Publications by authors named "Ji Bang"

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics, driven by sensory stimulation-induced neuronal activity, is crucial for maintaining homeostasis and clearing metabolic waste. However, it remains unclear whether such CSF flow is impaired in age-related neurodegenerative diseases of the visual system. This study addresses this gap by examining CSF flow during visual stimulation in glaucoma patients and healthy older adults using functional magnetic resonance imaging.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

TiO has broad prospects in reducing the safety risks posed by emerging pollutants in water environments. However, the high recombination rate of photogenerated carriers limits the activity and photon utilization efficiency of TiO. In this study, mesoporous TiO (m-TiO) and ultra-thin g-CN nanosheets were composited using a hydrothermal method, with the m-TiO tightly and uniformly wrapped by g-CN.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigates the effectiveness of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided celiac plexus block versus a sham procedure in alleviating abdominal pain for patients suffering from chronic pancreatitis, with the aim of determining pain reduction statistics.
  • - Conducted as a randomized sham-controlled trial, the research will involve multiple academic sites and focus on patients whose chronic pancreatitis is confirmed by EUS diagnostic criteria, measuring outcomes like pain reduction through specific pain assessment tools.
  • - The ultimate goal is to provide a clear evaluation of celiac plexus block’s efficacy compared to a placebo treatment, which may help in managing chronic pain related to pancreatitis more effectively.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Difficult biliary cannulation (DBC) significantly raises the risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP), especially when combined with high pre-procedure risk factors.
  • In a study with 1,601 participants, those undergoing DBC faced a PEP rate of 20.7% when they also had high pre-procedure risk, compared to lower rates for non-DBC groups.
  • Prophylactic measures, such as combining rectal indomethacin with pancreatic duct stenting, were found to effectively reduce the risk of PEP, even with an increasing number of PD wire passages during DBC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Backgruound: F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)/computed tomography (CT) can be used to measure bone mineral density (BMD), cross-sectional muscle area (CSMA), Hounsfield units (HU) of liver and muscle, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and glucose metabolism. The present study aimed to identify age-related changes in body composition and glucose metabolism in Korean using opportunistic FDG-PET/CT imaging.

Methods: We analyzed FDG-PET/CT, clinical history, and laboratory data abstracted from the medical records of patients who underwent health screening at a single institute between 2017 and 2022.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Prophylactic pancreatic stent placement (PSP) is effective for preventing pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in high-risk cases, but the optimal technical approach to this intervention remains uncertain.

Methods: In this secondary analysis of 787 clinical trial patients who underwent successful stent placement, we studied the impact of (i) whether pancreatic wire access was achieved for the sole purpose of PSP or naturally during the conduct of the case, (ii) the amount of effort expended on PSP, (iii) stent length, (iv) stent diameter, and (v) guidewire caliber. We used logistic regression models to examine the adjusted association between each technical factor and post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Due to the higher risk of medical complications posed by influenza infection, patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are strongly recommended to receive the influenza vaccine. However, it remains unclear if hyperglycemia in patients with T1D affects vaccine-induced immune responses. In this study, we investigated the humoral and cellular immune responses of prediabetic and diabetic, nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice following influenza vaccination to determine the effects of hyperglycemia on influenza vaccine-induced responses.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To investigate the contributions of the microstructural and metabolic brain environment to glaucoma and their association with visual field (VF) loss patterns by using advanced diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI), proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), and clinical ophthalmic measures.

Methods: Sixty-nine glaucoma and healthy subjects underwent dMRI and/or MRS at 3 Tesla. Ophthalmic data were collected from VF perimetry and optical coherence tomography.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • * Researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of 24,626 patients, finding that the recurrence rate was significantly higher in patients with DSV than in those with conventional PTC (cPTC), particularly among pediatric patients.
  • * The findings suggest that pediatric patients with DSV face a greater recurrence risk than adults, revealing a unique age-related pattern of recurrence that differs from that observed in cPTC cases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Ischemic stroke is a major cause of mortality worldwide. Proper etiological subtyping of ischemic stroke is crucial for tailoring treatment strategies. This study explored the utility of circulating microRNAs encapsulated in extracellular vesicles (EV-miRNAs) to distinguish the following ischemic stroke subtypes: large artery atherosclerosis (LAA), cardioembolic stroke (CES), and small artery occlusion (SAO).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: This study aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of empirical high-dose radioiodine therapy in treating differentiated thyroid cancer patients with thyroglobulin (Tg)-elevated negative iodine scintigraphy (TENIS) syndrome.

Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library to identify relevant studies published until April 2022. This systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist and registered in an international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: This meta-analysis and systematic review assessed the diagnostic accuracy of lung SPECT compared with lung planar imaging in patients with suspected acute pulmonary embolism (PE) or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Patients And Methods: A search of Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases identified suitable articles published before October 2023. Meta-analyses were performed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of SPECT imaging modalities, including perfusion (Q) SPECT, ventilation (V)/Q SPECT, Q SPECT/CT, and V/Q SPECT/CT.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: The effect of routine ureteral stenting on postoperative hydronephrosis and percutaneous ureteral intervention in kidney transplant remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of routine ureteral stenting on hydronephrosis and percutaneous ureteral intervention and the cost benefit of ureteral stenting in kidney transplant.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent kidney transplant at a tertiary institution between 2005 and 2021.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: This meta-analysis and systematic review aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and advantages associated with the use of recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone (rhTSH) for radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy in patients with intermediate- to high-risk differentiated thyroid cancer.

Patients And Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched to identify relevant articles reporting clinical outcomes of rhTSH compared with thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) in patients with intermediate- to high-risk differentiated thyroid cancer published between January 2012 and June 2023. Meta-analyses were performed (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022340915) to assess the success rate of radioiodine remnant ablation (RRA) in patients with intermediate to high risk and determine the disease control rate among patients with distant metastases, evaluated using the RECIST criteria.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The combination of rectally administered indomethacin and placement of a prophylactic pancreatic stent is recommended to prevent pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in high-risk patients. Preliminary evidence suggests that the use of indomethacin might eliminate or substantially reduce the need for stent placement, a technically complex, costly, and potentially harmful intervention.

Methods: In this randomised, non-inferiority trial conducted at 20 referral centres in the USA and Canada, patients (aged ≥18 years) at high risk for post-ERCP pancreatitis were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive rectal indomethacin alone or the combination of indomethacin plus a prophylactic pancreatic stent.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the usefulness of adding SPECT/CT to radioiodine whole-body scans (WBSs) for the treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).

Patients And Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed following the PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO registration: CRD42022341732) to compare the feasibility of conclusive readings and the frequency of changes in treatment plans in patients with DTC undergoing WBS + SPECT/CT versus WBS. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched to identify relevant articles concerning thyroid cancer, radioactive iodine, and SPECT/CT or SPECT, published before August 16, 2023.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Standard linear echoendoscopes have a large distal tip and bending radius, which can preclude adequate examination in some patients.

Objective: We examined the impact of having available slim linear echoendoscopes (SLE) on our endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) practice.

Materials And Methods: As a quality improvement measure, data on the need for the use of SLE were documented in 2000 consecutive procedures performed over a 10-month period from February to November 2022.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Although the preferred management approach for patients with infected necrotising pancreatitis is endoscopic transluminal stenting followed by endoscopic necrosectomy as step-up treatment if there is no clinical improvement, the optimal timing of necrosectomy is unclear. Therefore, we aimed to compare outcomes between performing upfront necrosectomy at the index intervention versus as a step-up measure in patients with infected necrotising pancreatitis.

Methods: This single-blinded, multicentre, randomised trial (DESTIN) was done at six tertiary care hospitals (five hospitals in the USA and one hospital in India).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: Approach to management of common bile duct stones (CBDS) by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is not standardized. We examined outcomes by applying predetermined protocol for CBDS management.

Methods: When standard extraction techniques failed at ERCP, presence of tapered bile duct and stone-duct ratio were calculated.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Walled-off necrosis (WON) is highly morbid disease most effectively managed by endoscopic drainage with lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMSs) or plastic stents, with or without necrosectomy. This meta-analysis compared the clinical outcomes of patients included in randomized trials treated using LAMSs or plastic stents.

Methods: The MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched to identify all data collected from randomized trials comparing LAMSs and plastic stents for the treatment of WON.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The objective of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) in detecting recurrence in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) who have negative whole-body scans (WBSs) but elevated serum thyroglobulin (Tg) or thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) levels. This systematic review/meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis for Diagnostic Test Accuracy criteria (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews registration number: CRD42022340924). A comprehensive search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases identified articles reporting the diagnostic accuracy of FDG PET/CT for the detection of recurrence in patients with DTC with negative WBS and elevated serum Tg or TgAb levels published between January 2012 and June 2023.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF