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These results demonstrate that the prevalence of NAFLD in Korean adults, according to sonographic surveys, is comparable to that seen in more developed countries. From the perspective of increasing obesity, the high prevalence rates noted in the study may herald an increased burden of chronic liver disease in the Korean population.

The HER-2/neu protein is intimately involved with normal cell proliferation and tissue growth and is extensively homologous and related to the epidermal growth factor receptor. HER-2/neu protein expression has been most intensively studied in the context of breast carcinoma, in which its amplification and overexpression correlate with the overall course of disease, and with a poor prognosis, and constitute a predictive factor of poor response to chemotherapy and endocrine therapy. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the expression of HER-2/neu and the clinicopathological characteristics of tumors, including survival. This study was performed with a view toward the future introduction of Herceptin therapy for gastric cancer patients. HER-2/neu overexpression and gene amplification was examined with semiquantitative standardized immunohistochemical staining, chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH), and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in 182 gastric cancer patients who underwent curative surgery at the Kangbuk Samsung Hospital. Twenty-nine (15.9%) of 182 patients expressed the HER-2/neu protein by immunohistochemistry. HER-2/neu gene amplification was detected in seven patients by CISH and FISH. Intestinal-type cancers exhibited higher rates of HER-2/neu amplification than did diffuse-type cancers (P < 0.05). Tumors with HER-2/neu amplification were associated with poor mean survival rates (922 vs 3243 days) and 5-year survival rates (21.4% vs 63.0%; P < 0.05). Age, TNM stage, and amplification of HER-2/neu were found to be independently related to survival by multivariate analysis. HER-2/neu amplification may constitute an independent prognostic factor in gastric cancer patients, and patients exhibiting HER-2/neu amplification might constitute potential candidates for new adjuvant therapies which involve the use of humanized monoclonal antibodies.

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Insulin resistance and systemic inflammatory response are of key importance for inducing NAFLD, particularly in apparently healthy non-obese men.

The therapeutic efficacies of EBC and BRTO for the treatment of active GVH and/or high-risk GV appeared to be similar. However, EBC might be associated with a higher rebleeding rate than BRTO. BRTO could be an effective rescue treatment for patients with GVH after initial treatment of EBC.

Background and Aims: Metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance are associated with a higher risk of colon cancer. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is regarded as a manifestation of metabolic syndrome in the liver. This investigation was initiated to determine whether NAFLD has a relationship to colorectal adenomatous polyps. Methods: We examined the 2917 participants who underwent a routine colonoscopy at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital in 2007. We divided the 2917 subjects into the adenomatous polyp group (n = 556) and the normal group (n = 2361). Anthropometric measurements, biochemical tests for liver and metabolic function, and abdominal ultrasonographs were assessed. Results: The prevalence of NAFLD was 41.5% in the adenomatous polyp group and 30.2% in the control group. By multiple logistic regression analysis, NAFLD was found to be associated with an increased risk of colorectal adenomatous polyps (odds ratio, 1.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.60). An increased risk for NAFLD was more evident in patients with a greater number of adenomatous polyps. Conclusion: NAFLD was associated with colorectal adenomatous polyps. Further studies are needed to confirm whether NAFLD is a predictor for the development of colorectal adenomatous polyps and cancer.

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