Fine particulate matter (PM) is a risk factor for pulmonary diseases and lung cancer, and inhaled PM is mainly deposited in the bronchial epithelium. In this study, we investigated the effect of long-term exposure to low-dose PM on BEAS-2B cells derived from the normal bronchial epithelium. BEAS-2B cells chronically exposed to a concentration of 5 µg/ml PM for 30 passages displayed the phenotype promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell invasion.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) is commonly used for radicular pain, but can lead to an unintentional injection into the retrodural Space of Okada (RSO), an extradural space located dorsal to the ligamentum flavum, instead of the epidural space.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence and describe the fluoroscopic imaging features of an unintentional injection into the RSO during a TFESI and to review the history of injections into the RSO.
Study Design: Observational study and original research.
 For the small glabrous skin defect, Thenar and Hypothenar skin are useful donors and they have been used as a free flap. Because of similar skin characteristics, both flaps have same indications. We will conduct comparative study for the donor morbidity of the Free thenar flap and Hypothenar free flap.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF Skin defects in the hands are common injuries, and autologous skin grafting is the ideal treatment. However, complications can occur at the donor and recipient sites. This study compares the "Swing-door" technique with conventional skin grafting.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPercutaneous first annular pulley (A1 pulley) release, which has been increasingly used to treat trigger fingers, has been widely established as a safe and simple procedure. Multiple studies have reported positive results of percutaneous A1 pulley release. In this study, however, we report cases of patients who developed complications after undergoing percutaneous A1 pulley release at local clinics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study aimed to analyze cases of anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap used for hand reconstruction with terminal perforator-to-digital artery anastomosis. Patients who underwent ALT free flap placement with terminal perforator-to-digital artery anastomosis for hand reconstruction between January 2011 and August 2021 were included. The number, length, and diameter of the perforators and veins, flap size, and operative time were investigated through a retrospective review of charts and photographs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDistal fingertip replantation is associated with being a technically demanding procedure and dubious outcomes, although it is now performed more frequently across the world. However, the technique and outcomes remain controversial with disagreement among replantation surgeons due to lack of consensus about the indications, intraoperative strategy and postoperative regimes. In this article, we asked six experienced hand surgeons several pertinent questions that every replantation surgeon performing distal fingertip replantation would face in their clinical practice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEndometrial receptivity is a complex process that prepares the uterine endometrium for embryo implantation; insufficient endometrial receptivity is one of the causes of implantation failure. Here, we analyzed the microRNA expression profiles of exosomes derived from both receptive (RL95-2) and non-receptive (AN3-CA) endometrial epithelial cell (EEC) lines to identify exosomal miRNAs closely linked to endometrial receptivity. Among the 466 differentially expressed miRNAs, miR-205-5p was the most highly expressed in exosomes secreted from receptive RL95-2 cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The most common hand fracture in children is seen at the base of the proximal phalanx. This study aims to compare clinical outcomes of single versus double Kirschner wire pinning for pediatric proximal phalanx base fractures.
Patients And Methods: The retrospective study enrolled patients who underwent closed K-wire pinning for proximal phalanx base fractures from January 2016 to February 2022.
Density-dependent regulation of cell growth is presumed to be caused by cell-cell contact, but the underlying molecular mechanism is not yet clearly defined. Here, we report that receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase-kappa (R-PTP-κ) is an important regulator of cell contact-dependent growth inhibition. R-PTP-κ expression increased in proportion to cell density.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In a costoclavicular (CC) approach of an ultrasound (US)-guided infraclavicular brachial plexus block (BPB), a septum between the lateral and the medial/posterior cords can result in an incomplete block. We hypothesized that double injections in each compartment between the septum would result in a higher success rate of BPB than a single injection in the center of the CC space.
Objectives: This study was conducted to confirm the superiority of block quality achieved by septum-based double injections (experimental group; group E) over single injection in the center of the CC space (control group; group C).
Endometrial receptivity is essential for successful pregnancy, and its impairment is a major cause of embryo-implantation failure. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) that regulate epigenetic modifications have been associated with endometrial receptivity. However, the molecular mechanisms whereby miRNAs regulate endometrial receptivity remain unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDrug resistance limits the efficacy of targeted therapies, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs); however, a substantial portion of the drug resistance mechanisms remains unexplained. In this study, we identified LPIN1 as a key factor that regulates gefitinib resistance in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Unlike TKI-sensitive HCC827 cells, gefitinib treatment induced LPIN1 expression and increased diacylglycerol concentration in TKI-resistant H1650 cells, followed by the activation of protein kinase C delta and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in an LPIN1-dependent manner, resulting in cancer cell survival.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFN-Myc downstream regulated gene 3 (NDRG3) is a unique pro-tumorigenic member among NDRG family genes, mediating growth signals. Here, we investigated the pathophysiological roles of NDRG3 in relation to cell metabolism by disrupting its functions in liver. Mice with liver-specific KO of NDRG3 (Ndrg3 LKO) exhibited glycogen storage disease (GSD) phenotypes including excessive hepatic glycogen accumulation, hypoglycemia, elevated liver triglyceride content, and several signs of liver injury.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Nanobiotechnology
March 2022
Background: Fabry disease (FD) is a lysosome storage disease (LSD) characterized by significantly reduced intracellular autophagy function. This contributes to the progression of intracellular pathologic signaling and can lead to organ injury. Phospholipid-polyethyleneglycol-capped Ceria-Zirconia antioxidant nanoparticles (PEG-CZNPs) have been reported to enhance autophagy flux.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Fingertip injuries are very common; however, the reconstruction of volar pulp defects with nail bed defects is challenging in the absence of the amputated segment. We reconstructed fingertip amputations with nail bed defects using a new surgical approach: a subcutaneous flap and composite graft.
Methods: We treated 10 fingertip amputation patients without an amputated segment, with exposed distal phalangeal bone and full-thickness nail bed defects between February 2018 and December 2020.
Background: Single free flaps are a commonly used reconstructive method for multiple soft tissue defects in digits. We analyzed the flap size, division timing, and degree of necrosis in cases with various types of flap division.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of the medical charts of patients who had undergone single free flap reconstruction for multiple soft tissue defects across their digits from 2011 to 2020.
Int J Artif Organs
March 2022
The anesthesia process in the epidural space is quite difficult as it requires a high level of skill. Therefore, a medical accident occurs, and intensive training is required. In order to reduce these medical accidents, medical technology is being developed, which provides safe and accurate treatment services.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The hand has unique skin characteristics. Intrinsic flap donors are limited due to functional specificity and compactly connected structures. The hypothenar area is a reliable option for the reconstruction of finger defects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMutilated upper limbs suffer loss of substance of various tissues with loss of prehension. The most important factor in salvage of a mutilated hand is involvement of a senior surgeon at the time of initial assessment and debridement. A regional block given on arrival helps through assessment and investigations in a pain-free state.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInsulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R), an important factor in promoting cancer cell growth and survival, is commonly upregulated in cancer cells. However, amplification of the gene is extremely rare in tumors. Here, we have provided insights into the mechanisms underlying the regulation of IGF-1R protein expression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSuccessful embryo implantation is the first step for establishing natural pregnancy and is dependent on the crosstalk between the embryo and a receptive endometrium. However, the molecular signaling events for successful embryo implantation are not entirely understood. To identify differentially expressed transcripts [long-noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs) and mRNAs] and competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks associated with endometrial receptivity, the current study analyzed gene expression profiles between proliferative and mid-secretory endometria in fertile women.
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