Background: and Purpose This study aimed to evaluate whether extracellular-vesicle-incorporated microRNAs (miRNAs) are potential biomarkers for cancer-related stroke. Methods: This cohort study compared patients with active cancer who had embolic stroke of unknown sources (cancer-stroke group) with patients with only cancer, patients with only stroke, and healthy individuals (control groups). The expression profiles of miRNAs encapsulated in plasma exosomes and microvesicles were evaluated using microarray and validated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The XENO-QTM miRNA assay technology was used to determine the absolute copy numbers of individual miRNAs in an external validation cohort. Results: This study recruited 220 patients, of which 45 had cancer-stroke, 76 were healthy controls, 39 were cancer controls, and 60 were stroke controls. Three miRNAs (miR-205-5p, miR-645, and miR-646) were specifically incorporated into microvesicles in patients with cancer-related stroke, cancer controls, and stroke controls. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves of these three miRNAs were 0.7692–0.8510 for the differentiation of patients with cancer-stroke from cancer-controls and 0.8077–0.8846 for the differentiation of patients with cancer-stroke from stroke controls. The levels of several miRNAs were elevated in the plasma exosomes of patients with cancer, but were lower than those in plasma microvesicles. An in vivo study showed that systemic injection of miR-205-5p promoted the development of arterial thrombosis and elevation of D-dimer levels. Conclusion Stroke due to cancer-related coagulopathy was associated with deregulated expression of miRNAs, particularly microvesicle-incorporated miR-205-5p, miR-645, and miR-646. Further prospective studies of extracellular-vesicle-incorporated miRNAs are required to confirm the diagnostic role of miRNAs in patients with stroke and to screen the roles of miRNAs in patients with cancer.

In a conventional two-dimensional (2D) culture method, cells are attached to the bottom of the culture dish and grow into a monolayer. These 2D culture methods are easy to handle, cost-effective, reproducible, and adaptable to growing many different types of cells. However, monolayer 2D cell culture conditions are far from those of natural tissue, indicating the need for a threedimensional (3D) culture system. Various methods, such as hanging drop, scaffolds, hydrogels, microfluid systems, and bioreactor systems, have been utilized for 3D cell culture. Recently, external physical stimulation-based 3D cell culture platforms, such as acoustic and magnetic forces, were introduced. Acoustic waves can establish acoustic radiation force, which can induce suspended objects to gather in the pressure node region and aggregate to form clusters. Magnetic targeting consists of two components, a magnetically responsive carrier and a magnetic field gradient source. In a magnetic-based 3D cell culture platform, cells are aggregated by changing the magnetic force. Magnetic fields can manipulate cells through two different methods: positive magnetophoresis and negative magnetophoresis. Positive magnetophoresis is a way of imparting magnetic properties to cells by labeling them with magnetic nanoparticles. Negative magnetophoresis is a label-free principle-based method. 3D cell structures, such as spheroids, 3D network structures, and cell sheets, have been successfully fabricated using this acoustic and magnetic stimuli-based 3D cell culture platform. Additionally, fabricated 3D cell structures showed enhanced cell behavior, such as differentiation potential and tissue regeneration. Therefore, physical stimuli-based 3D cell culture platforms could be promising tools for tissue engineering.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI), including programmed cell death protein 1 and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 inhibitors, has emerged as a pillar in the management of advanced malignancies. A drug-induced sarcoidosis-like reaction (DISR) is a rare cutaneous adverse event of ICI. A 47-year-old male presented with one-month history of a solitary erythematous nodule on his forehead. He had been diagnosed with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung and was treated with nivolumab and ipilimumab for three months. Histological findings revealed multinucleated giant cells forming non-caseating granulomas with moderate peripheral lymphocyte infiltration in the dermis. Also, new hilar lymphadenopathy of the lung was identified in a systemic evaluation. Given the temporal relationship with ICI treatment, the final diagnosis was ICI-induced sarcoidosis-like reaction. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a case of DISR that developed following ICI treatment in the dermatologic literature in Korea.

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the current status of the biological nursing curriculum and faculties’ perceptions on biological nursing subjects in South Korea. Methods: Biological nursing subjects’ titles and credits were searched through the nursing schools’ website. Perceived adequacy of subjects’ title and credit in each biological nursing subject and the degree of perceived importance and satisfaction of learning contents by subjects were collected from 30 professors of biological nursing subjects. Results: Many schools still use the titles of medical subjects for those of biological nursing subjects. The perceived importance and satisfaction of genetics-related learning contents, “nursing case study” or “project team presentation,” were lower than other learning contents. Conclusion Standardization of biological nursing subjects’ titles and learning contents is needed.

