Lipofibromatous hamartoma of a cranial nerve.

Lipofibromatous hamartomas (LFHs) are rare benign tumors that typically present as slow-growing firm masses in the subcutaneous soft tissue of the extremities. These often develop in young adults on the volar aspects of the hands, wrists, and forearms along major nerves and their branches. Only a single case of LFH growth along a cranial nerve has been reported.

Gas-phase self-assembly of soft nanocomposites for efficient gene transfection and photothermal therapy.

The gene transfection efficiency of Au@PDMS-PLL soft nanocomposites was higher than those of SiO-PLL and PEI; and moreover, the nanocomposites did not show significant cell cytotoxicity in in vitro measurements. The soft nanocomposites were also sensitive during photothermal therapy with infrared light, which produced a cytotoxic effect on the targeted HeLa cells.

Rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor: clinical features, endoscopic findings and prognosis.

Background/aims: Rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) accounts for only a small portion of all GISTs, and reports regarding its clinical features and endoscopic findings are still lacking.

Methodology: Thirty-two patients diagnosed as rectal GIST at Asan Medical Center, a tertiary university hospital in Korea between May 2003 and January 2011 were enrolled.

Results: The median age was 54 years (range, 31-79) with 18 males (56.

Clinical outcomes of colonic mucosal cancers with histologically positive or uncertain resection margin after endoscopic resection.

Background/aims: Although incomplete endoscopic resection of colonic neoplasms can lead to the development of interval invasive cancer, few studies have assessed clinical outcomes after histologically incomplete resection of colonic mucosal cancer. We aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with histologically positive or uncertain resection margins after endoscopically complete resection of colonic mucosal cancer.

Methodology: We analyzed the clinical course of 38 patients (median 62 years, male:female = 27:11) who underwent endoscopically complete resection of colonic mucosal cancer, but who showed histologically positive or uncertain resection margins.

TNFSF15 is an independent predictor for the development of Crohn's disease-related complications in Koreans.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease involving the whole gastrointestinal tract. TNFSF15 has been proved as a susceptibility gene for CD, but there are few reports about the association between TNFSF15 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the clinical course of CD.

Aim: To investigate the association between TNFSF15 genotypes and the clinical course of CD in Koreans.

Photoassisted one-step aerosol fabrication of zwitterionic chitosan nanoparticles.

Zwitterionic chitosan nanoparticles (ZCNPs) were conveniently obtained by a one-step aerosol method, and their potential for the production of biocompatible materials was investigated. A low-molecular-weight chitosan was conjugated with succinic anhydride to produce zwitterionic chitosan (ZC). Collison-atomized ZC droplets were simultaneously UV-irradiated and dried in a tube furnace in a one-step aerosol process to produce particles.

A novel high-resolution anorectal manometry parameter based on a three-dimensional integrated pressurized volume of a spatiotemporal plot, for predicting balloon expulsion in asymptomatic normal individuals.

Background: Anorectal manometry with simulated evacuation (SE) has limited applicability in predicting balloon expulsion (BE) test results. The newly developed high-resolution anorectal manometry (HRAM) technique can yield spatiotemporal plots with three-dimensional pressurization. We aimed to define new parameters based on three-dimensional integrated pressurized volume (IPV) for predicting the BE test results in asymptomatic normal individuals.

Rescue bowel preparation: same day 2 L polyethylene glycol addition, not superior to bisacodyl addition 7 days later.

Background: The optimal colon-cleansing method after failure of bowel preparation (BP) for colonoscopy has not been established.

Aims: We aimed to compare BP rescue methods after failed initial BP and to identify risk factors for rescue BP failure.

Methods: Eighty-five patients with BP failure after 4 L polyethylene glycol (PEG) ingestion were prospectively enrolled from March 2008 to March 2012.

Serial Serum HER2 Measurements for the Detection of Breast Cancer Recurrence in HER2-Positive Patients.

