Human NSCLCs with activating mutations in EGFR frequently respond to treatment with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as erlotinib but responses are not durable as tumors acquire resistance. Secondary mutations in EGFR (T790M) or upregulation of the MET kinase are found in over 50% of resistant tumors. Here, we report increased activation of AXL and evidence of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in multiple in vitro and in vivo EGFR-mutant lung cancer models with erlotinib acquired resistance in the absence of EGFR T790M or MET activation. Genetic or pharmacologic inhibition of AXL restored sensitivity to erlotinib in these tumor models. Increased expression of AXL, and in some cases its ligand GAS6, was found in EGFR-mutant lung cancers obtained from patients with EGFR TKI acquired resistance. These data identify AXL as a promising therapeutic target whose inhibition could prevent or overcome EGFR TKI acquired resistance in EGFR-mutant lung cancer patients.

Background/Aims

To compare gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and response to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in patients with erosive esophagitis (EE), non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) or functional heartburn (FH) using GERD impact scale (GIS) questionnaire.

Methods

Total 126 patients with GERD symptoms were diagnosed as EE (n = 62), NERD (n = 34) and FH (n = 30) by endoscopy, 24-hour esophageal pH testing and Bernstein test, prospectively. Analysis of risk factors and GIS questionnaire for GERD symptoms and quality of life were performed before and 8 weeks after PPI treatment.

Results

EE group had a higher proportion of men, frequent alcohol consumption, smoking, hiatal hernia, body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2 and triglyceride levels (≥ 150 mg/dL) than the other groups (all P < 0.05). On the other hand, both psychiatric treatment and psychopharmacotherapy were more frequent in patients with FH than in those with EE and NERD (both P < 0.05). Among GERD symptoms, chest pain was more frequent in FH group than in EE and NERD groups (P < 0.05). Eating problems and limitation of productive daily activities occurred frequently in FH group and NERD group, respectively. GIS after 8 week PPI treatment showed improvement in all of the GERD symptoms in EE (all P < 0.05) and in acid regurgitation, epigastric pain and hoarseness in NERD group (all P < 0.05). In terms of quality of life, PPI treatment improved sleep disturbance in EE (P = 0.031) and limitation of productive activity in the NERD group (P = 0.001).

Conclusions

GIS questionnaire showed that different characteristics and symptoms improved after PPI therapy among patients with EE, NERD and FH, demonstrating the usefulness of the GIS questionnaire.

Background/Aims

Intestinal metaplasia (IM) is a premalignant condition. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between endoscopic and histological findings of IM.

Methods

The cases of IM were graded by conventional endoscopy, and biopsies were taken from the antrum and body of 1,333 subjects for histological IM diagnosis. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify the factors that affect the sensitivity of endoscopic IM diagnosis.

Results

The sensitivity/specificity of endoscopic IM diagnosis based on histology was 24.0%/91.9% for the antrum and 24.2%/88.0% for the body. As indicated by multivariate analysis, the presence of endoscopic atrophic gastritis (AG) (odds ratio [OR], 4.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.07 to 10.79) and the activity of mucosal inflammation (OR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.08 to 4.54) were associated with the sensitivity of endoscopic IM diagnosis in the antrum, while the presence of endoscopic AG (OR, 8.02; 95% CI, 4.55 to 14.15), dysplasia (OR, 2.40; 95% CI, 1.07 to 5.39), and benign gastric ulcers (OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.15 to 0.081) were associated with the sensitivity of endoscopic IM diagnosis in the body.

Conclusions

As the sensitivity of endoscopic IM diagnosis was low, a high index of suspicion for IM is necessary in the presence of atrophy, and confirmation by histology is also necessary.

This study presents an advanced multipoint vision-based system for dynamic displacement measurement of civil infrastructures. The proposed system consists of commercial camcorders, frame grabbers, low-cost PCs, and a wireless LAN access point. The images of target panels attached to a structure are captured by camcorders and streamed into the PC via frame grabbers. Then the displacements of targets are calculated using image processing techniques with premeasured calibration parameters. This system can simultaneously support two camcorders at the subsystem level for dynamic real-time displacement measurement. The data of each subsystem including system time are wirelessly transferred from the subsystem PCs to master PC and vice versa. Furthermore, synchronization process is implemented to ensure the time synchronization between the master PC and subsystem PCs. Several shaking table tests were conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed system, and the results showed very good agreement with those from a conventional sensor with an error of less than 2%.

Several children presenting with mild symptoms of respiratory tract infection were diagnosed with unclassified interstitial pneumonia with fibrosis. Their clinical and radiological findings were similar to those of acute interstitial pneumonia, but there were some differences in the pathological findings. Unclassified interstitial pneumonia with fibrosis is characterized by histological findings of centrilobular distribution of alveolar damage and bronchiolar destruction with bronchiolar obliteration. This report describes two different series of familial cases of unclassified interstitial pneumonia with fibrosis, which developed almost simultaneously in the spring. Some of the individual cases showed rapidly progressive respiratory failure of unknown cause, with comparable clinical courses and similar radiological and pathological features, including lung fibrosis. Each family member was affected almost simultaneously in the spring, different kinds of viruses were detected in two patients, and all members were negative for bacterial infection, environmental and occupational agents, drugs, and radiation. These findings implicate a viral infection and/or processes related to a viral infection, such as an exaggerated or altered immune response, or an unknown inhaled environmental agent in the pathogenesis of unclassified interstitial pneumonia with fibrosis.

Background/Aims

Intestinal metaplasia (IM) has been regarded as a premalignant condition. This study evaluated the role of the transforming factor CDX2 according to the severity and type of IM.

Methods

This analysis was performed on 383 subjects with IM in the antrum and/or body, with diagnoses that were categorized as controls, dysplasias, and gastric cancers. The IM grades were classified into four groups as negative, mild, moderate or severe using the updated Sydney scoring system. The IM subtypes were categorized as type I, type II, and type III using high iron diamine and alcian blue (pH 2.5) staining. The CDX2 expression in the IM foci was evaluated using immunohistochemistry in specimens from the antrum and/or body.

Results

CDX2 expression increased according to IM severity (p=0.001) but was not associated with the IM subtype (p=0.881) in the antrum specimens. Similarly, CDX2 expression increased according to the IM grade (p=0.001) but was not associated with the IM subtype (p=0.755) in the body specimens. CDX2 expression was also increased according to baseline disease in the antrum, especially dysplastic and GC group (p=0.003), but not in the body (p=0.582). However, status of Helicobacter pylori infection was not associated with CDX2 expression in the antrum (p=0.692) and body (p=0.271).

Conclusions

These results show that CDX2 expression is associated with the IM grade regardless of the IM subtype and that it was more frequent in the dysplasia group. These results suggest that CDX2 expression might play an important role in the progression of IM in various environments that can affect neoplastic change.

Background/Aims

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori is widely accepted as initial therapy for low-grade gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. However, approximately 20% of patients with this disease are not responsive to H. pylori eradication therapy. The aim of this study was to assess remission and relapse rates of low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma after H. pylori eradication and identify the clinical factors that affect remission.

Methods

Thirty-nine patients diagnosed with gastric MALT lymphoma (May 2003 to May 2010) were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

Of the 39 patients, 30 (77%) had a H. pylori infection. There were 35/39 (90%) patients with stage I. Among stage I, 25 patients with the infection underwent eradication therapy and 22/25 (88%) achieved remission. The total regression rate with eradication only in stage I was 24/28 (86%). The median time to remission was 98 days (range, 22 to 397 days). Age, tumor location, invasion depth, H. pylori burden, and severity of mononuclear leukocyte and neutrophil infiltration were not related to remission. However, patients with less neutrophil infiltration were more likely to achieve a successful first H. pylori eradication (p=0.049).

Conclusions

The results show that the rate of low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma regression (86%) with H. pylori eradication alone was higher than that in Western studies (77.8%) and that neutrophil infiltration was inversely related to success of the first H. pylori eradication procedure.

Background/Aims

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of dual therapy consisting of esomeprazole and amoxicillin as a rescue therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection.

