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Aurora kinase A (AuA) is a prerequisite for centrosome maturation, separation, and mitotic spindle assembly, thus, it is essential for cell cycle regulation. Overexpression of AuA is implicated in poor prognosis of many types of cancer. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying the functions of AuA are still not fully understood. Here, we report that AuA colocalizes with arrest defective protein 1 (ARD1) acetyltransferase during cell division and cell migration. Additionally, AuA is acetylated by ARD1 at lysine residues at positions 75 and 125. The double mutations at K75/K125 abolished the kinase activity of AuA. Moreover, the double mutant AuA exhibited diminished ability to promote cell proliferation and cell migration. Mechanistic studies revealed that AuA acetylation at K75/K125 promoted cell proliferation via activation of cyclin E/CDK2 and cyclin B1. In addition, AuA acetylation stimulated cell migration by activating the p38/AKT/MMP-2 pathway. Our findings indicate that ARD1-mediated acetylation of AuA enhances cell proliferation and migration, and probably contributes to cancer development.

Macrophages exhibit phenotypic plasticity, as they have the ability to switch their functional phenotypes during inflammation and recovery. Simultaneously, the mechanical environment actively changes. However, how these dynamic alterations affect the macrophage phenotype is unknown. Here, we observed that the extracellular matrix (ECM) constructed by AKAP12+ colon mesenchymal cells (CMCs) generated M2 macrophages by regulating their shape during recovery. Notably, rounded macrophages were present in the linear and loose ECM of inflamed colons and polarized to the M1 phenotype. In contrast, ramified macrophages emerged in the contracted ECM of recovering colons and mainly expressed M2 macrophage markers. These contracted structures were not observed in the inflamed colons of AKAP12 knockout (KO) mice. Consequently, the proportion of M2 macrophages in inflamed colons was lower in AKAP12 KO mice than in WT mice. In addition, clinical symptoms and histological damage were more severe in AKAP12 KO mice than in WT mice. In experimentally remodeled collagen gels, WT CMCs drove the formation of a more compacted structure than AKAP12 KO CMCs, which promoted the polarization of macrophages toward an M2 phenotype. These results demonstrated that tissue contraction during recovery provides macrophages with the physical cues that drive M2 polarization.

Date Presented 04/02/2022 OTs need to ensure that elderly adults continue to lead a healthy daily life in their community. For this, it is necessary to understand and approach each group according to the health status of elderly adult. Frail elderly adults are a group of elderly people in the predisability stage, which is closely related to the dysfunction and death. Lifestyle, known as a determinant of frailty, has great potential to improve human health as a changeable factor in health status. Primary Author and Speaker: Gyeonga Lee Additional Authors and Speakers: Ji-Hyuk Park Contributing Authors: Ji Hyeon Park, Jiyeon Lee, Yebin Han [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A normal inflammatory response is essential in protecting the body from foreign substances. However, excessive inflammation contributes to diseases such as oxidative stress, heart disease, and cancer. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of RAPA (red ginseng marc, Artemisia scoparia Waldst.et Kit, Paeonia japonica Miyabe & Takeda, and Angelica gigas Nakai extract mixture) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells (macrophages). RAPA suppressed the expression of inflammatory factors such as iNOS and COX-2 and decreased the production of nitric oxide. In addition, RAPA decreased the expression of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6. Furthermore, RAPA inhibited the phosphorylation of MAPKs such as JNK and ERK as well as IκB and NF-κB. In conclusion, RAPA inhibited production of inflammatory mediators via downregulation of the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The results of this study demonstrated that RAPA regulates excessive inflammatory responses at the cellular level. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate whether the same effect is observed in vivo through further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We report on the growth of coaxial InxGa1−xN/GaN nanowires (NWs) on Si(111) substrates by using pulsed flow metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. The coaxial InxGa1−xN/GaN NWs were grown by a two step process in which the core (GaN) structure was grown at a higher temperature followed by the shell (InxGa1−xN) structure at a lower temperature. Dense and well-oriented coaxial InxGa1−xN/GaN NWs were grown with an average diameter and length of about 300±50nm and 1.5–2.0μm, respectively. The coaxial InxGa1−xN/GaN NW was confirmed by cathodoluminescence mapping and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. It is proposed that the critical dissociation of precursors at an elevated growth temperature can lead to a clear formation of an outer-shell in coaxial InxGa1−xN/GaN NWs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Sepsis, sepsis-induced hyperinflammation and subsequent sepsis-associated immunosuppression (SAIS) are important causes of death. Here we show in humans that the loss of the major reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger, glutathione (GSH), during SAIS directly correlates with an increase in the expression of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3). In endotoxin-stimulated monocytes, ROS stress strongly superinduced NF-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2)-dependent ATF3. In vivo, this ROS-mediated superinduction of ATF3 protected against endotoxic shock by inhibiting innate cytokines, as Atf3?/? mice remained susceptible to endotoxic shock even under conditions of ROS stress. Although it protected against endotoxic shock, this ROS-mediated superinduction of ATF3 caused high susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infections through the suppression of interleukin 6 (IL-6). As a result, Atf3?/? mice were protected against bacterial and fungal infections, even under conditions of ROS stress, whereas Atf3?/?Il6?/? mice were highly susceptible to these infections. Moreover, in a model of SAIS, secondary infections caused considerably less mortality in Atf3?/? mice than in wild-type mice, indicating that ROS-induced ATF3 crucially determines susceptibility to secondary infections during SAIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial phosphopantetheine adenylyltransferase (PPAT) catalyzes the penultimate step in the coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthetic pathway. It catalyzes the reversible transfer of an adenylyl group from ATP to 4′-phosphopantetheine (Ppant) to form dephospho-CoA (dPCoA) and pyrophosphate. Previous structural studies have revealed how several ligands are recognized by bacterial PPATs. ATP, ADP, Ppant and dPCoA bind to the same binding site in a highly similar manner, while CoA binds to a partially overlapping site in a different mode. To provide further structural insights into ligand binding, the crystal structure of Staphylococcus aureus PPAT was solved in a binary complex with 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphosulfate (PAPS). This study unexpectedly revealed a new mode of ligand binding to PPAT, thus providing potentially useful information for structure-based discovery of inhibitors of bacterial PPATs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovations and new advancements in intraoperative real-time imaging have gained significant importance in the field of gastric cancer surgery in the recent past. Currently, the most promising procedures include indocyanine green fluorescence imaging (ICG-FI) and hyperspectral imaging or multispectral imaging (HSI, MSI). ICG-FI is utilized in a broad range of clinical applications, e.g., assessment of perfusion or lymphatic drainage, and additional implementations are currently investigated. HSI is still in the experimental phase and its value and clinical relevance require further evaluation, but initial studies have shown a successful application in perfusion assessment, and prospects concerning non-invasive tissue and tumor classification are promising. The application of machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies might enable an automatic evaluation of the acquired image data in the future. Both methods facilitate the accurate visualization of tissue characteristics that are initially indistinguishable for the human eye. By aiding surgeons in optimizing the surgical procedure, image-guided surgery can contribute to the oncologic safety and reduction of complications in gastric cancer surgery and recent advances hold promise for the application of HSI in intraoperative tissue diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A method was developed to allow detection of the probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis LAFTI®B94 in human clinical samples. A new probe, Laf94p, was developed to accomplish colony hybridization of B. lactis B94. PCR detection of B94 was also achieved using the species-specific (B. lactis) primer pair. These tests and probes allowed detection and quantification of B94 in the human intestinal flora. The sensitivity of the probe was assessed by monitoring faecal levels of B94 in humans who were fed the culture. In this trial, five volunteers were fed with the probiotic. The presence of B94 was assessed daily. Viable B94 could be detected at high levels (as high as 1.8×109cfug−1 wet weight) during the feeding period. Four weeks after the feeding stopped, B94 could still be detected in one subject. These results indicate that B94 survives in the human gastrointestinal tract. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

When exponential phase cultures of Lactococcus lactis were directly exposed to severe stresses (acid, bile salt, heat, and hydrogen peroxide) for a prolonged period, most of the cells were quickly killed, however, a small number of the cells, approximately 0.01% of the population, was found to survive. How these ‘survivor’ cells might have survived the stresses, when other supposedly-the-same cells could not, was investigated. The cultures were not exposed to any mild stresses prior to the exposure to the severe stresses, and therefore adaptation can be ruled out as the cause of survival. When the survivor cells were re-cultured and re-exposed to the same severe stresses a similar pattern of survival was displayed, indicating that the survivor cells were not stress-resistant mutants. Furthermore, the survivor cells displayed typical growth kinetics once they were freed of the stresses. The survivor cells appear to be in a distinct physiological state, because when they were tested against a second stress they exhibited significantly greater survival against that stress than the normal cells exposed to the same stress. Also, cells at different time points of synchronously growing culture displayed different levels of survival against stress. It is proposed that the difference in survival of exponential phase cells is due to the difference in the protein makeup of cells at different stages of the cell cycle. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Diospyros lotus has been traditionally used in Asia for medicinal purposes, exhibiting a broad spectrum of pharmacological effects including antioxidant, neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. While the anti-itch effect of D. lotus leaves has been reported, studies on the detailed mechanism of action in microglia and astrocytes, which are members of the central nervous system, have yet to be revealed. The present study aimed to investigate effects of D. lotus leaf extract (DLE) and its main component myricitrin (MC) on itch-related cytokines and signaling pathways in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated microglia. The effect of DLE and MC on activation of astrocyte stimulated by microglia was also examined. Cytokine production was evaluated through reverse transcription PCR and western blot analysis. Signaling pathway was analyzed by performing western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. The effect of microglia on astrocytes activation was evaluated via western blotting for receptors, signaling molecules and itch mediators and confirmed through gene silencing using short interfering RNA. DLE and MC suppressed the production of itch-related cytokine IL-6 and IL-31 in LPS-stimulated microglia. These inhibitory effects were mediated through the blockade of NF-κB, MAPK and JAK/STAT pathways. In astrocytes, stimulation by microglia promoted the expression of itch-related molecules such as oncostatin M receptor, interleukin 31 receptor a, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor 1, lipocalin-2 (LCN2), STAT3 and glial fibrillary acidic protein. However, DLE and MC significantly inhibited these receptors. Additionally, astrocytes stimulated by microglia with IL-6, IL-31, or both genes silenced did not show activation of LCN2 or STAT3. The findings of the present study demonstrated that DLE and MC could suppress pruritic activity in astrocytes induced by microglia-derived IL-6 and IL-31. This suggested the potential of DLE and MC as functional materials capable of alleviating pruritus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In gastric cancer (GC), biomarkers that define prognosis and predict treatment response remain scarce. We hypothesized that the extent of CD44v6 membranous tumor expression could predict prognosis and therapy response in GC patients. Two GC surgical cohorts, from Portugal and South Korea (n = 964), were characterized for the extension of CD44v6 membranous immuno-expression, clinicopathological features, patient survival, and therapy response. The value of CD44v6 expression in predicting response to treatment and its impact on prognosis was determined. High CD44v6 expression was associated with invasive features (perineural invasion and depth of invasion) in both cohorts and with worse survival in the Portuguese GC cohort (HR 1.461; 95% confidence interval 1.002–2.131). Patients with high CD44v6 tumor expression benefited from conventional chemotherapy in addition to surgery (p < 0.05), particularly those with heterogeneous CD44v6-positive and -negative populations (CD44v6_3+) (p < 0.007 and p < 0.009). Our study is the first to identify CD44v6 high membranous expression as a potential predictive marker of response to conventional treatment, but it does not clarify CD44v6 prognostic value in GC. Importantly, our data support selection of GC patients with high CD44v6-expressing tumors for conventional chemotherapy in addition to surgery. These findings will allow better stratification of GC patients for treatment, potentially improving their overall survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limonium