Purpose: The measurement of serum human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) extracellular domain levels is a well-established method for evaluating whether a metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer patient will respond to HER2-targeted treatment. However, little is known about the value of serum HER2 for detecting disease relapse following curative surgical treatment in breast cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of serum HER2, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and carcinoma antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3) for the detection of disease recurrence in postoperative breast cancer patients with a primary HER2-positive tumor.

Aerosol-Processed Thermosensitive Nanocomposites for Controlled Drug Release.

In this study, an ambient-spark-produced iron (Fe)-nanoparticle-laden nitrogen gas was mixed with an atomized solution of -isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM)-polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The Fe nanoparticles reacted with NIPAM-PDMS in the atomized droplets to form encapsulated Fe nanoparticles, i.e.

Risk and clinical characteristics of lymphoma in Korean patients with inflammatory bowel diseases: a multicenter study.

Background And Aims: Studies of lymphoma risk in Western inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients show conflicting results; however, none have examined the lymphoma risk and clinical characteristics of Asian IBD patients.

Methods: Patients with lymphoma were identified in an IBD database from 3 tertiary referral centers in Seoul, Korea. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of lymphoma was estimated using data from the Korea Central Cancer Registry of the National Cancer Center.

The 'either test positive' strategy for latent tuberculous infection before anti-tumour necrosis factor treatment.

Setting: A ttertiary referral centre in South Korea.

Objectives: The 'either test positive' strategy, incorporating both the tuberculin skin test (TST) and the T-SPOT(®).TB(T-SPOT) assay, was evaluated as a novel method for diagnosing latent tuberculous infection (LTBI) before treatment with anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.

Clinical features and course of ulcerative colitis diagnosed in asymptomatic subjects.

Background And Aims: Although some ulcerative colitis (UC) patients are diagnosed when they do not have any UC-related symptoms, clinical features and prognosis of UC diagnosed in asymptomatic patients remain unclear.

Methods: Data for UC patients who were asymptomatic at diagnosis were retrospectively reviewed from the IBD database of the Asan Medical Center. The clinical characteristics and prognosis of those patients were analyzed and compared with matched (1:4) symptomatic UC patients.

Aerosol-based fabrication of modified chitosans and their application for gene transfection.

Modified chitosan nanoparticles were conveniently obtained by a one-step aerosol method, and their potential for gene transfection was investigated. Droplets containing modified chitosans were formed by collison atomization, dried to form solid particles, and collected and studied for potential use as nanocarriers. Modified chitosans consisted of a chitosan backbone and an additional component [covalently attached cholesterol; or blends with poly(l-lysine) (PLL), polyethyleneimine (PEI), or poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)].

Approaching pancreatic duct through pancreaticojejunostomy site with double ballon enteroscope in patients with Roux-en-Y anatomy.

Background/aims: Double balloon enteroscopy (DBE)-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is frequently performed in patients with surgically altered intestinal anatomy. Moreover, it is also utilized in some cases with pancreatic indications, particularly patients with Roux-en-Y anatomy following Whipple’s procedure or pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy. Here, we present our experiences using DBE-assisted ERCP in patients with Roux-en-Y anatomy, with a focus on pancreatic indications.

Atypical distribution of inflammation in newly diagnosed ulcerative colitis is not rare.

Background: Appendiceal orifice inflammation (AOI) is a common 'skip lesion' in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). However, other skip lesions are less well known.

Objective: To evaluate the atypical distribution of UC lesions, other than AOI, in terms of their frequency, pattern, risk factors and prognostic implications.

Fabrication of bimetallic nanostructures via aerosol-assisted electroless silver deposition for catalytic CO conversion.

Bimetallic nanostructures were fabricated via aerosol-assisted electroless silver deposition for catalytic CO conversion. An ambient spark discharge was employed to produce nanocatalysts, and the particles were directly deposited on a polytetrafluoroethylene substrate for initiating silver deposition to form Pd-Ag, Pt-Ag, Au-Ag bimetallic nanostructures as well as a pure Ag nanostructure. Kinetics and morphological evolutions in the silver deposition with different nanocatalysts were comparatively studied.

