Expression of Functional Recombinant Mussel Adhesive Protein Mgfp-5 in Escherichia coli

Mussel adhesive proteins have been suggested as a basis for environmentally friendly adhesives for use in aqueous conditions and in medicine. However, attempts to produce functional and economical recombinant mussel adhesive proteins (mainly foot protein type 1) in several systems have failed. Here, the cDNA coding for Mytilus galloprovincialis foot protein type 5 (Mgfp-5) was isolated for the first time. Using this cDNA, we produced a recombinant Mgfp-5 fused with a hexahistidine affinity ligand, which was expressed in a soluble form in Escherichia coli and was highly purified using affinity chromatography. The adhesive properties of purified recombinant Mgfp-5 were compared with the commercial extracted mussel adhesive Cell-Tak by investigating adhesion force using atomic force microscopy, material surface coating, and quartz crystal microbalance. Even though further macroscale assays are needed, these microscale assays showed that recombinant Mgfp-5 has significant adhesive ability and may be useful as a bioadhesive in medical or underwater environments.X119196sciescopu

Error Estimates on Hybridizable Discontinuous Galerkin Methods for Parabolic Equations with Nonlinear Coefficients

HDG method has been widely used as an effective numerical technique to obtain physically relevant solutions for PDE. In a practical setting, PDE comes with nonlinear coefficients. Hence, it is inevitable to consider how to obtain an approximate solution for PDE with nonlinear coefficients. Research on using HDG method for PDE with nonlinear coefficients has been conducted along with results obtained from computer simulations. However, error analysis on HDG method for such settings has been limited. In this research, we give error estimations of the hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin (HDG) method for parabolic equations with nonlinear coefficients. We first review the classical HDG method and define notions that will be used throughout the paper. Then, we will give bounds for our estimates when nonlinear coefficients obey “Lipschitz” condition. We will then prove our main result that the errors for our estimations are bounded

Test Platform Development of Vessel???s Power Management System Using Hardware- in-the-Loop-Simulation Technique

A PMS (Power Management System) controls vessel's power systems to improve the system efficiency and to protect a blackout condition. The PMS should be developed with considering the type and the capacity of the vessel???s power system. It is necessary to test the PMS functions developed for vessel???s safe operations under various sailing situations. Therefore, the function tests in cooperation with practical power systems are required in the PMS development. In this paper, a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulator is developed for the purposes of the PMS function tests. The HIL simulator can be more cost-effective, more time-saved, easier to reproduce, and safer beyond the normal operating range than conventional off-line simulators, especially at early stages in development processes or during fault tests. Vessel's power system model is developed by using a MATLAB/SIMULINK software and by communicating between an OPAL-RT???s OP5600 simulator. The PMS uses a Modbus communication protocol implemented using LabVIEW software. Representative tests of the PMS functions are performed to verify the validity of the proposed HIL-based test platform

Increasing trend in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in Korea from 2004 to 2015

Background To determine the 12-year incidence of and trends in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) requiring surgery in Korea. Methods This was a nationwide, population-based, retrospective study. We identified 53,179 patients with incident RRD requiring surgery using the Korean National Health Claims Database from 2004 to 2015. We estimated the crude incidence rates and age- and sex-standardized incidence rates per 100,000 person-years in each year during the study period. A joinpoint regression analysis was performed to determine the trend. Results The average annual incidence rate was 9.78 (95% CI: 9.70–9.86). Male patients showed an incidence rate (10.68 [95% CI: 10.57–10.80]) 1.20 times that of female patients (8.87 [95% CI: 8.76–8.98]). The incidence showed a bimodal distribution; the highest peak was in the 60–64 year age group (23.77 [95% CI: 23.18–24.35]) and the second peak was in the 20–24 year age group (7.68 [95% CI: 7.41–7.95]). An increasing trend of RRD incidence was observed in the total population throughout the study period using joinpoint analysis (annual percentage change [APC], 2.05; 95% CI: 0.7–3.4). The increasing trend was more prominent among individuals aged under 50 years (APC, 3.44; 95% CI: 2.3–4.6), while among those aged 50 years or above, the increasing incidence was observed only in male patients. Conclusions In Korea, the incidence of RRD has increased recently. People in the < 50 year age group accounted for the major part of this significant increase, which is related to the increasing incidence of myopia in the young generation in Asia.This research was supported by a grant from the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea (Grant Number: HI19C0373)

Fracture of a Tempofilter II: an Initial Case Report

Tempofilter II is a device that is used for pulmonary embolism prophylaxis. Since the appearance of the Tempofilter II following withdrawal of the Tempofilter I, it has been reported that the Tempofilter II is safe, effective and useful. Here we report on the first case of a fracture of one leg of the filter and this leg was embedded in the inferior vena cava wall in a 62-year-old man with deep vein thrombosis

Incremental economic burden associated with exudative age-related macular degeneration: a population-based study

