BACKGROUND/AIMS: The symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) fluctuate considerably over time. However, it has not been determined whether these symptoms are affected by the menstrual cycle in female IBD patients. This study analyzed the effects of the menstrual cycle on IBD symptom variation. METHODS: This was a prospective study of 91 study subjects (47 IBD patients and 44 healthy controls) who reported daily symptoms and signs throughout their menstrual cycles. RESULTS: IBD patients had significantly more frequent gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea (30% vs 7%, p=0.006), flatulence (53% vs 22%, p=0.003), and abdominal pain as compared to controls (68% vs 38%, p=0.006). The IBD patients also experienced more frequent systemic premenstrual symptoms than the controls (79% vs 50%, p=0.003). More severe abdominal pain (p=0.002) and lower mean general condition scores (p=0.001) were noted during the menstrual phase as compared to the pre- or post-menstrual phase in both groups. IBD patients experienced more frequent premenstrual gastrointestinal symptoms than controls, but their IBD symptoms did not change significantly during the menstrual cycle. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of the cyclic alterations in gastrointestinal and systemic symptoms may be helpful in determining the true exacerbation of disease in female IBD patients.
Abdominal Pain ; Female ; Flatulence ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Menstrual Cycle ; Nausea ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: Preeclampsia is the major cause of prenatal mortality and morbidity. The functional disorder of uteroplacental insufficiecy is caused by the impaired uteroplacental blood flow and diffusion barrier in the villi. Functional disorders like placental circulating disorders results in morphological changes of terminal. villi as functional unit of placenta. We studied to investigate the differences in villous stoma of placental terminal villi and fetal capillary between growth restricted pregnancies with severe preeclampsia and normal preterm pregnancies. METHOD: Terminal villi was examined using light microscopy and by immunohistochemical localization of matrix molecule (alpha-smooth muscle actin and collagenIV) and the immunoreactivity of alpha-smooth muscle actin and collagenIV were evaluated in 17 cases of severe preeclampsia with intrauterine growth restriction as a study group and in 17 cases of gestational age matched normotensive preterm pregnancies as a control group. Fetal capillary congestion in terminal villi was also evaluated by Hematoxylin-Eosin staining. The patterns of immunohistochemical staining were all determinated in a visual qualitative manner (0-25%: -, 25-50%: +, 50-75%: ++, 75-100%: +++) by one pathologist. Congestion was considered to be present in a failed where the majority (>90%) of the capillaries demonstrated densely packed erythrocyte. RESULT: Expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin in the terminal villous stroma was significantly increased in study group compared with control group (P=0.0001). Expression of collagen IV in the terminal villous stroma was significantly increased in study group compared with control group (P=0.0001). Fetal capillary congestion was also significantly increased in study group compared with control group (P=0.049). CONCLUSION: The result suggests that there be the structural or biochemical difference in the villous stroma between normotensive preterm pregnancies and severe preeclampsia with intrauterine growth restriction and that the extravascular contractile system might be in the villous stroma in the severe preeclampsia intrauterine growth restriction.
Actins* ; Capillaries* ; Collagen ; Diffusion ; Erythrocytes ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Gestational Age ; Microscopy ; Mortality ; Placenta ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy*

Malignant mixed mullerian tumor (MMMT) is a tumor in which carcinoma (an epithelial malignancy) is mixed with sarcoma (a nonepithelial malignancy). Extrauterine MMMTs are extremely rare, and only 32 cases are reported according to the literature. We experienced a case of primary peritoneal MMMT and repot with a brief review of literature.
Peritoneum* ; Sarcoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Colonoscopic surveillance is currently recommended after polypectomy owing to the risk of newly developed colonic neoplasia. However, few studies have investigated colonoscopy surveillance in Asia. This multicenter and prospective study was undertaken to assess the incidence of advanced adenoma based on baseline adenoma findings at 3 years after colonoscopic polypectomy. METHODS: A total of 1,323 patients undergoing colonoscopic polypectomy were prospectively assigned to 3-year colonoscopy surveillance at 11 tertiary endoscopic centers. Relative risks for advanced adenoma after 3 years were calculated according to baseline adenoma characteristics. RESULTS: Among 1,323 patients enrolled, 387 patients (29.3%) were followed up, and the mean follow-up interval was 31.0±9.8 months. The percentage of patients with advanced adenoma on baseline colonoscopy was higher in the surveillance group compared to the non-surveillance group (34.4% vs. 25.7%). Advanced adenoma recurrence was observed in 17 patients (4.4%) at follow-up. The risk of advanced adenoma recurrence was 2 times greater in patients with baseline advanced adenoma than in those with baseline non-advanced adenoma, though the difference was not statistically significant (6.8% [9/133] vs. 3.1% [8/254], P=0.09). Advanced adenoma recurrence was observed only in males and in subjects aged ≥50 years. In contrast, adenoma recurrence was observed in 187 patients (48.3%) at follow-up. Male sex, older age (≥50 years), and multiple adenomas (≥3) at baseline were independent risk factors for adenoma recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: A colonoscopy surveillance interval of 3 years in patients with baseline advanced adenoma can be considered appropriate.
Adenoma ; Asia ; Colon ; Colonic Polyps ; Colonoscopy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors