Colonoscopy, a widely used procedure for diagnosing and treating colonic diseases, induces transient gastrointestinal symptoms and alterations in the gut microbiota. This review comprehensively examines the evidence on alterations in the gut microbiota following colonoscopy and their possible mechanisms. Factors such as rapid colonic evacuation, increased osmolality, and mucus thinning caused by bowel preparation and exposure to oxygen during the procedure contribute to these alterations. Typically, the alterations revert to the baseline within a short time. However, their long-term implications remain unclear, necessitating further investigation. Split-dose bowel preparation and CO2 insufflation during the procedure result in fewer alterations in the gut microbiota. Probiotic administration immediately after colonoscopy shows promise in reducing alterations and gastrointestinal symptoms. However, the widespread use of probiotics remains controversial due to the transient nature of both the symptoms and gut microbial alterations following a colonoscopy. Probiotics may offer greater benefits to individuals with preexisting gastrointestinal symptoms. Thus, probiotic administration may be a viable option for selected patients.

Mutational dysphonia, a condition in which a pre-adolescent voice persists into adulthood, can significantly impact personal and professional life but is treatable with voice therapy. A patient with mutational dysphonia usually has a voice that is weak, breathy, or diplophonic, often classified as a “falsetto” voice. In this case report, we present a 20-year-old male who had a typical voice of a boy before adolescence, making it difficult to diagnose as mutational dysphonia. After voice therapy, he successfully gained his post-adolescent voice, highlighting the importance of thorough diagnosis and personalized treatment for mutational dysphonia.

Suicidal cases involving sodium nitrite have been reported worldwide. However, postmortem features, such as brownish or grayish livor mortis, remain difficult to interpret, especially as decomposition advances. Here, we present three fatal cases (2020-2023) presumably caused by sodium nitrite ingestion. In these cases, characteristic nitrite-induced changes were inconsistent or obscured by decomposition, but ingestion traces (cup or bottle near the decedents) were observed at each scene. Additionally, containers labeled “sodium nitrite” were found in two cases; however, since sodium nitrite is designated a suicide-hazardous material in South Korea, future scenes may rarely reveal such clear labeling. Although autopsy, including methemoglobin testing, can confirm the cause of death, any delay in the investigative process risks the loss of critical evidence about the ingestion process and other factors. This underscores the importance of focusing on early scene evidence, particularly ingestion traces, and conducting thorough chemical and forensic examinations. Our findings illustrate that timely detection of ingestion-related evidence and subsequent forensic analysis, in conjunction with autopsy results, can elucidate a decedent’s cause and manner of death and clarify any criminal implications.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Isoflavones are estrogen-like compounds found in plants and their health effects remain equivocal. We investigated dietary isoflavone intake and its associated factors in Korean breast cancer survivors, with a comparison to cancer-free women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The usual dietary intake of breast cancer survivors (n = 981, mean age 52 yrs) in 9 hospitals between 2012 and 2019 was assessed using 3-day food records or food frequency questionnaires (FFQs). They were age-matched to 2,943 cancer-free women who completed FFQs as part of a nationwide study conducted between 2012 and 2016. We used the flavonoid database of common Korean foods and the Phenol-Explorer database to estimate isoflavone intake. The contribution of each food or food group to the total isoflavone intake was calculated. The adjusted least-squares means of dietary isoflavone intake according to lifestyle and clinical factors were calculated using generalized linear models. RESULTS: Breast cancer survivors had a higher mean dietary isoflavone intake (23.59 mg/day) than cancer-free women (17.81 mg/day). Major food sources, including tofu, soybeans, and doenjang, contributed to over 70% of the isoflavone intake in both groups. When we estimated dietary isoflavone intake according to lifestyle characteristics, isoflavone intake increased with higher scores of adherence to the American Cancer Society dietary guidelines but decreased with increasing body mass index in both groups. Among cancer-free women, dietary isoflavone intake was higher among those who had never smoked and among dietary supplement users. Among breast cancer survivors, dietary isoflavone intakes did not vary with clinical characteristics, including time since surgery and estrogen receptor status. CONCLUSION Breast cancer survivors were more likely to consume isoflavones than agematched cancer-free women. Dietary isoflavone intake was associated with healthy lifestyle characteristics in women both with and without breast cancer. Further research is needed to understand the role of the higher isoflavone intake among breast cancer survivors compared to cancer-free women on their prognosis.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Isoflavones are estrogen-like compounds found in plants and their health effects remain equivocal. We investigated dietary isoflavone intake and its associated factors in Korean breast cancer survivors, with a comparison to cancer-free women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The usual dietary intake of breast cancer survivors (n = 981, mean age 52 yrs) in 9 hospitals between 2012 and 2019 was assessed using 3-day food records or food frequency questionnaires (FFQs). They were age-matched to 2,943 cancer-free women who completed FFQs as part of a nationwide study conducted between 2012 and 2016. We used the flavonoid database of common Korean foods and the Phenol-Explorer database to estimate isoflavone intake. The contribution of each food or food group to the total isoflavone intake was calculated. The adjusted least-squares means of dietary isoflavone intake according to lifestyle and clinical factors were calculated using generalized linear models. RESULTS: Breast cancer survivors had a higher mean dietary isoflavone intake (23.59 mg/day) than cancer-free women (17.81 mg/day). Major food sources, including tofu, soybeans, and doenjang, contributed to over 70% of the isoflavone intake in both groups. When we estimated dietary isoflavone intake according to lifestyle characteristics, isoflavone intake increased with higher scores of adherence to the American Cancer Society dietary guidelines but decreased with increasing body mass index in both groups. Among cancer-free women, dietary isoflavone intake was higher among those who had never smoked and among dietary supplement users. Among breast cancer survivors, dietary isoflavone intakes did not vary with clinical characteristics, including time since surgery and estrogen receptor status. CONCLUSION Breast cancer survivors were more likely to consume isoflavones than agematched cancer-free women. Dietary isoflavone intake was associated with healthy lifestyle characteristics in women both with and without breast cancer. Further research is needed to understand the role of the higher isoflavone intake among breast cancer survivors compared to cancer-free women on their prognosis.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Isoflavones are estrogen-like compounds found in plants and their health effects remain equivocal. We investigated dietary isoflavone intake and its associated factors in Korean breast cancer survivors, with a comparison to cancer-free women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The usual dietary intake of breast cancer survivors (n = 981, mean age 52 yrs) in 9 hospitals between 2012 and 2019 was assessed using 3-day food records or food frequency questionnaires (FFQs). They were age-matched to 2,943 cancer-free women who completed FFQs as part of a nationwide study conducted between 2012 and 2016. We used the flavonoid database of common Korean foods and the Phenol-Explorer database to estimate isoflavone intake. The contribution of each food or food group to the total isoflavone intake was calculated. The adjusted least-squares means of dietary isoflavone intake according to lifestyle and clinical factors were calculated using generalized linear models. RESULTS: Breast cancer survivors had a higher mean dietary isoflavone intake (23.59 mg/day) than cancer-free women (17.81 mg/day). Major food sources, including tofu, soybeans, and doenjang, contributed to over 70% of the isoflavone intake in both groups. When we estimated dietary isoflavone intake according to lifestyle characteristics, isoflavone intake increased with higher scores of adherence to the American Cancer Society dietary guidelines but decreased with increasing body mass index in both groups. Among cancer-free women, dietary isoflavone intake was higher among those who had never smoked and among dietary supplement users. Among breast cancer survivors, dietary isoflavone intakes did not vary with clinical characteristics, including time since surgery and estrogen receptor status. CONCLUSION Breast cancer survivors were more likely to consume isoflavones than agematched cancer-free women. Dietary isoflavone intake was associated with healthy lifestyle characteristics in women both with and without breast cancer. Further research is needed to understand the role of the higher isoflavone intake among breast cancer survivors compared to cancer-free women on their prognosis.

