PURPOSE: Thrombocytopenia is the most common hematologic abnormality diagnosed in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). We investigated the causes and neonatal outcomes of early-onset thrombocytopenia in preterm neonates and compared clinical outcomes between neonates in an early-onset thrombocytopenia group who have received and those who have not received platelet transfusion in order to assess the clinical significance of early-onset thrombocytopenia in preterm infants. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of preterm neonates born earlier than 34 weeks' gestation who were admitted to the NICU between January 2005 and September 2014. 412 preterm neonates born earlier than 34 weeks' gestation were enrolled. The early-onset thrombocytopenia group (n=90) had a platelet count < or =150,000/mL within the first 72 hours of life. We investigated maternal and neonatal characteristics, and neonatal outcomes in the group and compared these with those of a control group (n=322). RESULTS: The neonates with early-onset thrombocytopenia tended to have lower gestational age, birth weight and Apgar scores than controls. Maternal hypertension and lower Apgar score at birth were predictive factors of early-onset thrombocytopenia. No differences in clinical outcomes were observed between the two groups. Clinical outcomes did not significantly different between the groups regardless of whether the neonates received platelet transfusion or not. CONCLUSION: Early-onset thrombocytopenia had no effect on the neonatal outcomes of the preterm infants. Platelet transfusion did not affect the clinical outcomes of the neonates in the early-onset thrombocytopenia group. Thus, we suggest a lager controlled study on early-onset thrombocytopenia in newborns in order to establish more-efficient treatment guidelines.
Apgar Score ; Birth Weight ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Infant, Newborn* ; Infant, Premature ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Medical Records ; Parturition ; Platelet Count ; Platelet Transfusion ; Pregnancy ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombocytopenia*

Climate change is a global emergency. Consequently, current global targets to combat the climate crisis include reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and keeping global temperature increases below 1.5 ˚C. In 2014, the healthcare carbon footprint was 5.5% of the total national footprint. Gastrointestinal endoscopy (GIE) has a large carbon footprint compared to other procedures performed in healthcare facilities. GIE was identified as the third largest generator of medical waste in healthcare facilities for the following reasons: (1) GIE is associated with high case volumes, (2) GIE patients and relatives travel frequently, (3) GIE involves the use of many nonrenewable wastes, (4) single-use devices are used during GIE, and (5) GIE is frequently reprocessed. Immediate actions to reduce the environmental impact of GIE include: (1) adhering to guidelines, (2) implementing audit strategies to determine the appropriateness of GIE, (3) avoiding unnecessary procedures, (4) using medication rationally, (4) digitalization, (5) telemedicine, (6) critical pathways, (7) outpatient procedures, (8) adequate waste management, and (9) minimizing single-use devices. In addition, sustainable infrastructure for endoscopy units, using renewable energy, and 3R (reduce, reuse, and recycle) programs are necessary to reduce the impact of GIE on the climate crisis. Consequently, healthcare providers need to work together to achieve a more sustainable future. Therefore, strategies must be implemented to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in the healthcare field, especially from GIE, by 2050.

Background/Aims: Only a few studies have examined perceptions of the incidence and prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the general Korean population. The aim of this study was to determine public perceptions of the lifetime incidence rate and survival of CRC. Methods: All adults older than 50 years who visited the Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong were invited to participate in this survey for 5 months in 2021. During the study period, eligible individuals participated in this survey through a link or quick response code on a poster posted in the hospital, which was linked to a web-based questionnaire. The questionnaire used for this survey included demographic and socioeconomic data, perceptions of CRC, and awareness of the CRC incidence and 5-year survival rate. Results: Among 203 respondents, 196 answers were analyzed after the exclusion of seven incomplete answers. In our survey, half of the respondents (49.5%) answered the expected lifetime incidence rate of CRC as 0% to 4.9%. Koreans perceived CRC as a more fatal disease than epidemiological data, as 70.9% of the respondents expected the 5-year survival rate of CRC to be less than 70% for the general population. However, Koreans perceived stage IV CRC as a less fatal disease than epidemiological data, because only 20.9% of the respondents expected the 5-year survival rate of stage IV CRC to be less than 10% for general population. Conclusions Koreans recognized CRC as a more common and fatal disease than actual epidemiological data of CRC. Therefore, more efforts should be made to provide more correct information on CRC for better decision-making and communication.