Methods

From December 2009 to August 2010, 21 patients who experienced two consecutive eradication failures were included. They received esomeprazole (40 mg, b.i.d.) and amoxicillin (1,000 mg, b.i.d.) for 14 days as a third eradication regimen. Compliance and side effects were determined from an interview. H. pylori status was evaluated using the 13C urea breath test at least 6 weeks after treatment.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 59 years and included 52% males. Indications for treatment were functional dyspepsia (61.9%), peptic ulcer disease (28.6%), and gastric adenoma (9.5%). H. pylori was eradicated in 14 of 21 (66.7%) patients. Minor side effects were reported in three of the 21 patients (14.3%). These side effects consisted mainly of nausea and epigastric discomfort.

Conclusions

A 2-week course of dual therapy failed to show satisfactory results in third-line H. pylori eradication, but it was very safe and tolerable. Therefore, dual therapy constitutes an encouraging empirical strategy for the elderly and infirm patients with multiple previous eradication failures.

Sparganosis is a rare parasitic infection affecting various organs, including the central nervous system, especially the lumbar epidural space. This report describes the identification of disease and different strategies of treatments with preoperative information. A 42-year-old man presented with a 2-year history of urinary incontinence and impotence. He had a history of ingesting raw frogs 40 years ago. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed an intramedullary nodular mass at conus medullaris and severe inflammation in the cauda equina. A 51-year-old woman was admitted with acute pain in the left inguinal area. We observed a lesion which seemed to be a tumor of the lumbar epidural space on MR imaging. She also had a history of ingesting inadequately cooked snakes 10 years ago. In the first patient, mass removal was attempted through laminectomy and parasite infection was identified during intra-operative frozen biopsy. Total removal could not be performed because of severe arachnoiditis and adhesion. We therefore decided to terminate the operation and final histology confirmed dead sparganum infection. We also concluded further surgical trial for total removal of the dead worm and inflammatory grannulation totally. However, after seeing another physician at different hospital, he was operated again which resulted in worsening of pain and neurological deficit. In the second patient, we totally removed dorsal epidural mass. Final histology and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) confirmed living sparganum infection and her pain disappeared. Although the treatment of choice is surgical resection of living sparganum with inflammation, the attempt to remove dead worm and adhesive granulation tissue may cause unwanted complications to the patients. Therefore, the result of preoperative ELISA, as well as the information from image and history, must be considered as important factors to decide whether a surgery is necessary or not.

Minimally invasive surgical procedures offer advantages of smaller incisions, decreased hospital length of stay, and rapid postoperative recovery to the patient. Surgical robots improve access and visualization intraoperatively and have expanded the indications for minimally invasive procedures. A limitation of the DaVinci surgical robot is a lack of sensory feedback to the operative surgeon. Experienced robotic surgeons use visual interpretation of tissue and suture deformation as a surrogate for tactile feedback. A difficulty encountered during robotic surgery is maintaining adequate suture tension while tying knots or following a running anastomotic suture. Displaying suture strain in real time has potential to decrease the learning curve and improve the performance and safety of robotic surgical procedures. Conventional strain measurement methods involve installation of complex sensors on the robotic instruments. This paper presents a noninvasive video processing-based method to determine strain in surgical sutures. The method accurately calculates strain in suture by processing video from the existing surgical camera, making implementation uncomplicated. The video analysis method was developed and validated using video of suture strain standards on a servohydraulic testing system. The video-based suture strain algorithm is shown capable of measuring suture strains of 0.2% with subpixel resolution and proven reliability under various conditions.

Mediastinal lymphadenopathy associated with extrathoracic malignancy or a metastasis of unknown origin (MUO) requires pathological verification. Surgical exploration or endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration is limited to application. We investigated the effectiveness of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle biopsy (EBUS-TBNA) for evaluating mediastinal lymphadenopathy in patients with an extrathoracic malignancy. We retrospectively analyzed data from 59 patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA with a core biopsy because of a suspected mediastinal metastasis between September 2008 and August 2010. All patients had previously been diagnosed with an extrathoracic malignancy (n = 39, 66.1%) or a suspected MUO without a thoracic lesion (n = 20, 33.9%). A total of 88 lymph nodes was analyzed. EBUS-TBNA findings indicated malignancies in 34 patients (57.6%). The EBUS-TBNA sensitivity and specificity for the detection of mediastinal malignancy in patients with a previous extrathoracic malignancy were 96.3% and 100%, respectively. For MUO patients without a thoracic lesion, the sensitivity and specificity were 61.5% and 100%, respectively. The overall sensitivity and specificity were 81.0% and 100%, respectively (P = 0.053). EBUS-TBNA is a safe and effective modality for evaluating mediastinal lymphadenopathy in patients with a previous extrathoracic malignancy or a MUO without a thoracic lesion. The application of this diagnostic tool is likely to have significant clinical implications.

