Objective: Chordoma, a rare malignant tumor originating from embryonal notochord remnants, exhibits high resistance to conventional treatments, making surgical resection imperative. However, the factors influencing prognosis specifically for cervical spine chordoma have not been clearly identified. We investigate the prognosis of cervical spine chordoma with factors influential in a nationwide multicenter retrospective study. Methods: This study included all patients diagnosed with cervical spine chordoma at 7 tertiary referral centers from January 1998 to March 2023, excluding those with clivus and thoracic spine chordomas extending into the cervical spine. Local recurrence (LR) was identified through follow-up magnetic resonance imaging, either as reappearance in completely resected tumors or regrowth in residual tumors. The study assessed LR and overall survival, analyzing factors influencing LR and death. Results: Forty-five patients with cervical spine chordoma had a mean age of 46.4 years. Over a median follow-up of 52 months, LR and distant metastasis were observed in 21 (46.7%) and 4 patients (8.9%), respectively, and 16 patients (36%) were confirmed dead. The 5-year and 10-year cumulative LR rates were 51.3% and 60%, respectively, while the 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 82% and 53%. Age was the only significant factor affecting mortality (hazard ratio, 1.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–1.07; p=0.015). Notably, the degree of resection and adjuvant therapy did not statistically significantly impact local tumor control and mortality. Conclusion This study, the largest multicenter retrospective analysis of cervical spine chordoma in Korea, identified age as the only factor significantly affecting patient survival.

Objective: Chordoma, a rare malignant tumor originating from embryonal notochord remnants, exhibits high resistance to conventional treatments, making surgical resection imperative. However, the factors influencing prognosis specifically for cervical spine chordoma have not been clearly identified. We investigate the prognosis of cervical spine chordoma with factors influential in a nationwide multicenter retrospective study. Methods: This study included all patients diagnosed with cervical spine chordoma at 7 tertiary referral centers from January 1998 to March 2023, excluding those with clivus and thoracic spine chordomas extending into the cervical spine. Local recurrence (LR) was identified through follow-up magnetic resonance imaging, either as reappearance in completely resected tumors or regrowth in residual tumors. The study assessed LR and overall survival, analyzing factors influencing LR and death. Results: Forty-five patients with cervical spine chordoma had a mean age of 46.4 years. Over a median follow-up of 52 months, LR and distant metastasis were observed in 21 (46.7%) and 4 patients (8.9%), respectively, and 16 patients (36%) were confirmed dead. The 5-year and 10-year cumulative LR rates were 51.3% and 60%, respectively, while the 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 82% and 53%. Age was the only significant factor affecting mortality (hazard ratio, 1.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–1.07; p=0.015). Notably, the degree of resection and adjuvant therapy did not statistically significantly impact local tumor control and mortality. Conclusion This study, the largest multicenter retrospective analysis of cervical spine chordoma in Korea, identified age as the only factor significantly affecting patient survival.

Objective: Chordoma, a rare malignant tumor originating from embryonal notochord remnants, exhibits high resistance to conventional treatments, making surgical resection imperative. However, the factors influencing prognosis specifically for cervical spine chordoma have not been clearly identified. We investigate the prognosis of cervical spine chordoma with factors influential in a nationwide multicenter retrospective study. Methods: This study included all patients diagnosed with cervical spine chordoma at 7 tertiary referral centers from January 1998 to March 2023, excluding those with clivus and thoracic spine chordomas extending into the cervical spine. Local recurrence (LR) was identified through follow-up magnetic resonance imaging, either as reappearance in completely resected tumors or regrowth in residual tumors. The study assessed LR and overall survival, analyzing factors influencing LR and death. Results: Forty-five patients with cervical spine chordoma had a mean age of 46.4 years. Over a median follow-up of 52 months, LR and distant metastasis were observed in 21 (46.7%) and 4 patients (8.9%), respectively, and 16 patients (36%) were confirmed dead. The 5-year and 10-year cumulative LR rates were 51.3% and 60%, respectively, while the 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 82% and 53%. Age was the only significant factor affecting mortality (hazard ratio, 1.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–1.07; p=0.015). Notably, the degree of resection and adjuvant therapy did not statistically significantly impact local tumor control and mortality. Conclusion This study, the largest multicenter retrospective analysis of cervical spine chordoma in Korea, identified age as the only factor significantly affecting patient survival.

Objective: Chordoma, a rare malignant tumor originating from embryonal notochord remnants, exhibits high resistance to conventional treatments, making surgical resection imperative. However, the factors influencing prognosis specifically for cervical spine chordoma have not been clearly identified. We investigate the prognosis of cervical spine chordoma with factors influential in a nationwide multicenter retrospective study. Methods: This study included all patients diagnosed with cervical spine chordoma at 7 tertiary referral centers from January 1998 to March 2023, excluding those with clivus and thoracic spine chordomas extending into the cervical spine. Local recurrence (LR) was identified through follow-up magnetic resonance imaging, either as reappearance in completely resected tumors or regrowth in residual tumors. The study assessed LR and overall survival, analyzing factors influencing LR and death. Results: Forty-five patients with cervical spine chordoma had a mean age of 46.4 years. Over a median follow-up of 52 months, LR and distant metastasis were observed in 21 (46.7%) and 4 patients (8.9%), respectively, and 16 patients (36%) were confirmed dead. The 5-year and 10-year cumulative LR rates were 51.3% and 60%, respectively, while the 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 82% and 53%. Age was the only significant factor affecting mortality (hazard ratio, 1.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–1.07; p=0.015). Notably, the degree of resection and adjuvant therapy did not statistically significantly impact local tumor control and mortality. Conclusion This study, the largest multicenter retrospective analysis of cervical spine chordoma in Korea, identified age as the only factor significantly affecting patient survival.

Objective: Chordoma, a rare malignant tumor originating from embryonal notochord remnants, exhibits high resistance to conventional treatments, making surgical resection imperative. However, the factors influencing prognosis specifically for cervical spine chordoma have not been clearly identified. We investigate the prognosis of cervical spine chordoma with factors influential in a nationwide multicenter retrospective study. Methods: This study included all patients diagnosed with cervical spine chordoma at 7 tertiary referral centers from January 1998 to March 2023, excluding those with clivus and thoracic spine chordomas extending into the cervical spine. Local recurrence (LR) was identified through follow-up magnetic resonance imaging, either as reappearance in completely resected tumors or regrowth in residual tumors. The study assessed LR and overall survival, analyzing factors influencing LR and death. Results: Forty-five patients with cervical spine chordoma had a mean age of 46.4 years. Over a median follow-up of 52 months, LR and distant metastasis were observed in 21 (46.7%) and 4 patients (8.9%), respectively, and 16 patients (36%) were confirmed dead. The 5-year and 10-year cumulative LR rates were 51.3% and 60%, respectively, while the 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 82% and 53%. Age was the only significant factor affecting mortality (hazard ratio, 1.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–1.07; p=0.015). Notably, the degree of resection and adjuvant therapy did not statistically significantly impact local tumor control and mortality. Conclusion This study, the largest multicenter retrospective analysis of cervical spine chordoma in Korea, identified age as the only factor significantly affecting patient survival.

Immune status including the immune cells and cytokine profiles has been implicated in the development of endometriosis. In this study, we analyzed Th17 cells and IL-17A in peritoneal fluid (PF) and endometrial tissues of patients with (n=10) and without (n=26) endometriosis. Our study has shown increased Th17 cell population and IL-17A level in PF with endometriosis patients. To determine the roles of IL-17A and Th17 cells in the development of endometriosis, the effect of IL-17A, major cytokine of Th17, on endometrial cells isolated from endometriotic tissues was examined. Recombinant IL-17A promoted survival of endometrial cells accompanied by increased expression of anti-apoptotic genes, including Bcl-2 and MCL1, and the activation of ERK1/2 signaling. In addition, treatment of IL-17A to endometrial cells inhibited NK cell mediated cytotoxicity and induced HLA-G expression on endometrial cells. IL-17A also promoted migration of endometrial cells. Our data suggest that Th17 cells and IL-17A play critical roles in the development of endometriosis by promoting endometrial cell survival and conferring a resistance to NK cell cytotoxicity through the activation of ERK1/2 signaling. Targeting IL-17A has potential as a new strategy for the treatment of endometriosis.

Aspergillus is one of the largest and diverse genera of fungi with huge economical, biotech nological, and social significance. Taxonomically, Aspergillus is divided into six subgenera comprising 27 sections. In this study, 235 strains of Aspergillus subgenus Circumdati (section: Candidi, Circumdati, Flavi, Flavipedes, Nigri, and Terrei) preserved at the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (KACC) were analyzed and re-identified using a combined dataset of par tial β-tubulin (BenA), Calmodulin (CaM) gene sequences and morphological data. We con firmed nineteen species to be priorly reported in Korea (A. neotritici, A. terreus, A. floccosus,A. allahabadii, A. steynii, A. westerdijkiae, A. ochraceus, A. ostianus, A. sclerotiorum, A. luchuen sis, A. tubingensis, A. niger, A. welwitschiae, A. japonicus, A. nomius, A. tamarii, A. parasiticus, A.flavi, and A. oryzae). Among the studied strains, three species (A. subalbidus, A. iizukae, and A. uvarum), previously unreported or not officially documented, were discovered in Korea, to the best of our knowledge. We have given a detailed description of the characteristic fea tures of the three species, which remain uncharted in Korea.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand the actual status of fundamentals of nursing practice (FNP) education at nursing colleges, and the difficulties of FNP operation in the early stages of the COVID-19. Methods: This study used a descriptive design. Data collection was conducted from December 9, 2020 to January 31, 2021 using the self-report questionnaire method for a total of 95 nursing colleges. The questionnaire consisted of characteristics related to FNP, changes in FNP education, difficulties in operating FNP, and countermeasures in the COVID-19 situation. Results: Changes in FNP due to COVID-19 were distribution of practice places, reduction of the number of students, short-term intensive classes, and reduction of face-to-face practice. Most colleges conducted FNP face-to-face, but some schools showed that FNP was conducted non-face-to-face. The difficulties of operating FNP that instructors experienced induced concerns about a decrease in student competency due to lack of face-to-face practice and an unofficial increase in the number of teaching hours and physical demands on instructors due to the expansion of the division. Conclusion In order to develop the capabilities of nursing students in other pandemic situations in the future, it is necessary to find systematic coping strategy to reduce the burden of FNP instructors, and to develop non-face-to-face online practice contents and consumables for online practice.

