A previously reported study highlighted the neuroprotective potential of the novel benzylideneacetophenone derivative, JC3, in mice. In pursuit of compounds with even more robust neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties compared to JC3, we synthesized substituted 1,3-diphenyl-2-propen-1-ones based on chalcones. Molecular modeling studies aimed at discerning the chemical structural features conducive to heightened biological activity revealed that JCII-8,10,11 exhibited the widest HOMOLUMO gap within this category, indicating facile electron and radical transfer between HOMO and LUMO in model assessments.From the pool of synthesized compounds, JCII-8,10,11 were selected for the present investigation. The biological assays involving JCII-8,10,11 demonstrated their concentration-dependent suppression of iNOS and COX-2 protein levels, alongside various cytokine mRNA expressions in LPS-induced murine microglial BV2 cells. Furthermore, western blot analyses were conducted to investigate the MAPK pathways and NF-κB/p65 nuclear translocation. These evaluations conclusively confirmed the inflammatory inhibition effects in both in vitro and in vivo inflammation models. These findings establish JCII-8,10,11 as potent anti-inflammatory agents, hindering inflammatory mediators and impeding NF-κB/p65 nuclear translocation via JNK and ERK MAPK phosphorylation in BV2 cells. The study positions them as potential therapeutics for inflammation-related conditions. Additionally, JCII-11 exhibited greater activity compared to other tested JCII compounds.

A previously reported study highlighted the neuroprotective potential of the novel benzylideneacetophenone derivative, JC3, in mice. In pursuit of compounds with even more robust neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties compared to JC3, we synthesized substituted 1,3-diphenyl-2-propen-1-ones based on chalcones. Molecular modeling studies aimed at discerning the chemical structural features conducive to heightened biological activity revealed that JCII-8,10,11 exhibited the widest HOMOLUMO gap within this category, indicating facile electron and radical transfer between HOMO and LUMO in model assessments.From the pool of synthesized compounds, JCII-8,10,11 were selected for the present investigation. The biological assays involving JCII-8,10,11 demonstrated their concentration-dependent suppression of iNOS and COX-2 protein levels, alongside various cytokine mRNA expressions in LPS-induced murine microglial BV2 cells. Furthermore, western blot analyses were conducted to investigate the MAPK pathways and NF-κB/p65 nuclear translocation. These evaluations conclusively confirmed the inflammatory inhibition effects in both in vitro and in vivo inflammation models. These findings establish JCII-8,10,11 as potent anti-inflammatory agents, hindering inflammatory mediators and impeding NF-κB/p65 nuclear translocation via JNK and ERK MAPK phosphorylation in BV2 cells. The study positions them as potential therapeutics for inflammation-related conditions. Additionally, JCII-11 exhibited greater activity compared to other tested JCII compounds.

A previously reported study highlighted the neuroprotective potential of the novel benzylideneacetophenone derivative, JC3, in mice. In pursuit of compounds with even more robust neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties compared to JC3, we synthesized substituted 1,3-diphenyl-2-propen-1-ones based on chalcones. Molecular modeling studies aimed at discerning the chemical structural features conducive to heightened biological activity revealed that JCII-8,10,11 exhibited the widest HOMOLUMO gap within this category, indicating facile electron and radical transfer between HOMO and LUMO in model assessments.From the pool of synthesized compounds, JCII-8,10,11 were selected for the present investigation. The biological assays involving JCII-8,10,11 demonstrated their concentration-dependent suppression of iNOS and COX-2 protein levels, alongside various cytokine mRNA expressions in LPS-induced murine microglial BV2 cells. Furthermore, western blot analyses were conducted to investigate the MAPK pathways and NF-κB/p65 nuclear translocation. These evaluations conclusively confirmed the inflammatory inhibition effects in both in vitro and in vivo inflammation models. These findings establish JCII-8,10,11 as potent anti-inflammatory agents, hindering inflammatory mediators and impeding NF-κB/p65 nuclear translocation via JNK and ERK MAPK phosphorylation in BV2 cells. The study positions them as potential therapeutics for inflammation-related conditions. Additionally, JCII-11 exhibited greater activity compared to other tested JCII compounds.

Based on the clinical, histopathological, and perioperative data of a patient with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), risk stratification based on their initial recurrence risk is a crucial follow-up (FU) strategy during the first 1–2 years after initial therapy. However, restratifiying the recurrence risk on the basis of current clinical data that becomes available after considering the response to treatment (ongoing risk stratification, ORS) provides a more accurate prediction of the status at the final FU and a more tailored management approach. Since the 2015 American Thyroid Association Management Guidelines for Adult Patients with Thyroid Nodules and DTC, the latest guidelines that include the National Comprehensive Cancer Network clinical practice and European Association for Medical Oncology guidelines have been updated to reflect several recent evidence in ORS and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression of DTC. The current clinical practice guideline was developed by extracting FU surveillance after the initial treatment section from the previous version of guidelines and updating it to reflect recent evidence. The current revised guideline includes recommendations for recent ORS, TSH target level based on risk stratification, FU tools for detection of recurrence and assessment of disease status, and long-term FU strategy for consideration of the disease status. These evidence-based recommendations are expected to avoid overtreatment and intensive FU of the majority of patients who will have a very good prognosis after the initial treatment of DTC patients, thereby ensuring that patients receive the most appropriate and effective treatment and FU options.

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.

Phytoceramide (Pcer) is found mainly in plants and yeast. It can be neuroprotective and immunostimulatory on various cell types. In this study, the therapeutic effect of Pcer was explored using the carrageenan/kaolin (C/K)-induced arthritis rat model and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS). Pcer treatment (1, 10, and 30 mg/kg/day) were given to the arthritic rats for 6 days after disease induction. Weight distribution ration (WDR), knee thickness, squeaking score, serum levels of proinflammatory mediators, and histological analysis were measured and performed to evaluate arthritic symptoms in the rat model. In interleukin (IL)‑1β‑stimulated FLS, proinflammatory mediators were measured after Pcer (1-30 µM) treatment. Arthritic symptoms in rats with Pcer treatment were significantly decreased at days 4 to 6 after C/K arthritis induction. Inflammation in the knee joints were also significantly decreased in rats with Pcer treatment. Furthermore, in IL-1β‑stimulated FLS, the expressions of proinflammatory mediators were also inhibited by Pcer. As shown by the results, Pcer has anti-arthritic effects in the C/K rat model and in synovial cells, suggesting that Pcer has the potential to be a useful agent in arthritis treatment.

Purpose: Idiopathic scoliosis is the most common form of scoliosis, and the risk of onset and progression has been found to correlate with growth spurts. Therefore, treatment with recombinant human growth hormone (GH) treatment in short children may initiate and/or aggravate scoliosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between idiopathic scoliosis and GH treatment in short children. Methods: The medical records of 113 subjects seen at the participating institution between January 2010 and December 2020 and who were diagnosed with GH deficiency and small for gestational age, had idiopathic short stature, and were treated with GH for at least one year were reviewed. Scoliosis was defined as a Cobb angle greater than 10 degrees as assessed using a spine x-ray. Clinical data and laboratory findings before and 12 months after GH treatment were compared. Results: There was significant increase in height, height-standard deviation score, insulin-like growth factor 1, and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (p<0.001) with GH treatment. However, there were no significant differences in the average Cobb angle (6.2°±3.3° vs. 6.1°±3.5°, p=0.842) and the prevalence of scoliosis (9.7% vs. 13.3%, p=0.481) before and after one year of GH treatment. A comparative analysis of both initial Cobb angle and change in Cobb angle during GH treatment showed no relationship with other factors. Conclusion Although GH treatment in short children increased height and growth velocity, it was not associated with development or aggravation of idiopathic scoliosis.

