Postoperative Clinical Outcomes of Colonic Stent Placement as Bridge-to-surgery vs. Emergency Surgery in Left-sided Malignant Colonic Obstruction / 대한소화기암학회지

Background/Aims@#Colonic stenting as a bridge to elective surgery is an alternative for emergency surgery in patients with acute malignant colonic obstruction. However, since its benefits are uncertain, we aimed to establish whether it has better clinical outcomes. @*Methods@#The patients with acute malignant left-sided colon obstruction enrolled from January 2009 to December 2018 in National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital. The patients were enrolled to undergo colonic stenting as a bridge to elective surgery or emergency surgery. The following oncological outcomes were assessed: incidence of complete remission, disease progression, local recurrence, and systemic recurrence. @*Results@#Out of 40 patients, 33 received self-expanding metallic stent (SEMS) as a bridge-tosurgery, and 7 underwent emergency surgery. More stoma was made in case of emergency surgery with statistical significance (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in complete remission rate in curable left-sided malignant colonic obstruction between SEMS as a bridgeto-surgery and emergency surgery. Complete remission was achieved for 3 patients (42.9%) in the non-stent group and 27 patients (81.8%) in the stent group. There was no statistically significant difference in oncologic outcomes between the two groups (p = 0.069). According to multi-variate analysis, advanced TNM stage, Adjuvant chemotherapy, and SEMS bridge-tosurgery were significantly associated with disease-free survival. Disease-free survival rate differed significantly between the two groups (p = 0.024). @*Conclusions@#SEMS as a bridge-to-surgery might be an effective strategy and reduce stoma formation in acute malignant left-sided colon obstruction.

Job Performance of Advanced Practice Nurses, Perceived Difficulty and Importance, and Willingness to Legally Delegate Clinical Practices to Advanced Practice Nurses by Health Care Professionals / 임상간호연구

Purpose@#To identify the clinical role of Advanced Practice Nurses (APN), and evaluate how other medical personnel perceive their work(difficulty, importance). @*Methods@#A questionnaire survey was performed with 277 health care providers (APN 52, nurses 88, and medical doctors 137 [professors 51, fellows 44, & residents 42]) in a single, tertiary hospital. The questionnaire was categorized into 6 domains (total 40 tasks): 6 tasks on identifying health issues (A); 3 tasks on prescribing and conducting diagnostic tests (D); 18 tasks on disease treatment (T); 4 tasks regarding prescribing medicine (M); 3 tasks regarding medical collaboration (C); 6 tasks regarding patient education (E). The survey measured the frequency, difficulty, and importance of APN’s clinical tasks, and evaluated the willingness of authorizing clinical tasks to APN. Results: The most frequent tasks for APN were A domain, lowest were T domain. The scores for perceived job difficulty were lower than those for job importance in all groups. The proportion of willingness to legally delegate clinical practices to APN was higher in A and E domains, but lower in D and T domains. However, professors, who spent the most time with APN, showed a higher willingness to legally delegate clinical practice. The participants favored medical doctors as substitutes for tasks which were not legislated for delegated job performance. @*Conclusion@#In this study identified clinical roles that medical doctors considered possible for legal delegation to APN were identified.The results can be used as evidence for the legalization of the practice of APN.

Pulmonary Extraintestinal Manifestation of Crohn's Disease Treated Successfully with Adalimumab / 대한소화기학회지

Pulmonary extraintestinal manifestation is rare in Crohn's disease and has been reported in only a few cases. Despite the presence of pulmonary abnormalities in a significant proportion of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, there are only few case reports, due to complicated diagnosis and low recognition by clinicians. Currently, treatment guidelines for pulmonary Crohn's disease have not been established. There are some case reports of pulmonary Crohn's disease that achieved remission after infliximab treatment. Clinical and radiological remission of pulmonary extraintestinal involvement in Crohn's disease after adalimumab therapy has not been reported yet. Here, we report one case of lung involvement of Crohn's disease, which shows radiological and clinical remission after adalimumab treatment.

