TSH Cut-Offs and Recurrence Risk in Differentiated Thyroid Carcinomas: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the risk of recurrence in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), stratified by the American Thyroid Association (ATA) risk of recurrence, according to variable thyrotropin (TSH) cut-offs (0.1, 0.5, and 2.

Long-Term Outcomes of Early Surgery Versus Conventional Treatment for Asymptomatic Severe Mitral Regurgitation: A Propensity Analysis.

Background: The timing of surgery in asymptomatic severe mitral regurgitation remains controversial. This observational study sought to compare long-term outcomes of early surgery with a conventional treatment strategy in asymptomatic patients with severe mitral regurgitation.

Methods: From 1996 to 2016, a total of 1063 consecutive asymptomatic patients (673 men; mean±SD age, 51±14 years) with severe degenerative mitral regurgitation and preserved left ventricular function were enrolled, and followed prospectively for a median of 12 years (interquartile range, 8-17 years).

Nutrient deficiency and physical inactivity in middle-aged adults with dynapenia and metabolic syndrome: results from a nationwide survey.

Background: This study examined the associations between dynapenia, metabolic syndrome (MetS), nutrient intake, and physical activity.

Methods: We used data from a cross-sectional study that included middle-aged men and women (40-64 years old) who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) between 2014 and 2017. Patients (n = 4700) were categorized into four groups based on diagnosis of dynapenia and MetS: dynapenic MetS (DM), dynapenia alone (D), MetS alone (M), and non-dynapenia and non-MetS (NDNM).

Diagnosis and Evaluation of Aggressiveness Using Circulating Plasma miRNAs in Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma.

MicroRNAs are emerging as valuable diagnostic markers for various diseases, including papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, there is limited research on circulating miRNA expression in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). Therefore, we conducted a study to explore whether plasma-derived miRNAs can distinguish PTMC from benign nodules or predict aggressiveness.

Real-world apixaban concentration in Korean patients with atrial fibrillation.

Purpose: Apixaban is recommended for patients with atrial fibrillation. Although routine monitoring of plasma concentrations is not typically advised, factors such as ethnicity, sex, and comorbidities can influence these levels. Our study analyzed the plasma apixaban concentrations (PAC) in patients to explore whether these levels, along with underlying conditions, offer enhanced insights for risk stratification.

2025 Korean Thyroid Association Management Guidelines for Radioactive Iodine Therapy in Patients with Hyperthyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism is a condition marked by excessive thyroid hormone production, most commonly due to Graves' disease. Treatment options include antithyroid drugs (ATD), radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy, and thyroidectomy. To develop standardized clinical recommendations for RAI therapy with a focus on safety, efficacy, and monitoring, the Korean Thyroid Association formed a task force to create evidence-based guidelines.

2025 Korean Thyroid Association Clinical Management Guideline on Active Surveillance for Low-Risk Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

The increasing detection of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) has raised concerns regarding overtreatment. For low-risk PTMC, either immediate surgery or active surveillance (AS) can be considered. To facilitate the implementation of AS, the Korean Thyroid Association convened a multidisciplinary panel and developed the first Korean guideline.

Next-generation sequencing of targetable gene fusions in radioiodine-refractory thyroid cancer: a multicenter study.

We aimed to determine the prevalence and clinical significance of targetable gene fusions in patients with radioiodine-refractory thyroid cancer. This multicenter retrospective cohort study enrolled 111 patients from five tertiary medical centers, with molecular profiling performed using targeted next-generation sequencing. The analysis revealed that 58 (52.

Amelioration of Carrageenan/Kaolin-Induced Arthritis by Benzylideneacetophenone Derivatives in Rats.

This study was done to evaluate the inhibitory effects of benzylideneacetophenone derivatives (JCII) on rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This was done by using carrageenan/kaolin-induced arthritis in rats and human RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS). In FLS cells and Jurkat T cells, JCII compounds at 5, 10, and 20 μM were used to treat the cells followed by stimulation with IL-1β (10 ng/mL) for FLS cells and PMA/A23187 for Jurkat T cells.

Initial surgery versus conservative management of chronic severe aortic regurgitation in mild symptomatic older patients.

Background: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) for severe aortic regurgitation (AR) should be weighed against its operative risk. Mortality is lower in patients with mild symptoms than in those with severe symptoms, while the surgical risk remains high in older patients. This study aimed to evaluate the survival benefit of AVR in mildly symptomatic older patients with severe AR.

Limited Performance of Machine Learning Models Developed Based on Demographic and Laboratory Data Obtained Before Primary Treatment to Predict Coronary Aneurysms.

: Kawasaki disease is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children within developed countries. Although treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) significantly reduces the incidence of coronary artery aneurysm (CAA), the risk of it persists, affecting long-term patient outcomes. While intensified primary treatment is recommended for patients at high risk of IVIG resistance or CAA development, a universally accepted predictive model for such resistance remains unestablished.

Improved Anthropomorphic Robotic Hand for Architecture and Construction: Integrating Prestressed Mechanisms with Self-Healing Elastomers.

Soft pneumatic robot-arm end-effectors can facilitate adaptive architectural fabrication and building construction. However, conventional pneumatic grippers often suffer from air leakage and tear, particularly under prolonged grasping and inflation-induced stress. To address these challenges, this study suggests an enhanced anthropomorphic gripper by integrating a pre-stressed reversible mechanism (PSRM) and a novel self-healing material (SHM) polyborosiloxane-Ecoflex™ hybrid polymer (PEHP) developed by the authors.

Matrix-bound nanovesicles recapitulate tissue-specific angiogenic properties of parent extracellular matrix with distinct miRNA profiles.

Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) exhibits tissue-specific pro- or anti-angiogenic effects. Previous studies have demonstrated that matrix-bound nanovesicles (MBVs) act as key bioactive components of dECM, replicating various biological functions such as anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. Building on this evidence, this study hypothesized that MBVs derived from cartilage and small intestinal submucosa (SIS) modulate angiogenesis through the selective packaging of miRNAs.

Preoperative controlling nutritional status score for patients with medullary thyroid cancer.

Purpose: Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is aggressive in nature compared with differentiated thyroid cancer, with a poor 10-year overall survival rate. Given the effect of the immune-inflammatory system on the survival of patients with cancer, the aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of the preoperative Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score in patients with MTC.

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective study included 221 patients with MTC who underwent thyroidectomy at four tertiary hospitals.

High-Resolution Patterning of Breathable Polymer Nanomesh via Double-Side UV Exposure for Fabricating Micropatterned Wearable Devices.

Nanomesh electronics, renowned for their breathability and compatibility with long-term skin attachment, face significant challenges in achieving high-resolution micropatterning, which limits their applications in advanced devices. To address this, a method to fabricate durable, breathable, and highly conductive micropatterned nanomesh electrodes (MPNEs) with line widths as narrow as 10 μm was developed. Using a double-side exposure technique, precise patterning was achieved on a polyimide nanomesh substrate.

Preoperative localization of single gland disease in primary hyperparathyroidism: a comparative study for preoperative localization with four-dimensional computed tomography, ultrasonography, and technetium-99m-sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography.

Background: Treatment guidelines for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) recommend high-resolution neck ultrasonography (US), technetium-99m-sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography (Tc-sestamibi SPECT), and contrast-enhanced four-dimensional computed tomography (4D CT) as image evaluation methods. This study aimed to compare the sensitivity and accuracy of the three image evaluation methods recommended in the guidelines for patients with PHPT and evaluate the utility of 4D CT for preoperative localization in single gland disease.

Methods: A retrospective medical chart review was performed on 41 patients who underwent surgery for single gland disease at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Pusan National University Hospital, between January 2021 and March 2023.

Systematic Analysis of Driving Modes and NiFe Layer Thickness in Planar Hall Magnetoresistance Sensors.

Planar Hall magnetoresistance (PHMR) sensors are widely utilized due to their high sensitivity, simple structure, and cost-effectiveness. However, their performance is influenced by both the driving mode and the thickness of the ferromagnetic layer, yet the combined effects of these factors remain insufficiently explored. This study systematically investigates the impact of NiFe thickness (5-35 nm) on PHMR sensor performance under constant current (CC) and constant voltage (CV) modes, with a focus on optimizing the peak-to-peak voltage (V).

Insight of Metal Ions in Enzymatic Synthesis of Levan: The Metal-Binding Loop.

Levan is a fructose polymer with unique physicochemical properties and physiological activities, making it useful in various industries. It is biologically synthesized from sucrose by the enzyme levansucrase, which does not require metal ions for its fructosylation activity. However, during the molecular characterization of a levansucrase (PcLscA), it was observed that several divalent metal ions stimulate fructosylation activity by over 2.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Patient Positioning During Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) Procedures: A Comparison Between Semi-Prone- and Prone-Positioned Patients.

The prone "swimmers" position is preferable for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) as it provides the best visualization for selective bile duct cannulation. However, "swimmers" position does not comply with best-practice patient positioning guidelines. Our objective was to determine whether the semi-prone patient position was suitable for ERCP without negatively influencing the outcomes of the procedure.

Engineering a membrane protein chaperone to ameliorate the proteotoxicity of mutant huntingtin.

Toxic protein aggregates are associated with various neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's disease (HD). Since no current treatment delays the progression of HD, we develop a mechanistic approach to prevent mutant huntingtin (mHttex1) aggregation. Here, we engineer the ATP-independent cytosolic chaperone PEX19, which targets peroxisomal membrane proteins to peroxisomes, to remove mHttex1 aggregates.

Change in pericardial fat volume in postmenopausal women with papillary thyroid cancer undergoing thyrotropin suppressive therapy.

Background: Despite TSH suppressive therapy improve the prognosis for the patient with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), there is an increasing concern regarding the potentially harmful effects of lifelong TSH suppression. Therefore, we aimed to examine the changes in body composition under TSH suppression in postmenopausal women with DTC.

Methods: The body composition was assessed by the volumes as following; fat tissues of the epicardium and abdominal visceral and subcutaneous areas; bilateral psoas muscle or thigh muscle.

The Improvement in Sleep Quality by Zizyphi Semen in Rodent Models Through GABAergic Transmission Regulation.

: Sleep, a process physiologically vital for mental health, faces disruptions in various sleep disorders linked to metabolic and neurodegenerative risks. seed (Zizy) has long been recognized for its diverse pharmacological attributes, including analgesic, sedative, insomnia, and anxiety alleviation. : In this study, the sleep-prolonging effects of Zizy extract (100, 200 mg/kg), along with their characterizing compounds jujuboside A (JuA) (5, 10 mg/kg), were evaluated in a mouse model under a pentobarbital-induced sleep.

Association of the Preoperative Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) Score with Clinicopathological Characteristics in Patients with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Backgruound: The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score is an immunonutritional test tool based on serum albumin, total cholesterol, and lymphocyte counts. It has been studied as a simple prognostic predictor for various carcinomas. This study aimed to investigate the association between preoperative CONUT scores and the clinicopathological characteristics in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients.