Clipping for the Prevention of Immediate Bleeding after Polypectomy of Pedunculated Polyps: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Immediate postpolypectomy bleeding (IPPB) increases the procedure time and it may disturb performing a safe polypectomy. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether clipping before snare polypectomy of large pedunculated polyps is useful for the prevention of IPPB. METHODS: This is a single arm, pilot study. We enrolled patients with pedunculated colorectal polyps that were 1 cm in size or more from 4 university hospitals between June 2009 and June 2010. Clips were applied at the stalk and snare polypectomy was then performed. The complications, including IPPB, were investigated. RESULTS: Fifty six pedunculated polyps in 47 patients (Male:Female=36:11; age, 56+/-11 years) were included. The size of the polyp heads was 17+/-8 mm. Tubular adenoma was most common (57%). The number of clips used before snare polypectomy was 2+/-0.5. The procedure was successful in all cases. IPPB occurred in 2 cases (3.6%), and both of these were managed by additional clipping. Delayed bleeding occurred in another one case (1.8%), which improved with conservative treatment. No perforation occurred. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that clipping before snare polypectomy of pedunculated polyps may be an easy and effective technique for the prevention of IPPB, and this should be confirmed in large scale, prospective, controlled studies.

Role of Corticotrophin-releasing Factor in the Stress-induced Dilation of Esophageal Intercellular Spaces

Corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) plays a major role in coordinating stress responses. We aimed to test whether blocking endogenous CRF activity can prevent the stress-induced dilation of intercellular spaces in esophageal mucosa. Eighteen adult male rats were divided into 3 groups: 1) a non-stressed group (the non-stressed group), 2) a saline-pretreated stressed group (the stressed group), 3) and an astressin-pretreated stressed group (the astressin group). Immediately after completing the experiments according to the protocol, distal esophageal segments were obtained. Intercellular space diameters of esophageal mucosa were measured by transmission electron microscopy. Blood was sampled for the measurement of plasma cortisol levels. Mucosal intercellular spaces were significantly greater in the stressed group than in the non-stressed group. Mucosal intercellular spaces of the astressin group were significantly smaller than those of the stressed group. Plasma cortisol levels in the stressed group were significantly higher than in the non-stressed group. Pretreatment with astressin tended to decrease plasma cortisol levels. Acute stress in rats enlarges esophageal intercellular spaces, and this stress-induced alteration appears to be mediated by CRF. Our results suggest that CRF may play a role in the pathophysiology of reflux-induced symptoms or mucosal damage.

One case of fulminant hepatic failure related to Dictamnus dasycarpus / 대한내과학회지

We report a case of fulminant hepatic failure related to ingesting Dictamnus dasycarpus. The patient had taken D. dasycarpus for 8 weeks after boiling down the root of D. dasycarpus in water, to promote health. The main symptoms and signs were general weakness and jaundice. Serology found no evidence of hepatitis A, B, or C infections. Imaging studies, including abdominal ultrasonography and abdominal computed tomography, did not reveal any bile duct structural abnormalities. Based on the RUCAM score (8 points), D. dasycarpus was the probable cause for the drug-induced liver injury. Despite meticulous monitoring and supportive care, the patient died by a progression to fulminant hepatic failure. This case indicates that D. dasycarpus can cause lethal outcomes by fulminant hepatic failure.

A Case of Acute Renal Failure Complicated by the Poisoning of Amanita virgineoides / 대한신장학회지

Mushroom poisonings are potentially fatal. Most fatalities are due to the amatoxin that causes fulminant hepatic failure and acute renal failure. We report a patient who developed acute renal failure after ingesting Amanita virgineoides, which required renal replacement therapy, despite recovery of liver injury. A kidney biopsy showed acute tubular necrosis. The patient was recovered with the supportive care and temporary hemodialysis.

Factors associated with liver stiffness in chronic liver disease / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Transient elastography is a new noninvasive tool for measuring liver stiffness that accurately predicts significant fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, several studies have indicated that liver stiffness can be significantly influenced by major changes in aminotransferase in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. The aim of this study was to determine the factors influencing liver stiffness in patients with chronic liver disease. METHODS: We studied 158 patients with chronic liver disease who underwent transient elastography and liver biopsy sampling. Histologic findings on fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity in the biopsy specimens were evaluated according to the Korean Society of Pathologists Scoring System. Routine biochemical tests were performed according to standard methods. RESULTS: Liver stiffness was strongly correlated with liver fibrosis stage (Spearman coefficient=0.636, P<0.001), lobular activity (Spearman coefficient=0.359, P<0.001), and portoperiportal activity grade (Spearman coefficient=0.448, P<0.001). Liver stiffness was significantly associated with serum levels of total bilirubin (P=0.025), direct bilirubin (P=0.049), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (P=0.014), platelet count (P=0.004), albumin (P<0.001), and international normalized ratio (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that fibrosis stage (B 3.50, P=0.009) and lobular activity grade (B 3.25, P=0.047) were independently associated with liver stiffness. CONCLUSIONS: Liver stiffness as measured by transient elastography is associated with the grade of necroinflammatory activity and the stage of fibrosis, irrespective of serum ALT levels.