Korean Gastric Cancer Association-Led Nationwide Survey on Surgically Treated Gastric Cancers in 2023.

Purpose: Since 1995, the Korean Gastric Cancer Association (KGCA) has been periodically conducting nationwide surveys on patients with surgically treated gastric cancer. This study details the results of the survey conducted in 2023.

Materials And Methods: The survey was conducted from March to December 2024 using a standardized case report form.

Comparing underwater endoscopic submucosal dissection and conventional endoscopic submucosal dissection for large laterally spreading tumor: a randomized controlled trial (with video).

Background And Aims: Colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is challenging despite its usefulness. Underwater ESD (UESD) provides better traction and a clearer view of the submucosal layer than conventional ESD (CESD). This study compared the efficiency of UESD and CESD for large (20-50 mm) laterally spreading tumors (LSTs).

Assessing risk stratification in long-term outcomes of rectal neuroendocrine tumors following endoscopic resection: a multicenter retrospective study.

Objectives: While endoscopic resection of rectal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) has significantly increased, long-term data on risk factors for recurrence are still lacking. Our aim is to analyze the long-term outcomes of patients with rectal NETs after endoscopic resection through risk stratification.

Methods: In this multicenter retrospective study, we included patients who underwent endoscopic resection of rectal NETs from 2009 to 2018 and were followed for ≥12 months at five university hospitals.

Efficacy and safety of human gut-derived multi-strain probiotics in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: A prospective open-label observation study.

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of human gut-derived multi-strain probiotics in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This was an open-label, prospective, observational study. Patients with IBS were administered human gut-derived multi-strain probiotics for 4 weeks.

Anchoring endoscopic mucosal resection versus conventional endoscopic mucosal resection for large nonpedunculated colorectal polyps: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND : Colorectal polyps > 10 mm in size are often incompletely resected. Anchoring-endoscopic mucosal resection (A-EMR) is the technique of making a small incision at the oral side of the polyp using a snare tip after submucosal injection to avoid slippage during ensnaring. This study was performed to evaluate whether A-EMR could increase the complete resection rate for large colorectal polyps compared with conventional endoscopic mucosal resection (C-EMR).

Combination effect of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor and DNA demethylating agents for treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer.

Objective: Poly (ADP)-ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) are effective clinical agents for treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) harboring BRCA mutations as well as those without BRCA mutations. In this study, we evaluate the efficacy of combined PARPi and DNA methyltransferase inhibitor (DNMTi) in EOCs.

Methods: Expression levels of DNMT1 and PARP1 proteins in EOC cells were assessed using western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry.

Fixation Using Carnoy's Solution Enables Detection of More Lymph Nodes After Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer.

Background: To compare the number of lymph nodes (LNs) detected when using Carnoy's solution (CS) versus 10% neutral buffered formalin (NBF) to fix specimens after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Patients And Methods: LNs were routinely detected using NBF until 2020, since then, for the fixation procedure, residual fat was fixed in CS for 24 hours and dissected again for the detection of further LNs. Of 143 specimens, 117 were included in the NBF group and 26 in the CS group.

Effect of Metabolic Health and Obesity Phenotype on the Risk of Pancreatic Cancer: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: Recently, a few studies have reported different results regarding the relationship between metabolic health and obesity phenotype and several cancers. We examined the effects of metabolic health and obesity phenotype on pancreatic cancer using a nationwide population-based cohort database.

Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort, we enrolled 347,434 Korean adults who underwent a health examination between 2009 and 2010 and were followed until 2015.

Fasting plasma glucose variability in midlife and risk of Parkinson's disease: A nationwide population-based study.

Aim: Despite the recognized association between type 2 diabetes (T2D) and Parkinson's disease (PD), the implications of glycaemic variability for patients with PD are as yet unknown. For this reason, our study assessed the future risk of incident PD according to visit-to-visit fasting plasma glucose (FPG) variability, as calculated by standard deviation (FPG-SD), coefficient variance (FPG-CV) and variability independent of the mean (FPG-VIM).

Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service Health Screening Cohort, 131,625 Korean adults without diabetes were followed.

Clinical outcomes and costs of robotic surgery in prostate cancer: a multiinstitutional study in Korea.

Background: This study compared the surgical, functional, and oncologic outcomes of robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP), laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP), and retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP) in Korean men.

