Unveiling the profound advantages of total neoadjuvant therapy in rectal cancer: a trailblazing exploration.

The standard treatments for locally advanced rectal cancer typically involved neoadjuvant therapy with either short-course radiation or long-course chemoradiation, followed by radical surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. While the advancement of surgical techniques and the adoption of multimodal therapy have greatly contributed to reducing local failure, there has been limited improvement in overall survival, primarily due to the stagnation in systemic failure. In response to this challenge, a new strategy known as total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) has emerged, involving the administration of both full-dose chemotherapy and radiation before surgery.

RNA-Seq-Based Molecular Classification Analyses in Colorectal Cancer and Synchronous Adenoma.

Colorectal cancers (CRC) are classified into consensus molecular subtypes (CMS) based on gene expression profiles. The revised classification system iCMS was proposed by considering intrinsic epithelial status, microsatellite instability (MSI), and fibrosis. This study aimed to provide molecular evidence for the adenoma-carcinoma sequence concept by examining CRC and synchronous adenomas using iCMS.

Targeting cytokines and signaling molecules related to immune pathways in atopic dermatitis: therapeutic implications and challenges.

Although atopic dermatitis (AD) is primarily a Th2-driven disease, it shows high heterogeneity with additional variable contributions of the Th22, Th17, and Th1 pathways, depending on the subtype of the disease. Expanding knowledge and understanding of AD pathogenesis has promoted the development of numerous novel therapeutics that target cytokines and their signaling molecules, representatively, Janus kinases, involved in the underlying immune pathways, resulting in therapeutic success and failure. The first FDA approval was for the targeted biologic dupilumab.

Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Prevention of Colorectal Cancer-An English Version.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common malignancy in Korea and has been ranked as the third leading cause of cancer deaths in 2020. Although the incidence and mortality rates of CRC have decreased in recent years in Korea, it is still a significant public health burden. From the early 1990s until the mid-2000s, the 5-year relative survival of patients with CRC in Korea continuously increased.

Clinical outcomes and prognostic factors of cone-beam CT-guided radiofrequency ablation for pulmonary metastases in colorectal cancer patients.

Aim: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been increasingly used for the treatment of pulmonary metastases in various malignancies.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed to establish the safety and efficacy of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)-guided RFA in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer between 2016 and 2019, and the prognostic factors of local tumor control were assessed.

Results: A total of 31 patients with colorectal cancer underwent 48 sessions of lung RFA.

Validation of a scoring system to predict bladder dysfunction after laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery.

Purpose: A recent trend in  urinary catheter management in patients who underwent laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery is early removal. However, some patients develop bladder dysfunction and require urinary re-catheterization. In 2016, a scoring system to predict bladder dysfunction after laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery was developed in our institution.

Short- and long-term outcomes of subtotal/total colectomy in the management of obstructive left colon cancer.

Purpose: Surgical management of obstructive left colon cancer (OLCC) is still a matter of debate. The classic Hartmann procedure (HP) has a disadvantage that requires a second major operation. Subtotal colectomy/total abdominal colectomy (STC/TC) with ileosigmoid or ileorectal anastomosis is proposed as an alternative procedure to avoid stoma and anastomotic leakage.

Safety of appendectomy during pregnancy in the totally laparoscopic age.

Purpose: Acute appendicitis is the most common nonobstetric indication for surgical intervention during pregnancy. In the argument of the optimal surgical approach to acute appendicitis in pregnancy, laparoscopy seems to be won with a similar complication rate and shorter postoperative recovery than open. We aimed to compare perioperative outcomes of appendectomy in pregnant and nonpregnant women in the totally laparoscopic age.

Comparison of blowhole colostomy and loop ostomy for palliation of acute malignant colonic obstruction.

Purpose: Surgery to create a stoma for decompression might be required for unresectable stage IV cancer patients with complete colonic obstruction. The aim of this study was to compare the results of blowhole colostomy with those of loop ostomy.

Methods: Palliative ileostomy or colostomy procedures performed at a single center between January 2011 and October 2020, were analyzed retrospectively.

Risk factors for hemorrhoidal disease among healthy young and middle-aged Korean adults.

Hemorrhoidal disease is a highly prevalent anorectal condition causing substantial discomfort, disability, and decreased quality of life. Evidence on preventable risk factors for hemorrhoidal disease is limited. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 194,620 healthy men and women who completed a health screening exam including colonoscopy in 2011-2017.

Clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes of gastrointestinal stromal tumors with high progranulin expression.

Background & Aims: Progranulin (PGRN) is known to promote tumorigenesis and proliferation of several types of cancer cells. However, little is known about the clinicopathological features of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) with regard to PGRN expression.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on patients with GISTs who underwent curative surgical resection between 2007 and 2017.

Development of JAK inhibitors for the treatment of immune-mediated diseases: kinase-targeted inhibitors and pseudokinase-targeted inhibitors.

JAKs are a family of intracellular tyrosine kinases consisting of four members, JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, and TYK2. They are key components of the JAK-STAT pathway that transmit signals of many cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of numerous immune-mediated diseases and have been major molecular targets in developing new drugs for the treatment of such diseases. Some small-molecule inhibitors of JAKs have been approved by the FDA for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Routine Intraoperative Bacterial Culture May Be Needed in Complicated Appendicitis.

