Background/Aims: Panenteric gastrointestinal dysmotility in diabetic gastroenteropathy remains incompletely understood. We aim to (1) compare gastrointestinal transit times, contractile activity, and pH levels between individuals with and without diabetic gastroenteropathy and (2) investigate associations between symptoms and contractile activity. Methods: We compared 37 healthy individuals to 68 individuals with diabetic gastroenteropathy. Gastrointestinal segmental transit times, contractile activity, and pH were measured with SmartPill. The Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale were used to evaluate symptoms. Results: Compared to controls, individuals with diabetic gastroenteropathy had prolonged median gastric emptying time (3.3 [IQR, 2.5-4.4] vs 2.5 [IQR, 1.9-3.6] hours, P = 0.023), antroduodenal transition time (23 [IQR, 8-52] vs 11 [IQR, 2-25] minutes, P = 0.015), colonic transit times (36.0 [IQR, 17.3-53.5) vs 20.8 [IQR, 14.0-28.8] hours, P = 0.004), and whole-gut transit time (46.1 [IQR, 24.3-72.9] vs 28.7 [IQR, 22.0-42.7] hours, P = 0.002). The diabetes group had lower antral contraction frequency (1.5 [IQR, 0.9-2.1] vs 2.5 [IQR, 1.5-3.9] contractions per minute, P = 0.004) and sum of amplitudes (1941 [1377-2763] vs 2975 [1734-5337] mmHg, P = 0.004).In contrast, the diabetes group had higher colonic sum of amplitudes and area under the contraction curve. The antral contraction frequency was unassociated with gastrointestinal symptoms. Still, the overall stomach contraction frequency increased by 30% (P < 0.001) and 15% (P = 0.003) in individuals with diabetes for each incremental increase in nausea and reflux scores, respectively. Conclusions Gastrointestinal transit times, as well as antral and colonic contractile activity, differed between individuals with diabetic gastroenteropathy and controls. The overall gastric contraction frequency was associated with symptom severity.

Background/Aims: Gastric dysrhythmias, loss of normal 3 cycles per minute (CPM) gastric myoelectrical activity (GMA), and variable loss of interstitial cells of Cajal are reported both in gastroparesis (GP) and functional dyspepsia (FD). We hypothesize that the patients with GP, and FD with normal gastric emptying (NGE) and delayed gastric emptying (DGE) may vary in symptom severity, and GMA profiles. Methods: Symptoms and their severity were evaluated by gastroparesis cardinal symptom index (GCSI), Abell scoring, short-form Nepean dyspepsia index (SF-NDI), the World Health Organization quality of life, and Rome IV subtyping for FD. Solid-meal gastric emptying was assessed by nuclear scintigraphy. Water load satiety test (WLST)-based electrogastrography determined GMA. Results: Patients with GP (n = 40) had higher GCSI than those with FD (n = 39; [12 DGE, 27 NGE] (2.79 [2.17-3.33] vs 1.67 [0.83-2.61] vs 0.83 [0.55-1.93]; P < 0.001, in GP vs FD-NGE vs FD-DGE, respectively), severe Abell grade (Grade III in 17 [43%] vs 0% vs 0%, in GP vs FD-NGE vs FD-DGE, respectively), severe SF-NDI (80.5 [63.5-102.5] vs 50 [27-91] vs 30 [21.25-45.5]); and poor QOL. Sixteen (40%) GP had impaired gastric accommodation (< 238 mL). Post-WLST 3 CPM normal/hypernormal GMA was observed in 17 (42%), 18 (67%), and 5 (42%) patients with GP, FD (NGE), and FD (DGE), respectively; and 3 CPM hyponormal in remaining patients in each group.Post-WLST dysrhythmia was comparable. Conclusions WLST-electrogastrography coupled with GE study may distinguish between normal/dysrhythmic GMA revealing pathophysiologicalphenotypes of GP and FD. Analysing extent of power change in normogastric, and dysrhythmic frequencies may comprehensively elucidate disease severity.

Background/Aims: Pediatric patients with suspected gastroparesis often undergo antroduodenal manometry (ADM) and gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES) for diagnostic purposes. However, it is unknown if delayed gastric emptying (DGE) correlates with manometric findings. This study evaluates whether ADM parameters differ between normal and abnormal GES in pediatric patients. Methods: Data from pediatric patients undergoing ADM and GES at Nationwide Children’s Hospital from 2011-2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Manometry parameters including motility index (Ln [sum of amplitudes × number of contractions + 1]), number of antral contractions, and direction of the phase III migrating motor complex (MMC) were compared to GES results from age-matched patients with DGE (n = 32) and normal gastric emptying (NGE) (n = 32) of similar sex, body mass index, and weight. Results: Children with DGE had a lower post-prandial antral motility index and antral contraction number than those with NGE (9.4 vs 11.2, P = 0.005; 21.8 vs 49.6, P < 0.001). The gastric emptying percentage at 4 hours was lower in patients with retrograde phase III (59.2% vs 83.9%,P = 0.022) and in those without an antral component in the fasting phase III of the migrating motor complex (70.3% vs 86.5%, P = 0.003). Post-prandial antral hypomotility occurred more frequently in the DGE group than in the NGE group (41% vs 9%, P = 0.008). Conclusions ADM findings differ between children with DGE and NGE. Children with DGE are more likely to have abnormal fasting phase III patterns and decreased post-prandial antral activity during ADM testing.

School meal service workers may face an increased risk of lung cancer due to the nature of their work. This study aims to assess environmental exposure levels during occupational cooking among these workers in Seoul, Korea, and to examine the associations with carcinogen-associated biomarkers. Additionally, the study seeks to verify lung carcinogenesis through experiments using lung organoids treated with carcinogens, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and particulate matter. Here, we introduce the study protocol and outline our research strategies. This etiome study employs molecular epidemiological approaches involving at least 200 school meal service workers from 25-30 school cafeterias in Seoul, as well as in vitro lung organoid experiments. The study includes a questionnaire survey to analyze workers’ occupational environments, focusing on exposure to hazardous substances such as cooking oil fumes and assessing the use of personal protective equipment (e.g., masks) and the presence of ventilation systems. We measure molecular epigenomic biomarkers, including PAH adducts and metabolites along with methylation markers, in the exposure and control groups. Additionally, lung organoid experiments are performed to investigate the potential for lung cancer development due to respiratory carcinogen exposure in cooks. This study is expected to contribute to health risk assessments and the establishment of preventive strategies for meal service workers.

Skull base defects often manifest as meningocele/meningoencephalocele or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks. Ventral and lateral skull base defects are effectively treated endoscopically and microscopically using various approaches. This case series study analyzes the utility and efficacy of post-aural soft tissue and temporalis fascia grafts in repairing small (<1 cm) skull base defects. Five out of six patients (83.33%) achieved successful defect closure. Patients were followed for donor site morbidity, postoperative CSF leak, and/or recurrent meningocele. One patient experienced reconstruction failure and developed a CSF leak eight months after surgery. The results suggest that TF grafts combined with post-aural soft tissue may be effectively used to repair small skull base defects without significant donor site morbidity.

Randomized clinical trials are important in both clinical and academic stroke communities with increasing numbers of new design concepts emerging. One of the “less traditional” designs that have gained increasing interest in the last decade is non-inferiority trials. Whilst the concept might appear straightforward, the design and interpretation of non-inferiority trials can be challenging. In this review, we will use exemplars from clinical trials in the stroke field to provide an overview of the advantages and limitations of non-inferiority trials and how they should be interpreted in stroke research.

Background: and Purpose In the ESCAPE-NA1 (Efficacy and Safety of Nerinetide for the Treatment of Acute Ischaemic Stroke) trial, treatment with nerinetide was associated with improved outcomes in patients who did not receive intravenous alteplase. We compared the effect of nerinetide on clinical outcomes in patients without concurrent intravenous alteplase treatment within different patient subgroups. Methods: ESCAPE-NA1 was a multicenter randomized trial in which acute stroke patients with baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) >4 undergoing endovascular treatment (EVT) were randomized to intravenous nerinetide or placebo. The primary outcome was independence (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score 0–2) at 90 days. We assessed baseline, clinical, and imaging variables as predictors of outcome and for evidence of treatment effect modification. We constructed two multivariable models using variables known prior to randomization and variables known immediately post-EVT procedure to provide adjusted estimates of effect. We assessed for evidence of treatment effect modification using multiplicative interaction terms within each model. Results: Four hundred forty-six patients were included in the analysis. Clinical outcomes were better in patients randomized to the nerinetide arm (mRS 0–2: 59.4% vs. 49.8%). There was possible treatment effect modification by ASPECTS score; patients with ASPECTS 8–10 showed a larger treatment effect compared to those with lower ASPECTS score. Younger age, lower NIHSS score, lower baseline serum glucose, absence of atrial fibrillation at baseline, higher ASPECTS score, middle cerebral artery (vs. internal carotid artery) occlusion, use of conscious or no sedation (vs. general anesthesia), and faster treatment were all predictors of favorable outcome. Conclusion Patients in the nerinetide arm who were not treated with concurrent alteplase showed improved clinical outcomes and the treatment effect was larger among patients with favorable ASPECTS profiles.

Background: Active surveillance (AS) has emerged as a viable management strategy for low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), following pioneering trials at Kuma Hospital and the Cancer Institute Hospital in Japan. Numerous prospective cohort studies have since validated AS as a management option for low-risk PTMC, leading to its inclusion in thyroid cancer guidelines across various countries. From 2016 to 2020, the Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study of Active Surveillance on Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma (MAeSTro) enrolled 1,177 patients, providing comprehensive data on PTMC progression, sonographic predictors of progression, quality of life, surgical outcomes, and cost-effectiveness when comparing AS to immediate surgery. The second phase of MAeSTro (MAeSTro-EXP) expands AS to low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) tumors larger than 1 cm, driven by the hypothesis that overall risk assessment outweighs absolute tumor size in surgical decision-making. Methods: This protocol aims to address whether limiting AS to tumors smaller than 1 cm may result in unnecessary surgeries for low-risk PTCs detected during their rapid initial growth phase. By expanding the AS criteria to include tumors up to 1.5 cm, while simultaneously refining and standardizing the criteria for risk assessment and disease progression, we aim to minimize overtreatment and maintain rigorous monitoring to improve patient outcomes. Conclusion This study will contribute to optimizing AS guidelines and enhance our understanding of the natural course and appropriate management of low-risk PTCs. Additionally, MAeSTro-EXP involves a multinational collaboration between South Korea and Australia. This cross-country study aims to identify cultural and racial differences in the management of low-risk PTC, thereby enriching the global understanding of AS practices and their applicability across diverse populations.