Tight junction protein changes in irritable bowel syndrome: the relation of age and disease severity.

Background/aims: The etiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is associated with intestinal mucosal barrier damage. However, changes in the tight junction (TJ) proteins in IBS have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate TJ protein changes in IBS patients and the relationship between aging and disease severity.

Fabrication of a Capacitive 3D Spacer Fabric Pressure Sensor with a Dielectric Constant Change for High Sensitivity.

Smart wearable sensors are increasingly integrated into everyday life, interfacing with the human body to enable real-time monitoring of biological signals. This study focuses on creating high-sensitivity capacitive-type sensors by impregnating polyester-based 3D spacer fabric with a Carbon Nanotube (CNT) dispersion. The unique properties of conductive particles lead to nonlinear variations in the dielectric constant when pressure is applied, consequently affecting the gauge factor.

Transcholecystic Duodenal Drainage as an Alternative Decompression Method for Afferent Loop Syndrome: Two Case Reports.

Afferent loop syndrome (ALS) is a rare complication of gastrectomies and gastrointestinal reconstruction. This can predispose patients to fatal conditions, such as cholangitis, pancreatitis, and duodenal perforation with peritonitis. Therefore, emergency decompression is necessary to prevent these complications.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for esophagojejunal variceal bleeding after total gastrectomy: A case report.

Esophagojejunal varices occurring after total gastrectomy are rare but potentially fatal in cases of variceal bleeding. Owing to their rarity, treatment strategies for this condition are not well established. Here, we describe the case of a 48-year-old woman who presented with hematemesis and melena.

Development and Evaluation of Vibration Canceling System Utilizing Macro-Fiber Composites (MFCs) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) Vibration Prediction AI Algorithms for Road Driving Vibrations.

This study developed an innovative active vibration canceling (AVC) system designed to mitigate non-periodic vibrations during road driving to enhance passenger comfort. The macro-fiber composite (MFC) used in the system is a smart material that is flexible, soft, lightweight, and applicable in many fields as a dual-purpose sensor and actuator. The target vibrations are road vibration data that were collected while driving on standard urban (Seoul) and highway roads at 40 km/s.

Measurement of 3D Wrist Angles by Combining Textile Stretch Sensors and AI Algorithm.

The wrist is one of the most complex joints in our body, composed of eight bones. Therefore, measuring the angles of this intricate wrist movement can prove valuable in various fields such as sports analysis and rehabilitation. Textile stretch sensors can be easily produced by immersing an E-band in a SWCNT solution.

Comparative Performance Analysis of Inverse Phase Active Vibration Cancellation Using Macro Fiber Composite (MFC) and Vibration Absorption of Silicone Gel for Vibration Reduction.

This study focuses on addressing the issue of unwanted vibrations commonly encountered in various fields by designing an Active Vibration Cancellation (AVC) structure using a flexible piezoelectric composite material macro fiber composite (MFC). A comparative performance analysis was conducted between the AVC and a traditional passive gel that continuously absorbs vibrations. The results showed that AVC was more effective in mitigating vibrations, making it a promising solution for vibration control.

The Programmable Design of Large-Area Piezoresistive Textile Sensors Using Manufacturing by Jacquard Processing.

Among wearable e-textiles, conductive textile yarns are of particular interest because they can be used as flexible and wearable sensors without affecting the usual properties and comfort of the textiles. Firstly, this study proposed three types of piezoresistive textile sensors, namely, single-layer, double-layer, and quadruple-layer, to be made by the Jacquard processing method. This method enables the programmable design of the sensor’s structure and customizes the sensor’s sensitivity to work more efficiently in personalized applications.

Patterns in renal diseases diagnosed by kidney biopsy: A single-center experience.

Background: The worldwide incidence of renal disease diagnosed by a kidney biopsy varies with age, race, sex, and region. Owing to a lack of studies and limited research resources for this disease in Korea, we investigated renal disease patterns by analyzing data from kidney biopsies performed over 13 years in a university-based teaching hospital in Korea.

Methods: Among 2,053 kidney biopsies performed from 2001 to 2013 at Kyungpook National University Hospital, 1,924 were retrospectively analyzed for histopathologic, demographic, and clinical data as well as laboratory results.

Low prealbumin levels are independently associated with higher mortality in patients on peritoneal dialysis.

Background: Prealbumin, a sensitive marker for protein-energy status, is also known as an independent risk factor for mortality in hemodialysis patients. We investigated the impact of prealbumin on survival in incident peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Methods: In total, 136 incident PD patients (mean age, 53.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased risk of bacterial infections after kidney transplantation.

Background/aims: There may be an association between vitamin D levels and allograft outcomes in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). However, few studies have been conducted to determine the association between vitamin D levels and post-transplant infections. This study investigated the impact of vitamin D deficiency on the risk of infection after kidney transplantation.

Duration of anuria predicts recovery of renal function after acute kidney injury requiring continuous renal replacement therapy.

Background/aims: Little is known regarding the incidence rate of and factors associated with developing chronic kidney disease after continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in acute kidney injury (AKI) patients. We investigated renal outcomes and the factors associated with incomplete renal recovery in AKI patients who received CRRT.

Methods: Between January 2011 and November 2013, 408 patients received CRRT in our intensive care unit.

Impact of dialysis modality on technique survival in end-stage renal disease patients.

Background/aims: This study analyzed the risk factors for technique survival in dialysis patients and compared technique survival rates between hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) in a prospective cohort of Korean patients.

Methods: A total of 1,042 patients undergoing dialysis from September 2008 to June 2011 were analyzed. The dialysis modality was defined as that used 90 days after commencing dialysis.

An assessment of a new navigatable percutaneous disc decompression device (l'DISQ) through histologic evaluation and thermo-mapping in human cadaveric discs.

Study Design: This is an in vitro experimental study of the technical capability and safety study of a navigable percutaneous disc decompression device named L'DISQ.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine if L'DISQ could adequately reach certain target zones in the disc and to measure the distribution of rises in temperature in the surrounding tissue when the device was used to ablate the disc.

Methods: Placement of the wand of L'DISQ was attempted into the posterior annulus of the discs of four fresh human cadavers.

Correlation between urodynamic test results, perineal ultrasound and degree of stress urinary incontinence.

Objective: To evaluate whether the results of urodynamic tests and the perineal ultrasound were different between grade 1 and 2 stress urinary incontinence.

Study Design: Forty premenopausal women with a diagnosis of stress urinary incontinence according to urodynamic tests were enrolled in this study. Stress urinary incontinence was defined as urine leakage during stress without detrusor contraction.

Steroid hormone metabolism in women with pelvic organ prolapse.

Objective: To identify whether endogenous steroid hormone metabolism in women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is different from that in normal women and the relationship between endogenous steroid hormone metabolites and POP stage.

Study Design: Twenty postmenopausal women who were clinically diagnosed as having POP and 20 volunteer postmenopausal women without prolapse were included in the study. We compared the urinary profiles of endogenous steroids between the two groups and investigated the relationship between urinary profiles of endogenous steroids and degree of prolapse.