• Integrative Medicine Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 2017

Background: Naringenin (NRG) is a common dietary polyphenolic constituent of fruits. NRG has diverse pharmacological activities, and is used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases including gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemaker cells of the GI tract. In this study, the authors investigated the effects of NRG on ICCs and on GI motility in vitro and in vivo. Methods: ICCs were dissociated from mouse small intestines by enzymatic digestion. The whole-cell patch clamp configuration was used to record pacemaker potentials in cultured ICC clusters. The effects of NRG on GI motility were investigated by calculating percent intestinal transit rates (ITR) using Evans blue in normal mice. Results: NRG inhibited ICC pacemaker potentials in a dose-dependent manner. In the presence of tetraethylammonium chloride or iberiotoxin, NRG had no effect on pacemaker potentials, but it continued to block pacemaker potentials in the presence of glibenclamide. Preincubation with SQ-22536 had no effect on pacemaker potentials or on their inhibition by NRG. However, 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one blocked pacemaker potential inhibition by NRG. In addition, L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester blocked pacemaker potential inhibition by NRG. Furthermore, NRG significantly suppressed murine ITR enhancement by neostigmine in vivo. Conclusion: This study shows NRG dose-dependently inhibits ICC pacemaker potentials via a cyclic guanosine monophosphate/nitric oxide-dependent pathway and $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channels in vitro. In addition, NRG suppressed neostigmine enhancement of ITR in vivo.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.238-242
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• 2001

Food allergy is a disease caused by an abnormal immunological reaction to specific food proteins. Whole milk and soy beans are the most frequent causes of food allergy, some studies show that 2.2~2.8% of children aged between 1 and 2 year are allergic to milk. It can be classified to acute (urticaria, asthma, anaphylaxis) or chronic (diarrhea, atopic dermatitis) allergy according to clinical symptoms, or to IgE related or non IgE related allergy by an immunological aspect. Generally, allergies invading only the GI tract are mostly due to a non IgE related reaction. These hypersensitive, immunologic reactions of the GI tract, not related to specific IgE for food, present themselves in many ways such as food protein-induced enteropathy, food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES), celiac disease, food induced protocolitis, or allergic eosinophillic gastroenteritis. FPIES is one kind of non IgE related allergic reaction and is manifested as severe vomiting and diarrhea in infants between 1 week and 3 months. We report a case of FPIES in a 40-day old male infant presenting with 3 times of repeated events of watery diarrhea after cow's milk feeding.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.211-216
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• 2011

The chitosan-coated liposomes (chitosomes) were designed to improve the stability in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and to enhance the efficacy for oral drug delivery of liposomes. The phosphatic acid (PA)-incorporated anionic liposomes were surface-coated with water soluble chitosan (WSC) by electro-ionic interaction. The shape of the chitosomes observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was spherical in all the formulations and the coating layer by WSC could be founded through TEM images. The mean size and the zeta potential values of the chitosomes increased significantly with depending on the content of WSC added for coating the liposomes. The stability of the chitosomes in the GI tract was confirmed through the change of relative turbidity of the liposomal suspension. The plain liposomes (plasomes) suspension without adding WSC clearly showed the change of relatively turbidity in simulated gastric fluid (SGF), while the change degree of turbidity of the chitosomes in the SGF decreased as increasing of WSC content added for coating liposome. In the 5-CF release study from the plasomes and chitosomes, the plasomes released >90% of the initial 5-CF content at 4 h of release measurement. In contrast, the chitosomes released below 40% of initial content of 5-CF. In conclusion, these results indicate that the chitosomes can be used as a potential carrier for effective oral drug delivery.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.107-110
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• 2013

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a common complication of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). However, a similar syndrome has been reported in autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) as well. The target organs of GVHD in ASCT are the skin, liver and gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which are consistent with those in allo-SCT. Histologic findings from the skin and the mucosa of the GI tract also show similar features. Here we describe a case of autologous GVHD involving the skin of a patient who underwent ASCT for multiple myeloma. In this patient, the response to a total prednisone dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day was unsatisfactory, and the patient required more intensive and prolonged immunosuppressive therapy with slow tapering.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.198-203
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• 2008

We report a 10-year-old girl with the blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) who had chronic severe anemia caused by chronic occult bleeding in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The patient was admitted to the hospital frequently for recurrent pallor and fatigue since the age of 7 years. Gastroduodenoscopy and capsule endoscopy revealed multiple venous malformations with blood oozing in the stomach, small bowel and colon. The patient was treated by aggressive surgical resection of the 23 vascular malformations in the GI tract. The patient is well without anemia 15 months post surgery.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.813-817
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• 2005