Suicidal cases involving sodium nitrite have been reported worldwide. However, postmortem features, such as brownish or grayish livor mortis, remain difficult to interpret, especially as decomposition advances. Here, we present three fatal cases (2020-2023) presumably caused by sodium nitrite ingestion. In these cases, characteristic nitrite-induced changes were inconsistent or obscured by decomposition, but ingestion traces (cup or bottle near the decedents) were observed at each scene. Additionally, containers labeled “sodium nitrite” were found in two cases; however, since sodium nitrite is designated a suicide-hazardous material in South Korea, future scenes may rarely reveal such clear labeling. Although autopsy, including methemoglobin testing, can confirm the cause of death, any delay in the investigative process risks the loss of critical evidence about the ingestion process and other factors. This underscores the importance of focusing on early scene evidence, particularly ingestion traces, and conducting thorough chemical and forensic examinations. Our findings illustrate that timely detection of ingestion-related evidence and subsequent forensic analysis, in conjunction with autopsy results, can elucidate a decedent’s cause and manner of death and clarify any criminal implications.

Mutational dysphonia, a condition in which a pre-adolescent voice persists into adulthood, can significantly impact personal and professional life but is treatable with voice therapy. A patient with mutational dysphonia usually has a voice that is weak, breathy, or diplophonic, often classified as a “falsetto” voice. In this case report, we present a 20-year-old male who had a typical voice of a boy before adolescence, making it difficult to diagnose as mutational dysphonia. After voice therapy, he successfully gained his post-adolescent voice, highlighting the importance of thorough diagnosis and personalized treatment for mutational dysphonia.