In the rapidly evolving healthcare environment, radiologists strive to establish their rightful place.Thus, there is a need for enhanced outpatient and clinical education within the Department of Radiology and exploration of its methodologies. Accordingly, the Korean Society of Radiology established a task force to investigate the clinical and outpatient practice status of radiologists overseas, current state of related education, involvement of other specialties in radiologic practices and education in Korea, and clinical and outpatient practice status among Korean radiologists. Furthermore, a survey on clinical competency enhancement was conducted among the members of the Korean Society of Radiology. These findings suggest the need for visibility and clinical competency enhancement in radiologists and methodologies for strengthening clinical competencies.

In the rapidly evolving healthcare environment, radiologists strive to establish their rightful place.Thus, there is a need for enhanced outpatient and clinical education within the Department of Radiology and exploration of its methodologies. Accordingly, the Korean Society of Radiology established a task force to investigate the clinical and outpatient practice status of radiologists overseas, current state of related education, involvement of other specialties in radiologic practices and education in Korea, and clinical and outpatient practice status among Korean radiologists. Furthermore, a survey on clinical competency enhancement was conducted among the members of the Korean Society of Radiology. These findings suggest the need for visibility and clinical competency enhancement in radiologists and methodologies for strengthening clinical competencies.

In the rapidly evolving healthcare environment, radiologists strive to establish their rightful place.Thus, there is a need for enhanced outpatient and clinical education within the Department of Radiology and exploration of its methodologies. Accordingly, the Korean Society of Radiology established a task force to investigate the clinical and outpatient practice status of radiologists overseas, current state of related education, involvement of other specialties in radiologic practices and education in Korea, and clinical and outpatient practice status among Korean radiologists. Furthermore, a survey on clinical competency enhancement was conducted among the members of the Korean Society of Radiology. These findings suggest the need for visibility and clinical competency enhancement in radiologists and methodologies for strengthening clinical competencies.

Purpose: Liver fibrosis is a critical health issue with limited treatment options. This study investigates the potential of PGC-Sec, a secretome derived from peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α)-overexpressing adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), as a novel therapeutic strategy for liver fibrosis. Methods: Upon achieving a cellular confluence of 70%–80%, ASCs were transfected with pcDNA-PGC-1α. PGC-Sec, obtained through concentration of conditioned media using ultrafiltration units with a 3-kDa cutoff, was assessed through in vitro assays and in vitro mouse models. Results: In vitro, PGC-Sec significantly reduced LX2 human hepatic stellate cell proliferation and mitigated mitochondrial oxidative stress compared to the control-secretome. In an in vivo mouse model, PGC-Sec treatment led to notable reductions in hepatic enzyme activity, serum proinflammatory cytokine concentrations, and fibrosis-related marker expression. Histological analysis demonstrated improved liver histology and reduced fibrosis severity in PGC-Sec–treated mice. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed enhanced expression of PGC-1α, optic atrophy 1 (a mitochondrial function marker), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (an antifibrogenic marker) in the PGC-Sec–treated group, along with reduced collagen type 1A expression (a profibrogenic marker). Conclusion These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of PGC-Sec in combating liver fibrosis by enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis and function, and promoting antifibrotic processes. PGC-Sec holds promise as a novel treatment strategy for liver fibrosis.

The initial treatment for differentiated thyroid cancer includes appropriate surgery and radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy, followed by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression therapy as long-term management to prevent recurrence. RAI therapy following thyroidectomy has the three main purposes: remnant ablation, adjuvant therapy, and therapy for known disease. To optimize the goals and targets of RAI therapy, postoperative disease assessment, determination of recurrence risk, and consideration of various individual factors are necessary. The objectives of RAI therapy are determined based on the individual’s recurrence risk, and the administered activity of RAI is then determined according to these treatment objectives. Adequate stimulation of serum TSH is necessary before RAI therapy, and recombinant human TSH is widely used because of its advantage in reducing the risk of exacerbation of comorbidities associated with levothyroxine discontinuation and improving patients’ quality of life. Additionally, reducing iodine intake through appropriate low-iodine diet is necessary. Whole-body scans are conducted to assess the disease status after RAI therapy. If planar whole-body scans are inconclusive, additional single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT imaging is recommended. Over the past decade, prospective randomized or retrospective clinical studies on the selection of candidates for RAI therapy, administered activity, methods of TSH stimulation, and advantages of SPECT/CT have been published. Based on these latest clinical research findings and recommendations from relevant overseas medical societies, this clinical practice guideline presents the indications and methods for administering RAI therapy after thyroidectomy.

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.

Radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy can effectively eliminate persistent or recurrent disease in patients with advanced differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), potentially improving progression-free, disease-specific, and overall survival rates. Repeated administration of RAI along with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression is the mainstay of treatment for patients with distant metastases. Remarkably, one in three patients with distant metastases can be cured using RAI therapy and experience a near-normal life expectancy. Patients with elevated serum thyroglobulin and a negative post-RAI scan may be considered for empiric RAI therapy in the absence of structurally evident disease. However, in some patients, the iodine uptake capacity of advanced lesions decreases over time, potentially resulting in RAI-refractory disease. RAI-administered dose can be either empirically fixed high activities or dosimetry-based individualized activities for treatment of known diseases. The preparation method (levothyroxine withdrawal vs. recombinant human TSH administration) should be individualized for each patient.RAI therapy is a reasonable and safe treatment for patients with advanced DTC. Despite the risk of radiation exposure, administration of low-activity RAI has not been associated with an increased risk of a secondary primary cancer (SPM), leukemia, infertility, adverse pregnancy outcomes, etc. However, depending on the cumulative dose, there is a risk of acute or delayed-onset adverse effects including salivary gland damage, dental caries, nasolacrimal duct obstruction, and SPM. Therefore, as with any treatment, the expected benefit must justify the use of RAI in patients with advanced DTC.