Impact of Body Mass Index on the relationship of epicardial adipose tissue to metabolic syndrome and coronary artery disease in an Asian population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In a previous study, we demonstrated that the thickness of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), measured by echocardiography, was increased in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) and coronary artery disease (CAD). Several studies on obese patients, however, failed to demonstrate any relationship between EAT and CAD. We hypothesized that body mass index (BMI) affected the link between EAT and MS and CAD.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We consecutively enrolled 643 patients (302 males, 341 females; 59 ± 11 years), who underwent echocardiography and coronary angiography. The EAT thickness was measured on the free wall of the right ventricle at the end of diastole. All patients were divided into two groups: high BMI group, ≥27 kg/m²(n = 165), and non-high BMI group, < 27 kg/m²(n = 478).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The median and mean EAT thickness of 643 patients were 3.0 mm and 3.1 ± 2.4 mm, respectively. In the non-high BMI group, the median EAT thickness was significantly increased in patients with MS compared to those without MS (3.5 vs. 1.9 mm, p < 0.001). In the high BMI group, however, there was no significant difference in the median EAT thickness between patients with and without MS (3.0 vs. 2.5 mm, p = 0.813). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis predicting MS revealed that the area under the curve (AUC) of the non-high BMI group was significantly larger than that of the high BMI group (0.659 vs. 0.506, p = 0.007). When compared to patients without CAD, patients with CAD in both the non-high and high BMI groups had a significantly higher median EAT thickness (3.5 vs. 1.5 mm, p < 0.001 and 4.0 vs. 2.5 mm, p = 0.001, respectively). However, an ROC curve analysis predicting CAD revealed that the AUC of the non-high BMI group tended to be larger than that of the high BMI group (0.735 vs. 0.657, p = 0.055).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>While EAT thickness was significantly increased in patients with MS and CAD, the power of EAT thickness to predict MS and CAD was stronger in patients with BMI < 27 kg/m². These findings showed that the measurement of EAT thickness by echocardiography might be especially useful in an Asian population with a non-high BMI, less than 27 kg/m².</p

Impact of prior lamivudine use on the antiviral efficacy and development of resistance to entecavir in chronic hepatitis B patients

Background/AimsTo determine the efficacies of entecavir (ETV) in nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA)-naïve chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and in those with prior lamivudine (LAM) use who did not develop resistance.MethodsWe retrospectively enrolled 337 patients with CHB who were treated with ETV (0.5 mg daily) for at least 30 months. The study included 270 (80.1%) NA-naïve patients and 67 (19.9%) LAM-use patients. Ten of the LAM-use patients were refractory to LAM therapy without developing resistance.ResultsGenotypic resistance to ETV developed more frequently in the LAM-use group (13.1%) than in the NA-naïve group (2.6%) at 60 months (P=0.009). In subgroup analysis, after excluding the 10 patients who were refractory to LAM therapy, the cumulative probability of ETV resistance did not differ significantly between the two groups (P=0.149). Prior LAM refractoriness and a higher hepatitis B virus DNA level at month 12 were independent predictive factors for the development of ETV resistance.ConclusionsETV resistance developed more frequently in LAM-use patients with CHB. However, prior LAM use without refractoriness did not affect the development of ETV resistance. The serum hepatitis B virus DNA level at month 12 was a major predictor for the development of ETV resistance

The Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and the Associated Factors to CKD in Urban Korea: A Population-based Cross-sectional Epidemiologic Study

