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Background: Experience in gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been suggested as a prerequisite for performing colorectal ESD by some experts.Aims: To evaluate the feasibility of performing colorectal ESD without experience in gastric ESD.Methods: Between November 2009 and December 2013, ESD was attempted for 250 colorectal lesions by an endoscopist having extensive colonoscopy experience but no prior experience of gastric ESD. All attempts were categorized according to the chronological order of procedures: group 1, attempts 1-50; group 2, attempts 51-100; group 3, attempts 101-150; group 4, attempts 151-200; and group 5, attempts 201-250. Procedure-related outcomes were analyzed.Results: En bloc resection rate ≥80% was achieved after initial ten ESD attempts. The ESD success rate (72, 80, 90, 90, and 94% in group 1-5, respectively; p for trend = 0.001), perforation rate (14, 14, 6, 6, and 0% in group 1-5, respectively; p for trend = 0.003), and macroperforation rate (6, 6, 2, 2, and 0% in group 1-5, respectively; p for trend = 0.042) improved as experience accumulated. Performing >100 ESDs, rectal location, and absence of submucosal fibrosis were independent predictors of successful procedure.Conclusion: Colorectal ESD can be safely and effectively performed by an endoscopist having extensive experience in colonoscopy-related procedures even without previous experience of gastric ESD. Meticulous case selection for ESD novice and active supervision by expert endoscopists during the initial learning period may minimize the risk of perforation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Reduced body muscle mass is a poor prognostic factor for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this study, we investigated the prevalence of sarcopenia at diagnosis and its clinical significance in Korean patients with IBD. Methods: The prevalence of sarcopenia in IBD patients between June 1989 and December 2016 was investigated using a well-characterized referral center-based cohort. Abdominopelvic computed tomography within six months from IBD diagnosis was used for the evaluation. Sarcopenia was defined as an L3 skeletal muscle index of < 49 cm2/m2 for male and < 31 cm2/m2 for female. The clinical characteristics and outcomes were evaluated with respect to sarcopenia. Results: A total of 1,027 patients (854 Crohn's disease [CD]; 173 ulcerative colitis [UC]) were evaluated. Sarcopenia was found in 56.8% of the population (CD, 57.5%; UC, 53.2%), and male were more likely to be sarcopenic (CD, 94.3%; UC, 91.6%). There were no significant differences in the cumulative risk of using steroids, immunomodulators, biologics, and bowel resections (or colectomy) with or without sarcopenia during follow-up (median: CD, 5.8 years; UC, 3.7 years). In sarcopenic patients with CD, there was a significantly higher cumulative risk of perianal surgeries than in non-sarcopenic patients with CD (Log-rank test; P = 0.001). However, the risk of perianal surgeries was not significant in multivariate analysis (Odds ratio 1.368; 95% confidence interval 0.782–2.391; P = 0.272). Conclusion: Sarcopenia at diagnosis may have no significant prognostic value for medical treatment and bowel resection, but it may be associated with perianal CD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic viral hepatitis is associated with a wide range of extrahepatic diseases; however, evidence on a link between chronic viral hepatitis and colorectal neoplasia is still lacking. Aims: To analyze the association between chronic viral hepatitis and prevalence of colorectal neoplasia. Methods: A systematic review of articles published in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library between 2000 and 2020 was performed. Subgroup analyses based on the types of colorectal neoplasia and the etiology of chronic viral hepatitis were conducted. Results: Twelve eligible studies with 48,428 hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients and 46,561 hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients were included. Chronic viral hepatitis was significantly associated with an increased risk of both colorectal adenoma (odds ratio [OR], 1.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16–2.02; I2 = 83%) and colorectal cancer (CRC) (OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.08–1.61; I2 = 94%). The etiology of chronic viral hepatitis was an independent factor related to heterogeneity for CRC subgroup analysis revealed an increased risk of CRC in both HBV (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.09–1.27; I2 = 37%) and HCV (OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.78–1.97; I2 = 0%). HCV was associated with an increased risk of colorectal adenoma (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.22–1.79; I2 = 0%); however, HBV was not associated with an increased risk of colorectal adenoma and had considerable heterogeneity (OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 0.88–3.09; I2 = 90%). Conclusion: Our meta-analysis showed that chronic viral hepatitis is associated with an increased risk of colorectal neoplasia. The strategy of stricter screening colonoscopy may benefit from patients with chronic viral hepatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Rutgeerts score is used to predict postoperative recurrence in CD patients after ileocolic resection and is primarily based on endoscopic findings at the neoterminal ileum. However, the optimal assessment of anastomotic ulcers (AUs) remains subject to debate. Aims: We aimed to investigate the association between anastomotic ulcers (AUs) and endoscopic recurrence in postoperative Crohn's disease (CD) patients. Methods: This single-center retrospective study, conducted between 2000 and 2016, evaluated postoperative CD patients with endoscopic remission at the first ileocolonoscopy within 1 year after ileocolic resection and those who underwent subsequent ileocolonoscopic follow-up. The study outcome was the clinical significance of AUs in predicting endoscopic recurrence. Results: Among 116 patients who were in endoscopic remission defined as the RS of i0 to i1 at the index postoperative ileocolonoscopy, 84.5% (98/116) underwent subsequent ileocolonoscopies. During the median 30.0 months (interquartile range, 21.3–53.3) of follow-up after the first ileocolonoscopy, 56.1% (55/98) of patients showed endoscopic recurrence. Furthermore, 65.8% (48/73) with AUs and 75.5% (40/53) with major AUs, defined as either an ulcer occupying ≥ 1/4 of the circumference, ≥ 3 ulcers confined to anastomotic ring, or any ulcers extending to the ileocolonic mucosa, showed endoscopic recurrence. On multivariable analysis, AUs (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 4.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.87–10.0; P < 0.001) and major AUs (aHR, 3.64; 95% CI, 1.95–79; P < 0.001) were associated with endoscopic recurrence. Conclusions: AUs are associated with a significantly high risk of endoscopic recurrence in postoperative CD patients who are in endoscopic remission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies have shown vitamin D status to be associated with disease activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but its influence on the clinical course of IBD has not been established. Aims: We aimed to analyze whether the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D] status is associated with clinical characteristics and affects the risk of surgery in patients with IBD. Methods: From the IBD registry of the Asan Medical Center, we identified all patients who had at least one 25(OH)D measurement; we then analyzed the association between clinical factors and 25(OH)D status. 25(OH)D was considered borderline deficient, deficient, and severely deficient at levels of < 30, < 20, and < 10 ng/mL, respectively. Results: We included 711 Crohn's disease (CD) and 764 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients who had not undergone surgery before 25(OH)D was measured. Both in CD and in UC patients, reduced 25(OH)D was associated with higher disease activity scores and CRP levels (p < 0.001). Severe 25(OH)D deficiency was associated with ileocolonic disease and complicated behavior in CD (p < 0.05) and was relevant to the disease extent in UC (p < 0.001). Additionally, severe 25(OH)D deficiency was associated with CMV colitis in patients with UC (p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, severe deficiency of 25(OH)D was an independent risk factor for surgery in both CD (HR 1.93, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.38–2.70) and UC (HR 2.77, 95% CI 1.14–6.74). Conclusion: Severe 25(OH)D deficiency may be a marker of a more aggressive clinical course of IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coexistence of colorectal neoplasia and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease has been reported. Subclinical atherosclerosis can be evaluated noninvasively and easily by assessing carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and carotid plaque using ultrasonography.Aims: We aimed to evaluate the association between carotid ultrasonography findings and colorectal conventional adenoma (AD) in health checkup examinees.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of health checkup examinees ≥ 40 years old who had undergone both carotid ultrasonography and colonoscopies at a single hospital between January 2012 and December 2016.Results: The median age of 4871 eligible participants was 54 years (range, 40-89). AD was found in 2009 individuals (41.2%), with a mean number of 1.9 ± 1.7 lesions. Abnormal CIMT (≥ 1 mm) and carotid plaque were found in 1366 (28.0%) and 1255 (25.8%) individuals, respectively. AD and high-risk adenoma (HRA) were observed more frequently in those with abnormal CIMT or plaque. Moreover, abnormal CIMT and plaque were independent risk factors for the presence of AD (odds ratio [OR]: 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-1.39, P = 0.006; OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.08-1.43, P = 0.002) and HRA (OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.05-1.52, P = 0.034; OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.10-1.65, P = 0.004), respectively.Conclusions: Abnormal CIMT and the presence of carotid plaque were significantly associated with AD and HRA, and each was an independent risk factor for AD and HRA. More careful observation might be needed during colonoscopies in individuals with abnormal carotid ultrasonographic findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies have compared the costs of colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and endoscopic piecemeal mucosal resection (EPMR).Aims: Here, we aimed to investigate the cost-effectiveness of these approaches by analyzing clinical outcomes and costs.Methods: Data from patients undergoing colorectal ESD and EPMR were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical outcomes (procedure time, complete resection, and recurrence) were compared, and total direct costs (procedural and follow-up) were assessed.Results: Data from 429 ESD and 115 EPMR patients were included in the analysis. The complete resection rate was significantly higher (83.9% vs. 32.2%, p < 0.001), recurrence rate was lower (0.5% vs. 7.1%, p < 0.001), procedure time was longer (55.4 ± 47.0 vs. 25.6 ± 32.7 min, p < 0.001), and total direct procedural costs at the initial resection were higher (1480.0 ± 728.0 vs. 729.8 ± 299.7 USD, p < 0.001) in the ESD group than in the EPMR group. The total number of surveillance endoscopies was higher in the EPMR group (1.7 ± 1.5 vs. 1.3 ± 1.1, p = 0.003). The cumulative total costs of ESD and EPMR were comparable at 3 and 2 years' follow-up in the adenoma and mucosal/superficial submucosal cancer subgroups, respectively.Conclusions: Colorectal ESD was associated with higher complete resection and lower recurrence rates. EPMR showed shorter procedure times and similar cumulative total direct costs. ESD or EPMR should be chosen based on both clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little is known about the natural history of perianal fistulas in Asian populations with Crohn's disease (CD).Aims: We investigated the incidence and outcomes of perianal CD (pCD) in Korean CD patients.Methods: A nationwide population-based cohort of 6265 CD patients diagnosed in 2010-2014 was analyzed to investigate the incidence and outcomes of pCD. The results were validated in a hospital-based cohort of 2923 CD patients diagnosed in 1981-2015. Factors associated with pCD development were analyzed. The incidence and outcomes of pCD were compared between the prebiologic and biologic eras.Results: pCD occurred in 39.2% of the population-based cohort and 56.1% of the hospital-based cohort during the median follow-up of 4.2 and 8.5 years, respectively. The cumulative incidence of pCD was 40.0% at 5 years after CD diagnosis in the population-based cohort and 62.5% at 20 years in the hospital-based cohort. In multivariate analysis, pCD development was positively associated with male sex, younger age and colonic involvement at diagnosis, early diagnosis, and CD diagnosis in the prebiologic era. The cumulative probability of proctectomy at 10, 20, and 30 years after pCD diagnosis was 2.9%, 12.2%, and 16.2%, respectively. The cumulative incidence of pCD occurring after CD diagnosis and the cumulative probability of proctectomy were significantly lower in the biologic era than in the prebiologic era (p < 0.001 and p = 0.03, respectively).Conclusions: Compared with Western patients with CD, Korean patients show a high incidence of pCD but have a low probability of proctectomy, suggesting the favorable course of pCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The fatty acid profile of the fecal metabolome and its association with colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been fully evaluated.Aims: We aimed to compare the fecal fatty acid profiles of CRC patients and healthy controls.Methods: We enrolled 26 newly diagnosed CRC patients and 28 healthy individuals between July 2014 and August 2014 from our institute. Long- and short-chain fatty acids were extracted from fecal samples and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.Results: Regarding fecal long-chain fatty acids, the levels of total ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and, particularly, of linoleic acid (C18:2ω-6) were significantly higher in male CRC patients than in healthy men (2.750 ± 2.583 vs. 1.254 ± 0.966 µg/mg feces, P = 0.040; 2.670 ± 2.507 vs. 1.226 ± 0.940 µg/mg feces, P = 0.034, respectively). In addition, the levels of total monounsaturated fatty acid and, particularly, of oleic acid (C18:1ω-9) were significantly higher in male CRC patients than in healthy men (1.802 ± 1.331 vs. 0.977 ± 0.625 µg/mg feces, P = 0.027; 1.749 ± 1.320 vs. 0.932 ± 0.626 µg/mg feces, P = 0.011, respectively). However, those differences were not shown in female gender. The level of fecal short-chain fatty acids was not different between CRC patients and healthy controls.Conclusions: There were changes in the profiles of fecal fatty acid metabolomes in CRC patients compared to healthy controls, implying that fecal fatty acids could be used as a novel screening tool for CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Large-scale studies regarding the long-term outcomes of adalimumab (ADA) treatment in Asian patients with Crohn's disease (CD) are still scarce.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the long-term outcomes of ADA treatment in Korean CD patients who commenced on scheduled ADA treatment at Asan Medical Center between November 2008 and July 2016. Clinical response was defined as maintaining ADA treatment without dose intensification (DI) and/or major abdominal surgery (MAS).Results: Of the 254 patients who received at least two doses of ADA at 2-week intervals as induction therapy, 250 patients (98.4%) showed an initial favorable response by week 4. Among responders, 243 patients were followed up for longer than 4 weeks and were included for further analysis. The median duration of ADA maintenance therapy was 19.4 months. At the last follow-up, 45 patients (18.5%) required DI after a median of 16.8 months and 31 (12.8%) required MAS after a median of 8.9 months. Finally, 161 patients (66.3%) were still receiving ADA without DI and/or MAS. The cumulative probability of maintaining ADA without DI and/or MAS was 81.1% at 1 year, and 36.5% at 5 years. Secondary loss of response to previous infliximab (P = 0.001) and elevated baseline C-reactive protein at starting ADA treatment (P = 0.008) were identified as independent predictors of a poor response to ADA treatment using multivariate regression analysis.Conclusions: The long-term outcome of ADA treatment in a real-life cohort of Korean patients with CD appears to be comparable to that reported in previously published Western studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Incidence of and risk factors for intestinal free perforation (FP) in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) are not established.Aim: To establish rate of and risk factors for FP in a large cohort of CD patients.Methods: Medical records of CD patients who visited Asan Medical Center from June 1989 to December 2012 were reviewed. After matching the FP patients to controls (1:4) by gender, year, and age at CD diagnosis, and disease location, their clinical characteristics were compared using conditional logistic regression analysis.Results: Among 2043 patients who were included in our study cohort, 44 patients (2.15%) developed FP over a median follow-up period of 79.8 months (interquartile range 37.3-124.6), with an incidence of 3.18 per 1000 person-years [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.37-4.28]. All 44 patients underwent emergency surgery, and eight patients underwent reoperation within 12 months (8/44, 18.2%). Multivariable-adjusted analysis revealed that anti-TNF therapy [odds ratio (OR), 3.73; 95% CI 1.19-11.69; p = 0.024] was associated with an increased risk of FP.Conclusions: The incidence of FP in a large cohort of Korean CD patients was 2.15%, which was similar to that in Western reports. Anti-TNF therapy could be risk factors for FP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: This study aimed to develop and validate a risk score model to estimate the probability of a metachronous advanced colorectal neoplasm (ACRN) at surveillance colonoscopy.Methods: A retrospective analysis of a prospectively obtained database of 11,042 asymptomatic subjects who underwent surveillance colonoscopy after a screening colonoscopy was conducted. Subjects were randomly divided into derivation (n = 7730) and validation sets (n = 3312). From the derivation cohort, risk factors for a metachronous ACRN were identified by a multivariable analysis. Risk points were allocated to each risk factor based on the hazard ratio to develop the Metachronous Advanced colorectal neoplasm Prediction Scoring (MAPS) model, the performance of which was assessed in the validation cohort.Results: In the derivation cohort, age, male, sessile serrated adenoma/polyp, and a high-risk CRN (ACRN or ≥3 adenomas) at screening colonoscopy were independent risk factors for a metachronous ACRN. These variables were incorporated into the MAPS model, and the risk score ranged 0-17 (high MAPS risk arbitrarily defined as 10-17). At the 3-year surveillance colonoscopy, ACRN was found in 5.1 % of the high MAPS risk group versus 3.9 % of the high-risk CRN group. The colonoscopy number needed to detect one metachronous ACRN at the 3-year surveillance was 19.5 (95 % CI 11.7-33.2) for the high MAPS risk group versus 25.8 (95 % CI 15.4-44.0) for the high-risk CRN group. These findings were similarly confirmed in the validation cohort.Conclusions: Our MAPS model based on clinical and colonoscopic parameters effectively predicts the risk of a metachronous ACRN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: To date, no large-scale studies have evaluated long-term outcomes of infliximab (IFX) treatment in Korean patients with Crohn's disease (CD).Methods: We analyzed long-term clinical responses to IFX in 582 Korean CD patients who received scheduled IFX treatments at Asan Medical Center. Clinical responses were defined as maintaining IFX without major abdominal surgery (MAS) or dose intensification.Results: Between February 2002 and July 2015, a total of 11,990 IFX infusions were administered to 582 Korean patients with CD over a median period of 36 months. At the end of follow-up, 316 (54.3 %) were still receiving IFX without MAS (71 patients, 12.2 %) or dose intensification (86 patients, 14.8 %). IFX was stopped in 109 (18.7 %) patients because of a loss of response (48 patients, 8.2 %), adverse events (30 patients, 5.2 %), or patient preferences or problems with reimbursement (31 patients, 5.3 %). The cumulative survival for maintenance of IFX without MAS or dose intensification was 89.0, 75.9, 68.3, and 50.8 % at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis identified older age at the initiation of IFX (≥40 years, P = 0.006) and a longer disease duration (≥3 years, P = 0.020) as independent positive predictors of a poorer response to IFX.Conclusions: The long-term efficacy of IFX in a large, real-life cohort of Korean patients with CD appears to be similar to that in previously published Western studies. Our findings support the early use of IFX to obtain better clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The long-term outcomes of endoscopic resection of superficial submucosal colorectal cancer (CRC) had not been adequately compared with those of surgical resection. Aims: We aimed to compare the long-term clinical outcomes of endoscopic resection of superficial submucosal CRC to those of surgical resection. Methods: Submucosal CRC patients with a tumor depth of sm1 or less than 1 mm from the muscularis mucosa were enrolled. Patients with unfavorable histology, such as poorly differentiated cancer or lymphovascular invasion, were excluded. Recurrence-free survival and overall survival were investigated in 87 patients who underwent endoscopic resection and in 171 patients who underwent surgical resection. Results: The mean ages of the endoscopic and surgical resection groups were 59.7 and 59.8 years, respectively. Hospital stay was shorter in the endoscopic resection group (1.7 ± 1.6 vs. 8.6 ± 3.8 days; p < 0.001). The 3- and 5-year recurrence-free survival rates were 98.7 and 96.7 % in the endoscopic resection group and 98.7 and 97.5 % in the surgical resection group, respectively ( p = 0.837). The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 100.0 and 95.2 % in the endoscopic resection group and 98.7 and 92.8 % in the surgical resection group, respectively ( p = 0.928). Recurred cases showed an unfavorable histology that was overlooked at the time of initial resection. Conclusions: Long-term outcomes after endoscopic resection of superficial submucosal CRC are comparable to those after surgical resection. Thorough initial histopathological evaluations are needed to guarantee the correct indication for endoscopic resection of submucosal CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Current guidelines for the surveillance colonoscopy interval are largely based on the most recent colonoscopy findings. Aim: We aimed to evaluate differences in the probability of high-risk neoplasm recurrence according to the two previous colonoscopy findings. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study from a tertiary-care center. A total of 4,143 subjects who underwent three or more colonoscopies for screening or surveillance purposes from January 2001 to December 2011 were enrolled. We compared the probability of high-risk neoplasm detection on follow-up colonoscopies after the second colonoscopy based on risk categories in both the second and first colonoscopies. Results: At the final colonoscopy, 370 participants (8.9 %) had high-risk neoplasms. In patients with a normal second colonoscopy, the probability of high-risk neoplasm recurrence was different between those with normal, low-risk, and high-risk findings at the first colonoscopy (3.8, 6.8, and 17.7 %, respectively). The hazard ratio of a high-risk neoplasm at the final colonoscopy for patients with a normal second and low-risk first colonoscopy over a normal second and normal first colonoscopy was 3.07 (95 % CI 2.04-4.64, P < 0.001). The hazard ratio of high-risk neoplasm at the final colonoscopy for patients with a normal second and high-risk first colonoscopy over a normal second with normal first colonoscopy was 7.88 (95 % CI 4.90-12.67, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The rate of high-risk colorectal neoplasm recurrence differs according to the two previous colonoscopy findings. Therefore, surveillance intervals could be adjusted not just only by the most recent colonoscopy findings but also by considering two previous colonoscopy findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The optimal colon-cleansing method after failure of bowel preparation (BP) for colonoscopy has not been established. Aims: We aimed to compare BP rescue methods after failed initial BP and to identify risk factors for rescue BP failure. Methods: Eighty-five patients with BP failure after 4 L polyethylene glycol (PEG) ingestion were prospectively enrolled from March 2008 to March 2012. A second colonoscopy was performed either on the same day after ingestion of another 2 L PEG (group A) or 1 week later after ingestion of 4 L PEG plus 20 mg oral bisacodyl (group B). Differences between groups in terms of BP quality and risk factors for a poor BP on the second colonoscopy were investigated. Results: Median patient age was 59 years, 45 were male (52.9 %), and 17 (20 %) had poor BP on the second colonoscopy. For group B, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratio (OR) for poor BP on the second colonoscopy relative to group A was 0.68 (95 % confidence interval [CI], 0.16-2.95). Adequately ingested PEG during the initial colonoscopy was associated with poor BP on the second colonoscopy (OR 4.05; 95 % CI 1.04-15.75). The two groups had similar patient discomfort rates during the second BP. Conclusions: The two groups did not differ in rescue BP failure rate. Initial BP failure after adequate consumption of 4 L PEG may be a risk factor for rescue BP failure. A stricter BP regimen should be considered for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]