Early Oral Refeeding in Patients with Post-endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Pancreatitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background/aims: To assess the safety and efficacy of early oral refeeding (ERF) versus delayed refeeding (DRF) in patients with mild post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP).

Methods: Eligible patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the ERF or DRF group. Eligible patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the ERF or DRF group.

Korean Red ginseng supplements improve quality of life in patients with mild chronic pancreatitis symptoms: A prospective clinical trial.

Background: Managing symptoms of chronic pancreatitis (CP) remains a significant challenge. Korean Red ginseng (KRG), a well-known herbal supplement, has shown potential benefits in various health conditions, prompting its investigation in CP patients.

Methods: We conducted a single-arm, prospective clinical trial to evaluate the effect of KRG on quality of life in CP patients exhibiting mild symptoms, as defined by a Clinical Global Impression (CGI) score of 0 or 1.

Comparison of 5-Fluorouracil/Leucovorin and Capecitabine as Adjuvant Therapies in Biliary Tract Cancer.

Background: The prognosis of biliary tract cancer (BTC) is poor, and recurrence rates remain high even after curative resection. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of capecitabine and 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (FL) as adjuvant treatments following curative resection in patients with BTC.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with BTC (including gallbladder and extrahepatic and intrahepatic bile duct cancers) who underwent curative surgical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy between 2011 and 2023.

BioGlue Induced Mass Formation Aggravating Spinal Canal Invasion After Intradural Tumor Surgery.

: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the use of BioGlue increases the risk of postoperative mass formation and subsequent spinal canal invasion after intradural spinal tumor surgery. : After retrospectively reviewing patients who underwent intradural tumor surgery from 2018 to 2023, we evaluated mass formation as detected in postoperative MRI according to the Epidural Spinal Cord Compression (ESCC) grade. Patients were divided into two groups based on the use of BioGlue, and we analyzed MRI postoperatively to compare the differences in ESCC grades and the incidence of symptomatic spinal canal invasion between the two groups.

Prevention of stent migration of covered self-expandable metal stents in distal malignant biliary obstruction: a review of literature.

Distal malignant biliary obstruction (dMBO) is a common complication of advanced malignancies, particularly pancreatic cancer and biliary tract cancer, requiring biliary drainage to relieve symptoms. Endoscopic drainage using self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) is widely preferred due to improved long-term patency compared with plastic stents. However, the choice between fully covered SEMS (FCSEMS) and uncovered SEMS (UCSEMS) remains controversial, primarily due to migration risks associated with FCSEMS.

Optimal Value of Mutant KRAS Circulating Tumor DNA for Predicting Prognosis and Monitoring in Patients with Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: The generalizability and applicability of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) KRAS mutations in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) remain elusive. We aimed to propose a cut-off value of mutant KRAS (mKRAS) concentration in ctDNA and validate its clinical utility.

Methods: This prospective, multicenter cohort study enrolled 419 patients with PAC.

Risk Factor Analysis of Simple Drainage Followed by Instrumented Fusion in Patients with Pyogenic Spinal Infection.

Objective: The first-line treatment for pyogenic spondylitis is conservative management with immobilization and systemic antibiotic therapy. However, in cases where conservative treatment fails or neurological deficits and spinal instability are present, surgical intervention is required. Surgical treatment helps manage spondylitis by decompressing neural structures through abscess drainage and maintaining spinal stability.

Comparison of complications of biportal endoscopic discectomy: ipsilateral versus contralateral approach.

Background: Biportal endoscopic discectomy using the contralateral approach is effective for highly down- or upward-migrated disc removal and upper lumbar disc herniation. Despite its benefits, there are potential complications that have yet to be fully explored, including possible transient neurological deficits, excessive nerve pull, and incomplete discectomy. Thus, in this study, we aimed to understand these complications by comparing the contralateral and ipsilateral approaches for biportal endoscopic discectomy.

Far-Lateral Transforaminal Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy for Upper Lumbar Disc Herniations.

Objective: The upper lumbar region has distinctive anatomical characteristics that contribute to the challenges of performing discectomy. We introduce far-lateral transforaminal unilateral biportal endoscopic (UBE) lumbar discectomy for central or paracentral disc herniations in the upper lumbar region.

