Efficacy of transversus abdominis plane block in postoperative pain management of laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair: a propensity score-matched analysis.

Purpose: Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is a promising technique for postoperative pain control. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the TAP block in managing postoperative pain after laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair.

Methods: In this retrospective study, medical records of patients who had received ultrasonography-guided TAP blocks after surgery from January 2019 to August 2023 were reviewed and compared with those of patients who had not received.

KLASS (Korean Laparoendoscopic Gastrointestinal Surgery Study Group) trials: a 20-year great journey in advancing surgical clinical research for gastric cancer.

The Korean Laparoendoscopic Gastrointestinal Surgery Study Group (KLASS) trial series represents a comprehensive body of surgical clinical trials and studies focused on laparoscopic techniques in the treatment of gastric cancer. These trials, conducted and overseen by the KLASS, began with KLASS 01 in 2006 and have progressed to their 14th series as of December 2024. To date, approximately 36 papers, including pivotal publications, have been featured in high-impact journals, significantly advancing the field of gastric cancer treatment.

Current status of postoperative morbidity following cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for colorectal cancer with peritoneal metastasis: a prospective single-center observational study.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate current morbidity rates following cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in patients with colorectal cancer and peritoneal metastasis.

Methods: A total of 42 patients who underwent CRS and HIPEC for colorectal cancer with peritoneal metastasis at a single tertiary referral center between January 2022 and December 2022 were included. Perioperative outcomes and postoperative complications were prospectively assessed.

Risk factors for recurrence in stage I colorectal cancer after curative resection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Patients with stage I colorectal cancer (CRC) rarely experience recurrence after curative resection. Therefore, the risk factors for stage I CRC recurrence are yet to be established. We aimed to identify risk factors for stage I CRC recurrence.

Optimal extent of lymph node dissection in clinical early-stage right colon cancer: a retrospective analysis.

Purpose: Determining the extent of radical lymphadenectomy at clinical early stage is challenging. We aimed to investigate the appropriate extent of lymphadenectomy in clinical early-stage right colon cancer.

Methods: Patients with clinical stage 0 or I right colon cancer who underwent curative surgery from January 2007 to December 2021 were included in this retrospective study.

Dimples as Desired Outcomes: Rethinking Their Role in Thread Lifting Procedures.

Facial thread lifts, known for being minimally invasive with quick results, can sometimes lead to dimpling. A case report of a 35-year-old Asian man who developed a pleasing unilateral dimple after a thread lift highlights the potential for intentional dimple creation through this method. With surgical dimple creation in demand, as dimples symbolize good luck in Chinese culture and beauty in Arabic traditions, thread lifts may offer a less invasive alternative for those seeking dimples without surgery.

Exercise improves body composition, physical fitness, and blood levels of C-peptide and IGF-1 in 11- to 12-year-old boys with obesity.

Introduction: Exercise is vital in preventing and treating obesity. Despite its importance, the understanding of how exercise influences childhood obesity at the biochemical level is limited. In this study, we explore the effects of a 16-week exercise program (EP) on body composition, physical fitness, and the blood levels of hormones related to obesity.

Absence of Cysteine and Iron Chelation Induces Ferroptosis in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells.

Background: Ferroptosis is a recently studied form of programmed cell death characterized by lipid peroxides accumulation in the cells. This process occurs when a cell's antioxidant capacity is disturbed resulting in the inability of the cell to detoxify the toxic peroxides. Two major components that regulate ferroptosis are cysteine and iron.

Clinical and Radiological Outcomes After Lateral Meniscal Allograft Transplantation Through a Medial Arthrotomy: A Minimum 4-Year Follow-up.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that lateral meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) through medial arthrotomy showed less extrusion than that of the lateral arthrotomy. However, there is a paucity of literature reporting clinical and radiological outcomes after lateral MAT through the medial arthrotomy.

Hypothesis: Lateral MAT through a medial arthrotomy would show significantly improved clinical scores and minimal joint space narrowing compared with preoperative status.

Effects of infection on neonates: a meta-analysis.

Objective: (UU) is an opportunistic pathogen transmitted from mother to fetus, potentially causing neonatal diseases. Despite extensive research, its association with these diseases remains uncertain. This study analyzes the effects of UU infection on newborns.

Diagnostic challenges associated with adrenocortical neoplasms arising from adreno-hepatic fusion: a case report of two patients and a literature review.

Background: A right adrenal gland may present in the form of adreno-hepatic fusion (AHF), in which the adrenal cells are interspersed among the hepatocytes without septation. This rare, naturally-occurring phenomenon may be associated with preoperative misdiagnosis. We present two cases of adrenal tumor in patients with AHF that were misdiagnosed, despite thorough preoperative work-ups.

Multifocality increases the risk of central compartment lymph node metastasis but is not related to the risk of recurrence and death in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Background: Multifocality is a distinctive feature of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC); however, the biological behavior of PTC and its optimal management strategy remain unclear. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical features and prognostic differences of multifocal papillary carcinoma and to guide the precise treatment of multifocal papillary carcinoma.

Methods: The medical records of 1,139 patients with PTC who had undergone total or hemi-thyroidectomy between April and October 2013 at the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital were reviewed.

Three-dimensional convolutional neural network for leak detection and localization in smart water distribution systems.

Smart meters such as advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) can significantly improve identifying realistic sized leaks in water distribution networks (WDNs). However, to date, detection/localization methods for AMI systems are extremely limited. In this study, to examine the benefits of using AMIs for leak detection within distribution network, a three-dimensional (3D) convolutional neural network (CNN) deep learning (DL) model is proposed that can account for temporally and spatially distributed information of pressures.

Cognitive Training Using Virtual Reality: An Assessment of Usability and Adverse Effects.

Objective: To evaluate the usability and adverse effects associated with virtual reality (VR) cognitive training and identify factors influencing them.

Design: Survey-based observational study.

Setting: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine in the hospital.

Function Preserving Gastrectomy and Quality of Life.

Advances in gastric cancer screening have enabled earlier detection, shifting the focus of treatment toward preserving patients' quality of life (QoL). Function-preserving gastrectomy (FPG), including pylorus-preserving gastrectomy, proximal gastrectomy, and sentinel node navigation surgery, represents a paradigm shift in the surgical management of early gastric cancer. These techniques aim to balance oncological safety with the preservation of gastric function, mitigating postgastrectomy syndromes such as dumping syndrome, bile reflux, and nutritional deficiencies.

Management Strategy of Non-curative ESD in Gastric Cancer: Curative Criteria, and the Critical Building Block for Determining Beyond It.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection is performed in cases of early gastric cancer, where the risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM) is expected to be negligible, and 12%-21% of these patients are deemed to have undergone non-curative resections based on pathological criteria. In such cases, decisions regarding additional treatments must be made to maximize curability, depending on the anticipated LNM risk. Well-established risk factors for LNM include lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion, deep submucosal invasion, positive vertical margins, and larger tumor size.

Spatial and Temporal Tumor Heterogeneity in Gastric Cancer: Discordance of Predictive Biomarkers.

Gastric cancer (GC) is a highly heterogeneous disease that varies in both histological presentation and genetic characteristics. Recent advances in the treatment of metastatic and unresectable GC have made several biomarker tests essential for patient management. Predictive biomarkers such as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), mismatch-repair (MMR) proteins, claudin 18.

PD-L1 as a Biomarker in Gastric Cancer Immunotherapy.

Combining chemotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) that target the programmed death-1 (PD-1) protein has been shown to be a clinically effective first-line treatment for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative and -positive advanced or metastatic gastric cancer (GC). Currently, PD-1 inhibitors combined with chemotherapy are the standard treatment for patients with HER2-negative/positive locally advanced or metastatic GC. Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, as assessed using immunohistochemistry (IHC), is a crucial biomarker for predicting response to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 agents in various solid tumors, including GC.

A Comprehensive and Comparative Review of Global Gastric Cancer Treatment Guidelines: 2024 Update.

Differences in demographics, medical expertise, and patient healthcare resources across countries have led to significant variations in guidelines. In light of these differences, in this review, we aimed to explore and compare the most recent updates to gastric cancer treatment from five guidelines that are available in English. These English-version guidelines, which have been recently published and updated for journal publication, include those published in South Korea in 2024, Japan in 2021, China in 2023, the United States in 2024, and Europe in 2024.

Conversion Therapy for Stage IV Gastric Cancer: Report From the Expert Consensus Meeting at KINGCA WEEK 2024.

Conversion therapy is a treatment strategy that shifts from palliative systemic therapy to curative surgical treatment for primary and/or metastatic stage IV gastric cancer (GC). To address its clinical statements, the Korean Gastric Cancer Association aims to present a consensus on conversion therapy among experts attending KINGCA WEEK 2024. The KINGCA Scientific Committee and Development Working Group for Korean Practice Guidelines prepared preformulated topics and 9 clinical statements for conversion therapy.

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.

Korean Practice Guidelines for Gastric Cancer 2024: An Evidence-based, Multidisciplinary Approach (Update of 2022 Guideline).

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.

Freeze-Casting Mold-Based Scalable Synthesis of Directional Graphene Aerogels with Long-Range Pore Alignment for Energy Applications.

In various applications, the pore structure of a porous medium must be controlled to facilitate heat and mass transfer, which considerably influence the system performance. Freeze-casting is a versatile technique for creating aligned pores; However, because of the complexity of the associated equipment and the energy inefficiency of liquid-nitrogen-based cooling in a room-temperature environment, limits scalability for industrial applications. This study is aimed at establishing a novel freeze-casting strategy with a simple mold design combining heat-conductive and insulating materials for long-range pore alignment via directional ice growth under deep-freezing conditions, rendering it feasible for large-scale production.

The Future of MXenes: Exploring Oxidative Degradation Pathways and Coping with Surface/Edge Passivation Approach.

The MXene, which is usually transition metal carbide, nitride, and carbonitride, is one of the emerging family of 2D materials, exhibiting considerable potential across various research areas. Despite theoretical versatility, practical application of MXene is prohibited due to its spontaneous oxidative degradation. This review meticulously discusses the factors influencing the oxidation of MXenes, considering both thermodynamic and kinetic point of view.