Purpose: We report a unique case of bilateral non-neovascular serous pigment epithelial detachments (nnSPEDs) in a single patient that resolved through two different mechanisms—an extrafoveal retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) tear and spontaneous collapse—resulting in asymmetric visual outcomes.Case summary: A 78-year-old male was followed for bilateral nnSPEDs. The right eye developed an RPE tear outside the fovea, which led to the resolution of the nnSPED and a visual acuity improvement from 20/30 to 20/25. In contrast, the left eye underwent spontaneous collapse of the nnSPED without an RPE tear, resulting in a decrease in visual acuity from 20/30 to 20/70 and associated photoreceptor damage. Conclusions This case demonstrates that the resolution of an nnSPED via a timely, extrafoveal RPE tear can lead to a favorable functional outcome by draining sub-RPE fluid before irreversible photoreceptor damage occurs. In contrast, spontaneous collapse may represent a late-stage event following significant RPE and photoreceptor injury. The mechanism, timing, and location of nnSPED resolution are critical in determining the final visual prognosis.

Respiratory virus infections are among the most common illnesses worldwide, with a clinical spectrum ranging from the common cold to severe pneumonia. These infections can produce significant complications, especially in patients belonging to high-risk populations, including the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, and patients with underlying medical conditions.Relaxation of public health measures following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a shift in respiratory virus epidemiology, underscoring the growing importance of rapid and accurate diagnostic approaches. This review provides a comprehensive overview of major respiratory viruses, including their structural characteristics, modes of transmission, specimen collection and transport guidelines, diagnostic methodologies, and virus-specific infection control strategies. Integration of molecular diagnostics with effective infection control plays a critical role in enhancing public health. Infection prevention strategies tailored to each virus’s transmission route are essential for patient safety and public health. This review aims to support improving clinical diagnostics and contribute to more effective public health strategies for viral respiratory infection management.

Cell-based artificial platelet production has made remarkable progress over the past three decades, driven by the need for safe and stable platelet sources in the face of donor limitations and transfusion-related risks. This review provides a chronological overview of the evolution of in vitro platelet production from various cell sources (CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells, embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and others) and highlights key advances in the field. We outline developments from the foundational experiments of the 1990s, through the introduction of iPSCs in the mid-2000s, to the adoption of three-dimensional culture and bioreactor technologies in the late 2010s and the emergence of clinical trials in the 2020s. In addition, we discuss future perspec‑ tives, including the role of advanced gene editing and scalable biomanufacturing technologies in accelerating clinical translation. This comprehensive review underscores the promise of artificial platelet production technologies for clini‑ cal applications and discusses the remaining challenges, such as scalability, cost-effectiveness, and regulatory hurdles.The recent completion of the first human clinical trials using iPSC-derived platelets marks a significant milestone, pointing to a future in which patient-specific or human leukocyte antigen-universal platelets may be transformed into transfusion medicine and regenerative therapies.

Purpose: Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization (TACE) is administered repeatedly throughout all stages of liver cancer, often leading to side effects like nausea, vomiting, and retching. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical impact of P6 acupressure using Sea-Band® wristbands on these symptoms following TACE. Methods: From October 2017 to March 2018, 90 liver cancer patients were recruited from a tertiary hospital and divided into three groups: control, placebo, and P6 acupressure. The control group received standard nursing care, while the placebo group underwent SI3 acupressure on the lateral hand, and the P6 acupressure group used Sea-Band® wristbands for four days. Symptoms were measured at seven time points using Rhodes’ INVR tool. Results: Data analysis with SPSS revealed that the P6 acupressure group had significantly lower total INVR scores, as well as reduced vomiting (F=5.53, p<.001) and retching (F=3.35, p<.032) compared to the placebo and control groups. Nausea scores, however, did not show a significant difference across the groups (F=1.78, p<.090). Conclusion This study highlights that P6 acupressure is a safe, non-invasive, and cost-effective intervention that effectively reduces vomiting and retching in liver cancer patients post-TACE. It recommends incorporating this intervention into clinical practice, alongside comprehensive nursing education on symptom management.

