The role of atypical bacteria and the effect of antibiotic treatments in acute bronchitis are still not clear. This study was conducted at 22 hospitals (17 primary care clinics and 5 university hospitals) in Korea. Outpatients (aged > or = 18 yr) who had an acute illness with a new cough and sputum (< or = 30 days) were enrolled in 2013. Multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect five atypical bacteria. A total of 435 patients were diagnosed as having acute bronchitis (vs. probable pneumonia, n = 75), and 1.8% (n = 8) were positive for atypical pathogens (Bordetella pertussis, n = 3; B. parapertussis, n = 0; Mycoplasma pneumoniae, n = 1; Chlamydophila pneumoniae, n = 3; Legionella pneumophila, n = 1). Among clinical symptoms and signs, only post-tussive vomiting was more frequent in patients with atypical pathogens than those without (P = 0.024). In all, 72.2% of the enrolled patients received antibiotic treatment at their first visits, and beta-lactams (29.4%) and quinolones (20.5%) were the most commonly prescribed agents. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that the incidence of atypical pathogens is low in patients with acute bronchitis, and the rate of antibiotic prescriptions is high.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Bordetella parapertussis/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bordetella pertussis/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bronchitis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Chlamydophila pneumoniae/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Community-Acquired Infections/microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension/complications ; Legionella pneumophila/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Republic of Korea ; Sputum/microbiology

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We investigated whether sodium picosulfate with magnesium citrate (SPMC) plus bisacodyl compares favorably with conventional polyethylene glycol (PEG) with respect to bowel cleansing adequacy, compliance, and safety. METHODS: We performed a multicenter, prospective, single-blinded study in outpatients undergoing daytime colonoscopies. Patients were randomized into a split preparation SPMC/bisacodyl group and a conventional split PEG group. We compared preparation adequacy using the Boston bowel preparation scale (BBPS), ease of use using a modified Likert scale (LS), compliance/satisfaction level using a visual analogue scale (VAS), and safety by monitoring adverse events during the colonoscopy between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 365 patients were evaluated by intention to treat (ITT) analysis, and 319 were evaluated by per protocol (PP) population analysis (153 for SPMC/bisacodyl, 166 for PEG). The mean total BBPS score was not different between the two groups in both the ITT and PP analyses (p>0.05). The mean VAS score for satisfaction and LS score for the ease of use were higher in the SPMC/bisacodyl group (p<0.001). The adverse event rate was lower in the SPMC/bisacodyl group than in the PEG group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The SPMC/bisacodyl treatment was comparable to conventional PEG with respect to bowel preparation adequacy and superior with respect to compliance, satisfaction, and safety.
Adult ; Aged ; Cathartics/*administration & dosage ; Citrates/*administration & dosage ; Citric Acid/*administration & dosage ; Colon/*drug effects/surgery ; *Colonoscopy ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Therapy, Combination/methods ; Female ; Humans ; Intention to Treat Analysis ; Laxatives/*administration & dosage ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organometallic Compounds/*administration & dosage ; Patient Compliance ; Patient Satisfaction ; Picolines/*administration & dosage ; Polyethylene Glycols/*administration & dosage ; Preoperative Care/methods/psychology ; Single-Blind Method ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recent guidelines strongly recommend that the interval of surveillance colonoscopy be determined according to the risk stratification obtained at index colonoscopy. However, because of the differences in perception of the classification of colorectal intraepithelial neoplasia between Asian and Western countries, there is some confusion about surveillance colonoscopy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics and the interval of surveillance colonoscopy between patients with high-grade dysplasia/carcinoma in situ and those with intramucosal carcinoma. METHODS: From January 2003 to June 2010, 727 patients were included from 8 tertiary centers. Four hundred fifteen patients (57.1%) had high-grade dysplasia/carcinoma in situ (group A), and 312 (43.9%) had intramucosal carcinoma (group B). Clinicopathological data were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Group A had a significantly more frequent family history of colorectal cancer (3.1% vs. 0.6%, P<0.001), smaller polyp size (12 mm vs. 15 mm, P=0.001), and more proximal location (31.1% vs. 21.8%, P=0.005) than did group B. Among 727 patients, surveillance colonoscopy was performed within 6 months in 55.8% of patients and within 12 months in 77.8%. Group B had a significantly shorter interval of surveillance colonoscopy than did group A (P<0.001). There was no difference in detection of advanced neoplasia at surveillance colonoscopy between the 2 groups (6.6% vs. 5.4%, P=0.638). CONCLUSIONS: The recommended interval of surveillance colonoscopy is not followed in Korea. More education about post-polypectomy surveillance guidelines is required.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Colonic Polyps ; Colonoscopy* ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Korea* ; Polyps

The incidence of colorectal carcinoid tumor is recently increasing as screening colonoscopy increased. Traditional carcinoid tumor had been known as low grade, malignant neuroendocrine cell orign tumor. In 2000, World Health Organization (WHO) suggested that carcinoid was called well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor (NET). It recently updated in 2010 by WHO; according to the differentiation and malignant potential, NET classified with NET Grade 1, Grade 2, and neuroendocrine carcinoma. They suggested that NET had malignant potential in accordance with histopathologic characteristics. Therefore, WHO recommended the behavior code of NET as malignant. However, European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS) proposed the behavior of NET to four grades based on the histopathologic features; benign, benign or low grade malignant, low grade malignant, and high grade malignant. Also, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) suggested that topography codes of NET were defined as malignant. Korean Standard Classification of Diseases (KCD) described the different codings of carcinoid (NET). The discrepancies of behavior code or coding system exist among WHO, ENETS, AJCC and KCD. Also, there were differences in the perception for topographic coding system between clinicians and pathologists. NETs of colorectum were reported with the variable clinical characteristics (especially, metastasis) and long term prognosis from many studies. Especially, risk of metastasis and long term prognosis of small sized NET (<1 cm) had some discrepancies and should be investigated prospectively. Therefore, the consensus about topographic codes of NET should be needed with multidisplinary approach among gastroenterologists, pathologists and surgeons.
Carcinoid Tumor ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; Clinical Coding ; Colonoscopy ; Consensus ; Incidence ; Joints ; Mass Screening ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuroendocrine Cells ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Prognosis ; World Health Organization

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although generic clopidogrel is widely used, clinical efficacy and safety between generic and original clopidogrel had not been well evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of 2 oral formulations of clopidogrel 75 mg tablets in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Between July 2006 and February 2009, 428 patients that underwent implantation with DES for CAD and completed >1 year of clinical follow-up were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into the following 2 groups based on treatment formulation, Platless(R) (test formulation, n=211) or Plavix(R) (reference formulation, n=217). The incidence of 1-year major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular event (MACCE) and stent thrombosis (ST) were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The baseline demographic and procedural characteristics were not significantly different between two treatment groups. The incidence of 1-year MACCEs was 8.5% {19/211, 2 deaths, 4 myocardial infarctions (MIs), 2 strokes, and 11 target vessel revascularizations (TVRs)} in Platless(R) group vs. 7.4% (16/217, 4 deaths, 1 MI, 2 strokes, and 9 TVRs) in Plavix(R) group (p=0.66). The incidence of 1-year ST was 0.5% (1 definite and subacute ST) in Platless(R) group vs. 0% in Plavix(R) group (p=0.49). CONCLUSION: In this study, the 2 tablet preparations of clopidogrel showed similar rates of MACCEs, but additional prospective randomized studies with pharmacodynamics and platelet reactivity are needed to conclude whether generic clopidgrel may replace original clopidogrel.
Blood Platelets ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Incidence ; Myocardial Infarction ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Stroke ; Tablets ; Thrombosis ; Ticlopidine

