Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are ancient, currently inactive, and non-infectious due to recombination, deletions, and mutations in the host genome. However, HERV-derived elements are involved in physiological phenomena including inflammatory response. In recent studies, HERV-derived elements were involved directly in various inflammatory diseases including autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Sjogren’s syndrome. Regarding the involvement of HERV-derived elements in inflammation, two possible mechanisms have been proposed. First, HERV-derived elements cause nonspecific innate immune processes. Second, HERV-derived RNA or proteins might stimulate selective signaling mechanisms. However, it is unknown how silent HERV elements are activated in the inflammatory response and what factors and signaling mechanisms are involved with HERV-derived elements. In this review, we introduce HERV-related autoimmune diseases and propose the possible action mechanisms of HERV-derived elements in the inflammatory response at the molecular level.

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• Correlation analysis of cancer stem cell marker CD133 and human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)-K env in SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells
  Do-Ye Kim, Heungyeol Kim, Eun-Ji Ko, Suk Bong Koh, Hongbae Kim, Ji Young Lee, Chul Min Lee, Wan Kyu Eo, Ki Hyung Kim, Hee-Jae Cha
  Genes & Genomics.2024; 46(4): 511.     CrossRef
• The Role of Human Endogenous Retrovirus (HERV)-K119 env in THP-1 Monocytic Cell Differentiation
  Eun-Ji Ko, Min-Hye Kim, Do-Ye Kim, Hyojin An, Sun-Hee Leem, Yung Hyun Choi, Heui-Soo Kim, Hee-Jae Cha
  International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2023; 24(21): 15566.     CrossRef
• Effect of human endogenous retrovirus-K env gene knockout on proliferation of ovarian cancer cells
  Eun-Ji Ko, Eun Taeg Kim, Heungyeol Kim, Chul Min Lee, Suk Bong Koh, Wan Kyu Eo, Hongbae Kim, Young Lim Oh, Mee Sun Ock, Ki Hyung Kim, Hee-Jae Cha
  Genes & Genomics.2022; 44(9): 1091.     CrossRef
• A Systems Biology Approach on the Regulatory Footprint of Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs)
  Georgios S. Markopoulos
  Diseases.2022; 10(4): 98.     CrossRef

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) has chronic widespread pain (CWP) as a core symptom and a variety of associated somatic and psychological symptoms such as fatigue, sleep problems, cognitive disturbances, multiple somatic pain, and depression. FMS is the subject of considerable controversy in the realm of nosology, diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment. Moreover, the fact that FMS and mental illness are closely associated with each other might intensify the confusion for the distinction between FMS and mental disorders. This narrative literature review aims to provide the concept, diagnosis, and treatment of FMS from the integrative biopsychosocial and psychosomatic perspective. This article first explains the concepts of FMS as a disease entity of biopsychosocial model, and then summarizes the changes of diagnostic criteria over past three decades, differential diagnosis and comorbidity issue focused on mental illnesses. In addition, an overview of treatment of FMS is presented mainly by arranging the recommendations from the international guidelines which have been developed by four official academic associations.

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• The prevalence and correlates of depression in Korean adults with rheumatoid arthritis: Results from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys
  Hyunseuk Kim, Haeyoung Lee, Sang‐Shin Lee
  International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.2022; 25(4): 454.     CrossRef

We experienced a case of crush injury of the hand for which we performed a flap surgery and treated the necrotic parts placement using cultured allogeneic keratinocytes (Kaloderm^®) with good results.

The patient was a 31-year-old woman whose left middle finger was caught in a door, causing a crush injury. Although primary repair was performed, a 2 × 2.5-cm-sized necrosis developed, and a V-Y advancement flap was performed after the removal of dead tissues. However, a 1 × 2-cm-sized partial necrosis occurred and was treated using Kaloderm^®.

After the use of Kaloderm^®, the patient’s wound was healed, and no complications, except for mild pain, were observed for 1 year after the surgery.

If a necrotic site appears after flap placement of fingertip, its treatment is difficult. If used well, Kaloderm^® may be a good option for necrosis of the fingertips and other areas that are difficult to cure.

Spontaneous resolution or thrombosis of giant or ruptured intracranial aneurysms is occasionally reported. However, spontaneous resolution of unruptured aneurysms without any intervention is extremely rare. Recently, we encountered a case of spontaneous resolution of a small unruptured aneurysm of the anterior communicating artery. We describe this rare case and discuss the mechanism of resolution with a review of the related literature.

