Search

A 19-month-old Korean native cow died the following day after consuming new silage. Grossly, the liver showed enlargement, redness, and haemorrhages in all the lobes. Additionally, many of the bur-shaped fruits of the cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium) were found in the gastric contents. The histological evaluation confirmed centrilobular hepatic necrosis. Additionally, carboxyatractyloside (CATR), a material fatal to animals found in the cocklebur, was detected in the gastric contents using high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS). Based on the pathological findings and analytical confirmation, CATR intoxication was diagnosed. Therefore, careful feeding and elimination of the cocklebur is essential for minimising economic loss.

Cryptosporidium parvum is an enteric protozoan, which causes severe diarrhoea in a wide range of vertebrate hosts including ruminants and humans. C. parvum infections are responsible for immense economic losses to the livestock industry; furthermore, the zoonotic spread of the infection may lead to mortality in immunosuppressed humans. In the present study, we report two cases of severe cryptosporidiosis in goat kids in the Republic of Korea. Both cases were afflicted with severe diarrhoea upon presentation; the histopathological examinations revealed atrophied and fused intestinal villi and numerous circular basophilic organisms in the jejunum and ileum. Both cases were diagnosed with cryptosporidiosis based on the results of the histopathological analysis, amplification of the C. parvum gp60 gene, modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining, and C. parvum antigen ELISA. According to the phylogenetic analysis using the C. parvum gp60 gene for the genetic subtypes, the C. parvum isolates were identified as subtype IIdA15G1 with zoonotic potential. This is the first pathological report of caprine cryptosporidiosis induced by C. parvum subtype IId in the Republic of Korea. Considering the clinical manifestations associated with the pathological lesions and the zoonotic significance of these findings, the continuous monitoring and prevention of C. parvum infections in goats are essential for minimising the economic losses in ruminant farms and in maintaining public health safety standards.

Objectives: The main Brucella species causing human infections in the Republic of Korea is Brucella abortus, which uses cattle as its host. However, since 2014, Brucella melitensis, which uses sheep and goats as hosts, has also been identified. This study investigated whether a shift has occurred in the predominant species of Brucella pathogens., Methods: Brucellosis is a class 3 infectious disease requiring mandatory reporting and registration in the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's infectious disease surveillance system (http://is.kdca.go.kr). Cases from 2014 to 2023 were studied, and whole-genome sequencing analysis was conducted using BruMLSA21., Results: Out of 51 patients, males (45 patients, 88.2%) were predominantly affected. Twentyfive patients (49%) came from the livestock industry, and within the livestock sector group, the route of infection occurred exclusively through contact (25/25, 100%), whereas in other occupations, it was split between contact (9/26 patients, 34.6%) and ingestion (8/26 patients, 30.8%). Among the 31 patients who underwent Brucella culture tests, B. melitensis was found to be more prevalent than B. abortus (14 patients, 45.2% vs. 11 patients, 35.5%). In all cases where B. melitensis was isolated, the infections were of foreign origin, consistent with the results of BruMLSA21., Conclusion: Regular monitoring of the causative agent of brucellosis is necessary due to its varying host preferences and antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, given the increasing prevalence of B. melitensis worldwide, changes in dietary habits (e.g., increased lamb consumption), and the increase in foreign workers and Chinese immigrants, a multi-ministerial One Health response will be required.

Rationale: The World Health Organization defines a perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) as a mesenchymal neoplasia composed of perivascular epithelioid cells with characteristic morphological and immunohistochemical features. Although PEComas have the potential to behave in a malignant fashion, malignant PEComas are extremely rare., Patient Concerns: An 83-year-old man visited our clinic presented with palpable, painless, and movable mass in the right knee area., Diagnoses: Malignant PEComa was diagnosed by incisional biopsy. No metastases was confirmed by radiologic imaging including PET/CT, magnetic resonance imaging, high resolution computed tomography., Interventions: We performed wide excision of the mass and used an anterolateral thigh free flap to reconstruct the defect on the right knee., Outcomes: The permanent histopathology showed malignant PEComa was totally resected. The flap which was performed to cover the defect was survived and the patient discharge without any complications., Lessons: PEComa can metastasize to various anatomical regions. Although there is no established standardized treatment, radical resection is still considered the cornerstone of treatment. Rapid and appropriate defect coverage is important to improve the patient's prognosis., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Free tissue transfer is the preferred method of reconstructing head and neck defects, with a success rate of approximately 95%. Although flap failure is uncommon, it has a major impact on patient morbidity and diminishes quality of life, making it is important to investigate the causes of flap failure., Methods: This retrospective chart review analyzed patients who underwent free tissue transfer during head and neck reconstruction at a single institution between 2016 and 2021., Results: During the study period, 58 patients underwent 60 free flap procedures. Revision surgery was needed in 14 patients. Subsequent free flap surgery was performed in one patient, and three free flaps (5%) could not be salvaged. Cardiovascular disease was significantly associated with flap failure, and venous congestion (thrombosis) was the most common reason for revision surgery., Conclusion: Cardiovascular disease clearly emerged as a factor related to the failure of free flap surgery, and this issue warrants particular attention in patients for whom free tissue transfer is planned.

