Hyun Ju Kim

Increased 5-hydroxytryptamine mediates post-inflammatory visceral hypersensitivity via the 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor in rats.

Visceral hypersensitivity often develops after intestinal inflammation, but the pathogenic mechanism has not been clearly elucidated. We investigated whether this post-inflammatory visceral hypersensitivity is mediated by 5-hydroxytryptamine through activation of the 5-hydroxytryptaminexa03 receptor. In male Sprague–Dawley rats recovered from acetic acid-induced colitis, we monitored visceral nociceptive response by scoring the abdominal withdrawal reflex and simultaneously measuring the changes in arterial pulse rate. Seven days after induction of colitis, 52% of the rats showed an increased abdominal withdrawal reflex score and arterial pulse rate changes to colorectal distension, indicating that they had post-inflammatory visceral hypersensitivity. The 5-hydroxytryptaminexa03 receptor antagonists, alosetron (20xa0mg/kg, p.o.) and granisetron (10xa0μg/kg, s.c.), inhibited post-inflammatory visceral hypersensitivity. Administration of a 5-hydroxytryptamine precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan; 10xa0mg/kg, s.c.), induced visceral hypersensitivity in naïve rats, which was antagonized by granisetron. Increase in 5-hydroxytryptamine immunoreactive cells in colonic mucosal layer was found both in the rats with post-inflammatory visceral hypersensitivity and in the 5-hydroxytryptophan-treated rats. These results suggest that increased 5-hydroxytryptamine in colonic mucosa mediates post-inflammatory visceral hypersensitivity through activation of the 5-hydroxytryptaminexa03 receptor.

Comparison of long-term clinical outcomes between endoscopic and surgical resection for early-stage adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to analyze long-term clinical and oncologic outcomes in patients with early-stage adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) managed with either endoscopic resection (ER) or surgery.MethodsThe inclusion criteria were AEG, meeting classic or expanded indications for ER of early gastric cancer, and complete resection. A total of 66 patients with Siewert type II AEG were included (ER group, nu2009=u200938; vs. surgery group, nu2009=u200928).ResultsThe mean age of the ER group was greater than that of the surgery group (meanu2009±u2009SD, 66.9u2009±u20099.7 vs. 58.5u2009±u200910.4xa0years, respectively; pu2009=u20090.001). Compared to the ER group, macroscopically flat or depressed-type lesions were more common (47.4 vs. 89.3%; pu2009=u20090.001), and mean lesion size was larger in the surgery group (13.3u2009±u20098.4 vs. 18.6u2009±u200911.0xa0mm; pu2009=u20090.039). One intensive care unit admission and subsequent surgery-related death occurred in the surgery group (1/28 vs. 0/38 in the ER group; pu2009=u20090.424). During follow-up, recurrence was detected in both groups (4/38 vs. 1/28; pu2009=u20090.385). Overall survival and 5-year disease-free survival did not differ between the groups (93.3 vs. 92.9%; p u2009=u20090.282 and 88.0 vs. 100.0%; pu2009=u20090.066).ConclusionsOnce complete resection is achieved in patients with AEG who met the expanded criteria for endoscopic submucosal dissection of gastric cancer, there was no significant difference in clinical outcomes between ER and surgery.

Clinical efficacy of endoscopic ultrasonography for decision of treatment strategy of gastric cancer

BackgroundAccurate preoperative tumor staging of gastric cancer is indispensable with expansion of indications for laparoscopic surgery and endoscopic resection. It is important to distinguish mucosal cancer (T1a) in smaller lesion and differentiate early gastric cancer (EGC) in larger lesion considering endoscopic resection indication and laparoscopic surgery indication. We evaluated the clinical outcomes of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for the decision of treatment strategy of gastric cancer compared with pathological staging.MethodsThe patients who underwent EUS and surgical or endoscopic resection for gastric cancer were retrospectively reviewed between September 2005 and February 2016. The depth of tumor invasion (T staging) by EUS was compared with the pathological staging after endoscopic or surgical resection.ResultsA total of 6084 patients were finally analyzed. The accuracy rates for T1a and EGC were 75.0 and 89.4%, respectively. The overall accuracy of T staging by EUS was 66.3% when divided by T1a, T1b, and over T2. The accuracy of EUS prior to endoscopic resection was 75.1% in absolute indication and 73.1% in expanded criteria, respectively. The accuracy rates for T1a with lesion ≤u20092xa0cm in miniprobe EUS and EGC with lesion >u20092xa0cm in conventional EUS were 84.6 and 83.2%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, presence of ulcer, large tumor size, and radial EUS were associated with overestimation, and small tumor size and miniprobe were associated with underestimation in T staging.ConclusionsEUS showed the high accuracy of 84.6% for T1a in lesion ≤u20092xa0cm in miniprobe EUS and 83.2% for EGC in lesion >u20092xa0cm in conventional EUS, respectively. EUS can be a complementary diagnostic method to determine endoscopic or surgical treatment modality.

