Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare the detection ability of quality of life (QoL) changes and responsiveness of the KOrean QUality of life in Stomach cancer patients Study group (KOQUSS)-40 and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ). Materials and Methods: A multicenter prospective observational study was conducted to evaluate QoL changes after various gastrectomies between January 2021 and April 2022. Participants were instructed to complete the KOQUSS-40 and EORTC QLQ-C30/STO22 preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. QoL changes over time and QoL responsiveness were assessed for each questionnaire. Results: Data from 491 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer at 22 institutions were analyzed. The summary scores of the KOQUSS-40 and EORTC QLQ-STO22 showed significant differences between the total and proximal gastrectomy groups (p=0.044 and p=0.038, respectively), but no difference was observed for the EORTC QLQ-C30. Dysphagia on the KOQUSS-40 was significantly different between the total and proximal gastrectomy groups (p=0.031); however, dysphagia on the EORTC QLQ-STO22 did not differ. The responsiveness of the KOQUSS-40 was similar to that of the EORTC QLQ in patients who experienced ≥ 10% body weight loss, but approximately 10% less in patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy than the EORTC QLQ. Conclusion KOQUSS-40 has several advantages over EORTC QLQ-C30/STO22 when comparing QoL between the total and proximal gastrectomy groups. The findings provide information for researchers investigating the QoL of patients who have undergone curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Cervical foraminal lipoma is a rare cause of cervical radiculopathy. We report the case of a 47-year-old woman who presented with a 1-year history of right arm pain and paresthesia that was refractory to conservative treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a well-defined mass within the right C5-6 neural foramen, causing compression of the exiting C6 nerve root. The patient underwent microsurgical excision via posterior cervical laminoforaminotomy. Intraoperatively, a lipomatous mass compressing the nerve root was identified and completely removed. Histopathological examination confirmed a benign lipoma. Postoperatively, the patient experienced marked symptomatic improvement, with no recurrence of symptoms at a 6-month follow-up. Although it is uncommon, cervical foraminal lipoma should be considered in patients with persistent radiculopathy and atypical imaging findings, and surgical excision can provide favorable clinical outcomes.

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: 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: 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.

Constipation is a common gastrointestinal disorder and is often accompanied by alteration in the gut microbiota. Recently, several studies have disclosed its association with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality in the general population. Despite the high prevalence of constipation, data on the clinical impact of constipation in patients with chronic kidney disease are limited. We aimed to explore the prevalence of constipation and its association with cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease using a nationally representative cohort of hemodialysis patients. Methods: This study used hemodialysis quality assessment and health insurance claims data from patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis in South Korea. Chronic constipation was defined using the total number of laxatives prescribed during the 1-year baseline period. The primary outcome was a composite of acute ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, myocardial infarction, or all-cause death. Secondary outcomes were the individual components of the primary outcome. Results: Among 35,230 patients on hemodialysis, 9,133 (25.9%) were identified as having constipation. During a median follow-up of 5.4 years, patients with constipation had a 15% higher incidence of the composite outcome, 16% higher incidence of ischemic stroke, and 14% higher all-cause mortality, after multivariate adjustment. Conclusion: Chronic constipation requiring laxatives was associated with a higher risk of the composite outcome of cardiovascular events or all-cause death in patients on hemodialysis. Further studies are needed to confirm whether constipation is an independent predictor or a possible causal factor of cardiovascular disease.

Background and Objectives: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a treatment option for patients with heart failure and left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony. However, one-third of CRT patients are non-responders. The objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of an in silico electromechanical heart model to predict CRT outcomes. Methods: The three-dimensional heart geometries of 11 patients (age, 64.0 ± 10.7 years, 4 men) with CRT were constructed from cardiac computed tomography images. The finite element method was used to simulate the electrical wave propagation and mechanics in the heart. We coupled cardiac electrical excitation and mechanical contraction with vascular hemodynamics using a lumped parameter model. We predicted the LV end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) after CRT implantation using the in silico CRT simulation model. A CRT responder was defined as a patient with an absolute LVEF increase ≥ 5%. We compared the in silico CRT outcomes with the real CRT outcomes. Results: Two patients were in silico CRT responders, and those 2 patients were also real CRT responders. Nine patients were in silico CRT non-responders, 8 who were real CRT non-responders, and 1 who was a real CRT responder. The in silico CRT outcomes agreed with the real CRT outcomes in 10 of 11 patients. The positive and negative predictive values, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the in silico CRT model were 100%, 88.9%, 90.9%, 66.7%, and 100%, respectively. Conclusion The in silico CRT simulation model is feasible for predicting real CRT outcomes.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the clinical burden, a critical determinant of medication adherence in patients with schizophrenia, after the administration of Aripiprazole once-monthly (AOM). Methods: This study was a retrospective, non-interventional, multicenter, naturalistic observational study conducted through the analysis of participants’ electronic medical records. Study participants were recruited from eight sites. Data were collected at baseline, defined as the time of AOM administration, and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months thereafter. The primary outcome measure was the change in the Clinical Global Impression-Clinical Benefit (CGI-CB) score over 12 months, and the secondary outcome measure was the change in the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) score. Results: The data of 139 participants were analyzed, revealing a statistically significant decrease of 26.8% in CGI-CB scores and 13.4% in CGI-I scores over 12 months. Upon comparison between adjacent visit intervals, significant reductions were observed for both measures between month 3 and month 6. Conclusions This study is the first multicenter investigation to simultaneously evaluate the clinical efficacy and tolerability of transitioning to AOM in the context of polypharmacy. The study suggested that AOM may contribute to reducing the clinical burden, thereby improving the quality of life for patients with schizophrenia.

This case report presents a treatment for a patient with idiopathic condylar resorption, characterized by mandibular condyle resorption, skeletal Class II malocclusion, and an open bite. The patient underwent total temporomandibular joint (TMJ) replacement to improve TMJ function and enhance facial aesthetics, as well as to extrude the lower posterior teeth to maintain the increased vertical dimension of occlusion. These procedures successfully replaced the mandibular condyle and fossa with TMJ prosthetics, stabilizing jaw function and allowing for improved occlusion. This report discusses the considerations and stability associated with TMJ replacement in a patient with idiopathic condylar resorption.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether head posture affects three-dimensional (3D) facial images. This study evaluated facial images of 10 mannequins, which are taken from standard postures, left and right rotations, and up and down rotations. The images with changed head posture were superimposed onto standard head posture image, and the difference between the two images was used to evaluate deformations in images with the changed head postures. The 3D facial images showed considerable differences depending on different head positions.