Objective: In early-stage endometrial cancer, aggressive histologic types (grade 3 endometrioid, serous, clear cell, carcinosarcomas, undifferentiated, mixed, and other unusual types) are associated with an increased risk of distant metastases and worse survival. However, the optimal adjuvant treatment for these patients remains controversial. The present study investigated the outcomes of different adjuvant treatments in patients with 2023 FIGO stage IIC endometrial cancer. Methods: We retrospectively identified patients with 2023 FIGO stage IIC endometrial cancer who underwent surgery followed by either adjuvant treatment or observation from 2000 to 2020 at two tertiary centers in Korea and Taiwan. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional-hazards models. We also analyzed recurrence patterns after different adjuvant treatments. Results: A total of 272 patients were identified; 204 received adjuvant treatment postoperatively, whereas 68 only underwent observation. Adjuvant treatment was not associated with improved RFS or OS. Non-endometrioid histologic types (p=0.003) and presence of lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI, p=0.002) were associated with worse RFS, whereas only non-endometrioid histologic types impacted OS (p=0.004). In subgroup analyses, adjuvant treatment improved OS in patients with LVSI (p=0.020) and in patients with both LVSI and grade 3 endometrioid histologic type (p=0.007). We found no difference in locoregional and distant recurrence between patients undergoing adjuvant treatment or observation. Conclusion In this study, the addition of adjuvant treatment was associated with an OS benefit for patients with LVSI, especially those with grade 3 endometrioid tumors.

Objective: In early-stage endometrial cancer, aggressive histologic types (grade 3 endometrioid, serous, clear cell, carcinosarcomas, undifferentiated, mixed, and other unusual types) are associated with an increased risk of distant metastases and worse survival. However, the optimal adjuvant treatment for these patients remains controversial. The present study investigated the outcomes of different adjuvant treatments in patients with 2023 FIGO stage IIC endometrial cancer. Methods: We retrospectively identified patients with 2023 FIGO stage IIC endometrial cancer who underwent surgery followed by either adjuvant treatment or observation from 2000 to 2020 at two tertiary centers in Korea and Taiwan. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional-hazards models. We also analyzed recurrence patterns after different adjuvant treatments. Results: A total of 272 patients were identified; 204 received adjuvant treatment postoperatively, whereas 68 only underwent observation. Adjuvant treatment was not associated with improved RFS or OS. Non-endometrioid histologic types (p=0.003) and presence of lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI, p=0.002) were associated with worse RFS, whereas only non-endometrioid histologic types impacted OS (p=0.004). In subgroup analyses, adjuvant treatment improved OS in patients with LVSI (p=0.020) and in patients with both LVSI and grade 3 endometrioid histologic type (p=0.007). We found no difference in locoregional and distant recurrence between patients undergoing adjuvant treatment or observation. Conclusion In this study, the addition of adjuvant treatment was associated with an OS benefit for patients with LVSI, especially those with grade 3 endometrioid tumors.

Objective: In early-stage endometrial cancer, aggressive histologic types (grade 3 endometrioid, serous, clear cell, carcinosarcomas, undifferentiated, mixed, and other unusual types) are associated with an increased risk of distant metastases and worse survival. However, the optimal adjuvant treatment for these patients remains controversial. The present study investigated the outcomes of different adjuvant treatments in patients with 2023 FIGO stage IIC endometrial cancer. Methods: We retrospectively identified patients with 2023 FIGO stage IIC endometrial cancer who underwent surgery followed by either adjuvant treatment or observation from 2000 to 2020 at two tertiary centers in Korea and Taiwan. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional-hazards models. We also analyzed recurrence patterns after different adjuvant treatments. Results: A total of 272 patients were identified; 204 received adjuvant treatment postoperatively, whereas 68 only underwent observation. Adjuvant treatment was not associated with improved RFS or OS. Non-endometrioid histologic types (p=0.003) and presence of lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI, p=0.002) were associated with worse RFS, whereas only non-endometrioid histologic types impacted OS (p=0.004). In subgroup analyses, adjuvant treatment improved OS in patients with LVSI (p=0.020) and in patients with both LVSI and grade 3 endometrioid histologic type (p=0.007). We found no difference in locoregional and distant recurrence between patients undergoing adjuvant treatment or observation. Conclusion In this study, the addition of adjuvant treatment was associated with an OS benefit for patients with LVSI, especially those with grade 3 endometrioid tumors.

