• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2016

Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC) is one of the four subtypes of gastric carcinoma (GC), as defined by the novel classification recently proposed by The Cancer Genome Atlas. EBVaGC has several clinicopathological features such as longer survival and higher frequency of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) and carcinoma with Crohn's disease-like lymphoid reaction that distinguish it from EBV-negative GC. The intensity and pattern of host cellular immune response in GC have been found to significantly correlate with the prognosis of patients with GC, suggesting that immune reaction and tumor microenvironment have critical roles in the progression of GC, and in particular, EBVaGC. Here, we reviewed the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying prominent immune reactions in patients with EBVaGC. In EBVaGC, deregulation of the expression of immune response-related genes promotes marked intra-or peritumoral immune cell infiltration. The expression of programmed death receptor-ligand 1 is known to be increased in EBVaGC, and therefore, it has been proposed as a favorable prognostic factor for patients with EBVaGC, albeit some data supporting this claim are controversial. Overall, the underlying mechanisms and clinical significance of the host cellular immune response in patients with EBVaGC have not been thoroughly elucidated. Therefore, further research is necessary to better understand the role of tumor microenvironment in EBVaGC.

• Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.614-627
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• 2018

Background/Aims Although functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs) are common in children, the accurate pathogenesis of FAPDs is not known yet. Micro-inflammation, particularly tissue eosinophilia of gastrointestinal (GI) tract, has been suggested as the pathophysiology observed in several GI disorders. We aimed to evaluate eosinophilic infiltration throughout the entire GI tract in children with FAPDs, compared to those with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and to normal reference values. Methods We included 56 children with FAPDs, 52 children with Crohn's disease, and 23 children with ulcerative colitis. All subjects underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopic and colonoscopic examination with biopsies. Tissue eosinophil counts were assessed in 10 regions throughout the GI tract. Results Eosinophil counts of the gastric antrum, duodenum, terminal ileum, cecum, and ascending colon were significantly higher in children with FAPDs compared to normal reference values. Eosinophil counts of the stomach and the entire colon were observed to be significantly higher in children with IBD than in those with FAPDs. Even after selecting macroscopically uninvolved GI segments on endoscopy in children with IBD, eosinophil counts of the gastric body, cecum, descending colon, sigmoid colon, and the rectum were also significantly higher in children with IBD than those with FAPDs. Conclusions Significantly high eosinophil counts of the stomach and colon were observed in the order of IBD, followed by FAPDs, and normal controls, regardless of endoscopically detected macroscopic IBD lesions in children. This suggests some contribution of GI tract eosinophils in the intrinsic pathogenesis of FAPDs in children.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.448-461
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• 2013

크론병과 궤양성 대장염으로 잘 알려져 있는 염증성 장질환은 재발과 호전을 반복하는 만성적인 염증 및 이에 따른 합병증을 특징으로 하는 원인 불명의 질환이다. 염증성 장질환의 발생 원인은 아직 명확히 알려져 있지 않지만 흡연이나 식이와 같은 환경적 요인, 장내 세균총과 같은 미생물학적 요인, 면역 매개에 의한 조직 손상과 같은 면역학적 요인 그리고 유전학적 요인 등이 복합적으로 발생기전에 관여 할 것이라고 추정한다. 특히 사이토카인과 같은 염증매개물질에 의해 세포매개염증반응의 일련의 과정이 유발 혹은 증폭되거나, 면역 조절 기능의 면화로 장 점막의 국소적 조직 손상을 유발하게 되며 면역 및 염증 반응이 적절하게 감소되지 않고 지속되어 만성 염증에 이르게 된다. 최근 이러한 염증반응에 중요한 역할을 담당하는 사이토카인 유전자에 관심이 몰리고 있다. 사이토카인은 활성화된 면역세포에서 주로 생성되는 당단백으로서 분자량이 8~10 kD 정도이며, 면역 반응시 T세포, B세포, 대식세포 등의 면역세포 상호간에 활성화, 증식 및 분화 등에 관계하여 국소적 조직 손상 및 염증반응을 일으킨다. 반면에 장의 구조와 기능에 있어 중요한 기질인 식이 섬유소에서 유래되는 Butyrate는 친염증성 사이토카인을 감소시키고 항염증성 사이토카인을 증가시킴으로써 장관 면역계에 대한 조절기능을 보이고 있다. 따라서 본 총설에서는 Butyrate의 항염증 효과에 대한 분자적 기작을 면역세포에서 Butyrate가 가지는 사이토카인 조절 능력을 통해 이해하고 Butyrate가 염증성 장질환에 대해 새로운 치료 전략을 제시 해 줄 것으로 기대한다.

