Microfluidics is considered an important technology that is suitable for numerous biomedical applications, including cancer diagnosis, metastasis, drug delivery, and tissue engineering. Although microfluidics is still considered to be a new approach in urological research, several pioneering studies have been reported in recent years. In this paper, we reviewed urological research works using microfluidic devices. Microfluidic devices were used for the detection of prostate and bladder cancer and the characterization of cancer microenvironments. The potential applications of microfluidics in urinary analysis and sperm sorting were demonstrated. The use of microfluidic devices in urology research can provide high-throughput, high-precision, and low-cost analyzing platforms.
Diagnosis ; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices* ; Microfluidics* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prostate ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Spermatozoa ; Tissue Engineering ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urology*

No abstract available.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the surface composition, roughness, and relative friction of metal clips from various ceramic self-ligating brackets. METHODS: Six kinds of brackets were examined. The control group (mC) consisted of interactive metal self-ligating brackets while the experimental group (CC, EC, MA, QK, and WA) consisted of interactive ceramic self-ligating brackets. Atomic force microscopy-lateral force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to analyze the surface of each bracket clip. RESULTS: All the clips in the experimental groups were coated with rhodium except for the QK clip. The results showed that the QK clip had the lowest average roughness on the outer surface, followed by the MA, EC, WA, and CC clips. However, the CC clip had the lowest average roughness on the inner surface, followed by the QK, WA, MA, and EC clips. The QK clip also had the lowest relative friction on the outer surface, followed by the MA, EC, CC, and WA clips. Likewise, the CC clip had the lowest relative friction on the inner surface, followed by the QK, WA, MA, and EC clips. CONCLUSIONS: The surface roughness and relative friction of the rhodium-coated clips were generally higher than those of the uncoated clips.
Ceramics* ; Friction ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Rhodium ; Spectrum Analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is highly prevalent in commercial vehicle operators (CMVOs). This study aimed to evaluate the poor sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and the prevalence of self-reported OSA in CMVOs. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We performed a retrospective review of the medical records of patients who visited a single institution with sleep problems from 2011 January to 2016 December. Among the patients, a total of 38 CMVOs was analyzed. Clinical information, questionnaires about sleep quality (Pittsburg sleep questionnaire, PSQI), excessive daytime sleepiness (Epworth sleepiness scale, ESS) and risk factors for OSA (STOP-Bang) were analyzed. The frequency of motor vehicle accidents and near accidents was assessed, and polysomnography (PSG) was used for OSA diagnosis purposes. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 45.3±11.8 years. The average score of PSQI, ESS, and STOP-Bang were 6.75±4.22, 10.79±7.12, and 4.62±3.34, respectively. A significant association between near accidents and high-risk group of OSA was observed [odds ratio (OR)=2.73, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.08–4.48]. Subjects with poor sleep quality showed significantly increased risk of near accidents (OR=2.34, 95% CI=1.01–3.56). Receiver operating characteristic curves of STOP-Bang questionnaire using apnea-hypopnea index (cut-off value=5) indicates that suspected OSA group predicted by STOP-Bang score was significantly correlated with OSA severity (area under curve=0.72, sensitivity 77.1%, specificity 59.4%). CONCLUSION: Administration of STOP-Bang questionnaire before a PSG can identify high-risk subjects, supporting its further use in OSA screening of CMVOs.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Medical Records ; Methods ; Motor Vehicles ; Polysomnography ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is highly prevalent in commercial vehicle operators (CMVOs). This study aimed to evaluate the poor sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and the prevalence of self-reported OSA in CMVOs.SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We performed a retrospective review of the medical records of patients who visited a single institution with sleep problems from 2011 January to 2016 December. Among the patients, a total of 38 CMVOs was analyzed. Clinical information, questionnaires about sleep quality (Pittsburg sleep questionnaire, PSQI), excessive daytime sleepiness (Epworth sleepiness scale, ESS) and risk factors for OSA (STOP-Bang) were analyzed. The frequency of motor vehicle accidents and near accidents was assessed, and polysomnography (PSG) was used for OSA diagnosis purposes. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 45.3±11.8 years. The average score of PSQI, ESS, and STOP-Bang were 6.75±4.22, 10.79±7.12, and 4.62±3.34, respectively. A significant association between near accidents and high-risk group of OSA was observed [odds ratio (OR)=2.73, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.08–4.48]. Subjects with poor sleep quality showed significantly increased risk of near accidents (OR=2.34, 95% CI=1.01–3.56). Receiver operating characteristic curves of STOP-Bang questionnaire using apnea-hypopnea index (cut-off value=5) indicates that suspected OSA group predicted by STOP-Bang score was significantly correlated with OSA severity (area under curve=0.72, sensitivity 77.1%, specificity 59.4%). CONCLUSION Administration of STOP-Bang questionnaire before a PSG can identify high-risk subjects, supporting its further use in OSA screening of CMVOs.

PURPOSE: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract and are immunohistochemically defined as c-KIT (CD117) positive tumors. This study investigated the behaviors of GISTs of the gastrointestinal tract and determined the prognostic factors associated with GISTs. METHOD: The clinical records of 22 patients, who were diagnosed and underwent surgery for a GIST of the GI tract at Inje university Sanggye Paik hospital from 1998 to 2004, were retrospectively analyzed. The relationship between the disease-free survival rate of the GISTs and several factors including age, gender, mitotic count, tumor site, tumor size, tumor necrosis & hemorrhage, and Ki-67 index was examined. RESULTS: The study group comprised of 13 men and 9 women. The mean age was 57.1 years (31~77 years) at the time of diagnosis. The median follow-up period was 24 months (3~45 months). A complete resection of the tumor was performed in 19 patients. There were lymph node metastases in 1 case. Five out of the 19 patients who had undergone a complete tumor resection showed recurrence (27%). The sites of recurrence were the back (1), liver (1), and abdominal cavity (3). Univariate analysis revealed, the following to be prognostic factors for the disease-free survival of patients with GISTs: high power field mitotic counts of the tumor (<5/50 vs. > or =5/50; P=0.013), the tumor size (<5 cm vs. > or =5 cm; P=0.047) and the Ki-67 index (<5% vs. > or =5%; P=0.001). CONCLUSION: The prognostic factors for disease-free survival rate of GISTs were high power field mitotic counts of the tumor, the tumor size and the Ki-67 index. It is recommended that more careful and frequent postoperative follow-up examinations be performed for patients showing the poor prognostic factors.
Abdominal Cavity ; Diagnosis ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Necrosis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies