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

The C-terminal region of Bfl-1 sensitizes non-small cell lung cancer to gemcitabine-induced apoptosis by suppressing NF-κB activity and down-regulating Bfl-1

Gemcitabine is used to treat several cancers including lung cancer. However, tumor cells often escape gemcitabine-induced cell death via various mechanisms, which include modulating bcl-2 family members and NF-κB activation. We previously reported that the C-terminal region of Bfl-1 fused with GFP (BC) is sufficient to induce apoptosis in 293T cells. In the present study, we investigated the anti-tumor effect of combined BC gene therapy and gemcitabine chemotherapy in vitro and in vivo using non-small cell lung cancer cell lines and a xenograft model. Cell lines were resistant to low dose gemcitabine (4-40 ng/ml), which induced NF-κB activation and concomitant up-regulation of Bfl-1 (an NF-κB-regulated anti-apoptotic protein). BC induced the apoptosis of A549 and H157 cells with caspase-3 activation. Furthermore, co-treatment with BC and low dose gemcitabine synergistically and efficiently induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in these cells. When administered alone or with low dose gemcitabine, BC suppressed NF-κB activity, inhibited the nuclear translocation of p65/relA, and down-regulated Bfl-1 expression. Furthermore, direct suppression of Bfl-1 by RNA interference sensitized cells to gemcitabine-induced cell death, suggesting that Bfl-1 importantly regulates lung cancer cell sensitivity to gemcitabine. BC and gemcitabine co-treatment also showed a strong anti-tumor effect in a nude mouse/A549 xenograft model. These results suggest that lung cancer cells become resistant to gemcitabine via NF-κB activation and the subsequent overexpression of Bfl-1, and that BC, which has both pro-apoptotic and NF-κB inhibitory effects, could be harnessed as a gene therapy to complement gemcitabine chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer

Importance of remission and residual somatic symptoms in health-related quality of life among outpatients with major depressive disorder: a cross-sectional study

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is strongly associated with an impaired quality of life (QoL), which is itself affected by various factors. Symptom-oriented ratings poorly reflect the impact of disease on the QoL and level of functioning of the mental health of subjects. The purpose of this study was to assess health-related QoL (HRQoL) using preference-based measures in outpatients with MDD with regard to their remission achievement and clinical factors affecting the HRQoL. Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study. We recruited 811 patients with MDD from 14 psychiatric outpatient clinics in Korea. They were divided into three groups as follows: a new visit group (n = 287), a remitted group (n = 235), and a non-remitted group (n = 289). The 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale was used to assign patients to the remitted or non-remitted group. The general HRQoL was assessed with the EuroQol 5D (EQ-5D), using both the EQ-5D index score and the EuroQol Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS). The disease-specific HRQoL was assessed with the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire Short Form (Q-LES-Q-SF). Results: The non-remitted group showed a significant impairment of HRQoL in view of the subscales of EQ-5D index scores, EQ-VAS, and Q-LES-Q-SF. The EQ-5D index score in the remitted group was 0.77 ± 0.10, while it was 0.57 ± 0.23 in the non-remitted group and 0.58 ± 0.24 in the new visit group (p < 0.0001). The EQ-VAS scores for the remitted and non-remitted groups were 72.5 ± 16.6 and 50.9 ± 20.3, respectively (p < 0.0001). Likewise, patients with remission had the Q-LES-Q-SF total score of 46.5 ± 8.8, whereas those with non-remission reported 36.7 ± 7.7 (p < 0.0001). The symptom severity measured by the Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale was significantly correlated with the HRQoL. Furthermore, patients with severe somatic symptoms showed a significantly lower EQ-5D index score (0.54 ± 0.24) than those with mild/moderate somatic symptoms (0.75 ± 0.12; p = 0.002). Conclusion: Non-remitted MDD patients, especially those with more severe somatic symptoms, show a distinct impairment of HRQoL and more clinical symptoms, suggesting the importance of achieving remission in the treatment of MDD

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 &lt; 0.05). Endocrine patterns did not differ with the variation of individual cows during the peri-estrus period (p &gt; 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

Shuttle-effect-free sodium–sulfur batteries derived from a Tröger's base polymer of intrinsic microporosity

Room-temperature sodium-sulfur (RT Na-S) batteries have recently gained attention as next-generation energy storage devices owing to their low cost, the abundance of sodium, and the high theoretical capacity of sulfur. However, the notorious shuttle effect, caused by the dissolution of intermediate polysulfides during cycling, limits the long-term performance of Na-S batteries. In this study, intrinsically microporous Tro center dot ger's base based polymer (PIM-EA-TB)-based carbon-sulfur composites are prepared for shuttle-effect-free RT Na-S batteries by utilizing the combination of physical confinement and covalent bonding in a single material. The composites demonstrate excellent electrochemical performance, including a negligible capacity fading over 350 cycles and a high coulombic efficiency of approximately greater than 99%.

