Korean Guidelines for Postpolypectomy Colonoscopic Surveillance: 2022 revised edition

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.

Obesity and Colorectal Cancer / 대한소화기학회지

The prevalence of obesity has increased significantly worldwide, and this trend is likely to continue in the coming years. There is substantial evidence that obesity plays a crucial role in the development of colorectal cancer. Epidemiological data have consistently demonstrated a correlation between obesity and colorectal cancer. Insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, chronic inflammation, altered levels of growth factors, adipocytokines, and various hormones are plausible biological mechanisms. In addition, obesity has been shown to have an impact on recurrence, treatment success, and overall survival. There are some reports, although the evidence is not conclusive, that weight loss and lifestyle changes such as dietary modification and physical activity can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. The understanding that obesity is a potentially modifiable risk factor that can affect the incidence and prognosis of colorectal cancer is crucial knowledge that can have an impact on the prevention and treatment of the condition.

Strategy for post-polypectomy colonoscopy surveillance: focus on the revised Korean guidelines

The risk of metachronous advanced neoplasia is linked to the presence of polyps on initial colonoscopy. Consequently, it is crucial to establish an appropriate colonoscopy surveillance period post-polypectomy.Current Concepts: The US Multi-Society Task Force, the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and the British Society of Gastroenterology revised their respective foreign guidelines in the 2020s. In Korea, a revised edition of post-polypectomy colonoscopic surveillance was announced in 2022, with the following risk factors: (1) adenoma ≥10 mm in size; (2) 3 to 5 (or more) adenomas; (3) tubulovillous or villous adenoma; (4) adenoma containing high-grade dysplasia; (5) traditional serrated adenoma; (6) sessile serrated lesions containing any grade of dysplasia; (7) serrated polyps of at least 10 mm in size; and (8) 3 to 5 (or more) sessile serrated lesions. In these guidelines, suitable surveillance periods are suggested for each risk factor.Discussion and Conclusion: The evidence supporting the best practices for post-polypectomy colonoscopy surveillance has strengthened, helping to support both close follow-up for some populations and less intense follow-up for others.

A Novel One-Step Knife Approach Can Reduce the Submucosal Injection Time of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection: A SingleBlinded Randomized Multicenter Clinical Trials

Background/Aims@#Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a curative treatment modality for early gastric neoplasms; however, ESD can be a time-consuming process. To overcome this pitfall, we developed the one-step knife (OSK) approach, which combines an endoscopic knife and injection needle on a single sheath. We aimed to evaluate whether this approach could reduce the ESD procedure time. @*Methods@#This single-blinded randomized multicenter trial at four tertiary hospitals from June 2019 to June 2020 included patients aged 19 to 85 years undergoing ESD. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups (OSK or conventional knife [CK]). The injection time, total procedure time, resected specimen size, submucosal fluid amount, degree of device satisfaction, and adverse events were evaluated and compared between groups. @*Results@#Fifty-one patients were analyzed (OSK: 25 patients and CK: 26 patients). No baseline differences were observed between groups, with the exception of a higher portion of males in the OSK group. The mean injection time was significantly reduced in the OSK group (39.0 seconds) compared to that in the CK group (87.5 seconds, p<0.001). A decrease of more than 10 minutes in the total procedure time (18.0 minutes vs 28.1 minutes, p=0.055) in the OSK group compared to the CK group was observed. Second-look esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed two delayed bleeding cases in the OSK group that were easily controlled by endoscopic hemostasis. @*Conclusions@#OSK reduced the injection time and showed a decrease in total procedure time compared with the CK approach. OSK can be a feasible tool for ESD, especially in difficult cases.

Venous Thromboembolism Risk in Asian Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Population-Based Nationwide Inception Cohort Study

Background/Aims@#Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with the occurrence of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, to date, there have been few studies on the risk of VTE in Asian IBD patients. We aimed to estimate the incidence of VTE in Asian IBD patients and to determine if IBD is related to increased VTE risk. @*Methods@#We performed a population-based cohort study between 2004 and 2015 using Korean National Health Insurance data. IBD and VTE were defined by ICD-10 codes. Incidence rates of VTE were calculated among patients with IBD and among age- and sex-matched controls. Hazard ratios were estimated using Cox regression with adjustment for multiple variables. We performed additional analyses stratifying by age, sex, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) score, and disease type. @*Results@#Among the 45,037 patients with IBD (IBD cohort) and 133,019 matched controls (nonIBD cohort) included in our analysis, 411 IBD patients and 641 controls developed VTE. The IBD cohort had a higher incidence rate ratio and risk of VTE than the non-IBD cohort (incidence rate ratio: 1.92 and hazard ratio: 1.93). Older age, female sex, higher CCI scores, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, use of steroids, and hospitalization were significant risk factors for VTE in patients with IBD. @*Conclusions@#The IBD patients in this study were approximately two times more likely to develop VTE than the non-IBD individuals. Our findings support the need for thromboprophylaxis in Asian IBD patients with various factors that further increase the risk of VTE.

Experience of Peer Support Work among People with Mental Illness in the Community:A Grounded Theory Approach

Purpose@#This study discovered a substantive theory of the experience and process of peer support work among people with mental illness. @*Methods@#The participants were members of community-based mental health facilities and had been working as peer supporters for more than six months. The data were collected through in-depth interviews with twelve participants and analyzed using Corbin and Strauss’s grounded theory approach. @*Results@#The core category was “becoming a healer going with patients in the journey of recovery,” and the core phenomenon was “identity confusion as a peer supporter.” The causal conditions were “starting peer support work without certainty” and “standing at the boundary between the therapist and patient.” The intervening conditions were “willingness to become a successful peer supporter,” “feeling a sense of homogeneity with the patient,” “accepting the mental illness,” and “support from people around.” The action and interaction strategies were “letting go of greed,” “being open about oneself,” “developing professional skills,” “maintaining wellness in the body and mind,” and “being with the patient.” The consequences were “becoming a useful person,” “changing attitude toward life,” “expansion of the sense of self-existence,” “recovering from mental illness,” and “discovering a role as peer supporter.” Finally, the substantive theory of “becoming a healer going with patients in the journey of recovery” was derived. @*Conclusion@#This study provides a holistic understanding of peer support work and the implications of interventions to help people with mental illness in a person-centered recovery process.

Risk Factors for Lymph Node Metastasis and Oncologic Outcomes in Small Rectal Neuroendocrine Tumors with Lymphovascular Invasion

Background/Aims@#Small rectal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are often managed with local resection (endoscopic or transanal excision) owing to their low risk of metastasis and recurrence. However, the clinical significance of lymphovascular invasion in resected specimens remains controversial. In this study, we aimed to analyze the frequency of and risk factors for lymph node metastasis proven by histopathologic examination after radical resection. @*Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed the records of 750 patients diagnosed with a rectal NET at four academic medical centers in South Korea between 2001 and 2019. The frequency of histopathologically proven lymph node metastasis and the associated risk factors were analyzed for small tumors (≤1.5 cm) with lymphovascular invasion. @*Results@#Among 750 patients, 75 had a small tumor (≤1.5 cm) with lymphovascular invasion, of whom 31 patients underwent endoscopic resection only and 44 patients underwent additional radical surgery. Among the 41 patients who underwent surgery and had available data, the rate of regional lymph node metastasis was 48.8% (20/41). In multivariate analysis, the Ki-67 index (odds ratio, 6.279; 95% confidence interval, 1.212 to 32.528; p=0.029) was an independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis. During the mean follow-up period of 37.7 months, only one case of recurrence was detected in the surgery group. The overall survival was not significantly different between radical resection and local resection (p=0.332). @*Conclusions@#Rectal NETs with lymphovascular invasion showed a significantly high rate of regional lymph node metastasis despite their small size (≤1.5 cm).

