Search

Background: Potential differences in organ preservation between total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) regimens integrating long-course chemoradiotherapy (LCCRT) and short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) in rectal cancer remain undefined., Patients and Methods: This natural experiment arose from a policy change in response to the COVID-19 pandemic during which our institution switched from uniformly treating patients with LCCRT to mandating that all patients be treated with SCRT. Our study includes 323 locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma patients treated with LCCRT-based or SCRT-based TNT from January 2018 to January 2021. Patients who achieved clinical complete response were offered organ preservation with watch-and-wait (WW) management. The primary outcome was 2-year organ preservation. Additional outcomes included local regrowth, distant recurrence, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS)., Results: Patient and tumor characteristics were similar between LCCRT (n = 247) and SCRT (n = 76) cohorts. Median follow-up was 31 months. Similar clinical complete response rates were observed following LCCRT and SCRT (44.5% versus 43.4%). Two-year organ preservation was 40% [95% confidence interval (CI) 34% to 46%] and 31% (95% CI 22% to 44%) among all patients treated with LCCRT and SCRT, respectively. In patients managed with WW, LCCRT resulted in higher 2-year organ preservation (89% LCCRT, 95% CI 83% to 95% versus 70% SCRT, 95% CI 55% to 90%; P = 0.005) and lower 2-year local regrowth (19% LCCRT, 95% CI 11% to 26% versus 36% SCRT, 95% CI 16% to 52%; P = 0.072) compared with SCRT. The 2-year distant recurrence (10% versus 6%), DFS (90% versus 90%), and OS (99% versus 100%) were similar between WW patients treated with LCCRT and SCRT, respectively., Conclusions: While WW eligibility was similar between cohorts, WW patients treated with LCCRT had higher 2-year organ preservation and lower local regrowth than those treated with SCRT, yet similar DFS and OS. These data support induction LCCRT followed by consolidation chemotherapy as the preferred TNT regimen for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer pursuing organ preservation., (Copyright © 2024 European Society for Medical Oncology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

We describe a new species, Chrysospleniuminsularis J.E.Jang, K.H.Lee & H.Y.Gil, belonging to the family Saxifragaceae, from the southern islands of the Republic of Korea. Chrysospleniuminsularis is morphologically similar to C.japonicum (Maxim.) Makino but can be distinguished by fairly persistent bulbils, green to yellowish-green sepals, four stamens, and cylindrical papillose seeds. Chrysospleniuminsularis is also distinguished from C.alternifolium L., which is distributed in Europe, northern Russia, and the Caucasus, by the absence of stolons and green bracts. Phylogenetic analyses, based on one nuclear ribosomal (ITS) and two chloroplast ( rbc L, mat K) regions, confirmed that the new species was monophyletic and that C.insularis and C.alternifolium formed a sister relationship with robust support. Herein, we provide a detailed morphological description of C.insularis with its corresponding geographical distribution and comparison table and figures of related species., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Ju Eun Jang, Beom Kyun Park, Kang-Hyup Lee, Hyuk-Jin Kim, Hee-Young Gil.)

Background: Thrombocytopenia is a condition where platelet counts are below the normal range (< 150 × 10 3 /µL), resulting in a higher risk of bleeding and affecting the results of hip arthroplasty. We assessed the impact of preoperative platelet counts on the clinical results of patients who underwent hip arthroplasty., Methods: Between April 2003 and March 2023, 437 patients (451 hips), who had preoperative thrombocytopenia of less than 150 × 10 3 /µL platelets, underwent hip arthroplasty. Preoperative platelet levels were categorized into severe thrombocytopenia (< 50 × 10 3 /µL) and non-severe thrombocytopenia (50-149 × 10 3 /µL). Total blood loss, operation time, requirement of transfusion, amount of transfusion, duration of surgical wound oozing, length of hospital stay, mortality rate at 1 year after surgery, and any complication were compared between the 2 groups., Results: No notable differences were observed in the surgery time or the total amount of blood loss between the groups. The requirement of transfusion and the amount of transfused blood were higher in the severe thrombocytopenia group. Prolonged oozing was found in around 18% in both groups, while periprosthetic joint infections occurred in 3 of the non-severe thrombocytopenia group. No significant difference was noted in the duration of hospital stay (25.6 ± 18.3 days vs. 19.4 ± 16.6 days, p = 0.067) and 1-year mortality (22.2% vs. 11.8%, p = 0.110)., Conclusions: Hip arthroplasties are safe for patients with low platelet counts and do not lead to prolonged hospital stays. On the other hand, patients with severe thrombocytopenia tend to need blood transfusions more frequently than those with less severe thrombocytopenia., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported., (Copyright © 2024 by The Korean Orthopaedic Association.)

Background: The Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen (AO) and the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) classification system for diaphyseal fracture has been recently revised to refine and enhance the accuracy of fracture categorization. This study aimed to investigate the interobserver reliability of the new AO/OTA classification and to compare it with the older version in femoral shaft fractures., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 139 patients (mean age, 43.8 ± 19.5 years; 92 men and 47 women) with femoral shaft fractures who were treated from 2003 to 2017. Four well-trained observers independently classified each fracture following the previous and revised AO/OTA classification system. We calculated the Fleiss kappa for the interobserver reliability., Results: The previous classification showed the kappa value of 0.580 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.547-0.613), and the revised version showed 0.528 (95% CI, 0.504-0.552). Both the old and the revised versions showed moderate reliability., Conclusions: Our study highlights the moderate interobserver reliability of both the previous and new AO/OTA classification systems for diaphyseal femur fractures. These findings emphasize the importance of standardized systems in clinical decision-making and underscore the need for ongoing education and collaboration to enhance fracture classification., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported., (Copyright © 2024 by The Korean Orthopaedic Association.)

Background/objectives: This nationwide population-based study investigated the overall survival (OS) of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC) receiving first-line chemotherapy., Methods: Data from the National Health Insurance Service linked to the Korea Central Cancer Registry were used. Patients with mPC receiving first-line chemotherapy (2012-2019) were included and followed up until 2020. The gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GnP) and FOLFIRINOX groups were matched according to age, sex, and comorbidities., Results: In total, 8652 patients with mPC were treated with chemotherapy. GnP and FOLFIRINOX have been administered since 2016 and 2017, respectively. The median OS increased annually from 6 months in 2012-2013 to 10 months in 2018-2019. The median OSs in the GnP and FOLFIRINOX groups were significantly longer than those in patients receiving gemcitabine ± erlotinib. A total of 1134 patients from both the GnP and FOLFIRINOX groups were selected using propensity score matching. Before matching, the median OS was longer in the FOLFIRINOX group than in the GnP group ( p = 0.0029). After matching, however, there was no significant difference in the median OS between the two groups (11 vs. 11 months, respectively, p = 0.2438)., Conclusions: Patients with mPC receiving chemotherapy have shown improved OS since the introduction of GnP and FOLFIRINOX. After matching, OS did not differ between the GnP and FOLFIRINOX groups.

This study investigated the effects of nutrient manipulation during the peripartum and suckling periods on the productivity of Hanwoo cows and their offspring. A total of 183 pregnant cows and their 180 offspring were randomly assigned to either a control group, fed a formula feed with 13.5% crude protein (CP) and 70.5% total digestible nutrients (TDN), or a treatment group, fed nutrient-enriched formula feed with 18.0% CP and 72.5% TDN. Offspring were similarly divided and fed either 17.0% CP and 69.5% TDN (control) or 21.5% CP and 72.5% TDN (treatment). Results showed that body weight recovery was higher in the treatment group, although wither height, body length, and body condition scores were similar between groups. The treatment group exhibited increased chest girth, reduced intervals for first return to estrus, and shorter days open compared to the control group. Plasma non-esterified fatty acids, albumin, and progesterone concentrations of Hanwoo cows varied between groups at the 3 months before and after calving. Offspring in the treatment group had higher body weight and average daily gain at birth, three and six months of age, with higher dry matter intake. These findings suggest that nutrient-enriched formula feed positively influences the reproductive efficiency of Hanwoo cows and the growth performance of their offspring.

Clematis , one of the largest genera of the family Ranunculaceae, has a wide array of morphological variation and is considered the most difficult group of taxa in terms of infrageneric discrimination. This study assessed the leaf micromorphological features of 19 Clematis taxa (16 species and three varieties) found in Korea. The leaf surface features were studied under scanning electron microscopy, and the stomatal counting and measurement were carried out under light microscopy. Clematis are hypostomatic, meaning the stomata are only found on the abaxial surface of the leaf. Observed taxa showed near uniformity in the epidermal cell type, structure, and morphology on both surfaces of the leaf. Differences were observed in the presence and absence and/or abundance of trichomes on both the adaxial and abaxial surfaces, the epidermal cell boundary, and the periclinal and anticlinal wall of the cells. Differences were also observed in the number of the epidermal cells connected with the stomata on the abaxial surface, with small differences noted in epidermal cell shapes. The ANOVA showed a significant variation in the stomata density in the studied taxa ( P < 0.0001). The cluster analysis based on 13 leaf micromorphological features generated four major clusters. These results indicated similarities in certain key leaf micromorphological features among taxa from the Tubulosae , Clematis , and Virona sections. In the genus Clematis , as with other morphological characteristics, using leaf micromorphological characters alone, which possess limited taxonomic value, proves inadequate for resolving infrageneric relationships. However, incorporating certain features with other morphological characteristics offers a possible alternative means of determining the infrageneric relationships within the genus., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2024 Ghimire et al.)

Background: Use of the Debriefing Assessment for Simulation in Healthcare (DASH © ) would be beneficial for novice debriefers with less or no formal training in debriefing. However, the DASH translated into Korean and tested for psychometrics is not yet available. Thus, this study was to develop a Korean version of the DASH student version (SV) and test its reliability and validity among baccalaureate nursing students in Korea., Methods: The participants were 99 baccalaureate nursing students. Content validity using content validity index (CVI), construct validity using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha coefficient were assessed., Results: Both Item-CVIs and Scale-CVI were acceptable. EFA supported the unidimensional latent structure of Korean DASH-SV and results of CFA indicated 6 items converged within the extracted factor, significantly contributing to the factor (p ≤ .05). Items were internally consistent (Cronbach's α = 0.82)., Conclusion: The Korean version of the DASH-SV is arguably a valid and reliable measure of instructor behaviors that could improve faculty debriefing and student learning in the long term., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

We report the synthesis and characterization of novel antimony(III) complexes: Sb(mpa) 3 ( 1 ), Sb(mmpa) 3 ( 2 ), Sb(mdpa) 3 ( 3 ), Sb(epa) 3 ( 4 ), Sb(empa) 3 ( 5 ), and Sb(edpa) 3 ( 6 ) (mpa = N -methoxypropanamide, mmpa = N -methoxy-2-methyl-propanamide, mdpa = N -methoxy-2,2-dimethylpropanamide, epa = N -ethoxypropanamide, empa = N -ethoxy-2-methylpropanamide, and edpa = N -ethoxy-2,2-dimethylpropanamide, via a salt-elimination reaction with SbCl 3 and sodium-substituted carboxamide. The molecular structure of 6 revealed the formation of a homoleptic conformer with a highly distorted pentagonal bipyramidal geometry, as determined by X-ray crystallography. Thermogravimetric analysis showed excellent volatility at elevated temperatures, with complex 4 displaying the lowest residual mass of 0.16% at 500 °C. For complexes 4 , 5 , and 6 , the temperature at a vapor pressure of 1 Torr and the enthalpy of vaporization were estimated to be 58, 64, and 45 °C and 83.31, 103.58, and 99.93 kJ/mol, respectively., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of calcaneal lengthening osteotomy (CLO) and double arthrodesis of the talonavicular and calcaneocuboid joints (DA) for correcting planovalgus foot deformity exclusively in patients with generalised joint hypermobility., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 29 feet in 17 consecutive patients who underwent either CLO or DA. The mean age at surgery was 11.3 ± 2.3 years, and the mean follow-up duration was 7.7 ± 3.2 years. Preoperative and final follow-up radiographs and dynamic foot-pressure measurements were analysed., Results: Both operations significantly improved the radiographic parameters, except for the lateral talocalcaneal angle in the CLO group. Pedobarographic study demonstrated an elevation of the medial longitudinal arch and an improved foot-pressure distribution after both surgeries. The plantar pressure in the lateral forefoot significantly increased only in the DA group, while the pressures exerted on the medial forefoot and hindfoot and the arch index improved only in the CLO group., Conclusions: Both CLO and DA effectively improve the foot alignments of the deformity in patients with generalised joint hypermobility. However, differences were observed in the changes in the lateral talocalcaneal angle and plantar pressure distribution between the two procedures., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 European Foot and Ankle Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Magnesium, calcium, and barium heteroleptic complexes were synthesized by the substitution reaction of the bis(trimethylsilyl)amide of Mg(btsa) 2 ·DME, Ca(btsa) 2 ·DME, and Ba(btsa) 2 ·2DME with an ethereal group and hfac ligands (btsa = bis(trimethylsilyl)amide, DME = dimethoxyethane). The compounds Mg(dts)(hfac) 2 ( 1 ), Ca(dts)(hfac) 2 ( 2 ), Mg(dmts)(hfac) 2 ( 3 ), Ca(dmts)(hfac) 2 ( 4 ), and Ba(dmts)(hfac) 2 ( 5 ) were fabricated and analyzed using various techniques, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analyses, and elemental analysis (dts = 2,2-dimethyl-3,6,9-trioxa-2-siladecane, dmts = 2,2-dimethyl-3,6,9,12-tetraoxa-2-silatridecane, hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate). The structures of complexes 2, 4 , and 5 were confirmed using single-crystal X-ray crystallography; all complexes display monomeric structures. All compounds underwent trimethylsilylation of the coordinating ethereal alcohols (meeH and tmgeH) in the presence of HMDS as byproducts because of their increasing acidity originating from the electron-withdrawing hfac ligands. (meeH = 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethan-1-ol, tmgeH = tri(ethylene glycol) monoethyl ether, HMDS = hexamethyldisilazane)., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Background/aim: Kaempferol, a natural flavonoid, occurs abundantly in fruits and vegetables. It has various bioactivities, with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and other beneficial properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro effects of kaempferol on the proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy of KB cells, a human cervical cancer cell line, and the corresponding action mechanisms., Materials and Methods: The inhibitory efficacy of kaempferol on KB cervical cancer cells was investigated through 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, migration assay, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining, flow cytometry, acridine orange staining and western blotting., Results: Kaempferol reduced KB cell viability and migration in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, kaempferol-induced apoptosis was confirmed, and kaempferol treatment influenced levels of apoptotic proteins. Autophagy was detected upon visualization of characteristic autophagic vacuoles and acidic vesicular organelles, and verified using western blotting, which revealed elevated levels of autophagy-related proteins. Kaempferol-mediated apoptosis and autophagy were evidently attributable to reduced phosphorylation in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. This finding was validated using a pharmacological inhibition assay with the PI3K pathway inhibitor LY294002, which promoted KB cell apoptosis and autophagy., Conclusion: Our results suggest that kaempferol induces apoptosis and autophagy by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in human cervical cancer cells, empirically showing the anticancer effects of kaempferol, and thereby presenting it as a potential anticancer therapeutic agent., (Copyright © 2024 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Importance: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are prevalent hospital-acquired infections with significant patient impacts and global health care burdens. The World Health Organization recommends using wound protector devices in abdominal surgery as a preventive measure to lower the risk of SSIs despite limited evidence., Objective: To examine the efficacy of a dual-ring, plastic wound protector in lowering the SSI rate in open gastrointestinal (GI) surgery irrespective of intra-abdominal contamination levels., Design, Setting, and Participants: This multicenter, patient-blinded, parallel-arm randomized clinical trial was conducted from August 2017 to October 2022 at 13 hospitals in an academic setting. Patients undergoing open abdominal bowel surgery (eg, for bowel perforation) were eligible for inclusion., Intervention: Patients were randomized 1:1 to a dual-ring, plastic wound protector to protect the incision site of the abdominal wall (experimental group) or a conventional surgical gauze (control group)., Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was the rate of SSI within 30 days of open GI surgery., Results: A total of 458 patients were randomized; after 1 was excluded from the control group, 457 were included in the intention-to-treat analysis (mean [SD] age, 58.4 [12.1] years; 256 [56.0%] male; 341 [74.6%] with a clean-contaminated wound): 229 in the wound protector group and 228 in the surgical gauze group. The overall SSI rate in the intention-to-treat analysis was 15.7% (72 of 458 patients). The SSI rate for the wound protector was 10.9% (25 of 229 patients) compared with 20.5% (47 of 229 patients) with surgical gauze. The wound protector significantly reduced the risk of SSI, with a relative risk reduction (RRR) of 46.81% (95% CI, 16.64%-66.06%). The wound protector significantly decreased the SSI rate for clean-contaminated wounds (RRR, 43.75%; 95% CI, 3.75%-67.13%), particularly for superficial SSIs (RRR, 42.50%; 95% CI, 7.16%-64.39%). Length of hospital stay was similar in both groups (mean [SD], 15.2 [10.5] vs 15.3 [10.2] days), as were the overall postoperative complication rates (20.1% vs 18.8%)., Conclusions and Relevance: This randomized clinical trial found a significant reduction in SSI rates when a plastic wound protector was used during open GI surgery compared with surgical gaze, supporting the World Health Organization recommendation for use of wound protector devices in abdominal surgery., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03170843.

Bulbar dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) significantly affects daily life, leading to weight loss and reduced survival. Methods for evaluating bulbar dysfunction, including videofluoroscopic swallowing studies and the bulbar component of the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R), have been employed; however, Korean-specific tools are lacking. The Center for Neurologic Study Bulbar Function Scale (CNS-BFS) comprehensively evaluates bulbar symptoms. This study aimed to develop and validate the Korean version of the CNS-BFS (K-CNS-BFS) to assess bulbar dysfunction in Korean patients with ALS. Twenty-seven patients with ALS were recruited from a tertiary hospital in South Korea based on revised El Escorial criteria. Demographic, clinical, and measurement data were collected. The K-CNS-BFS was evaluated for reliability and validity. Reliability assessment revealed strong internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) for the K-CNS-BFS subscales and total score. Test-retest reliability showed significant correlation. Content validity index was excellent, and convergent validity demonstrated significant correlations between the K-CNS-BFS and relevant measures. Discriminant validity was observed between the K-CNS-BFS and motor/respiratory subscores of the ALSFRS-R. Construct validity demonstrated significant correlations between the K-CNS-BFS subscales and total score. This is the first study to investigate the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the CNS-BFS, which showed consistent and reliable scores that correlated with tests for bulbar or general dysfunction. The K-CNS-BFS effectively measured bulbar dysfunction similar to the original CNS-BFS. The K-CNS-BFS is a reliable and valid tool for assessing bulbar dysfunction in patients with ALS in South Korea., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Continued advances in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer (BC) have led to an increase in the number of long-term BC survivors and an increase in the incidence of metachronous BC in the contralateral breast. Therefore, it is important to understand the factors that influence the development of metachronous BC; however, the impact of the laterality of the initial ipsilateral (I)BC as a risk factor for the development of metachronous contralateral (MC)BC has not been extensively investigated. The present study included 17,082 female patients with stage 0-3 IBC from the prospectively maintained Korean Breast Cancer Registry from 1989-2013 and divided them into two groups: Patients with MCBC (n=88) and those without MCBC (n=16,994). Risk factors that present at the initial BC diagnosis that could significantly influence the development of MCBC were screened for and risks were evaluated using the Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard model. Significant differences in baseline characteristics between MCBC and non-MCBC groups were demonstrated. Patients aged <40 years, those with histological and nuclear grade 3 tumors, and those with the triple-negative BC subtype were significantly more prevalent in the MCBC group than in the non-MCBC group. Additionally, the cumulative incidence of MCBC increased over time, with a notable increase from 0.1% in year 1 to 1.6% in year 10. Survival analysis revealed no significant differences in overall or BC-specific survival between the two groups. Key predictive factors identified for MCBC included an age of <40 years at initial diagnosis, a negative progesterone receptor status, and a Ki-67 score of >14%. Overall, the present study revealed several factors associated with MCBC and emphasized the need for long-term monitoring of BC survivors, considering these newly identified risk factors., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright: © 2024 Park et al.)

This study describes the synthesis of germanium and tin complexes Ge(mdpaS) 2 ( 1 ), Ge(edpaS) 2 ( 2 ), Ge(bdpaS) 2 ( 3 ), Ge(empaS) 2 ( 4 ), Sn(mdpaS) 2 ( 5 ), Sn(edpaS) 2 ( 6 ), Sn(bdpaS) 2 ( 7 ), and Sn(empaS) 2 ( 8 ) (mdpaSH = ( Z )- N -methoxy-2,2-dimethylpropanimidothioic acid; edpaSH = ( Z )- N -ethoxy-2,2-dimethylpropanimidothioic acid; bdpaSH = ( Z )- N -(tert-butoxy)-2,2-dimethylpropanimidothioic acid; empaSH = ( Z )- N -ethoxy-2-methylpropanimidothioic acid), using newly designed N -alkoxy thioamide ligands as precursors for metal chalcogenide materials. All complexes were characterized using various analytical techniques, and the single-crystal structures of complexes 5 and 7 revealed a distorted seesaw geometry in the monomeric SnL 2 form. Thermogravimetric (TG) curves showed differences between Ge compounds, which exhibited single-step weight losses, and Sn compounds, which exhibited multistep weight losses. As a result, we suggest that the synthesized complexes 1 - 8 are potential precursors for group IV metal chalcogenide materials., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

This study investigated the effects of rumen-protected L-tryptophan or L-ascorbic acid supplementation on the productivity of lactating Holstein cows during a high-temperature period. Thirty cows were assigned to three dietary groups: control (CON), treatment 1 (TRT 1; rumen-protected L-tryptophan, 20 g/cow/d), and treatment 2 (TRT 2; rumen-protected L-ascorbic acid, 20 g/cow/d). As the high-temperature period progressed, the decrease in milk yield and dry matter intake (DMI) in the TRT 1 and TRT 2 groups was lower than that in the CON group. The total protein level in the plasma of the TRT 1 group was higher than that in the CON group ( p < 0.05). Milk melatonin concentration was higher in the TRT 1 group than in the CON and TRT 2 groups ( p < 0.05). Thus, the present results indicate that rumen-protected L-tryptophan or L-ascorbic acid has positive effects in preventing declines in DMI and milk yield by reducing heat stress in Holstein cows. In particular, rumen-protected L-tryptophan is considered effective in increasing the melatonin concentration in milk.