Chitosan-Conjugated Dendritic Ag Nanopowders for Photothermal Therapy Applications.

We report the development of Ag nanodendrites where ultrafine Pd particles served as seeds for the subsequent deposition of Ag on their surfaces. By applying chitosan as both a reductant and a stabilizer, chitosan-conjugated Ag dendritic nanopowders were continuously synthesized using a serial system consisting of a spark discharge, an ultrasound-assisted polyol cell, and a collison atomizer with a heated tubular reactor. The resulting materials were then employed to kill cancerous cells photothermally.

Long-term prognosis of crohn's disease and its temporal change between 1981 and 2012: a hospital-based cohort study from Korea.

Background: To date, no large-scale studies have evaluated the prognosis of Crohn's disease (CD) over a period of 3 decades in non-Caucasian populations. The aims of this study were to update the current information on the long-term prognosis of CD using a large series of patients and to evaluate changes in treatment paradigms over time and their impact on the prognosis of CD in Korea.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 2043 Korean patients with CD who visited the Asan Medical Center.

Clinical utility of cytomegalovirus antigenemia assay and blood cytomegalovirus DNA PCR for cytomegaloviral colitis patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis.

Background And Aims: Clinical usefulness of cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigenemia assay and blood CMV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) needs to be evaluated.

Methods: Medical records of moderate to severe UC patients between January 2001 and December 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. Diagnostic performances of CMV antigenemia assay and blood PCR to predict CMV colitis, and clinical outcome according to the results were analyzed.

Risk of developing metachronous colon neoplasm after polypectomy: comparison of one-stage versus two-stage polypectomy.

Background: The impact of one-stage polypectomy (removal of all neoplasms during diagnostic colonoscopy) versus two-stage polypectomy (removal of all neoplasms during therapeutic colonoscopy following the initial diagnostic colonoscopy) on the development of metachronous neoplasms is poorly understood. Our aim was to compare the effects of one- versus two-stage polypectomy on the development of metachronous neoplasms

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 249 patients in a tertiary center who underwent one-stage polypectomy, which was followed by one or more surveillance colonoscopy. The development of metachronous neoplasm in this group was compared with that of an age- and sex-matched two-stage polypectomy group consisting of 498 patients

Results: In total, 346 (46.

Normal values for high-resolution anorectal manometry/topography in a healthy Korean population and the effects of gender and body mass index.

Background: High-resolution manometry (HRM) based on spatiotemporal plots is increasingly being used. The aim this study was to evaluate, for the first time, the influence of gender, with adjustment for age, body mass index (BMI), and vaginal delivery, on anorectal functions in asymptomatic adults.

Methods: Fifty-four asymptomatic healthy subjects (M : F = 27 : 27; age = 20-67 years) who were matched by age and gender were enrolled prospectively.

Au-TiO(2) nanoscale heterodimers synthesis from an ambient spark discharge for efficient photocatalytic and photothermal activity.

Ultrafine Au particles incorporating TiO2 heterodimers were synthesized using an ambient heterogeneous spark discharge and the resultant materials were employed both in oxidizing photocatalytically CO gas and killing photothermally cancerous cells. Ti-Au spark configuration was employed to vaporize Ti and Au components into an airflow and finally ultrafine Au particles (∼2 nm in lateral dimension) were incorporated with TiO2 nanoparticles in the form of Au-TiO2 heterodimers (∼38 nm in lateral dimension) with enhanced photocatalytic (in CO oxidation) and photothermal activity (in cancerous cell killing) under visible light. We propose that the localized surface plasmon resonance of ultrafine Au particles on TiO2 supports, induced by the visible light, would promote the adsorption-oxidation of CO and photothermal killing of HeLa cells.