Treatment and Characteristics of Pachychoroid Neovasculopathy Accompanying Recalcitrant Intraretinal Cysts.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical characteristics associated with chronic pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV) accompanying recalcitrant intraretinal cysts.

Methods: This is a retrospective, single-center, case-series study involving 20 eyes of 18 patients with PNV who did not respond to bevacizumab or ranibizumab and had to switch to aflibercept. Optical coherence tomography images were assessed before and after switching of intravitreal injection drug.

Do Strength and Anthropometric Size of the Lower Body Correlate with Serum Testosterone Levels?

Purpose: Although lower body strength and size are often regarded as symbols of masculinity, their relationship to testosterone is unclear. This study aimed to determine the correlation between lower body strength, size, and testosterone levels.

Materials And Methods: Serum testosterone levels, waist circumference, and body mass index (BMI) were measured in 69 men with erectile dysfunction (age >40 years).

Analysis of Response and Progression Patterns of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Recurrent or Metastatic Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma: A Post Hoc Analysis of Two KCSG Phase II Trials.

Purpose: In this study, we evaluated 66 patients diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) enrolled in two Korean Cancer Study Group trials to investigate the response and progression patterns in recurrent and/or metastatic ACC treated with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (VEGFR-TKIs).

Materials And Methods: We evaluated 66 patients diagnosed with ACC who were enrolled in the Korean Cancer Study Group trials. The tumor measurements, clinical data, treatment outcomes, and progression patterns of therapy were analyzed.

Electrostatically Powered Multimode Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators.

Soft actuators based on liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) are captivating significant interest because of their unique properties combining the programmable liquid crystalline molecular order and elasticity of polymeric materials. For practical applications, the ability to perform multimodal shape changes in a single LCE actuator at a subsecond level is a bottleneck. Here, we fabricate a monodomain LCE powered by electrostatic force, which enables fast multidirectional bending, oscillation, rotation, and complex actuation with a high degree of freedom.

Rehabilitation after Repair of Medial Meniscus Posterior Root Tears: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Background: There is no consensus established on postoperative rehabilitation after medial meniscus posterior root tear (MMPRT) repair, including when and how physicians can apply range of motion (ROM) exercise, weight-bearing (WB), brace use, and return to sports (RTS). The purpose of this study was to systematically review the literature on postoperative rehabilitation characteristics of MMPRT repair regarding ROM, WB, brace use, and RTS.

Methods: A literature search was performed using the Medline/PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Embase databases.

Voxelated opto-physically unclonable functions via irreplicable wrinkles.

The increased prevalence of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the integration of digital technology into our daily lives have given rise to heightened security risks and the need for more robust security measures. In response to these challenges, physical unclonable functions (PUFs) have emerged as promising solution, offering a highly secure method to generate unpredictable and unique random digital values by leveraging inherent physical characteristics. However, traditional PUFs implementations often require complex hardware and circuitry, which can add to the cost and complexity of the system.

A phase II study on the efficacy of regorafenib in treating patients with c-KIT-mutated metastatic malignant melanoma that progressed after previous treatment (KCSG-UN-14-13).

Background: c-KIT mutations are found in approximately 15% of patients with malignant melanoma in the Asian population. Regorafenib, an oral multikinase inhibitor, acts against both wild-type and mutant KIT.

Objective: This multi-institutional, phase II, single-arm study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of regorafenib against metastatic malignant melanoma harbouring c-KIT mutations.

Colorless and transparent poly(amide imide) nanocomposites containing organically modified hectorite.

Polyamic acid (PAA) was synthesized using the diamine monomer ,'-[2,2'-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4,4'-biphenylene]bis(4-aminobenzamide) and dianhydride monomer 4,4'-oxydiphthalic anhydride. Colorless and transparent poly(amide imide) (CPAI) hybrid films were prepared multi-step thermal imidization of PAA in which various contents of nano-filler were dispersed. The CPAI hybrid films were prepared by dispersing organoclay STN, which was obtained by organically modifying hectorite, in CPAI by solution intercalation with various contents ranging from 1 to 7 wt%.

Does a Lower Limb Balance Test after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Have a Significant Correlation with Postoperative Clinical Score, Stability, and Functional Performance Test?

