• KSBB Journal
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.303-310
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• 2010

Probiotics beneficially affect the health of the host via various mechanisms in the intestine. Recent developments in probiotic products have mainly been made to maximize probiotic effects in human. In this regard, probiotic products containing doubly coated or encapsulated cells, multi-species probiotics, or high viable cell number (1010 viable cells/gram or more) have been developed and are already available in the market. Until now, the majority of probiotics contain live cells but little attention has been paid to other alternative products such as heat-killed cell or bacteriocin-containing ones, which could have broad applications due to advantages over live cell-based probiotics, such as safety and stability. In addition, genetically engineered lactic acid bacteria could be of great importance in the field of alimentary health if they are carefully designed for biological safety. Although a number of probiotics are marketed by claiming health benefits, regulations for health claims will be more stringent. Therefore sufficient scientific and clinical evidences supporting the safety and efficacy of the potential probiotic strain will be required by the regulatory authority for a health claim, which thus may have a huge impact on the future probiotic market.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.655-659
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• 2008

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction (IPO) is a rare and poorly understood manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), especially in children. The characteristic clinical feature of IPO is obstruction without an identifiable obstructive lesion. The authors a 13-year-old girl whose first symptom of SLE was IPO. The patient presented with a 3-day history of nausea, bilious vomiting, abdominal distention, and no bowel movement. Simple abdominal radiographs revealed mild dilatation with partial air-fluid levels in the small intestine. Abdominal CT and methylcellulose small bowel studies showed massive ascites, engorgement of the small mesenteric vessels, pleural effusion, and diffuse bowel wall thickening of the gastric antrum, duodenum. and jejunum. The delayed passage of contrast for 15 days after the methylcellulose small bowel studies was suggestive of decreased bowel motility. Laboratory findings were positive for ANA, anti-double-stranded DNA, anti-Smith and lymphopenia. After 10-day treatment with high-dose corticosteroids, the symptoms improved. IPO associated with SLE should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with symptoms of intestinal obstruction. Early recognition of IPO in SLE and appropriate therapy are important for prevention of complications and unnecessary surgery. This case raises awareness among pediatricians that although rare, IPO can be the presenting symptom of SLE in children.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.177-182
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• 2009

Purpose: Colitis is a condition associated with a spectrum of altered morphologic changes and cellular adhesion. E-cadherin plays a key role in the establishment and maintenance of epithelial tissue structure and cell-cell adhesion. The purpose of this study is to evaluate E-cadherin expression in colonic epithelium of various colitis in children. Methods: The expressions of E-cadherin were examined in 39 cases of colonic mucosal biopsy specimen using immunohistochemical staining. When more than 50 percent of cells exhibited uniformly the same intensity and pattern of immunostaining as the adjacent normal mucosa, the antigen expression was considered normal. Abnormal expression was defined when less than 50 percent of cells stained, when cells showed a heterogeneously weak or altered distribution, or when complete absence of staining was observed. Results: Fifteen cases with non-specific colitis (38.5%), 7 cases of with Crohn's disease (17.9%), 5 cases of infectious colitis and milk protein sensitive proctocolitis (12.8%), 3 cases of ulcerative colitis (7.7%), 2 cases of Henoch-Schonlein purpura colitis (5.1%), one case of Behcet's disease and ischemic colitis (2.6%) were included in this study. E-cadherin expression was decreased in all kinds of colitis. Reduced expression of E-cadherin was observed in 77 percent of cases. E-cadherin was weaker or no expression in reparative epithelium and "ulcer associated cell lineage". Conclusion: Altered expression of E-cadherin occurs during mucosal inflammation in any kinds of colitis. These changes may be involved in promoting cell migration during epithelial restitution of the gastrointestinal mucosa.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.123-128
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• 2006

Behcet's disease (BD) is a systemic vasculitis characterized by recurrent oral and genital ulcers, and ocular inflammation, and which may involve the joints, skin, central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. Although the exact pathogenesis for BD is not completely understood, it has been suggested that the disease is triggered in genetically susceptible individuals by environmental factors, such as microbial agents. It is noted that multiple genes, including MHC (major histocompatibility complex) and non-MHC genes, are implicated in the pathogenesis of BD. This study tries to determine whether IL-6 gene polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to Behcet's disease in Koreans. Gene polymorphisms were typed by VNTR (variable number of tandem repeat), RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism), DHPLC (denaturing high performance liquid chromatography).There were no evidences for genetic association conferred by the IL-6prom polymorphism. However, significant differences in the IL-6vntr genotype and allele frequencies were found between patients with BD and controls. The IL-6vntr*C allele appeared to be an additional susceptibility gene to Korean BD. Further studies in other populations and gene are required to confirm these results.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1386-1395
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• 2018

