Excessive salt intake induces hypertension, but several gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) supplements have been shown to reduce blood pressure. GABAsalt, a fermented salt by L. brevis BJ20 containing GABA was prepared through the post-fermentation with refined salt and the fermented GABA extract. We evaluated the effect of GABA-salt on hypertension in a high salt, high cholesterol diet induced mouse model. We analyzed type 1 macrophage (M1) polarization, the expression of M1 related cytokines, GABA receptor expression, endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction, vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation, and medial thicknesses in mice model. GABA-salt attenuated diet-induced blood pressure increases, M1 polarization, and TNF-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) levels in mouse aortas, and in salt treated macrophages in vitro. Furthermore, GABA-salt induced higher GABAB receptor and endothelial NOS (eNOS) and eNOS phosphorylation levels than those observed in salt treated ECs. In addition, GABA-salt attenuated EC dysfunction by decreasing the levels of adhesion molecules (E-selectin, Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 [ICAM-1], vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 [VCAM-1]) and of von Willebrand Factor and reduced EC death. GABA-salt also reduced diet-induced reductions in the levels of eNOS, phosphorylated eNOS, VSMC proliferation and medial thickening in mouse aortic tissues, and attenuated Endothelin-1 levels in salt treated VSMCs. In summary, GABA-salt reduced high salt, high cholesterol diet induced hypertension in our mouse model by reducing M1 polarization, EC dysfunction, and VSMC proliferation.

Excessive salt intake induces hypertension, but several gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) supplements have been shown to reduce blood pressure. GABAsalt, a fermented salt by L. brevis BJ20 containing GABA was prepared through the post-fermentation with refined salt and the fermented GABA extract. We evaluated the effect of GABA-salt on hypertension in a high salt, high cholesterol diet induced mouse model. We analyzed type 1 macrophage (M1) polarization, the expression of M1 related cytokines, GABA receptor expression, endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction, vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation, and medial thicknesses in mice model. GABA-salt attenuated diet-induced blood pressure increases, M1 polarization, and TNF-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) levels in mouse aortas, and in salt treated macrophages in vitro. Furthermore, GABA-salt induced higher GABAB receptor and endothelial NOS (eNOS) and eNOS phosphorylation levels than those observed in salt treated ECs. In addition, GABA-salt attenuated EC dysfunction by decreasing the levels of adhesion molecules (E-selectin, Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 [ICAM-1], vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 [VCAM-1]) and of von Willebrand Factor and reduced EC death. GABA-salt also reduced diet-induced reductions in the levels of eNOS, phosphorylated eNOS, VSMC proliferation and medial thickening in mouse aortic tissues, and attenuated Endothelin-1 levels in salt treated VSMCs. In summary, GABA-salt reduced high salt, high cholesterol diet induced hypertension in our mouse model by reducing M1 polarization, EC dysfunction, and VSMC proliferation.

A serrated adenoma is a precursor lesion for some cases of microsatellite unstable colorectal carcinoma (CRC). The serrated neoplasia pathway has been associated with carcinogenesis of serrated adenoma, which is different from the traditional adenoma-carcinoma sequence. The serrated neoplasia pathway accounts for 10~15% of CRCs, and these tumors typically demonstrate microsatellite instability. Cases of a CRC arising from a serrated adenoma have been rarely identified with the recent recognition of the serrated neoplasia pathway. However, these cases are not frequently reported in Korea, because this concept has only been recently emphasized. We report a case of an early adenocarcinoma arising from a traditional serrated adenoma of the colon, which was diagnosed and treated by a colonoscopic polypectomy.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenoma ; Calcium Hydroxide ; Colon ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Korea ; Microsatellite Instability ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Zinc Oxide

Colonic phytobezoars are defined as conglomerate masses of fruit or vegetable matter in the colon, and these have rarely reported as a cause of colon obstruction. Because it is extremely rare, its correct diagnosis might be delayed even with the aid of abdominal computed tomography. We report here on a case of diagnosed colonic obstruction due to colonic phytobezoars in a 67-year-old female with diabetic end stage renal disease and chronic constipation. Although abdomino-pelvic computed tomography did not demonstrate the presence of phytobezoars, multiple phytobezoars impacted in the colon were found and these were removed by colonoscopy. This is a rare case in that colonic obstruction due to phytobezoar was diagnosed early and it was treated by colonoscopy.
Aged ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Constipation ; Female ; Fruit ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Vegetables

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. It may cause serious illness including bleeding, ulceration and perforation of the gastrointestinal tract. However, bowel perforation, toxic megacolon, and massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding caused by CMV in one patient is not common. In this report, we present a case of CMV colitis causing cecal perforation and massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding in a patient with lupus nephritis. In our case, severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding developed during successful treatment of CMV infection with ganciclovir. Even though the outcome of CMV colitis has improved since ganciclovir has been available for immunocompromised patients, reductions in gastrointestinal bleeding from colonic ulcers of CMV colitis may be possible during successful treatment with ganciclovir. This case suggests the possibility of lower gastrointestinal bleeding from a colon ulcer of CMV colitis should be considered during successful treatment with ganciclovir in immunocompromised patients.
Colitis ; Colon ; Cytomegalovirus ; Ganciclovir ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Lupus Nephritis ; Megacolon, Toxic ; Ulcer

