Objective: Dysphagia is a common clinical condition characterized by difficulty in swallowing. It is sub-classified into oropharyngeal dysphagia, which refers to problems in the mouth and pharynx, and esophageal dysphagia, which refers to problems in the esophageal body and esophagogastric junction. Dysphagia can have a significant negative impact one’s physical health and quality of life as its severity increases. Therefore, proper assessment and management of dysphagia are critical for improving swallowing function and preventing complications. Thus a guideline was developed to provide evidence-based recommendations for assessment and management in patients with dysphagia. Methods: Nineteen key questions on dysphagia were developed. These questions dealt with various aspects of problems related to dysphagia, including assessment, management, and complications. A literature search for relevant articles was conducted using Pubmed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and one domestic database of KoreaMed, until April 2021. The level of evidence and recommendation grade were established according to the Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology. Results: Early screening and assessment of videofluoroscopic swallowing were recommended for assessing the presence of dysphagia. Therapeutic methods, such as tongue and pharyngeal muscle strengthening exercises and neuromuscular electrical stimulation with swallowing therapy, were effective in improving swallowing function and quality of life in patients with dysphagia. Nutritional intervention and an oral care program were also recommended. Conclusion This guideline presents recommendations for the assessment and management of patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia, including rehabilitative strategies.

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.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, clinical and laboratory findings of hereditary hemolytic anemia (HHA) in Korea from 1997 to 2006 and to develop the appropriate diagnostic approach for HHA. METHODS: By the use of questionnaires, information on the clinical and laboratory findings ofHHA diagnosed from 1997 to 2006 in Korea was collected and analyzed retrospectively. A total of 431 cases were enrolled in this study from 46 departments of 35 hospitals. RESULTS: The overall frequency of HHA did not change through the 10-year period for pediatrics but did show an increasing tendency for internal medicine. The overall male to female sex ratio did not show sex predominance (1.17:1), but a significant male predominance with a ratio of 1.49:1 was seen for pediatrics while a significant female predominance with a ratio of 1:1.97 was seen forinternal medicine. Of the total cases, 74.2% (282/431) were diagnosed before the age of 15 years. The etiologies of HHA were classified as red cell membrane defects, hemoglobinopathies, red cell enzyme deficiencies and unknown causes. There were 382 cases (88.6%) of red cell membrane defects with 376 cases (87.2%) of hereditary spherocytosis and 6 cases (1.4%) of hereditary elliptocytosis, 20 cases (4.6%) of hemoglobinopathies with 18 cases (4.2%) of beta-thalassemia, a case (0.2%) of alpha-thalassemia and a case (0.2%) of Hemoglobin Madrid, 7 cases (1.6%) of red cell enzyme deficiencies with 5 cases (1.2%) of glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency, a case (0.2%) of pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency and a case (0.2%) of enolase deficiency, and 22 cases (5.1%) of unknown causes. The most common chief complaint in pediatric patients was pallor and that in adult patients was jaundice. In the red cell membrane defect group of patients, the level of hemoglobin was significantly higher than in adult patients. The mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, corrected reticulocyte count, total and indirect bilirubin level and lactate dehydrogenase levels in the hemoglobinopathy group of patients were significantly lower than the values in the red cell membrane defect group of patients. The mean concentration of G-6-PD was 0.8+/-0.7U/1012RBC in the G-6-PD deficient patients, PK was 1.7U/1010 RBC in the PK deficient patient, and the level of enolase was 0.04U/g of Hb in the enolase deficient patient. CONCLUSION: The most prevalent cause of HHA in Korea during 1997 to 2006 was hereditary spherocytosis, but HHA by other causes such as hemoglobinopathy and red cell enzyme deficiency gradually increased with the development of molecular diagnostic methods and increasing general interest. However, the etiologies of HHA need to be pursued further in 5.1% of the patients. An systematic standard diagnostic approach is needed in a nationwide prospective study for correct diagnoses and appropriate management of HHA.
Adult ; alpha-Thalassemia ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Congenital* ; beta-Thalassemia ; Bilirubin ; Cell Membrane ; Diagnosis ; Elliptocytosis, Hereditary ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Female ; Hemoglobinopathies ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Jaundice ; Korea* ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Male ; Oxidoreductases ; Pallor ; Pathology, Molecular ; Pediatrics ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; Prevalence ; Pyruvate Kinase ; Reticulocyte Count ; Retrospective Studies* ; Sex Ratio ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: Wilms tumor is the most common malignant renal tumor in children. We investigated the epidemiology, clinical features and treatment outcome of the children with Wilms tumor in Korea during the recent 10 years. METHODS: Two hundred forty six patients were enrolled between January 1991 and December 2000 from 26 major hospitals in Korea. The data regarding the clinical features including sex, age, pathologic type, prognostic factor and treatment outcome of patients were analyzed retrospectively by review of patient's medical records. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were constructed, The differences between groups were analyzed by log-rank test. RESULTS: There were 130 males and 116 females. The incidence between the age of 1~4 years was the highest with 66.2%. The annual incidence rate per 1, 000, 000 population varied from 1.9 to 2.1. The 10 years overall survival rate according to sex, clinical stage, pathologic type and relapse were as follows: 88.6% in male, 90.9% in female, 100% in stage I, 94.7% in stage II, 92.1% in stage III, 63.4% in stage IV, 85.7% in stage V, 95.3% in favorable histology, 64.1% in unfavorable histology, 94.8% in non-relapse, and 40.9% in relapse. The relapse rate was 12%. The 10 years overall survival rate of 246 patients were 89.1%. CONCLUSION: Our results could provide the most recent and important clinical information on Wilms tumor of children in Korea.
Child ; Epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Korea* ; Male ; Medical Records ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Wilms Tumor*

