Clinical Significances of Serum Soluble Fas and Soluble Fas Ligand in Chronic Hepatitis B / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Apoptosis via Fas/FasL system is thought to be involved in the development of hepatocyte death in viral hepatitis B. In chronic hepatitis C, sFas/sFasL system was reported to control liver injury induced by Fas/FasL mediated apoptosis. To determine the role of sFas/sFasL system in chronic hepatitis B, we analyzed serum sFas/sFasL in 58 HBV patients and 29 healthy controls. METHODS: HBV patients were categorized into two groups; normal ALT (40 IU/L). Serum sFas/sFasL levels in HBV patients were measured by ELISA and was compared with those in 29 healthy controls. Serum ALT levels, histological activity, and Fas/FasL expression of liver were compared. RESULTS: Chronic hepatitis B patients with elevated ALT had significantly higher serum sFas levels than those in healthy controls (P<0.01). Serum sFasL levels, however, were significantly lower than those in healthy controls (P<0.01). Patients with moderate to marked degree of inflammation and fibrosis had significantly higher serum sFas levels than those in healthy controls (P<0.05). Serum sFasL levels had no correlation with the hepatic histological activity. Serum sFas/sFasL levels also had no significant correlation with the Fas/FasL expression of liver. CONCLUSIONS: Serum sFas/sFasL levels play a possible role in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B. These results suggest that serum sFas levels might serve as a marker for estimating the degree of hepatic histological activity.

Clinical and Biochemical Parameters of Nutrition to Predict Hepatic Encephalopathy in Cirrhotic Patients / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Protein-calorie malnutrition is a common complication in cirrhosis. Protein restriction for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) may cause disease progression and poor prognosis. Therefore, we evaluated important clinical parameters for nutritional state in cirrhotic patients with or without HE to predict the development of HE. METHODS: Twenty-two cirrhotic patients were divided into two groups; group A-13 patients without HE and group B-9 patients with HE. Clinical and biochemical parameters, serum proteins {serum albumin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), transferrin, leptin, etc}, immunologic parameters and anthropometry were measured. RESULTS: Child-Pugh score and Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) scale were higher in group B (p<0.01). After correction of various factors affecting nutritional assessment, especially of Child-Pugh score and MELD scale, leptin was higher in group B (p<0.05). There was no difference in anthropometric measurements. Transferrin correlated inversely with MELD scale in group A (p<0.01). IGF-1 correlated inversely with total lymphocyte count in group B (p<0.05). Leptin correlated with Child-Pugh scores, total lymphocyte count and mid-arm muscle cirumference in group A (p<0.05, p<0.05 and p<0.05, respectively), and correlated inversely with CD8 in group B (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Leptin level is higher in patients with HE, and further studies for parameters of nutrition to predict HE in many cirrhotic patients will be needed.

Biochemical assessment of protein-calorie malnutrition in hepatic encephalopathy / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Most patients with hepatic encephalopathy have their protein intake restricted. Therefore, protein-calorie malnutrition becomes more severe and may cause more serious problems, such as infection and poor prognosis. The aim of this study is to determine better biochemical parameters for the assessment of nutritional status in patients with hepatic encephalopathy. METHODS: A total 109 patients (30 normal controls and 79 chronic hepatitis B) were enrolled. 79 patients were divided into three groups: chronic HBV infection (hepatitis group, n=28), liver cirrhosis without past history of hepatic encephalopathy (cirrhosis group, n=27), liver cirrhosis with present or past history of hepatic encephalopathy (encephalopathy group, n=24). Serum albumin, total lymphocyte count, IGF-1, growth hormone, retinol binding protein, leptin and fibronectin were measured. RESULTS: Serum albumin level, total lymphocyte count, IGF-1, and growth hormone were significantly lower in encephalopathy group than other groups (p<0.001, p=0.003, p<0.001, and p<0.001, respectively). However, RBP, leptin, and fibronectin were not different among the groups. The level of serum albumin and IGF-1 were significantly lower in encephalopathy group than cirrhosis group (p=0.002, p<0.001, respectively), but growth hormone was not significantly different between cirrhosis group and encephalopathy group. CONCLUSIONS: The level of serum albumin and IGF-1 may be important parameter for nutritional support in chronic liver disease, especially in patients with hepatic encephalopathy, because the level of serum albumin and IGF-1 relate with hepatic encephalopathy as well as reflect the progression of chronic liver disease.