Background: The diagnostic accuracy of preoperative radiologic findings in predicting the tumor characteristics and clinical outcomes of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) was evaluated across all risk groups. Methods: In total, 939 PTMC patients, comprising both low-risk and non-low-risk groups, who underwent surgery were enrolled. The preoperative tumor size and lymph node metastasis (LNM) were evaluated by ultrasonography within 6 months before surgery and compared with the postoperative pathologic findings. Discrepancies between the preoperative and postoperative tumor sizes were analyzed, and clinical outcomes were assessed. Results: The agreement rate between radiological and pathological tumor size was approximately 60%. Significant discrepancies were noted, including an increase in tumor size in 24.3% of cases. Notably, in 10.8% of patients, the postoperative tumor size exceeded 1 cm, despite being initially classified as 0.5 to 1.0 cm based on preoperative imaging. A postoperative tumor size >1 cm was associated with aggressive pathologic factors such as multiplicity, microscopic extrathyroidal extension, and LNM, as well as a higher risk of distant metastasis. In 30.1% of patients, LNM was diagnosed after surgery despite not being suspected before the procedure. This group was characterized by smaller metastatic foci and lower risks of distant metastasis or recurrence than patients with LNM detected both before and after surgery. Conclusion Among all risk groups of PTMCs, a subset showed an increase in tumor size, reaching 1 cm after surgery. These cases require special consideration due to their association with adverse clinical outcomes, including an elevated risk of distant metastasis.

Spider angioma (SA) may present as solitary or multiple lesions. Studies have shown that approximately 60% of pregnant women and 38% of healthy children have at least one spider telangiectasia. Hence, solitary SA in an otherwise healthy individual does not warrant further workup. However, multiple spider angiomas (MSAs) are usually suggestive of an underlying systemic disease. Physical examination for MSAs has been reported as the most reliable method to diagnose alcoholic liver cirrhosis; the presence of MSAs is more indicative of liver cirrhosis than just the history of alcohol use because a very low proportion of alcohol drinkers among the general population develop liver cirrhosis. We report a case of MSAs in a 42-year-old alcoholic woman suggesting that MSA is reliable indicator and a warning sign of liver cirrhosis, suggesting that further evaluation and management with the department of hepatology is necessary.

Background: Increased sebum secretion is considered the main causative factor in the pathogenesis of acne. There is an unmet pharmacological need for a novel drug that can control sebum production with a favorable adverse effect profile. Objective: To investigate the effect of azidothymidine on lipid synthesis in sebocytes and to identify the underlying mechanism of the inhibitory effect of azidothymidine on insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1-induced lipid synthesis in sebocytes. Methods: Immortalized human sebocytes were used for the analysis. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and Oil Red O staining were performed to evaluate lipid synthesis in the sebocytes. The differentiation, lipid synthesis, mitochondrial biogenesis, and mitophagy in sebocytes were investigated. Results: TLC and Oil Red O staining revealed that azidothymidine reduced IGF-1 induced lipid synthesis in the immortalized human sebocytes. Azidothymidine also reduced IGF-1-induced expression of transcriptional factors and enzymes involved in sebocyte differentiation and lipid synthesis, respectively. Moreover, we found that IGF-1 upregulated the levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1α, LC-3B, p62, and Parkin, major regulators of mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy in immortalized human sebocytes. In contrast, azidothymidine inhibited IGF-1 induced mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy in the sebocytes. Conclusion These results suggest that azidothymidine downregulates IGF-1-induced lipogenesis by dysregulating the quality of mitochondria through suppression of mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy in immortalized human sebocytes. Our study provides early evidence that azidothymidine may be an effective candidate for a new pharmacological agent for controlling lipogenesis in sebocytes.

