Magnetic compression anastomosis for the treatment of complete biliary obstruction after cholecystectomy.

Background And Aims: Post-cholecystectomy biliary strictures can be treated surgically or nonsurgically. Although endoscopic or percutaneous treatments are the preferred approaches, these methods are not feasible in cases in which complete stricture occlusion prevents the successful passage of a guidewire. The utility of magnetic compression anastomosis (MCA) in patients with post-cholecystectomy complete biliary obstruction that cannot be treated conventionally was evaluated.

Spatiotemporal patterns of water volume and total organic carbon concentration of agricultural reservoirs over South Korea.

Lacking of available water quality data causes the limited understanding of the coupled dynamics of hydrologic and nutrient cycles in lakes and reservoirs and along river streams. This study conducts the rotated Principal Component Analysis (rPCA) of water volume and total organic carbon (TOC) concentration data from ∼2200 agricultural reservoirs in South Korea to extract the major modes of their spatiotemporal variability. Over 2020-2022, the total TOC load in the reservoirs ranges between 1,165 and 1,492 tons (289 and 360 Mtons of water storage volume; 3.

Preventive effect of aripiprazole once-monthly on relapse into mood episodes in bipolar disorder: A multicenter, one-year, retrospective, mirror image study.

Background: We conducted a one-year, retrospective, mirror-image study to investigate the clinical effectiveness and safety of aripiprazole once monthly (AOM) in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). We compared pre-treatment conditions with outcomes after 12 months of AOM treatment.

Methods: Seventy-five bipolar patients were recruited from 12 hospitals in Korea.

Patient's Perspective on Psychiatric Drugs: A Multicenter Survey-Based Study.

Objective: We aimed to identify the expectations and preferences for medication and medical decision-making in patients with major psychiatric disorders.

Methods: A survey was conducted among patients with major psychiatric disorders who visited psychiatric outpatient clinics at 15 hospitals between 2016 and 2018 in Korea. The survey consisted of 12 questions about demographic variables and opinions on their expectations for medication, important medical decision-makers, and preferred drug type.

Fungicide Dissipation Kinetics and Dietary Exposure Risk Assessment in Squash Fruit and Leaf.

The dissipation behavior and dietary exposure risk assessment of four fungicides (dimethomorph, mandipropamid, myclobutanil, and metalaxyl) was performed in fruits and leaves of squash grown under greenhouse conditions. Squash fruit and leaf samples were randomly collected at 0, 3, 5, 7, and 14 days after the last pesticide application. Analysis was performed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS).

Psychometric Properties of the Korean Version of Functioning Assessment Short Test in Bipolar Disorder.

Objective: The Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) is a relatively specific test for bipolar disorders designed to assess the main functioning problems experienced by patients. This brief instrument includes 24 items assessing impairment or disability in 6 domains of functioning: autonomy, occupational functioning, cognitive functioning, financial issues, interpersonal relationships, and leisure time. It has already been translated into standardized versions in several languages.

Dissipation Kinetics and Risk Assessment of Spirodiclofen and Tebufenpyrad in Thunb.

The dissipation kinetics of spirodiclofen and tebufenpyrad after their application on Thunb were studied for 10 days, including the pre-harvest intervals. Spirodiclofen and tebufenpyrad were used in two greenhouses in Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam province (Field 1) and Gwangyang-si, Jeollanam province (Field 2), Republic of Korea. Samples were taken at 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 days after pesticide application.

Dissipation behavior and dietary exposure risk of pesticides in Brussels sprout evaluated using LC-MS/MS.

In this study, the dissipation behavior and dietary exposure risk of eight pesticides in Brussels sprout were evaluated under greenhouse conditions. Brussels sprout samples were collected 0, 7, 14, and 21 days after the last pesticide treatment. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry was used for sample analysis.

Safety and Efficacy of a Large-Bore Biliary Metallic Stent for Malignant Biliary Obstruction.

Unlabelled: Self-expandable metallic stents (SEMSs) are typically inserted in patients with unresectable malignant biliary obstruction. However, SEMSs are susceptible to occlusion. To overcome this issue, we developed a large-bore, dumbbell-shaped, fully covered SEMS (FCSEMS-L) and compared its efficacy and safety with those of a conventional FCSEMS (FCSEMS-C) in patients with malignant biliary obstruction.

Mid-term outcomes of hybrid debranching endovascular aortic arch repair in landing zones 0-2.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to summarize a single-center experience of hybrid debranching endovascular repair of the aortic arch and proximal descending thoracic aorta (DTA) with regard to the mid-term outcomes with highlighting the difference between the landing zones 0-2.

Methods: A retrospective review of data from a prospectively collected registry (Gangnam Severance Endovascular Aortic Registry) was performed. From among 332 patients whose aortic pathology was managed with TEVAR, 112 patients who underwent hybrid arch repair during the study period between 2012 and 2016 were identified.

Prospective Multi-Center Korean Registry of Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization with Drug-Eluting Embolics for Nodular Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Two-Year Outcome Analysis.

Objective: To assess the two-year treatment outcomes of chemoembolization with drug-eluting embolics (DEE) for nodular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: This study was a prospective, multicenter, registry-based, single-arm trial conducted at five university hospitals in Korea. Patients were recruited between May 2011 and April 2013, with a target population of 200.

Short fully covered self-expandable metal stent for treatment of proximal anastomotic benign biliary stricture after living-donor liver transplantation.