Purpose: Choosing the appropriate antibiotic is important for treatment of complicated appendicitis. However, increasing multidrug resistant bacteria have been a serious problem for successful treatment. This study was designed to identify bacteria isolated from patients with complicated appendicitis and reveal their susceptibilities for antibiotics and their relationship with patient clinical course.

An Unusual Case of Colon Perforation With Multiple Transmural Ulcers After Use of Polmacoxib and Everolimus in a Metastatic Breast Cancer Patient.

Everolimus (Afinitor) is an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin. Polmacoxib (Acelex) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that belongs to the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor family and is mainly used for treatment of arthritis. Intestinal perforation has not been reported previously as a complication of everolimus, and perforation of the lower intestinal tract caused by a selective COX-2 inhibitor is extremely rare.

Increased Risk of Neoplasms in Adult Patients Undergoing Interval Appendectomy.

Purpose: The low rate of recurrent appendicitis after initial nonsurgical management of complicated appendicitis supports the recently implemented strategy of omitting routine interval appendectomy. However, several reports have suggested an increased incidence rate of neoplasms in these patients. We aimed to identify the risk of neoplasms in the population undergoing interval appendectomy.

Laparoscopic repair using an endoscopic linear stapler for management of iatrogenic colonic perforation during screening colonoscopy.

Introduction: Colonoscopy is a safe and effective procedure, but it is also an inevitably invasive one. Laparoscopic repair of colonoscopic perforations has been reported to be a safe and effective treatment.

Aim: We present our surgical technique and outcomes of laparoscopic repairs using an endoscopic linear stapler for iatrogenic colonic perforation during screening colonoscopy.

Laparoscopic Single Figure of Eight Suturing Omentopexy for the Treatment of a Perforated Duodenal Ulcer.

Purpose: Safe and effective surgical treatment of peptic ulcer perforations is fundamental to achieve favorable outcomes. We present laparoscopic single figure of eight suturing omentopexy for perforated duodenal ulcer and review associated clinical outcomes. This is a new formulaic surgical technique for laparoscopic omentopexy.

Significance of drain fluid amylase check on day 3 after pancreatectomy.

Background: The occurrence of pancreatic fistulae (PF) after pancreatectomy is the main cause of prolonged hospital stay, delayed chemotherapy, poor quality of life and post-operative death. The surgical drainage after pancreatectomy can induce ascending infection, early removal is recommended if the possibility of PF is low. The present study analysed the risk factors and predictors of PF, and confirmed the significance of drain fluid amylase concentration (DFA, U/L) among various factors identified.

Development of BTK inhibitors for the treatment of B-cell malignancies.

BTK is a key component of B-cell receptor signaling and functions as an important regulator of cell proliferation and survival in B-cell malignancies. The first-in-class BTK inhibitor ibrutinib is a small molecule drug that binds covalently to BTK and has been proved to be an effective treatment for various B-cell malignancies. However, it has off-target activities on non-BTK kinases that are related to side effects or might be translated into clinical limitations, with resistance to ibrutinib also reported.

Clinical outcomes of single-incision robotic cholecystectomy versus conventional 3-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Background: Few studies have compared the surgical results of single-incision robotic cholecystectomy (SIRC) with those of conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CLC). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative clinical efficacy of SIRC by comparing the number of postoperative days, pain level and complications between the 2 surgical methods.

Methods: We retrospectively collected demographic, perioperative and postoperative data for all patients who underwent SIRC or CLC performed by a single surgeon from June 2016 to May 2017.

Prospective study on the safety and feasibility of early ileostomy closure 2 weeks after lower anterior resection for rectal cancer.

Purpose: Transient loop ileostomies in rectal cancer surgery are generally closed after 2 or more months to allow adequate time for anastomotic healing. Maintaining the ileostomy may cause medical, surgical, or psychological complications; it also reduces the quality of life, and increase treatment costs. We performed this study to evaluate the safety and feasibility of early ileostomy closure 2 weeks postoperatively.

Patient-Controlled Nutrition After Abdominal Surgery: Novel Concept Contrary to Surgical Dogma.

Purpose: According to surgical dogma, patients who are recovering from general anesthesia after abdominal surgery should begin with a clear liquid diet, progress to a full liquid diet and then to a soft diet before taking regular meals. We propose patient-controlled nutrition (PCN), which is a novel concept in postoperative nutrition after abdominal surgery.

Methods: A retrospective pilot study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility and effects of PCN.

Prognostic Value of Progranulin in Patients with Colorectal Cancer Treated with Curative Resection.

Progranulin (PGRN) has been characterized as an autocrine growth and survival factor and is known to stimulate tumorigenesis and proliferation of several types of cancer cell. However, little is known about the prognostic role of PGRN in colorectal cancer (CRC). A retrospective analysis was performed for patients with colorectal cancer who underwent curative resection between May 2013 and June 2015.

Association between oral health and colorectal adenoma in a screening population.

Although periodontal disease and gastrointestinal tract health are closely associated, few studies have investigated whether periodontitis is a risk factor for colorectal adenoma. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is an association between periodontitis and the risk of colorectal adenoma in asymptomatic healthy people.From January 2013 to October 2015, we retrospectively enrolled 42,871 patients who underwent health screening at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital in South Korea.