Background: As nationwide government-led whole-genome sequencing (WGS) projects progress, optimizing the clinical integration of large-scale WGS results is crucial. We explored how the initial analysis from Korea’s First WGS Pilot Study for Rare Diseases was applied in clinical practice, and then we reanalyzed the data comprehensively at Samsung Medical Center (SMC) Seoul, Korea. Methods: A prospective cohort study designed to collect WGS data under a Korean national initiative was conducted from August 2020 to December 2021. We focused on patients with rare diseases recruited from 16 university hospitals. The participants included 5,000 individuals (2,200 probands and 2,800 family members). The initial WGS data and diagnostic reference reports (from 682 probands and 484 family members), generated based on the First Korean WGS Pilot Study for Rare Diseases, were subsequently reanalyzed by SMC. Results: The initial analysis of the First Korean WGS Pilot Study data revealed a diagnostic rate of 17%. Upon receiving these results, the SMC conducted two rounds of reanalysis, increasing the diagnostic rate from 15% in the first analysis, to 18% in the second, and finally to 24% in the third (P = 1.6 × 10 −5 ). Key factors in improving the genetic diagnosis included increased detection of novel (likely) pathogenic variants (P = 1.0 × 10 −4 ), improved diagnostic rates with larger family recruitment (P = 0.004), and refined clinical information for more precise genotype–phenotype correlation analysis (40%). Conclusions Although national WGS projects lay a foundation for rare disease diagnosis, hospital-level reanalysis and multidisciplinary collaborations are crucial for optimizing diagnostic outcomes.

Purpose: This study evaluated long-term trends in gastric cancer epidemiology and survival with a focus on conditional relative survival (CRS). Materials and Methods: Using the Korea Central Cancer Registry, we analyzed 665,184 patients who were newly diagnosed with gastric cancer between 1999 and 2022.The study period was divided into four intervals: Period I (1999–2005), Period II (2006–2011), Period III (2012–2017), and Period IV (2018–2022). Temporal trends in the incidence and mortality were assessed using crude and age-standardized rates. Relative survival was estimated using the Ederer II method, and the 5-year CRS was calculated according to the survival duration after diagnosis. Results: The incidence of gastric cancer increased until 2011 and subsequently declined, with a marked decrease observed in 2020. Individuals aged ≥70 years consistently had the highest incidence rates. Mortality rates showed a sustained decline throughout the study period. The overall 5-year relative survival improved from 69.8% in Period II to 78.4% in Period IV. The 5-year CRS increased from 86.1% at 1 year after diagnosis to 96.3% at 5 years.Patients with localized stage maintained a 5-year CRS above 95% at 1 year after diagnosis, whereas those with regional and distant stages showed 5-year CRS that consistently remained below 95%. Conclusions The incidence and mortality rates of gastric cancer in Korea have declined over the past two decades, accompanied by improved survival outcomes. The CRS analysis suggests that long-term follow-up is warranted, with the optimal duration varying according to patient characteristics.

Purpose: This study aimed to report the real-world outcomes of intravesical gemcitabine for bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG)–unresponsive, high-risk, non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer (HR-NMIBC) in Korean patients who were unable or unwilling to undergo radical cystectomy (RC). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 131 patients (median age, 69 years; 88.5% men) treated with intravesical gemcitabine for BCG-unresponsive HR-NMIBC at nine centers between May 2019 and April 2022. The primary endpoint was 1-year recurrence-free survival (RFS). The secondary endpoints included factors influencing RFS, progression-free survival (PFS), cystectomy- free survival, cancer-specific survival (CSS), overall survival (OS), and safety. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and risk factors for recurrence were assessed using Cox regression models. Results: Patients were followed up for a median duration of 25 months, with carcinoma in situ (CIS) in 41.9% of the patients. The 1-year and 2-year RFS rates were 68% and 42%, while the 1-year and 2-year PFS rates were 87% and 77%, respectively. No significant factors influencing RFS were identified. Seventeen patients underwent RC during a median follow-up of 16 months, with the condition in three patients progressing to muscle-invasive disease on final pathological analysis. The 2-year CSS and OS rates were 98% and 97%, respectively. Intravesical gemcitabine was well-tolerated, with only seven patients (5.3%) unable to complete the full induction course. Conclusion Our research highlights the potential of intravesical gemcitabine as a viable bladder-sparing treatment option for BCG-unresponsive HR-NMIBC, providing real-world evidence on its safety, efficacy, and tolerability.

Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are an important treatment option for ulcerative colitis, providing rapid onset of action, oral administration, and efficacy even after biologic failure. The 3 approved agents—tofacitinib, filgotinib, and upadacitinib—differ in JAK isoform selectivity, leading to clinically meaningful differences in efficacy and safety. Evidence from network meta-analyses, clinical trials, and real-world studies consistently shows that upadacitinib provides the highest efficacy for induction and maintenance of remission, whereas filgotinib demonstrates the most favorable safety profile. The strong efficacy of upadacitinib and tofacitinib is particularly relevant in patients with severe disease, including acute severe ulcerative colitis, and upadacitinib maintains high efficacy regardless of prior advanced therapy exposure. JAK inhibitors also benefit extraintestinal manifestations. Although risks such as herpes zoster, serious infection, thromboembolism, and major cardiovascular events differ among agents, long-term data suggest generally acceptable safety when used appropriately. Intraclass JAK-to-JAK cycling is feasible, with about half of patients achieving steroid-free clinical remission in retrospective cohorts. Based on mechanistic, clinical, and real-world evidence, filgotinib may be a first-line option for patients with lower disease activity or when safety is a priority, whereas upadacitinib or tofacitinib may be preferred in higher disease activity. Strategically selecting agents may improve durability and outcomes.

Background: and Purpose Whole-exome sequencing (WES) is a valuable tool for identifying causative mutations in adult moyamoya disease (MMD), thereby advancing our understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying this condition. Here, we conducted the first WESbased association study aimed at identifying genetic modifiers implicated in MMD. Methods: This WES study involved 160 patients with MMD and 189 controls from a multicenter hospital-based biobank, and evaluated combined annotation-dependent depletion (CADD) scores. Mutant-allele frequencies were compared in 369,121 individuals derived from the UK Biobank (UKB) WES. Mutant-allele risk scores (MARSs) were created based on WESidentified mutations. Gene-based association analyses and pooled analyses in East-Asian populations were further performed. Results: Fourteen mutations reached the genome-wide significance criterion (p<5×10-8 ), among which the p.R4810K mutation in the ring finger protein 213 gene (RNF213) showed the strongest significance (odds ratio=117.4, p=8.54×10-24 ). Notably, two mutations—p.G576S (alpha-glucosidase [GAA]) and p.D54N (charged multivesicular body protein 6 [CHMP6])— exhibited high CADD scores of 32 and 25, respectively, whereas the RNF213 p.R4810K mutation demonstrated a moderate deleteriousness score of 10.63. Fourteen mutations exhibited significant differences in allele frequencies between patients and UKB controlled data (p<1×10-8 ).The MARS9 model (incorporating nine missense mutations) showed better predictability for MMD (90.89%). The analysis of gene-based associations revealed four candidate genes: GAA, RNF213, CHMP6, and CARD14 (p=5×10-19 to 4×10-7 ). The subsequent pooled analyses validated four mutations in East Asian populations: p.V1195M, p.D1331G, p.S2334N, and p.R4810K (p<3×10-8 ). Conclusions This pioneering study has corroborated the significance of p.R4810K and identified several causative mutations predisposing patients to MMD, which helps to improve the understanding of its polygenetic nature.

suggest that some reproductive factors associated with BC differ across ethnicities and time trends, perhaps due to the prevalence of reproductive factors and the baseline hazard of BC.

Purpose: This study evaluated the clinical outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) and locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) treated with upfront FOLFIRINOX followed by local-regional therapy (LRT), surgical resection (SR), and radiotherapy (RT). We aimed to identify specific patient subgroups for which RT may serve as a reasonable alternative to SR for local tumor control. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 116 patients (SR group, n= 70; RT group, n= 46) at a single center between 2015 and 2020. Survival outcomes were compared based on LRT modalities, focusing on identifying subgroups in which RT provided an efficacy comparable to that of SR. Results: Among 116 patients, the SR group achieved a significantly higher 5-year overall survival (OS) than the RT group (27.1% vs. 8.7%, P< 0.0001), despite similar progression-free survival (P= 0.23). Significant prognostic factors for OS included carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) response in BRPC (P= 0.02) and radiologic partial response in LAPC (P= 0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed that, while SR provided a survival advantage in CA19-9 responders, no significant difference in OS was observed between SR and RT in CA19-9 non-responders (P= 0.37). Conclusion Although surgery remains the gold standard, RT may be considered a justifiable local alternative for CA19-9 non-responders and surgically ineligible patients with LAPC, yielding comparable outcomes in these specific, biologically unfavorable subgroups.

