T-Cell Dynamics Predicts Prognosis of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Receiving Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab.

Atezolizumab and bevacizumab show promise for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but identifying responsive patients remains challenging, due to tumor heterogeneity. This study explores immune dynamics following this combination therapy. Between 2020 and 2023, 29 patients with advanced HCC who received atezolizumab plus bevacizumab at Severance Hospital, Seoul, were enrolled in this study.

Inhibition of Dickkopf-1 enhances the anti-tumor efficacy of sorafenib via inhibition of the PI3K/Akt and Wnt/β-catenin pathways in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Sorafenib improves the overall survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) is commonly overexpressed in HCC. In this study, we investigated whether the inhibition of DKK1 enhances the anti-tumor efficacy of sorafenib in HCC.

Corrigendum to "Vertebral Body Anterior Translation, a Novel Technique for Delayed Myelopathy Due to Osteoporotic Spine Fractures".

[This corrects the article on p. 485 in vol. 12, PMID: 33274026.

Co-administration of ursodeoxycholic acid with rosuvastatin/ezetimibe in a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease model.

Background: Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), statins, and ezetimibe (EZE) have demonstrated beneficial effects against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We investigated the efficacy of the combination of UDCA and the mix of rosuvastatin (RSV)/EZE in the treatment of NAFLD.

Methods: NAFLD mouse models were developed by injecting thioacetamide, fasting, and high-carbohydrate refeeding, high-fat diet, and choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined high-fat diet (CDAHFD).

Applications of molecular barcode sequencing for the detection of low-frequency variants in circulating tumour DNA from hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: Liquid biopsy has emerged as a promising tool for minimally invasive and accurate detection of various malignancies. We aimed to apply molecular barcode sequencing to circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) from liquid biopsies of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Study Design: Patients with HCC or benign liver disease were enrolled between 2017 and 2018.

Dickkopf-1 promotes angiogenesis by upregulating VEGF receptor 2-mediated mTOR/p70S6K signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma.

The expression of Dickkopf-1 (DKK1), a negative regulator of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, is upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we investigated the tumorigenic and angiogenic potential of DKK1 in HCC. Stable cell lines were established using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated nuclease 9 (CRISPR/Cas9)-based DKK1 knock-out system in Hep3B cells and the tetracycline-based DKK1 inducible system in Huh7 cells.

Knockdown of Atg7 suppresses Tumorigenesis in a murine model of liver cancer.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer in adults and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Studies have shown that autophagy is significantly involved in carcinogenesis, in particular, driven by activated RAS signaling. Autophagy related 7 (Atg7) is a critical component for the formation of autophagosome and required for autophagy processes.

Vertebral Body Anterior Translation, a Novel Technique for Delayed Myelopathy Due to Osteoporotic Spine Fractures.

Backgroud: Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) are often associated with delayed myelopathy. Surgical treatment of delayed myelopathy following an OVCF comprises spinal canal decompression and stable fixation of the vertebral column with an acceptable sagittal alignment. However, such surgical methods are not usually feasible because of medical comorbidities and osteoporosis.

Efficacy of intraoperative wireless ultrasonography for uterine incision among patients with adherence findings in placenta previa.

Aim: We evaluated the effectiveness of intraoperative wireless ultrasonography in determining the location of uterine incision during cesarean delivery in patients with placenta previa who have sonographic adherence findings in order to assess intraoperative blood loss and maternal morbidity.

Methods: A prospective study using wireless sonography, including 15 patients with previa, was conducted among women with singleton pregnancies who delivered by cesarean section between August 1, 2017, and August 30, 2019. Retrospective study for the control group included 32 patients with placenta previa who underwent cesarean section between January 1, 2016, and July 31, 2017, without wireless sonography.

HKR3 regulates cell cycle through the inhibition of hTERT in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a malignant disease with improved hepatic regeneration and survival, and is activated by human telomere transferase (hTERT). hTERT is expressed during early fetal development and switched off in most adult tissues, but it becomes reactivated in HCC. The exact mechanism regulating these expression changes remains unknown during HCC progress.

Prospective Comparative Analysis of the Incidence of Vasovagal Reaction and the Effect of Rectal Submucosal Lidocaine Injection in Stapled Hemorrhoidopexy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the incidence of vasovagal reactions (VVRs) and the efficacy of lidocaine injection for prevention.

Methods: One hundred seventeen patients diagnosed with hemorrhoids and scheduled to undergo a stapled hemorrhoidopexy (SH) were randomly divided according to submucosal injection to the rectum: lidocaine group (n = 53, lidocaine injected just before full closure of the stapler) and control group (n = 58). Outcomes included baseline patient characteristics (American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification, body mass index, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and previous VVR history), vital signs during the operation, incidence of VVRs (hypotension, bradycardia, dizziness, diaphoresis, and nausea/vomiting), and postoperative complications (pain, bleeding, and urinary retention).

