Analysis of the Microbial Community in an Acidic Hollow-Fiber Membrane Biofilm Reactor (Hf-MBfR) Used for the Biological Conversion of Carbon Dioxide to Methane.

Hydrogenotrophic methanogens can use gaseous substrates, such as H2 and CO2, in CH4 production. H2 gas is used to reduce CO2. We have successfully operated a hollow-fiber membrane biofilm reactor (Hf-MBfR) for stable and continuous CH4 production from CO2 and H2.

Moxibustion as an adjuvant for benign prostatic hyperplasia with lower urinary tract symptoms: a protocol for a parallel-group, randomised, controlled pilot trial.

Introduction: This study aims to explore the feasibility of using moxibustion as a supplementary intervention and to assess the sample size for verifying the effectiveness and safety of integrative treatment involving moxibustion compared with conventional treatment for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia accompanying moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms.

Methods And Analysis: A total of 60 patients diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia by a urologist based on prostate size, prostate-specific antigen and clinical symptoms will participate of their own free will; urologists will monitor the patients and evaluate their symptoms. The patients will be randomised to either a conventional group or an integrative group with a 1:1 allocation according to computer-generated random numbers concealed in opaque, sealed, sequentially numbered envelopes.

Out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation strategies using one-handed chest compression technique for children suffering a cardiac arrest.

Objective: We evaluated the decrease in chest compression depth during 30 : 2 compression-to-ventilation ratio one-handed chest compression (OHCC) in an out-of-hospital pediatric arrest setting, and whether switching hands every other cycle could maintain compression depth.

Methods: A 5-year-old child-sized manikin was used, and 50 medical students participated in the present study. First, the participants performed 5 min OHCC with a 30 : 2 compression-to-ventilation ratio on the floor (baseline test).

Complete genome sequence of Bacillus cereus FORC_005, a food-borne pathogen from the soy sauce braised fish-cake with quail-egg.

Due to abundant contamination in various foods, the pathogenesis of Bacillus cereus has been widely studied in physiological and molecular level. B. cereus FORC_005 was isolated from a Korean side dish, soy sauce braised fish-cake with quail-egg in South Korea.

SOX4 expression is associated with treatment failure and chemoradioresistance in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: In humans, sex-determining region-Y (SRY) related high-mobility-group box 4 (SOX4) is linked to development and tumorigenesis. SOX4 is over-expressed in several cancers and has prognostic significance. This study evaluated whether SOX4 affects oncogenic behavior and chemoradiotherapy response in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells, and documented the relationship between its expression and prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Resveratrol Induces Glioma Cell Apoptosis through Activation of Tristetraprolin.

Tristetraprolin (TTP) is an AU-rich elements (AREs)-binding protein, which regulates the decay of AREs-containing mRNAs such as proto-oncogenes, anti-apoptotic genes and immune regulatory genes. Despite the low expression of TTP in various human cancers, the mechanism involving suppressed expression of TTP is not fully understood. Here, we demonstrate that Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene, Res), a naturally occurring compound, induces glioma cell apoptosis through activation of tristetraprolin (TTP).

Reamed Intramedullary Nailing has an Adverse Effect on Bone Regeneration During the Distraction Phase in Tibial Lengthening.

Background: The lengthening over nail (LON) technique has gained popularity because it enables shorter periods of external fixation, prevents deformities during lengthening, and reduces the risk of refracture after removal of the frame compared with the classic Ilizarov method. However, it is not clear if the violation of endosteal blood supply by reamed intramedullary nailing in the LON technique has a negative effect on bone regeneration or a positive effect by compensatory enhancement of periosteal circulation.

Questions/purposes: The purposes of this study were to (1) compare the amount of regenerate bone during the distraction phase between two tibial lengthening techniques, the LON technique and lengthening and then nail (LATN) technique; and (2) compare callus shape at the end of the distraction phase using the classification of Li et al.

Tracheomegaly Secondary to Tracheotomy Tube Cuff in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Case Report.

Tracheomegaly has not been reported in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Herein, the authors report a case of tracheomegaly secondary to tracheotomy tube cuff in a patient with ALS. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an ALS patient with tracheomegaly and of tracheomegaly being associated with tracheotomy tube cuff and home tracheotomy mechanical ventilator.

Dynamics of heart rate variability in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus during spinal anaesthesia: prospective observational study.

Background: Little is known about the changes in autonomic function during spinal anaesthesia in type 2 diabetic patients. The purpose of the study was to assess the influence of spinal anaesthesia on the heart rate variability in type 2 diabetic patients according to the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level.

Methods: Sixty-six patients who were scheduled for elective orthostatic lower limb surgery were assigned to three groups (n = 22, each) according to HbA1c; controlled diabetes mellitus (HbA1c < 7 %), uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (HbA1c > 7 %) and the control group.

Effects of alternating hands during in-hospital one-handed chest compression: A randomised cross-over manikin trial.

Objective: We evaluated the decrease in chest compression depth during continuous one-handed chest compression (OHCC) in an in-hospital paediatric arrest setting, and whether switching hands could delay the decrease in chest compression depth.

Methods: In total, 30 healthcare providers were randomised into groups A and B. Group A performed test 1 (chest compressors alternated hands every 30 s in 2 min of OHCC), followed by test 2 (chest compressors used one hand for 2 min without switching to the other hand) and group B, vice versa.

Usefulness of Nonenhanced Computed Tomography for Diagnosing Urolithiasis without Pyuria in the Emergency Department.

We compared the clinical utility of nonenhanced computed tomography (NECT) and intravenous urography (IVU) in patients with classic symptoms of renal colic without evidence of a urine infection. This was a retrospective analysis of IVU and NECT performed in adult patients with suspected renal colic at an emergency department between January 2005 and December 2013. The records of all patients in NECT and IVU groups were reviewed, and the patients were categorized according to the cause of their symptoms.