Few studies have reported complications in metal fixation systems, such as infection or device exposure. Here, we report our experience with exposed metal screws after the reduction of facial bone fracture. This will be a useful guide to using a metal fixation system in situations in which metal fixation systems should not be used., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.)

This report outlines the treatment of an 82-year-old man with squamous cell carcinoma of the left cheek. The wide excision and simultaneous superficial parotidectomy were planned. Various incision methods have been widely introduced such as retroauricular hairline incision, modified Blair incision, or face-lift incision. For coverage of preauricular skin defect and parotidectomy, we modified retroauricular hairline incision that the end of the incision was bent to make transposition flap. The operation has been successfully finished using this extension of a retroauricular hairline incision.

Background: Smad4 and p53 mutations are the most common mutations in human colorectal cancers (CRCs). We evaluated whether and how they are synergistic in intestinal carcinogenesis using novel autochthonous mouse models., Method: To recapitulate human CRCs, we generated Villin-Cre;Smad4 F / F ;Trp53 F / F mice. We then compared the intestinal phenotype of Villin-Cre;Smad4 F / F ;Trp53 F / F mice (n = 40) with Villin-Cre;Smad4 F / F (n = 30) and Villin-Cre;Trp53 F / F mice (n = 45)., Results: Twenty-week-old Villin-Cre;Smad4 F / F ;Trp53 F / F mice displayed spontaneous highly proliferative intestinal tumors, and 85% of mice developed adenocarcinomas. p21 was downregulated in the intestinal mucosa in Villin-Cre;Smad4 F / F ;Trp53 F / F mice than in Villin-Cre;Smad4 F / F and Villin-Cre;Trp53 F / F mice. Villin-Cre;Smad4 F / F ;Trp53 F / F mice displayed multistep intestinal tumorigenesis and Wnt activation. Long-term CWP232291 (small-molecule Wnt inhibitor) treatment of Villin-Cre;Smad4 F / F ;Trp53 F / F mice suppressed intestinal tumorigenesis and progression. CWP232291 treatment downregulated cancer stem cell (CSC) tumor markers including CD133, Lgr-5, and Sca-1. CWP232291 treatment reduced the CSC frequency. Small-molecule Wnt inhibitors reduced intestinal CSC populations and inhibited their growth, along with Bcl-X L downregulation. Furthermore, BH3I-1, a Bcl-X L antagonist, increasingly inhibited intestinal CSCs than bulk tumor cells., Conclusion: Smad4 loss and p53 loss are synergistic in autochthonous intestinal carcinogenesis, by downregulating p21 and activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway., (© 2022 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Previous studies have shown that absence or reduction of cutaneous sensory feedback can diminish human motor performance under maximum effort. However, it has not been explored whether any appropriate intervention in the cutaneous sensory input can augment the output motor performance, particularly in motor tasks such as jumping that involve the kinematic chain of the entire body. Using shoes with active vibrating insoles, we applied mechanical vibration to the soles of 20 young and healthy adults and evaluated the change in the jump height and muscle activation using within-participants repeated measures. The noise-like vibration having an amplitude of 130% of the sensory threshold of each participant led to an average increase of 0.38 cm in the jump height (p = 0.008) and activation of the rectus femoris of the dominant leg (p = 0.011). These results indicate that application of a properly designed cutaneous stimulus to the soles, the distal end effectors of motor tasks, can augment the output performance by involving the prime movers distant from the end effector., Competing Interests: JM, PP, SR, CR, YS, and JA are inventors of two patents (10-2019-0118121 and 10-2019-0170835), which were applied to Korean Intellectual Property Office by SNU R&DB Foundation. The active insole shoes used in this study were developed by the Samsung Electronics, which employs SR. These shoes might be commercialized in the future. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Controversy exists regarding the influence of the graft placement site in the mandible on the success of non-vascularised bone grafts. In this study, we examine the association between the compartment of the mandibular defect and the bone graft failure rate. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis was performed using MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Failure rates according to the compartment of mandibular defect were extracted and analysed by meta-analysis. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of the studies, and publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots. The search strategy identified 27 publications. After screening, five were selected for review. Based on the result of comparison among these five, we found no significant statistical association between the bone graft failure rate and compartment of mandibular defect, although further investigation of prospective randomised cohort studies is required., (Copyright © 2021 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. All rights reserved.)

Cryptosporidium parvum is an enteric protozoan, which causes severe diarrhoea in a wide range of vertebrate hosts including ruminants and humans. C. parvum infections are responsible for immense economic losses to the livestock industry; furthermore, the zoonotic spread of the infection may lead to mortality in immunosuppressed humans. In the present study, we report two cases of severe cryptosporidiosis in goat kids in the Republic of Korea. Both cases were afflicted with severe diarrhoea upon presentation; the histopathological examinations revealed atrophied and fused intestinal villi and numerous circular basophilic organisms in the jejunum and ileum. Both cases were diagnosed with cryptosporidiosis based on the results of the histopathological analysis, amplification of the C. parvum gp60 gene, modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining, and C. parvum antigen ELISA. According to the phylogenetic analysis using the C. parvum gp60 gene for the genetic subtypes, the C. parvum isolates were identified as subtype IIdA15G1 with zoonotic potential. This is the first pathological report of caprine cryptosporidiosis induced by  C. parvum subtype IId in the Republic of Korea. Considering the clinical manifestations associated with the pathological lesions and the zoonotic significance of these findings, the continuous monitoring and prevention of  C. parvum infections in goats are essential for minimising the economic losses in ruminant farms and in maintaining public health safety standards., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Kim et al.)