The burden of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Asia has been increasing over the past decades. Although patients with IBD show heterogenous phenotypes depending on the individual characteristics, no significant differences have been established in the IBD phenotypes of Western and Asian populations. However, despite the much lower incidence of IBD in Asia than in Western countries, the incidence has been rapidly increasing in Asia while remaining stable in Western countries. The incidence of ulcerative colitis (UC) showed an earlier and a more marked increase than the incidence of Crohn disease (CD), but the UC-to-CD ratio has recently decreased because of a relative increase in the incidence of CD in Asia. While CD shows a significant male predominance, UC only shows a slight male predominance. A recent study reported that the incidence of IBD in Asia showed a bimodal age distribution with increasing IBD prevalence, similar to the findings of Western studies. CD in Asian patients, especially those in East Asia, is characterized by ileocolonic involvement and perianal fistula. The frequency of extraintestinal manifestations, including primary sclerosing cholangitis, appears to be lower in Asia, but this finding should be interpreted with caution due to the transient and nonspecific nature of these manifestations. Although familial aggregation is lower in East Asia, it may also be explained by the low prevalence of IBD in Asia. Thus, more studies should focus on the differences in phenotypes in Asian IBD patients versus Western patients.

Continuous measurement of quality indicators (QIs) should be a routine part of colonoscopy, as a wide variation still exists in the performance and quality levels of colonoscopy in Korea. Among the many QIs of colonoscopy, the adenoma detection rate, average withdrawal time, bowel preparation adequacy, and cecal intubation rate should be monitored in daily clinical practice to improve the quality of the procedure. The adenoma detection rate is the best indicator of the quality of colonoscopy; however, it has many limitations for universal use in daily practice. With the development of natural language processing, the adenoma detection rate is expected to become more effective and useful. It is important that colonoscopists do not strictly and mechanically maintain an average withdrawal time of 6 minutes but instead perform careful colonoscopy to maximally expose the colonic mucosa with a withdrawal time of at least 6 minutes. To achieve adequate bowel preparation, documentation of bowel preparation with the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS) should be a routine part of colonoscopy. When colonoscopists routinely followed the bowel preparation protocols, ≥85% of outpatient screening colonoscopies had a BBPS score of ≥6. In addition, the cecal intubation rate should be ≥95% of all screening colonoscopies. The first step in improving colonoscopy quality in Korea is to apply these key performance measurements in clinical practice.

Background/Aims: Utilization of low-volume preparation agents is crucial to improve patient willingness to undergo repeat colonoscopies. However, gastric safety data on preparation agents are limited. This study evaluated the acute gastropathy associated with bowel preparation agents. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled healthy subjects who underwent both esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy screening. Baseline patient characteristics, bowel preparation success, acute gastropathy, and polyp and adenoma detection rates were evaluated for 1 L polyethylene glycol with ascorbic acid (1 L PEG/Asc) and oral sulfate tablet (OST) groups. Results: Comparison of the OST group (n=2,463) with the 1 L PEG/Asc group (n=2,060) revealed that the rates of successful cleansing and high-quality cleansing were similar between the two groups. Polyp and adenoma detection rates were significantly higher in the OST group than in the 1 L PEG/Asc group (p<0.001 and p=0.013), while the incidence of acute gastric mucosal lesion-like blood stain/clot, erosions at greater curvature side of antrum/body, multiple erosions, and overlying mucosal erythema or edema were all significantly higher in the OST group than in the 1 L PEG/Asc group (all p<0.001). Additionally, high and indeterminate probability scores of preparation agent-induced gastropathy (p=0.001) and mean Lanza scores were significantly higher in the OST group than in the 1 L PEG/Asc group (1.3 vs. 0.4, p<0.001). Conclusions Compared with 1 L PEG/Asc, OSTs were significantly associated with acute gastropathy during bowel preparation, thus requiring careful consideration from physicians for the simultaneous screening of EGD and colonoscopy.

Background/Aims: Utilization of low-volume preparation agents is crucial to improve patient willingness to undergo repeat colonoscopies. However, gastric safety data on preparation agents are limited. This study evaluated the acute gastropathy associated with bowel preparation agents. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled healthy subjects who underwent both esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy screening. Baseline patient characteristics, bowel preparation success, acute gastropathy, and polyp and adenoma detection rates were evaluated for 1 L polyethylene glycol with ascorbic acid (1 L PEG/Asc) and oral sulfate tablet (OST) groups. Results: Comparison of the OST group (n=2,463) with the 1 L PEG/Asc group (n=2,060) revealed that the rates of successful cleansing and high-quality cleansing were similar between the two groups. Polyp and adenoma detection rates were significantly higher in the OST group than in the 1 L PEG/Asc group (p<0.001 and p=0.013), while the incidence of acute gastric mucosal lesion-like blood stain/clot, erosions at greater curvature side of antrum/body, multiple erosions, and overlying mucosal erythema or edema were all significantly higher in the OST group than in the 1 L PEG/Asc group (all p<0.001). Additionally, high and indeterminate probability scores of preparation agent-induced gastropathy (p=0.001) and mean Lanza scores were significantly higher in the OST group than in the 1 L PEG/Asc group (1.3 vs. 0.4, p<0.001). Conclusions Compared with 1 L PEG/Asc, OSTs were significantly associated with acute gastropathy during bowel preparation, thus requiring careful consideration from physicians for the simultaneous screening of EGD and colonoscopy.

