Increased ERCP-related adverse event from premature urgent ERCP following symptom onset in acute biliary pancreatitis with cholangitis.

Acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP) with cholangitis requires endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) within 24 h to resolve ductal obstruction. However, this recommendation is based on the timing of emergency room (ER) visits. We wanted to determine the optimal timing of ERCP for ABP based on the timing of symptom onset, not the timing of the ER visit.

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.

Gallstone Dissolution Effects of Combination Therapy with n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Ursodeoxycholic Acid: A Randomized, Prospective, Preliminary Clinical Trial.

Background/aims: : Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the only well-established and widely used agent for dissolving gallstones. Epidemiological and animal studies have suggested potential therapeutic benefits of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) for dissolving cholesterol gallstones. We evaluated whether adding PUFA to UDCA improves gallstone dissolution in patients with cholesterol gallstones.

A Short Fully Covered Self-Expandable Metal Stent for Management of Benign Biliary Stricture Not Caused by Living-Donor Liver Transplantation.

: This study evaluated the effectiveness of short fully covered self-expanding metal stents (FCSEMS) with an anti-migration design in treating benign biliary strictures (BBS) not related to living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). : A retrospective analysis was conducted on 75 patients who underwent FCSEMS insertion for BBS management. Stents were initially kept for 3 months and exchanged every 3 months until stricture resolution.

EUS-guided FNA and biopsy for cytohistologic diagnosis of gallbladder cancer: a multicenter retrospective study.

Background And Aims: EUS-guided FNA and biopsy (EUS-FNAB) is a standard diagnostic procedure for pancreatic masses but not gallbladder (GB) cancer (GBC). The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of EUS-FNAB for patients with suspected GBC.

Methods: Data were analyzed from patients who underwent EUS-FNAB for suspected GBC in 3 hospitals between 2010 and 2023.

Prediction of Prognosis in Pancreatic Cancer According to Methionyl-tRNA Synthetase 1 Expression as Determined by Immunohistochemical Staining.

The serum level of CA 19-9 is a prognostic marker for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We evaluated the ability of the expression level of methionyl-tRNA synthetase 1 (MARS1)-which facilitates cancer growth by modulating protein synthesis and the cell cycle-to predict the prognosis of PDAC. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed on pancreatic specimens obtained from patients with PDAC who were undergoing surgery.

Evaluation of MIC distribution and establishment of epidemiological cut-off values for Streptococcus parauberis isolated from aquatic animals.

Aims: Streptococcus parauberis is responsible for the development of streptococcosis in marine fish. The aim of the current study was to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of aquatic Strep. parauberis strains, thus establishing laboratory-specific epidemiological cut-off (COWT) values to distinguish wild-type (WT) and nonwild-type (NWT) strains.

Comparison of Interleukin-6, C-Reactive Protein, Procalcitonin, and the Computed Tomography Severity Index for Early Prediction of Severity of Acute Pancreatitis.

Background/aims: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common gastrointestinal disease associated with hospitalization. With the increase in its incidence, AP has become a greater burden on healthcare resources. Early identification of patients with mild AP can facilitate the appropriate use of resources.

Magnetic compression anastomosis for treatment of biliary stricture after cholecystectomy.

Video 1Magnetic compression anastomosis for treatment of biliary stricture after cholecystectomy.

Efficacy of Chenodeoxycholic Acid and Ursodeoxycholic Acid Treatments for Refractory Functional Dyspepsia.

Refractory functional dyspepsia (RFD) is diagnosed when symptoms persist for at least 6 months despite at least two medical treatments. No consensus treatment guidelines exist. The implicated causes of functional biliary dyspepsia are a narrowed cystic duct, Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, microlithiasis, and gallbladder dyskinesia.

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.

Preclinical evaluation of endoscopic placement of a steroid-eluting metal stent in an in vivo porcine benign biliary stricture model.

Treatment of benign biliary strictures (BBS) using fully covered self-expandable metal stents (FCSEMS) has a high success rate, but recurrence can occur. Corticosteroids may be useful based on their anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects. We investigated the safety and efficacy of corticosteroid-eluting FCSEMS in an animal model.

