• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.889-900
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• 2022

Objective: To investigate the long-term outcomes of percutaneous treatment of benign biliary strictures using temporary placement of a retrievable expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) covered stent. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of 148 patients (84 male and 64 female; age range, 11-92 years) who underwent percutaneous transhepatic placement and removal of a retrievable PTFE-covered stent for the treatment of benign biliary strictures between March 2007 and August 2019 through long-term follow-up. Ninety-two patients had treatment-naïve strictures and 56 had recurrent/refractory strictures. Results: Stent placement was technically successful in all 148 patients. The mean indwelling period of the stent was 2.4 months (median period, 2.3 months; range, 0.2-7.7 months). Stent migration, either early or late, occurred in 28 (18.9%) patients. Clinical success, defined as resolution of stricture after completing stent placement and removal, was achieved in 94.2% (131 of 139 patients). The overall complication rate was 15.5% (23 of 148 patients). During the mean follow-up of 60.2 months (median period, 52.7 months; range, 1.6-146.1 months), 37 patients had a recurrence of clinically significant strictures at 0.5-124.5 months after removal of biliary stent and catheter (median, 16.1 months). The primary patency rates at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 years after removal of biliary stent and catheter were 88.2%, 70.0%, 66.2%, 60.5%, and 54.5%, respectively. In the multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, sex, age, underlying disease, relation to surgery, stricture type, biliary stones, history of previous treatment, and stricture site were not significantly associated with the primary patency. Conclusion: Long-term outcomes suggest that percutaneous treatment of benign biliary strictures using temporary placement of retrievable PTFE-covered stents may be a clinically effective method.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2000

Pancreaticobiliary tract strictures are frequent Indications for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP). We have investigated the brushing cytology in order to determine its efficacy for diagnosis of pancreaticobiliary malisnancies. Brushing cytology during ERCP was evaluated in 56 patients with biliary tract stricture presenting to the Catholic Hospital of Taegu-Hyosung from April 1997 to August 1999. A comparison was made between the cytologic and histologic diagnoses on 32 cases from 30 patients. A diagnosis of malignancy was establishied in 78.1%, benign in 15.6%, and inadequate in 6.3% of the cases. Statistical data on cytologic diagnoses in strictures of the bile duct were as follows; specificity and sensitivity of blushing procedure was 100% & 83.3%, respectively: sensitivity of interpretation was 89.3%: with no false positive cases and 3 false negative cases: predictive value for malignancy was 100% & 100%, respectively: predictive value for benign was 28.6% & 40%,, respectively: overall diagnostic efficiency was 84.4%. It is concluded that brush cytology is a diagnostically reliable, highly specific technique for malignant lesions encounted at ERCP, although a negative result does not rule out the diagnosis of malignancy.

• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.200-205
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• 2024

We conducted a comprehensive series of molecular biological studies aimed at unraveling the intricate mechanisms underlying the anti-fibrotic effects of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) when used in conjunction with fully covered self-expandable metal stents (FCSEMS) for the management of benign biliary strictures (BBS). To decipher the molecular mechanisms responsible for the anti-fibrotic effects of corticosteroids on gallbladder mucosa, we conducted a comprehensive analysis. This analysis included various methodologies such as immunohisto-chemistry, ELISA, real-time PCR, and transcriptome analysis, enabling us to examine alterations in factors related to fibrosis and inflammation at both the protein and RNA levels. Overall, our findings revealed a dose-dependent decrease in fibrosis-related signaling with higher TA concentrations. The 15 mg of steroid treatment (1X) exhibited anti-fibrosis and anti-inflammatory effects after 4 weeks, whereas the 30 mg of steroid treatment (2X) rapidly reduced fibrosis and inflammation within 2 weeks in BBS. Transcriptomic analysis results consistently demonstrated significant downregulation of fibrosis- and inflammation-related pathways and genes in steroid-treated fibroblasts. Use of corticosteroids, specifically TA, together with FCSEMS was effective for the treatment of BBS, ameliorating fibrosis and inflammation. Our molecular biological analysis supports the potential development of steroid-eluted FCSEMS as a therapeutic option for BBS in humans resulting from various surgical procedures.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.161-167
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• 2022

