Factors Affecting the Extrusion Rate of Ventilation Tubes

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to determine the various factors that affect the extrusion rate of ventilation tubes (VTs), including the nature of the middle ear effusion.MethodsA retrospective chart review of 82 pediatric patients (177 ears) who received VT insertion surgery under general anesthesia was carried out to evaluate the relationship between various factors and the VT extrusion rate. The factors we analyzed included age, gender, the adenoid size, the amount and content of the middle ear effusion after myringotomy, bleeding events, associated adenoidectomy and the findings of the tympanic membrane status, the tympanometry and the audiometry of the air bone gap.ResultsThe mean extrusion time was 254 days (range, 11 to 809 days). The patients with no history of previous VT insertion had a longer extrusion time (mean, 279 days) than did the patients who had undergone previous VT insertion (mean, 203 days). The patients with serous effusion had the shortest extrusion time (mean, 190 days) as compared to those patients with glue (273 days) and pus (295 days) effusions. Other factors had no statistical significant relationship with the extrusion time.ConclusionThe mean VT extrusion time was 254 days. The VT extrusion time was significantly related to the characteristics of the middle ear effusion and a history of previous VT insertion. Thus, the nature of middle ear effusion can provide a clinical clue to predict the VT extrusion time

Self-Isolated Dual-Mode High-Pass Birdcage RF Coil for Proton and Sodium MR Imaging at 7 T MRI

This study presents the feasibility of a dual-mode high-pass birdcage RF coil to acquire MR images at both 1H and 23Na frequencies at ultra-high-field MR scanner, 7 T. A dual-mode circuit (DMC) in the dual-mode birdcage (DMBC) RF coil operates at two frequencies, addressing the limitations of sensitivity reduction and isolation between two frequencies as in traditional dual-tuned RF coil. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) based electromagnetic (EM) simulations were performed to verify the RF coil at each frequency on the three-dimensional human head model. The DMBC RF coil resonated at proton (1H) and sodium (23Na) frequencies, and also single-tuned high-pass birdcage RF coils were constructed for both 1H and 23Na frequencies. The bench test performance of the RF coils was evaluated using network analysis parameters, including the measurement of scattering parameters (S-parameters) and quality factors (Q-factors). Q-factor of the DMBC coil at 1H port was 10.2% lower than that of 1H single-tuned birdcage (STBC) coil, with a modest SNR reduction of 6.5%. Similarly, the Q-factor for the DMBC coil at 23Na port was 12.3% less than that of 23Na STBC coil, and the SNR showed a minimal reduction of 5.4%. Utilizing the DMBC coil, promising 1H and 23Na MR images were acquired compared to those by using STBC coils. In conclusion, deploying a DMBC 1H/23Na coil has been demonstrated to overcome traditional constraints associated with dual-tuned RF coils, achieving this with only nominal signal attenuation across both nuclei operational frequencies

Difference in glenoid retroversion between two-dimensional axial computed tomography and three-dimensional reconstructed images

Background The glenoid version of the shoulder joint correlates with the stability of the glenohumeral joint and the clinical results of total shoulder arthroplasty. We sought to analyze and compare the glenoid version measured by traditional axial two-dimensional (2D) computed tomography (CT) and three-dimensional (3D) reconstructed images at different levels. Methods A total of 30 cases, including 15 male and 15 female patients, who underwent 3D shoulder CT imaging was randomly selected and matched by sex consecutively at one hospital. The angular difference between the scapular body axis and 2D CT slice axis was measured. The glenoid version was assessed at three levels (midpoint, upper one-third, and center of the lower circle of the glenoid) using Friedman’s method in the axial plane with 2D CT images and at the same level of three different transverse planes using a 3D reconstructed image. Results The mean difference between the scapular body axis on the 3D reconstructed image and the 2D CT slice axis was 38.4°. At the level of the midpoint of the glenoid, the measurements were 1.7°±4.9° on the 2D CT images and −1.8°±4.1° in the 3D reconstructed image. At the level of the center of the lower circle, the measurements were 2.7°±5.2° on the 2D CT images and −0.5°±4.8° in the 3D reconstructed image. A statistically significant difference was found between the 2D CT and 3D reconstructed images at all three levels. Conclusions The glenoid version is measured differently between axial 2D CT and 3D reconstructed images at three levels. Use of 3D reconstructed imaging can provide a more accurate glenoid version profile relative to 2D CT. The glenoid version is measured differently at different levels