Background The exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) causes considerable healthcare costs for patients and healthcare system, which are expected to grow as the population ages. The objective of this study was to assess the incremental economic burden of exudative AMD by comparing total healthcare costs between the exudative AMD group and non-AMD group to understand economic burden related to exudative AMD. Methods This retrospective cohort study used the National Health Insurance Service database including the entire Korean population. Exudative AMD group included individuals with at least one claim for ranibizumab and one claim using the registration code for exudative AMD (V201). Non-AMD group was defined as individuals without any claims regarding the diagnostic code of H35.3 or ranibizumab. The exudative AMD group and non-AMD group were matched using a propensity-score model. Incremental healthcare resource utilization and healthcare costs were measured during a one-year follow-up by employing econometric models: ordinary least squares (OLS) with log transformation and heteroscedastic retransformation; and generalized linear model (GLM) with a log link function and gamma distribution. Results A total of 7119 exudative AMD patients were matched to 7119 non-AMD patients. The number of outpatient visits was higher in the exudative AMD group (P-value < 0.0001), while the length of hospitalization was shorter in exudative AMD group (P-value < 0.0001). Exudative AMD patients had total costs 2.13 times (95%CI, 2.08–2.17) greater than non-AMD group using OLS, and total costs 4.06 times (95%CI, 3.82–4.31) greater than non-AMD group using GLM. Annual incremental total costs were estimated as $5519 (OLS) and$3699 (GLM). Conclusions Exudative AMD was associated with significantly increased healthcare costs compared to the non-AMD group. Attention is needed to manage the socioeconomic burden of exudative AMD.This research was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (grant number: NRF-2016R1C1B1009198); and the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (grant number: HI19C0373). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Postoperative sore throat and subglottic injury after McGrath® MAC videolaryngoscopic intubation with versus without a stylet in patients with a high Mallampati score: a randomized controlled trial

Background A tracheal tube stylet can be used to assist successful tracheal intubation, especially during videolaryngoscopic intubation because videolaryngoscopes with a Macintosh-type blade such as McGrath® MAC videolaryngoscope have more acute angle than conventional Macintosh laryngoscope. However, the use of a stylet during tracheal intubation can raise concerns about stylet-induced postoperative airway complications, such as sore throat, subglottic injury, and hoarseness. In this study, we compared the incidence of postoperative airway complications after McGrath® MAC videolaryngoscopic intubation with versus without a stylet in patients with a high Mallampati score. Methods In 104 patients with Mallampati score III or IV and who were scheduled for lumbar or thoracic spine surgery, McGrath® MAC videolaryngoscopic intubation was performed either with a stylet (group S, n = 52) or without a stylet (group N, n = 52). The primary outcome measure was the incidences of sore throat evaluated at 1 and 24 h postoperatively. Secondary outcome measures were the incidences of subglottic injury and postoperative hoarseness. Results The incidence of CL grade III in group S and N was 3.8 and 5.8%, respectively. No patient showed CL grade IV. The incidences of sore throat at 1 (26.9 vs 19.2%, P = 0.485) and 24 h (17.3 vs 13.5%, P = 0.786, respectively) postoperatively were not significantly different between the group S and N. However, the incidence of subglottic injury was significantly higher in the group S, compared with the group N (65.4 vs 42.3%, P = 0.030). The incidence of postoperative hoarseness did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusions The use of a stylet during McGrath® MAC videolaryngoscopic intubation did not have a significant impact on the incidence of postoperative sore throat in patients with a high Mallampati score. Avoiding the use of a stylet during intubation with McGrath® MAC videolaryngoscope may reduce the incidence of subglottic injury in such patients. Trial registration Clinical Research Information Service (identifier: KCT0002427 , date of registration: June 12, 2017)

Elevation of serum lactate dehydrogenase in patients with pectus excavatum

INTRODUCTION: Pectus excavatum is the most common congenital chest wall deformity and the depression of the anterior chest wall, which compresses the internal organs. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of pectus excavatum on blood laboratory findings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From March 2011 to December 2011, 71 patients with pectus excavatum who visited Seoul Saint Mary Hospital for Nuss procedure were reviewed and analyzed. The blood samples were routinely taken at the day before surgery and pectus bar removal was usually performed in 2 to 3 years after Nuss procedure. To investigate the effects on blood laboratory findings, preoperative routine blood laboratory data and postoperative changes of abnormal laboratory data were analyzed. RESULTS: Only lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), one of 26 separate routine laboratory tests, was abnormal and significantly elevated than normal value (age <10, p = 0.008; age ≥10, p < 0.001). However, there was no significant correlation between LDH levels and severities of pectus excavatum. The symmetric subgroup had significantly higher LDH level than the asymmetric subgroup (p <0.001) and there was a significant decrease of LDH level after correction of deformity (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, only LDH, one of the routine laboratory tests, was significantly elevated than normal value, which was thought to be caused by etiologies of pectus excavatum and the compression of the internal organs. Further studies on LDH including isoenzyme studies in patients with pectus excavatum will be needed, and these studies will provide a deeper and wider comprehension of pectus excavatum

Transient Anarthria and Quadriplegia in a Patient with Basilar Artery Hypoplasia and Coincidental Intracranial Lipoma: A Case Report

Cerebral ischemia may be rarely associated with a hypoplastic vertebrobasilar system. Intracranial lipoma is also a very rare congenital malformation. We report the case of a 52-year-old woman with vertebrobasilar transient ischemic attack associated with basilar artery hypoplasia and coincidental intracranial lipoma. She presented with sudden-onset dizziness, anarthria, and quadriplegia lasting for about 30 min. The patient’s initial blood pressure was measured at 200/120 mm Hg. The magnetic resonance and computed tomographic images showed the absence of an acute ischemic lesion in the brain but revealed a hypoplasia of the basilar artery and bilateral V4 vertebral arteries. A lipoma of 11 mm in long diameter was also found in the quadrigeminal cistern and at the superior vermis. The electroencephalography, transthoracic echocardiogram, 24-h Holter monitoring, and transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, including patent foramen ovale study, were all noted as negative. The patient was treated with oral aspirin 100 mg, atorvastatin 10 mg, and antihypertensive medication. She had no symptom recurrence after the treatment. Our case suggests that hypoplasia of the vertebrobasilar arteries can be a predisposing factor for posterior circulation ischemia, especially when additional vascular risk factors coexist