Solid oxide fuel cells that operate at intermediate temperatures require efficient catalysts to enhance the inherently poor electrochemical activity of the composite electrodes. Here, a simple and practical electrochemical deposition method is presented for fabricating a PrO x overlayer on lanthanum strontium manganite-yttria-stabilized zirconia (LSM-YSZ) composite electrodes. The method requires less than four minutes for completion and can be carried out under at ambient temperature and pressure. Crucially, the treatment significantly improves the electrode's performance without requiring heat treatment or other supplementary processes. The PrO x -coated LSM-YSZ electrode exhibits an 89% decrease in polarization resistance at 650 °C (compared to an untreated electrode), maintaining a tenfold reduction after ≈400 h. Transmission line model analysis using impedance spectra confirms how PrO x coating improved the oxygen reduction reaction activity. Further, tests with anode-supported single cells reveal an outstanding peak power density compared to those of other LSM-YSZ-based cathodes (e.g., 418 mW cm -2 at 650 °C). Furthermore, it is demonstrated that multicomponent coating, such as (Pr,Ce)O x , can also be obtained with this method. Overall, the observations offer a promising route for the development of high-performance solid oxide fuel cells., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) capacitor electrodes, exemplified by TiN, face performance limitations owing to their relatively low work functions in addition to the formation of a low-k interfacial layer caused by their insufficient chemical stability. With recent advances in device scaling, these issues have become increasingly problematic, prompting the exploration of alternative electrode materials to replace TiN. Molybdenum dioxide (MoO 2 ) has emerged as a promising candidate for this application, outperforming TiN due to its low resistivity, high work function (>5 eV), and excellent chemical stability. Moreover, monoclinic MoO 2 exhibits a distorted rutile structure, enabling the in situ growth of high-k rutile TiO 2 on MoO 2 at low deposition temperatures. However, MoO 2 deposition poses challenges because of its metastable nature compared to the more stable molybdenum oxide (MoO x ) phases, such as MoO 3 and Mo 4 O 11 . In this work, we successfully fabricated Sn-doped MoO x (TMO) films by atomic layer deposition (ALD) at 300 °C. A stabilized monoclinic MoO 2 phase was achieved using ALD by incorporating SnO x into MoO x on both SiO 2 and TiN substrates. The ALD TMO process comprised MoO x and SnO x subcycles, and the MoO x :SnO x subcycle ratio was varied from 100:1 to 20:1. High growth rates ranging from 0.19 to 0.34 nm/cycle were achieved for ALD TMO with varying the MoO x :SnO x subcycle ratio from 20:1 to 100:0. After post-deposition annealing at 500 °C, polycrystalline TMO films were obtained with smooth surface morphology. ALD TMO exhibited excellent interface quality with ALD TiO 2 , possessing a negligible low-k interfacial layer. Moreover, a rutile TiO 2 film with a high dielectric constant of 136 was successfully grown on a 20% Sn-TMO electrode. Overall, this study provides a strategy to stabilize metastable MoO 2 films using ALD, and it demonstrates the superiority of ALD TMO as a promising DRAM capacitor electrode material.

We sequenced and published the chloroplast genome of Commelina caroliniana Walter, which was previously misidentified as C. diffusa owing to their morphological similarities until 1989. The genome of C. caroliniana is 160,857 bp long [large single copy region: 88,064 bp; a small single copy region: 18,549 bp; two inverted repeat regions: 27,122 bp] and has a GC content of 35.7%. The genome comprises 133 genes, including 87 coding sequences (CDSs), 38 tRNAs, and eight rRNAs. The phylogenetic relationship between C. caroliniana and related species was analyzed using the maximum likelihood method based on the 79 CDSs of the chloroplast genome. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that C. caroliniana is closely related to C. communis . Our findings will contribute to studies on species identification and phylogenetic and evolutionary research. These results enhance our understanding of the Commelina genus., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s)., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.)

Background: There is a lack of information about the effects of untreated solitary osteochondroma (SO) on longitudinal growth of the lower extremities in children and adolescents. This study aimed to assess the coronal alignment and length of the lower extremity in patients with SO around the knee and to identify the factors related to the development of deformities., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 111 patients diagnosed with SO around the knee. The patients were classified into 2 groups depending on the location of the SO: 51 in the distal femur and 60 in the proximal tibia. Characteristics of the lesions, such as type, location, size, and distance from the joint line, were determined. Radiographic analysis of the lower limbs included mechanical lateral distal femoral angle, mechanical medial proximal tibial angle, whole-leg length, femoral length, and tibial length., Results: The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 12.3±3.4 years. No statistically significant differences were found between the affected and contralateral sides for mechanical lateral distal femoral angle and mechanical medial proximal tibial angle in either the distal femur or the proximal tibia groups. In patients with femoral lesions, the femoral and whole-leg lengths were significantly shorter on the affected side than on the unaffected side ( P <0.001 and 0.002, respectively), and the mean differences were 2.1±3.6 and 2.1±4.4 mm, respectively. Univariate logistic regression analysis did not reveal any factors associated with limb length discrepancy (LLD). In patients with tibial lesions, no statistically significant differences were found in LLD., Conclusions: SOs around the knee did not cause clinically significant deformity of the lower extremity. However, in contrast to proximal tibia lesions, SO in the distal femur was associated with the shortening of the affected limb. Consideration should be given to the development of LLD in skeletally immature children with SO in the distal femur., Level of Evidence: Level III-retrospective comparative study., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Platycodin D (PD) is the main component of triterpene saponins found in Platycodi radix. In this study, we observed a decrease in cell viability, an increase in apoptotic bodies, and an increase in the rate of apoptosis. Also, we observed an increase in cleaved PARP and Bax, a decrease in Bcl-2, and p-ERK, and an increase in p-p38 and p-JNK. Furthermore, a change in cell viability and the expression of p-p38, Bax, and Bcl-2 using the p38 inhibitor revealed a decrease in p-p38 and Bax and an increase in Bcl-2 in the inhibitor treatment group. In addition, we observed an increase in vacuole formation through morphological changes and an increase in acidic vesicular organelles (AVOs). We also observed an increase in the expression of beclin 1, LC 3-I, and -II. There was no significant decrease in cell viability in the group treated with 3-MA, but a decrease in cell viability was noted in the group treated with HCQ. HCQ treatment resulted in an increase in Bax and a decrease in Bcl-2. These findings reveal that in HT-29 colon cancer cells, PD induces apoptosis through the MAPK pathway, thereby exerting anticancer effects. Moreover, autophagy caused by PD inhibits apoptosis by protecting the cells., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Background: This study assessed the comparative effectiveness of sextant and extended 12-core systematic biopsy within combined biopsy for the detection of prostate cancer., Methods: Patients who underwent combined biopsy targeting lesions with a Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) score of 3-5 were assessed. Two specialists performed all combined cognitive biopsies. Both specialists performed target biopsies with five or more cores. One performed sextant systematic biopsies, and the other performed extended 12-core systematic biopsies. A total of 550 patients were analyzed., Results: Cases requiring systematic biopsy in combined biopsy exhibited a significant association with age ≥ 65 years (odds ratio [OR], 2.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25-4.32; P = 0.008), PI-RADS score (OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.25-4.32; P = 0.008), and the number of systematic biopsy cores (OR, 3.69; 95% CI, 2.11-6.44; P < 0.001). In patients with an index lesion of PI-RADS 4, an extended 12-core systematic biopsy was required (target-negative/systematic-positive or a greater Gleason score in the systematic biopsy than in the targeted biopsy) ( P < 0.001)., Conclusion: During combined biopsy for prostate cancer in patients with PI-RADS 3 or 5, sextant systematic biopsy should be recommended over extended 12-core systematic biopsy when an effective targeted biopsy is performed., Competing Interests: The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose., (© 2024 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.)