Minimum toe clearance (MTC) is an important indicator of the risk of tripping. Aging and neuromuscular diseases often decrease MTC height and increase its variability, leading to a higher risk of tripping. Previous studies have developed visual feedback-based gait training systems to modify MTC. However, these systems are bulky and expensive, and the effects of the training continue only for a short time. We paid attention to the efficacy of vibration in decreasing the variability of gait parameters, and hypothesized that proper vibration applied to soles can reduce the MTC variability. Using shoes embedded with active vibrating insoles, we assessed the efficacy of both sub- and supra-threshold vibration in affecting MTC distribution. Experiment results with 17 young and healthy adults showed that vibration applied throughout the walking task with constant intensity of 130% of sensory threshold significantly decreased MTC variability, whereas sub-threshold vibration yielded no significant effect. These results demonstrate that a properly designed tactile sensory input which is controlled and delivered by a simple wearable device, the active insole, can reduce the MTC variability during walking., Competing Interests: The active insole shoes used in this study were developed by the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, which currently employs SR. These shoes might be commercialized in the future. The other authors declare no competing interests. This does not alter our adherence to PLoS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Purpose: The authors compared facial scars after split-thickness skin grafts (STSGs) performed with a dermal substitute or after full-thickness skin grafts (FTSGs) in facial defect., Materials and Methods: The medical records of patients who had undergone FTSG or STSG with dermal substitute after skin cancer surgery between March 2016 and December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. The scars resulting from skin grafts were assessed using the patient and observer scar assessment scales (PSAS and OSAS) in our clinic after a minimum of 6 months postoperatively., Results: Of the 50 study subjects, 35 patients (FTSG group) received FTSG only and 15 patients (STSG group) received STSG with the dermal substitute. The total scores of PSAS and OSAS were significantly lower in the FTSG group and it is suggested that both patients and observers thought that better scar outcomes were achieved when FTSGs were used. However, for defects smaller than 1.8 cm2 and defects located in the periorbital area, there was no statistically significant difference in the scores of PSAS and OSAS in the 2 groups. Interestingly, for defects located in the periorbital area, although there was no significant difference, PSAS and OSAS scores were lower in the STSG group than in the FTSG group. In other word, scar outcomes in the STSG group were better., Conclusions: Although there was no significant difference, unlike what we usually know, our result shows that STSG with dermal substitute tended to produce comparable or rather better results than FTSG under some conditions., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.)

Epithelial barrier function in the mammary gland acts as a forefront of the defense mechanism against mastitis, which is widespread and a major disorder in dairy production. Chemerin is a chemoattractant protein with potent antimicrobial ability, but its role in the mammary gland remains unelucidated. The aim of this study was to determine the function of chemerin in mammary epithelial tissue of dairy cows in lactation or dry-off periods. Mammary epithelial cells produced chemerin protein, and secreted chemerin was detected in milk samples. Chemerin treatment promoted the proliferation of cultured bovine mammary epithelial cells and protected the integrity of the epithelial cell layer from hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 )-induced damage. Meanwhile, chemerin levels were higher in mammary tissue with mastitis. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) strongly upregulated the expression of the chemerin-coding gene ( RARRES2 ) in mammary epithelial cells. Therefore, chemerin was suggested to support mammary epithelial cell growth and epithelial barrier function and to be regulated by inflammatory stimuli. Our results may indicate chemerin as a novel therapeutic target for diseases in the bovine mammary gland.

Neurological diseases in cattle can be caused by several infectious agents. Astroviruses are increasingly recognized as the causative agent of encephalitis in various animals, including humans. In this study, a neuroinvasive astrovirus (BoAstV 20B05) was discovered in the brain tissues of an 81-month-old Korean native cattle with neurological symptoms. Lymphocyte infiltration and multifocal perivascular cuffing were observed in the cerebrum and brain stem, and viral antigens were also detected in the meninges. In particular, the concentration of the astroviral genome was high in the brain tissues. Korean BoAstV 20B05 was classified into the CH13/NeuroS1 clade and was closely related to the Neuro-Uy and KagoshimaSR28-462 strains. Our evolutionary analysis showed that Korean BoAstV 20B05 belongs to the sub-lineage NeuroS1 and evolved independently of BoAstV KagoshimaSR28-462. These results suggest that neuroinvasive astroviruses were first introduced in Korea. However, analysis is limited by the lack of reference astrovirus sequences reported in various countries within Asia, and further analysis should be performed using more strains. In this study, we identified a neuroinvasive astrovirus infection with neurological symptoms for the first time in South Korea and confirmed that BoAstV 20B05 may have been introduced in South Korea a long time ago.

A Gram-stain-negative, oxidase-positive, catalase-positive, aerobic, orange-pigmented, rod-shaped and non-motile bacterium designated strain MMS17-SY002 T was isolated from island soil. The isolate grew at 20-37 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 6.0-9.5 (optimum, pH 7) and in the presence of 0.5-4.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2.0 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain MMS17-SY002 T was mostly related to the genus Muriicola of the family Flavobacteriaceae and had highest sequence similarity of 96.82 % to Muriicola marianensis A6B8 T and Muriicola jejuensis EM44 T , but formed a distinct phylogenetic line within the genus. Chemotaxonomic analyses showed that menaquinone 6 was the predominant isoprenoid quinone, the major fatty acids were iso-C 15 : 1 G and iso-C 15 : 0 , and the diagnostic polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. The genomic DNA G+C content was 42.4 mol%. Strain MMS17-SY002 T could be distinguished from related species by the combination of trypsin, α-chymotrypsin, acid phosphatase, naphthol-AS-BI-phosphohydrolase, α-galactosidase, β-galactosidase and β-glucosidase activities. The orthologous average nucleotide identity between the genomes of strain MMS17-SY002 T and M. jejuensis and that between the strain and M. marianensis A6B8 T were 73.26 and 73.33%, respectively, thus confirming the separation of the strain from related species at species level. Based on the phenotypic, phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and genomic characterization, MMS17-SY002 T should be recognized as a novel species of the genus Muriicola , for which the name Muriicola soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MMS17-SY002 T (=KCTC 62790 T =JCM 32370 T ).

Hypopharyngeal reconstruction is a surgically challenging procedure, and postoperative management is important due to a high rate of complications following surgery. In particular, stricture and fistula formation is the most common long-term postoperative complication. Through systematic review and meta-analysis of 21 studies, a significant radiation effect of stricture and fistula formation was found in patients who underwent hypopharyngeal reconstruction. The perioperative radiation must be seen as a critical factor for stricture and fistula formation in hypopharyngeal reconstruction.

Various resorbable plates and screws were used for facial bone fractures because of several strengths. However, there are few studies on their clinical course and long-term follow-up concerning their degradation and resorption time. The authors present rare case of long term follow-up of resorbable plates and screws under the incision site.

A polyphasic study was carried out to establish the taxonomic position of an acidophilic isolate designated MMS16-CNU292 T (=JCM 32302 T ) from pine grove soil, and provisionally assigned to the genus Kitasatospora . On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, the strain formed a novel evolutionary lineage within Kitasatospora and showed highest similarities to Kitasatospora azatica KCTC 9699 T (98.75 %), Kitasatospora kifunensis IFO 15206 T (98.74 %), Kitasatospora purpeofusca NRRL B-1817 T (98.61 %) and Kitasatospora nipponensis HKI 0315 T (98.42 %), respectively. Strain MMS16-CNU292 T possessed MK-9(H 6 ) and MK-9(H 8 ) as the major menaquinones, and a major amount of meso -diaminopimelic acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The whole-cell hydrolysates were rich in galactose, glucose and mannose, and the polar lipids mainly consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol mannosides. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C 15 : 1 -A, anteiso-C 15 : 0 , and iso-C 15 : 0 , and the DNA G+C content was 71.5 mol%. The strain exhibited antibacterial activity against a number of bacterial strains, and the activity was generally greater when grown in acidic conditions. The phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic properties enabled distinction of MMS16-CNU292 T from related species, and thus the isolate should be recognized as a new species of the genus Kitasatospora , for which the name Kitasatospora acidiphila sp. nov. (type strain=MMS16-CNU292 T =KCTC 49011 T =JCM 32302 T ) is proposed.

Meningioma is the most common intracranial benign tumor in adults. Hyperostosis accompanies about 4.5% of meningiomas. The authors report a rare case of hyperostotic meningioma that may have been misdiagnosed as giant osteoma.A 42-year male visited our clinic due to an egg-sized, hard mass on his left forehead. The mass suspected to be giant osteoma was about 4.2 × 4.0 cm sized, hard, non-movable, and non-tender. But based on radiologic findings, the mass was diagnosed as meningioma with extensive hyperostosis.Without neurologic symptoms, the diagnosis of meningioma associated with hyperostosis can be challenging and be misdiagnosed as fibrous dysplasia and osteoma by simple examination without enhanced CT and MRI.Therefore, although osseous lesions are strongly suspected to be osteomas, surgeons should consider other diagnoses, and if necessary, use contrast enhanced CT or MRI to differentiate these bony lesions.

