Comparative efficacy of bariatric endoscopic procedures in the treatment of morbid obesity: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: The comparative efficacy of bariatric endoscopic procedures has not been completely elucidated. We aimed to comprehensively evaluate the efficacy of bariatric endoscopic procedures.

Methods: We searched for randomized controlled trials investigating the efficacy of bariatric endoscopic procedures, including the use of an intragastric balloon, duodenal-jejunal bypass liner (DJBL), aspiration therapy, primary obesity surgery endoluminal (POSE) procedure, and botulinum toxin injection to the stomach.

Comparative Efficacy of Bariatric Surgery in the Treatment of Morbid Obesity and Diabetes Mellitus: a Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: The comparative efficacy of various bariatric procedures has not been completely elucidated. We aimed to evaluate efficacy and safety of various bariatric procedures comprehensively.

Methods: We searched for randomized controlled trials investigating the efficacy of bariatric surgery.

Interobserver variability and accuracy of high-definition endoscopic diagnosis for gastric intestinal metaplasia among experienced and inexperienced endoscopists.

Accurate diagnosis of gastric intestinal metaplasia is important; however, conventional endoscopy is known to be an unreliable modality for diagnosing gastric intestinal metaplasia (IM). The aims of the study were to evaluate the interobserver variation in diagnosing IM by high-definition (HD) endoscopy and the diagnostic accuracy of this modality for IM among experienced and inexperienced endoscopists. Selected 50 cases, taken with HD endoscopy, were sent for a diagnostic inquiry of gastric IM through visual inspection to five experienced and five inexperienced endoscopists.

Outcomes of hemodynamically stable patients with pancreatic injury after blunt abdominal trauma.

Background: To date there is no systematical report about blunt pancreatic injury focused on hemodynamically stable patients. This study reports on our experience in this rare subgroup at a tertiary referral hospital.

Methods: A total of 58 adult patients were identified during a 10-year period and their clinical data were analyzed.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided choledochoduodenostomies with fully covered self-expandable metallic stents.

Aim: To investigate the long-term outcomes of endoscopic ultrasound-guided choledochoduodenostomy (EUS-CDS) with a fully covered self-expandable metallic stent (FCSEMS).

Methods: From April 2009 to August 2010, 15 patients with distal malignant biliary obstructions who were candidates for alternative techniques for biliary decompression due to a failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) were included. These 15 patients consisted of 8 men and 7 women and had a median age of 61 years (range: 30-91 years).

A fatal case of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation during long-term, very-low-dose steroid treatment in an inactive HBV carrier.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) may be reactivated after chemotherapy or immunosuppressive therapy, and therefore administration of antiviral agents before such treatment is recommended. Most reported cases of reactivation are associated with high doses of immunosuppressive agents or combination therapy. We present a case of a previously inactive HBV carrier with an acute severe flare-up during a long-term, very-low-dose (2.

Role of IL-17A in the development of colitis-associated cancer.

A close relationship between inflammation and colon cancer has been widely accepted, and interleukin (IL)-17A plays an important role in controlling colonic inflammation. However, the role of IL-17A has not yet been validated in colitis-associated cancer (CAC). This study aims to identify the effects of IL-17A in tumorigenesis utilizing IL-17A-deficient mice in an experimental CAC model.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided transmural and percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage are comparable for acute cholecystitis.

Background & Aims: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided transmural gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) is an alternative to percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) for patients with acute, high-risk, or advanced-stage cholecystitis who do not respond to initial medical treatment and cannot undergo emergency cholecystectomy. However, the technical feasibility, efficacy, and safety of EUS-GBD and PTGBD have not been compared.

Methods: Fifty-nine patients with acute cholecystitis, who did not respond to initial medical treatment and were unsuitable for an emergency cholecystectomy, were chosen randomly to undergo EUS-GBD (n = 30) or PTGBD (n = 29).

Graduated injection needles and snares for polypectomy are useful for measuring colorectal polyp size.

Background: Accurate measurement of polyp size during colonoscopy is important; however, visual estimation of polyp size is inaccurate, and it is cumbersome to use additional accessories to measure polyp size whenever polyps are detected.

Aims: To evaluate the accuracy and usefulness of graduated devices that can also be used for polypectomy.

Methods: The ends of the outer sheath of the injection needles and snares were marked at intervals of 5mm (total 30mm).

The timing of bowel preparation is more important than the timing of colonoscopy in determining the quality of bowel cleansing.

Aims: We aimed to compare the quality of bowel preparation and cecal intubation rates between morning and afternoon colonoscopies and to evaluate the difference in quality of bowel preparation according to the intervals between starting and ending intake of bowel preparation agent and the initiation of colonoscopy.

Methods: In this prospective study, 300 outpatients were instructed to drink PEG solution starting either at 5:00 a.m.

[A case of pleural effusion associated with acute hepatitis A].

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is common in developing countries, including Korea. It can be accompanied by extrahepatic complications such as renal failure, arthritis, and vasculitis. Pleural effusion is a very rare complication of HAV infection, which has been reported usually in children, and has benign clinical courses.

Chest wall metastasis from unknown primary site of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Previous reports of a solitary metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma have been rare. Because this tumor has a different treatment modality and prognosis, an accurate differential diagnosis is essential. Here we report a rare case of a solitary chest wall metastasis from unknown primary site of hepatocellular carcinoma.

[Incidence of gallbladder stones in renal transplant recipients].

Background/aims: Gallbladder stone is one of the major cause of morbidity in adults. Renal transplantation has been found to increase the risk of gallbladder stone formation. The real incidence of gallbladder stones in renal transplant recipients is not exactly known.