Role of water activity on sporulation traits and resistance to 915 MHz microwave in the emetic type of Bacillus cereus on rice.

The objective of this study is to investigate the influence of water activity on the sporulation of emetic strains of Bacillus cereus and the subsequent susceptibility of sporulated B. cereus to 915 MHz microwave treatment. Water activity levels were manipulated in the sporulation medium by adjusting glycerol concentrations to 0 %, 3 %, 7.

Inactivation of foodborne pathogens in ground pork tenderloin using 915 MHz microwave heating depending on power level.

The main purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of power level of 915 MHz microwave heating on the inactivation of foodborne pathogens in ground pork and its bactericidal mechanism. It was demonstrated that the heating rate was proportional to the power level. For instance, the heating rates observed at microwave heating powers of 2, 3, 4, and 5 kW were 1.

Fatal outcome of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) and severe and critical COVID-19 is associated with the hyperproduction of IL-10 and IL-6 and the low production of TGF-β.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can cause the hyperproduction of inflammatory cytokines, which have pathological effects in patient including severe or fatal cytokine storms. To characterize the effect of SFTSV and SARS-CoV-2 infection on the production of cytokines in severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) and COVID-19 patients, we performed an analysis of cytokines in SFTS and COVID-19 patients and also investigated the role of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in vitro studies: lipopolysaccharide-induced THP-1-derived macrophages, SFTSV infection of THP-1 cells, and SARS-CoV-2 infection of THP-1 cells. In this study, we found that levels of both IL-10 and IL-6 were significantly elevated, the level of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) was significantly decreased and IL-10 was elevated earlier than IL-6 in severe and critical COVID-19 and fatal SFTS patients, and inhibition of IL-10 signaling decreased the production of IL-6 and elevated that of TGF-β.

Coinfection of Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus and in Developmental Stage of Hard Ticks in Subtropical Region of Korea.

Background: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is transmitted through tick bites. Ticks are potential vectors for the bacterium that causes Query fever. Here, we analyzed SFTSV and co-infection rates in ticks in rural areas of Jeju Island, South Korea.

Serological Evidence of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus and IgM Positivity Were Identified in Healthy Residents in Vietnam.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), an emerging tick-borne viral disease, is prevalent in East Asia and has also been reported in Southeast Asia since 2019. SFTS patients in Vietnam were first reported in 2019. However, the seroprevalence of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) in Vietnam has not been reported.

Design of a Novel Theranostic Nanomedicine (III): Synthesis and Physicochemical Properties of Tumor-Targeting Cisplatin Conjugated to a Hydrophilic Polyphosphazene.

Purpose: A new theranostic nanomedicine involving anticancer-active cisplatin moiety was designed to study its tumor-targeting properties as well as its drug efficacy and toxicity.

Methods: A cisplatin carrier polymer was prepared by grafting equimolar polyethylene glycol of a molecular weight of 550 (PEG550) and aminoethanol to the poly(dichlorophosphazene) backbone. Cisplatin was conjugated to the carrier polymer using -aconitic acid as a linker.

Eyelid squinting improves near vision in against-the-rule and distance vision in with-the-rule astigmatism in pseudophakic eyes: an eye model experimental study.

Background: To elucidate whether eyelid squinting improves near and distance vision in against-the-rule (ATR) and with-the-rule (WTR) simple myopic astigmatism in pseudophakic eyes.

Methods: A refraction-model eye was mounted on a wavefront analyzer. The eyelid fissure was simulated using a slit placed horizontally in front of the model eye.

Endothelin-1 Augments Therapeutic Potency of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells via CDH2 and VEGF Signaling.

In our previous study, we identified differences in the levels of CDH2 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) between effective and ineffective clones of human umbilical cord blood (hUCB) mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), with regard to the infarcted rat myocardium. In this study, we compared gene expression profiles between the effective and ineffective clones and identified that endothelin-1 () is enriched in the effective clone. In the mechanistic analyses, EDN1 significantly increased expression of CDH2 and VEGF through endothelin receptor A (EDNRA), which was prevented by EDNRA blocker, BQ123.

Glistening Formation on a Single-Piece Prehydrated Hydrophobic Acrylic Intraocular Lens in a Diabetic Patient.

Purpose: To report a case of intraocular lens (IOL) glistening after uneventful cataract surgery and in-the-bag implantation of an enVista MX60 IOL (Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY) in a patient with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Case report.

Results: A 76-year-old woman with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus underwent uncomplicated phacoemulsification with in-the-bag implantation of an enVista MX60 IOL.

The effects of proinflammatory cytokines on the apoptosis of corneal endothelial cells following argon laser iridotomy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and the apoptosis of corneal endothelial cells after argon laser iridotomy (ALI). ALI was performed on each quadrant of the iris in the right eye of mice (ALI1 group). Left eyes were used as control group.

Toric Intraocular Lens Calculations Using Ratio of Anterior to Posterior Corneal Cylinder Power.

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of toric intraocular lens (IOL) calculation using estimated total corneal astigmatism based on the anterior-to-posterior corneal cylinder power ratio according to the axis orientation of anterior corneal astigmatism.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Methods: Nine hundred twenty-eight eyes of 928 reference subjects and 20 cataract patients (20 eyes) implanted with a toric IOL were enrolled.

Effect of effective lens position on cylinder power of toric intraocular lenses.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of effective lens position (ELP) on the corneal plane effective cylinder power of toric intraocular lenses (IOLs).

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Participants: Ninety-four eyes from 78 patients who underwent uncomplicated phacoemulsification with implantation of an AcrySof toric IOL (1.

A simple method to shorten the unfolding time of prehydrated hydrophobic intraocular lens.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of warm ophthalmic viscosurgical devices (OVDs) on the unfolding time of prehydrated hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs).

Design: Experimental study and human trial.

Participants: Three foldable hydrophobic acrylic IOLs (enVista MX60, AcrySof SN60AT, and Tecnis 1 ZCB00).

The effect of posterior corneal flat meridian and astigmatism amount on the total corneal astigmatism estimated from anterior corneal measurements.

Background: To evaluate the effects of posterior corneal astigmatism and the absolute flat meridian difference between anterior and posterior corneal surfaces (AMDAnt-Post) on the estimation of total corneal astigmatism using anterior corneal measurements (simulated keratometry [K]).

Methods: Ninety-nine eyes of 99 healthy participants were enrolled. Anterior, posterior, and total mean corneal power, cylinder power, flat meridian, and vector components J0, and J45 measured by a dual Scheimpflug camera were analyzed.

Comparison of meibomian gland loss and expressed meibum grade between the upper and lower eyelids in patients with obstructive meibomian gland dysfunction.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare meibomian gland loss (MGL) and expressed meibum grade between upper and lower eyelids in patients with obstructive meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and to evaluate the correlation between these 2 parameters and other clinical measurements.

Methods: Twenty-six eyes of 26 patients with obstructive MGD were enrolled. Upper and lower MGLs were evaluated using noncontact meibography.

Comparison of Hoffer Q and Haigis formulae for intraocular lens power calculation according to the anterior chamber depth in short eyes.

Purpose: To compare the accuracy of the Hoffer Q and Haigis formulae according to the anterior chamber depth (ACD) in cases of short axial length (AL).

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Methods: A total of 75 eyes from 75 patients with an AL of less than 22.

Axis difference between corneal and internal astigmatism to consider for toric intraocular lenses.

Purpose: To evaluate the axis difference between corneal and internal astigmatism in patients with cataract, because if the axis of corneal astigmatism is opposite to the axis of internal astigmatism, the amount of refractive astigmatism will increase after cataract surgery owing to disappearance of the neutralizing effect of the crystalline lens on corneal astigmatism.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Methods: One hundred eighty patients (180 eyes) who underwent cataract surgery were enrolled.

Comparison of the actual amount of axial movement of 3 aspheric intraocular lenses using anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

Purpose: To compare the mean effective lens position (ELP) and actual amount of axial movement of 3 aspheric intraocular lenses (IOLs) using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT).

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.

Design: Retrospective comparative study.

Effects of interpupillary distance on stereoacuity: the Frisby Davis distance stereotest versus a 3-dimensional distance stereotest.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of interpupillary distance (IPD) on stereoacuity using 2 kinds of stereoacuity tests in a normal population.

Methods: The distance stereoacuities of 33 healthy volunteers with no evidence of ocular diseases were measured with the Frisby Davis distance (FD2) stereotest and a 3-dimensional monitor-based distance stereotest (distance 3-D stereotest). These 2 kinds of stereotests were repeated using horizontal periscopes to increase the IPD 2- and 3-fold in order to investigate the effect of IPD increase on stereoacuity.

Calcium hydroxyapatite crystals in the anterior chamber of the eye in a patient with renal hyperparathyroidism.

Purpose: To report a case of calcium hydroxyapatite crystals in the anterior chamber of a patient with renal hyperparathyroidism.

Methods: Case report.

Results: A 54-year-old man visited our clinic with mild ocular pain and decreased visual acuity in his left eye.

Traumatic aniridia through opposite clear corneal incision in a pseudophakic eye.

A 56-year-old man complaining of decreased visual acuity in his left eye visited the emergency room 1 hour after blunt trauma. Slitlamp examination showed no visible iris tissue. The corneal wound at 5 o'clock was sharp, and Seidel was negative.

Correlation between quantitative measurements of tear film lipid layer thickness and meibomian gland loss in patients with obstructive meibomian gland dysfunction and normal controls.

Purpose: To evaluate the correlation between tear film lipid layer thickness and other objective measurements such as tear film break-up time (TBUT), upper and lower meibomian gland losses, and Schirmer 1 test in patients with obstructive meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and normal controls.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: Thirty eyes of 30 patients with obstructive MGD and 25 eyes of 25 normal controls were enrolled.

Use of corneal power-specific constants to improve the accuracy of the SRK/T formula.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of average corneal power (K) and axial length (AL) in a data-adjusted A-constant for improving the refractive outcome in the Sanders-Retzlaff-Kraff (SRK)/T formula.

Design: Retrospective, consecutive, case series.

Participants: A total of 637 patients (637 eyes) who underwent uncomplicated phacoemulsification with implantation of the Acrysof IQ (IQ; Alcon, Fort Worth, TX; 314 eyes) or Akreos AO (AO; Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY; 323 eyes) intraocular lens (IOL) by a single surgeon.