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.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify novel vaginal probiotics with the potential to prevent vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and bacterial vaginosis (BV). Materials and Methods: Eighteen strains of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum were isolated from healthy Korean women, and their antimicrobial effects against Candida albicans and Gardnerella vaginalis were assessed. Three strains (L. plantarum LM1203, LM1209, and LM1215) were selected for further investigation, focusing on their growth inhibition, biofilm regulation, and cellular mechanisms against these vaginal pathogens. Additionally, electron microscopy revealed damage to G. vaginalis induced by L.plantarum LM1215, and genomic analysis was conducted on this strain. Results: L. plantarum LM1203, LM1209, and LM1215 showed approximately 1 and 2 Log CFU/mL growth reduction in C. albicans and G. vaginalis, respectively. These L. plantarum strains effectively inhibited biofilm formation and eliminated the mature biofilms formed by C. albicans. Furthermore, L. plantarum LM1215 decreased tricarboxylic acid cycle activity by 51.75 (p<0.001) and respiratory metabolic activity by 52.88% (p<0.001) in G. vaginalis. L. plantarum induced cellular membrane damage, inhibition of protein synthesis, and cell wall collapse in G. vaginalis. Genomic analysis confirmed L. plantarum LM1215 as a safe strain for vaginal probiotics. Conclusion The L. plantarum LM1215 is considered a safe probiotic agent suitable for the prevention of VVC and BV.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify novel vaginal probiotics with the potential to prevent vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and bacterial vaginosis (BV). Materials and Methods: Eighteen strains of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum were isolated from healthy Korean women, and their antimicrobial effects against Candida albicans and Gardnerella vaginalis were assessed. Three strains (L. plantarum LM1203, LM1209, and LM1215) were selected for further investigation, focusing on their growth inhibition, biofilm regulation, and cellular mechanisms against these vaginal pathogens. Additionally, electron microscopy revealed damage to G. vaginalis induced by L.plantarum LM1215, and genomic analysis was conducted on this strain. Results: L. plantarum LM1203, LM1209, and LM1215 showed approximately 1 and 2 Log CFU/mL growth reduction in C. albicans and G. vaginalis, respectively. These L. plantarum strains effectively inhibited biofilm formation and eliminated the mature biofilms formed by C. albicans. Furthermore, L. plantarum LM1215 decreased tricarboxylic acid cycle activity by 51.75 (p<0.001) and respiratory metabolic activity by 52.88% (p<0.001) in G. vaginalis. L. plantarum induced cellular membrane damage, inhibition of protein synthesis, and cell wall collapse in G. vaginalis. Genomic analysis confirmed L. plantarum LM1215 as a safe strain for vaginal probiotics. Conclusion The L. plantarum LM1215 is considered a safe probiotic agent suitable for the prevention of VVC and BV.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify novel vaginal probiotics with the potential to prevent vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and bacterial vaginosis (BV). Materials and Methods: Eighteen strains of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum were isolated from healthy Korean women, and their antimicrobial effects against Candida albicans and Gardnerella vaginalis were assessed. Three strains (L. plantarum LM1203, LM1209, and LM1215) were selected for further investigation, focusing on their growth inhibition, biofilm regulation, and cellular mechanisms against these vaginal pathogens. Additionally, electron microscopy revealed damage to G. vaginalis induced by L.plantarum LM1215, and genomic analysis was conducted on this strain. Results: L. plantarum LM1203, LM1209, and LM1215 showed approximately 1 and 2 Log CFU/mL growth reduction in C. albicans and G. vaginalis, respectively. These L. plantarum strains effectively inhibited biofilm formation and eliminated the mature biofilms formed by C. albicans. Furthermore, L. plantarum LM1215 decreased tricarboxylic acid cycle activity by 51.75 (p<0.001) and respiratory metabolic activity by 52.88% (p<0.001) in G. vaginalis. L. plantarum induced cellular membrane damage, inhibition of protein synthesis, and cell wall collapse in G. vaginalis. Genomic analysis confirmed L. plantarum LM1215 as a safe strain for vaginal probiotics. Conclusion The L. plantarum LM1215 is considered a safe probiotic agent suitable for the prevention of VVC and BV.

Purpose: The partner and localizer of breast cancer 2 (PALB2) mutation is a predisposition to breast cancer development. However, limited clinical data are available for the Korean population. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the characteristics and oncological outcomes of patients with PALB2-mutated and non-mutated PALB2 in Korea. Methods: A total of 1,463 breast cancer (BRCA) 1/2 mutation-negative breast cancer underwent comprehensive multigene sequencing between 2016 and 2019 at Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea. Clinicopathological data and oncological results of PALB2 mutated patients were prospectively collected and compared with those of the non-mutated group. Results: PALB2 mutations were identified in 1.2% (17/1,463) of the patients. The median age at diagnosis was 46 (30–73) years, and the median tumor size was 1.8 (0.05–3.5) cm. All patients with PALB2 mutations had histologic grades II–III, and a triple-negative subtype was found in 23.5% (4/17); however, there were no significant differences in clinicopathological data between the groups. During the median follow-up time of 38.5 months, locoregional recurrence occurred in 4.2% (44/1,043), distant recurrence was reported in 3.0% (31/1,043), and contralateral breast cancer was diagnosed in 0.8% (9/1,043) of patients, with no significant difference observed between the groups. All-cause mortality was observed in 1.8% (19/1,028) of the non-mutated group and none in the PALB2 mutation group. However, survival analyses demonstrated no significant differences in all-cause mortality (p = 0.524) and recurrence-free survival (p = 0.319). Conclusion Clinicopathological features and oncological outcomes of PALB2 mutated breast cancer were not significantly different from those of non-mutated breast cancer in the Korean population.

Purpose: T1 high grade (T1HG) bladder cancer (BC) is a type of non-muscle invasive BC (NMIBC) that is recognized as an aggressive subtype with a heightened propensity for progression. Current risk stratification methods for NMIBC rely on clinicopathological indicators; however, these approaches do not adequately capture the aggressive nature of T1HG BC. Thus, new, more accurate biomarkers for T1HG risk stratification are needed. Here, we enrolled three different patient cohorts and investigated expression of collagen type VI alpha 1 (COL6A1), a key component of the extracellular matrix, at different stages and grades of BC, with a specific focus on T1HG BC. Materials and Methods: Samples from 298 BC patients were subjected to RNA sequencing and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: We found that T1HG BC and muscle invasive BC (MIBC) exhibited comparable expression of COL6A1, which was significantly higher than that by other NMIBC subtypes. In particular, T1HG patients who later progressed to MIBC had considerably higher expression of COL6A1 than Ta, T1 low grade patients, and patients that did not progress, highlighting the aggressive nature and higher risk of progression associated with T1HG BC. Moreover, Cox and Kaplan–Meier survival analyses revealed a significant association between elevated expression of COL6A1 and poor progression-free survival of T1HG BC patients (multivariate Cox hazard ratio, 16.812; 95% confidence interval, 3.283–86.095; p=0.001 and p=0.0002 [log-rank test]). Conclusions These findings suggest that COL6A1 may be a promising biomarker for risk stratification of T1HG BC, offering valuable insight into disease prognosis and guidance of personalized treatment decisions.

Purpose: The partner and localizer of breast cancer 2 (PALB2) mutation is a predisposition to breast cancer development. However, limited clinical data are available for the Korean population. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the characteristics and oncological outcomes of patients with PALB2-mutated and non-mutated PALB2 in Korea. Methods: A total of 1,463 breast cancer (BRCA) 1/2 mutation-negative breast cancer underwent comprehensive multigene sequencing between 2016 and 2019 at Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea. Clinicopathological data and oncological results of PALB2 mutated patients were prospectively collected and compared with those of the non-mutated group. Results: PALB2 mutations were identified in 1.2% (17/1,463) of the patients. The median age at diagnosis was 46 (30–73) years, and the median tumor size was 1.8 (0.05–3.5) cm. All patients with PALB2 mutations had histologic grades II–III, and a triple-negative subtype was found in 23.5% (4/17); however, there were no significant differences in clinicopathological data between the groups. During the median follow-up time of 38.5 months, locoregional recurrence occurred in 4.2% (44/1,043), distant recurrence was reported in 3.0% (31/1,043), and contralateral breast cancer was diagnosed in 0.8% (9/1,043) of patients, with no significant difference observed between the groups. All-cause mortality was observed in 1.8% (19/1,028) of the non-mutated group and none in the PALB2 mutation group. However, survival analyses demonstrated no significant differences in all-cause mortality (p = 0.524) and recurrence-free survival (p = 0.319). Conclusion Clinicopathological features and oncological outcomes of PALB2 mutated breast cancer were not significantly different from those of non-mutated breast cancer in the Korean population.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify novel vaginal probiotics with the potential to prevent vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and bacterial vaginosis (BV). Materials and Methods: Eighteen strains of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum were isolated from healthy Korean women, and their antimicrobial effects against Candida albicans and Gardnerella vaginalis were assessed. Three strains (L. plantarum LM1203, LM1209, and LM1215) were selected for further investigation, focusing on their growth inhibition, biofilm regulation, and cellular mechanisms against these vaginal pathogens. Additionally, electron microscopy revealed damage to G. vaginalis induced by L.plantarum LM1215, and genomic analysis was conducted on this strain. Results: L. plantarum LM1203, LM1209, and LM1215 showed approximately 1 and 2 Log CFU/mL growth reduction in C. albicans and G. vaginalis, respectively. These L. plantarum strains effectively inhibited biofilm formation and eliminated the mature biofilms formed by C. albicans. Furthermore, L. plantarum LM1215 decreased tricarboxylic acid cycle activity by 51.75 (p<0.001) and respiratory metabolic activity by 52.88% (p<0.001) in G. vaginalis. L. plantarum induced cellular membrane damage, inhibition of protein synthesis, and cell wall collapse in G. vaginalis. Genomic analysis confirmed L. plantarum LM1215 as a safe strain for vaginal probiotics. Conclusion The L. plantarum LM1215 is considered a safe probiotic agent suitable for the prevention of VVC and BV.