Methods: We conducted retrospective review of the patients who underwent a far-lateral transforaminal UBE lumbar discectomy at our institution from January 2018 to September 2024.

Comprehensive molecular analysis of 26 newly established human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell lines reveals two clusters with variating drug sensitivities.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a malignant form of cancer with the worst survival rate and an extremely low rate of response to treatments. The development and molecular characterization of pancreatic cancer cell lines (PCCLs) are essential for studying the biology of highly aggressive pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Methods: We applied whole exome sequencing (WES) and RNA-seq to identify molecular characteristics of 26 newly established PCCLs.

Endoscopic hemostasis with a self-expandable metal stent as bridge therapy for hemobilia.

Background And Study Aims: Management of hemobilia is often challenging. Recently, endoscopic hemostasis with a self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) has shown promising efficacy for controlling bleeding at the endoscopic sphincterotomy site. This study aimed to assess efficacy and feasibility of endoscopic hemostasis as bridge therapy for hemobilia.

A randomized non-inferiority trial investigating antibiotic adjustments based on blood culture in acute cholangitis.

Objectives: This study evaluated the adequacy of using blood cultures alone for antibiotic therapy in mild-to-moderate acute cholangitis after adequate biliary drainage.

Methods: A prospective, multi-centre, non-inferiority, randomized trial was conducted from August 2015 to September 2023 across 12 tertiary hospitals in South Korea. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to groups.

Optimal tissue acquisition method for pancreatic mass.

Pancreatic masses pose a diagnostic difficulty due to the technical complexities related to tissue acquisition. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition has transformed the field by allowing access to pancreatic lesions through fine-needle and biopsy. However, diagnostic accuracy differs based on tumor characteristics and procedural factors.

ATR inhibition promotes synergistic antitumor effect in platinum-resistant pancreatic cancer.

Background: Oxaliplatin is a commonly used platinum-based chemotherapy drug for patients with pancreatic cancer (PC). Drug resistance is a major challenge in PC treatment, underscoring the urgent need for new approaches. Targeting DNA damage repair, one of the factors responsible for platinum resistance, is an attractive strategy to overcome drug resistance.

Association between severity of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency and computed tomography-based morphological severity in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

The association between pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) and morphologic findings in chronic pancreatitis has not yet been fully studied. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between PEI severity and computed tomography (CT)-based morphological severity in patients with chronic pancreatitis. This nationwide survey included 180 Korean participants with chronic pancreatitis aged 18 years or older between January 2018 and December 2021.

Digital single-operator cholangioscopy for difficult anastomotic biliary strictures in living donor liver transplant recipients after failure of standard ERCP: SPYPASS-2 study (with videos).

Background And Aims: Liver transplantation (LT) is a curative treatment for end-stage liver disease. Anastomotic biliary strictures (ABSs) are more common in living donor LT (LDLT). However, the success rate of ERCP for ABSs remains unsatisfactory.

Survey of Experts' Opinions on the Diagnosis and Management of Pancreatic Cystic Neoplasms.

Objective: To survey experts' opinions in abdominal radiology (radiologists) and pancreas-specialized gastroenterology (pancreatologists) in South Korea regarding diagnosing and managing pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCNs).

Materials And Methods: Between August 25, 2023, and October 5, 2023, an online survey was conducted among members of the Korean Society of Abdominal Radiology and the Korean Pancreatobiliary Association via email invitation.

Results: The responses from 100 radiologists and 41 pancreatologists were analyzed.

Effects of Length-to-Width Ratio on Magnetic and Microstructural Properties of Die-Upset Nd-Fe-B Magnets.

In this study, the effects of the length-to-width ratio on the magnetic and microstructural properties of die-upset Nd-Fe-B magnets were examined. A die-upset magnet with a uniform shape and no significant cracking was successfully developed. During the die-upset process, the applied pressure was not uniform across the magnet and varied depending on its shape and position.

Prognostic value of the mutation in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma receiving FOLFIRINOX.

Background: , , , and have been the main driver mutations in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Studies on the clinical significance and treatment response to 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX) regimen in terms of the presence of these mutations remain inconclusive.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the survival outcome and response to FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy based on the presence of four driver mutation genes.