The Detection of Antigenic Protein of HCV in Gastric Mucosa / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: As a preliminary study to test the possibility of oral transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV), many investigations in order to detect the extrahepatic localization of HCV have been performed. In this study, we examined the presence of HCV viral proteins in gastric mucosa. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining to NS3 protein were done to detect the HCV virus in gastric mucosa. The results were compared with NS5a protein staining to confirm the NS3 protein staining. RESULTS: Total of 164 patient were included. 58 patients with anti-HCV (+) were designated to case group and 70 with anti-HCV (-) to control group. 36 were excluded in this study due to concomittent illness. Anti-HCV (+) group showed 50.0% (29/58) of positivity to NS3 protein staining and anti-HCV (-) group showed 12.6% (9/70) of positivity (p<0.001). Immunohistochemical staining to NS5a protein were done to validate the result of NS3 (+) staining in the anti-HCV (+) group (n=58). NS5a (+) staining were observed in 58.6% (34/58). The results of NS5a staining were consistent with that of NS3 in 70.7%. The reliability coefficients by Chronbach's Alpha for NS3 and NS5a stain test was 0.59. CONCLUSIONS: HCV can exist in gastric mucosal cell as an extrahepatic presence. In the future, this study may provide some fundamental data for the research of possible oral transmission route of HCV.

A Case of Colorectal Villous Adenoma Found with PET-CT / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Adenomatous polyp in colorectal area is clinically important as being a precursor of colorectal cancer. Early detection of cancer reduces colorectal cancer mortality. Finding and removing precursor adenomas reduces colorectal cancer incidence especially in high risk groups. FDG-PET/CT is a new imaging technology in which a number of clinical applications has been recognized in oncologic imaging. FDG-PET has been shown to detect a wide variety of tumor foci including lymphoma, melanoma, lung cancer and colorectal cancer. Colorectal adenoma can also be detected by FDG-PET. In this case, we describe a colorectal villous adenoma, which was found by FDG-PET/CT. There was a mass of intensely increased FDG uptake in rectal area. The adenoma was confirmed with sigmoidoscopy and removed by polypectomy.

Immunohistochemical Expression of the p53 and Ki-67 Proteins in Barrett's Esophagus in Korea / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Barrett's esophagus is a premalignant lesion of the esophagus in which normal squamous epithelium is replaced by intestinalized columnar epithelium. In Korea, adenocarcinoma associated with Barrett's esophagus is rare compared with that of Western country. The purpose of this study was to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of p53 and Ki-67 in Barrett's esophagus which had predictive value for cancer risk in Korea. METHODS: Ninety five patients (43 male and 52 female, median age 44, range 21-75) who have been suspected to have Barrett's esophagus by endoscopic assessment were enrolled in this study. Alcian blue (pH 2.5) and high ion diamine stain for the evaluation of specialized intestinal metaplasia (SIM) and immunohistochemical stain for p53 and Ki-67 were done. RESULTS: 57.9% (55/95) of biopsies from the columnar lined esophagus showed SIM, but no dyspalsia. 56.4% (31/55) of Barrett's esophagus showed sulfomucin positive colonic metaplasia. The p53 expression was observed in 10.9% (6/55) of the patients of Barrett's esophagus and all of them showed colonic metaplasia. Ki-67 labeling index showed no difference significantly. CONCLUSIONS: In Korea, 10.9% of Barrett's esophagus had p53 mutation and moreover all of them had colonic metaplasia. Consequently, we expect that these patients have high risk of developing dysplasia and adenocarcinoma and need careful follow-up.

A Case of Portal Vein Thrombosis Associated with Acute Pancreatitis and Cholangitis / 대한소화기학회지

Portal vein thrombosis is a rare complication accompanied with acute pancreatitis or cholangitis/cholecystitis. The main pathogenesis of portal vein thrombosis in pancreatitis or cholangitis/cholecystitis are suggested to be venous compression by pseudocyst and an imbalance between the blood coagulation and fibrinolysis. In this case report, we experienced a 63 year old male who developed portal vein thrombosis later in the course of the treatment of acute gallstone pancreatitis with cholangitis/cholecystitis without any symptom or sign. The diagnosis of portal vein thrombosis was given on follow up CT scan and serum protein S activity was decreased to 27% in laboratory study. Immediate anticoagulation therapy with heparin and thrombolytic therapy with urokinase and balloon dilatation were performed. Despite the aggressive treatment, complete reperfusion could not be obtained. With oral warfarin anticoagulation, the patient showed no disease progression and was discharged. We report a case of portal vein thrombosis as a complication of acute pancreatitis and cholangitis/cholecystitis with a review of literatures.

A Case of Lower GI Bleeding from Portal Hypertensive Colopathy Successfully Treated with Octreotide Administration and Endoscopic Hemoclipping / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension are often found to have changes in their colonic mucosa. Such mucosal changes are termed portal hypertensive colopathy. Most patients with portal hypertension remained asymptomatic but some may show massive bleeding. The mainstay of treatment for portal hypertensive gastropathy include non-surgical methods such as octreotide injection, endoscopic hemostasis, and interventional methods such as TIPS. However, treatment for portal hypertensive colopathy remained unresolved. The authors here report a case of a 41 year old male with liver cirrhosis admitted for fever and abdominal pain, who reported an episode of hematochezia in the course of admisssion period. Subsequent colonoscopy revealed angiodysplasia-like lesions throughout the entire colon. We observed that such lesions were the source of hematochezia and that direct clipping with octreotide injection was successful in controlling the bleeding.

Socioeconomic Benefits of Reformed Lifestyles

No abstract available.

A Case of Metastatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma of the Ovary / 대한소화기학회지

Although advances in imaging technology have allowed for earlier detection of disease, hepatocellular carcinoma is usually asymptomatic and discovered at an advanced stage with metastasis. The most common sites of metastasis include lung, peritoneum, adrenal gland, and bone, but rarely, the nasal cavity, orbit, gallbladder, and ovary can be metastatic sites. We experienced a case of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma of the ovary in a living patient. The differential diagnosis includes hepatoid yolk sac tumor of the ovary, primary or metastatic hepatoid carcinoma and primary or metastatic oxyphil cell tumor of the ovary. To the best of our knowledge, there have been eight cases of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma of the ovary in the English literature and only six cases discovered in living patients. This is the first report of a metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma of the ovary in Korea.

A Case of Gastric Lipoma with Early Gastric Cancer Removed by Subtotal Gastrectomy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Gastric lipomas account for less than 3% of benign gastric tumor arising from the submucosal layer. Gastric lipomas are usually asymptomatic, but occasionally diagnosed from epigastric pain, obstruction and bleeding by their size and location. A 68-year-old female with melena was diagnosed as gastric lipoma, having a bleeding focus at endoscopy. Endoscopy with biopsy revealed a yellowish fat containing lipoma which was located prepyloric antrum and protruded to the duodenal lumen, and synchoronous adenocarcinoma which was located at the gastric angle and distal body. Adenocarcinoma was confined to the mucosa and seperated from lipoma by normal stomach tissue. The patient received Billroth-II subtotoal gastrectomy, and gastric lipoma and early gastric cancer were resected, completely.

A Case of Gastropericardial Fistula as a Complication after Esophagectomy with Esophagogastrostomy for Esophageal Cancer / 대한소화기내시경학회지

The gastric pedicle is commonly used for the reconstruction following the resection of esophageal cancer. We recently experienced a case in which gastric ulcer occurred eighteen months postoperatively. A 60 year-old man complaining of chest pain, dry cough, mild fever and chills was admitted to the emergency room. The patient had a history of esophagectomy and esophagogastrostomy because of esophageal cancer. Chest X-ray and CT scan showed pneumopericardium. Upper GI contrast study showed a fistulous tract between the stomach pedicle and the pericardium. Upper GI endoscopy showed beating heart through the fistulous opening. The patient expired with sepsis on the twenty second days after an emergent operation. Gastropericardial fistula caused by a peptic ulcer perforation after the esophgectomy and esophagogastrostomy operation is a very rare complication and brings a fatal result. Early detection using the chest radiography, electrocardiogram, echocardiography, upper GI study and physical examination, and an immediate treatment are therefore mandatory.