tetragonum, Triglochin maritimum, Artemisia scoparia and red ginseng have been used as folk remedies for treating a variety of diseases. In the current study, the protective effects of halophyte and red ginseng against ultraviolet (UV)-induced skin damage were investigated. Halophyte red ginseng complex extract (HRCE) was prepared and its effects on UV-B irradiated human keratinocytes and mouse skin were studied through ELISA, Western blotting immunofluorescence and histological staining. HRCE inhibited peroxide-induced damage in human keratinocytes. HRCE also inhibited UVB-induced collagen and elastin degradation in human keratinocytes and mouse skin. In addition, HRCE inhibited mast cell infiltration in the skin of mice irradiated with UVB light. This effect was likely due to HRCE inhibiting the activation of MAPK and NF-κB. By protecting the skin from UVB-induced skin damage, HRCE has the potential to be used in the treatment and prevention of UV-induced skin damage and photoaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The normal inflammatory reaction protects the body from harmful external factors, whereas abnormal chronic inflammation can cause various diseases, including cancer. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of a mixture of Chrysanthemum zawadskii, peppermint and Glycyrrhiza glabra (CPG) by analyzing the expression levels of inflammatory mediators, cytokines and transcription factors in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated Raw264.7 cells. A nitric oxide assay, ELISA, western blotting and immunofluorescence staining were performed to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of the CPG mixture. Pretreatment of Raw264.7 cells with CPG inhibited the increase of inflammatory mediators (inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2 and IFN-β) induced by LPS. Additionally, it inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β). CPG suppressed LPS-induced phosphorylation of STAT1, AKT, Iκb and NF-κB. Furthermore, CPG inhibited the translocation of NF-κB into the nucleus. In summary, CPG could inhibit LPS-induced inflammation, which occurs primarily through the AKT/Iκb/NF-κB signaling pathway in RAW264.7 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The budget for disaster and safety management can be characterized as a large-scale public asset in which the government has a significant role. However, this budget has been managed in a somewhat scattered and inconsistent manner by different government ministries, until the Sewol ferry incident in Korea 2014. After the Sewol incident, the Ministry of Public Safety and Security has introduced a prior consultation system for budget allocation in the field of disaster and safety management, so that the budget can be reviewed in a holistic manner, effectively managed, and invested according to agreeable priorities. This study introduces the prior consultation system for the budget in disaster and safety management, which has been implemented since 2015, analyzes budget allocation procedures, and provides possible solutions to improve the current status of the prior consultation system for classification and prioritization. (1) The issues that were found in the budget plans for the fiscal years of 2016 to 2017 are, firstly, unclear classification criteria that made it hard to differentiate much more disaster-related programs and projects from less-related ones. Secondly, investment priorities of projects and programs for disaster and safety management are controversial, due to the lack of objective standards and procedures. To firmly settle down the prior consultation system, several possible solutions to these two main issues are suggested. (2) To improve actual budget classification, the current classification system needs to be reviewed at first, and social issues will be analyzed to be included as a criterion and, finally, authors will propose additional criteria and items based on the Disaster and Safety Management Framework Act. In order to improve prioritization procedures for budget allocation, disaster damage and loss are compiled to find implications and other related prioritization practices, such as prioritization in natural disaster-prone area improvement programs, which need to be analyzed to provide suggestions on improvement in prioritization. Through the proposed improvement of the classification system, projects that are not related to disaster safety are not included in the disaster safety project. Projects that are deeply related to disaster safety can be further explored. It is also recommended that an investment direction be established in consideration of damage characteristics through the investment priority improvement plan, and that qualitative assessment criteria should be considered in the criteria for similar projects, and weights should be required. The improvement measures derived can be used as follows: the scale can be clearly identified by clarifying the subject of the disaster safety budget. This gives a sense of where investment is lacking, and where it is sufficient. Investment priority is reviewed in a variety of ways, preventing budgetary bias in advance. As a result, these two improvements enable efficient operation of the disaster safety budget. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Injury to the vagus nerve has been proposed to be associated with occurrence of gallstones after gastrectomy. We investigated the effect of preservation of hepatic branch of the vagus nerve on prevention of gallstones during laparoscopic distal (LDG) and pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (LPPG). Methods: Preservation of the vagus nerve was reviewed of cT1N0M0 gastric cancer patients underwent LDG (n = 323) and LPPG (n = 144) during 2016–2017. Presence of gallstones was evaluated by ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT). Incidences of gallstones were compared between the nerve preserved (h-DG, h-PPG) group and sacrificed (s-DG, s-PPG) group. Clinicopathological features were also compared. Results: The 3-year cumulative incidence of gallstones was lower in the h-DG (2.7%, n = 85) than the s-DG (14.6%, n = 238) (p = 0.017) and lower in the h-PPG (1.6%, n = 123) than the s-PPG (12.9%, n = 21) (p = 0.004). Overall postoperative complication rate was similar between the h-DG and s-DG (p = 0.861) as well as between the h-PPG and s-PPG (p = 0.768). The number of retrieved lymph nodes station #1 and 3-year recurrence-free survival were not significantly different between the preserved group and sacrificed group. Injury to the vagus nerve (p = 0.001) and high body mass index (BMI) (≥ 27.5 kg/m2) (p = 0.040) were found to be independent risk factors of gallstone formation in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Preservation of hepatic branch of the vagus nerve can be recommended for LDG as well as LPPG of early gastric cancer patients to reduce postoperative gallstone formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ultra-wide bandgap (UWBG) energy (∼5.4 eV) of α-phase Ga2O3 offers the potential to achieve higher power switching performance and efficiency than today's power electronic devices. However, a major challenge to the development of the α-Ga2O3 power electronics is overheating, which can degrade the device performance and cause reliability issues. In this study, thermal characterization of an α-Ga2O3 MOSFET was performed using micro-Raman thermometry to understand the device self-heating behavior. The α-Ga2O3 MOSFET exhibits a