Nationwide Survey on Endoscopic Papillectomy for Ampullary Adenoma: Current Practices and Variability.

Background/aims: Ampullary adenomas are precancerous lesions requiring accurate diagnosis and timely intervention to prevent malignant transformation. Endoscopic papillectomy (EP) has emerged as a less invasive alternative to surgery; however, technical variations in practice remain. This study evaluated contemporary real-world approaches to the diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance of ampullary adenomas among pancreatobiliary endoscopists.

Current status and trends of green endoscopy.

The increasing global emphasis on sustainability has extended its influence to the field of medicine, including endoscopy. Green endoscopy aims to minimize the environmental footprint of endoscopic practices while maintaining high standards of patient care. This review examines the current status of green endoscopy, focusing on its environmental impact, strategies for waste reduction, and adoption of sustainable practices.

Hierarchical Nanostructures Constructed by Soft Epitaxial Self-Assembly of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Giant Amphiphiles.

2D nanomaterials with ångström-scale thicknesses offer a unique platform for confining molecules at an unprecedentedly small scale, presenting novel opportunities for modulating material properties and probing microscopic phenomena. In this study, mesogen-tethered polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) amphiphiles with varying numbers of mesogenic tails to systematically influence molecular self-assembly and the architecture of the ensuing supramolecular structures, are synthesized. These organic-inorganic hybrid amphiphiles facilitate precise spatial arrangement and directional alignment of the primary molecular units within highly ordered supramolecular structures.

Predictors of Choledocholithiasis in Cholecystectomy Patients and Their Cutoff Values and Prediction Model in Korea in Comparison with the 2019 ASGE Guidelines.

Background/aims: : In 2019, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) established clinical predictors for choledocholithiasis. Our study was designed to evaluate these predictors within the Korean clinical context, establish cutoff values, and develop a predictive model.

Methods: : This retrospective study analyzed patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Three cases of jejunal tumors detected by standard upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: A case series.

Background: In patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, re-examination with standard upper endoscopes by experienced physicians will identify culprit lesions in a substantial proportion of patients. A common practice is to insert an adult-sized forward-viewing endoscope into the second part of the duodenum. When the endoscope tip enters after the papilla, which is a marker for the descending part of the duodenum, it is difficult to endoscopically judge how far the duodenum has been traversed beyond the second part.

Bile Acids: Major Regulator of the Gut Microbiome.

Bile acids are synthesized from cholesterol and play an important role in regulating intestinal microflora. The different degrees of hydrophobicity and acidity of individual bile acids may affect their antimicrobial properties. We examined the antimicrobial effects of different bile acids on various microorganisms in vitro and confirmed whether these remain consistent in vivo.

Comparison of one-stage laparoscopic common bile duct exploration plus cholecystectomy and two-stage endoscopic sphincterotomy plus laparoscopic cholecystectomy for concomitant gallbladder and common bile duct stones in patients over 80 years old.

Purpose: This study was performed to compare the safety and efficacy of one-stage laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) plus laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) with those of endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) plus LC for concomitant gallbladder (GB) and common bile duct (CBD) stones in elderly patients.

Methods: This single-center retrospective study reviewed the medical records of patients aged >80 years who were diagnosed with concomitant GB and CBD stones between January 2010 and December 2020.

Results: Of the 137 patients included in this study, 46 underwent one-stage LCBDE + LC and 91 underwent two-stage EST + LC.

Single Use (Disposable) Duodenoscope: Recent Development and Future.

Unlike simple forward-viewing endoscopes such as gastroscope or colonoscope, duodenoscope houses much more complex design to fulfil its function. This design differences leave duodenoscopes more prone to contamination from inadequate disinfection process and potential dissemination of pathogens. Recent reports on dissemination of infection through the duodenoscope mandated an overhaul of duodenoscope utilization including development of a disposable duodenoscope.

Morphological Transitions of a Photoswitchable Aramid Amphiphile Nanostructure.

Self-assembly of small amphiphilic molecules in water can lead to nanostructures of varying geometries with pristine internal molecular organization. Here we introduce a photoswitchable aramid amphiphile (AA), designed to exhibit extensive hydrogen bonding and robust mechanical properties upon self-assembly, while containing a vinylnitrile group for photoinduced isomerization. We demonstrate spontaneous self-assembly of the vinylnitrile-containing AA in water to form nanoribbons.

[Gut Microbiota and Pancreatobiliary System].

The gut microbiota is part of the human body that is involved in body metabolism and the occurrence of various diseases. Detecting and analyzing their genetic information (microbiome) is as important as analyzing human genes. The core microbiome, the key functional genes shared by all humans, helps better understand the physiology of the human body.

Bee Venom Phospholipase A2 Induces Regulatory T Cell Populations by Suppressing Apoptotic Signaling Pathway.

Bee venom phospholipase A2 is a lipolytic enzyme in bee venom that catalyzes hydrolysis of the sn-2 ester bond of membrane phospholipids to produce free fatty acid and lysophospholipids. Current evidence suggests that bee venom phospholipase A2 (bvPLA2) induces regulatory T cell expansion and attenuates several immune system-related diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. The induction of Treg cells is directly mediated by binding to mannose receptors on dendritic cells.

Stokes attenuates cholestatic liver cirrhosis-induced interstitial fibrosis via Smad3 down-regulation and Smad7 up-regulation.

Cholestatic liver cirrhosis (CLC) eventually proceeds to end-stage liver failure by mediating overwhelming deposition of collagen, which is produced by activated interstitial myofibroblasts. Although the beneficial effects of Stokes (RVS) on various diseases are well-known, its therapeutic effect and possible underlying mechanism on interstitial fibrosis associated with CLC are not elucidated. This study was designed to assess the protective effects of RVS and its possible underlying mechanisms in rat models of CLC established by bile duct ligation (BDL).

Phylogenetics and Gene Structure Dynamics of Polygalacturonase Genes in Aspergillus and Neurospora crassa.

Polygalacturonase (PG) gene is a typical gene family present in eukaryotes. Forty-nine PGs were mined from the genomes of Neurospora crassa and five Aspergillus species. The PGs were classified into 3 clades such as clade 1 for rhamno-PGs, clade 2 for exo-PGs and clade 3 for exo- and endo-PGs, which were further grouped into 13 sub-clades based on the polypeptide sequence similarity.

An effective instillation method for water-assisted colonoscopy as performed by in-training endoscopists in terms of volume and temperature.

Background And Study Aims: There is general consensus that water instillation helps insert a colonoscope. However, the most effective method for water instillation has not yet been established, especially for endoscopists-in-training. The aim of this study was to determine volume and temperature for effective water instillation colonoscopy.