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Water scarcity has become a global challenge attributed to climate change, deforestation, population growth, and increasing water demand. While advanced water production plants are prevalent in urban areas, remote islands and sparsely populated regions face significant obstacles in establishing such technologies. Consequently, there is an urgent need for efficient, affordable, and sustainable water production technologies in these areas. Herein, we present a facile approach utilizing an ultrashort-pulsed laser to directly convert cotton fabric into graphene under ambient conditions. The resulting laser-induced graphene (LIG) demonstrates the highest light absorption efficiency of 99.0% and a broad absorption range (250-2500 nm). As an excellent solar absorber, LIG on cotton fabric can efficiently absorb 98.6% of the total solar irradiance and its surface temperature can reach 84.5 °C under sunlight without optical concentration. Moreover, we propose a cost-effective 3D LIG evaporator (LIGE) for continuous solar-powered desalination. This innovative design effectively mitigates salt formation issues and enhances the steam generation efficiency. The water evaporation rate and the solar-to-vapor conversion efficiency are measured to be around 1.709 kg m -2 h -1 and 95.1%, respectively, which surpass those reported in previous studies. The simplicity, durability, and continuous operational capability of the 3D LIGE offer promising prospects to address the growing challenges in global water scarcity.

Introduction: Aggressive hydration using lactated Ringer's solution prevents postendoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis (PEP). Concerns of this strategy are large volume and lengthy hydration. Our study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of tailored aggressive hydration (TAH) for PEP prevention., Methods: In this prospective, multicenter, double-blinded, randomized trial conducted across 3 tertiary Korean hospitals, patients who underwent ERCP for the first time were randomly assigned (1:1) to the tailored standard hydration (TSH) and TAH groups. The TSH group received 1.5 mL/kg/hr lactated Ringer's solution during and after ERCP, whereas the TAH group was administered a 20 mL/kg bolus post-ERCP and 3 mL/kg/hr during and after the procedure. Both groups were assessed for elevated serum amylase levels and pain 4-6 hours after ERCP. If both were absent, hydration was discontinued. If either was present, hydration was continued at the original rate until 8 hours. The primary end point was PEP development and was analyzed on an intention-to-treat analysis., Results: A total of 344 patients were randomly assigned to treatment groups (171 to the TSH group and 172 to the TAH group). PEP was observed in 9.4% (16/171) in the TSH group and 3.5% (6/172) in the TAH group (relative risk 0.37, 95% confidence interval 0.15-0.93, P = 0.03). No difference was identified between the 2 groups in PEP severity ( P = 0.80) and complications related to volume overload ( P = 0.32)., Discussion: TAH according to the presence of abdominal pain or elevated serum amylase levels at 4-6 hours after ERCP is safe and prevents PEP development., (Copyright © 2024 by The American College of Gastroenterology.)

Providing food with nutrition and functionality is crucial for sustaining human life. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a representative staple crop with high carbohydrate content but low amounts of essential amino acids, micronutrients, and carotenoids such as provitamin A. To improve the nutritional quality, rice endosperm was biofortified to accumulate carotenoids such as β-carotene through genetic engineering (i.e., using synthetic carotenoid biosynthetic genes, a nonmammalian viral polycistronic sequence, and an optimized promoter and transit peptide) and high-throughput rice transformation (approximately 300 transgenic plants per construct). To facilitate the safety assessment of genetically modified food, molecular characterization was performed to select elite lines equipped with a single intergenic insertion of T-DNA, high transgene expression, in this case leading to high carotenoid content, and with phenotypic and compositional substantial equivalence. In this study, we present β-carotene-biofortified rice event candidate lines eligible for commercial use and a disclosed molecular protocol for the development of biotech rice crops., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a procedure that requires abundant clinical experience and endoscopic skills, and can lead to various complications, some of which may progress to life-threatening conditions. With expanding indications and technological advancements, ERCP is widely utilized, enhancing procedural accessibility. However, without proper quality management, the procedure can pose significant risks. Quality management in ERCP is essential to ensure safe and successful procedures and meet societal demands for improved healthcare competitiveness. To address these concerns, the Korean Society of Pancreatobiliary Endoscopy has developed a Korean-specific ERCP quality indicator reflecting domestic medical environments and realities. Initially, based on a review of foreign ERCP quality indicators and related literatures, key questions were formulated for five pre-procedural items, three intra-procedural items, and four post-procedural items. Descriptions and recommendations for each item were selected through peer evaluation. The developed Korean-specific ERCP quality indicator was reviewed by external experts based on the latest evidence and consensus in this fields. This Korean-specific indicator is expected to significantly contribute to improving ERCP quality in Korea, as it is tailored to local needs.

The tunable properties of 2D transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMDs) materials are extensively investigated for high-performance and wavelength-tunable optoelectronic applications. However, the precise modification of large-scale systems for practical optoelectronic applications remains a challenge. In this study, a wafer-scale atomic assembly process to produce 2D multinary (binary, ternary, and quaternary) TMDs for broadband photodetection is demonstrated. The large-area growth of homogeneous MoS 2 , Ni 0.06 Mo 0.26 S 0.68 , and Ni 0.1 Mo 0.9 S 1.79 Se 0.21 is carried out using a succinct coating of the single-source precursor and subsequent thermal decomposition combined with thermal evaporation of the chalcogen powder. The optoelectrical properties of the multinary TMDs are dependent on the combination of heteroatoms. The maximum photoresponsivity of the MoS 2 -, Ni 0.06 Mo 0.26 S 0.68 -, and Ni 0.1 Mo 0.9 S 1.79 Se 0.21 -based photodetectors is 3.51 × 10 -4 , 1.48, and 0.9 A W -1 for 532 nm and 0.063, 0.42, and 1.4 A W -1 for 1064 nm, respectively. The devices exhibited excellent photoelectrical properties, which is highly beneficial for visible and near-infrared (NIR) photodetection., (© 2024 The Authors. Small published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a procedure that requires significant experiences and skills and has various procedure-related complications, some of which can be severe and even result in the death of patients. Expanding ERCP availability has the advantage of increasing accessibility for patients. However, ERCP poses a substantial risk if performed without proper quality management. ERCP quality management is essential for both ensuring safe and successful procedures and meeting the social demands for enhanced healthcare competitiveness and quality assurance. To address these concerns, the Korean Pancreatobiliary Association established a task force to develop ERCP quality indicators (QIs) tailored to the Korean medical environment. Key questions for five pre-procedure, three intra-procedure, and four post-procedure measures were formulated based on a literature search related to ERCP QIs and a comprehensive clinical review conducted by experts. The statements and recommendations regarding each QI item were selected through peer review. The developed ERCP QIs were reviewed by external experts based on the latest available evidence at the time of development. These domestically tailored ERCP QIs are expected to contribute considerably to improving ERCP quality in Korea.

