Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive treatment modality used as an alternative to surgery in patients with benign thyroid nodules, recurrent thyroid cancers (RTCs), and primary thyroid microcarcinomas. The Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology (KSThR) initially developed recommendations for the optimal use of RFA for thyroid tumors in 2009 and revised them in 2012 and 2017. As new meaningful evidence has accumulated since 2017 and in response to a growing global interest in the use of RFA for treating malignant thyroid lesions, the task force committee members of the KSThR decided to update the guidelines on the use of RFA for the management of RTCs based on a comprehensive analysis of current literature and expert consensus.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive treatment modality used as an alternative to surgery in patients with benign thyroid nodules, recurrent thyroid cancers (RTCs), and primary thyroid microcarcinomas. The Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology (KSThR) initially developed recommendations for the optimal use of RFA for thyroid tumors in 2009 and revised them in 2012 and 2017. As new meaningful evidence has accumulated since 2017 and in response to a growing global interest in the use of RFA for treating malignant thyroid lesions, the task force committee members of the KSThR decided to update the guidelines on the use of RFA for the management of RTCs based on a comprehensive analysis of current literature and expert consensus.

Background/Aims: Multiple myeloma (MM) predominantly affects elderly individuals, but studies on older patients with MM are limited. The clinical characteristics and survival outcomes of patients with MM aged 80 years or over were retrospectively analyzed. Methods: This retrospective multicenter study was conducted to investigate the clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and survival outcomes of patients aged 80 years or over who were newly diagnosed with MM at five academic hospitals in Daegu, Korea, between 2010 and 2019. Results: A total of 127 patients with a median age of 83 years (range, 80–93 yr) were enrolled: 52 (40.9%) with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) > 2, 84 (66.1%) with International Staging System (ISS) stage III disease, and 93 (73.2%) with a Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) > 4. Chemotherapy was administered to 86 patients (67.7%). The median overall survival was 9.3 months. Overall survival was significantly associated with ECOG PS > 2 (HR 2.26, 95% CI 1.43–3.59), ISS stage III (HR 1.99, 95% CI 1.18–3.34), and chemotherapy (HR 0.34, 95% CI 0.21–0.55). There was no statistically significant difference in event-free survival according to the type of anti-myeloma chemotherapy administered. The early mortality (EM) rate was 28.3%. Conclusions Even in patients with MM aged 80 years or over, chemotherapy can result in better survival outcomes than supportive care. Patients aged ≥ 80 years should not be excluded from chemotherapy based on age alone. However, reducing EM in elderly patients with newly diagnosed MM remains challenging.

Background/Aims: Adiponectin, a hormone primarily produced by adipocytes, typically shows an inverse relationship with body mass index (BMI). However, some studies have reported a positive correlation between the two. Thus, this study aimed to examine the relationship between adiponectin level and BMI in diabetic patients, focusing on the impact of past obesity on current adiponectin levels. Methods: We conducted an observational study analyzing data from 323 diabetic patients at Kyungpook National University Hospital. Based on past and current BMIs, participants were categorized into never-obese (nn, n = 106), previously obese (on, n = 43), and persistently obese (oo, n = 73) groups based on a BMI threshold of 25 kg/m2. Adiponectin level and BMI were key variables. Kaplan–Meier analysis assessed their impact on all-cause mortality up to August 2023, with survival differences based on adiponectin quartiles and follow-up starting from patient enrollment (2010–2015). Results: The analysis revealed a significant inverse correlation between adiponectin level and past maximum BMI. The on group exhibited approximately 10% lower adiponectin levels compared to the nn group. This association remained significant after adjusting for current BMI, age, and sex, highlighting the lasting influence of previous obesity on adiponectin levels. Furthermore, survival analysis indicated that patients in the lowest adiponectin quartile had reduced survival, with a statistically significant trend (p = 0.062). Conclusions Findings of this study suggest that lower adiponectin levels, potentially reflecting past obesity, are associated with decreased survival in diabetic patients, underscoring a critical role of adiponectin in long-term health outcomes.

