Association between RELN Gene Polymorphisms and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Korean Children

OBJECTIVE: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is common disorder of the school-age population. ADHD is familial and genetic studies estimate heritability at 80–90%. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between the genetic type and alleles for RELNgene (rs736707, rs2229864, rs362746, rs362726, rs362691, rs1062831, rs607755, and rs2072403) in Korean children with ADHD. METHODS: The sample consisted of 180 ADHD children and 159 control children. We diagnosed ADHD according to DSM-IV. ADHD symptoms were evaluated with Conners' Parent Rating Scales and Dupaul Parent ADHD Rating Scales. Blood samples were taken from the 339 subjects, DNA was extracted from blood lymphocytes, and PCR was performed for RELN Polymorphism. Alleles and genotype frequencies were compared using the chi-square test. We compared the allele and genotype frequencies of RELN gene polymorphism in the ADHD and control groups. RESULTS: This study showed that there was a significant correlation among the frequencies of the rs736707 (OR=1.40, 95% CI=1.03–1.90, p=0.031) of alleles of RELN, but the final conclusions are not definite. CONCLUSION: Follow up studies with larger patient or pure subgroups are expected. These results suggested that RELN might be related to ADHD symptoms.

Diagnostic Use of Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Trucut Biopsy in Various Diseases / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided trucut biopsy (EUS-TCB) is a relatively new method, which facilitates obtaining a core biopsy through the gut wall. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of EUS-TCB based on the types of lesions. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the database of 37 cases in 35 patients (mean age, 57.2+/-2.3 years; 23 men) with thoracic and abdominal masses who got EUS-TCB between January 2007 and June 2008. Final diagnoses were determined by malignant positive EUS specimens, surgical pathology, or the clinical course. RESULTS: Adequate samples were obtained by EUS-TCB in 78.4% (29/37) of the cases. The overall diagnostic accuracies of the EUS-TCB were 73.0%. The mean size of the masses was 3.7+/-2.6 cm. The diagnostic accuracies of EUS-TCB according to the lesions were as follows: lymph node, 85.7% (18/21); subepithelial lesion, 60.0% (6/10); and solid tumor, 50% (3/6). With respect to accuracy, lymph nodes were significantly superior to non-lymph node lesions (p=0.046). There was a minor bleeding controlled by hemoclipping (2.7%). CONCLUSIONS: EUS-TCB is a useful technique for the diagnosis of lymph nodes, subepithelial tumors, and solid tumors that were not able to be diagnosed by other methods. In addition, EUS-TCB is a safe and minimally invasive method.

A Prospective Comparison of Sulfate Free Polyethylene Glycol versus Sodium Phosphate Solution for Precolonoscopic Bowel Preparation / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution is commonly used for precolonoscopic preparation because of its safety and effectiveness. Sulfate free PEG (SF-PEG) solution was developed to reduce the salty taste by removing the sodium sulfate. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and patient compliance of SF-PEG and sodium phosphate (NaP) solutions for preparing the bowel before colonoscopy. METHODS: From February through April in 2007, 534 patients who underwent colonoscopy were prospectively enrolled. The efficacy of bowel cleansing was assessed by a doctor's questionnaire and the patient's compliance was assessed by a patient's questionnaire. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the groups for the "stools and fluids" assessment of bowel cleansing (2.07 vs. 2.14, respectively, p=0.149). However, SF-PEG was more effective on the "air bubbles" assessment (1.34 vs. 1.71, respectively, p<0.001) and the overall assessment (0.72 vs. 0.91, respectively, p=0.010) than NaP. The patients preferred SF-PEG rather than NaP for "Taste" (1.34 vs. 2.25, respectively, p=0.148). However, the patients significantly preferred NaP rather than SF-PEG for "Quantity" (2.46 vs. 1.18, respectively, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The SF-PEG solution showed more effectiveness for bowel cleansing as compared to the NaP solution. SF-PEG tastes better than NaP, but patients are still required to consume 4 liters for the standard preparing regimen.

Hyponatremic Encephalopathy Following a Sulfate Free Polyethylene Glycol-based Bowel Preparation for Colonoscopy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Hyponatremia associated with the use of both a sodium phosphate (NaP) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution for colonoscopy preparation has been reported in patients with impaired renal handling of water. A PEG solution is believed to affect serum electrolytes less than NaP, but the use of a PEG solution can lead to nausea, vomiting, intestinal hyperactivity and dehydration, often resulting in a raised plasma antidiuretic hormone (ADH) concentration. Non-osmolar stimuli such as pain, stress, nausea, and vomiting can stimulate ADH release. We report a case of severe hyponatremic encephalopathy after sulfate-free PEG ingestion for a colonoscopy in a healthy middle-aged woman. We think that physicians should be familiar with the medical history and current medication schedule of patients prior to bowel preparation. The levels of serum electrolytes should be checked in patients with impaired ability to excrete free water and any mental aberrations before undertaking colonoscopy procedures.

Clinical Characteristics of Colonic Diverticular Disease Diagnosed with Colonoscopy

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although colonic diverticular disease is less common in Koreans than in Western people, its incidence has been on the increase in Korea. We investigated the clinical characteristics and related complications of colonic diverticular disease in Koreans. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 9,006 patients who underwent colonoscopy at the Seoul Paik hospital between July 2002 and January 2008. RESULTS: Of the 9,006 patients, there were 654 cases (7.3%) of colonic diverticulosis (472 men, 182 women). The mean age of the patients was 54.6+/-12.0 years. The right colon was involved in 535 cases, the left colon was involved in 86 cases and both the left and right colon was involved in 33 cases. Among the patients, a single diverticulum was seen in 253 cases and two or more diverticuli were seen in 401 cases. Related complications were diverticulitis (11 cases, 1.7%) and diverticular bleeding (3 cases, 0.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of colonic diverticular disease in Korea shows an increasing trend. Colonic diverticular lesions are frequently found in the right colon.

Small Intestinal Perforation Caused by Primary Jejunal MALT Lymphoma / 대한소화기학회지

No abstract available.

A Case of Peutz-Jeghers Polyp that was Diagnosed using Capsule Endoscoy and the Polyp was Removed by Means of Double Balloon Enteroscopy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is an autosomal dominant hereditary disease that's characterized by hamartomatous polyps of the gastrointestinal tract and mucocutaneous melanin pigmentation. Hamartomatous polyps can arise anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract, but they are most common in the small intestine. The major symptoms of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome are abdominal pain, intussusception and anemia due to gastrointestinal bleeding, which are all caused by harmatomatous polyp. Capsule endoscopy has been reported to have a higher diagnostic yield than small bowel barium radiography for patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and who have small bowel polyp. Small bowel polyp in patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome can be resected by double balloon enteroscopy without laparotomy. We report here on a patient with melena that was caused by small bowel polyps, and this was found by using capsule endoscopy. Polyp in the distal ileum was resected by using colonoscopy and the patient was diagnosed as suffering with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. The other proximal ileum polyp was resected by using double balloon enteroscopy without complication.

Effects of Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil on the Relaxation of Rat Bladder Muscle in vitro and White Rabbit Bladder in vivo

Current and primary treatment modality in overactive bladder includes the administration of anticholinergics. The demand for new agents has been rising since anticholinergics have proven to come with many side effects. This study was designed to investigate the effects of ylang-ylang essential oil (YYEO) on the relaxation of urinary bladder muscle in vitro and in vivo. Effects of YYEO were assessed on resting tension, and electrical field stimulation- and various drug-induced contraction in vitro by checking the isometric tension changes of muscle strips and same procedures were repeated in the presence of methylene blue, Nw-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME), or N-ethylmaleimide, and in vivo. YYEO decreased significantly the contractility of strips. There was no statistically significant difference between the treated group only with YYEO and the pretreated group with YYEO and methylene blue or L-NAME. When N-ethylmaleimide was employed, there was a statistically significant decrease in the rate of contraction. In vivo studies showed the same results compared with in vitro study. The results of this study indicate that YYEO has a relaxing effect on the bladder, and such mechanism is thought to be brought about by a pathway mediated by c-AMP.

A Case of Sacroiliitis in Psoriasis with Behcet's Disease / 대한류마티스학회지

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder, which is characterized by erythematous, sharply demarcated papules, and rounded plaques covered by silvery micaceous scale. Psoriatic arthritis is a heterogeneous disease with typical features of the spondyloarthropathies. Behcet's disease is an inflammatory condition involving multiple organ systems such as mucous membrane, skin, joint, intestine, lung, central nervous system, and vessel. The inclusion of Behcet's disease among seronegative spondyloarthropathies is still being debated. We described a 47-year-old female patient who currently had psoriasis and Behcet's disease. She developed a sacroiliitis that was probably precipitated by trauma.