Background/Aims: Despite of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there is little data regarding its impact on colorectal cancer (CRC)-related clinical practice. This study aimed to assess the changes in its impact during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This was a retrospective national population-based study using the Health Insurance Review and Assessment database from January 2019 to December 2021. The number of patients in 2020 and 2021 was compared with those in 2019 for the diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopy, CRC-related operation, and any treatment for CRC. Results: The annual number of patients undergoing diagnostic colonoscopies decreased by 6.9% in 2020 but increased 8.1% in 2021, compared to those in 2019; number of patients undergoing therapeutic colonoscopies increased by 6.0% and 37.7% in 2020 and 2021, respectively; number of patients operated for CRC decreased by 4.2% in 2020 and increased by 2.3% in 2021. The number of patients treated for CRC decreased by 2.8% in 2020 and increased by 4.4% in 2021. Diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopies and any CRC-related treatment decreased by 43.8%, 37.5%, and 11.3% in March 2020, during the first surge of COVID-19, but increased by 26.0%, 58.1%, and 9.5% in June 2021, respectively. CRC-related operations decreased by 24.1% in April 2020 and increased by 12.6% in August 2021. Conclusions Negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical practices related to CRC completely recovered within second year. It could be considered for the development of an optimal strategy on CRC management in response to the pandemic-driven crisis.

Progesterone hypersensitivity is mediated by type I, III, and IV hypersensitivity reactions to endogenous or exogenous progesterone, involving autoimmune mechanisms in females of reproductive age. It presents with a range of dermatologic manifestations, most commonly urticaria, angioedema, eczema, and maculopapular rashes. Systemic and severe symptoms, such as generalized erythema multiforme or lesions resembling severe cutaneous adverse reactions, have rarely been reported. We describe a case of a 42-year-old woman who developed drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) following exogenous progesterone therapy administered for assisted reproduction. She received high-dose subcutaneous progesterone and vaginal tablets. Despite this being her first procedure, she achieved pregnancy. However, at 8 weeks of gestation and during the third month of progesterone treatment, she developed generalized erythema multiforme, pruritus, and high-grade fever. Her laboratory findings showed increased blood eosinophil counts and inflammatory markers. After oral corticosteroid (OCS) treatment for several weeks, her skin lesions were partially improved. However, after tapering of OCS, her skin lesions were aggravated with increased blood eosinophil counts. Despite daily OCS (prednisolone, 12.5–60 mg/day) treatment after childbirth, her skin symptoms and eosinophilia persisted. Reslizumab treatment was also attempted, but only the eosinophilia resolved. These clinical findings were much improved after Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor (upadacitinib 15 mg/day) treatment; consequently, OCS was stopped. Here, we report a case of relapsing DRESS triggered by exogenous progesterone, which has been controlled by JAK inhibitor treatment.

Cat-pork syndrome is an uncommon food allergy induced by red meat (pork/beef) that cross-reacts with cat/dog allergens, which is mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE) response to the cat/dog albumin component. We report 2 cases of cat-pork syndrome occurred in adult pet breeders. They had suffered from allergic rhinitis/atopic dermatitis sensitive to cat/dog dander as well as house dust mites for several years, during which an immediate type of food allergy due to red meats developed whenever taking pork or beef. ImmunoCAP results showed the increased levels of serum-specific IgE to pork and beef allergens (f26, f27) as well as cat and dog dander (e1, e5); moreover, increased level of serum-specific IgE to the cat albumin component (e224) was noted. In conclusion, cat-food allergy can be found in allergic patients among whom are sensitive to cats and dogs and develop food allergy due to red meat.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in intestinal failure (IF) patients after different modes of intestinal rehabilitation. Methods: HRQoL was assessed using the generic 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36, ver. 2) and visual analogue scale (VAS) in 6 different areas: diet, sleep, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, diarrhea, musculoskeletal pain, and other symptoms. Results: Twenty-two patients completed the questionnaires, of which 7 had received intestinal transplant (ITx), 9 were continuing home total parenteral nutrition (HPN), and 6 had tapered off total parenteral nutrition (TPN). SF-36 physical component summary scores were highest in the ITx group (median, 65.6; interquartile range [IQR], 31.6–80.3) compared to the HPN (median, 48.4; IQR, 44.7–66.3) or tapered group (median, 54.2; IQR, 45.2–61.6). Mental component summary scores were lowest in the ITx group (median, 48.8; IQR, 37.1–63.6), compared to the TPN (median, 60.2; IQR, 41.6–78.5) or tapered group (median, 51.0; IQR, 48.8–56.0). Differences were not significant in all items of the SF-36. VAS scores showed that patients in the ITx group showed the best results in diet (0.9), gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms (1.4), and musculoskeletal pain (2.4). There was a significant difference in sleep (P = 0.036), with the ITx (1.43) and HPN groups (1.33) showing better outcomes compared with the tapered group (4.67). Patients in the tapered group showed the least favorable results in all performance areas, except GI symptoms. Conclusion SF-36 did not show a significant difference between the ITx, HPN, and tapered groups, but VAS showed a significant difference in sleep between groups. Further studies, including serial data, will allow a better understanding of the effects of different modes of intestinal rehabilitation.