Over recent years, it has become evident that the central nervous system bidirectionally interacts with the gastrointestinal tract along the gut-brain axis. A series of preclinical studies indicate that the gut microbiota can modulate central nervous system function through a multitude of physiological functions. Polyphenols are ubiquitous plant chemicals included in foods such as fruits, vegetables, tea, coffee and wine, and their consumption is directly responsible for beneficial health effects due to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, anticancer, vasodilating, and prebiotic-like effects. There is increasing evidence that dietary polyphenol can contribute to beneficial effects in neuronal protection acting against oxidative stress and inflammatory injury as well as in cognitive functions. In this paper, we overview the neuroprotective role of dietary polyphenols especially focusing on the neuroinflammation and neurovascular function by interaction with the gut microbiome. Polyphenol metabolites could directly act as neurotransmitters crossing the blood-brain barrier and modulating the cerebrovascular system or indirectly modulating gut microbiota. In addition, evidence suggests that dietary polyphenols are effective in preventing and managing neurological disorders, such as age-related cognitive decline and neurodegeneration, through a multitude of physiological functions. Dietary polyphenols are increasingly envisaged as a potential nutraceuticals in the prevention and treatment of neurological disorders, because they possess the ability to reduce neuroinflammation, to improve memory and cognitive function and to modulate the gut microbiota.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.96-104
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• 2022

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is an inflammatory bone disorder presenting with sterile osteomyelitis, most often presenting in childhood. Although the etiology is understood incompletely, its association with other auto-inflammatory diseases including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); psoriasis; Wegener's disease; arthritis; and synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome suggests that dysregulated innate immunity may play an important role in the pathogenesis. We report a case of a 13-year-old boy with CRMO associated with Crohn's disease (CD) successfully treated with infliximab after failure of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment. He initially was diagnosed with CRMO based on symmetric and aseptic bone lesions with no fever, lack of response to antibiotic treatment, vertebral involvement, and normal blood cell counts. Despite five months of NSAID treatment, his musculoskeletal symptoms were aggravated, and he developed gastrointestinal symptoms. Finally, he was diagnosed with CRMO associated with CD. Due to the severity of symptoms, infliximab was initiated and produced symptom improvement. This case supports infliximab as another choice for treatment of bowel symptoms in addition to the bone and joint symptoms of CRMO when other first-line treatments are ineffective.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1037-1045
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• 2021

The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide, and since obesity is associated with dietary factors and sedentary lifestyles, it is a disease that is readily developing in the modern population. Because obesity is accompanied by serious complications such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, prevention and treatment are important. Currently, drugs such as liraglutide and phentermine are used to treat obesity by suppressing appetite and inducing gastrointestinal motility delay. However, various side effects may occur, including thyroid cancer, cardiovascular problems, and central nervous system disorders. Therefore, to explore an obesity treatment method with relatively few side effects, a method known as "fat browning" was introduced to change white adipose tissue into brown adipose tissue to increase energy consumption. Ongoing studies are attempting to find effective natural substances to safely induce browning. Many natural substances have been identified. The induction of browning by treatment with natural substances generally involves three mechanisms: positive control of browning-inducing factors, inhibition of differentiation into white adipose tissue, and the activation of mechanisms related to browning. In this study, we describe plant extracts with known browning-inducing effects, such as strawberry, black raspberry, cinnamomum cassia, and Ecklonia stolonifera extracts. We also summarize the underlying mechanisms of action identified thus far, including the signaling pathway mediated by these extracts to induce browning. Furthermore, the effects of brown adipose tissue generated through browning on heart disease as an endocrine organ disruptor are discussed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.787-792
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• 2004

