Purpose: To determine the prevalence of tamoxifen retinopathy and assess the utility of a screening protocol using non-mydriatic fundus photography and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: Between May and October 2024, patients on tamoxifen therapy at a breast surgery clinic were offered screening including non-mydriatic fundus photography and OCT. Among those who consented, 290 patients (580 eyes) were included after excluding other retinal diseases. We investigated tamoxifen duration, cumulative dose, central retinal thickness, BMI, underlying diseases, menopausal status, and history of chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or oral contraceptives. Results: All patients were taking 20 mg of tamoxifen daily. The mean treatment duration was 55.7 ± 29.5 months for those treated longer than two years (n = 193), with a mean BMI of 22.1 ± 3.0 kg/m2. Systemic comorbidities included dyslipidemia (n = 27, 14.0%), hypertension (n = 19, 9.8%), diabetes mellitus (n = 13, 6.7%), and cardiovascular disease (n = 4, 2.1%). Additionally, patient histories included chemotherapy (n = 84, 43.7%), postmenopausal status (n = 56, 29.1%), hormone therapy (n = 52, 27.0%), and oral contraceptive use (n = 14, 7.2%). Tamoxifen retinopathy was not observed in any of the patients. Conclusions In this cross-sectional study, the prevalence of tamoxifen retinopathy, as assessed by non-mydriatic fundus photography and OCT in this study, was 0%, which is lower than previously reported rates (0.9%–12%). Although specialized examination by an ophthalmologist, including a dilated fundus examination and OCT remains the diagnostic gold standard, practical constraints can limit its routine clinical use. Our study evaluated a screening protocol performed without ophthalmologist intervention. However, we found that limitations in image quality compromised the detection of subtle lesions, such as crystalline deposits. Consequently, this approach may be insufficient to serve as a primary screening strategy.

Background: Observational studies have suggested associations between dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and cancer risk; however, causal inference regarding skin cancer remains limited due to potential recall bias, confounding, and reverse causation. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the causal association between genetically predicted circulating PUFA levels and the risk of skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma. Methods: We conducted a 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study using genome-wide association study summary statistics from the UK Biobank (PUFAs, n=115,006) and the FinnGen consortium (BCC, n=26,272; SCC, n=4,663; melanoma, n=5,753). Genetic instruments were derived for omega-3, docosahexaenoic acid, omega-6, linoleic acid, and the omega-6:3 ratio.Multiple MR methods—including inverse-variance weighted, MR-Egger, weighted median, weighted mode, and MR-PRESSO—were applied to test for consistency and assess pleiotropy and heterogeneity. Results: A higher genetically predicted linoleic acid to total fatty acid ratio was associated with a significantly lower risk of BCC and SCC. Conversely, higher genetically proxied serum omega-3 levels were associated with increased risks of BCC, SCC, and melanoma. The risk effect on SCC was attenuated upon exclusion of rs174528, a variant in the fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1) gene, suggesting a role for endogenous PUFA metabolism in carcinogenesis. Conclusion This MR analysis supports a causal role of circulating PUFAs in skin cancer development and highlights the importance of FADS-mediated endogenous PUFA metabolism. These findings provide novel insights into the genetic and metabolic underpinnings of skin cancer susceptibility.

Purpose: To report a case of spontaneous resolution of sub-internal limiting membrane (sub-ILM) fluid associated with an optic disc pit.Case summary: A 13-year-old girl presented with micropsia in her right eye that had onset 3 days prior upon rising from a lying position. Her best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/25. Fundus examination revealed an optic disc pit, and optical coherence tomography showed sub-ILM fluid, perifoveal macular traction, and retinoschisis. Over a six-month observation period, the sub-ILM fluid, macular traction, and retinoschisis resolved spontaneously, and BCVA improved to 20/20 with no recurrence. Conclusions In this pediatric case, sub-ILM fluid associated with an optic disc pit resolved spontaneously. The course of this condition in children may differ from that in adults due to the greater elasticity of the ILM in the pediatric retina. The presence of cystic sub-ILM fluid with surrounding macular traction suggests that the fluid entered between the ILM and retinal nerve fiber layer via the optic disc pit, likely from the subarachnoid space.

Background and Objectives: We compared the efficacy and safety of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSC), delivered at different doses and via different injection routes in an animal model of chronic kidney disease. Methods: and Results: A total of ninety 12-week-old rats underwent 5/6 nephrectomy and randomized among nine groups: sham, renal artery control (RA-C), tail vein control (TV-C), renal artery low dose (RA-LD) (0.5×10 6 cells), renal artery moderate dose (RA-MD) (1.0×10 6 cells), renal artery high dose (RA-HD) (2.0×10 6 cells), tail vein low dose (TV-LD) (0.5×10 6 cells), tail vein moderate dose (TV-MD) (1.0×10 6 cells), and tail vein high dose (TV-HD) (2.0×10 6 cells). Renal function and mortality of rats were evaluated after hBMSC injection. Serum blood urea nitrogen was significantly lower in the TV-HD group at 2 weeks (p＜0.01), 16 weeks (p＜0.05), and 24 weeks (p＜0.01) than in the TV-C group, as determined by one-way ANOVA. Serum creatinine was significantly lower in the TV-HD group at 24 weeks (p＜0.05). At 8 weeks, creatinine clearance was significantly higher in the TV-MD and TV-HD groups (p＜0.01, p＜0.05) than in the TV-C group. In the safety evaluation, we observed no significant difference among the groups. Conclusions Our findings confirm the efficacy and safety of high dose (2×10 6 cells) injection of hBMSC via the tail vein.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of lymph node yield (LNY) for survival outcomes according to tumor response after preoperative chemoradiotherapy (PCRT) in patients with rectal cancer. Methods: This study was a retrospective study conducted in a tertiary center. A total of 1,240 patients with clinical stage II or III rectal cancer who underwent curative resection after PCRT between 2007 and 2016 were included. Patients were categorized into the good response group (tumor regression grade [TRG], 0–1) or poor response group (TRG, 2–3). Propensity score matching was performed for age, sex, and pathologic stage between LNY of ≥12 and LNY of <12 within tumor response group. The primary outcome was 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: LNY and positive lymph nodes were inversely correlated with TRG. In good responders, 5-year DFS and 5-year OS of patients with LNY of <12 were better than those with LNY of ≥12, but there was no statistical significance. In poor responders, the LNY of <12 group had worse survival outcomes than the LNY of ≥12 group, but there was also no statistical significance. LNY of ≥12 was not associated with DFS and OS in multivariate analysis. Conclusion LNY of <12 showed contrasting outcomes between the good and poor responders in 5-year DFS and OS. LNY of 12 may not imply adequate oncologic surgery or proper staging in rectal cancer patients treated by PCRT. Furthermore, a decrease in LNY should be comprehended differently according to tumor response.

Background and Objectives: We evaluated the effect of adipose-derived stem cell-derived conditioned medium (ADSC-CM) on the renal function of rats with renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI)-induced acute kidney injury. Methods: and Results: Forty male Sprague‐Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham, nephrectomy control, IRI control, ADSC-CM. The ADSC-CM was prepared using the three-dimensional spheroid culture system and injected into renal parenchyme. The renal function of the rats was evaluated 28 days before and 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 14 days after surgical procedures. The rats were sacrificed 14 days after surgical procedures, and kidney tissues were collected for histological examination. The renal parenchymal injection of ADSC-CM significantly reduced the serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels compared with the IRI control group on days 1, 2, 3, and 4 after IRI. The renal parenchymal injection of ADSC-CM significantly increased the level of creatinine clearance compared with the IRI control group 1 day after IRI. Collagen content was significantly lower in the ADSC-CM group than in the IRI control group in the cortex and medulla. Apoptosis was significantly decreased, and proliferation was significantly increased in the ADSC-CM group compared to the IRI control group in the cortex and medulla. The expressions of anti-oxidative makers were higher in the ADSC-CM group than in the IRI control group in the cortex and medulla. Conclusions The renal function was effectively rescued through the renal parenchymal injection of ADSC-CM prepared using a three-dimensional spheroid culture system.

Purpose: To investigate the predictive accuracy of refraction and any change in intraocular pressure (IOP) after transscleral fixation of intraocular lenses (IOLs) in trabeculectomized eyes with glaucoma. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of glaucoma patients who underwent trabeculectomy, followed by transscleral fixation of dislocated IOLs combined with vitrectomy. The refraction predicted by the SRK/T formula and the postoperative refraction were converted into spherical equivalents. Predictive refraction accuracies were analyzed when the differences between the two values were within ± 0.5 diopters (D) and ± 1.0 D. The IOP was measured before and after surgery. Results: Eleven eyes of 11 men (mean age, 67.27 ± 10.55 years) were included. The mean axial length was 23.64 ± 1.26 mm; the mean predicted and postoperative refractions were -0.02 ± 0.46 D and -0.80 ± 0.98 D, respectively (p = 0.029). The refractive outcome was more myopic (by -0.78 ± 1.11 D) than predicted. The predictive accuracies were 36.4% and 72.7% when the differences were ± 0.5 and ± 1.0 D, respectively. The IOP did not change during follow-up (13.18 ± 4.56, 12.82 ± 5.88, and 12.73 ± 4.58 mmHg at baseline, 1 week, and 3 months, respectively). Conclusions In trabeculectomized eyes, transscleral IOL fixation did not affect the IOP, but the refractive outcome was more myopic than predicted. This difference should be considered when choosing IOL target power.

Purpose: Osteoporosis is a common calcium and metabolic skeletal disease which is characterized by decreased bone mass, microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue and impaired bone strength, thereby leading to enhanced risk of bone fragility.In this study, we aimed to identify novel genes for susceptibility to osteoporosis and/or bone density. Materials and Methods: To identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between control and osteoporosis-induced cells, annealing control primer-based differential display reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was carried out in pre-osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells. Expression levels of the identified DEGs were evaluated by quantitative RT-PCR. Association studies for the quantitative bone density analysis and osteoporosis case-control analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) were performed in Korean women (3,570 subjects) from the Korean Association REsource (KARE) study cohort. Results: Comparison analysis of expression levels of the identified DEGs by quantitative RT-PCR found seven genes, Anxa6, Col5a1, Col6a2, Eno1, Myof, Nfib, and Scara5, that showed significantly different expression between the dexamethasontreated and untreated MC3T3-E1 cells and between the ovariectomized osteoporosis-induced mice and sham mice. Association studies revealed that there was a significant association between the SNPs in the five genes, ANXA6, COL5A1, ENO1, MYOF, and SCARA5, and bone density and/or osteoporosis. Conclusion Using a whole-genome comparative expression analysis, gene expression evaluation analysis, and association analysis, we found five genes that were significantly associated with bone density and/or osteoporosis. Notably, the association P-values of the SNPs in the ANXA6 and COL5A1 genes were below the Bonferroni-corrected significance level.

The complexity in the molecular mechanism of the internal anal sphincter (IAS) limits preclinical or clinical outcomes of fecal incontinence (FI) treatment. So far, there are no systematic reviews of IAS translation and experimental studies that have been reported. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of IAS critical role in FI. Previous studies revealed the key pathway for basal tone and relaxation of IAS in different properties as follows; calcium, Rho-associated, coiled-coil containing serine/threonine kinase, aging-associated IAS dysfunction, oxidative stress, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone, cyclooxygenase, and inhibitory neurotransmitters. Previous studies have reported improved functional outcomes of cellular treatment for regeneration of dysfunctional IAS, using various stem cells, but did not demonstrate the interrelationship between those results and basal tone or relaxation-related molecular pathway of IAS. Furthermore, these results have lower specificity for IAS-incontinence due to the included external anal sphincter or nerve injury regardless of the cell type. An acellular approach using bioengineered IAS showed a physiologic response of basal tone and relaxation response similar to human IAS. However, in both cellular and acellular approaches, the lack of human IAS data still hampers clinical application. Therefore, the IAS regeneration presents more challenges and warrants more advances.