Background/Aims: The gastric extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (gastric MALT lymphoma) are mostly related to Helicobacter pylori infections. However, chromosomal aberration involving translocation t(11;18) is also frequently reported in these patients. Methods: The study was a retrospective review and analysis of electronic medical records to assess the factors which affect complete remission (CR) in patients with gastric MALT lymphoma. Based on the medical records, subjects with gastric MALT lymphoma were enrolled consecutively from January 2004 to December 2021. Results: Among the 77 subjects who were found with gastric MALT lymphoma in the database, 65 cases with complete records were analyzed. Of these, 66.2% (43/65) were H. pylori positive. Genetic analyses for t(11:18) were done on 41 subjects. The t(11:18) chromosomal translocation with MALT1:BIRC3 fusion was found in 31.7% (13/41) of the subjects. With H. pylori eradication therapy, 75% (21/28) of the subjects without t(11:18) achieved CR. However, only 23.1% (3/13) subjects with t(11:18) could achieve CR (p-value=0.009). In the H. pylori-positive group, 85.7% (18/21) subjects without t(11:18) achieved CR with eradication therapy, but 71.4% (5/7) subjects with t(11:18) failed to achieve CR (p-value=0.004). In the H. pylori-negative group, 42.3% (3/7) of the subjects without t(11:18) achieved CR with eradication therapy. However, 83.3% (5/6) of H. pylori-negative subjects with t(11:18) failed to achieve CR with eradication therapy and needed additional radiotherapy (p-value=0.396). Conclusions H. pylori negativity and the presence of t(11:18) were both risk factors for failure to achieve CR with H. pylori eradication therapy as the first line of treatment.

Purpose: Delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU) poses a significant safety and socioeconomic burden to patients and caregivers.However, invasive interventions for managing delirium have severe drawbacks. To reduce unnecessary interventions during ICU hospitalization, we aimed to investigate the features of delirium among ICU patients according to the occurrence of hypoactive symptoms, which are not expected to require invasive intervention. Materials and Methods: Psychiatrists assessed all patients with delirium in the ICU during hospitalization. Patients were grouped into two groups: a “non-hypoactive” group that experienced the non-hypoactive motor subtype once or more or a “hypoactive only” group that only experienced the hypoactive motor subtype. Clinical variables routinely gathered for clinical management were collected from electronic medical records. Group comparisons and logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results: The non-hypoactive group had longer and more severe delirium episodes than the hypoactive only group. Although the non-hypoactive group was prescribed more antipsychotics and required restraints longer, the hypoactive only group also received both interventions. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, BUN [odds ratio (OR): 0.993, pH OR: 0.202], sodium (OR: 1.022), RASS score (OR: 1.308) and whether restraints were applied [OR: 1.579 (95% confidence interval 1.194–2.089), p<0.001] were significant predictors of hypoactive only group classification. Conclusion Managing and predicting delirium patients based on whether patients experienced non-hypoactive delirium may be clinically important. Variables obtained during the initial 48 hours can be used to determine which patients are likely to require invasive interventions.

Background: The long-term outcomes of patients discharged from the hospital after successful care in intensive care unit (ICU) are not briskly evaluated in Korea. The aim of this study was to assess long-term mortality of patients treated in the ICU and discharged alive from the hospital and to identify predictive factors of mortality. Methods: In 3,679 adult patients discharged alive from the hospital after ICU care between 2006 and 2011, the 1-year mortality rate (primary outcome measure) was investigated. Various factors were entered into multivariate analysis to identify independent factors of 1-year mortality, including sex, age, severity of illness (APACHE II score), mechanical ventilation, malignancy, readmission, type of admission (emergency, elective surgery, and medical), and diagnostic category (trauma and non-trauma). Results: The 1-year mortality rate was 13.4%. Risk factors that were associated with 1-year mortality included age (hazard ratio: 1.03 [95% CI, 1.02–1.04], P < 0.001), APACHE II score (1.03 [1.01–1.04], P < 0.001), mechanical ventilation (1.96 [1.60–2.41], P < 0.001), malignancy (2.31 [1.82–2.94], P < 0.001), readmission (1.65 [1.31–2.07], P < 0.001), emergency surgery (1.66 [1.18–2.34], P = 0.003), ICU admission due to medical causes (4.66 [3.68–5.91], P < 0.001), and non-traumatic diagnostic category (6.04 [1.50–24.38], P = 0.012). Conclusions The 1-year mortality rate was 13.4%. Old age, high APACHE II score, mechanical ventilation, malignancy, readmission, emergency surgery, ICU admission due to medical causes, and non-traumatic diagnostic category except metabolic/endocrinologic category were associated with 1-year mortality.