Purpose: Replant survival rates have reportedly declined over the past decade. Although this problem is multifactorial, 1 potential solution may include the development of a relevant teaching model. The development of an in vivo animal model that can be used for surgical training could enhance surgeon and resident experience and potentially improve outcomes. Here, we present a novel training model for digit replantation using turkey digits., Methods: Six mature male Bourbon Red turkeys were included in this study. With the animal under general anesthesia, the third digit on either the left or the right foot was randomly selected and amputated. The medial and lateral digital neurovascular bundles were dissected on both sides and the digit was replanted. Perfusion was confirmed prior to skin closure. The foot was casted prior to extubating the turkeys. Turkeys were then placed in a non-weight-bearing sling. Digit status was evaluated twice daily., Results: All 6 replanted digits were viable immediately after surgery and for at least 24 hours after surgery. The average digit survival was 6 days with a maximum survival of 15 days. All digits were eventually lost owing to a variety of reasons including infection and arterial thrombosis., Conclusions: The turkey digit proved to be a successful short-term animal training model for digit replantation. Future studies are needed to determine optimum standard surgical procedure and postoperative care to maximize the educational benefits of this training model., Clinical Relevance: To establish an animal model that can simulate digital replantation., (Copyright © 2020 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of HS on HSPs gene expression in bovine PBMCs of beef calves in in vitro and in vivo models. In the in vitro experiment, blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of five beef calves (age: 174.2 ± 5.20 days, BW: 145.2 ± 5.21 kg). In the in vivo experiment, sixteen Korean native male beef calves (age: 169.6 ± 4.60 days, BW: 136.9 ± 6.23 kg) were exposed to ambient temperature for seven days (22 to 24 °C, relative humidity 60%; temperature-humidity index (THI) = 68 to 70) and subsequently to the temperature and humidity corresponding to the target THI level for 21 days (HS). For PBMC isolation, blood samples were collected every three days. In the in vitro model, the cell viability was significantly decreased in HS groups compared with the control group ( p = 0.015). The expression of HSP70 ( p = 0.022), HSP90 ( p = 0.003) and HSPB1 ( p = 0.026) genes was increased in the HS group in in vitro model. In the in vivo experiment, the HSP70 gene expression was increased after sudden exposure to HS conditions (severe THI levels; THI = 88 to 90), whereas HSP90 and HSPB1 showed no differences among the THI groups ( p > 0.05). However, in the severe THI group, the HSP70 gene expression returned to normal range after six days of continuous HS. In conclusion, the HSP70 gene plays a pivotal role in protecting cells from damage and is sensitive to HS in immune cells compared with other HSP genes in in vitro and in vivo models. In addition, the in vivo models suggest that calves exhibit active physiological mechanisms of adaptation to HS after six days of continuous exposure by regulating the HSP70 gene expression.

Many methods have been devised to repair cranial defects. Here, we report the use of a simple technique for the repair of a congenital cranial defect associated with aplasia cutis congenita (ACC).A newborn baby at 39 weeks of gestation was consulted with a scalp and cranial defect at the vertex measuring 3 × 1.5 cm. A 3-D CT scan of the skull confirmed the presence of a cranial defect at the sagittal suture and a normal brain structure. On the 13 day of life, the newborn was taken to an operating room. An autologous bone graft was harvested from adjacent normal parietal bone and grafted into the debrided congenital cranial defect. The soft tissue defect was then covered by rotation flaps.The postoperative 3-D CT scan presented a well-positioned autologous bone graft. At 1 month postoperatively, the skull contour was normal and there was no palpable defect.We report a successful surgical outcome for a congenital cranial and soft tissue defect in ACC treated using an autologous bone graft and rotation flaps. Although conservative therapy may be an alternative option, we recommend appropriate surgical reconstruction in patients at risk of potentially fatal complications.

Three aerobic, rod-shaped actinobacterial strains, designated MMS17-SY117 T , MMS17-SY207-3 T and MMS17-SY213 T , were isolated from soil and their taxonomic positions were analysed using a polyphasic approach. The isolates showed best growth at 30 °C, pH 7 and 0-1 % (w/v) NaCl. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, the isolates were affiliated to the genus Nocardioides , and the closest species to MMS17-SY117 T , MMS17-SY207-3 T and MMS17-SY213 T were Nocardioides aestuarii JC2056 T (97.76%), Nocardioides currus IB-3 T (97.41%) and Nocardioides exalbidus RC825 T (98.71%), respectively. Each isolate formed a distinct cluster within the Nocardioides clade in the phylogenetic tree. The orthologous average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values were in the range of 74.4-85.7 % and 16.6-39.2 %, respectively, with the type strains of related species. The major polar lipids in all three strains were phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. The predominant fatty acids were iso-C 16 : 0 and C 17 : 1  ω8 c . MK-8(H 4 ) was the major isoprenoid quinone and ll-DAP was the major diamino acid. Galactose, glucose and rhamnose were present in the whole-cell hydrolysate, and MMS17-SY213 T also contained mannose and ribose. The DNA G+C contents of MMS17-SY117 T , MMS17-SY207-3 T and MMS17-SY213 T were 72.2, 70.4 and 71.5 mol%, respectively. The phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data supported the classification of each strain as representing a new species of Nocardioides , for which the names Nocardioides euryhalodurans sp. nov. (MMS17-SY117 T =KCTC 49175 T =JCM 32831 T ), Nocardioides seonyuensis sp. nov. (MMS17-SY207-3 T =KCTC 49176 T =JCM 32832 T ) and Nocardioides eburneiflavus sp. nov. (MMS17-SY213 T =KCTC 49177 T =JCM 32833 T ) are proposed accordingly.

