Background: This study focuses on the development of a hydrogel wound patch incorporating natural extracts, designed to function as a sun patch. By maintaining a moist environment and delivering bioactive compounds, the patch promotes wound healing while also providing cooling and ultraviolet (UV) protection. This dual-purpose approach enhances skin recovery and shields damaged areas from external stressors. The study aims to optimize the formulation and evaluate its efficacy for both therapeutic and cosmetic applications. Methods: Hydrogel solutions prepared using acrylamide, glycerol, and carboxymethyl cellulose were enriched with extracts from Saururus chinensis, Styrax japonicus, and Centella asiatica. The enriched solutions were processed into patches and tested for their adhesion, cooling effects, and UV protective abilities. Additionally, the wound healing efficacy was evaluated in a mouse model. Results: The hydrogel patches demonstrated comparable adhesion properties, effective skin cooling, and high UV protection rates similar to those of commercially available products. In the mouse model, the patches significantly improved wound closure and tissue regeneration in the experimental group as compared to the control group. Conclusion The study confirms that hydrogel sun patches enriched with natural extracts have the ability to effectively promote wound healing and offer substantial UV protection and cooling benefits, demonstrating their potential medical and cosmetic applications.

A 4-year-old thoroughbred mare was referred to the Jeju National University Equine Hospital as it exhibited stallion-like behavior and was unmanageable during training. A transrectal ultrasound revealed an enlarged left ovary. We decided on a standing laparoscopic ovariectomy through the left flank. Three portals were positioned to permit triangulation for optimal visualization with minimal incisions. The enlarged ovary was resected successfully. Histological examination confirmed the presence of a fibroma. The mare recovered without complications and returned to racing within 3 months post-surgery. The successful outcome seen in this mare indicates that laparoscopic surgery has multiple advantages, including faster recovery times and minimal scarring. This approach is recommended for mares presenting with ovarian fibromas, particularly those intended for a future career in athletics.

Background: It is unclear how exposure to and perception of community trauma creates a mental health burden. This study aimed to examine the psychological distress trends among community residents in acute stress reaction, acute stress disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder phases following the Seoul Halloween crowd crush. Methods: A three-wave repeated cross-sectional survey was conducted with participants after the incident. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with post hoc Bonferroni test was adopted to examine temporal changes in psychological distress and psychological outcomes resulting from media impacts. A two-way ANCOVA was adopted to examine the interaction effects of time and relevance to victims on psychological distress. Results: A total of 807, 1,703, and 2,220 individuals participated in the three waves. Anxiety (estimated mean [standard error of the mean]: 2.28 [0.03] vs. 2.12 [0.02] vs. 2.03 [0.02]; P < 0.001), depression (2.22 [0.03] vs. 2.01 [0.02] vs. 1.90 [0.02]; P < 0.001), and anger (2.70 [0.03] vs. 2.66 [0.02] vs. 2.49 [0.02]; P < 0.001) gradually improved. However, sense of safety initially worsened and did not recover well (2.96 [0.03] vs. 2.75 [0.02] vs. 2.77 [0.02];P < 0.001). The interaction effect of time and relevance to the victim were significant in depression (P for interaction = 0.049), anger (P for interaction = 0.016), and sense of safety (P for interaction = 0.004). Among participants unrelated to the victim, those exposed to graphics exhibited higher levels of anxiety (2.09 [0.02] vs. 1.87 [0.07]; P = 0.002), depression (1.99 [0.02] vs. 1.83 [0.07]; P = 0.020), and anger (2.71 [0.03] vs. 2.47 [0.08]; P = 0.003) at W2 and higher anger (2.49 [0.02] vs. 2.31 [0.06]; P = 0.005) at W3. Conclusion Community residents indirectly exposed to trauma also experienced psychological distress in the early stages after the incident. A significant impact of media which might have served as a conduit for unfiltered graphics and rumors was also indicated.

Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) were more susceptible to poor outcomes owing to respiratory muscle weakness and immunotherapy. Several studies conducted in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic reported higher mortality in patients with MG compared to the general population. This study aimed to investigate the clinical course and prognosis of COVID-19 in patients with MG and to compare these parameters between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients in South Korea. Methods: This multicenter, retrospective study, which was conducted at 14 tertiary hospitals in South Korea, reviewed the medical records and identified MG patients who contracted COVID-19 between February 2022 and April 2022. The demographic and clinical characteristics associated with MG and vaccination status were collected. The clinical outcomes of COVID-19 infection and MG were investigated and compared between the vaccinated and unvaccinated patients. Results: Ninety-two patients with MG contracted COVID-19 during the study. Nine (9.8%) patients required hospitalization, 4 (4.3%) of whom were admitted to the intensive care unit. Seventy-five of 92 patients were vaccinated before contracting COVID-19 infection, and 17 were not. During the COVID-19 infection, 6 of 17 (35.3%) unvaccinated patients were hospitalized, whereas 3 of 75 (4.0%) vaccinated patients were hospitalized (P < 0.001). The frequencies of ICU admission and mechanical ventilation were significantly lower in the vaccinated patients than in the unvaccinated patients (P = 0.019 and P = 0.032, respectively). The rate of MG deterioration was significantly lower in the vaccinated patients than in the unvaccinated patients (P = 0.041). Logistic regression after weighting revealed that the risk of hospitalization and MG deterioration after COVID-19 infection was significantly lower in the vaccinated patients than in the unvaccinated patients. Conclusion This study suggests that the clinical course and prognosis of patients with MG who contracted COVID-19 during the dominance of the omicron variant of COVID-19 may be milder than those at the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic when vaccination was unavailable. Vaccination may reduce the morbidity of COVID-19 in patients with MG and effectively prevent MG deterioration induced by COVID-19 infection.

Objective: We aimed to describe the [ 18 F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT findings in Korean men with advanced metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Materials and Methods: The results of paired FDG and PSMA PET/CT examinations performed in 42 consecutive men with prostate cancer for treatment planning after failure of anti-androgen therapy and chemotherapy were studied. Tumor lesions with FDG or PSMA uptake intensity higher than that of the liver on visual review were considered positive and noted per patient and tumor site (prostate bed, lymph node, bone, and visceral organ). The presence of unequivocally discordant FDG and PSMA uptake patterns in tumor lesions was assessed. Patients were grouped according to the total tumor volume as seen on each PET/CT scan, and the clinical findings between the patient groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: On patient-based analysis, the image findings were PSMA+/FDG- in 2 patients, PSMA-/FDG+ in one, and PSMA+/FDG+ in 39 patients. On site-based analysis, the discordance (PSMA+/FDG- or PSMA-/FDG+) rate was 9.5% (4/42) for prostate/bed, 11.9% (5/42) for lymph nodes, 9.5% (4/42) for bones, and 11.9% (5/42) for visceral organs. FDG uptake was higher than PSMA uptake in at least one tumor site in 54.8% (23/42) of patients. Patients with greater total tumor volume on FDG PET/CT than that on PSMA PET/CT (“FDG-dominant pattern”) accounted for 28.6% (12/42), and they had significantly shorter time from diagnosis (median 25 months vs. 62 months, P = 0.049), and higher aspartate aminotransferase (median 28.5 vs. 22.5, P = 0.027) and lactate dehydrogenase (median 341.5 vs. 224.5, P = 0.010) levels. Conclusion Most patients with advanced mCRPC had tumors with positive findings on both FDG and PSMA PET/CT. However, the uptake patterns varied; 54.8% of the patients had tumor(s) with FDG uptake greater than PSMA uptake, and FDGdominant pattern was noted in 28.6% of the patients.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the psychiatric impact of the Seoul Halloween crowd crush on individuals related to the victims compared to the general population. It also explores the moderating effect of resilience on the relationship between trauma exposure and psychiatric symptoms. Methods: In total, 2,220 participants completed various post-incident questionnaires (Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Hwa-byung symptom scale, post-traumatic stress disorder checklist for DSM-5, and Brief Resilience Scale) 30 days after the incident. Moderation analyses were conducted using the PROCESS macro in the statistical package for the social sciences. Results: Individuals related to the victims exhibited higher symptom severity and a greater risk for clinically significant levels of depression, anxiety, anger, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (odds ratio=3.28, 3.33, 1.51, and 4.39 respectively). The impact of relevance to victims on anxiety and PTSD symptoms was moderated by resilience, with a stronger effect observed for individuals with low resilience (β=3.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.78–4.24 for anxiety and β=14.53, 95% CI 12.43–16.63 for PTSD) than for those with high resilience (β=1.69, 95% CI 0.72–2.65 for anxiety and β=8.33, 95% CI 5.56–11.09 for PTSD). Conclusion When related to the victims, it was found that not only PTSD, but also depression, anxiety, and anger could intensify. Resilience emerged as a potential buffer against these adverse effects, emphasizing its significance in mitigating the psychiatric impact of community trauma.

