Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers in both Korea and worldwide. Since 2004, the Korean Practice Guidelines for Gastric Cancer have been regularly updated, with the 4th edition published in 2022. The 4th edition was the result of a collaborative work by an interdisciplinary team, including experts in gastric surgery, gastroenterology, endoscopy, medical oncology, abdominal radiology, pathology, nuclear medicine, radiation oncology, and guideline development methodology. The current guideline is the 5th version, an updated version of the 4th edition. In this guideline, 6 key questions (KQs) were updated or proposed after a collaborative review by the working group, and 7 statements were developed, or revised, or discussed based on a systematic review using the MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and KoreaMed database. Over the past 2 years, there have been significant changes in systemic treatment, leading to major updates and revisions focused on this area.Additionally, minor modifications have been made in other sections, incorporating recent research findings. The level of evidence and grading of recommendations were categorized according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. Key factors for recommendation included the level of evidence, benefit, harm, and clinical applicability. The working group reviewed and discussed the recommendations to reach a consensus. The structure of this guideline remains similar to the 2022 version.Earlier sections cover general considerations, such as screening, diagnosis, and staging of endoscopy, pathology, radiology, and nuclear medicine. In the latter sections, statements are provided for each KQ based on clinical evidence, with flowcharts supporting these statements through meta-analysis and references. This multidisciplinary, evidence-based gastric cancer guideline aims to support clinicians in providing optimal care for gastric cancer patients.

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers in both Korea and worldwide. Since 2004, the Korean Practice Guidelines for Gastric Cancer have been regularly updated, with the 4th edition published in 2022. The 4th edition was the result of a collaborative work by an interdisciplinary team, including experts in gastric surgery, gastroenterology, endoscopy, medical oncology, abdominal radiology, pathology, nuclear medicine, radiation oncology, and guideline development methodology. The current guideline is the 5th version, an updated version of the 4th edition. In this guideline, 6 key questions (KQs) were updated or proposed after a collaborative review by the working group, and 7 statements were developed, or revised, or discussed based on a systematic review using the MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and KoreaMed database. Over the past 2 years, there have been significant changes in systemic treatment, leading to major updates and revisions focused on this area.Additionally, minor modifications have been made in other sections, incorporating recent research findings. The level of evidence and grading of recommendations were categorized according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. Key factors for recommendation included the level of evidence, benefit, harm, and clinical applicability. The working group reviewed and discussed the recommendations to reach a consensus. The structure of this guideline remains similar to the 2022 version.Earlier sections cover general considerations, such as screening, diagnosis, and staging of endoscopy, pathology, radiology, and nuclear medicine. In the latter sections, statements are provided for each KQ based on clinical evidence, with flowcharts supporting these statements through meta-analysis and references. This multidisciplinary, evidence-based gastric cancer guideline aims to support clinicians in providing optimal care for gastric cancer patients.

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers in both Korea and worldwide. Since 2004, the Korean Practice Guidelines for Gastric Cancer have been regularly updated, with the 4th edition published in 2022. The 4th edition was the result of a collaborative work by an interdisciplinary team, including experts in gastric surgery, gastroenterology, endoscopy, medical oncology, abdominal radiology, pathology, nuclear medicine, radiation oncology, and guideline development methodology. The current guideline is the 5th version, an updated version of the 4th edition. In this guideline, 6 key questions (KQs) were updated or proposed after a collaborative review by the working group, and 7 statements were developed, or revised, or discussed based on a systematic review using the MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and KoreaMed database. Over the past 2 years, there have been significant changes in systemic treatment, leading to major updates and revisions focused on this area.Additionally, minor modifications have been made in other sections, incorporating recent research findings. The level of evidence and grading of recommendations were categorized according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. Key factors for recommendation included the level of evidence, benefit, harm, and clinical applicability. The working group reviewed and discussed the recommendations to reach a consensus. The structure of this guideline remains similar to the 2022 version.Earlier sections cover general considerations, such as screening, diagnosis, and staging of endoscopy, pathology, radiology, and nuclear medicine. In the latter sections, statements are provided for each KQ based on clinical evidence, with flowcharts supporting these statements through meta-analysis and references. This multidisciplinary, evidence-based gastric cancer guideline aims to support clinicians in providing optimal care for gastric cancer patients.

