Cascaded cross-attention transformers and convolutional neural networks for multi-organ segmentation in male pelvic computed tomography.

Purpose: Segmentation of the prostate and surrounding organs at risk from computed tomography is required for radiation therapy treatment planning. We propose an automatic two-step deep learning-based segmentation pipeline that consists of an initial multi-organ segmentation network for organ localization followed by organ-specific fine segmentation. Approach: Initial segmentation of all target organs is performed using a hybrid convolutional-transformer model, axial cross-attention UNet. The output from this model allows for region of interest computation and is used to crop tightly around individual organs for organ-specific fine segmentation. Information from this network is also propagated to the fine segmentation stage through an image enhancement module, highlighting regions of interest in the original image that might be difficult to segment. Organ-specific fine segmentation is performed on these cropped and enhanced images to produce the final output segmentation. Results: We apply the proposed approach to segment the prostate, bladder, rectum, seminal vesicles, and femoral heads from male pelvic computed tomography (CT). When tested on a held-out test set of 30 images, our two-step pipeline outperformed other deep learning-based multi-organ segmentation algorithms, achieving average dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of 0.836±0.071 (prostate), 0.947±0.038 (bladder), 0.828±0.057 (rectum), 0.724±0.101 (seminal vesicles), and 0.933±0.020 (femoral heads). Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that a two-step segmentation pipeline with initial multi-organ segmentation and additional fine segmentation can delineate male pelvic CT organs well. The utility of this additional layer of fine segmentation is most noticeable in challenging cases, as our two-step pipeline produces noticeably more accurate and less erroneous results compared to other state-of-the-art methods on such images.

Highly Sensitive and Wide-Range Detection of Thiabendazole via Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Using Bimetallic Nanoparticle-Functionalized Nanopillars.

Thiabendazole (TBZ) is a benzimidazole; owing to its potent antimicrobial properties, TBZ is extensively employed in agriculture as a fungicide and pesticide. However, TBZ poses environmental risks, and excessive exposure to TBZ through various leakage pathways can cause adverse effects in humans. Therefore, a method must be developed for early and sensitive detection of TBZ over a range of concentrations, considering both human and environmental perspectives. In this study, we used silver nanopillar structures (SNPis) and Au@Ag bimetallic nanoparticles (BNPs) to fabricate a BNP@SNPi substrate. This substrate exhibited a broad reaction surface with significantly enhanced surface-enhanced Raman scattering hotspots, demonstrating excellent Raman performance, along with high reproducibility, sensitivity, and selectivity for TBZ detection. Ultimately, the BNP@SNPi substrate successfully detected TBZ across a wide concentration range in samples of tap water, drinking water, juice, and human serum, with respective limits of detection of 146.5, 245.5, 195.6, and 219.4 pM. This study highlights BNP@SNPi as a promising sensor platform for TBZ detection in diverse environments and contributes to environmental monitoring and bioanalytical studies.

Design of a Brownian ratchet based on repetitive aggregation and dispersion of stimuli-responsive molecules.

We propose a Brownian ratchet for the unidirectional transport of stimuli-responsive molecules confined in a series of asymmetric geometries. It relies on repetitive cycles of aggregation and dispersion, which cause significant changes in molecular distribution within the confining geometry and enable the Brownian motion of the molecules to be ratcheted in a specific direction. To demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed Brownian ratchet, we conducted Brownian dynamics simulations where stimuli-responsive molecules were repeatedly aggregated and dispersed in a series of truncated conical tubes by altering intermolecular interactions. These simulations demonstrated the unidirectional transport of the molecules, indicating the efficacy of the proposed Brownian ratchet. Furthermore, we found that it becomes more effective with higher concentrations of molecules. This study suggests that, through the deliberate control of molecular assembly and disassembly by stimuli-responsive intermolecular interactions, it is possible to achieve directional and controlled molecular transport in various nanoscale applications.

Evaluation of Doxorubicin-loaded Echogenic Macroemulsion for Targeted Drug Delivery.

