Neural correlates of interoceptive fear in panic disorder: Abnormalities of gray matter volumes in the inferior parietal lobule and insula.

Background: Panic disorder (PD) may emerge from an exaggerated misinterpretation of interoception due to somatic hypervigilance and interoceptive sensitivity, which play pivotal roles in anxiety-related traits. This study sought to identify the neural correlates of interoceptive fear and their relationship with clinical symptomatology and physical functionality in patients with PD relative to healthy controls (HCs) employing brain structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: This study enrolled 226 right-handed participants comprising 133 PD patients and 93 HCs.

Use of Double Cages for Biportal Endoscopic Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Comparison of 3-Dimensional-Printed Titanium and Polyetheretherketone Cages.

Background: This study aimed to compare a 3-dimensional (3D)-printed titanium cage with a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cage in biportal endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (BETLIF) using a double cage construct, evaluate differences in fusion stability and subsidence between the 2 cage types, and analyze factors influencing subsidence.

Methods: We retrospectively examined 89 patients who underwent BETLIF using a double cage (3D-printed titanium, 48 levels; PEEK, 46 levels). Fusion status and subsidence were assessed using dynamic plain lateral lumbar spine radiographs and computed tomography images at 6 months and 1 year postoperatively.

Age-Specific Characteristics and Malignancy Risk of Ovarian Teratomas: A Retrospective Single-Centre Study.

The aim of this study was to determine the age-specific characteristics of ovarian teratoma and associated malignancies. This retrospective single-centre cohort study included 2181 women with ovarian teratoma who underwent surgery at our institution between January 2008 and April 2019. Malignancies associated with ovarian teratoma were divided into immature teratoma, combined ovarian malignancy, and malignant transformation of mature cystic teratoma.

Recent Changes in Trends of Nationwide Incidence of Glaucoma and Associated Visual Impairment in South Korea.

We analyzed recent changes in the incidence of glaucoma and associated visual impairment (VI) in Korea over a 16-year period. We utilized nationwide, longitudinal cohort data from the Korea National Health Insurance System (KNHIS) National Health Screening Cohort from 2004 to 2019 to evaluate the age-standardized incidence rate (SIR) of glaucoma and glaucoma-related VI. VI was determined based on KNHIS health examinations and the National Registry for Visual Disability.

Clinical Investigation of Recurrence, Oncological, and Obstetrical Outcomes in Patients with Ovarian Atypical Endometriosis.

: The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of postoperative in vitro fertilization (IVF) for atypical endometriosis (AE) in terms of ovarian endometrioma recurrence and development of endometriosis-related ovarian cancer (EAOC). : Premenopausal women with AE who had undergone ovarian surgery between 2008 and 2022 and had attended follow-up appointments for at least 3 months were included in this retrospective study. The recurrence of endometriosis, postoperative pregnancy rate, occurrence of postoperative EAOC in cases of AE, and independent risk factors of AE recurrence were analyzed.

Ferroptosis and Nrf2 Signaling in Head and Neck Cancer: Resistance Mechanisms and Therapeutic Prospects.

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death marked by lipid peroxidation in polyunsaturated phospholipids. In head and neck cancer (HNC), where resistance to chemotherapy and immunotherapy is common, ferroptosis offers a mechanistically distinct strategy to overcome therapeutic failure. However, cancer cells often evade ferroptosis via activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a key regulator of antioxidant and iron-regulatory genes.

Impact of Pre-admission Central Nervous System Medication Use on Delirium in Hospitalized Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Multicenter, Prospective, Observational Study in Korea.

Purpose: This study investigated the impact of pre-admission central nervous system (CNS) medication use on delirium incidence, duration, and survival in hospitalized patients with advanced cancer.

Materials And Methods: In this multicenter prospective study across four tertiary hospitals in South Korea, adults with advanced cancer were enrolled and categorized based on their use of CNS medications within 90 days preceding admission. Associations between pre-admission CNS medication use and outcomes (delirium incidence, delirium duration, and overall survival) were assessed using multivariable regression and Cox proportional hazards models.

Development of a Noble On-Site Dual Screening System for Male Fertility of Sperm Count and Hyaluronidase Activity.

