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Background/Aims: Approximately 20–30% of small bowel capsule endoscopies (SBCEs) do not reach the cecum at the completion of the examination. We aimed to determine whether hypokalemia influences the completion rate and small bowel transit time (SBTT) of SBCE. Patients and Methods: From January to December 2017, 112 patients (18–75 years old) who underwent SBCE were assessed consecutively for enrolment in our study. On the day of the procedure, a blood test was performed prior to capsule ingestion. The completion rate, gastric transit time (GTT), SBTT, and diagnostic yield were recorded for each SBCE. Results: The SBCE completion rate was lower in the hypokalemia group than that in the normal potassium group (55.6% (15/27) vs. 76.5% (65/85), P = 0.036). The median GTT was 55.5 ± 47.1 min in the hypokalemia group and 46.7 ± 44.5 min in the normal potassium group (P > 0.05). The median SBTT was 412.8 ± 123.3 min in the hypokalemia group and 367.3 ± 172.5 min in the normal potassium group (P > 0.05). The diagnostic yields of the hypokalemia and normal potassium groups were 74.1% and 78.8%, respectively (P = 1.00). Conclusion: Hypokalemia may decrease the SBCE completion rate. Physicians should consider the possibility of hypokalemia after bowel preparation because this condition is not rare. Potassium deficiencies should be rectified prior to performing SBCE procedures to increase the SBCE completion rate.

During the past century, the incidence of myocardial infarction has markedly increased worldwide. Percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation is often considered as the first-choice treatment, especially in emergency cases. Current guidelines recommend delayed elective noncardiac surgery for such vulnerable patients. However, few suggestions are available regarding the exact treatment strategy for patients who have already undergone percutaneous coronary intervention but suddenly need emergent noncardiac surgery for an unrelated reason. We herein present a case involving a patient with acute myocardial infarction who had undergone implantation of a drug-eluting stent and developed an ileal perforation due to fish bone ingestion 3 days postoperatively. After carefully balancing the risks of stent thrombosis and uncontrollable bleeding, dual antiplatelet therapy and low-molecular-weight heparin were given with close monitoring. Emergency laparotomy and partial small bowel resection surgery were then performed, after which the patient eventually recovered. This case indicates a possible management strategy for patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by emergency noncardiac surgery.

Background/Aims: Amiodarone, a thyroid hormone-like molecule, can induce dyslipidemia and thyroid dysfunction. However, the effects of dronedarone on lipid metabolism and of both dronedarone and amiodarone on thyroid function and lipid metabolism remain unknown. Methods: Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (10 in each group): normal control (NC), amiodarone-treated (AMT), dronedarone-treated (DRT), rats treated with amiodarone combined with polyene phosphatidylcholine (AC), and rats treated with dronedarone combined with polyene phosphatidylcholine (DC). Rats were given amiodarone (120 mg/kg/d), dronedarone (120 mg/kg/d), and polyene phosphatidylcholine (200 mg/kg/d) for 13 weeks. At the end of weeks 4, 8, 12, and 13, plasma-free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) were determined. At the end of this protocol, rats were sacrificed and the thyroid glands were isolated, weighed, and examined histopathologically. The protein expression of Bcl-2 was measured by immunochemical staining. The mRNA expression of thyroglobulin (Tg), type-1 deiodinase (D1), and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Compared with the NC group, FT3 and FT4 levels in the DRT and DC groups significantly increased at week 4 but declined thereafter. The AMT and AC groups had lower FT3 levels but comparable FT4 levels. The levels of TG, LDL-c, and HDL-c in the NC group were lower than those in the other groups whereas the LDL-c/HDL-c ratio was lowest in the AMT group. Bcl-2 expression significantly increased in the DRT group. The mRNA expression of Tg increased whereas the mRNA expression of D1 decreased. Dronedarone induced hyperthyroidism at the early stage and hypothyroidism at the late stage whereas amiodarone only caused hypothyroidism. Conclusion: Both dronedarone and amiodarone can induce dyslipidemia and increase the levels of TC, LDL-c, and HDL-c, and these effects may be associated with thyroid dysfunction.

Aim: To identify the association of the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) gene polymorphism with the susceptibility of benign lymphoepithelial lesions (BLEL) of the lacrimal gland., Methods: A total of 40 BLEL of lacrimal gland cases were matched with 40 healthy subjects (HS). Extraction the plasma and whole blood DNA of patients of lacrimal gland BLEL and HS. Elisa and polymerase chain reaction was used to determine in plasma contents of MIF and MIF gene SNP-173G>C and STR -794 CATT (5-8) polymorphism, respectively., Results: The MIF levels in plasma were significantly higher in patients with lacrimal gland BLEL versus HS ( P <0.001). The -173 G>C MIF polymorphism was significantly associated with lacrimal gland BLEL, with a significantly higher frequency of the C allele in lacrimal gland BLEL patients compared with HS (OR=2.38, 95% CI=1.07-5.31, P =0.032), and the -173 C/x is more frequent in patients than in HS, P =0.037. Besides, we found that the carriage rate of the MIF -173C/x is associated with higher plasma levels of MIF in the BLEL of lacrimal gland., Conclusion: MIF -173G/C variants play an insidious role in susceptibility of BLEL of lacrimal gland. Otherwise, there is no statistically significant correlation exists between MIF-794 CATT (5-8) and BLEL of lacrimal gland.