Safety and efficacy of nipocalimab in adults with generalised myasthenia gravis (Vivacity-MG3): a phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Background: Given burdensome side-effects and long latency for efficacy with conventional agents, there is a continued need for generalised myasthenia gravis treatments that are safe and provide consistently sustained, long-term disease control. Nipocalimab, a neonatal Fc receptor blocker, was associated with dose-dependent reductions in total IgG and anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies and clinically meaningful improvements in the Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) scale in patients with generalised myasthenia gravis in a phase 2 study. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of nipocalimab in a phase 3 study.

[How to Achieve Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in The Korean Society of Gastroenterology?].

With the increasing emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in organizations and institutions, academic societies in gastroenterology and hepatology are beginning to take actionable steps toward achieving DEI. The successful implementation of DEI initiatives leads to excellence in the field, improved patient outcomes, particularly in areas where health disparities are prevalent, and advances in the gastrointestinal discipline. Such implementation also results in a workforce that better reflects the growing diversity of the population.

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.

Relationships between Chronic Cough and Asthma Control and Quality-of-Life in Patients with Severe Asthma: A 6-Month Longitudinal Analysis.

Background: The prevalence and clinical implications of chronic cough (CC) in patients with severe asthma receiving asthma treatment remain relatively unknown.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between CC and asthma control and quality-of-life (QoL) in patients with severe asthma through longitudinal analysis.

Methods: Baseline and 6-month follow-up data from the Korean Severe Asthma Registry were analyzed.

Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis suspected of malignancy: A case report.

Rationale: Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis (TB), a rare form of tuberculosis outside the lungs, can affect any organ or tissue in the body. It is difficult to diagnose because of nonspecific symptoms, often leading to delayed confirmation after the initial patient visit. Clinical manifestations such as cervical lymphadenopathy and irregular mucosal surfaces can be challenging to distinguish from nasopharyngeal cancer or malignant lymphoma.

Preclinical evaluation of a surgical assistant robot for use in minimally invasive abdominal surgeries.

In recent years, robotic assistance has become increasingly used and applied in minimally invasive surgeries. A new cooperative surgical robot system that includes a joystick-guided robotic scope holder was developed in this study, and its feasibility for use in minimally invasive abdominal surgery was evaluated in a preclinical setting. The cooperative surgical robot consists of a six-degree-of-freedom collaborative robot arm and a one-degree-of-freedom bidirectional telescopic end-effector specializing in surgical assistance.

Incidence and risk factors of immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced colitis in Korean patients with cancer.

Background/aims: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are effective in treating cancer. However, various immune-related adverse events (irAEs) have become prevalent, with ICI-induced colitis being the most common gastrointestinal irAE. Thus, we aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors of ICI-induced colitis in Korean patients with cancer.

Cohort profile: Multicenter Networks for Ideal Outcomes of Rare Pediatric Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases in Korea (OUTSPREAD study).

Rare endocrine diseases are complex conditions that require lifelong specialized care due to their chronic nature and associated long-term complications. In Korea, a lack of nationwide data on clinical practice and outcomes has limited progress in patient care. Therefore, the Multicenter Networks for Ideal Outcomes of Pediatric Rare Endocrine and Metabolic Disease (OUTSPREAD) study was initiated.

Automated Screening of Precancerous Cervical Cells Through Contrastive Self-Supervised Learning.

Cervical cancer is a significant health challenge, yet it can be effectively prevented through early detection. Cytology-based screening is critical for identifying cancerous and precancerous lesions; however, the process is labor-intensive and reliant on trained experts to scan through hundreds of thousands of mostly normal cells. To address these challenges, we propose a novel distribution-augmented approach using contrastive self-supervised learning for detecting abnormal squamous cervical cells from cytological images.

Sodium Phenylbutyrate Attenuates Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury Through Inhibition of Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase 4.

Cisplatin nephrotoxicity is a significant clinical issue, and currently, no approved drug exists to prevent cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). This study investigated whether sodium phenylbutyrate (4-PBA), a chemical chaperone, can prevent cisplatin-induced AKI. Six consecutive days of intraperitoneal injections of 4-PBA were administered in a murine model before and after the cisplatin challenge.

COVID-19 Vaccination Recommendations for 2024-2025 in Korea.

The Korean Society of Infectious Diseases has been regularly publishing guidelines for adult immunization since 2007. Following the release of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination recommendations in 2023, significant changes have occurred due to the emergence of new variant strains and the waning immunity from previous vaccinations. This article provides a comprehensive update as of November 2024, incorporating the latest evidence and guidelines.

Study Protocol of the Korean EGFR Registry: A Multicenter Prospective and Retrospective Cohort Study in Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer Patients With EGFR Mutation.

