Chronic recurrent sialadenitis is characterized by repeated inflammation of the salivary glands, leading to ductal structural abnormalities and salivary stasis, often resulting in megaducts. This study evaluates the efficacy of ultrasonography as a diagnostic and follow-up tool for the management of chronic recurrent sialadenitis. Three patients underwent sialendoscopy, which involved ductal dilation, removal of mucous plugs, and steroid administration. Ultrasonography was used postoperatively to monitor changes in ductal structure, including megaduct size, and to assess clinical outcomes.All three cases showed marked improvement in clinical symptoms after treatment. Ultrasonography demonstrated a reduction in megaduct size and provided real-time visualization of ductal and glandular changes. Compared to traditional imaging methods such as magnetic resonance imaging or sialography, ultrasonography offered a practical and safe option for follow-up assessment. This study highlights the utility of ultrasonography as an accessible, non-invasive, and effective tool for evaluating treatment outcomes in chronic recurrent sialadenitis. By offering detailed visualization of ductal changes and facilitating longitudinal follow-up, ultrasonography can optimize the management of this condition.

Purpose: Prostate cancer ranks as the second most common cancer in men globally, representing a significant cause of cancer-related mortality. Metastasis, the spread of cancer cells from the primary site to distant organs, remains a major challenge in managing prostate cancer. Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4) is implicated in the regulation of aerobic glycolysis, emerging as a potential player in various cancers. However, its role in prostate cancer remains unclear. This study aims to analyze PDK4 expression in prostate cancer cells and human samples, and to explore the gene's clinical significance. Materials and Methods: PDK4 expression was detected in cell lines and human tissue samples. Migration ability was analyzed using Matrigel-coated invasion chambers. Human samples were obtained from the Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital. Results: PDK4 expression was elevated in prostate cancer cell lines compared to normal prostate cells, with particularly high levels in DU145 and LnCap cell lines. PDK4 knockdown in these cell lines suppressed their invasion ability, indicating a potential role of PDK4 in prostate cancer metastasis. Furthermore, our results revealed alterations in epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers and downstream signaling molecules following PDK4 suppression, suggesting its involvement in the modulation of invasion-related pathways. Furthermore, PDK4 expression was increased in prostate cancer tissues, especially in castration-resistant prostate cancer, compared to normal prostate tissues, with PSA and PDK4 expression showing a significantly positive correlation. Conclusions PDK4 expression in prostate cancer is associated with tumor invasion and castration status. Further validation is needed to demonstrate its effectiveness as a therapeutic target.

Chronic recurrent sialadenitis is characterized by repeated inflammation of the salivary glands, leading to ductal structural abnormalities and salivary stasis, often resulting in megaducts. This study evaluates the efficacy of ultrasonography as a diagnostic and follow-up tool for the management of chronic recurrent sialadenitis. Three patients underwent sialendoscopy, which involved ductal dilation, removal of mucous plugs, and steroid administration. Ultrasonography was used postoperatively to monitor changes in ductal structure, including megaduct size, and to assess clinical outcomes.All three cases showed marked improvement in clinical symptoms after treatment. Ultrasonography demonstrated a reduction in megaduct size and provided real-time visualization of ductal and glandular changes. Compared to traditional imaging methods such as magnetic resonance imaging or sialography, ultrasonography offered a practical and safe option for follow-up assessment. This study highlights the utility of ultrasonography as an accessible, non-invasive, and effective tool for evaluating treatment outcomes in chronic recurrent sialadenitis. By offering detailed visualization of ductal changes and facilitating longitudinal follow-up, ultrasonography can optimize the management of this condition.

Chronic recurrent sialadenitis is characterized by repeated inflammation of the salivary glands, leading to ductal structural abnormalities and salivary stasis, often resulting in megaducts. This study evaluates the efficacy of ultrasonography as a diagnostic and follow-up tool for the management of chronic recurrent sialadenitis. Three patients underwent sialendoscopy, which involved ductal dilation, removal of mucous plugs, and steroid administration. Ultrasonography was used postoperatively to monitor changes in ductal structure, including megaduct size, and to assess clinical outcomes.All three cases showed marked improvement in clinical symptoms after treatment. Ultrasonography demonstrated a reduction in megaduct size and provided real-time visualization of ductal and glandular changes. Compared to traditional imaging methods such as magnetic resonance imaging or sialography, ultrasonography offered a practical and safe option for follow-up assessment. This study highlights the utility of ultrasonography as an accessible, non-invasive, and effective tool for evaluating treatment outcomes in chronic recurrent sialadenitis. By offering detailed visualization of ductal changes and facilitating longitudinal follow-up, ultrasonography can optimize the management of this condition.

Background: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of hospital-based case management for patients with severe mental illness. Methods: A total of 106 patients were included. To evaluate the effectiveness of hospital-based case management, the number of hospitalizations, cumulative length of hospitalization, and hospital days/year as well as functioning were compared before and after the hospital-based case management intervention. Cox regression was performed to identify variables that may influence readmission rates other than patients’ hospital-based case management interventions. Results: The number of hospitalizations decreased from 1.4±0.9 to 0.5±1.0 (p<0.001), cumulative length of hospitalization from 73.0±62.3 to 28.1±57.2 days (p<0.001), and hospital days/year from 20.0±17.1 to 7.7±15.7 days (p<0.001). The changes in Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale were 35.3±15.7 points at case management intervention, 43.7±13.9 points after 1 month of case management (p<0.001), 51.2±14.1 points after 3 months (p<0.001), and 53.1±17.6 points after 6 months (p<0.001). Demographic and clinical characteristics that influenced readmissions were GAF at admission (p=0.017), duration (p=0.042), diagnosis (p=0.019), and type of admission (p=0.001). Conclusion Hospital-based case management significantly improved readmission rates and functioning in patients with severe mental illness, supporting its continued implementation and expansion.

Purpose: The leaves of Perilla frutescens var. acuta (PFA) are generally reported to have antioxidant, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor effects and commonly used as a traditional medicine in East Asia. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect and antioxidant activity of PFA on busulfan-induced testicular dysfunction, histological damage, oxidative stress (OS), sperm quality, and hormone levels using a mouse model. Materials and Methods: C57BL/6 male mice were divided into four groups: control, busulfan-only treated, and varying concentrations of PFA (100 and 200 mg/kg) with busulfan. In the busulfan group, 40 mg/kg of busulfan was intraperitoneally injected to induce azoospermia. Mice were orally administered PFA for 35 consecutive days after busulfan administration.Samples were collected and assessed for testis/body weight, testicular histopathology, sperm quality, serum hormone levels, and OS to evaluate the effects of PFA treatment on spermatogenesis dysfunction induced by busulfan. Results: The busulfan-induced testicular dysfunction model showed reduced testis weight, adverse histological changes, significantly decreased sex hormones and sperm quality, and attenuated OS. These results indicate that PFA treatment significantly increased testis weight, testis/body weight, epididymal sperm count, motility, and testosterone level compared with busulfan alone. PFA treatment also attenuated the busulfan-induced histological changes. Furthermore, compared with mice treated with busulfan alone, PFA supplementation upregulated the testicular mRNA expression of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase 1 (Sod1) and glutathione peroxidase 1 (Gpx1), with a decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) production and an increase in SOD and GPx activities. Conclusions This study shows that PFA exerts a protective effect against testicular damage by attenuating OS induced by busulfan. Our results suggest that PFA is a potentially relevant drug used to decrease the side effects induced by busulfan on testicular function and sperm during cancer chemotherapy.

Numerous systemic diseases manifest with oral symptoms and signs. The molecular diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease worldwide, currently relies on invasive or expensive methods, emphasizing the imperative for easily accessible biomarkers.In this study, we explored the expression patterns of key proteins implicated in AD pathophysiology within the taste buds of mice. We detected the expression of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and tau protein in the taste buds of normal C57BL/6 mice. Phosphorylated tau was predominantly found in type II and III taste cells, while APP was located in type I taste cells. Remarkably, we observed significantly stronger immunoreactivity to phosphorylated tau in the taste buds of aged AD mouse models compared to age-matched controls. These findings underscore the oral expression of biomarkers associated with AD, highlighting the diagnostic potential of the oral cavity for neurodegenerative diseases.

