Underwater versus conventional cold snare polypectomy of colorectal polyps 4-9 mm in diameter: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Background And Aims: Cold snare polypectomy (CSP) has been reported as safe and effective method for the removal of small colorectal polyps. However, some studies showed low R0 resection rate. Underwater endoscopic mucosal resection is an effective technique to increase the proportions of complete resection.

A novel technique using endoscopic band ligation for removal of long-stalked (>10 mm) pedunculated colon polyps: A prospective pilot study.

Background: Endoscopic removal of large and thick-stalked pedunculated colonic polyps, often leads to massive hemorrhage. Several techniques to minimize this complication have not been widely adopted due to some caveats. In order to prevent postpolypectomy bleeding, we invented a novel technique to dissect long-stalked pedunculated colonic polyps using endoscopic band ligation (EBL) by laterally approaching the stalk.

Metachronous Development of Peritoneal Carcinomatosis in a Patient with Autoimmune Pancreatitis.

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a rare and unique type of chronic pancreatitis. The prognosis of AIP, particularly when associated with pancreatic cancer or a related malignancy, is not known. Only a few cases, where metachronous pancreas-related cancer developed during follow-up, have been reported.

Prolonged hyperamylasemia in patients with acute pancreatitis is associated with recurrence of acute pancreatitis.

Serum amylase levels in patients with acute pancreatitis often remain or fluctuate above the upper normal limit for over a week. This study investigated the clinical characteristics of patients with prolonged hyperamylasemia and their prognoses, including recurrence.We retrospectively analyzed patients with first attacks of acute pancreatitis in a single center between March 2010 and December 2016.

Subsets associated with developing acute pancreatitis in patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia and the severity of pancreatitis.

Background And Objectives: Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is a rare but well-recognized cause for acute pancreatitis (AP). This study aimed to determine subsets related to development of AP in patients with severe HTG and the severity of HTG-induced AP (HTG-AP).

Methods: Patients who had severe HTG (serum triglyceride level >1,000 mg/dL) more than once between Jan.

Online registry for nationwide database of Helicobacter pylori eradication in Korea: Correlation of antibiotic use density with eradication success.

Background: The Helicobacter pylori eradication rate has decreased with increasing antibiotic resistance. We conducted a prospective, nationwide, multicenter registry study to monitor the real status of H. pylori eradication therapy and to investigate the association between eradication success and antibiotic use density in Korea.

Online Registry for Nationwide Database of Current Trend of Helicobacter pylori Eradication in Korea: Interim Analysis.

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori using first-line therapy is becoming less effective. Subjects who had been treated for H. pylori infection were prospectively enrolled through an on-line database registry from October 2010 to December 2012.

mRNA expression of CDH3, IGF2BP3, and BIRC5 in biliary brush cytology specimens is a useful adjunctive tool of cytology for the diagnosis of malignant biliary stricture.

Although advances have been made in diagnostic tools, the distinction between malignant and benign biliary strictures still remains challenging. Intraductal brush cytology is a convenient and safe method that is used for the diagnosis of biliary stricture, but, low sensitivity limits its usefulness. This study aimed to demonstrate the usefulness of mRNA expression levels of target genes in brush cytology specimens combined with cytology for the diagnosis of malignant biliary stricture.

Current diagnosis and treatment of benign biliary strictures after living donor liver transplantation.

Despite advances in surgical techniques, benign biliary strictures after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) remain a significant biliary complication and play an important role in graft and patient survival. Benign biliary strictures after transplantation are classified into anastomotic or non-anastomotic strictures. These two types differ in presentation, outcome, and response to therapy.

Efficacy of Lafutidine Versus Famotidine in Patients with Reflux Esophagitis: A Multi-Center, Randomized, Double-Blind, Non-inferiority Phase III Trial.

Background: There has been no study on the efficacy of lafutidine for patients with reflux esophagitis in Korea.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of a new-generation histamine-2 receptor antagonist, lafutidine, in comparison with famotidine in patients with reflux esophagitis.

Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, non-inferiority trial enrolling patients with erosive esophagitis.

Interleukin-6 is associated with obesity, central fat distribution, and disease severity in patients with acute pancreatitis.

Background/objective: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a systemic inflammatory disease, and cytokines are suggested to be related to the course of AP. Obesity and central fat distribution are considered to have been associated with severe AP. This study investigated the profile of inflammatory cytokines in AP to determine how they are related to obesity, central fat distribution, and AP severity.

Size of recurrent symptomatic common bile duct stones and factors related to recurrence.

Background/aims: Some common bile duct (CBD) stones recur after endoscopic stone extraction. Little information is available on the size and recurrence interval of recurrent symptomatic CBD stones or on ways to prevent recurrence.

Materials And Methods: Between January 2007 and December 2011, consecutive 481 patients undergoing endoscopic extraction of CBD stones at a single institute were enrolled.

Undiagnosed Borrmann type II gastric cancer due to necrosis and regenerative epithelium.

