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.

Background: Peritoneal carcinomatosis is challenging to treat, with poor prognosis. Although pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) and hyperthermal PIPAC (HPIPAC) aim to improve patients’ quality of life, there is a potential risk of antineoplastic drug exposure to healthcare workers during surgery. This study evaluates the risk of oxaliplatin exposure among healthcare workers during PIPAC and HPIPAC compared to systemic intravenous chemotherapy (IV). Methods: Oxaliplatin was administered to a swine model via IV, PIPAC, and HPIPAC in the operating room. Surface samples (n = 484) were collected from the operating room and personal protective equipment (PPE), while air samples (n = 144) were taken near the respiratory tract. Platinum, as an indicator of oxaliplatin, was measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results: Platinum was undetectable in 98.6% of the air samples, except one PIPAC leakage case. Surface contamination occurred in 8.7% of room samples and 13.9% of PPE, with gloves being most affected.Platinum contamination was also found on instruments like endoscope cameras and injectors, and cross-contamination on floors and injectors before PIPAC indicated suboptimal cleaning. No platinum was detected in the experimenter’s blood and urine. Conclusion Airborne platinum exposure was minimal when no drug leakage occurred, but surface contamination, particularly on gloves and instruments, highlighted the need for stringent protective measures to reduce occupational exposure risk. Although the possibility of inhalation exposure was low and there are no legal exposure standards for oxaliplatin, precautions should be taken to avoid potential exposure.

Background: Intravenous (IV) fluid therapy is essential and widely used; however, it is associated with high error rates, largely due to human factors, necessitating constant and careful monitoring by medical staff. Gravity-based systems are prone to errors, whereas electronic pumps, though more accurate, are limited by size, cost, and complexity. In this study, the impact of single-drop weight measurement and real-time light source monitoring on the accuracy of gravity-based infusion systems was evaluated. Methods: Gravity-based IV sets with IV infusion flow regulators (IIFRs) from three manufacturers were tested using 1,000 ml of 0.9% saline. The drops per min and the drop weight were recorded using a pulse oximeter, which served as a light source. The flow rates from the pulse oximeter group (PO) were compared with those from the manufacturer’s drop volume (C) and the IIFR groups. The mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of predicted versus actual volumes was analyzed along with correlations between the residual volume and drop rate. Results: The PO group values were statistically closer to those of the actual measurements than the C and IIFR groups values (P < 0.05), demonstrating higher accuracy and lower MAPE, except at 300 ml/h when than those of the C group, independent of residual volume. The residual volume strongly correlated with the drop rate (r > 0.9). Conclusions Real-time drop measurements using light sources combined with single-drop weight assessment improve the accuracy of these systems. Integrating pulse oximeters into IV sets may enhance clinical precision and reduce provider workload.

and Relevance: Severe necrosis and mild fibrosis were observed in the liver and forelimb skeletal muscles. Based on histological analysis, we diagnosed iron overload myopathy by secondary hemochromatosis. Secondary hemochromatosis with severe muscle atrophy and myositis is very rare, and this is the first report of iron-overload myopathy in a dog.

and Relevance: Severe necrosis and mild fibrosis were observed in the liver and forelimb skeletal muscles. Based on histological analysis, we diagnosed iron overload myopathy by secondary hemochromatosis. Secondary hemochromatosis with severe muscle atrophy and myositis is very rare, and this is the first report of iron-overload myopathy in a dog.

Purpose: In 2024, the South Korean government proposed an essential medical care package, including the expansion of medical college admissions, which faced strong opposition from the medical community. Consequently, residents resigned, increasing the workload of the remaining staff and putting public health at risk. This study analyzed changes in the hospitalization patterns of trauma patients during this political conflict period using single-center data from the National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital. Methods: Data from the entire year 2023 and from March to August 2024 were used for analysis, excluding January and February 2024 when the conflict escalated. The selection criteria included patients with trauma who visited the emergency room, and comparisons were made between the periods before and during the medical conflict. Results: In 2023, the total number of patients with trauma were 1,182 (an average of 98.5 per month). From March to August 2024, the number dropped to 204 (34.2 per month), reflecting a significant reduction in the monthly average number of patients with trauma. Despite the overall decline, the number of severe trauma cases remained relatively stable, indicating a shift toward more critical patient care. Emergency department length of stay decreased significantly from 295 min in 2023 to 187 min in 2024. Conclusion The ongoing strain on emergency and support department risks leads to an irreversible collapse if critical points are reached. To address this, localized trauma centers are needed to relieve the burden on larger medical institutions and improve the efficiency of trauma care systems during crises.

and Relevance: Severe necrosis and mild fibrosis were observed in the liver and forelimb skeletal muscles. Based on histological analysis, we diagnosed iron overload myopathy by secondary hemochromatosis. Secondary hemochromatosis with severe muscle atrophy and myositis is very rare, and this is the first report of iron-overload myopathy in a dog.

Purpose: In 2024, the South Korean government proposed an essential medical care package, including the expansion of medical college admissions, which faced strong opposition from the medical community. Consequently, residents resigned, increasing the workload of the remaining staff and putting public health at risk. This study analyzed changes in the hospitalization patterns of trauma patients during this political conflict period using single-center data from the National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital. Methods: Data from the entire year 2023 and from March to August 2024 were used for analysis, excluding January and February 2024 when the conflict escalated. The selection criteria included patients with trauma who visited the emergency room, and comparisons were made between the periods before and during the medical conflict. Results: In 2023, the total number of patients with trauma were 1,182 (an average of 98.5 per month). From March to August 2024, the number dropped to 204 (34.2 per month), reflecting a significant reduction in the monthly average number of patients with trauma. Despite the overall decline, the number of severe trauma cases remained relatively stable, indicating a shift toward more critical patient care. Emergency department length of stay decreased significantly from 295 min in 2023 to 187 min in 2024. Conclusion The ongoing strain on emergency and support department risks leads to an irreversible collapse if critical points are reached. To address this, localized trauma centers are needed to relieve the burden on larger medical institutions and improve the efficiency of trauma care systems during crises.

and Relevance: Severe necrosis and mild fibrosis were observed in the liver and forelimb skeletal muscles. Based on histological analysis, we diagnosed iron overload myopathy by secondary hemochromatosis. Secondary hemochromatosis with severe muscle atrophy and myositis is very rare, and this is the first report of iron-overload myopathy in a dog.