Background: This study focuses on the development of a hydrogel wound patch incorporating natural extracts, designed to function as a sun patch. By maintaining a moist environment and delivering bioactive compounds, the patch promotes wound healing while also providing cooling and ultraviolet (UV) protection. This dual-purpose approach enhances skin recovery and shields damaged areas from external stressors. The study aims to optimize the formulation and evaluate its efficacy for both therapeutic and cosmetic applications. Methods: Hydrogel solutions prepared using acrylamide, glycerol, and carboxymethyl cellulose were enriched with extracts from Saururus chinensis, Styrax japonicus, and Centella asiatica. The enriched solutions were processed into patches and tested for their adhesion, cooling effects, and UV protective abilities. Additionally, the wound healing efficacy was evaluated in a mouse model. Results: The hydrogel patches demonstrated comparable adhesion properties, effective skin cooling, and high UV protection rates similar to those of commercially available products. In the mouse model, the patches significantly improved wound closure and tissue regeneration in the experimental group as compared to the control group. Conclusion The study confirms that hydrogel sun patches enriched with natural extracts have the ability to effectively promote wound healing and offer substantial UV protection and cooling benefits, demonstrating their potential medical and cosmetic applications.

Hypovolemic shock and septic shock present similar symptoms, such as increased heart rate and decreased blood pressure. However, the two conditions have different causes, mechanisms, and treatment approaches. Early differentiation between the two conditions can have a positive impact on patient prognosis. In this case, the patient underwent a right ovarian cystectomy due to a teratoma torsion during a previous pregnancy, followed by treatment for a postoperative infection. While recovering, the patient underwent an emergency cesarean section due to sudden severe abdominal pain. After the surgery, unstable vital signs were suggestive of hypovolemia due to massive bleeding from the cesarean section. Therefore, fluid infusion and blood transfusion were initiated. The vital signs did not improve. So, the patient was reassessed. Body temperature and the previously elevated C-reactive protein levels were remeasured. The results of the reassessment indicated a septic condition due to previous infection. The patient was prescribed additional vasopressors and antibiotics for the following week. Subsequently, the patient’s vital signs stabilized, and the treatment was discontinued.

Hypovolemic shock and septic shock present similar symptoms, such as increased heart rate and decreased blood pressure. However, the two conditions have different causes, mechanisms, and treatment approaches. Early differentiation between the two conditions can have a positive impact on patient prognosis. In this case, the patient underwent a right ovarian cystectomy due to a teratoma torsion during a previous pregnancy, followed by treatment for a postoperative infection. While recovering, the patient underwent an emergency cesarean section due to sudden severe abdominal pain. After the surgery, unstable vital signs were suggestive of hypovolemia due to massive bleeding from the cesarean section. Therefore, fluid infusion and blood transfusion were initiated. The vital signs did not improve. So, the patient was reassessed. Body temperature and the previously elevated C-reactive protein levels were remeasured. The results of the reassessment indicated a septic condition due to previous infection. The patient was prescribed additional vasopressors and antibiotics for the following week. Subsequently, the patient’s vital signs stabilized, and the treatment was discontinued.

Hypovolemic shock and septic shock present similar symptoms, such as increased heart rate and decreased blood pressure. However, the two conditions have different causes, mechanisms, and treatment approaches. Early differentiation between the two conditions can have a positive impact on patient prognosis. In this case, the patient underwent a right ovarian cystectomy due to a teratoma torsion during a previous pregnancy, followed by treatment for a postoperative infection. While recovering, the patient underwent an emergency cesarean section due to sudden severe abdominal pain. After the surgery, unstable vital signs were suggestive of hypovolemia due to massive bleeding from the cesarean section. Therefore, fluid infusion and blood transfusion were initiated. The vital signs did not improve. So, the patient was reassessed. Body temperature and the previously elevated C-reactive protein levels were remeasured. The results of the reassessment indicated a septic condition due to previous infection. The patient was prescribed additional vasopressors and antibiotics for the following week. Subsequently, the patient’s vital signs stabilized, and the treatment was discontinued.