Background: Lower limb balance ability is reduced after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). However, the recovery of balance based on functional test scores after ACLR is not known because the correlation between balance and clinical scores remains unclear. We aimed to analyze the correlation between lower limb balance assessed by functional test and clinical knee test scores after ACLR.

Correlation Analysis between Hypogonadal Symptoms and Changes in Body Composition and Physical Fitness after Testosterone Treatment in Men with Testosterone Deficiency.

Purpose: This study analyzed changes in body composition and physical fitness in men with testosterone deficiency (TD) after testosterone treatment (TT) and examined the correlations of body composition and physical fitness with serum testosterone levels and hypogonadal symptoms.

Materials And Methods: Seventy patients with TD were divided into control (group I, n=23) and experimental (group II, n=47) groups. Patients in the experimental group were administered intramuscular testosterone enanthate (250 mg) for six months.

Comparison of the properties of polyimide nanocomposite films containing functionalized-graphene and organoclay as nanofillers.

Poly(amic acid) (PAA) is prepared by the reaction of dianhydride 4,4'-biphthalic anhydride and diamine bis[4-(3-aminophenoxy)phenyl]sulfone in N,N'-dimethylacetamide. Two types of fillers were dispersed in the as-synthesized PAA via a solution intercalation method; polyimide (PI) hybrid films were synthesized under various heat treatment conditions. Octylamine (C8) was introduced into graphene sheets (C8-GS) and bentonite (C8-BTN), which were then used as nanofillers in the PI hybrid films.

Phase transition, thermal stability, and molecular dynamics of organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite [NH(CH)NH]CuCl crystals.

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites have various potential applications in fuel cells and solar cells. In this regard, the physicochemical properties of an organic-inorganic [NH(CH)NH]CuCl crystal was conducted. The crystals had a monoclinic structure with space group 2/ and lattice constants = 7.

Comparison of Properties of Colorless and Transparent Polyimide Nanocomposites Containing Chemically Modified Nanofillers: Functionalized-Graphene and Organoclay.

Poly(amic acid) (PAA) was synthesized from dianhydride 4,4-(4,4-isopropylidenediphenoxy)bis(phthalic anhydride) and diamine bis [4-(3-aminophenoxy) phenyl] sulfone. Colorless and transparent polyimide (CPI) hybrid films were synthesized through thermal imidization after dispersing nanofillers using an intercalation method in a PAA solution. C16-GS and C16-MMT, in which hexadecylamine (C16) was substituted on graphene sheet (GS) and montmorillonite (MMT), respectively, were used as nanofillers to reinforce the CPI hybrid films.

Effects of diamine isomers on the properties of colorless and transparent copoly(amide imide)s.

To fully understand the structure-property relationship of aromatic copoly(amide-imide)s (Co-PAIs) and determine which factors lead to chain rigidity, we prepared two series of Co-PAIs. They were synthesized from two types of amine monomers containing - and -isomers and different ratios of 4,4'-(hexafluoroiso-propylidene)diphthalic anhydride (6FDA) and 4,4'-biphthalic anhydride (BPA). -Substituted and -substituted ,'-[2,2'-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4,4'-biphenylene]bis(aminobenzamide) (MPAB) diamine isomers were synthesized from 3- and 4-nitrobenzoyl chloride and 2,2'-bis(trifluoromethyl) benzidine (TFB), respectively.

Effects of High-Intensity Aquatic or Bicycling Training in Athletes with Unilateral Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome.

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most common overuse injuries experienced by athletes. It is characterized by pain and functional deficits that lead to decreased performance, thereby limiting sports activity. Therefore, optimal training interventions are required to improve physical fitness and function while minimizing pain due to PFPS.

Impacts of Subtype on Clinical Feature and Outcome of Male Breast Cancer: Multicenter Study in Korea (KCSG BR16-09).

Purpose: The treatment of male breast cancer (MBC) has been extrapolated from female breast cancer (FBC) because of its rarity despite their different clinicopathologic characteristics. We aimed to investigate the distribution of intrinsic subtypes based on immunohistochemistry, their clinical impact, and treatment pattern in clinical practice through a multicenter study in Korea.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 248 MBC patients from 18 institutions across the country from January 1995 to July 2016.

