Tumor microbiome analysis provides prognostic value for patients with stage III colorectal cancer.

Introduction: Although patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) can receive optimal treatment, the risk of recurrence remains. This study aimed to evaluate whether the tumor microbiome can be a predictor of recurrence in patients with stage III CRC.

Methods: Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we analyzed the microbiomes of tumor and adjacent tissues acquired during surgery in 65 patients with stage III CRC and evaluated the correlation of the tissue microbiome with CRC recurrence.

Bifidobacterium breve CBT BR3 is effective at relieving intestinal inflammation by augmenting goblet cell regeneration.

Background And Aim: Bifidobacterium breve was the first bacteria isolated in the feces of healthy infants and is a dominant species in the guts of breast-fed infants. Some strains of B. breve have been shown to be effective at relieving intestinal inflammation, but the modes of action have yet to be elucidated.

Microbial Modulation in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Gut dysbiosis is one of prominent features in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) which are of an unknown etiology. Although the cause-and-effect relationship between IBD and gut dysbiosis remains to be elucidated, one area of research has focused on the management of IBD by modulating and correcting gut dysbiosis. The use of antibiotics, probiotics either with or without prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation from healthy donors are representative methods for modulating the intestinal microbiota ecosystem.

Comparative effectiveness of second-line biological therapies for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease in patients with prior failure of anti-tumour necrosis factor treatment.

Background: Therapeutic options for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have increased since the introduction of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors a few decades ago. However, direct comparisons of the effectiveness of second-line biological agents in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) are lacking.

Methods: Patients with UC or CD who experienced anti-TNF treatment failure and subsequently used vedolizumab, ustekinumab, or tofacitinib as a second-line drug were retrospectively recruited.

Effectiveness and Safety of Golimumab in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: A Multicenter, Prospective, Postmarketing Surveillance Study.

Background/aims: Golimumab has been used for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) since 2013. However, there is limited data on the effectiveness and safety of the real-world use of golimumab in Asian patients.

Methods: This was a multicenter, prospective, observational study.

Real-World Long-Term Clinical Outcomes of Ultrathin Strut Biodegradable Polymer Drug-Eluting Stents in Korean ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) Patients with or without Acute Heart Failure Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Biodegradable polymers (BDPs) and ultrathin struts were recently introduced to drug-eluting stents (DES) to further improve outcomes. In this study, we analyzed and compared the effect of the ultrathin strut BDP-DES (UBDP-DES) with the conventional durable polymer-DES (DP-DES) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). A total of 356 STEMI patients (n = 160 in the UBDP-DES group and n = 196 in the DP-DES group) were enrolled.

Radiology plus ileocolonoscopy versus radiology alone in Crohn's disease: prognosis prediction and mutual agreement.

Background/aims: The optimal tools for monitoring Crohn's disease (CD) are controversial. We compared radiology plus ileocolonoscopy and radiology alone in terms of prognosis prediction and evaluated the agreement between radiologic and ileocolonoscopic findings in patients with CD.

Methods: Patients with CD who were followed up with computed tomography enterography (CTE) or magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) alone or CTE or MRE plus ileocolonoscopy were retrospectively recruited.

Continued Postoperative Use of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Inhibitors for the Prevention of Crohn's Disease Recurrence.

Background/aims: Many patients with Crohn's disease (CD) undergo intestinal resection during the disease course. Despite surgery, postoperative recurrence (POR) commonly occurs. Although postoperative use of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) inhibitors is known to be effective in preventing POR, few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of continuing the same TNF-α inhibitors postoperatively in patients who received TNF-ɑ inhibitors before surgery.

Proteomic analysis-based discovery of a novel biomarker that differentiates intestinal Behçet's disease from Crohn's disease.

Intestinal Behçet's disease (BD) and Crohn's disease (CD) present similar manifestations, but there are no specific diagnostic tests to differentiate them. We used a proteomic approach to discover novel diagnostic biomarkers specific to intestinal BD. Colon mucosa tissue samples were obtained from patients with intestinal BD or CD using colonoscopy-guided biopsy of the affected bowel.

Valsartan Dosage on Ventriculo-Vascular Coupling Index Dose-Dependency in Heart Failure Patients.

Purpose: Heart failure (HF) poses significant morbidity and mortality. Recently, the ventriculo-vascular coupling index (VVI) was introduced as an independent prognostic factor reflective of the overall cardiovascular performance index in HF. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of force-titration of valsartan on VVI values in HF patients.

Prognostic Value of Terminal Ileal Inflammation in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis.

Background/aims: Few studies have investigated terminal ileal lesions and their prognostic value in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). We evaluated the clinical significance of these lesions as a prognostic factor in patients with UC who were in clinical remission.

Methods: We retrospectively selected 567 of 4,066 colonoscopy reports that included positive findings from orificial observations of the terminal ileum (TI) and appendix in patients with UC.

Strategies to Overcome Residual Risk During Statins Era.

At present, atherosclerosis is one of the most important field in clinical and research medicine. Because it is closely related to cardiovascular (CV) and endocrine disorders such as coronary artery disease, cardiometabolic disorders, much research on how to manage atherosclerosis has been performed. The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentration has been established as an independent risk factor for developing atherosclerosis, and considerable effort has been committed to educating both physicians and the general public on the importance of lowering LDL-C with statins.

Cardiac Structural or Functional Changes Associated with CHADS-VASc Scores in Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Echocardiography.

Background: CHADS-VASc is the most widely accepted scoring system for atrial fibrillation (AF) to assess stroke risk, although little has been revealed regarding the accompanying cardiac functional/structural changes. This echocardiography study was undertaken to understand the changes related to CHADS-VASc scores.

Methods: A total of 4,795 nonvalvular AF patients were enrolled for the cohort, from which 591 were excluded as they did not meet the inclusion criteria.

Routine Indwelling Urethral Catheterization in Acute Heart Failure Patients Is Associated With Increased Urinary Tract Complications Without Improved Heart Failure Outcomes.

Background: Indwelling urethral catheters (IUC) are routinely inserted for the purpose of monitoring urine output in patients with acute heart failure (AHF). The benefit of IUC in patients capable of complying with urine collection protocols is unclear, and IUC carry multiple risks. This study describes the impact of IUC on AHF treatment.

Improved early risk stratification of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention using a combination of serum soluble ST2 and NT-proBNP.

Background: Although soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) in serum is known to be associated with ischemic heart disease and heart failure, data regarding its prognostic impact in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is limited. We evaluated the prognostic impacts of serum sST2 and other serum biomarkers in STEMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: Consecutive all 323 patients with STEMI that underwent primary PCI were enrolled.

Prognostic implication of left atrial sphericity in atrial fibrillation patients undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Background: Left atrial (LA) sphericity can predict recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). We sought to reconfirm the prognostic role of atrial sphericity after RFCA of atrial fibrillation (AF), assess any relationship between the atrial pressure and sphericity, and determine the characteristics of the patients for whom atrial sphericity was most highly predictive.

Methods: All 148 nonvalvular AF patients (57 ± 11 years, 121 men, 95 paroxysmal AF [PaAF]) who underwent RFCA were enrolled.