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide problem. This study was designed to survey the prevalence and risk factors for CKD in Korea. The 2,356 subjects were selected in proportion to age, gender, and city. Subjects 35 yr of age or older were selected from 7 cities. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study equation, with albuminuria defined as a urine albumin to creatinine ratio of 30 mg/g or more. The overall prevalence of CKD was 13.7%. The prevalences of CKD according to stage were 2.0% stage 1, 6.7% stage 2, 4.8% stage 3, 0.2% stage 4, and 0.0% stage 5. The prevalences of microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria were 8.6% and 1.6%, respectively. The prevalence of eGFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) was 5.0%. Age, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, diabetes mellitus, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and fasting blood glucose were independent factors related to the presence of CKD. In conclusions, Korea, in which the prevalence of CKD is increasing, should prepare a policy for early detection and appropriate treatment of CKD. The present data will be helpful in taking those actions.Moranne O, 2009, J AM SOC NEPHROL, V20, P164, DOI 10.1681/ASN.2008020159Chin HJ, 2008, NEPHROL DIAL TRANSPL, V23, P2810, DOI 10.1093/ndt/gfn132Zhang LX, 2008, AM J KIDNEY DIS, V51, P373, DOI 10.1053/j.ajkd.2007.11.009BRODSKY J, 2008, AM J KIDNEY DIS S, V51, pS239Imai E, 2007, AM J KIDNEY DIS, V50, P927, DOI 10.1053/j.ajkd.2007.09.004Coresh J, 2007, JAMA-J AM MED ASSOC, V298, P2038Kwan BCH, 2007, CLIN J AM SOC NEPHRO, V2, P992, DOI 10.2215/CJN.04221206Iseki K, 2007, HYPERTENS RES, V30, P167Madan P, 2007, NEPHROL DIAL TRANSPL, V22, P440, DOI 10.1093/ndt/gfl572IMAI E, 2007, CLIN EXP NEPHROL, V11, P156Kuo HW, 2007, AM J KIDNEY DIS, V49, P46, DOI 10.1053/j.ajkd.2006.10.007CHIN HJ, 2007, KOREAN J NEPHROL, V26, P195Ma YC, 2006, J AM SOC NEPHROL, V17, P2937, DOI 10.1681/ASN.2006040368Li ZY, 2006, CLIN CHIM ACTA, V366, P209, DOI 10.1016/j.cca.2005.10.011*KOR SOC NEPHR, 2006, KOREAN J NEPHROL, V25, pS425Fried LF, 2005, J AM SOC NEPHROL, V16, P3728, DOI 10.1681/ASN.2005040384Viktorsdottir O, 2005, NEPHROL DIAL TRANSPL, V20, P1799, DOI 10.1093/ndt/gfh914Shlipak MG, 2005, NEW ENGL J MED, V352, P2049, DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa043161Domrongkitchaiporn S, 2005, J AM SOC NEPHROL, V16, P791, DOI 10.1681/ASN.2004030208Foley RN, 2005, J AM SOC NEPHROL, V16, P489Coresh J, 2005, J AM SOC NEPHROL, V16, P180Go AS, 2004, NEW ENGL J MED, V351, P1296, DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa041031Wasen E, 2004, J INTERN MED, V256, P70John R, 2004, AM J KIDNEY DIS, V43, P825, DOI 10.1053/j.ajkd.2003.12.046Hunsicker LG, 2004, J AM SOC NEPHROL, V15, P1363, DOI 10.1097/01.ASN.0000126069.68755.99Fox CS, 2004, JAMA-J AM MED ASSOC, V291, P844Chadban SJ, 2003, J AM SOC NEPHROL, V14, pS131, DOI 10.1097/01.ASN.0000070152.11927.4ACoresh J, 2003, AM J KIDNEY DIS, V41, P1, DOI 10.1053/ajkd.2003.50007SAMAK MJ, 2003, CIRCULATION, V108, P2154Ramirez SPB, 2002, J AM SOC NEPHROL, V13, P1907, DOI 10.1097/01.ASN.0000018406.20282.C8Ko GTC, 2001, BRIT J NUTR, V85, P239Levey AS, 1999, ANN INTERN MED, V130, P461Iseki K, 1996, KIDNEY INT, V49, P8001

Diode Laser—Can It Replace the Electrical Current Used in Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection?

Background/Aims A new medical fiber-guided diode laser system (FDLS) is expected to offer high-precision cutting with simultaneous hemostasis. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using the 1,940-nm FDLS to perform endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in the gastrointestinal tract of an animal model. Methods In this prospective animal pilot study, gastric and colorectal ESD using the FDLS was performed in ex vivo and in vivo porcine models. The completeness of en bloc resection, the procedure time, intraprocedural bleeding, histological injuries to the muscularis propria (MP) layer, and perforation were assessed. Results The en bloc resection and perforation rates in the ex vivo study were 100% (10/10) and 10% (1/10), respectively; those in the in vivo study were 100% (4/4) and 0% for gastric ESD and 100% (4/4) and 25% (1/4) for rectal ESD, respectively. Deep MP layer injuries tended to occur more frequently in the rectal than in the gastric ESD cases, and no intraprocedural bleeding occurred in either group. Conclusions The 1,940-nm FDLS was capable of yielding high en bloc resection rates without intraprocedural bleeding during gastric and colorectal ESD in animal models

Recent development of innovative resection methods for gastric neoplasms using hybrid natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery approach

There have been an evolutionary development with respect to the resection modality for the treatment of the gastric neoplasms such as gastric subepithelial tumors (SETs) or early gastric cancers (EGCs). Hybrid natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (hybrid NOTES) played a central role in the process of development. In the earlier period, the non-exposure type hybrid NOTES such as laparoscopy and endoscopy cooperative surgery (LECS), endoscope-assisted wedge resection (EAWR), and laparoscopy-assisted endoscopic full-thickness resection (LAEFTR) has been introduced by several investigators. However, a concern about a spillage of gastric content including the tumor cells has been continuously raised among the clinicians. Accordingly, the non-exposure type hybrid NOTES such as combination of laparoscopic and endoscopic approaches to neoplasia with a non-exposure technique (CLEAN-NET), non-exposed endoscopic wall-inversion surgery (NEWS), and hybrid neo-endoscopic full-thickness resection (hybrid neo-EFTR) have been developed to the clinicians. Although most of studies about hybrid NOTES for the treatment of the gastric neoplasms have a small number of patients and require further validations, those are enough to receive our attention. Here, we describe and summarize the development process of the innovative resection methods for gastric neoplasms using hybrid NOTES approach

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced enteropathy

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are well known to be associated with serious upper gastrointestinal complications, such as peptic ulcer, bleeding, perforation, and obstruction. Recently, attention has been mainly focused on the small bowel injuries caused by NSAIDs, and new endoscopic techniques such as capsule endoscopy and double balloon endoscopy can help in detecting such injuries. This article reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of small bowel injuries caused by NSAIDs. Small bowel injures by NSAIDs might occur with a similar frequency and extent as those observed in the upper gastrointestinal tract. The pathogenesis of NSAID-induced enteropathy is complex and not clearly understood. The various lesions observed in the small bowel, including petechiae, reddened folds, loss of villi, erosions, and ulcers can be detected by capsule endoscopy. A drug that could prevent or treat NSAID-induced enteropathy has not yet been developed. Therefore, further investigations should be performed to elucidate the pathogenesis of such enteropathy and develop suitable preventive and treatment strategies

Outcomes and Loop Pattern Analysis of a Road-Map Technique for ERCP with Side-Viewing Duodenoscope in Patients with Billroth II Gastrectomy (with Video)

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients who have undergone a Billroth II gastrectomy is a major challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of the road-map technique for duodenal intubation using a side-viewing duodenoscope for ERCP in Billroth II gastrectomy patients with naïve papilla, and to analyze the formation and release patterns of common bowel loops that occur when the duodenoscope navigates the afferent limb. The duodenoscopy approach success rate was 85.8% (97/113). In successful duodenoscopy approach patients, there were five bowel looping patterns that occurred when the preceding catheter-connected duodenoscope was advanced into the duodenum: (1) reverse ɣ-loop (29.9%), (2) fixed reverse ɣ-loop (5.2%), (3) simple U-loop (22.7%), (4) N-loop (28.9%), and (5) reverse alpha loop (13.4%). The duodenoscopy cannulation and duodenoscopy therapeutic success rates were 81.4% (92/113) and 80.5% (91/113), respectively, while the overall cannulation and therapeutic success rates were 92.0% (104/113) and 87.6% (99/113), respectively. Bowel perforation occurred in three patients (2.7%). The road-map technique may benefit duodenoscope-based ERCP in Billroth II gastrectomy patients by minimizing the tangential axis alignment between the duodenoscopic tip and driving of the afferent limb, and by predicting and counteracting bowel loops that occur when the duodenoscope navigates the afferent limb

Effect of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Eradication Treatment on Metachronous Gastric Neoplasm Prevention Following Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Gastric Adenoma

The long-term effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on metachronous gastric neoplasm prevention after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of gastric adenoma is unclear. This study included patients with confirmed H. pylori infection after ESD with curative resection for gastric adenoma. Patients were divided based on the success of H. pylori eradication treatment into two groups: eradication and non-eradication. Patients with any newly detected lesion within 1 year after ESD and recurrence at the ESD site were excluded from the analysis. Further, 1:1 propensity score matching was also performed to eliminate baseline differences between the two groups. H. pylori eradication treatment was administered to 673 patients after ESD (163 in the successful eradication group and 510 in the non-eradication group). During the median follow-up periods of 25 and 39 months in the eradication and non-eradication groups, metachronous gastric neoplasm was identified in 6 (3.7%) and 22 patients (4.3%), respectively. Adjusted Cox analysis revealed that H. pylori eradication was not associated with increased risk of metachronous gastric neoplasm after ESD. Kaplan–Meier analysis in the matched population yielded similar findings (p = 0.546). H. pylori eradication treatment was not associated with metachronous gastric neoplasm after ESD with curative resection for gastric adenoma