The treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases has evolved with the development of anti-tumor necrosis factor agents. Despite the long-term effectiveness, many patients experience primary non-response, secondary loss of response, or intolerance. Therefore, the development of new drugs that act on different inflammatory pathways has become necessary. This review focuses on biologic agents and new therapies for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases.Current Concepts: Vedolizumab, a gut-selective agent that targets α4β7 integrin is effective in both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Ustekinumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds to p40 subunit of interleukin-12/interleukin-23. Ustekinumab is available for the treatment of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Tofacitinib is the first Janus kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. The advantage of tofacitinib is an oral prescription medicine and has rapid action.Discussion and Conclusion: Since vedolizumab, ustekinumab and tofacitinib are effective agents for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases, positioning of old and new biologic agents and small molecules should be determined. The safety and efficacy of novel and emerging drugs needs to be evaluated in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

The treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases has evolved with the development of anti-tumor necrosis factor agents. Despite the long-term effectiveness, many patients experience primary non-response, secondary loss of response, or intolerance. Therefore, the development of new drugs that act on different inflammatory pathways has become necessary. This review focuses on biologic agents and new therapies for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases.Current Concepts: Vedolizumab, a gut-selective agent that targets α4β7 integrin is effective in both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Ustekinumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds to p40 subunit of interleukin-12/interleukin-23. Ustekinumab is available for the treatment of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Tofacitinib is the first Janus kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. The advantage of tofacitinib is an oral prescription medicine and has rapid action.Discussion and Conclusion: Since vedolizumab, ustekinumab and tofacitinib are effective agents for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases, positioning of old and new biologic agents and small molecules should be determined. The safety and efficacy of novel and emerging drugs needs to be evaluated in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

No abstract available.
Antigens, Viral/*analysis ; Biological Markers/analysis ; DNA, Viral/analysis ; *Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/genetics/*immunology ; Influenza, Human/*diagnosis/epidemiology/immunology/virology ; *Pandemics ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; *Seasons

Gastrointestinal (GI) prokinetic agents are drugs that increase GI motility and promote the movement of contents in the GI tract by amplifying and controlling the contraction of GI smooth muscle. Currently used prokinetics increase GI motility by acting as a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist (e.g., metoclopramide, domperidone, levosulpiride) and 5-HT4 receptor agonist (e.g., mosapride, prucalopride). Some prokinetics also have a cholinesterase inhibitory property (e.g., itopride), and herb-derived prokinetics (e.g., motilitone) affect multiple receptors. Depending on the type and distribution of receptors on which the prokinetics bind, the effect(s) may be regional or throughout the GI tract. Most prokinetics have been used for functional dyspepsia and gastroparesis because they mainly affect upper GI motility. However, prucalopride, a highly selective 5-HT4 receptor agonist, is used primarily to treat chronic constipation and pseudo-obstruction. Dopamine D2 receptor antagonists also inhibit the D2 receptor in the medulla oblongata chemoreceptor trigger zone; therefore, they can treat nausea and vomiting. However, short term use of dopamine D2 antagonists at an appropriate dose is recommended because of their potential for central nervous system side effects by penetrating the blood-brain barrier. It is necessary to know the mechanism of action, each clinical trial’s characteristics, and the side effects of prokinetics to obtain the best clinical outcomes. This article aims to summarize the results of clinical studies related to the impact of currently available prokinetic agents in Korea on GI motility.

5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) is used widely to treat ulcerative colitis. The common side effects of 5-ASA include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, and skin rash. 5-ASA-induced myocarditis is a rare side effect, and few cases have been reported. 5-ASA-induced myocarditis usually occurs within 2-4 weeks of drug use and causes chest pain and dyspnea. This paper reports 5-ASA-induced myocarditis in a 31-year-old male patient who took 5-ASA for 20 days prior. The patient was hospitalized with dyspnea that worsened when lying down, with chest pain radiating to the left neck, fever, and vomiting. Myocarditis was suspected. The work-up included electrocardiogram, transthoracic echocardiogram, cardiac MRI, and laboratory investigations. The patient’s signs and symptoms improved within a few days after withdrawing 5-ASA. This case shows that an evaluation including the possibility of myocarditis should be performed when patients with ulcerative colitis receiving 5-ASA present with cardiac problems, such as dyspnea and chest pain.