New frontiers in biomedical science and engineering during 2014-2015.

The International Conference on Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology (ICBEB) is an international meeting held once a year. This, the fourth International Conference on Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology (ICBEB2015), will be held in Shanghai, China, during August 18th-21st, 2015. This annual conference intends to provide an opportunity for researchers and practitioners at home and abroad to present the most recent frontiers and future challenges in the fields of biomedical science, biomedical engineering, biomaterials, bioinformatics and computational biology, biomedical imaging and signal processing, biomechanical engineering and biotechnology, etc.

Topographic organization of motor fibre tracts in the human brain: findings in multiple locations using magnetic resonance diffusion tensor tractography.

Objectives: To identify the hand and foot fibre tracts of the corticospinal tract (CST), and to evaluate the relative locations, angles, and distances of two fibre tracts using diffusion tensor tractography (DTT).

Methods: Twelve healthy subjects were enrolled. The regions of interests (ROIs) were drawn in the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) activation areas and pons in each subject for fibre tracking.

Peer-assisted learning to train high-school students to perform basic life-support.

Background: The inclusion of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in formal education has been a useful approach to providing basic life support (BLS) services. However, because not all students have been able to learn directly from certified instructors, we studied the educational efficacy of the use of peer-assisted learning (PAL) to train high-school students to perform BLS services.

Methods: This study consisted of 187 high-school students: 68 participants served as a control group and received a 1-hour BLS training from a school nurse, and 119 were included in a PAL group and received a 1-hour CPR training from a PAL leader.

Congenital dilatation of Stensen's duct in siblings.

Congenital dilatation of the Stensen's duct is an extremely rare disease, which may have a hereditary background. However, there are no reports about the familial occurrence of congenital Stensen's duct dilatation. Herein, we present the first case of congenital dilatation of Stensen's duct in siblings.

Risk Factors for Transient Urinary Incontinence after Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate.

Purpose: To investigate the factors associated with the occurrence of and recovery from transient urinary incontinence (TUI) after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP).

Materials And Methods: From March 2009 to December 2012, 391 consecutive patients treated with HoLEP for benign prostatic hyperplasia were enrolled. Information regarding age, prostate volume, International Prostate Symptom Score, Overactive Bladder Symptom Score, peak urinary flow rate, postvoid residual urine, and operation time was collected.

Myeloid-specific SIRT1 Deletion Aggravates Hepatic Inflammation and Steatosis in High-fat Diet-fed Mice.

Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is a mammalian NAD(+)-dependent protein deacetylase that regulates cellular metabolism and inflammatory response. The organ-specific deletion of SIRT1 induces local inflammation and insulin resistance in dietary and genetic obesity. Macrophage-mediated inflammation contributes to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, however, the macrophage-specific SIRT1 function in the context of obesity is largely unknown.

Highly accelerated chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) measurements with linear algebraic modeling.

Purpose: In clinical studies, compartmental average chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) measurements rather than voxel-by-voxel CEST images may suffice for evaluating its diagnostic value. A recently developed method-spectroscopy with linear algebraic modeling, or SLAM-could directly provide compartmental measures with dramatically reduced scan time and optimal signal-to-noise ratios. Here, we test whether SLAM can be adapted to significantly accelerate CEST acquisitions.

Predicting Outcome With Diffusion-Weighted Imaging in Cardiac Arrest Patients Receiving Hypothermia Therapy: Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objectives: Many comatose patients following cardiac arrest have ischemic brain injury. Diffusion-weighted imaging is a sensitive tool to identify hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. The accurate prediction of the prognosis for comatose cardiac arrest survivors has been challenging, and thus, a multimodal approach, combining diffusion-weighted image findings, could be feasible.

Selecting the reference image for registration of CEST series.

Background: To compare different reference images selected for registration among chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) series.

Materials And Methods: Five normal volunteers and eight brain tumor patients were studied on a 3 Tesla scanner. Image registration was performed by choosing each of the acquired CEST saturation or unsaturation dynamic images as the reference.

Quantitative correlational study of microbubble-enhanced ultrasound imaging and magnetic resonance imaging of glioma and early response to radiotherapy in a rat model.

Purpose: Radiotherapy remains a major treatment method for malignant tumors. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the standard modality for assessing glioma treatment response in the clinic. Compared to MRI, ultrasound imaging is low-cost and portable and can be used during intraoperative procedures.

A questionnaire survey exploring healthcare professionals' attitudes towards teamwork and safety in acute care areas in South Korea.

Objectives: Although human factors are important in terms of patient safety, there have been very few reports on the attitudes of healthcare professionals working in acute care settings in South Korea. In the present study, we investigated the attitudes of such professionals, their cultures and their management systems.

Design: A questionnaire survey with 65 items covering nine themes affecting patient safety.

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Cause Inhibition of the Growth Plate in Cultured Rat Metatarsal Bones: Retracted.

Background: Little is known presently about the effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on the longitudinal bone growth occurring in the growth plate. We have examined the effects of administration of different types of NSAIDs on the longitudinal growth of the growth plate using a fetal rat metatarsal bone culture model.

Methods: Cultured fetal rat metatarsal bones were used to study the effect of nonselective (indomethacin) and selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2, celecoxib) NSAIDs on longitudinal bone growth.

Facial palsy after neck arteriovenous fistula embolization.

Facial palsy after embolization of neck arteriovenous fistula is an extremely rare complication. In our case, complete facial palsy occurred after embolization and was successfully treated with superficial parotidectomy, vessel ligation, and plug removal. We report the first case of unusual facial palsy that developed 13 days after neck arteriovenous fistula embolization.