Predictive Biomarkers of Lymph Node Metastasis in Early Gastric Cancer: A Reference of Clinicopathological Characteristics, Protein Expression, Epstein-Barr Virus Status, and Microsatellite Instability.

Background/aim: Predicting lymph node metastasis (LNM) in early gastric cancer (EGC) is crucial for making treatment decisions. This study aimed to confirm risk factors for LNM and identify novel auxiliary biomarkers for predicting LNM in EGC.

Patients And Methods: We established a training set, comprising 63 patients with LNM-EGC and 274 patients with non-LNM EGC, and a test set, comprising 19 patients with LNM-EGC and 146 non-LNM EGC.

Sex differences in associated factors for age-related hearing loss.

The prevalence and age of onset of hearing loss differ according to sex. This study aimed to identify associated factors for age-related hearing loss (ARHL) and determine whether there are differences between males and females regarding associated factors for ARHL. This cross-sectional study used data from adults who underwent medical examinations including hearing tests from 2011 to 2021.

Efficacy of an assistive guide tube for improved endoscopic access to gastrointestinal lesions: an in vivo study in a porcine model.

Background/aims: Guide tube-assisted endoscopy for procedures that require repeated endoscopic access is safer and more effective than conventional endoscopy. However, its effectiveness has not been confirmed in animal studies. We assessed the usefulness of guide tube-assisted endoscopic procedures in an in vivo porcine model.

Usefulness of a new polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel (PVA-H)-based simulator for endoscopic submucosal dissection training: a pilot study.

Background/aims: We developed a new endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) simulator and evaluated its efficacy and realism for use training endoscopists.

Methods: An ESD simulator was constructed using polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel sheets and compared to a previous ESD simulator. Between March 1, 2020, and December 30, 2021, eight expert endoscopists from three different centers analyzed the procedure-related factors of the simulator.

Effects of additive interactions among obesity, visceral adiposity, and sarcopenia on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Although the association of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with obesity or sarcopenia is known, few studies have investigated the combined effect of various body composition parameters on the risk of NAFLD. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate effects of interactions between various body composition parameters, including obesity, visceral adiposity, and sarcopenia, on NAFLD. Data of subjects who underwent health checkups between 2010 and December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.

Efficacy and Safety of Fexuprazan in Patients with Acute or Chronic Gastritis.

Background/aims: Fexuprazan is a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker that could be of benefit to patients with gastric mucosal injury. The aim of this study was to assess the 2-week efficacy and safety of fexuprazan in patients with acute or chronic gastritis.

Methods: In this study, 327 patients with acute or chronic gastritis who had one or more gastric erosions on endoscopy and subjective symptoms were randomized into three groups receiving fexuprazan 20 mg once a day (q.

Randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fexuprazan compared with esomeprazole in erosive esophagitis.

Background: Fexuprazan, a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker, reversibly suppresses the K/H-ATPase enzyme in proton pumps within gastric parietal cells. Fexuprazan's suppression of gastric acid was maintained in healthy individuals for 24 h in a dose-dependent manner.

Aim: To compare fexuprazan to esomeprazole and establish its efficacy and safety in patients with erosive esophagitis (EE).

[Hyponatremic Seizure after Ingestion of an Oral Sulfate Tablet for Bowel Preparation for Colonoscopy].

The oral sulfate tablet (OST), commercially available as Orafang (Pharmbio Korea Co., Seoul, Korea) in Korea, is being used increasingly because of its bowel-cleansing efficacy, safety, and tolerability in adults undergoing colonoscopy. Other bowel cleansing agents, such as polyethylene glycol and sodium picosulfate/magnesium citrate, can cause plasma volume depletion and electrolyte disturbances, such as hyponatremia.

Significance of digestive symptoms after COVID-19 vaccination: A retrospective single-center study.

Objective: There is insufficient research on digestive symptoms and outcomes following coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination. We aimed to investigate digestive symptoms and related complications among South Koreans who were administered COVID-19 vaccines.

Methods: Forty-six patients (men: 22, women: 24) with a median age of 68 years (interquartile range:55.

Osteoporosis Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Colorectal Adenoma and High-Risk Adenoma: A Retrospective, Multicenter, Cross-Sectional, Case-Control Study.

Background/aims: The protective effects of vitamin D and calcium on colorectal neoplasms are known. Bone mineral density (BMD) may be a reliable biomarker that reflects the long-term anticancer effect of vitamin D and calcium. This study aimed to evaluate the association between BMD and colorectal adenomas including high-risk adenoma.

Adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination in South Korea between February 28 and August 21, 2021: A nationwide observational study.

Objectives: To investigate the clinical characteristics of adverse events (AEs) after COVID-19 vaccination in patients in South Korea.