Even though there well developments in various treatment techniques for acute limb ischemia, this disease is both life threatening and limb threatening. We investigated early and mid-term results of operation for acute limb ischemia with symptoms, the combined diseases, location of occlusion, complication in our patients. Material and Method: A retrospective review was conducted in 54 patients (43 men, 11 women, mean age 67.2 years) presenting with acute limb ischemia due to arterial thrombosis or embolism between Jan. 1996 and Dec. 2003, initially underwent thromboembolectomy. Result: In 33 patients (61.1%) the timeinterval from the onset of symptom to admission was within 24 hours. Causes of acute limb ischemia were embolic occlusion (27.8%), native arterial thrombosis (66.7%), and bypass graft thrombosis (5.6%). The distribution of arterial occlusion location was at 8 aortoiliac (14.8%) and 43 distal to femoral (79.6%) and brachial (5.6%). Clinical categories were grade I in 64.8%, IIa in 24.1%, IIb in 7.4%, and III in 3.7%, All the patients were received embolectomy. Underlying diseases were heart disease (72.2%), hypertension (33.3%), cerebrovascular accident (16.7%) and diabetes (18.5%). History of smoking was noted in 96,3% of the cases. Mortality rate was 5.6％ and overall amputation rate was 9.3% (5/54). The 1-year limb salvage rate was 93.62%. Postoperative complications were 1 wound infection, 1 G1 bleeding, 3 acute renal failure, and 1 compartment syndromes. The functional outcomes of the salvaged limb according to the recommended scale for gauging changes in clinical status, revised version in 1997 were +3 in 68.5%, +2 in 9.3%, +1 in 7.4%, -1 in 5.6%, -2 in 3.7%, and -3 in 5.6%. Conclusion: This study revealed 5.6% mortality and the amputation rate was 9.3%. We have retrospectively shown good results from early diagnosis & early operation. To improve outcome, early diagnosis and understand the underlying diseases, prompt treatment and operation would be appreciated.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.40-44
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• 2006

[ $Henoch-Sch{\"{o}}nlein$ ] purpura(HSP) is a systemic small vessel vasculitis characterized by cutaneous purpura, arthritis, abdominal pain and nephritis. The characteristic rash of HSP consists of palpable purpura on the buttocks and lower extremities. Bullous lesions often appear in adults with HSP, whereas they are very rare in children with HSP. In this case report, the patient presented with arthralgia and abdominal pain and had hemorrhagic bullae as a prominent manifestation of the disease. The skin biopsy of the patient revealed typical leukocytoclastic vasculitis of dermal vessels and prominent IgA and fibrinogen deposits on capillary walls by direct immunofluorescence. We confirmed the diagnosis of HSP and observed improvement of clinical symptoms and signs within a few days after corticosteroid treatment. We therefore report a case with a review of the literature.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.19 no.1 s.19
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• pp.85-90
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• 1986

This study was conducted in July-August, 1984, to define the causes of chronic gastrointestinal symptoms in rural population and to provide data for the management of such patients. A household survey was conducted to identify all the residents of Youngchun and Sungiu counties in Kyungpook province who were over 20 years of age, had chronic upper gastrointestinal symptoms for over the last 6 months, never had medical examination for the symptoms, and volunteered to participate in the gastroscopic examination. Gastroscopy was done for 106 males and 108 females. Gastric ulcer was found in 16.8% of all the examinees, duodenal ulcer in 15.4%, gastritis in 14.0%, and gastric cancer in 3.7%. No lesion was found by gastroscopy in 52.3%. Gastric ulcer more common in male(26.4%) than in female(7.4%) (p<0.01) and the same was true for duodenal ulcer(20.8% of male, 10.2% of female). Gastric cancer was found in 7.5% of the male while none of the female had gastric cancer. A higher proportion of the female (68.5%) showed normal finding in the gastroscopy than the male(35.9%) (p<0.01). No significant association was found between the upper gastrointestinal symptoms and the gastroscopic findings. The higher prevalence rate of gastric ulcer than that of duodenal ulcer in this study which is the reverse of the study findings of urban area in Korea and western countries may be related in part with the dietary habit and social environment of the rural population. Although early diagnosis is the most important for the treatment of gastric cancer, many of the people with chronic upper gastrointestinal complaints defer the diagnosis and treatment. It is may be due to lack of the knowledge of diseases and the health care attitude of the rural people. A national program for the health education and mass screening for the gastric cancer should be developed.