To investigate the effect of disposable contact lenses (CL) on the corneal epithelial healing, a prospective study of 30 myopic epikeratoplasties which were divided into 3 groups according to the method for promoting the corneal epithelial healing was conducted. The groups are consisted of 10 eyes with pressure patch, 10 eyes with Acuvue(R) disposable CL and 10 eyes with SeeQuence(R) disposable CL. Corneal epithelial healing was completed in the pressure patch, Acuvue(R) CL and SeeQuence(R) CL group at 3.4, 3.5 and 3.4 postoperative days, respectively. Corneal epithelial healing rate during postoperative 1, 2 and 3 days are 0.33, O.78, and O.44mm2/hour in pressure patch group, O.24, O.92 and O.37mm2/hour in Acuvue(R) CL group, and O.30, O.79 and O.38mm2/hour in SeeQuence(R) CL group respectively. From the above results, it is concluded that there was no statistically significant difference of the corneal epithelial healing time and rate between the pressure patching and disposable bandage CL wearing after myopic epikeratoplasty.
Bandages* ; Contact Lenses* ; Epikeratophakia* ; Prospective Studies

This study was performed to investigate the corneal epithelial healing time and rate according to the method for promoting the reepithelization after myopic epikeratoplasty. A prospective study was conducted on 30 myopic epikeratoplasties which were divided into 3 groups according to the method for promoting the epithelial healing. The groups consisted of 10 eyes with pressure patches, 10 eyes with Acuvue(R) disposable contact lens (CL) and 10 eyes with SeeQuence(R) disposable CL. The cornea epithelial healing time were 3.4, 3.5 and 3.4 postoperative days for the pressure patch, Acuvue(R) CL and SeeQuence(R) CL groups, respectively. The corneal epithelial healing rates during postoperative 1, 2, and 3 days were 0.33, 0.78, and 0.44 mm2/hour for the pressure patch group; 0.24, 0.92 and 0.37 mm2/hour for the Acuvue(R) CL group; and 0.30, 0.79 and 0.38 mm2/hour for the SeeQuence(R) CL group. These results suggest that a disposable contact lens may not hinder epithelial healing compared with a pressure patch.
Adult ; Bandages ; Contact Lenses ; Cornea/*physiology/surgery ; *Corneal Transplantation ; Epithelium/physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myopia/*physiopathology/surgery ; Prospective Studies ; Time Factors ; Wound Healing/*physiology

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the factors affecting a hypothetical model of testing for general hospital nurses’ job embeddedness. Methods: Data were collected from August 20 to September 19, 2021, by a self-administered questionnaire answered by 428 general hospital nurses. The data were analyzed by SPSS and AMOS. Results: Nine of the hypothetical model’s 12 hypotheses were supported by the data collected from all participants. The test results indicate that ego resilience, subjective career success, and recovery experience from job stress directly affect participants’ job embeddedness. Nurses’ work environments were reported to affect ego resilience and subjective career success, while at the same time ego resilience and subjective career success affected the participants’ job embeddedness. Work-life balance was found to affect ego resilience and ego resilience affected subjective career success, and at the same time subjective career success directly affected participants’ recovery experiences from job stress and job embeddedness. Of these variables, subjective career success had the strongest direct effect on participants’ job embeddedness. Work-life balance affected the participants’ recovery experiences from job stress, and their recovery experiences from job stress were found to directly affect job embeddedness. Conclusion These results suggest that different management strategies to enhance hospital nurses’ job embeddedness should address nurses’ ego resilience, subjective career success, and recovery experiences from job stress.

Most cardiac tumors are metastases, and primary cardiac tumors are rare; even among primary cardiac tumors, primary cardiac neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are extremely rare. Herein, we report a case of a patient presenting a left atrial mass without past medical history. Because of the location and movement of the mass, as well as the patient's cerebral infarction episode, the mass was initially suspected to be a thrombus. However, the mass was surgically diagnosed as NET.

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular apical (RVA) pacing induces left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony, increases the risk of persistent atrial fibrillation in the long term. The aim was to investigate the effects of RVA pacing on left atrial (LA) function, which are unknown. METHODS: Echocardiographic evaluation including LV dyssynchrony based on conventional Doppler, tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking strain echocardiography was done before and after (12 months) single-chamber ventricular pacemaker implantation in 40 patients with sick sinus syndrome. Patients were divided to 2 groups, according to the RVA pacing frequency (group I had higher pacing rate of more than 50% and group II, less than 50%). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in LV ejection fraction, however, mean global LV strain, myocardial performance index, and parameters of LV dyssynchrony had shown significant changes after 12 months of RVA pacing. There were also significant increase in the LA volume index and the reduction of peak systolic LA strain and strain rate (SR), peak early and late diastolic SR after RVA pacing. Moreover, there was significant deterioration of LV dyssynchrony and both LA and LV longitudinal function in even group II. LA functional deterioration and LA volume was significantly correlated with the frequency of RVA pacing. CONCLUSION: LV dyssynchrony, induced by RVA pacing, significantly impaired active LA contraction and passive stretching, and these findings were shown in the patients with even less than 50% of RVA pacing. Impairment of LA strain/SR was significantly correlated with the frequency of RVA pacing.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Atrial Function ; Atrial Function, Left ; Contracts ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Muscle Stretching Exercises ; Sick Sinus Syndrome ; Sprains and Strains ; Track and Field

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular apical (RVA) pacing induces left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony, increases the risk of persistent atrial fibrillation in the long term. The aim was to investigate the effects of RVA pacing on left atrial (LA) function, which are unknown. METHODS: Echocardiographic evaluation including LV dyssynchrony based on conventional Doppler, tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking strain echocardiography was done before and after (12 months) single-chamber ventricular pacemaker implantation in 40 patients with sick sinus syndrome. Patients were divided to 2 groups, according to the RVA pacing frequency (group I had higher pacing rate of more than 50% and group II, less than 50%). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in LV ejection fraction, however, mean global LV strain, myocardial performance index, and parameters of LV dyssynchrony had shown significant changes after 12 months of RVA pacing. There were also significant increase in the LA volume index and the reduction of peak systolic LA strain and strain rate (SR), peak early and late diastolic SR after RVA pacing. Moreover, there was significant deterioration of LV dyssynchrony and both LA and LV longitudinal function in even group II. LA functional deterioration and LA volume was significantly correlated with the frequency of RVA pacing. CONCLUSION: LV dyssynchrony, induced by RVA pacing, significantly impaired active LA contraction and passive stretching, and these findings were shown in the patients with even less than 50% of RVA pacing. Impairment of LA strain/SR was significantly correlated with the frequency of RVA pacing.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Atrial Function ; Atrial Function, Left ; Contracts ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Muscle Stretching Exercises ; Sick Sinus Syndrome ; Sprains and Strains ; Track and Field

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Fermentation of dietary fiber results in production of various short chain fatty acids in the colon. In particular, butyrate is reported to regulate the physical and functional integrity of the normal colonic mucosa by altering mucin gene expression or the number of goblet cells. The objective of this study was to investigate whether butyrate modulates mucin secretion in LS174T human colorectal cells, thereby influencing the adhesion of probiotics such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains and subsequently inhibiting pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli. In addition, possible signaling pathways involved in mucin gene regulation induced by butyrate treatment were also investigated. MATERIALS/METHODS: Mucin protein content assay and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining were performed in LS174T cells treated with butyrate at various concentrations. Effects of butyrate on the ability of probiotics to adhere to LS174T cells and their competition with E. coli strains were examined. Real time polymerase chain reaction for mucin gene expression and Taqman array 96-well fast plate-based pathway analysis were performed on butyrate-treated LS174T cells. RESULTS: Treatment with butyrate resulted in a dose-dependent increase in mucin protein contents in LS174T cells with peak effects at 6 or 9 mM, which was further confirmed by PAS staining. Increase in mucin protein contents resulted in elevated adherence of probiotics, which subsequently reduced the adherent ability of E. coli. Treatment with butyrate also increased transcriptional levels of MUC3, MUC4, and MUC12, which was accompanied by higher gene expressions of signaling kinases and transcription factors involved in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results, butyrate is an effective regulator of modulation of mucin protein production at the transcriptional and translational levels, resulting in changes in the adherence of gut microflora. Butyrate potentially stimulates the MAPK signaling pathway in intestinal cells, which is positively correlated with gut defense.
Bacteria ; Bifidobacterium ; Butyrates* ; Colon ; Dietary Fiber ; Fatty Acids ; Fermentation ; Gene Expression ; Goblet Cells ; Humans ; Lactobacillus ; Mucins* ; Mucous Membrane ; Phosphotransferases ; Probiotics ; Protein Kinases ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transcription Factors

