Fully tunable Fabry-Pérot cavity based on MEMS Sagnac loop reflector with ultra-low static power consumption.

The Fabry-Pérot interferometer, a fundamental component in optoelectronic systems, offers interesting applications such as sensors, lasers, and filters. In this work, we show a tunable Fabry-Pérot cavity consisting of tunable Sagnac loop reflectors (SLRs) and phase shifters based on electrostatic microelectromechanical (MEMS) actuator. The fabrication process of the device is compatible with the standard wafer-level silicon photonics fabrication processes.

Anatomical study to determine a new approach to treat benign masses located in the anterior condyle region: a case report.

A 22-year-old male patient presented to the clinic with severe pain in the preauricular area with an inability to completely occlude the jaw. Facial computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a well-defined lesion that was tentatively diagnosed as a benign tumor or cystic mass. Surgical approach of a lesion in the condyle is delicate and problematic as many vulnerable anatomical structures are present.

Fully reconfigurable MEMS-based second-order coupled-resonator optical waveguide (CROW) with ultra-low tuning energy.

Integrated microring resonators are well suited for wavelength-filtering applications in optical signal processing, and cascaded microring resonators allow flexible filter design in coupled-resonator optical waveguide (CROW) configurations. However, the implementation of high-order cascaded microring resonators with high extinction ratios (ERs) remains challenging owing to stringent fabrication requirements and the need for precise resonator tunability. We present a fully integrated on-chip second-order CROW filter using silicon photonic microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) to adjust tunable directional couplers and a phase shifter using nanoscale mechanical out-of-plane waveguide displacement.

Programmable MZI based on a silicon photonic MEMS-tunable delay line.

We report on a scalable and programmable integrated Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) with a tunable free spectral range (FSR) and extinction ratio (ER). For the tunable path of the MZI, we designed and utilized a tunable delay line having high flexibility based on silicon photonic microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). By utilizing MEMS, the length of the delay line can be geometrically modified.

Integrative Korean Medicine Treatments for Traumatic Facial Palsy Following Mandibular Fracture: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Prior studies exploring the effectiveness of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) treatment for facial palsy have mainly focused on Bell's palsy, and there are few studies on the effectiveness of TKM treatments for traumatic facial palsy following mandibular fracture. The patient was a 24-year-old Korean man with left-sided facial paralysis following a left mandibular fracture. Surgery was performed for the fracture and the facial palsy was treated using conventional medicine (CM) treatments for approximately 3 months, but there was no improvement observed in the patient's condition.

Potent Analgesic Action of 2-acetoxy-5-(2-4 (trifluoromethyl)-phenethylamino)-benzoic Acid (Flusalazine) in Experimental Mice.

Purpose: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 selective inhibitors are the most widely used drugs to treat pain. Conventional NSAIDs and COX-2 selective inhibitors, however, cause several side effects such as gastric damage, kidney damage, and cardiovascular problems. Our previous study showed that 2-acetoxy-5-(2-4-(trifluoromethyl)-phenethylamino)-benzoic acid ie, flusalazine (also known as ND-07), which exerts dual actions by serving both as an anti-inflammatory agent and a free radical scavenger, is an effective and safe treatment for severe inflammatory diseases in mice.

Suture Fiber Reinforcement of a 3D Printed Gelatin Scaffold for Its Potential Application in Soft Tissue Engineering.

Gelatin has excellent biological properties, but its poor physical properties are a major obstacle to its use as a biomaterial ink. These disadvantages not only worsen the printability of gelatin biomaterial ink, but also reduce the dimensional stability of its 3D scaffolds and limit its application in the tissue engineering field. Herein, biodegradable suture fibers were added into a gelatin biomaterial ink to improve the printability, mechanical strength, and dimensional stability of the 3D printed scaffolds.

Economic Burden of Heart Failure in Asian Countries with Different Healthcare Systems.

Background And Objectives: Heart failure (HF) poses substantial economic burden, primarily driven by high hospitalization and mortality rates. This study aimed to understand the economic burden of HF in 4 Asian countries under varying healthcare systems.

Methods: This was a non-interventional, retrospective study conducted in South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Malaysia through medical chart review.

Implantable Cardioverter-defibrillator Utilization and Its Outcomes in Korea: Data from Korean Acute Heart Failure Registry.

Background: There are sparse data on the utilization rate of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and its beneficial effects in Korean patients with heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Methods: Among 5,625 acute heart failure (AHF) patients from 10 tertiary university hospitals across Korea, 485 patients with reassessed LVEF ≤ 35% at least 3 months after the index admission were enrolled in this study. The ICD implantation during the follow-up was evaluated.

Beta-blocker Therapy at Discharge in Patients with Acute Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: β-blockers (BBs) are considered primary therapy in stable heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) without atrial fibrillation (AF); evidence-based benefits of BB on outcome have been documented. However, BBs have not been shown to improve mortality or reduce hospital admissions in HF patients with AF. This study assessed the relationship between BBs at discharge and relevant clinical outcomes in acute heart failure (AHF) patients with AF.

Intensity of Statin Treatment in Korean Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction and Very Low LDL Cholesterol.

Objective: Data on the intensity of statin therapy for patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) and very low baseline low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level are lacking. We sought to assess the impact of statin intensity in patients with acute MI and LDL cholesterol <70 mg/dL.

Methods: A total of 1,086 patients with acute MI and baseline LDL cholesterol <70 mg/dL from the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry-National Institute of Health database were divided into less intensive statin (expected LDL reduction <40%, n=302) and more intensive statin (expected LDL reduction ≥40%, n=784) groups.

Factors Associated with Low Awareness of Heart Failure in the General Population of Korea.

Background And Objectives: Factors associated with low heart failure (HF) awareness have not been well-evaluated. This study was conducted to find out which demographic features would be associated with low HF awareness in the general population of Korea.

Methods: A telephone interview was conducted with 1,032 adults (58 years and 50.

Effect of Low-Dose Nebivolol in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Multi-Center Observational Study.

The optimal dose of beta blockers after acute myocardial infarction (MI) remains uncertain. We evaluated the effectiveness of low-dose nebivolol, a beta1 blocker and a vasodilator, in patients with acute MI. A total of 625 patients with acute MI from 14 teaching hospitals in Korea were divided into 2 groups according to the dose of nebivolol (nebistol®, Elyson Pharmaceutical Co.

Clopidogrel versus Aspirin after Dual Antiplatelet Therapy in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients Undergoing Drug-Eluting Stenting.

Background And Objectives: There is a paucity of data regarding the benefit of clopidogrel monotherapy after dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in patients treated with drug-eluting stents (DES). This study compared outcome between clopidogrel versus aspirin as monotherapy after DES for acute myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: From Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry-National Institute of Health database, 1,819 patients treated with DES who were switched to monotherapy with clopidogrel (n=534) or aspirin (n=1,285) after uneventful 12-month DAPT were analyzed.

Dual antiplatelet therapy beyond 12 months versus for 12 months after drug-eluting stents for acute myocardial infarction.

Background: The optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after acute coronary syndrome remains uncertain. This study investigated the benefit of DAPT beyond 12 months after drug-eluting stents (DES) for acute myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: From Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry-National Institute of Health database, 6199 patients treated with DAPT for 12 months after DES (second-generation DES 98%) without ischemic or bleeding events were analyzed.

Diagnostic performance and image quality of iterative model-based reconstruction of coronary CT angiography using 100 kVp for heavily calcified coronary vessels.

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic performance and image quality of an iterative model-based reconstruction (IMR) using a 100-kVp protocol for the assessment of heavily calcified coronary vessels, compared to those of filtered back projection (FBP) and hybrid iterative technique (iDose4), and also compared to those of IMR with standard 120 kVp protocol.

Methods: Among patients with Agatston scores ≥ 400 who had undergone both coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and invasive coronary angiography (ICA), age- and sex-matched patients with body mass index < 30 were retrospectively enrolled from CCTA with low-kVp protocol (100 kVp, n = 30) and with standard-kVp protocol (120 kVp, n = 30). Image data were all reconstructed with FBP, iDose4, and IMR.

