Water quality trend and pollutant load and source analysis of Tamjin River water system.

To systematically manage water quality based on watersheds, it is necessary to understand the characteristics of changes in river water quality. This study used observational data of the Tamjin River water system to analyze changes in water quality due to farming activities during the farming period. Water quality trends were analyzed through a long-term trend analysis.

Response-Guided Therapy With Cefotaxime, Ceftriaxone, or Ciprofloxacin for Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis: A Randomized Trial: A Validation Study of 2021 AASLD Practice Guidance for SBP.

Introduction: For the treatment of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, and ciprofloxacin were used as first-line agents. However, considering the increasing rate of antibiotic resistance, it is unclear which of these drugs can be initially recommended. This study aimed to compare the current efficacy of the 3 antibiotics, namely cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, and ciprofloxacin, for the treatment of SBP in patients with cirrhosis with ascites, when guided by therapeutic responses.

Risk of liver fibrosis in patients with prediabetes and diabetes mellitus.

The aim of this study was to assess the risk of liver fibrosis in those with no glucose intolerance, prediabetes, or diabetes. A cross-sectional study was conducted based on a cohort from a health examination program which included a magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). Participants were classified into three groups according to glucose tolerance: no glucose intolerance, prediabetes, and diabetes mellitus.

Complete response to local therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with lung metastasis: a case report.

The concept of oligometastasis is widely accepted for various types of solid tumors; accordingly, better outcomes can be anticipated with aggressive local interventions. The treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with extrahepatic metastasis is systemic therapy. However, treatment responses to systemic therapy are poor.

Comparison of Clinical Efficacy and Safety between 70-150 µm and 100-300 µm Doxorubicin Drug-Eluting Bead Transarterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of 70-150 μm doxorubicin drug-eluting bead (DEB) transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with those of 100-300 μm DEB-TACE as first-line treatment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: We retrospectively investigated 72 patients who underwent TACE with 70-150 μm DEBs ( = 40) or 100-300 μm DEBs ( = 32) for HCC in a tertiary center between March 2013 and May 2019. Initial treatment response and adverse events were assessed using the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors and the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.

Early experience with laparoscopic treatment of liver tumors using a separable cluster electrode with a no-touch technique.

Introduction: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is one of the best curative treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma in selected patients, and this procedure can be applied either percutaneously or laparoscopically. Laparoscopic RFA has the benefit of direct visual control of the RFA procedure. Cluster electrodes (Octopus RF electrodes) can create a common ablation zone.

Effect of acute kidney injury on the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing transarterial chemoembolization.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of acute kidney injury (AKI) on the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). A total of 347 HCC patients with Child-Pugh class A and pre-TACE serum creatinine (SCr) ≤1.5 mg/dL undergoing TACE as an initial therapy 2000-2014 were analyzed.

Serum zinc level and hepatic fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum zinc level and hepatic fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A cross-sectional study was conducted using nationally representative samples from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010. Significant hepatic fibrosis was defined as Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index>1.

Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of Partial Splenic Embolization in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Thrombocytopenia Who Underwent Transarterial Chemoembolization.

Background: Performing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is difficult with the occurrence of thrombocytopenia in cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of partial splenic embolization (PSE) combined with TACE in patients with HCC with severe thrombocytopenia related to splenomegaly.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study consisting of 18 HCC patients with severe thrombocytopenia (< 50 × 10⁹/L) who underwent PSE concurrently with TACE (PSE group) and 72 controls who underwent TACE alone (non-PSE group).

Long-term Outcomes of Antiviral Therapy in Patients With Advanced Chronic HBV Infection.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) suppression with nucleot(s)ide analogue therapy reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with advanced liver disease. In the present era of potent antiviral therapies, the prognostic significance of the serum HBV DNA level as a biological gradient has substantially diminished; the majority of treated patients achieve virologic suppression. After control of viremia, a higher baseline fibrosis level is a useful predictor for disease progression.

Development and validation of a scoring system for advanced colorectal neoplasm in young Korean subjects less than age 50 years.

Background/aim: Colorectal cancer incidence among patients aged ≤50 years is increasing. This study aimed to develop and validate an advanced colorectal neoplasm (ACRN) screening model for young adults aged <50 years in Korea.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included 59,575 consecutive asymptomatic Koreans who underwent screening colonoscopy between 2003 and 2012 at a single comprehensive health care center.

Effect of Metabolic Syndrome on the Clinical Outcomes of Chronic Hepatitis B Patients with Nucleos(t)ide Analogues Treatment.

Background: No data are available about the effect of MS on oral nucleos(t)ide analogues (NUCs) treatment and clinical outcomes in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

Aims: We aimed to elucidate whether coexistence of MS and CHB affects the long-term prognosis of CHB patients with oral NUCs treatment.

Methods: We performed a retrospective data analysis for a total of 587 CHB patients who started oral NUCs treatment for the first time in our institution from January 2006 to March 2016.

Daily Norfloxacin vs. Weekly Ciprofloxacin to Prevent Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: For the prevention of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in cirrhotic patients with ascites, norfloxacin 400 mg per day is recommended as a standard regimen. This study aims to investigate whether ciprofloxacin once weekly administration is not inferior to norfloxacin once daily administration for the prevention of SBP.

Methods: This is an investigator-initiated open-label randomized controlled trial conducted at seven tertiary hospitals in South Korea.

