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The effects of nanopillar and nanopit arrays on the morphology and osteogenic differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells

2026-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The effects of nanopillar and nanopit arrays on the morphology and osteogenic differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells Authors: Kang, Jihun; Yun, Young-Shik; Kang, Eun-Hye; Lee, Jihye; Jeon, Deok-Jin; Ji, Seungmuk; Kim, Yong-Oock; Yun, In-Sik; Yeo, Jong-Souk Abstract: Nanotopographic control of cell behavior offers great potential in designing biomimetic scaffolds for cell therapy. However, the behavior of cells on different nanotopographies is not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the effect of nanostructures on human adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) by directly comparing nanopillar and nanopit arrays. Morphological changes, cell viability and early osteogenic differentiation of ASCs have been analyzed on the nanostructures. Nanopit arrays were found to increase cell areas and promote early osteogenic differentiation more than nanopillar arrays. Analysis of focal adhesion (FA) formation indicated a larger increase in total area as well as the number of FAs during cell spreading on nanopit arrays. The maturation of FA is related to cellular traction forces, which are known to stimulate osteogenic induction through the RhoA-ROCK pathway. We conclude that ASCs can spread more on the nanopit array than on the nanopillar array due to the presence of continuous adhesive paths on the nanopit array, which is associated with increased expression of RUNX2 as an early osteogenic marker. Our results suggest that a connected path in nanopit arrays plays a critical role in controlling stem cell behavior compared to nanopillar arrays. A comparative understanding of nanostructures can provide a guideline for designing an artificial substrate for osteogenesis and tissue engineering. © The Author(s) 2026.

Oncologic and Functional Outcomes of Active Surveillance and Ablative Therapy for Small Renal Masses: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2026-05-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Oncologic and Functional Outcomes of Active Surveillance and Ablative Therapy for Small Renal Masses: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Authors: Nguyen, Tuan Thanh; Yang, Yun-Jung; Yang, Eun-Jung; Duong, Nguyen Xuong; Quy, Khoa; Vuong, Huy Gia; Minh, Khang Dang Le; Nhat, Nam Le Ha; Truong, Thanh Nhat; Phan, Huu Hung; Choi, Se Young Abstract: Purpose: To compare the oncologic and renal functional outcomes of active surveillance (AS) and ablative therapy (AT) in patients with small renal masses (SRMs). Materials and Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science identified 78 studies: 9 on AS, 68 on AT, and 1 comparative study. Outcomes included overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), development of metastasis, posttreatment chronic kidney disease (CKD), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Subgroup analyses were conducted by tumor size (<3 cm), age (<75 and >= 75 years), and T1a stage. Results: AT demonstrated higher OS compared with AS (84.8% vs 74.0%). CSS was comparable between AS (99.6%) and AT (93.5%). Metastasis rates remained low in both groups (0.6% for AS; 0.9% for AT). CKD was reported in 12.0% of AT-treated patients, while data were limited for AS. Posttreatment eGFR was similar in both strategies. Subgroup analyses confirmed the consistency of these findings across patient and tumor characteristics. Significant heterogeneity was noted across studies. Conclusions: Both AS and AT appear safe and effective for managing SRMs, with favorable CSS and similar posttreatment renal function. AS may be preferable in older or comorbid patients, whereas AT, particularly image-guided approaches, offers a minimally invasive alternative for those requiring active treatment. Prospective comparative studies are warranted to refine patient selection and optimize management strategies.

Diagnostic performance of narrow-band imaging and photodynamic diagnosis compared to white light cystoscopy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: A network meta-analysis of randomized trials

2026-03-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Diagnostic performance of narrow-band imaging and photodynamic diagnosis compared to white light cystoscopy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: A network meta-analysis of randomized trials Authors: Choi, Se Young; Yang, Yun-Jung; Min, Kyung Chan; Lee, Yong Seong; Choi, Joongwon; Kim, Jung Hoon; Lee, Chung Un; Yang, Eun-Jung; Tae, Jong Hyun Abstract: Purpose: To compare the diagnostic performance of white light cystoscopy (WLC), photodynamic diagnosis (PDD), and narrow-band imaging (NBI) in the detection of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) through a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Materials and Methods: A systematic literature search of PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), and Web of Science was conducted in February 2024. RCTs comparing WLC, NBI, and PDD in patients with NMIBC were included. Six RCTs comprising 2,439 patients were analyzed. Diagnostic outcomes evaluated included sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), false-positive rate, and carcinoma in situ (CIS) sensitivity. A random-effects network meta-analysis was performed using Stata software. Risk of bias was assessed using the RoB 2 tool. Results: Both NBI and PDD demonstrated significantly improved sensitivity compared to WLC (odds ratio [OR] for NBI 7.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.91-20.19; OR for PDD 7.85, 95% CI 3.76-16.38). PDD showed the highest CIS sensitivity (OR 13.37, 95% CI 4.38-40.89). WLC had the highest specificity (OR for PDD 0.29, 95% CI 0.08-1.00). NBI achieved the highest NPV (OR 8.28, 95% CI 1.34-51.28), while PDD showed the lowest PPV (OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.09-0.29). SUCRA (surface under the cumulative ranking curve) rankings supported these findings. Conclusions: NBI and PDD improve NMIBC detection sensitivity over WLC, notably PDD for CIS, despite lower specificity. WLC remains the most specific, and NBI offers a favorable balance between sensitivity and diagnostic precision.

Re-sterilization Prior to Implant Insertion in Prosthetic Breast Reconstruction: Is It Necessary?

2026-02-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Re-sterilization Prior to Implant Insertion in Prosthetic Breast Reconstruction: Is It Necessary? Authors: Won, Jongmin; Ryu, Seong Jun; Song, Seung Yong Abstract: Purpose: Breast operations have a surgical site infection rate of <1.5%, a figure that increases to 3% after implant-based reconstructions. We aimed to assess whether contamination occurred before implant insertion and could be related to post-operative infections. Patients and Methods: The reconstruction team prepared the surgical field using a betadine solution and standard draping. After the surgical procedures, the antiseptic was re-applied around the incision, the surgical field re-draped, and the gloves changed before implant insertion. Immediately before the betadine application and re-draping, swab cultures were collected from the peri-areolar regions and margins of the exposed field. Any signs of infection were checked during the 2-year follow-up. Results: A total of 164 cases were included; of these 13 showed positive swab cultures (12 of Staphylococcus epidermidis, and one of Bacillus species). Among them, only one patient developed a post-operative infection necessitating the insertion of a Hemovac drain at 42 days after a surgical procedure. Among the 151 patients with negative swab culture results, 10 patients received a diagnosis of post-operative infections; follow-up cultures primarily identified S. aureus (three methicillin-sensitive cases, four methicillin-resistant cases), whereas two were culture-negative. Conclusion: Residual contamination may persist despite the initial surgical site sterilization. The re-application of antiseptics and re-draping immediately before implant insertion may help reduce post-operative infections and should be considered an adjunct to comprehensive peri-operative protocols. Some infections may be more closely related to post-operative management than pre-implant field contamination, underscoring the need for meticulous post-operative care. Definitive causal relationships should be tested using rigorously designed and adequately powered studies.