Intraoperative Complications and Perioperative and Surgical Outcomes of Single-Port Robotics-Assisted Sacrocolpopexy.

Introduction And Hypothesis: The objective was to assess intraoperative and postoperative complication rates, along with perioperative and surgical outcomes, following single-port robotics-assisted sacrocolpopexy.

Methods: This retrospective case series included 200 patients who underwent single-port robotics-assisted sacrocolpopexy to treat Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POPQ) stage 2-4 symptomatic prolapse between April 2020 and August 2023 by a single surgeon. Intraoperative and postoperative complications and perioperative outcomes were evaluated for all the patients, whereas surgical outcomes for 74 patients were assessed at 1-year follow-up.

Beyond intergovernmental cooperation: domestic politics of transboundary air pollution in Korea and Singapore.

This study explores why the implementation of domestic environmental policies that tackle transboundary air pollution has been undermined by comparing the cases of the Republic of Korea (Korea) and Singapore. Heavy smog recurs in Korea and Singapore every year despite various attempts to reduce air pollution through the signing of environmental cooperation agreements and the introduction of domestic measures. While existing scholarship has examined intergovernmental cooperation aimed at mitigating transboundary air pollution, this study focuses on domestic factors affecting policy implementation processes at the national level.

Multifunctional Microparticles with Stimulation and Sensing Capabilities for Facile NK Cell Activity Assay.

Natural killer (NK) cells are a subset of innate lymphoid cells playing an important role in immune surveillance and early defense against infection and cancer. They recognize and directly kill infected or transformed cells. At the same time, they produce various cytokines and chemokines to regulate other immune cells.

Water extract of Artemisia scoparia Waldst. & Kitam suppresses LPS-induced cytokine production and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages and alleviates carrageenan-induced acute inflammation in mice.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Artemisia scoparia Waldst. & Kitam (A. scoparia) is a perennial herbal plant that is widely used as a folk remedy in Asian countries.

Progressive Impairment of NK Cell Cytotoxic Degranulation Is Associated With TGF-β1 Deregulation and Disease Progression in Pancreatic Cancer.

Natural killer (NK) cells are key effectors in cancer immunosurveillance and can be used as a prognostic biomarker in diverse cancers. Nonetheless, the role of NK cells in pancreatic cancer (PC) remains elusive, given conflicting data on their association with disease prognosis. In this study, using conventional K562 target cells and complementary engineered target cells providing defined and synergistic stimulation for NK cell activation, a correlation between impaired NK cell cytotoxic degranulation and PC progression was determined.

Direct potentiation of NK cell cytotoxicity by 8-azaguanine with potential antineoplastic activity.

This study identified 8-azaguanine (8-AG) as a novel immunomodulatory drug (IMiD) through a high-throughput screen of the Preswick Chemical Library in a model of human NK cell cytotoxicity against blood cancer cells. 8-AG, originally developed as an antineoplastic agent, significantly increased the cytotoxicity of NK cells and was superior in this activity to previously known IMiDs, such as fluoxetine and amphotericin B, identified from the same library. IFN-γ expression was also slightly increased by 8-AG.

Ginsenoside F1 Promotes Cytotoxic Activity of NK Cells via Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1-Dependent Mechanism.

Ginsenosides are the principal active components of ginseng and are considered attractive candidates for combination cancer therapy because they can kill tumors and have favorable safety profiles. However, the overall benefit of ginsenosides remains unclear, particularly in cancer immunosurveillance, considering the controversial results showing repression or promotion of immune responses. Here we identify a potentiating role of ginsenoside F1 (G-F1) in cancer surveillance by natural killer (NK) cells.

Preservation of red pepper flakes using microwave-combined cold plasma treatment.

Background: Red pepper flakes are often contaminated with various microorganisms; however, any technologies aiming to decontaminate the flakes should also maintain their quality properties. This study investigated the effect of microwave-combined cold plasma treatment (MCPT) at different microwave power densities on microbial inactivation and preservation of red pepper flakes. Red pepper flake samples inoculated with spores of Bacillus cereus or Aspergillus flavus and without inoculation were subjected to MCPT at 900 W for 20 min at either low microwave power density (LMCPT, 0.

Development of Anti-Insect Microencapsulated Polypropylene Films Using a Large Scale Film Coating System.

Unlabelled: Films containing microencapsulated cinnamon oil (CO) were developed using a large-scale production system to protect against the Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella). CO at concentrations of 0%, 0.8%, or 1.

Inhibition of Salmonella typhimurium on radish sprouts using nitrogen-cold plasma.

This study investigated the effects of cold plasma treatment (CPT) on the inhibition of Salmonella typhimurium on radish sprouts and the quality attributes of the sprouts. Radish sprouts were treated with nitrogen (N)-cold plasma at 900W and 667Pa for 0, 2, 5, 10, and 20min using a microwave-powered CPT system. The sensory attributes of the radish sprouts, appearance and odor, were evaluated before and after the treatment.

Meta-analysis about cognitive intervention effect applied to dementia patients.

Objective: The study tries to explore what effects multiple cognitive intervention, computer-based intervention, and memory training program had on dementia patients through meta-analysis.

Method: Data was collected using an overseas search engine and 13 pieces of research published from January 2001 to April 2015 were selected. On papers that fit the selection criteria qualitative evaluation was conducted using Jadad evaluation and using pre-post average, standard deviation, and sample size of cognitive function, meta-analysis was conducted.

Cold Oxygen Plasma Treatments for the Improvement of the Physicochemical and Biodegradable Properties of Polylactic Acid Films for Food Packaging.

The effects of cold plasma (CP) treatment on the physicochemical and biodegradable properties of polylactic acid (PLA) films were studied. The PLA films were exposed to CP for 40 min at 900 W and 667 Pa using oxygen as the plasma-forming gas. The tensile, optical, and dynamic mechanical thermal properties, surface morphology, printability, water contact angle, chemical structure, weight change, and biodegradability properties of the films were evaluated during storage for up to 56 d.

Cognitive test to forecast unsafe driving in older drivers: meta-analysis.

Objectives: This study performed meta-analysis on the literatures that surveyed cognitive test to forecast unsafe driving by older drivers and identified objective and consistent cognitive test for predicting unsafe driving of older drivers.

Selection Criteria: The study of RCT (Randomized Control Trial) that conducted cognitive test by classifying older drivers into safe-drivers and unsafe-drivers was done and a total of nine studies suitable for the selection criteria were chosen.

Search Strategy: To meet subject selection, online search was performed by keyword such as "Older", "Driving", "Safe", "Cognition", etc.

Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella)-resistant food packaging film development using microencapsulated cinnamon oil.

Unlabelled: Insect-resistant laminate films containing microencapsulated cinnamon oil (CO) were developed to protect food products from the Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella). CO microencapsulated with polyvinyl alcohol was incorporated with a printing ink and the ink mixture was applied to a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film as an ink coating. The coated LDPE surface was laminated with a polypropylene film.

Three-dimensional kinematic analysis of pelvic and lower extremity differences during trunk rotation in subjects with and without chronic low back pain.

Objective: To investigate three-dimensional angular changes of the pelvis and lower extremities during trunk axial rotation in subjects with and without chronic low back pain (LBP).

Design: Repeated-measures design.

Participants: Thirty volunteers participated in the study (15 with LBP, 15 without LBP).

A kinematic analysis of relative stability of the lower extremities between subjects with and without chronic low back pain.

Even though a number of studies have evaluated postural adjustments based on kinematic changes in subjects with low back pain (LBP), kinematic stability has not been examined for abnormal postural responses during the one leg standing test. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative kinematic stability of the lower extremities and standing duration in subjects with and without chronic LBP. In total, 54 subjects enrolled in the study, including 28 subjects without LBP and 26 subjects with LBP.