channel temperature rise that is more than two times higher than that of a GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT). This is mainly because of the low thermal conductivity of α-Ga2O3 (11.9 ± 1.0 W/mK at room temperature), which was determined via laser-based pump-probe experiments. A hypothetical device structure was constructed via simulation that transfer-bonds the α-Ga2O3 epitaxial structure over a high thermal conductivity substrate. Modeling results suggest that the device thermal resistance can be reduced to a level comparable to or even better than those of today's GaN HEMTs using this strategy combined with thinning of the α-Ga2O3 buffer layer. The outcomes of this work suggest that device-level thermal management is essential to the successful deployment of UWBG α-Ga2O3 devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, low frequency noise in β-Ga2O3 nanowire-based (NW) electronic devices is analyzed, which exhibits different behaviors as the device size scales down. The noise spectrum for the narrower NW (∼80 nm) is closer to 1/f characteristics, whereas it starts to show evident 1/f2 components as the NW size gets thicker (∼200 nm), giving clear signs of distinctive features for the bunch of traps at the NW interface or in the bulk. Our results show that 1/f noise in these NW electronic devices seems predominantly originated from an aggregated effect of the intricate trap states close to the β-Ga2O3 NW surface or interface with a wide range distribution, while finite groups of active deep traps play a critical role in contributing 1/f2components via generation-recombination or random telegraph signal processes. Notably, as the bias voltage increases, the 1/f2 components in the noise spectra get more overwhelming and would shift toward lower frequencies, suggesting that electric ionization effects would screen the shallow traps close to the surface or interface based on the Poole–Frenkel model. The Hooge's constants extracted from the 1/f noise component for these β-Ga2O3 NW-based devices fall in the range of 0.008–0.019, which are comparable to those of the best reported devices based on other wide bandgap semiconductor with nanoscale structures, including GaN, ZnO, and SnO2. This work may give hints of revealing the sophisticated dynamic behaviors of traps in the surface/volume β-Ga2O3 materials and electronic devices in the nanoscale by low frequency noises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several studies have previously reported that laparoscopic surgery using an energy sealing device generates hazardous surgical smoke. However, the droplets appearing on the surface of peritoneal fluid irrigated with saline, after dissection phase of laparoscopic gastrectomy were ignored for a long time. This study aimed to investigate the composition and clinical significance of these droplet particles. Methods: This study prospectively enrolled 15 patients with early gastric cancer (cT1NanyM0) who were scheduled for laparoscopic gastrectomy. Floating phases of peritoneal irrigation fluid containing droplets in dissected area were retrieved before and after surgical dissection. Using gas chromatography analysis, the areas under the peak were compared between the samples retrieved before and after surgical dissection. We also analyzed if the area value with significant change was related to the inflammatory response. Results: In gas chromatography, the area values after laparoscopic surgical dissection were significantly increased in 10 out of 37 kinds of fatty acids, compared to those before surgical dissection. The significant increase in area value of α-linoleic and eicosadienoic acids were positively correlated with the elevated level of C-reactive protein at postoperative day 2 (Spearman's ρ = 0.843, P < 0.001; Spearman's ρ = 0.785, P = 0.001). Conclusions: The lipid droplets, generated after laparoscopic lymphadenectomy during gastric cancer surgery, contained various types of fatty acids, and some of them have been found to be associated with inflammatory response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A transistor-type photodetector (PD) can control the channel current. • Normally-off transistor-type PDs have advantages such as low leakage current. • Ga 2 O 3 N-doping enhances insulation and enables precise control of channel thickness. • It exhibits stable and fast switching characteristics under pulsed bias voltage. • The shortest rise and decay times of 3.8 ms and 3.5 ms, respectively, achieved. β -phase gallium oxide (β-Ga 2 O 3) is attracting attention as a deep—ultraviolet photodetector (PD) owing to its large band gap of 4.9 eV, almost direct band gap characteristics, and solar-blind photodetection. However, most Ga 2 O 3 -based transistor-type PDs operate in a normally-on mode. In this study, a silicon (Si)-doped β -Ga 2 O 3 epilayer with normally-off characteristics was grown on a nitrogen (N)-doped buffer layer of a c -plane Al 2 O 3 substrate using metal–organic chemical vapor deposition. The N-doped layer acts as a buffer layer during Si-doped β -Ga 2 O 3 growth and improves crystallinity. In addition, the N-doped buffer layer has semi-insulating properties that reduce leakage current, enabling precise control of the effective thickness of the Si-doped β -Ga 2 O 3 epilayer. Phototransistors are fabricated to improve the characteristics of ultraviolet PDs, such as photo-to-dark current ratio and on–off time. The Si-doped β -Ga 2 O 3 -based transistor-type PD has a detectivity of 3.85 × 1016 Jones at a wavelength of 260 nm. It achieves detectivity values similar to those of flake-based PDs, and performs the best amongst non-flake-based PDs. Moreover, its rising time and decay time are 3.8 ms and 3.5 ms, respectively; these are among the smallest values reported for existing Ga 2 O 3 -based transistor-type PDs. The fabricated epilayer will facilitate the fabrication of high-performance and efficient photo-electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

α-Ga2O3 has the corundum structure analogous to that of α-Al2O3. The bandgap energy of α-Ga2O3 is 5.3 eV and is greater than that of β-Ga2O3, making the α-phase attractive for devices that benefit from its wider bandgap. The O–H and O–D centers produced by the implantation of H+ and D+ into α-Ga2O3 have been studied by infrared spectroscopy and complementary theory. An O–H line at 3269 cm−1 is assigned to H complexed with a Ga vacancy (VGa), similar to the case of H trapped by an Al vacancy (VAl) in α-Al2O3. The isolated VGa and VAl defects in α-Ga2O3 and α-Al2O3 are found by theory to have a "shifted" vacancy-interstitial-vacancy equilibrium configuration, similar to VGa in β-Ga2O3, which also has shifted structures. However, the addition of H causes the complex with H trapped at an unshifted vacancy to have the lowest energy in both α-Ga2O3 and α-Al2O3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although FDG-PET is widely used in cancer, its role in gastric cancer (GC) is still controversial due to variable [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) uptake. Here, we sought to develop a genetic signature to predict high FDG-avid GC to plan individualized PET and investigate the molecular landscape of GC and its association with glucose metabolic profiles noninvasively evaluated by [18F]FDG-PET. Methods: Based on a genetic signature, PETscore, representing [18F]FDG avidity, was developed by imaging data acquired from thirty patient-derived xenografts (PDX). The PETscore was validated by [18F]FDG-PET data and gene expression data of human GC. The PETscore was associated with genomic and transcriptomic profiles of GC using The Cancer Genome Atlas. Results: Five genes, PLS1, PYY, HBQ1, SLC6A5, and NAT16, were identified for the predictive model for [18F]FDG uptake of GC. The PETscore was validated in independent PET data of human GC with qRT-PCR and RNA-sequencing. By applying PETscore on TCGA, a significant association between glucose uptake and tumor mutational burden as well as genomic alterations were identified. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that molecular characteristics are underlying the diverse metabolic profiles of GC. Diverse glucose metabolic profiles may apply to precise diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine biological effects of Cirsium japonicum extract and its main component cirsimaritin on high‐fat diet (HFD)‐induced metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in a mouse model. Mice were fed with a HFD to induce MAFLD and simultaneously administered with C. japonicum extract (CJE) or cirsimaritin. Various MAFLD biomarkers were evaluated using biological methods. Results demonstrated that triglyceride, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and malondialdehyde levels in the liver of mice were significantly reduced upon administration of CJE or cirsimaritin. Treatment with CJE or cirsimaritin also reduced the severity of liver injury in the experimental mouse model of MAFLD by inhibiting hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress, inflammation, and liver fibrosis. These results demonstrate that CJE and cirsimaritin as its main compound have a preventive action against the progression of hepatic steatosis to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Our study suggests that CJE and cirsimaritin might be promising agents for preventing and/or treating MAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the thin film quality of the epitaxial layer on Sn-doped (001)-oriented β -Ga 2 O 3 single crystal substrates. The homoepitaxial layer is grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) at 700 °C, 800 °C, 900 °C, and 1000 °C. To evaluate the grown epitaxial layer at different temperatures, the depletion layer of the Schottky barrier diode (SBD) is studied using the impedance-phase angle (Z-theta) via capacitance-voltage measurements. In addition, the Z-theta value is correlated with X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that the epitaxial layer grown at 900 °C has the best epitaxial layer quality. It is presumed that Z-theta measurements are a feasible and reliable approach to evaluate the epitaxial layer in Ga 2 O 3 -related devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tumor localization during totally laparoscopic gastrectomy is challenging owing to the invisibility of tumors on the serosal surface. We aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of intra-operative gastroscopy in totally laparoscopic partial gastrectomy. Methods: We reviewed 1084 gastric cancer patients who underwent either intra- or extracorporeal partial gastrectomy between 2014 and 2018. The intracorporeal group with intra-operative gastroscopy (intra-operative gastroscopy group, n = 187), the intracorporeal group without intra-operative gastroscopy (non-intra-operative gastroscopy group, n = 267), and the extracorporeal group (n = 630) were evaluated for the adequacy of surgical resection margins. We assessed whether total gastrectomy could be avoided according to the performance of intra-operative gastroscopy if the tumor was located within 3–5 cm away from the gastroesophageal junction. Results: The proximal margin positivity was lesser in the intra-operative gastroscopy group than in the non-intra-operative gastroscopy group (0% versus 2.2%; P = 0.045) but similar to that in the extracorporeal group (0% versus 0.6%; P = 0.579). The number of cases with proximal resection margins < 1 cm was lower in the intra-operative gastroscopy group than in the non-intra-operative gastroscopy group (3.7% versus 9.4%; P = 0.025) but comparable with that in the extracorporeal group (3.7% versus 4.1%; P = 0.815). Among 94 patients with lesions located within 3–5 cm apart from the gastroesophageal junction, the intra-operative gastroscopy group (n = 47) had fewer patients who underwent total gastrectomy than the non-intra-operative gastroscopy group (n = 47) (12.8% versus 44.7%; P = 0.001). Intra-operative gastroscopy was the only independent factor that prevented total gastrectomy (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Intra-operative gastroscopy can provide margin safety during intracorporeal partial gastrectomy, avoiding unnecessary total gastrectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the usefulness of near-infrared indocyanine green (ICG)-enhanced fluorescence guidance for infrapyloric LN dissection in laparoscopic distal gastrectomy. Methods: This study enrolled patients with early gastric cancer scheduled for laparoscopic distal gastrectomy. After intraoperative submucosal injection of ICG (0.1 mg/mL), LN dissection was conducted under near-infrared ICG fluorescence guidance. The operation time, bleeding events during infrapyloric LN dissection were analyzed. Cases were retrospectively 1:3 propensity-score matched to patients who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy without ICG injection. Results: The mean time from midline omentectomy to exposure of the right gastroepiploic vein was significantly shorter in the ICG group (n = 20) than in the non-ICG group (n = 60) (13.05 ± 5.77 vs 18.68 ± 7.92 min; p = 0.001), and the incidence of bleeding during infrapyloric LN dissection was lower in the ICG group (20% vs 68.3%, p < 0.001). The two groups did not differ significantly regarding the number of LNs retrieved from the infrapyloric area (p = 0.434). Conclusions: Near-infrared ICG fluorescence guidance facilitates safe and fast infrapyloric LN dissection in laparoscopic distal gastrectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Higher tourniquet pressures may be associated with an increased risk of complications. We aimed to determine (1) whether a lower tourniquet pressure [systolic blood pressure (SBP) + 120 mmHg] is as effective as conventional tourniquet pressure (SBP + 150 mmHg) in providing a bloodless surgical field and decreasing blood loss, and (2) whether lowering the tourniquet pressure decreases tourniquet-related complications compared to conventional inflation pressure.Methods: One hundred and sixty knees in 124 patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were randomly allocated to either conventional (n = 80) or lower inflation pressure group (n = 80). The quality of the initial surgical field and occurrence of intraoperative blood oozing, hemoglobin drop, drained volume and calculated blood loss were assessed as efficacy variables. Safety outcome variables included post-operative pain, tourniquet site skin problems (ecchymosis, bullae, skin necrosis), and other tourniquet-related complications such as nerve palsy, venous thromboembolism, and delayed rehabilitation.Results: A comparable bloodless surgical field was successfully provided in both groups (100% vs. 99%, p = 1.000). One case in the conventional pressure group and two cases in the lower pressure group showed intraoperative blood oozing (p = 1.000), which was successfully controlled after an increase of 30 mmHg in the tourniquet inflation pressure. There was no difference in the hemoglobin drop, drained volume, and calculated blood loss. The