Methods: The study population included 864 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer in the departments of urology of five tertiary hospitals between 2010 and 2011. RALP, LRP, and RRP perioperative, oncological, and functional outcomes as well as complications were assessed.

A randomized, controlled study of treatment with ojayeonjonghwan for patients with late onset hypogonadism.

We investigate the effects of Ojayeonjonghwan (KH-204) in men with late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) symptoms. Initial PSA, testosterone, lipid profile and questionnaires about LOH-related symptoms were checked. After 8 weeks of the treatment (control or KH-204), questionnaires and serological tests were repeated to evaluate the efficacy of the agent.

Radiofrequency ablation for liver metastases in patients with gastric cancer as an alternative to hepatic resection.

Background: The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine whether RFA could provide an alternative treatment modality for selected patients who are not candidates for hepatic resection.

Methods: A total of 18 consecutive patients with liver metastases alone from gastric cancer treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA, n = 11) or hepatic resection (HR, n = 7) at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Korea, between January 2000 and September 2014, were enrolled.

Different lymph node staging systems in patients with gastric cancer from Korean: What is the best prognostic assessment tool?

To investigate whether the log odds of positive lymph nodes (LODDS) system is a more accurate prognostic tool than the number-based (pN) or ratio-based (rN) lymph node staging system in Korean patients with gastric cancer (GC).The LODDS is a recently proposed staging modality in surgical oncology. However, it is unclear whether LODDS is superior to the pN or rN system in terms of predicting the prognosis of GC patients who underwent radical gastrectomy with extended lymphadenectomy and had a greater number of retrieved lymph nodes.

The Efficacy and Safety of Lidocaine-Containing Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Filler for Treatment of Nasolabial Folds: A Multicenter, Randomized Clinical Study.

Background: The use of injectable hyaluronic acid-based gel is well established in aesthetic facial procedures especially on the nasolabial fold (NLF).

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of PP-501-A-Lidocaine dermal filler with RestylaneLidocaine(®) when administered to the NLF.

Methods: Sixty-six subjects seeking correction of NLFs, with moderate or severe wrinkle severity, were recruited for this multicenter, randomized, patient and evaluator-blind, matched pairs, and active-controlled design clinical study.

Gel pad application for automated breast sonography.

The purpose of this study was to describe the technical aspects of gel pad application for automated breast sonography and to show its effects on pain relief, scan coverage, and image quality. Twenty patients underwent 2 sets of automated breast sonography with and without gel pad application and were then asked to provide feedback on the examination-related pain. Scan coverage and image quality were compared quantitatively and qualitatively.

Comparison of automated breast ultrasonography to handheld ultrasonography in detecting and diagnosing breast lesions.

Background: Automated breast ultrasonography (ABUS) is increasingly used as a screening tool. Several studies have demonstrated a similar diagnostic performance for ABUS compared with handheld ultrasonography (HHUS), but the overall results have been controversial.

Purpose: To compare the clinical utility of ABUS and HHUS for detection and diagnosis of breast lesions.

The virological response in Koreans infected with HCV genotype 1 did not differ between groups treated with a full dose or reduced dose (≥80 % full dose) of peginterferon alfa-2a: a prospective randomized multicenter trial.

Purpose: A high rate of sustained viral response (SVR) in Koreans with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is related to a favorable IL28B genotype. We compared two dosing strategies for peginterferon alfa-2a in Koreans with CHC and defined the combined effect of polymorphisms and dosing on the virological response.

Methods: A total of 178 treatment-naïve patients with CHC genotype 1 were prospectively enrolled.

Fluoroscopic Radiation Exposure during Percutaneous Kyphoplasty.

Objective: The author measured levels of fluoroscopic radiation exposure to the surgeon's body based on the different beam directions during kyphoplasty.

Methods: This is an observational study. A series of 84 patients (96 vertebral bodies) were treated with kyphoplasty over one year.

Therapeutic considerations of percutaneous sacroplasty for the sacral insufficiency fracture.

Sacral insufficiency fracture is a debilitating injury not easily found in general radiologic examinations and is rarely diagnosed, since its symptoms are obscure. It is known to frequently occur in patients with osteoporosis, but the treatment has not yet been established and various kinds of treatment methods are being attempted. Sacroplasty is sometimes performed by applying percutaneous vertebroplasty which is known to be a less invasive treatment.