A mycolic acid-containing actinobacterium designated strain MMS17-SY073 T was isolated from island soil. The isolate showed best growth at 25 °C, pH 6, and 0 % (w/v) NaCl. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain MMS17-SY073 T belongs to the genus Gordonia , and is mostly related to the type strains of Gordonia soli (98.5 % sequence similarity), Gordonia polyisoprenivorans (98.1%), and Gordonia hankookensis (97.8%). The genome-based comparisons showed a clear distinction between the strain and the two neighbouring species, G. soli and G. polyisoprenivorans , with the average nucleotide identities (ANI) of 75.8 and 76.3 %, respectively. Notably, the genome of strain MMS17-SY073 T was the largest in total stretch and gene counts among the complete genomes of Gordonia , and contained a number of biosynthetic gene clusters for secondary metabolites, in particular those for non-ribosomal peptide synthetases. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidyl glycerol (DPG), phosphatidyl glycerol (PG), phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE), phosphatidyl inositol (PI) and phosphatidyl inositol mannoside (PIM). The isoprenoid quinone was MK-9(H 2 ), and the main fatty acids were C 16 : 0 (30.2%) and 10-methyl-C 18 : 0 (33.7%). The whole cell hydrolysates contained galactose, arabinose, and meso -diaminopimelic acid. The DNA G+C content was 67.4 mol%. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genetic analysis, strain MMS17-SY073 T should be classified as a new species of the genus Gordonia , for which the name Gordonia insulae sp. nov. is proposed (type strain=MMS17-SY073 T =KCTC 49257 T =JCM 33277 T ).

Fatigue can induce postural instability and even lead to falls. However, most current methods to delay or reduce fatigue require long preparatory time, or large and expensive equipment. We propose a convenient method to alleviate postural instability due to fatigue. We paid attention to that fatigue and aging share similar neurophysiological deterioration of sensory-motor function. Considering that stochastic resonance via sub-sensory mechanical vibration increases postural stability in the elderly, we propose that sub-sensory insole vibration reduces the negative effect of fatigue on postural control. We performed experiments with 21 young and healthy adult participants, and demonstrated that insole vibration compensates for the loss of balance ability due to fatigue. The sub-sensory insole vibration restored both the area of center of pressure and the complexity of the time series of the motor output after fatigue to the pre-fatigue levels. The insole units generating the vibration were completely concealed in shoes and controlled by a smart phone. This compact implementation contrasts with the cumbersome procedure of current solutions to fatigue-induced postural instability.

A vein graft in head and neck reconstruction is essential in some circumstances. The cephalic vein in the wrist has a suitable caliber for both a concomitant vein and the internal jugular vein (IJV). A vein graft involving the cephalic vein and its branches was used in 2 cases of head and neck reconstruction. The ramified distal vein was anatomized with a concomitant vein, and the proximal larger vein was anastomosed with the IJV using an end-to-side technique. After placement of vein grafts using the cephalic vein, the flaps were stable with no venous complications. To overcome the size difference between concomitant veins and the IJV, the authors recommend the cephalic vein including its distal branches in the wrist area.

Introduction: Tissue loss as a consequence of congenital anomalies, trauma, malignancy, or gangrene represents a major health care problem in the United States. Because younger individuals are disproportionately affected, the costs are magnified over time and the resultant individual and societal effects are tremendous. The currently available options to restore soft tissue defects are associated with donor site morbidities. Vascularized composite allotransplantation may provide form, function, and esthetics without a donor site; however, it comes with the significant risk associated with toxic immunosuppression (Biomaterials. 2015;61:246-256, Ann Plast Surg. 2015;75(1):112-116, Transplantation. 2009;88(2):203-210). Engineered tissues offer promise in finding viable alternatives to allograft and autologous tissues. In this study, we present our simple and quick method to decellularize a muscle without disrupting the vascular network integrity or the extracellular matrix. Optimizing the decellularization process is a crucial step toward creating an "off-the-shelf" flap that can be used for soft tissue reconstruction., Methods: The superficial gracilis muscle of 20 rats were harvested on their circulation and decellularized using perfusion with Krebs-Henseleit buffer and sodium dodecyl sulfate for 6 hours. These flaps were evaluated by gross morphology, histology, DNA quantification, integrity of the vascular network, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy., Results: All samples were decellularized successfully as determined by DNA content and histological analysis for cellular content. The vascular network was preserved in all samples., Conclusions: We present a quick, simple, and affordable method to decellularize a muscle flap through the vascular network. Our proposed method is efficient and can be completed in a significantly shorter time when compared with other methods. It is also safe and does not affect integrity of tissue, and this is essential for a reliable recellularization.

