Effect of the Hammett substituent constant of para-substituted benzoic acid on the perovskite/SnO2 interface passivation in perovskite solar cells.

It is critical to design bifunctional passivation molecules to simultaneously passivate the charge transport layer and perovskite layer at the charge transport layer/perovskite interface in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this study, we investigate the effect of para-substituted benzoic acid with different Hammett constants (σ) on the photovoltaic performance of PSCs. Two passivation molecules 4-aminomethylbenzoic acid (4-AMBA) and 4-sulfamoylbenzoic acid (4-SABA) are used to passivate the SnO2 surface with carboxylic acid and the perovskite with para-substituent electron-donating -CH2NH2 (σ = ca. -0.02) and electron-withdrawing -SO2NH2 (σ = ca. +0.60). Compared with non-passivated PSC, the passivation improves the power conversion efficiency (PCE) mainly due to the increased open-circuit voltage (VOC) and fill factor (FF), where the -SO2NH2 substituent is better in improving the photovoltaic performance than the -CH2NH2 one. The trap density is more reduced and the charge extraction ability is more improved by 4-SABA than by 4-AMBA, which indicates that the weak electron-withdrawing nature of a para-substituent such as -SO2NH2 is better for the passivation of the bottom perovskite than a weak electron-donating -CH2NH2 substituent. Consequently, the passivation with 4-SABA enhances the PCE from 22.27% to 23.64%, along with improved long-term stability. This work highlights for the first time the role of the Hammett constant in the surface passivation of PSCs.

Degassing 4-tert-Butylpyridine in the Spiro-MeOTAD Film Improves the Thermal Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells.

The organic molecular 2,2',7,7'-tetrakis(4,4'-dimethoxy-3-methyldiphenylamino)-9,9'-spirobifluorene (Spiro-MeOTAD) is known as a typical hole transport material in the development of an all-solid-state perovskite solar cell (PSC). Spiro-MeOTAD requires additives of lithium bifurflimide (LiTFSI) and 4-tert-butylpyridine (tBP) to increase the conductivity and solubility for enhancing the photovoltaic performance of PSCs. However, those additives have an adverse effect on the thermal stability. We report on the origin of instability of additive-containing Spiro-MeOTAD at 85 °C and the methodology to solve the thermal instability. We have found that the interaction of LiTFSI with the underneath perovskite surface facilitated by diffusive tBP is responsible for thermal degradation. Degasification of tBP from the Spiro-MeOTAD film is found to be the key to achieving thermally stable PSCs, where the optimal degassing process achieves 90% of the initial power conversion efficiency (PCE) at 85 °C after 1000 h.

Artificial Synapse Based on a δ-FAPbI3/Atomic-Layer-Deposited SnO2 Bilayer Memristor.

Halide perovskite-based resistive switching memory (memristor) has potential in an artificial synapse. However, an abrupt switch behavior observed for a formamidinium lead triiodide (FAPbI3)-based memristor is undesirable for an artificial synapse. Here, we report on the δ-FAPbI3/atomic-layer-deposited (ALD)-SnO2 bilayer memristor for gradual analogue resistive switching. In comparison to a single-layer δ-FAPbI3 memristor, the heterojunction δ-FAPbI3/ALD-SnO2 bilayer effectively reduces the current level in the high-resistance state. The analog resistive switching characteristics of δ-FAPbI3/ALD-SnO2 demonstrate exceptional linearity and potentiation/depression performance, resembling an artificial synapse for neuromorphic computing. The nonlinearity of long-term potentiation and long-term depression is notably decreased from 12.26 to 0.60 and from -8.79 to -3.47, respectively. Moreover, the δ-FAPbI3/ALD-SnO2 bilayer achieves a recognition rate of ≤94.04% based on the modified National Institute of Standards and Technology database (MNIST), establishing its potential in an efficient artificial synapse.

Comparison of in-situ release and submuscular anterior transposition of ulnar nerve for refractory cubital tunnel syndrome, previously treated with subfascial anterior transfer-A retrospective study of 24 cases.

