Neo-aorta reconstruction with retained stented patch in Norwood procedure after hybrid palliation of high-risk hypoplastic left heart syndrome: a case report.

Hybrid procedure of hypoplastic left heart syndrome, comprising ductus arteriosus stenting and bilateral pulmonary artery banding, is a good surgical option for initial palliative procedure for high-risk patients for Norwood procedure. However, ductal stenting may cause retrograde aortic blood flow obstruction. Furthermore, complete removal of stent while performing the Norwood procedure make the operation more difficult.

Treatment Outcomes in Children With Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia: A Single Institutional Experience.

Background And Objectives: Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is a life-threatening inherited arrhythmogenic disorder. Recently, , the major CPVT-causative gene, was associated with neuropsychiatric manifestations. We aimed to analyze the clinical presentations, neuropsychiatric manifestations, and treatment outcomes of children with CPVT.

Long-term outcomes of extracardiac Gore-Tex conduits in Fontan patients.

Background: Extracardiac conduit Fontan procedure (ECFP) employing a Gore-Tex conduit has been widely used for patients with single ventricle physiology; however, the long-term status of the conduit is unknown. We investigated the changes in a Gore-Tex conduit after ECFP and the factors associated with its narrowing.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 86 patients who underwent ECFP between January 1995 and December 2008 and had cardiac computed tomography (CT) during the follow-up period.

Regulation of Colonic Inflammation and Macrophage Homeostasis of IFN-γ-Primed Canine AMSCs in Experimental Colitis in Mice.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown potential in treating immune-mediated diseases due to their immunomodulatory properties, which can be enhanced by priming with inflammatory cytokines like interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). This study evaluates the therapeutic effects of IFN-γ-primed canine adipose tissue-derived MSCs (AMSCs) in a mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Canine AMSCs were primed with 50 ng/mL recombinant canine IFN-γ for 48 h, and the effects were compared to those seen in naïve (unprimed) AMSCs.

Identification of Reference Gene for Quantitative Gene Expression in Early-Term and Late-Term Cultured Canine Fibroblasts Derived from Ear Skin.

Fibroblasts are cells that reside within the fibrous or loose connective tissues of most mammalian organs. For research purposes, fibroblasts are often subjected to long-term culture under defined conditions, during which their properties can significantly change. It is essential to understand and document these changes to obtain reliable outcomes.

Increasing the Beam Width and Intensity with Refraction Power Effect Using a Combination of Beam Mirrors and Concave Mirrors for Surgical-Fluorescence-Emission-Guided Cancer Monitoring Method.

The primary goal during cancer removal surgery is to completely excise the malignant tumor. Because the color of the tumor and surrounding tissues is very similar, it is difficult to observe with the naked eye, posing a risk of damaging surrounding blood vessels during the tumor removal process. Therefore, fluorescence emission is induced using a fluorescent contrast agent, and color classification is monitored through camera imaging.

Optical Methods for Optimizing Fluorescence Imaging Field of View and Image Quality in Surgical Guidance Procedures.

Cancer surgery is aimed at complete tumor resection and accurate lymph node detection. However, numerous blood vessels are distributed within the tumor, and the colors of the tumor, blood vessels, and lymph nodes are similar, making observations with the naked eye difficult. Therefore, tumors, blood vessels, and lymph nodes can be monitored via color classification using an operating microscope to induce fluorescence emission.

Histological and Molecular Biological Changes in Canine Skin Following Acute Radiation Therapy-Induced Skin Injury.

Radiation therapy is a crucial cancer treatment, but it can damage healthy tissues, leading to side effects like skin injuries and molecular alterations. This study aimed to elucidate histological and molecular changes in canine skin post-radiation therapy (post-RT) over nine weeks, focusing on inflammation, stem cell activity, angiogenesis, keratinocyte regeneration, and apoptosis. Four male beagles received a cumulative radiation dose of 48 Gy, followed by clinical observations, histological examinations, and an RT-qPCR analysis of skin biopsies.

The Long-term Outcomes and Risk Factors of Complications After Fontan Surgery: From the Korean Fontan Registry (KFR).

Background And Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the outcomes of Fontan surgery in the Republic of Korea, as there were only a few studies from Asian countries.

Methods: The medical records of 1,732 patients who underwent Fontan surgery in 10 cardiac centers were reviewed.

Results: Among them, 1,040 (58.

Structure and function of the human apoptotic scramblase Xkr4.

Phosphatidylserine externalization on the surface of dying cells is a key signal for their recognition and clearance by macrophages and is mediated by members of the X-Kell related (Xkr) protein family. Defective Xkr-mediated scrambling impairs clearance, leading to inflammation. It was proposed that activation of the Xkr4 apoptotic scramblase requires caspase cleavage, followed by dimerization and ligand binding.

Propofol rescues voltage-dependent gating of HCN1 channel epilepsy mutants.

Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels are essential for pacemaking activity and neural signalling. Drugs inhibiting HCN1 are promising candidates for management of neuropathic pain and epileptic seizures. The general anaesthetic propofol (2,6-di-iso-propylphenol) is a known HCN1 allosteric inhibitor with unknown structural basis.

Histo-pillar strip for optimal histogel block construction and biomarker analysis in 3D-lung cancer patient-derived organoids.

This study proposed an optimized histogel construction method for histological analysis by applying lung cancer patient-derived organoids (PDOs) to the developed histo-pillar strip. Previously, there is the cultured PDOs damage problem during the histogel construction due to forced detachment of the Matrigel spots from the 96-well plate bottom. To address this issue, we cultured PDO on the proposed Histo-pillar strips and then immersed them in 4% paraformaldehyde fixation solution to self-isolate PDO without damage.

Normal Fermi Surface in the Nodal Superconductor CeCoIn_{5} Revealed via Thermal Conductivity.

The thermal conductivity of heavy-fermion superconductor CeCoIn_{5} was measured with a magnetic field rotating in the tetragonal a-b plane, with the heat current in the antinodal direction, J|| [100]. We observe a sharp resonance in thermal conductivity for the magnetic field at an angle Θ≈12°, measured from the heat current direction [100]. This resonance corresponds to the reported resonance at an angle Θ^{'}≈33° from the direction of the heat current applied along the nodal direction, J||[110].

E proteins control the development of NKγδT cells through their invariant T cell receptor.

T cell receptor (TCR) signaling regulates important developmental transitions, partly through induction of the E protein antagonist, Id3. Although normal γδ T cell development depends on Id3, Id3 deficiency produces different phenotypes in distinct γδ T cell subsets. Here, we show that Id3 deficiency impairs development of the Vγ3 subset, while markedly enhancing development of NKγδT cells expressing the invariant Vγ1Vδ6.

U-Shape Pillar Strip for 3D Cell-Lumped Organoid Model (3D-COM) Mimicking Lung Cancer Hypoxia Conditions in High-Throughput Screening (HTS).

Hypoxia is a representative tumor characteristic associated with malignant progression in clinical patients. Engineered in vitro models have led to significant advances in cancer research, allowing for the investigation of cells in physiological environments and the study of disease mechanisms and processes with enhanced relevance. In this study, we propose a U-shape pillar strip for a 3D cell-lumped organoid model (3D-COM) to study the effects of hypoxia on lung cancer in a high-throughput manner.

The long-term effects of the fenestration in patients with extracardiac Fontan circulation-a multicenter Korean cohort study based on national Fontan registry.

Introduction: The long-term effects of fenestration in patients with Fontan circulation remain unclear. We aim to evaluate the fenestration impact on early and late outcomes in patients with extracardiac Fontan (ECF) using a propensity score matching analysis.

Methods: We performed an extensive retrospective multicenter clinical data review of the Korean Fontan registry and included 1,233 patients with surgical ECF (779 fenestrated, 454 non-fenestrated).

Estimating entanglement entropy via variational quantum circuits with classical neural networks.

Entropy plays a crucial role in both physics and information science, encompassing classical and quantum domains. In this paper, we present the quantum neural entropy estimator (QNEE), an approach that combines classical neural network (NN) with variational quantum circuits to estimate the von Neumann and Rényi entropies of a quantum state. QNEE provides accurate estimates of entropy while also yielding the eigenvalues and eigenstates of the input density matrix.

A Method to Reduce Tension Differences in Pull/Push Manipulation for a Robot in Fluorescence Emission-Guided Surgical Microscopy.

Motivation: A fluorescence emission-guided microscope used to monitor the outcome of cancer removal surgery is highly effective when employing a manipulator to motorize and switch the observation direction. It is necessary to minimize the alignment of looper tension between the stands for pull/push to change the direction of the manipulator and reduce the error rate caused by tension differences. This paper presents a method to minimize the error rate of looper tension between the stands.

Decreased incidence of Kawasaki disease in South Korea during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Purpose: Analyzing Kawasaki disease epidemiology during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in South Korea using 2012-2020 National Health Insurance Service data.

Methods: The incidence of Kawasaki disease for 2012-2020 was investigated to identify changes in incidence after the start of the pandemic. National Health Insurance Service data from the Republic of Korea were used.

Gadolinium-Based Magnetic Resonance Theranostic Agent with Gallic Acid as an Anti-Neuroinflammatory and Antioxidant Agent.

Studies in the field have actively pursued the incorporation of diverse biological functionalities into gadolinium-based contrast agents, aiming at the amalgamation of MRI imaging and therapeutic capabilities. In this research, we present the development of Gd-Ga, an anti-neuroinflammatory MR contrast agent strategically designed to target inflammatory mediators for comprehensive imaging diagnosis and targeted lesion treatment. Gd-Ga is a gadolinium complex composed of 1,4,7-tris(carboxymethylaza)cyclododecane-10-azaacetylamide (DO3A) conjugated with gallic acid (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid).

Development of an Artificial Soft Solid Gel Using Gelatin Material for High-Quality Ultrasound Diagnosis.

For ultrasound diagnosis, a gel is applied to the skin. Ultrasound gel serves to block air exposure and match impedance between the skin and the probe, enhancing imaging efficiency. However, if use of the ultrasound gel exceeds a certain period of time, it may dry out and be exposed to air, causing impedance mismatch and reducing imaging resolution.

Structural basis of pH-dependent activation in a CLC transporter.

CLCs are dimeric chloride channels and anion/proton exchangers that regulate processes such as muscle contraction and endo-lysosome acidification. Common gating controls their activity; its closure simultaneously silences both protomers, and its opening allows them to independently transport ions. Mutations affecting common gating in human CLCs cause dominant genetic disorders.

Effects of Fermented on the Skeletal Muscle Functions.

Plant extract fermentation is widely employed to enhance the nutritional and pharmaceutical value of functional foods. (Pc) contains flavonoids, anthraquinones, and stilbenes, imparting protective effects against inflammatory diseases, cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. However, the effects of fermented Pc on skeletal muscle strength remain unexplored.

Comparative Sensing and Judgment Control System for Temperature Maintenance for Optimal Treatment in Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Surgery.

For tumors wherein cancer cells remain in the tissue after colorectal cancer surgery, a hyperthermic anticancer agent is injected into the abdominal cavity to necrotize the remaining cancer cells with heat using a hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy system. However, during circulation, the processing temperature is out of range and the processing result is deteriorated. This paper proposes a look-up table (LUT) module design method that can stably maintain the processing temperature range during circulation via feedback.