Purpose: We aimed to investigate how genetic predisposition to drinking and gastric cancer (GC) modifies the association between alcohol consumption and GC risk in the Korean population. Materials and Methods: Polygenic risk scores for GC (PRS-GC) and alcohol consumption (PRS-Alcohol) were formulated using genome-wide association results from BioBank Japan. Validation was performed using Korean cohorts (SNUBH-GENIE cohort), incorporating 8,846 controls and 531 patients with GC. Subsequently, these PRSs were applied to an independent Korean cohort of 67,771 participants, including 313 patients with GC during the follow-up for 14 years (KoGES cohort). Results: In KoGES cohort, the influence of alcohol consumption on GC risk was significantly altered by the PRS-GC and exhibited a synergistic interaction effect. PRS-Alcohol itself shows a negative correlation with GC risk. However, when actual alcohol consumption significantly exceeded genetically predicted levels, the risk of alcohol-related GC was notably increased (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.01 to 1.72). Heavy drinkers in the high–PRS-GC/low–PRS-Alcohol group had a 2.16 times higher risk of GC than non-to-light drinkers, which was prominent in males. Conclusion Korean drinkers with higher PRS-GC who consume alcohol more than genetically predicted levels are susceptible to GC. PRS-GC and PRS-Alcohol may be beneficial for assessing the impact of alcohol consumption on GC risk in Koreans.

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from bone marrow (BM), adipose tissue (AD), and umbilical cord (UC) exhibit therapeutic potential in regenerative medicine. However, their properties, including transcriptomic profiles, vary based on tissue origin, passage stage, and isolation method, complicating their clinical standardization.Addressing these unresolved differences requires comprehensive approaches, such as RNA sequencing, to analyze transcriptomic profiles in detail. METHODS: In this study, RNA-seq was employed to analyze MSC transcriptomes from BM, AD, and UC tissues. UC MSCs were isolated using enzymatic digestion or the Minimal Cube Explant (MCE) method (smumf cells), and transcriptomes of early (P3–4) and late (P10) passages of smumf cells were compared. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, followed by transcription factor (TF) and pathway analyses. RESULTS: Fetal MSCs (UC and smumf cells) exhibited distinct transcriptomic profiles compared to adult MSCs (BM and AD), with 2,208 upregulated and 2,594 downregulated DEGs. Key transcription factors, such as E2F1 and NF-jB1, and pathways, including glycolysis, cholesterol biosynthesis, and TNF-a signaling, were enriched in fetal MSCs. smumf cells demonstrated transcriptomic stability between early and late passages, with only 12 DEGs identified. Additionally, smumf cells showed enhanced innate immune responses and cholesterol metabolism compared to enzymatically isolated UC MSCs. CONCLUSION This study provides a comprehensive transcriptomic comparison of MSCs, highlighting the superior transcriptional stability, immunomodulatory capacity, and metabolic flexibility of fetal MSCs, particularly smumf cells. These findings underscore their potential as a reliable cell source for therapeutic applications and encourage further exploration of their clinical application.

Purpose: Retroperitoneal (RP) abscess is a rare condition with poor prognosis, unclear etiology, characteristics, and treatment. This study compared transperitoneal and RP approach methods in the treatment of RP abscess. Methods: There were 45 patients with RP abscess diagnosed at Inha University Hospital from January 2014 to August 2018, of which 22 patients with 2 RP zones and systemic inflammatory response syndrome were included. Characteristics, etiology, laboratory and radiological findings, surgical technique, complications, and total number of hospital days were examined. Patients were assigned to either the transperitoneal (TP) or RP approach group. Results: There were 22 patients with RP abscess who were treated with surgical drainage using either the TP (n = 13) or RP (n = 9) approach. There was no difference in characteristics between the 2 groups. The number of reinterventions in the RP group (n = 6) was more than in the TP group (n = 4; p = 0.02). Mortality in the TP group (n = 5) was higher than in the RP group (n = 1; p < 0.01). The total mean number of hospital days in the RP group (mean: 76, range: 29-180 days) was more than in the TP group (mean: 58, range: 18-280 days, p = 0.03). Conclusion RP abscess requires rapid drainage using the TP or RP approach. Reintervention events and number of hospital days in the RP group was greater than the TP group; however, mortality in the RP group was lower than in the TP group.

Purpose: Retroperitoneal (RP) abscess is a rare condition with poor prognosis, unclear etiology, characteristics, and treatment. This study compared transperitoneal and RP approach methods in the treatment of RP abscess. Methods: There were 45 patients with RP abscess diagnosed at Inha University Hospital from January 2014 to August 2018, of which 22 patients with 2 RP zones and systemic inflammatory response syndrome were included. Characteristics, etiology, laboratory and radiological findings, surgical technique, complications, and total number of hospital days were examined. Patients were assigned to either the transperitoneal (TP) or RP approach group. Results: There were 22 patients with RP abscess who were treated with surgical drainage using either the TP (n = 13) or RP (n = 9) approach. There was no difference in characteristics between the 2 groups. The number of reinterventions in the RP group (n = 6) was more than in the TP group (n = 4; p = 0.02). Mortality in the TP group (n = 5) was higher than in the RP group (n = 1; p < 0.01). The total mean number of hospital days in the RP group (mean: 76, range: 29-180 days) was more than in the TP group (mean: 58, range: 18-280 days, p = 0.03). Conclusion RP abscess requires rapid drainage using the TP or RP approach. Reintervention events and number of hospital days in the RP group was greater than the TP group; however, mortality in the RP group was lower than in the TP group.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cognitive training programs on the progression of dementia in patients with early stage Alzheimer’s disease dementia (ADD) at the day care center. Methods: From January 2015 to December 2018, a total of 119 patients with early ADD were evaluated. All subjects were classified into two groups according to participate in cognitive training program in addition to usual standard clinical care. Changes in scores for minimental status examination-dementia screening (MMSE-DS) and clinical dementia rating-sum of boxes (CDR-SOB) during the 12 months were compared between two groups. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: As compared to case-subjects (n=43), the MMSE-DS and CDR-SOB scores were significantly worse at 12 months in the control-subjects (n=76). A statistically significant difference between the two groups was observed due to changes in MMSE-DS (p=0.012) and CDR-SOB (p<0.001) scores. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the cognitive training program (odds ratio and 95% confidence interval: 0.225, 0.070–0.725) was independently associated with less progression of ADD. Conclusion The cognitive training program was associated with benefits in maintaining cognitive function for patients with earlystage ADD that were receiving medical treatment.