1.DNA Methylation Biomarkers in Genitourinary Cancers: From Analytical Validation to Clinical Translation
Journal of Urologic Oncology 2026;24(1):88-99
DNA methylation is one of the most extensively characterized epigenetic alterations in cancer and provides a biologically stable, analytically tractable foundation for biomarker development. In genitourinary (GU) oncology, the early occurrence, clonal maintenance, and chemical stability of aberrant cytosine-phosphate-guanine methylation enable reliable detection in tissue, urine, and plasma, supporting its use in liquid biopsybased diagnostics and surveillance. Recent advances have enabled clinical evaluation of DNA methylation assays across multiple GU malignancies. Among these, urothelial carcinoma has progressed furthest toward clinical translation: urine-based methylation tests have demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility and, in selected settings, have achieved regulatory approval or guideline incorporation for surveillance. In renal cell carcinoma, genome-wide plasma and urine methylome profiling has shown feasibility for early detection and prognostic stratification, although clinical implementation remains investigational. In prostate cancer, tissue-based methylation assays support repeat-biopsy decision-making, whereas urine- and plasma-based tests contribute to detection of clinically significant disease, molecular subtyping, and treatment-response monitoring. Despite strong analytical performance, broad clinical adoption of DNA methylation biomarkers remains constrained by limited prospective validation, interlaboratory variability, and incomplete evidence of cost-effectiveness in real-world care pathways. Economic modeling suggests that these assays could reduce invasive procedures and surveillance costs, but these findings require confirmation in prospective studies. Given the accessibility of urine as a noninvasive biospecimen and ongoing integration with machine-learning and multiomic frameworks, DNA methylation profiling is well positioned to complement conventional diagnostics and advance precision detection, surveillance, and prognostication in GU cancers.
2.Ethnic Heterogeneity in Reproductive Risk Factors for Breast Cancer, With a Focus on Asian Populations:A Meta-analysis
Youjin HONG ; Soseul SUNG ; Woojin LIM ; Sungji MOON ; Kwang-Pil KO ; Jung Eun LEE ; Inah KIM ; Sun Ha JEE ; Sun-Seog KWEON ; Min-Ho SHIN ; Sangmin PARK ; Seung-Ho RYU ; Sun Young YANG ; Jeongseon KIM ; Sang-Wook YI ; Sue K. PARK
Journal of Cancer Prevention 2026;31(1):20-27
suggest that some reproductive factors associated with BC differ across ethnicities and time trends, perhaps due to the prevalence of reproductive factors and the baseline hazard of BC.
6.Multivariable analysis to identify predictors of dental implant failure after alveolar ridge preservation:a non-interventional observational study
Dae-Young KANG ; Hyeon-Seong AHN ; Jun-Hyeong KONG ; Sangmin KIM ; Sung-Jo LEE ; In-Woo CHO ; Hyun-Seung SHIN ; Leonardo TROMBELLI ; Jung-Chul PARK ; Hyun-Chang LIM
Journal of Periodontal & Implant Science 2025;55(6):447-461
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to determine predictors of implant treatment failure after alveolar ridge preservation (ARP).
Methods:
The study included patients who received implant treatment after ARP between 2014 and 2020. The demographic, clinical, and radiographic data of these patients were collected. Implant success was defined as the absence of pain or tenderness, no mobility, a change of <2 mm in marginal bone level, and no exudation. A Cox proportional hazards model with shared frailty was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for the demographic, clinical, and radiographic factors contributing to implant failure.
Results:
The study included 528 implants from 412 patients. The cumulative success rate over 3.5±1.8 years (mean ± standard deviation) was 89.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 85.4%–92.8%), with 43 failed implants. The multiple Cox proportional hazards model with shared frailty indicated that a pristine bone engagement (PBE) of <1.1 mm was significantly associated with implant failure (HR, 2.50; 95% CI, 1.34–4.67; P=0.004).
Conclusions
PBE of at least 1.1 mm appears to decrease the probability of implant failure after ARP.
7.Surgical extraction of a sublingually-displaced retained root with the aid of a magnetic field-based dynamic navigation system: a case study
Yoo-Sung NAM ; Seung-Eun LEE ; Sung-Ah CHE ; Sang-Yoon PARK ; Soo-Hwan BYUN ; Byoung-Eun YANG ; Sangmin YI
Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 2024;50(6):367-372
The submandibular displacement of a mandibular third molar residual root presents major challenges to oral and maxillofacial surgeons due to the proximity to critical anatomical structures such as the lingual nerve and sublingual artery. Preoperative imaging can approximate the location of the residual tooth root; however, accurately determining its exact position is difficult because of the dynamic nature of the mandible and the difficulty of realtime synchronization of imaging. This study presents the successful extraction of a residual mandibular third molar root in a 67-year-old female patient achieved using a magnetic field-based navigation system. The sublingually-displaced residual root was localized using the navigation system, marked using a virtual implant placement, and positioned by a hand piece using synchronized real-time sensor data. The root was successfully removed with a minimally-invasive approach. No complications occurred postoperatively, and follow-up showed no major issues. Due to the small size of the marker, ease of calibration, and independence from visual obstacles, magnetic field-based navigation systems are a promising tool for the removal of residual roots displaced into adjacent soft tissue.
8.Surgical extraction of a sublingually-displaced retained root with the aid of a magnetic field-based dynamic navigation system: a case study
Yoo-Sung NAM ; Seung-Eun LEE ; Sung-Ah CHE ; Sang-Yoon PARK ; Soo-Hwan BYUN ; Byoung-Eun YANG ; Sangmin YI
Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 2024;50(6):367-372
The submandibular displacement of a mandibular third molar residual root presents major challenges to oral and maxillofacial surgeons due to the proximity to critical anatomical structures such as the lingual nerve and sublingual artery. Preoperative imaging can approximate the location of the residual tooth root; however, accurately determining its exact position is difficult because of the dynamic nature of the mandible and the difficulty of realtime synchronization of imaging. This study presents the successful extraction of a residual mandibular third molar root in a 67-year-old female patient achieved using a magnetic field-based navigation system. The sublingually-displaced residual root was localized using the navigation system, marked using a virtual implant placement, and positioned by a hand piece using synchronized real-time sensor data. The root was successfully removed with a minimally-invasive approach. No complications occurred postoperatively, and follow-up showed no major issues. Due to the small size of the marker, ease of calibration, and independence from visual obstacles, magnetic field-based navigation systems are a promising tool for the removal of residual roots displaced into adjacent soft tissue.
9.Antiretroviral Therapy during Long-term Surgical Care: ‘Exploring Difficult Cases in HIV Clinics’ of the Korean Society for AIDS Conference in 2023
Jung Ho KIM ; Jae Eun SEONG ; Sangmin AHN ; Yongseop LEE ; Jung Ah LEE ; Jin Young AHN ; Su Jin JEONG ; Nam Su KU ; Joon-Sup YEOM ; Jun Yong CHOI
Infection and Chemotherapy 2024;56(3):287-299
With advancements in antiretroviral therapy (ART), the average lifespan of people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is increasing, as is the number of older adults with HIV. Accordingly, the number of patients with HIV who undergo surgery or require critical care for various reasons is increasing. Since the prognosis of people with HIV depends on the continuous and effective maintenance of ART, there is a need to consider effectively maintaining ART in people with HIV in these conditions. This case involved a 55-year-old patient with well-controlled HIV who received ART and presented to the emergency room with acute abdominal pain. He was diagnosed with extensive bowel infarction and panperitonitis and received critical care in the intensive care unit, including mechanical ventilation and continuous renal replacement therapy. The patient was administered enteral nutrition via a nasogastric tube. The patient subsequently underwent extensive small bowel resection and developed short bowel syndrome. The patient maintained ART during that period. A literature review related to the use of ART under these conditions is included in this study. This case was discussed at the [Exploring Difficult Cases in HIV Clinics] of the Korean Society for AIDS Conference held in 2023.
10.Oval Tunnel Shows Better Rotational Stability Than Round Tunnel in Anatomical Single-Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction:Biomechanical Study in a Porcine Model
Seong Hwan KIM ; Kyu-Tae KANG ; Han-Jun LEE ; Deokjae HEO ; Kyunghwan CHA ; Sangmin LEE ; Yong-Beom PARK
Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery 2024;16(6):925-931
Background:
To compare knee laxity between the conventional round tunnel and oval tunnel techniques in primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in a porcine knee model.
Methods:
Twenty porcine knees were used for evaluating laxity in terms of anterior translation and anterolateral rotation. The study determined porcine knee kinematics on the Instron instruments under simulated Lachman (89 N anterior tibial load) at 15°, 30°, and 60° of flexion and a simulated pivot shift test (89 N anterior tibial load, 10 Nm valgus, and 4 Nm internal tibial torque) at 30° of flexion. Kinematics were recorded for intact (n = 10), ACL-deficient (n = 10), and conventional round (n = 10) or oval tunnel (n = 10) techniques. All measurements were repeated twice, and the average was used for comparison.
Results:
Under the Lachman test, the conventional round tunnel and oval tunnel both showed significantly larger anterior tibial translation (ATT) at 30° and 60° compared to the intact knee (p < 0.05), but smaller ATT compared to the ACL-deficient knees (p < 0.05). However, there were no differences in ATT between the conventional round tunnel and oval tunnel techniques (p > 0.05). Under simulated pivot shift at 30° flexion, there was a significant difference between the conventional round tunnel and oval tunnel techniques (round vs. oval: 4.27 ± 0.87 mm vs. 3.52 ± 0.49 mm, p = 0.028).
Conclusions
Both conventional round tunnel and oval tunnel techniques reduced ATT compared to ACL-deficient knees but failed to restore normal knee stability. However, the oval tunnel technique showed better rotational stability at 30° than the round tunnel technique. These findings suggest that the oval tunnel technique would be a reasonable option in anatomical single-bundle ACL reconstruction.

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