Initial Experience of Robot-Assisted Transabdominal Preperitoneal (TAPP) Inguinal Hernia Repair by a Single Surgeon in South Korea.

: Inguinal hernia is a common surgical disease. Traditional open herniorrhaphy has been replaced by laparoscopic herniorrhaphy. Nowadays, many attempts at robotic herniorrhaphy have been reported in western countries, but there have been no reports in South Korea.

Learning curve for single-port robot-assisted colectomy.

Purpose: Since the introduction of robotic surgery, robots for colorectal cancer have replaced laparoscopic surgery, and a single-port robot (SPR) platform has been launched and is being used to treat patients. We analyzed the learning curve and initial complications of using an SPR platform in colorectal cancer surgery.

Methods: We reviewed 39 patients who underwent SPR colectomy from April to October 2019.

Clinical Characteristics of Symptomatic Cholecystitis in Post-Gastrectomy Patients: 11 Years of Experience in a Single Center.

Background and Objectives: Gallbladder (GB) stones, a major cause of symptomatic cholecystitis, are more likely to develop in post gastrectomy people. Our purpose is to evaluate characteristics of symptomatic cholecystitis after gastrectomy. Materials and Method: In January 2011−December 2021, total 1587 patients underwent operations for symptomatic cholecystitis at our hospital.

Learning curve for single-port robot-assisted rectal cancer surgery.

Purpose: We analyzed the learning curve of single-port robotic (SPR)-assisted rectal cancer surgery.

Methods: Fifty-seven consecutive SPR-assisted rectal cancer surgery cases performed by the same surgeon were considered in surgical interventions for rectal cancer. Total operation time (OT), docking time (DT), and surgeon console time (SCT) measured during surgery were used to parametrize the learning curve.

Prognostic Factors and Treatment of Recurrence after Local Excision of Rectal Cancer.

Purpose: Indications for local excision in patients with rectal cancer remain controversial. We reviewed factors affecting survival rate and treatment effectiveness in cancer recurrence after local excision among patients with rectal cancer.

Materials And Methods: A total of 831 patients was enrolled.

Single-port robot-assisted abdominoperineal resection: a case review of the first four experiences.

Recently, abdominoperineal resection (APR) using a robot has been demonstrated in other studies. However, there has been no report on APR for rectal cancer using the single-port robot (SPR) platform. In response to this research gap, we described the clinical experience of APR using a SPR.

Clinical Significance of Systemic Inflammation Markers in Newly Diagnosed, Previously Untreated Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of systemic inflammation markers (SIMs)-including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR)-in patients with newly diagnosed, previously untreated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study was performed using prospectively collected registry data of newly diagnosed, previously untreated HCC from a single institution. The training set included 6619 patients from 2005 to 2013 and the validation set included 2084 patients from 2014 to 2016.

Long-term Oncologic Outcome of Postoperative Complications After Colorectal Cancer Surgery.

Purpose: The impact of postoperative complications on long-term oncologic outcome after radical colorectal cancer surgery is controversial. The aim of this study was to examine the risk factors and oncologic outcomes of surgery-related postoperative complication groups.

Methods: From January 2010 to December 2010, 310 patients experienced surgery-related postoperative complications after radical colorectal cancer surgery.

The Role of the Signal-to-Cutoff Ratio in Automated Anti-HCV Chemiluminescent Immunoassays by Referring to the Nucleic Acid Amplification Test and the Recombinant Immunoblot Assay.

Background: Following discontinuation of the recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA), the only available supplementary test for the detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). However, the NAAT does not adequately detect past HCV. Consequently, it is hard to distinguish between past HCV infection and biological false positivity with an anti-HCV result alone.

Application of the isoniazid assay in dried blood spots using the ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Objectives: Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs is important for proper treatment of TB. Dried blood spots (DBSs) are widely used for TDM because of their several advantages. Rifampicin and pyrazinamide assays with DBSs have already been developed.

Characteristics of radio frequency-sputtered ZnS on the flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate.

Zinc sulfide (ZnS) thin film was deposited on the flexible polyethylene-terephtalate (PET) polymer substrate by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering system. ZnS film has a critical thickness range affecting crystal structure where it shows preferred orientation with intensity peak of X-ray diffractometer at 28.4 degrees for ZnS thinner than 200 nm while hexagonal wurtzite and cubic zinc-blend (101) are co-existed for film thicker than 200 nm.

Ginsenoside Rg3 attenuates microglia activation following systemic lipopolysaccharide treatment in mice.

Neuroinflammation, characterized by activation of microglia and expression of major inflammatory mediators, contributes to neuronal damage in addition to acute and chronic central nervous system (CNS) disease progression. The present study investigated the immune modulatory effects of ginsenoside Rg3, a principle active ingredient in Panax ginseng, on pro-inflammatory cytokines and microglia activation in brain tissue induced by systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment in C57BL/6 mice. Systemic LPS treatment induces immediate microglia activation in the brain.

Clinical significance of core gene mutations during the course of genotype C chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of HBV core gene mutations with disease severity in HBV-infected patients.

Methodology: We included 249 genotype C HBV infected patients: 39 asymptomatic carriers (AC), 68 with chronic hepatitis (CH), 75 with liver cirrhosis (LC), and 67 with HCC. HBV DNA was extracted from patient sera and the HBV core gene was analyzed by PCR and sequencing.

The correlation of hepatitis B virus pre-S mutation with mitochondrial D-loop mutations and common deletions in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background/aims: We investigated the correlation of HBV pre-S mutation with the sites and frequencies of mtDNA mutations in HCC patients.

Methodology: Twenty-seven HBV-related HCC patients and 8 control patients were included. HBV DNA was extracted from sera and the HBV S coding region was analyzed.

The efficacy of combined transarterial chemoembolization and 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma with main portal vein thrombosis.

Background/aims: The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of combined therapy with TAE and 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) for HCC with main portal vein thrombosis (MPVT).

Methodology: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 18 patients who had an unresectable HCC with MPVT and underwent combined TAE and 3D-CRT. Treatment responses for the main tumor and the MPVT were assessed.

Analysis of risk factors associated with early multinodular recurrences after hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Sometimes patients experience an unexpected fulminant recurrence after partial hepatic resection for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, and this carries a dismal prognosis. We conducted this retrospective study to investigate the risk factors of early multinodular (ie, 10 nodules within 6 months of surgery) recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: The study population consisted of 409 patients who underwent curative hepatic resection between January 2000 and April 2003.

[A case of hepatocellular carcinoma complicating cardiac cirrhosis caused by constrictive pericarditis].

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies. Many factors are considered to be etiology associated with HCC; the important factors are hepatitis B and C viruses and alcohol. Cirrhosis is present in the majority of patients with HCC.

Characteristics and prevalence of intrapulmonary shunt detected by contrast echocardiography with harmonic imaging in liver transplant candidates.

We investigated the prevalence and characteristics of intrapulmonary shunt using contrast echocardiography with harmonic imaging in 130 liver transplant candidates. We found a high prevalence of intrapulmonary shunts and a significant correlation between the degree of intrapulmonary shunt and the Child-Pugh classification score.