Choledocholithiasis as a risk factor for cholangiocarcinoma: a nationwide retrospective cohort study.

Background: Choledocholithiasis has been reported to be associated with the occurrence of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA); however, the association has not yet been sufficiently demonstrated. This study aimed to evaluate the association between choledocholithiasis (common bile duct stones) and CCA.

Methods: This nationwide retrospective cohort study used the Health Insurance Review and Assessment database of individuals diagnosed with choledocholithiasis between 2008 and 2009 in South Korea.

A randomized non-inferiority trial investigating antibiotic adjustments based on blood culture in acute cholangitis.

Objectives: This study evaluated the adequacy of using blood cultures alone for antibiotic therapy in mild-to-moderate acute cholangitis after adequate biliary drainage.

Methods: A prospective, multi-centre, non-inferiority, randomized trial was conducted from August 2015 to September 2023 across 12 tertiary hospitals in South Korea. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to groups.

Survival benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy after conversion surgery in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

Background: Oncologic outcomes of conversion surgery for advanced pancreatic cancer (PC) have scarcely been reported. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the outcomes of conversion surgery with preoperative treatment of FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine with nab-paclitaxel (GnP) for patients with advanced PC including locally advanced or metastatic PC.

Methods: Using the National Health Insurance database between 2005 and 2020, we identified patients who underwent conversion surgery after chemotherapy with FOLFIRINOX or GnP for advanced PC.

Switching to Besifovir in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Receiving Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate: A Randomized Trial.

Background/aims: Besifovir (BSV) showed comparable antiviral activity superior safety profiles to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, no data are available regarding the antiviral efficacy and safety of BSV in patients with CHB who switched from long-term TDF to BSV. This study aimed to evaluate the outcome of a 48-week BSV therapy in patients with CHB who switched from long-term TDF treatment.

ArtiSential versus conventional laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery: a multicenter retrospective matched cohort study.

Background: This study aims to compare outcomes of colorectal cancer surgeries performed using the newly developed articulating laparoscopic instrument, ArtiSential, with those using conventional non-articulating or rigid laparoscopic instruments.

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective, matched cohort study enrolled patients with colorectal cancer undergoing laparoscopic surgery in seven tertiary referral hospitals from January 2021 to October 2022. A 1:1 propensity score matching was performed between the articulating (Arti-LAP) and conventional (Rigid-LAP) laparoscopic groups.

Effectiveness of Subcutaneous Negative-Suction Drain on Surgical Site Infection After Ileostomy Reversal: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Surgical site infection (SSI) is a leading common condition after ileostomy reversal (IR). However, evidence is unclear that subcutaneous negative-suction drainage (SND) reduces the incidence of SSI. This study aimed to investigate whether SND effectively reduced the incidence of SSI.

Clinical Feasibility and Technical Aspects of Single Port Robotic TransAnal Minimally Invasive Surgery (SP-rTAMIS) for Rectal Neoplasm.

Background: Single port robotic platform offers articulation and 360° camera rotation for anorectal tumour excision in a narrow pelvic space. This study assesses the clinical usefulness and outcomes of SP robotic transanal surgery.

Methods: Nine patients who underwent transanal excision using the SP robotic platform were included.

Ethical considerations for biobanks serving underrepresented populations.

Biobanks are essential biological database resources for the scientific community, enabling research on the molecular, cellular, and genetic basis of human disease. They are crucial for computational, data-driven biomedical research, which advances precision medicine and the development of targeted therapies. However, biobanks often lack racial and ethnic diversity, with many data sets predominantly comprising individuals of white, primarily northern European, ancestry.

Autophagy activation in response to cigarette smoke: Exploring the disparity in laryngeal cancer incidence and outcomes between sexes in South Korea.

Introduction: Laryngeal cancer (LC) presents a significant health challenge globally, with smoking being a major risk factor. Interestingly, LC incidence in females is significantly lower than in males; however, female smokers are more likely to develop Reinke edema (RE) than LC. This study sought to investigate whether autophagy, a major mechanism for RE development, acts as a defense mechanism in laryngeal tissue against cigarette exposure and suppresses LC development in females who smoke.

New double-stapling technique without staple-crossing line in laparoscopic low anterior resection: effort to reduce anastomotic leakage.

Purpose: This study aimed to demonstrate the safety of new double-stapling technique (nDST), without a crossing line and dog ears, by comparing with conventional DST (cDST) in laparoscopic low anterior resection (LAR).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 98 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic LAR for rectal cancer from January 2018 to December 2020. The inclusion criterion was an anastomosis level below the peritoneal reflection and 4 cm above the anal verge.

CYLD Alterations Are Associated With Metastasis and Poor Prognosis in Human Papilloma Virus-Positive Head and Neck Cancer.

Background: Human papilloma virus (HPV)-associated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is an emerging epidemic and a subset of HPV-positive patients experience aggressive disease with metastases. The CYLD gene is frequently altered in HPV-positive HNSCC, but the role of these alterations in disease progression is poorly understood.

