Objective: The aims of this study were to assess embryonic development using a time-lapse monitoring system based on cleavage timing and the use of vitrification and to investigate the correlation between miRNA-429 expression and embryonic development in both fresh and vitrified-thawed embryos. Methods: Mouse embryos at the 1-cell stage were collected and randomly divided into fresh and vitrified-thawed groups. The embryos were monitored and further subdivided into early and delayed cleavage based on the timing of the third cleavage event at 55 hours after human chorionic gonadotropin injection. miRNA-429 extracted from spent media or embryos cultured in vitro was analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results: Early cleavage was associated with a significantly higher blastulation rate, regardless of cryopreservation status. Notably, among vitrified-thawed embryos, outgrowth was greater in those exhibiting early cleavage compared to those with delayed cleavage. Furthermore, miRNA-429 expression was elevated in embryos exhibiting delayed cleavage, but only within the cryopreserved group. Conclusion Based on these findings, we suggest that the timing of the third cleavage event may be more critical than the vitrification process itself, and evaluating miRNA-429 expression could serve as an alternative non-invasive selection tool for vitrified surplus embryos.

Objective: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), derived from various infectious bacteria in the uterus, interferes with communication between embryonic trophoblasts and endometrial cells, thereby inhibiting successful embryo implantation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of LPS and the anti-inflammatory compound nicotinamide (NAM) on early embryo implantation processes, focusing on the adhesion and outgrowth between trophoblast spheroids and endometrial cells. Methods: We used JAr mixed JEG-3 (JmJ) spheroids, prepared by combining JAr and JEG-3 cells in a 1:1 ratio. Following treatment with LPS with or without NAM, the attachment and outgrowth of JmJ spheroids on endometrial epithelial cells (ECC-1) were assessed. Additionally, changes in the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines (chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 [CXCL1], interleukin 8 [IL-8], and IL-33) and cell adhesion molecules (integrin alpha-V [ITGαV], integrin beta 3 [ITGβ3], and integrin beta 5 [ITGβ5]) in ECC-1 cells following LPS and/or NAM treatment were evaluated using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot analysis. Results: Decreased attachment rates and reduced outgrowth areas caused by LPS treatment were significantly restored by NAM. These restorative effects of NAM were associated with the modulation of inflammatory cytokines—specifically CXCL1 and IL-33, as shown by qRT-PCR—and expression of the cell adhesion molecule ITGβ3, as indicated by Western blot analysis. Conclusion Our study confirmed that LPS-induced endometrial infection may inhibit embryo implantation. NAM treatment ameliorated the detrimental effects of LPS by modulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules. Further studies are needed to explore the potential use of NAM as an effective additive to improve embryo implantation rates in human in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer programs.

Background/Aims: Helicobacter pylori infection is reportedly associated with iron-deficiency anemia. However, little is known about the association between the endoscopic features of H. pylori in the Kyoto classification of gastritis and iron deficiency. Therefore, we analyzed the endoscopic features of H. pylori gastritis and studied the association between these endoscopic features and iron deficiency. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients diagnosed with H. pylori gastritis between May 2022 and June 2023 who also underwent laboratory tests, including anemia profiling. Iron deficiency was defined as a ferritin level below 55 ng/mL. Multivariate analysis was used to assess the association between endoscopic features and iron deficiency. Results: Of the included patients, 47 had iron deficiency. Female patients were significantly more common in the iron-deficient group (87.2% vs. 33.4%, p<0.001). Endoscopically, nodularity (46.8% vs. 23.4%, p=0.001) and hyperplastic polyps (17.0% vs. 3.7%, p=0.001) were more common in patients with iron deficiency. Multivariate analysis identified younger age, female sex, and larger hyperplastic polyps (≥5 mm) as independent risk factors for iron deficiency. Conclusions Younger age, female sex, and larger hyperplastic polyps (≥5 mm) are associated with iron deficiency in patients with H. pylori gastritis. These features may help identify patients at higher risk of iron deficiency.

