Background/AimsDeficiencies of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) are prevalent in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Liver fibrosis is the main determinant of CLD prognosis. The present study was performed to evaluate the correlation between 25(OH)D levels and liver fibrosis as assessed by transient elastography (TE) in patients with compensated CLD.MethodsSerum 25(OH)D levels and liver stiffness were determined in a total of 207 patients who were subjected to the following exclusion criteria: patients with decompensated CLD; patients who had malignancies; patients who were taking medications; and patients who were pregnant.ResultsThe most common etiology was chronic hepatitis B (53.1%). Advanced liver fibrosis (defined by TE [≥9.5 kPa]) was present in 75 patients (36.2%). There was a significant correlation between 25(OH)D deficiency and liver stiffness. Based on the multivariate analysis, the following factors were independently associated with advanced liver fibrosis: 25(OH)D deficiency (odds ratio [OR], 3.46; p=0.004), diabetes mellitus (OR, 3.04; p=0.041), and fibrosis-4 index (OR, 2.01; p<0.001).ConclusionsPatients with compensated CLD exhibit a close correlation between vitamin D level and liver stiffness as assessed by TE. Vitamin D deficiency was independently associated with advanced liver fibrosis.

Background/Aims: Dual-focus two-stage optical lens technology has been introduced recently. In near-focus mode (NFM), endoscopists can easily examine the mucosal tissue and capillary networks. This study compared the magnified images obtained using NFM and the conventional magnification method (CMM) under narrow-band imaging in patients with gastric epithelial tumors. Materials and Methods: An experienced endoscopist performed endoscopy using NFM and CMM in patients with gastric epithelial tumors. We studied 40 images from 40 endoscopy sessions in 20 selected patients. Ten endoscopists rated the image quality independently on a 5-point Likert scale (from poor=1 to excellent=5) in terms of microsurface structure, microvascular structure, and the demarcation line. Results:The gastric epithelial tumors comprised 10 cases of early gastric cancer, 2 of high-grade dysplasia, and 8 of low-grade dysplasia. The median number of magnified images for each method was 11. The mean observation time (±SD) for magnification was 99.9±64.1 s in NFM and 91.5±64.6 s in CMM (P=0.54). The image quality score for the microsurface structure was higher with NFM than CMM (4.09±0.39 vs. 3.73±0.40, P=0.015), while that for microvascular structure was lower with NFM than in CMM (3.53±0.45 vs. 4.29±0.45, P=0.001). Conclusions: Magnification using NFM provides higher-quality images of the microsurface structure, although its optical zoom is limited compared with CMM. Since NFM can obtain magnified images easily by pushing a button on the scope, it is useful for evaluating gastric epithelial tumors.

A 28-year-old male was admitted to our medical center with general myalgia and fever. After a series of tests, he was diagnosed with P. vivax malaria. On the 5th hospital day, the patient complained of tingling sensation on both hands and feet, which acutely progressed to ascending symmetric motor paralysis.Nerve conduction velocity test and cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed albumino-cytologic dissociation, suggesting polyradiculopathy, and thus he was

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