Alternative Surveillance Improves Outcomes by Detecting Early-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients.

Background/aims: Current guidelines recommend biannual ultrasound for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. However, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used when ultrasound is inadequate. The clinical impact of these alternative modalities remains unclear.

Radiofrequency ablation for patients with primary hyperparathyroidism: a multicenter non-randomized open-label single-arm prospective clinical trial.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and factors influencing the response to radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) in a prospective multicenter trial.

Materials And Methods: Between September 2022 and June 2024, 34 patients with 35 parathyroid lesions who either refused surgery or were ineligible for it underwent RFA for treatment of PHPT across three hospitals. Nodule size, volume, and biochemical data were compared before and after treatment (at 2 h, 1 week, and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months).

Comparison of the Efficacy of Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors and Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors in Diabetic Patients with Steatotic Liver Disease.

Background/aims: There is currently insufficient evidence to recommend one oral hypoglycemic agent over another for diabetic patients to reduce hepatic steatosis or prevent advanced fibrosis. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).

Methods: This study included diabetic patients with steatotic liver disease who newly received either a DPP-4i or an SGLT-2i as a second-line treatment between 2014 and 2021 at a single tertiary hospital.

External Validation of an Upgraded AI Model for Screening Ileocolic Intussusception Using Pediatric Abdominal Radiographs: Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used in radiology, but its development in pediatric imaging remains limited, particularly for emergent conditions. Ileocolic intussusception is an important cause of acute abdominal pain in infants and toddlers and requires timely diagnosis to prevent complications such as bowel ischemia or perforation. While ultrasonography is the diagnostic standard due to its high sensitivity and specificity, its accessibility may be limited, especially outside tertiary centers.

Comparison of bone mineral density changes between denosumab and bisphosphonates in tenofovir-exposed chronic hepatitis B patients with osteoporosis.

Unlabelled: This study compared denosumab and bisphosphonates for osteoporosis in tenofovir-exposed chronic hepatitis B patients. Both denosumab and bisphosphonates increased bone mineral density (BMD) at year 1. However, denosumab resulted in a greater BMD improvement and a more pronounced reduction in procollagen type 1 N-terminal peptide (P1NP) compared to bisphosphonate.

Validation of Lyon 2.0 Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Consensus: Limited Clinical Utility of Mean Nocturnal Basal Impedance in Koreans.

Background/aims: The Lyon Consensus 2.0 (Lyon 2.0) revised gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) definitions, incorporating Los Angeles (LA) grade B as diagnostic and mean nocturnal basal impedance (MNBI) as supplementary evidence.

Distribution and Clinical Impact of Virulence Factors in Epstein-Barr-Virus-Associated Gastric Cancer.

: (HP) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) coinfection lead to chronic inflammation and contribute to the development of gastric cancer. However, studies examining the association between HP virulence factors and EBV infection in gastric cancer are limited. This study investigated the polymorphisms of HP virulence factors associated with EBV infection and their effects on clinical outcomes in EBV-associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC).

Current Practices in Histological Diagnosis and Management of Asymptomatic Gastric Subepithelial Lesions: A Multicenter Survey in Korea.

Objectives: Gastric subepithelial lesions (SELs) are elevated lesions covered by normal mucosa often detected during esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Because of its submucosal location, accurate diagnosis through biopsy is challenging. We conducted a nationwide survey to identify differences in clinical practices across healthcare institutions with varying medical resources in Korea.

Recent advances in molecularly imprinted polymers toward biomedical healthcare devices.

Following the increase in the global aging population, the importance of monitoring various disease-related biomarkers at an early stage has increased to ensure the health of the elderly. In an aging society, point-of-care (POC) systems are needed to care for elderly people who have physical and mental disorders. In light of the increasing prominence of POC systems, there is a growing effort to address the limitations associated with conventional receptors in wearable devices by substituting them with molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP).

A Deep Learning-Based Artificial Intelligence Model Assisting Thyroid Nodule Diagnosis and Management: Pilot Results for Evaluating Thyroid Malignancy in Pediatric Cohorts.

Artificial intelligence (AI) models have shown promise in predicting malignant thyroid nodules in adults; however, research on deep learning (DL) for pediatric cases is limited. We evaluated the applicability of a DL-based model for assessing thyroid nodules in children. We retrospectively identified two pediatric cohorts ( = 128; mean age 15.

Investigation on the factors associated with maintenance of paliperidone long-acting injection in the real-world treatment of patients with schizophrenia.

Background: Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics have been shown to improve adherence and clinical outcomes in schizophrenia treatment. However, issues with compliance and early discontinuation of LAIs remain a significant challenge in real-world settings. Understanding the factors influencing successful initiation and maintenance is essential to maximize their clinical benefits.

Effect of Eradication on Metabolic Parameters and Body Composition including Skeletal Muscle Mass: A Matched Case-Control Study.

