Objective: Spinal stenosis is a prevalent condition; however, the optimal surgical treatment for central lumbar stenosis remains controversial. This study compared the clinical outcomes and radiological parameters of 3 surgical methods: unilateral laminectomy bilateral decompression with unilateral biportal endoscopy (ULBD-UBE), conventional subtotal laminectomy (STL), and minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF). Methods: This retrospective study included 86 patients, divided into ULBD-UBE (n=34), STL (n=24), and MIS-TLIF (n=28) groups. We evaluated demographics and perioperative factors and assessed clinical outcomes using the visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and neurogenic intermittent claudication (NIC). Radiological parameters assessed included lumbar lordosis, L4S1 Cobb angle (L4S1), T12S1 Cobb angle (T12S1), increased cross-sectional dural area (CSA), dynamic angulation (DA), dynamic slip (DS), and development of postoperative instability. Results: The ULBD-UBE group showed a significantly shorter hospital stay duration and operation time and reduced blood loss than the other groups (p<0.001). ULBD-UBE group showed a trend towards greater VAS and ODI improvement at 1 month and postoperative NIC symptom relief. Radiologically, MIS-TLIF group exhibited lower postoperative DA and DS (p<0.001), indicating higher postoperative stability. Postoperative instability was lower in the ULBD-UBE group (2.9%) than in the STL group (16.7%) and similar to the MIS-TLIF group (0.0%) (p=0.028). The CSA was highest in the MIS-TLIF group (295.5%) compared to that in the other groups (ULBD-UBE, 216.3%; STL, 245.2%) (p<0.001). Conclusion Compared to other procedures, ULBD-UBE is a safe, effective, and viable surgical procedure for treating lumbar central stenosis.

Objective: Spinal stenosis is a prevalent condition; however, the optimal surgical treatment for central lumbar stenosis remains controversial. This study compared the clinical outcomes and radiological parameters of 3 surgical methods: unilateral laminectomy bilateral decompression with unilateral biportal endoscopy (ULBD-UBE), conventional subtotal laminectomy (STL), and minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF). Methods: This retrospective study included 86 patients, divided into ULBD-UBE (n=34), STL (n=24), and MIS-TLIF (n=28) groups. We evaluated demographics and perioperative factors and assessed clinical outcomes using the visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and neurogenic intermittent claudication (NIC). Radiological parameters assessed included lumbar lordosis, L4S1 Cobb angle (L4S1), T12S1 Cobb angle (T12S1), increased cross-sectional dural area (CSA), dynamic angulation (DA), dynamic slip (DS), and development of postoperative instability. Results: The ULBD-UBE group showed a significantly shorter hospital stay duration and operation time and reduced blood loss than the other groups (p<0.001). ULBD-UBE group showed a trend towards greater VAS and ODI improvement at 1 month and postoperative NIC symptom relief. Radiologically, MIS-TLIF group exhibited lower postoperative DA and DS (p<0.001), indicating higher postoperative stability. Postoperative instability was lower in the ULBD-UBE group (2.9%) than in the STL group (16.7%) and similar to the MIS-TLIF group (0.0%) (p=0.028). The CSA was highest in the MIS-TLIF group (295.5%) compared to that in the other groups (ULBD-UBE, 216.3%; STL, 245.2%) (p<0.001). Conclusion Compared to other procedures, ULBD-UBE is a safe, effective, and viable surgical procedure for treating lumbar central stenosis.

Objective: Spinal stenosis is a prevalent condition; however, the optimal surgical treatment for central lumbar stenosis remains controversial. This study compared the clinical outcomes and radiological parameters of 3 surgical methods: unilateral laminectomy bilateral decompression with unilateral biportal endoscopy (ULBD-UBE), conventional subtotal laminectomy (STL), and minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF). Methods: This retrospective study included 86 patients, divided into ULBD-UBE (n=34), STL (n=24), and MIS-TLIF (n=28) groups. We evaluated demographics and perioperative factors and assessed clinical outcomes using the visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and neurogenic intermittent claudication (NIC). Radiological parameters assessed included lumbar lordosis, L4S1 Cobb angle (L4S1), T12S1 Cobb angle (T12S1), increased cross-sectional dural area (CSA), dynamic angulation (DA), dynamic slip (DS), and development of postoperative instability. Results: The ULBD-UBE group showed a significantly shorter hospital stay duration and operation time and reduced blood loss than the other groups (p<0.001). ULBD-UBE group showed a trend towards greater VAS and ODI improvement at 1 month and postoperative NIC symptom relief. Radiologically, MIS-TLIF group exhibited lower postoperative DA and DS (p<0.001), indicating higher postoperative stability. Postoperative instability was lower in the ULBD-UBE group (2.9%) than in the STL group (16.7%) and similar to the MIS-TLIF group (0.0%) (p=0.028). The CSA was highest in the MIS-TLIF group (295.5%) compared to that in the other groups (ULBD-UBE, 216.3%; STL, 245.2%) (p<0.001). Conclusion Compared to other procedures, ULBD-UBE is a safe, effective, and viable surgical procedure for treating lumbar central stenosis.

