Efficacy of Tegoprazan in Patients With Functional Dyspepsia: A Prospective, Multicenter, Single-arm Study.

Background/Aims: Acid-suppressive drugs, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), are treatment options for functional dyspepsia (FD). However, the efficacy of potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs) in treating FD has not yet been established. This prospective multicenter clinical trial-based study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of tegoprazan as a P-CAB treatment in patients with FD. Methods: FD was diagnosed using the Rome IV criteria. All patients received tegoprazan 50 mg once daily for 8 weeks. Dyspeptic symptoms were assessed using a dyspepsia symptom questionnaire (5-point Likert scale, Nepean Dyspepsia Index-Korean (NDI-K), and gastroesophageal reflux disease-health-related quality of life (GERD-HRQL). The main outcome was satisfactory symptom relief rates at 8 weeks. Results: In this study, from the initial screening of 209 patients, 173 were included in the per-protocol set analysis. Satisfactory symptom relief rates at 8 and 4 weeks were 86.7% and 74.6%, respectively. In addition, the NDI-K and GERD-HRQL scores significantly improved at 8 and 4 weeks compared with the baseline scores. The efficacy of tegoprazan was not influenced by the FD subtype or Helicobacter pylori status. In patients with overlapping FD and GERD, there was a greater improvement in the NDI-K and GERD-HRQL scores than in patients with FD symptoms only. No serious drug-related adverse events occurred during this study. Conclusion: Tegoprazan (50 mg) administered once daily provided satisfactory symptom relief for FD.

Clinical Trial: Efficacy of Mosapride Controlled-release and Nortriptyline in Patients With Functional Dyspepsia: A Multicenter, Double-placebo, Double-blinded, Randomized Controlled, Parallel Clinical Study.

Background/Aims: Prokinetic agents and neuromodulators are among the treatment options for functional dyspepsia (FD), but their comparative efficacy is unclear. We aimed to compare the efficacy of mosapride controlled-release (CR) and nortriptyline in patients with FD after 4 weeks of treatment. Methods: Participants with FD were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive mosapride CR (mosapride CR 15 mg and nortriptyline placebo) or nortriptyline (mosapride CR placebo and nortriptyline 10 mg) in double-placebo, double-blinded, randomized controlled, parallel clinical study. The primary endpoint was defined as the proportion of patients with overall dyspepsia improvement after 4 weeks treatment. The secondary endpoints were changes in individual symptom scores, anxiety, depression, and quality of life. Results: One hundred nine participants were recruited and assessed for eligibility, and 54 in the mosapride CR group and 50 in the nortriptyline group were included in the modified intention-to-treat protocol. The rate of overall dyspepsia improvement was similar between groups (53.7% vs 54.0%, P = 0.976). There was no difference in the efficacy of mosapride CR and nortriptyline in a subgroup analysis by FD subtype (59.3% vs 52.5% in postprandial distress syndrome, P = 0.615; 44.4% vs 40.0% in epigastric pain syndrome, P = > 0.999; 50.0% vs 59.1% in overlap, P = 0.565; respectively). Both treatments significantly improved anxiety, depression, and quality of life from baseline. Conclusion: Mosapride CR and nortriptyline showed similar efficacy in patients with FD regardless of the subtype. Both treatments could be equally helpful for improving quality of life and psychological well-being while also relieving dyspepsia.