The area of endoscopic application has been continuously expanded since its introduction in the last century and the frequency of its use also increased stiffly in the last decades. Because gastrointestinal endoscopy is naturally exposed to diseased internal organs and contact with pathogenic materials, endoscopy mediated infection or disease transmission becomes a major concern in this field. Gastrointestinal endoscopy is not for single use and the proper reprocessing process is a critical factor for safe and reliable endoscopy procedures. What needed in these circumstances is a practical guideline for reprocessing the endoscope and its accessories which is feasible in the real clinical field to guarantee acceptable prevention of pathogen transmission. This guideline contains principles and instructions of the reprocessing procedure according to the step by step. And it newly includes general information and updated knowledge about endoscopy-mediated infection and disinfection. Multiple societies and working groups participated to revise; Korean Association for the Study of the Liver, the Korean Society of Infectious Diseases, Korean College of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research, the Korean Society of Gastroenterology, Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Korean Association for the Study of Intestinal Diseases, Korean Pancreatobiliary Association, the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Nurses and Associates and Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Through this cooperation, we enhanced communication and established a better concordance. We still need more researches in this field and fill up the unproven area. And our guidelines will be renewed accordingly.

PURPOSE: Nutritional therapy (NT), such as enteral nutrition (EN) or parenteral nutrition (PN), is essential for the malnourished patients. Although the complications related to NT has been well described, multicenter data on symptoms in the patients with receiving NT during hospitalization are still lacking. METHODS: Nutrition support team (NST) consultations, on which NT-related complications were described, were collected retrospectively for one year. The inclusion criteria were patients who were (1) older than 18 years, (2) hospitalized, and (3) receiving EN or PN at the time of NST consultation. The patients' demographics (age, sex, body mass index [BMI]), type of NT and type of complication were collected. To compare the severity of each complication, the intensive care unit (ICU) admission, hospital stay, and type of discharge were also collected. RESULTS: A total of 14,600 NT-related complications were collected from 13,418 cases from 27 hospitals in Korea. The mean age and BMI were 65.4 years and 21.8 kg/m2. The complications according to the type of NT, calorie deficiency (32.4%, n=1,229) and diarrhea (21.6%, n=820) were most common in EN. Similarly, calorie deficiency (56.8%, n=4,030) and GI problem except for diarrhea (8.6%, n=611) were most common in PN. Regarding the clinical outcomes, 18.7% (n=2,158) finally expired, 58.1% (n=7,027) were admitted to ICU, and the mean hospital days after NT-related complication were 31.3 days. Volume overload (odds ratio [OR]=3.48) and renal abnormality (OR=2.50) were closely associated with hospital death; hyperammonemia (OR=3.09) and renal abnormality (OR=2.77) were associated with ICU admission; “micronutrient and vitamin deficiency” (geometric mean [GM]=2.23) and volume overload (GM=1.61) were associated with a longer hospital stay. CONCLUSION: NT may induce or be associated with several complications, and some of them may seriously affect the patient's outcome. NST personnel in each hospital should be aware of each problem during nutritional support.
Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Demography ; Diarrhea ; Enteral Nutrition ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hyperammonemia ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Multicenter Studies as Topic ; Nutrition Therapy ; Nutritional Support ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Referral and Consultation ; Retrospective Studies ; Vitamins

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of mortality in the world. There are no population-based studies on long-term mortality in COPD patients in Korea. METHODS: Using the large, population-based, National Health Insurance Service- National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC), we identified COPD patients using the International Classification of Disease-Tenth Revision (ICD-10) and prescription details in the NHIS-NSC during 2003 to 2013. We analyzed the survival curves of COPD patients by sex, age, and cause of death. RESULTS: A total of 14,127 individuals older than 40 years were diagnosed with COPD. There were a total of 3,695 deaths (26.2%) in COPD patients during the study period. The 5-year mortality of COPD patients was 25.4% (29.9% in males and 19.1% in females). The mortality rate increased rapidly with age. The most common cause of death in COPD was chronic lower respiratory disease. CONCLUSIONS This study described long-term mortality in COPD patients in Korea. Higher mortality was observed in males, and it was closely related to age.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In some cases, chronic diarrhea is unexplained, and small bowel disorders may be one of the causes. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic yield and clinical impact of video capsule endoscopy (VCE) in patients with chronic diarrhea. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed records from October 2002 to August 2013 in the VCE nationwide database registry (n=2,964). Ninety-one patients from 15 medical centers (60 males and 31 females; mean age, 47±19 years) were evaluated for VCE as a result of chronic diarrhea. RESULTS: The duration of chronic diarrhea was 8.3±14.7 months. The positive diagnostic yield of VCE was 42.9% (39/91). However, 15.4% (14/91) exhibited an inconsistent result, and 41.8% (38/91) were negative. Abnormal findings consistent with chronic diarrhea included erosions/aphthous ulcers (19.8%), ulcers (17.6%), mucosal erythema (3.3%), edema (1.1%), and luminal narrowing (1.1%). The most common diagnoses were functional diarrhea associated with irritable bowel syndrome in 37 patients (40.7%) and Crohn’s disease in 18 patients (19.8%). After VCE examination, the diagnosis was changed in 34.1% of the patients (31/91). Hematochezia (odds ratio [OR], 8.802; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.126 to 36.441) and hypoalbuminemia (OR, 4.811; 95% CI, 1.241 to 18.655) are predictive factors of a positive diagnostic yield. CONCLUSIONS: VCE had a favorable diagnostic yield and clinical impact on the management of patients with chronic diarrhea.
Capsule Endoscopy* ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea* ; Edema ; Erythema ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypoalbuminemia ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Male ; Phenobarbital ; Retrospective Studies ; Ulcer

