Wearable and Washable MnO2-Zn Battery Packaged by Vacuum Sealing.

Batteries are used in all types of electronic devices from conventional to advanced devices. Currently, batteries are evolving in the direction of extremely personalized yarn- or textile-structured textronic systems. However, the absence of a protective layer on such batteries is a critical limitation to their practical use. In this study, we developed a wearable and washable MnO2-Zn textile battery that maintains its electrochemical capacity under various external environmental conditions through a vacuum-sealed packaging. The packaged textile battery was fabricated by vacuuming a polymer envelope containing the battery, followed by heat sealing with a vacuum packaging machine. The interior and exterior regions of the textile battery are completely separated by the packaging sheath to preclude leakage and intrusion of substances. The resulting packaged textile battery exhibits stable capacity retention performance under varying temperature and humidity; mechanical deformations due to bending, twisting, rubbing, and pressing; and several mechanical, chemical, and their combined washing cycles. On the basis of these demonstrations, we expect that our vacuum-packaged textile battery will offer new possibilities for practical and convenient use of textronics.

A Case of Non-Operative Management of Atraumatic Splenic Hemorrhage Due to Snakebite Venom-Induced Consumption Coagulopathy.

BACKGROUND Snakebite envenoming results from injection of a mixture different toxins following snakebite. Coagulopathy and life-threatening hemorrhage can occur, or venom-induced consumption coagulopathy (VICC). A rare case is presented of spontaneous splenic hemorrhage due to VICC that was successfully treated by non-surgical splenic artery embolization. CASE REPORT A 62-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department after an episode of dizziness and loss of consciousness following a snakebite. He was transferred to our hospital with hypotension and an abnormal blood coagulation test. On admission, he was hypotensive, with reduced hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, but did not complain of abdominal pain. The occult source of bleeding was identified by abdominal computed tomography (CT) as splenic hemorrhage. Treatment began with the administration of antivenom and blood transfusion. Splenic artery angio-embolization was performed to control the bleeding and was without complication. CONCLUSIONS Snakebite envenoming associated with VICC is a serious and life-threatening condition. Because of the possibility of associated occult bleeding from internal organs or blood vessels, imaging studies should be performed as soon as possible. For patients who are hemodynamically stabilized and have atraumatic hemorrhage from the spleen, non-operative treatment using angio-embolization may be performed with intensive monitoring and follow-up.

Four-Week Repeated Intravenous Dose Toxicity and Toxicokinetic Study of TS-DP2, a Novel Human Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor in Rats.

TS-DP2 is a recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) manufactured by TS Corporation. We conducted a four-week study of TS-DP2 (test article) in repeated intravenous doses in male and female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Lenograstim was used as a reference article and was administered intravenously at a dose of 1000 µg/kg/day. Rats received TS-DP2 intravenously at doses of 250, 500, and 1000 µg/kg/day once daily for 4 weeks, and evaluated following a 2-week recovery period. Edema in the hind limbs and loss of mean body weight and body weight gain were observed in both the highest dose group of TS-DP2 and the lenograstim group in male rats. Fibro-osseous lesions were observed in the lenograstim group in both sexes, and at all groups of TS-DP2 in males, and at doses of TS-DP2 500 µg/kg/day and higher in females. The lesion was considered a toxicological change. Therefore, bone is the primary toxicological target of TS-DP2. The lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) in males was 250 µg/kg/day, and no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) in females was 250 µg/kg/day in this study. In the toxicokinetic study, the serum concentrations of G-CSF were maintained until 8 hr after administration. The systemic exposures (AUC0-24h and C0) were not markedly different between male and female rats, between the administration periods, or between TS-DP2 and lenograstim. In conclusion, TS-DP2 shows toxicological similarity to lenograstim over 4-weeks of repeated doses in rats.

Comparison of radiological and clinical results of balloon kyphoplasty according to anterior height loss in the osteoporotic vertebral fracture.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Percutaneous kyphoplasty is effective for pain reduction and vertebral height restoration in patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures. However, in cases of severely collapsed fractures involving the loss of more than 70% of the vertebral height, kyphoplasty is technically difficult to perform and the outcomes remain unknown. PURPOSE: To compare the vertebral height restoration rate, kyphotic angle, and clinical results of patients who underwent kyphoplasty according to the degree of anterior vertebral height loss. In addition, to determine the feasibility and effects of kyphoplasty on severely collapsed osteoporotic vertebral fractures. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: A retrospective study. PATIENT SAMPLE: A total of 129 patients (145 vertebrae) who underwent kyphoplasty for osteoporotic painful vertebral fracture and followed up for more than 1 year between September 2005 and August 2012 were recruited for the analysis. OUTCOME MEASURES: The patients' kyphotic angle, anterior vertebral height, and anterior vertebral height restoration ratio 1 year after surgery were compared. Pre- and postoperative pain around the fractured vertebra and the radiological and clinical results according to bone mineral density (BMD) were also compared. METHODS: Patients were divided into three groups for comparison, according to radiographic findings. Patients with an anterior height compression ratio more than 70% at the time of fracture comprised Group I, patients with a compression ratio of 50-70% comprised Group II, and those with a compression ratio of 30-50% comprised Group III. RESULTS: Group I showed a greater extent of anterior height restoration immediately after surgery compared with the other groups, which noticeably decreased over time. All three groups showed significant restoration of the anterior vertebral height between pre- and postoperative values. The anterior vertebral height 1 year after surgery did not differ between Group I and Group II but was significantly higher in Group III. There was no correlation between the BMD and restoration or decrease of anterior vertebral height over time. Pain around the fractured vertebra significantly decreased in all groups immediately and 1 year after surgery compared with preoperative levels, although the pain level 1 year after surgery did not differ significantly between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with an anterior vertebral compression ratio more than 70% because of osteoporotic vertebral fracture, although the anterior height and kyphotic angle were significantly lower than those of patients with an anterior vertebral compression ratio of 30% to 50%, kyphoplasty significantly improved the degree of pain, restored the anterior vertebral height, and maintained the kyphotic angle. Therefore, kyphoplasty can be a useful approach in patients with an anterior vertebral compression ratio more than 70%.

A comparison of dynamic views using plain radiographs and thin-section three-dimensional computed tomography in the evaluation of fusion after posterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Accurate evaluation of the postsurgery status of interbody fusion is important in deciding the patient's treatment. Dynamic plain radiographs are used as a convenient method, but the accuracy is not so good. PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of dynamic flexion-extension radiographs as a method for evaluating fusion, by comparing it with three-dimensional thin-section computed tomography (CT). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective controlled study. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study with 108 patients (158 levels) who, diagnosed with severe spinal stenosis and Grade I and Grade II spondylolisthesis, underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) surgery, with follow-up by dynamic plain radiographs, functional rating scale, and three-dimensional (3D) thin-section CT for 1 year after surgery. In the plain radiographs, we looked for less than 3° of lordotic angle change, less than 3 mm of translation between vertebral bodies, and no presence of halo signs; satisfying all the criteria was regarded as fusion (Group A), whereas failure to satisfy any condition was referred to as probable nonfusion (Group B) and if none were satisfied as nonfusion (Group C). The patients were classified into fusion or nonfusion groups based on CT. Correlation between plain radiographs and CT groups was analyzed. Moreover, clinical assessment and cross-comparison between observers were done. RESULTS: In 158 levels, 95 (60.8%) levels were classified into the fusion group by plain radiographs and 131 (83%) levels by CT. When we analyzed the results of each groups, in Group A, 78 (81.3%) levels belonged to the CT fusion group and 18 (18.7%) levels to the CT nonfusion group, in Group B, 51 (89.5%) and 6 (10.5%) levels, and in Group C, 2 (40%) and 3 (60%) levels, respectively. For each of the CT fusion group, a cross-comparison using dynamic radiographs reconfirmed 78 (59.5%) levels for Group A, 51 (38.9%) levels for Group B, and 2 (1.6%) levels for Group C; for the CT nonfusion groups, 18 (66.7%) levels, 6 (22.2%) levels, and 3 (11.1%) levels were for Groups A, B, and C, respectively. In clinical evaluation, all groups showed clear postsurgery improvement, but there was no statistically significant difference. In terms of observer-to-observer error and agreement between diagnoses, CT showed a statistically higher level of correlation than plain radiographs. CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic flexion-extension radiographs cannot be seen as an objective standard in the evaluation of fusion after PLIF surgery. It would be desirable to confirm the fusion status by thin-section 3D-CT for an objective analysis.

Toluene decomposition by DBD-type plasma combined with metal oxide catalysts supported on ferroelectric materials.

We investigated toluene decomposition with a single-stage plasma catalytic system operated at atmospheric pressure and working at reduced temperature (T < 75 degrees C), where a synergistic catalyst was integrated on ferroelectric BaTiO3 beads with a high dielectric constant. The catalyst species were characterized by FE-SEM and XPS before and after the experiment. The MnO2/BaTiO3 catalyst showed high stability in igniting plasma during destruction of toluene for 230 hours in a lifetime test.

The efficacy of carotid tubercle as an anatomical landmark for identification of cervical spinal level in the anterior cervical surgery: comparison with preoperative C-arm fluoroscopy.

BACKGROUND: In cervical anterior approach, transverse skin incision is preferred due to cosmetic reasons. Precise skin incision is required to reach the surgery segment while minimizing soft tissue injury. Skin incision site is frequently identified using C-arm fluoroscopy or the carotid tubercle. Accordingly, this study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of skin incision using the carotid tubercle as a marker. METHODS: This study was retrospectively conducted on 114 patients who underwent anterior cervical surgery by the same surgeon from April 2004 to June 2012. The rate of the appropriate insertion of K-wire, which was inserted into the disc after anterior approach, into the surgery segment was compared between 62 patients where skin incision site was identified using C-arm fluoroscopy before skin incision and 52 patients where skin incision site was identified using carotid tubercle palpitation before surgery. RESULTS: The needle was shown to have been inserted into the planned site in 106 patients out of the total 114 patients. The appropriate insertion of the needle was shown in 59 patients of group I (95.2%) and in 47 patients of group II (90.4%). Although the success rate was higher in group I than group II, it was statistically insignificant. The success rate of one-segment surgery was shown to be 89.7% in group I and 82.6% in group II. Although the success rate was higher in group I than group II, it was statistically insignificant. The success rate of two-segment surgery was shown to be 100% in group I, and 96.4% in group II due to one case of the failure at C3-4 and C5-6. The success rate of three- and four-segment surgeries was shown to be 100% in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of skin incision site via carotid tubercle palpation was useful for surgeries involving two or more segments. Furthermore, it could be useful for one-segment surgery if surgical site is identified using vertebral body or soft tissues such as longus collis rather than insertion into the disc.

Long distance fiber Bragg grating strain sensor interrogation using a high speed Raman-based Fourier domain mode-locked fiber laser with recycled residual Raman pump.

We propose a novel fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor interrogation using a Raman-based Fourier-domain mode locking (FDML) fiber laser for a high speed and long distance measurement. A residual Raman pump after the generation of the Raman-based FDML fiber laser is recycled for secondary signal amplification in a 2-m erbium-doped fiber (EDF) to further enhance the output power. The chromatic dispersion is precisely controlled to suppress the phase noise in the FDML laser cavity, resulting in the improvement of an R-number of 1.43 mm/dB. After recycling residual pump, we achieve the 40-km round trip transmission of the sensing probe signal with a high scan rate of 30.8 kHz. With 205-mW residual pump power, the bandwidth and the maximum gain are measured to be more than 50 nm, 10.3 dB at 1550 nm, respectively. The sensitivity of the proposed Raman-based FDML fiber laser to strain is also measured, which are 0.81 pm/µstrain in the spectral domain and 0.19 ns/µstrain in the time domain, respectively.