Progesterone hypersensitivity is mediated by type I, III, and IV hypersensitivity reactions to endogenous or exogenous progesterone, involving autoimmune mechanisms in females of reproductive age. It presents with a range of dermatologic manifestations, most commonly urticaria, angioedema, eczema, and maculopapular rashes. Systemic and severe symptoms, such as generalized erythema multiforme or lesions resembling severe cutaneous adverse reactions, have rarely been reported. We describe a case of a 42-year-old woman who developed drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) following exogenous progesterone therapy administered for assisted reproduction. She received high-dose subcutaneous progesterone and vaginal tablets. Despite this being her first procedure, she achieved pregnancy. However, at 8 weeks of gestation and during the third month of progesterone treatment, she developed generalized erythema multiforme, pruritus, and high-grade fever. Her laboratory findings showed increased blood eosinophil counts and inflammatory markers. After oral corticosteroid (OCS) treatment for several weeks, her skin lesions were partially improved. However, after tapering of OCS, her skin lesions were aggravated with increased blood eosinophil counts. Despite daily OCS (prednisolone, 12.5–60 mg/day) treatment after childbirth, her skin symptoms and eosinophilia persisted. Reslizumab treatment was also attempted, but only the eosinophilia resolved. These clinical findings were much improved after Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor (upadacitinib 15 mg/day) treatment; consequently, OCS was stopped. Here, we report a case of relapsing DRESS triggered by exogenous progesterone, which has been controlled by JAK inhibitor treatment.

Cat-pork syndrome is an uncommon food allergy induced by red meat (pork/beef) that cross-reacts with cat/dog allergens, which is mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE) response to the cat/dog albumin component. We report 2 cases of cat-pork syndrome occurred in adult pet breeders. They had suffered from allergic rhinitis/atopic dermatitis sensitive to cat/dog dander as well as house dust mites for several years, during which an immediate type of food allergy due to red meats developed whenever taking pork or beef. ImmunoCAP results showed the increased levels of serum-specific IgE to pork and beef allergens (f26, f27) as well as cat and dog dander (e1, e5); moreover, increased level of serum-specific IgE to the cat albumin component (e224) was noted. In conclusion, cat-food allergy can be found in allergic patients among whom are sensitive to cats and dogs and develop food allergy due to red meat.

Progesterone hypersensitivity is mediated by type I, III, and IV hypersensitivity reactions to endogenous or exogenous progesterone, involving autoimmune mechanisms in females of reproductive age. It presents with a range of dermatologic manifestations, most commonly urticaria, angioedema, eczema, and maculopapular rashes. Systemic and severe symptoms, such as generalized erythema multiforme or lesions resembling severe cutaneous adverse reactions, have rarely been reported. We describe a case of a 42-year-old woman who developed drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) following exogenous progesterone therapy administered for assisted reproduction. She received high-dose subcutaneous progesterone and vaginal tablets. Despite this being her first procedure, she achieved pregnancy. However, at 8 weeks of gestation and during the third month of progesterone treatment, she developed generalized erythema multiforme, pruritus, and high-grade fever. Her laboratory findings showed increased blood eosinophil counts and inflammatory markers. After oral corticosteroid (OCS) treatment for several weeks, her skin lesions were partially improved. However, after tapering of OCS, her skin lesions were aggravated with increased blood eosinophil counts. Despite daily OCS (prednisolone, 12.5–60 mg/day) treatment after childbirth, her skin symptoms and eosinophilia persisted. Reslizumab treatment was also attempted, but only the eosinophilia resolved. These clinical findings were much improved after Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor (upadacitinib 15 mg/day) treatment; consequently, OCS was stopped. Here, we report a case of relapsing DRESS triggered by exogenous progesterone, which has been controlled by JAK inhibitor treatment.