Association between cotinine-verified smoking status and risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background & Aims: The relationship between cigarette smoking and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been controversial. Most relevant studies have relied on self-reported questionnaires. We aimed to elucidate the association between smoking status and NAFLD using an objective biomarker of tobacco exposure (urinary cotinine) and self-reported questionnaire.

Impact of clinically evident portal hypertension on clinical outcome of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated by transarterial chemoembolization.

Background And Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the impact of clinically evident portal hypertension (CEPH) on prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with Child-Pugh A cirrhosis who underwent transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Methods: A retrospective data analysis was performed for a total of 388 treatment-naïve HCC patients with Child-Pugh A cirrhosis who underwent TACE as first-line treatment from January 2000 to June 2014. Cumulative occurrence rate of complete response (CR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were compared between patients with CEPH and those without CEPH (esophageal/gastric varices or low platelet count [< 100 000 per mm ] associated with splenomegaly).

Complete cure of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with right adrenal gland metastasis and portal vein thrombosis by multiple applications of an interdisciplinary therapy: case report with 8-year follow up.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cause of death worldwide and the main cause of primary liver cancer. The principle problem of HCC is the poor prognosis, since advanced HCC reportedly has a median survival of only 9 months. The standard therapies are sorafenib and regorafenib, but the outcomes remain unclear.

Clinical characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis B who developed genotypic resistance to entecavir: Real-life experience.

Background/aims: Clinical characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who developed genotypic resistance to entecavir (ETV) were compared to those without resistance.

Methods: Two hundred fifty eight CHB patients who underwent ETV treatment in our institution from July 2007 to May 2013 were included.

Results: Eight (3.

Natural courses of branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm.

Purpose: The study was done to elucidate the clinico-radiologic predictive factors for cancerous change detected by disease progression (PD) mainly defined by interval increase in cyst size and change of cyst morphology, for branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (BD-IPMN) patients with relatively long-term follow-up.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of medical records and imaging findings were performed on 107 patients with BD-IPMN enrolled from July 2005 to May 2013, in whom the communication between the cystic lesion and pancreatic duct was confirmed by either endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

Results: During the mean ± SD follow-up period of 51.

Comparison of the clinical outcomes between antiviral-naïve patients treated with entecavir and lamivudine-resistant patients receiving adefovir add-on lamivudine combination treatment.

Background/aims: To analyze the effects of preexisting lamivudine (LAM) resistance and applying antiviral treatment (adefovir [ADV] add-on LAM combination treatment) on long-term treatment outcomes, and comparing the clinical outcomes of antiviral-naïve chronic hepatitis B patients receiving entecavir (ETV) monotherapy.

Methods: This study enrolled 73 antiviral-naïve patients who received 0.5-mg ETV as an initial therapy and 54 patients who received ADV add-on LAM combination treatment as a rescue therapy from July 2006 to July 2010.

Increased Risk of Advanced Colorectal Neoplasia Among Korean Men With Metabolic Abnormality and Obesity.

Background & Aims: Obesity and metabolic abnormality are risk factors for colorectal cancer and adenoma. We evaluated the risk of advanced colorectal neoplasm (AN) according to metabolic status and obesity in Koreans.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study of 70,428 individuals in Korea who underwent colonoscopy and whose metabolic state and body mass index were examined, from 2003 through 2012, at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital in Korea.

Different risk factors for advanced colorectal neoplasm in young adults.

Aim: To compare the risk of developing advanced colorectal neoplasm (ACRN) according to age in Koreans.

Methods: A total of 70428 Koreans from an occupational cohort who underwent a colonoscopy between 2003 and 2012 at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital were retrospectively selected. We evaluated and compared odds ratios (OR) for ACRN between the young-adults (YA < 50 years) and in the older-adults (OA ≥ 50 years).

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the liver: a case report.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the liver is very rare, and few cases have been reported in Korea. Primary SCC of the liver is known to be associated with hepatic cysts and intrahepatic stones. A 71-year-old male was admitted to our hospital, and a abdominal computed tomography scan revealed a 10 × 6 cm mass in the liver.

Discordance between conventional ultrasonography and ElastPQ for assessing hepatic fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B: frequency and independent factors.

Purpose: To investigate the frequency of discordance and to identify factors associated with discordance between ultrasonographic and elastographic grades for assessing hepatic fibrosis in Asian patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: Three hundred thirty-four patients with chronic hepatitis B for which both conventional ultrasonography and liver stiffness measurements using elastography were available were included. Patients were graded as 'normal', 'chronic liver disease', or 'liver cirrhosis' by ultrasonography, and as 'no significant fibrosis', 'significant fibrosis', or 'liver cirrhosis' by elastography, and the results of these two modalities were compared.

The prevalence and clinical characteristics of anemia in Korean patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background/aims: Quality of life is closely related to anemia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Several studies have reported on anemia in patients with IBD in Western countries. This study investigated the prevalence and clinical characteristics of anemia in Korean patients with IBD.

Endosonographer's macroscopic evaluation of EUS-FNAB specimens after interactive cytopathologic training: a single-center prospective validation cohort study.

Background: In many centers, rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) for the specimens obtained from endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNAB) is not available. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic yields of EUS-FNAB in the presence or absence of ROSE.

Methods: Seventy-five patients who underwent EUS-FNAB for the pancreatic, gastric subepithelial, and mesenteric mass lesions at our institution from November 2013 to August 2014 were included.