Transcatheter arterial embolization for gastrointestinal bleeding: Clinical outcomes and prognostic factors predicting mortality.

We evaluated clinical outcome and prognostic factors predicting mortality of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for acute gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Fifty-nine patients (42 men, 17 women; mean age 66.1 ± 17.

Risk Factors for Lymph Node Metastasis and Oncologic Outcomes in Small Rectal Neuroendocrine Tumors with Lymphovascular Invasion.

Background/aims: Small rectal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are often managed with local resection (endoscopic or transanal excision) owing to their low risk of metastasis and recurrence. However, the clinical significance of lymphovascular invasion in resected specimens remains controversial. In this study, we aimed to analyze the frequency of and risk factors for lymph node metastasis proven by histopathologic examination after radical resection.

Risk factors associated with surveillance loss after endoscopic submucosal dissection in patients with gastric neoplasm.

Background: After endoscopic submucosal dissection of gastric neoplasms, surveillance endoscopy is required for patients with synchronous or metachronous neoplasms. We aimed to evaluate the risk factors associated with surveillance loss in patients who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Methods: Ninety-five patients treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection for gastric neoplasms between May 2015 and June 2016 were retrospectively reviewed.

Efficacy and Safety of Rebamipide versus Its New Formulation, AD-203, in Patients with Erosive Gastritis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Active Control, Noninferiority, Multicenter, Phase 3 Study.

Background/aims: : The mucoprotective drug rebamipide is used to treat gastritis and peptic ulcers. We compared the efficacy of Mucosta (rebamipide 100 mg) and its new formulation, AD-203 (rebamipide 150 mg), in treating erosive gastritis.

Methods: This double-blind, active control, noninferiority, multicenter, phase 3 clinical trial randomly assigned 475 patients with endoscopically proven erosive gastritis to two groups: AD-203 twice daily or Mucosta thrice daily for 2 weeks.

Risk factors for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections: a nationwide population-based study.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly turned into a public health emergency worldwide; however, the risk factors for infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have not been well-described. We aimed to identify the clinical risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infections in Korea, where social distancing and face masks have been strongly recommended.

Methods: The data of individuals who underwent the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test for SARS-CoV-2 between January 3 and May 31, 2020 were retrieved from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service dataset.

Compatibility of endoclips in the gastrointestinal tract with magnetic resonance imaging.

There are no clear guidelines on the compatibility between endoclips that remain in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 3T (T) MRI on endoclips placed in excised pig tissues. Two types of endoclips were assessed: Olympus EZ (HX-610-135L) and QuickClip Pro (HZ-202LR).

A population-based epidemiology of Wilson's disease in South Korea between 2010 and 2016.

Very few population-based studies have examined the epidemiology of Wilson's disease (WD). We investigated the epidemiology of WD using the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database in South Korea. We analyzed not only the statistical variables of WD, but also those of WD-related diseases.

Risk for metabolic syndrome in the population with visceral fat area measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis.

Background/aims: To investigate whether visceral fat area (VFA) measured by bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) was associated with metabolic syndrome in subjects with and without obesity.

Methods: A total 23,202 participants who underwent medical check-ups were assessed. Participants were stratified by body mass index (BMI) and VFA.

Proton pump inhibitor use is associated with hip fracture development: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

Background/aims: Effect of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use on the risk of hip fracture is controversial. This study aimed to clarify the association between PPI use and hip fracture risk using a large cohort.

Methods: This study recruited participants from the nationwide cohort (n = 1,025,340).

A Nanoemulsion with A Porphyrin Shell for Cancer Theranostics.

A nanoemulsion with a porphyrin shell (NewPS) was created by the self-assembly of porphyrin salt around an oil core. The NewPS system has excellent colloidal stability, is amenable to different porphyrin salts and oils, and is capable of co-loading with chemotherapeutics. The porphyrin salt shell enables porphyrin-dependent optical tunability.

Efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal dissection for gastric epithelial neoplasia in elderly patients aged 80 years and older.

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been widely used in gastric tumor as a minimally invasive treatment. The efficacy and safety of ESD is still unclear in the elderly who have high frequency comorbidities. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ESD for gastric epithelial neoplasia in patients aged 80 years and older.

Associated risk factors for psychological distress in patients with gastric epithelial neoplasm undergoing endoscopic submucosal dissection.

This study aimed to evaluate the psychological distress and associated risk factors for distress among patients with gastric epithelial neoplasm undergoing endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).A total of 91 patients treated with ESD for gastric epithelial neoplasm between May 2015 and June 2016 were prospectively enrolled. Sociodemographic factors, psychological distress, anxiety, depression, stress, and associated risk factors for psychological distress were evaluated the day before ESD.

Real World Experience of Telbivudine Versus Entecavir in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B, Including Long-Term Outcomes after Treatment Modification.

Purpose: To estimate long-term outcomes after treatment modification in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treated with entecavir (ETV) and telbivudine (LdT).

Materials And Methods: The study enrolled 131 nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA)-naïve CHB patients treated with ETV or LdT. During the 3-year study, NA treatment history including the incidence, the type of treatment modification, reasons for the modification, and overall complete virologic response (CVR) rate were retrospectively evaluated using the patients' medical records.

