• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.1162-1171
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• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the therapeutic effects of a traditional Korean treatment on the symptom improvement and loss of bile juice in cases of functional dyspepsia of gastric dysmotility complicated by bile juice reflux. Methods: Dyspeptic symptoms, gastric motility (electrogastrography and bowel sound analysis), and gastric mucosa (gastroendoscopy) were evaluated. The treatment consisted of Banwhasashim-tang (extract) used as a herbal drug. Both ST36 electrical stimulation and simple immersion stimulation of CV11, 12, and 13 in the abdomen were also applied. Results: Dyspeptic symptoms, including a foreign body sensation in the throat, indigestion, and upper abdominal pain, were all relieved by the treatment and gastric myoelectrical activity and gastric pyloric function were improved. Bile juice disappeared from the gastric mucosa. Conclusion: The traditional Korean treatment was effective at relieving dyspeptic symptoms and bile juice reflux by improving the pyloric sphincter function.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.345-354
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• 2020

Early detection of gastric cancer is crucial because the survival rate can be improved through curative treatment. Although surgery and gastrectomy with lymph node dissection remain as the gold standard for curative treatment, early gastric cancer (EGC) with negligible risk of lymph node metastasis can be treated with endoscopic resection (ER), such as endoscopic submucosal dissection. Among gastric cancers, undifferentiated-type cancer is distinguished from differentiated-type cancer in various aspects in terms of clinical features and pathophysiology. The undifferentiated-type cancer is also known to be associated with an aggressive behavior and a poor prognosis. Therefore, the indication of ER for undifferentiated EGC is limited compared with differentiated-type. Recent studies have reported that ER for undifferentiated EGC is safe and shows favorable short- and long-term outcomes. However, it is necessary to understand the details of the research results and to selectively accept them. In this review, we aimed to evaluate the current practice guidelines and the short-term and long-term outcomes of ER for undifferentiated type EGC.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.49-55
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• 2022

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with gastroduodenal diseases such as gastritis, peptic ulcer diseases, gastric adenocarcinoma, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. Furthermore, various extragastroduodenal diseases have been suggested to be related with H. pylori infection. Although no single factor has been considered the cause of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a negative association was found between the prevalence of H. pylori and GERD severity. Additionally, the role of eradication therapy of H. pylori in reflux esophagitis is controversial, and a significant correlation was found between successful H. pylori eradication rate and reflux esophagitis development. H. pylori infection remains an inconclusive and important issue in GERD. Thus, more experimental studies are necessary to elucidate the potential mechanisms.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.70-75
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• 2015

Along with the recent trend of improved survival in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has become a significant outcome measure and its improvement is an important goal. The most widely adopted CRC specific HRQoL questionnaires are the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Qualityof-Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-CR38) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT-C). CRC survivors without serious comorbidity or recurrence experience only minor deficits of overall HRQoL when compared to the general population. However, disease recurrence, progression, and more specific limitations, including weight loss, reduction in energy, and psychosocial problems like psychological distress and depression, could result in lower HRQoL. To improve HRQoL, further research is required to develop appropriate health education regarding lifestyle changes and personalized intervention strategies for CRC survivors.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2015

With advances in the understanding of the biology and genetics of colorectal cancer (CRC), diagnostic biomarkers that may predict the existence or future presence of cancer or a hereditary condition, and prognostic and treatment biomarkers that may direct the approach to therapy have been developed. Biomarkers can be ascertained and assayed from any tissue that may demonstrate the diagnostic or prognostic value, including from blood cells, epithelial cells via buccal swab, fresh or archival cancer tissue, as well as from cells shed into fecal material. For CRC, current examples of biomarkers for screening and surveillance include germline testing for suspected hereditary CRC syndromes, and stool DNA tests for screening average at-risk patients. Molecular biomarkers for CRC that may alter patient care and treatment include the presence or absence of microsatellite instability, the presence or absence of mutant KRAS, BRAF or PIK3CA, and the level of expression of 15-PGDH in the colorectal mucosa. Molecularly targeted therapies and some general therapeutic approaches rely on biomarker information. Additional novel biomarkers are on the horizon that will undoubtedly further the approach to precision or individualized medicine.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.5-7
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• 2014

Screening and early diagnosis of cancer is important. Screening lead to detect disease earlier, and earlier treatment of disease cause to yield a better outcome than treatment at the onset of symptoms. Some studies suggest that gastric cancer screening may be associated with a reduced risk of mortality from gastric cancer, although there are no definitive data from large controlled trials. Regular colorectal cancer screening or testing is one of the most powerful weapons for preventing colorectal cancer, because some polyps, or growths can be found and removed before they have the chance to turn into cancer. Screening can also result in finding colorectal cancer early, when it is highly curable. In conclusion, to increase utilization of screening is important to decrease gastric and colorectal cancer morbidity and mortality.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2018

Chemotherapy and surgical resection are the mainstay of cancer treatment. Particularly for chemotherapy, although it is effective method to care, sometimes cure various cancers, there are many different status of cancer not being controlled by chemotherapy such as recurrence and resistance to chemotherapy. In order to overcome those difficulties during cancer therapy, immunotherapy targeting immune cells and immune associated factors to enhance cancer immunity has been highlighted. Innate immunity plays important roles on initial stage of cancer immunity that are detecting, killing cancer cells and initiating adaptive immunity for cancer. So many basic and clinical studies to manage innate immunity for cancer therapy have been going on, and most of them were to stimulate innate immune cells including dendritic cell, macrophage, monocyte, and natural killer cell in various ways. They showed promising results but still there are many things to be resolved before clinical application. Herein, I review the role of innate immune cells and therapeutic trials for colorectal cancer.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2024

The incidence and prevalence of upper gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), including gastric NETs (GNETs) and duodenal NETs (DNETs), have been gradually increasing. These trends may be associated with the increased use of health checkups, which includes upper endoscopy, in conjunction with better disease recognition. However, the clinical factors associated with GNETs and DNETs remain unknown; previous studies revealed discrepancies. Recently, metabolic disorders have been indicated as potential factors that are associated with GNETs and DNETs. This review summarizes the results of previous studies and briefly introduces the results of a recent Korean multicenter study on the factors associated with GNETs and DNETs.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.6-14
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• 2024

Gastric cancer is the 4th leading cause of death worldwide. The primary cause of gastric cancer is known to be Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). The advancement of molecular biology has enabled the identification of microbiomes that could not be confirmed through cultivation, and it has been revealed that the microbial communities vary among normal mucosa, atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, and gastric cancer. It has also been confirmed that the composition of the microbial community differs depending on the presence or absence of H. pylori. Whether changes in the microbiome are causative factors in the carcinogenesis process is not yet clear. Experiments using animal models and in vitro studies on the role of microbes other than H. pylori in the carcinogenic process are underway, but the data is still insufficient.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2024

Malignant colorectal obstructions urgently require decompression therapy to prevent the severe risks of intestinal ischemia and bowel perforation. In managing malignant colonic strictures endoscopically, the use of self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) is the predominant approach. Colonic SEMs are primarily used in preoperative decompression therapy before curative surgery and palliative treatment in patients with advanced disease stages. Furthermore, the stenting process, which requires rigorous clinical supervision, can lead to complications. This review endeavors to concisely review the clinical considerations associated with the SEMS procedure, with a focus on its indications, technical aspects, and potential complications that may arise during the procedure.