Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare the detection ability of quality of life (QoL) changes and responsiveness of the KOrean QUality of life in Stomach cancer patients Study group (KOQUSS)-40 and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ). Materials and Methods: A multicenter prospective observational study was conducted to evaluate QoL changes after various gastrectomies between January 2021 and April 2022. Participants were instructed to complete the KOQUSS-40 and EORTC QLQ-C30/STO22 preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. QoL changes over time and QoL responsiveness were assessed for each questionnaire. Results: Data from 491 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer at 22 institutions were analyzed. The summary scores of the KOQUSS-40 and EORTC QLQ-STO22 showed significant differences between the total and proximal gastrectomy groups (p=0.044 and p=0.038, respectively), but no difference was observed for the EORTC QLQ-C30. Dysphagia on the KOQUSS-40 was significantly different between the total and proximal gastrectomy groups (p=0.031); however, dysphagia on the EORTC QLQ-STO22 did not differ. The responsiveness of the KOQUSS-40 was similar to that of the EORTC QLQ in patients who experienced ≥ 10% body weight loss, but approximately 10% less in patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy than the EORTC QLQ. Conclusion KOQUSS-40 has several advantages over EORTC QLQ-C30/STO22 when comparing QoL between the total and proximal gastrectomy groups. The findings provide information for researchers investigating the QoL of patients who have undergone curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

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: Isoquercitrin (IQ), a flavonoid with anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiallergic properties, exhibits dual effects on B16F10 melanoma cells by suppressing cell viability and inducing hyperpigmentation. This study investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying IQ-induced melanogenesis in vitro and in vivo, highlighting the potential of IQ in the treatment of vitiligo. Methods: B16F10 melanoma cells and zebrafish were treated with various IQ concentrations and melanogenesis was evaluated using western blotting, a tyrosinase activity assay, and microscopic observation. In addition, signaling pathway modulators and IQ were used to confirm the signaling pathways involved in IQ-induced melanogenesis. Results: IQ treatment of B16F10 melanoma cells enhanced tyrosinase activity and upregulated melanogenesis-associated proteins, including microphthalmia-associated transcription factor and tyrosinase, via the p38 and protein kinase A (PKA)/cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) signaling pathways. Cotreatment with pathway-specific inhibitors (SB203580 for p38 and H89 for PKA/CREB) attenuated melanogenesis, whereas forskolin (a PKA/CREB activator) enhanced melanogenesis, confirming the involvement of these signaling pathways. In zebrafish, IQ treatment significantly increased melanophore production in the dorsal region following hypopigmentation induction with 1-phenyl-2-thiourea. Similar to that in B16F10 melanoma cells, SB203580 and H89 suppressed IQ-induced pigmentation, whereas forskolin enhanced it. Conclusion These findings demonstrate that IQ promotes melanogenesis in vitro and in vivo through activation of the p38 and PKA/CREB signaling pathways, supporting its potential as a therapeutic agent for vitiligo.

A 7-year-old castrated male Persian cat presented with a cutaneous mass and an increase in serum amyloid A concentration. Fine needle aspirates of the mass indicated lymphoma, which was also the top differential diagnosis on histopathologic examinations. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic cells tested negative for anti-CD3, PAX5, CD20, and c-Kit, but positive for MUM1, CD79α, and CD138, suggesting extramedullary plasmacytoma. There were tumor-infiltrating non-neoplastic CD3+ T and CD20+ B cells. Practitioners should be aware of feline plasmacytoma characterized by lymphoma-like cytologic and histologic features. The present study is valuable in providing the first clinical evidence that proves the immunogenicity of feline plasmacytoma.

A 7-year-old castrated male Persian cat presented with a cutaneous mass and an increase in serum amyloid A concentration. Fine needle aspirates of the mass indicated lymphoma, which was also the top differential diagnosis on histopathologic examinations. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic cells tested negative for anti-CD3, PAX5, CD20, and c-Kit, but positive for MUM1, CD79α, and CD138, suggesting extramedullary plasmacytoma. There were tumor-infiltrating non-neoplastic CD3+ T and CD20+ B cells. Practitioners should be aware of feline plasmacytoma characterized by lymphoma-like cytologic and histologic features. The present study is valuable in providing the first clinical evidence that proves the immunogenicity of feline plasmacytoma.

A 7-year-old castrated male Persian cat presented with a cutaneous mass and an increase in serum amyloid A concentration. Fine needle aspirates of the mass indicated lymphoma, which was also the top differential diagnosis on histopathologic examinations. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic cells tested negative for anti-CD3, PAX5, CD20, and c-Kit, but positive for MUM1, CD79α, and CD138, suggesting extramedullary plasmacytoma. There were tumor-infiltrating non-neoplastic CD3+ T and CD20+ B cells. Practitioners should be aware of feline plasmacytoma characterized by lymphoma-like cytologic and histologic features. The present study is valuable in providing the first clinical evidence that proves the immunogenicity of feline plasmacytoma.

A 7-year-old castrated male Persian cat presented with a cutaneous mass and an increase in serum amyloid A concentration. Fine needle aspirates of the mass indicated lymphoma, which was also the top differential diagnosis on histopathologic examinations. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic cells tested negative for anti-CD3, PAX5, CD20, and c-Kit, but positive for MUM1, CD79α, and CD138, suggesting extramedullary plasmacytoma. There were tumor-infiltrating non-neoplastic CD3+ T and CD20+ B cells. Practitioners should be aware of feline plasmacytoma characterized by lymphoma-like cytologic and histologic features. The present study is valuable in providing the first clinical evidence that proves the immunogenicity of feline plasmacytoma.

Background: Coinfections with multiple nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) species have not been widely studied. We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes in patients with NTM-pulmonary disease (PD) caused by coinfection with multiple NTM species. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with NTM-PD at a tertiary referral hospital in Korea between March 2012 and December 2018. Coinfection was defined as two or more species of NTM pathogens isolated from the same respiratory specimen or different specimens within three months. Results: Among 1,009 patients with NTM-PD, 147 (14.6%) NTM coinfections were observed (average age 64.7 years, 69.4% women). NTM species were identified more frequently (median 6 vs. 3 times, P < 0.001) in the coinfection group than in the single species group, and follow-up duration was also longer in the coinfection group (median 44.9 vs. 27.1 months, P < 0.001). Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and M. abscessus and M. massiliense (MAB) were the dominant combinations (n = 71, 48.3%). For patients treated for over six months in the MAC plus MAB group (n = 31), sputum culture conversion and microbiological cure were achieved in 67.7% and 41.9% of patients, respectively. We divided the MAC plus MAB coinfection group into three subgroups according to the target mycobacteria; however, no statistical differences were found in the treatment outcomes. Conclusion In NTM-PD cases, a significant number of multiple NTM species coinfections occurred. Proper identification of all cultured NTM species through follow-up is necessary to detect multispecies coinfections. Further research is needed to understand the nature of NTM-PD in such cases.