Background/Aims

The levels of pepsinogen (PG) I and the PGI/II ratio are useful serologic markers for chronic atrophic gastritis. This study evaluated the performance and clinical implications of these markers in patients undergoing endoscopic mucosectomy.

Methods

We enrolled 142 consecutive patients with early gastric tumors and Helicobacter pylori infection who were eligible for mucosectomy. Chronic gastritis and atrophy were assessed using four defined biopsy procedures. Serum PGs were measured by an enzyme immunoassay. Optimal diagnostic cut-offs and performance were determined using receiver operating characteristic curves.

Results

The PGI level and the PGI/II ratio decreased with corpus-dominant gastritis and as atrophy advanced toward the corpus greater curvature (GC). For the presence of corpus GC atrophy, the areas under the PGI and PGI/II-ratio curves were 0.82 and 0.77, respectively. The optimal cut-off levels were 59.3µg/L for PGI (sensitivity, 83.3%; specificity, 78.4%) and 3.6µg/L for PGI/II ratio (sensitivity, 70.0%; specificity, 78.4%). Using these serologic cut-off levels, we found that the frequency of corpus tumor location differed significantly (32.9% vs 11.1% for PGI <59.3 and ≥59.3µg/L, respectively; and 31.1% vs 14.8% for PGI/II ratio <3.5 and ≥3.5, respectively; p<0.05).

Conclusions

A low PGI level and PGI/II ratio are valuable serologic markers for predicting corpus GC atrophy, and have clinical implications with respect to the corpus location of tumors in mucosectomy patients.

Background/Aims

Early tumor detection is crucial for the prevention of colon cancer. Near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging using a target-activatable probe may permit earlier disease detection. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) participate in tumorigenesis and tumor growth. The aim of this study was to determine whether NIRF imaging using an MMP-activatable probe can detect colon tumors at early stages.

Methods

We utilized two murine colon cancer models: a sporadic colon cancer model induced by azoxymethane (AOM), and a colitis-associated cancer model induced by a combination of AOM and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Colonic lesions were analyzed by histologic examination, Western blotting, immunohistochemical staining, and NIRF imaging using an MMP-activatable probe.

Results

Multiple variable-sized tumors developed in both models and progressed from adenomas to adenocarcinomas over time. At the early stage of the AOM/DSS model, diffuse inflammation was observed within the tumors. MMP expression increased progressively through normal, inflammation, adenoma, and adenocarcionoma stages. NIRF signal intensities were strongly correlated with each tumor stage from adenoma to adenocarcinoma. NIRF imaging also distinguished tumors from inflamed mucosa.

Conclusions

NIRF imaging using a protease-activatable probe may be a useful tool for early tumor detection. This approach could translate to improve the endoscopic detection of colon tumors, especially in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Objectives

Morphological studies on presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, have been performed in several different strains of mice that demonstrate hearing loss with auditory pathology. The C57BL/6 (C57) mouse is a known model of early onset presbycusis, while the CBA mouse is characterized by relatively late onset hearing loss. We performed this study to further understand how early onset hearing loss is related with the aging process of the cochlea.

Methods

We compared C57 cochlear pathology and its accompanying apoptotic processes to those in CBA mice. Hearing thresholds and outer hair cell functions have been evaluated by auditory brainstem response (ABR) recordings and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE).

Results

ABR recordings and DPOAE studies demonstrated high frequency hearing loss in C57 mice at P3mo of age. Cochlear morphologic studies of P1mo C57 and CBA mice did not show differences in the organ of Corti, spiral ganglion, or stria vascularis. However, from P3mo and onwards, a predominant early outer hair cell degeneration at the basal turn of the cochlea in C57 mice without definitive degeneration of spiral ganglion cells and stria vascularis/spiral ligament, compared with CBA mice, was observed. Additionally, apoptotic processes in the C57 mice also demonstrated an earlier progression.