Effect of Hyperglycemia on Myocardial Perfusion in Diabetic Porcine Models and Humans.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) causes macro- and microvasculopathy, but data on cardiac microvascular changes in large animals are scarce. We sought to determine the effect of DM on macro- and microvascular changes in diabetic pigs and humans.

Methods: Eight domestic pigs (4 with type I diabetes and 4 controls) underwent coronary angiography with optical coherence tomography (OCT; at baseline and 1 and 2 months), coronary computed tomography angiography, cardiac magnet resonance (CMR) imaging, and histologic examination.

Effect of cross-linking on the dimensional stability and biocompatibility of a tailored 3D-bioprinted gelatin scaffold.

Biocompatible and biodegradable gelatin is a good candidate bioink for use in 3D bioprinting technologies, but viscous gelatin solution has a low printability. In order to improve the poor printability of gelatin, we optimized the rheological properties of gelatin solution. 3D gelatin scaffolds were then cross-linked using physical or chemical methods to maintain the 3D structure.

Prognostic Effect of Guideline-Directed Therapy Is More Noticeable Early in the Course of Heart Failure.

Background: There have been few studies to evaluate the prognostic implications of guideline-directed therapy according to the temporal course of heart failure. This study assessed the relationship between adherence to guideline-directed therapy at discharge and 60-day clinical outcomes in acute heart failure (AHF) and acute decompensated chronic heart failure (ADCHF) separately.

Methods: Among 5,625 AHF patients who were recruited from a multicenter cohort registry of Korean Acute Heart Failure, 2,769 patients with reduced ejection fraction were analyzed.

Prognostic Implication of Ventricular Conduction Disturbance Pattern in Hospitalized Patients with Acute Heart Failure Syndrome.

Background And Objectives: Conflicting data exist regarding the prognostic implication of ventricular conduction disturbance pattern in patients with heart failure (HF). This study investigated the prognostic impact of ventricular conduction pattern in hospitalized patients with acute HF.

Methods: Data from the Korean Acute Heart Failure registry were used.

KSHF Guidelines for the Management of Acute Heart Failure: Part III. Specific Management of Acute Heart Failure According to the Etiology and Co-morbidity.

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) is on the rise due to the aging of society. Furthermore, the continuous progress and widespread adoption of screening and diagnostic strategies have led to an increase in the detection rate of HF, effectively increasing the number of patients requiring monitoring and treatment. Because HF is associated with substantial rates of mortality and morbidity, as well as high socioeconomic burden, there is an increasing need for developing specific guidelines for HF management.

KSHF Guidelines for the Management of Acute Heart Failure: Part II. Treatment of Acute Heart Failure.

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) is on the rise due to the aging of society. Furthermore, the continuous progress and widespread adoption of screening and diagnostic strategies have led to an increase in the detection rate of HF, effectively increasing the number of patients requiring monitoring and treatment. Because HF is associated with substantial rates of mortality and morbidity, as well as high socioeconomic burden, there is an increasing need for developing specific guidelines for HF management.

KSHF Guidelines for the Management of Acute Heart Failure: Part I. Definition, Epidemiology and Diagnosis of Acute Heart Failure.

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) is on the rise due to the aging of society. Furthermore, the continuous progress and widespread adoption of screening and diagnostic strategies have led to an increase in the detection rate of HF, effectively increasing the number of patients requiring monitoring and treatment. Because HF is associated with substantial rates of mortality and morbidity, as well as high socioeconomic burden, there is an increasing need for developing specific guidelines for HF management.

Three-Dimensional Culture of Salivary Gland Stem Cell in Orthotropic Decellularized Extracellular Matrix Hydrogels.

Radiotherapy in patients with cancer can kill cancer cells but also damage normal cells or tissues. During the treatment of patients with head and neck cancer or thyroid cancer, hyposalivation is a representative chronic side effect of radio-damaged salivary glands (SGs). The major symptom of hyposalivation is mouth dryness, resulting in several subsequent long-term complications.