Purpose: The role of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) in multiple myeloma (MM) treatment remains controversial. We conducted a retrospective, multicenter, nationwide study in Korea to evaluate the outcomes of alloSCT in Asian patients with MM. Materials and Methods: Overall, 109 patients with MM who underwent alloSCT between 2003 and 2020 were included in this study. Data were collected from the Korean Multiple Myeloma Working Party Registry. Results: The overall response rate and stringent complete response plus complete response (CR) rates were 67.0 and 46.8%, respectively, after alloSCT. At a median follow-up of 32.5 months, the 3-year probability of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 69.3% and 71.8%, respectively. The 3-year probabilities of OS rates in the upfront alloSCT, tandem auto-alloSCT, and later alloSCT groups were 75.0%, 88.9%, and 61.1%, respectively. Patients who achieved CR before or after alloSCT had significantly longer OS (89.8 vs. 18 months and 89.8 vs. 15.2 months, respectively). Even though patients who did not achieve CR prior to alloSCT, those who achieve CR after alloSCT had improved PFS and OS compared to those who had no achievement of CR both prior and after alloSCT. Patients who underwent alloSCT with 1-2 prior treatment lines had improved PFS (22.4 vs. 4.5 months) and OS (45.6 vs. 15.3 months) compared to those with three or more prior treatment lines. Conclusion AlloSCT may be a promising therapeutic option especially for younger, chemosensitive patients with earlier implementation from relapse.

OBJECTIVES: Salmonellosis outbreaks occurred at 2 restaurants 2 days apart, and an epidemiological investigation was conducted to determine whether the outbreaks were connected. METHODS: Case studies were conducted for both outbreaks. Stool samples were collected from individuals, and food samples were collected from the restaurants. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and whole-genome sequencing analyses were performed on outbreak-related Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (Salmonella Enteritidis) isolates. Traceback investigations were also conducted for the ingredients from gimbap restaurants A and B. RESULTS: In total, 106 people from gimbap restaurant A and 5 from gimbap restaurant B met the case definition. Salmonella Enteritidis was detected in samples from 2 food handlers, 22 patients, and 1 food (iceberg lettuce) at gimbap restaurant A and from 1 patient at gimbap restaurant B. According to PFGE, all isolates were identified as SEGX01.089. The molecular typing of all isolates showed the same pattern, and the genetic distance was close according to phylogenetic analysis. Eggs were the only food ingredient that was supplied to both gimbap restaurants. CONCLUSIONS The outbreaks were caused by Salmonella Enteritidis, and the source of infections was suspected to be contaminated eggs. To prevent foodborne outbreaks of Salmonella, restaurants should heat eggs sufficiently, and egg farms need to establish management systems that prevent Salmonella infections.

Background: Hypertrophic scarring represents an aberrant response to wounds in certain individuals, manifesting with symptoms such as itching, tenderness, pain, and pigmentation. This study aimed to investigate the impact of a silicone-based gel on the healing of hypertrophic scars, particularly those originating from deep tissue wounds. Methods: A rat model of wound healing and scarring was established, and 12 rats were randomly assigned to three groups: Dermatix Ultra group, SFG-100 silicone-gel group, and non-treated group. Rats in the treated groups (Dermatix Ultra and SFG-100 silicone-gel) received twice-daily applications for 8 weeks. Histologic analysis, including biopsy, was conducted to evaluate the scar elevation index, epidermis thickness, and the number of granulation veins. Results: Overall, both the Dermatix Ultra and SFG-100 silicone-gel groups exhibited improvements in hypertrophic scar healing, accompanied by a significant reduction in skin pigmentation. Histopathologically, scars in both treated groups displayed a notable decrease in scar elevation index, epithelial thickness, and collagen disorganization compared to the non-treated group. However, no significant difference was observed between the Dermatix Ultra and SFG-100 silicone-gel groups. Conclusion The results suggest that SFG-100 silicone-gel is an effective therapeutic agent for hypertrophic scars. Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying its efficacy and to optimize its application for clinical use.

