Lubricant-infused directly engraved nano-microstructures for mechanically durable endoscope lens with anti-biofouling and anti-fogging properties.

While a clear operating field during endoscopy is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective surgery, fogging or biofouling of the lens can cause loss of visibility during these procedures. Conventional cleaning methods such as the use of an irrigation unit, anti-fogging surfactant, or particle-based porous coatings infused with lubricants have been used but proven insufficient to prevent loss of visibility. Herein, a mechanically robust anti-fogging and anti-biofouling endoscope lens was developed by forming a lubricant-infused directly engraved nano-/micro-structured surface (LIDENS) on the lens.

Effect of spatial arrangement and structure of hierarchically patterned fibrous scaffolds generated by a femtosecond laser on cardiomyoblast behavior.

Biological responses on biomaterials occur either on their surface or at the interface. Therefore, surface characterization is an essential step in the fabrication of ideal biomaterials for achieving effective control of the interaction between the material surface and the biological environment. Herein, we applied femtosecond laser ablation on electrospun fibrous scaffolds to fabricate various hierarchical patterns with a focus on the alignment of cells.

Engineering an aligned endothelial monolayer on a topologically modified nanofibrous platform with a micropatterned structure produced by femtosecond laser ablation.

A monolayer of endothelial cells (ECs) aligned along the direction of blood flow plays crucial roles in the regulation of anti-thrombogenic and pro-inflammatory reactions in the blood vessel wall. Thus, many researchers have attempted to mimic the aligned structure of ECs in vascular grafts or tissue-engineered blood vessels. In the present study, we fabricated micro-groove patterned nanofibers using a femtosecond laser ablation technique to recapitulate the densely organized anisotropic architecture of the endothelial layer.

Ultrathin Metal Films with Defined Topographical Structures as In Vitro Cell Culture Platforms for Unveiling Vascular Cell Behaviors.

Implanted material surfaces make direct contact with body tissues to work on its own purpose. Therefore, studies of the surface properties of implantable materials that determine cell fate are very important for successful implantation. Although numerous studies have addressed the relationship between cells and material surfaces, nonmetallic surfaces and metallic surfaces likely produce different cellular responses because of their intrinsic differences in surface energy, roughness, and chemical composition.

Creating Hierarchical Topographies on Fibrous Platforms Using Femtosecond Laser Ablation for Directing Myoblasts Behavior.

Developing an artificial extracellular matrix that closely mimics the native tissue microenvironment is important for use as both a cell culture platform for controlling cell fate and an in vitro model system for investigating the role of the cellular microenvironment. Electrospinning, one of the methods for fabricating structures that mimic the native ECM, is a promising technique for creating fibrous platforms. It is well-known that align or randomly distributed electrospun fibers provide cellular contact guidance in a single pattern.

Clinical Characteristics of Microscopic Colitis in Korea: Prospective Multicenter Study by KASID.

Background/aims: Microscopic colitis (MC) encompasses collagenous and lymphocytic colitis and is characterized by chronic diarrhea. In cases of MC, colonic mucosae are macroscopically normal, and diagnostic histopathological features are observed only upon microscopic examination. We designed a prospective multicenter study to determine the clinical features, pathological distribution in the colon and prevalence of MC in Korea.

Patient factors predictive of inadequate bowel preparation using polyethylene glycol: a prospective study in Korea.

Background: Inadequate bowel preparation is important because it can result in missed lesions, cancelled procedures, increased procedural time, and a potential increase in complication rates. This prospective study was designed to look at the quality of colon preparation using polyethylene glycol solution and evaluate potential associations between specific patient characteristics and inadequate bowel preparation.

Methods: A total of 362 patients who were compliant with preparation instructions were enrolled.

Toothpick impaction with sigmoid colon pseudodiverticulum formation successfully treated with colonoscopy.

Foreign bodies in the colon are encountered with increasing frequency, but only sporadic reports concerning their management have appeared in the literature. While most ingested foreign bodies usually pass through the gastrointestinal tract uneventfully, sharp foreign bodies such as toothpicks infrequently cause intestinal perforation and may even result in death. We report our experience with a patient with a sigmoid colon pseudodiverticulum formation, a complication of accidental ingestion of a toothpick that was diagnosed and successfully managed colonoscopically.

Insulin therapy and colorectal adenoma risk among patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus: a case-control study in Korea.

Purpose: Patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus may be at increased colorectal adenoma and cancer risk. Moreover, chronic insulin therapy may increase the risk of colorectal cancer among patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. We investigated to determine whether insulin therapy might increase the risk of colorectal adenoma among clinically confirmed patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

[A case of groove pancreatitis with a characteristic pathologic feature].

Groove pancreatitis is a rare form of chronic pancreatitis in which scarring is found mainly in the groove between the head of the pancreas, duodenum, and common bile duct. The pathogenesis of groove pancreatitis is still unclear but seems to be caused by the disturbance of pancreatic outflow through Santorini duct. It is often difficult to differentiate preoperatively between groove pancreatitis and pancreatic head carcinoma.

Has peptic ulcer disease changed during the past ten years in Korea? A prospective multi-center study.

Background: The incidence of H. pylori-negative, idiopathic peptic ulcer disease (IPUD) seems to be increasing with the changing trends of PUD and H. pylori infection in some developed countries.

Gallbladder lymphangioma: a case report and review of the literature.

Lymphangiomas are rare, benign tumors of the lymphatic system, usually present in children aged 5 years and younger. Because they are asymptomatic until the mass enlarges to cause symptoms, most lymphangiomas are diagnosed at adulthood incidentally. We experienced a case of a 60-year-old man diagnosed with a cystic lymphangioma of the gallbladder, which was successfully resected without any complication.

Risk of advanced proximal adenoma and cancer according to rectosigmoid findings in the Korean population.

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death in the United States and Europe. Recently, the incidence of colorectal cancer has been increasing remarkably in Korea. To reduce the high incidence, screening of colorectal cancer in asymptomatic individuals has been advocated.

High-grade hepatic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma probably transformed from the low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma.

The Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, which was first described in 1983, is known to be caused by chronic Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection, which triggers lymphoid infiltration and formation of organized lymphoid tissue. In approximately two thirds of cases of MALT, the lymphoma has been observed to regress after treatment of H. pylori infection; this provides strong evidence of a causative role of HP in the etiology of MALT.

Localized esophageal ulcerations after CyberKnife treatment for metastatic hepatic tumor of colon cancer.

CyberKnife is an image-guided robotic system designed for stereotactic radiosurgery. It uses the combination of robotics and image guidance to deliver concentrated and accurate beams of radiation to intracranial and extracranial targets. Although the frameless nature of the CyberKnife allows tumors in the chest and abdomen to be treated as well, complications associated with CyberKnife treatment have not been established yet due to its short clinical experience.

Attenuation of colonic inflammation by PPARgamma in intestinal epithelial cells: effect on Toll-like receptor pathway.

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is a nuclear receptor highly expressed in the colon and playing an anti-inflammatory role through inhibition of the NF-kappaB pathway. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) has been known to mediate LPS-induced cellular signaling through activation of NF-kappaB pathway in intestinal epithelial cells. The aims of this study were to evaluate attenuation of inflammation by PPARgamma in intestinal epithelial cells and to study the possible relation between PPARgamma and TLR4.

[Macro-aspartate aminotransferase in a patient with chronic hepatitis C].

Macroenzymes are normal enzymes complexed with an immunoglobulin (usually IgG, rarely IgA or IgM). A number of macroenzymes have been reported in the literature. Among them, macro-AST has been detected in diseases such as acute and chronic hepatitis, various malignancies and autoimmune diseases, but usually not associated with any specific disease.

[A case of acute cholecystitis secondary to hemobilia after percutaneous liver biopsy].

Percutaneous liver biopsy is well established for the diagnosis and follow-up of many liver diseases. Although it is rather safe, major complications, such as bleeding into the peritoneal or thoracic cavity, hemobilia, enteric perforation and intrahepatic hematoma, have been reported related to the procedure. Recently, incidence of such major complications has been decreased since the introduction of ultrasonography-guided liver biopsy.

[The current status of ulcerative colitis-associated colorectal cancer in Korea: a KASID study].

Background/aims: The number of patients with ulcerative colitis has steadily increased since the mid-1980s. As the risk of colon cancer increases with duration and extents, colitic cancers are expected to increase in number in Korea. We surveyed the current status of colitic cancers and provided the perspectives in Korea.

Xanthogranulomatous inflammation presenting as a submucosal mass of the sigmoid colon.

Xanthogranulomatous inflammation (XGI) is a well-recognized disease process in the kidney and gallbladder. However, involvement of the colon is extremely rare. On the other hand, it is important to recognize that clinically and radiologically, XGI could be misinterpreted as an infiltrative cancer.