With the introduction of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and linear endoscopic ultrasound, interventional pancreaticobiliary (PB) endoscopy has had an enormous impact in the management of pancreatic and biliary diseases. Continuous efforts to improve various devices and techniques have revolutionized these treatment modalities as viable alternatives to surgery. In recent years, trends toward combining endoscopic techniques with other modalities, such as laparoscopic and radiological interventions, for complex PB diseases have emerged using a multidisciplinary approach. Ongoing research and clinical experience will lead to refinements in interventional PB endoscopic techniques and subsequently improve outcomes and reduce complication rates., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors have no financial disclosures., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study retrospectively evaluated the outcomes of endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) using novel electrocautery-enhanced lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) in high-risk patients with acute cholecystitis (AC). Between January 1, 2021, and November 30, 2022, 58 high-risk surgical patients with AC underwent EUS-GBD with the novel electrocautery-enhanced LAMS. The technical success rate was 94.8% (55/58), with one case of duodenal perforation requiring surgery with complete stent migration and two of partial stent migration into the gallbladder. However, the clinical success rate was 100% (55/55). Recurrent AC occurred in 3.6% of the cases (2/55), managed with double pigtail plastic stents through the LAMS. Early AEs observed in 1.8% (1/55) due to stent obstruction. Late AEs occurred in 5.4% (3/55), including two cases of cholangitis and one of stent obstruction. For 33 patients followed over 6 months, LAMS maintenance was sustained in 30 cases. Two patients underwent double-pigtail plastic stent replacement after LAMS removal, and one underwent LAMS removal during surgery following tumor stage regression after chemotherapy for cholangiocarcinoma. The novel electrocautery-enhanced LAMS demonstrated high technical and clinical success rates in high-risk surgical patients with AC, maintaining effective gallbladder drainage with minimal AEs during long-term follow-up, thus highlighting its efficacy and safety in challenging patients., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD), classified as choledochoduodenostomy (CDS) and hepaticogastrostomy (HGS), is a feasible and effective alternative for distal malignant biliary obstruction (MBO) in failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. However, the preferred technique for better outcomes has not yet been evaluated., Objectives: We compared the long-term outcomes between the techniques., Design: Retrospective comparative study., Methods: We reviewed consecutive patients who underwent EUS-CDS or EUS-HGS with transmural stent placement for distal MBO between 2009 and 2022. The primary outcome was the stent patency. The secondary outcomes were technical and clinical success, adverse events (AEs) of each technique, and independent risk factors for stent dysfunction., Results: In all, 115 patients were divided into EUS-CDS ( n = 56) and EUS-HGS ( n = 59) groups. Among them, technical success was achieved in 98.2% of EUS-CDS and 96.6% of EUS-HGS groups. Furthermore, clinical success was 96.4% in EUS-CDS and 88.1% in EUS-HGS groups, without significant difference ( p = 0.200). The mean duration of stent patency for EUS-CDS was 770.3 days while that for EUS-HGS was 164.9 days ( p = 0.010). In addition, the only independent risk factor for stent dysfunction was systematic treatment after EUS-BD [hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval 0.238 (0.066-0.863), p = 0.029]. The incidence of stent dysfunction of EUS-HGS was higher than EUS-CDS (35.1% versus 18.2%, 0.071), despite no significant differences even in late AEs., Conclusion: In distal MBO, EUS-CDS may be better than EUS-HGS with longer stent patency and fewer AEs. Furthermore, systematic treatment after EUS-BD is recommended for the improvement of stent patency., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (© The Author(s), 2024.)

Background/aims: There are no consensus guidelines for patients with acute cholecystitis undergoing percutaneous cholecystostomy who are unfit for interval cholecystectomy. The current study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of endoscopic gallbladder drainage, i.e. conversion from percutaneous cholecystostomy (including endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder stenting and endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage), and conservative treatment after percutaneous cholecystostomy tube removal., Methods: This retrospective review included patients who underwent percutaneous cholecystostomy for acute cholecystitis between January 2017 and December 2020. Consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic gallbladder drainage or percutaneous cholecystostomy tube removal without interval cholecystectomy were included. Outcome measures included recurrent acute cholecystitis and unplanned readmission due to gallstone-related diseases., Results: During the study period, 238 patients were selected (63 underwent endoscopic gallbladder drainage conversion and 175 underwent conservative treatment). Patients who underwent endoscopic gallbladder drainage conversion had lower rates of recurrent acute cholecystitis (3 [4.76%] vs 31 [17.71%], p=0.012) and unplanned readmission due to gallstone-related diseases (6 [9.52%] vs 40 [22.86%], p=0.022) than those who underwent conservative treatment following percutaneous cholecystostomy tube removal. In the univariate and multivariate analyses, calculus cholecystitis (odds ratio, 13.75; 95% confidence interval, 1.83 to 102.83; p=0.011) and conversion of endoscopic gallbladder drainage (odds ratio, 0.23; 95% confidence interval, 0.06 to 0.78; p=0.019) were significant predictive factors for recurrent acute cholecystitis., Conclusions: Endoscopic gallbladder drainage conversion led to more favorable outcomes than conservative treatment after percutaneous cholecystostomy tube removal. Therefore, endoscopic gallbladder drainage conversion may be considered a promising treatment option for patients undergoing percutaneous cholecystostomy who are at a high surgical risk.

Since its development, the use of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in the pancreas and the biliary tract has become increasingly important. The accuracy of EUS varies depending on the experience of the endoscopist. Hence, quality control measures using appropriate indicators are required to reduce these variations. American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy have announced the EUS quality indicators. Here, we reviewed the quality indicators of the EUS procedure in the current published guidelines.

Early pancreatic cancer diagnosis is crucial for timely intervention and better outcomes. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted routine health care globally. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted routine health care globally. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer. This retrospective study compared pancreatic cancer patients from 2 tertiary hospitals in pre and COVID-19 periods. Pre-COVID-19 period spanned from January 1, 2018, to January 19, 2020, while the COVID-19 period extended from January 20, 2020, to December 31, 2021. Results: A total of 542 patients were included. In the pre-COVID-19 period, 280 new cases of pancreatic cancer were enrolled, compared to 262 during COVID-19. The annual incidence rates were 136.63 and 134.50 patients, respectively. The median age was significantly lower during COVID-19 (71.5 years) compared to pre-COVID-19 (77 years) (P < .001). In subgroup analyses for stage 3 and 4, the proportion of stage 4 pancreatic cancer increased during COVID-19 (χ2 = 5.53, P = .019), and the COVID-19 group had younger diagnoses, better performance status, more surgery, higher use of FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy, fewer hospital referrals, and better median overall survival compared to the pre-COVID-19 group. This study revealed changes in the characteristics and treatment of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although further large-scale research is necessary, the findings of this study can function as foundational data for formulating policies for the management of patients with pancreatic cancer during future pandemics of other infectious diseases.

