• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.25 no.5
• /
• pp.422-431
• /
• 2022

Purpose: At the beginning of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic, physicians paid close attention to children with chronic diseases to prevent transmission or a severe course of infection. We aimed to measure the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody levels in children with chronic gastrointestinal and liver diseases to analyze the risk factors for infection and its interaction with their primary disease. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in patients with gastrointestinal and liver diseases (n=141) and in healthy children (n=48) between January and February 2021. Results: During the pandemic, 10 patients (7%) and 1 child (2%) had confirmed COVID-19 infection (p=0.2). The SARS-CoV-2 antibody test was positive in 36 patients (25.5%) and 11 children (22.9%) (p=0.7). SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity was found in 20.4%, 26.6%, 33.3%, and 33.3% of patients with chronic liver diseases, chronic gastrointestinal tract diseases, cystic fibrosis, and liver transplantation recipients, respectively (p>0.05, patients vs. healthy children). Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity were COVID-19-related symptoms (47.2% vs. 14.2%, p=0.00004) and close contact with SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction-positive patients (69.4% vs. 9%, p<0.00001). The use, number, and type of immunosuppressants and primary diagnosis were not associated with SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity. The frequency of disease activation/flare was not significant in patients with (8.3%) or without (14.2%) antibody positivity (p=0.35). Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in children with chronic gastrointestinal and liver diseases are similar to that in healthy children. Close follow-up is important to understand the long-term effects of past COVID-19 infection in these children.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.122-129
• /
• 2008

Purpose: Patients with chronic gastrointestinal disease are at risk for trace element deficiency due to impaired absorption and gastrointestinal loss. The aim of this study was to evaluate the trace element status of patients with gastrointestinal disease by blood and hair analysis, and to determine the usefulness of hair mineral analysis for diagnosing trace element deficiency not detected by a blood test. Methods: An analysis of hair minerals was performed and compared with blood mineral analysis in 13 patients with chronic gastrointestinal disease. The concentration of each element in the hair and blood was compared in the subgroups based on parenteral nutritional support or clinical symptoms. Results: Almost all patients had trace element deficiency. The trace elements deficient in the blood or hair analysis included zinc, selenium and copper. The hair zinc concentration was significantly lower in the group receiving parenteral nutritional support. The hair selenium concentration was statistically associated with the clinical symptoms of hair loss, brittle hair and loss of hair pigmentation. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that patients with chronic gastrointestinal disease should receive adequate zinc and selenium replacement to avoid trace element deficiency especially when treated with long-term parenteral nutrition. Hair mineral analysis is useful as a complementary tool for the detection of a trace element deficiency.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.58 no.10
• /
• pp.363-368
• /
• 2015

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease mainly affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The incidence of the disease is rapidly increasing worldwide, and a number of patients are diagnosed during their childhood or adolescence. Aside from controlling the gastrointestinal symptoms, nutritional aspects such as growth, bone mineral density, anemia, micronutrient deficiency, hair loss, and diet should also be closely monitored and managed by the pediatric IBD team especially since the patients are in the development phase.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.198-204
• /
• 2004

Backgrounds & Methods : Asthma is considered to be chronic inflammatory disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and pulmonary eosinophilia. Recently, there has been many researches about asthma. IBS(Irritable Bowel Syndrome), PUD(peptic Ulcer disease) and GERD(gastroesophageal reflux disease) are the most common diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Recent studies suggest that IBS, PUD and GERD are associated with bronchial hyper-responsiveness and bronchial asthma might be more prevalent in IBS and GERD patients than in control subjects. In addition, there are many comments about the interrelationship between the gastrointestinal problem and asthma in the oriental medical books. Actually, many oriental medical doctors don$^{\circ}$Øt consider the gastrointestinal condition when they deal with the asthmatic patients these days. So, we assessed the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms and histories in a cohort of patients with asthmatic symptoms. We evaluated 128 outpatients with asthmatic symptoms(60 males and 68 females, aged 13-75). All subjects enrolled completed the GSRS(Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale). GSRS is an interview based rating scale consisting of 15 items for assessment of gastrointestinal symptoms in IBS and PUD developed by Jan Svedlund. Results : The limit of total score of GSRS in asthmatic patients is zero to 30. The number of patients with no GI symptoms is 66(51.5%). The number of patients with GSRS>5 is 62(48.4%), GSRS>10 is 24(18.8%), GSRS>15 is 8(6.25%). The number of patients with history of gastritis is 54(42.2%), gastric ulcer is 13(10.2%), gastroptosis is 8(6.25%), IBS is 6(4.68%), others is 6(4.68%). Conclusions : This study suggests that patients with bronchial asthma have an significant prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms. Additional studies are needed to find the mechanism of the association between gastrointestinal symptoms and asthma.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.108-113
• /
• 2023

