Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) serves as an anticancer drug for bladder cancer by enhancing the innate immune response and facilitating the expression of beta-defensin-2/-3. BCG is significantly more effective than other treatment modalities; however, it has limitations due to the nonspecific secretion of immune proteins such as interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IFN-γ, necessitating frequent injections that result in toxicity. The newly developed BCG-cell wall skeleton (BCG-CWS) is intended to address the non-specificity and the requirement for repeated treatments associated with BCG. BCG-CWS stimulates antigen-presenting cells by secreting cytokines such as IL-12, using an adjuvant to enhance the immune response and synergize with it to provoke a potent immune reaction. Nevertheless, BCG-CWS encounters issues related to cellular uptake due to the substantial molecular weight of the drug.To meet this challenge, various strategies such as the introduction of R8 protein, the liposome evaporated via an emulsified lipid method, and nanoparticle formulation have been employed which can enhance targeted drug delivery, though issues related to particle size remain unresolved. This paper aims to discuss future perspectives by examining the mechanisms and challenges of BCG-CWS.

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.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) serves as an anticancer drug for bladder cancer by enhancing the innate immune response and facilitating the expression of beta-defensin-2/-3. BCG is significantly more effective than other treatment modalities; however, it has limitations due to the nonspecific secretion of immune proteins such as interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IFN-γ, necessitating frequent injections that result in toxicity. The newly developed BCG-cell wall skeleton (BCG-CWS) is intended to address the non-specificity and the requirement for repeated treatments associated with BCG. BCG-CWS stimulates antigen-presenting cells by secreting cytokines such as IL-12, using an adjuvant to enhance the immune response and synergize with it to provoke a potent immune reaction. Nevertheless, BCG-CWS encounters issues related to cellular uptake due to the substantial molecular weight of the drug.To meet this challenge, various strategies such as the introduction of R8 protein, the liposome evaporated via an emulsified lipid method, and nanoparticle formulation have been employed which can enhance targeted drug delivery, though issues related to particle size remain unresolved. This paper aims to discuss future perspectives by examining the mechanisms and challenges of BCG-CWS.

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.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) serves as an anticancer drug for bladder cancer by enhancing the innate immune response and facilitating the expression of beta-defensin-2/-3. BCG is significantly more effective than other treatment modalities; however, it has limitations due to the nonspecific secretion of immune proteins such as interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IFN-γ, necessitating frequent injections that result in toxicity. The newly developed BCG-cell wall skeleton (BCG-CWS) is intended to address the non-specificity and the requirement for repeated treatments associated with BCG. BCG-CWS stimulates antigen-presenting cells by secreting cytokines such as IL-12, using an adjuvant to enhance the immune response and synergize with it to provoke a potent immune reaction. Nevertheless, BCG-CWS encounters issues related to cellular uptake due to the substantial molecular weight of the drug.To meet this challenge, various strategies such as the introduction of R8 protein, the liposome evaporated via an emulsified lipid method, and nanoparticle formulation have been employed which can enhance targeted drug delivery, though issues related to particle size remain unresolved. This paper aims to discuss future perspectives by examining the mechanisms and challenges of BCG-CWS.

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.

Visuosocial memory is defined as stored visual information containing social context. Primates have a powerful ability to associate visuosocial memory with episodic memory. However, the existence of visuosocial memory in mice remains unclear. Here, we design a novel vision-specific social memory test using a portrait picture or mirrored self-image and demonstrate that mice can distinguish conspecific from other species by forming a visuosocial memory. Because CA2 hippocampus has been reported as a critical brain region for social memory, we develop CA2-specific blockade of memory formation through deletion of phospholipase C gamma 1 (PLCγ1), which is a key molecule in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling pathway. Interestingly, these mice have intact sociability but impaired social memory in three chamber test and five-trial social memory test, which is highly dependent on visual information. Finally, PLCγ1 deletion in CA2 impairs visuosocial preference memory, but not avoidance memory, whereas non-social object recognition is intact. Our study proposes that mice have visuosocial memory, just as primates and humans.