastritis.

A Case of Colonic Injury after Colonic Irrigation / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Colonic irrigation is a procedure in which large quantities of liquids are infused into the colon via the rectum through a tube, in an effort to wash away and remove fecal materials. Liquids mostly used in colonics include water and coffee. This procedure has been performed generally in the alternative medicine community and becomes more popular in recent years. However, physicians criticize its potential hazards by insisting that there are not of any scientifically proven health benefit of this procedure. With the current popularity of colonic irrigation, it is important to investigate the adverse effect of colonic irrigation which has not been known or published yet. We report a case of 56 years old female with colonic injury after colonic irrigation.

A case of Crohn disease presenting as intussusception / 대한내과학회지

Intussusception is unusual in adults and rarely reported in patients with Crohn disease. There are a few reports that patients with Crohn disease had intussusception, but all the reported cases have occurred in adult patients who have had prior surgery due to complications of Crohn disease or in children with no prior surgery. We have experienced a case of 51-year-old man who was presented with acute abdominal pain without any other gastrointestinal symptoms, such as hematochezia, diarrhea. Emergency surgery was performed, because there was an evidence of a small intestinal obstruction in the CT scan, resulting from enteroenteric intussusception. The pathologic report was Crohn disease. In this case, the first manifestation of the Crohn disease was an intussusception leading to a small intestinal obstruction. It is worth to report a case of enteroenteric intussusception in an adult with no prior history of Crohn disease or surgery. We believe that this is the first case report of Crohn disease showing intussusception as its first manifestation in Korea.

Classification of Microsatellite Alterations Detected in Endoscopic Biopsy Specimens of Gastric Cancers

PURPOSE: Individual gastric cancers demonstrate complicated genetic alterations. The PCR-based analysis of polymorphic microsatellite sequences on cancer-related chromosomes has been used to detect chromosomal loss and microsatellite instability. For the purpose of preoperative usage, we analyzed the correspondance rate of the microsatellite genotype between endoscopic biopsy and surgical specimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-three pairs of biopsy and surgical specimens were examined for loss of heterozygosity and microsatellite instability by using 40 microsatellite markers on eight chromosomes. Microsatellite alterations in tumor DNAs were classified into a high-risk group (baseline- level loss of heterozygosity: 1 chromosomal loss in diffuse type and high-level loss of heterozygosity: 4 or more chromosomal losses) and a low-risk group (microsatellite instability and low-level loss of heterozygosity: 2 or 3 chromosomal losses in diffuse type or 1~3 chromosomal losses in intestinal type) based on the extent of chromosomal loss and microsatellite instability. RESULTS: The chromosomal losses of the biopsy and the surgical specimens were found to be different in 21 of the 73 cases, 19 cases of which were categorized into a genotype group of similar extent. In 100 surgical specimens, the high-risk genotype group showed a high incidence of nodal involvement (19 of 23 cases: 5 cm) irrespective of tumor size while the incidence of nodal involvement for the low-risk genotype group depended on tumor size (5 of 26 cases: 5 cm). Extraserosal invasion was more frequent in large-sized tumor in both the high-risk genotype group (5 cm: 23 of 24 cases) and the low-risk genotype group (5 cm: 16 of 27 cases). The preoperative prediction of tumor invasion and nodal involvement based on tumor size and genotype corresponded closely to the pathologic tumor stage (ROC area>0.7). CONCLUSION: An endoscopic biopsy specimen of gastric cancer can be used to make a preoperative genetic diagnosis that accurately reflect the genotype of the corresponding surgical specimen.

Expression of CD40 in Gastric Cancer and Its Effect on the Apoptosis of Gastric Cancer Cells / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The expression of CD40 in gastric cancer has not been studied. The aims of this study were to determine the expression of CD40 in gastric cancer and to investigate the effect of CD40 on the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells. METHODS: We examined the expression of CD40 by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. CD40 mRNA in 5 gastric cancer cell lines was analyzed by RT-PCR. To assess the effect of CD40 on the viability of gastric cancer cells, we performed MTT assay. The effect of CD40 signaling on the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells was examined by annexin V affinity assay. RESULTS: Twelve of twenty human gastric cancer tissues demonstrated positive staining for CD40. Among 5 gastric cancer cell lines, AGS cell line expressed membrane-bound CD40 antigen and CD40 mRNA. In AGS cells, CD40 stimulation significantly reduced the cell viability. CD40 ligation significantly increased the apoptosis in AGS cells compared to the control. CONCLUSIONS: CD40 is expressed in human gastric cancer tissues and gastric cancer cell line, and induces apoptosis in gastric cancer cells. These results suggest that CD40 expression in gastric cancer may play an important role in host defense mechanism against the gastric cancer.