Methods: We identified 11 HPV-positive HNSCC patients with CYLD alterations and assessed their clinical course.

Additional injection laryngoplasty as a salvage treatment for unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

Objectives: Injection laryngoplasty (IL) has been widely used as an initial treatment option for unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP). An additional (second) IL is considered a salvage treatment for unsatisfactory outcomes of initial IL resulting from inadequate injection or early resorption of the injection material. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of additional IL, distinguishing between "salvage" (within 4 months) and "repeated" injections (beyond 4 months), and to analyze prognostic factors for successful outcomes.

Randomized Comparison of Progression of Atherosclerotic Plaques and Calcification of Coronary Artery in Atrial Fibrillation Patients Treated With Edoxaban Versus Warfarin (The REPRESENT-AF trial).

Although the adverse effects of long-term use of vitamin K oral anticoagulant (OAC), warfarin, on the coronary vasculature are well-established, it remains unknown whether nonvitamin K oral anticoagulants play a role in the attenuation of plaque progression and coronary calcification. This study aimed to compare the changes in atherosclerotic plaques and calcification of the coronary arteries in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) treated with edoxaban and warfarin. A total of 150 OAC-naïve patients with AF and atherosclerotic lesions on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) were enrolled and randomly assigned to the edoxaban or warfarin treatment groups.

Efficacy and safety of fexuprazan in patients with symptoms and signs of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease: a randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) is mainly treated with proton pump inhibitors (PPI) such as esomeprazole, which have shortcomings like delayed absorption and increased osteoporosis. Fexuprazan is a novel potent potassium-competitive acid blocker that inhibits gastric acid secretion with rapid onset and long duration of action. To assess the efficacy and safety of fexuprazan compared to esomeprazole in patients with LPRD.

Vomiting-induced pharyngeal perforation during bowel preparation for colonoscopy: A case report.

Background: Effective bowel cleansing is essential for a successful colonoscopy. Laxatives, such as polyethylene glycol, are commonly used for bowel preparation. Vomiting is a frequent complication during bowel preparation, and forceful vomiting can potentially lead to esophageal perforation, as reported in several previous cases.

Management for recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis following oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer: thoracic surgeon perspective.

Background: Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) paralysis following oesophagectomy may increase postoperative morbidity and mortality. However, clinical studies on this complication are uncommon. The aim of this study was to report the clinical course of patients with RLN paralysis following oesophageal cancer surgery.

Clinical impact of a multimodal pain management protocol for loop ileostomy reversal.

Purpose: As introduced, multimodal pain management bundle for ileostomy reversal may be considered to reduce postoperative pain and hospital stay. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical efficacy of perioperative multimodal pain bundle for ileostomy.

Methods: Medical records of patients who underwent ileostomy reversal after rectal cancer surgery from April 2017 to March 2020 were analyzed.

The Trends and Outcomes of Initial Palliative Chemotherapy in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer in Korea Based on National Health Insurance Service Data.

: The survival rate of patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) has improved gradually since the introduction of FOLFIRINOX (FFX) and gemcitabine + albumin-bound paclitaxel (GnP) regimens. However, the trends and outcomes of initial palliative chemotherapy before and after the advent of these regimens and their contribution to survival rates are not well understood. This study aimed to investigate this in patients with PC in Korea using claims data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS).

Discrete prognostic implication of sarcopenia according to nutritional status in surgically treated patients with hypopharyngeal cancer.

Background: Nutritional status and sarcopenia affects the prognosis of head and neck cancers including hypopharyngeal cancer. Hypopharyngeal cancer patients tend to exhibit sarcopenia, which is associated with poor treatment outcomes. This study aims to determine the correlation between nutritional status and sarcopenia, and their prognostic role in surgically treated hypopharyngeal cancer.

Quantitative analysis of blooming artifact caused by calcification based on X-ray energy difference using computed tomography.

Blooming artifacts caused by calcifications appearing on computed tomography (CT) images lead to an underestimation of the coronary artery lumen size, and higher X-ray energy levels are suggested to reduce the blooming artifacts with subjective visual assessment. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of higher X-ray energy levels on the quantitative measurement of adjacent pixels affected by calcification using CT images. In this two-part study, CT images were acquired from dual-energy CT scanners by changing the X-ray energy levels such as kilovoltage peak (kVp) and kilo-electron volts (keV).

Ethanol Ablation of Ranulas and Risk Factor Analysis for Recurrence.

Importance: Ethanol ablation (EA) was shown to be safe and effective for treating ranula, but few studies have assessed long-term outcomes and recurrence of ranula after EA.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term outcomes and the risk factors for recurrence and receipt of subsequent surgery in patients who underwent treatment with EA for ranula.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This case-series study was conducted at a single tertiary hospital and assessed patients who were treated with EA between July 2009 and March 2021.