Objectives: To involve institutions without the ability to perform susceptibility testing, long-term storage of tissue sample is critical to isolate the bacteria in a central laboratory. The aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility of H. pylori isolation and antibiotic susceptibility testing using rapidly frozen biopsy specimens collected from various institutions. Methods: Eight institutions located in various regions of Korea participated in the study. Patients requiring upper endoscopy and H. pylori testing were screened. Two biopsy samples were taken from the stomach. One was placed in a sterile Eppendorf tube and then immediately placed in a vacuum bottle containing dry ice, which was stored at -80°C. The other was used in a rapid urease test. Collected samples were delivered to a central laboratory. The bacteria were isolated from the frozen samples under microaerophilic conditions. The agar dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin for each H. pylori isolate. Results: Patients with a positive rapid urease test result (n=113) were enrolled. The mean age was 56.6±12.3 years. The male:female ratio was 64:49. The overall culture success rate was 77.0% (87/113). MIC values were determined using isolated 87 H. pylori strains. Rates of resistance to amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, tetracycline, levofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin were 23.0%, 25.3%, 28.7%, 1.1%, 33.3%, and 34.5%, respectively. Conclusions It is feasible to perform H. pylori isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility testing using rapidly frozen and transported biopsy specimens.

Objectives: To involve institutions without the ability to perform susceptibility testing, long-term storage of tissue sample is critical to isolate the bacteria in a central laboratory. The aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility of H. pylori isolation and antibiotic susceptibility testing using rapidly frozen biopsy specimens collected from various institutions. Methods: Eight institutions located in various regions of Korea participated in the study. Patients requiring upper endoscopy and H. pylori testing were screened. Two biopsy samples were taken from the stomach. One was placed in a sterile Eppendorf tube and then immediately placed in a vacuum bottle containing dry ice, which was stored at -80°C. The other was used in a rapid urease test. Collected samples were delivered to a central laboratory. The bacteria were isolated from the frozen samples under microaerophilic conditions. The agar dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin for each H. pylori isolate. Results: Patients with a positive rapid urease test result (n=113) were enrolled. The mean age was 56.6±12.3 years. The male:female ratio was 64:49. The overall culture success rate was 77.0% (87/113). MIC values were determined using isolated 87 H. pylori strains. Rates of resistance to amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, tetracycline, levofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin were 23.0%, 25.3%, 28.7%, 1.1%, 33.3%, and 34.5%, respectively. Conclusions It is feasible to perform H. pylori isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility testing using rapidly frozen and transported biopsy specimens.

Objectives: To involve institutions without the ability to perform susceptibility testing, long-term storage of tissue sample is critical to isolate the bacteria in a central laboratory. The aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility of H. pylori isolation and antibiotic susceptibility testing using rapidly frozen biopsy specimens collected from various institutions. Methods: Eight institutions located in various regions of Korea participated in the study. Patients requiring upper endoscopy and H. pylori testing were screened. Two biopsy samples were taken from the stomach. One was placed in a sterile Eppendorf tube and then immediately placed in a vacuum bottle containing dry ice, which was stored at -80°C. The other was used in a rapid urease test. Collected samples were delivered to a central laboratory. The bacteria were isolated from the frozen samples under microaerophilic conditions. The agar dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin for each H. pylori isolate. Results: Patients with a positive rapid urease test result (n=113) were enrolled. The mean age was 56.6±12.3 years. The male:female ratio was 64:49. The overall culture success rate was 77.0% (87/113). MIC values were determined using isolated 87 H. pylori strains. Rates of resistance to amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, tetracycline, levofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin were 23.0%, 25.3%, 28.7%, 1.1%, 33.3%, and 34.5%, respectively. Conclusions It is feasible to perform H. pylori isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility testing using rapidly frozen and transported biopsy specimens.

