Risk Factors of Unfavorable Outcomes, Major Bleeding, and All-Cause Mortality in Patients with Venous Thromboembolism.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the clinical outcomes of venous thromboembolism (VTE) patients and identify the risk factors for VTE-related unfavorable outcomes, major bleeding, and 30-day all-cause mortality.

Materials And Methods: From January 2016 to December 2020, 198 patients with confirmed VTE were enrolled. Potential risk factors for unfavorable outcomes, major bleeding, and all-cause mortality were analyzed.

Long-term Outcomes of Direct Endoscopic Necrosectomy for Complicated or Symptomatic Walled-Off Necrosis: A Korean Multicenter Study.

Background/aims: The endoscopic step-up approach is accepted as the preferred treatment for complicated or symptomatic walled-off necrosis (WON). Direct endoscopic necrosectomy (DEN) is an effective therapeutic option, but few reports describe long-term follow-up in this patient population. Thus, we aim to assess the long-term outcomes of DEN following severe necrotizing pancreatitis.

Durability and outcome of endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticoduodenostomy using a fully covered metal stent for segregated right intrahepatic duct dilatation.

Background And Aims: Segregated right intrahepatic duct dilatation (IHD) results from complete obstruction of the biliary tract proximal to the hilar level. We aimed to evaluate long-term efficacy and safety of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) hepaticoduodenostomy (HDS) in segregated right IHD.

Methods: Consecutive patients who had undergone EUS-guided HDS with a fully covered self-expandable metal stent (FCSEMS) in an academic tertiary center were recruited.

Type 2 Autoimmune Pancreatitis (Idiopathic Duct-Centric Pancreatitis) Highlighting Patients Presenting as Clinical Acute Pancreatitis: A Single-Center Experience.

Background/aims: Type 2 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) has been considered extremely rare in East Asia. This study aimed to clarify the prevalence, clinical characteristics and radiological findings of type 2 AIP highlighting patients presenting as acute pancreatitis in a single center.

Methods: Type 2 AIP patients were classified according to International Consensus Diagnostic Criteria.

Feasibility and safety of endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage using a newly designed lumen-apposing metal stent.

Background And Aims: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) is increasingly accepted as an effective treatment option in patients who require drainage for acute cholecystitis. A newly designed lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) has been introduced recently in this procedure. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility and safety of the newly designed LAMS in patients with acute cholecystitis who were unsuitable for cholecystectomy.

Comparison between groove carcinoma and groove pancreatitis.

Background/objectives: The pancreatoduodenal groove (anatomical groove) is a potential space bordered by the head of the pancreas, duodenum, and common bile duct. Discerning between groove carcinoma (GC) and groove pancreatitis (GP) is often difficult, but clinically important. We retrospectively analyzed and compared the findings of computed tomography (CT), laboratory tests, and endoscopic ultrasound-fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) for GC and GP.

EUS-guided cholecystostomy versus endoscopic transpapillary cholecystostomy for acute cholecystitis in high-risk surgical patients.

Background And Aims: Endoscopic gallbladder drainage (GBD) has been performed as an alternative to percutaneous drainage for acute cholecystitis. To date, there has been no comparative study between EUS-guided cholecystostomy (EUSC) and endoscopic transpapillary cholecystostomy (ETC). The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of EUSC and ETC.

Lymph node ratio as an alternative to pN staging for predicting prognosis after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer.

Axillary nodal status is one of the most important prognostic factors in breast cancer. The lymph node ratio (LNR) has been suggested as an independent prognostic factor because the number of dissected and involved lymph nodes might differ across institutions. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has been the preferred treatment method for reducing tumor mass in the breast and axillary area.

Relapse rate and predictors of relapse in a large single center cohort of type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis: long-term follow-up results after steroid therapy with short-duration maintenance treatment.

Background: Type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP), as a pancreatic manifestation of IgG4-related disease, shows a favorable prognosis in the short term. However, disease relapse is common in long-term follow-up, despite a successful initial treatment response. This study aimed to identify the predictors of relapse and long-term outcomes in patients with type 1 AIP.

Usefulness of argon plasma coagulation ablation subsequent to endoscopic snare papillectomy for ampullary adenoma.

Background And Aim: Endoscopic snare papillectomy (ESP) is an effective treatment for ampullary adenoma. Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is widely used as an additional method to control bleeding or ablate the residual tumor. However, the efficacy of this procedure has not yet been fully evaluated.

Revised Atlanta classification and determinant-based classification: Which one better at stratifying outcomes of patients with acute pancreatitis?

Bacground: Two different severity classifications (revised Atlanta classification [RAC] and determinant-based classification [DBC]) were recently proposed.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of a prospective acute pancreatitis (AP) database. This study aims to compare the ability of three classification systems (RAC, DBC, and original Atlanta classification [OAC]) to stratify outcomes of AP and to determine the association between different severity categories and clinical outcomes.

Factors and outcomes associated with pancreatic duct disruption in patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis.

Background And Aims: Acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) can affect main pancreatic duct (MPD) as well as parenchyma. However, the incidence and outcomes of MPD disruption has not been well studied in the setting of ANP.

Methods: This retrospective study investigated 84 of 465 patients with ANP who underwent magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and/or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Long-term outcomes of a newly developed hybrid metal stent for EUS-guided biliary drainage (with videos).

Background And Aims: Although fully covered self-expandable metal stents (FCSEMSs) have been commonly used for EUS-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD), FCSEMS migration is a main limitation of this procedure. In the present study we evaluated the technical and clinical success rates, adverse events, and long-term outcomes of a newly developed hybrid stent that has been customized for EUS-BD.

Methods: From September 2011 to May 2015, 54 consecutive patients with biliary obstruction were enrolled in this prospective, observational study.

Development of a scoring system for differentiating IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis from primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Background: Recent research has shown that a substantial number of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) can also have elevated serum/tissue IgG4. The aim of our study was to develop a simple scoring system for the discrimination of IgG4-related sclerosing cholangits (IgG4-SC) from PSC.

Methods: Patients with IgG4-SC (n = 39) and PSC (n = 76) who had intrahepatic/hilar strictures were included.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for the Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease.

Purpose: Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is known as a major contributor of the worsening of ischemic symptoms and the foot ulceration in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD). However, there are few studies reporting the prevalence and risk factors for PN in PAOD. This study aimed to evaluate these issues for PN and to establish the importance of screening as additional treatment target for PN in PAOD.

Tumescent local anesthetic technique for inguinal hernia repairs.

Purpose: We evaluated the adequacy and feasibility of a tumescent solution containing lidocaine and bupivacaine for inguinal hernia repairs.

Methods: The medical records of 146 consecutive inguinal hernia patients with 157 hernia repairs using the tumescent local anesthesia technique performed by a single surgeon between September 2009 and December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: The mean operation time (±standard deviation) and hospital stay were 64.

A Case of IgG4-Related Lung Disease Presenting as Interstitial Lung Disease.

Intrathoracic involvement of immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease has recently been reported. However, a subset of the disease presenting as interstitial lung disease is rare. Here, we report a case of a 35-year-old man with IgG4-related lung disease with manifestations similar to those of interstitial lung disease.

Severe acute pancreatitis due to tamoxifen-induced hypertriglyceridemia with diabetes mellitus.

The side effects of tamoxifen are generally mild, including the effect on lipoprotein metabolism. However, there are few cases of severe tamoxifen induced hypertriglyceridemia. Hypertriglyceridemia is a marked risk factor for acute pancreatitis and approximately 2% to 5% of cases of acute pancreatitis are related to drugs.

Differences in the Survival of Gastric Cancer Patients after Gastrectomy according to the Medical Insurance Status.

Purpose: In Korea, the entire population must enroll in the national health insurance system, and those who are classified as having a lower socioeconomic status are supported by the medical aid system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of the medical insurance status of gastric cancer patients with their survival after gastrectomy.

Materials And Methods: A total of 247 patients who underwent surgical treatment for gastric cancer between January 1999 and December 2010 at the Seoul Medical Center were evaluated.

Experience of treatment of patients with granulomatous lobular mastitis.

Purpose: To present the author's experience with various treatment methods of granulomatous lobular mastitis (GLM) and to determine effective treatment methods of GLM.

Methods: Fifty patients who were diagnosed with GLM were classified into five groups based on the initial treatment methods they underwent, which included observation (n = 8), antibiotics (n = 3), steroid (n = 13), drainage (n = 14), and surgical excision (n = 12). The treatment processes in each group were examined and their clinical characteristics, treatment processes, and results were analyzed respectively.

Neoadjuvant human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 targeted therapy in patients with locally advanced breast cancer.

Purpose: We analyzed the responses of patients with locally advanced breast cancer to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and NAC combined with neoadjuvant human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) targeted therapy (NCHTT).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 59 patients with HER2 amplified locally advanced breast cancer among patients who were treated surgically after neoadjuvant therapy at Samsung Medical Center between 2005 and 2009. Thirty-one patients received conventional NAC and 28 patients received NCHTT.

Clinical Correlation between Gastric Cancer Type and Serum Selenium and Zinc Levels.

Purpose: We conducted this study to study the clinical correlation between the characteristics of gastric cancer and serum selenium and zinc levels.

Materials And Methods: The following data were measured in the baseline serum selenium and zinc levels of 74 patients with curative gastrectomy subsequent to confirmed gastric cancer, from March 2005 to August 2012.

Results: Among the 74 gastric cancer patients, 53 patients were male.