2022 Seoul Consensus on Clinical Practice Guidelines for Functional Constipation.

Chronic constipation is one of the most common digestive diseases encountered in clinical practice. Constipation manifests as a variety of symptoms, such as infrequent bowel movements, hard stools, feeling of incomplete evacuation, straining at defecation, a sense of anorectal blockage during defecation, and use of digital maneuvers to assist defecation. During the diagnosis of chronic constipation, the Bristol Stool Form Scale, colonoscopy, and a digital rectal examination are useful for objective symptom evaluation and differential diagnosis of secondary constipation. Physiological tests for functional constipation have complementary roles and are recommended for patients who have failed to respond to treatment with available laxatives and those who are strongly suspected of having a defecatory disorder. As new evidence on the diagnosis and management of functional constipation emerged, the need to revise the previous guideline was suggested. Therefore, these evidence-based guidelines have proposed recommendations developed using a systematic review and meta-analysis of the treatment options available for functional constipation. The benefits and cautions of new pharmacological agents (such as lubiprostone and linaclotide) and conventional laxatives have been described through a meta-analysis. The guidelines consist of 34 recommendations, including 3 concerning the definition and epidemiology of functional constipation, 9 regarding diagnoses, and 22 regarding managements. Clinicians (including primary physicians, general health professionals, medical students, residents, and other healthcare professionals) and patients can refer to these guidelines to make informed decisions regarding the management of functional constipation.

Eosinophil and Mast Cell Counts in the Stomach and Duodenum of Patients with Functional Dyspepsia without a Helicobacter pylori infection.

Background/Aims: Symptom-based subtyping of functional dyspepsia (FD) is used to segregate patients into groups with homogenous pathophysiological mechanisms. This study examined whether subtyping could reflect the duodenal and gastric microinflammation in FD patients. Methods: Twenty-one FD patients without Helicobacter pylori infection were recruited. An endoscopic biopsy was performed in the duodenum 2nd portion, stomach antrum, and body. The eosinophil and mast cell counts per high-power field (×40) were investigated by H&E and c-kit staining, respectively. The degree of inflammatory cell infiltration, atrophy, and intestinal metaplasia was also determined by H&E staining in the stomach. The baseline characteristics and eosinophil and mast cell infiltrations were compared among the three groups (epigastric pain syndrome, postprandial distress syndrome, and overlap). Results: According to the symptom assessment, seven subjects were classified into the epigastric pain syndrome group, 10 into the postprandial syndrome group, and four into the overlap group. The baseline variables were similar in the three groups. Eosinophil infiltration was more prominent in the duodenum than in the stomach. In contrast, mast cell infiltration was similar in the duodenum and stomach. The eosinophil counts in the duodenum were similar in the three groups. The eosinophil counts in the stomach and mast cell counts in the duodenum and stomach were also similar in the three groups. Conclusions: Duodenal eosinophil infiltration was prominent in FD patients, but the eosinophil counts were similar regardless of the symptom-based subtypes of FD. Hence, the current symptom-based subtyping of FD does not reflect duodenal eosinophil and mast cell infiltration.

Development and Validity Assessment of a Self-evaluation Questionnaire for Functional Dyspepsia: A Multicenter Prospective Study in Korea.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are essential for clinical decision making, conduction of clinical research, and drug application acquisition in functional gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of this study is to develop a PRO instrument and to determine the respondents' perception of the efficacy of therapeutic agents for functional dyspepsia (FD). METHODS: A self-evaluation questionnaire for dyspepsia (SEQ-DYSPEPSIA) was developed and validated through a structured process. The 2-week reproducibility was evaluated, and the construct validity was assessed by correlating the scores of SEQ-DYSPEPSIA (including typical and major FD symptom subscales). Finally, the response to medication was assessed by comparing the changes after 4 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: A total of 193 Korean patients (age 48.5 ± 13.6 years, 69.4% women) completed the questionnaire. SEQ-DYSPEPSIA with 11 items had a good internal consistency (alpha = 0.770-0.905) and an acceptable test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.733-0.859). The self-evaluation questionnaire (SEQ)-major FD score highly correlated with the postprandial fullness/early satiety domain of the Patient Assessment of Gastrointestinal Symptom Severity Index (correlation coefficient r = 0.741, P < 0.001), Nepean Dyspepsia Index-Korean version (NDI-K) (r = 0.839, P < 0.001), and NDI-K quality of life (r = -0.275 to -0.344, P < 0.001). After medical treatment, decrease in the SEQ-typical FD and SEQ-major FD was significantly greater in the responder group than in nonresponder group (P = 0.019 and P = 0.009, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the Korean version of SEQ-DYSPEPSIA has good reliability and validity, and can be a useful PRO measurement tool in patients with FD.