Next-generation 6G communication holds the potential to revolutionize data transfer, enabling the realization of eXtended Reality (XR) with enhanced sensory experiences. To achieve this, advanced components such as high-performance intensity/phase modulators, waveguides, multiplexers, splitters, combiners, and filters operating in terahertz (THz) regime, specifically within the frequency range of 0.1-1 THz, are essential. However, existing microwave equipment and vector network analyzers designed for this frequency range suffer from limitations in resolution, stability, and accuracy when evaluating the intensity and phase responses of critical 6G THz devices. In this comprehensive review, we delve into the critical device requirements and emerging trends in next-generation 6G communication, essential performance evaluation parameters, comparisons between microwave and nano/microphotonic devices for testing, and the application of high-resolution THz sensors in 6G Internet-of-Things (IoT) scenarios. Notably, a frequency comb in the photonic regime emerges as the prime candidate for achieving precision evaluations of 6G networks and devices. Consequently, this review highlights the latest research in frequency comb measurements in the 6G THz frequency regime, with a particular emphasis on nano/microphotonic devices and metamaterials. The integration of frequency comb measurements into 6G and THz photonic devices and networks promises to accelerate the realization of high-density next-generation 6G communication., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: Authors state no conflicts of interest., (© 2024 the author(s), published by De Gruyter, Berlin/Boston.)

The gastrointestinal tract microbiome is essential for regulating nutrient absorption, gut immune function, and host growth and development. In the present study, we characterized the development of ileum and cecum microbiota in pullets throughout the rearing period, encompassing a period from the day of hatching to 18 weeks of age. The growth performance and intestinal microbiome (ileum and cecum) of pullets were analyzed at 1, 5, 11, and 18 weeks of age. The richness of the ileum and cecum bacterial communities (alpha diversity) was higher in pullets at 18 weeks of age than in those at 1 and 5 weeks of age. Microbiota from weeks 1, 5, 11, and 18 were distinctly grouped in a NMDS plot, representing beta diversity within the ileum. However, the results for cecum microbiota did not reveal evident separation among the different age groups in the weighted UniFrac. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate variations and diversification in ileum and cecum microbiota across different rearing stages in pullets. These insights have the potential to inform the development of nutritional strategies that promote gut health and contribute to the improved development of pullets.

Background/aims: Most guidelines recommend surgical resection of all main duct (MD) and mixed-type (MT) intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) in suitable patients. However, there is little evidence regarding the malignancy risk of enhancing mural nodules (EMNs) that are present only in the main pancreatic duct (MPD) in patients with MD- and MT-IPMNs. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the clinical and morphological features associated with malignancy in MD- and MT-IPMNs with EMNs only in the MPD., Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 50 patients with MD- and MT-IPMNs with EMNs only in the MPD on contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. We evaluated the clinical characteristics and preoperative radiologic imaging results of MPD morphology and EMN size and analyzed the risk factors associated with malignancy., Results: Histological findings of EMNs were low-grade dysplasia (38%), malignant lesions (62%), high-grade dysplasia (34%), and invasive carcinoma (28%). On the receiver operating characteristic curve, the cutoff value of EMN size on magnetic resonance imaging for best predicting malignancy was 5 mm (sensitivity, 93.5%; specificity, 52.6%; area under the curve, 0.753). Multivariate analysis showed that only EMN >5 mm (odds ratio, 27.69; confidence interval, 2.75 to 278.73; p=0.050) was an independent risk factor for malignancy., Conclusions: EMNs of >5 mm are associated with malignancy in patients with MD- and MT-IPMNs with EMNs that are present only in the MPD, in accordance with the international consensus guidelines.

Personal wearable devices are considered important in advanced healthcare, military, and sports applications. Among them, e-textiles are the best candidates because of their intrinsic conformability without any additional device installation. However, e-textile manufacturing to date has a high process complexity and low design flexibility. Here, we report the direct laser writing of e-textiles by converting raw Kevlar textiles to electrically conductive laser-induced graphene (LIG) via femtosecond laser pulses in ambient air. The resulting LIG has high electrical conductivity and chemical reliability with a low sheet resistance of 2.86 Ω/□. Wearable multimodal e-textile sensors and supercapacitors are realized on different types of Kevlar textiles, including nonwoven, knit, and woven structures, by considering their structural textile characteristics. The nonwoven textile exhibits high mechanical stability, making it suitable for applications in temperature sensors and micro-supercapacitors. On the other hand, the knit textile possesses inherent spring-like stretchability, enabling its use in the fabrication of strain sensors for human motion detection. Additionally, the woven textile offers special sensitive pressure-sensing networks between the warp and weft parts, making it suitable for the fabrication of bending sensors used in detecting human voices. This direct laser synthesis of arbitrarily patterned LIGs from various textile structures could result in the facile realization of wearable electronic sensors and energy storage.

Despite the encouraging properties and research of 2D MoS 2 , an ongoing issue associated with the oxidative instability remains elusive for practical optoelectronic applications. Thus, in-depth understanding of the oxidation behavior of large-scale and homogeneous 2D MoS 2 is imperative. Here the structural and chemical transformations of large-area MoS 2 multilayers by air-annealing with altered temperature and time via combinatorial spectro-microscopic analyses (Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy) are surveyed. The results gave indications pertaining to temperature- and time-dependent oxidation effects: i) heat-driven elimination of redundant residues, ii) internal strain stimulated by the formation of MoO bonds, iii) deterioration of the MoS 2 crystallinity, iv) layer thinning, and v) morphological transformation from 2D MoS 2 layers to particles. Photoelectrical characterization of the air-annealed MoS 2 is implemented to capture the link between the oxidation behavior of MoS 2 multilayers and their photoelectrical properties. The photocurrent based on MoS 2 air-annealed at 200 °C is assessed to be 4.92 µA, which is 1.73 times higher than that of pristine MoS 2 (2.84 µA). The diminution in the photocurrent of the photodetector based on MoS 2 air-annealed above 300 °C in terms of the structural, chemical, and electrical conversions induced by the oxidation process is further discussed., (© 2023 The Authors. Small Methods published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

This study aimed to examine the effect of probiotics containing Bacillus subtilis and oregano essential oil on the growth performance, intestinal morphology, and cecal microbial composition in pullets aged 0-18 weeks. A total of 324 day-old Hy-Line Brown chicks were randomly assigned to three treatment groups, with six replicates per group and 18 birds per pen. The experimental treatments consisted of the following: a control group receiving a basal diet (Con), a group receiving a basal diet supplemented with 1 g/kg (3 × 10 8 cfu/kg) of Bacillus subtilis (BS), and a group receiving a basal diet supplemented with 0.3 g/kg of oregano essential oil (ORO). The groups supplemented with BS and ORO demonstrated significantly higher villus height/crypt depth ratios than the Con group. Microbial richness was significantly higher in groups supplemented with BS ( p = 0.0317) and ORO ( p = 0.00794) than in the Con group. These findings revealed a distinct separation between gut microbial communities of the Con group and those supplemented with ORO, based on unweighted and weighted UniFrac indices. Therefore, supplementation with Bacillus subtilis and oregano oil improved the composition of the microbiota, suggesting their positive effects on the gut health of pullets.

Oxidative stress is associated with insulin resistance and secretion, and antioxidant systems are essential for preventing and managing type 2 diabetes (T2DM). This study aimed to explore the polygenic variants linked to oxidative stress and the antioxidant system among those associated with T2DM and the interaction of their polygenic risk scores (PRSs) with lifestyle factors in a large hospital-based cohort ( n = 58,701). Genotyping, anthropometric, biochemical, and dietary assessments were conducted for all participants with an average body mass index of 23.9 kg/m 2 . Genetic variants associated with T2DM were searched through genome-wide association studies in participants with T2DM ( n = 5383) and without T2DM ( n = 53,318). The Gene Ontology database was searched for the antioxidant systems and oxidative stress-related genes among the genetic variants associated with T2DM risk, and the PRS was generated by summing the risk alleles of selected ones. Gene expression according to the genetic variant alleles was determined on the FUMA website. Food components with low binding energy to the GSTA5 protein generated from the wildtype and mutated GSTA5 &#95; rs7739421 (missense mutation) genes were selected using in silico analysis. Glutathione metabolism-related genes, including glutathione peroxidase ( GPX)1 and GPX3 , glutathione disulfide reductase ( GSR) , peroxiredoxin-6 ( PRDX6) , glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit ( GCLC) , glutathione S-transferase alpha-5 ( GSTA5) , and gamma-glutamyltransferase-1 ( GGT1 ), were predominantly selected with a relevance score of >7. The PRS related to the antioxidant system was positively associated with T2DM (ORs = 1.423, 95% CI = 1.22-1.66). The active site of the GASTA proteins having valine or leucine at 55 due to the missense mutation ( rs7739421) had a low binding energy (<-10 kcal/mol) similarly or differently to some flavonoids and anthocyanins. The PRS interacted with the intake of bioactive components (specifically dietary antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin D, and coffee) and smoking status ( p < 0.05). In conclusion, individuals with a higher PRS related to the antioxidant system may have an increased risk of T2DM, and there is a potential indication that exogenous antioxidant intake may alleviate this risk, providing insights for personalized strategies in T2DM prevention.

The realization of hybrid optics could be one of the best ways to fulfill the technological requirements of compact, light-weight, and multi-functional optical systems for modern industries. Planar diffractive lens (PDL) such as diffractive lenses, photonsieves, and metasurfaces can be patterned on ultra-thin flexible and stretchable substrates and be conformally attached on top of arbitrarily shaped surfaces. In this review, we introduce recent research works addressed to the design and manufacturing of ultra-thin graphene optics, which will open new markets in compact and light-weight optics for next-generation endoscopic brain imaging, space internet, real-time surface profilometry, and multi-functional mobile phones. To provide higher design flexibility, lower process complexity, and chemical-free process with reasonable investment cost, direct laser writing (DLW) of laser-induced-graphene (LIG) is actively being applied to the patterning of PDL. For realizing the best optical performances in DLW, photon-material interactions have been studied in detail with respect to different laser parameters; the resulting optical characteristics have been evaluated in terms of amplitude and phase. A series of exemplary laser-written 1D and 2D PDL structures have been actively demonstrated with different base materials, and then, the cases are being expanded to plasmonic and holographic structures. The combination of these ultra-thin and light-weight PDL with conventional bulk refractive or reflective optical elements could bring together the advantages of each optical element. By integrating these suggestions, we suggest a way to realize the hybrid PDL to be used in the future micro-electronics surface inspection, biomedical, outer space, and extended reality (XR) industries., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background/aims: This study aimed to investigate the patterns of preferred endoscopic procedure types and techniques for managing difficult common bile duct (CBD) stones in South Korea., Methods: The Committee of Policy and Quality Management of Korean Pancreatobiliary Association (KPBA) conducted a survey containing 19 questions. Both paper and online surveys were carried out; with the paper survey being conducted during the 2019 Annual Congress of KPBA and the online survey being conducted through Google Forms from April 2020 to February 2021., Results: The response rate was approximately 41.3% (86/208). Sixty-two (73.0%) worked at tertiary hospitals or academic medical centers, and 60 (69.7%) had more than 5 years of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography experience. The preferred size criteria for large CBD stones were 15 mm (40.6%), 20 mm (31.3%), and 30 mm (4.6%). For managing of large CBD stones, endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation after endoscopic sphincterotomy was the most preferred technique (74.4%). When performing procedures in those with bleeding diathesis, 64 (74.4%) respondents favored endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) alone or EPBD with small endoscopic sphincterotomy. Fifty-five respondents (63.9%) preferred the doubleguidewire technique when faced with difficult bile duct cannulation in patients with periampullary diverticulum. In surgically altered anatomies, cap-fitted forward viewing endoscopy (76.7%) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (48.8%) were the preferred techniques for Billroth-II anastomosis and total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y anastomosis, respectively., Conclusions: Most respondents showed unifying trends for the management of difficult CBD stones. The current practice patterns could be used as basic data for clinical quality improvements in the management of difficult CBD stones.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and radiologic characteristics of the fatigue-type of SSFFH in healthy military recruits., Materials and Method: We retrospectively analyzed 39 hips from 32 patients who were treated for SSFFH between 2014 and 2018. Clinical variables were analyzed. We devised a categorization system that divided SSFFH into five types (A-E) according to the extent of the fracture line MRI axial view. The femoral head was divided into three parts for the categorization: the anterior third, middle third, and posterior third., Results: The included patients were 39 hips from 32 patients with the mean age 22.3 years. Almost all patients with SSFFH (96.9%) complained of hip pain with limping at the time of diagnosis. The mean time to the onset of the hip pain from the beginning of military training was 24.8 days. There were seven patients (21.9%) with concomitant stress fractures on whole-body bone scan. Six hips (15.4%) developed osteoarthritis and required surgery. Almost all the cases (94.9%) involved the anterior compartment of the femoral head., Conclusions: Military recruits with the hip pain and limping within one month of military training should undergo detailed evaluation. A whole-body bone scan with SPECT is useful for identifying other concomitant stress fractures. Majority of SSFFH involved the anterior compartment of the femoral head., (© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to SICOT aisbl.)

Background/aims: Although endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) and fine needle biopsy (FNB) are widely used for tissue acquisition of pancreatic solid mass, the optimal strategy of this procedure has not been established yet. The aim of this nationwide study was to investigate the current practice patterns of EUS-FNA/FNB for pancreatic solid mass in Korea., Methods: The Policy-Quality Management of the Korean Pancreatobiliary Association (KPBA) developed a questionnaire containing 22 questions. An electronic survey consisting of the questionnaire was distributed by e-mail to members registered to the KPBA., Results: A total of 101 respondents completed the survey. Eighty respondents (79.2%) performed preoperative EUS-FNA/FNB for operable pancreatic solid mass. Acquire needles (60.4%) were used the most, followed by ProCore needles (47.5%). In terms of need size, most respondents (>80%) preferred 22-gauge needles regardless of the location of the mass. Negative suction with a 10-mL syringe (71.3%) as sampling technique was followed by stylet slow-pull (41.6%). More than three needle passes for EUS-FNA/FNB was performed by most respondents (>80%). The frequency of requiring repeated procedure was significantly higher in respondents with a low individual volume (<5 per month, p=0.001). Prophylactic antibiotics were routinely used in 39 respondents (38.6%); rapid on-site pathologic evaluation was used in 6.1%., Conclusions: According to this survey, practices of EUS-FNA/FNB for pancreatic solid mass varied substantially, some of which differed considerably from the recommendations present in existing guidelines. These results suggest that the development of evidence-based quality guidelines fitting Korean clinical practice is needed to establish the optimal strategy for this procedure.

The poultry industry, which produces excellent sources of protein, suffers enormous economic damage from diseases. To solve this problem, research is being conducted on the early detection of infection according to the behavioral characteristics of poultry. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of a non-movement behavior observation method to detect sick chickens. Forty 1-day-old Ross 308 males were used in the experiments, and an isolator equipped with an Internet Protocol (IP) camera was fabricated for observation. The chickens were inoculated with Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum A18-GCVP-014, the causative agent of fowl typhoid (FT), at 14 days of age, which is a vulnerable period for FT infection. The chickens were continuously observed with an IP camera for 2 weeks after inoculation, chickens that did not move for more than 30 minutes were detected and marked according to the algorithm. FT infection was confirmed based on clinical symptoms, analysis of cardiac, spleen and liver lesion scores, pathogen re-isolation, and serological analysis. As a result, clinical symptoms were first observed four days after inoculation, and dead chickens were observed on day six. Eleven days after inoculation, the number of clinical symptoms gradually decreased, indicating a state of recovery. For lesion scores, dead chickens scored 3.57 and live chickens scored 2.38. Pathogens were re-isolated in 37 out of 40 chickens, and hemagglutination test was positive in seven out of 26 chickens. The IP camera applied with the algorithm detected about 83% of the chickens that died in advance through non-movement behavior observation. Therefore, observation of non-movement behavior is one of the ways to detect infected chickens in advance, and it appears to have potential for the development of remote broiler management system., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported., (© Copyright 2023 Korean Society of Animal Science and Technology.)

A synthetic platform for industrially applicable two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors that addresses the paramount issues associated with large-scale production, wide-range photosensitive materials, and oxidative stability has not yet been developed. In this study, we attained the 6 in. scale production of 2D SnSe semiconductors with spatial homogeneity using a rational synthetic platform based on the thermal decomposition of solution-processed single-source precursors. The long-range structural and chemical homogeneities of the 2D SnSe layers are manifested using comprehensive spectroscopic analyses. Furthermore, the capability of the SnSe-based photodetectors for broadband photodetection is distinctly verified. The photoresponsivity and detectivity of the SnSe-based photodetectors are 5.89 A W -1 and 1.8 × 10 11 Jones at 532 nm, 1.2 A W -1 and 3.7 × 10 10 Jones at 1064 nm, and 0.14 A W -1 and 4.3 × 10 9 Jones at 1550 nm, respectively. The minimum rise times for the 532 and 1064 nm lasers are 62 and 374 μs, respectively. The photoelectrical analysis of the 5 × 5 SnSe-based photodetector array reveals 100% active devices with 95.06% photocurrent uniformity. We unequivocally validated that the air and thermal stabilities of the photocurrent yielded from the SnSe-based photodetector are determined to be >30 d in air and 160 °C, respectively, which are suitable for optoelectronic applications.

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a rare disease clinically characterized by obstructive jaundice, unintentional weight loss, acute pancreatitis, focal pancreatic mass, and diabetes. AIP is classified into two subtypes - type 1 and type 2 - according to pathological findings, clinical features, and serology test results, but some cases may be defined as type not otherwise in the absence of pathological findings and inflammatory bowel disease. To address the differences in diagnostic criteria by country, standard diagnostic criteria for AIP were proposed in 2011 by an international consensus of expert opinions. Differential diagnosis of AIP from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is important but remains challenging for clinicians. Fortunately, all subtypes of AIP show dramatic response to steroid treatment. This review discusses the current perspectives on the diagnosis and management of AIP in clinical practice., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article., (©The Author(s) 2023. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Antioxidants such as vitamin C (VC) and green tea extract (GTE) have been reported to have various antioxidant functions and are used as one of the nutritional approaches to alleviate heat stress (HS) in chickens. However, studies on the feeding timing that can produce optimal effects have not been reported. In this study, the stress-relieving effect of VC and GTE addition timing was investigated in high-temperature broiler chickens. A total of 880 1-d-old male chickens were used, and the treatments were as follows: no feed additives provided, CON; VC 250 mg/kg added from 1 d, VC1; GTE 600 mg/kg added from 1 d, GTE1; VC 250 mg/kg added from 22 d, VC22; GTE 600 mg/kg added from 22 d, GTE22. The HS environment was provided for 2 wk from the 22 d and was set at 33 ± 1 °C, 55 ± 10% for 24 h. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. Broiler production was similar in all treatments. In chicken meat quality, the addition of VC and GTE had an effect on meat color and pH (P < 0.05). In particular, GTE had a positive effect on the antioxidant capacity and quality preservation of breast meat (P < 0.05). In blood characteristics, GTE1 significantly lowered the level of total cholesterol, and VC1 affected AST and IgM (P < 0.05). Interestingly, the VC1 group had a positive effect on the maintenance and development of intestinal morphology, a lower rectal temperature, and showed to relieve stress. In conclusion, the addition of VC and GTE has been shown to alleviate the high-temperature stress of broilers, and in the case of VC in particular, feeding from 1 d appeared to alleviate stress more effectively. This study suggests that it is important to determine the appropriate timing of addition of functional substances in order to effectively reduce various stresses that occur in livestock rearing., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science.)

This study was performed to investigate the effects of apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) and protein levels on laying performance, egg quality, blood parameters, blood biochemistry, and apparent total tract digestibility of energy and nutrients in diets fed to laying hens in an aviary system. A total of 560 Hy-Line Brown laying hens (age = 30 week) were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design in 2 × 2 factorial arrangements with 2 metabolizable energy levels (2700 and 2800 kcal AMEn/kg) and 2 protein levels (16.5 and 14.5% CP). Four treatments and four replicates of 40 birds each (stocking density = 15 birds/m2) were prepared. Results revealed no significant interaction between AMEn and CP in the diet in terms of egg production, floor eggs, broken and dirty egg production, egg mass, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio of laying hens. However, egg weight was affected. As dietary energy and CP levels (2800 kcal of AMEn/kg and 16.5% CP) increased, egg weight increased (p < 0.05). Egg weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio significantly differed (p < 0.05) as the energy content in the feed increased. Ether extract significantly varied (p < 0.05) as the energy content in the feed increased. In conclusion, laying performance and egg quality of Hy-Line Brown laying hens in the middle stage of egg production (30 to 50 weeks) were not affected by different dietary energy and protein levels, but feed intake decreased with an increasing level of AMEn in diets. Ether extract significantly varied as the energy content in the feed increased.

Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Background/aims: This study aimed to determine changes in endoscopist-driven sedation practices 5 years after the first nationwide survey in 2014 by the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (KSGE)., Methods: A 59-item survey covering current practices was electronically mailed to all members of the KSGE in 2019., Results: In total, 955 (12.8%) out of 7,486 questionnaires were returned. A total of 738 (77.7%) out of 955 respondents attended dedicated sedation education programs. The American Society of Anesthesiologists class was recorded by 464 (51.2%) out of 907 respondents. The recording rate was higher in respondents who completed sedation education (p=0.014) and worked in general or tertiary hospitals (p<0.001). Compared to that reported in the previous survey, the reported use of propofol was higher in 2019. The respondents had higher satisfaction scores for propofol-based sedation compared with midazolam monotherapy (p<0.001). The rates of oxygen supplementation (p<0.001) and oxygen saturation level monitoring (p<0.001) during sedative endoscopy were higher in 2019 than in the previous survey. A total of 876 (98.4%) out of 890 respondents reported a separate recovery bay, and 615 (70.5%) out of 872 respondents reported that personnel were assigned solely to the recovery bay., Conclusions: Endoscopist-driven sedation and monitoring practices in 2019 were significantly different than those in 2014. The respondents favored propofol-based sedation and utilized oxygen supplementation and monitoring of O 2 saturation more frequently in 2019 than in 2014.

We studied the effects of photoperiods on the growth performance, blood profile, welfare parameters, and carcass characteristics of broilers. A total of 336 male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allocated into 4 treatments (84 birds per treatment with 4 replicates), based on the following lighting regimen: 24 h continuous light (24L), 18 h continuous light (18L:6D), 8 h continuous light (8L:16D), and intermittent light (4L:2D). Body weight and feed intake of 7- and 35-day-old broilers were measured. At 5 weeks of age, 12 birds per treatment were selected for blood collection and carcass analysis. Body weight, body weight gain, and feed intake were the lowest in the 8L:16D treatment (p < 0.05). The heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, aspartate aminotransferase, interleukin-6, and corticosterone levels in the 24L treatment increased significantly when compared to that in the 18L:6D treatment (p < 0.05). The footpad dermatitis score was significantly lower in the 18L:6D and 8L:16D treatments than in the 24L and 4L:2D treatments (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the carcass and meat characteristics, except for the shear force of breast meat (Pectoralis major), which was the lowest in the 8L:16D treatment (p < 0.05). These results indicate that a photoperiod of 18 h resulted in an improvement in the performance and welfare of birds and a simultaneous decrease in stress level. However, further research is needed to establish a lighting regimen that satisfies both the productivity and welfare requirements of broilers in different feeding phases.

Procedural sedation has become increasingly common in endoscopy. Sedatives and analgesics induce anxiolysis and amnesia. In addition, an appropriate level of sedation is necessary for safe procedures including therapeutic endoscopy. Midazolam and propofol are the most commonly used drugs in sedative endoscopy. In recent years, the need to ascertain the safety and effectiveness of sedation has increased in practice. Therefore, new sedatives and analgesic drugs for optimal sedative endoscopy, have recently emerged. This article reviews the characteristics of sedatives and analgesics, and describes their clinical use in gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic there is still a need for vaccines to effectively control the spread of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants and associated cases of severe disease. Here we report a messenger RNA vaccine directly encoding for a nanoparticle displaying 60 receptor binding domains (RBDs) of SARS-CoV-2 that acts as a highly effective antigen. A construct encoding the RBD of the Delta variant elicits robust neutralizing antibody response, and also provides protective immunity against the Delta variant in a widely used transgenic mouse model. We ultimately find that the proposed mRNA RBD nanoparticle-based vaccine provides a flexible platform for rapid development and will likely be of great value in combatting current and future SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern., Competing Interests: PB and JH are the founders and owners of Phylex BioSciences, Inc., the company that holds IP related to RBD-NP; PB is a named inventor on several RBD-NP vaccine patents; AD is employed by BTS Research; GS and H-KL are employed by Abeomics, Inc.; AS was employed by Aldevron LLC. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Brandys, Montagutelli, Merenkova, Barut, Thiel, Schork, Trüeb, Conquet, Deng, Antanasijevic, Lee, Valière, Sindhu, Singh and Herold.)

EUS-guided drainage for gallbladder, bile duct, pancreatic duct, and peripancreatic fluid collection has been performed more frequently in the last decade. The development of dedicated stents and delivery systems for EUS-guided interventions have improved the efficacy and safety of these procedures. Furthermore, the introduction of lumen-apposing metal stents has reduced the complication significantly of endoscopic transmural drainage of pancreatic collections and gallbladder. Recent studies show that EUS-guided drainage of pancreaticobiliary ducts and peripancreatic fluid collection produces good results and low complication rates. This review describes the current position and role of interventional EUS for pancreatobiliary disease in clinical practice.

Sedation can resolve anxiety and fear in patients undergoing endoscopy. The use of sedatives has increased in Korea. Appropriate sedation is a state in which the patient feels subjectively comfortable while maintaining the airway reflex for stable spontaneous breathing. The patient should maintain a state of consciousness to the extent that he or she can cooperate with the needs of the medical staff. Despite its benefits, endoscopic sedation has been associated with cardiopulmonary complications. Such cardiopulmonary complications are usually temporary, and most patients recover without sequelae. However, these events may progress to serious complications, such as cardiovascular collapse. Therefore, it is essential to screen high-risk patients before sedation and reduce complications by meticulous monitoring. Additionally, physicians should be familiar with the management of emergencies. The first Korean clinical practice guideline for endoscopic sedation was developed based on previous worldwide guidelines for endoscopic sedation using an adaptation process. The guideline consists of nine recommendations based on a critical review of currently available data and expert consensus when the guideline was drafted. These guidelines should provide clinicians, nurses, medical school students, and policy makers with information on how to perform endoscopic sedation with minimal risk.

Background: Looking for alternative omega-3 sources in broiler nutrition, microalgae began to get attention. We suspected that schizochytrium might play a similar role as other omega-3 sources that have been used before., Methods: 20 g/kg s chizochytrium powder (SP), salmon oil (SO), and flaxseed oil (FO) in each of the three treatment groups were supplemented in the basal diet (CON), and productive performance, carcass traits, and thigh meat quality of broilers were evaluated., Results: There was a significantly higher weight gain in the SP treatment compared to the other groups, but no difference was found in feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance values increased during storage in all the treatments but were significantly lower for SP than for SO and FO after 7 days of storage. Among the ω-3 fatty acids (FAs), α-linolenic acid increased the most in the FO treatment, eicosapentaenoic acid increased the most in the SO treatment, and docosahexaenoic acid increased the most in the SP treatment in thigh meat, reflecting the FA composition of the lipid source diets., Conclusions: We suggested that all the dietary ω-3 FA sources could improve the FA composition of chicken meat and our results indicated the possibility to supplement broiler diets with 2% level of SP, SO, and FO as ω-3 FA sources to produce meat with a good nutritional quality for consumer's health benefits.