Establishment of Epidemiological Cut-Off Values and the Distribution of Resistance Genes in and Isolated from Aquatic Animals.

The emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria is an enormous challenge to public health. and are opportunistic pathogens in fish. They exert tremendous adverse effects on aquaculture production, owing to their acquired antibiotic resistance.

[Recent Updates on Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiography-guided Intraductal Radiofrequency Ablation for Malignant Biliary Stricture].

Malignant biliary strictures are caused by pancreatobiliary cancer and other metastatic malignancies. Most of them are unresectable at diagnosis with a dismal prognosis. Various new ablation methods have been introduced.

Antiparasitic potential of ethanolic extracts of Carpesii Fructus against Miamiensis avidus in hirame natural embryo cell line and their effects on immune response- and biotransformation-related genes.

Scuticociliatosis, caused by Miamiensis avidus, is a severe parasitic disease affecting marine organisms, particularly Paralichthys olivaceus. The aim of this study was to assess the antiparasitic potential of ethanolic extracts of Carpesii Fructus (EECF), the dried fruit of Carpesium abrotanoides L., which is used in traditional Chinese medicine, in vitro.

Comparison of the Clinical Features and Outcomes of Gallbladder Neuroendocrine Carcinoma with Those of Adenocarcinoma: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) of the gallbladder (GB) are extremely rare. We aimed to compare the clinical features, disease progression, management, and prognosis of patients with GB-NENs with those of patients with GB-adenocarcinomas (ADCs). A total of 21 patients with GB-NENs and 206 patients with GB-ADCs, treated at three tertiary medical centers between January 2010 and December 2020, were enrolled.

Electricity-producing Staphylococcus epidermidis counteracts Cutibacterium acnes.

Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) ATCC 12228 was incubated with 2% polyethylene glycol (PEG)-8 Laurate to yield electricity which was measured by a voltage difference between electrodes. Production of electron was validated by a Ferrozine assay.

Robust Synthetic Route toward Anisotropic Metal-Organic Cages with Tunable Surface Chemistry.

Metal-organic cages with well-defined interior cavities and tunable surface chemistry serve as attractive building blocks for new types of soft nanoporous materials. While a compositionally diverse repertoire of metal-organic cages exists, the vast majority feature highly symmetric cores. Here, we report a robust, generalizable synthetic route toward anisotropic copper paddlewheel-based cages with tunable pendant amide groups.

Optical Modulation of the Diffraction Efficiency in an Indoline Azobenzene/Amorphous Polycarbonate Film.

We have made a diffraction grating in an indoline azobenzene/amorphous polycarbonate film by two-beam interference at 532 nm that periodically photodegrades the indoline azobenzene dye. Subsequent illumination of the film with 532-nm light into the trans-isomer band leads to trans-cis isomerization in the indoline azobenzene dye and results in a decrease in the trans-isomer band absorption coefficient. This causes the diffraction efficiency to decrease when probed at 655 nm.

Optically switchable diffraction grating in a photochromic/polymer thin film.

An optically switchable diffraction grating has been made in a thin film containing a photochromic dye and amorphous polycarbonate. We show that a film containing the dye 5-chloro-1,3-dihydro-1,3,3-trimethylspiro[2H-indole-2,3-(3H)naphth[2,1-b](1,4)oxazine] can be optically processed so that a diffraction grating can be completely switched on by ultraviolet light and turned off by thermal relaxation. The ability to switch or modulate the diffraction efficiency has a number of practical applications that include optical switches and add/drop multiplexers.

Fasting serum insulin levels and insulin resistance are associated with colorectal adenoma in Koreans.

Aims/introduction: Insulin has been associated with the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, few studies have evaluated the association between insulin and colorectal adenoma. We investigated the relationship between fasting serum insulin levels or homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and colorectal adenoma.

Seroconversion rates of Helicobacter pylori infection in Korean adults.

Background: Studies on seroconversion and its reversion rate in Korean adults with Helicobacter pylori infection are very rare. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the overall seroprevalence, seroconversion rate, and seroreversion rate of H. pylori infection in an adult population.