Emerging evidence suggests that systemic inflammation may play a critical role in neurological disorders. Recent studies have shown the connection between inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and neurological disorders, revealing a bidirectional relationship through the gut-brain axis.Immunotherapies, such as Treg cells infusion, have been proposed for IBD. However, the role of adaptive immune cells in IBD-induced neuroinflammation remains unclear. In this study, we established an animal model for IBD in mice with severe combined immune-deficient (SCID), an adaptive immune deficiency, to investigate the role of adaptive immune cells in IBD-induced neuroinflammation. Mice were fed 1%, 3%, or 5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for 5 days. We measured body weight, colon length, disease activity index (DAI), and crypt damage. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured in the colon, while microglial morphology, neuronal count, and inflammatory cytokines were analyzed in the brain. In the 3% DSS group, colitis symptoms appeared at day 7, with reduced colon length and increased crypt damage showing colitis-like symptoms. By day 21, colon length and crypt damage persisted, while DAI showed recovery. Although colonic inflammation peaked at day 7, no significant increase in inflammatory cytokines or microglial hyperactivation was observed in the brain. By day 21, neuroinflammation was detected, albeit with a slight delay, in the absence of adaptive immune cells. The colitis-induced neuroinflammation model provides insights into the fundamental immune mechanisms of the gut-brain axis and may contribute to developing immune cell therapies for IBD-induced neuroinflammation.

The impact of Streptococcus pneumoniae coinfection on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prognosis remains uncertain. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who underwent a pneumococcal urinary antigen (PUA) test to assess its clinical utility. Results showed that PUA-positive patients required more oxygen support, high-flow nasal cannula, and dexamethasone compared to PUA-negative patients.Furthermore, the significantly higher incidence of a National Early Warning Score ≥5 in the PUA-positive group (P<0.001) suggests that a positive PUA test is associated with a severe disease course. However, no significant difference in mortality was observed between the two groups, and antibiotics were used in almost all patients (96.2%). While the PUA test may help guide antibiotic use in COVID-19 patients, its interpretation should be approached with caution.

Purpose: This study evaluated the postoperative quality of life (QoL) after various types of gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: A multicenter prospective observational study was conducted in Korea using the Korean Quality of Life in Stomach Cancer Patients Study (KOQUSS)-40, a new QoL assessment tool focusing on postgastrectomy syndrome. Overall, 496 patients with gastric cancer were enrolled, and QoL was assessed at 5 time points: preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Results: Distal gastrectomy (DG) and pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (PPG) showed significantly better outcomes than total gastrectomy (TG) and proximal gastrectomy (PG) with regard to total score, indigestion, and dysphagia. DG, PPG, and TG also showed significantly better outcomes than PG in terms of dumping syndrome and worry about cancer. Postoperative QoL did not differ significantly according to anastomosis type in DG, except for Billroth I anastomosis, which achieved better bowel habit change scores than the others. No domains differed significantly when comparing double tract reconstruction and esophagogastrostomy after PG. The total QoL score correlated significantly with postoperative body weight loss (more than 10%) and extent of resection (P<0.05 for both).Reflux as assessed by KOQUSS-40 did not correlate significantly with reflux observed on gastroscopy 1 year postoperatively (P=0.064). Conclusions Our prospective observation using KOQUSS-40 revealed that DG and PPG lead to better QoL than TG and PG. Further study is needed to compare postoperative QoL according to anastomosis type in DG and PG.

Purpose: Since 1995, the Korean Gastric Cancer Association (KGCA) has been periodically conducting nationwide surveys on patients with surgically treated gastric cancer. This study details the results of the survey conducted in 2023. Materials and Methods: The survey was conducted from March to December 2024 using a standardized case report form. Data were collected on 86 items, including patient demographics, tumor characteristics, surgical procedures, and surgical outcomes. The results of the 2023 survey were compared with those of previous surveys. Results: Data from 12,751 cases were collected from 66 institutions. The mean patient age was 64.6 years, and the proportion of patients aged ≥71 years increased from 9.1% in 1995 to 31.7% in 2023. The proportion of upper-third tumors slightly decreased to 16.8% compared to 20.9% in 2019. Early gastric cancer accounted for 63.1% of cases in 2023.Regarding operative procedures, a totally laparoscopic approach was most frequently applied (63.2%) in 2023, while robotic gastrectomy steadily increased to 9.5% from 2.1% in 2014.The most common anastomotic method was the Billroth II procedure (48.8%) after distal gastrectomy and double-tract reconstruction (51.9%) after proximal gastrectomy in 2023.However, the proportion of esophago-gastrostomy with anti-reflux procedures increased to 30.9%. The rates of post-operative mortality and overall complications were 1.0% and 15.3%, respectively. Conclusions The results of the 2023 nationwide survey demonstrate the current status of gastric cancer treatment in Korea. This information will provide a basis for future gastric cancer research.