Current Status and Future Direction of Immunotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: What Do the Data Suggest?

Most patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are diagnosed at an advanced stage of disease. Until recently, systemic treatment options that showed survival benefits in HCC have been limited to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, antibodies targeting oncogenic signaling pathways or VEGF receptors. The HCC tumor microenvironment is characterized by a dysfunction of the immune system through multiple mechanisms, including accumulation of various immunosuppressive factors, recruitment of regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and induction of T cell exhaustion accompanied with the interaction between immune checkpoint ligands and receptors.

Anal Gland/Duct Cyst: A Case Report.

Anal gland/duct cyst (AGC) is rare and observed in only 0.05% of patients undergoing anal surgery. AGC is thought to be a retention cyst in the anal gland and arises when an obstruction of the anal duct causes fluid collection in the anal gland.

Hidradenoma Papilliferum of the Anus: A Report of 2 Cases and Review of the Literature.

Hidradenoma papilliferum is a rare benign cystic tumor that originates from apocrine glands or anogenital mammary glands. Here, we describe 2 cases of hidradenoma papilliferum of the anus. Two female patients aged 39 and 35 presented with perianal masses with hemorrhoids.

Evaluation of synbiotics as gut health improvement agents against Shiga toxin-producing isolated from the pig.

Colibacillosis is one of the major health problems in young piglets resulting in poor health and death caused by producing F18 pili and Shiga toxin 2e. It is pivotal to reduce colibacillosis in weaned piglets to enhance production performance. In this study, we evaluated synbiotics as the gut health improvement agents in the mouse model challenged with Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) isolated from piglets.

Influence of Epidural Steroid Injection on Adrenal Function.

Background: Spinal diseases are self-limited or non-progressive in many cases. Epidural steroid injection (ESI) is a common nonsurgical treatment option for spinal pain. Despite concerns about complications of repeated steroid injection, few studies reported on the adrenal function of spine disease patients undergoing surgery after ESI.

Sagittal shapes of current fixed-bearing unicompartmental knee replacements differ from those of normal knees.

Background: The principle when performing unicompartmental knee replacements (UKR), is to restore the natural alignment as well as the ligament tension. The tension in the ligaments is determined by the position of the joint line and the geometry of the articulating surfaces of the joint. If the surface geometry of the femoral component in a UKR is different from that of the natural knee it might cause abnormal ligament tension.

Immunomodulatory Effects of Placenta-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells on T Cells by Regulation of FoxP3 Expression.

The immunomodulatory effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are an important mediator of their therapeutic effects in stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine. The regulation mechanism of MSCs is orchestrated by several factors in both intrinsic and extrinsic events. Recent studies have shown that the dynamic expression of cytokines secreted from MSCs control T cell function and maturation by regulating the expression of FoxP3, which figures prominently in T cell differentiation.

Clinical usefulness of FDG-PET in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing surgical resection.

Backgrounds/aims: Diagnosis and staging of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is critical because of the variety of treatment methods and prognosis. [F]fludeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography ([F]FDG-PET/CT) has been suggested as a diagnostic modality in HCC. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of FDG-PET for staging of HCC after surgical resection and histological confirmation.

Clinical and Cytogenetic Profiles of Rhabdomyosarcoma with Bone Marrow Involvement in Korean Children: A 15-Year Single-Institution Experience.

Background: Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children. Alveolar RMS (ARMS) is characterized by FOXO1-related chromosomal translocations that result in a poorer clinical outcome compared with embryonal RMS (ERMS). Because the chromosomal features of RMS have not been comprehensively defined, we analyzed the clinical and laboratory data of childhood RMS patients and determined the clinical significance of chromosomal abnormalities in the bone marrow.

Transforming Growth Factor-β Promotes Liver Tumorigenesis in Mice via Up-regulation of Snail.

Background & Aims: Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) suppresses early stages of tumorigenesis, but also contributes to migration and metastasis of cancer cells. A large number of human tumors contain mutations that inactivate its receptors, or downstream proteins such as Smad transcription factors, indicating that the TGF-β signaling pathway prevents tumor growth. We investigated the effects of TGF-β inhibition on liver tumorigenesis in mice.

Inadequacy of computed tomography for pre-operative planning of patellofemoral arthroplasty.

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of preoperative planning for patellofemoral arthroplasty (PFA) by comparing: (1) virtual implant positioning simulated on pre-operative images versus (2) real implant positioning from post-operative images.

Methods: The authors prospectively studied 15 patients that received a PFJ implant (Tornier, Montbonnot France). A pre-operative planning software was established to determine the size and position of the trochlear component.