This study aimed to investigate the effects of lupin flake supplementation on the growth, plasma parameters, carcass characteristics, and meat composition of late-fattening Hanwoo steers. The steers ( n = 40) were randomly divided into the four groups with 10 steers each: LP0 (lupin flake 0%), LP3 (lupin flake 3%), LP6 (lupin flake 6%), and LP9 (lupin flake 9%). The total digestible nutriant intake increased as the concentration of lupin increased (linear and quadratic effects; p < 0.05). The thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance content in the strip loins decreased as lupin flake supplementation levels increased (linear and quadratic effects; p < 0.05), while carnosine levels increased linearly ( p < 0.05). As the lupin flake supplementation level increased, anserine and creatinine contents increased linearly and quadratically ( p < 0.05). Similarly, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) content increased with increasing lupin flake supplementation levels in linear and quadratic effects ( p < 0.001). Palmitoleic acid content increased significantly with increasing lupin flake supplementation level (linear and quadratic effects; p < 0.05). The content of oleic acid in the strip loin was not significant, but the unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) ( p < 0.05) and n-6/n-3 ratio ( p < 0.05) increased. The results of this study indicated that although lupin flake supplementation did not markedly affect the growth, carcass characteristics, or meat composition of late-fattening Hanwoo steers, it exerted a positive effect on the flavor, taste profiles (anserine, creatinine, ATP, and AMP), hypotonicity (TBARS), and healthy meat production (UFA and n-6/n-3 ratio) related to beef.

Alkoxide precursors have been highlighted for depositing carbon-free films, but their use in Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) often exhibits a non-saturated growth. This indicates no self-limiting growth due to the chain reaction of hydrolysis or ligand decomposition caused by β-hydride elimination. In the previous study, we demonstrated that self-limiting growth of ALD can be achieved using our newly developed precursor, hafnium cyclopentadienyl tris(N-ethoxy-2,2-dimethyl propanamido) [HfCp(edpa)3]. To elucidate the growth mechanism and the role of cyclopentadienyl (Cp) ligand in a heteroleptic alkoxide precursor, herein, we compare homoleptic and heteroleptic Hf precursors consisting of N-ethoxy-2,2-dimethyl propanamido (edpa) ligands with and without cyclopentadienyl ligand-hafnium tetrakis(N-ethoxy-2,2-dimethyl propanamido) [Hf(edpa)4] and HfCp(edpa)3. We also investigate the role of a Cp ligand in growth characteristics. By substituting an alkoxide ligand with a Cp ligand, we could modify the surface reaction during ALD, preventing undesired reactions. The last remaining edpa after Hf(edpa)4 adsorption can undergo a hydride elimination reaction, resulting in surface O-H generation. In contrast, Cp remains after the HfCp(edpa)3 adsorption. Accordingly, we observe proper ALD growth with self-limiting properties. Thus, a comparative study of different ligands of the precursors can provide critical clues to the design of alkoxide precursors for obtaining typical ALD growth with a saturation behavior., (© 2024 Author(s). Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.)

In this article, we discuss the synthesis of eight novel zirconium and hafnium complexes containing amidoxime ligands as potential precursors for atomic layer deposition (ALD). Two amidoximes, viz., ( E )- N '-hydroxy- N , N -dimethylacetimidamide (mdaoH) and ( Z )- N '-hydroxy- N , N -dimethylpivalimidamide (tdaoH), along with their Zr and Hf homoleptic complexes, Zr(mdao) 4 ( 1 ), Hf(mdao) 4 ( 2 ), Zr(tdao) 4 ( 3 ), and Hf(tdao) 4 ( 4 ) were prepared. We further synthesized heteroleptic compounds with different physical properties by introducing cyclopentadienyl (Cp) ligand, namely, CpZr(mdao) 3 ( 5 ), CpHf(mdao) 3 ( 6 ), CpZr(tdao) 3 ( 7 ), and CpHf(tdao) 3 ( 8 ). Thermogravimetric analysis was used for the assessment of the evaporation characteristics of complexes 1 , 2 , 5 , and 6 , and it revealed multistep weight losses with high residues. On the other hand, the thermogravimetric analysis curves of complexes 3 , 4 , 7 , and 8 comprising tdao ligands revealed single-step weight losses with moderate residues. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies of complexes 1 , 3 , and 7 showed that all of the complexes have monomeric molecular structures. Complex 7 exhibited a low melting point (75 °C), good volatility, and high thermal stability compared with other complexes. Therefore, an atomic layer deposition process for the growth of ZrO 2 was developed by using ZrCp(tdao) 3 ( 7 ) as a novel precursor.

Background: Determining the cost structure of medical care from diagnosis to the death of patients with cancer is crucial for establishing budgets to support patients with cancer. The breakdown of the cost estimation in distinct phases of survival is essential for optimizing the allocation of limited funds. Therefore, this study aims to examine the patterns of direct medical costs of cancer care associated with seven major cancer types and estimate cost thresholds to distinguish each phase based on the incurred cost. Methods: In this nationwide, population-based study, we used claims data from the National Health Insurance Service, Korea. Patients newly diagnosed with cancer since 2006 and who died in 2016-2017 were enrolled, and their use of medical services during cancer survival from at least 6 months up to 12 years was observed. The monthly cost exhibited a non-linear function with two unknown thresholds resembling a U-shape; therefore, we fitted three linear segment models. Individual costs were assessed by dividing the survival time into the initial, continuing, and terminal phases by estimated thresholds, and the average medical cost for each phase was calculated. Results: Based on survival durations of 12 years or less, the initial phase occurred within 1.1-4.8 months after diagnosis, while the terminal phase was observed in 1.4-4.7 months before death. The length of these two phases increased with the increased survival time of the patients. Medical costs in these phases ranged from $4067-7431 and $3127-6114 (US dollars), respectively, regardless of the variations in survival time. However, the average costs in the continuing phase were higher for patients with a short survival time. Conclusions: This study highlights the cost dynamics in cancer care through a breakdown of the phases of survival. It suggests that through a more refined definition of the initial and terminal phases, the average cost in these stages increases, indicating the significant implications of the findings for resource allocation and tailored financial support strategies for patients with cancer with varying prognoses., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists., (© The author(s).)

Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: The authors declared that there are no conflicts of interest.

Focal enhancement typically suggests local tumor progression (LTP) after renal cell carcinoma is percutaneously ablated. However, evaluating findings that are false positive or negative of LTP is less familiar to radiologists who have little experience with renal ablation. Various imaging features are encountered during and after thermal ablation. Ablation procedures and previous follow-up imaging should be reviewed before determining if there is LTP. Previous studies have focused on detecting the presence or absence of focal enhancement within the ablation zone. Therefore, various diagnostic pitfalls can be experienced using computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging examinations. This review aimed to assess how to read images during or after ablation procedures, recognize imaging features of LTP and determine factors that influence LTP., Competing Interests: The author has no potential conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 The Korean Society of Radiology.)

