Quality Indicators of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in Korea.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a procedure that requires significant experiences and skills and has various procedure-related complications, some of which can be severe and even result in the death of patients. Expanding ERCP availability has the advantage of increasing accessibility for patients. However, ERCP poses a substantial risk if performed without proper quality management.

Factors influencing the quality of life in children with atopic dermatitis in Korea: A multicenter cross-sectional study.

There is a lack of studies about which factors affect the quality of life (QoL) in children with atopic dermatitis (AD), although it is well known that AD has considerably negative effects on their QoL. This study aimed to measure the QoL in children with AD and identify the factors that affect their QoL. A questionnaire derived from the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) was used to measure QoL.

Usefulness of Direct Peroral Cholangioscopy Using a Multibending Ultraslim Endoscope for the Management of Intrahepatic Bile Duct Lesions (with Videos).

Background/aims: : Peroral cholangioscopy (POC) has been used to assess intrahepatic duct (IHD) lesions but with a limited role. A new multibending (MB) ultraslim endoscope has been designed to improve POC performance. We evaluated the usefulness of POC using the MB ultraslim endoscope for the management of IHD lesions.

Real-World Risk of Gastrointestinal Bleeding for Direct Oral Anticoagulants and Warfarin Users: A Distributed Network Analysis Using a Common Data Model.

Background/aims: Early studies on direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) reported a higher risk of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) compared with warfarin; however, recent studies have reported a reduced risk. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the risk of GIB in users of DOAC and warfarin.

Methods: Using a common data model, we investigated the comparative risk of GIB in subjects from eight hospitals who were newly prescribed DOACs or warfarin.

Carboxylesterase-overexpressing hTERT-immortalized human adipose stem cells in prostate tumor growth inhibition by irinotecan.

Introduction: Effective chemotherapy has not yet to be developed for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Cell-mediated enzyme prodrug therapy (EPT), including a combination of carboxylesterase (CE) and irinotecan (CPT-11), could be a possible treatment option. This study explored a cell-mediated EPT, including a combination of CE and irinotecan (CPT-11), to inhibit CRPC tumor growth using rabbit CE-overexpressing human TERT-immortalized adipose-derived stem cells (hTERT-ADSC.

The Usefulness of F-FDG PET to Differentiate Subtypes of Dementia: The Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background And Purpose: Dementia subtypes, including Alzheimer's dementia (AD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), pose diagnostic challenges. This review examines the effectiveness of F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (F-FDG PET) in differentiating these subtypes for precise treatment and management.

Methods: A systematic review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines was conducted using databases like PubMed and Embase to identify studies on the diagnostic utility of F-FDG PET in dementia.

Comparison of Surgical Resection and Radiofrequency Ablation in Elderly Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to examine whether the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and surgical resection (SR) are comparable for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) less than 3 cm in elderly individuals aged 65 years or older.

Methods: We used the National Health Insurance Service claims data in Korea, which was linked with liver cancer stage data from the Central Cancer Registry of the National Cancer Center, as well as death data from the National Statistical Office. Out of the 9213 registrants, we focused on 141 patients who underwent SR and 225 patients who underwent RFA when they were 65 years or older.

Reduced-Dose or Discontinuation of Bevacizumab Might Be Considered after Variceal Bleeding in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Receiving Atezolizumab/Bevacizumab: Case Reports.

: Variceal bleeding (VB) is the most concerning condition that is difficult to treat after atezolizumab/bevacizumab in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). : We would like to introduce the cases of two patients who underwent bevacizumab reduction or discontinuation when VB occurred after atezolizumab/bevacizumab. : VB occurred in two patients who showed good tumor response after atezolizumab/bevacizumab treatment, and all VBs were successfully treated with endoscopic variceal ligations.

Radiofrequency Ablation versus Surgical Resection in Elderly Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Although the disease burden of elderly cancer patients is rapidly increasing, reliable scientific information, value and preference information of domestic patients, and standardized guidelines for determining the treatment of elderly cancer patients are lacking. The aim of this study is to compare the therapeutic effects of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and surgery in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients aged 65 years or older. For the meta-analysis, the databases including PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE, OVID Medline, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched.

