Background/Aims: This study investigated whether the personality traits of endoscopists are associated with the effect of interventions for the improvement of colonoscopy quality. Methods: This prospective, multicenter, single-blind study was performed with 13 endoscopists in three health screening centers over a 12-month period. Quality indicators (QIs), including adenoma detection rate (ADR), polyp detection rate (PDR), and withdrawal time, were measured every 3 months. Consecutive interventions for the improvement of colonoscopy quality were conducted every 3 months, which included the personal notification of QIs, the in-group notification of QIs, and finally a targeted “quality education” session. The personality traits of each endoscopist were evaluated for perfectionism, fear of negative evaluation, and cognitive flexibility after the last QI assessment. Results: A total of 4,095 colonoscopies were evaluated to measure the QIs of the individual endoscopists for 12 months. The mean ADR, PDR, and withdrawal time of the 13 endoscopists were 32.3%, 47.7%, and 394 seconds at baseline and increased to 39.0%, 55.1%, and 430 seconds by the end of the study (p=0.003, p=0.006, and p=0.004, respectively). Among the three interventions, only quality education significantly improved QIs: ADR, 36.0% to 39.0% (odds ratio, 1.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.01 to 1.63). The improvement of ADR and PDR by education was significantly associated with perfectionism (r=0.617, p=0.033 and r=0.635, p=0.027, respectively) and fear of negative evaluation (r=0.704, p=0.011 and r=0.761, p=0.004, respectively). Conclusions Education can improve colonoscopy quality, and its effect size is associated with an endoscopist’s personal traits such as perfectionism and fear of negative evaluation (ClinicalTrials.gov Registry NCT03796169).

Objectives: Adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette subfamily G member 2 (ABCG2) and CD133 are recognized stem cell markers of gastric cancer. Extensive research has examined the significance of these markers in different types of cancers and their impact on prognoses, linking them to unfavorable clinical outcomes in various tumors. However, the prognostic value of these markers for gastric cancer remains unclear. We investigated the expression of ABCG2 and CD133 and their relationship with clinical outcomes in gastric cancer. Methods: ABCG2 and CD133 expression levels were analyzed, using immunohistochemistry and tissue microarrays, in tumor samples from 459 patients who underwent surgical resections due to gastric cancer. ABCG2 and CD133 expression levels were defined by intensity and dichotomized as medians. The associations among the expression levels of these markers, disease severity, and patient survival were also determined. Results: In the 411 patients for whom we analyzed the expression levels of these markers, 74.9% and 80.5% were found to have high levels of ABCG2 and CD133, respectively. High expression levels of ABCG2 and CD133 were more commonly observed in well-differentiated (p<0.001 and p=0.004, respectively) and intestinal lesions (p<0.001 and p=0.002, respectively). High ABCG2 expression correlated with improved survival outcomes, whereas high CD133 expression was associated with poorer outcomes. Cox regression analysis confirmed that stage, high ABCG2 (overall survival [OS]: hazard ratio [HR], 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41–0.91; p=0.015; recurrencefree survival [RFS]: HR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.34–0.88; p=0.012), and CD133 expression (OS: HR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.00–2.51; p=0.049; RFS: HR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.21–4.34; p=0.011) were predictors of survival. A subgroup analysis indicated that ABCG2 expression was also associated with an improved RFS rate in patients who received systemic chemotherapy. Conclusions High ABCG2 expression and low CD133 expression in tumors correlated with improved survival outcomes in post-resection patients with gastric cancer, suggesting their potential utility as prognostic biomarkers.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the long-term effects of stenting in patients with hepatic venous outflow obstruction (HVOO), who underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). METHODS: Between January 2000 and December 2009, 622 adult patients underwent LDLT at our hospital, and of these patients, 21 (3.3%) were diagnosed with HVOO; among these patients, 17 underwent stenting. The patients were divided into early or late groups according to the time of their HVOO diagnoses (cutoff: 60 days after liver transplantation). RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 54.2 months (range, 0.5–192.4 months). Stent insertion was successful in 8 of 10 patients in the early group and 6 of 7 in the late group. The 5-year primary patency rates were 46% and 20%, respectively. In both groups, patients with recurrent HVOO at the beginning showed kinking confirmed by venography. Patients who carried their stents for more than 3 years maintained long-term patency. There was no significant difference in spleen size between groups; however, when the groups were compared according to whether they maintained patency, spleens tended to be smaller in the patency-maintained group. CONCLUSION: Unlike stenosis, if kinking is confirmed on venography, stenting is not feasible in the long term for patients with LDLT.
Adult ; Budd-Chiari Syndrome ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatic Veins* ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Living Donors* ; Phlebography ; Spleen ; Stents*

OBJECTIVE: Productivity loss was compared by 3-stage of disease activity and associations between higher disease activity and high productivity loss were identified. METHODS: Data were extracted from Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Patient-reported Outcomes Research, which enrolled 2,000 RA patients (>20-year) on disease-modifying-antirheumatic-drugs (DMARDs) (≥6-month) from December 2012 to June 2013. This included 1,457 RA patients with the disease activity score (DAS-28-ESR) in their medical charts. Productivity loss in time and indirect cost was estimated using The World Health Organization Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (HPQ). Baseline characteristics and productivity loss outcomes were compared according to DAS-28-ESR groups. RESULTS: 84.4% were females, 54.2% had low DAS-28-ESR ( < 3.2), and 38.2% and 7.6% had moderate (3.2∼5.1) and high DAS-28-ESR (>5.1). Patients with moderate to high DAS-28-ESR had higher lost productivity time (LPT) and monthly costs of LPT than those with low DAS-28-ESR (time in hours: 110.0±58.4 vs. 132.4±57.2 vs. 71.5±52.0, p < 0.0001; monthly costs of LPT in 1,000 Korean won: 1,097±607 vs. 1,302±554 vs. 741±531, p < 0.0001). Multiple regression analyses revealed significant associations with high LPT in high (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=3.87, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.18∼6.87) and moderate DAS-28-ESR (adjusted OR=1.88, 95% CI: 1.41∼2.52) compared to low DAS-28-ESR. In addition, positive associations with high monthly costs of LPT were observed in high (adjusted OR=3.45, 95% CI: 1.98∼5.99) and moderate DAS-28-ESR (adjusted OR=1.93, 95% CI: 1.43∼2.54) compared to low DAS-28-ESR. CONCLUSION: Timely therapeutic strategies should be taken into consideration given that the RA patients with moderate to high DAS-28-ESR showed strong associations with high productivity loss for effective management of RA.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Efficiency* ; Female ; Humans ; Odds Ratio ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Work Performance ; World Health Organization

PURPOSE: There is no consensus regarding the difference in outcomes of HCV in patients who receive living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) or compared to deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT). The aims of this study were to compare characteristics between LDLT and DDLT groups and to identify risk factors affecting patient survival. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the multicenter records of 192 HCV RNA-positive patients who underwent liver transplantation. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients underwent DDLT, and 146 underwent LDLT. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year patient survival rates were 66.7%, 63.0%, and 63.0% in the DDLT group and 86.1%, 82.3%, and 79.5% in the LDLT group (P = 0.024), respectively. After propensity matching, the patient survival curve of the LDLT group was higher than that of the DDLT group. However, there was no statistically significant difference in patient survival between the 2 groups (P = 0.061). Recipient age ≥ 60 years, LDLT, and use of tacrolimus were positively associated with patient survival in multivariate analyses. CONCLUSION: LDLT appears to be suitable for HCV-infected patients if appropriate living donor is available.
Case-Control Studies* ; Consensus ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Liver Transplantation ; Liver* ; Living Donors* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Propensity Score* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate ; Tacrolimus ; Tissue Donors

PURPOSE: There is no consensus regarding the difference in outcomes of HCV in patients who receive living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) or compared to deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT). The aims of this study were to compare characteristics between LDLT and DDLT groups and to identify risk factors affecting patient survival. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the multicenter records of 192 HCV RNA-positive patients who underwent liver transplantation. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients underwent DDLT, and 146 underwent LDLT. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year patient survival rates were 66.7%, 63.0%, and 63.0% in the DDLT group and 86.1%, 82.3%, and 79.5% in the LDLT group (P = 0.024), respectively. After propensity matching, the patient survival curve of the LDLT group was higher than that of the DDLT group. However, there was no statistically significant difference in patient survival between the 2 groups (P = 0.061). Recipient age ≥ 60 years, LDLT, and use of tacrolimus were positively associated with patient survival in multivariate analyses. CONCLUSION: LDLT appears to be suitable for HCV-infected patients if appropriate living donor is available.
Case-Control Studies* ; Consensus ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Liver Transplantation ; Liver* ; Living Donors* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Propensity Score* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate ; Tacrolimus ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Clinical validation is required to determine whether Doppler measurements are comparable before and after administering ultrasound contrast agent (USCA). The purpose of this study is to explore whether the use of USCA affects spectral Doppler analysis in recipients of liver transplantation (LT). METHODS: For this study, 36 patients were examined using Doppler ultrasonography (US) along with a contrast-enhanced US for surveillance of vascular complications after LT. The following spectral Doppler US parameters were measured before and after administration of USCA: peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, resistive index, and systolic acceleration time of the graft hepatic artery; peak flow velocity of the graft portal vein; and peak flow velocity and venous pulsatility index of the graft hepatic vein. RESULTS: The mean peak systolic and end-diastolic velocities of the hepatic artery and the peak flow velocity of the portal and hepatic veins were increased after intravenously administration of the USCA, ranging from 10% to 13%. However, the changes were not statistically significant (P=0.097, 0.103, 0.128, and 0.190, respectively). There were no significant differences in other measured parameters, including the resistive index (P=0.205) and systolic acceleration time (P=0.489) of the hepatic artery and venous pulsatility index (P=0.494) of the hepatic vein. CONCLUSIONS: The measured velocities of graft hepatic vessels tended to increase after administration of USCA, but without statistical significance. The comparison of serial Doppler parameters with or without injection of USCA is valid during Doppler surveillance in recipients of LT.
Acceleration ; Contrast Media* ; Doppler Effect ; Hepatic Artery ; Hepatic Veins ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Microbubbles ; Portal Vein ; Transplants ; Ultrasonography* ; Ultrasonography, Doppler

