Development and External Validation of Survival Prediction Model for Pancreatic Cancer Using Two Nationwide Databases: Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) and Korea Tumor Registry System-Biliary Pancreas (KOTUS-BP).

Background/aims: Several prediction models for evaluating the prognosis of nonmetastatic resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have been developed, and their performances were reported to be superior to that of the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system. We developed a prediction model to evaluate the prognosis of resected PDAC and externally validated it with data from a nationwide Korean database.

Methods: Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database were utilized for model development, and data from the Korea Tumor Registry System-Biliary Pancreas (KOTUS-BP) database were used for external validation.

Feasibility of Iodine-131 6β-Methyl-Iodo-19 Norcholesterol (NP-59) Scintigraphy to Complement Adrenal Venous Sampling in Management of Primary Aldosteronism: A Case Series.

Purpose: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is mainly comprised of aldosterone-producing adenoma and bilateral idiopathic adrenal hyperplasia. Current guidelines recommend adrenal venous sampling (AVS) as a gold standard method to classify the subtypes. However, because of technical challenges in AVS including invasiveness of AVS and a wide range of success rate for cannulation, it is not uncommon that appropriate decisions could not be made depending on AVS.

Current Status of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery in Daejeon and Chungcheong Province: Early Experiences after Public Medical Insurance Coverage in 2019.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the current status of bariatric and metabolic surgery in Daejeon and Chungcheong province and to describe the early experiences after public medical insurance coverage in 2019.

Materials And Methods: Between January 2019 and August 2019, 64 cases of bariatric and metabolic surgery were performed in patients with morbid obesity or uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. We prospectively collected and analyzed data regarding the patients' demographics and comorbidities, surgical results, and early complications.

Recurrence of common bile duct stones following laparoscopic common bile duct exploration: a multicenter study.

Background: Recurrence of common bile duct stone (CBDS) is not common after laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE). This study aimed to investigate the risk factors of recurrence of CBDS after LCBDE.

Methods: Patients who underwent LCBDE between January 2001 and December 2018 in four teaching hospitals of The Catholic University of Korea were included.

Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation Program and National Health Insurance System in Korea.

Since the first laparoscopic bariatric surgery in Korea introduced in January 2003, the number of metabolic and bariatric surgery has been steadily increasing. According to the report from National Health Insurance big data analysis, the prevalence of morbid and super obesity has greatly increased and metabolic and bariatric surgery also increased in the last 10 years. As the incidence of morbid obesity is more frequent in people of poor socioeconomic status, the need for a reimbursement by the government seemed to be necessary.

Long-term effect of bariatric surgery versus conventional therapy in obese Korean patients: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: Long-term results following bariatric surgery compared to conventional treatments has never been reported in morbidly obese Korean patients. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term efficacy of bariatric surgery in morbidly obese Korean patients compared to conventional medical treatments.

Methods: In this multicenter retrospective cohort study, we reviewed 137 obese subjects between January 2008 and February 2011 with a body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m who had more than 5 years of follow-up clinical data after bariatric surgery (surgery group, n = 49) or conventional treatment (conventional treatment group, n = 88).

Efficacy and safety of a novel topical agent for gallstone dissolution: 2-methoxy-6-methylpyridine.

Background: Although methyl-tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) is the only clinical topical agent for gallstone dissolution, its use is limited by its side effects mostly arising from a relatively low boiling point (55 °C). In this study, we developed the gallstone-dissolving compound containing an aromatic moiety, named 2-methoxy-6-methylpyridine (MMP) with higher boiling point (156 °C), and compared its effectiveness and toxicities with MTBE.

Methods: The dissolubility of MTBE and MMP in vitro was determined by placing human gallstones in glass containers with either solvent and, then, measuring their dry weights.

Appropriate Hospital Discharge Timing after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Comparison of Postoperative Day 1 vs. Day 2 Discharge Protocol.

Purpose: The critical pathway (CP) was introduced as a means to provide quality healthcare service in many fields of surgery. CP may increase the patient's satisfaction rate and lowering hospital stay and medical cost also. We aimed to compare the two kinds of CP applied in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients by different hospital stay length.

Everolimus Plus Ku0063794 Regimen Promotes Anticancer Effects against Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells through the Paradoxical Inhibition of Autophagy.

Purpose: Everolimus only inhibits mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), whereas Ku0063794 inhibits both mTORC1 and mTORC2. Although they have similar anticancer effects, their combination has a synergistic effect against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. We aimed to determine the mechanism underlying the synergistic effects of everolimus and Ku0063794 associated with autophagy in HCC cells.

HSP90 inhibitor 17-DMAG exerts anticancer effects against gastric cancer cells principally by altering oxidant-antioxidant balance.

Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) stabilizes numerous oncoproteins and, therefore, its inhibition has emerged as a promising antineoplastic strategy for diverse malignancies. In this study, we determined the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of action of a specific HSP90 inhibitor, 17-dimethylamino-ethylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-DMAG), in gastric cancer cell lines (AGS, SNU-1, and KATO-III), patient-derived tissues, and a mouse xenograft model. 17-DMAG exerted anticancer effects against gastric cancer cells, manifested by significantly decreased proliferation rates ( < 0.

Determination of optimized oxygen partial pressure to maximize the liver regenerative potential of the secretome obtained from adipose-derived stem cells.