OBJECTIVES: normal circadian rhythm of autonomic nervous system function stands for the daily change of sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation, which can be measured by heart rate variability (HRV). Generally, patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are prone to sleep-wake cycle dysregulation, therefore, it may have an influence on the circadian rhythm of autonomic nervous system. This study was designed to interpret possible dysregulation of autonomic nervous system in ICU patients by using HRV. METHODS: HRV was assessed every 3 hours in 21 ICU patients during a 7-minute period. The statistical differences of HRV features between the morning (AM 6 : 00–PM 12 : 00), and the afternoon (PM 12 : 00–PM 18 : 00) periods were evaluated in time domain and frequency domain. RESULTS: Patients showed significantly increased normalized power of low frequencey (nLF), absolute power of low frequencey (LF)/absolute power of high frequencey (HF) in the afternoon period as compared to the morning period. However, normalized power of high frequency (nHF) was significantly decreased in the afternoon period. There was no statistically significant difference between the morning period and the afternoon period in the time domain analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The increased sympathetic tone in the afternoon period supports possible dysregulation in the circadian rhythm of autonomic nervous system in ICU patients. Future studies can help to interpret the association between autonomic dysregulation and negative outcomes of ICU patients.
Autonomic Nervous System* ; Circadian Rhythm* ; Critical Care* ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units*

Malnutrition is common in the critically ill patients and known to cause a variety of negative clinical outcomes. However, various conventional methods for nutrition assessment have several limitations. We hypothesized that body composition data, as measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), may have a significant role in evaluating nutritional status and predicting clinical outcomes in critically ill patients. We gathered clinical, biochemical, and BIA data from 66 critically ill patients admitted to an intensive care unit. Patients were divided into three nutritional status groups according to their serum albumin level and total lymphocyte counts. The BIA results, conventional indicators of nutrition status, and clinical outcomes were compared and analyzed retrospectively. Results showed that the BIA indices including phase angle (PhA), extracellular water (ECW), and ECW/total body water (TBW) were significantly associated with the severity of nutritional status. Particularly, PhA, an indicator of the health of the cell membrane, was higher in the well-nourished patient group, whereas the edema index (ECW/TBW) was higher in the severely malnourished patient group. PhA was positively associated with albumin and ECW/TBW was negatively associated with serum albumin, hemoglobin, and duration of mechanical ventilation. In non-survivors, PhA was significantly lower and both ECW/TBW and %TBW/fat free mass were higher than in survivors. In conclusion, several BIA indexes including PhA and ECW/TBW may be useful for nutritional assessment and represent significant prognostic factors in the care of critically ill patients.
Body Composition ; Body Water ; Cell Membrane ; Critical Illness* ; Edema ; Electric Impedance* ; Extracellular Fluid ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Intracellular Fluid ; Lymphocyte Count ; Malnutrition ; Nutrition Assessment ; Nutritional Status* ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies ; Serum Albumin ; Survivors

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of delirium on clinical outcomes in intensive care unit (ICU) patients in a Korean general hospital. METHODS: All patients admitted to ICU from March 1, 2013 to October 31, 2013 were assessed by Confusion Assessment Method adapted for use in the ICU for delirium daily, and consistently comatose patients were excluded for analysis. Differences in clinical outcomes (mortality, length of hospital stay, length of ICU stay) were analyzed between delirious patients and non-delirious patients. Subsequently, the impact of delirium on clinical outcomes was analyzed with adjusting for covariates including surgery, age, emergent admission, presence of surgery, and severity of illness. RESULTS: The analysis included 129 delirious patients and 469 non-delirious patients. As primary outcome, mortality, length of stay (hospital day, ICU-stay) were significantly high in the delirious group. The association remained the same after adjusting for the covariates. CONCLUSION: The results correspond with those of previous research studies conducted in foreign ICU. Based on this observation that delirium also has an impact on clinical outcomes in Korean ICU, integrative and in-depth investigation on ICU delirium will be needed.
Coma ; Delirium* ; Hospitals, General* ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units* ; Length of Stay ; Mortality ; Observational Study*