Thymic diseases such as thymic hyperplasia, thymic cysts, thymoma, and thymic carcinoma are common causes of mediastinal masses that present with diverse clinical and radiological features. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a pivotal tool for evaluating thymic pathologies as it offers superior soft-tissue contrast and has the ability to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions. Thymic MRI protocols include T1- and T2-weighted imaging, diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) with apparent diffusion coefficient mapping, and contrast-enhanced MRI (CE-MRI), each offering unique diagnostic insights into the composition and behavior of thymic lesions. However, interpreting MRI findings in thymic diseases may present challenges. Thymic cysts containing hemorrhage or proteinaceous material may mimic solid lesions owing to altered signal intensities, necessitating DW-MRI and CE-MRI for accurate differentiation. Small thymic lesions, particularly those <1 cm in diameter, are susceptible to signal distortion and partial volume effects, complicating their detection and characterization. Furthermore, respiratory and cardiac motion artifacts can degrade the image quality and obscure important diagnostic details, especially in lesions near the heart and lungs. Despite these challenges, MRI remains a critical imaging modality for assessing and managing thymic diseases, offering detailed tissue characterization. Interpretive pitfalls and technical limitations underscore the importance of employing optimized imaging protocols and expert analyses to ensure diagnostic accuracy and guide appropriate clinical decision-making.

Thymic diseases such as thymic hyperplasia, thymic cysts, thymoma, and thymic carcinoma are common causes of mediastinal masses that present with diverse clinical and radiological features. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a pivotal tool for evaluating thymic pathologies as it offers superior soft-tissue contrast and has the ability to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions. Thymic MRI protocols include T1- and T2-weighted imaging, diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) with apparent diffusion coefficient mapping, and contrast-enhanced MRI (CE-MRI), each offering unique diagnostic insights into the composition and behavior of thymic lesions. However, interpreting MRI findings in thymic diseases may present challenges. Thymic cysts containing hemorrhage or proteinaceous material may mimic solid lesions owing to altered signal intensities, necessitating DW-MRI and CE-MRI for accurate differentiation. Small thymic lesions, particularly those <1 cm in diameter, are susceptible to signal distortion and partial volume effects, complicating their detection and characterization. Furthermore, respiratory and cardiac motion artifacts can degrade the image quality and obscure important diagnostic details, especially in lesions near the heart and lungs. Despite these challenges, MRI remains a critical imaging modality for assessing and managing thymic diseases, offering detailed tissue characterization. Interpretive pitfalls and technical limitations underscore the importance of employing optimized imaging protocols and expert analyses to ensure diagnostic accuracy and guide appropriate clinical decision-making.

Purpose: Adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) is recommended for muscle-invasive or lymph node-positive upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). However, disease recurrences are frequently observed in pT1 disease, and AC may increase the risk of overtreatment in pT2 UTUC patients. This study aimed to validate a risk-adapted scoring model for selecting UTUC patients with ≤pT2 disease who would benefit from AC. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 443 ≤pT2 UTUC patients who underwent RNU. A risk-adapted scoring model was applied, categorizing patients into low- or high-risk groups. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were analyzed according to risk group. Results: Overall, 355 patients (80.1%) and 88 patients (19.9%) were categorized into the low- and high-risk groups, respectively, with the latter having higher pathological stages, concurrent carcinoma in situ, and synchronous bladder tumors. Disease recurrence occurred in 45 patients (10.2%), among whom 19 (5.4%) and 26 (29.5%) belonged to the low- and high-risk groups, respectively (p<0.001). High-risk patients had significantly shorter RFS (64.3% vs. 93.6% at 60 months; hazard ratio [HR] 13.66; p<0.001) and worse CSS (80.7% vs. 91.5% at 60 months; HR 4.25; p=0.002). Multivariate analysis confirmed that pT2 stage and the high-risk group were independent predictors of recurrence and cancer-specific death (p<0.001). Decision curve analysis for RFS showed larger net benefits with our model than with the T stage model. Conclusions The risk-adapted scoring model effectively predicts recurrence and identifies optimal candidates for AC post RNU in non-metastatic UTUC.

Thymic diseases such as thymic hyperplasia, thymic cysts, thymoma, and thymic carcinoma are common causes of mediastinal masses that present with diverse clinical and radiological features. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a pivotal tool for evaluating thymic pathologies as it offers superior soft-tissue contrast and has the ability to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions. Thymic MRI protocols include T1- and T2-weighted imaging, diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) with apparent diffusion coefficient mapping, and contrast-enhanced MRI (CE-MRI), each offering unique diagnostic insights into the composition and behavior of thymic lesions. However, interpreting MRI findings in thymic diseases may present challenges. Thymic cysts containing hemorrhage or proteinaceous material may mimic solid lesions owing to altered signal intensities, necessitating DW-MRI and CE-MRI for accurate differentiation. Small thymic lesions, particularly those <1 cm in diameter, are susceptible to signal distortion and partial volume effects, complicating their detection and characterization. Furthermore, respiratory and cardiac motion artifacts can degrade the image quality and obscure important diagnostic details, especially in lesions near the heart and lungs. Despite these challenges, MRI remains a critical imaging modality for assessing and managing thymic diseases, offering detailed tissue characterization. Interpretive pitfalls and technical limitations underscore the importance of employing optimized imaging protocols and expert analyses to ensure diagnostic accuracy and guide appropriate clinical decision-making.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore and assess the experiences of cancer patients and their caregivers who had been admitted to comprehensive nursing care service wards. Methods: Data were collected from 10 patients and 10 caregivers by in-depth interviews. The data were analyzed using content analysis of Downe-Wamboldt. Results: Three categories and seven subcategories were extracted. 1) Realizing institutional limitations of comprehensive nursing care service: ‘Wishing for precise operating systems based on patient severity,’ ‘Anticipating active caregiver participation in treatment process,’ ‘Requiring a countermeasure for safety accidents,’ 2) Professional nursing service which provides relief: ‘Patient-centered professional nursing service,’ ‘Inpatient service that provides relief for patients and caregivers,’ 3) Anticipating continuous use of the service: ‘Inpatient service which users are willing to reuse,’ ‘Wishing for expansion and reinforcement of the service.’ Conclusion Cancer patients and their caregivers experienced institutional limitations while satisfied with professional nursing service and willing to reuse the service. To improve this situation, institutional support such as separate wards for severe patients, measures for active caregiver participation and prevention of safety accidents, and adequate staffing would be helpful for relatively severe level cancer patients and their caregivers.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore and assess the experiences of cancer patients and their caregivers who had been admitted to comprehensive nursing care service wards. Methods: Data were collected from 10 patients and 10 caregivers by in-depth interviews. The data were analyzed using content analysis of Downe-Wamboldt. Results: Three categories and seven subcategories were extracted. 1) Realizing institutional limitations of comprehensive nursing care service: ‘Wishing for precise operating systems based on patient severity,’ ‘Anticipating active caregiver participation in treatment process,’ ‘Requiring a countermeasure for safety accidents,’ 2) Professional nursing service which provides relief: ‘Patient-centered professional nursing service,’ ‘Inpatient service that provides relief for patients and caregivers,’ 3) Anticipating continuous use of the service: ‘Inpatient service which users are willing to reuse,’ ‘Wishing for expansion and reinforcement of the service.’ Conclusion Cancer patients and their caregivers experienced institutional limitations while satisfied with professional nursing service and willing to reuse the service. To improve this situation, institutional support such as separate wards for severe patients, measures for active caregiver participation and prevention of safety accidents, and adequate staffing would be helpful for relatively severe level cancer patients and their caregivers.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore and assess the experiences of cancer patients and their caregivers who had been admitted to comprehensive nursing care service wards. Methods: Data were collected from 10 patients and 10 caregivers by in-depth interviews. The data were analyzed using content analysis of Downe-Wamboldt. Results: Three categories and seven subcategories were extracted. 1) Realizing institutional limitations of comprehensive nursing care service: ‘Wishing for precise operating systems based on patient severity,’ ‘Anticipating active caregiver participation in treatment process,’ ‘Requiring a countermeasure for safety accidents,’ 2) Professional nursing service which provides relief: ‘Patient-centered professional nursing service,’ ‘Inpatient service that provides relief for patients and caregivers,’ 3) Anticipating continuous use of the service: ‘Inpatient service which users are willing to reuse,’ ‘Wishing for expansion and reinforcement of the service.’ Conclusion Cancer patients and their caregivers experienced institutional limitations while satisfied with professional nursing service and willing to reuse the service. To improve this situation, institutional support such as separate wards for severe patients, measures for active caregiver participation and prevention of safety accidents, and adequate staffing would be helpful for relatively severe level cancer patients and their caregivers.

