Background: Chronic pain significantly affects daily activities, mental health, and the interpersonal relationships of patients. Consequently, physicians use various treatments to manage pain. This study investigated the perceptions of treatment, accompanying symptoms, and other problems in patients with chronic pain. Methods: The authors enrolled patients with chronic pain from 19 university hospitals in South Korea. Data was collected on age, gender, diagnosis, disease duration, severity of pain, perception of pain treatment, and accompanying symptoms or problems using an anonymous survey comprising 19 questions. Results: In total, 833 patients with chronic pain completed the survey, and 257 (31.0%) and 537 (64.5%) patientsexpressed concerns about the potential adverse effects of medication and opioid addiction, respectively. Personalitychanges such as irritability or anger were the most frequent accompanying symptoms in 507 (63.8%) patients, followed by depression and sleep disturbance in 462 (58.1%) and 450 (54.5%) patients, respectively. Depression (P = 0.001) and anxiety (P = 0.029) were more common among women, whereas divorce (P = 0.016), family conflict (P < 0.001), unemployment (P < 0.001), suicide attempts (P < 0.001), and restrictions on economic activity (P < 0.001) were more common among men. The frequency of accompanying symptoms, except for suicidal ideation,was higher in the younger patients aged ≤ 40 years than in the older patients aged > 40 years. Conclusions Many patients with chronic pain had concerns about adverse effects or medication tolerance and experienced anxiety, depression, or sleep disturbances. The prevalence of accompanying problems varies according to age and gender.

Background: and Purpose: Plasma biomarkers, including phosphorylated tau (ptau217), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and neurofilament light chain (NfL), are promising tools for detecting Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology. However, cross-laboratory reproducibility remains a challenge, even when using identical analytical platforms such as single-molecule array (Simoa). This study aimed to compare plasma biomarker measurements (ptau217, GFAP, and NfL) between 2 laboratories, the University of Gothenburg (UGOT) and DNAlink, and evaluate their associations with amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Methods: Plasma biomarkers were measured using Simoa platforms at both laboratories:the UGOT and DNAlink Incorporation. Diagnostic performance for predicting amyloid PET positivity, cross-laboratory agreement, and the impact of normalization techniques were assessed. Bland-Altman plots and correlation analyses were employed to evaluate agreement and variability. Results: Plasma ptau217 concentrations exhibited strong correlations with amyloid PET global centiloid values, with comparable diagnostic performance between laboratories (area under the curve=0.94 for UGOT and 0.95 for DNAlink). Cross-laboratory agreement for ptau217 was excellent (r=0.96), improving further after natural log transformation. GFAP and NfL also demonstrated moderate to strong correlations (r=0.86 for GFAP and r=0.99 for NfL), with normalization reducing variability. Conclusions Plasma biomarker measurements were consistent across laboratories using identical Simoa platforms, with strong diagnostic performance and improved agreement after normalization. These findings support the scalability of plasma biomarkers for multicenter studies and underscore their potential for standardized applications in AD research and clinical practice.

Purpose: Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for CLDN18.2-expressing gastric cancer (GC). We sought to examine the heterogeneity of CLDN18.2 expression between primary GC (PGC) and metastatic GC (MGC) using various scoring methods. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 102 patients with pathologically confirmed paired primary and metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas. CLDN18.2 expression was evaluated through immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples. We assessed CLDN18.2 positivity using multiple scoring approaches, including the immunoreactivity score, H-score, and the percentage of tumor cells showing moderate-to-strong staining intensity. We analyzed the concordance rates between PGC and MGC and the association of CLDN18.2 positivity with clinicopathological features. Results: CLDN18.2 positivity varied from 25% to 65% depending on the scoring method, with PGC consistently showing higher expression levels than MGC. Intratumoral heterogeneity was noted in 25.5% of PGCs and 19.6% of MGCs. Intertumoral heterogeneity, manifesting as discordance in CLDN18.2 positivity between PGC and MGC, was observed in about 20% of cases, with moderate agreement across scoring methods (κ=0.47 to 0.60).In PGC, higher CLDN18.2 positivity correlated with synchronous metastasis, presence of peritoneal metastasis, poorly differentiated grade, and biopsy specimens. In MGC, positivity was associated with synchronous metastasis, presence of peritoneal metastasis, and metastatic peritoneal tissues. Conclusions CLDN18.2 expression demonstrates significant heterogeneity between PGC and MGC, with a 20% discordance rate. Comprehensive tissue sampling and reassessment of CLDN18.2 status are crucial, especially before initiating CLDN18.2-targeted therapies.