Conclusion

These data suggest that the C57 mouse could be an excellent animal model for early onset 'sensory' presbycusis in their young age until P6mo. Further studies to investigate the intrinsic or extrinsic etiologic factors that lead to the early degeneration of organ of Corti, especially in the high frequency region, in C57 mice may provide a possible pathological mechanism of early onset hearing loss.

Background/Aims

Patients with various chronic liver diseases frequently have increased body iron stores. Prohepcidin is an easily measurable precursor of hepcidin, which is a key regulator of iron homeostasis. This study investigated the serum prohepcidin levels in patients with various chronic liver diseases with various etiologies.

Methods

Serum prohepcidin levels were measured in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) (n=28), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (n=24), and alcoholic liver disease (ALD) (n=22), and in healthy controls (n=25) using commercial ELISA. Serum interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels and blood iron indices were also measured.

Results

The serum levels of both prohepcidin and IL-6 were significantly higher in CH-C patients than in healthy controls, and there was a positive correlation between the IL-6 and prohepcidin levels (r=0.505, p=0.020). The prohepcidin levels in ALD patients did not differ from those in controls, despite their significantly elevated IL-6 levels. There was a tendency for a negative correlation between serum prohepcidin levels and transferrin saturation in ALD patients (r=-0.420, p=0.051). Neither prohepcidin nor IL-6 was significantly elevated in the NAFLD group, despite the presence of elevated serum iron and ferritin levels.

Conclusions

The role of prohepcidin may differ in different human liver diseases. In the setting of CH-C, both the serum prohepcidin and IL-6 levels were significantly elevated and were positively correlated with each other.

Background/Aims

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is one of the most common and frequent chronic disease requiring considerable cost. We investigated the medical care costs in the erosive reflux disease (ERD) and non-erosive reflux disease (NERD).

Methods

The risk factors and the direct medical care costs were analyzed retrospectively in the ERD (178 patients) and NERD (183 patients) groups for a follow up period of 2 years.

Results

Logistic regression analysis showed that the ERD was more frequent in the groups of male gender, alcohol consumption, higher body mass index (≥25 kg/m2), hiatal hernia, and higher triglyceride levels (≥150 mg/dL). The direct medical care costs per person for 2 years were found to be $384.8 (ERD) and $412.9 (NERD) without statistically significant differences (p = 0.364). However, 9.3% (17/183) of the NERD patients had visited the emergency room compared to 3.4% (6/178) of the ERD patients (p = 0.029). In addition, more NERD patients were hospitalized than ERD patients (p = 0.006), and because of the longer hospitalization period, the medical costs in NERD patients were higher than ERD patients (p = 0.038).

Conclusions

In spite of the different risk factors for ERD and NERD, total direct medical care costs were similar between the ERD and NERD group. However, more visits to emergency room and longer hospitalization period with more hospitalization costs in NERD patients account for the differences in medical service and usage distribution between the 2 groups.

Background/Aims

There has been a controversy regarding the usefulness of biofeedback therapy for functional constipation or fecal incontinence. This study was performed to investigate the long-term clinical efficacy of biofeedback therapy.

Methods

Sixty-four patients with constipation or fecal incontinence received biofeedback therapy for 4 weeks. Symptom improvements were evaluated immediately after the completion of biofeedback therapy and during the follow-up period of about 12 to 64 months.

Results

Twenty-five patients in the constipation group [mean age of 52.1 years, 16 men (64.0%)] received 6.2 sessions of biofeedback therapy. Improvement of constipation after the completion of biofeedback therapy was as follows: major response (or improvement) in 3 patients (12.0%), fair in 6 (24.0%), minor in 11 (44.0%) and none in 5 (20.0%). Among 9 patients who showed major or fair improvement, 8 patients (88.9%) maintained the symptom improvement through the long term follow-up periods. Thirty-nine patients in the fecal incontinence group [59.7 years old, 15 men (38.5%)] received 6.8 sessions of biofeedback therapy. Improvement of incontinence after the completion of biofeedback therapy was as follows: major improvement in 6 patients (15.4%), fair in 14 (35.9%), minor in 14 (35.9%), and none in 5 (12.8%). All 11 patients with major or fair improvement maintained the symptom improvement to the end of follow-up periods.