Colonic Chicken Skin Mucosa Surrounding Colon Polyps Is an Endoscopic Predictive Marker for Colonic Neoplastic Polyps.

Background/Aims: Narrow band imaging provides an accurate diagnosis of colonic polyps. However, these diagnostic modalities are not used as standard endoscopic tools in most institutions. This study aims to investigate whether the chicken skin mucosa (CSM) surrounding the colon polyp yields additional information about colorectal polyps, including histological differentiation of neoplastic and non-neoplastic polyps, under conventional white light colonoscopy. Methods: This study prospectively observed 173 patients who underwent endoscopic polypectomy and reviewed the clinical data and pathologic reports of 313 polyps from a university hospital. Two endoscopists each performed colonoscopy and polypectomy and assessed the CSM. The association between CSM surrounding colorectal polyps and histology was analyzed. Results: The majority (91.3%) of CSM-positive polyps were neoplastic (sensitivity, 37.90%; specificity, 86.15%; p<0.001). In logistic regression, the neoplastic polyps were associated with positive CSM (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 3.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.45 to 9.25; p=0.007), protruded polyps (adjusted OR, 4.85; 95% CI, 1.65 to 17.23; p=0.008), and neoplastic histology-associated pit pattern (pit III, IV, and V) (adjusted OR, 10.14; 95% CI, 4.85 to 22.12; p=0.000). Furthermore, advanced adenomas were associated with positive CSM (adjusted OR, 5.64; 95% CI, 1.77 to 20.28; p=0.005), protruded polyps (adjusted OR, 3.30; 95% CI, 1.15 to 9.74; p= 0.026), and ≥10 cm polyp size (adjusted OR, 18.56; 95% CI, 3.89 to 147.01; p=0.001). Conclusions: Neoplastic and advanced polyps were associated with CSM-positive polyps. These findings suggest that CSM is a useful marker in differentiating neoplastic polyps and advanced polyps under conventional white colonoscopy.

2020 Seoul Consensus on the Diagnosis and Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which gastric contents regurgitate into the esophagus or beyond, resulting in either troublesome symptoms or complications. GERD is heterogeneous in terms of varied manifestations, test findings, and treatment responsiveness. GERD diagnosis can be established with symptomatology, pathology, or physiology. Recently the Lyon consensus defined the "proven GERD" with concrete evidence for reflux, including advanced grade erosive esophagitis (Los Angeles classification grades C and or D esophagitis), long-segment Barrett's mucosa or peptic strictures on endoscopy or distal esophageal acid exposure time > 6% on 24-hour ambulatory pH-impedance monitoring. However, some Asian researchers have different opinions on whether the same standards should be applied to the Asian population. The prevalence of GERD is increasing in Asia. The present evidence-based guidelines were developed using a systematic review and meta-analysis approach. In GERD with typical symptoms, a proton pump inhibitor test can be recommended as a sensitive, cost-effective, and practical test for GERD diagnosis. Based on a meta-analysis of 19 estimated acid-exposure time values in Asians, the reference range upper limit for esophageal acid exposure time was 3.2% (95% confidence interval, 2.7-3.9%) in the Asian countries. Esophageal manometry and novel impedance measurements, including mucosal impedance and a post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave, are promising in discrimination of GERD among different reflux phenotypes, thus increasing its diagnostic yield. We also propose a long-term strategy of evidence-based GERD treatment with proton pump inhibitors and other drugs.

History of anemia and long-term mortality due to infection: a cohort study with 12 years follow-up in South Korea.

