Three-Dimensional Electrodes of Liquid Metals for Long-Term, Wireless Cardiac Analysis and Modulation.

Cardiovascular disease is a major public health issue, and smart diagnostic approaches play an important role in the analysis of electrocardiograms. Here, we present three-dimensional, soft electrodes of liquid metals that can be conformably attached to the surfaces of the heart and skin for long-term cardiac analysis. The fine micropillar structures of biocompatible liquid metals enable precise targeting to small tissue areas, allowing for spatiotemporal mapping and modulation of cardiac electrical activity with high resolution.

Anti-distortion bioinspired camera with an inhomogeneous photo-pixel array.

The bioinspired camera, comprising a single lens and a curved image sensor-a photodiode array on a curved surface-, was born of flexible electronics. Its economical build lends itself well to space-constrained machine vision applications. The curved sensor, much akin to the retina, helps image focusing, but the curvature also creates a problem of image distortion, which can undermine machine vision tasks such as object recognition.

Comparison of the antiemetic efficacy of a combination of midazolam with ramosetron and midazolam with palonosetron for postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Background: A multimodal therapeutic strategy for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) benefits moderate- and high-risk surgical patients. We compared the efficacy of a combination of midazolam and ramosetron and a combination of midazolam and palonosetron for PONV prophylaxis in patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Methods: We enrolled 68 patients aged 20 to 65 years undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Chiral Diketopyrrolopyrrole-Based Conjugated Polymers with Intramolecular Rotation-Isomeric Conformation Asymmetry for Near-Infrared Circularly Polarized Light-Sensing Organic Phototransistors.

Recent advances in chiral nanomaterials interacting with circularly polarized (CP) light open new expectations for optoelectronics in various research fields such as quantum- and biology-related technology. To fully utilize the great potential of chiral optoelectronic devices, the development of chiral optoelectronic devices that function in the near-infrared (NIR) region is required. Herein, we demonstrate a NIR-absorbing, chiroptical, low-band-gap polymer semiconductor for high-performance NIR CP light phototransistors.

Chiroptical Synaptic Heterojunction Phototransistors Based on Self-Assembled Nanohelix of π-Conjugated Molecules for Direct Noise-Reduced Detection of Circularly Polarized Light.

High-performance chiroptical synaptic phototransistors are successfully demonstrated using heterojunctions composed of a self-assembled nanohelix of a π-conjugated molecule and a metal oxide semiconductor. To impart strong chiroptical activity to the device, a diketopyrrolopyrrole-based π-conjugated molecule decorated with chiral glutamic acid is newly synthesized; this molecule is capable of supramolecular self-assembly through noncovalent intermolecular interactions. In particular, nanohelix formed by intertwinded fibers with strong and stable chiroptical activity in a solid-film state are obtained through hydrogen-bonding-driven, gelation-assisted self-assembly.

Eighth Cervical Nerve Root Block During Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block Decreases Pain Caused by Posterior Portal Placement but Increases Horner Syndrome in Patients Undergoing Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: To compare the intensity of pain on posterior portal placement between a C5-C7 root block (conventional interscalene brachial plexus block [ISBPB]) and a C5-C8 root block in patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Methods: In this prospective, single-blinded, parallel-group randomized controlled trial, patients were randomized to receive either a C5-C7 root block (C5-C7 group, n = 37) or a C5-C8 root block (C5-C8 group, n = 36) with 25 mL of 0.75% ropivacaine.

Fibriform Organic Electrochemical Diodes with Rectifying, Complementary Logic and Transient Voltage Suppression Functions for Wearable E-Textile Embedded Circuits.

In this study, a fibriform electrochemical diode capable of performing rectifying, complementary logic and device protection functions for future e-textile circuit systems is fabricated. The diode was fabricated using a simple twisted assembly of metal/polymer semiconductor/ion gel coaxial microfibers and conducting microfiber electrodes. The fibriform diode exhibited a prominent asymmetrical current flow with a rectification ratio of over 10, and its performance was retained after repeated bending deformations and washings.

Assessment of the changes in cardiac sympathetic nervous activity using the pupil size changes measured in seated patients whose stellate ganglion is blocked by interscalene brachial plexus block.

