BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of the study was to investigate the risk factors for biliary pancreatitis according to severity. METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed 58 patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for the management of acute biliary pancreatitis between November 2001 and June 2004. The severity of pancreatitis was classified as severe or mild pancreatitis according to the Glasgow scale. Multiple clinical and radiological factors were analyzed for a relationship with the severity of pancreatitis and coexisting biliary pathology. RESULTS: Ten patients (17%) had severe pancreatitis (the SP group) and the remaining 48 patients (83%) had mild pancreatitis (the MP group). The diameter of the common bile duct CBD) and cystic duct, and the number and the size of gallstones were not significantly different between the two groups of patients. The number of patients without a periampullary diverticulum in the SP group (90.0%) was significantly higher than in the MP group (39.6%). Most of the SP patients (90.0%) had CBD stones (<5 mm) or CBD sludge, but the prevalence of CBD stones (<5 mm) or CBD sludge was lower in the MP group (54.2%, p=0.04). The absence of a periampullary diverticulum was identified as a risk factor according to severity by the use of logistic regression analysis (odds ratio=25; p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The development of severe biliary pancreatitis was influenced by risk factors such as a CBD stone less than 5 mm or sludge and the absence of a periampullary diverticulum.
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Common Bile Duct ; Cystic Duct ; Diverticulum ; Gallstones ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Pancreatitis* ; Pathology ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Sewage

The eotaxin gene family (eotaxin, eotaxin-2 and eotaxin-3) have been implicated in the recruitment of eosinophils, basophiles and helper T (Th) 2 lymphocytes that is a central aspect of allergic disease. We previously suggested that Eo2+179T>C and Eo2 +275C>T of the eotaxin-2, and Eo3 +2497T>G of the eotaxin-3 were significantly associated with susceptibility to asthma. To determine whether the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of eotaxin-2 and eotaxin-3 gene family are associated with the susceptibility of ulcerative colitis (UC), we analyzed the genotype of 119 patients with UC and 303 controls using single-base extension (SBE) method. We also calculated the haplotype frequencies among Eo2 +179T>C and Eo2 +275C >T of the eotaxin-2 and Eo3 +2497T>G of the eotaxin-3 in both control and UC patients. The genotype frequency of Eo2 +179T>C and Eo2 +275C>T between UC patients and controls were significantly different (P=0.006 and 0.022, respectively). The genotype and allele frequencies of EoA2497T>G in UC patients were not significantly different from those in the controls without UC patients. Our results suggest that Eo2 +179T>C and Eo2 +275C>T of eotaxin-2 might be associated with the susceptibility of UC.
Adult ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/*genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Chemokines, CC/*genetics ; Colitis, Ulcerative/ethnology/*genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease/*genetics ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic/*genetics ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the psychosocial characteristics of functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) in patients with psychiatric disorders. METHODS: This study was conducted with 144 outpatients visiting the psychiatric clinic at a university hospital. FGIDs were screened according to the Rome III questionnaire-Korean version. Demographic factors were investigated, and psychosocial factors were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-15, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Korean, and State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory. Chi-squared test and student's t-test were used as statistical analysis methods. RESULTS: There were differences in education level between two groups divided according to FGID status (χ²=10.139, p=0.017). Comparing the psychiatric disorder by FGID group, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) group showed significant differences (χ²=11.408, p=0.022). According to FGID status, IBS group showed significant differences for anxiety (t=−3.106, p=0.002), depressive symptom (t=−2.105, p=0.037), somatic symptom (t=−3.565, p < 0.001), trait anger (t=−3.683, p < 0.001), anger-in (t=−2.463, p=0.015), and anger-out (t=− 2.355, p=0.020). Functional dyspepsia group showed significant differences for anxiety (t=−4.893, p < 0.001), depressive symptom (t=−3.459, p < 0.001), somatic symptom (t=−7.906, p < 0.001), trait-anger (t=−4.148, p < 0.001), state-anger (t=−2.181, p=0.031), anger-in (t=−2.684, p=0.008), and anger-out (t=−3.005, p=0.003). Nonerosive reflux disease group showed significant differences for anxiety (t=−4.286, p < 0.001), depressive symptom (t=−3.402, p < 0.001), somatic symptom (t=−7.162, p < 0.001), trait anger (t=−2.994, p=0.003), state anger (t=−2.259, p=0.025), anger-in (t=−2.772, p=0.006), and anger-out (t=−2.958, p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with psychiatric disorders had a high prevalence of FGID, and various psychosocial factors contributed to such differences. Therefore, the psychiatric approach can offer better understandings and treatments to patients with FGID.
Anger ; Anxiety ; Demography ; Depression ; Dyspepsia ; Education ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Outpatients ; Prevalence ; Psychology