Background/aims: Findings on the impact of eradication on metabolic parameters are inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of eradication on metabolic parameters and body composition, including body fat mass and skeletal muscle mass.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of asymptomatic patients who underwent health screenings, including bioelectrical impedance analysis, before and after eradication between 2005 and 2021.

Efficacy and safety of image-guided hypofractionated radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis: a retrospective, multicenter study.

Background: External beam radiation therapy (RT) has shown promising effects for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) in recent studies. However, there is still a lack of consensus on the optimal RT scheme for PVTT treatment. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of image-guided 10-fraction hypofractionated RT in these patients.

Predicting Nottingham grade in breast cancer digital pathology using a foundation model.

Background: The Nottingham histologic grade is crucial for assessing severity and predicting prognosis in breast cancer, a prevalent cancer worldwide. Traditional grading systems rely on subjective expert judgment and require extensive pathological expertise, are time-consuming, and often lead to inter-observer variability.

Methods: To address these limitations, we develop an AI-based model to predict Nottingham grade from whole-slide images of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained breast cancer tissue using a pathology foundation model.

Low positivity rate of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2b is associated with heterogeneous expression in gastric cancer.

Background: Bemarituzumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting fibroblast growth factor receptor 2b (FGFR2b), is under evaluation in phase 3 trials of gastric cancer (GC) trials. However, data on the characteristics, prognostic significance, and heterogenous expression patterns of FGFR2b overexpression in GC remain limited. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the clinicopathologic characteristics and survival outcomes of FGFR2b-positive GC, along with the expression concordance across biopsy, surgical, and metastatic specimens.

Artificial intelligence in bacterial diagnostics and antimicrobial susceptibility testing: Current advances and future prospects.

Recently, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative tool, enhancing the speed, accuracy, and scalability of bacterial diagnostics. This review explores the role of AI in revolutionizing bacterial detection and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) by leveraging machine learning models, including Random Forest, Support Vector Machines (SVM), and deep learning architectures such as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and transformers. The integration of AI into these methods promises to address the current limitations of traditional techniques, offering a path toward more efficient, accessible, and reliable diagnostic solutions.

Multidisciplinary Consensus Prostate Contours on Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Educational Atlas and Reference Standard for Artificial Intelligence Benchmarking.

Purpose: Evaluation of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms for prostate segmentation is challenging because ground truth is lacking. We aimed to: (1) create a reference standard data set with precise prostate contours by expert consensus, and (2) evaluate various AI tools against this standard.

Methods And Materials: We obtained prostate magnetic resonance imaging cases from six institutions from the Qualitative Prostate Imaging Consortium.

Endoscopic features of cytomegalovirus disease of the upper gastrointestinal tract between transplant and non-transplant patients.

Background/aims: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in the upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract frequently occurs in immunocompromised patients. However, data regarding UGI CMV disease in non-transplant patients compared with those in transplant recipients are limited. Therefore, we compared the clinical characteristics, endoscopic findings, and outcomes of UGI CMV disease in non-transplant patients with those in transplant recipients.

Amplifying visible signals in lateral flow assays using integrated nanoelectrokinetics.

In this study, we developed a tangential nanoelectrokinetic force-enhanced lateral flow assay by integrating a Nafion-cellulose nanofibrils hybrid gel to improve conventional lateral flow assay performance without external instrumentation. Our assay was designed by embedding the Nafion-cellulose nanofibrils gel beneath the test line, generating a tangential nanoelectrokinetic force that enhances the migration and accumulation of antigen-AuNP probe complexes within the visible depth of the nitrocellulose surface. The proposed assay exhibited a 32.

Association Between Viral Replication Activity and Postoperative Recurrence of HBV-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Baseline viral replication activity influences the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Aims: To evaluate the impact of baseline viral replication activity on recurrence in HBV-related HCC after curative resection.

Methods: A multinational retrospective cohort of 2384 patients with very early or early-stage HBV-related HCC who consecutively underwent curative resection and received antiviral therapy (AVT) between 2010 and 2018 was analysed.

Early antiviral treatment with tenofovir alafenamide to prevent serious clinical adverse events in adults with chronic hepatitis B and moderate or high viraemia (ATTENTION): interim results from a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Current guidelines for chronic hepatitis B recommend antiviral therapy for individuals with non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis B only if they have significant liver fibrosis or elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentrations. We aimed to assess the efficacy of early antiviral treatment in preventing serious liver-related adverse events in individuals with non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis B and moderate or high viraemia but normal or mildly elevated ALT concentrations.

Methods: ATTENTION is an ongoing randomised controlled trial being conducted at 22 centres in South Korea and Taiwan.

Efficacy of Rifabutin-Based Helicobacter pylori Eradication Regimen in Korea With High Prevalence of Tuberculosis Infection.

Background: As the antibiotic resistance and treatment failure rates of Helicobacter pylori are rising, the need for rescue therapy with rifabutin for H. pylori eradication (HPE) is also increasing. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the efficacy, resistance status, and adverse events in patients receiving rifabutin-based HPE.