Is Retroflexion Helpful in Detecting Adenomas in the Right Colon?: A Single Center Interim Analysis

Background/AimsColonoscopy is less effective at screening for colorectal cancer in the right side of the colon. Retroflexion during colonoscopy is expected to improve the detection rate of colorectal adenomas. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of retroflexion in the right-sided colon.MethodsFrom April to November 2013, a total of 398 patients were enrolled in this study. For each patient, a cap-assisted colonoscopic examination was performed. After cecal intubation, a forward view examination from the cecum up to the hepatic flexure was performed and all identified polyps were removed. The colonoscope was reinserted to the cecum, and a careful second forward view examination of the cecum to the hepatic flexure was performed, with removal of additionally identified polyps. The colonoscope was then reinserted to the cecum and retroflexed; a third colonoscopic examination was then performed to the hepatic flexure in retroflexion with removal of additional polyps. Total polyp numbers and characteristics were compared between the two forward view examinations and the retroflexion examination.ResultsA successful retroflexion was performed in 90.2% of patients. A total of 213 polyps and 143 adenomas were detected in the right-sided colon using the routine method of examining the right colon twice in forward view. An additional 35 polyps and 24 adenomas were detected on retroflexion. Of these 35 polyps, 27 (77.1%) were small-sized polyps (≤5 mm) and 24 (71.4%) were adenomas. Finding additional adenomas using the retroflexion technique was associated with older age.ConclusionsColonoscopic retroflexion is helpful in the detection of cecum and ascending colon adenomas, especially small-sized adenomas (≤5 mm). It is particularly useful in older patients

Single incision thoracoscopic right upper lobectomy with systematic lymph node dissection

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) provides less postoperative pain, preservation of the immune response and shorter recovery period, compared with thoracotomy. However, many patients complain of postoperative pain and paresthesia because VATS requires 3 or 4 incisions including a utility incision of 3–5 cm. To overcome this problem, single incision thoracoscopic surgery has emerged; this technique has been adopted for lung cancer surgery since 2010. Complete mediastinal lymph node dissection is the major role of lung cancer surgery. We describe a case of a right upper lobectomy with complete mediastinal lymph node dissection via single incision thoracosopic surgery

Benefit Transfer for Water Management along the Han River in South Korea Using Meta-Regression Analysis

This study estimates the magnitude of economic benefits that are justified in transfer from downstream users to upstream users for the use of the Han River in South Korea in terms of foregone economic benefits by regulations. Based on the existing non-market valuation studies associated with water management issues in South Korea from 1997 to 2014, a meta-regression analysis was performed to provide alternatives for regional benefit sharing of water resource use. The benefits from the use of water resource along the Han River are estimated on average to be KRW 7,728 (US $7.7) per household per month. The total net benefits are estimated to be about KRW449 billion (US$449 million) per year. Following the principle regarding equal distribution of benefits, the stakeholders who received more net benefits than others should return their extra net benefits to other stakeholders through a policy tool such as tradable development rights. The results of our study provide economic indicators useful for the establishment of common resource policy and to consider stakeholders' rights within the framework of regional benefits. This study also provides practical solutions that could be used as a valid policy instrument to mediate the conflicts and disputes associated with water resource use.Kangwon National UniversityUniversity of Bayreut

High-efficiency tooth bleaching using non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma with low concentration of hydrogen peroxide

Light-activated tooth bleaching with a high hydrogen peroxide (HP; H2O2) concentration has risks and the actual role of the light source is doubtful. The use of conventional light might result in an increase in the temperature and cause thermal damage to the health of the tooth tissue. Objective This study investigated the efficacy of tooth bleaching using non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma (NAPP) with 15% carbamide peroxide (CP; CH6N2O3) including 5.4% HP, as compared with conventional light sources. Material and Methods Forty human teeth were randomly divided into four groups: Group I (CP+NAPP), Group II (CP+plasma arc lamp; PAC), Group III (CP+diode laser), and Group IV (CP alone). Color changes (∆E) of the tooth and tooth surface temperatures were measured. Data were evaluated by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc Tukey's tests. Results Group I showed the highest bleaching efficacy, with a ∆E value of 1.92-, 2.61 and 2.97-fold greater than those of Groups II, III and IV, respectively (

Peri-estrus activity and mounting behavior and its application to estrus detection in Hanwoo (Korea Native Cattle)

This study was conducted to investigate the change in activity and mounting behavior in Hanwoo (Korean Native Cattle) during the peri-estrus period and its application to estrus detection. A total of 20 Hanwoo cows were fitted with a neck-collar accelerometer device, which measured the location and acceleration of cow movements and recorded the number of instances of mounting behavior by the altitude data. The data were analyzed in three periods (24-, 6-, and 2-h periods). Blood samples were collected for 5 days after the prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) injection, and the concentrations of estradiol, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Activity and mounting behavior recorded over 2-h periods significantly increased as estrus approached and were more efficient at detecting estrus than over 24- and 6-h periods (p < 0.05). Endocrine patterns did not differ with the variation of individual cows during the peri-estrus period (p > 0.05). Activity was selected as the best predictor through stepwise discriminant analysis. However, activity alone is not enough to detect estrus. We suggest that a combination of activity and mounting behavior may improve estrus detection efficiency in Hanwoo. Further research is necessary to validate the findings on a larger sample size

Intraoperative mild hyperoxia may be associated with improved survival after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: a retrospective observational study

Background : The effect of hyperoxia due to supplemental oxygen administration on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery remains unclear. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the relationship between intraoperative oxygen tension and mortality after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB). Methods : The study included adult patients who underwent isolated OPCAB between July 2010 and June 2020. Patients were categorised into three groups based on their intraoperative time-weighted average arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2): normoxia/near-normoxia ( 250 mmHg). The risk of in-hospital mortality was compared using weighted logistic regression analysis. Restricted cubic spline analysis was performed to analyse intraoperative PaO2 as a continuous variable. The risk of cumulative all-cause mortality was compared using Cox regression analysis. Results : The normoxia/near-normoxia, mild hyperoxia, and severe hyperoxia groups included 229, 991, and 173 patients (n = 1393), respectively. The mild hyperoxia group had a significantly lower risk of in-hospital mortality than the normoxia/near-normoxia (odds ratio [OR], 0.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.06–0.22) and severe hyperoxia groups (OR, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.03–0.14). Intraoperative PaO2 exhibited a U-shaped relationship with in-hospital mortality in the non-hypoxic range. The risk of cumulative all-cause mortality was significantly lower in the mild hyperoxia group (hazard ratio, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.52–0.99) than in the normoxia/near-normoxia group. Conclusions : Maintaining intraoperative PaO2 at 150–250 mmHg was associated with a lower risk of mortality after OPCAB than PaO2 at 250 mmHg. Future randomised trials are required to confirm if mildly increasing arterial oxygen tension during OPCAB to 150–250 mmHg improves postoperative outcomes

Reverberation Mapping of PG 0934+013 with the Southern African Large Telescope

We present the variability and time lag measurements of PG 0934+013 based on a photometric and spectroscopic monitoring campaign over a two year period. We obtained 46 epochs of data from the spectroscopic campaign, which was carried out using the Southern African Large Telescope with $\sim$1 week cadence over two sets of 4 month-long observing period, while we obtained 80 epochs of \textit{B}-band imaging data using a few 1-m class telescopes. Due to the seven month gap between the two observing periods, we separately measured the time lags of broad emission lines including H$\beta$, by comparing the emission line light curve with the \textit{B}-band continuum light curve using the cross-correlation function techniques. We determined the H$\beta$ lag, $\tau_{\rm cent} = 8.46^{+2.08}_{-2.14}$ days in the observed-frame based on Year 2 data, while the time lag from Year 1 data was not reliably determined. Using the rms spectrum of Year 2 data, we measured the \Hb\ line dispersion \sigmaline = 668 $\pm$ 44 \kms\ after correcting for the spectral resolution. Adopting a virial factor f = 4.47 from Woo et al. 2015, we determined the black hole mass M$_{BH}$ = $3.13 ^{+0.91} _{-0.93} \times 10^{6}$ \msun based on the \Hb\ time lag and velocity.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures, ApJ in pres

Evaluation of therapeutic effects of natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapy in mice using in vivo apoptosis bioimaging with a caspase-3 sensor

Natural killer (NK) cellâ based immunotherapy is a promising strategy for cancer treatment, and caspaseâ 3 is an important effector molecule in NK cellâ mediated apoptosis in cancers. Here, we evaluated the antitumor effects of NK cellâ based immunotherapy by serial noninvasive imaging of apoptosis using a caspaseâ 3 sensor in mice with human glioma xenografts. Human glioma cells expressing both a caspaseâ 3 sensor as a surrogate marker for caspaseâ 3 activation and Renilla luciferase (Rluc) as a surrogate marker for cell viability were established and referred to as D54â CR cells. Human NK92 cells were used as effector cells. Treatment with NK92 cells resulted in a timeâ and effector numberâ dependent increase in bioluminescence imaging (BLI) activity of the caspaseâ 3 sensor in D54â CR cells in vitro. Caspaseâ 3 activation by NK92 treatment was blocked by Zâ VAD treatment in D54â CR cells. Transfusion of NK92 cells induced an increase of the BLI signal by caspaseâ 3 activation in a doseâ and timeâ dependent manner in D54â CR tumorâ bearing mice but not in PBSâ treated mice. Accordingly, sequential BLI with the Rluc reporter gene revealed marked retardation of tumor growth in the NK92â treatment group but not in the PBSâ treatment group. These data suggest that noninvasive imaging of apoptosis with a caspaseâ 3 sensor can be used as an effective tool for evaluation of therapeutic efficacy as well as for optimization of NK cellâ based immunotherapy.â Lee, H. W., Singh, T. D., Lee, S.â W., Ha, J.â H., Rehemtulla, A., Ahn, B.â C., Jeon, Y.â H., Lee, J. Evaluation of therapeutic effects of natural killer (NK) cellâ based immunotherapy in mice using in vivo apoptosis bioimaging with a caspaseâ 3 sensor. FASEB J. 28, 2932â 2941 (2014). www.fasebj.orgPeer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154541/1/fsb2fj13243014.pd