BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the actual practice patterns of clinicians caring for Korean patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). METHODS: Questionnaires, including te indications and doses of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), corticosteroids, or azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine (AZA/6-MP), assessment of response, the surveillance method, and the interval for adverse effects, were distributed during the 2008 KASID annual lecture. Thirty questionnaires were collected. RESULTS: Most of the responders (93.3%) were board-certified with sub-specialty training in gastroenterology. For active diseases, 43.3% of the responders escalated the dose of 5-ASA from conventional to maximal doses. Of the patients in disease remission, 36.7% were maintained on the conventional or a reduced dose for a fixed period of time. Corticosteroids were prescribed by dose-base (20/30 [66.7%]). In most cases, the starting dose was 40 mg/d (15/19 [78.9%]), and tapered within a 1 (43.3%) or 2 week interval (40.0%). There were various definitions of corticosteroid-refractoriness and -dependency among the responders. Most of the responders initiated AZA at 50 mg/d; 68.4% of the patients increased the dose by 25 mg and 55.6% of the patients increased the dose within a 4-week interval. For monitoring adverse events, such as leukopenia, 63.3% of the patients checked a complete blood count for 2 weeks in the 1st month of therapy. CONCLUSIONS: There were various patterns of practice in the treatment of Korean IBD patients, especially in terms of the prescribing patterns of drugs and assessment of response, which suggests that standard therapeutic guidelines of IBD should be established in Korea.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Aminosalicylic Acids ; Azathioprine ; Blood Cell Count ; Gastroenterology ; Glucocorticoids ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Korea ; Leukopenia ; Mesalamine ; Physician's Practice Patterns ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Pancreatitis has been occasionally associated with Crohn's disease (CD). A definite etiology of pancreatitis can be identified in most patients, but a very small proportion remain idiopathic. We report a case of idiopathic pancreatitis resolved along with the clinical improvement of CD in a 25-year-old man. He presented with abdominal pain and diarrhea for 8 years. Ileocolonoscopy and enteroclysis showed multiple, longitudinal ulcers and strictures at the ileojejunum. The laboratory findings showed elevated serum amylase (951 IU/L) and lipase (326 IU/L) without positive autoantibodies. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, enhanced pancreatic CT, and MRCP showed no abnormalities at ampulla of Vater, pancrease, and pancreaticobiliary duct. With the treatment with antibiotics, 5-aminosalicylic acid, steroid, and azathioprine, as a whole, decreasing pattern and intermittent fine coordinated fluctuation of the levels of amylase and lipase along with the decrease of Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) and the CRP levels were observed. Then, three months after the start of the treatment, normalization of the pancreatic enzymes was observed, and there was recurrent elevation of pancreatic engyme during 12 months maintenance therapy. This report supports the concept of an association between idiopathic pancreatitis and CD, based on a significant and close relation between the levels of serum amylase and lipase, and CDAI.
Adult ; Aminosalicylic Acids/therapeutic use ; Amylases/blood ; Crohn Disease/complications/*diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Duodenoscopy ; Humans ; Lipase/blood ; Male ; Pancreatitis/*diagnosis/enzymology/etiology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo observe the signal transducers and activator of transcriptions (STATs) protein expression changes and investigate the functional role of STATs pathway in case of high glucose-induced cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) proliferation and collagen deposition in vitro.

METHODSRat cardiac fibroblasts were isolated from 1- to 3-day-old SD rats, cells from the second to fourth passages were used for the experiment. CFs were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium, supplemented with 5.5 mmol/L glucose (NG), 5.5 mmol/L glucose plus 19.4 mmol/L mannose (OC) or 25 mmol/L glucose (HG) in the presence of absence of STAT1 inhibitor (fludarabine, FLU) and STAT3 inhibitor (S3I-201). After 24 h and 48 h culture in vitro, the proliferation of CFs was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2 thiazoyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. After 12 h and 24 h culture in vitro, the production of type I and III collagen was evaluated using real-time quantitative PCR and ELISA. After 0, 30, 60 and 120 min culture in vitro, the phosphorylated expression of STAT1 and STAT3 was analyzed by Western blot.

RESULTSCFs proliferation was significantly enhanced post 24 h and 48 h HG stimulation, and procollagen I and III mRNA expression was significantly upregulated post 12 h and 24 h HG stimulation. Deposition of collagen I and III was also significantly increased post 24 h and 72 h HG stimulation. STAT1 phosphorylation in CFs was increased after 120 min HG stimulation and STAT3 phosphorylation in CFs was increased post 60 min and 120 min HG stimulation. FLU and S3I-201 could inhibit HG-induced CFs proliferation and suppress of which was stimulated by FLU and S3I-201 could both suppress upregulated procollagen I and III mRNA expression and the deposition of collagen types I and III post HG stimulation. STAT1 phosphorylation inhibition resulted in less mRNA downregulation of procollagen type III than that of procollagen type I post 12 h HG stimulation. The STAT3 phosphorylation inhibition resulted in more significantly upregulated procollagen type III mRNA expression than procollagen type I mRNA expression at 12 h post HG stimulation.

CONCLUSIONHG could enhance the protein expression of phosphorylated STAT1 and STAT3 in CFs, which are responsible for HG-induced increased CFs proliferation and collagen deposition in vitro.

Aminosalicylic Acids ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Benzenesulfonates ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Collagen Type III ; metabolism ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Glucose ; adverse effects ; Myocardium ; cytology ; Phosphorylation ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; STAT1 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Up-Regulation ; Vidarabine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology

No abstract available.
Aminosalicylic Acid* ; Cycloserine* ; Prothionamide* ; Retreatment* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

Hypersensitivity reactions against para-aminos alicylic have been recorded infrequently in the literature. It is the purpose of this report to emphasize the possible occurence of severe reactions which may result in death if unrecognized. The recognition of the early signs and symptoms of a hypersensitivity reaction to antituberculous drugs is all important because serious consequences can ensue from continued administration of the drug after the first sign of a reaction. This case present acute liver failure as part of a generalized hypersensititivity reaction to para-aminosalicylic acid, based on clinical findings liver function test, course and response to cortison derivatives.
Aminosalicylic Acid ; Hypersensitivity ; Liver Failure, Acute ; Liver Function Tests

Adult ; Aminosalicylic Acid ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Manganese Poisoning ; drug therapy

BACKGROUND: The purposes of the current study were to evaluate the concordant rates of anti-mycobacterial drug susceptibility test (DST) results in different solid media performed in different institutes, and to determine reliable susceptible testing methods. METHODS: One hundred and twenty two Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains were isolated from patients in A Hospital in 2005. DSTs were performed by the absolute concentration method using L?wenstein Jensen medium in both A Hospital (method A-1) and B Institute (method B-1) and by the proportion method using Middlebrook 7H10 agar in B Institute (method B-2). Nine drugs were used including isoniazid and rifampin. Sensitivity and specificity of each method were estimated by using the acceptable standard of 90% for isoniazid and rifampin and 80% for other drugs. The therapeutic outcomes of quinolone-administered patients were evaluated according to ofloxacin susceptibility results. RESULTS: Method B-1 showed sensitivity and specificity levels over the acceptable standard levels for all drugs. Method B-2 showed specificity lower than the acceptable levels for rifampin and cycloserine. Method A-1 showed specificity lower than the acceptable levels for isoniazid, streptomycin, p-aminosalicylic acid, and ofloxacin and sensitivity lower than the acceptable levels for prothionamide and cycloserine. The concordance rates of therapeutic outcomes with method B-1, method B-2, and method A-1 were 77%, 74%, and 65%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The drug susceptibility results for some drugs were discordant between the testing laboratories and media, requiring an urgent application of quality control programs to raise the reliability of anti-mycobacterial DST.
Academies and Institutes ; Agar ; Aminosalicylic Acid ; Culture Media ; Cycloserine ; Humans ; Isoniazid ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Ofloxacin ; Prothionamide ; Quality Control ; Rifampin ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Streptomycin

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis is still one of the most seriously threatening infections in Korea, because of multidrug resistant tuberculosis. Results of antituberculosis drug susceptibility test can provide clinicians very important informations for selection of proper regimens for treatment. METHODS: In this study the results of antituberculosis drug susceptibility test of 298 cases at Kyunghee Medical Center from 2000 to 2003 were retrospectively analysed to evaluate the trend of antituberculosis drug susceptibility. The procedure of drug susceptibility test was based on the absolute concentration method using Lowenstein-Jensen solid media. RESULTS: The resistance rate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to one or more drugs was increased from 29.3% in 2000 to 48.2% in 2003, and the rates of multiple resistance to two or more drugs increased from 13.3% in 2000 to 20.5% in 2003. The increase in resistance rate to individual drug during study period were 20.0% to 24.1% in isoniazid, 9.3% to 19.3% in rifampicin, 5.3% to 15.7% in ethambutol, 4.0% to 10.8% in para-aminosalicylic acid, 2.7% to 6.0% in kanamycin, 1.3% to 7.2% in ethionamide, 1.3% to 6.0% in capreomycin, 1.3% to 7.2% in prothionamide, 0.0% to 12.1% in ofloxacin, 6.7%to 3.6% in streptomycin, 6.7% to 7.2% in cycloserine, 10.7% to 8.4% in pyrazinamide, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The resistance rate of M. tuberculosis has been increased with years and multidrug resistant M. tuberculosis was commonly encountered in the specimens from the patients visited Kyunghee Medical center.
Aminosalicylic Acid ; Capreomycin ; Cycloserine ; Ethambutol ; Ethionamide ; Humans ; Isoniazid ; Kanamycin ; Korea ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Ofloxacin ; Prothionamide ; Pyrazinamide ; Retrospective Studies ; Rifampin ; Streptomycin ; Tuberculosis

For the treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis, maintenance of appropriate antituberculous agents is essential because of its low cure rate and high dropout rate. Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a severe drug-induced systemic hypersensitivity response resulting in cessation of causative agents. In cases of second-line antituberculous agent-induced DRESS, it is extremely difficult to find other replacement medications to cure MDR tuberculosis. A 53-year-old male who had taken the second-line antituberculous agents (cycloserine, streptomycin, p-aminosalicylic acid, and prothionamide) as well as pyrazinamide for 5 weeks experienced DRESS syndrome accompanying hepatic coma. His symptoms improved with discontinuation of antituberculous agents and administration of high-dose methylprednisolone for 1 month. To resume the antituberculous medication, second-line antituberculous agents were administered one by one using a rapid desensitization protocol. While kanamycin, levofloxacin, and cycloserine were successfully readministered, p-aminosalicylic acid- and prothionamide-induced cutaneous hypersensitivity symptoms were relatively mild compared to previous reactions. Herein, we report a case of successfully treated MDR tuberculosis having a history of fatal DRESS syndrome to antituberculous agents using the rapid desensitization protocol.
Aminosalicylic Acid ; Antitubercular Agents ; Cycloserine ; Desensitization, Immunologic ; Drug Hypersensitivity Syndrome* ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Kanamycin ; Levofloxacin ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; Middle Aged ; Patient Dropouts ; Pyrazinamide ; Streptomycin ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant

BACKGROUND: Antituberculous therapy is set a short-term therpy used isoniazid(INH), rifampin(RFP), ethambutol(EMB), pyrazinamide(PZA) from 1970s' and treatment rate has been very improved. But drug interruption or irregular medication due to side effects and resistance of drug are serious problem to retreatment cases, specially. Ofloxasine(OFX), developed from Quinolone at 1980's is effective not only other respiratory infectious disease but also pulmonary tube rculosis. And this is useful drug instead of injection agents for retreatment patients who have side effects to other drugs, lived far distance from medical clinics. So, we will evaluate theffectiveness as four oral drags involving OFX. METHOD: A retrospective study was made through the regular follow up of smear positive cases,who treated by four drag, namely, prothionamide (PTA) cycloserine(CS), OFX, paraminosalicylic acid(PAS). RESULTS: 1) Out of 66case with positive sputum AFB smear, 42(64%)cases achieved the negative conversion. 2) Considering the negative conversion in all group, 34 case (52%) of sputum conversion occured within first 6 months, on the extent of diease was minimal, moderate, far advavanced pulmonary tuberculosis, sputum AFB smear negative response to treatment was 100%, 78% , 46% respectively. 3) The roentgenological improvement occured in 38(58%), extent of diease was minimal, moderately, far advanced pulmonary tuberculosis, Roentgenological improvement to retreatment was 75%, 64%, 46%. 4) When the duration of patients illness was less than 1 year, 1 to 3 years, 3 to 5 years and more than 5 years, sputum AFB smear negative response to retreatment was 100%, 88%, 80%, 52%. 5) On side effects, major problems are gastrointestinal troubles, mild liver function abnormality, psychotic problemes, and skin problem(urticaria, itching sensation). CONCLUSION: The duration & extents of patients illness was shorter & minimal, sputum AFB smear negative response rate was better. Radiologic response is better as shorter duration and minimal extent of diease. But, as diease is longer duration & far advanced, sputum negative conversion & Roentgenological improvement is poor and limited. The adverse reaction was mainly observed gastrointestinal troubles(indigestion, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) and are well controled by symptomatic management in most patients, as regard to tolerance to the secondary drugs.
Abdominal Pain ; Aminosalicylic Acid* ; Communicable Diseases ; Cycloserine* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver ; Nausea ; Prothionamide ; Pruritus ; Retreatment* ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Sputum ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary* ; Vomiting