This study aimed to determine the effects of providing environmental enrichment materials—pumice stone and alfalfa hay—to laying hens in the aviary system. A total of 2196 40-week-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens were randomly allotted to three treatment groups: (1) no enrichment (control; CON), (2) enrichment with pumice stone (PS), and (3) enrichment with alfalfa hay (HAY). Each treatment comprised four replicates of 183 hens each, and four of the same materials were provided per replicate. The experiment lasted for 26 weeks. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. As a result, the PS and HAY groups demonstrated increased egg production (p < 0.001). The HAY group showed a reduced rate of mislaid eggs (p < 0.01) and produced low egg weight and pale-yellow yolk (p < 0.05). Both enrichment materials decreased blood creatinine (CRE) or lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the blood and resulted in a significantly lower corticosterone (CORT) level (p < 0.05). However, the feather condition scores for the laying hens were similar across all treatments (p > 0.05). In summary, although pumice stone and alfalfa hay are effective in alleviating stress and improving the production of laying hens, additional environmental improvement studies are needed to contribute to reducing pecking behaviors in poultry farming.

Environmental factors such as stocking density and high temperature can cause oxidative stress and negatively affect the physiological status and meat quality of broiler chickens. Here, we evaluated the effects of heat stress on the growth performance, antioxidant levels, and meat quality of broilers under different stocking densities. A total of 885 28-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were subjected to five treatments (16, 18, 21, 23, and 26 birds/m2) and exposed to high temperatures (33 °C for 24 h) for 7 days. High stocking density (23 and 26 birds/m2) resulted in significantly decreased body weight (p < 0.01) and superoxide dismutase activity in the blood (p < 0.05) and increased (p < 0.05) rectal temperature and corticosterone. Additionally, the concentrations of heat shock protein 70 and malondialdehyde in the liver were higher in the 26 birds/m2 group (p < 0.05). Similarly, the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity of breast meat increased linearly as the stocking density increased (p < 0.05). There was increased shear force in breast meat at low stocking density (p < 0.01). Thus, lower stocking density can relieve oxidative stress induced by high temperatures in broilers and improve the antioxidant capacity and quality of breast meat during hot seasons.

Sedation can resolve anxiety and fear in patients undergoing endoscopy. The use of sedatives has increased in Korea. Appropriate sedation is a state in which the patient feels subjectively comfortable while maintaining the airway reflex for stable spontaneous breathing. The patient should maintain a state of consciousness to the extent that he or she can cooperate with the needs of the medical staff. Despite its benefits, endoscopic sedation has been associated with cardiopulmonary complications. Cardiopulmonary complications are usually temporary. Most patients recover without sequelae. However, they may progress to serious complications, such as cardiovascular collapse. Therefore, it is essential to screen high-risk patients before sedation and reduce complications by meticulous monitoring. Additionally, physicians should be familiar with the management of emergencies. The first Korean clinical practice guideline for endoscopic sedation was developed based on previous worldwide guidelines for endoscopic sedation using an adaptation process. The guideline consists of nine recommendations based on a critical review of currently available data and expert consensus when the guideline was drafted. These guidelines should provide clinicians, nurses, medical school students, and policy makers with information on how to perform endoscopic sedation with minimal risk.

Background: The administration of L-glutamine (Gln) suppresses allergic airway inflammation via the rapid upregulation of MAPK phosphatase (MKP)-1, which functions as a negative regulator of inflammation by deactivating p38 and JNK mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). However, the role of endogenous Gln remains to be elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the mechanism by which endogenous Gln regulates MKP-1 induction and allergic airway inflammation in an ovalbumin-based murine asthma model., Methods: We depleted endogenous Gln levels using L-γ-glutamyl-p-nitroanilide (GPNA), an inhibitor of the Gln transporter ASCT2 and glutamine synthetase small interfering siRNA. Lentivirus expressing MKP-1 was injected to achieve overexpression of MKP-1. Asthmatic phenotypes were assessed using our previously developed ovalbumin-based murine model, which is suitable for examining sequential asthmatic events, including neutrophil infiltration. Gln levels were analyzed using a Gln assay kit., Results: GPNA or glutamine synthetase siRNA successfully depleted endogenous Gln levels. Importantly, homeostatic MKP-1 induction did not occur at all, which resulted in prolonged p38 MAPK and cytosolic phospholipase A 2 (cPLA 2 ) phosphorylation in Gln-deficient mice. Gln deficiency augmented all examined asthmatic reactions, but it exhibited a strong bias toward increasing the neutrophil count, which was not observed in MKP-1-overexpressing lungs. This neutrophilia was inhibited by a cPLA 2 inhibitor and a leukotriene B4 inhibitor but not by dexamethasone., Conclusion: Gln deficiency leads to the impairment of MKP-1 induction and activation of p38 MAPK and cPLA 2 , resulting in the augmentation of neutrophilic, more so than eosinophilic, airway inflammation., (© 2021 The Authors. Allergy published by European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Biomonitoring of workers is an approach of evaluating workers' exposure to chemicals and particulate matter by measuring biomarkers of parent chemicals, their metabolites, and reaction products in workers' biospecimens. Prerequisites for biological monitoring in the workplace include permission to enter the workplace, approval of the study plan from the IRB (Institutional Review Board), and obtaining consent from workers. Because of the complex legal process involved in biomonitoring, few studies have been conducted so far on biomonitoring of workers' exposures to nanoparticles and other hazards from emerging materials and advanced nanotechnologies. We have developed a cell-based biomonitoring device that can evaluate acute cytotoxicity and various other effect biomakers, such as inflammation, at realistic workplace exposure. This device is based on air-liquid interphase (ALI) and can be used to evaluate cell toxicity and early effect biomarkers along adverse outcome pathways. Following exposure of A549 lung epithelial cells in ALI to workplace air for 1-2 h, the cells were processed to assess the induction of inflammatory and cell damage biomarkers. Initially, we estimated the deposition rate of nanoparticles in the transwell by exposing the cell-free ALI device to silver nanoparticle aerosols (AgNP 20-30 nm) for 2 h in the laboratory. Then A549 lung epithelial cells cultured on the transwell in the ALI device were exposed to AgNP nanoaerosols for 2 h and evaluated for cytotoxicity and induction of mRNAs of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1b, IL-6, and TNF-α. Then the cells in the ALI device were exposed to 3-D printer emissions at the workplace and evaluated for the same matched endpoints. The mRNA levels for IL-1b, IL-6, and TNF-α increased significantly at the end of 2-h exposure of A549 cells to the positive control AgNP aerosols. These mRNAs, as well as LDH and microprotein concentrations, increased even more after 24-h post-exposure incubation ( p < 0.05). Cytotoxicity evaluation of 3-D printer emissions at 810 and 957 μg/m 3 , which was more than 80 times higher than the airborne total suspended particulate concentrations in the workplace air (9-12.5 μg/m3), suggested no significant acute cytotoxicity at the end of 2-h exposure to 3-D-printing emission, as well as at 24-h post-exposure incubation. Hyperspectral microscopic observation showed that 3-D printers emitted particles to be attached to A549 cells after 2-h exposure, and many particles were internalized by A549 cells after 24 h of post-exposure incubation. The mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1b and IL-6 increased significantly after 2-h exposure to 3-D printer emissions and after 24-h incubation (only IL-6). In contrast, the expression of TNF-α mRNA decreased significantly after 2 h of exposure to 3-D printers and decreased even more after 24-h post-exposure incubation. These results support the use of cell-based ALI devices for direct assessment of airborne hazards in the workplace, for probing toxicological properties of airborne contaminants using adverse molecular pathways, and for guiding study design for workplace biomonitoring. ALI devices can bridge conventional exposure assessment with cellular toxicity testing platforms for hazard and risk assessment., Competing Interests: Authors HPK, MJ, HSK, and HL are employed by HCTm and IY is employed by HCT, Co. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The reviewer MR declared a past co-authorship with the authors DB; MG to the handling Editor., (Copyright © 2022 Kim, Shin, Kim, Jo, Kim, Lee, Lee, Kwon, Han, Kang, Gulumian, Bello and Yu.)