BACKGROUND: The latest technology trend in targeted drug delivery highlights stimuliresponsive particles that can release an anticancer drug in a solid tumor by responding to external stimuli. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to design, fabricate, and evaluate an ultrasound-responsive drug delivery vehicle for an ultrasound-mediated drug delivery system. METHODS: The drug-containing echogenic macroemulsion (eME) was fabricated by an emulsification method using the three phases (aqueous lipid solution as a shell, doxorubicin (DOX) contained oil, and perfluorohexane (PFH) as an ultrasound-responsive agent). The morphological structure of eMEs was investigated using fluorescence microscopy, and the size distribution was analyzed by using DLS. The echogenicity of eME was measured using a contrast-enhanced ultrasound device. The cytotoxicity was evaluated using a breast cancer cell (MDA-MB-231) via an in vitro cell experiment. RESULTS: The obtained eME showed an ideal morphological structure that contained both DOX and PFH in a single particle and indicated a suitable size for enhancing ultrasound response and avoiding complications in the blood vessel. The echogenicity of eME was demonstrated via an in vitro experiment, with results showcasing the potential for targeted drug delivery. Compared to free DOX, enhanced cytotoxicity and improved drug delivery efficiency in a cancer cell were proven by using DOX-loaded eMEs and ultrasound. CONCLUSION: This study established a platform technology to fabricate the ultrasound-responsive vehicle. The designed drug-loaded eME could be a promising platform with ultrasound technology for targeted drug delivery.

Fabrication and Evaluation of Ultrasound-Responsive Emulsion Loading Paclitaxel for Targeted Chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy is the most widely used cancer treatment, but it has several drawbacks such as adverse side effects and low bioavailability. To address these limitations, various drug delivery systems have been investigated, including liposomes, micelles, and emulsions. These drug delivery technologies have been improving the efficacy and safety of conventional chemotherapy. This study presents an emerging drug delivery technology for targeted chemotherapy using drug-loaded ultrasound-responsive emulsion (URE) as a drug carrier and ultrasound technology for external activation. URE was designed to be responsive to ultrasound energy and fabricated by using an emulsification technique. To investigate this technology, paclitaxel, as a model drug, was used and encapsulated into URE. The size distribution, morphology, and drug release behavior of paclitaxel-loaded URE (PTX-URE) were characterized, and the echogenicity of PTX-URE was assessed by using ultrasound imaging equipment. The cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of PTX-URE with ultrasound were evaluated in breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231). Our in vitro results indicate that the combination of PTX-URE and ultrasound significantly enhanced cellular uptake by 10.6-fold and improved cytotoxicity by 24.1% compared to PTX alone. These findings suggest that the URE platform combined with ultrasound is a promising technology to improve the drug delivery efficiency for chemotherapy.

Dissolution Behavior of Fluoroalkylated Diazonaphthoquinone and Its Blends with Fluorinated Copolymers under UV Irradiation.

This article reports on the synthesis of materials containing both a fluoroalkyl group and a diazonaphthoquinone (DNQ) moiety as well as the fabrication of negative- and positive-tone stencil patterns. Additionally, the photoreaction mechanism that contributes to the pattern formation process is discussed, and the application of these materials is explored in the pixel-formation process in organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays. Fluoroalkylated diazonaphthoquinone (RF2D1) was synthesized using chemically binding a DNQ unit, which can be converted into carboxylic acid derivatives having stronger polarity, with two fluorinated alkyl chains. The purified compound is found to be soluble in a nonpolar fluorous solvent and can be uniformly coated as a thin film. When the thin film of RF2D1 is exposed to 365 nm UV light, its solubility in a fluorous solvent decreases due to the Wolff rearrangement and subsequent hydrolysis of a ketene moiety. In contrast, when a mixture of RF2D1 and a hydrophobic, fluorinated copolymer is tested for the patterning process, the copolymer delays the conversion of the ketene intermediate to carboxylic acid, resulting in the dissolution of the exposed areas in the fluorous solvent. Finally, the applicability of these materials in micropatterning is demonstrated by adopting them in the orthogonal photolithography process to create pixels of OLEDs.

Effects of Transcutaneous Trigeminal Electrical Stimulation and Sound Therapy in Patients with Tinnitus.