Endoscopic biopsy is essential to the proper diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer. Unfortunately, the results of endoscopic biopsy are not always the same as what is expected based on gross endoscopic findings. The results of endoscopic biopsy can be negative for malignancy in Borrmann type IV advanced gastric cancer (AGCa) or gastric lymphoma.

Initial large diameter of common bile duct is associated with long-term dilatation of bile duct after endoscopic extraction of stones.

Objective: To investigate the time and extent of recovery of dilated common bile duct (CBD) after the extraction of CBD stones and to identify the factors related to the long-term dilatation of the CBD after stone removal.

Methods: Data of 329 consecutive patients undergoing endoscopic extraction of CBD stones from January 2008 to December 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Finally, 44 patients were enrolled in the study.

Gastroprotective Effects of Grape Seed Proanthocyanidin Extracts against Nonsteroid Anti-Inflammatory Drug-Induced Gastric Injury in Rats.

Background/aims: To investigate the gastroprotective effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extracts (GSPEs) against nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to the normal control, indomethacin, low-dose GSPE, high-dose GSPE and misoprostol groups. All groups except the normal control group received pretreatment drugs for 6 consecutive days.

Common bile duct stones on multidetector computed tomography: attenuation patterns and detectability.

Aim: To investigate the attenuation patterns and detectability of common bile duct (CBD) stones by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).

Methods: Between March 2010 and February 2012, 191 patients with suspicion of CBD stones undergoing both MDCT and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) were enrolled and reviewed retrospectively. The attenuation patterns of CBD stones on MDCT were classified as heavily calcified, radiopaque, less radiopaque, or undetectable.

Size and type of periampullary duodenal diverticula are associated with bile duct diameter and recurrence of bile duct stones.

Background And Aim: Periampullary diverticula (PAD) are not uncommon findings during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, but its clinical significance had not been established. To investigate the clinical characteristics associated with PAD and their relationships with the type and size of PAD in patients with common bile duct (CBD) stones was aimed.

Methods: Three hundred seventy patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography between March 2010 and July 2012 were consecutively enrolled, and their demographics, laboratory data, and CBD stone-related characteristics according to PAD type and PAD size were analyzed.

Newly developed autoimmune cholangitis without relapse of autoimmune pancreatitis after discontinuing prednisolone.

A 57-year-old man presented with a 2-wk history of painless jaundice and weight loss. He had a large ill-defined enhancing mass-like lesion in the uncinate process of the pancreas with stricture of the distal common bile duct. Aspiration cytology of the pancreatic mass demonstrated inflammatory cells without evidence of malignancy.

Comparative study of rendezvous techniques in post-liver transplant biliary stricture.

Aim: To investigate the usefulness of a new rendezvous technique for placing stents using the Kumpe (KMP) catheter in angulated or twisted biliary strictures.

Methods: The rendezvous technique was performed in patients with a biliary stricture after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) who required the exchange of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage catheters for inside stents. The rendezvous technique was performed using a guidewire in 19 patients (guidewire group) and using a KMP catheter in another 19 (KMP catheter group).

Duodenal obstruction following acute pancreatitis caused by a large duodenal diverticular bezoar.

Bezoars are concretions of indigestible materials in the gastrointestinal tract. It generally develops in patients with previous gastric surgery or patients with delayed gastric emptying. Cases of periampullary duodenal divericular bezoar are rare.

The relationship between gastric juice nitrate/nitrite concentrations and gastric mucosal surface pH.

Purpose: To investigate gastric juice nitrate/nitrite concentration according to mucosal surface pH extent (area) of gastric corpus intimately contacting the gastric juice.

Materials And Methods: We included ninety-nine patients with dyspepsia. To evaluate gastric mucosal surface pH and its extent, gastric chromosocpy was performed by spraying phenol red dye on the corpus mucosa and estimating the extent of area with color changed.

Effect of high-dose oral rabeprazole on recurrent bleeding after endoscopic treatment of bleeding peptic ulcers.

Background. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of high-dose oral rabeprazole versus high-dose IV PPI on rebleeding after endoscopic treatment of bleeding peptic ulcers. Methods.

Ectopic pancreas bleeding in the jejunum revealed by capsule endoscopy.

Ectopic pancreas is defined as pancreatic tissue found outside the usual anatomic location. It is often found incidentally at different sites in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The incidence of ectopic pancreatic tissue in autopsy series is 1% to 2%, with 70% of the ectopic lesions found in the stomach, duodenum and jejunum.

Role of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography for choledocholithiasis: analysis of patients with negative MRCP.

Objective: To investigate the negative predictive value of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) for common bile duct (CBD) stones and the prognosis of patients suspected to have choledocholithiasis in whom the MRCP was negative for CBD stones.

Methods: We enrolled the patients suspected to have choledocholithiasis in whom the MRCP was negative for the CBD stones between January 2008 and March 2011 and retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of 115 patients.

Results: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed in 27 patients (23%, group 1), and none had CBD stones.