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Background/Aims: The development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with multiple genetic and environmental factors. Methods: We performed a genomewide association study to identify the genetic factors related to NAFLD in a Korean population-based sample of 1,593 subjects with NAFLD and 2,816 controls. We replicated the data in another sample that included 744 NAFLD patients and 1,137 controls. We investigated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were related to NAFLD. Results: After adjusting for age, sex and body mass index, rs738409, rs12483959 and rs2281135, located in the PNPLA3 gene, were validated in our population (p<8.56×10-8) in the same linkage disequilibrium block. Additionally, rs2143571, rs3761472, and rs2073080 in the SAMM50 gene showed significant associations with NAFLD (p<8.56×10-8). Furthermore, these six SNPs showed significant associations with the severity of fatty liver (all p<2.0×10-10 in the discovery set and p<2.0×10-6 in the validation set) and NAFLD, with elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase (all p<2.0×10-10 in the discovery set and p<2.0×10-6 in the validation set). Conclusions: We demonstrated that the PNPLA3 and SAMM50 genes are significantly associated with the presence and severity of NAFLD in a Korean population. These findings confirm the important roles of genetic factors in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Bacteremia following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a severe complication, but the risk factors for this condition have not yet been clearly determined. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors of post-ERCP bacteremia. Methods: Among patients who underwent ERCP from June 2006 to May 2009, we selected patients without any signs of infection prior to the ERCP procedures. Of these patients, we further selected those who experienced bacteremia after ERCP as well as two-fold age and sex-matched controls who did not experience bacteremia after ERCP procedures. We compared clinical, laboratory and technical aspects between these two groups. Results: There were 70 patients (3.1%) who developed bacteremia after ERCP. In the multivariate analysis, a history of previous liver transplantation, an elevated serum alkaline phosphatase level and an endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage procedure were independent risk factors of post-ERCP bacteremia (p=0.006, p=0.001, and p=0.004, respectively). The microbiologic analysis revealed the presence of gram-negative organisms in 80% of the cases, and 11 patients had infections with bacteria expressing extended spectrum β-lactamases. Pseudomonas infection was significantly more common in patients who received liver transplantation as compared to patients without transplantation (p=0.014). Conclusions: A history of liver transplantation, elevated serum alkaline phosphatase levels and endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage procedure were independent risk factors of post-ERCP bacteremia and require additional attention in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]