Comparison and short-term outcomes between hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery and conventional laparoscopic surgery for anterior resections of left-sided colon cancer.

Background: Hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery has been introduced as an alternative to conventional laparoscopic surgery. This study compared the efficacies and short-term clinical outcomes between hand-assisted laparoscopic anterior resection (HAL-AR) and conventional laparoscopic anterior resection (CL-AR) for treating left-sided colon cancer.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 248 patients who underwent anterior resection for colon cancer (118 HAL-AR and 128 CL-AR) between May 2000 and December 2006.

Comparison between clevudine and entecavir treatment for antiviral-naïve patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background And Aims: There has been no study comparing the clinical efficacy of clevudine and entecavir in antiviral-naïve patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods: A total of 128 antiviral-naïve CHB patients were included to receive clevudine 30 mg (n=55) or entecavir 0.5 mg (n=73) once daily for a mean follow-up period of 18.

Location-related differences in sporadic microsatellite unstable colorectal cancer.

Background: Microsatellite unstable CRC is associated with female gender, large tumours, and poor differentiation. However, there are few reports about the characteristics and differences of sporadic microsatellite unstable CRC based on tumour location.

Aims: Site-specific heterogeneity of sporadic microsatellite unstable colorectal cancer (CRC) based on location was elucidated.

Subjects with diarrhea-predominant IBS have increased rectal permeability responsive to tryptase.

Background And Aims: Patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) appear to have increased intestinal permeability; it has been suggested that activation of protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) receptors is responsible for this alteration. The aims of this study are to evaluate (1) if rectal (large bowel) permeability is increased in IBS-D and (2) if tryptase plays a critical role in the altered permeability.

Methods: Rectal biopsies from 20 patients with IBS-D and 30 subjects without the condition (normal controls) were assessed for macromolecular permeability using horseradish peroxidase in Ussing chambers in the basal state and after addition of drugs to the basolateral side.

Relationship of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease to colorectal adenomatous polyps.

Background And Aims: Metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance are associated with a higher risk of colon cancer. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is regarded as a manifestation of metabolic syndrome in the liver. This investigation was initiated to determine whether NAFLD has a relationship to colorectal adenomatous polyps.

Clinical usefulness of 18F-FDG PET-CT for patients with gallbladder cancer and cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: Reports concerning the clinical usefulness of (18)F 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D: -glucose integrated positron emission and computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET-CT) for patients with gallbladder cancer and cholangiocarcinoma are relatively scarce. The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of PET-CT in relation to a conventional imaging modality, multidetector row CT (MDCT), for patients with gallbladder cancer and cholangiocarcinoma.

Methods: Ninety-nine patients with suspected gallbladder cancer and cholangiocarcinoma who underwent both PET-CT and MDCT for initial staging were included in our study.

Intraoperative radiofrequency ablation with or without tumorectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma in locations difficult for a percutaneous approach.

Background: Although hepatic resection is widely accepted as a proper modality for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a majority of patients are unable to undergo surgical resection due to various tumor and patient factors. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has mostly been used as a therapeutic alternative to resection for treating HCC. The objective of this study was to evaluate the results of intraoperative RFA for HCCs in locations difficult for a percutaneous approach.

[Risk factors for recurrent bile duct stones after endoscopic clearance of common bile duct stones].

Background/aims: We aimed to explore the risk factors contributing to the recurrence of common bile duct (CBD) stones after successful endoscopic stone clearance, focused on the anatomical factors of CBD and presence or absence of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA)/RowacholR medication.

Methods: One hundred fourteen patients who underwent CBD stone(s) extraction by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic sphincterotomy at our institution from August 2004 to January 2007 were included. Univariate and multivariate analyses for the risk factors including the distal CBD angle, length of the distal CBD arm and medication such as ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and/or RowacholR for recurrent CBD stone(s) were performed.

Can preoperative CA19-9 and CEA levels predict the resectability of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma?

Background: We aimed to explore the predictive ability of preoperative carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels for assessing tumor resectability (R0 resection) in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Methods: The present study included 72 patients who had been treated surgically for potentially resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma and 42 patients who had been treated surgically for palliation (bypass surgery) at our institution. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma was histologically confirmed by pathological examination of the resected specimen or, if unresected, by intraoperative biopsy.

Development of GFP-based biosensors possessing the binding properties of antibodies.

Proteins that can bind specifically to targets that also have an intrinsic property allowing for easy detection could facilitate a multitude of applications. While the widely used green fluorescent protein (GFP) allows for easy detection, attempts to insert multiple binding loops into GFP to impart affinity for a specific target have been met with limited success because of the structural sensitivity of the GFP chromophore. In this study, directed evolution using a surrogate loop approach and yeast surface display yielded a family of GFP scaffolds capable of accommodating 2 proximal, randomized binding loops.

Deleterious effects of silymarin on the expression of genes controlling endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity in carbon tetrachloride-treated rat livers.

Aims: Defects in intrahepatic nitric oxide (NO) are attributed to reduced blood flow due to portal hypertension caused by diminished endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) activity. The aim of this study is to identify the therapeutic effects of silymarin on eNOS/NO-related enzymes and hepatic enzymes in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced cirrhotic rats.

Main Methods: CCl4 treated for 12 weeks was discontinued and then administrated with silymarin daily for 4 weeks.

Development of Korean Academy of Medical Sciences Guideline rating the physical impairment; kidney, bladder, urethra, male and female reproductive systems (preliminary report).

For the evaluation of the kidney impairment, serum creatinine concentrations or glomerular filtration rates are mainly used, and the conditions of solitary or transplanted kidney and chronic dialysis are also taken into the considerations. Some symptoms and signs of the chronic renal disability in spite of adequate treatment add one additional grade. For evaluating bladder and urethral impairment, the criteria include voiding symptoms and signs.

Abnormal glucose tolerance in young male patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Objective: The association of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome has been documented for obese men and middle-aged men. This study was designed to determine the relationship between NAFLD and the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to predict preclinical diabetes in nondiabetic young male patients (<30 years old).

Methods: A total of 75 male patients who had elevated liver enzymes and who were diagnosed with NAFLD were enrolled in this study.

Risk factors and clinical features of infections caused by plasmid-mediated AmpC beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae.

A case-control study was performed with the objective of analysing risk factors and clinical features of infections caused by plasmid-mediated AmpC beta-lactamase (plasmid AmpC)-producing Enterobacteriaceae. All patients infected with plasmid AmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae in two tertiary care hospitals from December 2006 to August 2007 were included. Plasmid AmpC enzymes were characterised by isoelectric focusing, enzyme inhibition assay and enzyme-specific polymerase chain reaction.

A case of primary infective endocarditis caused by community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a healthy individual and colonization in the family.

Primary community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) endocarditis has rarely been reported in healthy individuals without risk factors, such as skin and soft tissue infections, and intravenous drug abuse. We describe a case of infective endocarditis by CA-MRSA (ST72-PVL negative-SCCmec IVA) in previously healthy individuals with no underlying medical condition and CA-MRSA colonization in the family.

Hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in young men with treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis B.

Objectives: The clinical significance of liver steatosis has been studied because steatosis plays a role in the progression of liver fibrosis. Nevertheless, the impact of steatosis in the early stage of fibrosis in non-obese young men with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is poorly understood. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hepatic steatosis, assess the relationship between hepatic steatosis and fibrosis and to assess the laboratory parameters for predicting clinically significant liver fibrosis in non-obese young men with CHB.

[The clinical usefulness of focally enhanced gastritis in Korean patients with Crohn's disease].

Background/aims: Focally enhanced gastritis (FEG) has been suggested as a specific diagnostic marker for patients with Crohn's disease (CD). However, the usefulness of FEG for distinguishing CD from ulcerative colitis (UC) is uncertain and the incidence or prevalence of FEG for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients in Korea has not been defined yet. In this study, we investigated the frequency of FEG and other gastric histological abnormalities in Korean patients with CD and UC.

A yeast display immunoprecipitation method for efficient isolation and characterization of antigens.

Yeast antibody display has found a wide variety of applications including antibody affinity maturation, epitope mapping, and library screening. Here we report a yeast display immunoprecipitation (YDIP) technique that employs yeast cells displaying single-chain antibody fragments (scFv) on their surface as affinity capture reagents to isolate and characterize antigens. We show that displayed single-chain antibody fragments are active in a variety of detergent solutions commonly used for immunoprecipitation and that the antigen-antibody interaction can be accurately quantified by YDIP coupled with flow cytometry.

Application of implantable hemodynamic monitoring in the management of patients with diastolic heart failure: a subgroup analysis of the COMPASS-HF trial.

Background: Nearly half of all patients with chronic heart failure (HF) have a normal ejection fraction (EF), and abnormal diastolic function (ie, diastolic heart failure [DHF]). However, appropriate management of DHF patients remains a difficult and uncertain challenge.

Methods And Results: The Chronicle Offers Management to Patients with Advanced Signs and Symptoms of Heart Failure (COMPASS-HF) trial was designed to evaluate whether an implantable hemodynamic monitor (IHM) was safe and effective in reducing the number of heart failure-related events (HFRE) in patients with chronic HF.

Treatment of patients with gastric variceal hemorrhage: endoscopic N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate injection versus balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration.

Background And Aim: Our study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic results of endoscopic N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate injection (EBC) and balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) in patients with gastric variceal hemorrhage (GVH) and/or high-risk gastric varices (GV).

Methods: Twenty-seven patients with GVH and/or high-risk GV (>or= 5 mm in diameter, those with red spots, and a Child-Pugh grading of B or C liver cirrhosis) who were treated with either EBC or BRTO from April 2005 to December 2007 were included in our study.

Results: EBC or BRTO was initially used for the treatment of GVH in 14 and 13 patients, respectively.

Transition from chronic compensated to acute decompensated heart failure: pathophysiological insights obtained from continuous monitoring of intracardiac pressures.

Background: Approximately half of all patients with chronic heart failure (HF) have a decreased ejection fraction (EF) (systolic HF [SHF]); the other half have HF with a normal EF (diastolic HF [DHF]). However, the underlying pathophysiological differences between DHF and SHF patients are incompletely defined. The purpose of this study was to use echocardiographic and implantable hemodynamic monitor data to examine the pathophysiology of chronic compensated and acute decompensated HF in SHF versus DHF patients.

Model for end-stage liver disease, model for end-stage liver disease-sodium and Child-Turcotte-Pugh scores over time for the prediction of complications of liver cirrhosis.

Background/aims: There has been no report concerning the predictive capability of each scoring system in determining the development of complications of liver cirrhosis such as variceal bleeding and/or hepatic encephalopathy.

Methods: We retrospectively studied 128 patients with liver cirrhosis [92 males; mean (standard deviation) 54.2 (11.

[Effectiveness of 10 day-sequential therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication in Korea].

Background/aims: Antibiotic resistance and poor compliance are the main causes of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication failure. Proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-based triple therapy is the most preferred regimen in clinical practice.

[C-reactive protein level and colorectal adenoma].

Background/aims: Recent studies implicated inflammation playing an important role in the occurrence and advancement of colorectal cancer. Colorectal adenoma as the representative precursor lesion of colorectal cancer has meaningful association with inflammation. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and the risk of colorectal adenoma.