Rectal cancer, which accounts for approximately 40% of colorectal cancers, remains a major clinical concern. Recent advances in diagnostic imaging, surgical techniques, radiotherapy, and systemic treatment have steadily improved rectal cancer outcomes. Considering this, the Korean Rectal Cancer Multidisciplinary (KRCM) Committee has aimed to provide clinicians and policymakers with up-to-date, evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to support optimal decision-making, reflecting current evidence, the Korean healthcare context, and patient values and preferences. The Clinical Practice Guidelines for Rectal Cancer version 2.0 were developed through multidisciplinary collaboration with related academic societies, building upon and updating the KRCM Clinical Practice Guidelines version 1.0 (titled “Multidisciplinary guidelines for the management of rectal cancer”). These consensus guidelines of the KRCM were established based on a comprehensive literature review, evidence synthesis, with recommendation development guided by the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) methodology, and consideration of applicability in real-world clinical practice under the national health insurance system. Each recommendation has been presented with its strength and level of evidence.

The present article provides a comprehensive review of Jeju lava seawater (JLS), a unique underground water resource from Jeju Island, Korea, renowned for its distinct mineral composition. Herein, its biological effects and potential underlying mechanism(s) of action are summarized, with a particular focus on the pivotal roles of its mineral components. Many studies have indicated that JLS possesses potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimelanogenic properties, along with beneficial effects on metabolic disorders, skin health, and joint conditions. These diverse effects are attributed to its rich profile of macro-minerals (e.g., magnesium, calcium, potassium) and trace elements (e.g., zinc, selenium, vanadium, germanium), which synergistically modulate key cellular pathways, including nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, mitogen-activated protein kinases, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase. Current applications include cosmetics, functional foods, and balneotherapy, supported by robust safety data from genotoxicity and oral toxicity studies. Although preclinical evidence is compelling, further large-scale human clinical trials are essential to fully establish its therapeutic potential and optimize its application across various health domains.

Objectives: Pediatric and adolescent oral and maxillofacial trauma and infections differ significantly from adults in anatomy, development, and immunity, making diagnosis and treatment challenging. This study retrospectively evaluated the etiology, clinical features, and management of oral and maxillofacial trauma and infections among patients aged 3 to 15 years. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of 824 pediatric and adolescent patients who presented to the emergency department of Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital from January 2022 to December 2024. Patients were categorized based on chief complaints into trauma, infection, or other conditions. Primary analyses focused on trauma and infections, and secondary analyses included etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. Results: Trauma accounted for 742 cases (90.0%) and infections for 44 cases (5.3%). Boys (65.7%) outnumbered girls (34.3%), and school-aged children (6-11 years) were most frequently affected (56.5%). Lacerations (49.2%) and abrasions (34.1%) were the most common traumas, followed by dental trauma (31.0%) and facial fractures (5.0%). Among fractures, the mandibular condyle (35.1%) was most commonly involved. Most fractures were managed non-surgically (54.0%), while 30.0% required surgery. Infections were mainly odontogenic abscesses (44.7%), cellulitis (36.4%), and sialadenitis (15.9%). Abscesses were treated with incision and drainage (57.1%) or antibiotics (19.1%), with 23.8% requiring hospitalization. Conclusion Trauma was the most frequent emergency cause in pediatric and adolescent patients, particularly among school-aged boys. Most cases were successfully managed with appropriate treatment. Early diagnosis and timely intervention are essential for favorable outcomes in pediatric maxillofacial emergencies.

A 54-year-old man presented with constipation with a six-month duration and a 5 kg weight loss over 10 months. He had undergone a subtotal gastrectomy and chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer 13 years earlier. A colonoscopy revealed a firm, circular, in-growing mass in the rectum. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed a 3.0×1.2 cm invasive mass near the prostate, abutting the rectal wall and invading the right ureterovesical junction, causing hydroureteronephrosis. A positron emission tomography-CT scan indicated low fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the rectal or prostate area. The biopsy results showed poorly differentiated carcinoma. An immunohistochemistry study confirmed CK7 positive, CK20 negative, MUC2 negative, and CDX2 focally positive immune phenotype for cancer cells, suggesting a diagnosis of metastatic adenocarcinoma with a gastric origin rather than a prostate and rectal origin.

A 54-year-old man presented with constipation with a six-month duration and a 5 kg weight loss over 10 months. He had undergone a subtotal gastrectomy and chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer 13 years earlier. A colonoscopy revealed a firm, circular, in-growing mass in the rectum. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed a 3.0×1.2 cm invasive mass near the prostate, abutting the rectal wall and invading the right ureterovesical junction, causing hydroureteronephrosis. A positron emission tomography-CT scan indicated low fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the rectal or prostate area. The biopsy results showed poorly differentiated carcinoma. An immunohistochemistry study confirmed CK7 positive, CK20 negative, MUC2 negative, and CDX2 focally positive immune phenotype for cancer cells, suggesting a diagnosis of metastatic adenocarcinoma with a gastric origin rather than a prostate and rectal origin.

