The Usefulness of a Suspected Blood Identification System (SBIS) in Capsule Endoscopy according to Various Small Bowel Bleeding Lesions / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Substantial time and attention are required to read and interpret the recordings of capsule endoscopic images. A suspected blood identification system (SBIS) has been developed to assist in the reading of capsule images. This software automatically marks "red tags" that correlate with suspected blood or red areas. However, the sensitivity and accuracy of the system have not been well characterized. We investigated the usefulness of the SBIS in capsule endoscopy according to various small bowel bleeding lesions. METHODS: Two expert endoscopists reviewed the capsule images. Angiodysplasias, ulcers and erosion were considered as significant lesions, and active bleeding lesions were considered when bleeding or blood clots were seen in the capsule images. The red tags that were automatically marked by the use of the rapid software were compared to the significant lesions reviewed by the endoscopists. RESULTS: A total of 95 patients were enrolled in the study. The endoscopists identified 159 significant lesions and 71 lesions marked by red tags were identified by the SBIS. Among the 71 lesions, 31 lesions correctly coincided with the significant lesions. The overall sensitivity and positive predictive value of the use of the SBIS were 20% and 44%, respectively. The sensitivities of active ulcers and active bleeding lesions were 83% and 93%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The SBIS should be considered as a rapid screening tool to identify active bleeding lesions, and a complete review of capsule images by a physician is still needed.

Changes in liver stiffness during the course of acute hepatitis A / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: In some patients with chronic hepatitis, liver stiffness (LS) findings do not reflect fibrosis stage. This study was performed to evaluate whether acute liver inflammation could influence LS findings. METHODS: Patients with acute hepatitis A admitted to our hospital were included. Hepatitis was classified on admission using serum ALT and bilirubin levels as inflammation phase, jaundice phase, or recovery phase. Patients who admitted during the recovery phase (whose ALT and bilirubin levels fell continuously during hospitalization) and therefore, their peak-ALT and peak bilirubin levels could not be determined were exduded. Enrolled patients underwent FibroScan during hospitalization and after discharge. RESULTS: Seventy-six patients with acute hepatitis A were enrolled (median age, 29 years; 46 men and 30 women). Among them, 33 (43.4%) and 43 (56.6%) patients were admitted during the inflammation phase and jaundice phase, respectively. For patients admitted during the inflammation phase, mean (+/-SD) time from symptom-onset day to maximum ALT level was 7 (+/-3) days. For all patients, mean time from symptom-onset to maximum bilirubin level was 11 (+/-4) days. Mean LS during admission was 8.9 (+/-Pa (median, 8.4 kPa). LS was significantly correlated with serum bilirubin level, which was the only factor found to be significantly associated with the increased LS (>7.08 kPa). In all patients, LS increased gradually from the symptom-onset and peaked at 8-9 days later. CONCLUSIONS: Severe hepatic inflammation can affect the LS findings and thus, care is required when assessing fibrosis stage using LS measurement in patients with severe inflammation.

Accessibility of Peritoneal Organs according to the Routes of Approach in NOTES / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is a new era of minimally invasive surgery which has the potential to offer scarless surgery. So far, numerous reports on various routes to peritoneal organs in NOTES have been published. In case of transgastric approach, it is more inconvenient than transcolonic approach to access upper abdominal organs because of retroflexion. However, most data were subjective and there was no report examining the best access route for the exploration of peritoneal organs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the best access route according to the abdominal organs objectively. METHODS: Six female pigs weighing 30 to 35 kg were placed under general anesthesia. Incisions were made on both anterior wall of stomach body and rectosigmoid colon 15 to 20 cm above anal verge, respectively. Then, via each incision site, we evaluated the endoscopic visibility and checked the elapsed time to access abdominal organs in sequence (gallbladder (GB), spleen, bladder, uterus, and ovary). RESULTS: On comparison of the mean time to approach each organs, GB and ovary showed statistical difference in the mean time to approach between transgastric and transcolonic approaches. It took relatively shorter time to access GB via transcolonic route than transgastric route (352.3+/-80.1 sec vs. 222.2+/-82.0 sec, p=0.021). Next, we evaluated the time to access upper organs (GB and spleen) and lower organs (bladder, uterus and ovary). In case of lower organs, it showed no difference in time between transgastric and transcolonic approaches. However, to explore upper organs, transcolonic route was more favorable than transgastric route (351.8+/-80.7 sec vs. 273.3+/-110.3 sec, p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: For exploration of lower organs, there is statistically no significant difference in time between transgastric and transcolonic approaches. But, in case of upper organs, transcolonic approach is superior to transgastric approach.