Introduction: The provision of treatment for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients has increased in Korea. However, multicenter studies on the clinicopathologic dataset and treatment outcomes, using a large-scale dataset, have not been conducted. The current study is a prospective and retrospective multicenter observational cohort study that registers all stages of EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients.

Effects of maximum dose on local control after stereotactic body radiotherapy for oligometastatic tumors of colorectal cancer.

This study aimed to identify radiotherapy dosimetric parameters related to local failure (LF)-free survival (LFFS) in patients with lung and liver oligometastases from colorectal cancer treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). We analyzed 75 oligometastatic lesions in 55 patients treated with SBRT between January 2014 and December 2021. There was no constraint or intentional increase in maximum dose.

Case Report: Gutter endoleak embolization in a patient with bilateral common iliac artery aneurysms treated with sandwich parallel grafts.

Background: Current guidelines recommend preserving at least one of the bilateral pelvic flows in patients with aortoiliac aneurysms. The sandwich parallel graft, using commercially available devices, provides a viable option for patients who fall outside the instructions for use of iliac branch devices. However, gutter endoleak remains a significant challenge.

Successful Treatment of a Patient Presenting with Simultaneous Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma and Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Simultaneously occuring diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is extremely rare. Generally, patients with CD20-positive DLBCL receive rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, prednisone (R-CHOP) regimen, while those with HL receive brentuximab vedotin, doxorubicin, vinblastine, dacarbazine (A-AVD) regimen as first-line therapy. Establishing a strategy for treating both lymphoma subtypes concurrently is thus very difficult.

Feasibility of an indocyanine green-hyaluronic acid mixture (LuminoMark™) for targeting suspicious axillary lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer.

Purpose: During breast cancer surgery, the use of dyes such as indigo carmine, methylene blue, or indocyanine green (ICG) for targeting axillary lymph nodes (ALNs) under ultrasound guidance can result in rapid diffusion, complicated tissue differentiation, and disruption of staining. LuminoMark™, a novel ICG-hyaluronic acid mixture, can provide real-time visualization and minimize dye spread, thereby ensuring a clear surgical field. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of LuminoMark™ for targeting ALNs in patients with breast cancer.

Prognostic Performance of the Next-Generation Sequencing-Based Multigene Assay in Early Breast Cancer Patients Treated According to the 21-Gene Assay Results.

Purpose: Multigene assays guide treatment decisions in early-stage hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. OncoFREE, a next-generation sequencing assay using 179 genes, was developed for this purpose. This study aimed to evaluate the concordance between the Oncotype DX (ODX) Recurrence Score (RS) and the OncoFREE Decision Index (DI) and to compare their performance.

Inhibition of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore as a promising target for protecting auditory function in cisplatin-induced hearing loss.

mPTP is a multi-protein complex that opens in mitochondria during cell death. Cisplatin-induced hearing loss is also known to be caused by mPTP opening. Thus, our study evaluated the protective effect of a novel mPTP inhibitor named DBP-iPT against cisplatin-induced hearing loss.

Long-term treatment outcomes of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome by the Korean Rare Vascular Ailment Research Experts.

Objective: Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) results from an anomalous relationship between the popliteal artery and the myofascial structures of the popliteal fossa. The long-term treatment outcomes are not well-known because of the rarity of the disease. This study aimed to establish a nationwide collective dataset and analyze treatment outcomes.

Advance Care Planning in Palliative Care in Asia: Barriers and Implications.

Advance care planning (ACP) in palliative care is essential for patient autonomy and quality of dying. This review explores ACP practices in South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, highlighting how legislation and cultural values shape those practices. In these three sectors, which are influenced by Confucian values, family involvement plays a significant role in decision-making.

First clinical report of the international single-port robotic rectal cancer registry.

Background: Rectal cancer surgery remains a significant technical challenge. The development and implementation of a new technology offer hope for more accurate and precise surgery. To evaluate whether single-port robotic (SPr) technology helps achieve this goal, an international SPr registry was established.

Concurrent Versus Sequential Adjuvant Capecitabine-Based Chemoradiation in Residual Triple-Negative Breast Cancer After Neoadjuvant-Chemotherapy: A Multicenter Comparative Study.

Purpose: Given the aggressive nature and poor prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), adjuvant capecitabine has been the standard therapy for residual disease after preoperative systemic therapy (PST). However, the optimal sequence of postoperative radiation therapy (RT) and capecitabine remains unclear. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of concurrent RT and capecitabine (RT+CAP) versus sequential RT followed by capecitabine (RT→CAP) in patients with residual TNBC after PST.