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.

Objectives: To evaluate changes in probing depth, bleeding on probing, and three-dimensional plaque distribution after using an interdental brush for three months. Methods: This was a split-mouth design, examiner-blinded, randomized controlled trial. Fifteen patients were randomly assigned to use an interdental brush between their maxillary left or right 1st and 2nd premolar. They were instructed not to use an interdental brush on the opposite side for three months. Probing depth, bleeding on probing, bleeding on using an interdental brush, gingival recession, and plaque distribution were assessed at baseline and after three months. Results: After using an interdental brush for three months, 4.26±15.16% of plaque on interdental surfaces decreased. Bleeding on probing and bleeding on using an interdental brush also decreased by 16.67% and 40%, respectively. The size of interdental areas increased by 0.16 mm when using an interdental brush. There were no statistically significant changes in probing depth or gingival recession. Conclusions An interdental brush is an effective interdental cleaning aid that reduces interdental plaque and decreases inflammation of interdental soft tissues.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive treatment modality used as an alternative to surgery in patients with benign thyroid nodules, recurrent thyroid cancers (RTCs), and primary thyroid microcarcinomas. The Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology (KSThR) initially developed recommendations for the optimal use of RFA for thyroid tumors in 2009 and revised them in 2012 and 2017. As new meaningful evidence has accumulated since 2017 and in response to a growing global interest in the use of RFA for treating malignant thyroid lesions, the task force committee members of the KSThR decided to update the guidelines on the use of RFA for the management of RTCs based on a comprehensive analysis of current literature and expert consensus.

Symmetric drug-related intertriginous and flexural exanthema (SDRIFE) is a rare drug-induced skin reaction characterized by distinctive rashes. It presents as sharply demarcated erythema in “V” shape on the flexural areas such as the buttocks and the groin. Additionally, it can affect other flexural regions such as the axillae, popliteal fossae, and antecubital fossae. SDRIFE typically occurs within a few days following systemic drug exposure, without prior cutaneous sensitization. It is generally associated with a favorable prognosis with no systemic involvement. Consequently, treatment usually involves discontinuation of the offending drug and symptomatic management with antihistamines, with systemic corticosteroids rarely necessary. Herein, we report a case of severe SDRIFE that developed six weeks after denosumab administration and required long-term systemic corticosteroids.

Purpose: Pancreas transplantation (PT) is a definitive treatment for diabetes mellitus (DM), restoring endogenous insulin secretion and improving glycemic control. Despite its efficacy, PT is less common in South Korea compared to Western nations. This study aims to report the clinical outcomes of PT over 2 decades at a single center, focusing on surgical techniques, complications, and graft survival. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 69 PT recipients at Seoul National University Hospital between January 2002 and December 2023 was conducted. Data on recipient and donor demographics, surgical details, immunosuppressive regimens, and graft outcomes were collected. Graft survival was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis, with subgroup comparisons using the log-rank test. Graft failure was defined as graft removal, PT re-registration, insulin dependence exceeding 0.5 units/kg/day for more than 90 days, or patient death. Results: Among the 69 recipients, 50 (72.5%) had type 1 DM, and 18 (26.1%) had type 2 DM. Simultaneous pancreaskidney (SPK) transplantations comprised 84.1% (n = 58), and pancreas-after-kidney (PAK) transplantations accounted for 10.1%. The 1-year and 5-year death-censored pancreas graft survival rates were 92.7% and 89.6%, respectively, with no significant difference between SPK and PAK (P = 0.330). Graft failure occurred in 10 patients, primarily due to pancreatitis and rejection. Donor-related factors, particularly anoxic brain injury, were significantly associated with lower graft survival (P = 0.045). Conclusion PT outcomes in this cohort align with international standards, emphasizing the importance of donor selection and tailored immunosuppression. Expanding PT indications to include selective type 2 DM patients could benefit South Korea’s PT programs with adequate resource allocation.

Purpose: Neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) of the stomach are extremely rare, but fatal. However, our understanding of the genetic alterations in gastric NECs is limited. We aimed to evaluate genomic and clinicopathological characteristics of gastric NECs and mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas (MANECs). Materials and Methods: Fourteen gastric NECs, three gastric MANECs, and 1,381 gastric adenocarcinomas were retrieved from the departmental next-generation sequencing database between 2017 and 2022. Clinicopathological parameters and next-generation sequencing test results were retrospectively collected and reviewed. Results: Gastric NECs and MANECs frequently harbored alterations of TP53, RB1, SMARCA4, RICTOR, APC, TOP1, SLX4, EGFR, BRCA2, and TERT. In contrast, gastric adenocarcinomas exhibited alterations of TP53, CDH1, LRP1B, ARID1A, ERBB2, GNAS, CCNE1, NOTCH, and MYC. Mutations of AKT3, RB1, and SLX4; amplification of BRCA2 and RICTOR; and deletion of ADAMTS18, DDX11, KLRC3, KRAS, MAX, NFKBIA, NUDT7, and RB1 were significantly more frequent in gastric NECs and MANECs than in gastric adenocarcinomas. The presence of LRP1B mutation was significantly associated with longer overall survival (OS), whereas RB1 mutation and advanced TNM stage were associated with shorter OS. Conclusion We identified frequently mutated genes and potential predictors of survival in patients with gastric NECs and MANECs.