BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aims of this study were to examine the expressions of endothelium specific VE-cadherin, intestine specific LI-cadherin, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and to determine their relationships with the clinicopathological parameters of gastric cancer. METHODS: A total 47 patients with gastric cancer who underwent surgery were enrolled. Endoscopic biopsies were obtained from the cancer and normal mucosa, respectively. Using semiquantitative RT-PCR, the mRNA expression levels of VE-cadherin, LI-cadherin and VEGF were measured by tumor/normal (T/N) ratios. The protein expressions of VE-cadherin, LI-cadherin and VEGF were examined by Western blot and immunohistochemical stain in surgically resected tissues. The clinicopathological variables were reviewed and analyzed, retrospectively. RESULTS: Twenty two cases (46.8%) of VE-cadherin, 25 cases (53.2%) of LI-cadherin and 27 cases (51.1%) of VEGF mRNA expressions were overexpressed in gastric cancer compared to normal tissue. There was a tendency for T/N ratio of VE-cadherin mRNA to correlate with the lymphatic invasion (p=0.07) and the lymph node metastasis (p=0.099) in advanced gastric cancer. The T/N ratio of LI-cadherin mRNA showed significant association with distant metastasis (p=0.031) and lymphatic invasion especially in advanced gastric cancer (p=0.023). There was a tendency for the T/N ratio of VEGF mRNA to correlate with the distant metastasis (p=0.073) in advanced gastric cancer. CONCLUSIONS: As increased mRNA expression of LI-cadherin was associated with distant metastasis and lymphatic invasion especially in the biopsy specimen of advanced gastric cancer before surgery, it may provide useful preoperative information on tumor aggressiveness.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD/genetics/*metabolism ; Cadherins/genetics/*metabolism ; Female ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms/*metabolism/pathology/surgery ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/genetics/*metabolism

Since 1931, sporadic reports have appeared noting an apparent association between hyperthyroidism and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Recent various studies suggested that these two diseases may share a similar immunologic background, but the exact mechanism is still a matter of speculation. This 22-year-old female patient visited this hospital because of general weakness and purpura of legs for 2 months. The laboratory findings were compatible with Graves' disease associated with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. The platelet count was 16000/mm³, hemoglobin was 10.9 g/dl and MCV was 60.1fL. T3 was 490.53 ng/dL, T4 was 24 ug/dL and free T4 was 5.66 ng/dL. Antiplatelet antibody and antimicrosomal antibody were positive. The bone marrow findings were compatible with iron deficiency anemia and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. The thyroid biopsy showed adenomatous goiter. She was administered with propylthiouracil, Beta-blocker, iron and prednisolon. On the 10th hospital day, platelet count was 184000/mm³, hemoglobin was 12.0 gm/dL and MCV was 67.5 fL. On the 20th hospital day, T4 was 10.35 ug/dL and free T4 was 2.30 ng/dL. Therefore she was discharged and followed up.
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency* ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Female ; Goiter ; Graves Disease* ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Iron* ; Leg ; Platelet Count ; Propylthiouracil ; Purpura ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic* ; Thyroid Gland ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The direct toxic effects of antibiotics on the intestine can alter digestive functions and cause pathogenic bacterial overgrowth leading to antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is widely known to be responsible for 10~20% of AAD cases. However, Klebsiella oxytoca, Clostridium perfringens, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida species might also contribute to AAD. METHODS: We prospectively analyzed the organisms in stool and colon tissue cultures with a C. difficile toxin A assay in patients with AAD between May and December 2005. In addition, we performed the C. difficile toxin A assays using an enzyme-linked fluorescent assay technique. Patients were enrolled who had diarrhea with more than three stools per day for at least 2 days after the initiation of antibiotic treatment for up to 6~8 weeks after antibiotic discontinuation. RESULTS: Among 38 patients (mean age 59+/-18 years, M:F=18:20), the organism isolation rates were 28.9% (11/38) for stool culture, 18.4% (7/38) for colon tissue cultures and 13.2% (5/38) for the C. difficile toxin A assay. The overall rate of identification of organisms was 50.0% (19/38). Of the five patients that had a positive result by the C. difficile toxin A assay, two had no organism isolated by the stool or colon tissue culture. The organisms isolated from the stool cultures were C. difficile (4), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) (3), Candida species (3), and Staphylococcus aureus (1). C. difficile (4) and K. pneumoniae (3) were isolated from the colon tissue culture. CONCLUSIONS: For C. difficile negative AAD patients, K. pneumoniae, Candida species, and Staphylococcus aureus were found to be potential causative organisms.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*adverse effects ; Candida/isolation & purification ; Clostridium difficile/isolation & purification ; Diarrhea/diagnosis/*etiology/microbiology ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Female ; Humans ; Klebsiella pneumoniae/isolation & purification ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Staphylococcus aureus/isolation & purification