The Korean Standard Classification of Diseases (KCD), which reflects the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), is a fundamental coding system for the diagnosis of colorectal epithelial tumors. The KCD coding of colorectal lesions is entirely up to the clinician and is based on pathologic reports. However, coding discrepancies have arisen among physicians using the KCD and pathologists using the ICD for Oncology-3 (ICD-O-3). The Korean Society of Pathologists recently proposed a standardized pathology-reporting format and guidelines for the coding of colorectal cancer to decrease these discrepancies among pathologists. However, ICD and ICD-O are simple classification codes based on pathologic reports, and are neither intended nor suitable for indexing of distinct clinical entities. For appropriate diagnostic coding using the KCD, a corrected coding principle based upon pathologic reports is required, and unified coding between KCD and ICD-O is necessary. A standardized pathologic report format and communication with understanding between physicians and pathologists should be established. Additionally, the private medical insurance system for colorectal cancer should be revised to reduce conflicts among patients, clinicians, and insurance companies over the medical coding system.
Abstracting and Indexing as Topic ; Clinical Coding ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Insurance ; International Classification of Diseases

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The therapeutic strategy between endoscopic piecemeal mucosal resection (EPMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for large laterally spreading tumors (LSTs) has not been clearly defined. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes between EPMR and ESD in patients with large LST. METHODS: From July 2006 to September 2010, 106 patients who underwent endoscopic resection for large (>20 mm) LSTs were included in our retrospective analysis. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics of the patients and tumors were not different between two groups except for location (EPMR-right colon, ESD-rectum). The en bloc resection rate and complete resection rate were significantly higher in the ESD group than those in the EPMR group (EPMR vs. ESD, 53.5% vs. 88.6, P<0.01, 45.1% vs. 71.4%, P=0.01, respectively). However, total procedure time was significantly shorter in the EPMR group (21.3 min vs. 44.4 min, P<0.01). Furthermore, the rates of complication including perforation and bleeding were significantly lower in the EPMR group than those in the ESD group (perforation, 1.4% vs. 11.4%, P=0.02; bleeding, 4.2% vs. 17.1%, P=0.03, respectively). During 19.9 months of follow-up, no significant difference was observed in terms of recurrence (1.5% vs. 3.2%). Non-granular, pseudo-depressed type (LST-PD) showed a significantly higher presence of adenocarcinoma and deeper submucosal invasion than other types of LSTs. CONCLUSIONS: The therapeutic strategy for choosing between EPMR and ESD for large LST lesions should be determined based on the macroscopic findings of their subtype. En bloc resection with ESD should be applied to LST-PDs due to their higher rate of submucosal invasion.
Adenocarcinoma ; Colon ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

The successful treatment of community-acquired pneumonia requires appropriate, empirical antimicrobial therapy. The etiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of major pneumonia pathogens can differ by country. Therefore, the ideal treatment guidelines for community-acquired pneumonia should be based on the studies performed in each country. We developed a treatment guideline for community-acquired pneumonia for immunocompetent adults in Korea. This guideline was developed by the joint committee of the Korean Society for Chemotherapy, the Korean Society of Infectious Diseases, and the Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory diseases.
Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Communicable Diseases ; Humans ; Joints ; Korea ; Pneumonia ; Tuberculosis

A successful therapy of community-acquired pneumonia requires appropriate empirical antimicrobial therapy. Etiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of major pathogens of pneumonia can differ by country. Therefore, an ideal treatment guideline of community-acquired pneumonia should be based on the studies performed in each country. We developed a treatment guideline for community-acquired pneumonia in immunocompetent adults in Korea. This guideline was developed by the joint committee of the Korean Society for Chemotherapy, the Korean Society of Infectious Diseases, and the Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory diseases.
Adult ; Communicable Diseases ; Community-Acquired Infections ; Humans ; Joints ; Korea ; Pneumonia ; Tuberculosis

A successful therapy of community-acquired pneumonia requires appropriate empirical antimicrobial therapy. Etiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of major pathogens of pneumonia can differ by country. Therefore, an ideal treatment guideline of community-acquired pneumonia should be based on the studies performed in each country. We developed a treatment guideline for community-acquired pneumonia in immunocompetent adults in Korea. This guideline was developed by the joint committee of the Korean Society for Chemotherapy, the Korean Society of Infectious Diseases, and the Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory diseases.
Adult ; Communicable Diseases ; Community-Acquired Infections ; Humans ; Joints ; Korea ; Pneumonia ; Tuberculosis