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Although there are some differences in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) titers in infection with different hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes, the HBsAg titers for each HBV genotype have not been evaluated extensively. The aim of this study was to investigate HBsAg titers during the natural history of patients infected with HBV in Korea, where the HBV genotype C is endemic exclusively. Four hundred fifteen patients were enrolled retrospectively and classified according to definitions of the natural phases of HBV infection. In total, 73, 118, 147, and 77 patients were classified in the immune tolerance, immune clearance, low replicative, and HBeAg-negative hepatitis phases, respectively. HBsAg titers (4.35 ± 0.67, 3.74 ± 0.68, 2.39 ± 1.23, and 3.29 ± 0.64 log10 IU/ml) were significantly different in the immune tolerance, immune clearance, low replicative, and HBeAg-negative hepatitis phases, respectively (P

BACKGROUND/AIMS Performance of polyethylene glycol solution (PEG) is often unsatisfactory as bowel preparation agent for colonoscopy. In order to provide equivalent efficacy with better patient tolerance, sodium phosphate tablet (SPT) has been developed. This study was carried out to compare the efficacy and compliance of two bowel preparation methods: PEG with ascorbic acid (PEGA) vs. SPT preparation. METHODS A multicenter, randomized controlled trial was performed. Primary efficacy variable was overall quality of colon cleansing assessed by Boston bowel preparation scale (BBPS) during colonoscopy. Patient's satisfaction and adverse events were evaluated by means of symptom questionnaire completed by each patient immediately before colonoscopy. RESULTS A total of 189 patients were randomly assigned to undergo pre-colonoscopic bowel preparation with either SPT (n = 96) or PEGA (n = 93). Overall BBPS score was 8.3 ± 1.12 in the SPT group and 8.4 ± 0.96 in the PEGA group (p = 0.441). Among the 189 patients, 90 had polyps (47.6%) and 50 had adenomas (26.5%). The polyp/adenoma detection rate was 54.2% (n = 52)/27.1% (n = 26) for SPT group and 40.9% (n = 38)/25.8% (n = 24) for PEGA group (p = 0.079 and 0.790, respectively). More number of patients were unable to take the prescribed dose of PEGA compared with the SPT regimen (8.6% vs. 2.0%, p = 0.045). Overall satisfaction score was 7.9 ± 1.63 in the SPT group and 7.4 ± 1.53 in the PEGA group (p = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS Degree of colon preparation, polyp/adenoma detection rate and adverse effect were similar between SPT group and PEGA group. Patient compliance and satisfaction were greater in the SPT group.

Background Free perforation is the most severe and debilitating complication associated with Crohn’s disease (CD), and it usually requires emergency surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of free perforation among Korean patients with CD. Methods The CrOhn's disease cliNical NEtwork and CohorT (CONNECT) study was conducted nationwide in Korea, and patients who were diagnosed with CD between 1982 and 2008 were included in this retrospective study. We investigated the incidence of free perforation among these patients and their clinical characteristics. Results A total of 1346 patients were analyzed and 88 patients (6.5%) were identified with free perforation in CD. The mean age of the free perforation group was 31.8 ± 13.0 years, which was significantly higher than that of the non-perforated group (27.5 ± 12.1 years) (p = 0.004). Free perforation was the presenting sign of CD in 46 patients (52%). Of the 94 perforations that were present in 88 patients, 81 involved the ileum. Multivariate logistic regression analysis determined that free perforation was significantly associated with being aged ≥ 30 years at diagnosis (OR 2.082, p = 0.002) and bowel strictures (OR 1.982, p = 0.004). The mortality rate in the free perforation group was significantly higher (4.5%) than that in the non-perforated group (0.6%) (p

