Background/Aims: The use of 1-L polyethylene glycol with ascorbate (PEG/Asc) and oral sulfate tablets (OST) as low-volume bowel preparation agents has gradually increased. However, these agents may induce acute gastropathy during bowel preparation, particularly in elderly populations. This study aimed to compare the incidence of acute gastropathy of 1-L PEG/Asc and OST according to age, as well as efficacy and safety. Methods: This retrospective study included patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy for screening on the same day and underwent bowel preparation using OST or 1-L PEG/Asc. We collected EGD findings related to acute gastropathy, bowel-cleansing score using the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS), polyp or adenoma detection rate (ADR), and laboratory parameters. Results: Of 4,711 patients, 1,758, 2,241, and 712 were in the younger (18–49 years), middle-aged (50–64 years), and older (≥65 years) groups, respectively. In all age groups, the OST group had higher rates of acute gastropathy than the 1-L PEG/Asc group. The younger-, middle-, and older-aged groups had OST and 1-L PEG/Asc usage rates of 42.9% and 11.6%, 41.2% and 16.0%, and 41.5% and 16.4%, respectively. Notably, in the younger group, the total BBPS and ADR scores were significantly higher in the OST group than in the 1-L PEG/Asc group; however, these did not differ in the other age groups. Conclusions Acute gastropathy was more strongly associated with OST than with 1-L PEG/Asc in all age groups. Therefore, physicians should consider acute gastropathy associated with low-volume agents in all age groups when performing bowel preparation.

Background/Aims: The use of 1-L polyethylene glycol with ascorbate (PEG/Asc) and oral sulfate tablets (OST) as low-volume bowel preparation agents has gradually increased. However, these agents may induce acute gastropathy during bowel preparation, particularly in elderly populations. This study aimed to compare the incidence of acute gastropathy of 1-L PEG/Asc and OST according to age, as well as efficacy and safety. Methods: This retrospective study included patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy for screening on the same day and underwent bowel preparation using OST or 1-L PEG/Asc. We collected EGD findings related to acute gastropathy, bowel-cleansing score using the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS), polyp or adenoma detection rate (ADR), and laboratory parameters. Results: Of 4,711 patients, 1,758, 2,241, and 712 were in the younger (18–49 years), middle-aged (50–64 years), and older (≥65 years) groups, respectively. In all age groups, the OST group had higher rates of acute gastropathy than the 1-L PEG/Asc group. The younger-, middle-, and older-aged groups had OST and 1-L PEG/Asc usage rates of 42.9% and 11.6%, 41.2% and 16.0%, and 41.5% and 16.4%, respectively. Notably, in the younger group, the total BBPS and ADR scores were significantly higher in the OST group than in the 1-L PEG/Asc group; however, these did not differ in the other age groups. Conclusions Acute gastropathy was more strongly associated with OST than with 1-L PEG/Asc in all age groups. Therefore, physicians should consider acute gastropathy associated with low-volume agents in all age groups when performing bowel preparation.

Background/Aims: The use of 1-L polyethylene glycol with ascorbate (PEG/Asc) and oral sulfate tablets (OST) as low-volume bowel preparation agents has gradually increased. However, these agents may induce acute gastropathy during bowel preparation, particularly in elderly populations. This study aimed to compare the incidence of acute gastropathy of 1-L PEG/Asc and OST according to age, as well as efficacy and safety. Methods: This retrospective study included patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy for screening on the same day and underwent bowel preparation using OST or 1-L PEG/Asc. We collected EGD findings related to acute gastropathy, bowel-cleansing score using the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS), polyp or adenoma detection rate (ADR), and laboratory parameters. Results: Of 4,711 patients, 1,758, 2,241, and 712 were in the younger (18–49 years), middle-aged (50–64 years), and older (≥65 years) groups, respectively. In all age groups, the OST group had higher rates of acute gastropathy than the 1-L PEG/Asc group. The younger-, middle-, and older-aged groups had OST and 1-L PEG/Asc usage rates of 42.9% and 11.6%, 41.2% and 16.0%, and 41.5% and 16.4%, respectively. Notably, in the younger group, the total BBPS and ADR scores were significantly higher in the OST group than in the 1-L PEG/Asc group; however, these did not differ in the other age groups. Conclusions Acute gastropathy was more strongly associated with OST than with 1-L PEG/Asc in all age groups. Therefore, physicians should consider acute gastropathy associated with low-volume agents in all age groups when performing bowel preparation.

