Purpose: This study evaluates the Korean Cancer Study Group Geriatric Score-7 (KG-7) frailty screening tool’s effectiveness in elderly multiple myeloma (MM) patients to prevent under and overtreatment. Materials and Methods: This prospective pilot cohort study included 100 elderly patients aged 70 and older with newly diagnosed MM who had not undergone transplantation from August 2020 to January 2022. Results: The median age was 77 years, and 73.0% of patients were classified at International Staging System stages 2 or 3. Using a 5-point cutoff on the KG-7 index (non-frail, score ≥ 5; frail, score < 5), 31% were categorized as frail. After a median follow-up of 26.8 months, the 3-year overall survival rate was 73.0%. There was no statistically significant association between any frailty index and the risk of death. However, frail patients defined by the simplified frailty index (hazard ratio [HR], 2.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09 to 5.95; p=0.030) and by KG-7 (HR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.03 to 5.86; p=0.043) had a significantly higher risk of grade 3-4 non-hematologic toxicity, whereas the International Myeloma Working Group definition did not. Over a 24-month tracking period, vulnerability as measured by KG-7 either improved or deteriorated. Conclusion The pilot study, which had a limited number of participants, did not demonstrate KG-7’s effectiveness in predicting survival; however, it successfully predicted severe non-hematologic toxicities. We plan to conduct larger studies in elderly MM patients to determine whether KG-7 can help tailor their treatment regimens.

In patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), initial recurrence risk stratification based on clinical, histopathological, and perioperative data remains the key determinant for guiding management strategies during the first 1-2 years post-treatment. However, the adoption of ongoing risk stratification (ORS), which dynamically reassesses risk by integrating longitudinal clinical data and treatment response, enables more precise long-term prognostic assessment and facilitates highly individualized management. Building upon recent guidelines, the 2026 KTA guideline has been further refined by incorporating robust evidence from large-scale national cohorts and comprehensive systematic reviews. These updated recommendations outline contemporary concepts of ORS, risk-adapted TSH suppression targets, optimized surveillance modalities for recurrence detection, and disease-specific long-term follow-up strategies. Reflecting the paradigm shift toward de-escalated treatment, this revision integrates evolved perspectives on TSH suppression intensity, the clinical interpretation of thyroglobulin levels, and tailored follow-up intervals. These evidence-based recommendations aim to minimize unnecessary treatment and excessive surveillance in the large proportion of patients with excellent prognosis after initial therapy, while ensuring that each patient receives appropriately tailored and effective long-term management.

Taste buds relay taste sensory information to the primary taste neurons but depend on those same neurons for essential components to maintain function. While denervation-induced taste bud degeneration and subsequent regeneration were discovered decades ago, the mechanisms underlying these phenomena (e.g., heterogenous cellular responses to nerve injury and the signaling pathways involved) remain poorly understood. Here, using mouse genetics, nerve injury models, pharmacologic manipulation, and taste bud organoid models, we identify a specific subpopulation of taste cells, predominantly c-Kit-expressing sweet cells, that exhibit superior resistance to nerve injury. We found the c-Kit inhibitor imatinib selectively reduced the number of residual c-Kit-expressing sweet cells at post-operation week 2, subsequently attenuating the re-emergence of other type II cells by post-operation week 4. In taste bud organoids, c-Kit-expressing cells were resistant to R-spondin withdrawal but susceptible to imatinib, while other taste cell types showed the opposite behavior. We also observed a distinct population of residual taste cells that acquired stem-like properties, generating clonal descendent cells among suprabasal keratinocytes independent of c-Kit signaling. Together, our findings reveal that c-Kit signaling confers resilience on c-Kit-expressing sweet cells and supports the broader reconstruction of taste buds during the later regenerative stage following nerve injury.
Animals ; Taste Buds/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit/metabolism* ; Mice ; Signal Transduction ; Imatinib Mesylate/pharmacology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

Objective: Research on fetal mortality due to congenital anomalies is insufficient, particularly that utilizing data specific to South Korea. Thus, we aimed to investigate the characteristics and risk factors for fetal death due to congenital anomalies in Korea. Methods: Fetal deaths registered from 2009-2020 with Statistics Korea were assessed. Fetal charac teristics included gestational age, body weight, sex, and multiple fetuses, while maternal characteri stics included age, educational level, nationality, and place of residence. Risk factors for fetal death were analyzed using simple comparison and logistic regression. Changes in fetal mortality by year were examined using Poisson regression analysis. Results: A total of 37,928 fetal deaths occurred, among which 3,758 were classified as congenital anomaly, 710 as non-congenital anomaly, and 33,460 as unknown cause. Fetal mortality for gesta tional weeks 20 to 27 and ≥28 were 75.3% and 24.7%, respectively. The proportion of congenital anomalies among fetal deaths during these gestational age periods is 11.3% and 5.8%. Multiple fetuses, maternal age of <20 years or ≥40 years were identified as risk factors for fetal death due to congenital anomalies. Among the top 30 causes, covering 97.5% of all deaths, unspecified causes were 88.2%, congenital malformations 8.2%, and other causes 2.0%, respectively. Fetal mortality and deaths from congenital anomalies exhibited downward trends. Conclusion Fetal deaths due to congenital anomalies showed a decreasing trend, but the risks, such as multiple fetuses and advanced maternal age are increasing in Korea. Therefore, careful monitoring of fetal deaths due to congenital anomalies are essential.

Objective: Research on fetal mortality due to congenital anomalies is insufficient, particularly that utilizing data specific to South Korea. Thus, we aimed to investigate the characteristics and risk factors for fetal death due to congenital anomalies in Korea. Methods: Fetal deaths registered from 2009-2020 with Statistics Korea were assessed. Fetal charac teristics included gestational age, body weight, sex, and multiple fetuses, while maternal characteri stics included age, educational level, nationality, and place of residence. Risk factors for fetal death were analyzed using simple comparison and logistic regression. Changes in fetal mortality by year were examined using Poisson regression analysis. Results: A total of 37,928 fetal deaths occurred, among which 3,758 were classified as congenital anomaly, 710 as non-congenital anomaly, and 33,460 as unknown cause. Fetal mortality for gesta tional weeks 20 to 27 and ≥28 were 75.3% and 24.7%, respectively. The proportion of congenital anomalies among fetal deaths during these gestational age periods is 11.3% and 5.8%. Multiple fetuses, maternal age of <20 years or ≥40 years were identified as risk factors for fetal death due to congenital anomalies. Among the top 30 causes, covering 97.5% of all deaths, unspecified causes were 88.2%, congenital malformations 8.2%, and other causes 2.0%, respectively. Fetal mortality and deaths from congenital anomalies exhibited downward trends. Conclusion Fetal deaths due to congenital anomalies showed a decreasing trend, but the risks, such as multiple fetuses and advanced maternal age are increasing in Korea. Therefore, careful monitoring of fetal deaths due to congenital anomalies are essential.