• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.406-412
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• 2022

Purpose: The role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in the management of hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases in the pediatric population was not well defined until recently. Our aim was to determine the feasibility, outcomes, and safety of ERCP in a local pediatric population, particularly using standard adult endoscopes and accessories. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. Pediatric patients (aged <16 years) who underwent ERCP from January 2015 to December 2020 were included in the study. Data, including patient demographics, indications for the procedure, technical details, and associated complications, were collected from the internal database and patient records maintained at the hospital. Results: The study included 62 patients who underwent a total of 98 ERCP procedures. All the procedures were performed by adult gastroenterologists using standard adult endoscopes and accessories. The mean age was 11.01±3.47 years. Pancreatic diseases were the major indications for most of the procedures (n=81, 82.7%), with chronic pancreatitis being the most common. Seventeen procedures (17.3%) were carried out for biliary diseases. Overall cannulation and technical success rates were 87.8% and 85.7%, respectively. Stent placement was the most common therapeutic intervention (n=66; 67.4%). Post-ERCP pancreatitis was the most common complication, occurring in eight patients (8.2%). Conclusion: ERCP can be successfully and safely performed in pediatric populations using standard adult endoscopes and accessories with complications similar to those of adults. Adult ERCP services can be offered to most pediatric patients without additional costs of pediatric endoscopes and accessories.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.375-387
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• 2023

Stomach cancer has a high annual mortality rate worldwide necessitating early detection and accurate treatment. Even experienced specialists can make erroneous judgments based on several factors. Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are being developed rapidly to assist in this field. Here, we aimed to determine how AI technology is used in gastric cancer diagnosis and analyze how it helps patients and surgeons. Early detection and correct treatment of early gastric cancer (EGC) can greatly increase survival rates. To determine this, it is important to accurately determine the diagnosis and depth of the lesion and the presence or absence of metastasis to the lymph nodes, and suggest an appropriate treatment method. The deep learning algorithm, which has learned gastric lesion endoscopyimages, morphological characteristics, and patient clinical information, detects gastric lesions with high accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity, and predicts morphological characteristics. Through this, AI assists the judgment of specialists to help select the correct treatment method among endoscopic procedures and radical resections and helps to predict the resection margins of lesions. Additionally, AI technology has increased the diagnostic rate of both relatively inexperienced and skilled endoscopic diagnosticians. However, there were limitations in the data used for learning, such as the amount of quantitatively insufficient data, retrospective study design, single-center design, and cases of non-various lesions. Nevertheless, this assisted endoscopic diagnosis technology that incorporates deep learning technology is sufficiently practical and future-oriented and can play an important role in suggesting accurate treatment plans to surgeons for resection of lesions in the treatment of EGC.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.218-227
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• 2022

Purpose: To analyze the characteristics of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) over the past three decades in Argentina and determine if there are differences between the first two decades and the past decade. Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter analytical study in children with IBD between 0 and 18 years of age diagnosed between 1987 and 2017 in three tertiary health centers in Argentina. The evaluation included clinical characterization, endoscopy, histology, and imaging data together with therapeutic strategies. The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1, diagnosed between 1987 and 2007, and Group 2, diagnosed between 2008 and 2017. Results: Of the 756 patients included, 409 (54%) had ulcerative colitis (UC), 250 (33%) had Crohn's disease (CD), and 97 (13%) had IBD-unclassified (IBD-U). The positive family history was 3.8%, which was more frequent among children under two years of age (6.7%). There were no significant differences in clinical presentation and extraintestinal manifestations between periods, with hepatic manifestations being the most frequent. In the last decade, we found an upward trend in CD, a downward trend in UC/IBD-U, even after adjustment for socioeconomic status, and a decrease of 50% in surgical treatments coinciding with the advent of biological therapy. Conclusion: This is the first multicenter cohort study in a Latin American country to describe clinical, endoscopic, and therapeutic data across the past 30-year period. Although CD was responsible for the overall increase in incidence, UC was still prevalent in this region.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.136-142
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• 2002

