Evaluation of cryoablation using a prototype cryoablation needle in swine liver.

Background/aims: Pancreatic cancer poses significant challenges due to its tendency for late-stage diagnosis and high mortality rates. Cryoablation, a technique used to treat various types of cancer, has shown potential in enhancing the prognosis of pancreatic cancer when combined with other therapies. However, its implementation is often limited by the need for lengthy procedures and specialized equipment.

A Preliminary Study of a Prototype Cryoablation Needle on Porcine Livers for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment.

Despite its relatively low incidence rate compared to others, pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis owing to its late detection and poor response to systemic chemotherapy. Because the effectiveness of chemotherapy is still restricted, the need for locoregional treatment is increasing. Cryoablation is an effective and minimally invasive treatment for some cancers, but its efficiency in pancreatic cancer is limited.

In vitro comparative study of wall portbased high-frequency chest wall oscillation device and internal air-pulse generator device.

Owing to environmental and disease issues, the use of high-frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) devices in hospitals is consistently increasing. This study proposes a cost-effective actuator-less HFCWO device that utilizes an external wall port utility in hospitals to generate the positive and negative pneumatic pressures required for HFCWO treatment instead of an embedded mechanical actuator. The manufactured prototype with the no-amplification (NO-AMP) setting contained an electric pressure regulator to enable intensity level adjustment and two solenoid valves to enable vibration frequency adjustment, whereas the prototype with the pre-amplification (PRE-AMP) setting contained an additional air reservoir and an air-pressure booster.

Sensing of sound pressure gradients by C. elegans drives phonotaxis behavior.

Despite lacking ears, the nematode C. elegans senses airborne sound and engages in phonotaxis behavior, enabling it to locate and avoid sound sources. How worms sense sound, however, is not well understood.

Convolutional neural network-based vocal cord tumor classification technique for home-based self-prescreening purpose.

Background: In this study, we proposed a deep learning technique that can simultaneously detect suspicious positions of benign vocal cord tumors in laparoscopic images and classify the types of tumors into cysts, granulomas, leukoplakia, nodules and polyps. This technique is useful for simplified home-based self-prescreening purposes to detect the generation of tumors around the vocal cord early in the benign stage.

Results: We implemented four convolutional neural network (CNN) models (two Mask R-CNNs, Yolo V4, and a single-shot detector) that were trained, validated and tested using 2183 laryngoscopic images.

Cold anesthesia for pain reduction during intralesional steroid injection for nodulocystic acne.

Background: In any dermatologic procedure, patient acceptance of treatment is heavily influenced by intraprocedural pain. Intralesional triamcinolone injections are very important in keloid scar and nodulocystic acne treatment. However, the main problem of needle-stick procedures is pain.

Effect of a Precision Cryotherapy Device with Temperature Adjustability on Pigmentation.

Background: Pigmentary skin disorders impair the quality of life, leading to the development of therapeutic modalities. However, these treatments should focus more on effectiveness and safety.

Aims And Objectives: To evaluate the effect of a temperature-adjustable cryotherapy device on the expression of pigmentation-related biomarkers.

Cooling Anesthesia for Intravitreal Injection: Results of the Prospective Open-Label, Dose-Ranging COOL-1 Trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel medical device to provide cooling anesthesia to the eye as local anesthesia for intravitreal injections.

Study Design: First in human, open-label study of 43 subjects assessed at three different doses: -10°C for 20 seconds (group 1), -15°C for 15 seconds (group 2), and -15°C for 20 seconds (group 3). Main outcome measures were safety and pain of injection using a numeric rating scale (NRS).

Split-face comparative trial of 785-nm picosecond neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser and precision cryotherapy combination treatment for facial benign pigmented lesions.

Cryotherapy (or cryosurgery) has been performed to treat various skin lesions in the field of dermatology; however, to the best of our knowledge, no study has investigated its efficacy and safety for benign pigmented lesions. Therefore, we conducted a split-face study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cryotherapy in the treatment of benign pigmented lesions. A total of five subjects were included.

Combined Effects of Zeta-potential and Temperature of Nanopores on Diffusioosmotic Ion Transport.

Diffusioosmosis (DO) results from ion transport near charged surfaces in the presence of electrolyte gradients and is critical in nanofluidic systems. However, DO has not yet been comprehensively studied because nanofabrication materials have limitations of low throughput and difficult quantification. Herein, we describe a self-assembled particle membrane (SAPM)-integrated microfluidic platform that can modulate the material properties (e.

Automated laryngeal mass detection algorithm for home-based self-screening test based on convolutional neural network.