two groups did not differ in any safety outcomes such as post-operative pain, thigh complications, and other tourniquet related complications.Conclusion: This study demonstrates that a tourniquet inflation pressure of 120 mmHg above the SBP is effective method during TKA.Trial Registration: The trial was with ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT01993758 ) on November 25, 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Novel InGaN quantum particles synthesized on high aspect ratio GaN nanowire structure. • External catalyst-free 1.36 eV InGaN nanowire electrode for broadband solar absorption. • 11.5 mmol cm−2 hydrogen generation with a photon-to-current efficiency of 13.75 % at −0.8 V versus RHE. GaN is a well-known material whose energy band edges can straddle the redox potentials deep in the visible and infrared wavelengths, thereby promising a drastically improved photon-to-current efficiency under applied bias. However, the material is still limited by the half-reactions of water splitting due to its high defect density, low light absorption, small reaction area, and large energy band bending. Here, our study provides a turn-key solution to all these issues. The synergistic effect of InGaN/GaN quantum pyramids on nanowires (QPs-NWs) directly addresses the performance degradation of the photocathodes (PCs). New InGaN QP structures on non-polar GaN nanowire show a unique tunable energy band (E g : ∼2 eV to ∼1.36 eV) by quantum-sliding interface recombination effect. Without the use of external catalysts, the photoelectrochemical water splitting (PEC-WS) of QPs-NWs PC demonstrated enhanced performance with a current density of 34.36 mA cm−2 and a photon-to-current efficiency of 13.75 % under the −0.8 to 0 V applied biasing condition, which is much higher than in previous reports. The current density and the H 2 production were measured to be ∼61.81 mA cm−2 and 11.5 mmol cm−2 for 10 h. The external catalyst-free electrode and the metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) process will open a new platform for the commercialization of III-nitride based water splitting hydrogen technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The Si-doped κ- Ga 2 O 3 thin film was grown on a 2-inch sapphire wafer by MOCVD and applied to a solar-blind photodetector. • Highly crystalline κ- Ga 2 O 3 thin film with the bandgap of ∼4.9 eV was confirmed by Tauc plot, XRD, and TEM analyses. • The κ- Ga 2 O 3 thin film grown under 15 sccm SiH 4 showed excellent UV-C detecting performances (∼72.1 A/W, I on /I off ∼14). Orthorhombic κ- Ga 2 O 3 , as one of the Ga 2 O 3 polymorphs, is considered a promising as ultrawide bandgap material for extreme environment devices. It is considered more superior than the conventional group III-V compound semiconductors and silicon carbides in extreme environments demanding material/device characteristics of high-voltage, high-temperature, high-pressure, high-impact, and high-radiation. In this study, we demonstrate ultrasensitive ultraviolet-C (UV-C) detection using Si-doped orthorhombic κ- Ga 2 O 3 photodetectors. A 150 nm thick κ- Ga 2 O 3 film was grown on a 2-inch diameter sapphire (α –Al 2 O 3) wafer via metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) method. The crystallinity of orthorhombic κ- Ga 2 O 3 film was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The ultrawide bandgap of approximately 4.9 eV was confirmed by UV transmittance measurement. For UV-C detection analysis, a planar device with a channel length of 20 μm was fabricated using Au/Ti metal contacts on the orthorhombic κ- Ga 2 O 3 film. The device doped under 15 sccm SiH 4 flow rate showed ultrahigh photoresponse of ∼72.1 A/W, I on /I off of ∼14, and decent rise (∼0.35 s) and decay (∼1.79 s). Our results will contribute to the understanding on a new material phase of κ- Ga 2 O 3 , as well as on developing optoelectronics devices with high radiation hardness suitable for operation in extreme environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Laparoscopic distal gastrectomy is now widely used in East Asia and worldwide with different preferences and outcomes. This study aimed to compare the short- and long-term outcomes and preferences between two high-volume gastric cancer centers in Korea and China., Methods: Patients who underwent laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) and totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) for gastric cancer from Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) and the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (NMUH) from 2017 to 2020 were enrolled in this study., Results: A total of 1166 SNUH cases and 847 NMUH cases enrolled in this study. The overall complication rate of SNUH (14.49%) did not differ from that of NMUH after LADG or TLDG (12.28%). The anastomosis-related complications rate (2.74%) did not show a significant difference with that of NMUH (2.01%) either. The median postoperative hospital stay for SNUH (7,(7,10)) was shorter than that for NMUH (8,(7,9)). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate of SNUH was not significantly different from that of NMUH., Conclusion: There was no significant difference in the overall complication rate, anastomosis-related complication rate, resected lymph nodes, and 5- year overall survival rate between SNUH and NMUH except for the postoperative stay. Both the LADG and TLDG achieved satisfactory short- and long-term outcomes when performed by surgeons with adequate experience., Competing Interests: Declarations Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Ethical approval The study was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the ethics committees of Seoul National University Hospital and the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. Consent to participate The patients were informed about sample collection and signed informed consent forms. All human samples used in this study were unidentified. Consent for publication All authors of this article have directly participated in the planning and drafting, and all listed authors have read and approved the final version, including details and images., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Broadband optoelectronics, which extend from the UV to IR regions, are crucial for imaging, autonomous driving, and object recognition. In particular, photon detection efficiency relies significantly on semiconductor properties, such as absorption coefficients and electron-hole pair generation rate, which can be optimized by designing a suitable p-n junction. In this study, we devise giant PbS colloidal quantum dots (G-PbS CQDs) that exhibit high absorption coefficients and broadband absorption. To leverage these exceptional optical properties, we combine G-PbS CQDs with an ultrawide-bandgap semiconductor, α-Ga 2 O 3 , and create an efficient G-PbS CQD/α-Ga 2 O 3 heterojunction photodetector that exhibits high performance across the UVC-vis-NIR spectrum range. The resultant heterojunction facilitates efficient electron-hole pair separation at the G-PbS CQD/α-Ga 2 O 3 heterojunction. Furthermore, we utilize transparent graphene electrodes to overcome the limitations of conventional transistor-type device structures and the substantial optical losses induced by opaque metal electrodes. This strategy maximizes the light-collection area and results in an approximately 3-orders of magnitude higher responsivity (55.5 A/W) and specific detectivity (1.66 × 10 13 Jones) compared to devices with opaque metal electrodes.