Objective: Acute coronary syndrome often requires urgent intervention. The 2023 European Society of Cardiology guidelines recommend invasive procedures within 24 hours for high-risk cases. Nevertheless, there have been limited studies on non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in South Korea. This study compared the risk of complications based on the timing of intervention. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on patients with chest pain and elevated high-sensitivity troponin T from January to December 2021 in the emergency department. Patients were categorized into early (≤24 hr) and late (>24 hr) intervention groups. Primary outcomes (death, restenosis, or stroke) at 12 months were compared. Survival and subgroup analyses were performed to examine the factors affecting the outcomes in the two groups. Results: Three hundred seventy six patients were enrolled in the study, and 115 patients were excluded. Among 261 patients, 106 and 155 patients were in the early intervention group (≤24 hr), and late intervention group (>24 hr), respectively. The primary outcome (death or restenosis) showed no significant difference (hazard ratio [HR] in the early intervention group at 12 mo; 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63-1.70; P=0.905). However, risk of stroke was lower in the early intervention group (HR in the early, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.00-0.66; P=0.013). Subgroup analysis showed no significant advantage for early intervention. Conclusion In NSTEMI patients, early intervention does not reduce death or restenosis but lowers stroke incidence. No specific risk factors favored early intervention.

Purpose: To investigate the factors contributing to inferior vena cava (IVC) filter removal failure by comparing successful and failed cases using advanced techniques. Materials and Methods: IVC filter removal was attempted in 331 patients. Of the 29 patients in whom IVC filter removal failed using a simple technique, the IVC filter was successfully removed using an advanced technique in 18 patients and failure was noted in 11 patients.Age, sex, filter type, indwelling period, IVC diameter, tilting angle between the IVC and the filter, IVC wall penetration of the filter strut, and whether the filter was embedded or endothelialized within the IVC wall were compared in each group. Results: Overall, there were 13 men (72%) in the success group and 3 men (27%) in the failure group; more women were present in the failure group (p = 0.027). Unlike in the success group, hook embedment (9/11, 82%) or IVC filter endothelialization (2/11, 18%) within the wall of the IVC were observed in the failure group using two-dimensional venography. Conclusion When using advanced techniques for IVC filter removal, females are at a higher risk of failure compared to males. Hook embedment and IVC filter endothelialization within the IVC wall, rather than penetration of the IVC wall, are crucial factors in failure of IVC filter removal using advanced techniques.

Background and Objectives: The risk profiles, procedural characteristics, and clinical outcomes for women undergoing bifurcation percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are not well defined compared to those in men. Methods: COronary BIfurcation Stenting III (COBIS III) is a multicenter, real-world registry of 2,648 patients with bifurcation lesions treated with second-generation drug-eluting stents.We compared the angiographic and procedural characteristics and clinical outcomes based on sex. The primary outcome was 5-year target lesion failure (TLF), a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization. Results: Women (n=635, 24%) were older, had hypertension and diabetes more often, and had smaller main vessel and side branch reference diameters than men. The pre- and post-PCI angiographic percentage diameter stenoses of the main vessel and side branch were comparable between women and men. There were no differences in procedural characteristics between the sexes. Women and men had a similar risk of TLF (6.3% vs. 7.1%, p=0.63) as well as its individual components and sex was not an independent predictor of TLF. This finding was consistent in the left main and 2 stenting subgroups. Conclusions In patients undergoing bifurcation PCI, sex was not an independent predictor of adverse outcome.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Inflammatory responses are key pathological factors in various canine diseases, making the control of inflammatory responses vital for canine health.This study examined the anti-inflammatory effects of rutin on DH82 cells, a type of canine macrophage, against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses.MATERIALS/METHODS: The inflammatory in vitro experimental model was established by stimulating canine macrophage DH82 cells with LPS. To evaluate the inflammationpreventative effects of rutin, analyses were conducted using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, western blot, and real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Rutin inhibited the LPS-induced increase in the protein and gene levels of proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α), while antiinflammatory cytokines (IL-10, transforming growth factor-β1) levels remained unchanged.Furthermore, rutin suppressed the LPS-induced activation of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase, Jun N-terminal kinase, inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in DH82 cells. CONCLUSION Rutin exerts anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the mitogen-activated protein kinase-NF-κB signaling pathway and reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in DH82 cells.