Although there are some differences in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) titers in infection with different hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes, the HBsAg titers for each HBV genotype have not been evaluated extensively. The aim of this study was to investigate HBsAg titers during the natural history of patients infected with HBV in Korea, where the HBV genotype C is endemic exclusively. Four hundred fifteen patients were enrolled retrospectively and classified according to definitions of the natural phases of HBV infection. In total, 73, 118, 147, and 77 patients were classified in the immune tolerance, immune clearance, low replicative, and HBeAg-negative hepatitis phases, respectively. HBsAg titers (4.35 ± 0.67, 3.74 ± 0.68, 2.39 ± 1.23, and 3.29 ± 0.64 log(10) IU/ml) were significantly different in the immune tolerance, immune clearance, low replicative, and HBeAg-negative hepatitis phases, respectively (P 0.001). The ratio of HBsAg to HBV DNA was highest in the low replicative phase (1.13 ± 0.71, all P 0.001) and second highest in the HBeAg-negative hepatitis phase (0.58 ± 0.18, all P 0.05). In multivariate analysis of all patients, the HBsAg titers did not correlate with alanine aminotransferase. However, the HBsAg titers correlated with age (P = 0.038), platelet count (P 0.001) and HBV DNA (P 0.001). In subgroup analysis, the HBsAg titers correlated with HBV DNA in all phases (P 0.001), except for the HBeAg-negative hepatitis phase. HBsAg titers were significantly different across the four phases of the natural history of the infection and correlated significantly with HBV DNA titer in genotype C chronic hepatitis B patients. The HBsAg titer could be used as a biomarker to differentiate the natural history of HBV infection.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC). Accordingly, the duration and anatomic extent of the disease have been known to affect the development of IBD-related CRC. When CRC occurs in patients with IBD, unlike in sporadic CRC, it is difficult to detect the lesions because of mucosal changes caused by inflammation. In addition, the tumor types vary with ill-circumscribed lesions, and the cancer is difficult to diagnose and remedy at an early stage. For the diagnosis of CRC in patients with IBD, screening endoscopy is recommended 8 to 10 years after the IBD diagnosis, and surveillance colonoscopy is recommended every 1 to 2 years thereafter. The recent development of targeted biopsies using chromoendoscopy and relatively newer endoscopic techniques helps in the early diagnosis of CRC in patients with IBD. A total proctocolectomy is advisable when high-grade dysplasia or multifocal low-grade dysplasia is confirmed by screening endoscopy or surveillance colonoscopy or if a nonadenoma-like dysplasia-associated lesion or mass is detected. Currently, pharmacotherapies are being extensively studied as a way to prevent IBD-related CRC.

저자들은 rifampin에 과민 반응이 있는 환자가 rifampin에 다시 노출된 후, 아나필락시스 및 횡문근 융해증, 급성 신부전, 파종성 혈관내응고증후군이 병별하여 결국 사망에 이르렀던 예를 경험하여 문헌고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.

Necrotizing pancreatitis is one of the rare complications of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Necrotizing pancreatitis after TACE may result from the development of ischemia caused by regurgitation of embolic materials into the vessels supplying the pancreas. We report a case of post-TACE necrotizing pancreatitis with abscess formation in a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma. The patient had suffered hepatic artery injury due to repetitive TACE; during his 25th TACE procedure he had submitted to selective catheterization of the feeding vessel from the dorsal pancreatic artery with a cytotoxic agent and Gelfoam particles. The patient complained of abdominal pain after the TACE procedure, and a CT scan led to a diagnosis of necrotizing pancreatitis with abscess formation. The pancreatic abscess progressed despite general management of the pancreatitis, including antibiotics. Percutaneous catheter drainage was performed, and the symptoms of the patient improved.

SAPHO syndrome, which has different skin changes and osteoarticular inflammation, is an acronym that stands for synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis. Treatment of SAPHO syndrome includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anti-rheumatic drugs, such as colchicines, corticosteroids and bisphosphonates, and disease-modifying agents. However, the treatment of SAPHO syndrome is controversial because it is a new clinical entity with unclear etiopathogenesis and inadequate clinical studies. We report a case with refractory SAPHO syndrome, which was successfully treated with a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α blocker.