Purpose: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a particularly aggressive subtype of breast cancer, with approximately 30% of patients eventually developing brain metastases (BM), which result in poor outcomes. An understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TME) at both primary and metastatic sites offers insights into the mechanisms underlying BM and potential therapeutic targets. Materials and Methods: Spatial RNA sequencing (spRNA-seq) was performed on primary TNBC and paired BM tissues from three patients, one of whom had previously received immune checkpoint inhibitors before BM diagnosis. Specimen regions were categorized into tumor, proximal, and distal TME based on their spatial locations. Gene expression differences across these zones were analyzed, and immune cell infiltration was estimated using TIMER. A gene module analysis was conducted to identify key gene clusters associated with BM. Results: Distinct gene expression profiles were noted in the proximal and distal TMEs. In BM, the proximal TME exhibited neuronal gene expression, suggesting neuron-tumor interactions compared to tumor, and upregulation of epithelial genes compared to the distal TME. Immune cell analysis revealed dynamic changes in CD8+ T cells and macrophages across the tumor and TME zones. Gene module analysis identified five key modules, including one related to glycolysis, which correlated with patient survival. Drug repurposing analysis identified potential therapeutic targets, including VEGFA, RAC1, EGLN3, and CAMK1D. Conclusion This study provides novel insights into the transcriptional landscapes in TNBC BM using spRNA-seq, emphasizing the role of neuron-tumor interactions and immune dynamics. These findings suggest new therapeutic strategies and underscore the importance of further research.

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.

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.

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.

Background: This study investigates the association between serum iron levels and frequency-specific hearing loss in Korean female population, a topic previously unexplored in auditory health research. Methods: This study enrolled Korean female participants from the general population. Serum iron levels and hearing thresholds at low (1 kHz) and high (4 kHz) frequencies were assessed, adjusting for potential confounders. Participants were stratified into quartiles based on serum iron levels. Results: The mean age of the study population was 51.1 ± 10.1 years. Among the 2,987 participants, 344 (11.5%) had abnormal low-frequency hearing thresholds, and 719 (24.1%) had abnormal high-frequency thresholds. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated a significant negative association between serum iron levels and low-frequency hearing thresholds (β = –0.012, p = 0.017), whereas no significant association was observed with high-frequency thresholds (β = –0.006, p = 0.352). In a stratified analysis using 50 years (the average menopausal age) as a cutoff, no statistically significant association was identified in participants younger than 50 years. However, in those aged 50 years and older, the negative association between serum iron levels and low-frequency hearing thresholds remained statistically significant. Conclusions This study is the first to identify an association between serum iron levels and low-frequency hearing loss in females aged 50 years and older, underscoring the potential role of iron in auditory function. These findings highlight the importance of further research in diverse populations to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and broader clinical implications.

Background: Stem cell-based therapy is one of the tools for acute kidney injury (AKI) treatment. Tonsil tissue is a promising alternative source for the high-yield isolation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of tonsil-derived MSCs (T-MSCs) in animal model of AKI induced by gentamicin (GM). Methods: Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: Control, GM (70 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneal injection for 10 days), GM + T-MSCs (1 × 107 cells, intravenous injection at 1 day after the last vehicle/GM), and T-MSCs. Renal function, apoptosis, and markers of endoplasmic reticulum stress were measured on day 16 after the first vehicle/GM. Oxidative stress was assessed by measuring urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and the expression of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase. Effects of T-MSCs on GM-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress in NRK cells were also evaluated using a co-culture technique of NRK cells and T-MSC. Results: In the GM + T-MSCs group, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and tubular damage score were lower compared to the GM group. T-MSCs injection decreased apoptotic cells and the expression of Bax, cytochrome c, and cleaved caspase and increased Bcl-2. T-MSC injection decreased urinary 8-OHdG and increased expression of GPx and catalase in the kidneys. Anti-human nuclei and PKH26 staining demonstrated the localization of T-MSCs in the tubules of renal cortex. In-vitro study revealed that T-MSCs or T-MSC-conditioned media ameliorated GM-induced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase-1 expression, hydrogen peroxide generation, and apoptosis of NRK cells. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that T-MSCs ameliorated GM-induced AKI by directly incorporating into the damaged renal tubules and exerting antiapoptotic and antioxidative effects.

Background: and Purpose: Choline alfoscerate (CA) is an acetylcholine precursor known for its beneficial effect on cognition in patient with Alzheimer’s disease dementia (ADD).However, there is little evidence of its effects in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We assessed the influence of CA on the progression from MCI to all-cause dementia or ADD in three observational Korean databases using a Common Data Model (CDM). Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with MCI and were aged over 60 years were included.After propensity score matching, 3,062 matched pairs patients using CA use and those not using CA were included. The Cox regression model was used to analyze the hazard ratio (HR) of CA use for conversion from MCI to all-cause dementia or ADD. Subgroup analyses were performed based on sex, acetylcholine esterase inhibitor (AchEI) use, and donepezil use. Results: A meta-analysis across three hospitals revealed that CA use was not associated with the progression from MCI to all-cause dementia (hazard ratio [HR], 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59–1.26) or ADD (HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.51–1.59). Subgroup analyses revealed that CA use was not related to progression to all-cause dementia or ADD when stratified by sex, AchEI use, and donepezil use. Conclusions In this multicenter cohort study based on the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership CDM real-world data, no association was noted between CA use and disease progression from MCI to all-cause dementia or ADD.