BACKGROUND: Although cubital tunnel syndrome is the second most common type of compressive neuropathy in the upper extremities, the indication and optimal surgical method for recurrent or refractory cubital tunnel syndrome remains controversial. This study evaluates the functional outcomes of revision surgery for cubital tunnel syndrome. MATERIAL & METHODS: This study was a retrospective observational multicenter single-institution study including 660 patients who underwent surgery for cubital tunnel syndrome from 2010 to 2019. Among the 660 patients, 42(6.4%) received revision surgery due to remaining or recurrent symptoms confirmed with electromyography(EMG). After excluding those with concurrent elbow fracture, dislocation, osteoarthritis and wound infection, a total of 24 patients were included in the study. The patients were evaluated of disease severity, revision surgical method, time interval to recurrence, underlying diseases and postoperative functional outcomes. RESULTS: All patients received ulnar nerve subfascial anterior transposition for the initial cubital tunnel syndrome surgery. Among the 24 patients (3.7%) who received revision surgery, nine received in situ neurolysis, 12 received submuscular transposition, and three received subcutaneous transfer. 21 patients (88%) reported improved mean VAS score of 4.3, while three patients complained of remaining symptoms that did not improve even after revision surgery. The patients with remaining symptoms all had underlying diabetes mellitus and were treated with subcutaneous transfer. The difference of surgical outcomes between the in situ neurolysis group and the nerve transfer groups were non-significant (p = 0.23). The most common cause of recurrent or persistent symptoms was adhesion and fibrosis at sling area. The mean follow up period before revision surgery was 26.3 months and postoperative follow up period after revision surgery was 8.5 months. CONCLUSION: The outcomes of this study imply that in-situ neurolysis may be as effective as anterior submuscular transfer of ulnar nerve for refractory cubital tunnel syndrome after anterior subfascial transfer.

A plasma-based pressure pulse generator for simulating pellet-cladding mechanical interaction during reactivity-initiated accident.

This paper describes the characteristics of a plasma-based pressure pulse generator and its potential use as a simulator for studying pellet-cladding mechanical interaction (PCMI) during reactivity-initiated accidents (RIAs). In this device, a transient pressure pulse is generated by rapid heating and expansion of hot, dense plasma inside a nuclear fuel cladding. Thus, the parameters of a pressure pulse, such as peak pressure and pressure rise-rate, can be controlled by modifying the electrical parameters of a pulse discharge circuit. The pulse discharge circuit utilizes a capacitor bank comprising several energy storage capacitors connected in parallel and a high-power solid-state switch. A pressure loading system is attached as a load to the pulse discharge circuit. The power and energy delivered to the load are calculated by measuring the voltage and current waveforms at one end of the loading system. A piezoelectric sensor is connected at the other end of the loading system to simultaneously measure the pressure pulse inside the cladding tube. Preliminary experiments are carried out with a stainless-steel tube to characterize the performance of the device as well as with a pre-hydrided ZIRLO™ cladding tube to demonstrate the potential of the device as a simulator for studying the failure characteristics of the cladding as a result of an RIA. The high pressurization rate of the device is expected to offer unique advantages for studying the PCMI mechanism.

Enhanced Resistance of atnigr1 against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato Suggests Negative Regulation of Plant Basal Defense and Systemic Acquired Resistance by AtNIGR1 Encoding NAD(P)-Binding Rossmann-Fold in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Nitric oxide (NO) regulates several biological and physiological processes in plants. This study investigated the role of Arabidopsis thaliana Negative Immune and Growth Regulator 1 (AtNIGR1), encoding an NAD(P)-binding Rossmann-fold superfamily, in the growth and immunity of Arabidopsis thaliana. AtNIGR1 was pooled from the CySNO transcriptome as a NO-responsive gene. Seeds of the knockout (atnigr1) and overexpression plants were evaluated for their response to oxidative [(hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and methyl viologen (MV)] or nitro-oxidative [(S-nitroso-L-cysteine (CySNO) and S-nitroso glutathione (GSNO)] stress. Results showed that the root and shoot growth of atnigr1 (KO) and AtNIGR1 (OE) exhibited differential phenotypic responses under oxidative and nitro-oxidative stress and normal growth conditions. To investigate the role of the target gene in plant immunity, the biotrophic bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 virulent (Pst DC3000 vir) was used to assess the basal defense, while the Pst DC3000 avirulent (avrB) strain was used to investigate R-gene-mediated resistance and systemic acquired resistance (SAR). Data revealed that AtNIGR1 negatively regulated basal defense, R-gene-mediated resistance, and SAR. Furthermore, the Arabidopsis eFP browser indicated that the expression of AtNIGR1 is detected in several plant organs, with the highest expression observed in germinating seeds. All results put together suggest that AtNIGR1 could be involved in plant growth, as well as basal defense and SAR, in response to bacterial pathogens in Arabidopsis.

Atomic layer deposition of SnO2 using hydrogen peroxide improves the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells.

Low-temperature processed SnO2 is a promising electron transporting layer in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) due to its optoelectronic advantage. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is suitable for forming a conformal SnO2 layer on a high-haze substrate. However, oxygen vacancy formed by the conventional ALD process using H2O might have a detrimental effect on the efficiency and stability of PSCs. Here, we report on the photovoltaic performance and stability of PSCs based on the ALD-SnO2 layer with low oxygen vacancies fabricated via H2O2. Compared to the ALD-SnO2 layer formed using H2O vapors, the ALD-SnO2 layer prepared via H2O2 shows better electron extraction due to a reduced oxygen vacancy associated with the highly oxidizing nature of H2O2. As a result, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) is enhanced from 21.42% for H2O to 22.34% for H2O2 mainly due to an enhanced open-circuit voltage. Operational stability is simultaneously improved, where 89.3% of the initial PCE is maintained after 1000 h under an ambient condition for the H2O2-derived ALD SnO2 as compared to the control device maintaining 72.5% of the initial PCE.

Low Transcondylar Fractures of the Distal Humerus: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the demographic characteristics and clinical and radiologic results of low transcondylar fractures and compare them with those of other types of distal humerus fractures using multicenter data and to suggest an optimal method for their treatment. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary-care university hospital. PATIENTS: Between 2009 and 2019, 581 patients who underwent surgery for distal humerus fractures (OTA/AO classification A1 to C3) were enrolled at 7 university-affiliated hospitals. INTERVENTION: Internal fixation of low transcondylar fractures. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic characteristics, including sex, age, mechanism of injury, fixation methods, and complications, were compared between low transcondylar (group A) and other distal humerus (group B) fractures. Clinical outcomes assessed included pain, stability, and range of motion. Radiographs obtained at the latest follow-up were assessed for union, delayed union, nonunion, and implant failure. RESULTS: Mean age was 62.1 ± 19.1 (range, 20-95) years, and it was higher in group A (n = 100) than in group B (n = 376). Patients in group A were predominantly women. Low-energy trauma, such as that from a simple fall, was the most common cause of fracture in group A. Both column fixation, including parallel and orthogonal double plating, was performed more commonly in group A than in group B (87.4% vs. 66.4%, P < 0.001). The nonunion rate was higher in group A, but the difference was not significant. The incidence of ulnar nerve-related symptoms was higher in group A after surgery (6.3% vs. 2.0%, P = 0.003). No significant difference in clinical outcomes was found between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Low transcondylar fractures occurred more frequently than other distal humerus fractures in older female patients and accounted for 21% of distal humerus fractures. The incidence of ulnar nerve-related symptoms was higher in patients with low transcondylar fractures after surgery. Clinical outcomes were not inferior in patients with low transcondylar fractures. The nonunion rate in patients with low transcondylar fractures treated with double plating was 3.6%. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Clinical usefulness of Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer for diagnosing liver cirrhosis and significant fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease: A retrospective single-center study.

Accurate diagnosis of liver cirrhosis (LC) and significant fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) is important. The Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) has emerged as a novel serum biomarker for liver fibrosis; however, insufficient clinical data of M2BPGi are available in patients with CLD. Therefore, we performed a retrospective cohort study to investigate the clinical usefulness of serum M2BPGi for assessing LC and significant fibrosis in CLD patients. We retrospectively reviewed the CLD patients with measured serum M2BPGi at Kosin University Gospel Hospital between January 2016 and December 2019. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the independent factors associated with LC. The diagnostic power of serum M2BPGi for LC and significant fibrosis (≥F2) was evaluated and compared to that of other serum biomarkers using receiver operating characteristic curve and area under the curve (AUC). A total of 454 patients enrolled in this study. M2BPGi (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.52-2.07) and fibrosis index based on four factors (aOR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.11-1.37) were identified as significant independent factors for LC. The AUC of M2BPGi for LC (0.866) and significant fibrosis (0.816) were comparable to those of fibrosis index based on four factors (0.860, 0.773), aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (0.806, 0.752), and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase-to-platelet ratio (0.759, 0.710). The optimal cut-off values for M2BPGi for LC and significant fibrosis were 1.37 and 0.89, respectively. Serum M2BPGi levels were significantly correlated with liver stiffness measurements (ρ = 0.778). Serum M2BPGi is a reliable noninvasive method for the assessment of LC and significant fibrosis in patients with CLD.

Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in Children with Fractures: Before and during the COVID-19 Outbreak.

Background: Although it is generally agreed that vitamin D is important for bone health, the role of vitamin D in preventing fractures in children and adolescents remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in healthy Korean children with fractures. Our secondary aim was to compare serum vitamin D levels before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Methods: We evaluated 334 patients with fractures who were surgically treated at our institution between 2018 and 2019 before the onset of COVID-19 (group I). In addition, we collected data on the serum 25(OH)D levels of 210 patients who visited our pediatric department for evaluation of short stature (group II) and the serum 25(OH)D levels of the patients with fractures during the COVID-19 pandemic period (group III). A serum 25(OH)D level of <20 ng/mL was considered deficient, between 20 and 32 ng/mL was insufficient, and ≥32 ng/mL was considered sufficient. Results: The mean age was 8.1 ± 3.5 years in group I, 8.2 ± 3.7 years in group II, and 8.6 ± 3.5 years in group III. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 53.0% in group I and 32.9% in group II. The mean serum 25(OH)D level was lower in group I than in group II (20.0 ± 7.3 ng/ml vs. 23.2 ± 6.9 ng/ml, p < 0.001). The mean serum 25(OH)D level of younger patients (<10 years) in group III was lower than that of the younger patients in the prepandemic period (21.4 ± 7.2 ng/mL vs. 19.2 ± 6.8 ng/mL, p=0.037). Conclusions: We observed a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in children with fractures who required surgical treatment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the serum vitamin D levels became even lower, especially in younger children.

Medial Epicondyle Fracture in Children and Its Association with Increased Carrying Angle.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the injury mechanism of medial epicondylar fractures in children and adolescents and its association with increased carrying angle (CA) as a predisposing factor. Materials and Methods: We evaluated 37 patients with medial epicondylar fractures who were surgically treated at our institution. Medical records and plain radiographs were reviewed to determine the mechanism of injury and the humerus-elbow-wrist angle (HEWA) and CA of the uninjured arm. To evaluate the effect of coronal alignment on specific fracture type, we compared the CA and HEWA of the 23 patients with medial epicondylar fracture who were injured by falling onto an outstretched hand (group I) with age- and sex-matched controls of 23 patients who had sustained extension-type supracondylar fractures (group II). Results: The mean age at injury was 11.7 ± 2.8 years (range, 5 to 16 years). Of the 37 patients, 23 (62.2%) recalled the injury mechanism as falling onto an outstretched hand and 10 patients (27.0%) were injured while arm wrestling, and in one patient (2.7%), the injury was associated with elbow dislocation. In the case-matched analysis, the mean HEWA of group I was 13.1 ± 2.8° (range, 7.1° to 19.8°) and the mean CA was 17.7 ± 2.7° (range, 13.0° to 22.2°). These angles were significantly increased in group I (p=0.003 and p=0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Falling onto an outstretched hand is the most common injury mechanism in patients with medial epicondylar fractures, and these fractures are associated with an increased CA.