Conclusions

Symptom improvements after biofeedback therapy were disappointing in both the constipation and incontinence group. However, when the symptom improvements were classified as major or fair, the improvements continued for at least a year.

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is a rare disorder characterized by a severe impairment of gastrointestinal propulsion in the absence of mechanical obstruction. We experienced a case of chronic pseudo-obstruction in the initial phase mimicking acute pseudo-obstruction, which was treated medically. This ongoing case was compared to another recurrent and intractable case successfully treated with surgery and diagnosed as hypoganglionosis. These two cases showed different clinical features and therapeutic approaches for CIPO; one with the first episode of CIPO mimicking Ogilvie's syndrome; the other with recurrent episodes of CIPO with typical features. In conclusion, CIPO is a difficult disorder with various clinical manifestations and different treatment modalities, therefore individualized diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are needed.

Background/Aims

This study was performed to determine whether low-dose aspirin and/or clopidogrel can induce gastrointestinal bleeding and gastroduodenal mucosal injury.

Methods

A total of 387 patients who underwent coronary angiography at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital were assigned to one of three antiplatelet treatment groups: (1) control, (2) 100-mg enteric coated aspirin, and (3) 100-mg enteric coated aspirin plus clopidogrel. The incidences of gastroduodenal mucosal injury and gastrointestinal bleeding were prospectively evaluated, and risk factors for gastrointestinal bleeding were analyzed.

Results

for gastrointestinal bleeding were analyzed. Results: The rate of gastroduodenal mucosal injury was higher in the aspirin-plus-clopidogrel group than in the aspirin group (p=0.012), and higher in the aspirin group than in the control group (p=0.049). The rate of gastrointestinal bleeding was significantly higher in the aspirin-plus-clopidogrel group (9.4%) than in the control group (2.4%, p=0.048). The risk factors for gastrointestinal bleeding were older age (≥60 years) and the presence of at least two comorbid disorders.

Conclusions

Low-dose enteric coated aspirin was found to be safe in patients with coronary artery disease, but the addition of clopidogrel increased the rate of gastrointestinal bleeding. Combined clopidogrel and aspirin should be used with caution in older patients having at least two comorbid conditions.

Background/Aims

Glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) scavenges radicals via its peroxidase activity. The purpose of this study was to determine the association of GSTP1 genetic polymorphisms with the expression of H. pylori-associated gastroduodenal disease.

Methods

This study involved 1,911 subjects, comprising patients with four diseases (gastric cancer, dysplasia, benign gastric ulcer, and duodenal ulcer disease) and controls. Biallelic polymorphisms were genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques.

Results

The frequency of the genetic polymorphism at nucleotide 313 of GSTP1 did not differ among the five study groups. However, when the gastric cancer group was subdivided into advanced gastric cancer (AGC) and early gastric cancer, the frequency of the G/G genotype was significantly higher in the AGC group than in all the control subgroups (OR: 1.2, 95% CI: 1.1-4.9). The frequency of this genotype differed significantly in the H. pylori-positive AGC group (OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.1-6.3) but not in the H. pylori-negative group. Furthermore, the difference was greater in the intestinal type, and was not found in diffuse types of disease.

Conclusions

This study found that genetic polymorphisms of GSTP1 were associated with H. pylori-associated gastric cancer only during the advanced stage of gastric cancer, with intestinal-type histology evident in H. pylori-positive subjects.

Cytoskeleton-associated protein 2 (CKAP2), also known as tumor-associated microtubule-associated protein (TMAP), is a novel microtubule-associated protein that is frequently upregulated in various malignances. However, its cellular functions remain unknown. A previous study has shown that its protein level begins to increase during G1/S and peaks at G2/M, after which it decreases abruptly. Ectopic overexpression of TMAP/CKAP2 induced microtubule bundling related to increased microtubule stability. TMAP/CKAP2 overexpression also resulted in cell cycle arrest during mitosis due to a defect in centrosome separation and subsequent formation of a monopolar spindle. We also show that degradation of TMAP/CKAP2 during mitotic exit is mediated by the anaphase-promoting complex bound to Cdh1 and that the KEN box motif near the N terminus is necessary for its destruction. Compared to the wild type, expression of a nondegradable mutant of TMAP/CKAP2 significantly increased the occurrence of spindle defects and cytokinesis failure. These results suggest that TMAP/CKAP2 plays a role in the assembly and maintenance of mitotic spindles, presumably by regulating microtubule dynamics, and its destruction during mitotic exit serves an important role in the completion of cytokinesis and in the maintenance of spindle bipolarity in the next mitosis.

