Minimally invasive surgery for deep endometriosis

Deep endometriosis (DE) is endometriotic tissue that invades the peritoneum by >5 mm. Surgery is the treatment of choice for symptomatic DE, and laparoscopic surgery is preferred over laparotomy due to better vision and postoperative pain. In this review, we aimed to collect and summarize recent literature on DE surgery and share laparoscopic procedures for rectovaginal and bowel endometriosis

Peroxisome Proliferators-Activated Receptor (PPAR) Modulators and Metabolic Disorders

Overweight and obesity lead to an increased risk for metabolic disorders such as impaired glucose regulation/insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Several molecular drug targets with potential to prevent or treat metabolic disorders have been revealed. Interestingly, the activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), which belongs to the nuclear receptor superfamily, has many beneficial clinical effects. PPAR directly modulates gene expression by binding to a specific ligand. All PPAR subtypes (α, γ, and σ) are involved in glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and energy balance. PPAR agonists play an important role in therapeutic aspects of metabolic disorders. However, undesired effects of the existing PPAR agonists have been reported. A great deal of recent research has focused on the discovery of new PPAR modulators with more beneficial effects and more safety without producing undesired side effects. Herein, we briefly review the roles of PPAR in metabolic disorders, the effects of PPAR modulators in metabolic disorders, and the technologies with which to discover new PPAR modulators

Three-dimensional photon counting optical encryption with enhanced visual quality and security level

In this paper, we propose three-dimensional (3D) photon counting double random phase encryption (DRPE) with enhanced visual quality and security level. Conventional 3D photon counting DRPE can quickly encrypt the data by using the 4f optical system and random phase masks with enhanced security because the 3D photon counting technique is used. 3D photon counting DRPE extracts photons from the encrypted data by using statistical methods such as the Poisson random process, and the visual quality of the decrypted data can be enhanced through the 3D reconstruction process. However, it still has a problem to visualize the data when we extract extremely a few photons. To improve the security and the visual quality of the decrypted data, we propose the random amplitude reconstruction process in the encryption stage. Our proposed method reconstructs the amplitude of the encrypted data at a random depth. Thus, the shifting pixel value and depth information can be another important key for decryption through the random process. Therefore, it can effectively decrypt data securely, and the visual quality of the decrypted data can be enhanced. Finally, through the random reconstruction process in the decryption stage, our proposed method can simultaneously enhance the security and visual quality. To verify our proposed method, we carry out the simulation and optical experiment

3D visualization technique for occluded objects in integral imaging using modified smart pixel mapping

In this paper, we propose a modified smart pixel mapping (SPM) to visualize occluded three-dimensional (3D) objects in real image fields. In integral imaging, orthoscopic real 3D images cannot be displayed because of lenslets and the converging light field from elemental images. Thus, pseudoscopic-to-orthoscopic conversion which rotates each elemental image by 180 degree, has been proposed so that the orthoscopic virtual 3D image can be displayed. However, the orthoscopic real 3D image cannot be displayed. Hence, a conventional SPM that recaptures elemental images for the orthoscopic real 3D image using virtual pinhole array has been reported. However, it has a critical limitation in that the number of pixels for each elemental image is equal to the number of elemental images. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a modified SPM that can solve this critical limitation in a conventional SPM and can also visualize the occluded objects efficiently

3D Visualization of objects in heavy scattering media by using wavelet peplography

In this paper, we propose three-dimensional(3D) visualization of objects in heavy scattering media by using peplography and wavelet transform. Conventional haze removal techniques can remove the light haze in the image by using various image processing algorithms or machine learning techniques. However, they may not provide a clear image under heavy scattering media. On the other hand, peplography can visualize the object by detecting ballistic object photons from heavy scattering media. Then, 3D image can be generated by integral imaging. However, it may not visualize 3D object information accurately because of the noise photons from scattering media. Therefore, the image quality for 3D object visualization may be degraded. To solve this problem, we use the discrete wavelet transform in peplography. It can detect the object photon signals from the scattering media and enhance 3D image contrast ratio by using a specific coefficient threshold technique. To prove our method, we carry out optical experiments and compare results with the conventional haze removal method and peplography by using various image quality metrics such as correlation, structural similarity, and peak signal-to-noise ratio

Subcutaneous Sacrococcygeal Myxopapillary Ependymoma in Asian Female:A Case Report

Subcutaneous sacrococcygeal myxopapillary ependymoma is extremely rare tumor that has a tendency to develop in children and adolescents. There have been several case reports and sporadic reports in the literature. However, no case has been reported in an Asian patient, to the best of our knowledge. We describe a 25-year-old Asian female patient with a subcutaneous sacrococcygeal myxopapillary ependymoma that had been clinically diagnosed as a pilonidal cyst. The tumor was treated successfully by surgical excision and the patient is doing well without evidence of local recurrence or distant metastasis at 2 years after surgery.

The Distribution Strategy Of A Representative Fair Trade Organization In Korea: The Case Of Beautiful Coffee

This case study analyzes the distribution strategy of Beautiful Coffee, a leading fair trade organization in Korea. Because of their focus on matters of public interest, fair trade organizations often face financial difficulties, and such difficulties can limit their growth and force them to pursue differentiated distribution strategies. The results indicate that Beautiful Coffee can serve as a good role model for fair trade organizations and have important practical implications for firms pursuing sustainable growth as a social enterprise