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

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based gut lavage solutions are safe and effective, but require the intake of large volumes of fluid. The use of 2 L PEG plus 45 mL sodium phosphate (PEG2 plus NaP) was compared with 4 L PEG (PEG4) for bowel cleansing before colonoscopy. METHODS: Patients were randomized to the PEG2 plus NaP group or PEG4 group between January 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010. One hundred and thirty patients were included in the PEG2 plus NaP group, and 141 patients in the PEG4 group. RESULTS: The qualities of the bowel preparation, based on the Ottawa scale were not significantly different between the groups (4.8+/-2.25 for the PEG2 plus NaP group vs. 5.11+/-2.26 for the PEG4). In addition, there were no significant differences in side effects. Laboratory findings after bowel preparation, including electrolyte, phosphorus and creatinine levels, were within the normal ranges in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: PEG2 plus NaP provides good cleansing that is similar to PEG4, but with a lower volume. However, because PEG2 plus NaP can cause serious side effects such as calcium deposition in the kidneys (i.e., nephrocalcinosis), this solution might be considered for the outpatients who cannot tolerate PEG4.
Calcium ; Cathartics ; Colonoscopy ; Creatinine ; Humans ; Kidney ; Outpatients ; Phosphates ; Phosphorus ; Polyethylene ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Prospective Studies ; Reference Values ; Sodium ; Therapeutic Irrigation

Hemangiomas of the small intestine are uncommon benign tumors, of which 90% present with symptoms such as acute or chronic recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding, while 10% of the cases are asymptomatic. The preoperative diagnosis is challenging. We report a case of ileal hemangioma detected incidentally on abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT). In this case, we performed double balloon enteroscopy to confirm the diagnosis before surgical resection, which helped with the therapeutic plan.
Caves ; Double-Balloon Enteroscopy ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Hemangioma ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; Hemorrhage ; Ileum ; Intestine, Small

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

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

Acute mesenteric thrombosis accounts for 25-30% of acute mesenteric ischemia and occurs usually alongside severe atherosclerotic disease. Acute mesenteric thrombosis primarily affects the superior mesenteric artery; thus, inferior mesenteric arterial thrombosis is an extremely rare form of the condition. Surgical treatment is mandatory to resolve impending or overt bowel infarction in acute mesenteric ischemia patients. However, here we report a case of colonic infarction caused by acute inferior mesenteric thrombosis successfully treated by conservative management.
Colon ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Ischemia ; Mesenteric Artery, Inferior ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Thrombosis*

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: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH), and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGEs-1) regulate prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) expression and are involved in colon carcinogenesis. We investigated the expression of PGE₂ and its regulating genes in sporadic human colon tumors and matched normal tissues. METHODS: Twenty colonic adenomas and 27 colonic adenocarcinomas were evaluated. COX-2 and 15-PGDH expression was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The expression of PGE₂ and mPGEs-1 was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: The expression of COX-2, mPGEs-1, and PGE₂ did not differ between the adenomas and matched distant normal tissues. 15-PGDH expression was lower in adenomas than in the matched normal colonic tissues (P<0.001). In adenocarcinomas, mPGEs-1 and PGE₂ expression was significantly higher (P<0.001 and P=0.020, respectively), and COX-2 expression did not differ from that in normal tissues (P=0.207). 15-PGDH expression was significantly lower in the normal colonic mucosa from adenocarcinoma patients than in the normal mucosa from adenoma patients (P=0.018). CONCLUSIONS: Early inactivation of 15-PGDH, followed by activation of COX-2 and mPGEs-1, contributes to PGE₂ production, leading to colon carcinogenesis. 15-PGDH might be a novel candidate marker for early detection of field defects in colon carcinogenesis.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenoma ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinogenesis* ; Colon* ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans* ; Mucous Membrane ; Oxidoreductases* ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction