[A Randomized, Double-blind, Active-controlled Exploratory Clinical Trial for the Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Goodmorning S Granule® on Constipation].

Background/Aims: Constipation is a common gastrointestinal disease that reduces the quality of life and incurs considerable medical expenses. Bisacodyl and sodium docusate are generally used to treat constipation. This study assessed the effectiveness and safety of Goodmorning S Granule® (Hanpoong Pharm. Co., Ltd., Wanju, Korea) in functional constipation by a comparison with bisacodyl. Methods: A 2-week randomized, double-blind, active-controlled exploratory clinical trial was conducted to compare the treatment (Goodmorning S Granule®) with the control (bisacodyl). The efficacy was measured by the changes in transition, Bristol stool type, stomachache, clinical manifestation, defecation time after drug consumption, 36-item short-form survey (SF-36), and the results of improvement evaluation. The safety was evaluated by the incidence of adverse drug events and vital signs. Additional analyses were conducted by dividing the severity according to the proportion of Bristol Stool Scale types 1 and 2. Results: Subjects were randomized to the treatment (n=24) or control (n=26) groups. No significant differences were observed in demographics. After 2 weeks from the baseline, the changes in the complete spontaneous bowel movement (CSBM) were higher in the treatment (4.00±2.62) group than in the control group (1.40±2.34) (p<0.05). The treatment group exhibited significant improvement in the score on the SF-36 questionnaire. The clinical side effects, such as stomachache and borborygmus, were reduced in the moderate constipation patients in the treatment group, according to additional analyses. Conclusions: Goodmorning S Granule®, a herbal medicine, was more effective in improving quality of life and CSBM per week and safer in the moderate constipation groups because of the reduced clinical side effects.

High level of viral microRNA-BART20-5p expression is associated with worse survival of patients with Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric cancer.

This study analyzed the relationship between several Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles and the clinicopathologic features of patients with EBV-associated gastric cancer. The miRNA expression was examined in 59 tumor and 39 paired normal mucosal tissues from available formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue samples. The expression levels of miR-BamHI fragment A rightward transcript (BART)1-5p, miR-BART4-5p, and miR-BART20-5p were determined using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The expression of all three analyzed EBV microRNAs was significantly higher in the tumor tissue than in the paired normal tissue (P < 0.001 for each). When the median value of the EBV microRNA expression levels was used as the cutoff point, a high BART20-5p expression was associated with worse recurrence-free survival (P = 0.034) in a multivariate analysis including age and pathologic stage. In conclusion, the expression level of BART20-5p may predict recurrence-free survival for patients with EBV-associated gastric cancer. Further studies are warranted to clarify the roles of EBV BART microRNAs in the carcinogenesis, and their potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target for EBV-associated gastric cancer.

Extraction socket sealing using palatal gingival grafts and resorbable collagen membranes.

BACKGROUND: Socket sealing surgery is performed for the preservation of the form and volume of the soft tissue by covering the resulting socket with autogenous soft tissue graft or membrane barriers. This procedure is usually necessary to improve the esthetic results of the maxillary anterior or premolar areas. METHODS: This study retrospectively investigated cases involving the open membrane technique or socket sealing surgery with a palatal gingival graft or collagen membrane where implant placement and bone grafting were performed immediately after tooth extraction. From January 2005 to December 2008, socket sealing surgery was performed in 24 patients, and 25 implants were placed. RESULTS: All implants were successful in the follow-up period. In the palatal gingival graft group, the mean marginal bone loss was 1.17 mm during the mean follow-up period of 81.0 months. In the collagen membrane group, the mean marginal bone loss was 1.23 mm during the mean follow-up period of 76.9 months. There was no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Consequently, socket sealing surgery is effective at minimizing the loss of soft tissue and alveolar bone.