Background: As a side effect of interscalene brachial plexus block (ISBPB), stellate ganglion block (SGB) causes reductions in pupil size (Horner's syndrome) and cardiac sympathetic nervous activity (CSNA). Reduced CSNA is associated with hemodynamic instability when patients are seated. Therefore, instantaneous measurements of CSNA are important in seated patients presenting with Horner's syndrome.

Integration of synaptic phototransistors and quantum dot light-emitting diodes for visualization and recognition of UV patterns.

Synaptic photodetectors exhibit photon-triggered synaptic plasticity, which thus can improve the image recognition rate by enhancing the image contrast. However, still, the visualization and recognition of invisible ultraviolet (UV) patterns are challenging, owing to intense background noise. Here, inspired by all-or-none potentiation of synapse, we develop an integrated device of synaptic phototransistors (SPTrs) and quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs), facilitating noise reduction and visualization of UV patterns through on-device preprocessing.

Photo-Curable Lacquer Sap Resin Based on Urushiol-Mimicking, Tyrosine-Containing Additive.

Oriental lacquer sap is attracting considerable attention as a renewable and eco-friendly natural resin with high durability, heat resistance, insulation, insect repellency, and antiseptic and antibacterial properties. However, to ensure excellent coating performance, it is necessary to improve the drying/curing process of lacquer sap with a time-consuming drying time at high humidity [relative humidity (RH), 70-90%] and ambient temperature (20-30 °C). Drawing on an understanding of the polymerization mechanism of urushiol, the main component of the lacquer sap consisted of a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion, and this study presents an eco-friendly additive that mimics the structure-function of urushiol composed of a polar catechol head group and a nonpolar hydrocarbon tail.

Awake nasotracheal intubation under bronchoscopic guidance and anesthetic management in a patient undergoing excision of an endotracheal mass: A case report.

Rationale: The main challenge facing anesthesiologists during endotracheal mass resection is securing effective airway management during surgery. It is important to select an airway intubation and airway maintenance method according to the patient's condition and the characteristics of the mass.

Patient Concerns: A 74-year-old woman with aggravated dyspnea for 1 year was scheduled to undergo endotracheal mass excision under general anesthesia.

Comparison of palonosetron with combined palonosetron and midazolam for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is an undesirable complication in patients undergoing general anesthesia. Combination therapy via different mechanisms of action for antiemetic prophylaxis has been warranted for effective treatment of PONV. This study was designed to compare the prophylactic antiemetic effect between midazolam combined with palonosetron (group MP) and palonosetron alone (group P) after laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgeries.

Intraoperative development of pulmonary thromboembolism in a bedridden patient owing to a pelvic bone fracture with negative preoperative computed tomography pulmonary angiographic findings: A case report.

Rationale: Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a potentially life-threatening condition with high morbidity and mortality, and computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is an important diagnostic tool for patients in whom PTE is suspected; however, intraoperative PTE is very difficult to diagnose and often has a rapid clinical course. We experienced a case of intraoperative PTE with persistent tachycardia refractory to conventional treatments despite negative preoperative CTPA findings.

Patient Concerns: A 53-year-old man with a pelvic bone fracture who had been on bed rest for 10 days underwent open reduction and internal fixation under general anesthesia.

Local anesthetic volume in ultrasound-guided interscalene block and opioid consumption during shoulder arthroscopic surgery: A retrospective comparative study.

Interscalene block (ISB) is commonly performed for regional anesthesia in shoulder surgery. Ultrasound-guided ISB enables visualization of the local anesthetic spread and a reduction in local anesthetic volume. However, little is known about the appropriate local anesthetic dose for surgical anesthesia without sedation or general anesthesia.

Dendritic Network Implementable Organic Neurofiber Transistors with Enhanced Memory Cyclic Endurance for Spatiotemporal Iterative Learning.

Dendritic network implementable organic neurofiber transistors with enhanced memory cyclic endurance for spatiotemporal iterative learning are proposed. The architecture of the fibrous organic electrochemical transistors consisting of a double-stranded assembly of electrode microfibers and an iongel gate insulator enables the highly sensitive multiple implementation of synaptic junctions via simple physical contact of gate-electrode microfibers, similar to the dendritic connections of a biological neuron fiber. In particular, carboxylic-acid-functionalized polythiophene as a semiconductor channel material provides stable gate-field-dependent multilevel memory characteristics with long-term stability and cyclic endurance, unlike the conventional poly(alkylthiophene)-based neuromorphic electrochemical transistors, which exhibit short retention and unstable endurance.

Solution-processed near-infrared Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se) photodetectors with enhanced chalcopyrite crystallization and bandgap grading structure via potassium incorporation.

Although solution-processed Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se) (CIGS) absorber layers can potentially enable the low-cost and large-area production of highly stable electronic devices, they have rarely been applied in photodetector applications. In this work, we present a near-infrared photodetector functioning at 980 nm based on solution-processed CIGS with a potassium-induced bandgap grading structure and chalcopyrite grain growth. The incorporation of potassium in the CIGS film promotes Se uptake in the bulk of the film during the chalcogenization process, resulting in a bandgap grading structure with a wide space charge region that allows improved light absorption in the near-infrared region and charge carrier separation.

Nano-emulsification of oriental lacquer sap by ultrasonic wave propagation: Improvement of thin-film characteristics as a natural resin.

Lacquer sap has received much attention as a traditional natural resin because it is a renewable and eco-friendly biopolymer resource unlike artificial coating materials. However, strict drying conditions and long drying times of lacquer sap should be modified to expand its applications. This study presents the first attempt to investigate the effect of different amplitudes of ultrasonic waves on the lacquer sap composed of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion droplets and the mechanical properties of the resultant film by solvent evaporation.

Longitudinal Changes of High Molecular Weight Adiponectin are Associated with Postpartum Development of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Patients with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: The influence of serial changes of adipokines on maternal glucose metabolism from pregnancy to postpartum periods in women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus (pGDM) has not been thoroughly explored. We tried to examine the relationship between the serial changes of adipokines and the development of diabetes mellitus (DM) in women with pGDM.

Methods: We longitudinally measured following adipokines: high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin, retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP-4), lipocalin-2, and chemerin, during pregnancy, and at 2 months and 3 years after delivery.

Spirally Wrapped Carbon Nanotube Microelectrodes for Fiber Optoelectronic Devices beyond Geometrical Limitations toward Smart Wearable E-Textile Applications.

Fiber optoelectronics technology has recently attracted attention as enabling various form factors of wearable electronics, and the issue of how to control and optimize the configuration and physical properties of the electrode micropatterns in the microfiber devices has become important. Here, spirally wrapped carbon nanotube (CNT) microelectrodes with a controlled dimension are demonstrated for high-performance fiber optoelectronic devices. Inkjet-printed CNT microelectrodes with the desired dimension on an agarose hydrogel template are rolling-transferred onto a microfiber surface with an efficient electrical interface.

Comparison of ultrasound-guided and nerve stimulator-guided interscalene blocks as a sole anesthesia in shoulder arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: A retrospective study.

Ultrasound-guided interscalene block (US-ISB) and nerve stimulator-guided interscalene block (NS-ISB) have both been commonly used for anesthesia in shoulder arthroscopic surgery.This study aims to compare which method provides surgical block as a sole anesthesia. In this retrospective study, 1158 patients who underwent shoulder arthroscopic rotator cuff tear repair surgery under ISB between October 2002 and March 2018 were classified into either the US-ISB or NS-ISB anesthesia groups.

Role of Remote Ischemic Preconditioning in Hepatic Ischemic Reperfusion Injury.

The effect of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) has been proposed that mediates the protective response in ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) of various organs. In this study, we investigated the effect of RIPC in hepatic IRI, by assessing biomarker of oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, we intended to demonstrate any such protective effect through nitric oxide (NO).

Retrospective analysis of risk factors of hypotensive bradycardic events during shoulder arthroscopic surgery under interscalene blockade in the sitting position.

Background: Hypotensive bradycardic events (HBEs) are a frequent adverse event in patients who underwent shoulder arthroscopic surgery under interscalene block (ISB) in the sitting position. This retrospective study was conducted to investigate the independent risk factors of HBEs in shoulder arthroscopic surgery under ISB in the sitting position.

Methods: A total of 2,549 patients who underwent shoulder arthroscopic surgery under ISB and had complete clinical data were included in the study.