This study investigated the main effects of the in ovo injection of inorganic zinc (Zn) or diet supplementation of Zn on performance, serum biochemical profiles, and breast meat quality in broilers. A total of 480 one-day-old broilers (Ross 308) were randomly divided into four groups: the control (Con, noninjected and basal diet), in ovo (injected 60 mg Zn/egg at 18 embryonic days of incubation and basal diet), Zn100 (noninjected and basal diet with Zn (100 mg/kg) for 35 days), and Zn200 (noninjected and basal diet with Zn (200 mg/kg) for 35 days) groups. The dietary supplementation of Zn increased feed intake (2860.42-2861.08 g), weight (1975.06-1985.25 g), and weight gain (1936.36-1946.53 g) compared to Con (2785.74, 1891.38, and 1852.62 g, respectively) after five weeks of age. No significant difference was found in biochemical parameters and leukocyte and erythrocyte levels in the blood among the four different groups. In ovo injected or supplemental Zn (100 and 200 mg/kg) increased IgG in the blood of broilers. Zn200 increased polyunsaturated fatty acids, and saturated fatty acid contents were reduced in breast meat compared with Con. In conclusion, Zn supplementation at 200 mg/kg could improve the weight, feed intake, blood immune response, and fatty acid profile of breast meat.

Sedation can resolve anxiety and fear in patients undergoing endoscopy. The use of sedatives has increased in Korea. Appropriate sedation is a state in which the patient feels subjectively comfortable while maintaining the airway reflex for stable spontaneous breathing. The patient should maintain a state of consciousness to the extent that he or she can cooperate with the needs of the medical staff. Despite its benefits, endoscopic sedation has been associated with cardiopulmonary complications. Cardiopulmonary complications are usually temporary. Most patients recover without sequelae. However, they may progress to serious complications, such as cardiovascular collapse. Therefore, it is essential to screen high-risk patients before sedation and reduce complications by meticulous monitoring. Additionally, physicians should be familiar with the management of emergencies. The first Korean clinical practice guideline for endoscopic sedation was developed based on previous worldwide guidelines for endoscopic sedation using an adaptation process. The guideline consists of nine recommendations based on a critical review of currently available data and expert consensus when the guideline was drafted. These guidelines should provide clinicians, nurses, medical school students, and policy makers with information on how to perform endoscopic sedation with minimal risk.

This study monitored particulates, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from 3-D printers using acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) filaments at a workplace to assess exposure before and after introducing exposure mitigation measures. Air samples were collected in the printing room and adjacent corridor, and real-time measurements of ultrafine and fine particle were also conducted. Extensive physicochemical characterizations of 3-D printer emissions were performed, including real-time (size distribution, number concentration) nanoparticle characterization, size-fractionated mass distribution and concentration, as well as chemical composition for metals by ICP-MS and VOCs by GC-FID, real-time VOC monitors, and proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer (PTR-TOF-MS). Air sampling showed low levels of total suspended particulates (TSP, 9-12.5/m 3 ), minimal levels (1.93-4 ppm) of total volatile organic chemicals (TVOC), and formaldehyde (2.5-21.7 ppb). Various harmful gases, such as formaldehyde, acrolein, acetone, hexane, styrene, toluene, and trimethylamine, were detected at concentrations in the 1-100 ppb by PTR-TOF-MS when air sample was collected into the Tedlar bag from the front of the 3-D printer. Ultrafine particles having an average particle size (30 nm count median diameter and 71 nm mass median diameter) increased during the 3-D printing operation. They decreased to the background level after the 3-D printing operation, while fine particles continually increased after the termination of 3-D printing to the next day morning. The exposure to 3-D printer emissions was greatly reduced after isolating 3-D printers in the enclosed space. Particle number concentration measured by real-time particle counters (DMAS and OPC) were greatly reduced after isolating 3-D printers to the isolated place., Competing Interests: Authors HoK, MJ, HeK, HL, and IY were employed by HCTm and IY is employed by HCT, Co. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Kim, Shin, Kim, Jo, Kim, Lee, Lee, Kwon, Han, Kang, Gulumian, Bello and Yu.)

Introduction and Importance: Phyllodes tumors (PT) account for approximately 1% of all breast tumors. The coexistence of phyllodes tumor and invasive lobular carcinoma in the ipsilateral breast is extremely rare with fewer than six cases reported worldwide in the last 20 years. We hereby present the first in Taiwan., Case Presentation: A 43-year-old female was presented with a protruding tumor with bleeding tendency over left breast in 2016. Breast sonography revealed highly suspected malignancy (ACR BI-RADS category 5). Computed tomography scan disclosed a protruding mass occupying the left breast. Core needle biopsy showed a fibroepithelial lesion favoring fibroadenoma. Considering clinicopathological discrepancy, a nipple-sparing mastectomy was conducted. Pathology report revealed a benign PT with an incidental finding of invasive lobular carcinoma (pT1cN0) within the tumor. Due to tumor recurrence, the patient received re-operation of total mastectomy in 2017, and is under regular adjuvant hormonal therapy without cancer recurrence to date., Clinical Discussion: Physicians could easily overlook carcinomas enclosed by PTs due to its occult property. However, when carcinomatous changes arise from within or along with the PT, the proposed therapeutical course may be altered. Moreover, invasive carcinoma components in PTs possess potential for lymph node metastasis. Multidisciplinary cooperation is key in detecting and managing PT with synchronous carcinomatosis., Conclusion: Thorough examination of the excised tumor specimen and ensuring an adequate surgical margin is necessary. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) should be considered whenever suspicious clinical features occur in PT patients. This may aid in the detection of microscopic invasive carcinomatous change., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)