Purpose: To develop a noble on-site dual screening system for sperm concentration and hyaluronidase (HAdase) activity of male fertility based on lateral-flow assay methods, and to evaluate the effectiveness of this dual screening system.

Materials And Methods: A chromogenic reaction for sperm count was established using a sperm-specific antibody against sperm antigen-10 (SP-10). Substrate-enzyme reaction was developed in which the activity of sperm HAdase on hyaluronic acid (HA) substrates could be measured through a color reaction.

The Role of β-Core Fragment hCG in Embryo Implantation and Early Pregnancy.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a pregnancy biomarker, and five forms of this hormone are involved in female physiological regulation. β-core fragment hCG (bcf-hCG) is a fragment of hCG whose biological role in female reproduction has not been completely elucidated. This study aimed to investigate its role in embryo implantation and maintenance of a pregnancy-supportive environment.

The efficacy of a symptom management platform among gastric cancer survivors: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Patients who undergo gastrectomy for gastric cancer experience gastrointestinal symptoms, psychological responses, and social problems. These factors reduce a patient's quality of life (QoL) after surgery. A web-based platform (Wecare) has been developed to address distress and provide solutions.

Clinical Utility of Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry for Thyroglobulin Measurement in Comparison with Immunoradiometric Assay and Chemiluminescence Microparticle Immunoassay.

Background: The liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed to overcome interference from thyroglobulin autoantibodies (TgAb); however, it has not yet been implemented in Korea. This study aimed to confirm the accuracy of LC-MS/MS compared to conventional methods and to identify its advantages in patients with thyroid carcinoma (TC).

Methods: A total of 206 TC and 18 Hashimoto's thyroiditis samples were collected.

Inducible skeletal muscle-specific p53 deletion alleviates high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance by modulating mitochondria-associated membrane in obese mice.

p53 has been implicated in metabolic regulation, but its role in obesity-induced skeletal muscle insulin resistance remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to determine the functional contribution of skeletal muscle p53 to insulin resistance and mitochondrial dysfunction, particularly in the context of obesity. We demonstrate that inducible, skeletal muscle-specific deletion of p53 (iMp53 KO) significantly improves insulin sensitivity in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice, with no effect in chow-fed controls.

Rheumatoid arthritis and risk of colorectal cancer: a nationwide cohort study.

Objective: Prior research on colorectal cancer (CRC) risk in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) lacked analyses incorporating cardiometabolic or behavioral factors, offered limited subsite-specific data, and did not consider RA serostatus. This study assessed the association between RA and subsite-specific CRC risk by RA serostatus.

Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance System database, we identified 40 909 patients with newly diagnosed RA between 2010 and 2017, matched by age and sex at a 1:5 ratio with 204 545 non-RA participants.

Expression Patterns of Deubiquitinating Enzymes in Paclitaxel-Treated Lung Cancer Cells.

Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, underscoring the urgent need for more effective therapeutic strategies, particularly due to the frequent development of drug resistance. Paclitaxel, a widely used chemotherapeutic agent for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), often faces resistance that limits its clinical efficacy. Therefore, identifying molecular markers that modulate paclitaxel responsiveness is critical.

Common chromosomal aneuploidy testing using non-invasive trophoblast retrieval and isolation from the cervix (TRIC) in pregnant women.

Purpose: Non-invasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) for aneuploidy has been developed to overcome the limitations of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT). NIPT, which analyzes cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) in the maternal blood, can only detect a few aneuploidies, such as trisomies 13, 18, and 21. Trophoblast retrieval and isolation from the cervix (TRIC) is an alternative method that separates trophoblasts from endocervical cells using a Papanicolaou smear for NIPD.

How the pandemic shaped presenteeism trends between healthcare and non-healthcare workers using the Korean working conditions surveys (2010-2023).

Presenteeism, the act of working while unwell, presents serious risks to both workers and organizations, especially in healthcare, where it directly affects patient-care quality. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified these risks, particularly for healthcare workers facing increased workload pressure. Although the impact of presenteeism on workers has been widely studied, a critical gap remains in our understanding of how its patterns have shifted over time.

Cysteine metabolism at the crossroads of ferroptosis and cancer therapy.