Addition of Kidney Dysfunction Type to MELD-Na for the Prediction of Survival in Cirrhotic Patients Awaiting Liver Transplantation in Comparison with MELD 3.0 with Albumin.

It is well known that renal dysfunction has a devastating effect on the prognosis of liver cirrhosis. In this study, the aim was to assess whether the incorporation of the kidney dysfunction type into the MELD-Na score enhances its predictive capacity for outcomes in patients awaiting liver transplantation (LT), compared to utilizing the MELD 3.0 score with albumin.

Atmospheric environment and persistence of pediatric asthma: A population-based cohort study.

Background: Asthma is a heterogeneous disease with different outcomes. For children with asthma at the age of 7 years, 67-75% are symptom-free as adults. Data on the important link between childhood and adult asthma are sparse.

Decreased Angiopoietin Expression in Underactive Bladder Induced by Long-term Bladder Outlet Obstruction.

Purpose: Ischemia of the bladder can occur if neovascular formation cannot keep pace with hypoxia induced by chronic bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). The aim of this study was to examine changes in angiogenesis growth factor expression generated by chronic BOO in a rat model of underactive bladder.

Methods: Twenty female Sprague-Dawley rats aged 6 weeks were assigned to 4 groups (5 rats per group).

Differential Gene Expression in the Penile Cavernosum of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.

Purpose: Men with diabetes mellitus (DM) often present with severe erectile dysfunction (ED). This ED is less responsive to current pharmacological therapies. If we know the upregulated or downregulated genes of diabetic ED, we can inhibit or enhance the expression of such genes through RNA or gene overexpression.

2022 Clinical practice guidelines for central precocious puberty of Korean children and adolescents.

The Committee of Central Precocious Puberty of Korean Pediatrics and Adolescents of the Korean Society of Pediatric Endocrinology has newly developed evidence-based 2022 clinical practice guidelines for central precocious puberty in Korean children and adolescents. These guidelines provide the grade of recommendations, which includes both the strength of recommendations and the level of evidence. In the absence of sufficient evidence, recommendations are based on expert opinion.

Differentially Expressed mRNA in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Bladder Using RNA Sequencing Analysis.

Purpose: To detect elements governing the pathogenesis of diabetic cystopathy (DC), mRNA sequencing was carried out for bladder tissues from normal rats and those with induced diabetes mellitus (DM). This research therefore offers possible underlying molecular pathways for the advancement of DC in relation to differential mRNA expression, together with visceral functional and architectural alterations noted in individuals with this condition.

Methods: An intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) was utilized to provoke DM in male Sprague-Dawley rats.

The prediction of liver decompensation using hepatic collagen deposition assessed by computer-assisted image analysis with Masson's trichrome stain.

Background & Aim: The current pathologic system classifies structural deformation caused by hepatic fibrosis semi-quantitatively, which may lead to a disagreement among pathologists. We measured hepatic fibrosis quantitatively using collagen proportionate area (CPA) in compensated cirrhotic patients and assessed its impact on predicting the development of liver decompensation.

Method: From January 2010 to June 2018, we assessed 101 patients who went through liver biopsy and received diagnosis as compensated cirrhosis with digital image analysis of CPA.

Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Is Associated with Atopic Dermatitis in Korean Adolescents.

Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin diseases. Several studies have investigated the relationship between obesity and AD prevalence, but the results have been conflicting. This study investigated the association between obesity and AD in Korean adolescents.

International Delphi Consensus Study on disposable single-use endoscopy: A path to clinical adoption.

Background/objective: Increasing infectious rate estimates and low microbiological surveillance affect safety of gastrointestinal endoscopy globally. Single use endoscopes and accessories have been claimed to improve safety, but there is lack of data on their indication and sustainability. We aimed to identify a series of best practice recommendations for the use of single use endoscopes and accessories using a modified Delphi.

Preliminary feasibility study of a new partially covered self-expandable metal stent with an anchoring flange for EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy (with videos).

Background And Aims: EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HPG) has a risk of serious procedural adverse events (AEs), but few dedicated devices for EUS-HPG are available. We evaluated the feasibility of a new partially covered self-expandable metal stent (PCSEMS) with an anchoring flange for EUS-HPG.

Methods: The feasibility of a stent featuring a proximal radiopaque uncovered portion 1.