• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.177-185
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• 2021

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a gastrointestinal disorder in which stomach contents reflux into the esophagus, causing complications such as mucosal damage. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Rhei Rhizoma and Scutellariae Radix mixture (RS) in chronic acid reflux esophagitis (CARE), one of the GERD. After inducing reflux esophagitis through surgery, the group was separated and the drug was administered for 2 weeks; Normal rats (Normal, n=8), chronic acid reflux esophagitis rats (Control, n=8), tocopherol 30 mg/kg-treated chronic acid reflux esophagitis rats (Toco, n=8), Rhei Rhizoma and Scutellariae Radix mixture 100 mg/kg-treated chronic acid reflux esophagitis rats (RSL, n=8), Rhei Rhizoma and Scutellariae Radix mixture 200 mg/kg-treated chronic acid reflux esophagitis rats (RSH, n=8). Gross lesion of esophageal mucosa after RS treatment showed a superior enhancement compared with that of Control group. Additionally, RS significantly decreased the levels of MPO and MDA, effectively inhibited NADPH oxidase, and regulated the expression of the AMPK/LKB1/NF-κB pathway. Moreover, it significantly increased the expression of tight junction proteins. Taken together, RS not only alleviates inflammation of the esophageal mucosa via the AMPK/LKB1/NF-κB pathway by reducing oxidative stress, but also improves esophageal function by modulating tight junction proteins.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.157-160
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• 2018

Chronic silica nephropathy has been associated with tubulointerstitial disease, immune-mediated multisystem disease, chronic kidney disease, and end-stage renal disease. On the other hand, acute intentional exposure is extremely rare. The authors' experienced a 44-year-old man who took rapid cement hardener (sodium silicate) in a suicide attempt whilst in a drunken state. He visited the emergency department approximately 1 hour after ingestion. Information on the material was obtained after 3 L gastric lavage. The patient complained of a sore throat, epigastric pain, and swollen to blood tinged vomitus. Proton pump inhibitors, hemostats, steroid, and fluids were administered. Nine hours after ingestion, he was administered 200 mL hematochezia. Immediately after, a gas-troenterologist performed an endoscopic procedure that revealed diffuse hyperemic mucosa with a color change and variable sized ulceration in the esophagus, whole stomach, and duodenal $2^{nd}$ portion. Approximately 35 hours later, persistent oligouria and progressive worsening of the renal function parameters (BUN/Cr from 12.2/1.2 to 67.5/6.6 mg/dL) occurred requiring hemodialysis. The patient underwent 8 sessions of hemodialysis for 1 month and the BUN/Cr level increased to 143.2/11.2 mg/dL and decreased to 7.6/1.5 mg/dL. He was discharged safely from the hospital. Follow up endoscopy revealed a severe esophageal stricture and he underwent endoscopic bougie dilatation. Acute cement hardener (sodium silicate) intoxication can cause renal failure and strong caustic mucosal injury. Therefore, it is important to consider early hemodialysis and treatment to prevent gastrointestinal injury and remote esophageal stricture.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3549-3554
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• 2013

Background: It is generally accepted that gastric carcinomas are preceded by a sequential multistage process that includes chronic gastritis, gastric atrophy, usually with intestinal metaplasia (IM), and dysplasia. This series of changes in gastric carcinogenesis is often initiated by Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection. The aim of the present study was determination of gastric histopathologic changes in IM patients after at least one year in Guilan province, Iran. Materials and Methods: This case-series study was conducted in Guilan Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease Research Center (GLDRC) during 2010 to 2011. Gastric biopsy was performed for all 71 known cases of IM and precanceric lesions including gastric atrophy, IM, dysplasia and H pylori infection were determined after at least one year. Results: Of the total of 71 patients with established IM who were enrolled, 50 had complete-type IM and 21 had incomplete-type IM. Fifty two people had H pylori infection. H pylori eradication was achieved in 39 patients (75%). Secondary pathology findings of patients with IM were complete metaplasia (39.4%), incomplete metaplasia (32.4%), dysplasia (23.9%) and other precanceric lesions (4.2%). Dysplasia (20%vs 33%) occurred in patients who had complete and incomplete IM at baseline respectively (p>0.05). Age, gender, family history of gastric cancer(GC); smoking habits and NSAIDs use were not associated with gastric premalignant lesions in initial and secondary pathologies (p>0.05). The difference became statistically significant between H pylori infection in patients with more than 3 years diagnostic intervals (p<0.05). Statistical difference between eradicators and non-eradicators was not significant. Conclusions: We found that incomplete IM increased the risk of subsequent dysplasia in this study.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.146-149
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• 2016

Heterotopic bone formation in the gastrointestinal tract is a rare phenomenon. Most reported cases were associated with benign and malignant neoplasms, except for a case in which heterotopic bone formation was found in a patient with Barrett's esophagus. The exact pathogenesis of the disease has not yet been established. However, most heterotopic bones found in the gastrointestinal tract were associated with mucinproducing tumors of the appendix, colon, and rectum. Inflammation may also play a role in osseous metaplasia in a case with bone formation at the base of an ulcer in Barrett's esophagus. Here, we report on a patient with heterotopic bone formation in normal gastric cardiac mucosa. A 50-year-old female visited our hospital for a routine health examination. She had no gastrointestinal symptoms, and her physical examination, blood test, X-ray, urine, and stool examination results were normal. A 0.3 cm sized polypoid lesion located just below the squamocolumnar junction was observed on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. A piece of biopsy was taken. Histologically, a lamella bone trabecula and chronic inflammatory cells were observed in the gastric cardiac mucosa. The follow-up endoscopy performed one month later showed no residual lesion.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.75 no.6
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• pp.256-259
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• 2013