A Case of Hepatic Metastasis of Small Cell Carcinoma from Mixed Small Cell Carcinoma and Adenocarcinoma of the Stomach / 대한소화기학회지

Primary small cell carcinoma (SCC) of stomach is a rare and highly aggressive malignancy with extremely poor prognosis. We report a 71-year-old man with upper abdominal pain diagnosed as single hepatic metastasis of SCC from mixed SCC and adenocarcinoma of the stomach. An endoscopic examination showed the presence of Borrmann type 2 gastric cancer, 2 cm in size on the lesser curvature of antrum. An abdominal CT scan revealed a huge dumbbell shaped mass with peripheral arterial enhancement and central low density in left lobe of the liver. Endoscopic biopsies showed solid proliferation of small, monotonous tumor cells with hyperchromatic nuclei and scanty cytoplasm. The neoplastic cells were positive for immunostaining with anti-chromogranin and anti-synaptophysin. There were also other neoplastic cells with gland formation being positive for anti- cytokeratin. On the basis of these findings, we made a final diagnosis of mixed SCC and adenocarcinoma of the stomach. In addition, we also confirmed hepatic metastasis of SCC through the microscopic finding and immunostaining of tissues of liver mass. Conclusively, we report a case of hepatic metastasis of SCC only from mixed SCC adenocarcinoma of the stomach.

The Evalution of Patient Anxiety Associated with Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy is a necessary procedure for making the diagnosis of UGI diseases. However, it may evoke anxiety due to the procedural discomfort before endoscopy. There have been few detailed studies that have evaluated the anxiety of patients who undergo UGI endoscopy in Korea. The aim of this study is to evaluate the patient's anxiety associated with UGI endoscopy and to determine the methods to improve the tolerance of patients to UGI endoscopy. METHODS: From May to September 2004, we assessed 38 patients who received UGI endoscopy for the first time as outpatients at Korea University, Anam Hospital. One group was examined with UGI endoscopy after being sedated. The patient's anxiety was rated at baseline and immediately before the procedure. RESULTS: Endoscopy was associated with a significant increase in anxiety (prior to procedure, 48.53 vs. baseline, 43.58, p<0.001) but not trait anxiety (43.92 vs. 43.63, p=0.70). The procedural anxiety was not influenced by gender, age or the education level, but it was correlated with conscious sedation (without CS, 5.67+/-0.23 vs. with CS, 4.06+/-0.16, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Sedating the patient during UGI endoscopy is an effective method to lower procedural anxiety.

A Case of Peritonitis due to Listeria Monocytogenes Pomplicating on Continuous Ambulatory Peritonial Dialysis Patient / 대한신장학회잡지

Peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis is a major cause of technical failure in peritoneal dialysis. The major pathogen is gram positive bacteria, and other main pathogens include gram negative bacteria, mixed infection and fungal infection actively involved in the order named. Coagulate-negative Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus cause most of the gram positive bacterial infections, and cases with other pathogens are very rare. We hereby report a case of peritonitis by Listeria Monocytogenes that was not responsive to the usual antibiotics for CAPD-associated peritonitis. A 58-year-old male who has been treated with CAPD for 17 years visited our hospital for abdominal pain, fever and turbid peritoneal fluid. He was diagnosed as diabetes mellitus 20 years ago. White blood cell and neutrophil count increased at the initial peritoneal fluid analysis, so we diagnosed him as CAPD-associated peritonitis. Antibiotic therapy was initiated with intraperitoneal injections of cefazolin/tobramycin, which were soon changed to vancomycin/ceftazidime. However, vancomycin/ceftazidime regimen was also proven ineffective. On the sixth hospital day, L. Monocytogenes was cultured in the peritoneal fluid sampled on the first visiting day. So we accordingly changed the antibiotics for ampicillin/sulbactam, which led to clinical and laboratory improvement. In the cases of CAPD associated peritonitis in immunosuppressive patients such as the elderly, caused either by diabetes or by taking immunosuppressive agent, if they do not respond to the usual antibiotics, we should consider the possible infection by unusual pathogens. Gram positive rod in peritoneal fluid is a supporting evidence of peritonitis by L. monocytogenes.

A Case of Hypernatremia by Folk Remedies in a CRF Patient / 대한신장학회잡지

We report a case of chronic hypernatremia caused by excessive salt intake as folk remedies for three months. The patient had chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis (CTIN), but without documented cognitive or psychiatric disorders. She presented with severe hypernatremia 189 mmol/L and general weakness. Fluid therapy was done initially with isotonic and then with 0.45% hypotonic saline until serum sodium level reached to 157 mmol/L. Finally hemodialysis was supplemented to achieve normal serum sodium level, and she recovered without any sequelae. This report might be the first case of chronic hypernatremia due to voluntary ingestion of excessive salt in an adult patient with CTIN but without cognitive or psychiatric disorders.

A Case of Primary Follicular Lymphoma Arising in the Rectum / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is one of the most common non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in the United States, but it is relatively rare in Asia. FL typically arises in lymph nodes together with spleen, liver, and bone marrow involvement. So, primary extra-nodal FL without peripheral nodal involvement is rare. Histologically, it shows nodular aggregates of lymphoma cells and positivity for CD 10, CD 20 and bcl-2. Not only the stage, but also the grade is associated with the survival rate. Grade 3 FL presents a worse prognosis than does grade 1 and 2 FL and this should be treated with an anthracycline based CHOP regimen. We report here on a case of primary follicular lymphoma arising in the rectum; this was observed in a 58-year-old woman who complained of anorexia, dyspepsia and diarrhea.