A nationwide population-based study of common bile duct stone recurrence after endoscopic stone removal in Korea.

Background: There is no consensus whether patients who underwent endoscopic common bile duct (CBD) stone removal should be followed up periodically and whether patients with gallbladder (GB) stones should undergo cholecystectomy. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the recurrence rate of CBD stones and the difference in recurrence rate according to cholecystectomy.

Methods: We conducted a population-based study using the National Health Insurance database.

Safety and Effectiveness of Endoscopist-Directed Nurse-Administered Sedation during Gastric Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection.

Background And Aims: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is routinely performed in treating gastric neoplasia and requires long-term higher levels of sedation. Endoscopist-directed nurse-administered sedation (EDNAS) has not been well studied in ESD. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of EDNAS for ESD.

Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Untreated Achalasia.

Background/aims: Patients with untreated achalasia frequently complain of heartburn and regurgitation. The diagnosis of achalasia might be delayed because these symptoms are misinterpreted as gastroesophageal reflux. We aim to evaluate the clinical, radiologic, and manometric findings in patient with untreated achalasia.

Entecavir to Telbivudine Switch Therapy in Entecavir-Treated Patients with Undetectable Hepatitis B Viral DNA.

Purpose: This study examined 2-year outcome of consecutive therapy using entecavir (ETV) followed by telbivudine (LdT) in subjects with undetectable hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA level and normal alanine aminotransferase level after the initial 6 months of ETV treatment.

Materials And Methods: Sixty subjects were randomized to continue with ETV or switch to LdT. Significant difference in baseline characteristics was not found between the two groups.

Learning curve analysis of colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for laterally spreading tumors by endoscopists experienced in gastric ESD.

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for various colorectal neoplasms is more technically difficult than gastric ESD. We evaluated treatment outcomes and the learning curve for colorectal ESD of laterally spreading tumors (LSTs) based on the experience of a single endoscopist.

Methods: We included 93 colorectal ESD procedures for colorectal LST that were performed between March 2009 and June 2012 by a single experienced endoscopist who previously performed hundreds of cases of gastric ESD.

Correlation Between Timed Barium Esophagogram and Esophageal Transit Scintigraphy Results in Achalasia.

Background: Timed barium esophagogram (TBE) and esophageal transit scintigraphy (ETS) have been adopted as useful ways to evaluate achalasia patients. TBE has merit as a simple, non-invasive, and convenient method.

Aims: The study sought to compare the results of these two tests and verify their usefulness in evaluating treatment response.

Effects of GC7101, a Novel Prokinetic Agent on Gastric Motor Function: Ex Vivo Study.

Background/aims: GC7101, an extract of Lonicera Flos, is a novel developing drug for reflux esophagitis and functional dyspepsia. However, the drug's exact pharmacological mechanism of action remains unclear. This study assessed the effects of GC7101 on gastro-intestinal (GI) motor function.

Follow-up outcomes of endoscopic resection for early gastric cancer with undifferentiated histology.

Background: The application of endoscopic resection (ER) for undifferentiated-type early gastric cancer (UD-EGC) remains controversial. The aim was to examine long-term outcomes of ER for UD-EGC. Furthermore, we investigated whether long-term outcomes of ER differed between poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (PD) and signet ring cell carcinoma (SRC).

A Case of Postfundoplication Dysphagia without Symptomatic Improvement after Endoscopic Dilatation.

Laparoscopic fundoplication is a treatment option for gastroesophageal reflux disease refractory to medical treatment. When deciding whether or not to undergo surgery, patients with refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease and esophageal motility disorder need to fully understand the operative procedure, postoperative complications, and residual symptoms such as dysphagia, globus sensation, and recurrence of reflux. Herein, we report a case of a patient diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease and aperistalsis who underwent Nissen (total, 360°) fundoplication after lack of response to medical treatment and subsequently underwent pneumatic dilatation due to unrelieved postoperative dysphagia and globus sensation.

Carcinomatosis matters: clinical outcomes and prognostic factors for clinical success of stent placement in malignant gastric outlet obstruction.

Background: Although carcinomatosis is not a contraindication to stenting in selected patients with malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO), associate factors for clinical success rate of self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) placement in GOO patients with carcinomatosis have not been fully characterized.

Methods: We analyzed a total 228 patients who were scheduled for SEMS placement for malignant GOO in tertiary-care academic medical center. All patients were treated with an uncovered or covered SEMS by using the over-the-wire placement procedure.

For patients with primary achalasia the clinical success of pneumatic balloon dilatation can be predicted from the residual fraction of radionuclide during esophageal transit scintigraphy.

Background: Esophageal transit scintigraphy (ETS) and esophagography have long been used to evaluate patients with achalasia. The objectives of our study were to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic pneumatic dilatation (EPD) as treatment for Koreans with achalasia and to determine which findings from ETS and esophagography predict successful treatment of achalasia.

Methods: Patients with achalasia who were treated by EPD between April 2002 and January 2012 were recruited.