Objective: The ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is one of the major causes of thoracic myelopathy. Surgical decompression with or without instrumented fusion is the mainstay of treatment. However, few studies have reported on the added effect of instrumented fusion. The objective of this study was to compare clinical and radiological outcomes between surgical decompression without instrumented fusion (D-group) and that with instrumented fusion (F-group). Methods: A retrospective review was performed on 28 patients (D-group, n=17; F-group, n=11) with thoracic myelopathy due to OLF. The clinical parameters compared included scores of the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA), the Visual analogue scale of the back and leg (VAS-B and VAS-L), and the Korean version of the Oswestry disability index (K-ODI). Radiological parameters included the sagittal vertical axis (SVA), the pelvic tilt (PT), the sacral slope (SS), the thoracic kyphosis angle (TKA), the segmental kyphosis angle (SKA) at the operated level, and the lumbar lordosis angle (LLA; a negative value implying lordosis). These parameters were measured preoperatively, 1 year postoperatively, and 2 years postoperatively, and were compared with a linear mixed model. Results: After surgery, all clinical parameters were significantly improved in both groups, while VAS-L was more improved in the Fgroup than in the D-group (-3.4±2.5 vs. -1.3±2.2, p=0.008). Radiological outcomes were significantly different in terms of changes in TKA, SKA, and LLA. Changes in TKA, SKA, and LLA were 2.3°±4.7°, -0.1°±1.4°, and -1.3°±5.6° in the F-group, which were significantly lower than 6.8°±6.1°, 3.0°±2.8°, and 2.2°±5.3° in the D-group, respectively (p=0.013, p<0.0001, and p=0.037). Symptomatic recurrence of OLF occurred in one patient of the D-group at postoperative 24 months. Conclusion Clinical improvement was achieved after decompression surgery for OLF regardless of whether instrumented fusion was added. However, adding instrumented fusion resulted in better outcomes in terms of lessening the progression of local and regional kyphosis and improving leg pain. Decompression with instrumented fusion may be a better surgical option for thoracic OLF.

Objective: To determine whether Sonazoid-enhanced ultrasound (SZUS) was noninferior to SonoVue-enhanced ultrasound (SVUS) in diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using the same diagnostic criteria. Materials and Methods: This prospective, single-center, noninferiority study (NCT04847726) enrolled 105 at-risk participants (71 male; mean age ± standard deviation, 63 ± 11 years; range, 26–86 years) with treatment-naïve solid hepatic nodules (≥ 1 cm). All participants underwent same-day SZUS (experimental method) and SVUS (control method) for one representative nodule per participant. Images were interpreted by three readers (the operator and two independent readers). All malignancies were diagnosed histopathologically, while the benignity of other lesions was confirmed by follow-up stability or pathology. The primary endpoint was per-lesion diagnostic accuracy for HCC pooled across three readers using the conventional contrast-enhanced ultrasound diagnostic criteria, including arterial phase hyperenhancement followed by mild (assessed within 2 minutes after contrast injection) and late (≥ 60 seconds with a delay of 5 minutes) washout. The noninferiority delta was -10%p. Furthermore, different time delays were compared as washout criteria in SZUS, including delays of 2, 5, and > 10 minutes. Results: A total of 105 lesions (HCCs [n = 61], non-HCC malignancies [n = 19], and benign [n = 25]) were evaluated. Using the 5-minutes washout criterion, per-lesion accuracy of SZUS pooled across the three readers (72.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 64.1%–79.3%) was noninferior to that of SVUS (71.4%; 95% CI, 63.1%–78.6%), meeting the statistical criterion for non-inferiority (difference of 0.95%p; 95% CI, -3.8%p–5.7%p). The arterial phase hyperenhancement combined with the 5-minutes washout criterion showed the same sensitivity as that of the > 10-minutes criterion (59.0% vs. 59.0%, p = 0.989), and the specificities were not significantly different (90.9% vs. 86.4%, p = 0.072). Conclusion SZUS was noninferior to SVUS for diagnosing HCC in at-risk patients using the same diagnostic criteria. No significant improvement in HCC diagnosis was observed by extending the washout time delay from 5 to 10 minutes.