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Background/aims: Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy is used widely for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In the present study, the characteristics and outcomes of tuberculosis (TB) in IBD patients treated with anti-TNF therapy were compared with those of non-IBD TB patients., Methods: Twenty-five IBD patients who initially developed TB during anti-TNF therapy were enrolled in this study. Seventy-five ageand gender-matched non-IBD TB patients were selected as controls in a 1:3 ratio., Results: The proportion of non-respiratory symptoms was higher in the IBD patients than in the non-IBD patients (12 [48.0%] in the IBD patients vs. 15 [20.0%] in the non-IBD patients; p=0.009). Eight (32.0%) IBD patients and 19 (25.3%) non-IBD patients had extra- pulmonary lesions (p=0.516). The frequency of positive smear results for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) was significantly higher in the non-IBD patients than in the IBD patients (three [12.0%] IBD patients vs. 27 [36.0%] non-IBD patients; p=0.023). Active TB was cured in 24 (96.0%) patients in the IBD group and in 70 (93.3%) patients in the non-IBD group (p=0.409). The TB-related mortality rates were 4.0% and 1.3% in the IBD patients and non-IBD patients, respectively (p=0.439)., Conclusions: The rate of extrapulmonary involvement, side effects of anti-TB medications, and clinical outcomes did not differ between the IBD patients who initially developed TB during anti-TNF therapy and non-IBD patients with TB. On the other hand, the IBD patients had a lower rate of AFB smear positivity and a higher proportion of non-respiratory symptoms.

Gastroscopy and colonoscopy are widely used for the early diagnosis of stomach and colorectal cancer. The present revision integrates recent data regarding previous quality indicators and novel indicators suggested for gastroscopy and colonoscopy procedures for the National Cancer Screening Program in Korea. The new indicators, developed by the Quality Improvement Committee of the Korean Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, vary in the level of supporting evidence, and most are based solely on expert opinion. Updated indicators validated by clinical research were prioritized, but were chosen by expert consensus when such studies were absent. The resultant quality indicators were graded according to the levels of consensus and recommendations. The updated indicators will provide a relevant guideline for high-quality endoscopy. The future direction of quality indicator development should include relevant outcome measures and an evidence-based approach to support proposed performance targets.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic, progressive, and disabling inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with an uncertain etiopathogenesis. CD can involve any site of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus, and is associated with serious complications, such as bowel strictures, perforations, and fistula formation. The incidence and prevalence rates of CD in Korea are still lower compared with those in Western countries, but they have been rapidly increasing during the recent decades. Although there are no definitive curative modalities for CD, various medical and surgical therapies have been applied for the treatment of this disease. Concerning CD management, there have been substantial discrepancies among clinicians according to their personal experience and preference. To suggest recommendable approaches to the diverse problems of CD and to minimize the variations in treatment among physicians, guidelines for the management of CD were first published in 2012 by the IBD Study Group of the Korean Association for the Study of the Intestinal Diseases. These are the revised guidelines based on updated evidence, accumulated since 2012. These guidelines were developed by using mainly adaptation methods, and encompass induction and maintenance treatment of CD, treatment based on disease location, treatment of CD complications, including stricture and fistula, surgical treatment, and prevention of postoperative recurrence. These are the second Korean guidelines for the management of CD and will be continuously revised as new evidence is collected.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and risk factors of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in community subjects with culture-proven bacterial gastroenteritis., Methods: This was a prospective, community-based, cohort study, which followed patients with a recent history of culture-proven bacterial gastroenteritis. IBS was diagnosed with the use of the Rome II criteria at 3 and 6 months after bacterial dysentery., Results: Sixty five cases were included and completed the 6 month follow-up. Thirty four cases (52.3%) were female. Salmonella was the pathogen most frequently identified and seen in 41 patients (63.1%). The cumulative incidence of IBS among patients with microbiologically proven bacterial gastroenteritis within a community was 9.2% and 12.3% at 3 and 6 months of follow-up, respectively. The duration of initial diarrhea (≥ 7 days) was associated with an increased risk for the development of IBS (aOR, 14.50 [95% CI, 1.38-152.72]; p=0.022)., Conclusions: Our study suggests that the incidence of IBS among patients with culture-proven bacterial gastroenteritis within a community is similar to that reported among Western populations. A large, prospective study is encouraged to confirm our results and to evaluate the influence of the microbial species on the epidemiology of IBS in Asian populations.

Background/aims: Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are more likely to experience certain urinary symptoms. The aims of this study were to investigate the association between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and IBS, and to determine their impact on the quality of life., Methods: E-mails were sent to 23,594 men who were registered at an internet survey company. Subjects were requested to fill out the questionnaires regarding IBS and LUTS assessed by the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS)., Results: Among 601 subjects (mean age, 35.5+/-8.4) included in the final analysis, 118 (19.6%) fulfilled the Rome II criteria for the diagnosis of IBS. The total mean IPSS of IBS subjects was 9.6, which was significantly higher than the 7.0 of non-IBS subjects (p<0.01). When IPSS was subcategorized into mild, moderate, and severe symptom categories, the proportions with the moderate and severe symptoms among IBS subjects were 33.9% and 13.6% respectively, which were significantly higher than those of non-IBS subjects; (26.9 and 5.2%) (p<0.01). In multivariate analysis, statistically significant association was found between IBS and moderate to severe LUTS (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.27-2.88). IBS subjects also showed a poorer quality of life score than non-IBS subjects (2.24 vs. 1.65, p< 0.001)., Conclusions: LUTS in adult men with IBS are more severe and have a more negative impact on the quality of life than in non-IBS subjects.