Normal range of the inflammation related laboratory findings and predictors of the postoperative infection in spinal posterior fusion surgery.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation related hematological parameters vary greatly depending on patients. It is not well known how much increase of which parameter warrants suspicion of postoperative infection. This study proposes to identify the normal range and the predictive factors for postoperative infection by conducting a time series analysis of the hematological parameters of patients after the spinal posterior fusion. METHODS: A retrospective study was done with 608 patients who underwent spinal posterior fusion with pedicle screw fixation. Laboratory assessment including the leucocyte, neutrophil, C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) of patients for 2 weeks after operation. The patients were divided into the one-level fusion group (group I), the two-level fusion group (group II), the three or multi-level fusion or reoperation group (group III), and the postoperative infection group (group IV). Blood was drawn before breakfast prior to the operation, and then 2-3 days, 4-7 days, 8-11 days, and 12-14 days after the operation. The leucocyte count, neutrophil count, CRP, and ESR were measured. RESULTS: From 4-7 days after the operation, the CRP and neutrophil count of group IV were significantly higher than those of group I and II, and from 8-11 days after operation, the CRP and neutrophil counts were significantly higher than those of all groups. Twelve to fourteen days after the operation, the neutrophil count of group IV was significantly higher than that of group I and II, while the neutrophil count of group III was also higher than that of group I. The lower limit of the 95% confidence interval (CI) of the CRP and neutrophil count group IV was greater than the upper limit of the 95% CI of group I and II. The ESR of group IV was significantly higher than that of group I and III. CONCLUSIONS: If the postoperative CRP and neutrophil counts are high, or if the CRP begins to rise again 8 days after the operation, the likelihood of infection increases, but caution must be exercised in interpreting the results. If the hematological parameters are higher than the lower limit of the 95% CI of the postoperative infection group, infection must be strongly suspected.

Preparation of in-situ Pt nanoparticles into frameworks of mesoporous silica for improving thermal stability.

The Pt/sulfur-containing mesoporous silica (SMS) was obtained through in-situ co-condensation of TESPTS and TEOS in the presence of a triblock copolymer template. Strong interaction between the Pt NPs and S moieties of TESPTS in the SMS frameworks played an important role in the stabilization of Pt NPs against the sintering or coalescence problems. The Pt/SMS significantly improved the thermal stability at high temperature.

Treatment for the lumbosacral soft tissue defect after spine surgery.

The lumbosacral area is one of the most frequently operated spine regions because of the prevalence of disease in that area. Although a lumbosacral soft tissue defect after surgery due to inflammation and other causes is rare, such soft tissue defects are difficult to treat. Therefore, suitable methods for treating lumbosacral soft tissue defects are necessary. Therefore, this study introduces a case-treated with a transverse lumbosacral rotational flap.

Effect of cigarette filters on the chemical composition and in vitro biological activity of cigarette mainstream smoke.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of cigarette filters on the chemical composition and toxicity of cigarette mainstream smoke. In this work, we used three types of cigarettes, including non-filter 2R4F cigarettes, cellulose acetate (CA)-filter 2R4F cigarettes, and carbon dual-filter 2R4F cigarettes. The cytotoxicity of TPM obtained from the filter cigarettes was not different from that of the non-filter cigarettes on an equal TPM basis. However, the EC50 value of GVP from carbon-filter cigarettes were 40.9 puffs/L, thereby indicating the cytotoxicity of these cigarettes was approximately 37% and 21% lower than non-filter and CA-filter cigarettes, respectively. The cytotoxicity of GVP was correlated with carbonyl components. The mutagenicity of TPM obtained from non-filter cigarettes, calculated on an equal TPM basis, was up to 30-40% lower than that of the filter cigarettes. When calculated on a per cigarette basis, the mutagenicity of CA or carbon-filter cigarettes was found to be 35% lower than that of the non-filter cigarettes. The results of chemical composition analyses revealed that the observed increase in aromatic amine compound yields on an equal TPM basis in filter cigarettes may be related with the mutagenic activity determined in Ames assays.