Endosonographer's macroscopic evaluation of EUS-FNAB specimens after interactive cytopathologic training: a single-center prospective validation cohort study.

Background: In many centers, rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) for the specimens obtained from endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNAB) is not available. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic yields of EUS-FNAB in the presence or absence of ROSE.

Methods: Seventy-five patients who underwent EUS-FNAB for the pancreatic, gastric subepithelial, and mesenteric mass lesions at our institution from November 2013 to August 2014 were included.

Glomerular epithelial CD44 expression and segmental sclerosis in IgA nephropathy.

Background: CD44 is a marker of activated parietal epithelial cells (PECs), and is expressed in glomerular visceral epithelial cells (VECs) during development of segmental sclerosis. We explored the significance of glomerular epithelial CD44 expression in relation to segmental sclerosis in patients with mild IgA nephropathy (IgAN).

Methods: A total of 126 cases of IgAN were divided into three groups based on glomerular morphology: normal (group A, n = 30), mild mesangial proliferation without segmental sclerosis or synechia (SS) (group B, n = 31), or mild mesangial proliferation with SS (group C, n = 65).

Impaired Esophageal Mucosal Integrity May Play a Causative Role in Patients With Nongastroesophageal Reflux Disease-Related Noncardiac Chest Pain.

Baseline impedance (BI) measurement can be used to evaluate the status of the esophageal mucosa integrity. We hypothesized that impaired esophageal mucosal integrity may play a causative role in patients with nongastroesophageal reflux disease (non-GERD)-related noncardiac chest pain (NCCP). This retrospective study analyzed 24-hour multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH testing data from 77 patients with NCCP and 5 healthy volunteers.

Smoking-Related Renal Histologic Injury in IgA Nephropathy Patients.

Purpose: Smoking reportedly exerts deleterious effects on renal function; however, its effects on histology have not been clarified in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN).

Materials And Methods: Renal histology was evaluated in a cohort of 397 patients diagnosed with IgAN according to smoking status and dose in relation to renal function.

Results: Among the study cohort, which was predominantly male (88.

Static and dynamic prognostic factors for hepatitis-B-related acute-on-chronic liver failure.

Background/aims: Hepatitis-B-related acute-on-chronic liver failure has a poor prognosis. However, the advent of potent oral antiviral agents means that some patients can now recover with medical treatment. We aimed to identify the prognostic factors for hepatitis-B-related acute-on-chronic liver failure including the initial as well as the dynamically changing clinical parameters during admission.

Factors Associated with Anxiety and Depression in Korean Patients with Inactive Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background/aims: Psychological distress is highly prevalent in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We evaluated the disease characteristics and socioeconomic factors associated with anxiety and depression in Korean patients with quiescent IBD.

Methods: In total, 142 IBD patients (67 with Crohn's disease [CD] and 75 with ulcerative colitis [UC]) completed self-report questionnaires, including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score, the Modified Morisky Adherence Scale-8, the socioeconomic deprivation score, and the Crohn's and Colitis Knowledge Score questionnaires.

Association of serum adiponectin level with albuminuria in chronic kidney disease patients.

Background: Adiponectin, a peptide hormone secreted from adipocytes, exerts anti-diabetic, anti-atherogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties. We aimed to determine the relationship between serum adiponectin levels and albuminuria, and evaluate determinant factors for serum adiponectin in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: In total, 1442 CKD patients were included and divided into three groups according to their albumin-to-creatinine ratios: patients with normoalbuminuria (N = 228), microalbuminuria (N = 444), and macroalbuminuria (N = 761).

Albuminuria as a Risk Factor for Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease: Result from the KoreaN Cohort Study for Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-CKD).

Background: Anemia is a common complication among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and it is associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes in patients with CKD independent of the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). We assessed the association of the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) and eGFR with anemia in CKD patients.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using baseline data from the KoreaN Cohort Study for Outcome in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-CKD).

Low Serum Bicarbonate Predicts Residual Renal Function Loss in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients.

Low residual renal function (RRF) and serum bicarbonate are associated with adverse outcomes in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. However, a relationship between the 2 has not yet been determined in these patients. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether low serum bicarbonate has a deteriorating effect on RRF in PD patients.

Evaluation of Perihilar Biliary Strictures: Does DWI Provide Additional Value to Conventional MRI?

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether DWI provides additional value to conventional MRI with MRCP (MRI-MRCP) in the characterization of perihilar biliary strictures and in the evaluation of the longitudinal extent of perihilar cholangiocarcinomas.

Materials And Methods: One hundred fourteen patients with perihilar strictures (81 malignant and 33 benign) underwent gadobutrol-enhanced MRI-MRCP and DWI using 10 b values (0-1000 s/mm(2)). Two readers independently reviewed a conventional set of MRI-MRCP images and a combined set of MRI-MRCP and DW images and scored the likelihoods of malignancy for perihilar strictures and involvement of the bilateral secondary confluence in malignant cases on a 5-point scale.

Comparison of the effects of acute exercise after overnight fasting and breakfast on energy substrate and hormone levels in obese men.