PURPOSE: Tinnitus is one of the most common health conditions worldwide. Although various methods of treatment have been used, the condition is still difficult to manage or cure. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of transcutaneous trigeminal electrical stimulation (TTES) combined with notched sound therapy (NST) on patients with tinnitus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A clinical trial was conducted prospectively from September 2020 to September 2021 at a single center in South Korea. In total, 14 patients took part in this trial. Periodic visits and tele-monitoring were used to assess treatment compliance and collect data, including electroencephalography (EEG), photoplethysmography (PPG), tinnitus handicap inventory (THI), tinnitus magnitude index, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and 36-item short-form survey (SF-36) results. RESULTS: Changes after intervention were analyzed with paired t-test. This study showed that alpha waves in the left hemisphere measured by EEG (p=0.024), autonomic nervous system balance (p=0.007), and stress level (p=0.022) measured by PPG significantly changed after intervention. Also, THI scores especially emotional symptoms (p=0.029) and catastrophic symptoms (p=0.043) decreased after treatment. The SF-36 score, both mental component summary and physical component summary score (each p<0.001), increased significantly, whereas the PSQI score (p<0.001) and BDI score (p<0.001) decreased after TTES and NST. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of our study, we could confirm that TTES combined with NST can significantly improve tinnitus, catastrophic symptoms, and the overall quality of life of patients.

Rasch Analysis of the Korean Version of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory.

Tinnitus is the perception of abnormal sounds in the ears or head without external auditory stimulation. While classical test theory is often used in tinnitus questionnaire development, it has limitations in assessing item characteristics. Item response theory (IRT) offers more precise individual ability estimations and identifies key and less important items, making it superior for reliable measurement tools. This study investigated the suitability of the Korean version of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (K-THI) as a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for clinical trials. Using Rasch analysis based on IRT, we evaluated K-THI's measurement of tinnitus-related disability in 545 patients (40.4% men, 59.6% women). Five items (2, 7, 8, 19, and 24) did not fit the Rasch model, yet a unidimensional scale and good fit for person and item data emerged (person: 0.89; item: 0.98). The three-point rating scale in K-THI proved suitable. IRT allowed precise evaluation of K-THI's properties, vital for reliable PROMs in patient-centered care. Our findings highlight IRT's role in questionnaire development, contributing to the advancement of PROMs.

Relationship between visual display terminal working hours and headache/eyestrain in Korean wage workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: the sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey.

Background: Prolonged use of visual display terminal (VDT) can cause eyestrain, dry eyes, blurred vision, double vision, headache and musculoskeletal symptoms (neck, shoulder, and wrist pain). VDT working hours among workers have greatly increased during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between VDT working hours and headache/eyestrain in wage workers using data from the sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) (2020-2021) conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We analyzed the sixth KWCS data of 28,442 wage workers aged 15 years or older. The headache/eyestrain that occurred in the last year was assessed. The VDT work group included workers who use VDT always, almost always, and three-fourth of the working hours, while the non-VDT work group included workers who use VDT half of the working hours, one-fourth of the working hours, almost never, and never. To analyze the relationship between VDT working hours and headache/eyestrain, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using logistic regression analysis. Results: Among the non-VDT work group, 14.4% workers experienced headache/eyestrain, whereas 27.5% workers of the VDT work group experienced these symptoms. For headache/eyestrain, the VDT work group showed adjusted OR of 1.94 (95% CI: 1.80-2.09), compared with the non-VDT work group, and the group that always used VDT showed adjusted OR of 2.54 (95% CI: 2.26-2.86), compared with the group that never used VDT. Conclusions: This study suggests that during the COVID-19 pandemic, as VDT working hours increased, the risk of headache/eyestrain increased for Korean wage workers.

Relationship between shellfish consumption and urinary phthalate metabolites: Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) cycle 3 (2015-2017).