Despite a high vaccination rate, the COVID-19 pandemic continues with immune-evading Omicron variants. The success of additional antigenic stimulation through breakthrough infection (BI) and updated vaccination in overcoming antigenic imprinting needs to be determined. Participants in a long-term follow-up cohort of healthcare worker (HCW) vaccinee were categorized according to their infection/vaccination status. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike/nucleocapsid protein antibodies were measured, and plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNTs) against wild-type (WT), BA.5, BN.1, and XBB.1.5 were conducted. The neutralization activity of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) products was evaluated to assess the immune status of the general population. Ninety-five HCWs were evaluated and categorized into seven groups. The WT PRNT ND 50 value was highest regardless of infection/vaccination status, and groups with recent antigenic stimulation showed high PRNT titers overall. Groups with double Omicron stimulation, either by BI plus BA.4/5 bivalent vaccination or repeated BI, exhibited significantly higher BA.5 and BN.1 PRNT to WT PRNT ratios than those with single Omicron stimulation. Overall group immunity was estimated to be boosted in January 2023, reflecting the effect of the BA.4/5 bivalent booster and additional BIs, but slightly declined in June 2023. A substantial increase in the antibody concentrations of IVIG products was noticed in 2022, and recently produced IVIG products exhibited a substantial level of cross-reactive neutralizing activity against emerging variants. Neutralizing activity against emerging variants could be enhanced by repeated antigenic stimulation via BI and/or updated vaccination. Overall group immunity was elevated accordingly, and IVIG products showed substantial activity against circulating strains., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a common, yet underdiagnosed cause of secondary hypertension. It is characterized by an overproduction of aldosterone, leading to hypertension and/or hypokalemia. Despite affecting between 5.9% and 34% of patients with hypertension, PA is frequently missed due to a lack of clinical awareness and systematic screening, which can result in significant cardiovascular complications. To address this, medical societies have developed clinical practice guidelines to improve the management of hypertension and PA. The Korean Endocrine Society, drawing on a wealth of research, has formulated new guidelines for PA. A task force has been established to prepare PA guidelines, which encompass epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care. The Korean clinical guidelines for PA aim to deliver an evidence-based protocol for PA diagnosis, treatment, and patient monitoring. These guidelines are anticipated to ease the burden of this potentially curable condition.

Background: Pediatric hematology and oncology disease is a physically and emotionally demanding health condition for families. High self-esteem and ego-resilience among caregivers, which have recently gained increased recognition, might help ease caregiver burdens. Few studies, however, have simultaneously investigated the relationships between self-esteem, ego-resilience, and caregiver burden among caregivers of children with hematologic and oncologic disease., Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between caregiver burden, self-esteem, and ego-resilience and examine whether ego-resilience plays a role in mediating the relationship between self-esteem and caregiver burden among family caregivers of children with hematologic and oncologic disease., Design: Descriptive correlational study., Setting: The outpatient clinic of the department of pediatric hematology and oncology at a flagship university hospital in a metropolitan city in South Korea., Participants: The sample comprised 109 primary family caregivers of children with hematologic and oncologic disease. Convenience sampling method was used., Methods: The participants completed the Ego-Resiliency Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Family Burden Questionnaire. One-way analysis of variance, independent t-tests, and correlation analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS 25.0. The mediating effect of ego-resilience was estimated using the PROCESS macro and bootstrap method in SPSS., Results: Caregiver burden showed significant negative associations with self-esteem and ego-resilience, with moderate effect sizes (r = -.391 and -0.361, respectively, p  = .001). Ego-resilience mediated the relationship between self-esteem and caregiver burden (b = -0.019; 95 % bias-corrected bootstrap confidence interval -0.035 and -0.001)., Conclusions: Self-esteem and ego-resilience may lessen caregiver burden among families of children with hematologic and oncologic disease, and self-esteem of caregivers tends to promote their ego-resilience. Therefore, self-esteem and ego-resilience should be improved among family caregivers to reduce their caregiver burden., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Real-time global positioning is important for container-based logistics. However, a challenge in real-time global positioning arises from the frequency of both global positioning system (GPS) calls and GPS-denied environments during transportation. This paper proposes a novel system named ConGPS that integrates both inertial sensor and electronic map data. ConGPS estimates the speed and heading direction of a moving container based on the inertial sensor data, the container trajectory, and the speed limit information provided by an electronic map. The directional information from magnetometers, coupled with map-matching algorithms, is employed to compute container trajectories and current positions. ConGPS significantly reduces the frequency of GPS calls required to maintain an accurate current position. To evaluate the accuracy of the system, 280 min of driving data, covering a distance of 360 km, are collected. The results demonstrate that ConGPS can maintain positioning accuracy within a GPS-call interval of 15 min, even if using low-cost inertial sensors in GPS-denied environments.

To investigate the outcomes of children, adolescents, and young adults (AYAs) with malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCTs), we analyzed the data of 61 patients aged ≤39 years diagnosed with MOGCT between 2006 and 2022. Among 59 patients who received chemotherapy after initial diagnosis, 57 received BEP (standard dose of bleomycin with 30 units per week, n = 13) or bEP (reduced dose of bleomycin with 15 units/m 2 on day 1, n = 44). The 5-year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) rates were 98.3% and 84.9%, respectively. Reduced bleomycin dose did not adversely affect survival. Normalization of tumor markers within 3 months after surgery was significantly associated with better EFS ( p < 0.01). Of the 59 surviving patients, 8 experienced surgery-related menopause, while 49 demonstrated menstrual recovery. After completion of chemotherapy, there was no significant difference in pulmonary function regarding bleomycin dose, and no overt nephrotoxicity. Approximately 60% and 25% of survivors experienced peripheral neuropathy at the end of chemotherapy and after 1 year, respectively ( p < 0.01). Children and AYAs with MOGCT have favorable survival rates with minimal long-term toxicity, which are not influenced by a reduced bleomycin dose. Rapid normalization of tumor markers is associated with improved outcomes.

Purpose: Globally, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common and has been associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). There is a dearth of literature on the real-world morbidity and mortality associated with CKD comorbid with CRC. This study was performed to evaluate real-world survival outcomes of colorectal malignancy in Korean CKD patients., Methods: The National Health Insurance Service of Korea provided data on patients who underwent surgical resection among patients diagnosed with CRC from 2002 to 2019., Results: A total of 219,550 patients were included: 6,181 patients with underlying CKD and 213,369 patients without it. Each morbidity was significantly higher in the CKD-CRC group, and the postoperative mortality rates for the 30-day (3.11% vs. 1.78%, P < 0.001), 60-day (5.95% vs. 3.83%, P < 0.001), and 90-day mortality rate (8.12% vs. 5.32%, P < 0.001) were significantly higher in the CKD group. The median survival time (MST, year) was significantly lower in the CKD-CRC group (5.63; interquartile range [IQR], 5.26-5.91) than in the non-CKD-CRC group (8.71; IQR, 8.37-8.93). MST was significantly lower among CKD patients who received chemotherapy after adjustment by multivariate analysis (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37-1.49; P < 0.001]). Subgroup analysis showed that in the CKD-CRC group, MST was lower in patients who received dialysis than in those who did not, even after multivariate analysis (adjusted HR, 2.38; 95% CI, 2.20-2.58; P < 0.001)., Conclusion: Prevention of CKD-to-end-stage renal disease progression should be adopted as a strategy to increase postoperative survival, along with active surveillance and cancer treatment., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported., (Copyright © 2023, the Korean Surgical Society.)

Novel Sn precursors, Sn(tbip) 2 , Sn(tbtp) 2 , and Sn(tbta) 2 , were synthesized and characterized using various analytical techniques and density functional theory calculations. These precursors contained cyclic amine ligands derived from iminopyrrolidine. X-ray crystallography revealed the formation of monomeric SnL 2 with distorted seesaw geometry. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated the exceptional volatility of all complexes. Sn(tbtp) 2 showed the lowest residual weight of 2.7% at 265 °C. Sn 3 N 4 thin films were successfully synthesized using Sn(tbtp) 2 as the Sn precursor and NH 3 plasma. The precursor exhibited ideal characteristics for atomic layer deposition, with a saturated growth per cycle value of 1.9 Å cy -1 and no need for incubation when the film was deposited at 150-225 °C. The indirect optical bandgap of the Sn 3 N 4 film was approximately 1-1.2 eV, as determined through ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. Therefore, this study suggests that the Sn 3 N 4 thin films prepared using the newly synthesized Sn precursor are suitable for application in thin-film photovoltaic devices.

The effectiveness of Floseal, a thrombin-based hemostatic matrix, in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in minimizing blood loss and transfusion requirements remains a topic of debate. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the up-to-date randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the efficacy and safety of Floseal in TKA. A comprehensive search was conducted in electronic databases to identify relevant RCTs. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed, and data extraction was performed. The pooled effect sizes were calculated using standardized mean difference (SMD) or odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Eight studies involving 904 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The use of a thrombin-based hemostatic agent significantly reduced hemoglobin decline (SMD = -0.49, 95% CI: -0.92 to -0.07) and the risk of allogenic transfusion (OR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.25 to 0.81) but showed no significant difference in the volume of drainage or total blood loss. Funnel plots showed no evidence of publication bias. This meta-analysis provides robust evidence supporting the effectiveness of Floseal in reducing hemoglobin decline and transfusion in TKA. Further well-designed RCTs with longer follow-up periods are warranted to assess long-term efficacy and safety.

Mo(II) and W(II) compounds, Mo(η 3 -allyl)(CO) 2 (Tri-MEDA)Br ( 1 ), Mo(η 3 -allyl)(CO) 2 (TMEDA)Br ( 2 ), W(η 3 -allyl)(CO) 2 (Tri-MEDA)Br ( 3 ), and W(η 3 -allyl)(CO) 2 (TMEDA)Br ( 4 ) (Tri-MEDA = N , N , N '-trimethylethylenediamine), were synthesized and characterized. The molecular structures of 1 and 3 were nearly identical with a pseudo-octahedral geometry except for the different Mo and W metal centers. The thermogravimetric analysis of 1 and 3 showed approximately 53 and 64% residues at 550 °C, respectively, which were significantly higher than the values for the expected materials. However, 1 and 3 sublimed at 100 °C under 0.40 Torr and 120 °C under 0.50 Torr, respectively, confirming that they were volatile. For 1 and 3 , the temperatures at a vapor pressure of 1 Torr and enthalpies of vaporization (Δ H vap ) were 168.78 °C and 143.8 kJ mol -1 , and 167.48 °C and 148.5 kJ mol -1 , respectively. The tungsten compound ( 3 ) exhibited good durability for 5 weeks under a thermal stability test at a sublimation temperature of 120 °C.

Chloroplast genomes are valuable for inferring evolutionary relationships. We report the complete chloroplast genomes of 36 Corydalis spp. and one Fumaria species. We compared these genomes with 22 other taxa and investigated the genome structure, gene content, and evolutionary dynamics of the chloroplast genomes of 58 species, explored the structure, size, repeat sequences, and divergent hotspots of these genomes, conducted phylogenetic analysis, and identified nine types of chloroplast genome structures among Corydalis spp. The ndh gene family suffered inversion and rearrangement or was lost or pseudogenized throughout the chloroplast genomes of various Corydalis species. Analysis of five protein-coding genes revealed simple sequence repeats and repetitive sequences that can be potential molecular markers for species identification. Phylogenetic analysis revealed three subgenera in Corydalis. Subgenera Cremnocapnos and Sophorocapnos represented the Type 2 and 3 genome structures, respectively. Subgenus Corydalis included all types except type 3, suggesting that chloroplast genome structural diversity increased during its differentiation. Despite the explosive diversification of this subgenus, most endemic species collected from the Korean Peninsula shared only one type of genome structure, suggesting recent divergence. These findings will greatly improve our understanding of the chloroplast genome of Corydalis and may help develop effective molecular markers., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Kim et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: We investigated the short- and long-term risks of pancreatic cancer after the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis., Methods: This population-based matched-cohort study used data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Patients with acute pancreatitis (n = 25,488) were matched with the control group (n = 127,440) based on age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, and diabetes. We estimated the hazard ratios for developing pancreatic cancer in both groups using Cox regression analysis., Results: During a median follow-up of 5.4 years, pancreatic cancer developed in 479 patients (1.9%) in the acute pancreatitis group and 317 patients (0.2%) in the control group. Compared with the control group, the risk of pancreatic cancer in the acute pancreatitis group was very high within the first 2 years, which gradually decreased over time. The hazard ratio for the risk of developing pancreatitis was 8.46 (95% confidence interval, 5.57-12.84) at 1-2 years, and then decreased to 3.62 (95% confidence interval, 2.26-4.91) at 2-4 years. However, even after 8-10 years, the hazard ratio was still statistically significantly increased to 2.80 (95% confidence interval, 1.42-5.53). After 10 years, there was no significant difference in the risk of pancreatic cancer between the two groups., Conclusions: The risk of pancreatic cancer increases rapidly after acute pancreatitis diagnosis, gradually declines after 2 years, and remains elevated for up to 10 years. Further studies are needed to determine the long-term effects of acute pancreatitis on the risk of pancreatic cancer., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: The treatment of pancreatic cancer has evolved; however, real-world data on treatment trends remain scarce. This study investigated treatment patterns for pancreatic cancer and patient survival using a nationwide population-based study in Korea., Methods: Using the National Health Insurance database, data from 78,920 patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in Korea between 2006 and 2019 were extracted. Treatment patterns and survival by age group and year of diagnosis were examined., Results: Primary treatment was delivered as follows: 16,562 patients (21.0%) underwent surgery, 20,998 patients (26.6%) received chemotherapy, 1332 patients (1.7%) received chemoradiotherapy, and 40,040 patients (50.7%) received supportive care only. The proportion of patients undergoing surgery or chemotherapy increased gradually in all age groups over time. The commonly used anti-cancer drugs have changed from gemcitabine±erlotinib to gemcitabine+nab-paclitaxel and FOLFIRINOX. Survival improved mainly in patients who underwent surgery or chemotherapy. Median overall survival for all patients improved from 5.5 months in 2006-2008 to 9.8 months in 2018-2019, with greater improvement observed in younger age groups: 8.8-18.8 months, age ≤59 years, 6.8-14.6 months, age 60-69 years, 4.2-8.3 months, age 70-79 years and 2.4-3.4 months, age ≥80 years (all p < 0.0001)., Conclusions: An increase in the rates of surgery and chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer was observed. Survival rates for pancreatic cancer have generally improved over the past decade and are greater in patients undergoing surgery or chemotherapy and in younger age groups., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Understanding adipocyte development in fetus during bovine pregnancy is important for strengthening fattening technology. Additionally, nutritional level of dams during pregnancy has the potential to improve offspring growth and fat development. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the intramuscular adipocyte development and expression level of related genes in bovine fetus, and the effect of increased crude protein (CP) intake during pregnancy on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of male offspring. Eighty six pregnant Hanwoo cows (average body weight, 551.5 ± 51.3 kg, age 5.29 ± 0.61 y) were used. Fetuses were collected at 90, 180 and 270 d of gestation from 18 pregnant Hanwoo cows. The remaining 68 pregnant cows were randomly assigned to 2 feeding groups. The control (CON) group was provided the standard protein diet (n = 34), and treatment (TRT) group was provided a diet with a 5% increase in CP intake (n = 34). Male offspring were divided into two groups according to protein treatment of the pregnant cows: CON male offspring (CON-O) and TRT male offspring (TRT-O). Intramuscular adipocytes were found in the fetal skeletal muscle after 180 days of gestation. Male calf's birth weight increased in the TRT group compared to that in the CON group ( p < 0.002). The final body weight ( p < 0.003) and average daily gain ( p < 0.019) of male offspring were significantly higher in TRT-O than in CON-O. The feed conversion ratio was also improved by 10.5% in TRT-O compared to that in CON-O ( p < 0.026). Carcass weight was significantly higher in the TRT-O group than that in the CON-O group ( p < 0.003), and back fat was thicker in the TRT-O group ( p = 0.07). The gross receipts and net income were higher in TRT-O than in CON-O ( p < 0.04). Thus, fetal intramuscular fat can be formed from the mid-gestation period, and increased CP intake during pregnancy can increase net income by improving the growth and carcass weight of male offspring rather than intramuscular fat., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported., (© Copyright 2023 Korean Society of Animal Science and Technology.)