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the current status of the biological nursing curriculum and faculties’ perceptions on biological nursing subjects in South Korea. Methods: Biological nursing subjects’ titles and credits were searched through the nursing schools’ website. Perceived adequacy of subjects’ title and credit in each biological nursing subject and the degree of perceived importance and satisfaction of learning contents by subjects were collected from 30 professors of biological nursing subjects. Results: Many schools still use the titles of medical subjects for those of biological nursing subjects. The perceived importance and satisfaction of genetics-related learning contents, “nursing case study” or “project team presentation,” were lower than other learning contents. Conclusion Standardization of biological nursing subjects’ titles and learning contents is needed.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to figure out the association of nursing activity participation and clinical practice stress with career maturity during clinical practice among nursing college students. Methods: Participants of the study were 201 nursing college students located in nationwide regions. Data collection was performed between July 18 and August 8, 2019. Data analyses were performed through an independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression analysis using SPSS WIN 25.0. Results: The results of this study were as follows. We ran multiple regression analyses to see which critical factors influenced career maturity. The general characteristics significantly associated with career maturity were preference for clinical nursing, admission to nursing college due to belief, time off, and being satisfied with clinical practice. Regarding clinical practice stress, clinic environment, interpersonal relationship conflict, inappropriate role model and conflict with patients were significantly associated with career maturity. Conclusion This study suggested that, to improve nursing students’ career maturity, nursing colleges and training fields should collaboratively make an efforts to reduce students’ stress by building educational clinic environments including managing conflicts in interpersonal relationships among patients, caregivers, and medical and non-medical personnel, and improving inappropriate role models in nursing.

Systemic cancer and ischemic stroke are common conditions and two of the most frequent causes of death among the elderly. The association between cancer and stroke has been reported worldwide. Stroke causes severe disability for cancer patients, while cancer increases the risk of stroke. Moreover, cancer-related stroke is expected to increase due to advances in cancer treatment and an aging population worldwide. Because cancer and stroke share risk factors (such as smoking and obesity) and treatment of cancer can increase the risk of stroke (e.g., accelerated atherosclerosis after radiation therapy), cancer may accelerate conventional stroke mechanisms (i.e., atherosclerosis, small vessel disease, and cardiac thrombus). In addition, active cancer and chemotherapy may enhance thrombin generation causing stroke related to coagulopathy. Patients with stroke due to cancer-related coagulopathy showed the characteristics findings of etiologic work ups, D-dimer levels, and infarct patterns. In this review, we summarized the frequency of cancer-related stroke among patients with ischemic stroke, mechanisms of stroke with in cancer patients, and evaluation and treatment of cancer-related stroke. We discussed the possibility of cancer-related stroke as a stroke subtype, and presented the most recent discoveries in the pathomechanisms and treatment of stroke due to cancer-related coagulopathy.

Background: In recent years, large amounts of data generated by patients have been accumulated on social media.We explored patients’ perspectives and experiences with vitiligo using web scraping data from the open internet community, NAVER Cafe. Objective: To understand patients’ real concerns and thoughts about vitiligo. Methods: Using vitiligo as a keyword, 1000 posts on NAVER Cafe were collected and categorized as follows: requests for recommendations for dermatology clinics; inquiries regarding vitiligo diagnosis, disease characteristics of vitiligo, and management of vitiligo; and advertisements. Essential contents were collected for each category to summarize patients’ perspectives and experiences. Results: Of the 1000 posts, 284 were requests for clinical recommendations, 203 inquiries for diagnosis of their white spots, 132 inquiries regarding characteristics of vitiligo, 118 described experiences and emotions related to vitiligo, 105 inquiries regarding management of vitiligo, 103 advertisements, and 55 not related to vitiligo.Concerning the authors, 209 and 522 posts were written by patients and parents of children with vitiligo, respectively. Conclusion Patients with vitiligo have considerable concerns regarding their condition and actively communicate with each other through social media. Data mining on social media can provide a deeper understanding of patients’ thoughts and emotional distress with vitiligo as well as their families’.

Background: In recent years, large amounts of data generated by patients have been accumulated on social media.We explored patients’ perspectives and experiences with vitiligo using web scraping data from the open internet community, NAVER Cafe. Objective: To understand patients’ real concerns and thoughts about vitiligo. Methods: Using vitiligo as a keyword, 1000 posts on NAVER Cafe were collected and categorized as follows: requests for recommendations for dermatology clinics; inquiries regarding vitiligo diagnosis, disease characteristics of vitiligo, and management of vitiligo; and advertisements. Essential contents were collected for each category to summarize patients’ perspectives and experiences. Results: Of the 1000 posts, 284 were requests for clinical recommendations, 203 inquiries for diagnosis of their white spots, 132 inquiries regarding characteristics of vitiligo, 118 described experiences and emotions related to vitiligo, 105 inquiries regarding management of vitiligo, 103 advertisements, and 55 not related to vitiligo.Concerning the authors, 209 and 522 posts were written by patients and parents of children with vitiligo, respectively. Conclusion Patients with vitiligo have considerable concerns regarding their condition and actively communicate with each other through social media. Data mining on social media can provide a deeper understanding of patients’ thoughts and emotional distress with vitiligo as well as their families’.