Cysteine metabolism plays a pivotal role in ferroptosis regulation by modulating antioxidant defense, lipid peroxidation, and iron homeostasis. Cancer cells exploit cysteine availability to evade ferroptotic cell death, contributing to tumor progression and therapy resistance. Despite growing interest in ferroptosis as a therapeutic vulnerability, a comprehensive understanding of cysteine metabolism in this process remains essential.

Clinical Practice Guideline for the Prehospital Stage in Acute Stroke : I. Use of Emergency Medical Services Assessment Tools.

Accurate and early identification of stroke and large vessel occlusion (LVO) in emergency settings is essential for improving patient outcomes and ensuring the efficient allocation of medical resources. This clinical practice guideline systematically reviews domestic and international literature and conducts meta-analyses to evaluate the utility and diagnostic accuracy of stroke assessment tools used in prehospital emergency medical services (EMS). We developed a guideline based on evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses via a de novo process.

Early Thrombolysis and Outcomes in Central Retinal Artery Occlusion: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis.

Background: This individual participant data meta-analysis aimed to determine whether time to treatment influences the effect of intraarterial thrombolysis (IAT), intravenous thrombolysis, and conservative standard therapy on visual outcomes in nonarteritic central retinal artery occlusion.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, CENTRAL, and Embase up to June 2023 for studies reporting treatment modality and peri-treatment best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) for ≥5 participants, excluding patients with nonsevere vision loss (BCVA <1.0 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution [logMAR]) or treated after 24 hours of symptom onset.

Multicenter Phase 2 Trial of Second-Line Regorafenib in Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Progression on Atezolizumab plus Bevacizumab.

Introduction: Atezolizumab-bevacizumab (Atezo-Bev) has become the standard first-line treatment for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). However, data on subsequent treatment after Atezo-Bev failure are lacking. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of regorafenib for uHCC progression after first-line Atezo-Bev.

Is Malignancy Associated With Arthroplasty? A Meta-analysis.

Background: Although implants have been linked to malignancies in other medical contexts, such as the relationship between anaplastic large cell lymphoma and breast implants, the potential association between orthopaedic implants and cancer remains unclear. Several studies have investigated this question, but findings have been inconsistent. A comprehensive meta-analysis is needed to clarify whether total joint arthroplasty increases the risk of malignancy.

GRSF1 loss in THP-1 macrophages promotes senescence-associated transcription in neighboring fibroblasts.

Immunosenescence, the age-associated decline in immune function, is accompanied by altered macrophage phenotypes and increased chronic inflammation. Here, we examined the role of the mitochondrial RNA-binding protein GRSF1 in regulating macrophage-driven inflammation and its impact on neighboring fibroblasts. We found that macrophages differentiated from GRSF1-deficient THP-1 monocytes, particularly M(IL-4 + IL-13) macrophages, displayed elevated IL6 mRNA expression levels and TNF-α secretion, without inducing overt senescence in macrophages themselves.

The Nα-acetyl-L-lysine/Loxl2/HO promotes intestinal tumor growth in Drosophila and cell proliferation in human colorectal cancer.

A cancer-associated microbiome is considered a carcinogen capable of affecting tumor initiation and/or progression. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of tumor-microbiome interactions. Here, we show that Staphylococcus sciuri promotes Drosophila intestinal tumor growth by inducing intestinal stem cell (ISC) division.

Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Skeletal Muscle Organoid Model of Aging-Induced Sarcopenia.

Background: Sarcopenia is defined by the age-related loss of muscle mass and function, with an impaired regenerative capacity of satellite cells (SCs). Despite their recognized importance in muscle regeneration, human model-based studies on SCs in sarcopenia are still lacking, limiting our understanding of their role in age-related muscle loss. Here, we aimed to develop a sarcopenia model using human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs)-derived skeletal muscle organoids (hSkMOs) and prevent the sarcopenia progression by testosterone treatment.

Genetic Associations of , , , , and Polymorphisms and the Platelet Activation Pathway with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss in the Korean Population.

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is defined as the occurrence of two or more pregnancy losses before 20 weeks of gestation. RPL is a common medical condition among reproductive-age women, with approximately 23 million cases reported annually worldwide. Up to 5% of pregnant women may experience two or more consecutive pregnancy losses.