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Pancreatic beta cells utilize Ca 2+ to secrete insulin in response to glucose. The glucose-dependent increase in cytosolic Ca 2+ concentration ([Ca 2+ ] C ) activates a series of insulin secretory machinery in pancreatic beta cells. Therefore, the amount of insulin secreted in response to glucose is determined in a [Ca 2+ ] C -dependent manner, at least within a moderate range. However, the demand for insulin secretion may surpass the capability of beta cells. Abnormal elevation of [Ca 2+ ] C levels beyond the beta-cell endurance capacity can damage them by inducing endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and cell death programs such as apoptosis. Therefore, while Ca 2+ is essential for the insulin secretory functions of beta cells, it could affect their survival at pathologically higher levels. Because an increase in beta-cell [Ca 2+ ] C is inevitable under certain hazardous conditions, understanding the regulatory mechanism for [Ca 2+ ] C is important. Therefore, this review discusses beta-cell function, survival, ER stress, and apoptosis associated with intracellular and ER Ca 2+ homeostasis., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Ca v 1.2 channel phosphorylation plays an important role in regulating neuronal plasticity by action potential-dependent Ca 2+ entry. Most studies of Ca v 1.2 regulation by phosphorylation have been reported in heart and muscles. Here, we identified phosphorylation sites of neuronal Ca v 1.2 channel protein purified from rat brain using mass spectrometry. The functional characterization of these phosphorylation sites showed altered voltage-dependent biophysical properties of the channel, without affecting current density. These results show that neuronal Ca v 1.2 channel is regulated by phosphorylation in a complex mechanism involving multiple phosphorylation sites., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background and Aims: Currently available endoscopic or minimally invasive antireflux modalities are not widely accepted due to high procedure cost or inconsistent results. Therefore, a simpler and less technically demanding method is required. We evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of new endoscopic antireflux method (the Ripple Procedure) using functional lumen imaging probe (FLIP)., Methods: This 5-week survival study included 10 domestic pigs (control, n = 4; experimental [Ripple], n = 6). The procedure includes the following steps: (i) semicircular marking along the lesser curvature of the cardia; (ii) submucosal injection; and (iii) semicircular mucosal incision along the marking. Endoscopic and FLIP evaluations were performed preoperatively and on postoperative days (PODs) 14 and 35. Technical feasibility was evaluated, and FLIP parameters, including the distensibility index (DI) at the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) and histopathological findings, were compared between groups., Results: The median procedure time was 28 (23.5-33.8) min. There was no significant difference in dysphagia score and body weight between groups. On POD 35, the Ripple group showed significantly lower EGJ DI at 30 mL [2.0 (1.3-2.5) vs 4.9 (2.7-5.0), P = 0.037]. The EGJ DI was significantly reduced at 30 mL, compared with that at the baseline level [- 59.0% (- 68.8% to - 32.1%) vs 27.8% (- 26.3% to 83.1%), P = 0.033]. Histologic evaluation revealed submucosal granulation tissues near the mucosal incision site, with increased intervening fibrosis between lower esophageal sphincter fibers in the Ripple group., Conclusion: The EGJ DI significantly decreased after the Ripple Procedure; hence, the procedure appears to be feasible and effective in this porcine model.

Orexin A (OXA) is a neuropeptide associated with plasma insulin and leptin levels involved in body weight and appetite regulation. However, little is known about the effect of OXA on leptin secretion in adipocytes and its physiological roles. Leptin secretion and expression were analysed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Plasma leptin, adiponectin and insulin levels were measured by ELISA assay. Phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (pSTAT3) levels in the hypothalamus were evaluated by western blotting. OXA dose-dependently suppressed leptin secretion from 3T3-L1 adipocytes by inhibiting its gene expression while facilitating adiponectin secretion. The leptin inhibition by OXA was mediated via orexin receptors (OXR1 and OXR2). In addition to the pathway via extracellular signal-regulated kinases, OXA triggered adenylyl cyclase-induced cAMP elevation, which results in protein kinase A-mediated activation of cAMP response element-binding proteins (CREB). Accordingly, CREB inhibition restored the OXA-induced downregulation of leptin gene expression and secretion. Exogenous OXA for 4 weeks decreased fasting plasma leptin levels and increased hypothalamic pSTAT3 levels in high-fat diet-fed mice, regardless of increase in body weight and food intake. These results suggest that high dose of OXA directly inhibits leptin mRNA expression and thus secretion in adipocytes, which may be a peripheral mechanism of OXA for its role in appetite drive during fasting. It may be also critical for lowering basal plasma leptin levels and thus maintaining postprandial hypothalamic leptin sensitivity.

Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) produced endogenously can cause mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic complications in various cell types by inducing oxidative stress. In the liver, oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress affects the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Although a link between both stresses and fatty liver diseases has been suggested, few studies have investigated the involvement of catalase in fatty liver pathogenesis. We examined whether catalase is associated with NAFLD, using catalase knockout (CKO) mice and the catalase-deficient human hepatoma cell line HepG2. Hepatic morphology analysis revealed that the fat accumulation was more prominent in high-fat diet (HFD) CKO mice compared to that in age-matched wild-type (WT) mice, and lipid peroxidation and H 2 O 2 release were significantly elevated in CKO mice. Transmission electron micrographs indicated that the liver mitochondria from CKO mice tended to be more severely damaged than those in WT mice. Likewise, mitochondrial DNA copy number and cellular ATP concentrations were significantly lower in CKO mice. In fatty acid-treated HepG2 cells, knockdown of catalase accelerated cellular lipid accumulation and depressed mitochondrial biogenesis, which was recovered by co-treatment with N-acetyl cysteine or melatonin. This effect of antioxidant was also true in HFD-fed CKO mice, suppressing fatty liver development and improving hepatic mitochondrial function. Expression of ER stress marker proteins and hepatic fat deposition also increased in normal-diet, aged CKO mice compared to WT mice. These findings suggest that H 2 O 2 production may be an important event triggering NAFLD and that catalase may be an attractive therapeutic target for preventing NAFLD.

Obesity and insulin resistance are considered the main causes of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and oxidative stress accelerates the progression of NAFLD. Free fatty acids, which are elevated in the liver by obesity or insulin resistance, lead to incomplete oxidation in the mitochondria, peroxisomes, and microsomes, leading to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Among the ROS generated, H 2 O 2 is mainly produced in peroxisomes and decomposed by catalase. However, when the H 2 O 2 concentration increases because of decreased expression or activity of catalase, it migrates to cytosol and other organelles, causing cell injury and participating in the Fenton reaction, resulting in serious oxidative stress. To date, numerous studies have been shown to inhibit the pathogenesis of NAFLD, but treatment for this disease mainly depends on weight loss and exercise. Various molecules such as vitamin E, metformin, liraglutide, and resveratrol have been proposed as therapeutic agents, but further verification of the dose setting, clinical application, and side effects is needed. Reducing oxidative stress may be a fundamental method for improving not only the progression of NAFLD but also obesity and insulin resistance. However, the relationship between NAFLD progression and antioxidants, particularly catalase, which is most commonly expressed in the liver, remains unclear. Therefore, this review summarizes the role of catalase, focusing on its potential therapeutic effects in NAFLD progression.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze long-term clinical and oncologic outcomes in patients with early-stage adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) managed with either endoscopic resection (ER) or surgery., Methods: The inclusion criteria were AEG, meeting classic or expanded indications for ER of early gastric cancer, and complete resection. A total of 66 patients with Siewert type II AEG were included (ER group, n = 38; vs. surgery group, n = 28)., Results: The mean age of the ER group was greater than that of the surgery group (mean ± SD, 66.9 ± 9.7 vs. 58.5 ± 10.4 years, respectively; p = 0.001). Compared to the ER group, macroscopically flat or depressed-type lesions were more common (47.4 vs. 89.3%; p = 0.001), and mean lesion size was larger in the surgery group (13.3 ± 8.4 vs. 18.6 ± 11.0 mm; p = 0.039). One intensive care unit admission and subsequent surgery-related death occurred in the surgery group (1/28 vs. 0/38 in the ER group; p = 0.424). During follow-up, recurrence was detected in both groups (4/38 vs. 1/28; p = 0.385). Overall survival and 5-year disease-free survival did not differ between the groups (93.3 vs. 92.9%; p  = 0.282 and 88.0 vs. 100.0%; p = 0.066)., Conclusions: Once complete resection is achieved in patients with AEG who met the expanded criteria for endoscopic submucosal dissection of gastric cancer, there was no significant difference in clinical outcomes between ER and surgery.

In this study, we examined the effect of tomatidine on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced apoptosis in C 2 C 12 myoblasts. TNF-α treatment increased cleaved caspase 3 and cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) protein levels in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Pretreatment of cells with 10 μM tomatidine prevented TNF-α-induced apoptosis, caspase 3 cleavage, and PARP cleavage. Cells were treated with 100 ng/mL TNF-α for 24 h, and flow cytometry was utilized to assess apoptosis using annexin-V and 7-aminoactinomycin D. TNF-α up-regulated activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) expression. This effect was suppressed by pretreatment with tomatidine. Pretreatment with 4-phenylbutyric acid (a chemical chaperone) also inhibited TNF-α-induced cleavage of caspase 3 and PARP and up-regulation of ATF4 and CHOP expression. In addition, tomatidine-mediated inhibition of phosphorylation of c-Jun amino terminal kinase (JNK) attenuated TNF-α-induced cleavage of PARP and caspase 3. However, tomatidine did not affect NF-κB activation in TNF-α-treated C 2 C 12 myoblast cells. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that tomatidine attenuates TNF-α-induced apoptosis through down-regulation of CHOP expression and inhibition of JNK activation.

Background: The treatment of intramucosal early gastric cancer with undifferentiated-type histologies (UD-EGCs) using endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is controversial. This study aimed to compare the clinical and oncologic long-term outcomes of ESD and surgery for UD-EGCs., Methods: A prospectively collected database of patients who underwent ESD or surgery between January 2006 and December 2012 was established. Patients who diagnosed with UD-EGC and satisfied the expanded indications of ESD were included. Clinical data from 111 patients treated with ESD and 382 patients underwent surgery were analyzed, and 1-1 propensity score-matched 81 pairs of patients were also compared., Results: In both groups, two-thirds of the UD-EGCs had signet ring cell (SRC)-type histology and about 90% of UD-EGCs were flat or depressed types. The mean size of tumors was smaller in ESD group (9.7 vs. 13.2 mm; P < 0.001). After propensity score-matched, case-matching covariates were not significantly different between the groups. Disease-free survival (DFS) was significantly shorter in the ESD group, but overall survival (OS) was not different between the two groups both in overall comparison (DFS; P < 0.001 and OS; P = 0.078) and propensity score-matched analysis (DFS; P < 0.001 and OS; P = 0.850). According to histologic type, OS of SRC histology was not different between the group, both in overall comparison and propensity score-matched analysis (P = 0.286 and P = 0.210). On the other hands, OS of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma was significantly shorter in ESD group in overall comparison (P = 0.007), but was not as so in propensity score-matched analysis (P = 0.088)., Conclusions: ESD might be a complementary option for the treatment of UD-EGCs, especially in those with SRC-type histology based on strict expanded indications. Nonetheless, close endoscopic surveillance is required because of a high incidence of intragastric recurrence.

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is accepted as a standard treatment in patients with early gastric cancer (EGC) who have a negligible risk of lymph node metastasis. The aim of this study was to compare the short-term and long-term outcomes between ESD and surgery in patients with EGC that fulfilled the expanded indication of ESD on their final pathologic report., Methods: We reviewed the clinical data of patients who underwent gastric ESD and surgery between January 2007 and December 2012. Patients with pathologically confirmed EGC that fulfilled the expanded indication of ESD on their final pathologic report were analyzed., Results: Among 2023 patients, 817 (40.4%) underwent ESD and 1206 (59.6%) underwent surgery. The proportion of cases meeting the absolute indication was significantly higher in the ESD group than in the surgery group (66.0 vs. 26.2%). Lesions on the middle third, >3 cm in size, flat or depressed, and of undifferentiated histology were significantly more common in the surgery group than in the ESD group. The ESD group showed lower acute complication rates [8.1% (66 of 817) vs. 18.1% (218 of 1206), P ≤ 0.001] and procedure-related mortality [0 vs. 0.3% (4 of 1206), P = 0.153] than the surgical group. The annual incidence of recurrent gastric cancer was 2.18% in the ESD group and 0.19% in the surgery group. The 5-year overall and disease-specific survival rates were not significantly different between the ESD group and the surgery group (overall survival: 96.4 vs. 97.2%, P = 0.423; disease-specific survival: 99.6 vs. 99.2%, P = 0.203)., Conclusions: Although EGC lesions had poorer features in the surgery group than in the ESD group, ESD was comparable to surgery for EGCs that fulfilled the expanded indication of ESD, with lower rates of acute complication and comparable overall survival.

Background and Study Aims: Endoscopic resection (ER) is accepted as a curative treatment option for selected cases of early gastric cancer (EGC). Although additional surgery is often recommended for patients who have undergone non-curative ER, clinicians are cautious when managing elderly patients with GC because of comorbid conditions. The aim of the study was to investigate clinical outcomes in elderly patients following non-curative ER with and without additive treatment., Patients and Methods: Subjects included 365 patients (>75 years old) who were diagnosed with EGC and underwent ER between 2007 and 2015. Clinical outcomes of three patient groups [curative ER (n = 246), non-curative ER with additive treatment (n = 37), non-curative ER without additive treatment (n = 82)] were compared., Results: Among the patients who underwent non-curative ER with additive treatment, 28 received surgery, three received a repeat ER, and six experienced argon plasma coagulation. Patients who underwent non-curative ER alone were significantly older than those who underwent additive treatment. Overall 5-year survival rates in the curative ER, non-curative ER with treatment, and non-curative ER without treatment groups were 84, 86, and 69 %, respectively. No significant difference in overall survival was found between patients in the curative ER and non-curative ER with additive treatment groups. The non-curative ER groups were categorized by lymph node metastasis risk factors to create a high-risk group that exhibited positive lymphovascular invasion or deep submucosal invasion greater than SM2 and a low-risk group without risk factors. Overall 5-year survival rate was lowest (60 %) in the high-risk group with non-curative ER and no additive treatment., Conclusions: Elderly patients who underwent non-curative ER with additive treatment showed better survival outcome than those without treatment. Therefore, especially with LVI or deep submucosal invasion, additive treatment is recommended in patients undergoing non-curative ER, even if they are older than 75 years.

Introduction: Perforation is one of the major complications of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). In the present study, we investigated the clinical outcomes of and management strategies for ESD-related perforations., Methods: Between February 2010 and April 2014, a total of 3821 patients who underwent ESD for an upper gastrointestinal epithelial neoplasm were analyzed using the Yonsei University Severance Hospital database. Clinical outcomes of and management strategies for perforations in 90 patients (2.4 %) were analyzed. The risk factors for the development of perforation were also investigated., Results: The mean age of our subjects was 64.7 ± 12.2 years (male to female ratio, 3.2:1), and the mean size of the resected specimens was 39.4 ± 12.5 mm. Endoscopically visible perforations (visible perforation group) were noted in 74 of the 90 patients (82.2 %), and clinically suspected perforations (suspected perforation group) were noted in 16 patients (17.8 %). Immediate closure with endoclips was attempted in cases with a visible perforation and was successful in 72 (97.3 %) cases. Two patients in whom endoscopic closure failed underwent surgery. Conservative care, including fasting and intravenous antibiotic administration, was attempted in the suspected perforation group, and all the patients were treated successfully without surgery. The mean durations of fasting, antibiotic treatment, and hospital stay were 3.8 ± 3.1, 6.8 ± 4.2, and 8.7 ± 5.3 days, respectively. Subgroup analysis of perforation type (visible perforation vs. suspected perforation) revealed no significant difference in the clinical course. Tumor location at the upper or middle third of the stomach was significantly associated with perforation., Conclusion: Most of the ESD-related perforations in upper gastrointestinal epithelial neoplasm could be managed successfully in a non-surgical manner under strict monitoring.

Background: The role of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in gastric cardia cancer should be further evaluated because the accuracy of EUS depends on tumor location. We aimed to identify a specific role of EUS for therapeutic decision-making in patients with gastric cardia cancer., Methods: Initial EUS examinations for treatment-naïve gastric cancer that were followed by endoscopic resection or surgery were included in the study. Lesions were classified as cardiac and non-cardiac cancer according to tumor location. The diagnostic performance of EUS in predicting invasion depth was compared between the two groups., Results: The overall accuracy of EUS in predicting invasion depth did not differ between the cardiac and non-cardiac cancer groups (44.4 vs. 52.3 %, P = 0.259). The underestimation rate was higher in the cardiac cancer group than in the non-cardiac cancer group (37.0 vs. 18.5 %, P = 0.001). When the depth of invasion was predicted to be deeper than the mucosa (submucosal or deeper) by EUS, the positive predictive value was 82.1 [95 % confidence interval (CI), 66.5-92.5 %] and 62.9 % (95 % CI, 60.5-66.9 %) in the cardiac and non-cardiac cancer groups, respectively (P = 0.015). In multivariable analysis, tumor location in the cardia was found to be an independent factor for the underestimation of invasion depth [odds ratio (95 % CI) = 2.242 (1.156-4.349)]., Conclusions: The underestimation rate in predicting invasion depth was significantly higher for cardiac cancers than for non-cardiac cancers. Therefore, selection of the treatment method for gastric cardia cancer via EUS should be done carefully.

Background: For patients who undergo gastrectomy for gastric cancer, systematic follow-up evaluation to detect recurrent lesions is recommended, although the benefits of a surveillance program using short-term imaging studies have not been evaluated., Methods: This study reviewed the clinical data of patients who underwent curative surgery for gastric cancer using a prospective database. Patients with recurrence were classified according to surveillance interval as follows: ≤3, 3-6, and 6-12 months., Results: Of the 2785 patients who underwent curative surgery for gastric cancer, 376 (13.5 %) had intraabdominal recurrences, excluding the stomach. Multivariable analysis showed that a short surveillance interval did not increase the post-recurrence survival duration (with 6-12 months as the reference: ≤3 months: hazard ratio [HR] 0.954; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.689-1.323; 3-6 months: HR 0.994, 95 % CI 0.743-1.330). In addition, short surveillance intervals did not increase overall survival (with 6-12 months as the reference: ≤3 months: HR 0.969; 95 % CI 0.699-1.342; 3-6 months: HR 0.955; 95 % CI 0.711-1.285). In contrast to the surveillance interval, age, cancer stage, symptoms at recurrence, and recurrence time after gastrectomy were factors associated with both post-recurrence survival and overall survival., Conclusions: Although the detection of recurrence before symptoms helped to prolong both post-recurrence survival and overall survival, shortening the surveillance interval to less than 6 months did not improve either the patient's post-recurrence survival or overall survival. Hence, it is not recommended that asymptomatic patients undergo surveillance involving imaging studies more often than once a year.