Purpose: The human gut mycobiome comprises diverse fungal species and plays a crucial role in health and disease, despite its relatively low abundance compared to bacterial populations. This review provides an overview of the mycobiome’s composition, developmental patterns, and dysbiosis in various pathological conditions. As well, the complex interactions of fungal communities within the gut microbiome are discussed.Current content: The development of the gut mycobiome follows patterns similar to those of the bacterial microbiome, with birth mode, diet, and age being key determinants. In contrast to the bacterial trends, mycobiome diversity increases during childhood and old age. Recent studies have revealed variations in the mycobiome composition across different ethnic groups. Mycobiome dysbiosis is associated with autoimmune, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular diseases. Certain fungi, notably Candida albicans, are relatively more abundant in pathological states. Fungal metabolic activity, particularly secondary metabolite production, can significantly affect disease progression. Bacterial–fungal interactions in the gut microbiome are complex and modulated by environmental factors, such as diet and antibiotic use. Moreover, the gut mycobiome modulates therapeutic efficacy. Gut fungi enhance the bioactivity of compounds derived from natural products through biotransformation, including their anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. This suggests the potential of the gut mycobiome to optimize the therapeutic efficacy of natural products. Conclusion This review highlights the relevance of the gut mycobiome as both a diagnostic biomarker and a therapeutic target. Future research should focus on elucidating the causal relationships between mycobiome alterations and disease states, and further explore bacterial–fungal interactions within the gut ecosystem.

Purpose: The human gut mycobiome comprises diverse fungal species and plays a crucial role in health and disease, despite its relatively low abundance compared to bacterial populations. This review provides an overview of the mycobiome’s composition, developmental patterns, and dysbiosis in various pathological conditions. As well, the complex interactions of fungal communities within the gut microbiome are discussed.Current content: The development of the gut mycobiome follows patterns similar to those of the bacterial microbiome, with birth mode, diet, and age being key determinants. In contrast to the bacterial trends, mycobiome diversity increases during childhood and old age. Recent studies have revealed variations in the mycobiome composition across different ethnic groups. Mycobiome dysbiosis is associated with autoimmune, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular diseases. Certain fungi, notably Candida albicans, are relatively more abundant in pathological states. Fungal metabolic activity, particularly secondary metabolite production, can significantly affect disease progression. Bacterial–fungal interactions in the gut microbiome are complex and modulated by environmental factors, such as diet and antibiotic use. Moreover, the gut mycobiome modulates therapeutic efficacy. Gut fungi enhance the bioactivity of compounds derived from natural products through biotransformation, including their anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. This suggests the potential of the gut mycobiome to optimize the therapeutic efficacy of natural products. Conclusion This review highlights the relevance of the gut mycobiome as both a diagnostic biomarker and a therapeutic target. Future research should focus on elucidating the causal relationships between mycobiome alterations and disease states, and further explore bacterial–fungal interactions within the gut ecosystem.

Purpose: Regenerative medicine is expected to offer an alternative to liver transplantation for treating liver diseases in the future, with one significant challenge being the establishment of an effective stem cell administration route. This study assessed the antifibrogenic effects of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) in a liver fibrosis mouse model, focusing on 2 methods of delivery: intravenous injection and scaffold implantation. Methods: An extracellular matrix mimic scaffold was utilized for culturing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha–overexpressing ASCs (tASCs). These scaffolds, laden with tASCs, were then implanted subcutaneously in mice exhibiting liver fibrosis. In contrast, the Cell groups received biweekly intravenous injections of tASCs for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, tissue samples were harvested from the euthanized mice for subsequent analysis. Results: Real-time PCR and Western blot analyses on liver tissues, focusing on markers like alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), matrix metalloproteinase-2, and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), showed that both delivery routes substantially lowered fibrotic and inflammatory markers compared to controls (P < 0.05), with no significant differences between the routes. Histological examinations, along with immunohistochemical analysis of α-SMA, collagen type I alpha, and TGF-β1, revealed that the scaffold implantation approach resulted in a greater reduction in fibrosis and lower immunoreactivity for fibrotic markers than intravenous delivery (P < 0.05). Conclusion These findings indicate that delivering tASCs via a scaffold could be more effective, or at least similarly effective, in treating liver fibrosis compared to intravenous delivery. Scaffold implantation could offer a beneficial alternative to frequent intravenous treatments, suggesting its potential utility in clinical applications for liver disease treatment.