Submucosal saline injection and mini-probe endoscopic ultrasound to assess endoscopic resectability of colorectal subepithelial tumors.

Background/aims: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of mini-probe endoscopic ultrasound (mEUS) followed by submucosal saline injection (SSI-mEUS) for assessing the endoscopic resectability of colorectal subepithelial lesions (SELs).

Methods: From January 2020 to December 2023, the medical records of 391 SELs (364 patients) were retrospectively reviewed and categorized into no EUS, mEUS-only, and SSI-mEUS groups according to the procedure used. To compare variables between the SSI-mEUS and other groups, the no EUS and mEUS-only groups were combined into the non-SSI-mEUS group.

Assessment of Small Bowel Motility Using Cine-magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients Suspected With Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-obstruction.

Background/aims: Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO), characterized by dilated small or large intestine on CT, has a high postoperative recurrence rate. In contrast, focal hypoganglionosis with adult-onset megacolon (FHAM) generally shows a good postoperative prognosis. This study aims to evaluate the utility of cine-MRI in differentiating between these 2 diseases by assessing small bowel (SB) motility and its correlation with clinical outcomes.

Antibiotic Resistance of Helicobacter pylori: Current Trends in Daegu-Kyungpook.

Objectives: Recent trends have shown reduced success rates of the standard triple therapy, underscoring the need for updated data on the antimicrobial resistance of Helicobacter pylori. This study aimed to assess the antibiotic resistance rates of H. pylori strains in the Daegu-Kyungpook region and compare them with other regions in South Korea to provide evidence for eradication therapy guidelines.

Clinical Utility of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration and Biopsy for Rectal and Perirectal Lesions With Categorization of Their Indications.

Objectives: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration and/or biopsy (EUS-FNA/B) is a diagnostic tool for gastrointestinal (GI) lesions. However, its effectiveness in the lower GI tract remains underreported. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of EUS-FNA/B for rectal and perirectal lesions.

Comparative efficacy of subcutaneous infliximab switching in remission and non-remission patients with inflammatory bowel disease after intravenous maintenance: 1-year outcome from a multicentre cohort study.

Background: Elective switching from intravenous (IV) to subcutaneous (SC) infliximab (IFX) has shown efficacy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, long-term outcomes for patients not in remission remain unclear.

Objectives: We evaluated the effectiveness of SC IFX switching in both remission and non-remission patients.

Fecal calprotectin from ileostomy output in patients with Crohn's disease.

Background: Fecal calprotectin (FC) is a reliable biomarker widely used for assessing disease activity and postoperative monitoring in patients with Crohn's disease (CD); however, its efficacy in patients with an ileostomy is poorly understood. Our study evaluated whether FC from the ileostomy output can be used to predict postoperative small bowel inflammation in patients with CD.

Methods: Data from patients with CD and an ileostomy who had undergone FC measurement between January 1, 2015, and December 30, 2022, were analyzed retrospectively.

Characteristics and outcomes of portal vein thrombosis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in Korea.

Background/aims: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) frequently occurs in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly when influenced by factors such as abdominal infections, IBD flare-ups, or surgical procedures. The implications of PVT range from immediate issues such as intestinal ischemia to long-term concerns including portal hypertension and its complications. However, there is a notable gap in comprehensive studies on PVT in IBD, especially with the increasing incidence of IBD in Asia.

Incidence, Risk Factors, and Outcomes of Chronic Antibiotic-Refractory Pouchitis in Korean Patients with Ulcerative Colitis.

Background/aims: The study investigated the incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of chronic antibiotic-refractory pouchitis (CARP) in Korean patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods: This single-center retrospective study included patients with UC who underwent total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis at the Asan Medical Center in Korea between January 1987 and December 2022. The primary outcomes were endoscopic remission and pouch failure.

Clinical characteristics and long-term disease course in patients with Crohn's disease as diagnosed by video capsule endoscopy: a multicenter retrospective matched case-control study.

Background/aims: Video capsule endoscopy is rarely used to diagnose Crohn's disease in patients with negative ileocolonoscopy or cross-sectional image findings. We evaluated clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes of these rare cases.

Methods: This multicenter study included patients with Crohn's disease from 3 tertiary hospitals from January 2007 to October 2022.

Effectiveness of Switching to Subcutaneous Infliximab in Ulcerative Colitis Patients Experiencing Intravenous Infliximab Failure.

Background/aims: Studies on elective switching to the subcutaneous (SC) formulation of infliximab revealed comparable efficacy and safety and higher infliximab level than those exhibited by intravenous (IV) infliximab. However, no studies have reported on the effectiveness of SC switching in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients who experienced IV infliximab failure during maintenance treatment.

Methods: This retrospective study included UC patients who had been switched to SC infliximab because of IV infliximab failure, between January 2021 and January 2023.

[Nonpharmacologic Treatment of Chronic Constipation].

Functional constipation is a common clinical diagnosis that affects approximately 14% of the world's population. Non-pharmacological therapies often represent the initial steps in management and may include lifestyle adjustments or changes such as physical activity and diet. Pharmacological options have been used when the non-pharmacological approach has been ineffective.

Safety of Biologics and Small Molecules for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in Organ Transplant Recipients.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the safety of biologics and small molecules for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in patients receiving antirejection therapies after organ transplants.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients with IBD who received organ transplants at the Asan Medical Center between January 1989 and December 2021. We compared the parameters of patients receiving biologics or small molecules to those of patients without those therapies.

Double-guidewire technique for selective biliary cannulation does not increase the rate of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis in patients with naïve papilla.

Background/aims: This study aimed to compare the safety of the double-guidewire technique (DGT) with that of the conventional single-guidewire technique (SGT) in real-world situations.

Methods: A total of 240 patients with naïve papilla who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) at Daegu Catholic University Medical Center between January 2021 and December 2021 were included. The primary outcome was the rate of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) in the SGT and DGT groups.

Efficacy of 7-day Tailored Therapy for Eradication based on Clarithromycin Resistance.

Background/aims: Increasing resistance to clarithromycin (CAM) of () is one of the main causes of recent decrease in eradication rate of standard triple therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of 7-day tailored therapy based on the existence of CAM resistance.

Methods: From January 2017 to May 2022, a total of 481 consecutive patients with infection were recruited in Daegu Catholic University Medical Center.

Venous Thromboembolism in Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Receiving Palliative Chemotherapy: Incidence and Effect on Prognosis.

Background/aims: This study evaluated the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) at the authors' institution and analyzed the risk factors associated with VTE and the overall survival (OS).

Methods: One hundred and seventy patients with locally advanced or metastatic PDAC who received palliative chemotherapy at Daegu Catholic University Medical Center from January 2011 to December 2020 were included.

Results: During a median follow-up period of 341 days, 24 patients (14.