Objective: As part of an ongoing study, this study examined the impact of medications, such as heparin, aspirin, and sodium nitroprusside (SNP), on the factors linked to PTE after an intravenous injection of canine mesenchymal stem cell into experimental animals. Methods: Fluorescently labeled canine AdMSCs were administered intravenously into the tail veins of five-week-old male BALB/c hairless mice. This study compared the survival rates, biodistribution, platelet counts, D-dimer levels, and histological examination results among the drug treatment experimental and the control groups. Results: The final survival rates in the SNP, control aspirin, and heparin groups were 25%, 33%, 50%, and 100%, respectively. Ex vivo imaging confirmed fluorescence exclusively in the lungs of all subjects who died during the injection, with no fluorescence detected in the other organs. On the other hand, in the heparin experimental group, the surviving individuals exhibited fluorescence in the lungs and the liver on day one. Histological biopsies revealed PTE in all deceased individuals within the medication experimental groups (p = 0.029). Conclusions and Relevance: Heparin was highly effective, with no PTE-related deaths observed when used alongside cell injections. Aspirin revealed moderate effectiveness, surpassing the control group. On the other hand, the efficacy of SNP was inferior to that of the other two drugs.

Objective: As part of an ongoing study, this study examined the impact of medications, such as heparin, aspirin, and sodium nitroprusside (SNP), on the factors linked to PTE after an intravenous injection of canine mesenchymal stem cell into experimental animals. Methods: Fluorescently labeled canine AdMSCs were administered intravenously into the tail veins of five-week-old male BALB/c hairless mice. This study compared the survival rates, biodistribution, platelet counts, D-dimer levels, and histological examination results among the drug treatment experimental and the control groups. Results: The final survival rates in the SNP, control aspirin, and heparin groups were 25%, 33%, 50%, and 100%, respectively. Ex vivo imaging confirmed fluorescence exclusively in the lungs of all subjects who died during the injection, with no fluorescence detected in the other organs. On the other hand, in the heparin experimental group, the surviving individuals exhibited fluorescence in the lungs and the liver on day one. Histological biopsies revealed PTE in all deceased individuals within the medication experimental groups (p = 0.029). Conclusions and Relevance: Heparin was highly effective, with no PTE-related deaths observed when used alongside cell injections. Aspirin revealed moderate effectiveness, surpassing the control group. On the other hand, the efficacy of SNP was inferior to that of the other two drugs.

Objective: As part of an ongoing study, this study examined the impact of medications, such as heparin, aspirin, and sodium nitroprusside (SNP), on the factors linked to PTE after an intravenous injection of canine mesenchymal stem cell into experimental animals. Methods: Fluorescently labeled canine AdMSCs were administered intravenously into the tail veins of five-week-old male BALB/c hairless mice. This study compared the survival rates, biodistribution, platelet counts, D-dimer levels, and histological examination results among the drug treatment experimental and the control groups. Results: The final survival rates in the SNP, control aspirin, and heparin groups were 25%, 33%, 50%, and 100%, respectively. Ex vivo imaging confirmed fluorescence exclusively in the lungs of all subjects who died during the injection, with no fluorescence detected in the other organs. On the other hand, in the heparin experimental group, the surviving individuals exhibited fluorescence in the lungs and the liver on day one. Histological biopsies revealed PTE in all deceased individuals within the medication experimental groups (p = 0.029). Conclusions and Relevance: Heparin was highly effective, with no PTE-related deaths observed when used alongside cell injections. Aspirin revealed moderate effectiveness, surpassing the control group. On the other hand, the efficacy of SNP was inferior to that of the other two drugs.