BACKGROUND: Anemia, which is a condition with reduced healthy red blood cells, is reported to be closely related to the development of infectious diseases. We aimed to investigate the association between history of anemia and 12-year mortality rate due to infections, and compare it with that among non-anemic individuals. METHODS: Data from the National Health Insurance Service Health Screening Cohort were used in this population-based cohort study. Adults who underwent standardized medical examination between and 2002-2003 were included, and the mortality rate due to infection between 2004 and 2015 was analyzed. Individuals were considered to have a history of anemia if the serum hemoglobin level in 2002-2003 was < 12 g/dL for women and < 13 g/dL for men. The severity of anemia at that time was categorized as mild (12 g/dL > hemoglobin ≥11 g/dL in women and 13 g/dL > hemoglobin ≥11 g/dL in men), moderate (hemoglobin 8-10.9 g/dL), or severe (hemoglobin < 8 g/dL). Propensity score (PS) matching and Cox regression analysis were used as statistical methods. RESULTS: Overall, 512,905 individuals were included in this study. The mean age of the participants was 54.5 years old (range: 40-98), and 49,042 (9.6%) individuals were classified in the anemic group, which comprised of 36,383 (7.1%), 11,787 (2.3%), and 872 (0.2%) participants in the mild, moderate, and severe sub-groups, respectively. After PS matching, 49,039 individuals in each group were included in the analysis. The risk of mortality due to infection in the anemic group was 1.77-fold higher (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.77, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.52-2.60; P < 0.001) than that in the non-anemic group. In the subgroup analysis, the mild and moderate anemia groups had 1.38-fold (HR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.23 to 1.55; P < 0.001) and 2.02-fold (HR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.62 to 2.50; P < 0.001) risk of mortality due to infection compared to that of the non-anemic group, respectively. The severe anemia group did not have a significantly different risk of mortality due to infection (P = 0.448). CONCLUSIONS: History of anemia was associated with increased mortality rate due to infection at 12-year follow-up.

Sleep disorders in patients with functional dyspepsia: A multicenter study from the Korean Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The few studies concerning the association between sleep disorders and functional dyspepsia (FD) have yielded inconsistent results. We compared the prevalence of sleep disorders in patients with FD and healthy controls, and evaluated whether FD was independently associated with sleep disorders, and the risk factors for sleep disorders in patients with FD. METHODS: This prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2014 to December 2017 at 12 hospitals in South Korea. The inclusion criterion was the presence of FD (for ≥18 years) according to the Rome III criteria. Healthy controls were recruited from among patients who visited the Health Examination Center for check-ups. RESULTS: In total, 526 subjects were prospectively enrolled in this study (201 with FD and 325 healthy controls). The prevalence of sleep disorders was significantly higher among the patients with FD than among the healthy controls (41.8% vs 18.8%, P = 0.000). In a multivariate analysis, FD (odds ratio [OR] = 1.851; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.194-2.870; P = 0.006), female sex (OR = 1.672; 95% CI 1.063-2.628; P = 0.026), and anxiety (OR = 3.325; 95% CI 2.140-5.166; P = 0.000) were independent risk factors for sleep disorders in the overall cohorts. In patients with FD only, low body mass index, heartburn, and anxiety were independent risk factors for sleep disorders in a further multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Sleep disorders were common in patients with FD. FD was significantly associated with sleep disorders in our patient population, irrespective of the presence of heartburn or psychiatric disorders.

The prolongation effect of ilaprazole-based standard triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection causes many diseases, such as peptic ulcers, gastritis and gastric cancer, and MALToma. It has been gradually accepted that all HP-infected patients should be treated because HP is regarded as an infection. Therefore, the importance of selecting the optimal treatment regimen has increased. Although the 14-day standard triple therapy (STT) is recommended in the current guidelines, prolonging treatment duration is controversial in real practice because of inconsistent results from previous data and the risk of adverse effects. Additionally, the effect of STT using ilaprazole has not been reported until now. We aimed to compare the eradication rate between 7 and 10 days STT using ilaprazole. METHODS: A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted, which was divided into 2 treatment groups: the control group was 7 days of STT, and the test group was 10 days of STT. The eradication regimen was 10 mg ilaprazole, 500 mg clarithromycin, and 1000 mg amoxicillin twice daily. We included patients who were diagnosed with positive results of H pylori examination. We compared the HP eradication rate according to treatment duration, CYP2C19 subtype and endoscopic diagnosis. RESULTS: We enrolled a total of 254 patients consisting of 127 patients in each treatment arm. The eradication rates of the control and test groups were 65.4% (82/127) and 74.8% (95/127), respectively, in the intention-to-treat analysis (P = .1). In the per-protocol analysis, 70.3% (83/118) and 82.6% (94/115) were eradicated in each group, which was statistically significant (P = .027). The CYP2C19 subtype was examined in 230 patients. The eradication rate was 79.2% (57/72), 75.4% (92/122), and 72.2% (26/36) in each group, which was not significantly different (P = .704). CONCLUSION: Ten-day STT was more effective than 7-day STT for HP eradication. The eradication rate was not affected by the CYP2C19 genotype.