Association between benign prostatic hyperplasia and suicide in South Korea: A nationwide retrospective cohort study.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a commonly diagnosed disease in elderly men, but elderly men with benign prostatic hyperplasia are more likely to have a lower quality of life and depressive symptoms. This study aims to examine the association benign prostatic hyperplasia patients with suicide death relative to a control group comprising individuals without benign prostatic hyperplasia. We used the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort from 2006 to 2015 comprising of 193,785 Korean adults ≥40 years old, and followed-up for suicide death during the 8.7 years period. Cox-proportional hazard model was used to estimate hazard ratios for suicide among patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. From 2006 to 2010, a total of 32,215 people were newly diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia. The suicide rate of people without benign prostatic hyperplasia was 61.6 per 100,000 person-years, whereas that of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia was 97.3 per 100,000 person-years, 1.58 times higher than the control group (p<0.01). After adjusting for covariates, the hazard ratio for suicide among patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia was 1.47 (95% C.I. = 1.21 to 1.78; p<0.01) compared to people without benign prostatic hyperplasia. For men without mental disorders, the hazard ratio for suicide among patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia was 1.36 (95% CI = 1.05 to 1.76) compared to control group after adjusting for multiple covariates. Our study suggests that men with benign prostatic hyperplasia had a higher probability of suicide compared to men without benign prostatic hyperplasia in South Korea. This study suggests that physicians may be aware that men newly diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia had high probability of suicide.

Drought Stress-Mediated Transcriptome Profile Reveals NCED as a Key Player Modulating Drought Tolerance in Populus davidiana.

Populus trichocarpa has been studied as a model poplar species through biomolecular approaches and was the first tree species to be genome sequenced. In this study, we employed a high throughput RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) mediated leaf transcriptome analysis to investigate the response of four different Populus davidiana cultivars to drought stress. Following the RNA-seq, we compared the transcriptome profiles and identified two differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with contrasting expression patterns in the drought-sensitive and tolerant groups, i.e., upregulated in the drought-tolerant P. davidiana groups but downregulated in the sensitive group. Both these genes encode a 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED), a key enzyme required for abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis. The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) measurements showed a significantly higher ABA accumulation in the cultivars of the drought-tolerant group following dehydration. The Arabidopsis nced3 loss-of-function mutants showed a significantly higher sensitivity to drought stress, ~90% of these plants died after 9 days of drought stress treatment. The real-time PCR analysis of several key genes indicated a strict regulation of drought stress at the transcriptional level in the P. davidiana drought-tolerant cultivars. The transgenic P. davidiana NCED3 overexpressing (OE) plants were significantly more tolerant to drought stress as compared with the NCED knock-down RNA interference (RNAi) lines. Further, the NCED OE plants accumulated a significantly higher quantity of ABA and exhibited strict regulation of drought stress at the transcriptional level. Furthermore, we identified several key differences in the amino acid sequence, predicted structure, and co-factor/ligand binding activity of NCED3 between drought-tolerant and susceptible P. davidiana cultivars. Here, we presented the first evidence of the significant role of NCED genes in regulating ABA-dependent drought stress responses in the forest tree P. davidiana and uncovered the molecular basis of NCED3 evolution associated with increased drought tolerance.

Trampoline-related fractures of the proximal tibia in children.