Chest CT Imaging Features of the Pulmonary Sequelae in Four Patients with COVID-19

With the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there is an increasing interest in the sequelae and care in recovered patients. Although the long-term sequelae of COVID-19 are still unknown, recently published reports suggest that some of the patients have persistent symptoms and show radiologic abnormalities after discharge. Herein, we present cases of four patients with previous COVID-19 infection manifesting pulmonary sequelae, including pulmonary fibrosis or organizing pneumonia pattern with persistent dyspnea after recovery.

Multiple Primary Malignant Neoplasms: A Case Report of Breast Mucinous Carcinoma and Extramammary Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in a Male Patient

Multiple primary malignant neoplasms refer to two or more malignancies in an individual that are not related. We report a case of a 78-year-old male with concurrent breast mucinous carcinoma and extramammary lymphoma. The patient initially presented with palpable masses in the left breast and the right groin, which were pathologically confirmed after a surgical biopsy as breast mucinous carcinoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, respectively. He underwent whole-body 18-fluorine deoxyglucose PET/CT before surgery, and an enhancing nodular lesion in the left lingual tonsil was found incidentally. It was later confirmed as a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a pathology of the same type as the right inguinal mass. Unspecified lymphadenopathies in breast cancer patients may easily be considered as metastatic lesions. However, this case suggests that lymphomas should be included in the differential diagnoses to avoid misdiagnosis and treatment delay, especially in older adult patients.

Job Retention Process among Working People with Mental Illness: A Grounded Theory Approach

Purpose@#The study was conducted to explore the experiences of job retention among working people with mental illness. @*Methods@#The participants were members with mental illness at the S Community Mental Health Center in Gyeonggi Province and who had been working for more than six months. The data were collected through in-depth interviews with 11 participants between June 27 and August 20, 2018. The data were analyzed through Corbin and Strauss’s grounded theory method. @*Results@#The core category was struggling to take root in the community as a productive member. The core phenomenon was the desire to be a productive person, and the causal condition was the willingness to change for a purposeful life. The action and interaction strategies included maintaining regular living patterns, maintaining medication, developing one’s tips for self-management, and self-approval. The intervening conditions were difficulties in forming social relationships, presence of symptoms, social resources, and acceptance of one’s mental illness. The consequences were restoration of family relationships, healthy pleasure through work, social inclusion, development of self-worth, and transition to an independent person. @*Conclusion@#Working people with mental illness are struggling to take root in the community as a productive member. This study suggests that a holistic understanding of the job retention experience among people with mental illness is required. The findings will provide the basis for developing interventions that can improve job retention among working people with mental illness.

The Effect of Self-Acupressure on Peripheral Neuropathy, Disturbance in Daily Activity, and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients undergoing Chemotherapy

Purpose@#This study was done to investigate the effects of self-acupressure on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), the degree of disturbance in daily activity, and the quality of life in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy @*Methods@#A randomized controlled pre-post experimental design was employed. The mean difference of study variables between pre- and post-test was evaluated to test the effects of self-acupressure on LI11, LI10, LI4, ST36, Ex-UE9, and Ex-LE10. The study participants were breast cancer patients treated with taxane-based chemotherapy (experimental group 28 and control group 30). Participants were instructed on the method of self-acupressure and performed self-acupressure three times a day for three weeks. Peripheral neuropathy symptoms, the degree of disturbance in daily activity caused by peripheral neuropathy, and the quality of life were measured before and after self-acupressure. Data were collected from July 2020 to January 2021. @*Results@#The experimental group that performed self-acupressure showed a significant decrease in the degree of peripheral neuropathy symptoms and the degree of disturbance in daily activity caused by peripheral neuropathy compared with the control group. The experimental group also showed a significant improvement in the quality of life compared with the control group. @*Conclusion@#The self-acupressure program adopted in this study was found to be an effective method to reduce peripheral neuropathy and the degree of disturbance in daily activity, and to improve the quality of life. Therefore, self-acupressure is recommended to reduce CIPN among breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Multiple Primary Malignant Neoplasms: A Case Report of Breast Mucinous Carcinoma and Extramammary Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in a Male Patient

