Objectives: In this study, we aimed to compare the genetic architecture of schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) in a Korean population by analyzing polygenic risk scores (PRS) derived from large-scale psychiatric disorder genome-wide association study data, based on genetic information collected from SCZ, BD, and healthy control groups. Methods: The study included 713 Korean patients with SCZ, 1,317 with BD, 526 healthy controls. Genotyping was performed using the Korean Biobank Array. PRS-continuous shrinkage method was used to calculate the PRS. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted to determine the association between SCZ or BD disorder and PRS after adjusting for sex. Results: ANCOVA revealed significant differences in PRS values by diagnosis for PRS for SCZ (F=215.281, p<0.001), PRS for BD (F=13.811, p<0.001), and PRS for major depressive disorder (F=6.042, p=0.002). Post-hoc analysis showed that PRS for SCZ was highest in SCZ, followed by BD, and healthy controls. PRS for BD was elevated in both BD and SCZ compared to healthy controls. Conclusion Our study revealed quantitative differences in genetic architecture between SCZ and BD compared to healthy controls, while also suggesting a shared genetic background between the two disorders.

Background: Obesity and weight loss are associated with increased mortality. Understanding the association between weight change and mortality is critical and can help inform effective prevention and intervention strategies. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between weight change and mortality based on body mass index (BMI) intervals using data from a 12-year follow-up survey in Korea. Methods: We used data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging from 2006 to 2018. Individuals aged 45–69 years without a history of malignancy and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at baseline were selected. Cox regression analysis was used to compare mortality based on body mass index and weight change. Results: Compared with individuals with a body mass index of 20.0–25.0 kg/m2 and an increase in body weight of <5 kg, mortality was 3.8 times higher in the group with a body mass index of <20.0 kg/m2 and a weight loss of <5 kg, two times higher in the group with a body mass index of 20.0–25.0 kg/m2 and weight loss of >10 kg, and 4.3 times higher in the group with a body mass index of ≥25.0 kg/m2 and weight gain of ≥10 kg. Conclusions Weight loss in underweight or normal-weight individuals and weight gain in individuals with obesity increased the mortality rate compared with individuals with normal weight and less weight change. This suggests that body weight and the changes in the weight of individuals are crucial, and weight loss in patients with underweight and weight gain in patients with obesity are closely related to increased mortality.

Anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) antibody disease is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by autoantibodies directed against antigens within the GBM, primarily affecting the kidneys and lungs. This severe form of glomerulonephritis has an incidence of less than two cases per million individuals with crescentic glomerulonephritis. The coexistence of immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy and anti-GBM disease is rare. Here, we present a case of concurrent anti-GBM antibody disease and IgA nephropathy. A 49-year-old male presented with fever, azotemia, proteinuria, and hematuria. Biopsy of the kidney revealed crescentic glomerulonephritis with linear IgG deposition along the GBM and IgA deposition in the mesangium. Elevated serum levels of anti-GBM antibody (311 U/mL) confirmed the diagnosis of concurrent anti-GBM antibody disease and IgA nephropathy. Despite treatment with methylprednisolone, cyclophosphamide, and plasma exchange, renal function deteriorated, necessitating hemodialysis.

Background: Obesity and weight loss are associated with increased mortality. Understanding the association between weight change and mortality is critical and can help inform effective prevention and intervention strategies. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between weight change and mortality based on body mass index (BMI) intervals using data from a 12-year follow-up survey in Korea. Methods: We used data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging from 2006 to 2018. Individuals aged 45–69 years without a history of malignancy and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at baseline were selected. Cox regression analysis was used to compare mortality based on body mass index and weight change. Results: Compared with individuals with a body mass index of 20.0–25.0 kg/m2 and an increase in body weight of <5 kg, mortality was 3.8 times higher in the group with a body mass index of <20.0 kg/m2 and a weight loss of <5 kg, two times higher in the group with a body mass index of 20.0–25.0 kg/m2 and weight loss of >10 kg, and 4.3 times higher in the group with a body mass index of ≥25.0 kg/m2 and weight gain of ≥10 kg. Conclusions Weight loss in underweight or normal-weight individuals and weight gain in individuals with obesity increased the mortality rate compared with individuals with normal weight and less weight change. This suggests that body weight and the changes in the weight of individuals are crucial, and weight loss in patients with underweight and weight gain in patients with obesity are closely related to increased mortality.

Anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) antibody disease is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by autoantibodies directed against antigens within the GBM, primarily affecting the kidneys and lungs. This severe form of glomerulonephritis has an incidence of less than two cases per million individuals with crescentic glomerulonephritis. The coexistence of immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy and anti-GBM disease is rare. Here, we present a case of concurrent anti-GBM antibody disease and IgA nephropathy. A 49-year-old male presented with fever, azotemia, proteinuria, and hematuria. Biopsy of the kidney revealed crescentic glomerulonephritis with linear IgG deposition along the GBM and IgA deposition in the mesangium. Elevated serum levels of anti-GBM antibody (311 U/mL) confirmed the diagnosis of concurrent anti-GBM antibody disease and IgA nephropathy. Despite treatment with methylprednisolone, cyclophosphamide, and plasma exchange, renal function deteriorated, necessitating hemodialysis.

Background: Obesity and weight loss are associated with increased mortality. Understanding the association between weight change and mortality is critical and can help inform effective prevention and intervention strategies. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between weight change and mortality based on body mass index (BMI) intervals using data from a 12-year follow-up survey in Korea. Methods: We used data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging from 2006 to 2018. Individuals aged 45–69 years without a history of malignancy and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at baseline were selected. Cox regression analysis was used to compare mortality based on body mass index and weight change. Results: Compared with individuals with a body mass index of 20.0–25.0 kg/m2 and an increase in body weight of <5 kg, mortality was 3.8 times higher in the group with a body mass index of <20.0 kg/m2 and a weight loss of <5 kg, two times higher in the group with a body mass index of 20.0–25.0 kg/m2 and weight loss of >10 kg, and 4.3 times higher in the group with a body mass index of ≥25.0 kg/m2 and weight gain of ≥10 kg. Conclusions Weight loss in underweight or normal-weight individuals and weight gain in individuals with obesity increased the mortality rate compared with individuals with normal weight and less weight change. This suggests that body weight and the changes in the weight of individuals are crucial, and weight loss in patients with underweight and weight gain in patients with obesity are closely related to increased mortality.

Anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) antibody disease is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by autoantibodies directed against antigens within the GBM, primarily affecting the kidneys and lungs. This severe form of glomerulonephritis has an incidence of less than two cases per million individuals with crescentic glomerulonephritis. The coexistence of immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy and anti-GBM disease is rare. Here, we present a case of concurrent anti-GBM antibody disease and IgA nephropathy. A 49-year-old male presented with fever, azotemia, proteinuria, and hematuria. Biopsy of the kidney revealed crescentic glomerulonephritis with linear IgG deposition along the GBM and IgA deposition in the mesangium. Elevated serum levels of anti-GBM antibody (311 U/mL) confirmed the diagnosis of concurrent anti-GBM antibody disease and IgA nephropathy. Despite treatment with methylprednisolone, cyclophosphamide, and plasma exchange, renal function deteriorated, necessitating hemodialysis.

Background: In patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), sites of metastatic involvement have been reported to be associated with a difference in survival. However, the frequency and survival according to different sites of metastases in Korean patients with mRCC remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the frequency of metastatic site involvement and the association between sites of metastatic involvement and survival in Korean patients with mRCC. Methods: This retrospective study used the multicenter cohort of the Korean Renal Cancer Study Group mRCC database to identify patients who started targeted therapy between December 2005 and March 2018. Data on the frequency of metastatic organ involvement at the time of mRCC diagnosis and oncologic outcomes according to different sites of metastasis were analyzed. Results: A total of 1,761 patients were eligible for analysis. Of the 1,761 patients, 1,564 (88.8%) had clear cell RCC, and 1,040 (59.1%) had synchronous metastasis. The median number of metastasis sites was 2 (interquartile range [IQR], 1–6). The median age at the initiation of systemic therapy was 60 years (IQR, 29–88), 1,380 (78.4%) were men, and 1,341 (76.1%) underwent nephrectomy. Based on the International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium model, patients were stratified into favorable-, intermediate-, and poor-risk groups with 359 (20.4%), 1,092 (62.0%), and 310 (17.6%) patients, respectively. The lung (70.9%), lymph nodes (37.9%), bone (30.7%), liver (12.7%), adrenal gland (9.8%), and brain (8.2%) were the most common sites of metastasis, followed by the pancreas, pleura, peritoneum, spleen, thyroid, and bowel. Among the most common sites of metastasis (> 5%), the median cancer-specific survival (CSS) ranged from 13.9 (liver) to 29.1 months (lung). An association was observed between liver, bone, and pleural metastases and the shortest median CSS (< 19 months). Conclusion In Korean patients with mRCC, metastases to the lung, lymph nodes, bone, liver, adrenal gland, and brain were more frequent than those to other organs. Metastases to the liver, bone, and pleura were associated with poor CSS. The findings of this study may be valuable for patient counseling and guiding future study designs.

Background: In patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), sites of metastatic involvement have been reported to be associated with a difference in survival. However, the frequency and survival according to different sites of metastases in Korean patients with mRCC remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the frequency of metastatic site involvement and the association between sites of metastatic involvement and survival in Korean patients with mRCC. Methods: This retrospective study used the multicenter cohort of the Korean Renal Cancer Study Group mRCC database to identify patients who started targeted therapy between December 2005 and March 2018. Data on the frequency of metastatic organ involvement at the time of mRCC diagnosis and oncologic outcomes according to different sites of metastasis were analyzed. Results: A total of 1,761 patients were eligible for analysis. Of the 1,761 patients, 1,564 (88.8%) had clear cell RCC, and 1,040 (59.1%) had synchronous metastasis. The median number of metastasis sites was 2 (interquartile range [IQR], 1–6). The median age at the initiation of systemic therapy was 60 years (IQR, 29–88), 1,380 (78.4%) were men, and 1,341 (76.1%) underwent nephrectomy. Based on the International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium model, patients were stratified into favorable-, intermediate-, and poor-risk groups with 359 (20.4%), 1,092 (62.0%), and 310 (17.6%) patients, respectively. The lung (70.9%), lymph nodes (37.9%), bone (30.7%), liver (12.7%), adrenal gland (9.8%), and brain (8.2%) were the most common sites of metastasis, followed by the pancreas, pleura, peritoneum, spleen, thyroid, and bowel. Among the most common sites of metastasis (> 5%), the median cancer-specific survival (CSS) ranged from 13.9 (liver) to 29.1 months (lung). An association was observed between liver, bone, and pleural metastases and the shortest median CSS (< 19 months). Conclusion In Korean patients with mRCC, metastases to the lung, lymph nodes, bone, liver, adrenal gland, and brain were more frequent than those to other organs. Metastases to the liver, bone, and pleura were associated with poor CSS. The findings of this study may be valuable for patient counseling and guiding future study designs.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes based on the ligation level of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) in patients with rectal cancer. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database that included all patients who underwent elective low anterior resection for rectal cancer between January 2013 and December 2019. The clinical outcomes included oncological outcomes, postoperative complications, and functional outcomes. The oncological outcomes included overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). The functional outcomes, including defecatory and urogenital functions, were analyzed using the Fecal Incontinence Severity Index, International Prostate Symptom Score, and International Index of Erectile Function questionnaires. Results: In total, 545 patients were included in the analysis. Of these, 244 patients underwent high ligation (HL), whereas 301 underwent low ligation (LL). The tumor size was larger in the HL group than in the LL group. The number of harvested lymph nodes (LNs) was higher in the HL group than in the LL group. There were no significant differences in complication rates and recurrence patterns between the groups. There were no significant differences in 5-year RFS and OS between the groups. Cox regression analysis revealed that the ligation level (HL vs. LL) was not a significant risk factor for oncological outcomes. Regarding functional outcomes, the LL group showed a significant recovery in defecatory function 1 year postoperatively compared with the HL group. Conclusion LL with LNs dissection around the root of the IMA might not affect the oncologic outcomes comparing to HL; however, it has minimal benefit for defecatory function.