OBJECTIVES: In this study, we investigated the biodegradation features of 4 perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) alternatives developed at Changwon National University compared to those of PFOS. METHODS: Biodegradation testing was performed with microorganisms cultured in the good laboratory practice laboratory of the Korea Environment Corporation for 28 days following the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development guidelines for the testing of chemicals (Test No. 301 C). RESULTS: While C₈F₁₇SO₃Na, PFOS sodium salt was not degraded after 28 days, the 4 alternatives were biodegraded at the rates of 20.9% for C₁₅F₉H₂₁S₂O₈Na₂, 8.4% for C₁₇F₉H ₂₅S₂O₈Na₂, 22.6% for C₂₃F₁₈H₂₈S₂O₈Na₂, and 23.6% for C₂₅F₁₇H₃₂O₁₃S₃Na₃. CONCLUSIONS: C₂₅F₁₇H₃₂S₃O₁₃Na₃, C₂₃F₁₈H₂₈S₂O₈Na₂, and C₁₅F₉H₂₁S₂O₈Na₂ were superior to PFOS in terms of biodegradation rates and surface tension, and thus they were considered highly applicable as PFOS alternatives. Environmental toxicity, human toxicity, and economic feasibility of these compounds should be investigated prior to their commercialization.
Gyeongsangnam-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development ; Sodium ; Surface Tension

Several forms of colonic complications are rarely observed during the clinical course of acute pancreatitis, and potentially fatal in some cases. Colonic lesions associated with acute pancreatitis can be divided into several groups from a pathogenic point of view. Possible pathogenesis includes 1) spread of pancreatic enzymes through the retroperitoneum to mesocolon, causing pericolitis, 2) external inflammatory compression by mesocolic mass secondary to necrosis of fatty tissue, and 3) hypotension due to shock, and thrombosis of mesenteric arteries. These might lead to colonic infarction, fistula formation, perforation, and obstruction during follow-up. We report two cases of colonic obstruction following acute pancreatitis with possible different mechanisms and review Korean cases. One patient developed colonic obstruction due to severe necrotizing pancreatitis, possibly as a result of pericolitis, and the other developed stenosis as a result of ischemic colitis induced by acute pancreatitis.
Acute Disease ; Colonic Diseases/*diagnosis/etiology ; Constriction, Pathologic/diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction/*diagnosis/etiology/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatitis/complications/*diagnosis ; Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing/complications/*diagnosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Patients with altered anatomy such as a Roux-en-Y anastomosis often present with various pancreaticobiliary problems requiring therapeutic intervention. However, a conventional endoscopic approach to the papilla is very difficult owing to the long afferent limb and acute angle of a Roux-en-Y anastomosis. Balloon-assisted enteroscopy can be used for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with altered anatomy. We experienced six cases of Roux-en-Y anastomosis with biliary problems, and attempted ERCP using single balloon enteroscopy (SBE). SBE insertion followed by replacement with a conventional endoscope was attempted in five of six patients. The papilla was successfully approached using SBE in all cases. However, therapeutic intervention was completed in only three cases because of poor maneuverability caused by postoperative adhesion. We conclude that in patients with Roux-en-Y anastomosis, the ampulla can be readily accessed with SBE, but longer dedicated accessories are necessary to improve this therapeutic intervention.
Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde* ; Endoscopes ; Extremities ; Gastrectomy* ; Humans

Mature T-cell and natural killer-cell neoplasms account for 10 to 15% of all non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Of the various subtypes of mature T-cell and NK-cell lymphomas, extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (nasal type NK/T-L) is relatively more common among Asians including Koreans. Nasal type NK/T-L is an aggressive, Epstein-Barr virus-associated lymphoma with characteristic expression of NK-cell antigen CD56. In this report, we present an unusual case of EBV(+), CD56(-) NK/T-L of oropharynx which recurred in duodenum after the period of complete remission lasting for 10 years. A 58-year-old woman presented with 3 months history of abdominal pain. Gastroduodenoscopy showed the diffuse wall thickening with multiple ulcerations in bulb and proximal second portion of the duodenum. Pathological examination revealed the infiltration of atypical lymphocytes, which was positive for CD3, CD4, CD5, TIA-1, and EBV and was negative for CD15, CD20, and CD56, consistent with NK/T-L of mature T-cell origin. The past medical history included the presence of oropharyngeal mass 10 years earlier, which was diagnosed as polymorphic reticulosis. The mass resolved completely after the radiation therapy, and she remained free of the disease for 10 years. Upon review, the oropharyngeal biopsy showed an identical morphology and immunophenotype with duodenal lesion. In conclusion, we experienced an unusal case of NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type recured in the duodenum.
Abdominal Pain ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biopsy ; Duodenum ; Female ; Granuloma, Lethal Midline ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoma* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Middle Aged ; Oropharynx ; Recurrence* ; T-Lymphocytes ; Ulcer

Although the incidence and prevalence rates of IBD in Korea are still lower than Western populations, they have been increasing rapidly during the past decades. Crohn's disease (CD) tends to run in families because it is thought to be related to genetic susceptibility coupled with environmental factors. A large number of monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs with inflammatory bowel disease have been reported in western countries. The population relative risk in first-degree relatives is considered to be about equal in both Koreans and westerners. To our best knowledge, there is no report in monozygotic twins with CD in Korea. This case report is the first documented occurrence of concordant CD occurring in monozygotic twins in Korea.
Adolescent ; Antimetabolites/therapeutic use ; Azathioprine/therapeutic use ; Colonoscopy ; Crohn Disease/*diagnosis/drug therapy/genetics ; Diseases in Twins/*diagnosis/drug therapy/genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Twins, Monozygotic/*genetics