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• A rare case report of spontaneous thrombosis in unruptured giant intracranial aneurysm
  Argirina Ghassani, Achmad Firdaus Sani, Dedy Kurniawan
  Radiology Case Reports.2023; 18(8): 2649.     CrossRef

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are targeted therapy drugs that selectively inhibit protein kinases. Nephrotoxicity associated with TKIs is uncommon. We report a case of a 39-year-old man with acute kidney injury that developed after nilotinib treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The renal function of the patient decreased during treatment with nilotinib but improved when treatment was discontinued due to neutropenia. However, the renal function of the patient deteriorated again with the reintroduction of nilotinib for treatment. A renal biopsy revealed acute interstitial nephritis (AIN). The patient had no history of comorbidities and medication causing renal injury. Finally, we diagnosed the patient with nilotinib-induced AIN. After switching to imatinib mesylate, the renal function of the patient stabilized without further deterioration. Our case indicates that nilotinib can be a potential cause of renal dysfunction by inducing AIN when renal function deteriorates in patients treated with nilotinib.

Transarterial chemoembolization is often the first-line treatment for multiple hepatocellular carcinomas. However, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy is a treatment option for hepatocellular carcinoma refractory to multiple sessions of transarterial chemoembolization. Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy requires implantation of an appropriate port into the hepatic artery. However, it may be impossible to implant a port due to hepatic artery variation. We report a case of hepatocellular carcinoma refractory to transarterial chemoembolization and hepatic artery variation treated successfully with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy and radiofrequency ablation with complete response after implantation of ports in both liver lobes.

Open door laminoplasty using plates is a safe and effective procedure for multi-level cord compression. To achieve stable laminar arch, various types of plate have been developed and used. Now, we introduce two rare complications related to the laminar shelf of plate.

In the first case, we used the wider laminar shelf plate because the elevated lamina did not fit well into the usual laminar shelf. During follow-up, cord compression due to laminar shelf was observed.

And in the second case, the laminar shelf of plate did not fit into the elevated lamina, so we inserted it with a little bit of force. But the patient’s symptom was not improved. On CT image, the inner cortical bone of the lamina was fractured.

To prevent these complications, surgeons need to consider the thickness of the lamina and the size of the laminar shelf before surgery.

Hemangioma in the renal pelvis is a very rare benign tumor that may be mistaken for renal cell carcinoma. We present, herein, a case of a 59-year-old woman with a renal mass that was diagnosed as a cavernous hemangioma in the renal pelvis. The patient underwent intravenous pyelography, urine cytology, retrograde pyelography, kidney dynamic computed tomography (CT), and surgical excision.

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• Renal venous malformation misdiagnosed as carcinoma: A report of one case and the review of literature
  Xinchun Zhang, Ning Wang, Bingkui Yang
  International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef

Extraintestinal manifestation (EIM) of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is approximately 36%. Of genitourinary complications as an EIM of Crohn’s disease (CD), nephrolithiasis is the most common urinary complication in patients with CD. CD patients have been shown to have decreased urinary volume, pH, magnesium, and excretion of citrate, all of which are significant risk factors for nephrolithiasis. Genitourinary complications often occur in case of a severe longstanding disease and are associated with, the activity of bowel disease, especially in those who have undergone bowel surgery. As uncontrolled nephrolithiasis could impair renal function as well as adversely affect quality of life, proper monitoring, early detection, and prevention of the occurrence of urologic complications in CD is crucial. Few data are available about urolithiasis in patients with CD. Herein we report a case of a successful removal of a 2.7 cm calcium oxalate stone using percutaneous nephrolithotomy from a patient with long-standing CD with a previous surgery for small intestinal and colonic stricture.

Refractory ascites is a rare complication after liver transplantation, and its incidence ranges from 5% to 7%. A 56-year-old man diagnosed with HBV-LC with massive ascites underwent living donor liver transplantation. After transplantation, more than 1000 ml/day of ascites was steadily drained until two weeks after LT. CT showed intrahepatic Rt. portal vein thrombosis and many remnant collaterals with splenomegaly. We decided to embolize the proximal splenic artery and use apixaban to reduce portal flow and resolve the intrahepatic portal thrombosis. One day after splenic artery embolization, the patient’s ascites dramatically decreased. Three days later, he was discharged from the hospital. Three months later, a follow-up liver CT showed resolution of thrombosis and no ascites. Splenic artery embolization was an effective and safe procedure for portal flow modulation in portal hyertension. Apixaban was effective for partial portal vein thrombosis in a liver transplant recipient.