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: This study aims to evaluate the accuracy and effectiveness of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthrocentesis using the three-dimensional (3D)-printed TMJ injection guide in cases of hemarthrosis caused by condyle fractures. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for patients treated with the customized TMJ arthrocentesis guide to address hemarthrosis. Inclusion criteria included adults older than 18 years with condylar fractures not indicated for open reduction and internal fixation. The guide was fabricated using computed tomography or cone-beam computed tomography scans and 3D printing to control the degree and depth of the needle through the guide to aspirate hemarthrosis. Results: Six joints from five patients (average age 52.4 years) were treated using the guide. Post-procedural magnetic resonance imaging confirmed complete resolution of hemarthrosis in all cases. A representative case demonstrated successful outcomes with normal healing and no complications at 8 months post-procedure. Conclusion The customized TMJ injection guide, using ear-based reference points, significantly enhances the accuracy and safety of TMJ arthrocentesis. This innovation is expected to increase the accessibility and effectiveness of TMJ-related treatments for clinicians without specialized TMJ expertise.

Purpose: 11C-Methionine PET/CT is a promising method for detecting parathyroid lesions in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). We aimed to determine the diagnostic ability and correlation of digital 11C-Methionine PET/CT for parathyroid lesions in patients with PHPT, particularly in cases where standard imaging methods yielded inconclusive results. Methods: This retrospective analysis was conducted on patients diagnosed with PHPT who underwent digital 11C-Methionine PET/CT imaging because of ambiguous results on standard imaging work-up ( 99m Tc-MIBI parathyroid scan and/or neck ultrasonography). Quantitative 11C-Methionine PET/CT parameters, including maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), mean SUV (SUVmean), peak SUV (SUVpeak), parathyroid methionine volume (PMV), and whole methionine uptake(WMU: PMV multiplied by SUVmean) were calculated with various thresholds, and their correlations with biochemical andpathologic parameters were investigated. Results: This study included 22 consecutive patients (10 men and 12 women) with a median age of 64.0 years. The lesion detection rate and sensitivity of digital 11C-Methionine PET/CT were 81.8% (18/22) and 100.0% (18/18), respectively.Quantitative analysis revealed that serum PTH (r = 0.490, P = 0.039) and serum calcium (r = 0.583, P = 0.011) were signifi-cantly correlated with PMV50%. Conclusion Digital 11C-Methionine PET/CT offers good performance in the detection of parathyroid lesions in PHPT patients with inconclusive standard imaging work-up. The volume parameter of PMV50% significantly correlated biochemi-cal parameters and can serve as a complementary diagnostic tool.

RESULTS: Resveratrol significantly reduced cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling in aging hearts. In addition, resveratrol significantly ameliorated aging-induced mitochondrial dysfunction (e.g., decreased oxygen respiration and increased hydrogen peroxide emission) and mitochondria-dependent apoptotic signaling (the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening sensitivity, and cleaved caspase-3 protein levels).Resveratrol also significantly attenuated aging-induced apoptosis (determined via cleaved caspase-3 staining and TUNEL-positive myonuclei) in cardiac muscles. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that resveratrol treatment has a beneficial effect on aging-induced cardiac remodeling by ameliorating mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibiting mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in the heart.

Purpose: 11C-Methionine PET/CT is a promising method for detecting parathyroid lesions in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). We aimed to determine the diagnostic ability and correlation of digital 11C-Methionine PET/CT for parathyroid lesions in patients with PHPT, particularly in cases where standard imaging methods yielded inconclusive results. Methods: This retrospective analysis was conducted on patients diagnosed with PHPT who underwent digital 11C-Methionine PET/CT imaging because of ambiguous results on standard imaging work-up ( 99m Tc-MIBI parathyroid scan and/or neck ultrasonography). Quantitative 11C-Methionine PET/CT parameters, including maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), mean SUV (SUVmean), peak SUV (SUVpeak), parathyroid methionine volume (PMV), and whole methionine uptake(WMU: PMV multiplied by SUVmean) were calculated with various thresholds, and their correlations with biochemical andpathologic parameters were investigated. Results: This study included 22 consecutive patients (10 men and 12 women) with a median age of 64.0 years. The lesion detection rate and sensitivity of digital 11C-Methionine PET/CT were 81.8% (18/22) and 100.0% (18/18), respectively.Quantitative analysis revealed that serum PTH (r = 0.490, P = 0.039) and serum calcium (r = 0.583, P = 0.011) were signifi-cantly correlated with PMV50%. Conclusion Digital 11C-Methionine PET/CT offers good performance in the detection of parathyroid lesions in PHPT patients with inconclusive standard imaging work-up. The volume parameter of PMV50% significantly correlated biochemi-cal parameters and can serve as a complementary diagnostic tool.

RESULTS: Resveratrol significantly reduced cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling in aging hearts. In addition, resveratrol significantly ameliorated aging-induced mitochondrial dysfunction (e.g., decreased oxygen respiration and increased hydrogen peroxide emission) and mitochondria-dependent apoptotic signaling (the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening sensitivity, and cleaved caspase-3 protein levels).Resveratrol also significantly attenuated aging-induced apoptosis (determined via cleaved caspase-3 staining and TUNEL-positive myonuclei) in cardiac muscles. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that resveratrol treatment has a beneficial effect on aging-induced cardiac remodeling by ameliorating mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibiting mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in the heart.