Purpose: Programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors have shown efficacy in metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) therapy. However, data is still limited regarding neoadjuvant immunotherapy for operable ESCC. Materials and Methods: Patients with clinical stage T2 or T3 and N0 ESCC received three cycles of nivolumab therapy every two weeks before surgical resection. The primary endpoint is major pathologic responses (MPR) rate (≤ 10% of residual viable tumor [RVT]). Results: Total 20 patients completed the planned nivolumab therapy. Among them, 17 patients underwent surgery as protocol, showing MPR in two patients (MPR rate, 11.8%), including one pathologic complete response, on conventional pathologic response evaluation. Pathologic response was re-evaluated using the immune-related pathologic response criteria based on immune-related RVT (irRVT). Three patients were classified as immunologic major pathologic response (iMPR; ≤ 10% irRVT, iMPR rate: 17.6%), five as pathologic partial response (> 10% and < 90% irRVT), and nine as pathologic nonresponse (≥ 90% irRVT). The combined positive score (CPS) for PD-L1 in the baseline samples was predictable for iMPR, with the probability as 37.5% in CPS ≥ 10 (3/8) and 0% in CPS < 10 (0/9). Conclusion Although the efficacy of neoadjuvant nivolumab therapy was modest in unselected ESCC patients, further researches on neoadjuvant immunotherapy are necessary in patients with PD-L1 expressed ESCC.

Purpose: Optimal treatment for stage IIIA/N2 non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is controversial. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of adjuvant pembrolizumab for stage IIIA/N2 NSCLC completely resected after neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT). Materials and Methods: In this open-label, single-center, single-arm phase 2 trial, patients with stage IIIA/N2 NSCLC received adjuvant pembrolizumab for up to 2 years after complete resection following neoadjuvant CCRT. The primary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS). Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS) and safety. As an exploratory biomarker analysis, we evaluated the proliferative response of blood CD39+PD-1+CD8+ T cells using fold changes in the percentage of proliferating Ki-67+ cells from days 1 to 7 of cycle 1 (Ki-67D7/D1). Results: Between October 2017 and October 2018, 37 patients were enrolled. Twelve (32%) and three (8%) patients harbored EGFR and ALK alterations, respectively. Of 34 patients with programmed cell death ligand 1 assessment, 21 (62%), nine (26%), and four (12%) had a tumor proportion score of < 1%, 1%-50%, and ≥ 50%, respectively. The median follow-up was 71 months. The median DFS was 22.4 months in the overall population, with a 5-year DFS rate of 29%. The OS rate was 86% at 2 years and 76% at 5 years. Patients with tumor recurrence within 6 months had a significantly lower Ki-67D7/D1 among CD39+PD-1+CD8+ T cells than those without (p=0.036). No new safety signals were identified. Conclusion Adjuvant pembrolizumab may offer durable disease control in a subset of stage IIIA/N2 NSCLC patients after neoadjuvant CCRT and surgery.

Our study analyzed 95 solid organ transplant (SOT) and 78 hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients with prior coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Patients who underwent transplantation within 30 days of COVID-19 infection comprised the early group, and those who underwent transplantation post-30 days of COVID-19 infection comprised the delayed group. In the early transplantation group, no patient, whether undergoing SOT and HSCT, experienced COVID-19-associated complications. In the delayed transplantation group, one patient each from SOT and HSCT experienced COVID-19-associated complications. Additionally, among early SOT and HSCT recipients, two and six patients underwent transplantation within seven days of COVID-19 diagnosis, respectively. However, no significant differences were observed in the clinical outcomes of these patients compared to those in other patients. Early transplantation following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection can be performed without increased risk of COVID-19-associated complications. Therefore, transplantation needs not be delayed by COVID-19 infection.

The seropositivity of measles antibodies among 261 autologous stem cell transplant recipients (ASCTs) in Korea, assessed approximately 1–2 years after transplant (median, 11 months; interquartile range, 9–14), was significantly lower than age- and sex-matched control healthcare workers (83.1% [217/261] vs. 90.3% [539/597], P = 0.002). The findings underscore the vulnerability of adult ASCT recipients to measles. Clinicians should prioritize testing for measles IgG after ASCT and consider vaccination for ASCT recipients who remain seronegative 2 years after ASCT.