Multiple primary malignant neoplasms refer to two or more malignancies in an individual that are not related. We report a case of a 78-year-old male with concurrent breast mucinous carcinoma and extramammary lymphoma. The patient initially presented with palpable masses in the left breast and the right groin, which were pathologically confirmed after a surgical biopsy as breast mucinous carcinoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, respectively. He underwent whole-body 18-fluorine deoxyglucose PET/CT before surgery, and an enhancing nodular lesion in the left lingual tonsil was found incidentally. It was later confirmed as a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a pathology of the same type as the right inguinal mass. Unspecified lymphadenopathies in breast cancer patients may easily be considered as metastatic lesions. However, this case suggests that lymphomas should be included in the differential diagnoses to avoid misdiagnosis and treatment delay, especially in older adult patients.

Job Retention Process among Working People with Mental Illness: A Grounded Theory Approach

Purpose@#The study was conducted to explore the experiences of job retention among working people with mental illness. @*Methods@#The participants were members with mental illness at the S Community Mental Health Center in Gyeonggi Province and who had been working for more than six months. The data were collected through in-depth interviews with 11 participants between June 27 and August 20, 2018. The data were analyzed through Corbin and Strauss’s grounded theory method. @*Results@#The core category was struggling to take root in the community as a productive member. The core phenomenon was the desire to be a productive person, and the causal condition was the willingness to change for a purposeful life. The action and interaction strategies included maintaining regular living patterns, maintaining medication, developing one’s tips for self-management, and self-approval. The intervening conditions were difficulties in forming social relationships, presence of symptoms, social resources, and acceptance of one’s mental illness. The consequences were restoration of family relationships, healthy pleasure through work, social inclusion, development of self-worth, and transition to an independent person. @*Conclusion@#Working people with mental illness are struggling to take root in the community as a productive member. This study suggests that a holistic understanding of the job retention experience among people with mental illness is required. The findings will provide the basis for developing interventions that can improve job retention among working people with mental illness.

Genetic Analysis of Korean Adult Patients with Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Suspected of Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Using Whole Exome Sequencing

Purpose@#Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is ubiquitous in the environment, but NTM lung disease (NTM-LD) is uncommon. Since exposure to NTM is inevitable, patients who develop NTM-LD are likely to have specific susceptibility factors, such as primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). PCD is a genetically heterogeneous disorder of motile cilia and is characterized by chronic respiratory tract infection, organ laterality defect, and infertility. In this study, we performed whole exome sequencing (WES) and investigated the genetic characteristics of adult NTM patients with suspected PCD. @*Materials and Methods@#WES was performed in 13 NTM-LD patients who were suspected of having PCD by clinical symptoms and/or ultrastructural ciliary defect observed by transmission electron microscopy. A total of 45 PCD-causing genes, 23 PCDcandidate genes, and 990 ciliome genes were analyzed. @*Results@#Four patients were found to have biallelic loss-of-function (LoF) variants in the following PCD-causing genes: CCDC114, DNAH5, HYDIN, and NME5. In four other patients, only one LoF variant was identified, while the remaining five patients did not have any LoF variants. @*Conclusion@#At least 30.8% of NTM-LD patients who were suspected of having PCD had biallelic LoF variants, and an additional 30.8% of patients had one LoF variant. Therefore, PCD should be considered in patients with NTM-LD with symptoms or signs suspicious of PCD.

