• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2006

Chronic recurrent abdominal pain is a common manifestation in children. Functional abdominal pain is the most common cause of chronic abdominal pain and can be diagnosed properly by the physician without the requirement of specific evaluation when there are no alarm symptoms or signs. Functional abdominal pain is categorized as functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, functional abdominal pain, abdominal migraine, and aerophagia, according to the Rome II criteria for pediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders. New concepts on the pathogenesis of functional abdominal pain include brain-gut interaction, visceral hypersensitivity, gastrointestinal dysmotility, inflammation, autonomic dysfunction, genetic predisposition, and triggering factors including psycho-social stress.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 2018

Purpose: Minimal change esophagitis (MCE) is a reflux disease without mucosal breaks, known to be partially associated with abnormal gastric motor function. Electrogastrography (EGG) is commonly applied to assess gastric motor function in a noninvasive fashion. We aimed to determine the relationship between MCE and gastric myoelectrical activity (GME) recorded on EGG in children. Methods: We retrospectively assessed the records of 157 children without underlying disease who underwent both EGG and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at Gachon University Gil Medical Center between January 2010 and June 2015. The children were stratified according to the appearance of the esophagus (normal vs. MCE). Between-group differences in EGG parameters and their correlation with each MCE finding were statistically analyzed. Results: Only the power ratio, one of the EGG parameters analyzed, differed significantly between the two groups (MCE, $1.68{\pm}3.37$ vs. normal, $0.76{\pm}1.06$; p<0.05), whereas the other parameters, such as dominant frequency, dominant power, and the ratio of abnormal rhythm, showed no differences. Among children with MCE, significant correlations were noted between erythema and power ratio (p<0.05), friability and postprandial dominant frequency (p<0.05), and edema and/or accentuation of mucosal folds and pre-prandial frequency (p<0.05). Helicobacter pylori infection correlated with postprandial arrhythmia (MCE, $33.59{\pm}15.52$ vs. normal, $28.10{\pm}17.23$; p<0.05). EGG parameters did not differ between children with normal esophagus and those with biopsy-proven chronic esophagitis. Conclusion: In children with MCE, gastric dysmotility may affect the development of MCE, manifesting as EGG abnormalities. H. pylori infection may also affect GME. However, larger prospective investigations are needed to confirm these findings.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.328-336
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• 2020

Diabetes mellitus affects the colonic motility developing gastrointestinal symptoms, such as constipation. The aim of the study was to examine the role of intracellular signaling pathways contributing to colonic dysmotility in diabetes mellitus. To generate diabetes mellitus, the rats were injected by a single high dose of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) intraperitoneally. The proximal colons from both normal and diabetic rats were contracted by applying an electrical field stimulation with pulse voltage of 40 V in amplitude and pulse duration of 1 ms at frequencies of 1, 2, 4, and 6 Hz. The muscle strips from both normal rats and rats with diabetes mellitus were pretreated with different antagonists and inhibitors. Rats with diabetes mellitus had lower motility than the control group. There were significant differences in the percentage of inhibition of contraction between normal rats and rats with diabetes mellitus after the incubation of tetrodotoxin (neuronal blocker), atropine (muscarinic receptor antagonist), prazosin (α₁ adrenergic receptor antagonist), DPCPX (adenosine A1 receptor antagonist), verapamil (L-type Ca²⁺ channel blocker), U73122 (PLC inhibitor), ML-9 (MLCK inhibitor), udenafil (PDE₅ inhibitor), and methylene blue (guanylate cyclase inhibitor). The protein expression of p-MLC and PDE₅ were decreased in the diabetic group compared to the normal group. These results showed that the reduced colonic contractility resulted from the impaired neuronal conduction and decreased muscarinic receptor sensitivity, which resulted in decreased phosphorylation of MLC via MLCK, and cGMP activity through PDE₅.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.579-586
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• 2013

