Association of Chest Anteroposterior Radiography with Computed Tomography in Patients with Blunt Chest Trauma.

Background: In cases of chest trauma, computed tomography (CT) can be used alongside chest anteroposterior (AP) radiography and physical examination during initial evaluation. Performing a CT scan may be difficult if a patient has unstable vital signs. In contrast, radiography may not always reliably diagnose nonmarked pneumothorax or extensive subcutaneous emphysema.

Incidence and risk of pancreatic cancer in patients with chronic pancreatitis: defining the optimal subgroup for surveillance.

We aimed to present the incidence and risk factors for pancreatic cancer in a multicenter retrospective cohort of patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP). Patients with ICD-10 codes for CP (K86.0, K86.

Analysis of symptomatic recurrences of common bile ducts stones after endoscopic removal: Factors related to early or multiple recurrences.

Early or multiple recurrences of symptomatic common bile duct (CBD) stones are troublesome late complications after endoscopic stone removal. We aimed to determine the factors related to early or multiple recurrences of CBD stones.We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent endoscopic CBD stone extraction in a single institute between January 2006 and December 2015.

A novel technique using endoscopic band ligation for removal of long-stalked (>10 mm) pedunculated colon polyps: A prospective pilot study.

Background: Endoscopic removal of large and thick-stalked pedunculated colonic polyps, often leads to massive hemorrhage. Several techniques to minimize this complication have not been widely adopted due to some caveats. In order to prevent postpolypectomy bleeding, we invented a novel technique to dissect long-stalked pedunculated colonic polyps using endoscopic band ligation (EBL) by laterally approaching the stalk.

Metachronous Development of Peritoneal Carcinomatosis in a Patient with Autoimmune Pancreatitis.

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a rare and unique type of chronic pancreatitis. The prognosis of AIP, particularly when associated with pancreatic cancer or a related malignancy, is not known. Only a few cases, where metachronous pancreas-related cancer developed during follow-up, have been reported.

Prolonged hyperamylasemia in patients with acute pancreatitis is associated with recurrence of acute pancreatitis.

Serum amylase levels in patients with acute pancreatitis often remain or fluctuate above the upper normal limit for over a week. This study investigated the clinical characteristics of patients with prolonged hyperamylasemia and their prognoses, including recurrence.We retrospectively analyzed patients with first attacks of acute pancreatitis in a single center between March 2010 and December 2016.

Subsets associated with developing acute pancreatitis in patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia and the severity of pancreatitis.

Background And Objectives: Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is a rare but well-recognized cause for acute pancreatitis (AP). This study aimed to determine subsets related to development of AP in patients with severe HTG and the severity of HTG-induced AP (HTG-AP).

Methods: Patients who had severe HTG (serum triglyceride level >1,000 mg/dL) more than once between Jan.

Additive Effects of Rebamipide Plus Proton Pump Inhibitors on the Expression of Tight Junction Proteins in a Rat Model of Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of rebamipide on tight junction proteins in the esophageal mucosa in a rat model of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Methods: GERD was created in rats by tying the proximal stomach. The rats were divided into a control group, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) group, and a PPI plus rebamipide (PPI+R) group.

mRNA expression of CDH3, IGF2BP3, and BIRC5 in biliary brush cytology specimens is a useful adjunctive tool of cytology for the diagnosis of malignant biliary stricture.

Although advances have been made in diagnostic tools, the distinction between malignant and benign biliary strictures still remains challenging. Intraductal brush cytology is a convenient and safe method that is used for the diagnosis of biliary stricture, but, low sensitivity limits its usefulness. This study aimed to demonstrate the usefulness of mRNA expression levels of target genes in brush cytology specimens combined with cytology for the diagnosis of malignant biliary stricture.

Ten-day empirical sequential or concomitant therapy is more effective than triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication: A multicenter, prospective study.

Background: The resistance of Helicobacter pylori to antibiotics has increased the need for new empirical, first-line treatments. However, the efficacy of sequential therapy (ST) and concomitant therapy (CT) compared with triple therapy (TT) has not been adequately evaluated.

Aim: In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of these empirical three regimens.

Feasibility of endoscopic resection for sessile nonampullary duodenal tumors: a multicenter retrospective study.

Objectives. Sessile nonampullary duodenal tumors (SNADTs) are relatively rare and endoscopic resection of these lesions is considered more challenging than in other parts of the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of endoscopic resection for SNADT.

The Usefulness of a Novel Screening Kit for Colorectal Cancer Using the Immunochromatographic Fecal Tumor M2 Pyruvate Kinase Test.

Background/aims: M2 pyruvate kinase (M2-PK) is an enzyme that is produced in undifferentiated and proliferating tissues. This study aims to evaluate the usefulness of the immunochromatographic M2 pyruvate kinase (iM2-PK) for the screening of colorectal cancer (CRC) and premalignant lesions.