Ocular Dominance in Open-angle Glaucoma: The Shifting Trend Depending on Stage of the Disease.

Purpose: To investigate the characteristics and distribution of ocular dominance in primary open-angle glaucoma eyes. In addition, we tried to catch any trend of ocular dominance according to the stage of disease.

Methods: Two hundred participants with bilateral open-angle glaucoma underwent ocular dominant testing by "the hole-ina-card" test.

Correlation Between Y-Balance Test and Balance, Functional Performance, and Outcome Measures in Patients Following ACL Reconstruction.

Background: The Y-Balance test (YBT) is commonly used to evaluate balance after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). However, several studies have also used it as a functional performance test (FPT).

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the relationship between YBT scores and measures of knee joint laxity, static balance, knee flexor and extensor torque and strength ratio, and FPTs.

Effect of Methylene Chain Length on the Thermodynamic Properties, Ferroelastic Properties, and Molecular Dynamics of the Perovskite-type Layer Crystal [NH(CH) NH]MnCl ( = 2, 3, and 4).

The structures and phase transitions of [NH(CH) NH]MnCl ( = 2, 3, and 4) crystals were confirmed through X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments. Thermodynamic properties, ferroelastic properties, and molecular dynamics of three crystals were studied as a function of the number () of CH groups in the alkylene chains. The loss in molecular weight due to a decrease in marked the onset of the partial thermal decomposition.

Colorless and Transparent Polyimide Microporous Film with Excellent Physicochemical Property.

4,4'-(4,4'-isopropylidenediphenoxy)bis(phthalic anhydride) (BPADA) as a dianhydride and bis(3-aminophenyl) sulfone (APS) and bis(3-amino-4-hydroxyphenyl) sulfone (APS-OH) as diamines were used to synthesize two types of poly(amic acid) (PAA). Varying amounts (0-5.0 wt%) of water-soluble poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were mixed with PAA, and the resulting blend was heat-treated at different stages to obtain the colorless and transparent polyimide (CPI) blend films.

Orbital abscess due to infection of a non-absorbable porous orbital implant after orbital wall fracture repair : An uncommon and delayed occurred case.

We report a rare case of a patient who developed an orbital abscess several years after successful orbital medial wall fracture repair. A 37-year-old female patient who underwent orbital fracture repair with a titanium Medpor orbital implant two years prior visited the clinic for pain, conjunctival injection, discharge, and lid swelling of the right eye. Orbital CT revealed severe orbital cellulitis and sinusitis.

Design of an Electro-Stimulated Hydrogel Actuator System with Fast Flexible Folding Deformation under a Low Electric Field.

Soft actuators have recently been widely studied due to their significant advantages including light weight, continuous deformability, high environment adaptability, and safe human-robot interactions. In this study, we designed electrically responsive poly(sodium 4-vinylbenzenesulfonate/2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate/acrylamide) (P(VBS/HEMA/AAm)) and poly(sodium 4-vinylbenzenesulfonate/2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/acrylic acid) (P(VBS/HEMA/AAc)) hydrogels. A series of P(VBS/HEMA/AAm) and P(VBS/HEMA/AAc) hydrogels were prepared by adjusting the monomer composition and cross-linking density to systemically analyze various factors affecting the actuation of hydrogels under an electric field.

Tear ATG5 as a Potential Novel Biomarker in the Diagnosis of Sjögren Syndrome.

Autophagy has been suggested to have an important role in the pathogenesis of Sjögren syndrome (SS). We previously identified that autophagy related 5 (ATG5) was elevated in the tear and conjunctival epithelial cells of SS dry eyes (DE) compared to non-SS DE. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of tear ATG5 as a potential biomarker in the diagnosis of SS.

Risk factors for ocular hypertension after intravitreal dexamethasone implantation in diabetic macular edema.

We designed a retrospective observational study to identify factors associated with ocular hypertension [OHTN, defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) > 25 mmHg] after intravitreal dexamethasone (IVD) implantation in diabetic macular edema (DME) patients. We measured IOP monthly after placement of an IVD implant, and identified the trend of IOP, incidence of OHTN, and its associated systemic or ocular factors. On average, IOP was highest at 2 months after IVD implantation.