Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers in both Korea and worldwide. Since 2004, the Korean Practice Guidelines for Gastric Cancer have been regularly updated, with the 4th edition published in 2022. The 4th edition was the result of a collaborative work by an interdisciplinary team, including experts in gastric surgery, gastroenterology, endoscopy, medical oncology, abdominal radiology, pathology, nuclear medicine, radiation oncology, and guideline development methodology. The current guideline is the 5th version, an updated version of the 4th edition. In this guideline, 6 key questions (KQs) were updated or proposed after a collaborative review by the working group, and 7 statements were developed, or revised, or discussed based on a systematic review using the MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and KoreaMed database. Over the past 2 years, there have been significant changes in systemic treatment, leading to major updates and revisions focused on this area.Additionally, minor modifications have been made in other sections, incorporating recent research findings. The level of evidence and grading of recommendations were categorized according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. Key factors for recommendation included the level of evidence, benefit, harm, and clinical applicability. The working group reviewed and discussed the recommendations to reach a consensus. The structure of this guideline remains similar to the 2022 version.Earlier sections cover general considerations, such as screening, diagnosis, and staging of endoscopy, pathology, radiology, and nuclear medicine. In the latter sections, statements are provided for each KQ based on clinical evidence, with flowcharts supporting these statements through meta-analysis and references. This multidisciplinary, evidence-based gastric cancer guideline aims to support clinicians in providing optimal care for gastric cancer patients.

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers in both Korea and worldwide. Since 2004, the Korean Practice Guidelines for Gastric Cancer have been regularly updated, with the 4th edition published in 2022. The 4th edition was the result of a collaborative work by an interdisciplinary team, including experts in gastric surgery, gastroenterology, endoscopy, medical oncology, abdominal radiology, pathology, nuclear medicine, radiation oncology, and guideline development methodology. The current guideline is the 5th version, an updated version of the 4th edition. In this guideline, 6 key questions (KQs) were updated or proposed after a collaborative review by the working group, and 7 statements were developed, or revised, or discussed based on a systematic review using the MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and KoreaMed database. Over the past 2 years, there have been significant changes in systemic treatment, leading to major updates and revisions focused on this area.Additionally, minor modifications have been made in other sections, incorporating recent research findings. The level of evidence and grading of recommendations were categorized according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. Key factors for recommendation included the level of evidence, benefit, harm, and clinical applicability. The working group reviewed and discussed the recommendations to reach a consensus. The structure of this guideline remains similar to the 2022 version.Earlier sections cover general considerations, such as screening, diagnosis, and staging of endoscopy, pathology, radiology, and nuclear medicine. In the latter sections, statements are provided for each KQ based on clinical evidence, with flowcharts supporting these statements through meta-analysis and references. This multidisciplinary, evidence-based gastric cancer guideline aims to support clinicians in providing optimal care for gastric cancer patients.

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers in both Korea and worldwide. Since 2004, the Korean Practice Guidelines for Gastric Cancer have been regularly updated, with the 4th edition published in 2022. The 4th edition was the result of a collaborative work by an interdisciplinary team, including experts in gastric surgery, gastroenterology, endoscopy, medical oncology, abdominal radiology, pathology, nuclear medicine, radiation oncology, and guideline development methodology. The current guideline is the 5th version, an updated version of the 4th edition. In this guideline, 6 key questions (KQs) were updated or proposed after a collaborative review by the working group, and 7 statements were developed, or revised, or discussed based on a systematic review using the MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and KoreaMed database. Over the past 2 years, there have been significant changes in systemic treatment, leading to major updates and revisions focused on this area.Additionally, minor modifications have been made in other sections, incorporating recent research findings. The level of evidence and grading of recommendations were categorized according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. Key factors for recommendation included the level of evidence, benefit, harm, and clinical applicability. The working group reviewed and discussed the recommendations to reach a consensus. The structure of this guideline remains similar to the 2022 version.Earlier sections cover general considerations, such as screening, diagnosis, and staging of endoscopy, pathology, radiology, and nuclear medicine. In the latter sections, statements are provided for each KQ based on clinical evidence, with flowcharts supporting these statements through meta-analysis and references. This multidisciplinary, evidence-based gastric cancer guideline aims to support clinicians in providing optimal care for gastric cancer patients.

Rare endocrine diseases are complex conditions that require lifelong specialized care due to their chronic nature and associated long-term complications. In Korea, a lack of nationwide data on clinical practice and outcomes has limited progress in patient care. Therefore, the Multicenter Networks for Ideal Outcomes of Pediatric Rare Endocrine and Metabolic Disease (OUTSPREAD) study was initiated. This study involves 30 centers across Korea. The study aims to improve the long-term prognosis of Korean patients with rare endocrine diseases by collecting comprehensive clinical data, biospecimens, and patient-reported outcomes to identify complications and unmet needs in patient care. Patients with childhood-onset pituitary, adrenal, or gonadal disorders, such as craniopharyngioma, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), and Turner syndrome were prioritized. The planned enrollment is 1,300 patients during the first study phase (2022–2024). Clinical, biochemical, and imaging data from diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up during 1980–2023 were retrospectively reviewed. For patients who agreed to participate in the prospective cohort, clinical data and biospecimens will be prospectively collected to discover ideal biomarkers that predict the effectiveness of disease control measures and prognosis. Patient-reported outcomes, including quality of life and depression scales, will be evaluated to assess psychosocial outcomes. Additionally, a substudy on CAH patients will develop a steroid hormone profiling method using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to improve diagnosis and monitoring of treatment outcomes. This study will address unmet clinical needs by discovering ideal biomarkers, introducing evidence-based treatment guidelines, and ultimately improving long-term outcomes in the areas of rare endocrine and metabolic diseases.

Purpose: To assess the combined therapeutic effects of topical rebamipide 2% and hyaluronic acid 0.15% in managing dry eye symptoms following cataract surgery. Methods: Patients who underwent cataract surgery (phacoemulsification with intraocular lens insertion) were assessed for dry eye one week following the procedure. Dry eye patients were randomly assigned to two groups: a treatment group receiving rebamipide 2% and hyaluronic acid 0.15% eye drops, and a control group who did not receive these treatments. Various dry eye tests, including Schirmer’s test, tear break up time (TBUT), ocular surface staining, tear film osmolarity, tear lipid layer thickness, and the ocular surface disease index, were conducted at one and two months after surgery. Results: Significant improvements in TBUT (1 month: p < 0.001; 2 months: p < 0.001) and ocular surface staining scores (1 month: p = 0.001; 2 months: p < 0.001) were observed in the treatment group at both one and two months after surgery compared to baseline. During the follow-up period, the treatment group consistently showed significantly longer TBUT (p < 0.001 at both intervals) and lower ocular surface staining scores (1 month: p = 0.007; 2 months: p < 0.001) when compared to the control group. Conclusions The combined application of rebamipide and hyaluronic acid eye drops following cataract surgery effectively improved TBUT and ocular surface staining scores.

Purpose: To report a case of corneal ulcer caused by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia monomicrobial infection in an otherwise healthy patient, devoid of underlying medical conditions or predisposing factors.Case summary: A 48-year-old male patient, who was normally healthy without a history of systemic disease, eye trauma, and eye surgery, presented with acute left eye pain that had manifested one day prior. Ophthalmic examination revealed conjunctival injection, corneal edema, and localized corneal ulceration in the left eye. Suspecting infectious keratitis, diagnostic procedures including gram staining, bacterial and fungal cultures, and antibiotic susceptibility testing were promptly instituted. Bacterial culture identified S. maltophilia, prompting an eight-week course of topical gatifloxacin therapy. The subsequent clinical course exhibited improvement, with lingering corneal haziness and the restoration of visual acuity to 1.0. Conclusion The case featuring the single detection of S. maltophilia, known to cause hospital-acquired opportunistic infections, emphasizes the importance of culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing in the treatment of keratitis. Remarkably, in a patient with a normal immune status and in the absence of factors predisposing to S. maltophilia infections, there were no discernible causative factors damaging the ocular surface environment.

Rare endocrine diseases are complex conditions that require lifelong specialized care due to their chronic nature and associated long-term complications. In Korea, a lack of nationwide data on clinical practice and outcomes has limited progress in patient care. Therefore, the Multicenter Networks for Ideal Outcomes of Pediatric Rare Endocrine and Metabolic Disease (OUTSPREAD) study was initiated. This study involves 30 centers across Korea. The study aims to improve the long-term prognosis of Korean patients with rare endocrine diseases by collecting comprehensive clinical data, biospecimens, and patient-reported outcomes to identify complications and unmet needs in patient care. Patients with childhood-onset pituitary, adrenal, or gonadal disorders, such as craniopharyngioma, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), and Turner syndrome were prioritized. The planned enrollment is 1,300 patients during the first study phase (2022–2024). Clinical, biochemical, and imaging data from diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up during 1980–2023 were retrospectively reviewed. For patients who agreed to participate in the prospective cohort, clinical data and biospecimens will be prospectively collected to discover ideal biomarkers that predict the effectiveness of disease control measures and prognosis. Patient-reported outcomes, including quality of life and depression scales, will be evaluated to assess psychosocial outcomes. Additionally, a substudy on CAH patients will develop a steroid hormone profiling method using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to improve diagnosis and monitoring of treatment outcomes. This study will address unmet clinical needs by discovering ideal biomarkers, introducing evidence-based treatment guidelines, and ultimately improving long-term outcomes in the areas of rare endocrine and metabolic diseases.

Purpose: To assess the combined therapeutic effects of topical rebamipide 2% and hyaluronic acid 0.15% in managing dry eye symptoms following cataract surgery. Methods: Patients who underwent cataract surgery (phacoemulsification with intraocular lens insertion) were assessed for dry eye one week following the procedure. Dry eye patients were randomly assigned to two groups: a treatment group receiving rebamipide 2% and hyaluronic acid 0.15% eye drops, and a control group who did not receive these treatments. Various dry eye tests, including Schirmer’s test, tear break up time (TBUT), ocular surface staining, tear film osmolarity, tear lipid layer thickness, and the ocular surface disease index, were conducted at one and two months after surgery. Results: Significant improvements in TBUT (1 month: p < 0.001; 2 months: p < 0.001) and ocular surface staining scores (1 month: p = 0.001; 2 months: p < 0.001) were observed in the treatment group at both one and two months after surgery compared to baseline. During the follow-up period, the treatment group consistently showed significantly longer TBUT (p < 0.001 at both intervals) and lower ocular surface staining scores (1 month: p = 0.007; 2 months: p < 0.001) when compared to the control group. Conclusions The combined application of rebamipide and hyaluronic acid eye drops following cataract surgery effectively improved TBUT and ocular surface staining scores.

Rare endocrine diseases are complex conditions that require lifelong specialized care due to their chronic nature and associated long-term complications. In Korea, a lack of nationwide data on clinical practice and outcomes has limited progress in patient care. Therefore, the Multicenter Networks for Ideal Outcomes of Pediatric Rare Endocrine and Metabolic Disease (OUTSPREAD) study was initiated. This study involves 30 centers across Korea. The study aims to improve the long-term prognosis of Korean patients with rare endocrine diseases by collecting comprehensive clinical data, biospecimens, and patient-reported outcomes to identify complications and unmet needs in patient care. Patients with childhood-onset pituitary, adrenal, or gonadal disorders, such as craniopharyngioma, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), and Turner syndrome were prioritized. The planned enrollment is 1,300 patients during the first study phase (2022–2024). Clinical, biochemical, and imaging data from diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up during 1980–2023 were retrospectively reviewed. For patients who agreed to participate in the prospective cohort, clinical data and biospecimens will be prospectively collected to discover ideal biomarkers that predict the effectiveness of disease control measures and prognosis. Patient-reported outcomes, including quality of life and depression scales, will be evaluated to assess psychosocial outcomes. Additionally, a substudy on CAH patients will develop a steroid hormone profiling method using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to improve diagnosis and monitoring of treatment outcomes. This study will address unmet clinical needs by discovering ideal biomarkers, introducing evidence-based treatment guidelines, and ultimately improving long-term outcomes in the areas of rare endocrine and metabolic diseases.

Purpose: To assess the combined therapeutic effects of topical rebamipide 2% and hyaluronic acid 0.15% in managing dry eye symptoms following cataract surgery. Methods: Patients who underwent cataract surgery (phacoemulsification with intraocular lens insertion) were assessed for dry eye one week following the procedure. Dry eye patients were randomly assigned to two groups: a treatment group receiving rebamipide 2% and hyaluronic acid 0.15% eye drops, and a control group who did not receive these treatments. Various dry eye tests, including Schirmer’s test, tear break up time (TBUT), ocular surface staining, tear film osmolarity, tear lipid layer thickness, and the ocular surface disease index, were conducted at one and two months after surgery. Results: Significant improvements in TBUT (1 month: p < 0.001; 2 months: p < 0.001) and ocular surface staining scores (1 month: p = 0.001; 2 months: p < 0.001) were observed in the treatment group at both one and two months after surgery compared to baseline. During the follow-up period, the treatment group consistently showed significantly longer TBUT (p < 0.001 at both intervals) and lower ocular surface staining scores (1 month: p = 0.007; 2 months: p < 0.001) when compared to the control group. Conclusions The combined application of rebamipide and hyaluronic acid eye drops following cataract surgery effectively improved TBUT and ocular surface staining scores.