Dyspnea is a common symptom among patients with gastrointestinal cancer, and a comprehensive evaluation of their respiratory function is essential. Self-reporting aids in the assessment of the degree of dyspnea, while objective examination methods are performed to identify the potential underlying causes when subjective symptoms are present. Standard treatment protocols should be followed for potentially reversible and common causes of dyspnea, such as pleural effusion, pneumonia, airway obstruction, anemia, asthma, exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary thromboembolism, or drug-induced interstitial lung disease. Careful and close monitoring is required due to the high frequency of pulmonary thromboembolism and the risk of cardiovascular accidents, drug-induced interstitial lung disease, or other complications from some anticancer drugs. In case of hypoxemia with an oxygen saturation of 90% or less, palliative treatment should comprise standard oxygen therapy such as nasal cannula, mask, or high-flow nasal cannula. If non-pharmacological oxygen therapy is not effective, pain control through systemic narcotic analgesics and anti-anxiety therapy with benzodiazepines may be helpful.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.11 no.sup2
• /
• pp.19-28
• /
• 2008

Chronic abdominal pain, defined as long-lasting intermittent or constant abdominal pain, is a common pediatric problem encountered by primary care physicians and medical subspecialists. Chronic abdominal pain in children is usually functional, i.e., without objective evidence of an underlying organic disorder. 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. There is insufficient evidence to state that the nature of abdominal pain or the presence of associated symptoms can discriminate between functional and organic disorders. The presence of alarming symptoms or signs, such as weight loss, gastrointestinal bleeding, persistent fever, and chronic severe diarrhea, is associated with a higher prevalence of organic disease. Most children with chronic abdominal pain are unlikely to require diagnostic testing; such children often need pharmacologic and behavioral therapy.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.18 no.7
• /
• pp.317-330
• /
• 2020

The purpose of this study was to compare lifestyle, dietary habit, health attitude and self-efficacy among chronic schizophrenia with upper gastrointestinal disease and chronic schizophrenia to improve lifestyle, dietary habit and health attitude, in each mental health care facilities field, it was attempted to provide basic data to search for alternatives to increase self-efficacy. This study surveyed them from February 20^th to April 30^th in 2019 for data collection. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test, Independent t-test and ANCOVA with SPSS/WIN 22.0. The sociodemographic factor of age and education, the lifestyle factors of carbonated drink and physical activity intensity, the dietary habit factors of overeat, snack, late night meals and fatty food, the other factor of self-efficacy show statistically significant differences among groups. The study provides meaningful data in finding distinctive features of Upper Gastrointestinal Disease among Group with Chronic Schizophrenia. The results indicate that need to develope a variety of intervention methods to promote lifestyle and dietary habit and to enhance self-efficacy of chronic schizophrenia.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.199-210
• /
• 2015

Objectives The aim of this study was to make an analysis of clinical characteristics and status of Sasang constitutional medicine of patients with gastrointestinal symptoms who visited a Korean medicine hospital. Methods We studied 287 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms who visited a Korean medicine hospital from March 1, 2010 to February 30, 2012. We retrospectively collected medical history and characteristics of subjects using data of EMR (electronic medical record). Results The proportion of female was higher than male. Most patients was suffered from chronic gastrointestinal disorder. And they were not under western medicine treatment. Among the 287 patients, 139 persons (48.43%) were Soyangin, 88 persons (30.66%) Taeeumin and 60 persons Soeumin (20.91%). The proportion of Soyangin was higher than other Sasang types. In the distribution of prescription according Sasang Constitutional Medicine symptomatology, the proportion of exterior disease's prescription was higher than interior disease in Soyangin (93.53%). And the proportion of interior disease's prescription was higher than exterior disease in Taeeumin (75.86%) and Soeumin (95.00%). The majority of disease were Gyolhyung-symptom (51.54%) and Mangeum-syndrome (46.15%) of exterior disease in Soyangin, Dry-febrile symptom (73.56%) of interior disease in Taeeumin, and Taeeum-syndrome (95.00%) of interior disease in Soeumin. Conclusions By analyzing on clinical characteristics and distribution of Sasang Constitutional Medicine symptomatology could contribute to the development of guideline for treatment of gastrointestinal disease of Sasang Constitutional Medicine.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.95-107
• /
• 2015