Background: Synchronous gastric neoplasms are not infrequently detected, thus endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for multiple early gastric neoplasia is occasionally considered. However, there have been few investigations of the safety and feasibility of simultaneous ESD for multiple gastric lesions. This study aims to evaluate the safety and feasibility of simultaneous ESD for multiple gastric neoplasia., Methods: A total of 1823 patients who underwent ESD for 1929 gastric adenomas or early gastric cancers were retrospectively reviewed in this study. Two hundred gastric adenomas or early gastric cancers among 94 patients were treated by ESD simultaneously (multiple group), and 1729 patients were treated with ESD for a single lesion (single group)., Results: En bloc resection (P = 0.060), complete resection (P = 0.362) and curative resection (P = 0.108) rates did not differ between the two groups. Rates of adverse events including bleeding (P = 0.317), perforation (P = 0.316) and aspiration pneumonia (P = 0.563) were not higher in the multiple group. Long-term follow-up showed more frequent local recurrence (P < 0.001), synchronous neoplasia (P = 0.041) and metachronous neoplasia (P < 0.001) per patient in the multiple group; however, local recurrence per lesion did not differ between the two groups (P = 0.103)., Conclusions: Simultaneous ESD for multiple synchronous gastric neoplasms is safe and feasible compared to single ESD. However, thorough examination for local recurrence and synchronous and metachronous neoplasia is required.

Background: Although gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are usually identified by endoscopic examinations, the diagnostic value of endoscopy has not been fully evaluated. We assessed the diagnostic performance of endoscopy for gastric GISTs according to lesion characteristics. Furthermore, the benefits of periodic endoscopy prior to diagnosis of gastric GISTs were evaluated., Methods: We reviewed patients who underwent surgery for gastric GISTs at Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea, between January 2008 and April 2014. In addition, we administered a questionnaire to determine the usage of periodic endoscopic inspection and the period from the penultimate endoscopy to the diagnosis., Results: Of 174 included patients, 109 (62.4 %) showed intraluminally growing GISTs and 65 (37.4 %) showed extraluminally growing GISTs. The proportions of lesions that were initially diagnosed via endoscopy were 99.1 % for intraluminally growing GISTs and 49.2 % for extraluminally growing GISTs (P < 0.001). In patients with intraluminally growing GISTs, patients who had undergone endoscopy within 3 years prior to the diagnosis showed smaller tumor sizes (P = 0.015) and fewer tumors with ulceration (7.1 vs. 28.4 %, P = 0.021). The proportion of GISTs with a high mitotic index did not differ according to the usage of periodic endoscopy (P = 0.639). In contrast, lesion characteristics of the extraluminally growing GISTs did not differ according to whether an endoscopy was performed within 3 years prior to the diagnosis., Conclusions: Endoscopic examinations had a limited role in the diagnosis of extraluminally growing GISTs. However, periodic endoscopy was associated with relatively earlier detection of growth in intraluminal gastric GISTs.

Purpose: To evaluate whether an overnight or non-overnight fast for suppressing physiological FDG uptake by the myocardium is better in non-diabetic healthy subjects before F-18 FDG PET/CT studies., Materials and Methods: One hundred two subjects who underwent whole-body F-18 FDG PET/CT for routine health checkups were retrospectively reviewed. For quantitative assessment, a region of interest was drawn around the entire left ventricle visible in the axial view containing the highest visual uptake in order to measure the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max). FDG uptake in the myocardium was visually graded as follows: grade 0 = minimal, 1 = mostly minimal or mild, 2 = mostly intense or moderate, and 3 = homogeneously intense. Adequate suppression of myocardial uptake was quantitatively defined as a SUV max ≤ 5.0 and grade 0 by visual assessment., Results: With regard to the SUV max, myocardial uptake was not different between the overnight and the non-overnight fasting subjects (P = 0.753). In subjects who had adequate suppression of myocardial uptake, no significant difference was observed between the overnight and non-overnight fasting subjects either in terms of visual or quantitative assessment (P = 0.539 and P = 0.678, respectively)., Conclusion: Both overnight and non-overnight fasts are not adequate for suppressing the physiological uptake of FDG by the myocardium.

Background: Safety of endoscopic resection (ER) for early gastric cancers (EGC) with mixed histology predominantly of differentiated type has not been securely established, since those lesions tend to exhibit lymph node metastasis, compared to pure differentiated type. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinicopathologic characteristics, therapeutic outcomes, and risk for lymph node metastasis in predominantly differentiated mixed EGC treated by ER., Methods: A total of 1,016 patients with 1,039 EGCs underwent ER between January 2007 and June 2013. Enrolled lesions were divided into groups of either pure differentiated (n = 1,011) or predominantly differentiated mixed (n = 28), according to the presence of mixed histology predominantly of differentiated type in ER specimen., Results: Mixed histology predominantly of differentiated type was diagnosed in 2.7% of lesions. Larger size, mid-third location, and moderately differentiated histology on forceps biopsy were independent risk factors for the predominantly differentiated mixed histologic type of EGC in multivariate analysis. En bloc resection rate tended to be lower, and complete and curative resection rates were significantly lower in the predominantly differentiated mixed group. The rate of lymph node metastasis in the lesions with additional operation tended to be higher, in this mixed histology group., Conclusions: Larger size, mid-third location, and moderately differentiated histology on forceps biopsy carry the significant risk for mixed histology predominantly of differentiated type. EGC with predominantly differentiated mixed histologic type affects therapeutic outcomes and consequent clinical course accompanied by possibly higher risk for lymph node metastasis. The safety of ER for predominantly differentiated mixed EGC should be validated by further prospective investigation.

Background: Although pain is a common complication of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), management strategies are inadequate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of topical bupivacaine and triamcinolone acetonide for abdominal pain relief and as a potential method of pain control after ESD for gastric neoplasia., Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 111 eligible patients with early gastric neoplasm were randomized into one of three groups: bupivacaine (BV) only, bupivacaine with triamcinolone (BV-TA), or placebo. The present pain intensity (PPI) score and the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) were used to evaluate pain at 0, 6, 12, and 24 h after ESD., Results: The mean values for the 6-hour PPI in the BV-TA and BV groups were lower than those of the placebo group (1.57 ± 1.09 and 1.97 ± 1.09 vs. 2.63 ± 0.98, p < 0.001). The 12-hour PPI of the BV-TA group (1.20 ± 0.83) was the lowest among the three groups (p = 0.001). The total 6-hour SF-MPQ score, especially in the sensory domain, was higher in the placebo group than in BV and BV-TA groups. The 12-hour SF-MPQ score was the lowest in the BV-TA group. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that BV-TA injection protocol, fibrosis, and size of residual ulcer were independently associated with the PPI score at 6 h., Conclusion: Bupivacaine after ESD was effective for pain relief at 6 h postoperatively. Particularly, topical infiltration of bupivacaine mixed with triamcinolone acetonide was helpful for producing a more long-lasting benefit of pain relief after gastric ESD.

Background: In early gastric cancer (EGC) and gastric adenoma, residual tumors may develop despite complete endoscopic resection (ER). To improve the chance of curative resection, we investigated the risk factors of residual tumor development in completely resected gastric epithelial neoplasia after ER., Methods: In total, 3,879 gastric epithelial neoplasms showing complete resection after ER were examined; 46 (1.2 %) residual tumors were found upon follow-up endoscopy. Clinicopathological characteristics were evaluated between those with and without residual tumors., Results: For gastric adenoma, high-grade dysplasia and severe intestinal metaplasia (IM) in the background mucosa were significantly associated with residual tumors. For EGC, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (PD), signet ring cell carcinoma (SRC), having a minimum lateral safety margin of <3 mm, and localization in the upper third of the stomach were significantly associated with residual tumors. Multivariate analysis revealed that a lateral safety margin of <3 mm (OR 13.8; p < 0.001), PD (OR 16.3; p = 0.014), and SRC (OR 9.8; p = 0.009) among EGC patients, and severe IM in the background mucosa (OR 9.0; p = 0.024) among gastric adenoma patients, were significantly associated with residual tumors., Conclusions: For neoplasms with undifferentiated histology (PD or SRC), short-term endoscopic follow-up may help to detect residual tumors that form after complete resection via ER. For EGC, the lateral margin may be considered safe if greater than 3 mm. However, the possibility of satellite lesions should be investigated when the gastric adenoma to be resected is surrounded by severe IM.

In Republic of Korea, construction and demolition (C&D) waste accounts for 49.9% of the total waste. In the present work, the mineralogical composition, the concentrations of 11 heavy metals, 19 PAH, and 7 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners present in the 6 broad category (9 subcategories) of C&D hazardous waste were discussed along with their leaching characteristics. In concrete/mixed cement waste, the concentrations of As, Cr(6+), Hg, and Zn were in the range of 1.76-7.86, ND-1.63, 0.026-0.047, and 110.90-280.17 mg/kg, respectively. The asphalt waste sample A1 possessed relatively high concentrations of phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, and indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene comparing to the other samples and it contains 0.08-0.1% of coal tar. Hazardous nature of the C&D wastes greatly depends on the source of the collection. Zn concentration was above 1000 mg/kg for road asphalt waste samples A4 and A5. Total PCB concentration were high in the soil waste sample S1 (130 μg/kg) as it was the excavated soil obtained from the premises of an oil station. Leaching of As, Ba, CN(-), and F(-) were observed in most of the C&D waste samples.

Leachate, generated by the decomposition of animal carcasses, presents many environmental, sanitary, and food safety hazards. However, research on the characteristics of leachate is lacking. In this study, we performed biochemical profiling of leachate from two animal species (pig and cattle) in two soil types (sandy loam and sandy soil) using (1)H-NMR-based profiling, followed by multivariate data analysis. The leachate was collected from a well-controlled artificial burial site over a 31-week period. Principal components analysis (PCA) of the NMR data showed similar patterns between species and soil types. Organic components, including organic acids and phenols, predominated, and their levels increased with time. The methylamine level in leachate from pig carcasses 18 weeks following burial was significantly higher than that from cattle carcasses; leachate from cattle carcasses in sandy soil 1 week after burial contained unique components (specifically ethanol, formate, alanine, N-methylation, and taurine), in contrast with those from sandy loam soil. This study suggests that a NMR-based profiling approach is useful to characterize the organic components in leachate from animal carcasses over time.

Background: The application of endoscopic resection (ER) for undifferentiated-type early gastric cancer (UD-EGC) remains controversial. The aim was to examine long-term outcomes of ER for UD-EGC. Furthermore, we investigated whether long-term outcomes of ER differed between poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (PD) and signet ring cell carcinoma (SRC)., Methods: From 2001 to 2011, 209 lesions in 209 patients with UD-EGC (82 PD; 127 SRC) were treated by ER. We retrospectively assessed the clinical outcomes of ER in 209 patients. The survival rate and disease-free survival rates after ER were evaluated as long-term outcomes., Results: The en bloc resection and curative resection (CR) rates were 91.4 and 55.0 %, respectively. The en bloc and CR rates in PD were 90.2 and 45.1 %, whereas those in SRC were 92.1 and 61.4 %. For patients with PD who underwent non-curative resections, 51.1 % were vertical-cut end-positive and for those with SRC, 63.3 % were lateral-cut end-positive, a statistically significant difference. In those patients where CR was achieved, no case of local recurrence or distant metastasis was observed during the follow-up period (32.7 ± 22.2 months). The 3- and 5-year survival rates were 99.0 and 98.6 %, with no significant difference between CR patients with SRC and PD., Conclusions: ER may yield good long-term outcomes for UD-EGC if CR is achieved, with no difference between PD and SRC. However, to increase the current CR rate of ER, stricter criteria for performing ER in UD-EGC may be required.

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is the gold standard technique for en bloc resection of large superficial tumors in the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract. Little is known about the management of epigastric pain after ESD of gastric neoplasms. This study investigated the utility and safety of single-dose, perioperative, intravenous dexamethasone for epigastric pain relief following ESD., Methods: The efficacy of intravenous dexamethasone 0.15 mg/kg (DEXA group) compared with saline-only placebo (placebo) for epigastric pain after ESD of early gastric neoplasms was assessed in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Patients completed a questionnaire about present pain intensity (PPI) and short-form McGill pain (SF-MP) categories for immediate and 6-, 12-, and 24-h postoperative periods. The primary outcome variable was PPI at 6 h following ESD. Secondary outcome variables included pain medication, SF-MP scores, complications, second-look endoscopic findings, and length of stay., Results: A total of 36 patients participated in the study. The mean 6-h PPI value was lower (p < 0.001) in the DEXA group (1.61 ± 0.21) than in the placebo group (2.66 ± 0.19). The total 6-h SF-MP score, especially the sensory domain, was higher (p = 0.054) in the placebo group (11.56 ± 0.75) than in the DEXA group (8.89 ± 0.75). Tramadol for epigastric pain relief was more frequent (p = 0.026) in the placebo group (44.4%) than in the DEXA group (11.1%). No differences were noted between groups in length of stay or complications, including acute or delayed bleeding. The distribution of artificial ulcer patterns at 48-h post-ESD as determined by second-look endoscopy was similar in both groups., Conclusion: Single-dose perioperative intravenous dexamethasone after ESD effectively relieved epigastric pain 6 h postoperatively.

Background: Accurate tumor size measurement is critical for selecting proper candidates for endoscopic resection (ER) of early gastric cancer (EGC). However, size discrepancy between endoscopic size and pathologic size often occurs during ER for EGC., Objective: The purposes of this study were to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics related to size discrepancy and the clinical implications of size discrepancies in terms of therapeutic outcomes., Methods: Between April 2006 and June 2013, a total of 820 patients with 826 EGCs underwent ER. Enrolled lesions were categorized into the following three groups based on size discrepancy between endoscopic size and pathologic size: well-estimated (N = 308), underestimated (N = 215), or overestimated (N = 303) lesions. The well-estimated group was defined as lesions with a ratio of endoscopic size to pathologic size from 0.7 to 1.3., Results: The overall median size discrepancy was 5.0 mm (interquartile range 2.0-9.0). Size, location, macroscopic type, primary tumor stage, and histology differed significantly between the three groups. Larger size [odds ratio (OR) 5.07, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 3.38-7.59, p < 0.001], flat/depressed type (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.15-2.55, p = 0.008), and undifferentiated histology (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.31-3.83, p = 0.003) were independent risk factors for endoscopic size underestimation in multivariate analysis. Smaller size (OR 10.95, 95% CI 4.64-25.87, p < 0.001) was the only independent predictor for endoscopic overestimation of size. Significantly lower complete resection and curative resection rates were detected in the underestimated group compared with the well-estimated group, while the complete resection rate in the overestimated group tended to be higher than in the well-estimated group. There was no significant difference of curative resection rate between the overestimated and the well-estimated groups., Conclusions: Larger size, flat/depressed type, and undifferentiated histology of EGC carry a significant risk for endoscopic underestimation of lesion size, which results in the lower rates of complete and curative resections for EGC. Further studies to reduce size discrepancy are warranted.

Background: Histologic discrepancies among specimens obtained by forceps biopsy and endoscopic resection (ER) between the differentiated and undifferentiated types often occur in early gastric cancer (EGC). This study aimed to evaluate the predictive clinicopathologic characteristics and clinical implications of histologic discrepancies in EGC., Methods: From August 2005 to March 2012, 596 lesions from 579 patients underwent ER for EGC. The lesions studied were diagnosed as the differentiated histologic type from forceps biopsy specimens. The lesions were grouped according to the occurrence of histologic discrepancy between the differentiated and undifferentiated types in specimens obtained by ER as concordant (n = 570) or discordant (n = 26). The main outcome measures were en bloc resection, complete resection, and curative resection rates., Results: The histologic discrepancy rate was 4.4% among the studied lesions. Larger size, lesion location in the mid third of the stomach, easy friability, exudates, and submucosal invasion shown on endoscopic ultrasound were significantly related to histologic discrepancy in the univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis, lesion location in the mid third of the stomach [odds ratio (OR) 5.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.59-19.13] and easy friability (OR 29.26, 95% CI 2.30 to >999.9) were significant factors associated with histologic discrepancy. The complete resection and curative resection rates were significantly lower and the additional operation rates after ER were significantly higher in the discordant group., Conclusions: The EGCs with histologic discrepancy between the differentiated and undifferentiated types changed the therapeutic outcomes of ER. Easily friable lesions located in the mid third of the stomach carry a significant risk for histologic discrepancy in undifferentiated histology when ER of EGCs is performed.

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a standard treatment for gastric neoplasia limited to the mucosa without lymph node metastasis. However, there are neither standardized guidelines nor studies on the best time to start oral intake after ESD. The aim of this study was to compare patient satisfaction, safety, length of hospital stay, and economic feasibility between an early post-ESD diet and the conventional immediate fasting protocol., Methods: A total of 130 patients with 156 gastric epithelial neoplasias who underwent ESD by a single expert endoscopist were consecutively and prospectively enrolled. Enrolled patients were randomized to an early diet group or a control group. The early diet group started meals as a clear liquid diet on day 0, and a soft diet and general diet in sequence on day 1. The fasting group was fasted for 2 days. Patients in both groups underwent second-look endoscopy within 2 days following ESD and follow-up endoscopy after 2 months., Results: In the course of the study, ten patients were excluded. The total number of patients in the early diet group and control group was 63 and 57, respectively. Mean age was 62 years (±9.4). There were no significant differences in clinicopathologic conditions or endoscopic results such as procedure time or size of lesions between the two groups. There were no significant differences in abdominal pain score, rate of post-ESD bleeding or healing rate of ESD-induced ulcer between the two groups. However, the early diet protocol led to significantly higher patient satisfaction (p = 0.001), lower hospital costs (p < 0.001), and shorter hospital stay (p < 0.001) than the conventional fasting protocol., Conclusions: An early post-ESD diet protocol provides higher patient satisfaction, is more cost effective, decreases hospital stay, and does not influence complication rates such as post-ESD bleeding, abdominal pain, or ulcer healing compared with the conventional fasting protocol.

Background: Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan is periodically performed in almost all patients with early gastric cancer after undergoing endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). However, little is known about the diagnostic yield of CT scans for tumors that recurred after curative resection by ESD., Methods: A total of 1,175 mucosal gastric cancers treated by ESD between January 2007 and December 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Of them, 894 initial-onset early gastric cancers with two or more endoscopies with biopsy and one or more CT scans were included for survival analysis., Results: The median follow-up period was 19.7 months (interquartile range, 11.3-35.4 months), during which time 81 lesions recurred. Of these, 35 recurred as an adenoma, whereas the others recurred as cancer. Of the 81 lesions that recurred, 79 were not diagnosed by abdominal CT scan but rather by endoscopy with biopsy. The remaining two lesions, which recurred as metachronous cancers, had suspicious CT scan findings, such as focal gastric wall thickening. The lesions also were confirmed by endoscopic biopsy, which was performed on the same day. None of the lesions was diagnosed by CT scan before pathologic confirmation by endoscopic biopsy., Conclusions: Computed tomography scan has a minor role for the surveillance of mucosal gastric cancer after complete resection by ESD. Endoscopy with biopsy should be the primary surveillance option after ESD.

Background: Although carcinomatosis is not a contraindication to stenting in selected patients with malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO), associate factors for clinical success rate of self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) placement in GOO patients with carcinomatosis have not been fully characterized., Methods: We analyzed a total 228 patients who were scheduled for SEMS placement for malignant GOO in tertiary-care academic medical center. All patients were treated with an uncovered or covered SEMS by using the over-the-wire placement procedure. We retrospectively evaluated clinical outcomes of SEMS placement., Results: Technical success was achieved in all patients. Patients were categorized into two groups according to the presence of carcinomatosis. Clinical success rates of patients without carcinomatosis group and with carcinomatosis group were 93.9 % (92 of 98) and 80.8 % (105 of 130), respectively (P = 0.004). In subgroup analysis of patients with carcinomatosis, the clinical success rate was lower in patients with ascites (64.8 %) than in those without ascites (92.1 %, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression model revealed that carcinomatosis without ascites did not decrease clinical success rate compared with absence of carcinomatosis; meanwhile, carcinomatosis with ascites showed lower clinical success rates compared with absence of carcinomatosis (adjusted odds ratio 0.163, 95 % confidence interval 0.058-0.461). In addition, poor performance status [Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) status ≥ 3, adjusted odds ratio 0.178, 95 % confidence interval 0.078-0.409] was also an independent poor predictive factor for clinical success of SEMS placement., Conclusions: In palliation for malignant GOO, the status of carcinomatosis with ascites and poor performance status (ECOG status ≥ 3) are significant predictive factors for poor clinical success of SEMS placement.

Background: Anastomotic leaks are a life-threatening complication of gastrectomies with high mortality after surgical reintervention. Endoscopic therapy using fibrin glue injection, endoclip, and other devices is an alternative to surgical intervention for anastomotic leaks. Recently, self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) were introduced to treat anastomotic leaks. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical characteristics and therapeutic outcomes of SEMS and nonstent endoscopic therapy (NSET) for treatment of anastomotic leaks after total gastrectomy with the aim of assisting endoscopists in choosing a treatment method., Methods: Between July 2002 and March 2013, 13 patients treated with SEMS and 14 patients treated with NSET for anastomotic leaks after total gastrectomy were enrolled onto the study. Enrolled patients received 16 SEMS placement sessions and 21 NSET sessions., Results: No significant differences in baseline characteristics or clinical characteristics related to leakage were detected in patients with SEMS compared to NSET. The successful sealing rate at the first attempt by SEMS was significantly better than that of NSET (80.0 vs. 28.6 %, P = 0.036), whereas the successful sealing rate after multiple endoscopic treatments was not statistically different (80.0 vs. 64.3 %, P = 0.653). The main reason for reintervention with SEMS was complications and with NSET was nonseal (P = 0.004). Clinical outcomes including length of hospital stay, endoscopic treatment-related mortality, and all-cause mortality were not significantly different between the 2 groups., Conclusions: In terms of efficacy by single effort, SEMS was superior to other methods for treating anastomotic leaks after total gastrectomy. However, complications with SEMS should be considered when choosing an endoscopic treatment method.

Background: The clinical usefulness of tumor markers as predictors of treatment outcome in patients with stomach cancer after radical gastrectomy has been poorly defined. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a comprehensive understanding of the impact of early postoperative tumor marker normalization on survival after gastrectomy., Methods: Between January 2001 and December 2007, we enrolled 206 patients who had received radical gastrectomy as an initial treatment and had elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (>5 ng/mL) or carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 (>37 U/mL) levels. Early tumor marker response was defined as a normalization of preoperative CEA or CA19-9 values 1-2 months after gastrectomy., Results: The mean patient age was 61 years (range 29-84 years), and 139 patients (67.5%) were male. Early tumor marker response was identified in 150 of 206 (72.8%) patients. Of the patients, 49 (23.8%), 41 (19.9%), and 116 (56.4%) were stages I, II, and III, respectively, according to the seventh edition of the American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) staging system. Both disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were significantly longer in patients with tumor marker response compared with nonresponse (61.5 vs. 37.6 months; P = 0.010 and 71.3 vs. 50.9 months; P = 0.008, respectively). Multivariate analyses showed that high CA19-9 level, early tumor marker response, and tumor, node, metastasis classification system stage were independent predictors of DFS and OS (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: Early CEA or CA19-9 normalization after radical gastrectomy is a strong prognostic factor for gastric cancer, especially in patients with high preoperative levels of tumor markers.

Background: Although proper sedation is mandatory for endoscopic procedures such as endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), there is no research investigating the effects of sedation on ESD performance and complications. We aimed to evaluate the relationship among sedation methods, clinical outcomes, and complications after ESD for gastric neoplasia., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical data of 1,367 patients with 1,485 lesions who had undergone ESD for gastric adenoma or early gastric cancer at our tertiary teaching hospital in Seoul, Korea, between January 2008 and May 2011. Of these, 1,035 lesions in 958 patients were included in the intermittent midazolam/propofol injection by endoscopists (IMIE) group, and 450 lesions in 409 patients were included in the continuous propofol infusion with opioid administration by anesthesiologists (CPIA) group., Results: En bloc resection and complete resection rates were higher in the CPIA group than in the IMIE group (CPIA vs. IMIE; en bloc resection, 99.8 and 95.0 %, P < 0.001; complete resection, 94.2 and 88.3 %, P < 0.001). Duration of procedure was shorter in the CPIA group than in the IMIE group (CPIA vs. IMIE; 48.2 ± 32.5 and 57.6 ± 41.3 min, P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, sedation method was an independent factor associated with en bloc resection and complete resection. Additionally, sedation with CPIA was not a risk factor for bleeding (P = 0.403) or perforation (P = 0.474); however, aspiration pneumonia developed more frequently in patients sedated with CPIA (CPIA vs. IMIE, 4.4 and 1.5 %, P = 0.002)., Conclusions: Sedation with CPIA can improve ESD performance.

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) can be technically demanding and requires great attention to detail and prolonged concentration. We assumed that clinical outcomes of ESDs may be affected by cumulative time, and we aimed to compare complete resection rates and adverse events according to cumulative ESD time., Methods: This study involved 1,328 consecutive patients with 1,461 gastric tumors who underwent ESD from January 2008 to July 2011 in a tertiary-care academic medical center. The main outcome measurements were en bloc resection rate, complete resection rate, bleeding rate and perforation rate., Results: Patients were divided into three groups according to cumulative time intervals (<2 h vs. 2-4 h vs. ≥ 4 h). Complete resection rate did not differ among the three groups, but early post-ESD bleeding (EPEB) rate was significantly different among the three groups (2.5 vs. 3.5 % vs. 6.6 %, P = 0.040). In multivariate analysis, cumulative time period was an independent predictor of EPEB (2-4 h odds ratio [OR] 2.29, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.05-5.01, P = 0.038; ≥ 4 h OR 3.99; 95 % CI, 2.15-7.65, P < 0.001). The rate of perforation was higher in ESDs performed after completing prior endoscopies or outpatient clinic session compared to those performed without prior work (3.8 vs. 1.6 %, P = 0.004). Moreover, prior workload before ESD was an independent predictor of perforation in multivariate analysis (OR 2.77, 95 % CI, 1.37-5.60, P = 0.005)., Conclusions: Our data suggest that cumulative ESD time did not influence en bloc or complete resection rate of ESD, but increased the rate of acute bleeding. Moreover, prior workload before ESDs may increase the risk of perforation.

Background: Endoscopic resection is widely accepted as the primary treatment for early gastric cancer (EGC) without lymph node metastasis. A new and refined technique, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), may prove to be more effective; however, incomplete resection and local recurrence present ongoing concerns. We sought to determine the clinicopathological features associated with local recurrence in patients with EGC following endoscopic resection., Methods: We enrolled in this study 239 EGC patients treated by endoscopic resection between January 2002 and January 2008., Results: Fifty EGC lesions were treated by conventional endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR group) and 189 EGC lesions were treated by ESD (ESD group). During the follow-up period (mean = 30.3 months), the rates for en bloc resection and complete resection (defined as en bloc resection with negative resection margin) were 64% (32/50) and 60% (30/50), respectively, in the EMR group, and 86.8% (164/189) and 79.9% (151/189), respectively, in the ESD group. We observed seven local recurrences in the ESD group, though only one with complete resection by ESD had a local recurrence. The EMR group showed a significantly higher recurrence rate than did the ESD group (18% vs. 3.7%, respectively, p < 0.001). Incomplete resection significantly increased local recurrence risk, and larger tumor size and use of EMR increased the risk for incomplete resection. Most lesions (3/4) treated with additional argon plasma coagulation for an initial recurrence had recurred again., Conclusions: Despite the potential advantages in treating EGC with ESD, a risk for local recurrence remains. All patients treated with EMR, even with curative resection, and those with incomplete resection after ESD require conscientious surveillance for local recurrence. Furthermore, a large prospective study will be required to determine the best treatment modality for local recurrence.

Background: The incidence of gastric cancers has fallen in recent decades. However, a substantial reduction in Helicobacter pylori prevalence and a substantial increase in the incidence of proximal gastric cancer (PGC) have been observed in the West and Japan, but not in other East Asian countries. The purpose of this large-volume study was to analyze prevalence, clinicopathological features, and prognosis of PGC compared with other types of gastric cancer in Korea, where there is high incidence of H. pylori infection., Methods: Between 2000 and 2005, a total of 3,193 patients were enrolled. We analyzed clinicopathological features and survival outcomes., Results: Chronological analysis showed increasing incidence of PGC over the study period. PGC patients were younger and had higher incidence of Bormann types III and IV than did distal gastric cancer (DGC) patients. Also, PGC was associated with a significantly higher proportion of poorly differentiated type, T3 and T4 stage, and positive lymph nodes compared with DGC. Peritoneal and other distant metastases were more common in PGC group than in DGC group. The 5-year survival rate was significantly lower in PGC than in DGC group, regardless of curative resection. Also, the N0 and N1 category significantly influenced the 5-year survival rate. Tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, hepatic metastasis, and curative resection were significant prognostic factors in PGC patients., Conclusions: PGC has increased in incidence with the respective decline in H. pylori prevalence in Korea. Survival was worse for patients with PGC than for those with DGC, regardless of curative respectability. PGC is often diagnosed at more advanced stage than other gastric cancers, and therefore early detection is critical for successful treatment.

Our research team of multilingual and multicultural members designed comprehensive, yet efficient, culture-informed, and self-rated Multicultural Quality of Life Indexes for both English-speaking individuals and for growing immigrant groups in the United States. A Korean version of the Multicultural Quality of Life Index (MQLI-Kr) was developed as part of this multilingual project. The team tested the MQLI-Kr on 130 Koreans (100 psychiatric patients and 30 professionals). MQLI-Kr was quite efficient and easy to use. The internal consistency attained a Cronbach's alpha of 0.97 for the combined sample. A factor analysis yielded one single factor, which accounted for 81.5% of the items' variance. The test-retest reliability correlation coefficient of the MQLI-Kr was 0.85. Significant differences in the mean MQLI-Kr scores were observed between the patients' group and the professionals' group (p < 0.001). Thus the results of this study showed high feasibility, internal consistency, reliability, and discriminant validity for the MQLI-Kr.