Although the incidence and prevalence rates of IBD in Korea are still lower than Western populations, they have been increasing rapidly during the past decades. Crohn's disease (CD) tends to run in families because it is thought to be related to genetic susceptibility coupled with environmental factors. A large number of monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs with inflammatory bowel disease have been reported in western countries. The population relative risk in first-degree relatives is considered to be about equal in both Koreans and westerners. To our best knowledge, there is no report in monozygotic twins with CD in Korea. This case report is the first documented occurrence of concordant CD occurring in monozygotic twins in Korea.
Adolescent ; Antimetabolites/therapeutic use ; Azathioprine/therapeutic use ; Colonoscopy ; Crohn Disease/*diagnosis/drug therapy/genetics ; Diseases in Twins/*diagnosis/drug therapy/genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Twins, Monozygotic/*genetics

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Magnifying colonoscopy (MC) was introduced for prediction of pathologic findings. However, cyclooxgenase-2 (COX-2) expression in colonic polyps according to pit pattern has not been reported before. The aims of this study were to evaluate the usefulness of MC for differentiating polyps and to analyze COX-2 mRNA expression in colon polyps according to pit patterns. METHODS: We studied 36 patients (M:F=26:10; median age 55 years) who received endoscopic polypectomy at Asan Medical Center. The pit patterns were classified into six types (type I, II, IIIL, IIIS, IV, and V). The expression of COX-2 mRNA was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Among 41 polyps from 36 patients, 38 polyps were diagnosed as benign colon polyps, and 3 polyps were diagnosed as early colon cancer. In assessing the histologic findings according to pit patterns, non-adenomatous polyps were detected in 50% of type I and II patterns, and pre-malignant polyps were detected in 94.5% of type IIIL, IIIS, IV, and V patterns. COX-2 mRNA expression rate increased in parallel with histologic grade (p=0.022). However, this was not correlated with pit pattern. CONCLUSIONS: MC pit patterns provide detailed gross morphologic features. COX-2 mRNA expression rate, while related to histologic progression, is not related directly to pit pattern, but further study is needed.
Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colonic Polyps ; Colonoscopy ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Humans ; Polyps ; RNA, Messenger

Teratoma is a type of benign germ cell tumor that often contains several different types of tissue such as hair, muscle and bone, and these tissues arise from the three germinal layers. It occurs most often in the tailbones of children, the ovaries of women and the testicles of men. Primary rectal teratoma is extremely rare. We report here on a case of a 49-year-old woman with a primary rectal teratoma, and this was incidentally found during routine health screening. The rectal teratoma was a 15 mm-sized pedunculated polyp with a short stalk at the rectum, about 15 cm from anal verge as seen on CT colonography. On sigmoidoscopy and EUS, a fat and calcium containing well-defined polypoid lesion was noted in the upper rectum, with a narrow stalk attached to the colonic wall. The tumor was successfully excised by endoscopic polypectomy in order to obtain the histologic diagnosis and administer the proper treatment.
Calcium ; Child ; Colon ; Colonography, Computed Tomographic ; Female ; Hair ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged ; Muscles ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; Ovary ; Polyps ; Rectum ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Teratoma ; Testis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) serve as pattern recognition receptors that recognize specific molecular patterns of pathogens and can mediate the production of proinflammatory cytokines. Recently, TLRs have been identified as susceptibility genes for Crohn's disease (CD) in several studies from Western populations. We investigated the association of genetic variations in TLR4 and TLR9 with CD in Korean population. METHODS: In 380 CD cases and 380 healthy controls, we performed genotyping for TLR4 Asp299Gly (rs4986790) and Thr399Ile (rs4986791). The genetic variations in the TLR9 -1237T/C (rs5743836) were also examined. RESULTS: Among CD patients genotyped for TLR4 Asp299Gly and TLR9 -1237T/C, none had variant alleles. Similarly, none of the subjects genotyped for TLR4 Thr399Ile showed genetic variations. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the major genetic variations in TLR4 and TLR9 are rare and may not be associated with susceptibility to CD in Koreans.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/*genetics ; Crohn Disease/diagnosis/ethnology/*genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Republic of Korea ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/*genetics ; Toll-Like Receptor 9/*genetics

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) is extremely rare, which originated from mesenchymal cells in the intestine, and composed of histologically and immunohistochemically distinctive perivascular epithelioid cells. We report here on a case of PEComa in the sigmoid colon. A 62-year-old woman presented with hematochzia 10 days ago. Her abdominal computed tomography scan showed a 5 cm sized intraluminal fungating heterogeneously enhanced, high density mass, which infiltrated pericolic tissue surrounding the sigmoid colon. Colonoscopy showed a purple colored polypoid mass with lobulating contour in the sigmoid colon. She underwent laparoscopic anterior resection. On the histologic examination, the tumor consisted of polygonal epithelioid cells with sheet-like growth of nests, which looked like alveolar tissues in lung. The tumor cells were strongly positive stained with human melanoma black-45 (HMB-45). Pathologic examination was compatible with PEComa. Sixteen months after surgery, she did well without tumor recurrence after surgery. We review the literatures concerning PEComa of the intestine focusing on endoscopic findings.
Colonic Neoplasms/diagnosis ; Colonoscopy ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens/metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed