Combi-Elastography versus Transient Elastography for Assessing the Histological Severity of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease.

Background/aims: Combi-elastography is a B-mode ultrasound-based method in which two elastography modalities are utilized simultaneously to assess metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). However, the performance of combi-elastography for diagnosing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and determining fibrosis severity is unclear. This study compared the diagnostic performances of combi-elastography and vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) for identifying hepatic steatosis, fibrosis, and high-risk MASH.

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.

Low-quality muscle mass rather than normal-quality muscle mass determines fibrosis progression in biopsy-proven NAFLD.

Background And Aims: Sarcopaenia is associated with advanced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the impact of the muscle mass categorised by muscle quality on fibrosis progression remains unclear.

Methods: A total of 292 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD who underwent serial vibration-controlled transient elastography assessments at least 1 year from baseline were selected.

PNPLA3 genotypes modify the adverse effect of the total energy intake on high-risk nonalcoholic steatohepatitis development.

Background: The relationship between diet and risk genotypes in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) development and fibrosis progression in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains unclear.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the effects of diet on NASH development and fibrosis progression in patients with NAFLD stratified by the PNPLA3 genotype.

Methods: We performed a prospective study in a cohort of patients with biopsy-confirmed NAFLD.

A Standardized Pathology Report for Gastric Cancer: 2nd Edition.

The first edition of 'A Standardized Pathology Report for Gastric Cancer' was initiated by the Gastrointestinal Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists and published 17 years ago. Since then, significant advances have been made in the pathologic diagnosis, molecular genetics, and management of gastric cancer (GC). To reflect those changes, a committee for publishing a second edition of the report was formed within the Gastrointestinal Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists.

A standardized pathology report for gastric cancer: 2nd edition.

The first edition of 'A Standardized Pathology Report for Gastric Cancer' was initiated by the Gastrointestinal Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists and published 17 years ago. Since then, significant advances have been made in the pathologic diagnosis, molecular genetics, and management of gastric cancer (GC). To reflect those changes, a committee for publishing a second edition of the report was formed within the Gastrointestinal Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists.

Prognostic roles of leptin-signaling proteins, PD-L1, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in surgically-resected biliary tract cancers.

Background: Biliary tract cancers are rare, with a poor patient prognosis. Leptin and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) influence CD8 and forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) lymphocytes, and thus, cancer cell growth. We aimed to define the prognostic implications of these variables and the clinicopathological features of biliary tract cancers.

Interaction effect between NAFLD severity and high carbohydrate diet on gut microbiome alteration and hepatic lipogenesis.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with high carbohydrate (HC) intake. We investigated whether the relationship between carbohydrate intake and NAFLD is mediated by interactions between gut microbial modulation, impaired insulin response, and hepatic lipogenesis (DNL). Stool samples were collected from 204 Korean subjects with biopsy-proven NAFLD (n = 129) and without NAFLD (n = 75).

Myosteatosis, but not Sarcopenia, Predisposes NAFLD Subjects to Early Steatohepatitis and Fibrosis Progression.

Background & Aims: Sarcopenia and myosteatosis are associated with advanced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, muscle alterations in early stage NAFLD remain unclear.

Methods: Patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) or early nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) without significant fibrosis were selected from a prospective biopsy-proven NAFLD cohort (N = 338).

A sequential approach using the age-adjusted fibrosis-4 index and vibration-controlled transient elastography to detect advanced fibrosis in Korean patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background And Aims: Vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) has shown good diagnostic performance in predicting fibrosis stages in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, an optimal diagnostic approach to detect advanced fibrosis in patients with NAFLD has not been established.

Approach And Results: We prospectively collected data from 539 subjects who underwent liver biopsy at a single centre between January 2014 and December 2019.

Epstein-Barr Virus miR-BART1-3p Regulates the miR-17-92 Cluster by Targeting E2F3.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with several tumors and generates BamHI A rightward transcript (BART) microRNAs (miRNAs) from BART transcript introns. These BART miRNAs are expressed at higher levels in EBV-associated epithelial malignancies than in EBV-infected B lymphomas. To test the effects of EBV miRNA on the cell cycle and cell growth, we transfected miR-BART1-3p, a highly expressed EBV-associated miRNA, into gastric carcinoma cells.

Evaluation of copper alloys for reducing infection by methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecium in intensive care unit and in vitro.

Background/aims: Multi-drug resistant pathogens are increasing among healthcare-associated infections. It is well known that copper and copper alloys have antimicrobial activity. We evaluated the activity of copper against bacteria in a hospital setting in Korea.

Association between circulating bile acid alterations and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis independent of obesity and diabetes mellitus.

Background And Aims: Bile acid (BA) dysregulation is related to not only metabolic diseases but also nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We investigated whether circulating BA levels are altered according to the histological severity of NAFLD independent of metabolic derangements.

Methods: Global metabolic profiling and targeted BA analysis using sera collected from biopsy-proven no-NAFLD (n = 67), nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) (n = 99), and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH, n = 75) subjects were performed sequentially.

Standardization of the pathologic diagnosis of appendiceal mucinous neoplasms.

Although the understanding of appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (AMNs) and their relationship with disseminated peritoneal mucinous disease have advanced, the diagnosis, classification, and treatment of AMNs are still confusing for pathologists and clinicians. The Gastrointestinal Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists (GPSG-KSP) proposed a multicenter study and held a workshop for the "Standardization of the Pathologic Diagnosis of the Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasm" to overcome the controversy and potential conflicts. The present article is focused on the diagnostic criteria, terminologies, tumor grading, pathologic staging, biologic behavior, treatment, and prognosis of AMNs and disseminated peritoneal mucinous disease.

A PNPLA3 Polymorphism Confers Lower Susceptibility to Incident Diabetes Mellitus in Subjects With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Background And Aims: We investigated the association between the patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing-3 (PNPLA3) rs738409 genotype and the risk of diabetes mellitus (DM) using a biopsy-confirmed nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) cohort and a longitudinal observational cohort.

Methods: Associations between genotypes and the prevalence of DM were evaluated with stratification according to the histological severity of NAFLD in the Boramae cohort (n = 706). A longitudinal cohort consisting of nondiabetic individuals with ≥2 health checkups was then selected to investigate the risk of incident DM according to the genotype (the GENIE cohort; n = 4998).

Crystal structure of [3,10-bis-(4-fluoro-pheneth-yl)-1,3,5,8,10,12-hexa-aza-cyclo-tetra-deca-ne]nickel(II) diperchlorate.

The square-planar nickel(II) title complex, [Ni(CHFN)](ClO) or [Ni](ClO) ( = 3,10-bis-(4-fluoro-pheneth-yl)-1,3,5,8,10,12-hexa-aza-cyclo-tetra-deca-ne) was synthesized by a one-pot reaction of template condensation and its X-ray crystal structure was determined. The nickel(II) ion lies close by a twofold axis and the complex displays whole-mol-ecule disorder. Ligand , a hexa-aza-cyclo-tetra-decane ring having 4-fluoro-phenethyl side chains attached to uncoordinated nitro-gen atoms, adopts a III (, configuration.

Comparing the surgical outcomes of dual-port laparoscopic distal gastrectomy and three-port laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Purpose: Many studies have demonstrated that single-incision or reduced-port laparoscopic distal gastrectomy is a feasible method compared to conventional laparoscopic distal gastrectomy. Using rigid-type laparoscope and right-side approach, we could perform dual-port laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (DPLDG) for gastric cancer. This study aimed to compare the surgical outcomes of DPLDG to those of 3-port laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TPLDG).

Management and outcomes of Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteremia in patients without cystic fibrosis: a retrospective observational study.

Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) is an emerging pathogen of nosocomial infection in chronic or critically ill patients without cystic fibrosis (CF). The objective was to evaluate the management and outcomes of BCC bacteremia in patients without CF. We conducted a retrospective study of non-CF adult patients with BCC bacteremia between January 1997 and December 2016 at 4 tertiary hospitals in South Korea.

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.

Epstein-Barr virus-encoded miR-BART5-5p upregulates PD-L1 through PIAS3/pSTAT3 modulation, worsening clinical outcomes of PD-L1-positive gastric carcinomas.

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is etiologically associated with ~ 10% of all gastric carcinomas. However, the molecular mechanisms and roles of EBV miRNAs in gastric carcinoma oncogenesis are yet to be elucidated.

Methods: MicroRNA microarray and TaqMan quantitative real-time RT-PCR were conducted.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in a Patient Treated with Letrozole and Palbociclib.

Palbociclib, in conjunction with endocrine therapy, has been approved for the treatment of patients with advanced breast cancer. The common hematological toxicities associated with palbociclib are leukopenia and neutropenia. However, hematological malignancies have not been reported for palbociclib treatment.

Development and Validation of a Scoring System, Based on Genetic and Clinical Factors, to Determine Risk of Steatohepatitis in Asian Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Background & Aims: There are no biomarkers of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) that are ready for routine clinical use. We investigated whether an analysis of PNPLA3 and TM6SF2 genotypes (rs738409 and rs58542926) can be used to identify patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), with and without diabetes, who also have NASH.

Methods: We collected data from the Boramae registry in Korea on 453 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD with sufficient clinical data for calculating scores.