Background/Aims: Utilization of low-volume preparation agents is crucial to improve patient willingness to undergo repeat colonoscopies. However, gastric safety data on preparation agents are limited. This study evaluated the acute gastropathy associated with bowel preparation agents. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled healthy subjects who underwent both esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy screening. Baseline patient characteristics, bowel preparation success, acute gastropathy, and polyp and adenoma detection rates were evaluated for 1 L polyethylene glycol with ascorbic acid (1 L PEG/Asc) and oral sulfate tablet (OST) groups. Results: Comparison of the OST group (n=2,463) with the 1 L PEG/Asc group (n=2,060) revealed that the rates of successful cleansing and high-quality cleansing were similar between the two groups. Polyp and adenoma detection rates were significantly higher in the OST group than in the 1 L PEG/Asc group (p<0.001 and p=0.013), while the incidence of acute gastric mucosal lesion-like blood stain/clot, erosions at greater curvature side of antrum/body, multiple erosions, and overlying mucosal erythema or edema were all significantly higher in the OST group than in the 1 L PEG/Asc group (all p<0.001). Additionally, high and indeterminate probability scores of preparation agent-induced gastropathy (p=0.001) and mean Lanza scores were significantly higher in the OST group than in the 1 L PEG/Asc group (1.3 vs. 0.4, p<0.001). Conclusions Compared with 1 L PEG/Asc, OSTs were significantly associated with acute gastropathy during bowel preparation, thus requiring careful consideration from physicians for the simultaneous screening of EGD and colonoscopy.

Background/Aims: Utilization of low-volume preparation agents is crucial to improve patient willingness to undergo repeat colonoscopies. However, gastric safety data on preparation agents are limited. This study evaluated the acute gastropathy associated with bowel preparation agents. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled healthy subjects who underwent both esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy screening. Baseline patient characteristics, bowel preparation success, acute gastropathy, and polyp and adenoma detection rates were evaluated for 1 L polyethylene glycol with ascorbic acid (1 L PEG/Asc) and oral sulfate tablet (OST) groups. Results: Comparison of the OST group (n=2,463) with the 1 L PEG/Asc group (n=2,060) revealed that the rates of successful cleansing and high-quality cleansing were similar between the two groups. Polyp and adenoma detection rates were significantly higher in the OST group than in the 1 L PEG/Asc group (p<0.001 and p=0.013), while the incidence of acute gastric mucosal lesion-like blood stain/clot, erosions at greater curvature side of antrum/body, multiple erosions, and overlying mucosal erythema or edema were all significantly higher in the OST group than in the 1 L PEG/Asc group (all p<0.001). Additionally, high and indeterminate probability scores of preparation agent-induced gastropathy (p=0.001) and mean Lanza scores were significantly higher in the OST group than in the 1 L PEG/Asc group (1.3 vs. 0.4, p<0.001). Conclusions Compared with 1 L PEG/Asc, OSTs were significantly associated with acute gastropathy during bowel preparation, thus requiring careful consideration from physicians for the simultaneous screening of EGD and colonoscopy.

Lange-Giedion syndrome, or trichorhinophalangeal syndrome type 2 (TRPSII), is a clinical syndrome characterized by mild growth restriction, mental retardation, microcephaly and dysmorphic face. Bulbous nose, large protruding ears and loose redundant skin are distinguishing features, as well as lax joints and phalangeal abnormalities of the hands and multiple exostoses. TRPS1 and EXT1 gene deletion are responsible for this. Diagnosis is mainly based on clinical and radiographic features. In Korea, no cases of this disease have been reported thus far. Along with a review of the literature, we report a case of TRPSII in a neonate who had peculiar face representing TRPSII, polydactyly, Mullerian duct cyst, and ptosis and was found to have an interstitial deletion of 8q23-24.1.
Diagnosis ; Ear ; Exostoses, Multiple Hereditary ; Gene Deletion ; Hand ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intellectual Disability ; Joints ; Korea ; Langer-Giedion Syndrome* ; Microcephaly ; Nose ; Polydactyly ; Skin