Exploration of New Electroacupuncture Needle Material

Background. Electro Acupuncture (EA) uses the acupuncture needle as an electrode to apply low-frequency stimulation. For its safe operation, it is essential to prevent any corrosion of the acupuncture needle. Objective. The aim of this study is to find an available material and determine the possibility of producing a standard EA needle that is biocompatible. Methods. Biocompatibility was tested by an MTT assay and cytotoxicity testing. Corrosion was observed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) after 0.5 mA, 60 min stimulation. The straightness was measured using a gap length of 100 mm, and tensile testing was performed by imposing a maximum tensile load. Results. Phosphor bronze, Ni coated SS304, were deemed inappropriate materials because of mild-to-moderate cytotoxicity and corrosion. Ti-6Al-4V and SS316 showed no cytotoxicity or corrosion. Ti-6Al-4V has a 70 times higher cost and 2.5 times lower conductivity than SS316. The results of both straightness and tensile testing confirmed that SS316 can be manufactured as a standard product. Conclusion. As a result, we confirmed that SS316 can be used a new EA electrode material. We hope that a further study of the maximum capacity of low-frequency stimulation using an SS316 for safe operation

On Coincidence and Fixed-Point Theorems in Symmetric Spaces

We give an axiom (C.C) in symmetric spaces and investigate the relationships between (C.C) and axioms (W3), (W4), and (H.E). We give some results on coinsidence and fixed-point theorems in symmetric spaces, and also, we give some examples for the results of Imdad et al. (2006)

On coincidence and fixed-point theorems in symmetric spaces,”

We give an axiom C.C in symmetric spaces and investigate the relationships between C.C and axioms W3 , W4 , and H.E . We give some results on coinsidence and fixed-point theorems in symmetric spaces, and also, we give some examples for the results o

Histologic confirmation of huge pancreatic lipoma: a case report and review of literatures

Pancreatic lipomas are commonly diagnosed based on radiologic images, although the prevalence of lipomas has not been established. Histologic confirmation of pancreatic lipomas is extremely rare because surgical treatment is unnecessary in most cases. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology has been suggested to avoid unnecessary surgery to distinguish between a lipoma and a well-differentiated liposarcoma; however, surgery would be needed when the tumor is associated with symptoms or difficult to distinguish from a liposarcoma. We present a case of a pancreatic lipoma in a 54-year-old male patient that was histologically-confirmed by subtotal pancreatectomy

Association between cord blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and respiratory tract infections in the first 6 months of age in a Korean population: a birth cohort study (COCOA)

PurposePrevious studies suggest that the concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in cord blood may show an inverse association with respiratory tract infections (RTI) during childhood. The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of 25(OH)D concentrations in cord blood on infant RTI in a Korean birth cohort.MethodsThe levels of 25(OH)D in cord blood obtained from 525 Korean newborns in the prospective COhort for Childhood Origin of Asthma and allergic diseases were examined. The primary outcome variable of interest was the prevalence of RTI at 6-month follow-up, as diagnosed by pediatricians and pediatric allergy and pulmonology specialists. RTI included acute nasopharyngitis, rhinosinusitis, otitis media, croup, tracheobronchitis, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia.ResultsThe median concentration of 25(OH)D in cord blood was 32.0 nmol/L (interquartile range, 21.4 to 53.2). One hundred and eighty neonates (34.3%) showed 25(OH)D concentrations less than 25.0 nmol/L, 292 (55.6%) showed 25(OH)D concentrations of 25.0-74.9 nmol/L, and 53 (10.1%) showed concentrations of ≥75.0 nmol/L. Adjusting for the season of birth, multivitamin intake during pregnancy, and exposure to passive smoking during pregnancy, 25(OH)D concentrations showed an inverse association with the risk of acquiring acute nasopharyngitis by 6 months of age (P for trend=0.0004).ConclusionThe results show that 89.9% of healthy newborns in Korea are born with vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency (55.6% and 34.3%, respectively). Cord blood vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency in healthy neonates is associated with an increased risk of acute nasopharyngitis by 6 months of age. More time spent outdoors and more intensified vitamin D supplementation for pregnant women may be needed to prevent the onset of acute nasopharyngitis in infants

Empirical assessment of biases in cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease: an umbrella review and re-analysis of data from meta-analyses

OBJECTIVE: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a leading cause of years lived with disability in older age, and several cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers have been proposed in individual meta-analyses to be associated with AD but field-wide evaluation and scrutiny of the literature is not available. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed an umbrella review for the reported associations between CSF biomarkers and AD. Data from available meta-analyses were reanalyzed using both random and fixed effects models. We also estimated between-study heterogeneity, small-study effects, excess significance, and prediction interval. RESULTS: A total of 38 meta-analyses on CSF markers from 11 eligible articles were identified and reanalyzed. In 14 (36%) of the meta-analyses, the summary estimate and the results of the largest study showed non-concordant results in terms of statistical significance. Large heterogeneity (I2≥75%) was observed in 73% and small-study effects under Egger’s test were shown in 28% of CSF biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that there is an excess of statistically significant results and significant biases in the literature of CSF biomarkers for AD. Therefore, the results of CSF biomarkers should be interpreted with caution

The linear algebra of the k-Fibonacci matrix

AbstractFor a positive integer k⩾2, the k-Fibonacci sequence {g(k)n} is defined as: g(k)1=⋯=g(k)k−2=0, g(k)k−1=g(k)k=1 and for n>k⩾2, g(k)n=g(k)n−1+g(k)n−2+⋯+g(k)n−k. The n×n k-Fibonacci matrix F(k)n=[f(k)ij]n is defined as: for fixed k⩾2,f(k)ij=gi−j+1i−j+1⩾0,0i−j+1<0,where gn=g(k)n+k−2. Also, the n by n k-symmetric Fibonacci matrix Q(k)n=[q(k)ij]n is defined asq(k)ij=q(k)ji=∑l=1kq(k)i,j−li+1⩽j,∑l=1kq(k)i,i−l+g1i=j,where q(k)ij=0 for j⩽0. If k=2, then F(2)n is the Fibonacci matrix and Q(2)n is the symmetric Fibonacci matrix. The properties of the Fibonacci matrix and the symmetric Fibonacci matrix are well-known.In this paper, we discuss the linear algebra of the k-Fibonacci matrix and the symmetric k-Fibonacci matrix

Sign-Consistency And Solvability Of Constrained Linear Systems

Sign-solvable linear systems were introduced in modelling economic and physical systems where only qualitative information is known. Often economic and physical constraints require the entries of a solution to be nonnegative. Yet, to date the assumption of nonnegativity has been omitted in the study of sign-solvable linear systems. In this paper, the notions of signconsistency and sign-solvability of a constrained linear system Ax = b; x # 0 0, are introduced. These notions give rise to new classes of sign patterns. The structure and the complexity of the recognition problem for each of these classes are studied. A qualitative analog of Farkas&apos; Lemma is proven, and it is used to establish necessary and su#cient conditions for the constrained linear system Ax = b; x # 0 0 to be sign-consistent. Also, necessary and sufficient conditions for the constrained linear system Ax = b; x # 0 0 to be sign-solvable are determined, and these are used to establish a polynomialtime recognition algo..