Real World Experience of Telbivudine Versus Entecavir in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B, Including Long-Term Outcomes after Treatment Modification

PURPOSE: To estimate long-term outcomes after treatment modification in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treated with entecavir (ETV) and telbivudine (LdT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study enrolled 131 nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA)-naïve CHB patients treated with ETV or LdT. During the 3-year study, NA treatment history including the incidence, the type of treatment modification, reasons for the modification, and overall complete virologic response (CVR) rate were retrospectively evaluated using the patients' medical records. RESULTS: Among the 131 patients, 84 and 47 were initially treated with ETV and LdT, respectively. During the course of 3-year study, 82 patients in the ETV group (97.6%) maintained initial treatment whereas only 19 in the LdT group (40.4%). In the LdT group, 26 patients (92.9%) switched to another NA and another NA was added in 2 (7.1%) patients. An assessment of the CVR rate at 3 years, including treatment modification, showed that 89.3% and 95.7% of patients in the ETV and LdT groups, respectively, had undetectable serum hepatitis B virus DNA levels (p=0.329). Among LdT patients with treatment modification, the cumulative incidence rate of a CVR for rescue therapy was significantly higher in the tenofovir than in the ETV group (p=0.009). CONCLUSION: During the 3-year study, there were no significant differences in the CVR between the ETV and LdT groups if appropriate rescue therapy was considered.

Entecavir to Telbivudine Switch Therapy in Entecavir-Treated Patients with Undetectable Hepatitis B Viral DNA

PURPOSE: This study examined 2-year outcome of consecutive therapy using entecavir (ETV) followed by telbivudine (LdT) in subjects with undetectable hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA level and normal alanine aminotransferase level after the initial 6 months of ETV treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty subjects were randomized to continue with ETV or switch to LdT. Significant difference in baseline characteristics was not found between the two groups. Persistent HBV DNA level of 20–60 IU/mL in three consecutive samples collected three months apart or singly measured HBV DNA level of >60 IU/mL was defined as virological rebound. RESULTS: During 96 weeks of follow-up, all subjects of the ETV-only group (n=30) resulted in undetectable HBV DNA level. On the other hand, 83.3% (n=25) of the LdT-switched group showed treatment success. Virological rebound time varied from week 24 to 84 after switching to LdT. HBV DNA level was 180 to 2940 IU/mL at rebound time. All subjects with virological rebound (n=5) showed drug-resistant mutation: three had mutation rtM204I, and two had mutation rtM204V. Consecutive treatment using ETV followed by LdT showed virological rebound in 16.7% of subjects during 96 weeks of follow-up. HBV DNA negativity during initial ETV therapy could not be achieved in patients who switched to LdT. CONCLUSION: Consecutive treatment using ETV followed by lamivudine was ineffective for treating chronic hepatitis B. LdT was found as a more potent antiviral agent than lamivudine. However, this conclusion requires larger-scale, long-term prospective reviews of the treatment effects of ETV-LdT switch therapy.

HBV-specific CD8+ T cells for Sustained HBeAg Seroconversion after Lamivudine Therapy / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Viral suppression of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) can be induced by lamivudine, but the relapse seen in many patients after cessation of lamivudine therapy is troublesome. We thought that the host immune response is important to prevent viral relapse. We compared the frequency of HBV-specific CD8+ T cells in the peripheral blood and their expansion capacity after exposure to viral antigen between the patients showing sustained HBeAg seroconversion after use of lamivudine and those patients without sustained response. METHODS: We analyzed HBV-specific CD8+ T cells that were isolated from the blood of 14 patients with HLA-A2 who showed lamivudine induced HBeAg seroconversion (HBV DNA < 0.5 pg/mL, and the cells were negative for HBeAg) at the end of lamivudine therapy. The purified T cells were directly stained ex vivo, after they had been stimulate with synthetic peptide, using the HBV core 18-27-specific HLA tetramer (Tc 18-27) and monoclonal antibody to CD8. The HBV viral load was quantified by the Amplicor HBV Monitor assay. RESULTS: In patients with a sustained HBeAg response (the sustained group) for a duration of 15.5 months of follow-up, the median number of Tc 18-27 cells out of the 5 X 10(4) CD8+ T cells was 49.5 (15-135). On the contrary, in patients who experienced relapse (the relapsed group) during a median of 7.5 months of follow-up, the median number of Tc 18-27 cells out of the 5 X 10(4) CD8+ T cells was 13.5 (0-95). Especially, among patients with a viral load of HBV DNA < 1 X 10(3) copies at the end of treatment, the median number of Tc 18-27 cells out of 5 X 10(4) CD8+ T cells was 87 (45-135) in sustained group compared to 12 (6-50) in the relapsed group. All patients in the sustained group demonstrated a vigorous expansion of the core 18-27-specific CD8+ T cells after stimulation with viral peptide, in contrast to only 3 out of 8 patients in the relapsed group. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the frequency and functional responsiveness of the circulating HBV-specific CD8+ T cells may be important for obtaining a sustained HBeAg response to lamivudine.

