Purpose: This study aimed to ascertain the influence of moral distress and ethical nursing competence on retention intention among nurses. Methods: Participants included 191 nurses working in general hospitals. Data were collected from July 11 to 18, 2023 and analyzed using SPSS/WIN 23.0. Results: Factors Influencing retention intention were clinical experience in the present department (β=.22, t=3.20, p=.002), moral distress (β=-.22, t=-3.15, p=.002) and ethical nursing competence (β=.26, t=3.82, p<.001). These variables accounted for 19.7% of nurses' retention intentions. Conclusion Based on our findings, it is necessary to identify interventions aimed at alleviating moral distress, and establish and implement systematic programs to improve ethical nursing competence in order to increase the retention intention of nurses.

Purpose: This study aimed to ascertain the influence of moral distress and ethical nursing competence on retention intention among nurses. Methods: Participants included 191 nurses working in general hospitals. Data were collected from July 11 to 18, 2023 and analyzed using SPSS/WIN 23.0. Results: Factors Influencing retention intention were clinical experience in the present department (β=.22, t=3.20, p=.002), moral distress (β=-.22, t=-3.15, p=.002) and ethical nursing competence (β=.26, t=3.82, p<.001). These variables accounted for 19.7% of nurses' retention intentions. Conclusion Based on our findings, it is necessary to identify interventions aimed at alleviating moral distress, and establish and implement systematic programs to improve ethical nursing competence in order to increase the retention intention of nurses.

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.

Purpose: This study aimed to ascertain the influence of moral distress and ethical nursing competence on retention intention among nurses. Methods: Participants included 191 nurses working in general hospitals. Data were collected from July 11 to 18, 2023 and analyzed using SPSS/WIN 23.0. Results: Factors Influencing retention intention were clinical experience in the present department (β=.22, t=3.20, p=.002), moral distress (β=-.22, t=-3.15, p=.002) and ethical nursing competence (β=.26, t=3.82, p<.001). These variables accounted for 19.7% of nurses' retention intentions. Conclusion Based on our findings, it is necessary to identify interventions aimed at alleviating moral distress, and establish and implement systematic programs to improve ethical nursing competence in order to increase the retention intention of nurses.

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.

Purpose: This study aimed to ascertain the influence of moral distress and ethical nursing competence on retention intention among nurses. Methods: Participants included 191 nurses working in general hospitals. Data were collected from July 11 to 18, 2023 and analyzed using SPSS/WIN 23.0. Results: Factors Influencing retention intention were clinical experience in the present department (β=.22, t=3.20, p=.002), moral distress (β=-.22, t=-3.15, p=.002) and ethical nursing competence (β=.26, t=3.82, p<.001). These variables accounted for 19.7% of nurses' retention intentions. Conclusion Based on our findings, it is necessary to identify interventions aimed at alleviating moral distress, and establish and implement systematic programs to improve ethical nursing competence in order to increase the retention intention of nurses.

Background: Intestinal protozoa are potential diarrhea-causing pathogens and monitored worldwide. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also been monitoring intestinal protozoa causing diarrhea for many years. Recently, the overall protozoa detection rate has decreased to less than 1%, but whether protozoa infection causing diarrhea has declined or is being underestimated has not been studied. This study aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology of intestinal protozoan pathogens in stool samples collected from multiple Korean centers. Methods: Stool samples were collected from five university hospitals and a commercial laboratory. Direct smear and trichrome staining were performed on all samples. The presence of Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, Cyclospora cayetanensis, Dientamoeba fragilis, and Blastocystis hominis were detected using Allplex™ Gastrointestinal Parasite Assays (Seegene Inc., Korea). Microsporidia species and Kudoa septempunctata were detected using PowerChek™ Microsporidia Multiplex and Kudoa Real-time PCR kits (Kogene Biotech, Korea), respectively. Results: The collected samples included 279 diarrheal and 51 non-diarrheal samples. Among the 279 diarrheal samples, nine samples [B. hominis (n=7), C. parvum (n=1), and Microporidia species (n=1)] were positive, but there were no positive samples for K. septempunctata. We could not detect any protozoa by direct smear and trichrome staining. Among the 51 nondiarrheal samples, 10 (19.6%) samples were positive for B. hominis, but no other protozoa were observed Conclusion This multicenter study showed that the detection rate of intestinal protozoa is currently low in diarrheal samples from Korea. However, B. hominis was frequently detected in non-diarrheal samples, indicating their low pathogenicity.

Melanogenesis is the production of melanin from tyrosine by a series of enzyme-catalyzed reactions, in which tyrosinase and DOPA oxidase play key roles. The melanin content in the skin determines skin pigmentation. Abnormalities in skin pigmentation lead to various skin pigmentation disorders. Recent research has shown that the expression of EMP2 is much lower in melanoma than in normal melanocytes, but its role in melanogenesis has not yet been elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the role of EMP2 in the melanogenesis of MNT1 human melanoma cells. We examined TRP-1, TRP-2, and TYR expression levels during melanogenesis in MNT1 melanoma cells by gene silencing of EMP2. Western blot and RT-PCR results confirmed that the expression levels of TYR and TRP-2 were decreased when EMP2 expression was knocked down by EMP2 siRNA in MNT1 cells, and these changes were reversed when EMP2 was overexpressed. We verified the EMP2 gene was knocked out of the cell line (EMP2 CRISPR/Cas9) by using a CRISPR/Cas9 system and found that the expression levels of TRP-2 and TYR were significantly lower in the EMP2 CRISPR/Cas9 cell lines. Loss of EMP2 also reduced migration and invasion of MNT1 melanoma cells. In addition, the melanosome transfer from the melanocytes to keratinocytes in the EMP2 KO cells cocultured with keratinocytes was reduced compared to the cells in the control coculture group. In conclusion, these results suggest that EMP2 is involved in melanogenesis via the regulation of TRP-2 expression.

Advanced or metastatic breast cancer affects multiple organs and is a leading cause of cancer-related death. Cancer metastasis is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal metastasis (EMT). However, the specific signals that induce and regulate EMT in carcinoma cells remain unclear. PRR16/Largen is a cell size regulator that is independent of mTOR and Hippo signalling pathways. However, little is known about the role PRR16 plays in the EMT process. We found that the expression of PRR16 was increased in mesenchymal breast cancer cell lines. PRR16 overexpression induced EMT in MCF7 breast cancer cells and enhances migration and invasion. To determine how PRR16 induces EMT, the binding proteins for PRR16 were screened, revealing that PRR16 binds to Abl interactor 2 (ABI2). We then investigated whether ABI2 is involved in EMT. Gene silencing of ABI2 induces EMT, leading to enhanced migration and invasion. ABI2 is a gene that codes for a protein that interacts with ABL proto-oncogene 1 (ABL1) kinase. Therefore, we investigated whether the change in ABI2 expression affected the activation of ABL1 kinase. The knockdown of ABI2 and PRR16 overexpression increased the phosphorylation of Y412 in ABL1 kinase. Our results suggest that PRR16 may be involved in EMT by binding to ABI2 and interfering with its inhibition of ABL1 kinase. This indicates that ABL1 kinase inhibitors may be potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of PRR16-related breast cancer.