Voice reduction in cardiac auscultation sounds with reference signals measured from vocal resonators.

This study proposes the use of vocal resonators to enhance cardiac auscultation signals and evaluates their performance for voice-noise suppression. Data were collected using two electronic stethoscopes while each study subject was talking. One collected auscultation signal from the chest while the other collected voice signals from one of the three voice resonators (cheek, back of the neck, and shoulder).

Compound Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Imaging of Bovine Eye by Using Phase-Inverted Ultrasound Transducer.

In general, it is difficult to visualize internal ocular structure and detect a lesion such as a cataract or glaucoma using the current ultrasound brightness-mode (B-mode) imaging. This is because the internal structure of the eye is rich in moisture, resulting in a lack of contrast between tissues in the B-mode image, and the penetration depth is low due to the attenuation of the ultrasound wave. In this study, the entire internal ocular structure of a bovine eye was visualized in an ex vivo environment using the compound acoustic radiation force impulse (CARFI) imaging scheme based on the phase-inverted ultrasound transducer (PIUT).

Polarization Inverted Ultrasound Transducer Based on Composite Structure for Tissue Harmonic and Frequency Compound Imaging.

Ultrasound transducer with polarization inversion technique (PIT) can provide dual-frequency feature for tissue harmonic imaging (THI) and frequency compound imaging (FCI). However, in the conventional PIT, the ultrasound intensity is reduced due to the multiple resonance characteristics of the combined piezoelectric element, and it is challenging to handle the thin piezoelectric layer required to make a PIT-based acoustic stack. In this study, an improved PIT using a piezo-composite layer was proposed to compensate for those problems simultaneously.

Establishment of an Experimental System for Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy in a Rat Model.

Aim: To establish an experimental system for comparing different methods of intraperitoneal chemotherapy in a rat model.

Materials And Methods: We used six-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats, and created an early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC) system using 18-gauge syringes and evacuators, and a hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) system using two peristaltic pumps which controlled the flow rate and temperature. Pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) was achieved using a nozzle for dispersing aerosols at a flow rate up to 41.

Development of rotational intraperitoneal pressurized aerosol chemotherapy to enhance drug delivery into the peritoneum.

This study aims to evaluate the drug distribution, tissue concentrations, penetration depth, pharmacokinetic properties, and toxicities after rotational intraperitoneal pressurized aerosol chemotherapy (RIPAC) in pigs. Because relevant medical devices have not been introduced, we developed our prototype of pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) and RIPAC by adding a conical pendulum motion device for rotating the nozzle. RIPAC and PIPAC were conducted using 150 ml of 1% methylene blue to evaluate the drug distribution and 3.

An Intraocular Pressure Measurement Technique Based on Acoustic Radiation Force Using an Ultrasound Transducer: A Feasibility Study.

High intraocular pressure (IOP) is one of the major risk factors for glaucoma, and thus accurate IOP measurements should be performed to diagnose and treat glaucoma early. In this study, a novel technique for measuring the IOP based on acoustic radiation force was proposed, and its potential was experimentally demonstrated. The proposed technique uses the acoustic radiation force to generate axial displacement on the ocular surface while simultaneously measuring the degree of deformation.

Interleaved Array Transducer with Polarization Inversion Technique to Implement Ultrasound Tissue Harmonic Imaging.

In ultrasound tissue harmonic imaging (THI), it is preferred that the bandwidth of the array transducer covers at least the fundamental frequency f for transmission and the second harmonic frequency 2f for reception. However, it is challenging to develop an array transducer with a broad bandwidth due to the single resonance characteristics of piezoelectric materials. In this study, we present an improved interleaved array transducer suitable for THI and a dedicated transducer fabrication scheme.

Evaluation of a Novel Prototype for Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy.

Pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) has been suggested as an alternative option for treating peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC). Even with its clinical advantages, the current PIPAC system still suffers from limitations regarding drug distribution area and penetration depth. Thus, we evaluated the new PIPAC system using a novel prototype, and compared its performance to the results from previous studies related with the current MIP indirectly because the system is currently not available for purchase in the market.

Computer simulations of steady concentration peritoneal dialysis.

Background: Steady concentration peritoneal dialysis (SCPD), which maintains transperitoneal osmotic gradient by infusing 50% glucose solution throughout the dwell time, has been proposed as a potent treatment for peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients with fluid overload. However, SCPD has yet to be explored theoretically. Here, we investigated SCPD via computer simulations.

High Coronary Shear Stress in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease Predicts Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Coronary lesions with low fractional flow reserve (FFR) that are treated medically are associated with higher revascularization rates. High wall shear stress (WSS) has been linked with increased plaque vulnerability.

Objectives: This study investigated the prognostic value of WSS measured in the proximal segments of lesions (WSS) to predict myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and hemodynamically significant lesions.

Impact of moderate and extreme climate change scenarios on growth, morphological features, photosynthesis, and fruit production of hot pepper.

Horticultural crop production and changes in physiological aspects during the growing season may be affected by climate change factors (CC), which include increased temperature and the associated doubling or tripling of atmospheric CO concentrations. However, the potential effects are complex and many parameters might impact on the observed effects. To evaluate the effects of CC, the growth, yield, fruit characteristics, photosynthetic traits, and morphological characteristics of hot peppers were investigated.

Performance of J-CTO and PROGRESS CTO Scores in Predicting Angiographic Success and Long-term Outcomes of Percutaneous Coronary Interventions for Chronic Total Occlusions.

Patient selection for and predicting clinical outcomes of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remain challenging. We hypothesized that both J-CTO (Multicenter Chronic Total Occlusion Registry of Japan) and PROGRESS CTO (Prospective Global Registry for the Study of Chronic Total Occlusion Intervention) scores will predict not only angiographic success but also long-term clinical outcomes of the patients who underwent PCI of CTO. Of 325 CTO PCIs performed at 2 Emory University hospitals from January 2012 to August 2015, 249 patients with complete baseline clinical, angiographic and follow-up data, were included in this analysis.

Discordance Between Fractional Flow Reserve and Coronary Flow Reserve: Insights From Intracoronary Imaging and Physiological Assessment.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the epicardial and microvascular substrates associated with discordances between fractional flow reserve (FFR) and coronary flow reserve (CFR) values.

Background: Discordances between FFR and CFR remain poorly characterized.

Methods: FFR, hyperemic stenosis resistance (HSR), and intravascular ultrasound were performed as indexes of epicardial function and CFR and hyperemic microvascular resistance (HMR) as measures of microvascular function in 94 patients with moderate coronary stenosis.

Cellular Response of Human Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Titanium Surfaces Implanted with Calcium and Magnesium Ions.

Surface characteristics and cellular response to titanium surfaces that had been implanted with calcium and magnesium ions using plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition (PIIID) were evaluated. Three different titanium surfaces were analyzed: a resorbable blast media (RBM) surface (blasted with hydroxyapatite grit), a calcium ion-implanted surface, and a magnesium ion-implanted surface. The surface characteristics were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), surface roughness testing, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES).

Ultra-Wideband Multi-Dye-Sensitized Upconverting Nanoparticles for Information Security Application.

Multi-dye-sensitized upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs), which harvest photons of wide wavelength range (450-975 nm) are designed and synthesized. The UCNPs embedded in a photo-acid generating layer are integrated on destructible nonvolatile resistive memory device. Upon illumination of light, the system permanently erases stored data, achieving enhanced information security.

Carcinogenicity study of CKD-501, a novel dual peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors α and γ agonist, following oral administration to Sprague Dawley rats for 94-101 weeks.

CKD-501 is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonist. The current study was conducted in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats for 94-101 weeks to investigate the carcinogenic potential of CKD-501. 60 males received 0, 0.

Anti-inflammatory effects of botulinum toxin type a in a complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritic knee joint of hind leg on rat model.

The objective of the study is to verify histopathologically the anti-inflammatory effect of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) in a Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritic knee joint of hind leg on rat model using immunofluorescent staining of anti-ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) antibody. Twenty-eight experimental rats were injected with 0.1 ml of CFA solution in the knee joint of the hind leg bilaterally.

CKD-501, a novel selective PPARγ agonist, shows no carcinogenic potential in ICR mice following oral administration for 104 weeks.

CKD-501 is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonist that is effective for the treatment of diabetes. However, its carcinogenic potential remains controversial. The current carcinogenicity study was conducted over a period of 104 weeks in ICR mice.

Antibacterial and antibiofilm effects of iron chelators against Prevotella intermedia.

Prevotella intermedia, a major periodontopathogen, has been shown to be resistant to many antibiotics. In the present study, we examined the effect of the FDA-approved iron chelators deferoxamine (DFO) and deferasirox (DFRA) against planktonic and biofilm cells of P. intermedia in order to evaluate the possibility of using these iron chelators as alternative control agents against P.

Comparison of gene expression in human periodontal ligament cells cultured from teeth immediately after extraction and from teeth cryopreserved for 1 week.

Gene expression was compared by cDNA microarray analysis in human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells cultured from teeth immediately after extraction and from teeth cryopreserved for 1 week. Twenty healthy collateral premolar teeth without caries and restorations were obtained from 10 young patients, one maxillary and one mandibular premolar from each subject. The teeth from five patients, from two patients, and from three patients out of total 10 patients were used for cDNA microarray assay, for RT-PCR, and for real-time PCR, respectively.