Background: Phthalates are endocrine disrupting chemicals that are widely used in the production of items of daily life such as in polyvinylchloride plastics, insecticides, and medical devices. This study aimed to determine the association between phthalate exposure and shellfish consumption using data from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) cycle 3 (2015-2017), which is a nationally representative survey. Methods: In this study, we analyzed the KoNEHS cycle 3 data of 3,333 (1,526 men and 1,807 women) adults aged more than 19 years. Data related to the variables of sociodemographic factors, health-related behaviors, dietary factors, seafood consumption frequency, and urinary phthalate metabolites concentrations were collected. The concentrations of urinary phthalate metabolites of all the participants were divided into quartiles to define high and low concentration groups based on the 75th percentile concentration. A χ2 test was conducted to analyze the distribution of independent variables. To analyze the relationship between shellfish consumption and phthalate exposure, the odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using logistic regression analysis. Results: Total adults with shellfish consumption frequency of over once a week showed the following adjusted ORs for high concentrations of the following metabolites compared with the group that consumed shellfish once a week or less: 1.43 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-2.06) for mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP), 1.43 (95% CI: 1.01-2.03) for mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP), 1.57 (95% CI: 1.10-2.24) for ∑di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (∑DEHP), 2.01 (95% CI: 1.46-2.77) for mono-carboxyoctyl phthalate (MCOP), 1.56 (95% CI: 1.11-2.18) for mono-carboxy-isononly phthalate (MCNP), and 2.57 (95% CI: 1.85-3.56) for mono (3-carboxypropyl) phthalate (MCPP). Conclusions: The concentrations of urinary phthalate metabolites (MEOHP, MECPP, ∑DEHP, MCOP, MCNP, and MCPP) were higher in adults with a higher frequency of shellfish consumption.

Central Auditory Processing Disorder in Patients with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Background: This study was conducted to comprehensively examine the central auditory processing (CAP) abilities of patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) as well as to compare the results with cognitively normal elderly controls. Methods: A total of 78 participants were screened through pure-tone audiometry and word recognition score in order to exclude peripheral auditory dysfunction. Forty-five people passed screening tests, and 33 people failed. Finally, 25 aMCI (mean age = 71.52 ± 4.8; male : female = 24 : 76) and 20 controls (mean age = 73.45 ± 4.32; male : female = 45 : 55) were enrolled in the study. Seven CAP tests (frequency pattern test, duration pattern test, Gap-In-Noise© test, dichotic digits test, low-pass filtered word test, speech perception in noise test, and binaural fusion test) were conducted only after the two groups passed the screening. A linear mixed model was applied to analyze CAP tests except for the binaural fusion test. For the binaural fusion test, the independent t-test was used to compare the means of test score between two groups. Results: The aMCI group had a decrease in the mean score of the frequency pattern test, duration pattern test, Gaps-In-Noise© test, dichotic digits test, and speech perception in noise test compared with the control group. Conclusion: The aMCI group's CAP abilities were significantly lower than those of the control group. Thus, if the cognitive assessment and hearing evaluation are conducted in combination, the sensitivity of the diagnostic process for aMCI will be increased.

How Does a Face Mask Impact Speech Perception?

Face masks are mandatory during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to attenuation of sound energy and loss of visual cues which are important for communication. This study explores how a face mask affects speech performance for individuals with and without hearing loss. Four video recordings (a female speaker with and without a face mask and a male speaker with and without a face mask) were used to examine individuals' speech performance. The participants completed a listen-and-repeat task while watching four types of video recordings. Acoustic characteristics of speech signals based on mask type (no mask, surgical, and N95) were also examined. The availability of visual cues was beneficial for speech understanding-both groups showed significant improvements in speech perception when they were able to see the speaker without the mask. However, when the speakers were wearing the mask, no statistical significance was observed between no visual cues and visual cues conditions. Findings of the study demonstrate that provision of visual cues is beneficial for speech perception for individuals with normal hearing and hearing impairment. This study adds value to the importance of the use of communication strategies during the pandemic where visual information is lost due to the face mask.

SOCS3 Attenuates Dexamethasone-Induced M2 Polarization by Down-Regulation of GILZ via ROS- and p38 MAPK-Dependent Pathways.

Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) have emerged as potential regulators of macrophage function. We have investigated mechanisms of SOCS3 action on type 2 macrophage (M2) differentiation induced by glucocorticoid using human monocytic cell lines and mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages. Treatment of THP1 monocytic cells with dexamethasone (Dex) induced ROS generation and M2 polarization promoting IL-10 and TGF-ß production, while suppressing IL-1ß, TNF-α and IL-6 production. SOCS3 over-expression reduced, whereas SOCS3 ablation enhanced IL-10 and TGF-ß induction with concomitant regulation of ROS. As a mediator of M2 differentiation, glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ) was down-regulated by SOCS3 and up-regulated by shSOCS3. The induction of GILZ and IL-10 by Dex was dependent on ROS and p38 MAPK activity. Importantly, GILZ ablation led to the inhibition of ROS generation and anti-inflammatory cytokine induction by Dex. Moreover, GILZ knock-down negated the up-regulation of IL-10 production induced by shSOCS3 transduction. Our data suggest that SOCS3 targets ROS- and p38-dependent GILZ expression to suppress Dex-induced M2 polarization.