Background/Aims: The use of 1-L polyethylene glycol with ascorbate (PEG/Asc) and oral sulfate tablets (OST) as low-volume bowel preparation agents has gradually increased. However, these agents may induce acute gastropathy during bowel preparation, particularly in elderly populations. This study aimed to compare the incidence of acute gastropathy of 1-L PEG/Asc and OST according to age, as well as efficacy and safety. Methods: This retrospective study included patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy for screening on the same day and underwent bowel preparation using OST or 1-L PEG/Asc. We collected EGD findings related to acute gastropathy, bowel-cleansing score using the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS), polyp or adenoma detection rate (ADR), and laboratory parameters. Results: Of 4,711 patients, 1,758, 2,241, and 712 were in the younger (18–49 years), middle-aged (50–64 years), and older (≥65 years) groups, respectively. In all age groups, the OST group had higher rates of acute gastropathy than the 1-L PEG/Asc group. The younger-, middle-, and older-aged groups had OST and 1-L PEG/Asc usage rates of 42.9% and 11.6%, 41.2% and 16.0%, and 41.5% and 16.4%, respectively. Notably, in the younger group, the total BBPS and ADR scores were significantly higher in the OST group than in the 1-L PEG/Asc group; however, these did not differ in the other age groups. Conclusions Acute gastropathy was more strongly associated with OST than with 1-L PEG/Asc in all age groups. Therefore, physicians should consider acute gastropathy associated with low-volume agents in all age groups when performing bowel preparation.

Background/Aims: The use of 1-L polyethylene glycol with ascorbate (PEG/Asc) and oral sulfate tablets (OST) as low-volume bowel preparation agents has gradually increased. However, these agents may induce acute gastropathy during bowel preparation, particularly in elderly populations. This study aimed to compare the incidence of acute gastropathy of 1-L PEG/Asc and OST according to age, as well as efficacy and safety. Methods: This retrospective study included patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy for screening on the same day and underwent bowel preparation using OST or 1-L PEG/Asc. We collected EGD findings related to acute gastropathy, bowel-cleansing score using the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS), polyp or adenoma detection rate (ADR), and laboratory parameters. Results: Of 4,711 patients, 1,758, 2,241, and 712 were in the younger (18–49 years), middle-aged (50–64 years), and older (≥65 years) groups, respectively. In all age groups, the OST group had higher rates of acute gastropathy than the 1-L PEG/Asc group. The younger-, middle-, and older-aged groups had OST and 1-L PEG/Asc usage rates of 42.9% and 11.6%, 41.2% and 16.0%, and 41.5% and 16.4%, respectively. Notably, in the younger group, the total BBPS and ADR scores were significantly higher in the OST group than in the 1-L PEG/Asc group; however, these did not differ in the other age groups. Conclusions Acute gastropathy was more strongly associated with OST than with 1-L PEG/Asc in all age groups. Therefore, physicians should consider acute gastropathy associated with low-volume agents in all age groups when performing bowel preparation.

Background: It has become important to identify and manage risk factors for subclinical atrial fibrillation (AF) with an increase in its detection rate. Thus, this research aimed to investigate whether alcohol consumption contrib‑ utes to the development of subclinical AF. Methods: This prospective study enrolled 467 patients without AF from a multicenter pacemaker registry. The incidence of subclinical AF (episodes of atrial rate > 220 beats per minute without symptoms) was compared between alcohol-drinking and non-drinking groups. Results: During followup (median 18 months), the incidence and risk of long-duration atrial high-rate episodes (AHRE) ≥ 24 h were increased in the alcohol group compared to the non-alcohol group [5.47 vs. 2.10 per 100 personyears, adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 2.83; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.14–7.04; P = 0.03]. After propensity score match‑ ing, the incidence and risk of long-duration AHRE were higher in the alcohol group (6.97 vs. 1.27 per 100 personyears, adjusted HR, 7.84; 95% CI, 1.21–50.93; P = 0.03). The mean burden of long-duration subclinical AF was higher in the alcohol group than in the non-alcohol group (0.18 vs. 1.61% during follow-up, P = 0.08). Conclusion Alcohol consumption was associated with an increased risk of subclinical AF. Long-duration AHRE inci‑ dence and AHRE burden were higher in alcohol drinkers than in non-drinkers.

