Background and Objectives: Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis.Nicotine, a crucial constituent of tobacco, contributes to atherosclerosis development and progression. However, evidence of the association between nicotine and neointima formation is limited. We aimed to evaluate whether nicotine enhances neointimal hyperplasia in the native epicardial coronary arteries of pigs after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DES). Methods: After coronary angiography (CAG) and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA), we implanted 20 DES into 20 pigs allocated to 2 groups: no-nicotine (n=10) and nicotine (n=10) groups. Post-PCI CAG and QCA were performed immediately. Follow-up CAG, QCA, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and histopathological analyses were performed 2 months post-PCI. Results: Despite intergroup similarities in the baseline QCA findings, OCT analysis showed that the nicotine group had a smaller mean stent and lumen areas, a larger mean neointimal area, greater percent area stenosis, and higher peri-strut fibrin and inflammation scores than the no-nicotine group. In immunofluorescence analysis, the nicotine group displayed higher expression of CD68 and α-smooth muscle actin but lower CD31 expression than the no-nicotine group. Conclusions Nicotine inhibited re-endothelialization and promoted inflammation and NIH after PCI with DES in a porcine model.

This article presents two cases of extrahepatic portal vein anomalies that can be challenging during lymph node (LN) dissection in gastric cancer surgery. The first case was a participant for a clinical trial assessing the completeness of D2 LN dissection. The trial utilized near-infrared (NIR) lymphangiography with indocyanine green only after completing dissection of a certain topological LN station to detect any residual lymphatic tissue. However, the patient was excluded from the trial due to an unexpected extrahepatic portal vein confluence anomaly and aberrant common hepatic artery. Consequently, continuous lymphatic navigation with NIR imaging was utilized for remaining surgery. The second case featured a patient with an anteriorly positioned splenic vein, hindering LN dissection along the left gastric artery. Preoperative identification of great vessel anomalies around the stomach is critical to prevent life-threatening complications during LN dissection in gastric cancer surgery. Augmented imaging technology can be a valuable tool in ensuring oncologic safety and precision.

Background and Objectives: Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis.Nicotine, a crucial constituent of tobacco, contributes to atherosclerosis development and progression. However, evidence of the association between nicotine and neointima formation is limited. We aimed to evaluate whether nicotine enhances neointimal hyperplasia in the native epicardial coronary arteries of pigs after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DES). Methods: After coronary angiography (CAG) and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA), we implanted 20 DES into 20 pigs allocated to 2 groups: no-nicotine (n=10) and nicotine (n=10) groups. Post-PCI CAG and QCA were performed immediately. Follow-up CAG, QCA, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and histopathological analyses were performed 2 months post-PCI. Results: Despite intergroup similarities in the baseline QCA findings, OCT analysis showed that the nicotine group had a smaller mean stent and lumen areas, a larger mean neointimal area, greater percent area stenosis, and higher peri-strut fibrin and inflammation scores than the no-nicotine group. In immunofluorescence analysis, the nicotine group displayed higher expression of CD68 and α-smooth muscle actin but lower CD31 expression than the no-nicotine group. Conclusions Nicotine inhibited re-endothelialization and promoted inflammation and NIH after PCI with DES in a porcine model.

This article presents two cases of extrahepatic portal vein anomalies that can be challenging during lymph node (LN) dissection in gastric cancer surgery. The first case was a participant for a clinical trial assessing the completeness of D2 LN dissection. The trial utilized near-infrared (NIR) lymphangiography with indocyanine green only after completing dissection of a certain topological LN station to detect any residual lymphatic tissue. However, the patient was excluded from the trial due to an unexpected extrahepatic portal vein confluence anomaly and aberrant common hepatic artery. Consequently, continuous lymphatic navigation with NIR imaging was utilized for remaining surgery. The second case featured a patient with an anteriorly positioned splenic vein, hindering LN dissection along the left gastric artery. Preoperative identification of great vessel anomalies around the stomach is critical to prevent life-threatening complications during LN dissection in gastric cancer surgery. Augmented imaging technology can be a valuable tool in ensuring oncologic safety and precision.

Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is called ‘smoker’s disease’ because it is strongly associated with smoking and most cases occur in smokers. However, it can also occur in never smokers. We investigated the clinical features of never smokers with SCLC and compared their treatment outcomes with those of smokers with SCLC. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of patients who had proven SCLC and had received chemotherapy at a single cancer center between July 2002 and April 2021. Results: Of 1,643 patients, 1,416 (86.2%) were enrolled in this study. A total of 162 (11.4%) and 1,254 (88.6%) patients were never smokers and smokers, respectively. There were more female never smokers than smokers (n=130; 80.2% vs. 79, 6.3%, p=0.000), and the incidence of ischemic heart disease was lower among never smokers than among smokers (4/1,416, [2.5%] vs. 83/1,416 [6.6%], p=0.036). Never smokers showed less symptoms at diagnosis than smokers (80.9% vs. 87.2%, p=0.037); however, they showed more toxicity after first-line treatment (61.7% vs. 47.8%, p=0.001). The objective response rate (ORR) was significantly higher in never smokers (74.1% vs. 59.6%, p=0.000). In the multivariate analysis, never smoking and second-line treatment were associated with a better ORR. However, progression-free survival and overall survival were not significantly different between never smokers and smokers. Conclusion In conclusion, never smokers accounted for 11.4% of patients with SCLC. They had distinguishing clinical characteristics and showed better chemotherapeutic responses than smokers.

Background: Lipohemarthrosis in the hip joint, a critical indicator for detecting occult femoral neck or acetabular fractures, has not been reported in cases of isolated greater trochanter (IGT) fractures. This study retrospectively reviewed 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) images of what appeared to be IGT fractures to find out the frequency of lipohemarthrosis and its implication for the necessity of internal fixation. Methods: From October 2004 to December 2019, 90 cases of suspected IGT fractures were evaluated using 3D-CT. After excluding 6 cases due to inadequate follow-up and 8 cases with poor imaging quality caused by metallic implants, 76 cases were included in the final analysis. The cohort consisted of 48 women and 28 men, with a mean age of 77 years (range, 39–97 years). The 3D-CT images were meticulously reviewed to identify lipohemarthrosis in the affected hip joints. Additionally, magnetic resonance (MR) images were available for 13 cases. Results: Sixty-three cases were IGT fractures; no cortical disruption was detected in the intertrochanteric area on CT images. Of these, 56 cases were successfully treated conservatively. Lipohemarthrosis was detected in 5 cases (7.9%), of which 2 were successfully managed with conservative treatment. The remaining 13 cases were classified as incomplete intertrochanteric fractures, with anterior cortical disruption identified in the intertrochanteric area on CT images. Lipohemarthrosis was observed in 3 of these cases (21.3%). In all cases evaluated with MR imaging (10 IGT fractures and 3 incomplete intertrochanteric fractures), varying degrees of intramedullary intertrochanteric extension were observed. Among these, lipohemarthrosis was detected in only 2 cases of IGT fracture, where the intramedullary extension did not cross the midline on mid-coronal images. One case was surgically fixed, but the other case was treated conservatively with success. Notably, 4 cases with intertrochanteric extension crossing the midline did not exhibit lipohemarthrosis. Conclusions Lipohemarthrosis was more frequently observed in incomplete intertrochanteric fractures than in IGT fractures.However, the presence of lipohemarthrosis alone should not be regarded as an indication for internal fixation.

Background: The prevalence of intertrochanteric fractures is increasing with the aging population. Two surgical treatments, cephalomedullary nailing (CMN) and dynamic hip screw (DHS), have been widely utilized; however, recent trends indicate growing preference for CMN. While several studies have compared these 2 surgical methods, there has been limited comprehensive analysis with a substantial sample size from a single medical center aimed at minimizing bias. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at a single tertiary academic hospital, analyzing data from patients who underwent surgery for intertrochanteric fractures between January 2005 and December 2021. The study focused on comparing surgeryrelated parameters, postoperative local complications, medical complications, and mortality between patients treated with CMN and those treated with DHS. Results: A total of 475 patients with a minimum follow-up of 3 months were enrolled. The mean (standard deviation) age of patients treated with CMN (77.0 ± 10.7 years) was older compared to those treated with DHS (73.0 ± 12.2 years; p < 0.001). Overall, CMN demonstrated significantly better outcomes in reducing operation time (52.7 minutes vs. 88.2 minutes, p < 0.001), estimated blood loss (EBL) (138.3 mL vs. 305.9 mL, p < 0.001), intra- and postoperative transfusion packs (0.6 vs. 0.9, p = 0.006), and length of hospital stay (12.0 days vs. 20.3 days, p < 0.001), with similar findings in the unstable subgroups. However, in stable fracture cases, CMN showed superiority only in operation time and EBL (operation time: 49.6 minutes vs. 76.5 minutes, p < 0.001; EBL: 103.8 mL vs. 254.8 mL, p < 0.001). No differences were noted in postoperative outcomes including local complications, medical complications, and mortality. Conclusions Patients treated with CMN experienced no differences in postoperative outcomes including local and medical complications or mortality compared to DHS-treated patients. CMN reduced operation time, EBL, number of intraoperative and postoperative transfusion packs, and length of hospital stay, especially in patients with unstable intertrochanteric fractures. In conclusion, with comparable postoperative complications and mortality, CMN demonstrated superior perioperative efficiency, supporting its growing recommendation over DHS for the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures.

Background/Aims: The Korean guidelines for Helicobacter pylori treatment were revised in 2020, however, the extent of adherence to these guidelines in clinical practice remains unclear. Herein, we initiated a prospective, nationwide, multicenter registry study in 2021 to evaluate the current management of H.pylori infection in Korea. Methods: This interim report describes the adherence to the revised guidelines and their impact on firstline eradication rates. Data on patient demographics, diagnoses, treatments, and eradication outcomes were collected using a web-based electronic case report form. Results: A total of 7,261 patients from 66 hospitals who received first-line treatment were analyzed.The modified intention-to-treat eradication rate for first-line treatment was 81.0%, with 80.4% of the prescriptions adhering to the revised guidelines. The most commonly prescribed regimen was the 14-day clarithromycin-based triple therapy (CTT; 42.0%), followed by tailored therapy (TT; 21.2%), 7-day CTT (14.1%), and 10-day concomitant therapy (CT; 10.1%). Time-trend analysis demonstrated significant increases in guideline adherence and the use of 10-day CT and TT, along with a decrease in the use of 7-day CTT (all p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that guideline adherence was significantly associated with first-line eradication success (odds ratio, 2.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.61 to 2.56; p<0.001). Conclusions The revised guidelines for the treatment of H. pylori infection have been increasingly adopted in routine clinical practice in Korea, which may have contributed to improved first-line eradication rates. Notably, the 14-day CTT, 10-day CT, and TT regimens are emerging as the preferred first-line treatment options among Korean physicians.