Purpose: Foreign body swallowing is common in children. Most of foreign bodies passed upper esophagus are removed spontaneously. But recently, therapeutic endoscopy in children is widely used. In this study, we reviewed gastric foreign bodies regarding types, location, interval from swallowing, complications, and treatment or method of removal. Methods: We reviewed medical records of 96 cases with foreign bodies in gastrointestinal tract at Department of Pediatrics in Gyeongsang National University Hospital (GNUH) from Feb 1987 to Feb 2002. Results: The peak age of patients (male=60, female=36) with foreign bodies in gastrointestinal tract was 2 to 5 years of age. Sixty two patients (64.5%) were asymptomatic. The location of foreign bodies in gastrointestinal tract were detected by simple X-ray in eighty one patients (86.0%), barium study (1 case), and gastroduodenoscopy in 37 cases. The most common location was stomach (63.5%). The most common foreign body was coin (41.7%). In thirty seven cases (38.5%), foreign bodies were removed with flexible gastroduodenoscopy. Fifty four patients (56.3%) visited GNUH in 24 hours after swallowing foreign bodies. The long interval (over 24 hours) of swallowing of foreign bodies is related with high frequency of endoscopic removal. Conclusion: The flexible gastroduodenoscopy was effective in diagnosis and removal of foreign bodies. Further studies for indication and validity of endoscopic removal of foreign bodies in upper gastrointestinal tract are needed.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.379-391
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• 2021

Purpose: Promoter DNA methylation of various genes has been associated with metachronous gastric cancer (MGC). The cancer-specific methylation gene, cysteine dioxygenase type 1 (CDO1), has been implicated in the occurrence of residual gastric cancer. We evaluated whether DNA methylation of CDO1 could be a predictive biomarker of MGC using specimens of MGC developing on scars after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Materials and Methods: CDO1 methylation values (TaqMeth values) were compared between 33 patients with early gastric cancer (EGC) with no confirmed metachronous lesions at >3 years after ESD (non-MGC: nMGC group) and 11 patients with MGC developing on scars after ESD (MGCSE groups: EGC at the first ESD [MGCSE-1 group], EGC at the second ESD for treating MGC developing on scars after ESD [MGCSE-2 group]). Each EGC specimen was measured at five locations (at tumor [T] and the 4-point tumor-adjacent noncancerous mucosa [TAM]). Results: In the nMGC group, the TaqMeth values for T were significantly higher than that for TAM (P=0.0006). In the MGCSE groups, TAM (MGCSE-1) exhibited significantly higher TaqMeth values than TAM (nMGC) (P<0.0001) and TAM (MGCSE-2) (P=0.0041), suggesting that TAM (MGCSE-1) exhibited CDO1 hypermethylation similar to T (P=0.3638). The area under the curve for discriminating the highest TaqMeth value of TAM (MGCSE-1) from that of TAM (nMGC) was 0.81, and using the cut-off value of 43.4, CDO1 hypermethylation effectively enriched the MGCSE groups (P<0.0001). Conclusions: CDO1 hypermethylation has been implicated in the occurrence of MGC, suggesting its potential as a promising MGC predictor.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.1
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• pp.237-243
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• 2021

This is a rare case of a 73-year-old male patient who presented with hematochezia and was treated using transcatheter arterial embolization following upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the third portion of the duodenum. The cause of the bleeding was not found on gastrointestinal endoscopy and CT. On the third day of hospitalization, the hemoglobin level continued to decrease. A technetium-99m-labeled red blood cell scan revealed suspicious bleeding in the diverticulum of the third portion of the duodenum. Superior mesenteric artery angiography showed active bleeding from the posteroinferior pancreaticoduodenal artery, which was embolized with N-butyl cyanoacrylate. The patient was discharged on the seventh day after embolization without re-bleeding or complication. We report a rare case of a patient with active bleeding from a duodenal diverticulum that was difficult to diagnose using routine modalities. Herein, we report a rare case of a patient with active bleeding from a duodenal diverticulum that was difficult to diagnose using routine modalities. We also conducted a relavant literature review.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 1998

Purpose: This study aimed at evaluating the therapeutic outcome, cost effectiveness and recurrence rate in children with H. pylori infection after the treatment using various medications. Methods: Seventy five children (mean age $11.4{\pm}2.5$ years) were given an endoscopy with biopsy and H. pylori status assessed by CLO test and histologic examination (Warthin Starry stain). Children were given one of following medications such as DA ($Denol^{(R)}$ and amoxycillin), OA (omeprazole and amoxycillin), DC ($Denol^{(R)}$ and clarithromycin) as primary treatment. And one of following medications such as DAM ($Denol^{(R)}$, amoxycillin and metronidazole), DC, OA, OC (omeprazole and clarithromycin) were used in children who failed the eradication of H. pylori. Results: The endoscopic diagnoses were: nodular gastritis (46 cases), gastric ulcer (9), duodenal ulcer (6), superficial gastritis (6), and normal (8). H. pylori eradication rate was 91% (63 of 69 children) on 4 weeks course of DA, 50% (1 of 2 cases who had treatment failure on DA) on DAM, and 75% (3 of 4 cases who treated on DC primarily) and 50% (1 of 2 cases who had treatment failure on DA) on DC, and 100% on OA (all of 2) and on OC (all of 1 who failed on DA). In 3 of 7 children in whom H. pylori had not been eradicated by primary medications (DA 6 and DC 1 case), H. pylori was re-eradicated by secondary medications (DA 1, DAM 1 and DC 1 case). But in remaining 4 cases, H. pylori infection persisted. Reinfection of H. pylori was found in 4 of 75 children between 3 months and 3 years after completion of the treatment of DA, yielding recurrence rate of 5.3%. In 2 of 4 cases who had relapsed, H. pylori was re-eradicated by secondary medications (OC 1 and DA 1 case). But in remaining 2 cases, H. pylori infection persisted. Conclusion: These results suggest that dual therapy with $Denol^{(R)}$ and amoxycillin is the effective medications in treating H. pylori infection in children. Concerning the cost effectiveness, it can be recommended as first line treatment of choice as well.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.157-165
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• 2007

Purpose: Ingested foreign bodies are removed by endoscopy, surgery or spontaneous passage, however, the decision of therapeutic modality chosen depends on the type, size, shape and location of the ingested foreign bodies. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the rate and characteristics of foreign bodies that were passed spontaneously out of the intestine. Methods: One hundred and sixty patients who visited Samsung Medical Center for treatment of gastrointestinal foreign bodies between January 2001 to July 2007 were enrolled in this study. Related data was colleted by reviewing the medical records of patients with proven foreign bodies retrospectively, as well as by conducting phone interviews with the parents of the patients. All cases were classified based on the nature and location of the ingested foreign body, as well as whether it was treated by spontaneous passage. Results: Of the 160 cases involving the passage of foreign bodies in children were included in this study (95 boys and 65 girls), endoscopic removals, operative removals or spontaneous passages were conducted in 80, 3 and 77 patients, respectively. The spontaneous passage rates for each type of object were as follows; coins (36.5%), bead and baduk stones (83.3%), long and sharp materials (52.6%), magnets (69.2%) and disc batteries (50.0%). In cases involving round-shaped foreign bodies, such as coins, the diverse spontaneous passage rates were more diverse. When foreign bodies were stuck below esophagus, similar sized coins and baduk stones had spontaneous passage rates greater than 80% regardless of age. Conclusion: It is better for clinicians to wait for spontaneous passage to occur in cases involving coins or round-shaped foreign bodies that are located at or below the stomach.

• The Korean Journal of Gastroenterology
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• v.72 no.5
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• pp.271-273
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• 2018