The Effect of Self-Acupressure on Peripheral Neuropathy, Disturbance in Daily Activity, and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients undergoing Chemotherapy

Purpose@#This study was done to investigate the effects of self-acupressure on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), the degree of disturbance in daily activity, and the quality of life in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy @*Methods@#A randomized controlled pre-post experimental design was employed. The mean difference of study variables between pre- and post-test was evaluated to test the effects of self-acupressure on LI11, LI10, LI4, ST36, Ex-UE9, and Ex-LE10. The study participants were breast cancer patients treated with taxane-based chemotherapy (experimental group 28 and control group 30). Participants were instructed on the method of self-acupressure and performed self-acupressure three times a day for three weeks. Peripheral neuropathy symptoms, the degree of disturbance in daily activity caused by peripheral neuropathy, and the quality of life were measured before and after self-acupressure. Data were collected from July 2020 to January 2021. @*Results@#The experimental group that performed self-acupressure showed a significant decrease in the degree of peripheral neuropathy symptoms and the degree of disturbance in daily activity caused by peripheral neuropathy compared with the control group. The experimental group also showed a significant improvement in the quality of life compared with the control group. @*Conclusion@#The self-acupressure program adopted in this study was found to be an effective method to reduce peripheral neuropathy and the degree of disturbance in daily activity, and to improve the quality of life. Therefore, self-acupressure is recommended to reduce CIPN among breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Genotoxicity in Patients on Long-term Proton Pump Inhibitor Therapy in Korea: A Nested Case-control, Prospective, Pilot Study

Background/Aims@#Although proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) remain a mainstay for the suppression of gastric acid secretion, long-term PPI use is associated with side effects. However, the genotoxicity associated with long-term PPI use is unclear. @*Materials and Methods@#This prospective observational pilot study enrolled patients who had been on PPIs for >1 year and healthy controls from July 2015 to August 2016. The subjects completed self-report questionnaires pertaining to their drug and medical history, and only those with no medical history and a ≥2-year wash-out period (for drugs other than PPIs) were included. We collected peripheral-blood lymphocytes from long-term PPI users and healthy controls and analyzed the genotoxicity by using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay; we also determined the fasting serum levels of pyridoxine, folate, cobalamin, and homocysteine. @*Results@#Ten long-term PPI users and 40 healthy control subjects were enrolled. The median serum pyridoxine, folate, cobalamin, and homocysteine levels were not significantly different between the groups. The median frequencies of micronuclei (MNi), nucleoplasmic bridges (NPBs), and nuclear buds (Nbuds) per 1,000 binucleated cells, in long-term PPI users and healthy controls, were 30.3 and 16.3 (P<0.005), 2.5 and 1.8 (P<0.005), and 9.3 and 5.0 (P<0.005), respectively. Even after adjustment for confounding factors, the OR of the MNi, NPBs, and Nbuds for long-term PPI users compared with healthy control subjects were 14.1 (P<0.001), 2.0 (P=0.001), and 1.3 (P=0.3), respectively. @*Conclusions@#Long-term PPI use was significantly associated with an increased risk of genotoxicity after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, medical history, drug history, and the serum levels of vitamins.

Real-World National Colonoscopy Volume in Korea: A Nationwide Population-Based Study over 12 Years

Background/Aims@#Little is known about the national colonoscopy volume in Asian countries. This study aimed to assess the national colonoscopy volume in Korea over a 12-year period on the basis of a nationwide population-based database. @*Methods@#We conducted a population-based study for colonoscopy claims (14,511,158 colonoscopies performed on 13,219,781 patients) on the basis of the Korean National Health Insurance Service database from 2002 to 2013. The 12-year national colonoscopy burden was analyzed according to patient age, patient sex, and healthcare facility type. @*Results@#The overall volume of colonoscopy increased 8-fold over the 12-year period. The annual colonoscopic polypectomy rate significantly increased in all patient sex and age groups over the 12-years period (all p<0.001). The yearly colonoscopic polypectomy rate for men was significantly increased compared with that for women (2.3% vs 1.7%, p<0.001) and for the screening-age group compared with that for the young-age group (2.0% vs 1.6%, p<0.001). The yearly colonoscopic polypectomy rate relative to the total colonoscopy volume significantly increased in primary, secondary, and tertiary facilities by 2.4%, 1.9%, and 1.4% during the 12-year period (all p<0.001). In addition, the annual colonoscopy volume covered by high-volume facilities significantly increased by 1.8% in primary healthcare facilities over the 12-year period (p<0.001). @*Conclusions@#Healthcare resources should be prioritized to allow adequate colonoscopic capacity, especially for men, individuals in the screening-age group, and at primary healthcare facilities. Cost-effective strategies to improve the quality of colonoscopy may focus on primary healthcare facilities and high-volume facilities in Korea.

Mediating Effect of Resilience on the Relationship between Psychological Stress and Burnout among Workers with Violence Experiences in Community Mental Health Welfare Center / 정신간호학회지

Purpose@#This study was conducted to examine the mediating effect of resilience on the relationship between psychological stress and burnout among workers with violence experiences in community mental health welfare center. @*Methods@#A descriptive correlational design was employed. Two hundred and twenty-four workers who had violence experiences from clients participated in the study. The data were collected from August 5 to 29, 2019. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analyses based on Baron and Kenny criterion. @*Results@#Psychological stress was significantly negatively correlated with resilience (r=-.21, p=.002) and significantly positively correlated with burnout (r=.70, p<.001). Resilience was also significantly negatively correlated with burnout (r=-.30, p<.001). Furthermore, resilience (β=-0.17, p<.001) had a significant partial mediating effect on the relationship between psychological stress and burnout (Z=2.35, p=.018). @*Conclusion@#Our study findings suggest that resilience plays an important role to maintain well-being and cope productively of workers with violence experiences. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a intervention program that can enhance the resilience to cope positively for the workers with violence experiences in community mental health welfare center.

Mediating Effect of Resilience on the Relationship between Psychological Stress and Burnout among Workers with Violence Experiences in Community Mental Health Welfare Center / 정신간호학회지

Purpose@#This study was conducted to examine the mediating effect of resilience on the relationship between psychological stress and burnout among workers with violence experiences in community mental health welfare center. @*Methods@#A descriptive correlational design was employed. Two hundred and twenty-four workers who had violence experiences from clients participated in the study. The data were collected from August 5 to 29, 2019. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analyses based on Baron and Kenny criterion. @*Results@#Psychological stress was significantly negatively correlated with resilience (r=-.21, p=.002) and significantly positively correlated with burnout (r=.70, p<.001). Resilience was also significantly negatively correlated with burnout (r=-.30, p<.001). Furthermore, resilience (β=-0.17, p<.001) had a significant partial mediating effect on the relationship between psychological stress and burnout (Z=2.35, p=.018). @*Conclusion@#Our study findings suggest that resilience plays an important role to maintain well-being and cope productively of workers with violence experiences. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a intervention program that can enhance the resilience to cope positively for the workers with violence experiences in community mental health welfare center.

Research Using Big Data in Gastroenterology: Based on the Outcomes from Big Data Research Group of the Korean Society of Gastroenterology / 대한소화기학회지

The Big Data Research Committee of the Korean Society of Gastroenterology conducted activities and researches with three goals. First, it provides the basis for proper and cost-effective treatment of digestive diseases in Korea. Second, it carries out population-level global research by establishing a system of big data analysis related to gastroenterology. Third, it provides the members of the Korean Society of Gastroenterology with the opportunity to plan and assess the public interest related to big data. The studies published by the committee members in this paper were carried out under these objectives, and the findings are believed to have achieved the public interest goals that may be helpful in the current medical and health policy. The construction of the big data infrastructure for digestive drugs is also underway, and we expect to see meaningful results pertaining to important digestive drugs. Research using public health medical big data, such as the National Health Insurance Corporation data base, should ultimately provide a basis for reflecting public messages and policies for the public. To this end, it is necessary for Korean researchers to lead efforts to lower the barriers and to approach relevant information and opportunities using big data research.