The distribution of gut microbiota varies according to age (childhood, puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and old age) and sex. Gut microbiota are known to contribute to gastrointestinal (GI) diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and colon cancer; however, the exact etiology remains elusive. Recently, sex and gender differences in GI diseases and their relation to gut microbiota has been suggested. Furthermore, the metabolism of estrogen and androgen was reported to be related to the gut microbiome. As gut microbiome is involved in the excretion and circulation process of sex hormones, the concept of “microgenderome” indicating the role of sex hormone on the gut microbiota has been suggested. However, further research is needed for this concept to be universally accepted. In this review, we summarize sex- and gender-differences in gut microbiota and the interplay of microbiota and GI diseases, focusing on sex hormones. We also describe the metabolic role of the microbiota in this regard. Finally, current subjects, such as medication including probiotics, are briefly discussed.

Although there are many guidelines recommending Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication therapy for atrophic gastritis (AG) and intestinal metaplasia (IM), there have been contradictory reports regarding the reversibility of precancerous lesions such as AG and IM after eradication of H. pylori. There have been many reports that have shown AG seems to improve upon eradication of H. pylori to some extent. In contrast, IM has been regarded as ‘the point of no return’ according to previous reports. However, as recent studies have suggested the improvement of intestinal metaplasia as well, early eradication therapy for reversible histological status is important and necessary for the prevention of gastric cancer. In this review, we focused on the progress of gastritis resulting in AG and IM mainly by H. pylori, the relationship of AG and IM with gastric cancer, the subtype of IM, and the reversibility of AG and IM by eradication of H. pylori. Finally, we introduced the recent extension of indications for H. pylori eradication with coverage by medical insurance, which was published by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare in January 2018.
Gastritis ; Gastritis, Atrophic* ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Insurance ; Metaplasia* ; Stomach Neoplasms

Although genetic background is known to contribute to colon carcinogenesis, the exact etiology of the disease remains elusive. The organ’s extensive interaction with microbes necessitated research on the role of microbiota on development of colon cancer. In this review, we summarized the defense mechanism of colon from foreign organism, and germ-free animal models that have been employed to elucidate microbial effect. We also comprehensively discussed the metabolic property of microbiota such as butyrate production, facilitation of heme toxicity, bile acid transformation, and nitrate reduction that has been shown to contribute to the development of the tumor. Finally, up-to-date subjects such as the effect of age and gender on microbiota are briefly discussed.
Bile ; Bile Acids and Salts ; Butyrates ; Butyric Acid ; Carcinogenesis ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Genetic Background ; Heme ; Microbiota ; Models, Animal

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication rate of standard triple therapy is unsatisfactory in Korea, and sequential therapy (SQT) has been suggested to be a practical first-line alternative regimen. The aim of this prospective study was to document changes in annual eradication rates of SQT. METHODS: A total of 983 H. pylori-positive subjects were enrolled from 2010 to 2018 and their data were subjected to intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analysis. All subjects received 10-day sequential therapy consisting of 40 mg esomeprazole and 1 g amoxicillin b.i.d for 5 days followed by 40 mg esomeprazole b.i.d, 500 mg clarithromycin b.i.d and 500 mg metronidazole t.i.d for 5 days. The 13C-urea breath test, rapid urease test (CLO test®), and histology were used to confirm eradication. Compliance and side effects were also investigated. RESULTS: ITT and PP eradication rates of SQT were 69.9% (687 of 983) and 87.1% (657 of 754), respectively. The annual eradication rate of ITT remained consistent over the 8-year study period (p for trend=0.167), whereas PP analysis showed the eradication rate increased (p for trend=0.042). The overall adverse event rate for SQT was 41.7% (410 subjects). CONCLUSIONS: Despite high antibiotic resistance rates in Korea, the eradication rate of SQT did not decrease over the 8-year study period.
Amoxicillin ; Breath Tests ; Clarithromycin ; Compliance ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Esomeprazole ; Helicobacter pylori ; Helicobacter ; Intention to Treat Analysis ; Korea ; Metronidazole ; Prospective Studies ; Urease

The distribution of gut microbiota varies according to age (childhood, puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and old age) and sex. Gut microbiota are known to contribute to gastrointestinal (GI) diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and colon cancer; however, the exact etiology remains elusive. Recently, sex and gender differences in GI diseases and their relation to gut microbiota has been suggested. Furthermore, the metabolism of estrogen and androgen was reported to be related to the gut microbiome. As gut microbiome is involved in the excretion and circulation process of sex hormones, the concept of “microgenderome” indicating the role of sex hormone on the gut microbiota has been suggested. However, further research is needed for this concept to be universally accepted. In this review, we summarize sex- and gender-differences in gut microbiota and the interplay of microbiota and GI diseases, focusing on sex hormones. We also describe the metabolic role of the microbiota in this regard. Finally, current subjects, such as medication including probiotics, are briefly discussed.