Design: Data from the Korean Disease Control and Prevention Agency on AEs from 4 COVID-19 vaccines, including AZD1222, BNT162b2, JNJ-78436735, and mRNA-1273, from February 26, 2021, to August 21, 2021, were assessed. The epidemiological characteristics, clinical symptoms, severity, complications, and mortality were descriptively analyzed.

Correlation Between Proton Pump Inhibitors and the Complications of Liver Cirrhosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Many studies and meta-analyses have investigated the associations among proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), portosystemic encephalopathy (PSE), and other infections. However, these studies had limitations, including the omission of several relevant studies and drawing conclusions, based on the abstracts without consulting the full-text of the articles. To evaluate the association between PPIs and complications arising from cirrhosis and risks of PPI use in patients with cirrhosis.

Impacts of body composition parameters and liver cirrhosis on the severity of alcoholic acute pancreatitis.

Aim: Liver cirrhosis and features of muscle or adipose tissues may affect the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP). We aimed to evaluate the impact of body composition parameters and liver cirrhosis on the severity of AP in patients with alcohol-induced AP (AAP).

Methods: Patients with presumed AAP who underwent CT within one week after admission were retrospectively enrolled.

Association of obesity, visceral adiposity, and sarcopenia with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome: A retrospective study.

Aims: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a global health problem associated with an increased risk of diabetes mellitus (DM), cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer. Body composition parameters, including obesity, visceral adiposity, and sarcopenia contribute to the development of MS and CVD. Previous studies have investigated the association of individual body composition parameters with MS.

Investigation of droplets released during digestive endoscopy using a high-speed camera (with video): a pilot study.

Background: A large release of droplets is often expected around the periphery of the digestive endoscope insertion site. Therefore, a sense of alarm over infection because of droplets that may be released during digestive endoscopy examination is increasing. This study aimed to investigate the droplets released during digestive endoscopy using a high-speed camera.

Association between sarcopenia level and metabolic syndrome.

Aims: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) increases the risk of diabetes mellitus (DM), cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, and mortality. Sarcopenia has been reported as a risk factor for MetS, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and CVD. To date, the association between sarcopenia and MetS has been investigated.

Fatty liver is an independent risk factor for gallbladder polyps.

Background: Gallbladder polyps (GBPs) are known to be associated with obesity and metabolic diseases. However, to date, the relationship between GBPs and abnormal body fat distribution, such as fatty liver, visceral obesity, or sarcopenia, has not yet been established.

Aim: To evaluate whether GBPs are associated with fatty liver, visceral obesity, or sarcopenia.

Circulating lipidomic alterations in obese and non-obese subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects obese and non-obese individuals. However, mechanisms underlying non-obese non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) remain unclear.

Aims: To attempt to identify metabolic perturbations associated with non-obese and obese NAFLD using a lipidomics approach.

Technical feasibility of a newly designed bendable forceps for difficult endoscopic tissue samplings (with video).

Background: Biopsies with conventional forceps beyond the operating range are difficult and cumbersome. Thus, we developed a new bendable forceps for improved access to gastrointestinal lesions and evaluated its technical feasibility.

Methods: A bendable forceps was constructed with two channels and a two-stage knob.

Prognostic perspectives of PD-L1 combined with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, Epstein-Barr virus, and microsatellite instability in gastric carcinomas.

Background: The prognostic potential of PD-L1 is currently unclear in gastric carcinomas, although the immune checkpoint PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have produced promising results in clinical trials.

Methods: We explored the prognostic implications of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in 514 consecutive surgically-resected gastric carcinomas. Overall survival and recurrence-free survival were evaluated.

Prognostic Value of the Alcoholic Hepatitis Histologic Score in Korean Patients with Biopsy-Proven Alcoholic Hepatitis.

Background/aims: The alcoholic hepatitis histologic score (AHHS) is a recently developed clinical model for predicting short-term mortality in Caucasian patients with alcoholic hepatitis (AH). The AHHS has not been extensively validated in other ethnic populations. This study validated the AHHS in a Korean patient cohort.

Expression of Chemokine CCL28 in Ulcerative Colitis Patients.

Background/aims: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease for which new serological markers are required. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of the mucosa-associated epithelial chemokine CCL28 in UC.

Methods: The study included 50 patients; of these, 25 were patients with UC, and 25 were healthy controls.

[Analysis of Prognosis according to Type of Health Insurance in Five Major Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients in Public Hospitals: Single-institution Retrospective Study].

Background/aims: Public hospitals were established to provide high quality medical services to low socioeconomic status patients. This study examined the effects of public hospitals on the treatment and prognosis of patients with five-major gastrointestinal (GI) cancers (stomach cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, bile duct cancer, and pancreatic cancer).

Methods: Among the 1,268 patients treated at Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center from January 2010 to December 2017, 164 (13%) were in the medicare group.