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Background: Although myotomy is crucial in peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) surgeries, its optimum length remains controversial. Herein, we propose a modified POEM with new method of tailoring myotomy length aim to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and clinical outcomes of this modified POEM compared with standard POEM in type I or II achalasia. Methods: Seventy-five patients with type I or II achalasia who underwent POEM at the First Hospital of Jilin University between January 2018 and December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the myotomy approach, these patients were divided into the retrograde on-demand myotomy (RDM, n = 34), with myotomy beginning on gastric side and length tailored by determining the degree of lower esophageal sphincter (LES) distention, and standard myotomy (SM, n = 41) groups. The baseline data, myotomy length, operation time, clinical success rate, adverse event rate, and reflux-related adverse events were compared and analyzed. Results: The median myotomy length in the RDM group was significantly shorter than that in the SM group (6 vs. 8 cm, respectively; p < 0.001). Moreover, the median myotomy time in the RDM group was significantly shorter than that in the SM group (10 vs. 16 min, respectively; p < 0.001). POEM was successfully performed in all the patients. At the 2-year follow-up, high clinical success rates were observed in both the RDM and SM groups (92.0% vs. 93.3%, respectively; p = 1.000). The incidence of intraoperative adverse events and postoperative reflux-related adverse events was low and comparable in both groups. Conclusions: RDM POEM is a safe and effective method for patients with type I or II achalasia. Furthermore, it has a shorter myotomy length and operation time than standard POEM technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) seriously affect the postoperative prognosis of elderly patients underwent hip fracture surgery. Although methylprednisolone is increasingly used, the association between perioperative methylprednisolone and PPCs is still controversial. The study aims to determine whether perioperative administration of methylprednisolone is associated with PPCs in elderly patients during hip fracture surgery. Patients and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, records of 584 patients (≥ 65 years) who underwent hip fracture surgery between January 2013 and October 2020 were extracted. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis were performed to identify the risk factors for PPCs. To further explore the association between administration of methylprednisolone and PPCs, 53 patients received methylprednisolone and 53 patients without methylprednisolone were matched for the confounding factors using propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. The odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the above variables were analyzed. Results: The incidence of PPCs during postoperative hospitalization was 6.83% (38/556) among the elderly patients following hip fracture surgery. Patients with PPCs had higher postoperative mortality rate, longer hospital stay, more hospitalization cost, and higher incidence of cardiac arrest (all P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, hypertension, hypoglycemia, hypoproteinemia and perioperative methylprednisolone were independent risk factors for PPCs. Moreover, administration of methylprednisolone was significantly correlated with PPCs both before PSM adjustment (OR = 3.25; 95% CI, 1.67 to 6.33; P = 0.001) and after PSM adjustment (OR = 6.68; 95% CI, 1.40 to 31.82; P = 0.017). Conclusion: Perioperative administration of methylprednisolone is a risk factor for PPCs in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery. [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: 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 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 role of postoperative radiation therapy (RT) after local excision (LE) of deep submucosal invasive rectal cancer remains unclear. We evaluated the efficacy of adjuvant RT after LE of early rectal cancer with deep submucosal invasion.Methods: We screened 227 patients who underwent transanal excision or endoscopic removal of deep submucosal invasive rectal cancer between 1992 and 2012, of which 66 did not undergo radical surgery owing to the patient's preference or poor medical conditions. Of these, 35 (53 %) underwent LE alone (LE group) and 31 (47 %) received adjuvant RT after LE (LE + RT group). Nine patients in the RT group received concurrent adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil. Two independent pathologists reviewed histological data.Results: The mean age of patients in the LE + RT and LE groups was 59.5 ± 9.6 and 55.3 ± 11.2 years, respectively. The mean follow-up duration was 78.7 ± 66.7 months in the LE + RT group and 70.5 ± 45.7 months in the LE group. Cancer eventually recurred in six patients (9.1 %; two in the LE + RT group and four in the LE group). In five of these patients, recurrence occurred within 4 years after the initial treatment. The other patient, who was in the LE group, exhibited multiple lymph node metastases at the 116-month follow-up. Kaplan-Meier estimates of recurrence-free survival at 5 years after treatment were 96.8 % in the LE + RT group and 97 % in the LE group (P = 0.657).Conclusion: RT after LE of early rectal cancer with deep submucosal invasion might not improve recurrence-free survival compared with LE alone. [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]