Three-Dimensional Electrodes of Liquid Metals for Long-Term, Wireless Cardiac Analysis and Modulation.

Cardiovascular disease is a major public health issue, and smart diagnostic approaches play an important role in the analysis of electrocardiograms. Here, we present three-dimensional, soft electrodes of liquid metals that can be conformably attached to the surfaces of the heart and skin for long-term cardiac analysis. The fine micropillar structures of biocompatible liquid metals enable precise targeting to small tissue areas, allowing for spatiotemporal mapping and modulation of cardiac electrical activity with high resolution.

Electrophysiological Analysis of Retinal Organoid Development Using 3D Microelectrodes of Liquid Metals.

Despite of the substantial potential of human-derived retinal organoids, the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) during maturation limits their utility in assessing the functionality of later-born retinal cell subtypes. Additionally, conventional analyses primarily rely on fluorescent emissions, which limits the detection of actual cell functionality while risking damage to the 3D cytoarchitecture of organoids. Here, an electrophysiological analysis is presented to monitor RGC development in early to mid-stage retinal organoids, and compare distinct features with fully-mature mouse retina.

Real-time in vivo monitoring of intraocular pressure distribution in the anterior chamber and vitreous chamber for diagnosis of glaucoma.

Glaucoma causes irreversible vision loss due to optic nerve damage and retinal cell degeneration. Since high intraocular pressure (IOP) is a major risk factor for glaucoma development, accurate IOP measurement is crucial, especially intravitreal IOP affecting the optical nerve and cells. However, conventional methods have limits in selectively and directly detecting local retina pressure.

Liquid-metal-based three-dimensional microelectrode arrays integrated with implantable ultrathin retinal prosthesis for vision restoration.

Electronic retinal prostheses for stimulating retinal neurons are promising for vision restoration. However, the rigid electrodes of conventional retinal implants can inflict damage on the soft retina tissue. They also have limited selectivity due to their poor proximity to target cells in the degenerative retina.

Smart Contact Lenses as Wearable Ophthalmic Devices for Disease Monitoring and Health Management.

The eye contains a complex network of physiological information and biomarkers for monitoring disease and managing health, and ocular devices can be used to effectively perform point-of-care diagnosis and disease management. This comprehensive review describes the target biomarkers and various diseases, including ophthalmic diseases, metabolic diseases, and neurological diseases, based on the physiological and anatomical background of the eye. This review also includes the recent technologies utilized in eye-wearable medical devices and the latest trends in wearable ophthalmic devices, specifically smart contact lenses for the purpose of disease management.

Multimodal Characterization of Cardiac Organoids Using Integrations of Pressure-Sensitive Transistor Arrays with Three-Dimensional Liquid Metal Electrodes.

Herein, we present an unconventional method for multimodal characterization of three-dimensional cardiac organoids. This method can monitor and control the mechanophysiological parameters of organoids within a single device. In this method, local pressure distributions of human-induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived cardiac organoids are visualized spatiotemporally by an active-matrix array of pressure-sensitive transistors.

High-Resolution 3D Printing for Electronics.

The ability to form arbitrary 3D structures provides the next level of complexity and a greater degree of freedom in the design of electronic devices. Since recent progress in electronics has expanded their applicability in various fields in which structural conformability and dynamic configuration are required, high-resolution 3D printing technologies can offer significant potential for freeform electronics. Here, the recent progress in novel 3D printing methods for freeform electronics is reviewed, with providing a comprehensive study on 3D-printable functional materials and processes for various device components.

Recent progress on wearable point-of-care devices for ocular systems.

The eye is a complex sensory organ that contains abundant information for specific diseases and pathological responses. It has emerged as a facile biological interface for wearable healthcare platforms because of its excellent accessibility. Recent advances in electronic devices have led to the extensive research of point-of-care (POC) systems for diagnosing and monitoring diseases by detecting the biomarkers within the eye.

Association of Emotional Labor, Self-efficacy, and Type A Personality with Burnout in Korean Dental Hygienists.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between emotional labor and burnout, and whether the levels of self-efficacy and type A personality characteristics increase the risk of burnout in a sample of Korean female dental hygienists. Participants were 807 female dental hygienists with experience in performing customer service for one year or more in dental clinics, dental hospitals, or general hospitals in Korea. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire.

Apolipoprotein B/AI ratio is independently associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in nondiabetic subjects.

Background And Aims: The apolipoprotein B/AI (ApoB/AI) ratio is a strong new risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) disease. Although recent reports have shown the effects of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) on CV disease, NAFLD is under-recognized as a predictable risk factor for CV disease. This study was performed to assess the independent association between ApoB/AI ratio and NAFLD.

The effect of intestinal permeability and endotoxemia on the prognosis of acute pancreatitis.

Background/aims: Early intestinal mucosal damage plays an important role in severe acute pancreatitis (AP). Previous studies have shown that intestinal permeability (IP), serum endotoxin and cytokines contribute to the early intestinal barrier dysfunction in AP. This study explored the predictive capacity of IP, endotoxemia and cytokines as prognostic indicators in AP patients.

Clinical impacts of hazardous alcohol use and obesity on the outcome of entecavir therapy in treatment-naïve patients with chronic hepatitis B infection.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical impacts of obesity and hazardous alcohol use on the outcome of entecavir (ETV) therapy in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

Methods: The medical records of 88 treatment-naïve patients who were diagnosed with CHB and received ETV between March 2007 and September 2009 were analyzed retrospectively. Body mass index (BMI) values and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores were obtained at 6 months after the initiation of ETV (0.

[Gastroduodenal intussusception due to pedunculated polypoid gastrointestinal stromal tumor].

The gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a mesenchymal tumor of the digestive tract showing differentiation along the line of interstitial cell of Cajal. The most GISTs in the stomach generally show the appearance of submucosal tumors. It is rare for GISTs to appear as a pedunculated polypoid lesion on endoscopy.

[Jejunal diverticular bleeding diagnosed by double-balloon enteroscopy: a case report and review of literatures].

Jejunal diverticula is a rare disease and an unusual cause of obscure gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Obscure gasterointestinal bleeding is difficult to treat because the bleeding site cannot be identified by routine endoscopy and contrast studies. A wireless capsule endoscopy is not invasive and can visualize the entire small bowel.

The sensitivity of cardiac markers stratified by symptom duration.

We compared the sensitivity of three commonly used cardiac markers between two subpopulations, those who came to the Emergency Department (ED) late (6-24 h) after their symptoms began, and those who arrived earlier (<6 h), in a prospective comparative trial. Among all adult patients who presented to our ED with symptoms suggestive of acute myocardial infarction (MI), we drew serum for myoglobin, CK-MB, and troponin I upon arrival (time 0) and 2 h later. Outcomes, including acute MI, were determined.

Disagreement between formal and medical record criteria for the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome.

Objectives: To measure agreement between formal and medical record criteria for the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) among patients undergoing an emergency department evaluation for potential acute coronary symptoms.

Methods: Cases of ACS were determined by both formal (World Health Organization 1984 criteria for acute myocardial infarction [AMI], Braunwald criteria for unstable angina pectoris [UAP]) and medical record criteria. In the latter, a diagnosis was made if providers indicated AMI or UAP anywhere in the medical record.

Predictors of delay in presentation to the ED in patients with suspected acute coronary syndromes.

Delays in seeking medical attention for patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) preclude early application of life-saving treatment and diminish efficacy. Previous studies suggest 3-hour delays between onset of symptoms and ED arrival in patients with typical presentations of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). A prospective observational study was conducted in an urban ED measuring lag time (LT) among adults presenting within 48 hours of onset of symptoms suggestive of ACS.