• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.87-94
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• 2023

Backgrounds/Aims: Central pancreatectomy (CP) is associated with a higher rate of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF), and it is less preferred over distal pancreatectomy (DP). We compared the short- and long-term outcomes between CP and DP for low-grade pancreatic neck and body tumors. Methods: This was a propensity score-matched case-control study of patients who underwent either CP or DP for low-grade pancreatic neck and body tumors from 2003 to 2020 in a tertiary care unit in southern India. Patients with a tumor >10 cm or a distal residual stump length of <4 cm were excluded. Demographics, clinical profile, intraoperative and postoperative parameters, and the long-term postoperative outcomes for exocrine and endocrine insufficiency, weight gain, and the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) quality of life questionnaire were compared. Results: Eighty-eight patients (CP: n=37 [cases], DP: n=51 [control]) were included in the unmatched group after excluding 21 patients (meeting exclusion criteria). After matching, both groups had 37 patients. The clinical and demographic profiles were comparable between the two groups. Blood loss and POPF rates were significantly higher in the CP group. However, Clavien-Dindo grades of complications were similar between the two groups (p = 0.27). At a median follow-up of 38 months (range = 187 months), exocrine sufficiency was similar between the two groups. Endocrine sufficiency, weight gain, SF-36 pain control score, and general health score were significantly better in the CP group. Conclusions: Despite equivalent clinically significant morbidities, long-term outcomes are better after CP compared to DP in low-grade pancreatic body tumors.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.220-228
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• 2024

Backgrounds/Aims: Postoperative pancreatic fistula is the key worry in the ongoing debate about the safety and effectiveness of total laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (TLPD). Laparoscopic-assisted pancreaticoduodenectomy (LAPD), a hybrid approach combining laparoscopic resection and anastomosis with a small incision, is an alternative to TLPD. This study compares the short-term outcomes and oncological efficacy of LAPD vs. open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD). Methods: A retrospective analysis of data of all patients who underwent LAPD or OPD for periampullary carcinoma at a tertiary care center in Northeast India from July 2019 to August 2023 was done. A total of 30 LAPDs and 30 OPDs were compared after 1:1 propensity score matching. Demographic data, intraoperative and postoperative data (30 days), and pathological data were compared. Results: The study included a total of 93 patients, 30 underwent LAPD and 62 underwent OPD. After propensity score matching, the matched cohort included 30 patients in both groups. The LAPD presented several advantages over the OPD group, including a shorter incision length, reduced postoperative pain, earlier initiation of oral feeding, and shorter hospital stays. LAPD was not found to be inferior to OPD in terms of pancreatic fistula incidence (Grade B, 30.0% vs. 33.3%), achieving R0 resection (100% vs. 93.3%), and the number of lymph nodes harvested (12 vs. 14, p = 0.620). No significant differences in blood loss, short-term complications, pathological outcomes, readmissions, and early (30-day) mortality were observed between the two groups. Conclusions: LAPD has comparable safety, technical feasibility, and short-term oncological efficacy.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.159-167
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• 2022

Backgrounds/Aims: The optimal timing of percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) and subsequent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) according to the severity of acute cholecystitis (AC) has not been established yet. Methods: This single-center, retrospective study included 695 patients with grade I or II AC without common bile duct stones who underwent PTGBD and subsequent LC between January 2010 and December 2019. Difficult surgery (DS) (open conversion, subtotal cholecystectomy, adjacent organ injury, transfusion, operation time ≥ 90 minutes, or estimated blood loss ≥ 100 mL) and poor postoperative outcome (PPO) (postoperative hospital stay ≥ 7 days or Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ II postoperative complication) were defined to comprehensively evaluate intraoperative and postoperative outcomes, respectively. Results: Of 695 patients, 403 had grade I AC and 292 had grade II AC. According to the receiver operating characteristic curve and multivariate logistic regression analyses, an interval from symptom onset to PTGBD of > 3.5 days and an interval from PTGBD to LC of > 7.5 days were significant predictors of DS and PPO, respectively, in grade I AC. In grade II AC, the timing of PTGBD and subsequent LC were not statistically related to DS or PPO. Conclusions: In grade I AC, performing PTGBD within 3.5 days after symptom onset can reduce surgical difficulties and subsequently performing LC within 7.5 days after PTGBD can improve postoperative outcomes. In grade II AC, early PTGBD cannot improve the surgical difficulty. In addition, the timing of subsequent LC is not correlated with surgical difficulties or postoperative outcomes.

• Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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• v.488 no.1
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• pp.1427-1445
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• 2019

H₂O (22 GHz) and SiO masers (43, 86, 129 GHz) in the bipolar proto-planetary nebula OH 231.8+4.2 were simultaneously monitored using the 21-m antennas of the Korean VLBI Network in 2009-2015. Both species exhibit periodic flux variations that correlate with the central star's optical light curve, with a phase delay of up to 0.15 for the maser flux variations with respect to the optical light curve. The flux densities of SiO v = 2, J = 1→0 and H₂O masers decrease with time, implying that they may disappear in 10-20 yr. However, there seems to have been a transient episode of intense H₂O maser emission around 2010. We also found a systematic behaviour in the velocity profiles of these masers. The velocities of the H₂O maser components appear to be remarkably constant, suggesting ballistic motion for the bipolar outflow in this nebula. On the other hand, those of the SiO maser clumps show a systematic radial acceleration of the individual clumps, converging to the outflow velocity of the H₂O maser clumps. Measuring the full widths at zero power of the detected lines, we estimated the expansion velocities of the compact bipolar outflow traced by H₂O maser and SiO thermal line, and discussed the possibility of the expanding SiO maser region in the equatorial direction. All of our analyses support that the central host star of OH231.8 is close to the tip of the AGB phase and that the mass-loss rate recently started to decrease because of incipient post-AGB evolution.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.263-275
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• 2024

Background : Recent studies have shown that stress fundamentally influences the functional modulation of organ and stress-related disease causes high morbidity and mortality rates. Objective : The present research investigated the effect of restraint stress on psychological and physiological responses. Results : Body weight and food intake were changed in stress group. Body weight has continuously decreased, and food intake has been slightly altered. As a result of measuring each tissue's weight, the liver and kidney's weight loss was greater than that of other organs. The lipid profile of stressed animals showed significant increases in cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels compared to control. As hepatic marker enzymes, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT; alanine aminotransferase), glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT; aspartate aminotransferase), and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) were increased in the stress group. However, levels of serum cortisol and corticosterone did not affect. Results of the behavioral tests show that the stress group has increased activity, sluggish movements, and anxiety in the central part compared with the control group through the open field test. In the forced swim test, the stress group models had a longer duration of slowing movement, and its rate also increased. Also, in immunoblotting, stress increased the inflammatory factors Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and activated the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Conclusions : We observed that mouse model were affected behavioral response and liver injury when exposed to restraint stress, indicating the importance of the restraint stress in the development of psychological and physiological processes.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.193-204
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• 2024

Malaria is a global disease affecting a large portion of the world's population. Although vaccines have recently become available, their efficacies are suboptimal. We generated virus-like particles (VLPs) that expressed either apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) or microneme-associated antigen (MIC) of Plasmodium berghei and compared their efficacy in BALB/c mice. We found that immune sera acquired from AMA1 VLP- or MIC VLP-immunized mice specifically interacted with the antigen of choice and the whole P. berghei lysate antigen, indicating that the antibodies were highly parasite-specific. Both VLP vaccines significantly enhanced germinal center B cell frequencies in the inguinal lymph nodes of mice compared with the control, but only the mice that received MIC VLPs showed significantly enhanced CD4⁺ T cell responses in the blood following P. berghei challenge infection. AMA1 and MIC VLPs significantly suppressed TNF-α and interleukin-10 production but had a negligible effect on interferon-γ. Both VLPs prevented excessive parasitemia buildup in immunized mice, although parasite burden reduction induced by MIC VLPs was slightly more effective than that induced by AMA1. Both VLPs were equally effective at preventing body weight loss. Our findings demonstrated that the MIC VLP was an effective inducer of protection against murine experimental malaria and should be the focus of further development.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.1-12
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• 2024

Recently, Audio systems transform the configuration of conventional sound reinforcement and public address systems using audio over internet protocol (AoIP), whereby audio signals are transmitted and received based on internet protocol (IP). Currently, AoIP technologies are leading the audio market, and various technologies have been released. Audio networks and the control hierarchy over peer-to-peer (Anchor) technology based on AoIP transmit and receive audio signals over a wide bandwidth without an audio mixer. Audio system based on Anchor technology is constructed by connecting the on-site audio center (OAC), a device that can transmit and receive audio sources and output equipment over IP. Receiving OAC of the Anchor technology can receive and mix audio signals transmitted from different IPs; consequently, novel audio systems can be configured by replacing conventional audio mixers. However, the Anchor technology does not have an equalizer function for improving the quality of audio equipment. Therefore, tone distortion may occur owing to signal loss between equipment, poor audio-signal clarity, and howling due to audio deformation according to different architectural structures and environments. In this study, we implemented an audio effect device capable of tone control using the Audio Processor Core. Using Anchor technology, tone control was realized through an audio effect device in the receiving OAC. The output of the incoming OAC was received by the audio effect device, which adjusted the tone and then outputted it. Thus, the tone issues in Anchor technology were overcome by the receiving OAC and audio effect devices. In future, audio system configurations using Anchor technology could be the standard for audio equipment.

• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.10
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• pp.453-458
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• 2024

Primary cilia are crucial for cellular balance, serving as sensors for external conditions. Nephronophthisis and related ciliopathies, which are hereditary and degenerative, stem from genetic mutations in cilia-related genes. However, the precise mechanisms of these conditions are still not fully understood. Our research demonstrates that downregulating PDIA6, leading to cilia removal, makes cells more sensitive to ferroptotic death caused by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The reduction of PDIA6 intensifies the ER stress response, while also impairing the regulation of primary cilia in various cell types. PDIA6 loss worsens ER stress, hastening ferroptotic death in proximal tubule epithelial cells, HK2 cells. Counteracting this ER stress can mitigate PDIA6 depletion effects, restoring both the number and length of cilia. Moreover, preventing ferroptosis corrects the disrupted primary ciliogenesis due to PDIA6 depletion in HK2 cells. Our findings emphasize the role of PDIA6 in primary ciliogenesis, and suggest its absence enhances ER stress and ferroptosis. These insights offer new therapeutic avenues for treating nephronophthisis and similar ciliopathies.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.73-77
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• 2008

Purpose : p16 gene, mapped to the 9p21 chromosomal region, has emerged as a candidate tumor suppressor gene in human neoplasm. It is an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase and inhibits Rb phosphorylation. In a variety of tumors including childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), deletion and/or mutation of the p16 gene has been found. Despite their high frequency, the prognostic importance of p16 alterations is still controversial in ALL and has been reported to be either unfavorable or similar to that of other patients. We studied the correlation between loss of p16 protein confirmed by immunohistochemical staining and clinical outcomes of patients diagnosed as ALL. Methods : We performed an immunohistochemical staining for p16 protein in 74 cases of bone marrow biopsy slide initially diagnosed as ALL between January 1998 and December 2006. We reviewed the clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, treatment outcomes retrospectively. Results : Of 74 slides, 12 were negative for p16 protein. Seven were males and 5 were females with a median age at diagnosis was 5.8 (1.3-18.8) years. Initial WBC were 17,225 $(500-403,300)/{\mu}L$. By immunologic surface marker analysis, 7 patients were early pre-B CALLA (+) and 5 patients were T-cell ALL. Two patients of intermediate risk group had relapsed and died. Three patients had family history of breast cancer. Four patients died and overall survival rates were $53.5{\pm}18.7%$. Conclusion : Loss of p16 protein is supposed to be an independent risk factor of childhood ALL associated with poor outcomes. In clinical setting, the clinician must take into account p16 status, not only at the genomic but also at the protein level. Further clinical experience on thoroughly investigated cases will help a better understanding between p16 status and clinical outcomes.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.306-315
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• 2006

Two different experiments, adsorption/desorption and runoff by rainfall simulation of four pesticides, such as alachlor, ethalfluralin, ethoprophos and pendimethalin were undertaken their runoff and erosion losses from sloped land and to assess the influence of their properties and environmental factors on them. The mobility of four pesticides and which phase they were transported by were examined in adsorption study, and the influence of rainfall pattern and sloping degree on the pesticide losses were evaluated in simulated rainfall study. Freundlich adsorption parameters (K) by the adsorption and desorption methods were 1.2 and 2.2 for ethoprophos, 1.5 and 2.6 for alachlor, respectively. And adsorption distribution coefficients (Kd) by the adsorption and desorption methods were 56 and 94 for ethalfluralin, and 104 and 189 for pendimethalin, respectively. K or Kd values of pesticides by the desorption method which were desorbed from the soil after thoroughly mixing, were higher than these ones by the adsorption method which pesticides dissolved in water were adsorbed to the soil. Another parameter (1/n), representing the linearity of adsorption, in Freundlich equation for the pesticides tested ranged from 0.96 to 1.02 by the desorption method and from 0.87 to 1.02 by the adsorption method. Therefore, the desorption method was more independent from pesticide concentration in soil solution than the adsorption method. By Soil Survey and Land Research Center (SSLRC)'s classification for pesticide mobility, alachlor and ethoprophos were classified into moderately mobile $(75{\leq}Koc<500)$, and ethalfluralin and pendimethalin were included to non-mobile class (Koc > 4000). Runoff and erosion loss of pesticides by three rainfall scenarios were from 1.0 to 6.4% and from 0.3 to 1.2% for alachlor, from 1.0 to 2.5% and from 1.7 to 10.1% for ethalfluralin, from 1.3 to 2.9% and from 3.9 to 10.8% for pendimethalin, and from 0.6 to 2.7% and from 0.1 % 0.3% for ethoprophos, respectively. Distribution of pesticides in soil profile were investigated after the simulated rainfall study. Alachlor and ethoprophos were leached to from 10 to 15 cm of soil layer, but ethalfluralin and pendimethalin were mostly remained at the top 5 cm of soil profile. The losses of the pesticides at 30% of sloping degree were from 0.2 to 1.9 times higher than those at 10%. The difference of their runoff loss was related with their concentration in runoff water while the difference of their erosion loss must be closely related with the quantity of soil eroded.