Allergic rhinitis may attenuate the sympathovagal imbalances in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea: pilot study using a heart rate variability analysis.

Purpose: The effect of allergic rhinitis (AR) on autonomic nervous system in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remains unclear. We utilized heart rate variability (HRV) analysis to assess cardiac autonomic activity in patients with OSA, comparing those with and without allergic rhinitis (AR).

Methods: We enrolled 182 patients who visited our sleep clinic complaining of habitual snoring or apnea during sleep.

Gated InAs quantum dots embedded in surface acoustic wave cavities for low-noise optomechanics.

Self-assembled InAs quantum dots (QDs) are promising optomechanical elements due to their excellent photonic properties and sensitivity to local strain fields. Microwave-frequency modulation of photons scattered from these efficient quantum emitters has been recently demonstrated using surface acoustic wave (SAW) cavities. However, for optimal performance, a gate structure is required to deterministically control the charge state and reduce the charge noise of the QDs.

Macroscopic Monograin Nano-Gyroid Thin Films in 4-inch Scale Through Shear-Rolling and Subsequent Solvent Annealing.

The gyroid structure from self-assembly is highly attractive for optical applications such as photonic crystals and metamaterials. However, due to the direction-dependent nature of these applications, achieving a monograin-level structure over a large area has remained challenging. In this study, the fabrication of unidirectionally oriented anisotropic nanocylinders of polystyrene-block-polydimethylsiloxane (PS-b-PDMS) is reported block copolymer thin films up to a 4-inch scale via a shear-rolling process, followed by solvent annealing to induce phase transition to nearly monograin gyroid structures.

A Stool DNA-Based SDC2 Methylation Test for the Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer in an Asymptomatic, High-Risk Population: A Multicenter Prospective Randomized Trial.

Introduction: Noninvasive stool DNA-based methylation testing has emerged as an effective strategy for the early colorectal cancer (CRC) detection. Syndecan-2 (SDC2) methylation frequently occurs in all stages of CRC; therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical performance of a stool DNA-based SDC2 methylation test for detecting CRC in asymptomatic or high-risk CRC populations.

Methods: This multicenter prospective study was conducted to determine the clinical performance of the SDC2 methylation test on stool DNA using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Teriparatide Does not Have Beneficial Effects on Bone Healing in Complete Atypical Femur Fractures.

Teriparatide is an anabolic drug sometimes administered to patients who have atypical femoral fracture (AFF). However, whether teriparatide has beneficial effects on bone healing remains uncertain. The present study aimed to analyze the association between teriparatide and bone healing in complete AFF.

Effects of water-table changes following rainfall events on arsenic fate and transport in groundwater-surface water mixing zones.

This study investigated the effects of groundwater-surface water (GW-SW) interactions on the fate and transport of arsenic (As) following rainfall events and subsequent water-table changes in GW-SW mixing zones, comprising the riparian and hyporheic zones, near an abandoned gold mine. During the dry and wet periods, stream conditions changed from flow-through to gaining, respectively. Water-table changes caused by rainfall events controlled flow paths between riparian zones and the stream, affecting spatiotemporal variation in the redox and pH conditions of the aquatic environment.

Effect of Osteoporosis on Clinical and Radiological Outcomes Following One-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate how osteoporosis affected the clinical and radiological outcomes of patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with plating.

Overview Of Literature: The incidence of complications associated with implants is high when ACDF is performed in patients with poor bone quality.

Reliability and Diagnostic Accuracy of Standard Dermatomes and Myotomes for Determining the Pathologic Level in Surgically Verified Patients With Cervical Radiculopathy.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the reliability and diagnostic accuracy of typical dermatomes and myotomes for determining the pathologic level in surgically verified patients with cervical radiculopathy.

Methods: Patients who underwent single-level surgery due to cervical radiculopathy with at least a 60% reduction in preoperative symptoms or recovery of muscle power after surgery were included. The observed clinical symptoms (pain, paresthesia, motor weakness) were compared to those of typical cervical dermatomes and myotomes.

Postoperative Delirium after Dexmedetomidine versus Propofol Sedation in Healthy Older Adults Undergoing Orthopedic Lower Limb Surgery with Spinal Anesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Delirium is a critical postoperative complication in older patients. Based on the hypothesis that intraoperative dexmedetomidine sedation would lower postoperative delirium than propofol sedation would, the authors compared the incidence of postoperative delirium in older adults, using the mentioned sedatives.

Methods: This double-blinded, randomized controlled study included 748 patients, aged 65 yr or older, who were scheduled for elective lower extremity orthopedic surgery, between June 2017 and October 2021.

Selective Anticancer Materials by Self-Assembly of Synthetic Amphiphiles Based on -Acetylneuraminic Acid.

-Acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac), one of the abundant types of sialic acid, is an emerging anticancer agent owing to its ability to target selectins in the plasma membrane of cancer cells. Considering the functionality of Neu5Ac, obtaining novel Neu5Ac-conjugated materials with a selective and an enhanced antitumor activity has remained a challenge. Herein, we report the supramolecular materials of three novel amphiphiles composed of Neu5Ac as a hydrophilic segment and pyrene or adamantane as a hydrophobic segment.

Thermoelectric Properties of CuTe Nanoparticle Incorporated N-Type BiTeSe.

To develop highly efficient thermoelectric materials, the generation of homogeneous heterostructures in a matrix is considered to mitigate the interdependency of the thermoelectric compartments. In this study, CuTe nanoparticles were introduced onto BiTeSe n-type materials and their thermoelectric properties were investigated in terms of the amount of CuTe nanoparticles. A homogeneous dispersion of CuTe nanoparticles was obtained up to 0.

Optimization and Effect of Water Hardness for the Production of Slightly Acidic Electrolyzed Water on Sanitization Efficacy.

Slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) has been recently proposed as a novel promising sanitizer and cleaner in the agricultural and food industries. However, several factors, including water hardness, were considered to strongly affect the physical properties and sanitization efficacy of SAEW. To study the effect of water hardness on the SAEW production, we evaluated the production properties and sanitization effect of SAEW, which was generated from water sources in 16 representatively geographical locations of South Korea.

Role of intraretinal cysts in the prediction of postoperative closure and photoreceptor damages of the idiopathic full-thickness macular hole.

Background: To determine whether it would be effective in predicting the results of the postoperative full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) closure when intraretinal cyst (IRC) is present.

Methods: Case-control study. Patients with idiopathic FTMH who underwent pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling were retrospectively reviewed.

Sonochemical activation in aqueous medium for solid-state synthesis of BaTiO powders.

BaTiO-based oxide compounds are important ceramic materials for multilayer ceramic capacitors. In this paper, we report a sonochemical activation process of BaCO and TiO in an aqueous medium for the synthesis of BaTiO powders through a solid-state process. Owing to the physical and chemical effects of the ultrasonication in aqueous medium on the raw materials, BaTiO powders could be successfully synthesized at relatively low temperatures through a solid-state reaction, which was significantly enhanced as compared to the case in ethanol medium.

Nitrate vulnerability of groundwater in Jeju Volcanic Island, Korea.

Groundwater is the sole source of water for about 670,000 residents of Jeju Island, which is a volcanic Korean island. Since the 1990s, nitrate contamination of groundwater has emerged as a major environmental issue. To ensure the sustainability of water resources, this study aimed to develop a vulnerability model for nitrate contamination as a preventive measure.

HY7015 Promotes Hair Growth in a Telogenic Mouse Model.

In this study, we describe the effects of HY7015 (HY7015) on promoting mouse hair growth. Since our purpose was to increase hair growth through oral administration, medicinal yeast, at a suitable concentration for application in mice, was used as a positive control. First, experiments were conducted to determine the effect of HY7015 on proliferation of hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPC), which are important contributors to hair growth.

Fermented Red Ginseng Alleviates Ovalbumin-Induced Inflammation in Mice by Suppressing Interleukin-4 and Immunoglobulin E Expression.

Ginseng (the root of Meyer) has been reported to have many biologic therapeutic effects, including anti-inflammatory properties, and ginsenosides are considered as one of the factors responsible for these therapeutic effects. To improve their therapeutic action, probiotic bacteria are used to ferment and chemically transform ginsenosides in red ginseng (RG). In this study, we aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of RG fermented by probiotic bacteria (FRG) against ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic rhinitis in a mouse model.

Lactic Acid Bacteria and Natural Product Complex Ameliorates Ovalbumin-Induced Airway Hyperresponsiveness in Mice.

The incidence of respiratory diseases, such as asthma, has substantially increased in recent times owing to environmental changes, such as air pollution. Induction of a chronic inflammatory response begins with production of biologically active mediators from the airway epithelium, which attracts and recruits inflammatory cells into the lung airway. In our previous study, we confirmed that HY2782 and spp.

Service Delivery Reforms for Asian Ageing Societies: A Cross-Country Study Between Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Introduction: Japan's health policies to address the most advanced-aged society have been the target of focus in Asia, but no studies have investigated this issue using tools for cross-country comparisons.

Theory And Methods: A cross-country study design was used to compare healthcare reform policies with a framework in Japan, Korea, Thailand, China, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Data were collected via document reviews and key informant interviews.

Nitrate contamination of coastal groundwater: Sources and transport mechanisms along a volcanic aquifer.

Groundwater is the sole water supply source on Jeju volcanic island in Korea and increasing levels of nitrate contamination have raised serious public concerns. This study was objected to understand the nitrate contamination mechanisms of the coastal groundwater overlain by a low-permeability layer in the western part of the island. The 2-yrs of quarterly groundwater monitoring from Sep.

Fate of Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament Following Anterior Cervical Fusion: Progression of Cervical Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament After Vertebral Body Sliding Osteotomy or Laminoplasty.

Objective: In the treatment of ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL)-induced cervical myelopathy, laminoplasty (LMP) is the most widely used surgical procedure. However, the progression of ossification masses is a well-known complication of LMP. This study aimed to investigate whether the novel anterior cervical decompression technique (vertebral body sliding osteotomy; VBSO) based on anterior column fusion suppresses the progression of OPLL compared with motion-preserving posterior decompression surgery (LMP).

Effect of ZnO and SnO Nanolayers at Grain Boundaries on Thermoelectric Properties of Polycrystalline Skutterudites.

Nanostructuring is considered one of the key approaches to achieve highly efficient thermoelectric alloys by reducing thermal conductivity. In this study, we investigated the effect of oxide (ZnO and SnO) nanolayers at the grain boundaries of polycrystalline InYbCoSb skutterudites on their electrical and thermal transport properties. Skutterudite powders with oxide nanolayers were prepared by atomic layer deposition method, and the number of deposition cycles was varied to control the coating thickness.