Small bowel obstructions are most commonly caused by adhesions, hernias, neoplasms or inflammatory stricture. Inflammatory pseudotumors are an uncommon cause of small bowel obstruction, even in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). We have experienced a case of small bowel obstruction caused by an inflammatory pseudotumor in a 38-year old male with AIDS. Abdominal computed tomography showed small bowel obstruction due to jejunal annular wall thickening. Surgical laparotomy showed a non-specific granulomatous inflammatory mass that could not fulfill any diagnostic criteria for a specific disease. This report describes our findings of small bowel obstruction due to an inflammatory pseudotumor and discusses the differential diagnosis of inflammatory pseudotumor in AIDS patients.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell ; Hernia ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Laparotomy ; Male

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a recently identified entity that is considered to be a type of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with a unique immunophenotype and a predilection for the oral cavity of patients with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Although its clinical features may help in the differential diagnosis, an extraoral location in a patient without HIV makes it more difficult to suspect clinically. This case report is the first to describe a patient with PBL originating from the jejunum in a 60-yr-old, HIV-seronegative man. Computed tomography of the face, chest and abdomen showed about a 9.4x9.0 cm mass of the proximal jejunum, multiple masses in the musculoskeletal soft tissue, and multiple lymphadenopathies. The histological examinations demonstrated a large cell lymphoma with plasmablastic differentiation. The neoplastic cells were diffusely positive for MUM1, epithelial membrane antigen and lambda light chains, and focally positive for CD79a; but negative for CD3, CD20, CD30, CD34, CD45RO, CD56, CD99, and CD117. The proliferation index by Ki-67 immunohistochemistry was approximately 70%. These findings were compatible with the diagnosis of PBL. The findings in this case suggest that PBL should be included in the differential diagnosis of a small bowel mass even in a HIV-negative patient.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Jejunal Neoplasms/immunology/*pathology/therapy ; Jejunum/immunology/*pathology ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Immunoblastic/immunology/*pathology/therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged

Duodenal tumors may pose diagnostic difficulties in asymptomatic young patients because the duodenum may be overlooked during routine upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and because duodenal tumors are rare and present non-specific signs and symptoms. Although adenomas are the most common duodenal tumors, adenocarcinoma arising from sporadic tubulovillous adenoma without familial adenomatous polyposis is an uncommon condition in young patients. In patients with sporadic duodenal adenomas, the prevalence of colorectal adenomas is higher than prevalence for the general population. Herein, we report the case of a 27-year male with adenocarcinoma arising from a sporadic tubulovillous adenoma of the duodenum. The tumor was completely resected by endoscopic resection. Synchronous colon adenoma was also detected and treated by endoscopic mucosal resection.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenoma ; Adenomatous Polyposis Coli ; Colon ; Duodenum ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EG) is characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the bowel wall and variable gastrointestinal manifestations. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for EG when faced with gastrointestinal symptoms and peripheral eosinophilia to avoid incorrect diagnosis and inappropriate treatments. A 24-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of acute right lower quadrant abdominal pain and a laparoscopic appendectomy performed for a presumed diagnosis of an acute appendicitis. However, the procedure revealed bowel edema and a moderate amount of ascites without evidence of a suppurative appendicitis. Postoperatively, she showed persistent and progressive eosinophilia, exudative eosinophilic ascites, eosinophilic infiltration of the resected appendix wall, and eosinophilic infiltration of gastroduodenal mucosa. A punch biopsy of the abdominal skin also revealed inflammation with marked eosinophilic infiltration of the skin. She recovered after the treatment with a low dose of steroid for the EG with eosinophilic dermatitis. EG with eosinophilic dermatitis has not been reported yet and is considered fortuitous in this case.
Adult ; Dermatitis/*diagnosis/drug therapy/pathology ; Eosinophilia/*diagnosis/drug therapy/pathology ; Female ; Gastroenteritis/*diagnosis/drug therapy/pathology ; Humans ; Steroids/therapeutic use ; Young Adult

The incidence of lymphangiomas in the gastrointestinal tract is low, particularly in the colon and rectum, and most cases are solitary. Lymphangiomatosis of the colon are encountered infrequently with only one report in the English literature, and polypectomy was performed for the diagnosis in that case report. However, trends in the diagnosis of lymphangiomatosis of colon have been changing since the development of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), and this case is the first in that lymphangiomatosis of the colon was diagnosed without invasive procedures. Here we describe the case of 31-yr-old woman with lymphangiomatosis of the colon with numerous polyposis-like appearing lesions diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasonography and a colonoscopy.
Adult ; Colon/ultrasonography ; Colonic Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Colonoscopy ; Endosonography ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis/*diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography