• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제19권4호
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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.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.31-38
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• 2022

Ulcerative colitis (UC) exhibits chronic intestinal inflammatory conditions with cycles of relapse and remission. The incidence is rapidly growing in Asian countries including South Korea possibly due to changes in lifestyles. Although the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease is inconclusive, gut microbiota composition is considered a critical factor involved in the pathogenesis of UC. The overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria evokes hyper-immune responses in gut epithelium causing tissue inflammation and damage. Also, failure to regulate gut epithelium integrity due to chronic inflammation and mucus depletion accelerates bacterial translocation aggravating immune dysregulation. Gut microbiota composition responds to the diet in a very rapid manner. Epidemiological studies have indicated that the risk of UC is associated with low plant foods/high animal foods consumption. Several bacterial strains consistently found depleted in UC patients use plant food-originated dietary fiber producing short chain fatty acids to maintain epithelial integrity. These bacteria also use mucus layer mucin to keep gut microbiota diversity. These studies partly explain the association between dietary modification of gut microbiota in UC development. Further human intervention trials are required to allow the use of specific bacterial strains in the management of UC.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제60권5호
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• pp.309-315
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• 2022

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and recurrent illness of the gastrointestinal tract. Treatment of IBD traditionally involves the use of aminosalicylic acid and steroids, while these drugs has been associated with untoward effects and refractoriness. The absence of effective treatment regimen against IBD has led to the exploration of new targets. Parasites are promising as an alternative therapy for IBD. Recent studies have highlighted the use of parasite-derived substances, such as excretory secretory products, extracellular vesicles (EVs), and exosomes, for the treatment of IBD. In this report, we examined whether EVs secreted by Giardia lamblia could prevent colitis in a mouse model. G. lamblia EVs (GlEVs) were prepared from in vitro cultures of Giardia trophozoites. Clinical signs, microscopic colon tissue inflammation, and cytokine expression levels were detected to assess the effect of GlEV treatment on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced experimental murine colitis. The administration of GlEVs prior to DSS challenge reduced the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1 beta, and interferon gamma. Our results indicate that GlEV can exert preventive effects and possess therapeutic properties against DSS-induced colitis.

• ALGAE
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.201-212
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• 2020

The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) including ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease are characterized by chronic inflammation throughout the gastrointestinal tract. The prevalence of IBD has been increasing worldwide, and has sometimes led to irreversible impairment of gastrointestinal structure and functions. In the present study, we identified a new sulfoquinovosylmonoacylglycerols (SQMG) (1) together with two known SQMGs (2 and 3) regulating intestinal inflammation from the brown alga Turbinaria ornata. The anti-inflammatory properties of two bioactive SQMGs, 1 and 2 were evaluated using an in vitro co-culture system consisting of human epithelial Caco-2 cells and PMA (phorbol 12-myristate 12-acetate)-differentiated THP-1 macrophages. Treatment with 1 or 2 inhibited the production nitric oxide and prostaglandin E₂ induced by lipopolysaccharide and interferon γ challenge. The expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase 2 were markedly down-regulated in response to inhibition of nuclear factor κB translocation to nucleus. These findings suggest the potential use of the brown alga T. ornata and its biologically active metabolites SQMGs as pharmaceutical adjuvants in the treatment of inflammation-related diseases, including IBD.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제50권4호
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• pp.265-274
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• 2014

장내 미생물은 사람의 장에 거주하는 미생물 집단으로 자신들의 효소를 이용해 사람에게 직접적인 에너지원이 되는 대사산물을 만들기도 하고 병원성 미생물의 침입에 대응하기도 하며 소화관의 구조와 기능유지 및 면역계의 발달에 영향을 미치는 등의 중요한 기능을 수행한다. 최근 다양한 분석기술을 통해 사람의 장에 있는 다종 및 다수의 미생물의 구성을 관찰하였고 그 결과 특정 질병을 지닌 사람의 장내 미생물 구성은 건강한 사람의 일반적인 구성과 다르다는 것을 확인하였다. 이러한 발견을 바탕으로 건강한 사람의 대변에 있는 장내 미생물을 질병을 지닌 수여자에게 이식하는 fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) 시술이 각광을 받기 시작하였다. FMT는 장내 미생물의 구성변화로 인해 나타나는 여러 질병에 치료제로 적용할 수 있는데 특히 재발률이 높은 Clostridium difficile 감염에서 활발한 연구가 이루어지고 있다. 이 논문은 지금까지 밝혀진 장내 미생물과 관련된 질병들의 종류와 실제 질병에 FMT를 적용한 사례 등을 정리하고 장내 미생물을 이용하여 현재 연구개발 중인 치료제나 진단도구의 예를 기술함으로써 장내 미생물의 사람의 건강증진과 질병치료를 위한 차세대 생물학적 치료제로서의 가능성을 고찰하고자 한다.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.1-5
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• 2018

Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease (EGID), a chronic allergic condition characterized by dense infiltration of eosinophils in the digestive tract, is classified into two types, eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), which features dense infiltration of eosinophils in the esophageal epithelial layer, and eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE), in which the entire digestive tract including the esophagus may be involved. Patients with EoE only have esophageal symptoms, since the other parts of the digestive tract are not involved. On the other hand, 80% of EGE patients have lesions in the small intestine. The esophageal epithelial layer in healthy individuals has no or negligible infiltration by eosinophils, while the small intestinal mucosal layer, especially the distal small intestinal mucosa, can show dense eosinophil infiltration even in the absence of disease. Therefore, histological changes observed in cases of EGE are not qualitative but rather quantitative, as compared to EoE, which has qualitative histopathological changes, indicating important pathogenetic differences between the types. Comparisons of clinical, laboratory, and morphological characteristics between EoE and EGE have revealed several interesting differences. Both EoE and EGE patients are frequently affected by atopic diseases, such as bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis, and elevated plasma levels of Th2 type cytokines and chemokines are also similarly seen in both. On the other hand, age at diagnosis differs, as the former is generally found in individuals from 30 to 50 years old, while the latter appears in all age groups. Additionally, 80% of patients with EoE are male as compared to only 50% of those with EGE. Furthermore, approximately 60% of patients with EoE respond favorably to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) administration, whereas EGE patients rarely show a response to PPIs. Nevertheless, both diseases show a similarly favorable response to a six foods elimination diet and glucocorticoid administration. These similarities and differences of EoE and EGE provide important clues for understanding the pathogenesis of these EGID types.

• 한국임상약학회지
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.1-20
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• 2024

This review examines the pivotal clinical trials that evaluated the efficacy and safety of semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, in the management of obesity. The reported findings underscore significant and sustained weight loss achieved with semaglutide in diverse patient groups, although gastrointestinal disorders occurred frequently, leading to therapy discontinuation. Overall, the studies demonstrated the potential of semaglutide as a therapeutic option not only for type 2 diabetes but also for obesity. The treatment landscape in obesity is evolving, as reflected in changing regulatory approvals and clinical guidelines, suggesting a paradigm shift toward personalized approaches in this chronic disease states to achieve optimal treatment outcomes for patients.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.13-24
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• 2010

Objectives : Ulcerative colitis is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disease in the gastrointestinal tract. We investigated whether Aurantii fructus immaturus (AFI) pharmacopuncture has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. Methods : in vitro experiments, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, prevention on $H_2O_2$-induced cell death in RAW264.7 cell line, DNA fragmentation, and cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA expression induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), were analyzed to investigate antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effect of AFI pharmacopuncture. in vivo experiment, a murine model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis was used to examine the effect of AFI pharmacopuncture on CV12 at different doses of 5 ${\mu}l$, 0.5 ${\mu}l$, 0.05 ${\mu}l$ for 10 days. Body weight, colon length and macroscopic features were investigated. Results : AFI pharmacopuncture showed DPPH free radical scavenging and SOD active effects in a dose-dependent manner. AFI pharmacopuncture showed a protective effect against $H_2O_2$-induced cell injury and also attenuated LPS-induced COX-2 mRNA expression. In a DSS- induced colitis murine model, however, AFI pharmacopuncture at CV12 had no anti-inflammatory effects. Conclusions : The present results suggest that AFI pharmacopuncture extract may have anti- inflammatory and antioxidative effects in vivo test, but further research on the underlying mechanism is required.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.9-14
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• 2023

The prevalence of Barrett's esophagus is increasing in South Korea. Several strategies have been tried to prevent its progression to esophageal adenocarcinoma. It is questionable whether the strategies being tried in the West can be applied adequately in South Korea. However, despite the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma in the West, which is considerably higher than that in South Korea, the incidence of high-grade dysplasia/esophageal adenocarcinoma in population-based studies is as low as 0.23%/person-year. Therefore, in Korea, where the prevalence is lower than that, it is necessary to select high-risk groups more carefully for chemoprevention. The age of onset of gastroesophageal reflux disease-like symptoms at least once a week is related to the high-risk group rather than the presence or absence of chronic gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. The risk factors for esophageal adenocarcinoma include the patient's sex, age, smoking habit, and obesity. Proton pump inhibitors have a better preventive effect against esophageal adenocarcinoma compared to H2-receptor blockers, but their application to patients in Korea is limited due to the high number of individuals in need of treatment. Therefore, while considering the risk factors for the progression of esophageal adenocarcinoma, the administration of proton pump inhibitors should be considered for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.35-41
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• 1978

After the advent of the effective antimicrobial drugs, empyema of the pleural cavity came to be considered an infrequent disease. However, in recent years the problem of empyema is increasing, probably due to bacterial changes associated with the use and misuse of antimicrobials as well as alterations in the host associated with increased longevity and chronic disease. During the 10 years period from 1957, Sop. to 1977, Aug., we experienced 152 cases of empyema, of which 37 were scheduled on open thoracotomy drainge for chronic empyema. 1. The ratio of male to female was 3.6:1 with male predominance and 64% of total was above 40 years old in age distribution. 2. The cardinal symptoms were fever[70%], dyspnea[40.5%], and sputum[40.5%]. The leucocytosis were observed in 75.7% of all cases. The hemoglobin level showed subnormal in 21.6% of all cases. 3- The underlying pathology predisposing to empyema were postoperative empyema [35.1%] and tuberculosis[32.4%] in order. 4. The pathologic organisms by bacterial culture in 37 patients were Pseudomonas [24.3%], Staphylococccus [21.6%], Streptococcus [21.6%]., no growth [8. 1%] and the remainders. 5. The late results were as follow; a. Spontaneous closure was seen in 10 patients and all of them belongs to non-tuberculous group. Their mean duration was 14 months. b. Still opened are eight; 6 in tuberculous group, remainders in non-tuberculous group. c. Secondary closure was performed in 6 patients, of which 5 cases showed successful secondary closure but one failed. The mean duration from OTD to secondary closure was 46.3 days. d. Eleven patients were not followed. e. Two patients were expired; one was due to progressive cachexia and pulmonary insufficiency, the other due to gastrointestinal bleeding unrelated to empyema.