Adequacy of Immediate Lamivudine Trial for Chronic Hepatitis B Patients with Acute Exacerbation / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It has been unclear whether immediate antiviral therapy or observation under the expectation of spontaneous inactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV), is more appropriate for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) with acute exacerbation. We intended to analyze the short-term natural course of CHB with acute exacerbation and evaluate the efficacy of lamivudine. METHODS: We analyzed 35 CHB patients with acute exacerbation (positive HBV DNA or HBeAg and ALT>400 IU/L) between March 2000 and May 2003. We regularly checked serum HBV DNA, HBeAg and liver function tests including ALT every 1 to 3 months. If ALT was above 100 IU/L during the follow-up period, patients were treated with 100 mg lamivudine orally once a day. We compared the efficacy of lamivudine use between this group and the group provided with immediate lamivudine trial at their first visit. RESULTS: 27 CHB patients with acute exacerbation were observed without immediate lamivudine trial. In 5 of these patients normal ALT, negative HBeAg and HBV DNA were maintained during 19 months (group 1a). Slightly elevated or normal ALT was maintained without HBeAg seroconversion in 3 patients (group 1b). However, serum ALT flared up above 100 IU/L in 19 patients within 5 months. So, lamivudine was tried on these patients (group 2). The serum HBV DNA was extremely low, being 6.5 pg/mL in group 1a compared to 518.1 pg/mL in group 2. Spontaneous inactivation of HBV was observed in 71.4% (5/7) of patients with HBV DNA less than 20 pg/ mL at the first visit. ALT was lower and HBV DNA was higher in group 2 than the 8 patients who received immediate lamivudine trial at the first visit (group 3). The response rate of lamivudine was similar between group 2, 56.3% (9/16) and group 3, 62.5% (5/8). CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous inactivation of HBV was expected in CHB with acute exacerbation and extremely low level of HBV DNA (less than 20 pg/mL) in a short term follow-up period. Immediate lamivudine therapy might be more appropriate in most CHB patients with acute exacerbation.

A Case of Cavernous Hemangioma of the Colon / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Gastrointestinal cavernous hemangiomas are rare, with an incidence of about 1 per 15,000 persons and the second most common vascular lesions of the colon. They are generally congenital, with their origin in embryologic sequestrations of mesodermal tissue. Enlargement occurs by projection of budding endothelial cells. These lesions are a significant cause of rectal bleeding with anemia, obstruction and rarely platelet sequestration, although approximately 10% of patients remain asymptomatic. On endoscopy, cavernous hemangiomas characteristically present as deep violet-blue nodular, compressible lesions that are associated with mucosal congestion and edema. Unfortunately chronic inflammatory changes often mask findings that could lead to proper diagnosis. The results of several kinds of treatment have not been satisfactory, although abdominoperineal resection is the most often recommended procedure. We report a case of relatively huge cavernous hemangioma of the colon that developed in an old aged patient with intermittent hematochezia.

A Case of Gallstone Ileus Following Endoscopic Sphincterotomy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Gallstone ileus is caused by mechanical obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract by the gallstone and accounts for 1~3% of all intestinal obstructions. Endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) is the accepted treatment of choice for choledocholithiasis. Recognized complications of EST include bleeding, acute pancreatitis, retroperitoneal perforation. However, gallstone ileus is a rare complication of EST. A 70-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with right upper quadrant pain. Abdominal ultrasound revealed single common bile duct (CBD) stone. ERCP was performed to remove the large CBD stone without mechanical lithotripsy. Nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain were developed after stone removal. Plain abdomen X-ray and computerized tomography represented marked dilatation of small bowel loops without definite obstructive lesion. Because the mechanical obstruction was sustained, explorolaparotomy was performed. On the operation, single stone was impacted at the distal ileum, narrowed by previous radiotheraphy. We reported a case of gallstone ileus after the removal of CBD stone following EST without lithotripsy.