Background: Hypertrophic scarring represents an aberrant response to wounds in certain individuals, manifesting with symptoms such as itching, tenderness, pain, and pigmentation. This study aimed to investigate the impact of a silicone-based gel on the healing of hypertrophic scars, particularly those originating from deep tissue wounds. Methods: A rat model of wound healing and scarring was established, and 12 rats were randomly assigned to three groups: Dermatix Ultra group, SFG-100 silicone-gel group, and non-treated group. Rats in the treated groups (Dermatix Ultra and SFG-100 silicone-gel) received twice-daily applications for 8 weeks. Histologic analysis, including biopsy, was conducted to evaluate the scar elevation index, epidermis thickness, and the number of granulation veins. Results: Overall, both the Dermatix Ultra and SFG-100 silicone-gel groups exhibited improvements in hypertrophic scar healing, accompanied by a significant reduction in skin pigmentation. Histopathologically, scars in both treated groups displayed a notable decrease in scar elevation index, epithelial thickness, and collagen disorganization compared to the non-treated group. However, no significant difference was observed between the Dermatix Ultra and SFG-100 silicone-gel groups. Conclusion The results suggest that SFG-100 silicone-gel is an effective therapeutic agent for hypertrophic scars. Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying its efficacy and to optimize its application for clinical use.

Objective: We aimed to describe the [ 18 F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT findings in Korean men with advanced metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Materials and Methods: The results of paired FDG and PSMA PET/CT examinations performed in 42 consecutive men with prostate cancer for treatment planning after failure of anti-androgen therapy and chemotherapy were studied. Tumor lesions with FDG or PSMA uptake intensity higher than that of the liver on visual review were considered positive and noted per patient and tumor site (prostate bed, lymph node, bone, and visceral organ). The presence of unequivocally discordant FDG and PSMA uptake patterns in tumor lesions was assessed. Patients were grouped according to the total tumor volume as seen on each PET/CT scan, and the clinical findings between the patient groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: On patient-based analysis, the image findings were PSMA+/FDG- in 2 patients, PSMA-/FDG+ in one, and PSMA+/FDG+ in 39 patients. On site-based analysis, the discordance (PSMA+/FDG- or PSMA-/FDG+) rate was 9.5% (4/42) for prostate/bed, 11.9% (5/42) for lymph nodes, 9.5% (4/42) for bones, and 11.9% (5/42) for visceral organs. FDG uptake was higher than PSMA uptake in at least one tumor site in 54.8% (23/42) of patients. Patients with greater total tumor volume on FDG PET/CT than that on PSMA PET/CT (“FDG-dominant pattern”) accounted for 28.6% (12/42), and they had significantly shorter time from diagnosis (median 25 months vs. 62 months, P = 0.049), and higher aspartate aminotransferase (median 28.5 vs. 22.5, P = 0.027) and lactate dehydrogenase (median 341.5 vs. 224.5, P = 0.010) levels. Conclusion Most patients with advanced mCRPC had tumors with positive findings on both FDG and PSMA PET/CT. However, the uptake patterns varied; 54.8% of the patients had tumor(s) with FDG uptake greater than PSMA uptake, and FDGdominant pattern was noted in 28.6% of the patients.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the psychiatric impact of the Seoul Halloween crowd crush on individuals related to the victims compared to the general population. It also explores the moderating effect of resilience on the relationship between trauma exposure and psychiatric symptoms. Methods: In total, 2,220 participants completed various post-incident questionnaires (Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Hwa-byung symptom scale, post-traumatic stress disorder checklist for DSM-5, and Brief Resilience Scale) 30 days after the incident. Moderation analyses were conducted using the PROCESS macro in the statistical package for the social sciences. Results: Individuals related to the victims exhibited higher symptom severity and a greater risk for clinically significant levels of depression, anxiety, anger, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (odds ratio=3.28, 3.33, 1.51, and 4.39 respectively). The impact of relevance to victims on anxiety and PTSD symptoms was moderated by resilience, with a stronger effect observed for individuals with low resilience (β=3.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.78–4.24 for anxiety and β=14.53, 95% CI 12.43–16.63 for PTSD) than for those with high resilience (β=1.69, 95% CI 0.72–2.65 for anxiety and β=8.33, 95% CI 5.56–11.09 for PTSD). Conclusion When related to the victims, it was found that not only PTSD, but also depression, anxiety, and anger could intensify. Resilience emerged as a potential buffer against these adverse effects, emphasizing its significance in mitigating the psychiatric impact of community trauma.