Robotic esophagectomy has improved early outcomes and enhanced the quality of lymphadenectomy for esophageal cancer surgery. This study aimed to determine risk factors for long-term survival following robotic esophagectomy and the causes of long-term mortality. We included patients who underwent robotic esophagectomy at our institute between 2010 and 2022. Robotic esophagectomy was defined as a surgical procedure performed robotically in both the abdomen and thorax. Robotic esophagectomy was performed in patients at all stages, including advanced stages, even in patients with stage IV and supraclavicular lymph node metastasis. A total of 340 patients underwent robotic esophagectomy during the study period. Ivor-Lewis operation and McKeown operation were performed on 153 (45.0%) and 187 (55.0%) patients, respectively. The five-year survival rates based on clinical stages were as follows: 85.2% in stage I, 62.0% in stage II, 54.5% in stage III, and 40.3% in stage IV. Risk factors for long-term survival included body mass index, Charlson comorbidity index, clinical stages, and postoperative complications of grade 4 or higher. Among the cases of long-term mortality, recurrence accounted for 42 patients (61.7%), while non-cancer-related death occurred in 26 patients (38.2%). The most common cause of non-cancer-related death was malnutrition and poor general condition, observed in 11 patients (16.2%). Robotic esophagectomy has demonstrated the ability to achieve acceptable long-term survival rates, even in patients with cervical lymph node metastasis. However, addressing high-grade postoperative complications and long-term malnutrition remains crucial for further improving the long-term survival outcomes of patients with esophageal cancer., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Purpose: This study aimed to develop and assess the feasibility and effectiveness of digital therapeutics for supportive care after gastrectomy., Materials and Method: The study included 39 patients with gastric cancer who underwent minimally invasive gastrectomy and were able to use a mobile application (app) on their smartphones. The developed research app automatically calculates and provides daily targets for calorie and protein intake based on the patient's body mass index (BMI). Patients recorded their daily diets, weights, and symptoms in the app and completed special questionnaires to assess the feasibility of the app in real-world clinical practice., Results: At the 10-week follow-up, the mean questionnaire scores for ease of learning, usability, and effectiveness of the app (primary endpoint) were 2.32±0.41, 2.35±0.43, and 2.4±0.39 (range: 0-3), respectively. Patients were classified as underweight (<18.5, n=4), normal (18.5-24.9, n=24), or overweight (≥25.0, n=11) according to predischarge BMI. Underweight patients showed higher compliance with app usage and a higher rate of achieving the target calorie and protein intake than normal weight and overweight patients (98% vs. 77% vs. 81%, p=0.0313; 102% vs. 75% vs. 61%, P=0.0111; 106% vs. 79% vs. 64%, P=0.0429). Two patients transitioned from underweight to normal weight (50.0%), one patient (4.3%) transitioned from normal weight to underweight, and two patients (22.2%) transitioned from overweight to normal weight., Conclusions: The mobile app is feasible and useful for postoperative supportive care in terms of ease of learning, usability, and effectiveness. Digital therapeutics may be an effective way to provide supportive care for postgastrectomy patients, particularly in terms of nutrition., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04800991., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported., (Copyright © 2024. Korean Gastric Cancer Association.)

Background: The inflation-deflation (ID) method has long been the standard for intraoperative margin assessment in segmentectomy. However, with advancements in vision technology, the use of near-infrared mapping with indocyanine green (ICG) has become increasingly common. This study was conducted to compare the perioperative outcomes and resection margins achieved using these methods., Methods: This retrospective study included patients who underwent direct segmentectomy for clinical stage I lung cancer between January 2018 and September 2022. We compared perioperative factors, including bronchial and parenchymal resection margins, according to the margin assessment method and the type of segmentectomy performed. Since the ICG approach was adopted in April 2021, we also examined a recent subgroup of patients treated from then onward., Results: A total of 319 segmentectomies were performed. ID and ICG were utilized for 261 (81.8%) and 58 (18.2%) patients, respectively. Following April 2021, 61 patients (51.3%) were treated with ID, while 58 (48.7%) received ICG. We observed no significant difference in resection margins between ID and ICG for bronchial (2.7 cm vs. 2.3 cm, p=0.07) or parenchymal (2.5 cm vs. 2.3 cm, p=0.46) margins. Additionally, the length of hospitalization and the complication rate were comparable between groups. Analysis of the recent subgroup confirmed these findings, showing no significant differences in resection margins (bronchial: 2.6 cm vs. 2.3 cm, p=0.25; parenchymal: 2.4 cm vs. 2.3 cm, p=0.75), length of hospitalization, or complication rate., Conclusion: The perioperative outcomes and resection margins achieved using ID and ICG were comparable, suggesting that both methods can safely guide segmentectomy procedures.

Background: The maintenance of antiplatelet therapy increases the risk of bleeding during lung cancer surgery. Conversely, the perioperative interruption of antiplatelet therapy may result in serious thrombotic complications. This study aimed to investigate the safety of continuing antiplatelet therapy in the context of lung cancer surgery., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a cohort of 498 elderly patients who underwent surgery for lung cancer. These patients were categorized into 2 groups: group N, which did not receive antiplatelet therapy, and group A, which did. Group A was subsequently subdivided into group Am, where antiplatelet therapy was maintained, and group Ai, where antiplatelet therapy was interrupted. We compared the incidence of bleeding-related and thrombotic complications across the 3 groups., Results: There were 387 patients in group N and 101 patients in group A (Ai: 70, Am: 31). No significant differences were found in intraoperative blood loss, thoracotomy conversion rates, transfusion requirements, volume of chest tube drainage, or reoperation rates for bleeding control between groups N and A or between groups Am and Ai. The duration of hospital stay was longer for group A compared to group N (7 days vs. 6 days, p=0.005), but there was no significant difference between groups Ai and Am. The incidence of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular complications did not differ significantly between groups Ai and Am. However, group Ai included a severe case of in-hospital ST-elevation myocardial infarction., Conclusion: The maintenance of antiplatelet therapy was found to be safe in terms of perioperative bleeding and thrombotic complications in elderly lung cancer surgery patients.