Treatment pattern and overall survival in esophageal cancer during a 13-year period: A nationwide cohort study of 6,354 Korean patients.

Using data from the real world to solve clinical questions that cannot be answered using data from clinical trials is attracting more attention. Clinical outcomes for patients with esophageal cancer in a real-world setting might be different from data in randomized controlled trials. This study aimed to provide real world data on treatment and prognosis in Korean patients with esophageal cancer. This retrospective cancer cohort included newly diagnosed cases of esophageal cancer at 19 tertiary hospitals between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2017. Cancer staging was defined according to the 7th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer criteria. We identified 6,354 patients with newly diagnosed esophageal cancer (mean age: 64.9 ± 9.0 years, 96.9% squamous cell carcinoma). The proportion of early esophageal cancer increased from 24.7% in 2005 to 37.2% in 2015 (p<0.001). Among all cases, surgery alone was 31.3%, followed by definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) (27.0%), neoadjuvant therapy (12.4%), adjuvant therapy (11.1%), and endoscopic resection (5.8%). The 5-year overall survival rate was 45.7 ± 0.7%. Endoscopic resection provided similar median survival relative to surgery for stage Ia cases. Among stage II-III cases, definitive CCRT was associated with poorer survival than neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy, although there was no survival difference between neo-adjuvant and adjuvant therapy. Early esophageal cancer is gradually becoming more common and endoscopic resection provided similar long-term survival relative to surgery. Surgery with combined therapy provided better survival in locally advanced esophageal cancer, relative to definitive CCRT.

Attachment distribution of pectoral muscle origins identified in dual-plane breast implant insertion.

BACKGROUND: Implant-based dual-plane augmentation mammoplasty requires accurate separation of the pectoralis major muscle (PMM) at its origins. The authors identified the PMM origins during breast reconstruction surgery with the goal of providing additional information on subpectoral implant insertion for reconstructive or aesthetic purposes. METHODS: This study was conducted on 67 patients who underwent breast reconstruction surgery at the breast center of our hospital between November 2016 and June 2018. In total, 34 left and 39 right hemithoraces were examined. The left and right hemithoraces were each divided into 15 zones to determine the percentage of PMM attachments in each zone. The distribution of PMM origins in each zone was examined to identify any statistically significant differences. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in the origins of the PMM between the right and left hemithoraces. The percentage of attachments increased moving from the fourth to the sixth rib and from the lateral to the medial aspect. CONCLUSIONS: The anatomical findings of this study could be used as a reference for accurate dissection of the origins of the PMM for the preparation of the subpectoral pocket for subpectoral implant placement.

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Functional Dyspepsia in Korea.

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a chronic upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptom complex that routine diagnostic work-up, such as endoscopy, blood laboratory analysis, or radiological examination, fails to identify a cause. It is highly prevalent in the World population, and its response to the various available therapeutic strategies is only modest because of the heterogenous nature of its pathogenesis. Therefore, FD represents a heavy medical burden for healthcare systems. We constituted a guideline development committee to review the existing guidelines on the management of functional dyspepsia. This committee drafted statements and conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of various studies, guidelines, and randomized control trials. External review was also conducted by selected experts. These clinical practice guidelines for FD were developed based on evidence recently accumulated with the revised version of FD guidelines released in 2011 by the Korean Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility. These guidelines apply to adults with chronic symptoms of FD and include the diagnostic role of endoscopy, Helicobacter pylori screening, and systematic review and meta-analyses of the various treatment options for FD (proton pump inhibitors, H. pylori eradication, and tricyclic antidepressants), especially according to the FD subtype. The purpose of these new guidelines is to aid the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of FD, and the targets of the guidelines are clinicians, healthcare workers at the forefront of patient care, patients, and medical students. The guidelines will continue to be revised and updated periodically.

The Usefulness of Preoperative Colonoscopic Tattooing with Autologous Blood for Localization in Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery.

Purpose: In colorectal cancer surgery, it is important to have accurate resection margins. However, it is challenging to localize lesions during laparoscopy. Therefore, to reduce surgical errors, many preoperative localizing methods have been introduced. In this study, we aimed to assess the preoperative feasibility and safety of autologous blood tattooing. Methods: A total of 11 patients underwent preoperative colonoscopic autologous blood tattooing from August 2017 to February 2020. At the start of the surgery, the surgeon assessed the patients for the precision of visibility and other complications such as abscess or spillage. The patients' characteristics, outcomes, and complications were collected retrospectively. Results: The study comprised 8 men and 3 women, with an average age of 63 years. Ten patients showed precise visibility, and no localization errors were observed during surgery. No complication was observed in all patients. Conclusion: Preoperative autologous blood tattooing is a very useful and safe technique because it has high visibility with no complications. This method does not require additional agents or facilities. A large-scale study will be required to develop standard guidelines.

Evaluation of prognostic factor and nature of acute esophageal necrosis: Restropective multicenter study.

Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN) is a serious disease which can causes gastrointestinal bleeding and death. Although black color change is not essential factor of organ necrosis, AEN is also known as "black esophagus." Because of its rarity, there are limited studies regarding risk factors of mortality and recurrence. Thus, we conducted a multicenter retrospective study in order to evaluate the clinical characteristics of AEN. Method Clinical datum of AEN patients from 7 tertiary hospitals located in Daejeon-Choongcheong province were evaluated based on medical records. Our primary endpoint was risk factors for mortality and the secondary endpoint was risk factors for recurrence and clarifying whether "black esophagus" is a right terminology.Fourty one patients were enrolled. Thirty six patients were male, mean age was 69.5 years. Nine patients had died, and 4 patients showed recurrence. Sepsis and white color change in endoscopy were related to high mortality (Chi-Squared test, P < .05). Old age, high pulse rate, low hemoglobin, and low albumin were also related to high mortality. Unexpectedly, heavy drinking showed favorable a mortality. Septic condition and high pulse rate showed poor mortality in logistic regression test (P < .05). Coexisting duodenal ulcer was related to recurrence (Chi-Squared test, P < .05). There was no difference in the underlying condition except patients with a coexisting cancer and white-form displayed lower hemoglobin level. Conclusion: Our results imply that white color change, septic condition, high pulse rate, and low hemoglobin & albumin are poor prognostic factors in AEN. Further evaluation may help clarify the findings of our study.

[Impaction of Coin Battery in the Appendix].

Coin batteries are often used in daily life devices and can be easily available. Children can swallow coin batteries, resulting in the need to go to hospital, but this is rare in adults. Adults generally eliminate the swallowed coin battery from the digestive system, unless they have congenital structural abnormalities of the digestive system or complications, such as postoperative stenosis. In this case, a 31-year-old man swallowed three coin batteries, approximately 0.4 cm in diameter emergent endoscopy was unable to find any batteries embedded in the ingested food. An attempt was made to rinse out the batteries by bowel preparation. During the hospital stay, the patient complained of acute abdominal pain and fever. In the abdominal CT scan, impaction of the coin battery into the appendix was confirmed. The patient underwent a laparoscopic appendectomy to prevent appendiceal perforation.

Comparisons of therapeutic outcomes in patients with nonampullary duodenal neuroendocrine tumors (NADNETs): A multicenter retrospective study.