Background/Aims: To evaluate the association between the urinary sodium concentration and iodine status in different age groups in Korea. Methods: This nationwide, population-based, cross-sectional study used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (VI 2-3, 2014 to 2015). We included 3,645 subjects aged 10 to 75 years with normal kidney function and without a history of thyroid disease. Adequate iodine intake was defined as a urinary iodine/creatinine (I/Cr) ratio of 85 to 220 µg/g. The urinary sodium/ creatinine (Na/Cr) ratios were classified as low (< 47 mmol/g), intermediate (47 to 114 mmol/g), or high (> 114 mmol/g). Results: The median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was 292 µg/L (interquartile range [IQR], 157 to 672), and the median urinary I/Cr ratio was 195 µg/g (IQR, 104 to 478). Iodine deficiency (< 100 µg/L) and iodine excess (> 300 µg/L) were observed in 11.3% and 49.0% of subjects, respectively. The UIC was significantly associated with the urinary sodium concentration, and the urinary I/Cr ratio was significantly correlated with the urinary Na/Cr ratio (both p < 0.001). The distributions of UIC, urinary I/Cr ratio, and Na/Cr ratio varied among age groups. Low urinary I/Cr and Na/Cr ratios were most common in young adults (age, 19 to 29 years), while high urinary I/Cr and Na/Cr ratios were most common in elderly people (age, 60 to 75 years). Conclusions Iodine intake was significantly associated with sodium intake in the Korean population. Our study suggested that an adequately low salt intake might be helpful for preventing iodine excess in Korea.

Fangchinoline (FAN) is a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid that is widely known for its anti-tumor properties. The goal of this study is to examine the effects of FAN on arthritis and the possible pathways it acts on. Human fibroblast-like synovial cells (FLS), carrageenan/kaolin arthritis rat model (C/K), and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice model were used to establish the efficiency of FAN in arthritis. Human FLS cells were treated with FAN (1, 2.5, 5, 10 μM) 1 h before IL-1β (10 ng/mL) stimulation. Cell viability, reactive oxygen species measurement, and western blot analysis of inflammatory mediators and the MAPK and NF-κB pathways were performed. In the animal models, after induction of arthritis, the rodents were given 10 and 30 mg/kg of FAN orally 1 h before conducting behavioral experiments such as weight distribution ratio, knee thickness measurement, squeaking score, body weight measurement, paw volume measurement, and arthritis index measurement. Rodent knee joints were also analyzed histologically through H&E staining and safranin staining. FAN decreased the production of inflammatory cytokines and ROS in human FLS cells as well as the phosphorylation of the MAPK pathway and NF-κB pathway in human FLS cells. The behavioral parameters in the C/K rat model and CIA mouse model and inflammatory signs in the histological analysis were found to be ameliorated in FAN-treated groups. Cartilage degradation in CIA mice knee joints were shown to have been suppressed by FAN. These findings suggest that fangchinoline has the potential to be a therapeutic source for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: The BRAF V600E mutation is the most common genetic alteration identified in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Because of its costs effectiveness and sensitivity, direct Sanger sequencing has several limitations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of immunohistochemistry (IHC) as an alternative method to detect the BRAF V600E mutation in preoperative and postoperative tissue samples. METHODS: We evaluated 71 patients who underwent thyroid surgery with the result of direct sequencing of the BRAF V600E mutation. IHC staining of the BRAF V600E mutation was performed in 49 preoperative and 23 postoperative thyroid specimens. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients (87.3%) had PTC, and of these, BRAF V600E was confirmed by direct sequencing in 57 patients (91.9%). In 23 postoperative tissue samples, the BRAF V600E mutation was detected in 16 samples (70%) by direct sequencing and 18 samples (78%) by IHC. In 24 fine needle aspiration (FNA) samples, BRAF V600E was detected in 18 samples (75%) by direct sequencing and 16 samples (67%) by IHC. In 25 core needle biopsy (CNB) samples, the BRAF V600E mutation was detected in 15 samples (60%) by direct sequencing and 16 samples (64%) by IHC. The sensitivity and specificity of IHC for detecting the BRAF V600E mutation were 77.8% and 66.7% in FNA samples and 99.3% and 80.0% in CNB samples. CONCLUSION: IHC could be an alternative method to direct Sanger sequencing for BRAF V600E mutation detection both in postoperative and preoperative samples. However, application of IHC to detect the BRAF V600E mutation in FNA samples is of limited value compared with direct sequencing.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Biopsy, Large-Core Needle ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry* ; Methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*