Continuous-wave upconversion lasing with a sub-10 W cm(-2) threshold enabled by atomic disorder in the host matrix

Microscale lasers efficiently deliver coherent photons into small volumes for intracellular biosensors and all-photonic microprocessors. Such technologies have given rise to a compelling pursuit of ever-smaller and ever-more-efficient microlasers. Upconversion microlasers have great potential owing to their large anti-Stokes shifts but have lagged behind other microlasers due to their high pump power requirement for population inversion of multiphoton-excited states. Here, we demonstrate continuous-wave upconversion lasing at an ultralow lasing threshold (4.7Wcm(-2)) by adopting monolithic whispering-gallery-mode microspheres synthesized by laser-induced liquefaction of upconversion nanoparticles and subsequent rapid quenching (&quot;liquid-quenching&quot;). Liquid-quenching completely integrates upconversion nanoparticles to provide high pump-to-gain interaction with low intracavity losses for efficient lasing. Atomic-scale disorder in the liquid-quenched host matrix suppresses phonon-assisted energy back transfer to achieve efficient population inversion. Narrow laser lines were spectrally tuned by up to 3.56nm by injection pump power and operation temperature adjustments. Our low-threshold, wavelength-tunable, and continuous-wave upconversion microlaser with a narrow linewidth represents the anti-Stokes-shift microlaser that is competitive against state-of-the-art Stokes-shift microlasers, which paves the way for high-resolution atomic spectroscopy, biomedical quantitative phase imaging, and high-speed optical communication via wavelength-division-multiplexing. Upconversion microlasers present a lot of advantages but also require high pumping powers. Here the authors present a high-performing microlaser based on anti-Stokes-shift in upconversion nanoparticles synthesized using a technique of liquid quenching

A Case of Autoimmune Pancreatitis Manifested by a Pseudocyst and IgG4-Associated Cholangitis

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a benign disorder and a unique form of chronic pancreatitis with several characteristic features. A cystic formation that mimics a pseudocyst is a rare finding. There have been a few reports of AIP complicated by pancreatic cysts. We present a case of AIP with multiple pseudocysts and obstructive jaundice caused by IgG4-associated cholangitis. We initially missed the diagnosis due to the pseudocyst. Based on the computed tomography images, laboratory findings and the therapeutic response to steroids, the case was diagnosed as AIP with pseudocysts and associated cholangiopathy

Analyses bactériologiques et cellulaires des échantillons de lait chez des chèvres après sélection divergente sur la résistance aux mammites

La concentration des cellules somatiques (CCS) est un critère très utilisé pour évaluer le statut infectieux de la mamelle chez la chèvre. Grace à l’analyse en cytométrie en flux, celle-ci a été décomposée en concentrations de neutrophiles (vivants et morts), lymphocytes, macrophages dans le but d’étudier la réponse inflammatoire locale chez deux lignées de chèvres génétiquement divergentes sur le critère de la CCS. L’objectif de cette étude était de décrire l’évolution au cours de la lactation de la CCS en fonction du statut bactériologique. Les infections mammaires chez les chèvres de la lignée résistante sont moins fréquentes et avec des titres bactériens plus faibles d’après les données acquises par les méthodes conventionnelle et moléculaire. De plus, leurs réponses inflammatoire et immunitaire locales semblent plus efficaces lors d’infection

Characterization of the antimicrobial substances produced by Nibribacter radioresistens

This study characterized the antimicrobial substances produced by the radiation-resistant bacterium Nibribacter radioresistens. The antimicrobial substances showed activity against Salmonella Gallinarum, pathogenic Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Streptococcus iniae, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The substances showed higher activity against Gram-positive bacteria than against Gram-negative bacteria and yeast. N. radioresistens showed the best growth rate in LB liquid medium at 37ºC; however, production of the antimicrobial substances was not associated with growth. Since the activity of the antimicrobial substances was affected by proteinase K and EDTA, the substances were presumed to be antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). The antimicrobial substances produced by N. radioresistens were unstable at higher temperatures and in acidic and basic pH ranges, and most of the activity was attributed to either low (30 kDa) molecules. When S. Gallinarum was treated with the antimicrobial substances, the cell destruction was acted on the cell envelope. Therefore, we concluded that N. radioresistens produces broad-spectrum and very unstable antimicrobial substances that mostly consist of low- and high-molecular weight peptides