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Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text, Background: The clinical significance of KRAS codon 13 mutation in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) remains controversial. A systematic review and meta-analysis is necessary for a more precise estimation of the predictive role of KRAS codon 13 mutations in CRC patients. Methods: We performed a systematic search using the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases from January 2000 to November 2016. The prognostic value of KRAS codon 13 mutation for overall survival (OS) was investigated by measuring the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Data were analyzed with Review Manager Version 5.3 and the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health software. Results: OS in CRC patients with KRAS codon 13 mutation was worse than that in CRC patients with KRAS wild-type (pooled HR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.03–1.81, P = .03). Subgroup analysis of studies of enrolled CRC patients treated with antiepidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapy showed no significant difference in OS associated with KRAS codon 13 mutation in comparison to KRAS wild-type (pooled HR = 1.57, 95% CI: 0.98–2.51, P = .06). In the indirect comparison, no statistically significant association was observed between codon 12 and 13 mutations for OS in CRC patients (pooled HR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.65–1.20, P = .43). Conclusion: The current meta-analysis suggests that Codon 13 mutation of KRAS gene seems to correlate with the OS of patients with CRC, but has similar OS to those with KRAS wild-type in patients receiving anti-EGFR therapy. No difference was detected in the OS of CRC patients with codon 13 mutation versus codon 12 mutation.

Background:Lactobacillus paracasei and Glycyrrhiza glabra have been reported as having beneficial effects on Helicobacter pylori infection. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of fermented milk containing L paracasei HP7 and G glabra in patients with H pylori infection.Methods:This mu

Background/aims Gelidium elegans (GE) is known to have antiobesity effects and beneficial effects on functional bowel symptoms in preclinical studies. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of GE intake on bowel symptoms in obese human adults. Methods This 12-week single-center randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study was performed from September 2016 to May 2017. Consecutive obese subjects were randomly assigned (1:1) to either GE (1 g) or placebo (1 g) once daily group for 12 weeks. Patients' bowel symptoms were evaluated using the Bristol Stool Form Scale, Constipation Scoring System (CSS), and Patient Assessment of Constipation-Symptoms (PAC-SYM) questionnaire. Results The stool symptom score of PAC-SYM significantly improved in the GE group compared with the placebo group after the 12-week treatment (P = .041). Abdominal discomfort score of CSS significantly decreased at 12 weeks compared to that at baseline in the GE group (P = .003), but not in the placebo group (P = .398). In addition, abdominal discomfort score of CSS slightly decreased in the GE group compared with the placebo group after the 12-week treatment (P = .060). However, stool consistency, total CSS score, and PAC-SYM score did not change significantly in both GE group and the placebo group over the 12-week treatment period. Conclusions GE treatment for 12 weeks improved the stool symptom score on the PAC-SYM and abdominal discomfort score on the CSS in obese adults. However, further research is needed in large-scale human studies.

Patient satisfaction is a key quality indicator of gastrointestinal endoscopy (GIE). The gastrointestinal endoscopy satisfaction questionnaire (GESQ) was recently developed to assess patient satisfaction undergoing GIE in Europe; however, it was not validated in Asian countries. We aimed to translate and validate the GESQ in Korea and identify predictors for patient satisfaction during GIE. Translation of the original GESQ was performed according to accepted linguistic validation guidelines. Between March 2016 and July 2016, 350 consecutive patients were asked to complete a GESQ after GIE at Kyung Hee University Hospital. Total sum of scores was transformed from 0 to 100 by the formula: (Score-lowest possible/Score range) × 100. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses for construct validation reconfirmed that 4 factors were extracted from the Korean GESQ. Internal consistency reliability was acceptable with an overall Cronbach α score of 0.87. Female and nonsmoker were associated with less satisfaction with GIE (P = .021 and .006, respectively). Other factors, including age, alcohol, education or economic level, sedative endoscopy, gastroscopy with or without colonoscopy, experience of previous endoscopy, and additional examinations such as biopsy, were not associated with patient satisfaction during GIE. The Korean version of the GESQ was a valid and acceptable tool to measure satisfaction in patients who had undergone a GIE in Korea. Patient satisfaction measurement could contribute to systematic improvement of qualified GIE.