High-grade meningiomas make up a relatively minor proportion of meningiomas, which are one of the most common types of primary intracranial tumors in adults. Though rare, a considerable portion of highgrade meningiomas arise from malignant transformation of benign meningiomas. The 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) classification criteria introduced molecular markers in the diagnosis and grading of central nervous system (CNS) tumors and assigned certain genomic mutations to grade 3 meningiomas. We report a case of a 54-year-old male patient who underwent stepwise malignant transformation of meningioma from WHO grade 1 to grade 3 within 10 years, during the course of five surgeries followed by adjuvant stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy. We performed next-generation sequencing (NGS) on the most recent grade 3 meningioma specimen and found that it carried a telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter (TERTp) mutation (c.-124C>T) in accordance with the 2021 WHO criteria for grade 3 meningiomas. We then retrospectively examined the previous grade 1 and 2 specimens and found them to have the same mutation. We reviewed the significance of molecular markers in the diagnosis of meningiomas, possible genetic alterations associated with their malignant transformation, and what measures could be taken to effectively manage meningiomas considering NGS findings.

Background/Aims: H2 receptor antagonists (H2RA) have been used to treat gastritis by inhibiting gastric acid. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are more potent acid suppressants than H2RA.However, the efficacy and safety of low-dose PPI for treating gastritis remain unclear. The aim was to investigate the efficacy and safety of low-dose PPI for treating gastritis. Methods: A double-blind, noninferiority, multicenter, phase 3 clinical trial randomly assigned 476 patients with endoscopic erosive gastritis to a group using esomeprazole 10 mg (DW1903) daily and a group using famotidine 20 mg (DW1903R1) daily for 2 weeks. The full-analysis set included 319 patients (DW1903, n=159; DW1903R1, n=160) and the per-protocol set included 298 patients (DW1903, n=147; DW1903R1, n=151). The primary endpoint (erosion improvement rate) and secondary endpoint (erosion and edema cure rates, improvement rates of hemorrhage, erythema, and symptoms) were assessed after the treatment. Adverse events were compared. Results: According to the full-analysis set, the erosion improvement rates in the DW1903 and DW1903R1 groups were 59.8% and 58.8%, respectively. According to the per-protocol analysis, the erosion improvement rates in the DW1903 and DW1903R1 groups were 61.9% and 59.6%, respectively. Secondary endpoints were not significantly different between two groups except that the hemorrhagic improvement rate was higher in DW1903 with statistical tendency. The number of adverse events were not statistically different. Conclusions DW1903 of a low-dose PPI was not inferior to DW1903R1 of H2RA. Thus, lowdose PPI can be a novel option for treating gastritis (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05163756).

Background/Aims: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is a rare but potentially fatal infection. This study was conducted to investigate the risk factors for PJP in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Methods: This nationwide, population-based study was conducted in Korea using claims data.Cases of PJP were identified in patients diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn’s disease (CD) between 2010 and 2017, and the clinical data of each patient was analyzed. Dual and triple therapy was defined as the simultaneous prescription of two or three of the following drugs: steroids, calcineurin inhibitors, immunomodulators, and biologics. Results: During the mean follow-up period (4.6±2.3 years), 84 cases of PJP were identified in 39,462 IBD patients (31 CD and 53 UC). For CD patients, only age at diagnosis >40 years (hazard ratio [HR], 6.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.58 to 23.80) was significantly associated with the risk of PJP, whereas in UC patients, diagnoses of diabetes (HR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.19 to 5.31) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (HR, 3.41; 95% CI, 1.78 to 6.52) showed significant associations with PJP risk. Triple therapy increased PJP risk in both UC (HR, 3.90; 95% CI, 1.54 to 9.88) and CD patients (HR, 5.69; 95% CI, 2.32 to 14.48). However, dual therapy increased PJP risk only in UC patients (HR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.36 to 4.70). Additionally, 23 patients (27%) received intensive care treatment, and 10 (12%) died within 30 days. Conclusions PJP risk factors differ in CD and UC patients. Considering the potential fatality of PJP, prophylaxis should be considered for at-risk IBD patients

