Optimal First-line Eradication Regimens for Helicobacter pylori Infection in Patients with Clarithromycin Resistance: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Helicobacter pylori eradication rates using first-line treatment have decreased due to clarithromycin resistance. The aim of this study was to investigate optimal eradication regimens for patients with clarithromycin resistance in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 72 patients with confirmed clarithromycin resistance were enrolled from August 2015 to July 2017. Patients were randomized to a 7-day bismuth quadruple therapy (BQT) regimen or a 7-day metronidazole triple therapy (MTT) regimen. Eradication was confirmed using the 13C-urea breath test. RESULTS: There were no differences in baseline characteristics between the groups. Intention-to-treat eradication rates were 77.8% for the BQT group and 66.7% for the MTT group (P=0.293). Per protocol eradication rates were 87.5% for the BQT group and 77.4% for the MTT group (P=0.292). Adverse events were more frequent in the BQT group. CONCLUSIONS: Eradication rates using MTT were comparable to those using BQT, and adverse events were less frequent in the MTT group. Thus, MTT may be considered as a first-line regimen for patients with clarithromycin resistance. Since this was a pilot study, a study with a large group is required.

The Risk of Abdominal Obesity according to the Degree of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Korean Men

Although non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has been reported as a cardiometabolic risk factor, the effect of non-alcoholic fatty liver is yet to be clarified on abdominal obesity. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the longitudinal relationship of non-alcoholic fatty liver on the development of abdominal obesity. The study participants were composed of 11,212 Korean men without abdominal obesity. They were followed up from 2005 to 2010 to be monitored for the development of abdominal obesity according to their degree of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (normal, mild, and moderate to severe). Cox-proportional hazard model was used to calculate the hazard ratios for abdominal obesity according to the degree of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. While the average incidence was 15.5%, the incidence of abdominal obesity increased according to the degree of non-alcoholic fatty liver (normal: 11.6%, mild: 25.2%, moderate to severe: 41.0%, P < 0.001). Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios for abdominal obesity independently increased proportionally to the degree of NAFLD (mild [1.07; 0.94-1.23], moderate to severe [1.58; 1.11-2.26], P for trend < 0.001). The risk of abdominal obesity increased proportionally to the degree of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This finding guarantees further studies to reveal the incidental relationship of abdominal obesity with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Two Cases of Primary Esophageal Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma: Therapeutic Considerations and a Literature Review / 대한내과학회지

Primary esophageal lymphoma is very rare, and most reported cases are histologically mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. Therefore, the principle treatment strategy for primary esophageal lymphoma focuses on local treatments, such as endoscopic mucosal resection or radiation therapy, but systemic chemotherapy plays the central role in the treatment of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Generally, standard treatment for DLBCL is six or three cycles of R-CHOP chemotherapy followed by involved field radiation therapy according to stage. However, the optimal treatment strategy for primary esophageal DLBCL, and the role of additional radiation is not settled, due to a paucity of cases. Moreover, the clinical characteristics related to the etiology and natural course are also unknown. Here, we present two cases of primary esophageal DLBCL with a literature review.

Analysis of Risk Factors for Early Tube Exchange in Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a widely-performed procedure for patients undergoing enteral feeding. Due to frequent complications, careful management after the PEG is required. In this study, we investigated the risk factors associated with early exchange of PEG tube. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We did a retrospective survey of 72 patients who received a PEG between January 2009 and April 2014. All patients underwent a tube exchange or removal after the first PEG. Patients who had an exchange within 6 months were defined as 'early exchange' group and the others, as 'late exchange' group. We analyzed the relationship between early exchange and pre-PEG status. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 67.5+/-18.3 years. The most frequent mental status and performance status before the first procedure, was 'alert' (n=48, 66.7%) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score was 4 (n=28, 39.8%). Mean BMI was 20.2+/-3.7 kg/m2 and the majority of PEG cause was cerebrovascular accidents (n=23, 31.9%). Many patients had a tube exchange (or removal) because of tube dysfunction (n=32, 44.4%). The 'early exchange' group showed a lower BMI than 'late exchange' group (19.7+/-3.57 kg/m2 vs. 22.4+/-3.87 kg/m2, P value 0.009). 'Underweight' (BMI less than 18.5 kg/m2) group was more frequently observed in 'early exchange' group. There was no significant difference in pre-PEG status and post-PEG complication between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: A lower BMI was associated with early exchange of PEG. Health providers should pay attention to the nutritional status of PEG patients.

A Case of Spindle Cell Carcinoma of the Stomach Presenting with Hematochezia and Weight Loss Due to Fistulous Tract Formation with Colon / 대한소화기학회지

Spindle cell carcinoma (SpCC) is a rare tumor consisting of spindle cells which express cytokeratin. Despite recent advances in immunohistochemical and genetic studies, precise histogenesis of SpCC is still controversial and this tumor had been referred to with a wide range of names (in the past): carcinosarcoma, pseudosarcoma, sarcomatoid carcinoma, pseudosarcomatous carcinoma, and collision tumor. Recently, the authors experienced an extremely rare case of SpCC arising from the stomach. A 64-year-old male presented with unintended weight loss and hematochezia. Endoscopic examination revealed a fistulous tract between the stomach and the transverse colon which was made by direct invasion of SpCC of the stomach to the colon. Histologically, the tumor was positive for both vimentin and cytokeratin but negative for CD117, CD34, actin, and desmin. Herein, we report a case of SpCC arising from the stomach that formed a fistulous tract with the colon which was diagnosed during evaluation of hematochezia and weight loss.

Recurrent Insulin Autoimmune Syndrome Caused by alpha-Lipoic Acid in Type 2 Diabetes

Insulin autoimmune syndrome (IAS) is characterized by spontaneous hypoglycemia caused by insulin autoantibodies in the absence of exogenous insulin administration. Some drugs containing sulfhydryl compounds are known to initiate the onset of IAS. A 67-year-old female who had diabetes for 5 years visited the outpatient clinic at our institution due to diabetic peripheral polyneuropathy. She was prescribed alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), which contains two sulfur atoms. Two weeks later, she complained of recurrent hypoglycemic symptoms. We detected a high level of insulin and high titers of insulin autoantibodies. Her human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotype included the DRB1*0406 allele, which indicates a high level of susceptibility to IAS. She was treated with prednisolone. After this episode, she experienced two more hypoglycemic events after taking ALA for diabetic neuropathy in other hospitals. As ALA can be used to treat diabetic peripheral polyneuropathy, physician discretion is advised based on the possibility of IAS due to ALA in diabetic patients.

Recurrent Insulin Autoimmune Syndrome Caused by alpha-Lipoic Acid in Type 2 Diabetes

Insulin autoimmune syndrome (IAS) is characterized by spontaneous hypoglycemia caused by insulin autoantibodies in the absence of exogenous insulin administration. Some drugs containing sulfhydryl compounds are known to initiate the onset of IAS. A 67-year-old female who had diabetes for 5 years visited the outpatient clinic at our institution due to diabetic peripheral polyneuropathy. She was prescribed alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), which contains two sulfur atoms. Two weeks later, she complained of recurrent hypoglycemic symptoms. We detected a high level of insulin and high titers of insulin autoantibodies. Her human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotype included the DRB1*0406 allele, which indicates a high level of susceptibility to IAS. She was treated with prednisolone. After this episode, she experienced two more hypoglycemic events after taking ALA for diabetic neuropathy in other hospitals. As ALA can be used to treat diabetic peripheral polyneuropathy, physician discretion is advised based on the possibility of IAS due to ALA in diabetic patients.

Comparison of End-to-side and End-to-end Anastomosis in Circular Stapled Gastroduodenostomy

PURPOSE: The use of automatic circular staplers for gastroduodenostomy after distal gastrectomy is now widely accepted. We compared the clinical outcomes of two different methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 2005 and February 2008, 134 patients with gastric cancer underwent distal gastrectomies. Seventy-six consecutive patients received end-to-side gastroduodenostomies (ES) between March 2005 and September 2006. The remaining 58 consecutive patients received end-to-end gastroduodenostomies (EE) between November 2006 and February 2008. We analyzed the surgical outcomes between the two groups (ES versus EE) on the basis of prospectively collected data. RESULTS: Among the clinical factors, there were no differences between the two groups. The overall complication rates were 19.7% in the ES group and 13.8% in the EE group (P=0.489). With respect to anastomosis-related complications, 2 cases had bleeding and 2 cases had stenoses in the ES group, while 2 cases in the EE group had bleeding. Re-operation was needed in the case of intraluminal bleeding in the ES group. There were no mortalities in our study. CONCLUSION: The two methods for gastroduodenostomy were safe and technically feasible. Although there was no statistical difference in the overall complications, including anastomosis-related complications, we demonstrated better outcomes with respect to anastomotic stenosis in the EE group.