During inflammation of the colon, cells of the gut mucosa produce or express numerous inflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1 beta), and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). These mediators have been implicated as contributory factors to the inflammatory process, which results in colitis during inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Rebamipide is an anti-gastric ulcer drug with anti-inflammatory properties in vivo and in vitro. The effects of Rebamipide on IBD have not been largely evaluated. Therefore, this study investigated the potential of Rebamipide to regulate the production of inflammatory mediators such as TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and ICAM-1. Mice with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis (IBD animal model), were treated intrarectally with 2 mM Rebamipide. Body weight, macro- and micro-histological scores, and activity were evaluated. As an index of tissue edema, the thickness of the colonic wall was measured between the serosal surface and the luminal surface of the mucosa. TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and ICAM-1 were detected by immunohistochemical staining. Rebamipide treatment of mice exhibiting TNBS-induced colitis dramatically improved the clinical and histopathological findings of inflammation. In addition, Rebamipide suppressed TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and ICAM-1 expression in TNBS-treated animals. Taken together, these findings suggest that Rebamipide is a potential therapeutic agent for treating patients with IBD.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Colitis ; Colon* ; Down-Regulation* ; Edema ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1* ; Interleukin-1beta ; Mice ; Mucous Membrane ; Phenobarbital ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha* ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recently, due to the adoption of a Western lifestyle, the incidence of colonic diverticulosis is increasing in the Korean population. The purpose of this study is to review the prevalence and clinical characteristics of colonic diverticulosis as diagnosed by a colonoscopic examination. METHODS: We retrospectely analyzed the medical records of 3,352 patients that had undergone a colonoscopy from 1 January 2002 to 31 July 31 2005. We recorded the extent (1, 2~5, 6>) and the location of a diverticulum. We also reviewed the medical records of the patients that had symptoms and other clinical features. RESULTS: A total of 2,831 patients were selected. The overall prevalence of colonic diverticulosis was 10.1%; the mean patient age was 53+/-11 years and the ratio of males to females was 2.3:1. A diverticulum occurred more frequently in the right side colon (79.0%) than the left side colon (13.9%). The most common symptom was abdominal pain (63.5%). Complications were diverticulitis (2.0%) and bleeding (0.3%). The prevalence of a colon polyp was 39.1% and the prevalence of a fatty liver was 26.4% in the diverticular patients. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of colonic diverticulosis is increasing in the Korean population and a diverticulum occurred more frequently in the right side colon.
Abdominal Pain ; Colon* ; Colonoscopy ; Diverticulitis ; Diverticulosis, Colonic* ; Diverticulum ; Fatty Liver ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Life Style ; Male ; Medical Records ; Polyps ; Prevalence*

Background/Aims: Fexuprazan is a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker that could be of benefit to patients with gastric mucosal injury. The aim of this study was to assess the 2-week efficacy and safety of fexuprazan in patients with acute or chronic gastritis. Methods: In this study, 327 patients with acute or chronic gastritis who had one or more gastric erosions on endoscopy and subjective symptoms were randomized into three groups receiving fexuprazan 20 mg once a day (q.d.), fexuprazan 10 mg twice a day (b.i.d.), or placebo for 2 weeks. The posttreatment assessments were the primary endpoint (erosion improvement rate), secondary endpoints (cure rates of erosion and edema and improvement rates of redness, hemorrhage, and subjective symptoms), and drug-related adverse events. Results: Among the patients, 57.8% (59/102), 65.7% (67/102), and 40.6% (39/96) showed erosion improvement 2 weeks after receiving fexuprazan 20 mg q.d., fexuprazan 10 mg b.i.d., and placebo, respectively. Both fexuprazan 20 mg q.d. and 10 mg b.i.d. showed superior efficacy to the placebo (p=0.017 and p<0.001, respectively). Likewise, both fexuprazan 20 mg q.d. and 10 mg b.i.d. also showed higher erosion healing rates than the placebo (p=0.033 and p=0.010, respectively). No difference was noted in the edema healing rate and the improvement rates for redness, hemorrhage, and subjective symptoms between the fexuprazan and placebo groups.No significant difference was noted in the incidence of adverse drug reactions. Conclusions Fexuprazan 20 mg q.d. and 10 mg b.i.d. for 2 weeks showed therapeutic efficacy superior to that of placebo in patients with acute or chronic gastritis (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04341454).