Accelerated Conversion of Polysulfides for Ultra Long-Cycle of Li-S Battery at High-Rate over Cooperative Cathode Electrocatalyst of NiCoS/N-Doped CNTs.

Despite the very high theoretical energy density, Li-S batteries still need to fundamentally overcome the sluggish redox kinetics of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and low sulfur utilization that limit the practical applications. Here, highly active and stable cathode, nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanotubes (NPCTs) decorated with NiCoS nanocrystals are systematically synthesized as multi-functional electrocatalytic materials. The nitrogen-doped carbon matrix can contribute to the adsorption of LiPSs on heteroatom active sites with buffering space.

Oxygen Vacancy-Controlled CuO/N,Se Co-Doped Porous Carbon via Plasma-Treatment for Enhanced Electro-Reduction of Nitrate to Green Ammonia.

The electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NORR) is of significance in regards of environmentally friendly issues and green ammonia production. However, relatively low performance with a competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a challenge to overcome for the NORR. In this study, oxygen vacancy-controlled copper oxide (CuO) catalysts through a plasma treatment are successfully prepared and supported on high surface area porous carbon that are co-doped with N, Se species for its enhanced electrochemical properties.

Dynamic Risk Model for the Medical Treatment of Graves' Hyperthyroidism according to Treatment Duration.

Backgruound: Changes in thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb) levels are associated with the clinical outcomes of Graves' hyperthyroidism. However, the effects of the patterns of TRAb changes on patient prognosis according to the treatment duration of antithyroid drugs (ATDs) are not well established.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 1,235 patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism who were treated with ATDs for more than 12 months were included.

Thermal Runaway Mechanism in Ni-Rich Cathode Full Cells of Lithium-Ion Batteries: The Role of Multidirectional Crosstalk.

Crosstalk, the exchange of chemical species between battery electrodes, significantly accelerates thermal runaway (TR) of lithium-ion batteries. To date, the understanding of their main mechanisms has centered on single-directional crosstalk of oxygen (O) gas from the cathode to the anode, underestimating the exothermic reactions during TR. However, the role of multidirectional crosstalk in steering additional exothermic reactions is yet to be elucidated due to the difficulties of correlative in situ analyses of full cells.

Tumor Growth Kinetics Based on Initial Tumor Volume Doubling Time in Active Surveillance of Low-Risk Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

During active surveillance (AS) of low-risk papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs), the majority remain stable, while some exhibit either an increase or a decrease in tumor diameter or tumor volume (TV). We aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes and relevant parameters influencing tumor growth kinetics of low-risk PTCs. This retrospective cohort study evaluated clinical parameters of 402 patients with low-risk PTC sized <2 cm, with a follow-up duration over 3 years.

Macrophage-Induced Carboxypeptidase A4 Promotes the Progression of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer.

The density of tumor-associated macrophages in the tumor microenvironment of anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is associated with poor prognosis. However, the crosstalk between macrophages and ATC cells is poorly understood. This study aimed to examine the impact of macrophages on cancer cell phenotypes.

Prognostic Roles of Inflammatory Biomarkers in Radioiodine-Refractory Thyroid Cancer Treated with Lenvatinib.

Backgruound: Inflammatory biomarkers, such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), serve as valuable prognostic indicators in various cancers. This multicenter, retrospective cohort study assessed the treatment outcomes of lenvatinib in 71 patients with radioactive iodine (RAI)-refractory thyroid cancer, considering the baseline inflammatory biomarkers.

Methods: This study retrospectively included patients from five tertiary hospitals in Korea whose complete blood counts were available before lenvatinib treatment.

Undercover active surveillance of small highly suspicious thyroid nodules without fine needle aspiration.

Purpose: Active surveillance (AS) is an alternative treatment approach for small, low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). This study aimed to assess the clinical outcomes of small, highly suspicious nodules lacking initial cytological confirmation.

Methods: This study included 112 patients with highly suspicious nodules measuring ≤ 10 mm who underwent serial ultrasound at Asan Medical Center, Korea, between 2010 and 2023.

Long-Term Changes in the Mortality Rates of Thyroid Cancer in Korea: Analysis of Korean National Data from 1985 to 2020.

Backgruound: Thyroid cancer mortality has been largely overlooked as relatively stable given the large gap between thyroid cancer incidence and mortality. This study evaluated long-term trends in age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) throughout Korea and compared them with mortality data reported by the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER).

Methods: Cancer-specific mortality data from 1985 to 2020 were obtained from Statistics Korea.

Contralateral Low-to-Intermediate Suspicion Nodule Is Not a Contraindication for Lobectomy in Patients with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

The optimal extent of surgery for unilateral papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with contralateral nodules remains unclear. This study evaluated the long-term outcomes in a large cohort of patients with unilateral PTC and contralateral low-to-intermediate suspicious nodules who underwent lobectomy. This retrospective cohort study included patients with unilateral PTC who underwent lobectomy between January 2016 and December 2017 at Asan Medical Center in Korea.

Changes in peripheral blood immune cell population in thyroid cancer patients treated with lenvatinib.

This study evaluated changes in the peripheral blood immune cell population in patients with advanced thyroid cancer receiving lenvatinib treatment to confirm the immune-modulatory effect of lenvatinib. After obtaining informed consent from patients, we prospectively collected 20 ml of whole blood at 2-3 months intervals 2-4 times from each patient; peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were separated, and the Maxpar Direct Immune Profiling Assay was performed. A total of 10 patients were enrolled, and 31 blood samples were obtained.