Objectives: Non-surgical methods have high success rates for treating benign biliary strictures (BBSs), but treatment of proximal strictures is difficult. Recent studies have reported that fully covered self-expandable metal stents (FCSEMSs) are useful for treating refractory BBSs. We investigated the efficacy of a short and removable FCSEMS with an anti-migration design for treatment of proximal BBSs.

Identifying patterns in the multitrophic community and food-web structure of a low-turbidity temperate estuarine bay.

Food web dynamics outline the ecosystem processes that regulate community structure. Challenges in the approaches used to capture topological descriptions of food webs arise due to the difficulties in collecting extensive empirical data with temporal and spatial variations in community structure and predator-prey interactions. Here, we use a Kohonen self-organizing map algorithm (as a measure of community pattern) and stable isotope-mixing models (as a measure of trophic interaction) to identify food web patterns across a low-turbidity water channel of a temperate estuarine-coastal continuum.

Phase I Radiation Dose-Escalation Study to Investigate the Dose-Limiting Toxicity of Concurrent Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Concurrent intra-arterial chemotherapy and radiotherapy (iA-CCRT) can increase the response rate in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but may cause a higher toxicity. We conducted this Phase I study to investigate the dose-limiting toxicity of iA-CCRT for HCC. In total, 52.

Temporal pattern of aortic remodelling after endovascular treatment for chronic DeBakey IIIb dissection.

Objectives: Endovascular treatment has emerged as a safe procedure for treating chronic DeBakey IIIb dissection. The objective of this study was to investigate the mid-term outcome and temporal pattern of aortic remodelling after endovascular treatment for DeBakey IIIb dissection.

Methods: From 2012 to 2017, 85 patients who underwent endovascular aortic repair for DeBakey IIIb dissection were enrolled.

Clinical correlates associated with the long-term response of bipolar disorder patients to lithium, valproate or lamotrigine: A retrospective study.

Background: Although mood stabilizers such as lithium (LIT), valproate (VAL), and lamotrigine (LMT) appear to be efficacious treatments for bipolar disorder (BD) in research settings, the long-term response to these mood stabilizers in clinical practice is highly variable among individuals. Thus, the present study examined the characteristics associated with good or insufficient responses to long-term treatment with LIT, VAL, or LMT for BD.

Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients who visited an outpatient clinic with a diagnosis of BD I or II.

Switching Antipsychotics to Blonanserin in Patients with Schizophrenia: An Open-label, Prospective, Multicenter Study.

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of blonanserin in schizophrenic patients who were previously treated with other antipsychotics but, due to insufficient response, were switched to blonanserin.

Methods: A total of 52 patients with schizophrenia who were unresponsive to treatment with antipsychotic monotherapy or combination therapy were recruited into this 12-week, open-label, prospective, multicenter study. Patients were switched to blonanserin from their existing antipsychotics over a maximum 2-week tapering-off period.

Complete Thoracic Aorta Remodeling After Endovascular Aortic Repair: A New Therapeutic Goal for Chronic DeBakey IIIb Aneurysms.

To introduce complete thoracic aorta remodeling as a new therapeutic target of thoracic endovascular aortic repair for chronic DeBakey IIIb aneurysms, and analyze the predictors for complete thoracic aorta remodeling. From 2012 to 2017, 75 patients underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair for chronic DeBakey IIIb aneurysms. Complete thoracic aorta remodeling was defined as thoracic false lumen thrombosis with false lumen diameter <5 mm down to T-10 level.

The prevalence and diagnostic classification of mixed features in patients with major depressive episodes: A multicenter study based on the DSM-5.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of mixed features using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) and to examine how patients with mixed states would be classified using the DSM-5.

Methods: In total, 12 hospitals participated in this study, and data on the demographic characteristics and clinical diagnoses of patients treated between October 2013 and September 2016 were obtained. We reviewed the data for opposite-polarity symptoms according to the DSM-5 criteria and the research-based diagnostic criteria.

Maintenance of the fistulous tract after recanalization via magnetic compression anastomosis in completely obstructed benign biliary stricture.

Objective: This study compared the efficacy of a percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (PTCS) catheter and a fully covered self-expandable metal stent (FCSEMS) for maintaining biliary tract patency after magnetic compression anastomosis (MCA).

Methods: This study included patients with completely obstructed benign biliary stricture (BBS), which was resolved by MCA and subsequent insertion of a PTCS catheter or FCSEMS. We compared the restenosis-free time after removal of the PTCS catheter or FCSEMS, and the rate of complications.

Favorable Aortic Remodeling Following Serial False Lumen Procedures in a Case of Chronic Type IIIb Dissection.

We report a case of acute type I aortic dissection in which an emergency graft replacement of the ascending aorta and innominate artery was performed. We performed false lumen thrombosis through hybrid thoracic endovascular aortic repair to seal the primary entry tear, followed by false lumen obliteration at the level of the descending thoracic aorta, abdominal aorta, and right common iliac artery. Over a period of 4.

Outcomes of Stentless Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair for Chronic DeBakey IIIb Aneurysms.

Background: We introduce a new endovascular procedure for favorable aortic remodeling in patients with chronic DeBakey IIIb (CDIIIb) aneurysms and present outcomes.

Methods: This study included 19 patients who underwent stentless thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for CDIIIb aneurysms between 2014 and 2016. Stentless TEVAR is defined as an endovascular procedure involving closure of communicating channels or obliteration of the false lumen itself using various materials.