There has been an accumulation of data regarding the chemopreventive effects of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication. However, it remains unclear how H. pylori infection causes gastric cancer (GC) and how H. pylori eradication can prevent GC. Atrophic gastritis (AG) and intestinal metaplasia (IM) are known as precancerous lesions which mainly lead to intestinal-type GC but to some extent, can also lead to diffuse-type GC. The most important mechanism of AG/IM is H. pylori-induced chronic gastritis. Thus, the reversibility of AG and IM by H. pylori eradication therapy is very important in the prevention of GC. There have been many studies providing data supporting the improvement of AG by the eradication of H. pylori to some extent. In contrast, IM has been regarded as “the point of no return.” However, more recent studies have implied the improvement of IM after eradication, suggesting the importance of early eradication therapy in reversible histological status. In this review, we focused on the reversibility of AG and IM by H. pylori eradication and tried to investigate the predicting factors for the improvement of AG and IM including age, sex, smoking, and diet, as well as H. pylori infection.

We report a rare case of radioactive iodine (RAI)-induced Graves' disease in a patient with toxic adenoma. A 42-year-old woman presented with neck masses. A hot nodule was detected on a thyroid scan, which suggested toxic adenoma. She was treated with RAI. Three months after the treatment, she complained of thyrotoxic symptoms such as weight loss, palpitation, diarrhea, and menstrual irregularity. A new thyroid scan showed diffuse increased uptake, while the toxic adenoma previously detected was now a cold nodule. Moreover, an increased level of antibodies against the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor was detected. These findings indicated Graves' disease. Hence she was treated with anti-thyroid drug. This case serves as a reminder for physicians to consider RAI-induced Graves' disease if thyrotoxicosis is noted after RAI treatment.
Adenoma* ; Adult ; Antibodies ; Diarrhea ; Female ; Graves Disease* ; Humans ; Iodine ; Neck ; Radioisotopes ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Nodule ; Thyrotoxicosis ; Thyrotropin ; Weight Loss

No abstract available.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Gut microbiota contributes to intestinal and immune homeostasis through host-microbiota interactions. Distribution of the gut microbiota differs according to the location in the gastrointestinal tract. Although the microbiota properties change with age, evidence for the regional difference of gut microbiota has been restricted to the young. The aim of this study is to compare the gut microbiota between terminal ileum and cecum of old rats. METHODS: We analyzed gut microbiome of luminal contents from ileum and cecum of 74-week-old and 2-year-old rats (corresponding to 60-year and 80-year-old of human age) by metagenome sequencing of 16S rRNA. RESULTS: Inter-individual variation (beta diversity) of microbiota was higher in ileum than in cecum. Conversely, alpha diversity of microbiota composition was higher in cecum than in ileum. Lactobacillaceae were more abundant in ileum compared to cecum while Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae were more enriched in cecum. The proportions of Deltaproteobacteria were increased in cecal microbiota of 2-year-old rats compared to 74-week-old rats. CONCLUSIONS: Major regional distinctions of microbiota between ileum and cecum of old rats appear consistent with those of young rats. Age-related alterations of gut microbiota in old rats seem to occur in minor compositions.
Aged, 80 and over ; Aging ; Animals ; Cecum ; Child, Preschool ; Deltaproteobacteria ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Ileum ; Lactobacillaceae ; Metagenome ; Microbiota ; Phenobarbital ; Rats

Ischemic colitis resulting from bowel preparation for colonoscopy is extremely rare, with only a small number of cases with polyethylene glycol having been reported. Here, we present a patient with ischemic colitis after administration of a low-volume oral sulfate solution (OSS). A 49-year-old female without any significant medical history experienced abdominal pain, vomiting, and hematochezia after ingestion of OSS. She complained of severe abdominal pain during colonoscopy, and diffuse edema, hyperemia, friability, and shallow erosions were present on the transverse, descending, and sigmoid colons. A mucosal biopsy revealed mixed lymphoid inflammatory cell infiltration with de-epithelialization, whereas an abdominal CT scan showed submucosal edema on the transverse colon. A diagnosis of ischemic colitis was made. The patient recovered with fluid and antibiotic therapy without significant sequelae. Although OSS is a clinically validated and generally safe bowel preparation agent, ischemic colitis is a rare complication that should be considered.