In vitro antioxidant and anti-adipogenic effects of slendesta, standard potato extracts containing 5% protease inhibitor II

Background: The objective of the present study is to observe the anti-adipogenic effects of Slendesta (SLD), a standard potato protein extracts containing 5% potato protease inhibitor II (PI2) on the 3T3-L1 preadipocytes which are able to differentiate into mature adipocytes and accumulate lipids, as an obesity model with cytotoxicity and antioxidant effects.Materials and Methods: The cytotoxicity of SLD was observed against 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cell line by MTT assay, and also antiadipogenic effects were observed through lipid accumulation assay during 3T3-L1 differentiation as comparing with N-Acetyl-Lcysteine (NAC). In addition, antioxidant effects of SLD were detected by free radical scavenging capacity and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity as comparing with ascorbic acid.Results: The SLD showed obvious cytotoxicity against 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte cell line at higher concentrations, from 1.5 mg/ml for 72 h treatment, and the cytotoxic IC50 of SLD after 24, 48 and 72 h treatment times were detected as 10.11 ± 0.67, 5.71 ± 0.37 and 5.34 ± 0.21 mg/ml, respectively. The SLD also concentration-dependently inhibited the lipid accumulations formatted during 3T3-L1 cell differentiations. The adipogenic specific genes including PPARγ, C/EBPα, C/EBPβ and leptin were found to be reduced in SLD and NAC-treated cells compared to control cells. Furthermore, the SLD effectively showed DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 161.98 ± 64.65 μg/ml) and SOD-like effects (IC50 = 284.54 ± 54.47 μg/ml), and the cellular ROS was significantly inhibited in the SLD-treated cells compared to control cells.Conclusion: The results suggest that SLD effectively inhibit the differentiations of 3T3-L1 preadipose cell probably through antioxidant activities and direct cytotoxicity in case of higher concentration, along with satiety effects mediated by increases of circulating cholecystokinin. These findings are considered as direct evidences that SLD may serve as a predictable functional ingredient for obesity as an alternative therapy.Key words: Slendesta, potato protease inhibitor II, 3T3-L1 cell, cytotoxicity, anti-adipogenic effects, antioxidant effects

Teratogenicity and brain aromatase-induction of monosodium glutamate in estrogen-responsive mosaic transgenic zebra fish Danio rerio

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) has been used as a flavor enhancer for decades. It has various teratogenicity effects on tested animals but has not been examined in zebra fish model to date. This experiment was conducted to study the teratogenic effects of MSG on wild-type zebra fish embryos and also to study the estrogenic potential of MSG on the transient zebrafish embryos with a brain aromatase-based reporter gene. Different concentrations of MSG (0, 10, 50 and 100 μg/ml) were tested. Wild-type and transient embryos were exposed to the solutions at about 2 h post fertilization (hpf). Hatching and survival decreased in all treatments with significant difference (p < 0.05) at 50 and 100 μg/ml concentrations with control. Stunted skeletal structure was observed at 100 μg/ml treatment. At 96 hpf, MSG induced enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) expression in the olfactory bulb at 100 μg/ml treatment. Various malformations were found in all treatments. The current results demonstrate that MSG or MSG-containing foods may harm the human offspring if they take it in a high dose. MSG in high concentration may disrupt the endocrine function. Zebra fish embryo with a brain aromatase-based reporter gene is a good model for the detection of estrogenic potential of any controversial chemical.Keywords: Monosodium glutamate (MSG), teratogenicity, aromatase, embryos, zebra fis