Background: Obesity is known to increase overall disease burden but does obesity management actually help reduce disease burden?, Objectives: To investigate the effects of weight loss on disease burden in people with obesity using the National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort (NHIS-HEALS) in Korea., Setting: Pure longitudinal observational study using Nationwide cohort database., Methods: Out of 514,866 NHIS-HEALS cohort, participants with class II obesity in Asia-Pacific region (30 ≤ body mass index [BMI] < 35) who underwent health check-up provided by NHIS during 2003-2004 (index date) were included. All final participants continued to receive a total of 5 biennial health check-ups over the next 10 years without missing. A group-based trajectory model (GBTM) was used to categorize subjects based on 10-year BMI change patterns. The changes of co-morbidities, healthcare resource utilization, and medical cost were analyzed., Results: The final study subjects (9857) were categorized into 3 trajectory clusters based on the pattern of BMI (kg/m 2 ) change: maintenance (57.35%) with an average change of -.02 ± .06, loss (38.65%) with -.04 ± .08, and substantial loss (4.0%) with -.10 ± .18. The annual increases in the number of co-morbidities per subject in each cluster were .18, .18, and .16 (all P < .001), respectively. The increase of healthcare resource utilization over time was lowest for the substantial loss compared to maintenance and loss. With each passing year, the average annual total healthcare cost increased by ₩21,200 ($16.48, P = .034) and ₩10,500 ($8.16, P = .498) in the maintenance and loss, respectively, but decreased by ₩62,500 ($48.59, P = .032) in the substantial loss., Conclusions: Weight loss in people with obesity was associated with a reduced burden of disease, as evidenced by lower co-morbidity, healthcare resource utilization rate, and decreased medical costs. This study highlights the potential positive long-term impact on Korean society when actively managing weight in individuals with obesity., (Copyright © 2024 American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Chest wall resection (CWR) is an essential procedure for treating malignancies and infectious conditions of the chest wall. However, there are few studies on the pulmonary function and changes in thoracic cavity volume (TCV) related to CWR. This study aims to investigate the effects of CWR on long-term changes in TCV and pulmonary function., Methods: Data of patients who underwent CWR between 2001 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who underwent single rib or lung resection rather than wedge resection were excluded. TCV (liter) was defined as the sum of the right and left TCVs (RCV and LCV) and was measured using computed tomography image reconstruction software. Changes in pulmonary function and TCV 1 year postoperatively were analyzed., Results: A total of 45 patients were included. The number of resected ribs was 2 in 16 (35.6%) and ≥3 in 29 (64.4%) patients. Thirty patients underwent reconstruction. Long-term post-CWR decreased in forced vital capacity (FVC) (-7.9%, P=0.004) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1 ) (-7.0%, P=0.002) were significant. There was no significant decrease in FEV 1 /FVC ratio (-3.0%, P=0.06), diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) (-5.9%, P=0.18) and TCV (-3.1%, P=0.10). There was no correlation between changes in TCV and decreases in FVC (r=0.12, P=0.56) or FEV 1 (r=0.15, P=0.45). After right-side CWR (n=27), RCV (-7.8%, P=0.01) decreased significantly, whereas LCV (+2.1%, P=0.58) did not. The left-side CWR exhibited an identical pattern. (LCV: -8.5%, P=0.004; RCV: +1.3%, P=0.85). In the ≥3 rib-resection group, FVC (-9.5%, P=0.02), FEV 1 (-7.9%, P=0.02) and TCV (-6.4%, P=0.04) decreased significantly. No significant changes were noted in the 2 rib-resection group. There were no significant differences in the changes in pulmonary function nor TCV between the reconstruction and no-reconstruction groups., Conclusions: The long-term decrease in pulmonary function after CWR was significant, especially after ≥3-rib resection., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://jtd.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/jtd-24-25/coif). C.H.K. serves as an unpaid editorial board member of Journal of Thoracic Disease from October 2022 to September 2024. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2024 Journal of Thoracic Disease. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Studies on the appropriate amount of anti-adhesive agents for preventing postoperative adhesion are lacking. This animal study aimed to investigate the distribution of an anti-adhesive agent in the abdominal cavity and estimate the necessary amount to cover the entire cavity., Methods: Fluorescent dye Flamma-552 was conjugated to Guardix-sol to create Guardix-Flamma, which was laparoscopically applied to the abdominal cavity of two 10-kg pigs in different amounts: 15 mL for G1 and 35 mL for G2. After 24 hours, the distribution of Guardix-Flamma was examined under the near-infrared mode of the laparoscope, and the thickness was measured in tissues from the omentum, small, and large intestine by immunohistochemistry., Results: The average area of the abdominal cavity in 10 kg pigs was 2,755 cm2. Guardix-Flamma fluorescence was detected in the greater omentum, ascites in the pelvis, and right quadrant area in G1, whereas in G2, it was detected everywhere. On average, the total thickness of G1 and G2 were 12.68 ± 9.80 μm and 18.16 ± 15.57 μm, respectively. Guardix-Flamma thickness applied to the omentum, small, and large intestines of G2 were 1.31-, 1.45-, and 1.49-times thicker than those of G1, respectively, and were all statistically significant (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: The entire abdominal cavity of the 10 kg pig was not evenly covered with 15 mL of Guardix. Although 35 mL of Guardix is sufficient to cover the same area with an average thickness of 18 µm, further studies should evaluate the minimum thickness required for an effective anti-adhesive function.

Purpose: The calculation of the intraperitoneal organ surface area is important for understanding their anatomical structure and for conducting basic and clinical studies on diseases related to the peritoneum. To measure the intraperitoneal surface area in a living body by applying artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to the abdominal cavity using computed tomography and to prepare clinical indicators for application to the abdominal cavity., Methods: Computed tomography images of ten adult males and females with a healthy body mass index and ten adults diagnosed with colon cancer were analyzed to determine the peritoneal and intraperitoneal surface areas of the organs. The peritoneal surface was segmented and three-dimensionally modeled using AI medical imaging software. In addition to manual work, three-dimensional editing, filtering, and connectivity checks were performed to improve work efficiency and accuracy. The colon and small intestine surface areas were calculated using the mean length and diameter. The abdominal cavity surface area was defined as the sum of the intraperitoneal area and the surface areas of each organ., Results: The mean peritoneal surface area of all participants was measured as 10,039 ± 241 cm2 (males 10,224 ± 171 cm2 and females 9,854 ± 134 cm2). Males had a 3.7% larger peritoneal surface area than females, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001)., Conclusion: The abdominal cavity surface area can be measured using AI techniques and is expected to be used as basic data for clinical applications.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the recurrence patterns in patients who underwent curative surgery for gastric cancer (GC) and analyze their prognostic value for post-recurrence survival (PRS)., Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 204 patients who experienced GC recurrence following curative gastrectomy for GC at a single institution between January 2012 and December 2017. Specific recurrence patterns (lymph node, peritoneal, and hematogenous) and their multiplicity were analyzed as prognostic factors of PRS., Results: The median PRS of the 204 patients was 8.3 months (interquartile range [IQR]: 3.2-17.4). For patients with a single recurrence pattern (n=164), the difference in each recurrence pattern did not show a significant prognostic value for PRS (lymph node vs. peritoneal, P=0.343; peritoneal vs. hematogenous, P=0.660; lymph node vs. hematogenous, P=0.822). However, the patients with a single recurrence pattern had significantly longer PRS than those with multiple recurrence patterns (median PRS: 10.2 months [IQR: 3.7-18.7] vs. 3.9 months [IQR: 1.8-10.4]; P=0.037). In the multivariate analysis, multiple recurrence patterns emerged as independent prognostic factors for poor PRS (hazard ratio, 1.553; 95% confidence interval, 1.092-2.208; P=0.014) along with serosal invasion, recurrence within 1 year after gastrectomy, and the absence of post-recurrence chemotherapy., Conclusions: Regardless of the specific recurrence pattern, multiple recurrence patterns emerged as independent prognostic factors for poor PRS compared with a single recurrence pattern., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported., (Copyright © 2024. Korean Gastric Cancer Association.)