Lactic acid bacteria are known to have various effects on the immune system. The type and extent of the effect differ, depending on the type of lactic acid bacteria. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus johnsonii bacterin on mouse-derived immune cells. Treating splenocytes with L. johnsonii bacterin slightly increased the metabolic activity. Additionally, the expression of the activation marker CD25 and production of the Th1-type inflammatory cytokine interferon (IFN)-gamma increased. We confirmed that the increase in IFN-gamma production due to L. johnsonii stimulation was mainly due to T and B cells among splenocytes. Treating dendritic cells (DCs) with L. johnsonii bacterin at concentrations of 10 6 and 10 7 cfu/ ml significantly increased tumor necrosis factor-alpha, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, and interleukin-12, a cell-mediated immunity cytokine. Additionally, the expression of surface markers increased. Allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reactions showed that L. johnsonii reduced the antigen-presenting ability of DCs. In cocultures of DCs and splenocytes, L. johnsonii decreased cellular metabolic activity and increased cell death. L. johnsonii upregulated the expression of programmed death ligand 1 on DCs. The findings of this study indicate that L. johnsonii bacterin has immunomodulatory and immunostimulatory effects. While L. johnsonii increased the expression of cytokines and surface markers of immune cells, it modulated DC-mediated immune response. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of L. johnsonii bacterin on DCs and related immune cells.

Lactic acid bacteria are known to have various effects on the immune system. The type and extent of the effect differ, depending on the type of lactic acid bacteria. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus johnsonii bacterin on mouse-derived immune cells. Treating splenocytes with L. johnsonii bacterin slightly increased the metabolic activity. Additionally, the expression of the activation marker CD25 and production of the Th1-type inflammatory cytokine interferon (IFN)-gamma increased. We confirmed that the increase in IFN-gamma production due to L. johnsonii stimulation was mainly due to T and B cells among splenocytes. Treating dendritic cells (DCs) with L. johnsonii bacterin at concentrations of 10 6 and 10 7 cfu/ ml significantly increased tumor necrosis factor-alpha, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, and interleukin-12, a cell-mediated immunity cytokine. Additionally, the expression of surface markers increased. Allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reactions showed that L. johnsonii reduced the antigen-presenting ability of DCs. In cocultures of DCs and splenocytes, L. johnsonii decreased cellular metabolic activity and increased cell death. L. johnsonii upregulated the expression of programmed death ligand 1 on DCs. The findings of this study indicate that L. johnsonii bacterin has immunomodulatory and immunostimulatory effects. While L. johnsonii increased the expression of cytokines and surface markers of immune cells, it modulated DC-mediated immune response. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of L. johnsonii bacterin on DCs and related immune cells.

Purpose: Adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) is recommended for muscle-invasive or lymph node-positive upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). However, disease recurrences are frequently observed in pT1 disease, and AC may increase the risk of overtreatment in pT2 UTUC patients. This study aimed to validate a risk-adapted scoring model for selecting UTUC patients with ≤pT2 disease who would benefit from AC. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 443 ≤pT2 UTUC patients who underwent RNU. A risk-adapted scoring model was applied, categorizing patients into low- or high-risk groups. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were analyzed according to risk group. Results: Overall, 355 patients (80.1%) and 88 patients (19.9%) were categorized into the low- and high-risk groups, respectively, with the latter having higher pathological stages, concurrent carcinoma in situ, and synchronous bladder tumors. Disease recurrence occurred in 45 patients (10.2%), among whom 19 (5.4%) and 26 (29.5%) belonged to the low- and high-risk groups, respectively (p<0.001). High-risk patients had significantly shorter RFS (64.3% vs. 93.6% at 60 months; hazard ratio [HR] 13.66; p<0.001) and worse CSS (80.7% vs. 91.5% at 60 months; HR 4.25; p=0.002). Multivariate analysis confirmed that pT2 stage and the high-risk group were independent predictors of recurrence and cancer-specific death (p<0.001). Decision curve analysis for RFS showed larger net benefits with our model than with the T stage model. Conclusions The risk-adapted scoring model effectively predicts recurrence and identifies optimal candidates for AC post RNU in non-metastatic UTUC.

Lactic acid bacteria are known to have various effects on the immune system. The type and extent of the effect differ, depending on the type of lactic acid bacteria. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus johnsonii bacterin on mouse-derived immune cells. Treating splenocytes with L. johnsonii bacterin slightly increased the metabolic activity. Additionally, the expression of the activation marker CD25 and production of the Th1-type inflammatory cytokine interferon (IFN)-gamma increased. We confirmed that the increase in IFN-gamma production due to L. johnsonii stimulation was mainly due to T and B cells among splenocytes. Treating dendritic cells (DCs) with L. johnsonii bacterin at concentrations of 10 6 and 10 7 cfu/ ml significantly increased tumor necrosis factor-alpha, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, and interleukin-12, a cell-mediated immunity cytokine. Additionally, the expression of surface markers increased. Allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reactions showed that L. johnsonii reduced the antigen-presenting ability of DCs. In cocultures of DCs and splenocytes, L. johnsonii decreased cellular metabolic activity and increased cell death. L. johnsonii upregulated the expression of programmed death ligand 1 on DCs. The findings of this study indicate that L. johnsonii bacterin has immunomodulatory and immunostimulatory effects. While L. johnsonii increased the expression of cytokines and surface markers of immune cells, it modulated DC-mediated immune response. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of L. johnsonii bacterin on DCs and related immune cells.

Lactic acid bacteria are known to have various effects on the immune system. The type and extent of the effect differ, depending on the type of lactic acid bacteria. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus johnsonii bacterin on mouse-derived immune cells. Treating splenocytes with L. johnsonii bacterin slightly increased the metabolic activity. Additionally, the expression of the activation marker CD25 and production of the Th1-type inflammatory cytokine interferon (IFN)-gamma increased. We confirmed that the increase in IFN-gamma production due to L. johnsonii stimulation was mainly due to T and B cells among splenocytes. Treating dendritic cells (DCs) with L. johnsonii bacterin at concentrations of 10 6 and 10 7 cfu/ ml significantly increased tumor necrosis factor-alpha, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, and interleukin-12, a cell-mediated immunity cytokine. Additionally, the expression of surface markers increased. Allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reactions showed that L. johnsonii reduced the antigen-presenting ability of DCs. In cocultures of DCs and splenocytes, L. johnsonii decreased cellular metabolic activity and increased cell death. L. johnsonii upregulated the expression of programmed death ligand 1 on DCs. The findings of this study indicate that L. johnsonii bacterin has immunomodulatory and immunostimulatory effects. While L. johnsonii increased the expression of cytokines and surface markers of immune cells, it modulated DC-mediated immune response. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of L. johnsonii bacterin on DCs and related immune cells.

Lactic acid bacteria are known to have various effects on the immune system. The type and extent of the effect differ, depending on the type of lactic acid bacteria. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus johnsonii bacterin on mouse-derived immune cells. Treating splenocytes with L. johnsonii bacterin slightly increased the metabolic activity. Additionally, the expression of the activation marker CD25 and production of the Th1-type inflammatory cytokine interferon (IFN)-gamma increased. We confirmed that the increase in IFN-gamma production due to L. johnsonii stimulation was mainly due to T and B cells among splenocytes. Treating dendritic cells (DCs) with L. johnsonii bacterin at concentrations of 10 6 and 10 7 cfu/ ml significantly increased tumor necrosis factor-alpha, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, and interleukin-12, a cell-mediated immunity cytokine. Additionally, the expression of surface markers increased. Allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reactions showed that L. johnsonii reduced the antigen-presenting ability of DCs. In cocultures of DCs and splenocytes, L. johnsonii decreased cellular metabolic activity and increased cell death. L. johnsonii upregulated the expression of programmed death ligand 1 on DCs. The findings of this study indicate that L. johnsonii bacterin has immunomodulatory and immunostimulatory effects. While L. johnsonii increased the expression of cytokines and surface markers of immune cells, it modulated DC-mediated immune response. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of L. johnsonii bacterin on DCs and related immune cells.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a progressive complication among patients with diabetes and the most common cause of end-stage kidney disease. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are known to play a role in kidney disease, thus this study aimed to determine their role in the development of diabetic kidney disease using diabetic murine models. Results: Protein and histological analyses revealed that db/db mice and streptozotocin DN models expressed no significant NET-related proteins, myeloperoxidase, citrullinated histone H3 (citH3), neutrophil elastase, and lymphocyte antigen 6 complex locus G6D (Ly6G). However, the inflamed individuals in the DN model showed that citH3 and Ly6G were highly deposited in the renal system based on immunohistochemistry images. In vitro, NET treatment did not induce apoptosis in glomerular endothelial and renal tubular epithelial cells. NET inhibition by DNase administration demonstrated no significant changes in cell apoptosis. Conclusions NET-related proteins were only expressed in the DN model with tubulointerstitial inflammation. Our study revealed that NETs are only induced in mice with hyperglycemia-induced inflammation.

The prevalence of thyroid cancer in pregnant women is unknown; however, given that thyroid cancer commonly develops in women, especially young women of childbearing age, new cases are often diagnosed during pregnancy. This recommendation summarizes the follow-up and treatment when thyroid cancer is diagnosed during pregnancy and when a woman with thyroid cancer becomes pregnant. If diagnosed in the first trimester, surgery should be postponed until after delivery, and the patient should be monitored with ultrasound. If follow-up before 24–26 weeks of gestation shows that thyroid cancer has progressed, surgery should be considered. If it has not progressed at 24–26 weeks of gestation or if papillary thyroid cancer is diagnosed after 20 weeks of pregnancy, surgery should be considered after delivery.

Differentiated thyroid cancer demonstrates a wide range of clinical presentations, from very indolent cases to those with an aggressive prognosis. Therefore, diagnosing and treating each cancer appropriately based on its risk status is important. The Korean Thyroid Association (KTA) has provided and amended the clinical guidelines for thyroid cancer management since 2007. The main changes in this revised 2024 guideline include 1) individualization of surgical extent according to pathological tests and clinical findings, 2) application of active surveillance in low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, 3) indications for minimally invasive surgery, 4) adoption of World Health Organization pathological diagnostic criteria and definition of terminology in Korean, 5) update on literature evidence of recurrence risk for initial risk stratification, 6) addition of the role of molecular testing, 7) addition of definition of initial risk stratification and targeting thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations according to ongoing risk stratification (ORS), 8) addition of treatment of perioperative hypoparathyroidism, 9) update on systemic chemotherapy, and 10) addition of treatment for pediatric patients with thyroid cancer.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a progressive complication among patients with diabetes and the most common cause of end-stage kidney disease. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are known to play a role in kidney disease, thus this study aimed to determine their role in the development of diabetic kidney disease using diabetic murine models. Results: Protein and histological analyses revealed that db/db mice and streptozotocin DN models expressed no significant NET-related proteins, myeloperoxidase, citrullinated histone H3 (citH3), neutrophil elastase, and lymphocyte antigen 6 complex locus G6D (Ly6G). However, the inflamed individuals in the DN model showed that citH3 and Ly6G were highly deposited in the renal system based on immunohistochemistry images. In vitro, NET treatment did not induce apoptosis in glomerular endothelial and renal tubular epithelial cells. NET inhibition by DNase administration demonstrated no significant changes in cell apoptosis. Conclusions NET-related proteins were only expressed in the DN model with tubulointerstitial inflammation. Our study revealed that NETs are only induced in mice with hyperglycemia-induced inflammation.