Effects of 3D Postural Correction and Abdominal Muscle Contraction on the Symmetry of the Transverse Abdominis and Spinal Alignment in Patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis.

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of 3D postural correction (3DPC) using corrective cushions (CCs) and abdominal muscle contraction (AMC) on the thickness symmetry of the transversus abdominis (TrA) and spinal alignment in patients with idiopathic scoliosis (IS). In the first experiment, ultrasound measurements were taken of the TrA thickness on both the convex and concave sides of the lumbar curve in the supine position during AMC and non-AMC without 3DPC, and during AMC and non-AMC with 3DPC using CCs, in 11 IS patients. In the second experiment, 37 IS patients participated in a four-week 3DPC exercise program that aimed to maintain TrA thickness symmetry based on the results of the first experiment.

Evaluation of the resection efficiency and safety of an enhanced power plasma generator using cadaveric intervertebral discs.

Plasma energy has been used to provide minimally invasive interventional treatment for spinal problems. However, this procedure has been used for limited indications mainly because of its small resection range. To overcome this problem, we designed the enhanced power plasma device.

Safety evaluation of atmospheric pressure plasma jets in and experiments.

Purpose: The atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) has been introduced as an effective disinfection method for titanium surfaces due to their massive radical generation at low temperatures. Helium (He) has been widely applied as a discharge gas in APPJ due to its bactericidal effects and was proven to be effective in our previous study. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effects of He-APPJ application at both the cell and tissue levels.

Non-thermal dielectric-barrier discharge plasma induces reactive oxygen species by epigenetically modifying the expression of NADPH oxidase family genes in keratinocytes.

We have previously shown that non-thermal dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD) plasma induces the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells; however, the underlying mechanism has not been elucidated. This study aimed to identify the mechanisms through which DBD plasma induces the expression of NADPH oxidase (NOX) family members by epigenetic modification in human keratinocytes (HaCaT). Cell exposure to DBD plasma in 10% oxygen and 90% argon resulted in the generation of ROS, triggering oxidative stress that manifested in various forms, including lipid membrane peroxidation, DNA base modification, and protein carbonylation.

The bactericidal effect of an atmospheric-pressure plasma jet on biofilms on sandblasted and acid-etched titanium discs.

Purpose: Direct application of atmospheric-pressure plasma jets (APPJs) has been established as an effective method of microbial decontamination. This study aimed to investigate the bactericidal effect of direct application of an APPJ using helium gas (He-APPJ) on biofilms on sandblasted and acid-etched (SLA) titanium discs.

Methods: On the SLA discs covered by biofilms, an APPJ with helium (He) as a discharge gas was applied at 3 different time intervals (0, 3, and 5 minutes).

Mutual Interaction between Plasma Characteristics and Liquid Properties in AC-driven Pin-to-Liquid Discharge.

This study investigated the mutual interaction between the plasma and plasma treated water (PTW). Many works have shown that the plasma treatment decreases the pH of PTW due to nitric oxide electrolyte ion but the interactions between PTW and the plasma are still largely unknown. We investigated the effect of PTW on a plasma as well as the effect of a plasma on PTW using a pin-to-liquid discharge system.

Optimal Parameters for Intervertebral Disk Resection Using Aqua-Plasma Beams.

Objective:  A minimally invasive procedure for intervertebral disk resection using plasma beams has been developed. Conventional parameters for the plasma procedure such as voltage and tip speed mainly rely on the surgeon's personal experience, without adequate evidence from experiments. Our objective was to determine the optimal parameters for plasma disk resection.

DUOX2-mediated production of reactive oxygen species induces epithelial mesenchymal transition in 5-fluorouracil resistant human colon cancer cells.

The therapeutic benefits offered by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) are limited because of the acquisition of drug resistance, the main cause of treatment failure and metastasis. The ability of the cancer cells to undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) contributes significantly to cancer metastatic potential and chemo-resistance. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of 5-FU-resistance have remained elusive.

Feasibility of Navigable Percutaneous Disk Decompressor (L'DISQ-C) for Cervical Disk Herniation.

Objective:  To assess the procedural efficacy and safety of a Navigable Percutaneous Disk Decompressor (L'DISQ-C) for cervical disk herniation.

Methods:  We performed intradiskal decompression on cervical spine specimens from five human cadavers using the L'DISQ-C under C-arm fluoroscopic guidance. We evaluated our success for positioning the navigable wand tip into the target region and recorded temperature variation at various distances from the wand tip in the cervical nucleus pulposus.