A Case of Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma in the Esophagus Accompanied by Bronchus-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) is specially adapted component of the immune system protecting the permeable surface of the gastrointestinal mucosa, bronchial mucosa and other mucosa. Chronic infection of the stomach by Helicobacter pylori, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Sjogren syndrome in the salivary gland and other chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disease lead to the accumulation of MALT in the mucosa and MALT lymphoma arises from this acquired MALT. MALT lymphoma is histologically characterized by proliferation of centrocyte-like cells that invade the epithelium and lymphoepithelial lesion form. Gastrointestinal MALT lymphoma is clinically important because it is a localized, slow progressive disease and has a long survival and favorable clinical course compared with other lymphoma. Esophageal MALT lymphoma is extremely rare, so we report, radiologic, endoscopic and pathological findings and clinical course in a case of esophageal MALT lymphoma with brouchas-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) lymphoma with a review of literature.

Risk Factors of Lymph Node Metastasis in Submucosally Invasive Colorectal Carcinoma: with Special Reference to the Depth of Invasion / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It has been reported that lymph node (LN) metastasis occurs in approximately 10 percent of patients with submucosally invasive colorectal carcinoma. The present study was performed to determine the clinical significance of absolute and relative depth of submucosal invasion and to find the associated pathological risk factors of LN metastasis in submucosally invasive colorectal carcinoma. METHODS: From June, 1989 to May, 1999, 2,580 patients were pathologically confirmed as having colorectal carcinoma. Of these patients, a total of 61 subjects with submucosally invasive carcinoma could be reviewed pathologically and were included in this retrospective analysis. The relative depth of submucosal invasion was evaluated by Kudo (sm1, 2, 3) and modified Haggitt (L1, 2, 3) classifications, and the absolute depth was measured. RESULTS: The absolute depth of submucosal invasion was significantly correlated with the relative depth evaluated by both Kudo and modified Haggitt classifications (p<0.01). Of 51 patients in whom the status of LN metastasis could be evaluated, six (11.8%) showed LN metastasis. Among the patients with LN metastasis, there was no one with sm1 or L1 in the relative depth and 500 micrometer or less in the absolute depth. The risk of LN metastasis was related to the gross type, and lymphatic or vessel invasion (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors for LN metastasis in submucosally invasive colorectal carcinoma were the gross type and lymphatic or vessel invasion. The results also suggest that the absolute depth of submucosal invasion might be a useful parameter to select the patients for the endoscopic treatment.

Prevalence of TT virus (TTV) infection in patients with liver diseases in Korea / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: TT virus (TTV), an unenveloped single-stranded DNA virus, has been reported in patients with non A-G posttransfusion hepatitis in Japan. Since it has been distributed globally afterward, it was suggested to be a possible causative agent in a proportion of cases with cryptogenic acute and chronic hepatitis. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence and clinical significance of TTV infection in Korean patients with acute and chronic liver diseases. METHODS: TTV DNA was determined by polymerase chain reaction with semi-nested primers in sera of 94 patients with liver diseases: 38 with non-ABC liver diseases, 33 with HBV infection and 23 with HCV infection. RESULTS: TTV DNA was detected in 7.9% of non-ABC group, 6.1% of HBV group and 13.0% of HCV group. The positive rates of TTV DNA among three groups were not different statistically. The prevalences of TTV in acute and chronic liver disease were not different. For our study, six out of eight patients with positive TTV DNA had a past history of transfusion. CONCLUSION: Although TTV infection exists in Korea, it seems unlikely that the virus is responsible for liver diseases of unknown etiology.

Exercise Capacity in the Elderly: The Kinetics of Recovery Oxygen Consumption After Maximal Exercise

BACKGROUND: Limited exercise capacity is common in the elderly. Kinetics of recovery oxygen consumption plays an important role in determining exercise capacity. This study was performed to evaluate the kinetics of recovery oxygen consumption as well as peak oxygen consumption during exercise and recovery in the elderly. METHODS: Thirty healthy volunteers were included for this study. They were divided into three groups according to their ages(20 to 39; 40 to 59; and over 60). All subjects performed symptomlimited maximal treadmill exercise. RESULTS: Peak oxygen consumption(pVO2, ml/min/kg) was gradually decreased with the age. Half-recovery time of peak oxygen consumption(T1/2VO2) was maintained from third to sixth decades without significant changes, and then rapidly delayed in the elderly. CONCLUSION: Kinetics of recovery oxygen consumption was rapidly and markedly delayed in the elderly and this may result in the exercise intolerance.