Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the role of hepatic resection in patients with objective responses after combined transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and radiotherapy (RT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with macroscopic vascular invasion (MVI). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the patients treated with combined TACE and RT for HCC with MVI between 2010 and 2015. Some of the patients with objective responses underwent hepatic resection or liver transplantation; to investigate the impact of surgery, patients with objective responses who did not undergo surgery were selected as the control group. Survival outcomes were compared using a propensity score–based stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting method. Results: Out of the 170 patients with objective responses after combined TACE and RT, 41 patients underwent surgery, including eight liver transplantations. The unweighted surgery group was younger and had a higher proportion of solitary tumors and unilateral vascular involvement. After adjustment, the 3-year overall survival (OS) rates were 61.0% and 28.6% in the surgery and non-surgery groups, respectively. The most important prognostic factor for OS was surgery (adjusted Cox hazard ratio [HR], 0.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.17 to 0.46; p < 0.001). Complete response after TACE and RT (vs. partial response) was also a significant prognostic factor for OS (adjusted HR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.27 to 0.61; p < 0.001). There was no surgical mortality. Four patients (9.8%) required additional surgery due to bleeding or graft failure. Conclusion Hepatic resection was significantly associated with improved OS in patients who showed objective responses after receiving combined TACE and RT for HCC with MVI.

Multiple autoimmune syndrome (MAS) refers to the occurrence of three or more autoimmune diseases in a patient. This case describes a 12-year-old neutered male Shih Tzu with fever and neutropenia, previously diagnosed with immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, and inflammatory bowel disease. Blood tests revealed leukopenia and neutropenia, and immune-mediated neutropenia was suspected after ruling out other causes of neutropenia. The dog showed no response to antibiotics, but treatment with prednisolone (2 mg/kg q24h) led to improvement. This case highlights the potential for MASs to occur in dogs and underscores the importance of their recognition in the diagnosis and management of immune-mediated diseases.

Avulsion fractures are common in athletes and result from high-impact or sudden, forceful movements involving the separation of a bone fragment at the ligament or tendon attachment site. The key focus areas include the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, medial collateral ligament, anterolateral complex, arcuate complex, medial patellofemoral ligament, patellar tendon, and quadriceps tendon. Diagnostic approaches combine radiography with advanced imaging techniques, such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, to elucidate the extent of injury and guide treatment decisions. Treatment ranges from conservative management for non-displaced fractures to surgical intervention for displaced fractures, with strategies customized based on the specific ligament involved and the nature of the fracture.

The healing potential of the meniscus is limited because of the complex morphological features and insufficient blood supply. Various surgical procedures are used to treat meniscal lesions, such as partial meniscectomy, repair, and allograft transplantation. On the other hand, such strategies cannot fully regenerate and restore the morphology and functional aspects of the meniscus. This paper reviews the key aspects concerning meniscus regeneration, biological augmentation strategies, meniscus replacement scaffolds, cell therapies, and emerging tissue engineering technologies.

The healing potential of the meniscus is limited because of the complex morphological features and insufficient blood supply. Various surgical procedures are used to treat meniscal lesions, such as partial meniscectomy, repair, and allograft transplantation. On the other hand, such strategies cannot fully regenerate and restore the morphology and functional aspects of the meniscus. This paper reviews the key aspects concerning meniscus regeneration, biological augmentation strategies, meniscus replacement scaffolds, cell therapies, and emerging tissue engineering technologies.

Background: The Korea Expert Committee on Immunization Practices (KECIP) is a key advisory body the government to develop guidelines and provide technical advisory activities on immunization policies in Korea. A recent policy study, inspired by global best practices, aims to enhance KECIP's functionality for providing timely and transparent recommendations in the face of evolving vaccine science and emerging infectious diseases like COVID-19. Methods: This study reviewed the current status of KECIP and collected expert opinions through surveys and consultations. Among the 40 panel members who were surveyed, 19 responded to a questionnaire specifically designed to assess the potential areas of improvement within KECIP. Results: The majority of respondents favored maintaining the current member count and emphasized the need for a subcommittee. Opinions varied on issues such as the length of KECIP’s term, the representation of vaccine manufacturers’ perspectives, and the chairperson’s role. However, there was a consensus on the importance of expertise, transparency, and fair proceedings within the committee. Conclusion This study underscores the pivotal role of KECIP in shaping national immunization policies, emphasizing the necessity for informed guidance amidst evolving vaccine science and emerging infectious diseases. Furthermore, it stressed the importance of enhancing KECIP’s capacity to effectively address evolving public health challenges and maintain successful immunization programs in South Korea.

The healing potential of the meniscus is limited because of the complex morphological features and insufficient blood supply. Various surgical procedures are used to treat meniscal lesions, such as partial meniscectomy, repair, and allograft transplantation. On the other hand, such strategies cannot fully regenerate and restore the morphology and functional aspects of the meniscus. This paper reviews the key aspects concerning meniscus regeneration, biological augmentation strategies, meniscus replacement scaffolds, cell therapies, and emerging tissue engineering technologies.

In children, prolonged primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection or reactivation may lead to the development of T or natural killer cell lymphoproliferative disorders, classified as chronic active EBV infection (CAEBV). CAEBV is a prolonged systemic illness lasting beyond three months, with elevated EBV DNA levels in the serum or affected tissue and a lack of underlying immunodeficiency. Notably, EBV is the most common virus that induces secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), and Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been reported to trigger HLH. We present the case of a 20-year-old Korean male who was diagnosed with CAEBV and developed HLH after being infected with COVID-19. The patient met 7 out of 8 criteria for HLH. Following treatment with corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin, the patient recovered from HLH without additional chemotherapy. HLH treatment should be tailored to each patient based on clinical presentation and disease severity.Prolonged and regular evaluation for developing HLH or lymphoma is necessary for patients with CAEBV.

Objectives: Tic disorders are highly heritable; however, growing evidence suggests that environmental factors play a significant role in their pathogenesis. Studies on these factors have been inconsistent, with conflicting results. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the associations of pre- and perinatal exposure to Tourette syndrome (TS) or chronic tic disorders (CTD) in Korean school-aged children. Methods: This case-control study used data from a large prospective cohort study. The primary outcome was TS/CTD diagnosis according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) criteria and Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version-Korean Version. Demographic, pre-, and perinatal information was obtained from the maternal questionnaires. Data between the TS/CTD and control groups were compared using the chi-squared or Student’s t-test, as appropriate. Two-step logistic regression analyses were used to test the association between TS/CTD and pre- and perinatal risk factors. Results: We included of 223 children (78 with TS/CTD and 145 controls). Significant differences in the demographic data between the two groups were observed. The male sex ratio, mean parental age, parental final education level, and family history of tics were included as confounders. In the final adjusted multivariable model, TS/CTD was significantly associated with antiemetic exposure during pregnancy (odds ratio [OR]=16.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.49–185.22, p=0.02) and medically assisted reproduction (OR=7.89, 95% CI 2.28–27.28, p=0.01). Conclusion Antiemetic exposure and medically assisted reproduction are significantly associated with the risk of TS/CTD. These results should be replicated in future prospective and gene-by-environment studies.

Liver fibrosis is part of the wound healing process to help the liver recover from the injuries caused by various liver-damaging insults. However, liver fibrosis often progresses to life-threatening cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. To overcome the limitations of current in vivo liver fibrosis models for studying the pathophysiology of liver fibrosis and establishing effective treatment strategies, we developed a new mouse model of liver fibrosis using polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMG-p), a humidifier sterilizer known to induce lung fibrosis in humans. Male C57/BL6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with PHMG-p (0.03% and 0.1%) twice a week for 5 weeks. Subsequently, liver tissues were examined histologically and RNA-sequencing was performed to evaluate the expression of key genes and pathways affected by PHMG-p. PHMG-p injection resulted in body weight loss of ~15% and worsening of physical condition. Necropsy revealed diffuse fibrotic lesions in the liver with no effect on the lungs. Histology, collagen staining, immunohistochemistry for smooth muscle actin and collagen, and polymerase chain reaction analysis of fibrotic genes revealed that PHMG-p induced liver fibrosis in the peri-central, peri-portal, and capsule regions. RNA-sequencing revealed that PHMG-p affected several pathways associated with human liver fibrosis, especially with upregulation of lumican and IRAK3, and downregulation of GSTp1 and GSTp2, which are closely involved in liver fibrosis pathogenesis. Collectively we demonstrated that the PHMG-p-induced liver fibrosis model can be employed to study human liver fibrosis.