Congenital web formations are extremely rare anomalies of the extrahepatic biliary tree. We herein report a case of common bile duct septum combined with multiple intrahepatic bile duct strictures in a 74-year-old female patient who was successfully treated with radiological intervention. The patient initially visited the hospital because of upper abdominal pain. Imaging studies revealed multifocal strictures with dilatation in both intra- and extrahepatic ducts; the final clinical diagnosis was congenital common bile duct web combined with multiple intrahepatic duct strictures. Surgical treatment was not indicated because multiple biliary strictures were untreatable, and the disease was clinically diagnosed as benign. The multiple strictures were extensively dilated twice through bilateral percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) for 2 months. After 1 month of observation, PTBD catheters were successfully removed. The patient is doing well at 6 months after completion of the radiological intervention, with the maintenance of normal liver function. Congenital web of the bile duct is very rare, and its treatment may vary depending on the patterns of biliary stenosis. In cases where surgical intervention is not indicated for congenital web and its associated disease, radiological intervention with balloon dilatation can be a viable therapeutic option.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.73-78
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• 1991

A total of 362 bile samples from 104 patients with evidence of biliary tract obstruction were submitted for diagnostic cytology from January, 1989 to April, 1991. The patients were classified based on the obstructive cause, and the cytologic results were reviewed. 298 of the specimens were from patients with intrabiliary malignant structure, and 17 were from patients with extrabiliary malignant compression or benign biliary obstruction. Bile cytology was positive for carcinoma in 42 samples from patients with intrabiliary malignant stricture, and the diagnostic sensitivity was 14%. There were no false positive cases. We concluded that the cause of low sensitivity was degenerative change of cell due to prolonged sampling time. What is noteworthy was the high prevalence of Clonorchis sinensis eggs, being detected in 25 patients with intrabiliary malignancy, supporting the association between clonorchiasis and biliary tree malignancy.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.163-168
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• 2012

Recently, along with technology development of endoscopic equipment, the stent technology has been developed for the convenience of operation, shortening of recovery times, and reduction of patient's pain. In this study, paclitaxel-eluting metal stents for treatment of biliary benign stenosis were developed through an electrospray-coating method. Polyether-based polyurethane (PELLETHANE 2363-80AE$^{(R)}$)) and paclitaxel were coated onto the surface of a metallic stent and Pluronic F127 was used as an additive. As a result, physicochemical characterization of paclitaxel via SEM, FTIR, contact angle and XRD techniques revealed the information of solid state of paclitaxel-loaded PU film. The in vitro release profile showed a slower release rate with a higher content of paclitaxel.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2006

Bile duct brush cytology has been employed as a diagnostic tool for the evaluation of pancreatic and biliary tract strictures. The specificity of this method is high however, its sensitivity is quite low. A recent study employing liquid based cytology (LBC) reported results comparable to those achieved via conventional cytology. Therefore, we have attempted to prospectively evaluate the diagnostic utility of bile duct brush cytology in pancreaticobiliary diseases. A total of 46 cases with bile duct stricture were enrolled including 11 cases of benign stricture, 29 cases of bile duct carcinoma, 3 cases of gallbladder cancer, and 3 cases of pancreatic cancer. Both conventional smear and LBC using $MonoPrep2^{TM}$ system were conducted in each case. The cytological diagnosis of each case was classed into the following categories; benign, suspicious for malignancy, and malignancy. The diagnostic accuracy of both cytologic methods was investigated. LBC evidenced a high rate of material insufficiency (13/46), which was attributed to low cellularity. The kappa index of both cytological methods was 0.508. Cytological and tissue diagnoses were correlated in 25 cases conducted from biopsy or operation. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 41.2% (7/17), 100% (8/8), 100% (7/7), and 44.4% (10/18) in conventional smear; 58.8% (10/17), 87.5% (7/8), 90.9% (10/11), and 50.0% (7/14) in LBC; and 94.1% (16/17), 87.5% (7/8), 94.1% (16/17), and 87.5% (7/8) in any one of both cytological methods, respectively. Based on these results, the sensitivity of LBC was found to be superior to that of conventional smear and we were able to obtain higher positive predictive value upto 94.1% by simultaneously conducting both cytologic methods.