내시경 시술 전 일시적으로 항응고제를 중단하는 것은 위장관 출혈의 위험과 혈전색전증의 위험 사이에 적절한 균형을 잡기 어렵기 때문에 논란의 여지가 많다. 와파린은 새로운 경구용 항응고제(direct oral anticoagulant agent, DOAC)보다 임상의에게 더 친숙하고, 효과를 쉽고 빠르게 전환시킬 수 있다는 장점이 있지만 복잡한 약역동학 특징과 좁은 치료적 범위 때문에 관리가 어렵다. 반면, DOAC는 약물의 모니터링 및 용량 조절 없이 정해진 용량으로 처방이 가능하며, 빠르게 작용하고, 반감기가 짧아 관리가 쉽지만 해독제가 없다는 단점이 있다. 이전 연구들에서 DOAC를 복용한 환자들은 와파린을 복용한 환자들보다 시술과 관련되지 않은 위장관 출혈의 위험이 높았다고 보고한 바 있다. 하지만 시술과 관련된 위장관 출혈 위험에 대하여는 알려진 바가 없는 실정이다. 미국이나 유럽 내시경 가이드라인들에서는 저위험 내시경 시술을 받는 환자들에서는 와파린과 DOAC를 유지하도록 권고하고 있으며, 고위험 시술의 경우에는 와파린를 사용하는 환자들에서 헤파린 교량 요법(heparin bridging)을 시행하도록 권고하고 있다. 임상적으로 DOAC를 사용하는 환자들 또한 혈전색전증을 예방하기 위하여 헤파린 교량 요법을 시행해볼 수 있는데, 와파린 및 DOAC의 헤파린 교량 요법과 관련된 출혈 및 혈전색전증 위험의 차이 또한 명확하지 않다. 따라서 저자들은 1) 와파린과 DOAC 치료를 받는 환자들에서의 출혈, 혈전색전증 및 사망의 위험을 비교하고자 하였으며, 2) 13종류의 고위험 내시경 시술 중에서 시술별 위험을 비교하고, 3) 헤파린 교량 요법이 합병증의 발생을 증가시키지 않는지 확인하고자 본 연구를 진행하였다. 일본 대규모 국가 입원 환자 데이터베이스를 이용하여 2014년 4월부터 2015년 5월까지 시술 전 와파린 또는 DOAC(rivaroxaban, apixaban, dabigatran, edoxaban)를 복용하고, 13종류의 고위험 내시경 시술을 시행받은 20세 이상의 성인 환자 총 16,977명을 확인하였다. 고위험 시술은 용종 절제술, 내시경 점막절제술, 내시경 점막하박리술, 협착 부위의 풍선확장술, 내시경 지혈술, 내시경 정맥결찰술, 내시경 주사 경화요법, 내시경 괄약근절개술, 내시경 초음파 유도하 미세침 흡인 검사, 경피적 위루술을 포함하였다. 일대일 성향 점수 매칭 분석(propensity score matching, 나이, 성별, 체질량 지수, 기저 질환, 병원의 규모, 시술의 종류, 약물의 종류를 매칭)을 시행하여 와파린군과 DOAC군에서 시술 위장관 출혈 및 혈전색전증, 사망의 발생을 비교하였다. 또한 경구항혈전제와 헤파린 교량 치료 시행 유무에 따라, DOAC 단독군, 와파린 단독군, DOAC와 헤파린 교량 요법군, 와파린과 헤파린 교량요법군으로 나누어, 하위군(subgroup) 분석을 시행하였다. 5,046쌍이 성향 점수 매칭 분석에 포함되었으며, 와파린군에서 DOAC군보다 통계적으로 의미 있게 위장관 출혈의 비율이 높았다(12.0% vs. 9.9% p=0.02). 혈전색전증 발생률(5.4% vs. 4.7%)과 입원중 사망률(5.4% vs. 4.7%)은 양 군에서 의미 있는 차이는 없었다. DOAC 종류별로 나누어 하위군 분석을 시행하였을 때, 와파린군은 rivaroxaban군에 비하여 위장관 출혈의 비율이 높았으며, rivaroxaban군, dabigatran군에 비하여 혈전색전증의 비율이 높았고, 입원 중 사망률에서는 의미 있는 차이는 없었다. 내시경 시술의 종류로 보정하였을 때 위장관 출혈 및 혈전색전증, 사망률은 DOAC 단독으로 치료한 환자에서보다 와파린과 헤파린 교량 요법(bridging) 또는 DOAC과 헤파린 교량 요법을 시행한 환자에서 높았다. 시술 종류 중에서는 위루관 삽입술에 비하여 내시경 점막하박리술, 내시경 점막절제술 및 내시경 정맥류결찰술, 내시경 주사경화요법을 시행한 환자에서 위장관 출혈의 위험이 가장 높았으며, 하부 내시경 점막절제술, 하부 용종 절제술, 내시경적 유두괄약근절제술 또는 내시경 초음파 유도하 미세침 흡인 검사는 중등도 위험을 보였다.