Background: In Korea, the health gap widens due to the number of medical resources and access to medical services between metropolitan and rural. The purpose of this study is to identify the impact of residential migration on medical utilization and accessibility. Methods: This study extracted 528,516 claimed cases in the National Health Insurance Service-Cohort Sample Database from 2006 to 2015. Subjects were classified into two groups by the magnitude of the region, the metropolitan and the rural. The inversed probability weights were calculated for each group. And coefficients of the two-part model were estimated by generalized estimation equation. Results: Those who moved region from metropolitan to rural tend to increase the length of stay and inpatients with ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC) disease. Contrariwise, those who moved areas from rural to metropolitan tend to decrease the total medical cost, the adjusted patient days, the number of outpatients and the number of outpatients and inpatients with ACSC disease. Conclusion This study identified that between the residents who continued to reside in the region and the migrants, there were significant differences in the medical accessibility, quality of primary care, and unmet medical need.

Background: In Korea, the health gap widens due to the number of medical resources and access to medical services between metropolitan and rural. The purpose of this study is to identify the impact of residential migration on medical utilization and accessibility. Methods: This study extracted 528,516 claimed cases in the National Health Insurance Service-Cohort Sample Database from 2006 to 2015. Subjects were classified into two groups by the magnitude of the region, the metropolitan and the rural. The inversed probability weights were calculated for each group. And coefficients of the two-part model were estimated by generalized estimation equation. Results: Those who moved region from metropolitan to rural tend to increase the length of stay and inpatients with ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC) disease. Contrariwise, those who moved areas from rural to metropolitan tend to decrease the total medical cost, the adjusted patient days, the number of outpatients and the number of outpatients and inpatients with ACSC disease. Conclusion This study identified that between the residents who continued to reside in the region and the migrants, there were significant differences in the medical accessibility, quality of primary care, and unmet medical need.

Background: Increased sebum secretion is considered the main causative factor in the pathogenesis of acne. There is an unmet pharmacological need for a novel drug that can control sebum production with a favorable adverse effect profile. Objective: To investigate the effect of azidothymidine on lipid synthesis in sebocytes and to identify the underlying mechanism of the inhibitory effect of azidothymidine on insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1-induced lipid synthesis in sebocytes. Methods: Immortalized human sebocytes were used for the analysis. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and Oil Red O staining were performed to evaluate lipid synthesis in the sebocytes. The differentiation, lipid synthesis, mitochondrial biogenesis, and mitophagy in sebocytes were investigated. Results: TLC and Oil Red O staining revealed that azidothymidine reduced IGF-1 induced lipid synthesis in the immortalized human sebocytes. Azidothymidine also reduced IGF-1-induced expression of transcriptional factors and enzymes involved in sebocyte differentiation and lipid synthesis, respectively. Moreover, we found that IGF-1 upregulated the levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1α, LC-3B, p62, and Parkin, major regulators of mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy in immortalized human sebocytes. In contrast, azidothymidine inhibited IGF-1 induced mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy in the sebocytes. Conclusion These results suggest that azidothymidine downregulates IGF-1-induced lipogenesis by dysregulating the quality of mitochondria through suppression of mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy in immortalized human sebocytes. Our study provides early evidence that azidothymidine may be an effective candidate for a new pharmacological agent for controlling lipogenesis in sebocytes.

Background and Objectives: Autologous or allogeneic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have been applied in clinical trials to treat liver disease. However, only a few studies are comparing the characteristics of autologous MSCs from patients and allogeneic MSCs from normal subjects. Methods: and Results: We compared the characteristics of BMSCs (BCs and BPs, respectively) isolated from six healthy volunteers and six patients with cirrhosis. In passage 3 (P3), senescent population and expression of p53 and p21 were slightly higher in BPs, but the average population doubling time for P3–P5 in BPs was approximately 65.3±11.1 h, which is 18.4 h shorter than that in BCs (83.7±9.2 h). No difference was observed in the expression of CD73, CD90, or CD105 between BCs and BPs. Adipogenic differentiation slightly increased in BCs, but the expression levels of leptin, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, and CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein α did not vary between differentiated BCs and BPs. While ATP and reactive oxygen species levels were slightly lower in BPs, mitochondrial membrane potential, oxygen consumption rate, and expression of mitochondria-related genes such as cytochrome c oxidase 1 were not significantly different between BCs and BPs. Conclusions Taken together, there are marginal differences in the proliferation, differentiation, and mitochondrial activities of BCs and BPs, but both BMSCs from patients with cirrhosis and healthy volunteers show comparable characteristics.