• 대한소아치과학회지
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• 제41권1호
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• pp.80-84
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• 2014

난치성 궤양성 소장결장염은 영아에게서 드물게 나타나는 만성 염증성 장 질환으로 1991년 처음으로 보고되었다. 난치성 궤양성 소장결장염은 주로 영아기에 구강 내 궤양에서 시작되어 항문주위 및 장 질환으로 진행되는 특징을 갖는다. 생후 18일 된 환아가 구강 내 궤양으로 감별할 수 있는 전신질환에 대해 알아보고자 본과로 의뢰 되었다. 당시 구강 내 궤양을 제외한 특이 사항은 없었으며 3주 뒤 혈변이 발생하였다. 대장 내시경 상에서 대장 내 거대 궤양이 발견되었으며 여러검사 결과 난치성 궤양성 소장결장염으로 진단되었다. 치과의사가 난치성 궤양성 소장결장염을 조기에 진단하는 것은 면역 억제제에 반응이 없는 본 질환에 대해 결장절제술을 신속하게 시행함으로써 증상의 완화와 질병의 진행을 막는데 효과적으로 대처할 수 있으므로 매우 중요하다. 또한 대부분의 난치성 궤양성 소장결장염 환아에게서 구강 내 궤양이 가장 먼저 발현되므로 이 질환의 증상과 특징에 대해 아는 것은 매우 의미 있을 것으로 사료되어 보고하는 바이다.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.3-10
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, involves chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Previously, Sasa quelpaertensis leaves have been shown to mediate anti-inflammation and anti-cancer effects, although it remains unclear whether Sasa leaves are able to attenuate inflammation-related intestinal diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Sasa quelpaertensis leaf extract (SQE) using an in vitro co-culture model of the intestinal epithelial environment. MATERIALS/METHODS: An in vitro co-culture system was established that consisted of intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells and RAW 264.7 macrophages. Treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to induce inflammation. RESULTS: Treatment with SQE significantly suppressed the secretion of LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), IL-6, and IL-$1{\beta}$ in co-cultured RAW 264.7 macrophages. In addition, expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ were down-regulated in response to inhibition of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ phosphorylation by SQE. Compared with two bioactive compounds that have previously been identified in SQE, tricin and P-coumaric acid, SQE exhibited the most effective anti-inflammatory properties. CONCLUSIONS: SQE exhibited intestinal anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting various inflammatory mediators mediated through nuclear transcription factor kappa-B (NF-kB) activation. Thus, SQE has the potential to ameliorate inflammation-related diseases, including IBD, by limiting excessive production of pro-inflammatory mediators.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제28권11호
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• pp.1800-1805
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• 2018

Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronically relapsing inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) constitute barrier surfaces and play a critical role in maintaining gut health. Dysregulated immune responses and destruction of IECs disrupt intestinal balance. Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) is the most widely used chemical for inducing colitis in animals, and its treatment induces colonic inflammation, acute diarrhea, and shortening of the intestine, with clinical and histological similarity to human UC. Current treatments for this inflammatory disorder have poor tolerability and insufficient therapeutic efficacy, and thus, alternative therapeutic approaches are required. Recently, dietary supplements with probiotics have emerged as promising interventions by alleviating disturbances in the indigenous microflora in UC. Thus, we hypothesized that the probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis strain BB12 could protect against the development of colitis in a DSS-induced mouse model of UC. In the present study, oral administration of BB12 markedly ameliorated DSS-induced colitis, accompanied by reduced tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$-mediated IEC apoptosis. These findings indicate that the probiotic strain BB12 can alleviate DSS-induced colitis and suggest a novel mechanism of communication between probiotic microorganisms and intestinal epithelia, which increases intestinal cell survival by modulating pro-apoptotic cytokine expression.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.264-269
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• 2003

5-Aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) is an active ingredient of therapeutic agents used for Crohn s disease and ulcerative colitis. Because it is absorbed rapidly and extensively in the upper intestine, delivery of the agent specifically to the colon is necessary. We selected taurine as a colon-specific promoiety and designed 5-aminosalicyltaurine (5-ASA-Tau) as a new colon-specific prodrug of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA). It was expected that introduction of taurine would restrict the absorption of the prodrug and show additive effect to the anti-inflammatory action of 5-ASA after hydrolysis. 5-ASA-Tau was prepared in good yield by a simple synthetic route. The apparent partition coefficient of 5-ASA-Tau in 1-octanol/pH 6.8 phosphate buffer or $CHCl_3$/pH 6.8 phosphate buffer was 0.10 or 0.18, respectively, at $37^{\circ}C$. To determine the chemical and biochemical stability in the upper intestinal environment, 5-ASA-Tau was incubated in pH 1.2 and 6.8 buffer solutions, and with the homogenates of tissue and contents of stomach or small intestine of rats at $37^{\circ}C$. 5-ASA was not detected from any of the incubation medium with no change in the concentration of 5-ASA-Tau. On incubation of 5-ASA-Tau with the cecal and colonic contents of rats, the fraction of the dose released as 5-ASA was 45% and 20%, respectively, in 8 h. Considering low partition coefficient and stability in the upper intestine, 5-ASA-Tau might be nonabsorbable and stable in the upper intestine. After oral administration, it would be delivered to the colon in intact form and release 5-ASA and taurine. These results suggested 5-ASA-Tau as a promising colon-specific prodrug of 5-ASA.