Background/Aims

Interactions between H. pylori and gastric epithelial cells contribute to gastric inflammation and epithelial damage. This study was performed to evaluate the gene expression profile of AGS cells by adhesion of H. pylori.

Methods

Changes in AGS cell gene expression induced by co-culturing with H. pylori (G69a strain) (4, 12, 24, 48 hours) were monitored using oligonucleotide microarray. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed for data validation by the Assay-on-Demand Gene Expression product method.

Results

A total of 270 (2.66%) and 19 genes (0.19%) were up-regulated in AGS cells by H. pylori adhesion. Gene ontology analysis showed that up-regulated genes were categorized into endolipidase activity (17 genes), receptor binding (17 genes), integrin binding (4 genes), and two down-regulated genes into GTP binding category. The expression levels of 20 up- and 5 down-regulated genes were quantified by real-time RT-PCR. Sixteen genes involving cytokine activity (IL8, IL1B, TNF), hydrolase activity (PTP4A1, ERCC1, CASP8, CASP7, ACIN1), VIP receptor activity (VIPR2), and neuropeptide Y receptor activity (GPR83) were confirmed to be up-regulated. Five genes, namely, ARF3, M17S2, DDB2, AWP1, and WTAP were confirmed to be down-regulated.

Conclusions

Host genes are significantly changed by H. pylori adhesion, which might explain the gastroduodenal pathogenesis induced by H. pylori infection.

Background

Liver function tests (LFTs) can be affected by many factors and the proposed effects of coffee on LFT require a comprehensive evaluation. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether drinking coffee, smoking, or drinking alcohol have independent effects on LFTs in Korean health-check examinees.

Methods

We used the responses of 500 health-check examinees, who had participated in a self-administered questionnaire survey about coffee, alcohol drinking, and smoking habits.

Results

Coffee consumption was closely related to male gender, high body mass index (BMI), alcohol drinking, and smoking. On univariable and multivariable analyses, drinking coffee lowered serum levels of total protein, albumin, and aspartate aminotransferases (AST). On multivariable analyses, smoking raised serum γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) level and decreased serum protein and albumin levels, while alcohol drinking raised GGT level after adjustment for age, gender, regular medication, BMI, coffee and alcohol drinking amounts, and smoking.

Conclusions

Coffee consumption, smoking, and alcohol drinking affect the individual components of LFT in different ways, and the above 3 habits each have an impact on LFTs. Therefore, their effects on LFTs should be carefully interpreted, and further study on the mechanism of the effects is warranted.

Background/Aims

Colonoscopy training programs and the minimal experience with colonoscopy required to be considered technically competent are not well established. The aim of this study was to determine the colonoscopy learning curves and factors associated with this difficult procedure at a single center.

Methods

A total of 3,243 colonoscopies were performed by 12 first-year gastroenterology fellows, and various clinical factors were assessed prospectively for 22 months. Acquisition of competence (success rate) was evaluated based on two objective criteria: (i) the adjusted completion rate (>90%) and (ii) cecal intubation time (<20 minutes).

Results

The overall success rate in reaching the cecum in less than 20 minutes was 72.8%. The cecal intubation time was 9.34±4.13 minutes (mean±SD). Trainees' skill at performing cecal intubation in <20 minutes reached the requisite standard of competence after 200 procedures. Cecal intubation time decreased significantly from 11.3 to 9.4 minutes after 100 procedures and improved continuously thereafter. Female patients and advanced patient age (over 60 years) were associated with prolonged cecal intubation time (>20 minutes). Surgery of the uterus and ovaries was significantly correlated with delayed cecal intubation time, but not after sufficient colonoscopy experience.

Conclusions

The minimum number of procedures to reach technical competence was 200. The cecal intubation time was longer in female and older patients.