Cat-pork syndrome is an uncommon food allergy induced by red meat (pork/beef) that cross-reacts with cat/dog allergens, which is mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE) response to the cat/dog albumin component. We report 2 cases of cat-pork syndrome occurred in adult pet breeders. They had suffered from allergic rhinitis/atopic dermatitis sensitive to cat/dog dander as well as house dust mites for several years, during which an immediate type of food allergy due to red meats developed whenever taking pork or beef. ImmunoCAP results showed the increased levels of serum-specific IgE to pork and beef allergens (f26, f27) as well as cat and dog dander (e1, e5); moreover, increased level of serum-specific IgE to the cat albumin component (e224) was noted. In conclusion, cat-food allergy can be found in allergic patients among whom are sensitive to cats and dogs and develop food allergy due to red meat.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in intestinal failure (IF) patients after different modes of intestinal rehabilitation. Methods: HRQoL was assessed using the generic 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36, ver. 2) and visual analogue scale (VAS) in 6 different areas: diet, sleep, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, diarrhea, musculoskeletal pain, and other symptoms. Results: Twenty-two patients completed the questionnaires, of which 7 had received intestinal transplant (ITx), 9 were continuing home total parenteral nutrition (HPN), and 6 had tapered off total parenteral nutrition (TPN). SF-36 physical component summary scores were highest in the ITx group (median, 65.6; interquartile range [IQR], 31.6–80.3) compared to the HPN (median, 48.4; IQR, 44.7–66.3) or tapered group (median, 54.2; IQR, 45.2–61.6). Mental component summary scores were lowest in the ITx group (median, 48.8; IQR, 37.1–63.6), compared to the TPN (median, 60.2; IQR, 41.6–78.5) or tapered group (median, 51.0; IQR, 48.8–56.0). Differences were not significant in all items of the SF-36. VAS scores showed that patients in the ITx group showed the best results in diet (0.9), gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms (1.4), and musculoskeletal pain (2.4). There was a significant difference in sleep (P = 0.036), with the ITx (1.43) and HPN groups (1.33) showing better outcomes compared with the tapered group (4.67). Patients in the tapered group showed the least favorable results in all performance areas, except GI symptoms. Conclusion SF-36 did not show a significant difference between the ITx, HPN, and tapered groups, but VAS showed a significant difference in sleep between groups. Further studies, including serial data, will allow a better understanding of the effects of different modes of intestinal rehabilitation.

Background/Aims: Despite of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there is little data regarding its impact on colorectal cancer (CRC)-related clinical practice. This study aimed to assess the changes in its impact during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This was a retrospective national population-based study using the Health Insurance Review and Assessment database from January 2019 to December 2021. The number of patients in 2020 and 2021 was compared with those in 2019 for the diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopy, CRC-related operation, and any treatment for CRC. Results: The annual number of patients undergoing diagnostic colonoscopies decreased by 6.9% in 2020 but increased 8.1% in 2021, compared to those in 2019; number of patients undergoing therapeutic colonoscopies increased by 6.0% and 37.7% in 2020 and 2021, respectively; number of patients operated for CRC decreased by 4.2% in 2020 and increased by 2.3% in 2021. The number of patients treated for CRC decreased by 2.8% in 2020 and increased by 4.4% in 2021. Diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopies and any CRC-related treatment decreased by 43.8%, 37.5%, and 11.3% in March 2020, during the first surge of COVID-19, but increased by 26.0%, 58.1%, and 9.5% in June 2021, respectively. CRC-related operations decreased by 24.1% in April 2020 and increased by 12.6% in August 2021. Conclusions Negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical practices related to CRC completely recovered within second year. It could be considered for the development of an optimal strategy on CRC management in response to the pandemic-driven crisis.