Background: The Korean healthcare system has made continuous efforts to reduce spatial disparities in medical accessibilityacross regions. However, healthcare professionals remain concentrated in Seoul, and for medical fields requiring ongoing care such as dentistry, these disparities in accessibility can influence the overall quality of life. This study examined how spatial inequality in the distribution of dental clinics evolved in response to changing economic conditions from 1995 to 2022. Methods: To quantitatively compare these disparities, this study employed the Gini coefficient and percentile ratio measures toassess age group-specific disparities. Results: The Gini coefficient showed a declining trend over time, indicating a gradual reduction in spatial inequality among dentalclinics. However, disparities in treatment accessibility remain pronounced among the elderly population. Analysis of the mean center and central features at five-year intervals revealed no dramatic shifts, but a gradual southward movement was observed.In regions located in the southern part of the country, the mean center and central features remained largely consistent, suggesting that the shift in the national mean center and central features reflected the rapid growth of the southern part of Gyeonggi-do and the Gangnam area of Seoul. Conclusion The spatial distribution of dental healthcare institutions in Korea has exhibited a gradual trend toward greaterequilibrium over time. Nevertheless, disparities in accessibility across age cohorts—most notably, the persistent imbalance affecting the elderly population—remain critical issues that require resolution. Relocation of spatial centers reflects patterns of regional economic growth and demographic concentration, thereby underscoring the need for targeted policy interventions in the future.

Rare endocrine diseases are complex conditions that require lifelong specialized care due to their chronic nature and associated long-term complications. In Korea, a lack of nationwide data on clinical practice and outcomes has limited progress in patient care. Therefore, the Multicenter Networks for Ideal Outcomes of Pediatric Rare Endocrine and Metabolic Disease (OUTSPREAD) study was initiated. This study involves 30 centers across Korea. The study aims to improve the long-term prognosis of Korean patients with rare endocrine diseases by collecting comprehensive clinical data, biospecimens, and patient-reported outcomes to identify complications and unmet needs in patient care. Patients with childhood-onset pituitary, adrenal, or gonadal disorders, such as craniopharyngioma, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), and Turner syndrome were prioritized. The planned enrollment is 1,300 patients during the first study phase (2022–2024). Clinical, biochemical, and imaging data from diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up during 1980–2023 were retrospectively reviewed. For patients who agreed to participate in the prospective cohort, clinical data and biospecimens will be prospectively collected to discover ideal biomarkers that predict the effectiveness of disease control measures and prognosis. Patient-reported outcomes, including quality of life and depression scales, will be evaluated to assess psychosocial outcomes. Additionally, a substudy on CAH patients will develop a steroid hormone profiling method using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to improve diagnosis and monitoring of treatment outcomes. This study will address unmet clinical needs by discovering ideal biomarkers, introducing evidence-based treatment guidelines, and ultimately improving long-term outcomes in the areas of rare endocrine and metabolic diseases.

Rare endocrine diseases are complex conditions that require lifelong specialized care due to their chronic nature and associated long-term complications. In Korea, a lack of nationwide data on clinical practice and outcomes has limited progress in patient care. Therefore, the Multicenter Networks for Ideal Outcomes of Pediatric Rare Endocrine and Metabolic Disease (OUTSPREAD) study was initiated. This study involves 30 centers across Korea. The study aims to improve the long-term prognosis of Korean patients with rare endocrine diseases by collecting comprehensive clinical data, biospecimens, and patient-reported outcomes to identify complications and unmet needs in patient care. Patients with childhood-onset pituitary, adrenal, or gonadal disorders, such as craniopharyngioma, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), and Turner syndrome were prioritized. The planned enrollment is 1,300 patients during the first study phase (2022–2024). Clinical, biochemical, and imaging data from diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up during 1980–2023 were retrospectively reviewed. For patients who agreed to participate in the prospective cohort, clinical data and biospecimens will be prospectively collected to discover ideal biomarkers that predict the effectiveness of disease control measures and prognosis. Patient-reported outcomes, including quality of life and depression scales, will be evaluated to assess psychosocial outcomes. Additionally, a substudy on CAH patients will develop a steroid hormone profiling method using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to improve diagnosis and monitoring of treatment outcomes. This study will address unmet clinical needs by discovering ideal biomarkers, introducing evidence-based treatment guidelines, and ultimately improving long-term outcomes in the areas of rare endocrine and metabolic diseases.

Rare endocrine diseases are complex conditions that require lifelong specialized care due to their chronic nature and associated long-term complications. In Korea, a lack of nationwide data on clinical practice and outcomes has limited progress in patient care. Therefore, the Multicenter Networks for Ideal Outcomes of Pediatric Rare Endocrine and Metabolic Disease (OUTSPREAD) study was initiated. This study involves 30 centers across Korea. The study aims to improve the long-term prognosis of Korean patients with rare endocrine diseases by collecting comprehensive clinical data, biospecimens, and patient-reported outcomes to identify complications and unmet needs in patient care. Patients with childhood-onset pituitary, adrenal, or gonadal disorders, such as craniopharyngioma, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), and Turner syndrome were prioritized. The planned enrollment is 1,300 patients during the first study phase (2022–2024). Clinical, biochemical, and imaging data from diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up during 1980–2023 were retrospectively reviewed. For patients who agreed to participate in the prospective cohort, clinical data and biospecimens will be prospectively collected to discover ideal biomarkers that predict the effectiveness of disease control measures and prognosis. Patient-reported outcomes, including quality of life and depression scales, will be evaluated to assess psychosocial outcomes. Additionally, a substudy on CAH patients will develop a steroid hormone profiling method using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to improve diagnosis and monitoring of treatment outcomes. This study will address unmet clinical needs by discovering ideal biomarkers, introducing evidence-based treatment guidelines, and ultimately improving long-term outcomes in the areas of rare endocrine and metabolic diseases.

Viruses are closely related to the occurrence of human diseases, and the infection of some viruses will lead to the occurrence and development of tumors, such as EB virus, hepatitis B virus, HPV virus, etc. On the contrary, some viruses can also be used for the treatment of tumors, such as oncolytic viruses. Lung cancer is a malignant tumor with the highest incidence rate and mortality rate in the world. In recent years, the relationship between virus and lung cancer has attracted more and more attention. Therefore, this article will review the mechanism and therapeutic impact of viruses on lung cancer.

Lemierre syndrome is a rare disease involving multiple organs affected by septic emboli following oropharyngeal infection. After the introduction of penicillin in the 1940s, it became a "forgotten" disease. However, due to the development of diagnostic image modalities including neck computed tomography (CT) scan, the number of published reports of Lemierre syndrome and diagnosis has been increasing since the 1990s. In this report, we describe a case of Lemierre syndrome, following oropharyngeal infection in a 16-year-old patient, who manifested with persistent fever and neck stiffness. Neck ultrasonography confirmed thrombus formation in the right internal jugular vein without definite evidence of septic emboli to other organs. After the three-week-long antibiotics therapy was completed, the thrombus in the right internal jugular vein finally disappeared.
Adolescent ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Diagnosis ; Fever* ; Humans ; Jugular Veins ; Lemierre Syndrome* ; Neck* ; Penicillins ; Rare Diseases ; Thrombophlebitis ; Thrombosis ; Ultrasonography

Primary leiomyosarcoma of lung is extremely rare and often diagnosed as a mass on routine chest radiography. Although advances have been made in treatment protocols, leiomyosarcoma remains one of the more difficult soft tissue sarcomas to treat. Surgical resection is usually curative for small and well-differentiated sarcomas. For poorly differentiated and non-resectable tumors, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are used as neoadejuvant or palliative treatment options. Generally, leiomyosarcomas are known to be resistant to radiation therapy alone. The authors experienced a 68-year-old woman who was diagnosed leiomyosarcoma by routine chest radiography. Although disease progression was observed despite of chemotherapy, radiation therapy reduced the size of tumor. This paper describes the curative potential of radiation therapy for primary pulmonary leiomyosarcomas through a case report and literature review.
Aged ; Clinical Protocols ; Disease Progression ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyosarcoma* ; Lung ; Palliative Care ; Radiography ; Radiotherapy ; Sarcoma ; Thorax