Electrocardiogram abnormalities in antimony exposed workers in the automotive brake lining manufacturing industry: a case report.

Background: Antimony is used in catalysts, pesticides, brake systems, pharmaceuticals, and synthetic fire retardants in the plastic, paint, and rubber industries. Accumulation of trivalent antimony compounds in the body can cause cardiotoxic effects and increase the risk of electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities and sudden death. Antimony exposure can result in action potential prolongation, causing a cardiac repolarization delay, which appears as QTc prolongation and T-wave abnormalities on the ECG. There are no studies on antimony-associated cardiac toxicity in Korea. Case presentation: Accordingly, the present study reports cases of ECG abnormalities in workers handling antimony trisulfide at a company located in the Gyeongsangbuk-do region. Nineteen workers employed at an automobile brake lining manufacturer were exposed to antimony trisulfide dust through thermoforming, grinding, and drilling processes. In 2020, the workers were reported to work 12-hour shifts, 5 days a week. The time-weighted average (TWA) of antimony trisulfide exposure measured in workers was 0.0028 mg/m3. Two workers were excluded from the analysis due to pre-existing medical conditions (cardiovascular disease). Of the remaining 17 workers, ECG abnormalities were found in 41% (seven out of 17: four with QTc prolongation and T-wave abnormalities; two with only T-wave abnormalities; and one with only QTc prolongation). Conclusions: This case report outlines the first few cases in Korea in which potential cardiac toxicity caused by occupational exposure to antimony was identified. However, data regarding cardiac toxicity caused by antimony exposure are still lacking in Korea; thus, additional studies are needed to identify causal relationships.

Influence of the Noise-Canceling Technology on How We Hear Sounds.

PURPOSE: This study explores the influence of the noise-canceling technology in commercial earphones on sound pressure levels and preferred listening levels in terms of hearing protection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty individuals completed puretone audiometry and real-ear measurements to assess sound pressure levels at the level of the eardrum with and without the activation of the noise-canceling function. The Knowles Electronics Manikin for Acoustic Research was used to investigate the acoustic characteristics of two environmental sounds (bus and café). Two types of earphones (wireless and wired canal type) were utilized in the study. RESULTS: For both bus and café noises, in the low-frequency range, sound pressure levels were significantly decreased for all types of earphones when the noise-canceling function was turned on. The same results were observed for the whole frequency range. In terms of preferred listening levels, the wireless canal type and wired canal type earphones showed significant reduction in volume levels. CONCLUSION: The findings of the study show that for both low- and whole frequency range, the use of noise-canceling function significantly decreases the sound pressure levels of the signal for all styles of earphones, suggesting a potential of the noise-canceling technology in hearing protection.

Novel Anatomical Proposal for Botulinum Neurotoxin Injection Targeting Lateral Canthal Rhytids.

Botulinum neurotoxin injections near the lateral canthal rhytids are commonly used in cosmetic settings; however, there is a lack of thorough anatomical knowledge, and an effective way to treat them with accumulating knowledge is needed. The anatomical characteristics concerning the injection of botulinum neurotoxin into the orbicularis oculi muscle were evaluated in this review. Current knowledge on the identification of botulinum neurotoxin injection points from recent anatomical research was assessed. The lateral canthal lines are involved with the orbicularis oculi muscle and nearby anatomical structures, and the injection points can be more precisely defined. The best possible injection sites were provided, and the injection procedure was described. This review proposes evidence for injection sites associated with the surface anatomy of the orbicularis oculi muscles to enhance the effectiveness of easing lateral canthal rhytids.

Percutaneous Bone-Anchored Hearing Implant: Is It Clinically Useful in Korean?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical effectiveness of Ponto in Korea, a recently released percutaneous bone-anchored hearing implant. METHODS: 16 patients with single-sided deafness (SSD) and mixed or conductive hearing loss who underwent Ponto implantation from December 2018 to September 2020 were enrolled in the study. Puretone audiometry, the Korean version of the Hearing in Noise Test (K-HINT), sound localization test (SLT), and Pupillometry were performed pre- and three months post-operation. Standardized questionnaires, the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE) and Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ), were administered. RESULTS: The mean age of subjects was 55.5 (range, 48-67) years. Four males and 12 females participated in the study. The mean puretone average was 73.17 dB hearing level (HL) before surgery and significantly improved to 36.72 dB HL three months after surgery. The mean word recognition score improved from 26.0% to 90.75% after implantation. In the case of K-HINT, there was a significant difference in summation (Z = -2.250, P = 0.024) and head shadow effects (Z = -3.103, P = 0.002). There was no significant difference in root mean square error degree (RMSE) and hemifield identification scores for SLT testing. Pupillometry was performed to measure listening effort and the results revealed that the degree of pupillary dilatation decreased under the condition of quiet, 0 dB signal to noise ratio (SNR) and 3 dB SNR. The total score for HHIE decreased significantly (Z = -3.130, P = 0.002) while the SSQ score increased significantly (Z = -2.216, P = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: The Ponto bone-anchored hearing system showed significant clinical benefit in Korean patients with conductive and mixed hearing loss and SSD.

Anisotropic Plasmonic Gold Nanorod-Indocyanine Green@Reduced Graphene Oxide-Doxorubicin Nanohybrids for Image-Guided Enhanced Tumor Theranostics.

The unique physicochemical and localized surface plasmon resonance assets of gold nanorods (GNRs) have offered combined cancer treatments with real-time diagnosis by integrating diverse theragnostic modalities into a single nanoplatform. In this work, a unique multifunctional nanohybrid material based on GNRs was designed for in vitro and in vivo tumor imaging along with synergistic and combinatorial therapy of tumor. The hybrid material with size less than 100 nm was achieved by embedding indocyanine green (ICG) on mesoporous silica-coated GNRs with further wrapping of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and then attached with doxorubicin (DOX) and polyethylene glycol. The nanohybrid unveiled noteworthy stability and competently protected the embedded ICG from further aggregation, photobleaching, and nucleophilic attack by encapsulation of GNRs-ICG with rGO. Such combination of GNRs-ICG with rGO and DOX served as a real-time near-infrared (NIR) contrast imaging agent for cancer diagnosis. The hybrid material exhibits high NIR absorption property along with three destined capabilities, such as, nanozymatic activity, photothermal activity, and an excellent drug carrier for drug delivery. The integrated properties of the nanohybrid were then utilized for the triple mode of combined therapeutics of tumor cells, through synergistic catalytic therapy and chemotherapy with combinatorial photothermal therapy to achieve the maximum cancer killing efficiency. It is assumed that the assimilated multimodal imaging and therapeutic capability in single nanoparticle platform is advantageous for future practical applications in cancer diagnosis, therapy, and molecular imaging.

Factors Influencing Hearing Aid Satisfaction in South Korea.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is three-fold: 1) to evaluate factors influencing hearing aid (HA) satisfaction; 2) to provide a profile of HA satisfaction in daily life; and 3) to examine the reasons why people gave up using HAs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data for 1148 respondents were statistically analyzed and reported. RESULTS: In the study, age (ß=-0.03, p<0.01), level of education (ß=1.21, p<0.01), HA purchase price (ß=1.50, p<0.01), bilateral amplification (ß=1.23, p<0.01), wearing time (ß=0.28, p<0.01), and HA fitting and fine tuning on a regular basis (ß=1.71, p<0.01) significantly influenced HA satisfaction. In addition, the authors observed that the most satisfactory factors were clarity of sound (53.5%), people's trust in their HA (61.7%), and listening from a quiet environment (72.8%) in the domains of sound quality, HA features, and listening environments, respectively. Finally, with multiple choices being possible, 65% of the 40 respondents who no longer used HAs answered that their HAs ended up in a drawer since the background noise was annoying and distracting. CONCLUSION: This study is significant in that it is a large-scale multi-center research to comprehensively examine the factors influencing HA satisfaction in South Korea. This data will provide helpful information that could lead to the successful rehabilitation of hearing loss with HAs.