• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.62 no.8
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• pp.287-291
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• 2019

Fecal calprotectin (FC) is a calcium- and zinc-binding protein of the S100 family, mainly expressed by neutrophils and released during inflammation. FC became an increasingly useful tool both for gastroenterologists and for general practitioners for distinguishing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from irritable bowel syndrome. Increasing evidences support the use of this biomarker for diagnosis, follow-up and evaluation of response to therapy of several pediatric gastrointestinal diseases, ranging from IBD to nonspecific colitis and necrotizing enterocolitis. This article summarizes the current literature on the use of FC in clinical practice.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.81-85
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• 2018

Amyloidosis is a rare disease that results from the deposition of extracellular protein in various body tissues, causing progressive organ dysfunction. Secondary renal amyloidosis is a rare but serious complication of chronic inflammatory bowel disease, particularly in patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. We report a case of secondary renal amyloidosis in a pediatric patient who reported a 16-year history of "very early onset inflammatory bowel disease". Intensive treatment including repeated infliximab infusions improved clinical parameters of inflammatory bowel disease, although renal dysfunction showed progression. Amyloidosis should be considered in patients with IBD, particularly if they suffered disease progression.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2013

The gut mucosal barrier plays an important role in maintaining a delicate immune homeostasis. The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is considered to involve a defective mucosal immunity along with a genetic predisposition. Recent views have suggested an excessive response to components of the gut microbiota in IBD. A condition of "dysbiosis", with alterations of the gut microbial composition, has been observed in patients with IBD. In this article, the author review recent studies of gut microbiota in IBD, particularly the importance of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of pediatric IBD.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2019

The incidence of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing worldwide, especially in the developing countries. It differs from adult disease in clinical manifestations, especially with regard to genetic predisposition in monogenic IBD. Pediatric disease also have a tendency to show more aggressive inflammation and greater extent of lesion. Newer drugs such as anti-tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ have been known to make a difference in treating pediatric IBD. Recent studies suggested that the patients with high risk factors might have some benefits from earlier use of biologics. To achieve treatment goals such as relieving symptoms, optimizing growth, and improving quality of life while minimizing drug toxicity, more research is needed to develop tools for risk stratification in the use of biologics for pediatric IBD.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.171-177
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was aimed to evaluate the frequency and course of adverse events associated with azathioprine treatment in Korean pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Methods: Total of 174 pediatric patients (age range, 1 to 19 years) with inflammatory bowel disease who received azathioprine in order to maintain remission at Samsung Medical Center (Seoul, Korea) from January 2002 through December 2012 were included in this study. Medical records of these subjects were retrospectively reviewed regarding the development of adverse events associated with azathioprine treatment. Results: Ninety-eight patients (56.3%) of 174 patients experienced 136 episodes of adverse events, requiring dose reduction in 31 patients (17.8%), and discontinuation in 18 patients (10.3%). The mean dose of azathioprine that had been initially administered was $1.32{\pm}0.42$ mg/kg/day. Among the adverse reactions, bone marrow suppression developed in 47 patients (27.0%), requiring dose reduction in 22 patients (12.6%) and discontinuation in 8 patients (4.6%). Other adverse events that occurred were gastrointestinal disturbance (15.5%), hair loss (12.1%), pancreatitis (7.5%), arthralgia (6.9%), hepatotoxicity (2.9%), skin rash/allergic reactions (2.9%), headache/dizziness (2.3%), sepsis (0.6%), and oral mucositis (0.6%). Conclusion: Bone marrow suppression, especially leukopenia was most commonly associated with azathioprine treatment in Korean pediatric inflammatory bowel disease patients. Close observation for possible adverse events is required in this population with inflammatory bowel diseases who are under treatment with azathioprine.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.247-251
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• 2016

The pathophysiology and fundamental etiologic mechanism of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is not well understood even though therapeutic regimens and drugs are rapidly evolutionary. IBD has complicated connections with genetic, immunologic, gut microbial, environmental, and nutritional factors. It is not clearly well known to the physicians how to feed, what nutrients are more helpful, and what food to be avoided. This review discusses the issues of growth and important nutritional concerns in the management of IBD in childhood.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.11 no.sup2
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• pp.59-66
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• 2008

Genome-wide association studies using large case-control samples and several hundred thousand genetic markers efficiently and powerfully assay common genetic variations. The application of these studies to inflammatory bowel disease has led to the identification of susceptibility genes and affirmed the importance of innate and adaptive immunity in the pathogenesis of disease. Efforts directed towards the identification of environmental factors have implicated commensal bacteria as determinants of dysregulated immunity and inflammatory bowel disease. Host genetic polymorphisms most likely interact with functional bacterial changes to stimulate aggressive immune responses that lead to chronic tissue injury.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.218-228
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to identify clinical characteristics of South Korean pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a children's hospital over the past 5 years, with a specific focus on comparing the features observed between Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Additionally, it aimed to examine the nursing diagnoses given to patients. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed the medical records of Korean pediatric patients under 18 years of age who were diagnosed with IBD and hospitalized at a children's hospital in Seoul, South Korea, from January 2017 to December 2021. Results: The number of pediatric patients diagnosed with IBD steadily increased. This finding was particularly prominent for CD patients, the majority of whom were male. Pediatric patients with CD had significantly higher rates of abdominal pain and perianal lesions, while pediatric patients with UC had a higher rate of bloody stool. Laboratory findings indicated that CD patients had higher levels of inflammatory markers and lower albumin levels than UC patients. The nursing diagnoses given during hospitalization mostly related to safety and protection, physical comfort, and gastrointestinal function. Conclusion: This study provides insights into Korean pediatric IBD patients, enabling early detection and the development of nursing intervention strategies. From a comprehensive perspective, nursing care should not only address patients' physical needs but also their psychosocial needs.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2019

Recent studies on pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have revealed that early-onset IBD has distinct phenotypic differences compared with adult-onset IBD. In particular, very early-onset IBD (VEO-IBD) differs in many aspects, including the disease type, location of the lesions, disease behavior, and genetically attributable risks. Several genetic defects that disturb intestinal epithelial barrier function or affect immune function have been noted in these patients from the young age groups. In incidence of pediatric IBD in Korea has been increasing since the early 2000s. Neonatal or infantile-onset IBD develops in less than 1% of pediatric patients. Children with "neonatal IBD" or "infantile-onset IBD" have higher rates of affected first-degree relatives, severe disease course, and a high rate of resistance to immunosuppressive treatment. The suspicion of a monogenic cause of VEO-IBD was first confirmed by the discovery of mutations in the genes encoding the interleukin 10 (IL-10) receptors that cause impaired IL-10 signaling. Patients with such mutations typically presented with perianal fistulae, shows a poor response to medical management, and require early surgical interventions in the first year of life. To date, 60 monogenic defects have been identified in children with IBD-like phenotypes. The majority of monogenic defects presents before 6 years of age, and many present before 1 year of age. Next generation sequencing could become an important diagnostic tool in children with suspected genetic defects especially in children with VEO-IBD with severe disease phenotypes. VEO-IBD is a phenotypically and genetically distinct disease entity from adult-onset or older pediatric IBD.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 2012

The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases is not very well understood; it is currently thought to be caused by the interaction between genetic factors, environmental factors, intestinal microbes, and immune factors. Biological agents such as anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) are widely being used as therapeutic agents. Infliximab, a chimeric monoclonal IgG1 antibody against tumor necrosis factor, has been demonstrated to have an effect in the induction and maintenance of remission in Crohn's disease in children. The effects of biological agents, typified by anti-TNFs, in inflammatory bowel disease in children; the recent concern on the administration of biological agents in combination with immunomodulators; and 'Top-down' therapy are some of the topics covered in this review.