Association between sarcopenia level and metabolic syndrome.

Aims: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) increases the risk of diabetes mellitus (DM), cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, and mortality. Sarcopenia has been reported as a risk factor for MetS, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and CVD. To date, the association between sarcopenia and MetS has been investigated.

Fatty liver is an independent risk factor for gallbladder polyps.

Background: Gallbladder polyps (GBPs) are known to be associated with obesity and metabolic diseases. However, to date, the relationship between GBPs and abnormal body fat distribution, such as fatty liver, visceral obesity, or sarcopenia, has not yet been established.

Aim: To evaluate whether GBPs are associated with fatty liver, visceral obesity, or sarcopenia.

Prevalence of Toxocariasis and Its Risk Factors in Patients with Eosinophilia in Korea.

Eosinophilia occurs commonly in many diseases including allergic diseases and helminthic infections. Toxocariasis has been suggested as one cause of eosinophilia. The present study was undertaken to examine the prevalence of toxocariasis in patients with eosinophilia and to identify the risk factors for toxocariasis.

Folfirinox chemotherapy prolongs stent patency in patients with malignant biliary obstruction due to unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Background: Stent insertion for biliary decompression to relieve jaundice and subsequent biliary infection is necessary for patients with biliary obstruction caused by pancreatic cancer, and it is important to keep the stent patent as long as possible. However, few studies have compared stent patency in terms of chemotherapy in patients with pancreatic cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the differences in stent patency in terms of recently evolving chemotherapy.

Impact of balloon inflation on the insertion of endoscopic ultrasound: a prospective, randomized controlled trial.

 During endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), patients may experience severe discomfort. The radial echoendoscope has a balloon around its tip. Balloon inflation prior to insertion may reduce contact injury and pharyngeal pain.

Step-wise endoscopic approach to palliative bilateral biliary drainage for unresectable advanced malignant hilar obstruction.

The ideal type of stent utilized at index endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in management of malignant hilar obstruction (MHO) remains unclear. We aimed to determine the ideal stent choice in patients with MHO. In this retrospective study, patients with unresectable MHO were separated into the plastic stent (PS) group and the self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) group.

A High Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Poor Prognosis in Patients with Advanced Gallbladder Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy.

Background: Monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have been reported to be prognostic markers in various cancers. However, the prognostic value of these inflammatory biomarkers, particularly MLR, in gallbladder cancer remains to be determined.

Methods: From 2005 to 2016, 178 patients with histologically confirmed gallbladder adenocarcinoma who underwent palliative chemotherapy were queried in this study.

Natural History of Small Pancreatic Lesions Suspected to Be Nonfunctioning Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Objectives: Nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NF-PNETs) are a rare disease but have been diagnosed more frequently than before. The aim of this study was to evaluate the natural course of small NF-PNETs.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with incidentally found small NF-PNETs (<20 mm) from 1999 to 2015.

Vacuum-Assisted Closure (VAC) Using Multiple Foam Pieces for Hidden Space Drainage through Less Exposure in Musculoskeletal Infections.

Background: Purulent musculoskeletal infections often require surgical debridement and drainage. However, when the infection is extensive or involving multiple layers of tissues, maintaining drainage of the involved spaces can be difficult, even with the application of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy. Wide exposure and aggressive debridement is often required for such cases, which in turn may complicate wound coverage.

Revision of bilateral self-expandable metallic stents placed using the stent-in-stent technique for malignant hilar biliary obstruction.

Background: Endoscopic biliary decompression using bilateral self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) placed using the stent-in-stent (SIS) technique is considered favorable for unresectable malignant hilar biliary obstruction (MHBO). However, occlusion of the bilateral SIS placement is frequent and revision can be challenging. This study was performed to investigate the efficacy, the long-term patency and the appropriate approach for revision of occluded bilateral SIS placement in unresectable MHBO.

Utility of serum phosphate as a marker for predicting the severity of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis.

