In the current years, it has now become necessary to establish standards for micronutrient intake based on scientific evidence. This review discusses issues related to the development of the 2020 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRI) for magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu), and future research directions. Following issues were encountered when establishing the KDRI for these minerals. First, characteristics of Korean subjects need to be applied to estimate nutrient requirements. When calculating the estimated average requirement (EAR), the KDRI used the results of balance studies for Mg absorption and factorial analysis for Zn, which is defined as the minimum amount to offset endogenous losses for Zn and Mg. For Cu, a combination of indicators, such as depletion/repletion studies, were applied, wherein all reference values were based on data obtained from other countries. Second, there was a limitation in that it was difficult to determine whether reference values of Mg, Zn, and Cu intakes in the 2020 KDRI were achievable. This might be due to the lack of representative previous studies on intakes of these nutrients, and an insufficient database for Mg, Zn, and Cu contents in foods. This lack of database for mineral content in food poses a problem when evaluating the appropriateness of intake. Third, data was insufficient to assess the adequacy of Mg, Zn, and Cu intakes from supplements when calculating reference values, considering the rise in both demand and intake of mineral supplements. Mg is more likely to be consumed as a multi-nutrient supplement in combination with other minerals than as a single supplement. Moreover, Zn-Cu interactions in the body need to be considered when determining the reference intake values of Zn and Cu. It is recommended to discuss these issues present in the 2020 KDRI development for Mg, Zn, and Cu intakes in a systematic way, and to find relevant solutions.

Background/Aims: The mucoprotective drug rebamipide is used to treat gastritis and peptic ulcers. We compared the efficacy of Mucosta Ⓡ (rebamipide 100 mg) and its new formulation, AD-203 (rebamipide 150 mg), in treating erosive gastritis. Methods: This double-blind, active control, noninferiority, multicenter, phase 3 clinical trial randomly assigned 475 patients with endoscopically proven erosive gastritis to two groups: AD-203 twice daily or Mucosta Ⓡ thrice daily for 2 weeks. The intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis included 454 patients (AD-203, n=229; Mucosta Ⓡ , n=225), and the per-protocol (PP) analysis included 439 patients (AD-203, n=224; Mucosta Ⓡ , n=215). The posttreatment assessments included the primary (erosion improvement rate) and secondary endpoints (erosion and edema cure rates; improvement rates of redness, hemorrhage, and gastrointestinal symptoms). Drug-related adverse events were evaluated. Results: According to the ITT analysis, the erosion improvement rates (posttreatment) in AD-203-treated and Mucosta Ⓡ -treated patients were 39.7% and 43.8%, respectively. According to the PP analysis, the erosion improvement rates (posttreatment) in AD-203-treated and Mucosta Ⓡ -treated patients were 39.3% and 43.7%, respectively. The one-sided 97.5% lower limit for the improvement rate difference between the study groups was −4.01% (95% confidence interval [CI], –13.09% to 5.06%) in the ITT analysis and −4.44% (95% CI, –13.65% to 4.78%) in the PP analysis. The groups did not significantly differ in the secondary endpoints in either analysis. Twenty-four AD-203-treated and 20 Mucosta Ⓡ -treated patients reported adverse events but no serious adverse drug reactions; both groups presented similar adverse event rates. Conclusions The new formulation of rebamipide 150 mg (AD-203) twice daily was not inferior to rebamipide 100 mg (Mucosta Ⓡ ) thrice daily. Both formulations showed a similar efficacy in treating erosive gastritis.