Background and Objectives: Inherited arrhythmia (IA) is a more common cause of sudden cardiac death in Asian population, but little is known about the genetic background of Asian IA probands. We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and analyze the genetic underpinnings of IA in a Korean cohort. Methods: This study was conducted in a multicenter cohort of the Korean IA Registry from 2014 to 2017. Genetic testing was performed using a next-generation sequencing panel including 174 causative genes of cardiovascular disease. Results: Among the 265 IA probands, idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF) and Brugada Syndrome (BrS) was the most prevalent diseases (96 and 95 cases respectively), followed by long QT syndrome (LQTS, n=54). Two-hundred-sixteen probands underwent genetic testing, and 69 probands (31.9%) were detected with genetic variant, with yield of pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant as 6.4%. Left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly lower in genotype positive probands (54.7±11.3 vs. 59.3±9.2%, p=0.005). IVF probands showed highest yield of positive genotype (54.0%), followed by LQTS (23.8%), and BrS (19.5%). Conclusions There were significant differences in clinical characteristics and genetic yields among BrS, LQTS, and IVF. Genetic testing did not provide better yield for BrS and LQTS. On the other hand, in IVF, genetic testing using multiple gene panel might enable the molecular diagnosis of concealed genotype, which may alter future clinical diagnosis and management strategies.

Background: Corrective osteotomy is an effective surgery for correcting posture in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Despite satisfactory correction, some patients experience re-stooping during follow-up. However, there have been no studies on restooping in AS. We aimed to analyze the factors that affect re-stooping. Methods: Fifty patients (50 cases) who underwent thoracolumbar corrective osteotomy for AS from March 2006 to April 2018 were analyzed. We defined re-stooping as global kyphosis that recurs after corrective osteotomy. The patients were divided into two groups based on the ratio of correction loss: non-re-stooping group (N group) and re-stooping group (R group). We analyzed the demographic data and radiological parameters, such as modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine Score (mSASSS), sagittal vertical axis, and various angles. We also investigated the factors affecting re-stooping by analyzing the correlation between the ratio of correction loss and various factors. Results: A significant difference was seen in the change in the mSASSS from before surgery to the last follow-up between the N group (2.87 ± 3.08) and the R group (9.20 ± 5.44). In multivariate analysis, only the change in the mSASSS from before surgery to the last follow-up was significantly correlated with the ratio of correction loss. Conclusions Thoracolumbar corrective osteotomy seems to provide high satisfaction among patients with AS but can lead to re-stooping during follow-up. The change in mSASSS was related with re-stooping in the current study. We recommend active rehabilitative exercises and appropriate medication depending on the patient’s condition, which may help delay the postoperative progression of AS.

Colonoscopic polypectomy is effective in decreasing the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer (CRC). Premalignant polyps discovered during colonoscopy are associated with the risk of metachronous advanced neoplasia. Postpolypectomy surveillance is the most important method for managing advanced metachronous neoplasia. A more efficient and evidence-based guideline for postpolypectomy surveillance is required because of the limited medical resources and concerns regarding colonoscopy complications. In these consensus guidelines, an analytic approach was used to address all reliable evidence to interpret the predictors of CRC or advanced neoplasia during surveillance colonoscopy. The key recommendations state that the high-risk findings for metachronous CRC following polypectomy are as follows: adenoma ≥10 mm in size; 3 to 5 (or more) adenomas; tubulovillous or villous adenoma; adenoma containing high-grade dysplasia; traditional serrated adenoma; sessile serrated lesion containing any grade of dysplasia; serrated polyp of at least 10 mm in size; and 3 to 5 (or more) sessile serrated lesions. More studies are needed to fully comprehend the patients who are most likely to benefit from surveillance colonoscopy and the ideal surveillance interval to prevent metachronous CRC.

Background and Objectives: Atrial tachycardias (ATs) from noncoronary aortic cusp (NCC) uncovered after radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) are rarely reported. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of NCC ATs detected during AF ablation and compare their characteristics with de novo NCC ATs without AF. Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation for AF were reviewed from the multicenter AF ablation registry of 11 tertiary hospitals. The clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of NCC AT newly detected during AF ablation were compared with its comparators (de novo NCC AT ablation cases without AF). Results: Among 10,178 AF cases, including 1,301 redo ablation cases, 8 (0.08%) NCC AT cases were discovered after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI; 0.07% in first ablation and 0.15% in redo ablation cases). All ATs were reproducibly inducible spontaneously or with programmed atrial stimulation without isoproterenol infusion. The P-wave morphological features of tachycardia were variable depending on the case, and most cases exhibited 1:1 atrioventricular conduction. AF recurrence rate after PVI and NCC AT successful ablation was 12.5% (1 of 8). Tachycardia cycle length was shorter than that of 17 de novo ATs from NCC (303 versus 378, p=0.012). No AV block occurred during and after successful AT ablation. Conclusions Uncommon NCC ATs (0.08% in AF ablation cases) uncovered after PVI, showing different characteristics compared to de-novo NCC ATs, should be suspected irrespective of P-wave morphologies when AT shows broad propagation from the anterior interatrial septum.