Background: Early detection of laryngeal masses without periodic visits to hospitals is essential for improving the possibility of full recovery and the long-term survival ratio after prompt treatment, as well as reducing the risk of clinical infection.

Results: We first propose a convolutional neural network model for automated laryngeal mass detection based on diagnostic images captured at hospitals. Thereafter, we propose a pilot system, composed of an embedded controller, a camera module, and an LCD display, that can be utilized for a home-based self-screening test.

Enhanced Mechanical and Antibacterial Properties of Nanocomposites Based on Poly(vinyl Alcohol) and Biopolymer-Derived Reduced Graphene Oxide.

Functionalized graphene-polymer nanocomposites have gained significant attention for their enhanced mechanical, thermal, and antibacterial properties, but the requirement of multi-step processes or hazardous reducing agents to functionalize graphene limits their current applications. Here, we present a single-step synthesis of thermally reduced graphene oxide (TrGO) based on shellac, which is a low-cost biopolymer that can be employed to produce poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/TrGO nanocomposites (PVA-TrGO). The concentration of TrGO varied from 0.

Convolutional neural network-based ambient light-independent panel digit surveillance technique for infusion pumps.

For effective patient therapy and improved patient safety, it is critical to administer medication accurately in accordance with doctor's prescription. However, accidents owing to the erroneous programing of infusion pumps caused by users have been consistently reported in several documents. In this study, the authors propose a novel surveillance technique for infusion pumps to continuously monitor the variations in panel digits using a convolutional neural network model, and evaluate the performance of the implemented technique.

A general approach to composites containing nonmetallic fillers and liquid gallium.

We report a versatile method to make liquid metal composites by vigorously mixing gallium (Ga) with non-metallic particles of graphene oxide (G-O), graphite, diamond, and silicon carbide that display either paste or putty-like behavior depending on the volume fraction. Unlike Ga, the putty-like mixtures can be kneaded and rolled on any surface without leaving residue. By changing temperature, these materials can be stiffened, softened, and, for the G-O-containing composite, even made porous.

Photoactive Antiviral Face Mask with Self-Sterilization and Reusability.

Since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, the increasing demand and disposal of surgical masks has resulted in significant economic costs and environmental impacts. Here, we applied a dual-channel spray-assisted nanocoating hybrid of shellac/copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) to a nonwoven surgical mask, thereby increasing the hydrophobicity of the surface and repelling aqueous droplets. The resulting surface showed outstanding photoactivity (combined photocatalytic and photothermal properties) for antimicrobial action, conferring reusability and self-sterilizing ability to the masks.

Multi-modal infusion pump real-time monitoring technique for improvement in safety of intravenous-administration patients.

Intravenous (IV) medication administration processes have been considered as high-risk steps, because accidents during IV administration can lead to serious adverse effects, which can deteriorate the therapeutic effect or threaten the patient's life. In this study, we propose a multi-modal infusion pump (IP) monitoring technique, which can detect mismatches between the IP setting and actual infusion state and between the IP setting and doctor's prescription in real time using a thin membrane potentiometer and convolutional-neural-network-based deep learning technique. During performance evaluation, the percentage errors between the reference infusion rate (IR) and average estimated IR were in the range of 0.

Compression injury of the circular stapler for gastrointestinal end-to-end anastomosis: preliminary study.

Purpose: This preliminary study was designed to evaluate the risk factors of compression injury from use of a circular stapler for end-to-end anastomosis.

Methods: Transparent collagen plates were prepared in dry and wet conditions. Physical properties of collagen plates and porcine colon tissue were examined using a rheometer.

A new injection rate estimation technique for on-site screening test of medication infusion pump by nurses.

Medication infusion pumps are the most popular device in almost all areas of a hospital; therefore, it is important to frequently inspect the accuracy of the infusion pump operation to prevent underdose/overdose accidents. However, the conventional infusion pump inspection devices are not suitable for quick and convenient on-site inspection by nurses. In this study, a new IR estimation technique for peristaltic infusion pumps that facilitates on-site pre-screening test with shorter inspection time was proposed.

High Efficiency Doping of Conjugated Polymer for Investigation of Intercorrelation of Thermoelectric Effects with Electrical and Morphological Properties.

Intercorrelation of thermoelectric properties of a doped conjugated semiconducting polymer (PIDF-BT) with charge carrier density, conductive morphology, and crystallinity are systematically investigated. Upon being doped with F4-TCNQ by the sequential doping method, PIDF-BT exhibited a high electrical conductivity over 210 S cm. The significant enhancement of electrical conductivity resulted from a high charge carrier density, which is attributed to the effective charge-transfer-based integer doping between PIDF-BT and dopant molecules.