Purpose: This article provides an update and overview of a nursing research program focused on understanding the pathophysiology and management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Methods: This review includes English language papers from the United States, Europe, and Asia (e.g., South Korea) from 1999 to 2013. We addressed IBS as a health problem, emerging etiologies, diagnostic and treatment approaches and the importance of a biopsychosocial model. Results: IBS is a chronic, functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of abdominal pain and alterations in bowel habit (diarrhea, constipation, mixed). It is a condition for which adults, particularly women ages 20-45, seek health care services in both the United States and South Korea. Clinically, nurses play key roles in symptom prevention and management including designing and implementing approaches to enhance the patients' self-management strategies. Multiple mechanisms are believed to participate in the development and maintenance of IBS symptoms including autonomic nervous system dysregulation, intestinal inflammation, intestinal dysbiosis, dietary intolerances, alterations in emotion regulation, heightened visceral pain sensitivity, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal dysregulation, and dysmotility. Because IBS tends to occur in families, genetic factors may also contribute to the pathophysiology. Patients with IBS often report a number of co-morbid disorders and/or symptoms including poor sleep. Conclusion: The key to planning effective management strategies is to understand the heterogeneity of this disorder. Interventions for IBS include non-pharmacological strategies such as cognitive behavior therapy, relaxation strategies, and exclusion diets.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.259-277
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate two subjects: the diagnostic value of bilateral lowering of electrical activity at point H4,5,6 of Ryodoraku and the mechanism for Ryodoraku phenomena. Methods : Electrical activities of Ryodoraku test and electrogastrography recorded simultaneously and monitored continuously from 16 cases of functional dyspeptic patients were collected and their variations were grouped by the topics of discussion which were peculiarity, stability, lagging, alterability, and anomaly. Ryodoraku recordings obtained from 6 patients with different gastrointestinal diseases and 1 normal healthy person were used as control. The results are discussed with Nakatani's suggestion, theory of sympathetic nerve and Meridian Principle, respectively. Finely, coincidence of stomach arrangement between anatomy and meridian system in Ryodoraku was also evaluated. Results : Time-course variation showed a regular relationship between the typical pattern of Ryodoraku at point H4,5,6 and gastric myoelectrical activity. However, an irregular relationship and atypical pattern of Ryodoraku occasionally appeared. A literature search suggested that electrical response at the Ryodoraku point H4,5,6 may be dependent on an afferent sympathetic spinal reflex transmitted from the stomach. However, there was no evidence for making clear whether bilateral lowering of electrical activity at this point was induced by hypofunction of local sympathetic nerve in the skin itself or of signals transmitted from the gastric sympathetic nerve or not. The coincidence of 19% could not provide a visceral arrangement of the stomach between anatomy and meridian systems. Conclusions : Bilateral lowering of electrical activity at Ryodoraku point H4,5,6 has value as a diagnostic index for gastric dysmotility of functional dyspepsia. This phenomenon is associated with spinal reflex transmitted from the afferent sympathetic nerve in the stomach but not that of meridian function.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 2020

Purpose: The Oral-anal Transit Test (OTT) is a simple method of obtaining information about colonic transit. We aim to assess the correlation of OTT with the neuromuscular integrity of the colon determined by colonic manometry (CM). Methods: All patients who had OTT followed by CM were evaluated. Less than 6 of 24 markers remaining on OTT was considered normal. CM was performed per previously published guidelines. A normal CM was defined as at least one High Amplitude Propagating Contraction progressing from the most proximal sensor through the sigmoid colon. Results: A total of 34 patients underwent both OTT and CM (44% male, age 4-18 years, mean 11.5 years, 97% functional constipation +/- soiling, Hirschsprung's Disease). Of normal and abnormal OTT patients, 85.7% (6/7) and 18.5% (5/27) respectively had normal CM. When all markers progressed to at least the sigmoid colon, this was 100% predictive against colonic inertia. Greater than 50% of patients with manometric isolated sigmoid dysfunction had markers proximal to the recto-sigmoid. Conclusion: OTT and CM are both valuable studies that assess different aspects of colonic function. OTT can be used as a screening test to rule out colonic inertia. However, the most proximal extent of remaining markers does not predict the anatomical extent of the manometric abnormality, particularly in isolated sigmoid dysfunction.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.242-249
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• 2007

Backgrounds & Objectives : Yukgunjatanggranule (YGJT) ha been used for the treatment of functional dyspepsia, regarded as one of the gastric dysmotility diseases, but its mechanisms of cation are not yet well known, We investigated the effects of YGJT on gastric emptying and its mechanisms of action in rats. Methods : Gastric emptying was measured by glass beads (1mm in diameter) expelled from the stomach for 1 hour and 2 hours after administration ofnormal saline (NS) or YGJT 41.6mg/kg or 124.8mg/kg in rats. By the same method, gastric emptying was measured only for 2 hours after administration of NS of YGJT 124.8mg/kg in rats treated with atropine sulfate (1mg/kg, s.c), quinpirole HCl(0.3mg/kg, i.p.), NAME (NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, 75mg/kg, s.c.) or cisplatin (10mg/kg, i.p.) to delay gastric emptying. Results : YGJT 124.8mg/kg improved gastric emptying more than NS or YGJT 41.6mg/kg (p=0.046). Under delayed gastric emptying, YGJT 124.8mg/kg improved gastric emptying in the group treated with cisplatin ($3.1{\pm}1.3$ vs. $6.6{\pm}3.1$, p=0.015), quinpirole HCl ($4.7{\pm}2.8$ vs. $5.5{\pm}5.6$, p=0.874) and NAME ($2.2{\pm}1.4$ vs. $4.7{\pm}6.0$, p=0.414), but aggravated it with atropine sulfate ($1.8{\pm}0.9$vs. $1.7{\pm}1.0$, p=0.957). Conclusions : YGJT improves gastric emptying through the cholinergic pathwas, and shows some effect against the toxicity of cisplatin. Therefore, we expect that it would be effective in relieving gastrointestinal symptoms in functional dyspepsia patients and cisplatin-treated patients.

• Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.643-655
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• 2018

Background/Aims Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disease characterized by intestinal dysmotility, the mechanism of which remains elusive. We aim to determine whether the high-affinity choline transporter 1 (CHT1), a determinant of cholinergic signaling capacity, modulates intestinal motility associated with stress-induced IBS. Methods A rat IBS model was established using chronic water avoidance stress (WAS). Colonic pathological alterations were evaluated histologically and intestinal motility was assessed by intestinal transit time and fecal water content (FWC). Visceral sensitivity was determined by visceromotor response to colorectal distension. RT-PCR, western blotting, and immunostaining were performed to identify colonic CHT1 expression. Contractility of colonic muscle strips was measured using isometric transducers. enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure acetylcholine (ACh). We examined the effects of MKC-231, a choline uptake enhancer, on colonic motility. Results After 10 days of WAS, intestinal transit time was decreased and fecal water content increased. Visceromotor response magnitude in WAS rats in response to colorectal distension was significantly enhanced. Protein and mRNA CHT1 levels in the colon were markedly elevated after WAS. The density of CHT1-positive intramuscular interstitial cells of Cajal and myenteric plexus neurons in WAS rats was higher than in controls. Ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate partly reversed CHT1 upregulation and alleviated colonic hypermotility in WAS rats. Pharmacological enhancement of CHT1 activity by MKC-231 enhanced colonic motility in control rats via upregulation of CHT1 and elevation of ACh production. Conclusion Upregulation of CHT1 in intramuscular interstitial cells of Cajal and myenteric plexus neurons is implicated in chronic stress-induced colonic hypermotility by modulation of ACh synthesis via nuclear factor-kappa B signaling.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.185-191
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• 2020

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are known as the pacemaker cells of gastrointestinal tract, and it has been reported that acute gastroenteritis induces intestinal dysmotility through antibody to vinculin, a cytoskeletal protein in gut, resulting in small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, so that anti-vinculin antibody can be used as a biomarker for irritable bowel syndrome. This study aimed to determine correlation between serum anti-vinculin antibody and ICC density in human stomach. Gastric specimens from 45 patients with gastric cancer who received gastric surgery at Kangwon National University Hospital from 2013 to 2017 were used. ICC in inner circular muscle, and myenteric plexus were counted. Corresponding patient's blood samples were used to determine the amount of anti-vinculin antibody by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Analysis was done to determine correlation between anti-vinculin antibody and ICC numbers. Patients with elevated anti-vinculin antibody titer (above median value) had significantly lower number of ICC in inner circular muscle (71.0 vs. 240.5, p = 0.047), and myenteric plexus (12.0 vs. 68.5, p < 0.01) compared to patients with lower anti-vinculin antibody titer. Level of serum anti-vinculin antibody correlated significantly with density of ICC in myenteric plexus (r = -0.379, p = 0.01; Spearman correlation). Increased level of circulating anti-vinculin antibody was significantly correlated with decreased density of ICC in myenteric plexus of human stomach.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.265-274
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• 2005

Diabetic gastroparesis is a disorder in a diabetic of delayed gastric emptying in the absence of mechanical obstruction. It is estimated that about 20%-50% of diabetics suffer from gastroparesis. Clinical Sympoms include early satiety, bloating, nausea, anorexia, vomiting, abdominal pain, and weight loss. Severe gastroparesis might result in recurrent hospitalization, malnutrition, and even death, but, no exact treatment has yet been established. Electrogastrography has been known to be a simple, non-invasive, and effective method in assessing gastric motility and EGG has been used to diagnosis diabetic gastroparesis and to estimate its prognosis. Recently, two cases of diabetic gastroparesis were observed. For this cases, manual acupucture, electroacupucture, lumbar skin warming and herb medicine were applied. After application of these therapies, gastrointestinal symptoms improved and these therapeutic effects were confirmed in EGG. Moreover, blood glucose control improved, so patients were able to discontinue insulin injection and change to p.o.medication. In light of this encouraging application of oriental medicine, this is reported along with investigation of the literature.