Purpose: Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization (TACE) is administered repeatedly throughout all stages of liver cancer, often leading to side effects like nausea, vomiting, and retching. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical impact of P6 acupressure using Sea-Band® wristbands on these symptoms following TACE. Methods: From October 2017 to March 2018, 90 liver cancer patients were recruited from a tertiary hospital and divided into three groups: control, placebo, and P6 acupressure. The control group received standard nursing care, while the placebo group underwent SI3 acupressure on the lateral hand, and the P6 acupressure group used Sea-Band® wristbands for four days. Symptoms were measured at seven time points using Rhodes’ INVR tool. Results: Data analysis with SPSS revealed that the P6 acupressure group had significantly lower total INVR scores, as well as reduced vomiting (F=5.53, p<.001) and retching (F=3.35, p<.032) compared to the placebo and control groups. Nausea scores, however, did not show a significant difference across the groups (F=1.78, p<.090). Conclusion This study highlights that P6 acupressure is a safe, non-invasive, and cost-effective intervention that effectively reduces vomiting and retching in liver cancer patients post-TACE. It recommends incorporating this intervention into clinical practice, alongside comprehensive nursing education on symptom management.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread globally, leading to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Because a significant proportion of the COVID-19 confirmed cases were concentrated in the capital metropolitan area of South Korea, and a large proportion of the population in the area had been adequately vaccinated against COVID-19, we conducted a seroprevalence surveillance study focusing on the residents of the capital metropolitan area in South Korea. Methods: We used a quota-sampling method to obtain blood samples from 1,000 individuals per round, equally stratified across seven age categories and sexes and regions, from five medical institutions located within the capital metropolitan area of South Korea. During five consecutive months (rounds) between January 2022 and May 2022, a total of 5,000 samples were analyzed for anti-spike (S) and anti-nucleocapsid (N) antibodies. Results: High anti-S seropositivity was observed in all age groups, which corresponded to the vaccine coverage during the study period. Both the cumulative incidence based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the estimated seroprevalence based on anti-N seropositivity increased in the fourth and fifth rounds, which corresponded to April 2022 and May 2022. Seroprevalence coincided with the cumulative incidence during the first three rounds, but exceeded from the fourth survey onwards when infection with omicron variants was increased rapidly in Korea. Conclusion Seroprevalence confirmed the number of infection cases outside of PCR testing-based surveillance. Seroepidemiological surveillance can help us understand vaccine responses and detect hidden infections, thereby providing appropriate public health guidance for achieving population-level immunity.

Purpose: Our study aimed to delve beyond a surface-level understanding and explore the various dimensions of the global health curriculum from the perspective of both learners and educators using the Context, Input, Process, and Product (CIPP) model. Methods: From 2020 to 2021, interviews were conducted with a total of 10 individuals, including five students who had taken at least one elective course and at least one elective research course, three teaching assistants (TA), and two faculty members who had taken more than four global health courses in multiple phases in the global health curriculum. Semi-structured interview questions based on the CIPP model were used and qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis. Results: The study identified 12 sub-themes. Students held idealized views of global health careers and sought to bridge the gap through global health classes. They desired early exposure to global health courses, emphasizing both pre-medical and clinical phases. Challenges in adjusting course difficulty and recruiting faculty were identified, along with a preference for interactive teaching methods and offline discussions. The curriculum promoted reflection on medicine’s essence, expanded career perspectives, and emphasized competencies like altruism, communication skills, and crisis management in the evolving global health landscape. Conclusion This study showed that a comprehensive approach is possible from the perspective of learners and educators by identifying strengths, weaknesses, and the value of the curriculum’s goals, plans, implementations, and results through the CIPP model. For optimal curriculum design, a sequential approach from basic to advanced courses is essential, promoting hands-on global health experiences for students.

Purpose: Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization (TACE) is administered repeatedly throughout all stages of liver cancer, often leading to side effects like nausea, vomiting, and retching. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical impact of P6 acupressure using Sea-Band® wristbands on these symptoms following TACE. Methods: From October 2017 to March 2018, 90 liver cancer patients were recruited from a tertiary hospital and divided into three groups: control, placebo, and P6 acupressure. The control group received standard nursing care, while the placebo group underwent SI3 acupressure on the lateral hand, and the P6 acupressure group used Sea-Band® wristbands for four days. Symptoms were measured at seven time points using Rhodes’ INVR tool. Results: Data analysis with SPSS revealed that the P6 acupressure group had significantly lower total INVR scores, as well as reduced vomiting (F=5.53, p<.001) and retching (F=3.35, p<.032) compared to the placebo and control groups. Nausea scores, however, did not show a significant difference across the groups (F=1.78, p<.090). Conclusion This study highlights that P6 acupressure is a safe, non-invasive, and cost-effective intervention that effectively reduces vomiting and retching in liver cancer patients post-TACE. It recommends incorporating this intervention into clinical practice, alongside comprehensive nursing education on symptom management.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and efficacy of an ultrasound needle guidance system (NGS) based on standard needle magnetization in a phantom study of thyroid nodule (TN)-targeting punctures. Methods: Six trainees and a staff radiologist performed TN-targeting punctures with or without the NGS in phantom models (group 1, experience <50 cases; group 2, experience ≥50 cases and <100 cases; group 3, experience ≥100 cases of TN-targeting punctures). The feasibility, technical success rate, number of punctures, and procedure time were recorded. Results: The feasibility of NGS was 98.6% (138/140). In group 1, the technical success rate increased from 60.0%±8.2% to 80.0%±8.2% when the NGS was used (P=0.046), with a reduction in the number of punctures from 2.2 to 1.2 (P=0.005). In group 2, the rate changed from 95.0%±5.8% to 100.0%±0.0% with the NGS (P=0.157), with a minimal decrease in the number of punctures from 1.1 to 1.0 (P=0.157). The procedure time significantly decreased in both groups (P=0.041 and P=0.010, respectively) when the NGS was used. In group 3, there were no significant differences in the technical success rate and the number of punctures according to whether the NGS was used (P=0.317 and P=0.317, respectively). Conclusion NGS using standard needle magnetization is technically feasible and has potential to improve the efficacy of TN-targeting punctures for less-experienced operators, especially beginners, according to the findings of this phantom study.