Comparison of marginal bone loss between internal- and external-connection dental implants in posterior areas without periodontal or peri-implant disease

Purpose The purpose of this retrospective study with 4–12 years of follow-up was to compare the marginal bone loss (MBL) between external-connection (EC) and internal-connection (IC) dental implants in posterior areas without periodontal or peri-implant disease on the adjacent teeth or implants. Additional factors influencing MBL were also evaluated. Methods This retrospective study was performed using dental records and radiographic data obtained from patients who had undergone dental implant treatment in the posterior area from March 2006 to March 2007. All the implants that were included had follow-up periods of more than 4 years after loading and satisfied the implant success criteria, without any peri-implant or periodontal disease on the adjacent implants or teeth. They were divided into 2 groups: EC and IC. Subgroup comparisons were conducted according to splinting and the use of cement in the restorations. A statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test for comparisons between 2 groups and the Kruskal-Wallis test for comparisons among more than 2 groups. Results A total of 355 implants in 170 patients (206 EC and 149 IC) fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were analyzed in this study. The mean MBL was 0.47 mm and 0.15 mm in the EC and IC implants, respectively, which was a statistically significant difference (P<0.001). Comparisons according to splinting (MBL of single implants: 0.34 mm, MBL of splinted implants: 0.31 mm, P=0.676) and cement use (MBL of cemented implants: 0.27 mm, MBL of non-cemented implants: 0.35 mm, P=0.178) showed no statistically significant differences in MBL, regardless of the implant connection type. Conclusions IC implants showed a more favorable bone response regarding MBL in posterior areas without peri-implantitis or periodontal disease.

Clinical Implication and Risk Factors for Malignancy of Atypical Gastric Gland during Forceps Biopsy

Background/Aims Although forceps biopsy is performed for suspicious gastric tumors during endoscopy, it is difficult to determine treatment strategies for atypical gastric glands due to uncertainty of the diagnosis. The aim of this study was to investigate clinical implications and risk factors for predicting malignancy in atypical gastric glands during forceps biopsy. Methods We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 252 patients with a diagnosis of atypical gastric gland during forceps biopsy. Predictors of malignancy were analyzed using initial endoscopic findings and clinical data. Results The final diagnosis for 252 consecutive patients was gastric cancer in 189 (75%), adenoma in 26 (10.3%), and gastritis in 37 (14.7%). In the multivariate analysis, lesion sizes of more than 10 mm (odds ratio [OR], 3.021; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.480 to 6.165; p=0.002), depressed morphology (OR, 3.181; 95% CI, 1.579 to 6.406, p=0.001), and surface nodularity (OR, 3.432; 95% CI, 1.667 to 7.064, p=0.001) were significant risk factors for malignancy. Conclusions Further evaluation and treatment should be considered for atypical gastric gland during forceps biopsy if there is a large-sized (>10 mm) lesion, depressed morphology, or surface nodularity.

Determination of the critical diabetes duration in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat calvarial defect model for experimentation regarding bone regeneration

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the critical diabetes duration in a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat calvarial defect model for experimentation regarding bone regeneration by evaluating the association between diabetes duration and bone healing capacity through histological and radiographic analyses. Methods Experimental diabetes was induced in 50 of 60 rats by an STZ injection. The rats were divided into 5 groups, including a control group (group 1), according to diabetes durations of 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks, respectively. Eighteen rats survived: 4 in group 1, 4 in group 2, 4 in group 3, 5 in group 4, and 1 in group 5. Calvarial defects were created at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after STZ injection in groups 1–5. Cone-beam computed tomography scanning was performed at baseline and at 5 and 7 weeks after surgery. The rats were sacrificed 7 weeks after surgery, followed by histological evaluation. Results The voxel gray values (VGVs) of group 1 and group 2 increased, whereas the VGVs of group 3 and group 4 decreased starting 5 weeks after surgery, although this trend did not reach statistical significance between groups. On the reconstructed 3-dimensional images and based on an analysis of histological features, groups 1 and 2 showed apparent bone regeneration, while groups 3–5 showed very limited bone regeneration. Conclusions The critical diabetes duration in an STZ-induced diabetic rat calvarial defect model for experimentation regarding bone regeneration was between 2 and 4 weeks. It is suggested that researchers who use STZ-induced diabetic rats wait for more than 2 weeks following diabetes induction before placing implants or conducting bone regeneration studies to allow definite disturbances in bone healing to emerge.

Clinical Outcomes of Endoscopic Hemostasis for Bleeding in Patients with Unresectable Advanced Gastric Cancer

Purpose Bleeding is one of the most serious complications of advanced gastric cancer (AGC) and is associated with a poor prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of endoscopic hemostasis for bleeding in patients with unresectable AGC. Materials and Methods This study included 106 patients with bleeding associated with gastric cancer who had undergone endoscopic hemostasis between January 2010 and December 2013. Clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes, including rates of successful endoscopic hemostasis and rebleeding, risk factors for rebleeding, and overall survival (OS) were investigated. Results Successful initial hemostasis was achieved in 83% of patients. Rebleeding occurred in 28.3% of patients within 30 days. The median OS after initial hemostasis was lower in patients with rebleeding than in those without rebleeding (2.7 and 3.9 months, respectively, P=0.02). There were no significant differences in disease status and rebleeding rates among patients with partial response or stable disease (n=4), progressive disease (n=64), and first diagnosis of disease (n=38). Univariate and multivariate analyses (P=0.038 and 0.034, respectively) revealed that transfusion of ≥5 units of RBCs was a significant risk factor for rebleeding. Conclusions Despite favorable success rates of endoscopic hemostasis for bleeding associated with gastric cancer, the 30-day rebleeding rate was 28.3% and the median OS was significantly lower in patients with rebleeding than in those without rebleeding. Massive transfusion (≥5 units of RBCs) was the only significant risk factor for rebleeding. Patients with bleeding associated with AGC who have undergone massive transfusion should be observed closely following endoscopic hemostasis. Further research on approaches to reduce rebleeding rate and prevent death is needed.