Background/Aims: This study investigated whether the personality traits of endoscopists are associated with the effect of interventions for the improvement of colonoscopy quality. Methods: This prospective, multicenter, single-blind study was performed with 13 endoscopists in three health screening centers over a 12-month period. Quality indicators (QIs), including adenoma detection rate (ADR), polyp detection rate (PDR), and withdrawal time, were measured every 3 months. Consecutive interventions for the improvement of colonoscopy quality were conducted every 3 months, which included the personal notification of QIs, the in-group notification of QIs, and finally a targeted “quality education” session. The personality traits of each endoscopist were evaluated for perfectionism, fear of negative evaluation, and cognitive flexibility after the last QI assessment. Results: A total of 4,095 colonoscopies were evaluated to measure the QIs of the individual endoscopists for 12 months. The mean ADR, PDR, and withdrawal time of the 13 endoscopists were 32.3%, 47.7%, and 394 seconds at baseline and increased to 39.0%, 55.1%, and 430 seconds by the end of the study (p=0.003, p=0.006, and p=0.004, respectively). Among the three interventions, only quality education significantly improved QIs: ADR, 36.0% to 39.0% (odds ratio, 1.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.01 to 1.63). The improvement of ADR and PDR by education was significantly associated with perfectionism (r=0.617, p=0.033 and r=0.635, p=0.027, respectively) and fear of negative evaluation (r=0.704, p=0.011 and r=0.761, p=0.004, respectively). Conclusions Education can improve colonoscopy quality, and its effect size is associated with an endoscopist’s personal traits such as perfectionism and fear of negative evaluation (ClinicalTrials.gov Registry NCT03796169).

Purpose: The leaves of Perilla frutescens var. acuta (PFA) are generally reported to have antioxidant, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor effects and commonly used as a traditional medicine in East Asia. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect and antioxidant activity of PFA on busulfan-induced testicular dysfunction, histological damage, oxidative stress (OS), sperm quality, and hormone levels using a mouse model. Materials and Methods: C57BL/6 male mice were divided into four groups: control, busulfan-only treated, and varying concentrations of PFA (100 and 200 mg/kg) with busulfan. In the busulfan group, 40 mg/kg of busulfan was intraperitoneally injected to induce azoospermia. Mice were orally administered PFA for 35 consecutive days after busulfan administration.Samples were collected and assessed for testis/body weight, testicular histopathology, sperm quality, serum hormone levels, and OS to evaluate the effects of PFA treatment on spermatogenesis dysfunction induced by busulfan. Results: The busulfan-induced testicular dysfunction model showed reduced testis weight, adverse histological changes, significantly decreased sex hormones and sperm quality, and attenuated OS. These results indicate that PFA treatment significantly increased testis weight, testis/body weight, epididymal sperm count, motility, and testosterone level compared with busulfan alone. PFA treatment also attenuated the busulfan-induced histological changes. Furthermore, compared with mice treated with busulfan alone, PFA supplementation upregulated the testicular mRNA expression of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase 1 (Sod1) and glutathione peroxidase 1 (Gpx1), with a decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) production and an increase in SOD and GPx activities. Conclusions This study shows that PFA exerts a protective effect against testicular damage by attenuating OS induced by busulfan. Our results suggest that PFA is a potentially relevant drug used to decrease the side effects induced by busulfan on testicular function and sperm during cancer chemotherapy.

Low-dose radiotherapy (LDRT) has been explored as a treatment option for various inflammatory diseases; however, its application in the context of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is lacking. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism underlying LDRT-based treatment for RA and standardize it. LDRT reduced the total numbers of immune cells, but increased the apoptotic CD4+ T and B220+ B cells, in the draining lymph nodes of collagen induced arthritis and K/BxN models. In addition, it significantly reduced the severity of various pathological manifestations, including bone destruction, cartilage erosion, and swelling of hind limb ankle. Post-LDRT, the proportion of apoptotic CD4+ T and CD19 + B cells increased significantly in the PBMCs derived from human patients with RA. LDRT showed a similar effect in fibroblast-like synoviocytes as well. In conclusion, we report that LDRT induces apoptosis in immune cells and fibro-blast-like synoviocytes, contributing to attenuation of arthritis.