BACKGROUND: Trampoline-related fractures of the proximal tibial metaphysis are common in children and have been linked to subsequent valgus deformity of the tibia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of trampoline-related proximal tibial fractures in young children. METHODS: We evaluated 40 patients with proximal tibial fracture after trampolining between 2013 and 2019. The median duration of follow-up was 18 months. Standing long leg radiographs were obtained at the last follow-up to evaluate angular deformity and limb length inequality in the patients. The measurements recorded include the lower limb length, mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA), medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA), mechanical axis deviation (MAD), and anatomical tibio-femoral angle (aTFA). The anterior tilt angle (ATA) was measured using a lateral radiograph of the tibia. RESULTS: The median age at injury was 40.0 months. Using trampoline with a heavier person was the most common mechanism of injury. aTFA and MAD were found to be increased towards the valgus at the last follow-up in our patient; however, the increase was not statistically significant (p = 0.692 and p = 0.973, respectively). The anterior tilt angle was increased in the injured leg at the last follow-up. But the change was not statistically significant (p = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: Using trampoline with a heavier person carries the risk of trampoline-related proximal tibial fracture in young children. We did not find a significant change in limb alignment at a minimum of one year of follow-up.

Microvascular invasion may be the determining factor in selecting TACE as the initial treatment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to investigate factors affecting tumor necrosis with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Factors associated with early hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after curative hepatectomy were also evaluated.Data of 51 patients who underwent surgery after a single session of TACE at a single university hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Factors that might affect tumor necrosis were determined by evaluating the TACE approach and by analyzing computed tomography and TACE findings, pathologic reports, and laboratory findings.In univariate analysis, microvascular invasion (MVI), radiological capsule appearance on the computed tomography, chronic hepatitis B, diabetes mellitus and serum albumin, MVI were significantly associated with tumor necrosis by TACE (P < .02). In multivariate analysis, MVI was the only statistically significant factor in TACE-induced tumor necrosis (P = .001). In univariate and multivariate analysis, MVI was the strongest factor for recurrence-free survival rate within 2 years (P = .008, P = .002).MVI could be a crucial factor in determining TACE as an initial treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma. MVI is also a strong indicator of recurrence within 2 years after curative hepatic resection.

Redox sensor QSOX1 regulates plant immunity by targeting GSNOR to modulate ROS generation.

Reactive oxygen signaling regulates numerous biological processes, including stress responses in plants. Redox sensors transduce reactive oxygen signals into cellular responses. Here, we present biochemical evidence that a plant quiescin sulfhydryl oxidase homolog (QSOX1) is a redox sensor that negatively regulates plant immunity against a bacterial pathogen. The expression level of QSOX1 is inversely correlated with pathogen-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Interestingly, QSOX1 both senses and regulates ROS levels by interactingn with and mediating redox regulation of S-nitrosoglutathione reductase, which, consistent with previous findings, influences reactive nitrogen-mediated regulation of ROS generation. Collectively, our data indicate that QSOX1 is a redox sensor that negatively regulates plant immunity by linking reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen signaling to limit ROS production.

Effectiveness of Albumin-bilirubin Score as a Predictor of Post-hepatectomy Liver Failure in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Backgrounds/Aims: Post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) is a major concern for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have undergone liver resection. The albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score is a novel model for assessing liver function. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the ALBI score as a predictor of PHLF in HCC patients who have undergone hepatectomy in South Korea. Methods: Between January 2014 and November 2018, HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy and indocyanine retention rate at 15 min (ICG-R15) test were enrolled in this study. Results: A total of 101 patients diagnosed with HCC underwent hepatectomy. Thirty-two patients (31.7%) experienced PHLF. The ALBI score (OR 2.83; 95% CI 1.22-6.55; p=0.015), ICG-R15 (OR 1.07; 95% CI 1.02-1.12; p=0.007) and ALBI grade (OR 2,86; 95% CI 1.08-7.58; p=0.035) were identified as independent predictors of PHLF by multivariable analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the ALBI score and ICG-R15 were 0.676 (95% CI 0.566-0.785) and 0.632 (95% CI 0.513-0.752), respectively. The optimal cutoff value of the ALBI score in predicting PHLF was -2.62, with a sensitivity of 75.0% and a specificity of 56.5%. Conclusions: The ALBI score is an effective predictor of PHLF in patients with HCC, and its predictive ability is comparable to that of ICG-R15.

