Mucosal Incision and Forceps Biopsy for Reliable Tissue Sampling of Gastric Subepithelial Tumors

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The diagnostic efficacy of current tissue sampling techniques for gastric subepithelial tumors (SETs) is limited. Better tissue sampling techniques are needed to improve pathological diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a new technique, mucosal incision and forceps biopsy, for reliable tissue sampling of gastric SETs. METHODS: This study enrolled 12 consecutive patients who underwent mucosal incision and forceps biopsy of gastric SETs between November 2011 and September 2014 at Gangneung Asan Hospital. The medical records of patients were reviewed retrospectively. The safety and diagnostic yield of this method were evaluated. RESULTS: By performing mucosal incision and forceps biopsy, we were able to provide a definitive histological diagnosis for 11 out of 12 cases. The pathological diagnoses were leiomyoma (3/11), gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST; 2/11), lipoma (2/11), schwannoma (1/11), and ectopic pancreas (3/11). In cases of leiomyoma (n=3) and GIST (n=2), tissue samples were of sufficient size to allow immunohistochemical staining. In addition, the mitotic index was evaluated in two cases of GIST. There were no procedure-related complications. CONCLUSIONS: Mucosal incision and forceps biopsy can be used as one of several methods to obtain adequate tissue samples from gastric SETs.

Removal of Anorectal Cancer by Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection / 대한내과학회지

Anorectal cancer is traditionally treated via abdominoperineal resection and/or chemoradiation. Currently, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is widely used to treat early gastrointestinal epithelial neoplasias. However, the use of ESD to treat lesions of the anal canal raises concerns that do not arise when treating lesions of the stomach and colorectum. Therefore, particular care is needed when treating lesions in the anal area. We recently treated a 75-year-old woman who was scheduled for surgical resection to treat anorectal cancer. The lesion was successfully removed using ESD. This is the first report of the use of ESD to treat anorectal cancer in Korea. Here, we present our case report and review the relevant literature.

A Case of Cecal Endometriosis Presenting as Subepithelial Tumor / 대한소화기학회지

Endometriosis is a benign gynecologic disease, characterized by the presence and growth of functional endometrial-like tissue outside uterus. This ectopic endometrial tissue is most commonly found in the peritoneum, ovaries and uterosacral ligaments, but extremely rarely there is involvement of the appendix or cecum. Here we report a case of cecal endometriosis presenting as a subepithelial tumor diagnosed by surgical excision.

Association between Change in Body Weight and Insulin Resistance in Individuals at Increased Risk of Diabetes / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The present study aimed to investigate the associations between a change in body weight from 20 years of age to the present with insulin resistance and several parameters of metabolic syndrome in individuals at an increased risk of diabetes. METHODS: From patients with a diagnosis related to an increased risk of diabetes who were examined at our endocrinology clinic from January 2012 to December 2014, the present study recruited 125 individuals between 30 and 64 years of age with hemoglobin A1c levels from 5.7 to 6.4%. The change in body weight of each patient from 20 years of age to the present was retrospectively determined, and the associations of this change with insulin resistance and several parameters of metabolic syndrome were analyzed. RESULTS: The average gain in body weight after 20 years of age was 11.3 kg and there was no significance difference between the male and female patients. The proportion of overweight and obese patients at 20 years of age was 14%, but was 74% at the time of the visits to our endocrinology clinic. A change in body weight was significantly correlated with body mass index, insulin resistance, and waist circumference. Additionally, as the tertile of change in body weight increased, fasting insulin levels, insulin resistance, and the prevalence of abdominal obesity significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, an increase in body weight from 20 years of age to the present was correlated with insulin resistance and several parameters of metabolic syndrome in individuals at an increased risk of diabetes.

A Case of Spontaneous Bleeding of Multiple Lumbar Arteries in a Patient with Liver Cirrhosis / 대한소화기학회지

Esophageal and gastric varix, portal hypertensive gastropathy, Mallory-Weiss tear and gastric ulcer are common causes of bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis. However, spontaneous arterial bleeding without a history of trauma is a rare cause of bleeding which can be fatal. We report a case of a 55-year-old woman with alcoholic liver cirrhosis who developed spontaneous bleeding of multiple right lumbar arteries and died in spite of repetitive transfusion and embolization.

Association between Diabetes Education Status and Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: Analysis of the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V) / 임상당뇨병

BACKGROUND: We aimed to study the importance of diabetes education by investigating diabetes education rate and the associations between the presence/absence of diabetes education and the clinical outcomes of diabetic patients in Korea. METHODS: In the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination survey (KNHANES V), a cross-sectional national survey during 2010 and 2012, 1498 subjects aged over 30 years and older were diagnosed with diabetes by doctors. The subjects were analyzed by a complex samples model. RESULTS: Only 20.3% of diabetes patients received diabetes education, and this was not significantly different between age groups. Education was delivered in hospitals/clinics, public health centers, and public lectures (15.7%, 3.0% and 1.4%, respectively). After adjusting for age, sex, and duration of diabetes, the factors independently associated with the presence of diabetes education were higher education level, frequent walking habit, and parameters regarding the presence of dyslipidemia, insulin treatment, and non-pharmacologic treatment. Among continuous variables, only the duration of diabetes was associated with diabetes education status; metabolic parameters were not associated with diabetes education status. CONCLUSION: Diabetes is a chronic disease and education on diabetes is very important. The education rate was low and quality of the education is doubtful. An effort to raise the rate of diabetes education and further study to raise the quality of diabetes training are necessary.