Ischemic colitis is a condition that usually occurs in the elderly, as a form of vascular disease. However, ischemic colitis also occurs, though rarely, in healthy young adults. Moreover, food supplements containing Ephedra sinica or ma huang have been linked to adverse central nervous and cardiovascular events. A 40-year-old man was admitted to our emergency department after 2 episodes of abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea that lasted 24 hours. His medical history was unremarkable for risk factors of bowel ischemia, except for well-controlled hypertension. However, a weight-loss supplement, Ephedra sinica, had been prescribed for daily use during the previous month. Both abdominal/pelvic computed tomography and colonoscopy revealed findings compatible with ischemic colitis. His conditions spontaneously improved without any serious complications, and he was advised to discontinue the use of herbal medications containing ephedrine. In this paper, we describe a case of ischemic colitis that was potentially linked to the use of ma huang with a review of the relevant literature.
Abdominal Pain/etiology ; Adult ; Colitis, Ischemic/*diagnosis/etiology ; Diarrhea/etiology ; *Dietary Supplements ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Ephedra sinica/*chemistry ; Humans ; Male

Meckel's diverticulum is a remnant of the vitelline duct located in the distal ileum, and it is the most common cause of small bowel bleeding in patients who are under the age of 25 years. The ectopic gastric mucosa in Meckel's diverticulum causes ulceration and acute gastrointestinal bleeding. Capsule endoscopy is now a valuable tool for diagnosing obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. However, the identification of a Meckel's diverticulum by wireless capsule endoscopy has rarely been reported on. An 18-year-old man was admitted for recurrent melena and anemia. He underwent a small bowel series that showed a jejunal diverticulum, and capsule endoscopy then revealed a jejunal diverticulum with multiple ulcerations. After 2 months, he had fresh hematochezia and so he underwent small bowel segemental resection that included the jejunal diverticulum. The operation revealed Meckels' diverticulum at 180 cm distant from the ileocecal valve at the mesenteric side. We report here on a case of bleeding Meckel's diverticulum that was diagnosed by wireless capsule endoscopy, and we include a review of the relevant literature.
Adolescent ; Anemia ; Capsule Endoscopy* ; Diverticulum ; Gastric Mucosa ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Ileocecal Valve ; Ileum ; Meckel Diverticulum ; Melena ; Ulcer ; Vitelline Duct

Meckel's diverticulum is a remnant of the vitelline duct located in the distal ileum, and it is the most common cause of small bowel bleeding in patients who are under the age of 25 years. The ectopic gastric mucosa in Meckel's diverticulum causes ulceration and acute gastrointestinal bleeding. Capsule endoscopy is now a valuable tool for diagnosing obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. However, the identification of a Meckel's diverticulum by wireless capsule endoscopy has rarely been reported on. An 18-year-old man was admitted for recurrent melena and anemia. He underwent a small bowel series that showed a jejunal diverticulum, and capsule endoscopy then revealed a jejunal diverticulum with multiple ulcerations. After 2 months, he had fresh hematochezia and so he underwent small bowel segemental resection that included the jejunal diverticulum. The operation revealed Meckels' diverticulum at 180 cm distant from the ileocecal valve at the mesenteric side. We report here on a case of bleeding Meckel's diverticulum that was diagnosed by wireless capsule endoscopy, and we include a review of the relevant literature.
Adolescent ; Anemia ; Capsule Endoscopy* ; Diverticulum ; Gastric Mucosa ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Ileocecal Valve ; Ileum ; Meckel Diverticulum ; Melena ; Ulcer ; Vitelline Duct