The aims of this study were to compare the shaping effect and safety between single length technique recommended by manufacturer and crown-down technique using Mtwo rotary file and to present a modified method in use of Mtwo file. Sixty simulated root canal resin blocks were used. The canals were divided into three groups according to instrument and the manner of using methods. Each group had 20 specimens. Group MT was instrumented with single length technique of Mtwo, group MC was instrumented with crowndown technique of Mtwo and group PT was instrumented with crown-down technique of ProTaper. All of the rotary files used in this study were operated by an electric motor. The scanned canal images of before and after preparation were superimposed. These superimposed images were evaluated at apical 1 to 8 mm levels. Angle changes were calculated. The preparation time, weight loss, instrument failure and binding, canal aberrations, and centering ratio were measured. Statistical analysis of the three experimental groups was performed with ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range tests for post-hoc comparison and Fisher's exact test was done for the frequency comparison. In total preparation time, group MT and group MC were less than group PT. In the aberrations, group MT had more elbows than those of group MC and group PT. The binding of group MC was least and group MT was less than group PT (P < 0.05). Under the condition of this study, crown-down technique using Mtwo rotary file is better and safer method than single length technique recommended by the manufacturer.
Dental Pulp Cavity ; Elbow ; Weight Loss

Objective: To develop a computerized visuomotor integration system for assessment and training of visual perception impairments and evaluate its safety and feasibility in patients with a stroke. Visual field defects and spatial neglect lead to substantial poststroke impairment. Most diagnostic assessments are anchored in traditional methods, and clinical effects of rehabilitation treatments are limited. Methods: The CoTras Vision system included two evaluations and four training modules. The evaluation modules were based on the Albert’s test and Star cancellation test, and training modules were based on visual tracking, central-peripheral integration, and visuomotor perception techniques. Bland–Altman plots for agreement with the traditional paper-and-pencil test were performed, and the modified Intrinsic Motivation Inventory, Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire, and Simulator Sickness Questionnaire were conducted. Results: Ten patients with acute stroke completed the study. Bland–Altman plots revealed good agreements for Albert’s test (mean difference, -0.3±4.5) and Star cancellation test (mean difference, 0.3±0.7). The mean±standard deviation scores of the modified Intrinsic Motivation Inventory, Patient Satisfaction Survey, and Simulator Sickness Questionnaire were 84.7±30.6, 40.5±7.9, and 34.0±34.5 respectively. Conclusion The CoTras Vision system is feasible and safe in patients with stroke. Most patients had a high degree of motivation to use the system and did not experience severe adverse events. Further studies are needed to confirm its usefulness in stroke patients with visual field defects and hemineglect symptoms. Furthermore, a large, well-designed, randomized controlled trial will be needed to confirm the treatment effect of the CoTras Vision system.

Tick-borne pathogens can cause serious problems in grazing cattle. However, little information is available on tick-mediated diseases in cattle grazing on mountains. Thus, this study aimed to understand the potential problems related to tick-borne diseases in grazing cattle through the investigation of prevalent tick-transmitted infections, and their associated hematological changes, in terms of season and grazing type in Korean indigenous cattle (=Hanwoo). Hanwoo cattle from 3 regions of the Republic of Korea (=Korea) were either maintained indoors or placed on grassy mountains from spring to fall of 2014 and 2015. Cattle that grazed in mountainous areas showed a greater prevalence of tick-borne infections with an increased Theileria orientalis infection rate (54.7%) compared to that in non-grazing cattle (16.3%) (P < 0.001). Accordingly, the red blood cell (RBC) count and hematocrit (HCT) values of grazing cattle were significantly lower than those of non-grazing cattle throughout the season (P < 0.05). Moreover, RBC, hemoglobin (Hb), and HCT of T. orientalis-positive group were significantly lower than those of T. orientalis-negative group (P < 0.05). T. orientalis is a widespread tick-borne pathogen in Korea. Grazing of cattle in mountainous areas is closely associated with an increase in T. orientalis infection (RR=3.4, P < 0.001), and with consequent decreases in RBC count and HCT. Thus, these findings suggest that the Hanwoo cattle in mountainous areas of Korea are at a high risk of infection by T. orientalis, which can lead to hematological alterations. This study highlights the necessity of preventive strategies that target T. orientalis infection.
Animals ; Cattle* ; Erythrocytes ; Hematocrit ; Korea ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea ; Seasons ; Theileria* ; Tick-Borne Diseases