Drainage of pancreatic abscesses is required for effective control of sepsis. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided endoscopic drainage is less invasive than surgery and prevents local complications related to percutaneous drainage. Endoscopic drainage with stent placement in the uncinate process of the pancreas is a technically difficult procedure. We report a case of pancreatic abscess treated by repeated EUS-guided aspiration and intravenous antibiotics without an indwelling drainage catheter or surgical intervention.
Abscess* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Catheters ; Drainage ; Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration ; Pancreas ; Sepsis ; Stents ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pleuropulmonary paragonimiasis produces no specific symptoms or radiologic findings, allowing for the possibility of misdiagnosis. We evaluated the specific clinical and pleural fluid features of pleuropulmonary paragonimiasis masquerading as pleural tuberculosis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and radiologic characteristics of 20 patients diagnosed with pleuropulmonary paragonimiasis between 2001 and 2011. RESULTS: In total, 17 patients presented with respiratory symptoms, including dyspnea (30%), hemoptysis (20%), cough (20%), and pleuritic chest pain (15%). Chest radiographs revealed intrapulmonary parenchymal lesions, including air-space consolidation (30%), nodular opacities (20%), cystic lesions (15%), ground-glass opacities (10%), and pneumothorax (5%). A pleural f luid examination revealed eosinophilia, low glucose levels, and high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in 87%, 76%, and 88% of the patients, respectively. These traits helped to distinguish pleuropulmonary paragonimiasis from other pleural diseases such as parapneumonic effusion, malignancy, and pleural tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: Pleuropulmonary paragonimiasis is often initially misdiagnosed as other pleural diseases. Therefore, it is important to establish the correct diagnosis. In patients with unexplained pleural effusion living in paragonimiasis-endemic areas, pleural fluid obtained by thoracentesis should be examined to distinguish pleuropulmonary paragonimiasis. When marked eosinophilia, high LDH levels, and low glucose levels are identified in pleural fluid, physicians could consider a diagnosis of pleuropulmonary paragonimiasis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Biological Markers/analysis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophilia/diagnosis/parasitology ; Female ; Glucose/analysis ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/analysis ; Lung Diseases, Parasitic/*diagnosis/metabolism/parasitology/radiography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paracentesis ; Paragonimiasis/*diagnosis/metabolism/parasitology/radiography ; Paragonimus westermani/*isolation & purification ; Pleural Effusion/*diagnosis/metabolism/parasitology/radiography ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis, Pleural/*diagnosis ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To compare the results of anterior segment biometry including white-to-white (WTW) between scanning-slit topography (ORBscan IIz(R), Bausch & Lomb), optical low-coherence reflectometry (OLCR) biometry (Lenstar(R), Haag-Streit), and Castroviejo calipers. METHODS: Measurements on 72 eyes of 36 patients that underwent refractive surgery were measured using ORBscan(R), Lenstar(R), and calipers and compared. Ocular biometry parameters used in this study included the WTW, central corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth (ACD), keratometry, and pupil size. RESULTS: The WTW measurements using ORBscan(R) and calipers (11.57 +/- 0.35 mm and 11.58 +/- 0.34 mm, respectively) were statistically similar. However, the measurement using Lenstar(R) (12.05 +/- 0.40 mm) was significantly greater than with the other methods (p < 0.001). Central corneal thickness and keratometry measurements using ORBscan(R) were greater than when using Lenstar(R) (p = 0.01 for both). ACD and pupil size measurement using Lenstar(R) were greater than when using ORBscan(R) (p < 0.001 for both). CONCLUSIONS: Because WTW and ACD measurements using Lenstar(R) were greater than when using ORBscan(R) and calipers, unexpected high-vaulting may be observed due to the selection of a larger-sized posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens. Therefore, the differences in measurements obtained when using these methods should be considered.
Anterior Chamber ; Biometry* ; Humans ; Phakic Intraocular Lenses ; Pupil ; Refractive Surgical Procedures

PURPOSE: To compare the results of anterior segment biometry including white-to-white (WTW) between scanning-slit topography (ORBscan IIz(R), Bausch & Lomb), optical low-coherence reflectometry (OLCR) biometry (Lenstar(R), Haag-Streit), and Castroviejo calipers. METHODS: Measurements on 72 eyes of 36 patients that underwent refractive surgery were measured using ORBscan(R), Lenstar(R), and calipers and compared. Ocular biometry parameters used in this study included the WTW, central corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth (ACD), keratometry, and pupil size. RESULTS: The WTW measurements using ORBscan(R) and calipers (11.57 +/- 0.35 mm and 11.58 +/- 0.34 mm, respectively) were statistically similar. However, the measurement using Lenstar(R) (12.05 +/- 0.40 mm) was significantly greater than with the other methods (p < 0.001). Central corneal thickness and keratometry measurements using ORBscan(R) were greater than when using Lenstar(R) (p = 0.01 for both). ACD and pupil size measurement using Lenstar(R) were greater than when using ORBscan(R) (p < 0.001 for both). CONCLUSIONS: Because WTW and ACD measurements using Lenstar(R) were greater than when using ORBscan(R) and calipers, unexpected high-vaulting may be observed due to the selection of a larger-sized posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens. Therefore, the differences in measurements obtained when using these methods should be considered.
Anterior Chamber ; Biometry* ; Humans ; Phakic Intraocular Lenses ; Pupil ; Refractive Surgical Procedures