Objective: Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients often find it difficult to visit hospitals because of motor symptoms, distance to the hospital, or the absence of caregivers. Telemedicine is one way to solve this problem. Methods: We surveyed 554 PD patients from eight university hospitals in Korea. The questionnaire consisted of the clinical characteristics of the participants, possible teleconferencing methods, and preferences for telemedicine. Results: A total of 385 patients (70%) expressed interest in receiving telemedicine. Among them, 174 preferred telemedicine whereas 211 preferred in-person visits. The longer the duration of disease, and the longer the time required to visit the hospital, the more patients were interested in receiving telemedicine. Conclusion This is the first study on PD patients’ preferences regarding telemedicine in Korea. Although the majority of patients with PD have a positive view of telemedicine, their interest in receiving telemedicine depends on their different circumstances.

Background: Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding (CPEB) proteins are sequencespecific RNA-binding proteins that control translation via cytoplasmic polyadenylation. We previously reported that CPEB1 or CPEB4 knockdown suppresses TAK1 and SMAD signaling in an in vitro study. Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether suppression of CPEB1 or CPEB4 expression inhibits scar formation in a mice model of acute dermal wound healing. Methods: CPEB1 and CPEB4 expression levels were suppressed by siRNA treatment. Skin wounds were created by pressure-induced ulcers in mice. Images of the wound healing were obtained using a digital camera and contraction was measured by ImageJ. mRNA and protein expression was analyzed using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. Results: Wound contraction was significantly decreased by pre-treatment with CPEB1 or CPEB4 siRNA compared to the control. Suppression of CPEB1 or CPEB4 expression decreased TAK1 signaling by reducing the levels of TLR4 and TNF-α, phosphorylated TAK1, p38, ERK, JNK, and NF-κB-p65. Decreased levels of phosphorylated SMAD2 and SMAD3 indicated a reduction in SMAD signaling as well. Consequently, the expression of α-SMA, fibronectin, and type I collagen decreased. Conclusion CPEB1 siRNA or CPEB4 siRNA inhibit scar formation by modulating the TAK1 and SMAD signaling pathways. Our study highlights CPEB1 and CPEB4 as potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of scar formation.

The medium cutoff (MCO) dialyzer increases the removal of several middle molecules more effectively than high-flux hemodialysis (HD). However, comparative data addressing the efficacy and safety of MCO dialyzers vs. postdilution hemodiafiltration (HDF) in Korean patients are lacking. Methods: Nine patients with chronic HD were included in this pre-post study. Patients underwent HD with an MCO dialyzer for 4 weeks, followed by a 2-week washout period using a high-flux dialyzer to minimize carryover effects, and then turned over to postdilution HDF for 4 weeks. Reduction ratios and differences in the uremic toxins before and after dialysis were calculated from the MCO dialysis, postdilution HDF, and high-flux HD. In the in vitro study, EA.hy926 cells were incubated with dialyzed serum. Results: Compared to postdilution HDF, the MCO dialyzer achieved significantly higher reduction ratios for larger middle molecules (myoglobin, kappa free light chain [κFLC], and lambda FLC [λFLC]). Similarly, the differences in myoglobin, κFLC, and λFLC concentrations before and after the last dialysis session were significantly greater in MCO dialysis than in postdilution HDF. The expression of Bax and nuclear factor κB was decreased in the serum after dialysis with the MCO dialyzer than with HDF. Conclusion: Compared with high-volume postdilution HDF, MCO dialysis did not provide greater removal of molecules below 12,000 Da, whereas it was superior in the removal of larger uremic middle molecule toxins in patients with kidney failure. Moreover, these results may be expected to have an anti-apoptotic effect on the human endothelium.