We investigated the effect of a viscous substance from chongkukjang (chongkukjang mucilage) on immunohistochemical reactions in rat gastrointestinal (GI) tracts, Rats fed a steady diet of chongkukjang mucilage showed an increase in the immunoreactive densities of gastrin and serotonin in the pyloric region of their stomachs and duodenal villi, The number of gastrin and serotonin immunoreactive cells was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group. Feeding on dietary chongkukjang mucilage increased the immunohistochemical densities of $CD4^+$ and $CD8^+$ lymphocytes in the mucosa and submucosa of the rats' gastroduodenal region. The universal nitric oxide synthase (uNOS)-immunoreactive neurons and nerve fibers were strongly stained in the vascular walls of the submucosa and myenteric plexus in rats fed the test diet. The results indicate that the intake of chongkukjang mucilage could increase mucosal immune activity, gastrointestinal motility, and blood circulation in the GI tract.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.49-55
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• 2009

Self expandable metal stent (stent) implantation of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract is now widely accepted for the palliation of obstructive symptoms caused by inoperable malignant UGI obstruction. With the technical progress and accumulation of clinical experiences, it became possible to perform the procedure easily, safely and effectively. However, clinicians should pay attention to the post-procedural care, because early or late complications such as ulceration, pain, bleeding, food impaction, perforation, migration or in-stent tumor growth could occur. In this review, several topics about stent placement in the UGI tract are discussed, such as major indications for stenting, kinds of stents, and post-procedural management.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.181-196
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• 2000

본 연구는 센서스와 GIS가 어떻게 연계활용 될 수 있는지, 센서스 자료의 원할한 활용을 위한 전용의 수치지도가 왜 필요하며 그 제작은 어떠하여야 할지, 인구주택센서스 자료들의 발표기본단위가 될 센서스트랙과 블락 그룹이 왜 필요하며 어떻게 결정되어야 할 지에 관한 연구를 수행하였다. 본 연구의 결론에 의하면: 첫째, 센서스와 GIS가 결합됨으로 인하여 센서스의 방법이며 절차가 좀더 명확히 효율적으로 진행될 수 있고, 각종 분석과 표현이 다양해지고 용이해질 수 있으므로 이에 대한 고려와 연구가 요구되며, 둘째, 한국에서 제작되고 있는 각종의 수치지도들은 방대한 정보들을 포함하고 있어 제작기간이 길고 갱신상의 어려움이 존재하므로 센서스만을 위한 간결한 수치지도를 간략히 개편하여 활용하여도 좋다고 보며, 셋째, 센서스자료의 기본발표단위를 현재의 읍, 면, 동 보다 좀더 세분화된 센서스트랙과 블락그룹 등으로 지정하여야 자료의 유용도가 높아질 것으로 본다. 이들 경계선응 현재 인구주택총조사에 쓰이고 있는 조사구의 경계와 근린주구 이론과 아울러 여러 가지 물리적, 사회적, 경제적, 행정적 요소들을 감안하여 결정하는데, 한 개의 센서스트랙에 인구를 4,000명 정도로 하고 블락그룹은 1,500명 정도로 하되, 한 개의 센서스트랙에 1-9개의 블락그룹이 탄력성 있게 포함되도록 하면 좋을 것으로 본다.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.199-203
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• 1993

Inferior mesenteric plexus block(IMPB) is a nerve block for lower abdominal pain originating from GI tract of distal transverse colon to sigmoid colon and other polvic organ where the inferior mesenteric plexus contains visceral afferent fibers of that organ. We performed IMPB on two patients with lower abdominal pain. Case I: 61 year old female diagnosed with cancer of stomach and uterine cervix and carcinomatosis, experienced complete relief from pain for a period of 7 months after IMPB. Case II: male, 28 years old, who had contracted cancer of the descending colon with obstructive jaundice and pancreatitis had complained of pain in the whole of the abdominal area. IMPB was performed for lower abdominal pain. Seven days after, a celiac plexus block was also performed for upper abdominal pain. The patient complained of recurring pain in the left & upper lower abdomen 30 days after the IMPB. The intensity of the pain was visual analogue scale 4 and it was managed by continuous epidural block. Conclusion: It is our recommendation that IMPB is a reliable method for treatment of lower abdominal pain originating from malignant condition of GI tract from distal transverse colon to sigmoid colon and urinary bladder.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.754-760
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• 2023

Background/Aims: Endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVT) can heal a variety of defects within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract via applying negative pressure, which reduces the defect size, aspirates the infected fluid, and promotes granulation tissue. Here we present our experience with EVT as it relates to both spontaneous and iatrogenic upper GI tract perforations, leaks, and fistulas. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at four large hospital centers. All patients who underwent EVT between June 2018 and March 2021 were included. Data on multiple variables were collected, including demographics, defect size and location, number and intervals of EVT exchanges, technical success, and hospital length of stay. Student t-test and the chi-squared test were used to analyze the data. Results: Twenty patients underwent EVT. The most common defect cause was spontaneous esophageal perforation (50%). The most common defect location was the distal esophagus (55%). The success rate was 80%. Seven patients were treated with EVT as the primary closure method. The mean number of exchanges was five with a mean interval of 4.3 days between exchanges. The mean length of hospital stay was 55.8 days. Conclusions: EVT is a safe and effective initial management option for esophageal leaks and perforations.