Background/Aims: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) frequently occurs in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly when influenced by factors such as abdominal infections, IBD flare-ups, or surgical procedures. The implications of PVT range from immediate issues such as intestinal ischemia to long-term concerns including portal hypertension and its complications. However, there is a notable gap in comprehensive studies on PVT in IBD, especially with the increasing incidence of IBD in Asia. This research aimed to evaluate the clinical features and outcomes of PVT in patients with IBD at a leading hospital in South Korea. Methods: This retrospective analysis reviewed adult patients diagnosed with both IBD and PVT from 1989 to 2021 at a renowned South Korean medical center. The study focused on patient characteristics, specifics of PVT, administered treatments, and outcomes, all confirmed through enhanced CT scans. Results: A total of 78 patients met the study’s criteria. Notably, only 20.5% (16/78) were treated with oral anticoagulants; however, a vast majority (96.2%; 75/78) achieved complete radiographic resolution (CRR). When comparing patients receiving anticoagulants to those who did not, a significant preference for anticoagulant use was observed in cases where the main portal vein was affected, as opposed to just the left or right veins (p = 0.006). However, multivariable analysis indicated that neither anticoagulant use nor previous surgeries significantly impacted CRR. Conclusions Patients with IBD and PVT generally had favorable outcomes, regardless of anticoagulant use.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) presents significant clinical challenges, highlighting the importance of understanding its molecular mechanisms. While store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) is known to play an essential role in tumorigenesis and metastasis, its specific implications across various RCC subtypes remain underexplored.This study analyzed SOCE-related mRNA profiles from the KIRC and KIRP projects in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, focusing on differential gene expression and overall survival outcomes. Functional studies in clear cell RCC (Caki-1) and papillary RCC cell lines (pRCC, Caki-2) revealed increased expression of Orai1 and Orai3, along with STIM1, exhibited in both subtypes, with decreased STIM2 and increased Orai2 expression in pRCC. Notably, Orai3 expression had a gender-specific impact on survival, particularly in females with pRCC, where it inversely correlated with STIM2 expression. Functional assays showed Orai3 dominance in Caki-2 and Orai1 in Caki-1. Interestingly, 2-APB inhibited SOCE in Caki-1 but enhanced it in Caki-2, suggesting Orai3 as the primary SOCE channel in pRCC. Knockdown of Orai1 and Orai3 reduced cell migration and proliferation via regulating focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Cyclin D1 in both cell lines. These findings highlight the critical roles of Orai1 and Orai3 in RCC metastasis, with Orai3 linked to poorer prognosis in females with pRCC. This study offers valuable insights into RCC diagnostics and potential therapeutic strategies targeting ORAI channels and STIM proteins.

Reliable preclinical models for assessing drug-induced cardiotoxicity are essential to reduce the high rate of drug withdrawals during development. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) have emerged as a promising platform for such assessments due to their expression of cardiacspecific ion channels and electrophysiological properties. In this study, we investigated the effects of eight arrhythmogenic drugs—E4031, nifedipine, mexiletine, JNJ303, flecainide, moxifloxacin, quinidine, and ranolazine—on hiPSC-CMs derived from both healthy individuals and a long QT syndrome (LQTS) patient using multielectrode array systems. The results demonstrated dose-dependent changes in field potential duration and arrhythmogenic risk, with LQTS-derived hiPSC-CMs showing increased sensitivity to hERG channel blockers such as E4031. Furthermore, the study highlights the potential of hiPSC-CMs to model disease-specific cardiac responses, providing insights into genetic predispositions and personalized drug responses.Despite challenges related to the immaturity of hiPSC-CMs, their ability to recapitulate human cardiac electrophysiology makes them a valuable tool for preclinical cardiotoxicity assessments. This study underscores the utility of integrating patientderived hiPSC-CMs with advanced analytical platforms, such as multi-electrode array systems, to evaluate drug-induced electrophysiological changes. These findings reinforce the role of hiPSC-CMs in drug development, facilitating safer and more efficient screening methods while supporting precision medicine applications.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the performance of a clinical ladder system in a tertiary hospital by examining how nurses' clinical competence and perceptions of the system affect organizational commitment. Methods: The study involved 394 nurses working at a tertiary hospital. Data were collected from May 3 to July 10, 2023, using a self-reported questionnaire. Statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis test, Scheffé post-hoc test, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical regression analysis, were performed using SPSS 27.0. Results: Nurses who applied for promotion to the CN III level and current CN III nurses reported higher clinical competence, perceptions of the clinical ladder system, and organizational commitment than those who did not and those at lower levels (p<.001). A positive correlation existed among all independent variables.Controlling for general characteristics, the effects of clinical competence and perceptions of the clinical ladder system explained 49% of organizational commitment variance (Adjusted R 2 =.49, F=33.43, p<.001). Conclusion Greater clinical competence and positive perceptions of the clinical ladder system are likely to enhance organizational commitment, emphasizing its effectiveness in fostering better organizational outcomes.