Imatinib mesylate is a targeted therapy that acts by inhibiting tyrosine kinase of the bcr-abl fusion oncoprotein, which is specific to chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and the c-transmembrane receptor, which is specific to gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Interstitial pneumonitis is a rare adverse event of imatinib therapy. It is clinically difficult to distinguish from infectious pneumonia, which can frequently occur due to the underlying disease. The standard treatment for imatinib-induced pneumonitis is to discontinue the medication and optionally administer corticosteroids. However, there are a few cases of successful retrial with imatinib. We describe a case of successful rechallenge of imatinib in a patient with imatinib-induced interstitial pneumonitis and CML without a recurrence of the underlying disease after 3 months of follow-up.

• The Korean Journal of Medicine
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• v.93 no.6
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• pp.556-559
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• 2018

Intestinal tuberculosis is an infection of the gastrointestinal tract by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. To the best of our knowledge, solitary intestinal tuberculosis accompanied by intestinal obstruction, particularly in the middle of the small intestine, is extremely rare. We report a case of solitary jejunal tuberculosis in a 49-year-old man with no underlying disease. He was admitted a few days after the onset of diffuse abdominal discomfort. Upon evaluation, we initially considered a malignancy of the distal jejunum with ileus due to the presence of a mass. Therefore, he underwent laparoscopic resection of the small bowel. Unexpectedly, the histologic specimen showed a chronic caseating granulomatous lesion with acid-fast bacilli. Ultimately, he was diagnosed with solitary jejunal tuberculosis. He was successfully treated with anti-tuberculosis drugs without any complications.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.279-288
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• 2014

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are a set of chronic, idiopathic, immunological and relapsing inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract referred to as inflammatory bowel disorder (IBD). Although the etiological factors involved in the perpetuation of IBD remain uncertain, development of various animal models provides new insights to unveil the onset and the progression of IBD. Various chemical-induced colitis models are widely used on laboratory scale. Furthermore, these models closely mimic morphological, histopathological and symptomatical features of human IBD. Among the chemical-induced colitis models, trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis, oxazolone induced-colitis and dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis models are most widely used. TNBS elicits Th-1 driven immune response, whereas oxazolone predominantly exhibits immune response of Th-2 phenotype. DSS-induced colitis model also induces changes in Th-1/Th-2 cytokine profile. The present review discusses the methodology and rationale of using various chemical-induced colitis models for evaluating the pathogenesis of IBD.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.211-226
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• 2023

Objectives: Crohn's disease is a chronic gastrointestinal disease that belongs to inflammatory bowel disease. This systematic review aims to assess the level of evidence in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effects of acupuncture for Crohn's disease. Methods: We searched 12 databases from the date of the establishment of each database up to May, 2023 for relevant RCTs. The risk of bias of each study was assessed independently by three reviewers. The level of evidence of meta-analysis was assessed using GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation). Results: A total of 12 studies were included. The effective rate (odds ratio [OR] 3.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43, 7.30) for mild to moderate Crohn's disease patients showed a significant difference between the acupuncture with moxibustion group and the sham-acupuncture with sham-moxibustion group. CDAI change (mean difference [MD] -74.15, 95% CI -93.28, -55.01) for mild to moderate Crohn's disease showed a significant difference between the acupuncture with moxibustion group and the sham-acupuncture with sham-moxibustion group. Conclusion: Although acupuncture with moxibustion showed significant effects compared to sham-acupuncture with sham-moxibustion, the effect of acupuncture alone is inconclusive. Moreover, only the effect of acupuncture treatment on mild to moderate Crohn's disease patients was derived as a remarkable result. To confirm the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment for Crohn's disease, studies using only acupuncture for intervention or more RCTs targeting various Crohn's disease patients according to the CDAI are required.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.332-337
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• 2021

Behçet's disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder involving vessels of various sizes and organs, including the skin, joints, gastrointestinal tract, lungs, and cardiovascular system. The etiology of Behçet's disease is unclear, and clinical diagnosis is important in the absence of definitive laboratory or pathological findings diagnostic of Behçet's disease. Cardiac involvement is rare but might present as endocarditis, myocarditis, pericarditis, or intracardiac thrombosis. This report presents a case of Behçet's disease involving the heart in a 22-year-old man with unusual manifestations of right ventricular fibrosis and intracardiac thrombosis. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple intracardiac thrombi and delayed diffuse subendocardial enhancement involving the right ventricle. No peripheral eosinophilia was detected. Endomyocardial biopsy showed mixed inflammatory cell infiltrates. Based on the patient's clinical history of oral ulcer and arthritis, a diagnosis of Behçet's disease was made considering the clinical, radiological, and histological findings. Intracardiac thrombi and endomyocardial fibrosis are rare manifestations of Behçet's disease, and the diagnosis is often a clinical challenge. Early diagnosis is important for appropriate management. Behçet's disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with intracardiac thrombosis and endomyocardial fibrosis of the right chamber.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.241-247
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• 2015

Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) of the pancreas is extremely rare, although it may be increasingly diagnosed due to the widespread use of cross-sectional imaging of the abdomen. Early diagnosis of this disease is important to prevent delay of treatment and resulting fatal complications. We report a rare case of pancreatic AVM in a 48-year-old man who presented with severe chronic anemia and early gastric cancer, which made diagnosis challenging. Imaging findings, including ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, are shown, as well as the pathologic features.