Objectives: Large language models (LLMs) demonstrate remarkable potential in healthcare communication. However, whether they can process complex, high-volume medical information, such as stroke-related content, remains insufficiently validated. This study aimed to evaluate the natural language processing capabilities of LLMs in handling such content and to develop an evaluation instrument. Methods: A survey compared educational materials generated by two LLMs (ChatGPT 4.0 and Claude 3) with neurologist-authored content on stroke. The materials were based on two clinical scenarios representing distinct stroke etiologies: cardioembolism and large-artery atherosclerosis. They were evaluated in terms of accuracy, legality, ethics, comprehensiveness, and information delivery. Scores for comprehensiveness and information delivery were compared according to participants’ agreement with the use of LLMs in healthcare. Results: ChatGPT received the highest scores across all domains, except for legality in Scenario 2. In Scenario 1, the ranking for accuracy and summarization of clinical information was, from highest to lowest, ChatGPT, Claude, and the neurologist (η2 = 0.140, p < 0.001; η2 = 0.175, p < 0.001). The same hierarchy was observed in Scenario 2 for accuracy (η2 = 0.077, p < 0.001) and summarization (η2 = 0.194, p < 0.001). Participants who agreed with the use of LLMs in healthcare assigned higher scores for the comprehensiveness (Scenario 1, p = 0.005; Scenario 2, p = 0.007) and information delivery (Scenario 1, p = 0.003; Scenario 2, p = 0.026) of ChatGPT-generated materials than participants who did not agree. Conclusions LLMs demonstrated adequate capability to convey complex content, such as stroke-related information, in an accessible and understandable manner for non-experts.

Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are an important treatment option for ulcerative colitis, providing rapid onset of action, oral administration, and efficacy even after biologic failure. The 3 approved agents—tofacitinib, filgotinib, and upadacitinib—differ in JAK isoform selectivity, leading to clinically meaningful differences in efficacy and safety. Evidence from network meta-analyses, clinical trials, and real-world studies consistently shows that upadacitinib provides the highest efficacy for induction and maintenance of remission, whereas filgotinib demonstrates the most favorable safety profile. The strong efficacy of upadacitinib and tofacitinib is particularly relevant in patients with severe disease, including acute severe ulcerative colitis, and upadacitinib maintains high efficacy regardless of prior advanced therapy exposure. JAK inhibitors also benefit extraintestinal manifestations. Although risks such as herpes zoster, serious infection, thromboembolism, and major cardiovascular events differ among agents, long-term data suggest generally acceptable safety when used appropriately. Intraclass JAK-to-JAK cycling is feasible, with about half of patients achieving steroid-free clinical remission in retrospective cohorts. Based on mechanistic, clinical, and real-world evidence, filgotinib may be a first-line option for patients with lower disease activity or when safety is a priority, whereas upadacitinib or tofacitinib may be preferred in higher disease activity. Strategically selecting agents may improve durability and outcomes.

Purpose: To develop and validate an artificial intelligence (AI)-based personalized outcome prediction model for upper-urinary tract urothelial carcinoma patients undergoing radical nephroureterectomy. Materials and Methods: Data from patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy between 2010 and 2020 across three hospitals were retrospectively analyzed. A model was developed using one tertiary center’s data and externally validated with data from two other hospitals. An AI model using XGBoost as risk estimator and bootstrapped Weibull Accelerated Failure Time model for 10-year survival probability was employed. Hyperparameter tuning used Optuna method. Model efficacy was assessed using concordance index, average Brier score, D-calibration, and six-month interval time-dependent area under the curve (AUC). Results: Of 1,039 patients, 627 qualified after excluding 50 with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Model development used 564 patients (507 training, 57 test) with 9:1 stratified random split, plus 63 for internal validation and 362 for external validation. Significant parameters included preoperative glomerular filtration rate (p<0.001), hydroureteronephrosis (p=0.013), pathological N stage (p<0.001), concurrent carcinoma in situ (p<0.001), disease progression (p<0.001), and survival rate (p<0.001). Disease-free survival (DFS) model’s concordance index: internal validation 0.789, external validations 0.734 and 0.771. Overall survival (OS) model’s concordance index: internal validation 0.819, external validations 0.780 and 0.771. Mean time-dependent AUC was 0.66–0.77 for DFS and 0.67–0.80 for OS during 10-year periods. Conclusions AI-based model effectively predicts disease-free and OS outcomes for upper-urinary tract urothelial carcinoma patients with post-radical nephroureterectomy, showcasing robust performance across multicenter settings.