A 54-year-old man presented with constipation with a six-month duration and a 5 kg weight loss over 10 months. He had undergone a subtotal gastrectomy and chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer 13 years earlier. A colonoscopy revealed a firm, circular, in-growing mass in the rectum. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed a 3.0×1.2 cm invasive mass near the prostate, abutting the rectal wall and invading the right ureterovesical junction, causing hydroureteronephrosis. A positron emission tomography-CT scan indicated low fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the rectal or prostate area. The biopsy results showed poorly differentiated carcinoma. An immunohistochemistry study confirmed CK7 positive, CK20 negative, MUC2 negative, and CDX2 focally positive immune phenotype for cancer cells, suggesting a diagnosis of metastatic adenocarcinoma with a gastric origin rather than a prostate and rectal origin.

A 54-year-old man presented with constipation with a six-month duration and a 5 kg weight loss over 10 months. He had undergone a subtotal gastrectomy and chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer 13 years earlier. A colonoscopy revealed a firm, circular, in-growing mass in the rectum. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed a 3.0×1.2 cm invasive mass near the prostate, abutting the rectal wall and invading the right ureterovesical junction, causing hydroureteronephrosis. A positron emission tomography-CT scan indicated low fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the rectal or prostate area. The biopsy results showed poorly differentiated carcinoma. An immunohistochemistry study confirmed CK7 positive, CK20 negative, MUC2 negative, and CDX2 focally positive immune phenotype for cancer cells, suggesting a diagnosis of metastatic adenocarcinoma with a gastric origin rather than a prostate and rectal origin.

A 54-year-old man presented with constipation with a six-month duration and a 5 kg weight loss over 10 months. He had undergone a subtotal gastrectomy and chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer 13 years earlier. A colonoscopy revealed a firm, circular, in-growing mass in the rectum. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed a 3.0×1.2 cm invasive mass near the prostate, abutting the rectal wall and invading the right ureterovesical junction, causing hydroureteronephrosis. A positron emission tomography-CT scan indicated low fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the rectal or prostate area. The biopsy results showed poorly differentiated carcinoma. An immunohistochemistry study confirmed CK7 positive, CK20 negative, MUC2 negative, and CDX2 focally positive immune phenotype for cancer cells, suggesting a diagnosis of metastatic adenocarcinoma with a gastric origin rather than a prostate and rectal origin.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in Korea and the third leading cause of death from cancer. Treatment outcomes for colon cancer are steadily improving due to national health screening programs with advances in diagnostic methods, surgical techniques, and therapeutic agents.. The Korea Colon Cancer Multidisciplinary (KCCM) Committee intends to provide professionals who treat colon cancer with the most up-to-date, evidence-based practice guidelines to improve outcomes and help them make decisions that reflect their patients’ values and preferences. These guidelines have been established by consensus reached by the KCCM Guideline Committee based on a systematic literature review and evidence synthesis and by considering the national health insurance system in real clinical practice settings. Each recommendation is presented with a recommendation strength and level of evidence based on the consensus of the committee.

Background/Aims: Papillary adenocarcinoma is classified to differentiated-type gastric cancer and is indicated for endoscopic submucosal dissection. However, due to its rare nature, there are limited studies on it. The purpose of this study was to determine the outcome of endoscopic submucosal dissection in patients with papillary-type early gastric cancer and to find the risk factors of lymph node metastasis. Methods: Patients diagnosed with papillary-type early gastric cancer at eight medical centers, who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection or surgical treatment, were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical results and long-term outcomes of post-endoscopic submucosal dissection were evaluated, and the risk factors of lymph node metastasis in the surgery group were analyzed. Results: One-hundred and seventy-six patients with papillary-type early gastric cancer were enrolled: 44.9% (n=79) in the surgery group and 55.1% (n=97) in the endoscopic submucosal dissection group. As a result of endoscopic submucosal dissection, the en bloc resection and curative resection rates were 91.8% and 86.6%, respectively. The procedure-related complication rate was 4.1%, and local recurrence occurred in 3.1% of patients. Submucosal invasion (odds ratio, 3.735; 95% confidence interval, 1.026 to 12.177; p=0.047) and lymphovascular invasion (odds ratio, 7.636; 95% confidence interval, 1.730 to 22.857; p=0.004) were the risk factors of lymph node metastasis in papillary-type early gastric cancer patients. Conclusions The clinical results of endoscopic submucosal dissection in papillary-type early gastric cancer were relatively favorable, and endoscopic submucosal dissection is considered safe if appropriate indications are confirmed by considering the risk of lymph node metastasis.