Background/Aims: Fexuprazan is a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker that could be of benefit to patients with gastric mucosal injury. The aim of this study was to assess the 2-week efficacy and safety of fexuprazan in patients with acute or chronic gastritis. Methods: In this study, 327 patients with acute or chronic gastritis who had one or more gastric erosions on endoscopy and subjective symptoms were randomized into three groups receiving fexuprazan 20 mg once a day (q.d.), fexuprazan 10 mg twice a day (b.i.d.), or placebo for 2 weeks. The posttreatment assessments were the primary endpoint (erosion improvement rate), secondary endpoints (cure rates of erosion and edema and improvement rates of redness, hemorrhage, and subjective symptoms), and drug-related adverse events. Results: Among the patients, 57.8% (59/102), 65.7% (67/102), and 40.6% (39/96) showed erosion improvement 2 weeks after receiving fexuprazan 20 mg q.d., fexuprazan 10 mg b.i.d., and placebo, respectively. Both fexuprazan 20 mg q.d. and 10 mg b.i.d. showed superior efficacy to the placebo (p=0.017 and p<0.001, respectively). Likewise, both fexuprazan 20 mg q.d. and 10 mg b.i.d. also showed higher erosion healing rates than the placebo (p=0.033 and p=0.010, respectively). No difference was noted in the edema healing rate and the improvement rates for redness, hemorrhage, and subjective symptoms between the fexuprazan and placebo groups.No significant difference was noted in the incidence of adverse drug reactions. Conclusions Fexuprazan 20 mg q.d. and 10 mg b.i.d. for 2 weeks showed therapeutic efficacy superior to that of placebo in patients with acute or chronic gastritis (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04341454).

Objective: Mood instability (MI) is a clinically significant trait associated with psychiatric disorders. However, there are no concise measurements to evaluate MI. The initial Mood Instability Questionnaire-Trait (MIQ-T) was developed to fill this gap. The current study aimed to create a short form of MIQ-T (MIQ-T-SF) that measures MI with high validity and reliability in the Korean general population. Methods: Of the 59 items in the MIQ-T, 17 items were chosen for the MIQ-T-SF following the factor analysis process. In total, 540 participants completed the MIQ-T-SF. Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega were used to evaluate reliability. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to determine construct validity. Concurrent validity was confirmed via comparisons with Personality Assessment Inventory-Borderline Features Scale. Measurement invariance across gender and age groups was confirmed before analyzing differences in scores using Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: The MIQ-T-SF displayed expected correlations and high internal consistency (α=0.71–0.90, Ωt=0.72–0.92). Using EFA and CFA, a five-factor structure was confirmed. Measurement invariance was supported, and gender differences were observed. Conclusion The MIQ-T-SF is an accurate and reliable method to detect MI in the Korean general population. The study’s results offer new perspectives for future studies on MI.

Background and Objectives: We compared the efficacy and safety of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSC), delivered at different doses and via different injection routes in an animal model of chronic kidney disease. Methods: and Results: A total of ninety 12-week-old rats underwent 5/6 nephrectomy and randomized among nine groups: sham, renal artery control (RA-C), tail vein control (TV-C), renal artery low dose (RA-LD) (0.5×10 6 cells), renal artery moderate dose (RA-MD) (1.0×10 6 cells), renal artery high dose (RA-HD) (2.0×10 6 cells), tail vein low dose (TV-LD) (0.5×10 6 cells), tail vein moderate dose (TV-MD) (1.0×10 6 cells), and tail vein high dose (TV-HD) (2.0×10 6 cells). Renal function and mortality of rats were evaluated after hBMSC injection. Serum blood urea nitrogen was significantly lower in the TV-HD group at 2 weeks (p＜0.01), 16 weeks (p＜0.05), and 24 weeks (p＜0.01) than in the TV-C group, as determined by one-way ANOVA. Serum creatinine was significantly lower in the TV-HD group at 24 weeks (p＜0.05). At 8 weeks, creatinine clearance was significantly higher in the TV-MD and TV-HD groups (p＜0.01, p＜0.05) than in the TV-C group. In the safety evaluation, we observed no significant difference among the groups. Conclusions Our findings confirm the efficacy and safety of high dose (2×10 6 cells) injection of hBMSC via the tail vein.

Here, we report a rare case of L3 chordoma progressed to an intradural extramedullary (IDEM) mass and distant metastasis to the fascia lata. A 64-year old female patient presented to a local university hospital due to back pain and received excisional biopsy for a L3 destructive bony lesion. Local radiation therapy was initially administered, assuming a malignancy of unknown origin, but she developed cerebrospinal fluid leakage during adjuvant radiation therapy, which was managed by wound revision and lumbar drainage. As the destructive lesion progressed, she visited our hospital for a second opinion 3 months after the biopsy. After review of outside pathology, we diagnosed the lesion to be a chordoma, and performed a L3 corpectomy with cage and plate fixation. One and a half years later, positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET-CT) revealed a right tensor fascia lata hypermetabolic lesion. Excisional biopsy confirmed a distant metastasis of the chordoma. One year later, she complained of L2 radiating pain. PET-CT and CT myelogram revealed an IDEM lesion. Surgical excision confirmed the transdural invasion of the chordoma. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an iatrogenic IDEM invasion and distant metastasis to the tensor of the fascia lata by a L3 chordoma.

Objective: Mood disorder and borderline personality pathology (BPP) are frequently comorbid and relate to childhood trauma. We investigated the relationship between childhood trauma and BPP features in mood disorder patients versus controls. Methods: A total of 488 mood disorder patients, particularly major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar I disorder (BD I), and bipolar II disorder (BD II), and 734 controls were included. We examined between-group BPP-related differences and correlated between BPP and childhood trauma using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ) and the Personality Assessment Inventory–Borderline Features Scale. Results: BD II patients showed significantly higher BPP. Emotional abuse and neglect were prominently associated with BPP, while affective instability and negative relationships exhibited a stronger association with childhood trauma. We also found a positive relationship between childhood trauma and BPP in MDD, BD I, and BD II patients. Conclusion The findings of the present study imply that BPP features are more likely to be found in patients with BD II than BD I or MDD. Mood disorder patients with severe childhood trauma may have higher BPP features. Thus, further study of the relationship between childhood trauma and BPP features could improve the therapeutic approaches and help understand patients with mood disorders.

Background/Aims: Combination therapy with immunomodulators (IMMs) was proposed as a strategy to prevent the development of loss of response (LOR) to anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the effect is unclear in patients already exposed to IMMs. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether combination therapy with IMMs is superior to monotherapy for prevention of LOR to anti-TNF. Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients in Seoul National University Bundang Hospital with IBD between January 2009 and October 2018. LOR was defined as clinical deterioration after maintenance of anti-TNF for at least 6 months. We investigated the difference in incidence of LOR to anti-TNF between the monotherapy and combination groups. We additionally assessed factors affecting LOR development to anti-TNF. Results: A total of 116 patients with IBD were included in this study (monotherapy 61 patients; combination 55 patients). Overall, LOR to anti-TNF occurred in 31 patients during the follow-up period. The combination of an anti-TNF agent and IMM showed no significant difference in the incidence of LOR compared to anti-TNF agent monotherapy (hazard ratio [HR], 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.786 to 3.148; p = 0.182). Female sex was significantly associated with the development of LOR to anti-TNF (HR, 3.032; 95% CI, 1.467 to 6.268; p = 0.003). Conclusions Anti-TNF and IMM combination therapy did not prove efficacious in preventing the development of LOR in IBD patients. Female sex was associated with the development of LOR to anti-TNF; further studies are required to confirm these results.