• 한국통신학회논문지
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• 제38C권9호
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• pp.802-812
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• 2013

캡슐 내시경 시스템은 최소 침습적 방법으로 의료진이 환자의 소화기관 검사를 수행할 수 있는 혁신적 기술로 최근 주목 받는 융합 기술이다. 일단 환자가 비타민 알약 크기의 캡슐을 삼키면, 캡슐 내 무선 또는 인체통신 모듈에 의해 전송된 영상정보를 바탕으로 의료진은 캡슐 내시경 진단 시스템을 통해 혈액 이상, 용종, 궤양, 크론병 등 다양한 질환을 진단할 수 있다. 캡슐 내시경은 기존의 케이블 내시경을 대신할 수 있는 혁신 기술이지만 정확한 병증 진단 및 분석 소요 시간 측면에서 단점을 가지고 있다. 즉, 캡슐 내시경은 캡슐내의 소형 카메라를 이용하여 6~12만 프레임의 방대한 양의 정지 영상을 촬영하기 때문에 촬영된 영상을 의료진이 확인하고 정확한 병변을 분석하는데 오랜 시간이 걸린다. 따라서 캡슐 내시경 시스템은 빠른 병변 진단을 위한 도구 및 정확한 병변 진단을 위한 의료 이미지 영상 처리가 필수 요소이다. 본 논문에서는 캡슐 내시경 시스템의 주요 제조사들을 중심으로 거의 알려져 있지 않은 소화기 영상의 빠른 병변 진단 도구에 대한 최근 경향과 정확한 병변 검출을 위한 의료 영상 처리 기술의 최신 동향을 분석하였다.

• 약학회지
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.5-11
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• 1998

5-Aminosalicyl-L-aspartic acid (5-ASA-Asp) and 5-aminosalicyl-L-glutamic acid (5-ASA-Glu) were synthesized as new colon-specific prodrugs of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), their apparent partition coefficients, and the extent of conversion in the homogenates of tissue and contents of various G.I. Tract segments of rats were evaluated. These prodrugs were stable in the homogenate of tissue and contents of stomach, proximal small intestine (PSI) or distal small intestine (DSI). Release of 5-ASA from 5-ASA-Asp after incubation with the cecal and colonic contents for 8hrs at $37^{\circ}C$ was 18%, and 8%, respectively. No significant conversion of prodrug was observed in the cecal and colonic contents of rats pretreated with kanamycin sulfate, which indicated that microbial enzymes were responsible for the cleavage of these prodrugs.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.305-312
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• 2023

Objective: Chronic enteropathy associated with SLCO2A1 gene (CEAS) is a recently recognized disease. We aimed to evaluate the enterographic findings of CEAS. Materials and Methods: Altogether, 14 patients with CEAS were confirmed based on known SLCO2A1 mutations. They were registered in a multicenter Korean registry between July 2018 and July 2021. Nine of the patients (37.2 ± 13 years; all female) who underwent surgery-naïve-state computed tomography enterography (CTE) or magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) were identified. Two experienced radiologists reviewed 25 and 2 sets of CTE and MRE examinations, respectively, regarding the small bowel findings. Results: In initial evaluation, eight patients showed a total of 37 areas with mural abnormalities in the ileum on CTE, including 1-4 segments in six and > 10 segments in two patients. One patient showed unremarkable CTE. The involved segments were 10-85 mm (median, 20 mm) in length, 3-14 mm (median, 7 mm) in mural thickness, circumferential in 86.5% (32/37), and showed stratified enhancement in the enteric and portal phases in 91.9% (34/37) and 81.8% (9/11), respectively. Perienteric infiltration and prominent vasa recta were noted in 2.7% (1/37) and 13.5% (5/37), respectively. Bowel strictures were identified in six patients (66.7%), with a maximum upstream diameter of 31-48 mm. Two patients underwent surgery for strictures immediately after the initial enterography. Follow-up CTE and MRE in the remaining patients showed minimal-to-mild changes in the extent and thickness of the mural involvement for 17-138 months (median, 47.5 months) after initial enterography. Two patients required surgery for bowel stricture at 19 and 38 months of follow-up, respectively. Conclusion: CEAS of the small bowel typically manifested on enterography in varying numbers and lengths of abnormal ileal segments that showed circumferential mural thickening with layered enhancement without perienteric abnormalities. The lesions caused bowel strictures that required surgery in some patients.