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori using first-line therapy is becoming less effective. Subjects who had been treated for H. pylori infection were prospectively enrolled through an on-line database registry from October 2010 to December 2012. Demographic data, detection methods, treatment indication, regimens, durations, compliance, adverse events, and eradication results for H. pylori infection were collected. Data of 3,700 patients from 34 hospitals were analyzed. The overall eradication rate of the first-line therapy was 73.0%. Eradication failure was significantly associated with old age, concomitant medication, and comorbidity. Regional differences in eradication rates were observed. The most common first-line therapy was proton pump inhibitor-based triple therapy (standard triple therapy, STT) for 7 days (86.8%). The eradication rates varied with regimens, being 73% in STT, 81.8% in bismuth-based quadruple therapy, 100% in sequential therapy, and 90.3% in concomitant therapy. The eradication rate in treatment-naïve patients was higher than that in patients previously treated for H. pylori infection (73.8% vs. 58.5%, P < 0.001). The overall eradication rate for second-line therapy was 84.3%. There was no statistical difference in eradication rates among various regimens. H. pylori eradication rate using STT is decreasing in Korea and has become sub-optimal, suggesting the need for alternative regimens to improve the efficacy of first-line therapy for H. pylori infection.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*therapeutic use ; Databases, Factual ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Helicobacter pylori/isolation & purification ; Humans ; Internet ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Proton Pump Inhibitors/*therapeutic use ; Registries ; Republic of Korea ; Treatment Outcome

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori using first-line therapy is becoming less effective. Subjects who had been treated for H. pylori infection were prospectively enrolled through an on-line database registry from October 2010 to December 2012. Demographic data, detection methods, treatment indication, regimens, durations, compliance, adverse events, and eradication results for H. pylori infection were collected. Data of 3,700 patients from 34 hospitals were analyzed. The overall eradication rate of the first-line therapy was 73.0%. Eradication failure was significantly associated with old age, concomitant medication, and comorbidity. Regional differences in eradication rates were observed. The most common first-line therapy was proton pump inhibitor-based triple therapy (standard triple therapy, STT) for 7 days (86.8%). The eradication rates varied with regimens, being 73% in STT, 81.8% in bismuth-based quadruple therapy, 100% in sequential therapy, and 90.3% in concomitant therapy. The eradication rate in treatment-naïve patients was higher than that in patients previously treated for H. pylori infection (73.8% vs. 58.5%, P < 0.001). The overall eradication rate for second-line therapy was 84.3%. There was no statistical difference in eradication rates among various regimens. H. pylori eradication rate using STT is decreasing in Korea and has become sub-optimal, suggesting the need for alternative regimens to improve the efficacy of first-line therapy for H. pylori infection.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*therapeutic use ; Databases, Factual ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Helicobacter pylori/isolation & purification ; Humans ; Internet ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Proton Pump Inhibitors/*therapeutic use ; Registries ; Republic of Korea ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a contributory carcinogen in gastric adenocarcinoma. 15-Hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) catabolizes PGE2 by oxidizing its 15(s)-hydroxy group. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of 15-PGDH in gastric adenocarcinoma tissue and the relationship between 15-PGDH expression and clinicopathologic features of gastric adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Ninety-nine patients who underwent surgical resection for gastric adenocarcinoma between January 2007 and December 2007 were enrolled and evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: In 62 patients (62.6%), 15-PGDH expression was lower in gastric adenocarcinoma tissue than in nonneoplastic tissue. Regarding the relationship between 15-PGDH expression and clinicopathological features, 15-PGDH expression was significantly lower in tissues with poor differentiation (P = 0.002), advanced T stage (P = 0.0319), a higher number of lymph node metastases (P = 0.045), lymphatic invasion (P = 0.031), and vascular invasion (P = 0.036). CONCLUSION: 15-PGDH expression was associated with a subset of clinicopathologic features such as differentiation grade, T stage, lymphatic invasion, and vascular invasion.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Dinoprostone ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oxidoreductases* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms

PURPOSE: To maintain the patient's quality of life, surgeons strive to preserve the sphincter during rectal cancer surgery. This study evaluated the oncologic safety of a sphincter-saving resection with a distal resection margin (DRM) <1 cm without radiotherapy in T3, mid- or low-rectal cancer. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 327 patients who underwent a sphincter-saving resection for proven T3 rectal cancer located <10 cm from the anal verge and without radiotherapy between January 1995 and December 2011. The oncologic outcomes included the 5-year cancer-specific survival, the local recurrence, and the systemic recurrence rates. RESULTS: In groups A (DRM < or =1 cm) and B (DRM >1 cm), the 5-year cancer-specific survival rates were 81.57% and 80.03% (P = 0.8543), the 5-year local recurrence rates were 6.69% and 9.52% (P = 0.3981), and the 5-year systemic recurrence rates were 19.46% and 23.11% (P = 0.5750), respectively. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the close DRM itself should not be a contraindication for a sphincter-saving resection for T3 mid- or low-rectal cancer without radiotherapy. However, a prospective randomized controlled trial including the effect of adjuvant therapy will be needed.
Humans ; Quality of Life ; Radiotherapy* ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is an important cause of hypothyroidism caused by autoimmune chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis. In order to attain a better understanding for use in treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) coexisting with HT, we conducted an analysis of the clinicopathologic features, as well as the importance of HT as a prognostic factor. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we analyzed 341 patients who were histopathologically diagnosed with PTC following surgery. RESULTS: PTC coexisting with HT was observed in 19.6% (67 patients) of all PTC patients. A statistically significant gender difference was observed in the group with HT (two male vs. 65 female), with a higher positive rate of anti-thyroglobulin antibody and smaller tumor size, compared to the PTC group without HT. When tumor size increased, a lower coexistence rate of HT was observed. No significant differences were observed in multifocality, cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis, coexistence of benign nodule, and extent of LN dissection. However, frequency of extrathyroidal extension was significantly lower and total thyroidectomy rate was higher in the group with HT. TNM stage and AMES stage were similar in both groups; frequency of high MACIS score showed a significant decrease in the group with HT. The recurrence rate and disease- free survival in patients with PTC were not significantly affected by coexistence of HT. CONCLUSION: We found a significant relationship with gender, extrathyroidal extension, and tumor size in PTC coexisting with HT. However, no significant differences in recurrence rate and disease-free survival were observed between groups. Therefore, coexistence in PTC could not be applicable as a prognostic factor of PTC.
Disease-Free Survival ; Hashimoto Disease ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy ; Thyroiditis*

Lichen planus is a relatively common chronic inflammatory disease of the skin, mucous membranes, and hair follicles. Oral lichen planus develops in any area of the oral mucosa, especially in the buccal mucosa, tongue, gingiva and lip. The cutaneous lesions of lichen planus are characterized with gray or white punta or streaks, referred to as Wickham striae. We report 53-year-old woman with lichen planus on the lower lip diagnosed by dermoscopy.
Dermoscopy ; Female ; Gingiva ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Lichen Planus ; Lichen Planus, Oral ; Lip ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Mucosa ; Mucous Membrane ; Skin ; Tongue

Necrobiotic xanthogranuloma (NXG) is a rare, progressive, histiocytic disease characterized by destructive cutaneous lesions, a close association with paraproteinemia, multiple myeloma, hypertension, and multiple extracutaneous manifestations. Multiple indurated yellow-red plaques or nodules are commonly present in this disorder. The pathogenesis of NXG is poorly understood. Histopathologically, NXG features with hyaline necrosis or necrobiosis are present. We describe a patient with typical cutaneous and histologic findings of NXG with an associated monoclonal gammopathy.
Humans ; Hyalin ; Hypertension ; Multiple Myeloma ; Necrobiotic Disorders ; Necrobiotic Xanthogranuloma ; Necrosis ; Paraproteinemias

Childhood granulomatous periorificial dermatitis (CGPD) is a benign facial eruption of unknown etiology characterized by a monomorphic papular eruption occurring in the perinasal, perioral, and periocular areas. We report an 11-year-old boy with characteristic features of CGPD. He presented with a 4-month history of non-pruritic, papular eruptions on the face. The histopathologic exam revealed an upper dermal granuloma with surrounding lymphocytes. Treatment was initiated with tetracycline 500 mg/day, but there was no response for 3 weeks. We tried 0.03% topical tacrolimus to treat recalcitrant skin lesions. After 10 weeks of treatment, the lesions resolved without scarring.
Child ; Cicatrix ; Dermatitis ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Skin ; Tacrolimus ; Tetracycline