Background: To date, no reliable marker for predicting the severity of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis exists. A previous animal study reported a correlation between serum phosphate level and the severity of acute pancreatitis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of serum phosphate as a marker for predicting the severity of post-ERCP pancreatitis in humans.

Effect of submucosal injection in endoscopic papillectomy of ampullary tumor: Propensity-score matching analysis.

Background: The role of submucosal injection (SI) in endoscopic papillectomy (EP) is controversial.

Objective: This study investigated the effects of SI before EP of ampullary tumors.

Methods: All patients who underwent initial curative EP at our institution between March 2006 and March 2014 were retrospectively recruited.

Body mass index and weight change during initial period of chemotherapy affect survival outcome in advanced biliary tract cancer patients.

Background: The impact of obesity on survival is known to vary in different cancers. Advanced biliary tract cancer was rarely analyzed about the relationship between obesity and prognosis. We performed this study to evaluate the BMI and body weight change as prognostic factors for advanced biliary tract cancer patients with palliative chemotherapy.

Where Is the Ulnar Styloid Process? Identification of the Absolute Location of the Ulnar Styloid Process Based on CT and Verification of Neutral Forearm Rotation on Lateral Radiographs of the Wrist.

Background: The location of the ulnar styloid process can be confusing because the radius and the hand rotate around the ulna. The purpose of this study was to identify the absolute location of the ulnar styloid process, which is independent of forearm pronation or supination, to use it as a reference for neutral forearm rotation on lateral radiographs of the wrist.

Methods: Computed tomography (CT) images of 23 forearms taken with elbow flexion of 70° to 90° were analyzed.

Clinical outcomes of endoscopic ultrasound-guided ethanol ablation for pancreatic cystic lesions compared with the natural course: a propensity score matching analysis.

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided ethanol ablation (EUS-EA) is a recently introduced treatment for pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs). However, clinical benefits such as survival gain and maintenance of quality of life (QOL) have not been fully established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical benefits of EUS-EA compared with the natural course (NC) of PCLs.

Association between pathologic grade and multiphase computed tomography enhancement in pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm.

Background And Aim: Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PanNENs) are rare diseases but gradually increasing in prevalence with different prognosis. Multiphase contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) is known as widely used imaging modality for the diagnosis of pancreatic tumors. We aimed to investigate whether CT enhancement pattern is associated with the pathologic tumor grade and can predict that of PanNEN.

Feasibility and Advantages of Full Thickness Skin Graft from the Anterolateral Thigh.

Background: Full thickness skin graft (FTSG) gives better outcomes than split thickness skin graft (STSG), but it has the drawback of limited donor sites. Anterolateral thigh (ALT), a popular donor site of STSG, is also a popular donor site of perforator flaps. This area has the advantage of large flap size available with primary closure.

Multiple Polypoid Angiodysplasia with Obscure Overt Bleeding.

Angiodysplasia (AD) is increasingly being recognized as a major cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. Morphologically flat lesions are common types of AD, whereas the polypoid types are rare. We report a case of multiple polypoid AD in the small bowel causing severe anemia and requiring surgical treatment.

Can enoxaparin reduce thromboembolism related events after primary TKA in Asian patients?

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of enoxaparin in preventing venous and arterial thromboembolism related events after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in Asian patients. Four hundred twenty nine patients (621 TKAs) did not receive thromboprophylaxis after TKA and 907 patients (1,336 TKAs) received enoxaparin after the procedure. We assessed clinically significant venous and arterial thromboembolism related events and bleeding complications.

Myelopathy caused by spinal dural arterio-venous fistula after first lumbar vertebral body fracture - a case report -.

Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula is a rare vascular lesion of the spinal cord associated with progressive myelopathy. Symptoms include progressive gait dysfunction, weakness, sensory loss, and bowel and bladder dysfunction. Because these symptoms overlap with other common causes of myelopathy and the disease is rare, spinal dural arteriovenous fistula is often not suspected and the time to diagnosis is long.