Background: This study investigated the prognostic value of bilaterality and multifocality in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) recurrence, aiming to inform optimal surgical strategies. Methods: In this retrospective cohort, 1,966 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for PTC (2011–2014) were categorized into four groups according to tumor multifocality and bilaterality confirmed by postoperative histopathology: group 1, unilateral solitary; group 2, unilateral multifocal; group 3, bilateral solitary; group 4, bilateral multifocal. Clinicopathologic features and clinical outcomes were compared across these groups. Results: Group 4 exhibited the highest prevalence of BRAFV600E positivity, nodal metastases, and recurrence. Both bilaterality and multifocality were associated with more aggressive clinicopathologic characteristics. Recurrence risk increased with the number of tumor foci, with the odds ratio (OR) significantly elevated for more than five foci. Satellite pattern was strongly linked to recurrence (OR, 19.49; P<0.001). While tumor multifocality (≥5 foci) and bilaterality were associated with recurrence in univariate analyses, these associations were not independent after adjustment. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated the lowest recurrence-free survival (RFS) in group 4. Patients with bilateral disease had significantly lower RFS than those with unilateral disease (P=0.003), whereas multifocality did not significantly affect RFS compared to solitary disease (P=0.095). Conclusion Tumor bilaterality, multifocality (≥5 foci), and satellite pattern were associated with aggressive features and higher recurrence risk. Although not independent predictors, these factors may serve as useful surrogate markers of aggressive disease biology and help guide personalized surgical strategies in patients with PTC.

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.

Purpose: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a frequent phenotype of BRCA-mutanttumors. Tumors with BRCAness may show characteristics of BRCA-mutant tumors and respond to similar treatments. Next-generation sequencing is an efficient and cost-effective method for simultaneously sequencing multiple cancer susceptibility genes, surpassing conventional Sanger testing. Methods: A total of 148 women with TNBC were recruited from December 2015 to November 2018, as part of a sub-analysis based on the PEARLY trial data. Of them, 103 patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT). The targeted genes related to hereditary cancers were sequenced using the 65-gene germline next-generation sequencing (gNGS) panel pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants (P&LPs) were determined by Sanger sequencing. We examined the occurrence of pathologic complete remission (ypCR) in patients with P&LPs. Results: The patients’ median age was 47 years (range, 27–69 years). Twenty (13.7%) of 148 patients had P&LP in six genes, including BARD1 (n = 2), BRCA1 (n = 9), BRCA2 (n = 5), CHEK2 (n = 1), RAD51C (n = 1), and RAD51D (n = 2). Among the 103 patients with NCT, 43 (41.7%) achieved ypCR (P&LPs; 9 individuals vs. non-variants; 34 individuals). Among the 103 patients with NCT, 14 (9.3%) had P&LPs. Nine of 14 patients with P&LPs, including BARD1 (n = 2), BRCA1 (n = 4), BRCA2 (n = 1), RAD51C (n = 1), and RAD51D (n = 1), achieved ypCR, showing a trend toward statistical significance (p = 0.066). Conclusion Germline P&LP mutations in TNBC patients can be detected by gNGS. This panel test can identify BRCA and BRCAness mutations that may predict ypCR in TNBC.

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains a key revascularization strategy for ischemic heart disease; however, nationwide trends in the Republic of Korea have not been thoroughly investigated. Using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service, we analyzed adult patients who underwent isolated CABG between 2005 and 2022. We evaluated surgical volume, patient demographics, procedural strategies (off-pump vs. onpump), and outcomes. International comparisons were conducted using national cardiac surgery registry data. A total of 51,923 CABG cases were identified. Annual surgical volume declined until 2013 but gradually increased thereafter, reaching 3,717 cases in 2022. Despite this recovery, Korea’s per capita CABG rate remains among the lowest worldwide.In contrast, more than 60% of procedures were performed off-pump—the highest rate worldwide. Over time, the average patient age and prevalence of diabetes increased, whereas in-hospital mortality showed a modest decline. Compared with other countries, the Republic of Korea demonstrated a uniquely low procedural volume and a strong preference for off-pump CABG. This nationwide analysis highlights Korea’s distinctive CABG practice patterns and provides valuable insights for optimizing future clinical and policy decisions in cardiac surgical care.