A Case of Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Gallbladder That Was Diagnosed by Endoscopy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Neuroendocrine carcinomas mostly occur in the gastrointestinal tract, lung and pancreas. The gallbladder is an uncommon organ for a neuroendocrine carcinoma and it is difficult to diagnose before gallbladder surgery. Owing to its rare occurrence its natural course and treatment are not definitely established. A 71-year-old woman was hospitalized with intermittent abdominal pain and nausea. Abdominal computed tomography showed multiple masses of the gallbladder obstructing the biliary tract. From endoscopic ultrasonography we suspected carcinoma of the gallbladder that was infiltrating a common bile duct. A biopsy was taken using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and the mass was diagnosed as a neuroendocrine carcinoma of the gallbladder. Here we report a case of a neuroendocrine carcinoma of the gallbladder confirmed by endoscopic biopsy, and provide a review of the literature.

The relationship between the ApoB/ApoA-I ratio and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in prediabetic patients / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The apolipoprotein B/A-I ratio (ApoB/A-I) is a powerful clinical indicator of atherosclerosis. Although numerous reports have shown the effect of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) on cardiovascular disease, few reports have examined the relationship between NAFLD and the ApoB/A-I ratio. The aim of the study was to determine the association between NAFLD and the ApoB/A-I ratio in prediabetic patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed with data obtained from 701 patients (mean age, 47.9+/-9.6 years) diagnosed with prediabetes. Serum lipid profiles including lipoprotein, apolipoprotein, and calculated ApoB/A-I ratio as well as metabolic syndrome parameters such as fasting glucose and insulin were measured in each subject. RESULTS: Among the 701 patients, 340 (48%) had NAFLD. The number of male patients was 490 (NAFLD+, 276; and NAFLD-, 214). The odds ratios for the prevalence of NAFLD increased according to the quartiles of the ApoB/A-I ratio (1.886, 2.245, and 2.587) (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of NAFLD correlated with high ApoB/A-I ratio, suggesting that NAFLD increases the risk for atherosclerosis progression in male prediabetic patients.