Background: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is one of the leading causes of neonatal earlyonset sepsis, resulting in high mortality and significant comorbidity. Intrapartum penicillin prophylaxis is recommended for pregnant women with GBS colonization to prevent vertical transmission. For pregnant women at high risk of anaphylaxis to penicillin, clindamycin is recommended only if the susceptibility of GBS isolates has been identified. We retrospectively examined the GBS detection rate and clindamycin resistance among Korean women of reproductive age over the last 20 years. Methods: Microbiologic studies using vaginal, vaginal–rectal or vaginal–perianal swabs from female patients 15–49 years of age during 2003–2022 were reviewed. Annual GBS detection rates and clindamycin resistance rates were calculated. The study period was divided into two periods (period 1, 2003–2015; period 2, 2016–2022) based on the introduction of universal culture-based GBS screening in our center in 2016. GBS detection rates and clindamycin resistance rates were compared between the periods using χ2 tests. Results: A total of 14,571 women were tested 16,879 times and GBS was isolated in 1,054 tests (6.2%), with 423 clindamycin-resistant isolates (40.1%). The GBS detection rate increased from 3.4% (301/8,869) in period 1 to 9.4% (2,753/8,010) in period 2 (P < 0.001). Even during period 1, the GBS detection rate was higher in 2009–2015 compared to 2003–2008 (P < 0.001). Clindamycin resistance rates have remained at similar levels since 2009, which were 39.5% (199/301) in period 1 and 40.2% (303/753) in period 2 (P = 0.833). Conclusion This study demonstrated that GBS detection rates in Korean women of reproductive age significantly increased almost three times during the twenty years of the study period, with a persistently high clindamycin resistance rate of up to 40%.

Background: To assess the quality of life (QoL) and treatment satisfaction with intermittently-scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: This prospective observational study included 189 women with GDM who completed the Korean version of the Audit of Diabetes-Dependent Quality of Life Questionnaire (K-ADDQoL). Among them, 25 women who utilized isCGM between gestational weeks 30 and 34 completed the Korean version of the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire change version (K-DTSQc) to evaluate their satisfaction with isCGM during pregnancy. Results: GDM had a negative impact on the perceived QoL in 89.4% of the women. All 19 domains of the K-ADDQoL were adversely influenced by GDM, with the most significant impact on the freedom to eat (weighted impact score, −6.98 ± 2.49, P < 0.001) and the least impact on the sex life (−0.25 ± 0.80, P = 0.008). Younger women and those treated with insulin perceived themselves as being more affected in their QoL due to GDM. Women perceived to have less effect on their QoL attributed to GDM exhibited higher ΔHbA1c one year after delivery (ΔHbA1c, 0.3 ± 0.4% vs. 0.0 ± 0.4% in less affected vs. more affected women). The utilization of isCGM improved treatment satisfaction (overall satisfaction score, 10.36 ± 9.21, P < 0.001), independent of glycemic control during pregnancy. Conclusion Although GDM negatively affects the perceived QoL during pregnancy, attentiveness to GDM management may have a positive impact on long-term glycemic control.Moreover, employing isCGM can enhance treatment satisfaction in women with GDM.