Rapidly Progressing Budd-Chiari Syndrome Complicated by Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a disorder caused by occlusion of the hepatic vein or inferior vena cava. The clinical presentation include abdominal pain, hepatomegaly, ascites, leg edema, collateral venous dilatation of the body trunk, and portal hypertension. In addition, BCS can cause hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in some patients, although its pathogenesis is not yet completely understood. The average reported time lag from diagnosis of BCS to full-blown HCC ranges from several years to several decades. Hepatic carcinogenesis in patients with BCS perhaps reflects a prolonged and persistent liver injury in that it occurs in the primary inferior vena cava obstruction rather than the primary hepatic vein thrombosis. Among patients with BCS, membranous obstruction of the vena cava (MOVC) usually presents an insidious and chronic illness, whereas primary hepatic vein thrombosis presents an acute or subacute illness. We experienced a case of a patient with BCS, which progressed rapidly that HCC developed only nine months after the diagnosis of BCS. The factors causing this rapid progression are still unclear and remain to be investigated.

The Diagnostic Value of Polymerase Chain Reaction in Intestinal Tuberculosis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It is quite difficult to differentiate intestinal tuberculosis from Crohn's disease because of the similarities of their clinical and pathological features and low detection rate of acid fast bacilli. The diagnostic value of PCR has been studied in pulmonary tuberculosis, tuberculous pleuritis and meningitis, but few reports were made in cases of intestinal tuberculosis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of PCR in intestinal tuberculosis. METHODS: The subjects, a total of 70 cases are composed of clinically diagnosed intestinal tuberculosis, Crohn's disease and intestinal Behcet's disease. We performed PCR with paraffin-embedded intestinal tissue to detect the DNA of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis and the data was analyzed. RESULTS: The positive rate of PCR for Mycobacterium Tuberculosis was 9.8% (4/41) in intestinal tuberculosis, 0% (0/29) in Crohn's disease, and 0% (0/3) in intestinal Behcet's disease. The granulomas were not found in 50% (2/4) of the PCR positive intestinal tuberculosis cases. CONCLUSIONS: We were not able to find evidences to prove the excellent value of PCR assay in making differential diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis from other granulomatous diseases. But it might be helpful in detecting cases of intestinal tuberculosis which were not pathologically or microbiologically confirmed.

A Case of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor of the Stomach with a Gastric Fistula / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are mesenchymal gut tumors that lack markers of myogenic differentiation, but express CD34 and CD117, which are products of the c-kit oncogene. They present commonly gastrointestinal bleeding and abdominal pain and/or palpable mass. The other symptoms may include anorexia, weight loss, obstruction, perforation or fever. Fever due to abscess formation is rare complaint of GIST. We report a case of GIST of stomach with abscess and gastric fistula in a 54-year-old male who presented a three-week history of abdominal pain and fever. Fistula opening site was observed by endoscope, and abdominal CT showed multiple air pockets within the mass representing communication with bowel lumen by fistula.

Suppression of Tumor Formation and Induction of Natural Killer Cell Activity in BALB/c Nude Mice by Human B7-1 (CD80) Gene Transfer Subcutaneously Injected with Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells (Huh-7) / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Immunogene therapy is extensively studied for a therapeutic modality of various cancers. This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of immunogene therapy using the T-cell costimulatory molecule and human B7-1 (CD80, hB7-1) in an in vivo human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) model. METHODS: The stable HCC cell line expressing hB7-1 gene was established using retroviral vector (Huh-7/hB7-1). Of fourteen BALB/c nude mice, 7 were subcutaneously injected with 2 X 10(6) Huh-7/hB7-1 cells, while the other 7 were injected with 2 X 10(6) Huh-7/mock cells as a control group. After the injection, the mice were observed weekly for three months for subcutaneous tumor formation. Assay for natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity and serum IFN-gamma was performed at 1 and 2 weeks after inoculation. RESULTS: In BALB/c nude mice inoculated with Huh-7/hB7-1 cells, no tumor growth was observed. BALB/c nude mice inoculated with Huh-7/hB7-1 cells showed significantly increased NK cell activities of splenocytes compared with those with Huh-7/mock cells. Serum IFN-gamma was not measurable at 1 week, but significantly increased at 2 weeks after inoculation to the level of 470 pg/ml in BALB/c nude mice with Huh-7/mock cells and 521 pg/ml in BALB/c nude mice with Huh-7/hB7-1. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate the in vivo anti-tumor immunity and NK cell activation by transfer of hB7-1 gene into human HCC in xenogeneic BALB/c nude mice model. This approach may provide a tool for the development of immunogene therapies against human malignant tumors.