Rare diseases are characterized by a low prevalence, which often means that patients with such diseases are undiagnosed and do not have effective treatment options. Neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders make up around 40% of rare diseases and in the past decade, there has been a surge in the identification of genes linked to these conditions. This has created the need for model organisms to reveal mechanisms and to assess therapeutic methods. Different model animals have been employed, like Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila, zebrafish, and mice, to investigate the rare neurological diseases and to identify the causative genes. While the zebrafish has become a popular animal model in the last decade, mainly for studying brain development, understanding neural circuits, and conducting chemical screens, the mouse has been a very well-known model for decades. This review explores the strengths and limitations of using zebrafish as a vertebrate animal model for rare neurological disorders, emphasizing the features that make this animal model promising for the research on these disorders.

In recent years, next-generation sequencing (NGS)–based genetic testing has become crucial in cancer care. While its primary objective is to identify actionable genetic alterations to guide treatment decisions, its scope has broadened to encompass aiding in pathological diagnosis and exploring resistance mechanisms. With the ongoing expansion in NGS application and reliance, a compelling necessity arises for expert consensus on its application in solid cancers. To address this demand, the forthcoming recommendations not only provide pragmatic guidance for the clinical use of NGS but also systematically classify actionable genes based on specific cancer types. Additionally, these recommendations will incorporate expert perspectives on crucial biomarkers, ensuring informed decisions regarding circulating tumor DNA panel testing.

Objectives: To involve institutions without the ability to perform susceptibility testing, long-term storage of tissue sample is critical to isolate the bacteria in a central laboratory. The aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility of H. pylori isolation and antibiotic susceptibility testing using rapidly frozen biopsy specimens collected from various institutions. Methods: Eight institutions located in various regions of Korea participated in the study. Patients requiring upper endoscopy and H. pylori testing were screened. Two biopsy samples were taken from the stomach. One was placed in a sterile Eppendorf tube and then immediately placed in a vacuum bottle containing dry ice, which was stored at -80°C. The other was used in a rapid urease test. Collected samples were delivered to a central laboratory. The bacteria were isolated from the frozen samples under microaerophilic conditions. The agar dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin for each H. pylori isolate. Results: Patients with a positive rapid urease test result (n=113) were enrolled. The mean age was 56.6±12.3 years. The male:female ratio was 64:49. The overall culture success rate was 77.0% (87/113). MIC values were determined using isolated 87 H. pylori strains. Rates of resistance to amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, tetracycline, levofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin were 23.0%, 25.3%, 28.7%, 1.1%, 33.3%, and 34.5%, respectively. Conclusions It is feasible to perform H. pylori isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility testing using rapidly frozen and transported biopsy specimens.

Objectives: To involve institutions without the ability to perform susceptibility testing, long-term storage of tissue sample is critical to isolate the bacteria in a central laboratory. The aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility of H. pylori isolation and antibiotic susceptibility testing using rapidly frozen biopsy specimens collected from various institutions. Methods: Eight institutions located in various regions of Korea participated in the study. Patients requiring upper endoscopy and H. pylori testing were screened. Two biopsy samples were taken from the stomach. One was placed in a sterile Eppendorf tube and then immediately placed in a vacuum bottle containing dry ice, which was stored at -80°C. The other was used in a rapid urease test. Collected samples were delivered to a central laboratory. The bacteria were isolated from the frozen samples under microaerophilic conditions. The agar dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin for each H. pylori isolate. Results: Patients with a positive rapid urease test result (n=113) were enrolled. The mean age was 56.6±12.3 years. The male:female ratio was 64:49. The overall culture success rate was 77.0% (87/113). MIC values were determined using isolated 87 H. pylori strains. Rates of resistance to amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, tetracycline, levofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin were 23.0%, 25.3%, 28.7%, 1.1%, 33.3%, and 34.5%, respectively. Conclusions It is feasible to perform H. pylori isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility testing using rapidly frozen and transported biopsy specimens.