[Purpose] We compared the effects of acute aerobic exercise following overnight fasting and breakfast on energy substrate and hormone levels in obese male college students. [Subjects and Methods] This crossover study recruited 10 obese male college students with a body mass index >25 kg/m(2) or >20% body fat. One week post-recruitment, the subjects exercised in the morning after an overnight fast.

Percutaneous Aspiration Embolectomy Using Guiding Catheter for the Superior Mesenteric Artery Embolism.

Objective: To evaluate the technical feasibility and clinical outcome of percutaneous aspiration embolectomy for embolic occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA).

Materials And Methods: Between January 2010 and December 2013, 9 patients with embolic occlusion of the SMA were treated by percutaneous aspiration embolectomy in 2 academic teaching hospitals. The aspiration embolectomy procedure was performed with the 6-Fr and 7-Fr guiding catheter.

Risk of major cardiovascular events among incident dialysis patients: A Korean national population-based study.

Background: Dialysis patients are at high risk for cardiovascular diseases, but until now there have been no detailed analyses of the incidences among Asian patients initiating dialysis. The aims of this study were to determine the incidence rates of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and to compare them between incident HD patients and PD patients.

Methods: We included all patients who had started dialysis between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2008 in Korea, and analyzed 30,279 eligible patients [22,892 hemodialysis (HD) patients and 7387 peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients] by intention-to-treat.

Swiprosin-1 stimulates cancer invasion and metastasis by increasing the Rho family of GTPase signaling.

Ectopic expression of Swiprosin-1, an actin-binding protein (also known as EF hand domain containing 2; EFHD2), enhanced motile protrusions associated with actin, such as lamellipodia and membrane ruffles. Swiprosin-1 levels were increased in various human cancer tissues, particularly at highly invasive stages of malignant melanoma. Expression of Swiprosin-1 was correlated with that of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and induced by EGF.

Modified Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Insertion: Comparison with a Conventional Method.

Purpose: The conventional trocar and cannula method in peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter insertion has its limitation in clinical setting. The aim of this study was to compare a modified method for percutaneous PD catheter insertion with the conventional method, and demonstrate advantages of the modified method.

Materials And Methods: Patients at a single center who had percutaneous PD catheters inserted by nephrologists from January 2006 until September 2012, using either a modified method (group M) or the conventional trocar and cannula method (group C), were retrospectively analyzed, in terms of baseline characteristics, complications experienced up to 3 months after the procedure, and the suitability of the procedure for patients.

Hyponatremia Predicts New-Onset Cardiovascular Events in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients.

Background And Aim: Cardiovascular (CV) disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Hyponatremia was recently shown to be a modifiable factor that is strongly associated with increased mortality in PD patients. However, the clinical impact of hyponatremia on CV outcomes in these patients is unclear.

The predictive performance of infusion strategy nomogram based on a fluid kinetic model.

Background: In a previous study, fluid kinetic models were applied to describe the volume expansion of the fluid space by administration of crystalloid and colloid solutions. However, validation of the models were not performed, it is necessary to evaluate the predictive performance of these models in another population.

Methods: Ninety five consenting patients undergoing elective spinal surgery under general anesthesia were enrolled in this study.

Improving survival rate of Korean patients initiating dialysis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the survival rate among Korean dialysis patients changed during the period between 2005 and 2008 in Korea.

Materials And Methods: A total of 32357 patients who began dialysis between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2008 were eligible for analysis. Baseline demographics, comorbidities, and mortality data were obtained from the database of the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service.

The effect of specialized continuous renal replacement therapy team in acute kidney injury patients treatment.

Purpose: Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) has been established for critically ill acute kidney injury (AKI) patients. In addition, some centers consist of a specialized CRRT team (SCT) with physicians and nurses. To our best knowledge, however, ona a few studies have yet been carried out on the superiority of SCT management.

The relationship between hemodialysis modality and insulin resistance in non-diabetic hemodialysis patients.

Background: Although various modalities of hemodialysis (HD) are presumed to have different effects on insulin resistance (IR), the relationship between hemodiafiltration (HDF) and IR has not been fully evaluated.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 82 non-diabetic HD patients were enrolled. The patients were divided into two groups according to the median homeostasis model assessment index (HOMA-IR) value of 1.

Oncogenic Role of BOLL in Colorectal Cancer.

Background: Boule-like RNA-binding protein (BOLL protein) is the progenitor of the Deleted in Azoospermia (DAZ) gene family. To date, previous studies have focused on the reproductive function of BOLL. While we were identifying new DNA methylation biomarkers for colorectal cancer (CRC), we found that BOLL protein was overexpressed in CRC.

Enhancement of cellular radiation sensitivity through degradation of Chk1 by the XIAP-XAF1 complex.

X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) and Chk1 are potential molecular targets in radiotherapy. However, their molecular association in the regulation of radiation sensitivity has been rarely studied. Here, we show that XIAP modulates radiation sensitivity by regulating stability of Chk1 in lung cancer cells.

Feasibility and outcomes of laparoscopic enucleation for pancreatic neoplasms.

Purpose: With the advancement of laparoscopic techniques and instruments, laparoscopic approach for pancreatic lesions has become an increasingly used procedure. But, there are few and limited studies about laparoscopic enuleation (LE) for pancreatic lesions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to present our experience and to evaluate the clinical outcome of LE for pancreatic benign or borderline malignant tumors.