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze characteristics, treatment, long-term outcomes, and prognostic factors for children, adolescents and young adults with rhabdomysosarcoma (RMS)., Methods: This retrospective historical study included 75 patients with RMS treated between 2002 and 2019. Clinical data and follow-up results were collected including all diagnosis, treatment and prognosis information., Results: Patients median-age-at-diagnosis was 6 years. Embryonal and alveolar histology occurred in 51 (68.0%) and 21 (28.0%) patients, respectively. The tumors most frequently originated from parameningeal site (28.0%). Of 74 evaluable patients for treatment outcome, 60 (81.1%) achieved complete response for first-line treatment, of whom, 34 (56.6%) maintained complete response, 26 (43.3%; 23/26, local relapse) showed relapse. Of 40 patients with treatment failure, 16 and 6 occurred in parameningeal area and retroperitoneum/perineum, respectively. The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 45.0% and 64.5%, respectively. In multivariate analyses, parameningeal site (p = 0.027), no gross total resection (p = 0.047), and no radiation therapy (RT) (p < 0.001) for PFS; and parameningeal site (p < 0.001) and no RT (p = 0.010) for worse OS, were significant. The median PFS and OS from treatment failure date in 40 patients with primary treatment failure were 1.3 and 4.1 years, respectively. Of 26 patients with relapse, interval to relapse < 7 months, retroperitoneum/perineum site, TNM stages III/IIV, and no salvage RT were independently associated with OS., Conclusion: The importance of adequate local therapy was highlighted in RMS treatment. Treatment failure was largely a local failure. Whether as a component of initial or salvage treatment, RT could improve patients' survival., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The uncontrollable dendritic growth of metallic lithium during repeated cycling in carbonate electrolytes is a crucial obstacle hindering the practical use of Li-metal batteries (LMBs). Among numerous approaches proposed to mitigate the intrinsic constraints of Li metal, the design of a functional separator is an attractive approach to effectively suppress the growth of Li dendrites because direct contact with both the Li metal surface and the electrolyte is maintained. Here, a newly designed all-in-one separator containing bifunctional CaCO 3 nanoparticles (CPP separator) is proposed to achieve the flattening of Li deposits on the Li electrode. Strong interactions between the highly polar CaCO 3 nanoparticles and the polar solvent reduces the ionic radius of the Li + -solvent complex, thus increasing the Li + transference number and leading to a reduced concentration overpotential in the electrolyte-filled separator. Furthermore, the integration of CaCO 3 nanoparticles into the separator induces the spontaneous formation of mechanically-strong and lithiophilic CaLi 2 at the Li/separator interface, which effectively decreases the nucleation overpotential toward Li plating. As a result, the Li deposits exhibit dendrite-free planar morphologies, thus enabling excellent cycling performance in LMBs configured with a high-Ni cathode in a carbonate electrolyte under practical operating conditions., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Novel barium heteroleptic complexes were synthesized through the substitution of the bis(trimethylsilyl)amide of Ba(btsa) 2 ·2DME with aminoalkoxide and β-diketonate ligands. Compounds [Ba(ddemap)(tmhd)] 2 ( 1 ) and [Ba(ddemmp)(tmhd)] 2 ( 2 ) were obtained and analyzed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, thermogravimetric analysis, and elemental analysis (ddemapH = 1-(dimethylamino)-5-((2-(dimethylamino)ethyl) (methyl)amino)pentan-3-ol and ddemmpH = 1-(dimethylamino)-5-((2-(dimethylamino)ethyl) (methyl)amino)-3-methylpentan-3-ol). In single-crystal X-ray crystallography, complex 1 exhibited a dimeric structure with μ 2 -O bonds of the ddemap ligand. All complexes exhibited high volatility and could be sublimed under reduced pressure (0.5 Torr) at 160 °C, indicating that these complexes are promising candidates as atomic layer deposition or chemical vapor deposition precursors for the growth of barium-containing thin films., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Overgrowth of long bones was noted in pediatric patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Hyperaemia during creating a metaphyseal hole and the microinstability made by the drill hole may induce overgrowth. This study aimed to determine whether metaphyseal hole creation accelerates growth and increases bone length and compare the effects of growth stimulation between metaphyseal hole creation and periosteal resection. We selected 7- to 8-week-old male New Zealand white rabbits. Periosteal resection (N = 7) and metaphyseal hole creation (N = 7) were performed on the tibiae of skeletally immature rabbits. Seven additional sham controls were included as age-matched controls. In the metaphyseal hole group, the hole was made using a Steinman pin at the same level of periosteal resection, and the cancellous bone beneath the physis was removed by curettage. The vacant space in the metaphysis below the physis was filled with bone wax. Tibiae were collected 6 weeks after surgery. The operated tibia was longer in the metaphyseal hole group (10.43 ± 0.29 cm vs. 10.65 ± 0.35 cm, P = 0.002). Overgrowth was higher in the metaphyseal hole group (3.17 ± 1.16 mm) than in the sham group (- 0.17 ± 0.39 mm, P < 0.001). The overgrowth in the metaphyseal hole group was comparable to that in the periosteal resection group (2.23 ± 1.52 mm, P = 0.287). In rabbits, metaphyseal hole creation and interposition with bone wax can stimulate long bone overgrowth, and the amount of overgrowth is similar to that seen in periosteal resection., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

To substitute corrosive halogen ligands, we designed and synthesized novel tungsten complexes containing amido ligands, W(DMEDA) 3 ( 1 ) and W(DEEDA) 3 ( 2 ) (DMEDA = N , N '-dimethylethylenediamido; DEEDA = N , N '-diethylethylenediamido). Complexes 1 and 2 were characterized by 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, FT-IR, and elemental analysis. The pseudo-octahedral molecular structure of 1 was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The thermal properties of 1 and 2 were analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), which confirmed that the precursors were volatile and exhibited adequate thermal stability. Additionally, the WS 2 deposition test was performed using 1 in thermal chemical vapor deposition (thermal CVD). Further analysis of the surface of the thin films was conducted using Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)