Objective : To use and its affecting factors of patients' outpatient treatment that have single and multiple chronic illnesses Method : We used the 2011 study by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, "Report on Usage and Consumption of Korean Medicine." This report was conducted on outpatients and inpatients that visited Korean traditional medicine, from August 25th, 2011, to September 30th, 2011. Our research was based on 1729 patients with chronic diseases aged 30 and over who received outpatient treatment during the last three months. Results : There were 1365 patients with non-complex chronic diseases, while there were 364 patients with complex chronis diseases. Patients had 1 - 8 chronic diseases, and the average number (standard deviation) was 1.26 (0.59). There were statistically significant differences by sex(P<0.0001), age(p=0.0045), marriage (p=0.0060), education level(p<0.0001), income level(P=0.0063), and types of health insurance(p=0.0023). The diseases most common among patients with non-complex chronic diseases were: low back pain, arthritis, gastrointestinal disorder, frozen shoulder, side effects from motor accidents, high blood pressure, fracture, stroke, diabetes, cancer, atopic dermatitis, and asthma. The diseases most common among patients with non-complex chronic diseases were: arthritis+low back pain, low back pain+gastrointestinal disorder, low back pain+side effects from motor accidents, low back pain+frozen shoulder, arthritis+gastrointestinal disease, gastrointestinal disease+frozen shoulder, arthritis+low back pain+gastrointestinal disease, high blood pressure+arthritis, arthritis+low back pain+frozen shoulder, arthritis+fracture, and arthritis+side effects from motor accidents. There were statistically significant differences among the usage of medical clinics by: frequently used clinic (p<0.0001), number of treatment (p<0.0001), the cost of outpatient treatment (p=0.0073), the satisfaction rate (p=0.0171), whether the clinic is the preferred clinic (p=0.0040). In model 1, men than women, people who had local benefits instead of type 1 medical aid, and patients with complex chronic diseases were more likely to use Korean medical clinics. In model 2, men than women, people who had local benefits than people with types 1 and 2 medical aids, people who went to pharmacies and Korean medicine pharmacies than people who went to hospitals, people who went to get treatment 1-10 times than people who visited 11-20 times and more than 41 times, and people who spent less than ten thousand Korean won than people who spent 1 to 2 million Korean won, and people without complex chronic diseases were more likely to use Korean medical treatment. Conclusion : There were differences in sociodemographic characteristics and the usage of medical clinics between patients with non-complex chronic diseases and patients with complex chronic diseases. Among patients with complex chronic diseases, women, patients with types 1 and 2 medical aid, patients who used Korean medical clinics, patients who were treated 11-20 times and more than 41 times, and patients who spent 1 million to 2 million Korean won on outpatient treatment used less treatment than patients with non-complex chronic diseases. However, patients with complex chronic diseases used pharmacies and Korean medicine pharmacies more.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.987-992
• /
• 2008

This study was carried out to understand the macroscopic aspects of the digestive system symptoms occurring after taking oriental herb complex decoction as observing morphological changes in esophagus, stomach and duodenal bulb by endoscopy of upper gastrointestinal tract when these symptoms developed. The subjects of this study were 46 patients (male 22, female 24, mean age : $54.72{\pm}14.26$ years) who were chosen among ones who took oriental herb complex decoction for medical care and developed symptoms related to the gastrointestinal tract while taking an oriental herb decoction, which were assumed that the digestive symptoms were newly developed because of administration. The subjects were given morphological examination by endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract. As a result of the endoscopy operated due to the digestive symptoms developed during the administration of oriental herb decoction, there were 2 cases of esophagitis, 5 cases of acute gastritis, 1 case of chronic gastritis A type, 15 cases of chronic gastritis B type, 1 case of duodenitis, 1 case of gastric ulcer, 1 case of gastric polyp, 2 cases of intestinal metaplasia, 1 case of gastric ptosis and 17 cases of normal findings which didn't have any abnormality macroscopically with endoscopy. With regards to the patients who complained of the digestive symptoms after taking oriental herb decoction, it has been found that the symptoms occurred as the oriental herbal medicine taken by the patients who had the digestive symptoms at ordinary times influenced on the gastrointestinal tract. Especially, many of them were had chronic gastritis and functional dyspepsia in the past. The disease accompanying macroscopic lesions at endoscopy which occurred due to the oriental herb decoction as direct cause, was acute gastritis, and it was the prescription to cure the pains and inflammations of skeletomuscular disease.