A Case of Dysphagia Accompanied with GERD Refractory to Medical Treatment / 대한소화관운동학회지

Dysphagia is a frequent symptom which is observed in about 6% of all population. The most common causes of nonobstructive dysphagia are reported to be esophageal motility disorders, systemic disease and GERD. About 30% of GERD patients complain of dysphagia. Dysphagia in GERD patients is mostly due to peptic stricture but occasionally related to transient segmental esophageal motor disorder. A 42-year old male patient was admitted because of dysphagia and weight loss. He had renal transplantation 5 years ago. The results of esophagogastroduodenoscopic examination, esophagogram and esophageal manometry were normal. Treatment with proton pump inhibitor, prokinetic and anti-depressant was begun but the patient continued to complain of dysphagia. The result of 24 hour ambulatory pH monitoring revealed pathologic reflux. The results of 24 hour ambulatory esophageal manometry and video fluoroscopy were normal. After reassured, he didn't complain of dysphagia. We report this case of nonobstructive dysphagia accompanied with GERD refractory to medical treatment in patient who had renal transplantation.

A Case of Treatment of Serum EB Virus Antibody Positive Patient Presented with Evans Syndrome / 대한혈액학회지

Evans syndrome is defined as the simultaneous or sequential occurrence of Coombs- positive hemolytic anemia and idiopathic thrombocytopenia. The clinical course is characterized by periods of remission and exacerbation with variable, and often disappointing responses to therapy. We experienced a case of serum Epstein-Barr virus antibody positive patient presented with Evans syndrome in a 31-year-old woman whose chief complaints were dyspnea and general weakness and whose disease responded to the multimodality therapy including prednisolone, plasmapheresis, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and alternate-day cyclosporine A and prednisolone. This is the encouraging report of the use of multimodality treatment with prednisolone, plasmapheresis, IVIG, and cyclosporine A and prednisolone in a serum EV virus antibody positive patient presented with Evans syndrome.

Hearing and Visual Loss with Renal Failure Due to Sodium Bromate Poisoning / 대한신장학회잡지

Hair neutralizer in home permanent cold wave kits contains a 2% to 10% potassium or sodium bromate, which is colorless, odorless and tasteless solution. Bromate salts are extremely toxic oxidants. The reported toxic effects of bromates poisoning are vomiting, diarrhea, depression of central nervous system, oliguric acute renal failure, sensorineural hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy and hemolytic anemia. Deafness seems to be almost permanent. In many cases, the recovery of renal function is not complete and some of them are transformed to chronic renal failure and maintained on hemodialysis. Since the serious side effects of deafness and acute renal filure usually occur within 4-16 h after ingestion, prompt removal of the bromate from blood by peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis, which are proven method of removal, should be performed immediately. Recently, we encountered a 37 year old female hairdresser who was admitted to St. Mary Hospital due to oligura, hearing loss and visual loss after ingestion of sodium bromate. The patient required regular hemodialysis therapy and no recovery of hearing and visual loss was evident up to 8 month follow up.

A Case of Acute Myocardial Infraction in Patients with Dextrocardia with Situs Inversus Treated by Percutaneous Translumnal Coronary Angioplasty

Dextrocardia with situs inversus is a rare congenital anomaly of development involving a left-handed malrotation of the visceral organs which affects approximately 1:10,000 patients. It is known that the prevalence of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with dextrocardia is similar to that of the general population. Successful coronary angiography and coronary angioplasty have previously been reported in patients with dextrocardia, but to our knowledge no report exist of a successful coronary angioplasty in a patient with dextrocardia with situs inversus in Korea. We performed a successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of an infarct-related vessel in a acute myocardial infarction patient with dextrocardia with situs inversus.