Methods: Healthy volunteers and patients with colorectal neoplasia were enrolled in six academic hospitals in the capital province of Korea.

Interleukin-6 is associated with obesity, central fat distribution, and disease severity in patients with acute pancreatitis.

Background/objective: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a systemic inflammatory disease, and cytokines are suggested to be related to the course of AP. Obesity and central fat distribution are considered to have been associated with severe AP. This study investigated the profile of inflammatory cytokines in AP to determine how they are related to obesity, central fat distribution, and AP severity.

Size of recurrent symptomatic common bile duct stones and factors related to recurrence.

Background/aims: Some common bile duct (CBD) stones recur after endoscopic stone extraction. Little information is available on the size and recurrence interval of recurrent symptomatic CBD stones or on ways to prevent recurrence.

Materials And Methods: Between January 2007 and December 2011, consecutive 481 patients undergoing endoscopic extraction of CBD stones at a single institute were enrolled.

Ion channel TRPV1-dependent activation of PTP1B suppresses EGFR-associated intestinal tumorigenesis.

The intestinal epithelium has a high rate of turnover, and dysregulation of pathways that regulate regeneration can lead to tumor development; however, the negative regulators of oncogenic events in the intestinal epithelium are not fully understood. Here we identified a feedback loop between the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a known mediator of proliferation, and the transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily V, member 1 (TRPV1), in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). We found that TRPV1 was expressed by IECs and was intrinsically activated upon EGFR stimulation.

Undiagnosed Borrmann type II gastric cancer due to necrosis and regenerative epithelium.

Endoscopic biopsy is essential to the proper diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer. Unfortunately, the results of endoscopic biopsy are not always the same as what is expected based on gross endoscopic findings. The results of endoscopic biopsy can be negative for malignancy in Borrmann type IV advanced gastric cancer (AGCa) or gastric lymphoma.

Initial large diameter of common bile duct is associated with long-term dilatation of bile duct after endoscopic extraction of stones.

Objective: To investigate the time and extent of recovery of dilated common bile duct (CBD) after the extraction of CBD stones and to identify the factors related to the long-term dilatation of the CBD after stone removal.

Methods: Data of 329 consecutive patients undergoing endoscopic extraction of CBD stones from January 2008 to December 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Finally, 44 patients were enrolled in the study.

Gastroprotective Effects of Grape Seed Proanthocyanidin Extracts against Nonsteroid Anti-Inflammatory Drug-Induced Gastric Injury in Rats.

Background/aims: To investigate the gastroprotective effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extracts (GSPEs) against nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to the normal control, indomethacin, low-dose GSPE, high-dose GSPE and misoprostol groups. All groups except the normal control group received pretreatment drugs for 6 consecutive days.

Common bile duct stones on multidetector computed tomography: attenuation patterns and detectability.

Aim: To investigate the attenuation patterns and detectability of common bile duct (CBD) stones by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).

Methods: Between March 2010 and February 2012, 191 patients with suspicion of CBD stones undergoing both MDCT and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) were enrolled and reviewed retrospectively. The attenuation patterns of CBD stones on MDCT were classified as heavily calcified, radiopaque, less radiopaque, or undetectable.

Size and type of periampullary duodenal diverticula are associated with bile duct diameter and recurrence of bile duct stones.

Background And Aim: Periampullary diverticula (PAD) are not uncommon findings during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, but its clinical significance had not been established. To investigate the clinical characteristics associated with PAD and their relationships with the type and size of PAD in patients with common bile duct (CBD) stones was aimed.

Methods: Three hundred seventy patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography between March 2010 and July 2012 were consecutively enrolled, and their demographics, laboratory data, and CBD stone-related characteristics according to PAD type and PAD size were analyzed.

Newly developed autoimmune cholangitis without relapse of autoimmune pancreatitis after discontinuing prednisolone.

A 57-year-old man presented with a 2-wk history of painless jaundice and weight loss. He had a large ill-defined enhancing mass-like lesion in the uncinate process of the pancreas with stricture of the distal common bile duct. Aspiration cytology of the pancreatic mass demonstrated inflammatory cells without evidence of malignancy.

Effect of high-dose oral rabeprazole on recurrent bleeding after endoscopic treatment of bleeding peptic ulcers.

Background. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of high-dose oral rabeprazole versus high-dose IV PPI on rebleeding after endoscopic treatment of bleeding peptic ulcers. Methods.

Role of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography for choledocholithiasis: analysis of patients with negative MRCP.

Objective: To investigate the negative predictive value of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) for common bile duct (CBD) stones and the prognosis of patients suspected to have choledocholithiasis in whom the MRCP was negative for CBD stones.

Methods: We enrolled the patients suspected to have choledocholithiasis in whom the MRCP was negative for the CBD stones between January 2008 and March 2011 and retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of 115 patients.

Results: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed in 27 patients (23%, group 1), and none had CBD stones.