Background: A hypoxic-preconditioned secretome from stem cells reportedly promotes the functional and regenerative capacity of the liver more effectively than a control secretome. However, the optimum oxygen partial pressure (pO) in the cell culture system that maximizes the therapeutic potential of the secretome has not yet been determined.

Methods: We first determined the cellular alterations in adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) cultured under different pO (21%, 10%, 5%, and 1%).

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis: Is an initial laparoscopic approach feasible?

Background: Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis is an inflammatory disease with pathologically distinct characteristics such as accumulation of lipid-laden macrophages, fibrous tissue, and acute and chronic inflammatory cells. It often involves adjacent organs and mimics gallbladder cancer. The purpose of this study was to review the clinical findings of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis and to determine the appropriate treatment plan.

Potentiation of the anticancer effects of everolimus using a dual mTORC1/2 inhibitor in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

There is lots of evidence to support the critical involvement of mTOR signaling in the carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, it has not been determined how the roles of individual mTORC1 and mTORC2 inhibitors played in the HCC therapeutics. We thus compared the effects of everolimus, Ku0063794, and a combination of the two therapies on HCC cells, using various in vitro studies (HepG2, Hep3B, and Huh7 cells), ex vivo culturing of HCC tissues obtained from patients, and the in vivo mouse xenograft model of HCC cells.

Does Korea's current diagnosis-related group-based reimbursement system appropriately classify appendectomy patients?

Purpose: As several years have passed since the implementation of the Korean diagnosis-related group (DRG) payment system for appendicitis, its early outcomes should be assessed to determine if further improvements are warranted.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data from Korean patients who underwent appendectomy, dividing the sample into 2 groups of those who received services before and after implementation of the DRG system. Based on the DRG code classification, patient data were collected including the amount of DRG reimbursement and the total in-patient costs.

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass vs. Sleeve Gastrectomy vs. Gastric Banding: The First Multicenter Retrospective Comparative Cohort Study in Obese Korean Patients.

Purpose: Bariatric surgery is relatively new in Korea, and studies comparing different bariatric procedures in Koreans are lacking. This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) for treating morbidly obese Korean adults.

Materials And Methods: In this multicenter retrospective cohort study, we reviewed the medical records of 261 obese patients who underwent different bariatric procedures.

Hypoxic Conditioned Medium From Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Promotes Mouse Liver Regeneration Through JAK/STAT3 Signaling.

Unlabelled: Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) mainly exert their function by secreting materials that are collectively termed the secretome. Despite recent attention to the secretome as an alternative to stem cell therapy, the culture conditions for generating optimal secretome contents have not been determined. Therefore, we investigated the role of hypoxic-conditioned media (HCM) from ASCs.

Risk assessment scales and predictors for simple versus severe cholecystitis in performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Background: Because acute cholecystitis has a different prognosis according to the degree of inflammation, early detection and prompt operation of severe cholecystitis are critical to the success of treatment. However, computed tomography (CT) has a low discriminative value for differentiating between simple and severe cholecystitis. Therefore, to enhance the diagnostic accuracy of CT scan, the imaging studies should be supplemented by preoperative clinical variables.

Long-term effects of duodenojejunal bypass on diabetes in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats.

Background: Previous studies have shown that duodenojejunal bypass (DJB) resolves type 2 diabetes. However, this finding has been contradicted by several experimental and human trials and therefore needs to be clarified.

Methods: Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats randomly underwent a sham operation or DJB.

IWR-1 inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition of colorectal cancer cells through suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling as well as survivin expression.

Aberrant activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling is frequently observed in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and is considered a major determinant of CRC pathogenesis. CRC pathogenesis is particularly accompanied by epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and survivin expression. Here, we investigated the potential and mechanism of a novel Wnt/β-catenin inhibitor IWR-1 to suppress tumor metastasis in relation with EMT and survivin expression.

Lipopolysaccharide preconditioning of adipose-derived stem cells improves liver-regenerating activity of the secretome.

Introduction: Growing recognition of paracrine mechanisms in stem cell plasticity has resulted in considerable interest in stem cell-derived secretome. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) preconditioning on the composition and hepatic regenerative activity of adipose-derived stem cell (ASC) secretome.

Methods: Conditioned medium (CM) and LPS-CM were obtained after culturing human ASCs without or with low-dose LPS (0.

A novel cell-free strategy for promoting mouse liver regeneration: utilization of a conditioned medium from adipose-derived stem cells.

Background: Although stem cells have beneficial effects, their clinical application faces many issues, including high cost and safety. Because stem cell plasty is largely based on their paracrine activity, this study aimed to test the hypothesis that utilization of the stem-cell secretome instead of actual cells would not only overcome these limitations, but also have similar effects as stem cell-based therapy.

Methods: Partial hepatectomized mice were divided into four groups according to the material administered via the tail vein: normal saline (saline group); 1.

The utility of the preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in predicting severe cholecystitis: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: To evaluate whether the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), as a prognostic indicator, in patients can differentiate between simple and severe cholecystitis.

Methods: A database of 632 patients who underwent cholecystectomy due to cholecystitis during approximately a seven-year span in a single institution was evaluated. Severe cholecystitis was defined when the cholecystitis was complicated by secondary changes, including hemorrhage, gangrene, emphysema, and perforation.