Duodenal neuroendocrine tumors (DNETs) are rare tumors that are occasionally found during upper endoscopies. The incidence of DNETs is increasing, although the data regarding treatment outcomes are insufficient. The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment outcomes in patients with nonampullary DNETs who underwent endoscopic resection or surgery. We evaluated the medical records of patients who were diagnosed with nonampullary DNETs from 2004 to 2017 in 7 university hospitals. We retrospectively analyzed clinical characteristics and compared therapeutic outcomes based on the endoscopic lesion size and treatment method. We ultimately enrolled 60 patients with nonampullary DNETs who underwent endoscopic and surgical treatments. In the endoscopic treatment group, the en bloc resection, endoscopic complete resection (CR) and pathologic CR rates were 88%, 92%, and 50%, respectively. The endoscopic treatment group was divided into 3 subgroups based on the lesion size (1-5 mm, 6-10 mm, and ≥11 mm). The pathologic CR rate was significantly lower in the subgroup with a lesion size ≥11 mm (0%, P = .003) than those in the other 2 subgroups. Lymphovascular invasion occurred significantly more frequently (33.3%, P = .043) among those with a lesion size ≥11 mm. The pathologic CR rate in the surgical treatment group was higher (90.9%) than that in the endoscopic treatment group (50%, P = .017). Surgical treatment appears to be a more appropriate choice because of the risks of incomplete resection and lymphovascular invasion after endoscopic treatment for lesions larger than 11 mm.

Endoscopic Prediction of Tumor Invasion Depth in Early Gastric Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Signet ring cell carcinoma (SRC) is a poorly differentiated cancer of the stomach. Recent studies imply that early gastric SRC can be well managed by endoscopic resection. Unfortunately, unlike differentiated cancers, the endoscopic features of early gastric SRC have not been well studied. This study evaluated the endoscopic features of early gastric SRC, as well as the risk factors for submucosal (SM) invasion. METHOD: The medical records of patients from 7 tertiary hospitals (Daejeon and Chungcheong province) were reviewed to examine endoscopic findings and clinical data. These patients underwent surgery or endoscopic resection between January 2011 and December 2016 and were divided into 2 groups (derivation group and validation group) in order to develop and validate an endoscopic scoring system for SM invasion. RESULTS: In total, 331 patients (129 in the derivation group and 202 in the validation group) were enrolled in this study. In the derivation group, the risk factors for SM invasion, namely, fold convergence, nodular mucosal change, and deep depression, were identified by logistic regression analysis (ORs 3.4, 5.9, and 6.0, p < 0.05). A depth-prediction score was created by assigning 1 point for fold convergence and 2 points for other factors. When validation lesions of 0.5 point or more were diagnosed as SM invasion, the sensitivity and specificity were 76.8-78.6% and 61.6-74.7% respectively. CONCLUSION: Fold convergence, nodular mucosal change, and deep depression are risk factors for SM invasion in early gastric SRC. Our depth-prediction scoring system may be useful for differentiating SM cancers.

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Korea, 2017 Revised Edition.

In 2011, the Korean Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (KSNM) published clinical practice guidelines on the management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) based on a systematic review of the literature. The KSNM planned to update the clinical practice guidelines to support primary physicians, reduce the socioeconomic burden of IBS, and reflect advances in the pathophysiology and management of IBS. The present revised version of the guidelines is in continuity with the previous version and targets adults diagnosed with, or suspected to have, IBS. A librarian created a literature search query, and a systematic review was conducted to identify candidate guidelines. Feasible documents were verified based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The candidate seed guidelines were fully evaluated by the Guidelines Development Committee using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II quality assessment tool. After selecting 7 seed guidelines, the committee prepared evidence summaries to generate data exaction tables. These summaries comprised the 4 main themes of this version of the guidelines: colonoscopy; a diet low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols; probiotics; and rifaximin. To adopt the core recommendations of the guidelines, the Delphi technique (ie, a panel of experts on IBS) was used. To enhance dissemination of the clinical practice guidelines, a Korean version will be made available, and a food calendar for patients with IBS is produced.