A Case of Metastatic Gastric Cancer Resulting from Mixed Germ Cell Tumor / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Majority of metastatic stomach tumor is direct invasion from adjacent malignant lesions such as pancreatic carcinoma, hepatoma, colonic carcinoma which invade the stomach via gastrocolic ligament. Otherwise, metastatic involvement of the stomach as a result of solid tumors of extra-gastrointestinal origin is a rare occurrence, in about 0.2% to 1.7% of patients dying of solid tumors. The tumors which were most commonly reported hematogenous metastatic malignancy of the stomach are melanoma, lung carcinoma, breast carcinoma. We have experienced an unusual case in which a metastatic gastric germ cell tumor presented as an upper gastrointestinal bleeding in a 29-year-old man. He was hospitalized with complaints of melena and severe anemic appearance. We performed gastroscopy which revealed an fungating mass covered with dark pigmentation at the anterior wall of lower body of the stomach. Pathologic findings of the biopsy showed a metastatic mixed germ cell tumor of the stomach. We report this unusual metastatic mixed germ cell tumor of the stomach with a review of literatures.

A Case of Ischemic Colitis due to Falling Down / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Ischemic colitis, the most common form of acute mesenteric ischemia, is encountered primarily in elderly patients, and frequently presents with abdominal cramping pain and hematochezia. Both occlusive and nonocclusive underlying mechanisms have been proposed, but the precise pathophysiology remains unknown. On colonoscopy, the earlier signs of ischemic colitis are mucosal hyperemia, edema, and hemorrhagic nodules representing submucosal bleeding. It is followed by well-demarcated elongated ulcerations covered with exudate. In most cases, the clinical course is transient and self-limiting. After conservative treatment with hydration, cessation of food, and broad-spectrum antibiotics, clinical symptoms improve within several days. Recently, we have experienced a case of ischemic colitis following falling down and report this case with a review of the literature.

Usefulness of Plasma Tumor M2-Pyruvate Kinase in the Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Cancer / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pyruvate kinase (PK) is a key enzyme of glycolysis. Different isoforms of this enzyme are tissue-specifically expressed (M2-PK, M1-PK, R-PK, L-PK). The concentration of the dimeric M2-PK is increased in a metabolic state of tumor cells. In this case, the dimeric M2-PK is termed Tumor M2-PK. We investigated EDTA-plasma of 73 patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer and 61 healthy controls to evaluate its significance in diagnosing GI cancer. METHODS: Plasma Tumor M2-PK was measured using an ELISA assay based on two monoclonal antibodies which specifically react with the dimeric Tumor M2-PK. RESULTS: The sensitivity of Tumor M2-PK was 67.1% for all GI cancers, that of CA 19-9 was 38.4% and that of CEA was 34.3%. The specificity of Tumor M2-PK was 91.8% (cutoff=20 U/mL). Tumor M2-PK showed a high sensitivity in gastric cancer (62.2%), colorectal cancer (66.7%) and bile duct cancer (75.0%). In colorectal cancer, the combination of Tumor M2-PK with CEA resulted in a remarkable increase in the sensitivity (86.2%). The average Tumor M2-PK levels were generally elevated in the metastatic GI cancer patients compared to nonmetastatic patients, especially in stomach cancer with statistical significance (p=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Tumor M2-PK in EDTA-plasma seems to be a new valuable tumor marker in GI cancer.

The Role of Hepatitis C Virus Core Protein on Liver Fibrogenesis: A Study Using an In Vitro Co-culture System / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The study of liver fibrogenesis by hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been limited due to the lack of an efficiency in vitro culture systems. In the present study, we investigated whether or not HCV core protein is directly related to liver fibrogenesis through stimulation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC). METHODS: Human and rat HSC were isolated and we established an in vitro co-culture system of a stable HepG2-HCV core cell line which was transfected with HCV core gene and primary HSC. We performed immunocytochemical staining and Western and Northern blot analysis in the stimulated HSC by HCV ocre protein to identify the expression of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), transforming growth factor beta receptor II (TGFbeta R II), alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). The expression of matrix metaloprotinase-2 (MMP-2) and collagen type I (Col I) in the culture media were measured by zymogram and ELISA, respectively. RESULTS: The expression of TGF-beta1 and CTGF was significantly higher in the stable HepG2-HCV core cell line than in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, the makers related to fibrosis such as alpha-SMA, TGF-beta1, Col I, TGFRII and MMP-2 were highly experssed in the co-culture of stable HepG2-HCV core with HSC. CONCLUSIONS: HCV core protein may play a direct role in the fibrogenesis of chronic liver disease with HCV infection.