PURPOSE: HCV-related liver disease is the most common indication for liver transplantation (LT) in Western countries, whereas HCV LT is rare in Korea. We conducted a survey of HCV RNA-positive patients who underwent LT and investigated the prognostic factors for patient survival and the effects of immunosuppression. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the multicenter records of 192 HCV RNA-positive patients who underwent LT. RESULTS: The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 78.8%, 75.3%, and 73.1%, respectively. Excluding the cases of hospital mortality (n = 23), 169 patients were evaluated for patient survival. Most patients were genotype 1 (n = 111, 65.7%) or genotype 2 (n = 42, 24.9%). The proportion of living donors for LT (n = 135, 79.9%) was higher than that of deceased donors (deceased donor liver transplantation [DDLT], n = 34, 20.1%). The median donor and recipient ages were 32 years and 56 years, respectively. Twenty-eight patients (16.6%) died during the observation period. Seventy-five patients underwent universal prophylaxis and 15 received preemptive therapy. HCV recurrence was detected in 97 patients. Recipients who were older than 60, received DDLT, used cyclosporine, or suffered acute rejection had lower rates of survival. CONCLUSION: Patent survival rates of HCV patients after LT in Korea were comparable with other countries.
Cyclosporine ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Korea* ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Living Donors ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Tacrolimus ; Tissue Donors

PURPOSE: Overactive bladder (OAB) causes urinary urgency, usually accompanied by frequency and nocturia. Alpha 1-adrenergic receptor (α1-AR) antagonists are known to improve lower urinary tract symptoms associated with OAB. The α1-AR antagonists constitute a variety of drugs according to the receptor subtype affinity. This study investigated the efficacy of tamsulosin, naftopidil, and a combination of the two on OAB rats. METHODS: The OAB rat model was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide for 14 days. The experimental groups were divided into 5 groups: control group, OAB-induction group, OAB-induction and tamsulosin monotherapy group, OAB-induction and naftopidil monotherapy group, and OAB-induction and tamsulosin-naftopidil combination therapy group. For the drug-treated groups, each drug was administrated for 14 days after the OAB induction. Cystometry for urodynamic evaluation and immunohistochemical stain for c-Fos and nerve growth factor (NGF) expressions in the central micturition centers were performed. RESULTS: Increased contraction pressure and time with enhanced c-Fos and NGF expressions in the central micturition centers were found in the OAB rats. Tamsulosin suppressed contraction pressure and time while inhibiting c-Fos and NGF expressions. Naftopidil showed no significant effect and combination therapy showed less of an effect on contraction pressure and time. Naftopidil and combination therapy exerted no significant effect on the c-Fos and NGF expressions. CONCLUSIONS: Tamsulosin showed the most prominent efficacy for the treatment of OAB compared to the naftopidil and combination. The combination of tamsulosin with naftopidil showed no synergistic effects on OAB; however, further studies of addon therapy might provide opportunities to find a new modality.
Animals ; Cyclophosphamide ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Models, Animal ; Nerve Growth Factor ; Nocturia ; Rats* ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive* ; Urination ; Urodynamics

PURPOSE: Overactive bladder (OAB) causes urinary urgency, usually accompanied by frequency and nocturia. Alpha 1-adrenergic receptor (α1-AR) antagonists are known to improve lower urinary tract symptoms associated with OAB. The α1-AR antagonists constitute a variety of drugs according to the receptor subtype affinity. This study investigated the efficacy of tamsulosin, naftopidil, and a combination of the two on OAB rats. METHODS: The OAB rat model was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide for 14 days. The experimental groups were divided into 5 groups: control group, OAB-induction group, OAB-induction and tamsulosin monotherapy group, OAB-induction and naftopidil monotherapy group, and OAB-induction and tamsulosin-naftopidil combination therapy group. For the drug-treated groups, each drug was administrated for 14 days after the OAB induction. Cystometry for urodynamic evaluation and immunohistochemical stain for c-Fos and nerve growth factor (NGF) expressions in the central micturition centers were performed. RESULTS: Increased contraction pressure and time with enhanced c-Fos and NGF expressions in the central micturition centers were found in the OAB rats. Tamsulosin suppressed contraction pressure and time while inhibiting c-Fos and NGF expressions. Naftopidil showed no significant effect and combination therapy showed less of an effect on contraction pressure and time. Naftopidil and combination therapy exerted no significant effect on the c-Fos and NGF expressions. CONCLUSIONS: Tamsulosin showed the most prominent efficacy for the treatment of OAB compared to the naftopidil and combination. The combination of tamsulosin with naftopidil showed no synergistic effects on OAB; however, further studies of addon therapy might provide opportunities to find a new modality.
Animals ; Cyclophosphamide ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Models, Animal ; Nerve Growth Factor ; Nocturia ; Rats* ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive* ; Urination ; Urodynamics