Background: Surgical-site infection after implant-based breast reconstruction adversely affects surgical outcomes and increases health care costs. This 11-year case-control study examines risk factors specific for surgical-site infection after immediate tissue expander/implant-based breast reconstruction., Methods: The authors performed a retrospective review to identify all consecutive patients with breast implant infections between 2006 and 2016. Patients who developed surgical-site infection after immediate tissue expander/implant-based breast reconstruction were included. Surgical-site infection was defined using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria; specifically, infections requiring hospital admission, intravenous antibiotics, or surgical intervention were included. The authors matched a control patient to each infection case by patient age and date of surgery. Patient demographics, medical comorbidities, and perioperative surgical variables were examined. Univariate and multivariable conditional logistic regression models were constructed., Results: A total of 270 breasts in 252 patients were evaluated. On multivariate analysis, patients with a higher body mass index (OR, 1.1 per 1 body mass index point increase; 95 percent CI, 1.0 to 1.2; p = 0.02), hypertension (OR, 6.5; 95 percent CI, 1.9 to 22.3; p = 0.002), neoadjuvant chemotherapy (OR, 2.6; 95 percent CI, 1.0 to 6.3; p = 0.04), axillary lymph node dissection (OR, 7.1; 95 percent CI, 1.7 to 29.2; p = 0.006), seroma formation (OR, 15.34; 95 percent CI, 3.7 to 62.5; p = 0.0001), and wound healing complications (OR, 23.91; 95 percent CI, 6.1 to 93.4; p < 0.0001) were significantly associated with surgical-site infection., Conclusions: Women with obesity, women with hypertension, and those treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy are at increased risk of surgical-site infection. Further risks are also associated with postoperative seroma and wound complications. This may help patient selection and counseling, adjusted based on risk factors regarding complications of immediate implant-based breast reconstruction., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Risk, III.

Purpose: Blowout fractures are common in midfacial trauma and often involve other parts of facial bones. Sometimes, patients have complications caused by inadequate management. Surgical indications, such as clinical symptoms, can be inaccurate owing to post-traumatic swelling or hematoma formation. Previous studies on the prediction of enophthalmos used the orbital volume ratio (OVR) or only the volume of herniated tissue. This study examined which of these values is more predictive of the degree of enophthalmos. In addition, the predictive values for a 2-mm enophthalmos in unoperated blowout fractures were assessed., Patients and Methods: A total of 191 patients underwent nonoperative treatment for blowout fractures at our institution; they were divided into 2 groups according to the degree of enophthalmos (>2 mm vs 0 to 2 mm) and were further divided into 3 subgroups according to the location of the fracture (inferior, medial, or inferomedial). Multifactor logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship between the degree of enophthalmos and these values., Results: We observed a correlation between the OVR and the degree of enophthalmos, as well as a correlation between the volume of herniated tissue and the degree of enophthalmos. Regarding the anatomic location of herniation, the orbital floor was found to be more correlated with the amount of enophthalmos., Conclusions: The OVR is a more reliable predictor than measurement of the volume of herniated tissue. The relationship found between radiologic examination findings and the degree of enophthalmos can be used as a surgical indication in addition to consideration of the anatomic location., (Copyright © 2018 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementation of Wakame seaweed stalks on the immunity and intestinal microflora of pigs. Three separate experiments were performed: Relatively young (start at 20-30 kg; Experiments 1 and 2) and fattening period (70 kg; Experiment 3). All pigs (including the control group) were fed the same commercial feed, free from antibiotic additives, but in the feed for the treatment groups, 1% seaweed powder was added. There were no group differences observed in daily weight gain and feed intake in Experiments 1 and 2 between groups; however, daily weight gain was significantly higher in the treatment group compared to the control group in Experiment 3. The percentage of peripheral blood natural killer cells of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group in all experiments. Although addition of seaweed changed the gene expression of cytokine and toll-like receptors of the small intestinal Peyer's patches slightly, seaweed seems to alter intestinal microflora preferentially, for instance, there was an increase in Lactobacillus and a decrease of Escherichia coli observed. These results suggest that Wakame seaweed can be used as supplement for pig feed to improve the gut health and immunity of pigs., (© 2019 Japanese Society of Animal Science.)

The aims of the present study were to identify the differences between two mouse lines (high (H)- and low (L)-oxygen consumption) in terms of mitochondrial respiratory activity when GMP (glutamate, malate, and pyruvate) and succinic acid are used as substrates and to examine the relationship between mitochondrial respiration activity and feed efficiency in both lines. The average daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and residual feed intake (RFI) were significantly higher in the H than the L line. The correlation between FCR and RFI was significant (r = 0.60, p < 0.05). RFI was effective as an indicator of feed efficiency. When succinic acid was used as a substrate, mitochondrial respiration states 2-4, ACR, and proton leak were significantly higher in the H than the L line. When GMP was used as a substrate, respiration states 3 and 4 in the H line were significantly higher than those in the L line, and there were significant positive correlations between FCR and RFI and mitochondrial respiration states 2-4. The results indicated that selection for high or low OC changed the basal metabolic rates estimated from liver mitochondrial respiration activity and feed efficiency., (© 2019 Japanese Society of Animal Science.)