BACKGROUND: Cyclosporine (CsA) used in a dual or triple regimen is the current primary immunosuppressant for prevention of renal allograft rejection. Although the introduction of CsA into clinical practice has resulted in a 10 to 15% increase of the 1-year graft survival rate, little has been gained to improve long-term graft survival. Long-term administration of CsA causes a progressive renal failure, a renal striped interstitial fibrosis, a tubular atrophy, and a hyalinosis of the afferent arteriole. Previous studies have shown that apoptotic cell death is increased in CsA-treated kidneys and plays a role in interstitial fibrosis. This study evaluates the effect of CsA withdrawal on CsA nephrotoxicity. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats on low-salt diet had been treated with CsA (7.5 mg/kg/day) for five weeks and then CsA had been withdrawn for the next five weeks. The weights, systolic blood pressure, plasma CsA concentration, renal function (serum creatinine, creatinine clearance) and histologic parameter (arteriolopathy, interstitial fibrosis) of the rats were compared. Apoptotic cell death was detected by TUNEL assay. RESULTS: CsA-treated rats showed decreased renal function compared with vehicle (VH) group. With CsA withdrawal, renal function was significantly improved compared with the CsA-treated rats. CsA-treated rats showed increased arteriolopathy and interstitial fibrosis compared with VH group. With CsA withdrawal, renal histology was significantly improved. CsA-treated rats showed increased TUNEL-positive cell compared with VH group. With CsA withdrawal, apoptotic cell death was decreased. Using bivariate correlation analysis, CsA induced apoptotic cell death correlated with arteriolopathy and interstitial fibrosis. CONCIUSION: CsA withdrawal in CsA nephrotoxicity decreased apoptotic cell death and improved renal function and renal histiology. This finding provides a rationale for CsA withdrawal in CsA nephrotoxicity. Further investigation should be directed to explore the effects of the accumulated CsA dose and the timing of CsA withdrawal for regression CsA nephrotoxicity.
Allografts ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Arterioles ; Atrophy ; Blood Pressure ; Cell Death* ; Creatinine ; Cyclosporine* ; Diet, Sodium-Restricted ; Fibrosis ; Graft Survival ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Kidney ; Plasma ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Renal Insufficiency ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The role of Helicobacter pylori in bile reflux gastritis (BRG) is uncertain. We show the role of H. pylori and pathology in BRG. METHODS: Thirty seven patients, including 5 patients who had undergone subtotal gastrectomy, were diagnosed with BRG by gastroscopic findings of bile-stained mucosa with hyperemia/ erosions. We measured total bile acid (TBA) concentration and compared the H. pylori positivity between BRG patients and 70 non-BRG patients. We showed how often we could see the pathologic findings of reactive gastritis in BRG and compared the grade of lymphoplasma cell and neutrophil infiltration between H. pylori positive and negative group in BRG. RESULTS: TBA concentration of 10 patients was 7,376.7+/-5,482.6micro mol/L. H. pylori positive rate of BRG was 45.9% and that of non-BRG was 70% (p=0.015). The gastric pit elongation and tortuosity were found only in 3 cases with gastric surgery. The grade of lymphoplasma cell and neutrophil infiltration was 2.41+/-0.51 and 1.88+/-0.86 in H. pylori positive BRG and 1.55+/-0.69 and 0.55+/-0.76 in H. pylori negative BRG, respectively (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori infection in BRG was lower than that in non-BRG. The gastric pit elongation and tortuosity of BRG were not seen often. The lymphoplasma cell and neutrophil infiltration were relatively sparse in H. pylori negative BRG.
Bile Reflux* ; Bile* ; Duodenogastric Reflux ; Gastrectomy ; Gastritis* ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; Pathology

Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of malignant tumor arising in the stomach, accounting for approximately 95% of malignant gastric neoplasms. The majority of remainder is lymphoma. Although H. pylori infection has been implicated as a common cause of both adenocarcinoma and lymphoma of the stomach, synchronous occurrence of both tumors is very rare. We present a case of a 23- year-old-female who presented with epigastric discomfort and was found to have synchronous low-grade B-cell MALT lymphoma and adenocarcinoma of the stomach in association with H. pylori infection.
Adenocarcinoma ; B-Lymphocytes ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone* ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms*

Esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis is a rare disease characterized by multiple, flask-shaped outpouchings in the esophageal wall. These pseudodiverticula represent abnormally dilated excretory ducts of esophageal submucosal gland, which cause is unknown. The most common symptom is dysphagia associated with esophageal stricture. Frequently associated diseases were gastroesophageal reflux disease, diabetes mellitus, candida esophagitis, and chronic alcoholism. We have experienced a patient with dysphagia and anemia, who was diagnosed as esophageal stricture with intramural pseudodiverticulosis and pancreatic pseudoaneurysm. He was treated with esophageal bougienage for the esophageal stricture and transcatheter embolization for pancreatic pseudoaneurysm. This may be the first case of esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis reported in Korea.
Alcoholism ; Anemia ; Aneurysm, False ; Candida ; Deglutition Disorders ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Esophageal Stenosis ; Esophagitis ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Korea ; Rare Diseases

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection occurs throughout the world and causes various gastroduodenal diseases in all age groups. The prevalence of H. pylori infection varies among countries and races. The aim of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of H. pylori infection in healthy people in Korea. METHODS: From March 1998 to October 1998, 5,732 asymptomatic subjects responded to the self-assessment questionnaires from 54 hospitals were enrolled. Serum level of anti-H. pylori IgG was measured by ELISA test. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection was 46.6% and showed no significant difference between male (47.2%) and female (45.9%). According to the geographic areas, the highly prevalent provinces were Kangwon (53.4%), Cheju (52.9%) and Jeonra provinces (50.6%), while Seoul (41.9%) was the lowest prevalent area. The seroprevalence increased with age and was the highest at 40's (78.5%). The characteristic feature of this study was that the infection rate increased steeply in three age groups (10-12, 16-19 years old and 30's). In Seoul, there was no different prevalence rate among the districts studied. CONCLUSION: The nation-wide seroprevalence of H. pylori infection in Korea is higher than that of the developed countries. We hope that this study provides the landmark for the study of H. pylori infection in Korea.
Continental Population Groups ; Developed Countries ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Gangwon-do ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Hope ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Jeju-do ; Korea* ; Male ; Prevalence ; Self-Assessment ; Seoul ; Seroepidemiologic Studies* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The reports of all amniocentesis samples received in our cytogenetic laboratory from 1986 to 1998 were reviewed to identify cases in which culture failure of amniocytes occurred. Medical records were then reviewed for the prenatal ultrasonographic findings, karyotype when available, and clinical outcome. We investigated the clinical aspects associated with second trimester amniotic fluid cell culture failure. During the study period, 5,325 second trimester amniotic fluid samples were processed, of which 42(0.8%) failed to yield a result. Ninety-seven percent of the samples were obtained before 24 weeks' gestation, mainly because of advanced maternal age. Three percent of the samples were obtained after 24 weeks' gestation. Culture failure was more common in samples obtained after or at 24 weeks' gestation(11.8%) than in those obtained before 24 weeks(0.44%)(p<0.05, chi-square test). This difference was also observed when the results were analysed according to the cases with known normal or abnormal karyotypes, The frequency of culture failure did not differ significantly between the groups with normal and abnormal karyotypes. We conduded that amniotic fluid cell culture failure is more common in advanced pregnancy and is not associated with a higher incidence of chromosomal abnormalities.
Abnormal Karyotype ; Amniocentesis ; Amniotic Fluid ; Cell Culture Techniques* ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytogenetics ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Karyotype ; Maternal Age ; Medical Records ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second