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Peristomal infection is the most common complication of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) insertion. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the most commonly implicated organism of peristomal infection. The aims of this study were to determine the contribution of nasal MRSA to wound infection in PEG and the predictors of wound infection. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on patients undergoing PEG between September 2003 and July 2005. All patients received antibiotics prior to PEG insertion. Nasal swabs were taken from a consecutive series of patients prior to PEG insertion. Wound status of the peristomal site were prospectively evaluated at day 1, 3, and 7 following the insertion of PEG. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients underwent PEG insertion (mean age, 66+/-16 years). Ten patients (32.3%) had MRSA-positive nasal swabs. Peristomal infection did not have any relationship with nasal MRSA colonization (p>0.05). Peristomal infection occurred in 4 (12.9%) cases. The rate of peristomal infections was significantly higher in patients with diabetes mellitus (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Nasal MRSA colonization is not associated with the risk of peristomal infections in patients receiving antibiotics prior to PEG insertion. Diabetes mellitus might be the risk factor for peristomal infection after PEG insertion.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Diabetes Complications/epidemiology ; Female ; Gastroscopy ; *Gastrostomy ; Humans ; Male ; Methicillin/pharmacology ; *Methicillin Resistance ; Middle Aged ; Nose/microbiology ; Risk Factors ; Staphylococcal Infections/epidemiology/etiology/*microbiology ; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects/*isolation & purification ; Surgical Wound Infection/epidemiology/etiology/*microbiology

The prevalence of reflux esophagitis is increasing in Korea. To estimate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of reflux esophagitis in healthy subjects, we retrospectively examined the medical records of healthy subjects undergoing a routine check-up from October 2004 to September 2005. A total of 6,082 (3,590 men, mean age 44+/-10 yr) subjects were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of reflux esophagitis in healthy subjects was 10.5%. According to the univariate analysis, male sex (odds ratio [OR] 3.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.84-4.30), smoking history (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.60-2.28), body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m2 (OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.37-3.33), total cholesterol >250 mg/dL (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.05-2.14), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol > or =160 mg/dL (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.08-2.14), triglyceride > or =150 mg/dL (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.61-2.30), high blood pressure (BP) (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.20-1.76), and fasting glucose > or =110 mg/dL (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.13-1.86) were significantly associated with reflux esophagitis (all p<0.05). However, age, alcohol drinking and Helicobacter pylori infection were not associated with reflux esophagitis. In conclusiosn, significant relationships of reflux esophagitis with obesity, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, high triglyceride, high BP, and elevated fasting glucose suggested that reflux esophagitis might represent the disease spectrum of the metabolic syndrome.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Esophagitis, Peptic/*diagnosis/*epidemiology/etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Medical Records ; Metabolic Syndrome X/*complications/diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Arteriovenous malformations are degenerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract that occur with a frequency that increases with increasing age. Although the bleeding caused by arteriovenous malformations is typically chronic, slow, intermittent and recurrent, 15% of patients with arteriovenous malformations present with massive bleeding. Any part of the gastrointestinal tract can be involved and arteriovenous malformations usually appear on endoscopy as either flat or elevated discrete bright red mucosal lesions. There are a few cases of colonic arteriovenous venous malformations with a polypoid appearance with some of their endoscopic treatments resulting in profuse bleeding from the remnant stalk. We encountered a case of a polypoid arteriovenous malformation in the colon of a 69-year-old patient with active gastrointestinal bleeding. The patient was treated successfully by an endoscopic polypectomy with a detachable snare.
Aged ; Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Colon ; Endoscopy ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; SNARE Proteins*

A NK/T cell lymphoma is highly aggressive lymphoma of a putative NK-cell origin with a predominant extranodal presentation and a rapidly fatal course. CD56 has been reported to be the most reliable marker for a NK/T cell lymphoma. A NK/T cell lymphoma is strongly associated with the Epstein-Barr virus. We report a case of an aggressive NK/T cell lymphoma presenting as a gastric ulcer. A 52-year-old female patient presented with hematochezia and fever. The endoscopic finding showed a gastric ulcer with a recent bleeding stigma. Histologically, the gastric biopsy showed a diffuse infiltration of small or medium sized lymphoma cells with an angiocentric growth pattern and necrosis. The lymphoma cells were CD56+, CD3+, CD20-, which are consistent with a NK/T cell lymphoma. Unfortunately, the patient was discharged without treatment. We report this case with a review of the relevant literature.
Biopsy ; Female ; Fever ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhage ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Lymphoma* ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Stomach ; Stomach Ulcer