Purpose: The original eCura system was designed to stratify the risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM) after endoscopic resection (ER) in patients with early gastric cancer (EGC).We assessed the effectiveness of a modified eCura system for reflecting the characteristics of undifferentiated-type (UD)-EGC. Materials and Methods: Six hundred thirty-four patients who underwent non-curative ER for UD-EGC and received either additional surgery (radical surgery group; n=270) or no further treatment (no additional treatment group; n=364) from 18 institutions between 2005 and 2015 were retrospectively included in this study. The eCuraU system assigned 1 point each for tumors >20 mm in size, ulceration, positive vertical margin, and submucosal invasion <500 µm; 2 points for submucosal invasion ≥500 µm; and 3 points for lymphovascular invasion. Results: LNM rates in the radical surgery group were 1.1%, 5.4%, and 13.3% for the low-(0–1 point), intermediate- (2–3 points), and high-risk (4–8 points), respectively (P-fortrend<0.001). The eCuraU system showed a significantly higher probability of identifying patients with LNM as high-risk than the eCura system (66.7% vs. 22.2%; McNemar P<0.001).In the no additional treatment group, overall survival (93.4%, 87.2%, and 67.6% at 5 years) and cancer-specific survival (99.6%, 98.9%, and 92.9% at 5 years) differed significantly among the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk categories, respectively (both P<0.001). In the high-risk category, surgery outperformed no treatment in terms of overall mortality (hazard ratio, 3.26; P=0.015). Conclusions The eCuraU system stratified the risk of LNM in patients with UD-EGC after ER. It is strongly recommended that high-risk patients undergo additional surgery.

This report presents the latest statistics on the stroke population in South Korea, sourced from the Clinical Research Collaborations for Stroke in Korea-National Institute for Health (CRCS-K-NIH), a comprehensive, nationwide, multicenter stroke registry. The Korean cohort, unlike western populations, shows a male-to-female ratio of 1.5, attributed to lower risk factors in Korean women. The average ages for men and women are 67 and 73 years, respectively.Hypertension is the most common risk factor (67%), consistent with global trends, but there is a higher prevalence of diabetes (35%) and smoking (21%). The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (19%) is lower than in western populations, suggesting effective prevention strategies in the general population. A high incidence of large artery atherosclerosis (38%) is observed, likely due to prevalent intracranial arterial disease in East Asians and advanced imaging techniques.There has been a decrease in intravenous thrombolysis rates, from 12% in 2017–2019 to 10% in 2021, with no improvements in door-to-needle and door-to-puncture times, worsened by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. While the use of aspirin plus clopidogrel for noncardioembolic stroke and direct oral anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation is well-established, the application of direct oral anticoagulants for non-atrial fibrillation cardioembolic strokes in the acute phase requires further research. The incidence of early neurological deterioration (13%) and the cumulative incidence of recurrent stroke at 3 months (3%) align with global figures. Favorable outcomes at 3 months (63%) are comparable internationally, yet the lack of improvement in dependency at 3 months highlights the need for advancements in acute stroke care.

Background/Aims: Acid-suppressive drugs, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), are treatment options for functional dyspepsia (FD). However, the efficacy of potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs) in treating FD has not yet been established. This prospective multicenter clinical trial-based study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of tegoprazan as a P-CAB treatment in patients with FD. Methods: FD was diagnosed using the Rome IV criteria. All patients received tegoprazan 50 mg once daily for 8 weeks. Dyspeptic symptoms were assessed using a dyspepsia symptom questionnaire (5-point Likert scale, Nepean Dyspepsia Index-Korean [NDI-K], and gastroesophageal reflux disease–health-related quality of life [GERD-HRQL]). The main outcome was satisfactory symptom relief rates at 8 weeks. Results: In this study, from the initial screening of 209 patients, 173 were included in the per-protocol set analysis. Satisfactory symptom relief rates at 8 and 4 weeks were 86.7% and 74.6%, respectively. In addition, the NDI-K and GERD-HRQL scores significantly improved at 8 and 4 weeks compared with the baseline scores. The efficacy of tegoprazan was not influenced by the FD subtype or Helicobacter pylori status. In patients with overlapping FD and GERD, there was a greater improvement in the NDI-K and GERD-HRQL scores than in patients with FD symptoms only. No serious drug-related adverse events occurred during this study. Conclusion Tegoprazan (50 mg) administered once daily provided satisfactory symptom relief for FD.