A novel actinobacterial strain producing an antifungal substance was isolated from a sample of acidic mine area soil, and its taxonomic position was evaluated. The novel strain, designated TW1S1 T , formed white-grey aerial mycelium and yellow substrate mycelium on oatmeal agar. Growth occurred at 10-45 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 4-9 (pH 6-7) and in the presence of up to 8 % (w/v) NaCl. Melanin was produced on peptone-yeast extract-iron agar. Phylogenetic analysis based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the novel strain should be assigned to the genus Streptomyces, and the closest species was Streptomyces puniciscabiei S77 T with 99.1 % sequence similarity, which was followed by Streptomyces durhamensis NRRL B-3309 T (99.0 %), Streptomyces filipinensis NBRC 12860 T (98.9 %) and Streptomyces yaanensis Z4 T (98.7 %). The chemotaxonomic properties were consistent with those of Streptomyces. ll-Diaminopimelic acid was the diagnostic diamino acid, and alanine, glutamic acid and glycine were present in the peptidoglycan. The cell-wall hydrolysate also contained galactose, glucose, mannose and ribose. The predominant isoprenoid quinones were MK-9(H4) and MK-9(H6), the major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified phospholipid, and the main fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. However, strain TW1S1 T could be distinguished from its neighbouring species by its phenotypic properties. In addition, the genome-based comparison with the closest species indicated that strain TW1S1 T should be recognized as a separate species. The phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic as well as genomic evidence supported that TW1S1 T represents a novel species of Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomycesfodineus sp. nov. is proposed (type strain, TW1S1 T = KCTC 49013 T = JCM 32404 T ).

Innovative methods to detect and kill pathogenic bacteria have a pivotal role in the eradication of infectious diseases and the prevention of the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The combination of fluorescent carbon dots (FCDs) with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is an effective material for synergic detection and antimicrobial activity determination. However, the fluorescence quenching of the FCDs owing to an interaction with AgNP is a major limitation. In this study, we designed a system to utilize poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) and catechol chemistry (PVP@Ag:FCD) in order to avoid the fluorescence quenching of the FCD-AgNP combination due to Forster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET). PVP@Ag:FCD exhibited bright fluorescence, which can be used for bacterial detection, through the promotion of electrostatic binding with the negatively-charged bacterial surface and generation of fluorescence quenching due to aggregation-induced quenching. Furthermore, the presence of silver nanoparticles in PVP@Ag:FCD produced an excellent bacteria killing efficiency against E. coli and S. aureus, even at low concentrations (0.1 mg/mL). In contaminated river water, the PVP@Ag:FCD system showed a simple, highly sensitive, and effective performance for both the detection and eradication of bacteria. Therefore, this system offers an auspicious method for the future detection and killing of bacteria., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Diabetic foot infection (DFI) should be treated by a multidisciplinary team to prevent amputation and morbid status. As physicians encountering DFI in outpatient clinic, a proper selection of antibiotic treatment and diagnostic approach for a vascular status is essential. We retrospectively investigated the patients with DFI from 2016 to 2017. All patients were examined for vascular status, wound status, and pathologic culture preceding the treatment. No statistical significance was observed between PEDIS grade 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 in culture status and culture results. Association analysis between vascular status and other variables, such as wound score and culture results, has no significant difference. Through these results, the helpful epidemiologic result of microbiology and necessity of examination for peripheral arterial disease were verified.

Autologous fat has long been used as a filler in the face, and has recently gained popularity in plastic surgery with a wound infection rate of 1% - 5%. The incidence of mycobacterial infections has increased over recent decades, which is attributed in part to the increased popularity of these procedures. 2 Infections by non-tuberculosis mycobacteria often cause chronic inflammation and progressive infection that may eventually manifest themselves as severe scars, fistulas, and hollows, and irregular facial contours. However, few cases of mycobacterial infection have been reported to have been caused by plastic surgery. We present a rare case of non-tuberculosis mycobacterial infection after transfer of autologous fat to the face., (Copyright © 2019 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A moderately acidophilic actinobacterial strain, designated MMS16-CNU450 T , was isolated from pine grove soil, and its taxonomic position was analysed using a polyphasic approach. The isolate showed best growth at 30 °C, pH 6 and 0.5 % (w/v) NaCl. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, the isolate was assigned to the genus Streptacidiphilus, and the closest species were Streptacidiphilus rugosus AM-16 T (sequence similarity, 98.61 %), Streptacidiphilus melanogenes NBRC 103184 T (98.53 %), Streptacidiphilus jiangxiensis NBRC 100920 T (98.19 %) and Streptacidiphilus anmyonensis NBRC 103185 T (98.05 %). The isolate formed a distinct cluster of its own within the Streptacidiphilusclade in the phylogenetic tree. Based on whole-genome comparison between the strain MMS16-CNU450 T and the type strains of related species, the orthologous average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization values were in the range of 77.9-87.0 and 22.3-32.7 %, respectively. The DNA G+C content of the isolate was 68.6 mol%. The phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic data supported the affiliation of the strain to Streptacidiphilus, and the name Streptacidiphilus pinicola sp. nov. (type strain, MMS16-CNU450 T =KCTC 49008 T =JCM 32300 T ) is proposed accordingly.