Inflammatory biomarkers predict outcomes of patients with radioactive iodine refractory thyroid cancer treated with sorafenib.

Background: The objective of this multicenter, retrospective cohort study was to evaluate the ability of inflammatory biomarkers representing the host immune system to predict outcomes in 70 patients with progressive radioactive iodine (RAI)-refractory thyroid cancer who were treated with sorafenib.

Method: Patients were divided into low and high inflammatory biomarker groups based on median values. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed based on the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR).

Serum thyroglobulin testing after thyroid lobectomy in patients with 1-4 cm papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Background: The role of measuring serum thyroglobulin (Tg) levels in patients who have undergone lobectomy has not been proven. The goal of this research is to see if serum Tg levels can predict the recurrence of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) after lobectomy.

Methods: The 463 patients with 1-4 cm PTC who underwent lobectomy between January 2005 and December 2012, were included in this retrospective cohort study.

Long-term follow-up result of antithyroid drug treatment of Graves' hyperthyroidism in a large cohort.

Objective: This study evaluated the efficacy of antithyroid drugs (ATDs) and risk factors associated with the recurrence of Graves' hyperthyroidism using a comprehensive retrospective cohort.

Methods: We included 1829 patients newly diagnosed with Graves' hyperthyroidism, with sufficient follow-up data. Clinical outcomes of the patients and risk factors associated with recurrence-free survival, including the changes in thyrotropin receptor antibody, were evaluated.

Patterning Design of Electrode to Improve the Interfacial Stability and Rate Capability for Fast Rechargeable Solid-State Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Patterned electrodes were developed for use in solid-state lithium-ion batteries, with the ultimate goal to promote fast-charging attributes through improving electrochemically activated surfaces within electrodes. By a conventional photolithography, patterned arrays of SnO nanowires were fabricated directly on the current collector, and empty channel structures formed between the resulting arrays were customized through modifying the size and interval of the SnO patterns. The composite electrolyte comprising LiLaZrO and poly(ethylene oxide) was exploited to secure intimate interfacial contact at the electrode/electrolyte junction while preserving ionic conductivity in the bulk electrolyte.

Recent Changes in the Incidence of Thyroid Cancer in Korea between 2005 and 2018: Analysis of Korean National Data.

Backgruound: In this study, we evaluated the recent changes in the standardized, age-specific, stage-specific incidence rates (IRs) of thyroid cancer in Korea and compared them with the incidence data reported by the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program.

Methods: The analysis was conducted using the incidence data (2005 to 2018) from the Statistics Korea and Korea Central Cancer Registry.

Results: The age-standardized IR (SIR) of thyroid cancer increased from 24.

Fuel cell performance improvement via the steric effect of a hydrocarbon-based binder for cathode in proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

In this study, a sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) having cardo-type fluorenyl groups (FL-SPES) was investigated as a cathodic binder to improve fuel cell performance via increased the oxygen diffusion in the cathode. The maximum power density achieved by using the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) prepared with FL-SPES with a low ion exchange capacity (IEC) of 1.31 meq g was 520 mW cm, which is more than twice as high as that of BP-SPES (210 mW cm) having typical biphenyl groups with a similar IEC.

Prognosis of Patients with 1-4 cm Papillary Thyroid Cancer Who Underwent Lobectomy: Focus on Gross Extrathyroidal Extension Invading Only the Strap Muscles.

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the prognostic implication of gross extrathyroidal extension (ETE) invading the strap muscles after thyroid lobectomy in patients with 1-4 cm papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with 1-4 cm PTC who underwent thyroid lobectomy from 2005 to 2012. Overall, 595 patients were enrolled after excluding patients with aggressive variants of PTC, gross ETE into a major neck structure, and lateral cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis.

How to Change the Reaction Chemistry on Nonprecious Metal Oxide Nanostructure Materials for Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Biomass-Derived Glycerol to Renewable Chemicals.

Au and Pt are well-known catalysts for electrocatalytic oxidation of biomass-derived glycerol. Although some nonprecious-metal-based materials to replace the costly Au and Pt are used for this reaction, the fundamental question of how the nonprecious catalysts affect the reaction chemistry and mechanism compared to Au and Pt catalysts is still unanswered. In this work, both experimental and computational methods are used to understand how and why the reaction performance and chemistry for the electrocatalytic glycerol oxidation reaction (EGOR) change with electrochemically-synthesized CuCo-oxide, Cu-oxide, and Co-oxide catalysts compared to conventional Au and Pt catalysts.

Lenvatinib Compared with Sorafenib as a First-Line Treatment for Radioactive Iodine-Refractory, Progressive, Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: Real-World Outcomes in a Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

Sorafenib and lenvatinib have been widely adopted to treat radioactive iodine (RAI)-refractory differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). However, limited data exist regarding a direct comparison of these tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). We aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of two TKIs as first-line therapy in patients with distant metastatic or locally advanced, progressive, RAI-refractory DTC in real-world practice.

Limitations of fine-needle aspiration and core needle biopsies in the diagnosis of tall cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Background: The tall cell variant papillary thyroid carcinoma (TCV-PTC) shows aggressive behaviour. Thus far, the diagnosis of TCV-PTC can only be confirmed using the postoperative specimen. This study aims to evaluate whether fine-needle aspiration (FNA) or core needle biopsy (CNB) could diagnose TCV-PTC preoperatively.