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.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a disorder characterized by repeated emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms before menstruation, and the exact cause and mechanism are uncertain. Hyperprolactinemia interferes with the normal production of estrogen and progesterone, leading to PMS symptoms. Thus, we judged that the inhibition of prolactin hypersecretion could mitigate PMS symptoms.MATERIALS/METHODS: Hordeum vulgare L. extract (HVE), Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum extract (CZE), and Lomens-P0 the mixture of these extracts were tested in subsequent experiments. The effect of extracts on prolactin secretion at the in vitro level was measured in GH3 cells. Nitric oxide and pro-inflammatory mediator expression were measured in RAW 264.7 cells to confirm the anti-inflammatory effect. Also, the hyperprolactinemic Institute for Cancer Research (ICR) mice model was used to measure extract effects on prolactin and hormone secretion and uterine inflammation. RESULTS: Anti-inflammatory effects of and prolactin secretion suppress by HVE and CZE were confirmed through in vitro experiments (P < 0.05). Treatment with Lomens-P0 inhibited prolactin secretion (P < 0.05) and restored normal sex hormone secretion in the hyperprolactinemia mice model. In addition, extracts significantly inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory biomarkers, including interleukin-1β, and -6, tumor necrosis factor-α, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and cyclooxygenase-2 (P < 0.01). We used high-performance liquid chromatography analyses to identify tricin and chlorogenic acid as the respective components of HVE and CZE that inhibit prolactin secretion. The Lomens-P0, which includes tricin and chlorogenic acid, is expected to be effective in improving PMS symptoms in the human body. CONCLUSIONS The Lomens-P0 suppressed the prolactin secretion in hyperprolactinemia mice, normalized the sex hormone imbalance, and significantly suppressed the expression of inflammatory markers in uterine tissue. This study suggests that Lomens-P0 may have the potential to prevent or remedy materials to PMS symptoms.

The long setting time of dental MTA (Mineral Trioxide Aggregate) cement is a major disadvantage in clinical use. In this study, the setting time (ST) of nine commercial MTA cements was tested according to the ISO 6876:2012 standard (n = 5).Materials evaluated were ProRoot MTA (PR), Ortho MTA (Ortho), Retro MTA (Retro), Endocem MTA (Endocem), Endoseal MTA (Endoseal), One-Fil (OF), MTA Cem (MC), EZ-Seal (EZ), and Biodentine (BD). XRD and XRF analysis were performed to evaluate the effect of composition on ST. Kruskal-Wallis test as a non-parametric ANOVA followed by Duncan’s post hoc test was used for statistical analysis. The ST was PR > EZ > OF > Ortho > Retro > MC > Endoseal > BD > Endocem in decreasing order (p < 0.001). PR showed the longest (369.4 min) and Endocem showed the shortest (2.4 min) ST. Endocem (2.4 min), BD (16.0 min) and Endoseal (47.0 min) contained calcium carbonate. MC (48.8 min), Retro (43.6 min), Ortho (65.0), and OF (165.4 min), which had the next short setting time, contained dicalcium aluminate. In EZ (182.4 min), dicalcium silicate was the main crystalline phase rather than tricalcium silicate, which contributes to the early strength, and it contained calcium sulfate. Endocem, which showed the shortest setting time, showed the smallest d90 particle size of 6.12 µm. The information obtained from this study would be helpful in developing a composition for controlling the setting time of MTA cement and selecting a product with a setting time suitable for each clinical case.

The long setting time of dental MTA (Mineral Trioxide Aggregate) cement is a major disadvantage in clinical use. In this study, the setting time (ST) of nine commercial MTA cements was tested according to the ISO 6876:2012 standard (n = 5).Materials evaluated were ProRoot MTA (PR), Ortho MTA (Ortho), Retro MTA (Retro), Endocem MTA (Endocem), Endoseal MTA (Endoseal), One-Fil (OF), MTA Cem (MC), EZ-Seal (EZ), and Biodentine (BD). XRD and XRF analysis were performed to evaluate the effect of composition on ST. Kruskal-Wallis test as a non-parametric ANOVA followed by Duncan’s post hoc test was used for statistical analysis. The ST was PR > EZ > OF > Ortho > Retro > MC > Endoseal > BD > Endocem in decreasing order (p < 0.001). PR showed the longest (369.4 min) and Endocem showed the shortest (2.4 min) ST. Endocem (2.4 min), BD (16.0 min) and Endoseal (47.0 min) contained calcium carbonate. MC (48.8 min), Retro (43.6 min), Ortho (65.0), and OF (165.4 min), which had the next short setting time, contained dicalcium aluminate. In EZ (182.4 min), dicalcium silicate was the main crystalline phase rather than tricalcium silicate, which contributes to the early strength, and it contained calcium sulfate. Endocem, which showed the shortest setting time, showed the smallest d90 particle size of 6.12 µm. The information obtained from this study would be helpful in developing a composition for controlling the setting time of MTA cement and selecting a product with a setting time suitable for each clinical case.

Abstract: Edible offal is easily contaminated by Escherichia coli (E. coli) and fluoroquinolone (FQ)-resistant E. coli is considered a serious public health problem, thus, this study investigated the genetic characteristics of FQ-resistant E. coli from edible offal. A total of 22 FQ-resistant E. coli isolates were tested. A double mutation in each gyrA and parC led the highest MIC. Four (18.2%) isolates carried plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes. The fimH, eaeA, escV, astA, and iucC genes were confirmed. Seventeen isolates (77.3%) were positive for plasmid replicons. The isolates showed high genetic heterogeneity based on pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns.