Background/Aims: We previously reported that patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC) often experience common mental disorders (CMDs) such as anxiety and depression, necessitating immediate psychological interventions within the first 4 weeks of diagnosis. In this 3-year follow-up study of the MOSAIK cohort in Korea, we examined the effects of CMDs at initial diagnosis on clinical outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: We examined differences in clinical outcomes (evaluated based on clinical response, relapse, hospitalization, and medication use) and HRQoL (assessed using the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire [IBDQ] and Short Form 12 [SF-12]) according to Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores at diagnosis. Results: In a study involving 199 UC patients, 47.7% exhibited significant psychological distress (anxiety and/or depression) at diagnosis. Clinical follow-up showed no major differences in outcomes, including remission rates, response rates, or hospitalization rates, between patients with anxiety or depression at diagnosis and patients without anxiety or depression at diagnosis. The HRQoL at the end of follow-up was notably lower in those with baseline CMDs, particularly anxiety, across all domains of the IBDQ and SF-12. Linear mixed-effect models revealed that higher HADS scores, as well as higher Mayo scores, were independently associated with lower IBDQ scores and both summary domains of the SF-12. Additionally, regular attendance at follow-up visits during the study period was also related to improvements in HRQoL (all p<0.05). Conclusions While CMDs present at the time of UC diagnosis did not influence long-term clinical outcomes, they persistently impaired HRQoL. Our findings support the routine incorporation of psychological interventions into the long-term management of moderate-to-severe UC.

Background/Aims: We previously reported that patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC) often experience common mental disorders (CMDs) such as anxiety and depression, necessitating immediate psychological interventions within the first 4 weeks of diagnosis. In this 3-year follow-up study of the MOSAIK cohort in Korea, we examined the effects of CMDs at initial diagnosis on clinical outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: We examined differences in clinical outcomes (evaluated based on clinical response, relapse, hospitalization, and medication use) and HRQoL (assessed using the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire [IBDQ] and Short Form 12 [SF-12]) according to Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores at diagnosis. Results: In a study involving 199 UC patients, 47.7% exhibited significant psychological distress (anxiety and/or depression) at diagnosis. Clinical follow-up showed no major differences in outcomes, including remission rates, response rates, or hospitalization rates, between patients with anxiety or depression at diagnosis and patients without anxiety or depression at diagnosis. The HRQoL at the end of follow-up was notably lower in those with baseline CMDs, particularly anxiety, across all domains of the IBDQ and SF-12. Linear mixed-effect models revealed that higher HADS scores, as well as higher Mayo scores, were independently associated with lower IBDQ scores and both summary domains of the SF-12. Additionally, regular attendance at follow-up visits during the study period was also related to improvements in HRQoL (all p<0.05). Conclusions While CMDs present at the time of UC diagnosis did not influence long-term clinical outcomes, they persistently impaired HRQoL. Our findings support the routine incorporation of psychological interventions into the long-term management of moderate-to-severe UC.

Background/Aims: We previously reported that patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC) often experience common mental disorders (CMDs) such as anxiety and depression, necessitating immediate psychological interventions within the first 4 weeks of diagnosis. In this 3-year follow-up study of the MOSAIK cohort in Korea, we examined the effects of CMDs at initial diagnosis on clinical outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: We examined differences in clinical outcomes (evaluated based on clinical response, relapse, hospitalization, and medication use) and HRQoL (assessed using the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire [IBDQ] and Short Form 12 [SF-12]) according to Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores at diagnosis. Results: In a study involving 199 UC patients, 47.7% exhibited significant psychological distress (anxiety and/or depression) at diagnosis. Clinical follow-up showed no major differences in outcomes, including remission rates, response rates, or hospitalization rates, between patients with anxiety or depression at diagnosis and patients without anxiety or depression at diagnosis. The HRQoL at the end of follow-up was notably lower in those with baseline CMDs, particularly anxiety, across all domains of the IBDQ and SF-12. Linear mixed-effect models revealed that higher HADS scores, as well as higher Mayo scores, were independently associated with lower IBDQ scores and both summary domains of the SF-12. Additionally, regular attendance at follow-up visits during the study period was also related to improvements in HRQoL (all p<0.05). Conclusions While CMDs present at the time of UC diagnosis did not influence long-term clinical outcomes, they persistently impaired HRQoL. Our findings support the routine incorporation of psychological interventions into the long-term management of moderate-to-severe UC.

Background/Aims: We previously reported that patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC) often experience common mental disorders (CMDs) such as anxiety and depression, necessitating immediate psychological interventions within the first 4 weeks of diagnosis. In this 3-year follow-up study of the MOSAIK cohort in Korea, we examined the effects of CMDs at initial diagnosis on clinical outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: We examined differences in clinical outcomes (evaluated based on clinical response, relapse, hospitalization, and medication use) and HRQoL (assessed using the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire [IBDQ] and Short Form 12 [SF-12]) according to Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores at diagnosis. Results: In a study involving 199 UC patients, 47.7% exhibited significant psychological distress (anxiety and/or depression) at diagnosis. Clinical follow-up showed no major differences in outcomes, including remission rates, response rates, or hospitalization rates, between patients with anxiety or depression at diagnosis and patients without anxiety or depression at diagnosis. The HRQoL at the end of follow-up was notably lower in those with baseline CMDs, particularly anxiety, across all domains of the IBDQ and SF-12. Linear mixed-effect models revealed that higher HADS scores, as well as higher Mayo scores, were independently associated with lower IBDQ scores and both summary domains of the SF-12. Additionally, regular attendance at follow-up visits during the study period was also related to improvements in HRQoL (all p<0.05). Conclusions While CMDs present at the time of UC diagnosis did not influence long-term clinical outcomes, they persistently impaired HRQoL. Our findings support the routine incorporation of psychological interventions into the long-term management of moderate-to-severe UC.

Background and Objectives: Surgical decision-making for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) relies on accurate preoperative staging, where ultrasonography plays a crucial role in predicting outcomes. We aimed to analyze the predictive effects of preoperative sonographic findings on pathological characteristics. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study was performed using ultrasonographic images and clinico-pathologic data of papillary thyroid cancer patients who underwent total thyroidectomy or lobectomy between March 2016 and May 2020. Finally, 152 patients and 169 tumors were analyzed. Results: Mean age of patients was 54.2±14.2 years and the proportion of female was 75.7%. Tumor size was 13.6±10.3 mm and the proportions of extrathyroidal extension (ETE) and lymph node (LN) involvement were 52.2% and 23.0%, respectively. Preoperative sonographic findings, including ETE, tumor margin, echogenicity, and K-TIRDAS, were significantly associated with pathological ETE.Other pathological characteristics, including LN involvement, lymphovascular invasion, and resection margin positivity, were more observed in patients with more aggressive findings on preoperative sonography; however, we could not find statistical significances. Conclusion This study showed that preoperative sonographic characteristics, such as sonographic ETE, tumor margin, echogenicity, and K-TIRADS, can provide valuable insights into predicting pathological ETE in PTC patients.

Background and Objectives: Surgical decision-making for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) relies on accurate preoperative staging, where ultrasonography plays a crucial role in predicting outcomes. We aimed to analyze the predictive effects of preoperative sonographic findings on pathological characteristics. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study was performed using ultrasonographic images and clinico-pathologic data of papillary thyroid cancer patients who underwent total thyroidectomy or lobectomy between March 2016 and May 2020. Finally, 152 patients and 169 tumors were analyzed. Results: Mean age of patients was 54.2±14.2 years and the proportion of female was 75.7%. Tumor size was 13.6±10.3 mm and the proportions of extrathyroidal extension (ETE) and lymph node (LN) involvement were 52.2% and 23.0%, respectively. Preoperative sonographic findings, including ETE, tumor margin, echogenicity, and K-TIRDAS, were significantly associated with pathological ETE.Other pathological characteristics, including LN involvement, lymphovascular invasion, and resection margin positivity, were more observed in patients with more aggressive findings on preoperative sonography; however, we could not find statistical significances. Conclusion This study showed that preoperative sonographic characteristics, such as sonographic ETE, tumor margin, echogenicity, and K-TIRADS, can provide valuable insights into predicting pathological ETE in PTC patients.

Background and Objectives: Surgical decision-making for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) relies on accurate preoperative staging, where ultrasonography plays a crucial role in predicting outcomes. We aimed to analyze the predictive effects of preoperative sonographic findings on pathological characteristics. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study was performed using ultrasonographic images and clinico-pathologic data of papillary thyroid cancer patients who underwent total thyroidectomy or lobectomy between March 2016 and May 2020. Finally, 152 patients and 169 tumors were analyzed. Results: Mean age of patients was 54.2±14.2 years and the proportion of female was 75.7%. Tumor size was 13.6±10.3 mm and the proportions of extrathyroidal extension (ETE) and lymph node (LN) involvement were 52.2% and 23.0%, respectively. Preoperative sonographic findings, including ETE, tumor margin, echogenicity, and K-TIRDAS, were significantly associated with pathological ETE.Other pathological characteristics, including LN involvement, lymphovascular invasion, and resection margin positivity, were more observed in patients with more aggressive findings on preoperative sonography; however, we could not find statistical significances. Conclusion This study showed that preoperative sonographic characteristics, such as sonographic ETE, tumor margin, echogenicity, and K-TIRADS, can provide valuable insights into predicting pathological ETE in PTC patients.

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2), a large GTP-regulated serine/threonine kinase, is well-known for its mutations causing late-onset Parkinson’s disease. However, the role of LRRK2 in glioblastoma (GBM) carcinogenesis has not yet been fully elucidated. Here, we discovered that LRRK2 was overexpressed in 40% of GBM patients, according to tissue microarray analysis, and high LRRK2 expression correlated with poor prognosis in GBM patients. LRRK2 and stemness factors were highly expressed in various patient-derived GBM stem cells, which are responsible for GBM initiation. Canonical serum-induced differentiation decreased the expression of both LRRK2 and stemness factors.Given that LRRK2 is a key regulator of glioma stem cell (GSC) stemness, we developed DNK72, a novel LRRK2 kinase inhibitor that penetrates the blood-brain barrier. DNK72 binds to the phosphorylation sites of active LRRK2 and dramatically reduced cell proliferation and stemness factors expression in in vitro studies. Orthotopic patient-derived xenograft mouse models demonstrated that LRRK2 inhibition with DNK72 effectively reduced tumor growth and increased survival time. We propose that LRRK2 plays a significant role in regulating the stemness of GSCs and that suppression of LRRK2 kinase activity leads to reduced GBM malignancy and proliferation. In the near future, targeting LRRK2 in patients with high LRRK2-expressing GBM could offer a superior therapeutic strategy and potentially replace current clinical treatment methods.

Background and Objectives: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a treatment option for subjective tinnitus. There are many reports on its clinical efficacy, but the protocol has not been well established. The purpose of this study was to set an outpatient-based CBT protocol and evaluate its clinical efficacy for tinnitus.Subjects and Method A total of 85 chronic tinnitus patients was assessed in this prospective study. After evaluating for eligibility, 30 patients completed CBT based on a protocol of 5 weekly sessions in an outpatient setting. Therapeutic efficacy was assessed by Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaires and visual analogue scale (VAS) for tinnitus. The initial scores were compared with the final scores, which were assessed a month after the fifth CBT session. Results: The results showed that CBT reduced THI and VAS scores significantly (p<0.05). Conclusion The results of the study suggest that an outpatient-based CBT protocol can be clinically beneficial for patients with tinnitus.

Background/Aims: Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) represents a treatment option for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). Recently, FMT has been investigated in various clinical settings other than CDI. This study examined Korean physicians’ recognition of FMT and their attitudes toward this procedure Methods: An online questionnaire included questions on indications for FMT, the FMT process, physicians’ attitudes toward FMT for the treatment of CDI and non-CDI diseases, and possible concerns. Results: Finally, 107 physicians responded to this survey: 66 (61.7%) had experience of performing FMT, and 86 (80.4%) replied that they were willing to perform FMT for CDI. Two-thirds of physicians (63.6%, n = 68) would perform FMT for recurrent CDI on patients who had at least three recurrences. The most common obstacle to performing FMT for the treatment of CDI was the lack of regulations or guidelines (55.1%, n = 59). Seventy-seven (72.0%) physicians would consider FMT for non- CDI diseases when conventional treatment had failed. The most common obstacle for FMT for the treatment of non-CDI diseases was low treatment efficacy (57.0%, n = 61). Conclusions Two-thirds of Korean physicians had experience of performing FMT, and many performed FMT for recurrent CDI. The results of this study will prove useful to researchers and practitioners in FMT in Korea.