Fasciola Hepatica Induced Hepatic Abscess Treated with Triclabendazole.

Fascioliasis is a zoonotic disease caused by Fasciola hepatica that infects mainly cattle, sheep, and goats. Humans can be infected by water or aquatic plants contaminated with metacercariae. The authors encountered two cases of F. hepatica infection. One patient reported abdominal discomfort with marked eosinophilia. The other patient had chest discomfort with marked eosinophilia. The abdominal CT images revealed hypodense lesions in the liver. The ultrasonography-guided liver biopsy findings in both patients were indicative of parasitic infections. Serological tests confirmed the definite diagnoses. Both patients were treated with a single dose of triclabendazole, which is the treatment of choice for fascioliasis. These findings suggest that a diagnosis of fascioliasis, particularly in the acute phase, should be considered in patients with abdominal pain, marked eosinophilia, and hypodense hepatic lesions on CT.

Peripheral Nerve Regeneration Using a Nerve Conduit with Olfactory Ensheathing Cells in a Rat Model.

BACKGROUND: Autologous nerve grafts are the gold standard treatment for peripheral nerve injury treatment. However, this procedure cannot avoid sacrificing other nerves as a major limitation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) embedded in a nerve conduit. METHODS: A 10-mm segment of the sciatic nerve was resected in 21 rats, and the nerve injury was repaired with one of the following (n = 7 per group): autologous nerve graft, poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) conduit and OECs, and PCL conduit only. The consequent effect on nerve regeneration was measured based on the nerve conduction velocity (NCV), amplitude of the compound muscle action potential (ACMAP), wet muscle weight, histomorphometric analysis, and nerve density quantification. RESULTS: Histomorphometric analysis revealed nerve regeneration and angiogenesis in all groups. However, there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the ACMAP nerve regeneration rate of the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles between the autologous graft (37.9 ± 14.3% and 39.1% ± 20.4%) and PCL only (17.8 ± 8.6% and 13.6 ± 5.8%) groups, and between the PCL only and PCL + OECs (46.3 ± 20.0% and 34.5 ± 14.6%) groups, with no differences between the autologous nerve and PCL + OEC groups (p > 0.05). No significant results in NCV, wet muscle weight, and nerve density quantification were observed among the 3 groups. CONCLUSION: A PCL conduit with OECs enhances the regeneration of injured peripheral nerves, offering a good alternative to autologous nerve grafts.

The effectiveness of ramosetron and ondansetron for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is a painful procedure, and treatment of emetic events associated with drugs used in the current multimodal pain management remains challenging. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ramosetron or ondansetron to relieve postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and pain after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. METHODS: In total, 122 consecutive patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were randomly allocated into three groups: ramosetron group (n = 39), ondansetron group (n = 43), and control group (n = 40). Then, 0.3 mg of ramosetron or 8 mg of ondansetron was administered intravenously at the end of surgery according to group. All patients received general anesthesia and multimodal pain management protocol including preemptive analgesic medication, fentanyl-based intravenous patient-controlled analgesia, and postoperative analgesic medication. Incidence of emetic events, rescue antiemetic requirements (10 mg of metoclopramide, IV), complete response, pain level, and side effects were recorded in three periods: 0-6, 6-24, and 24-48 h postoperatively. The severity of nausea and pain was evaluated using a visual analog scale. RESULTS: The ramosetron group tended to have a lower incidence and severity of nausea during the 6- to 24-h postoperative period and fewer rescue antiemetic drug requirements during the 0- to 48-h period than the control group, showing statistical significance. Additionally, the frequency of complete response of the ramosetron and ondansetron groups was significantly higher than that of the control group. No difference was found among the groups in the pain level except during the 0- to 6-h period. The two groups have a higher complete response during the 6- to 24-h period than the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Ramosetron use led to a lower incidence, mild severity of nausea, and reduced use of rescue antiemetic drug after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair during the 6- to 24-h postoperative period than the control. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I, randomized controlled trials, treatment study.