Abstract This study focused on the physiochemical characteristics of the oligosaccharide produced in preserved yuzu by NY 518 and its functions based on the intestinal health through antimicrobial activities. NY 518 was identified as Lactobacillus sakei. The oligosaccharide produced by L. sakei NY 518 was gluco-oligosaccharide. The oligosaccharide from preserved yuzu (OY) was found to have lower degree of polymerization than the oligosaccharide from sucrose (OS) owing to the presence of tri- to nona-saccharides. These oligosaccharides had lower pH and increased acidity, soluble solids, and viscosity than their substrates. OY had 67% α-glucosidase inhibition activity of OS and higher antibacterial effects on food-poisoning bacteria than OS. These results indicate that the oligosaccharide produced by L. sakei NY 518 in sugar-preserved foods exhibits beneficial functions (antidiabetic and antibacterial activities) and could be a good substitute for sugar.

Abstract Hops (Humulus lupulus L. [Cannabaceae]), used to increase storage and palatability of food, exert various pharmacological effects, including sleep-promoting and antioxidant effects. Here, we evaluated the effects of Saaz, Saphir, Simcoe, and their mixtures on pentobarbital-induced sleep in mice and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in H2O2-treated HT22 cells. Compared to administration of Saaz, Simcoe, and Saphir alone, the administration of Saaz/Saphir (75:25) and Simcoe/Saphir (50:50) mixtures resulted in slightly longer sleep durations in pentobarbital-administered mice. The Saaz/Saphir (75:25) group showed a longer sleep duration in the caffeine-induced insomnia model and slightly lower IC50 values for radicals than the Simcoe/Saphir (50:50) group. Xanthohumol present in hop mixtures suppressed ROS production and increased the expression of superoxide dismutase-1, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase-1 in H2O2-treated HT22 cells. Collectively, Simcoe/Saphir (50:50) and Saaz/Saphir (75:25) mixtures were more effective in removing ROS in brain cells and promoting sleep than hops alone.

ABSTRACT Purpose To evaluate the usefulness of natural killer cell activity (NKA) in diagnosing prostate cancer (PC). Materials and Methods The medical records of patients who underwent transrectal prostate biopsy (TRBx) at Korea University Ansan Hospital between May 2017 and December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. NKA levels were measured using NK Vue® Tubes (ATgen, Sungnam, Korea). All blood samples were obtained at 8 AM on the day of biopsy. Patients with other malignancies, chronic inflammatory conditions, high prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level (>20ng/mL), or history of taking 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor or testosterone replacement therapy were excluded. Results A total of 102 patients who underwent TRBx for PC diagnosis were enrolled. Among them, 50 were diagnosed with PC. Significant differences in age and NKA level were observed between the PC and no-PC groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the optimal cut-off of NKA level for the prediction of PC was 500pg/dL, with a sensitivity of 68.0% and a specificity of 73.1%. In addition, NKA level (0.630) had the greatest area under the ROC curve compared to those for the ratio of total PSA to free PSA (0.597) and PSA density (0.578). Conclusions The results of this pilot study revealed that low NKA and high PSA levels were likely to be associated with a positive TRBx outcome. NKA detection was easy and improved the diagnostic accuracy of PC.

Abstract The impact phenomenon is one of many subjects that is interesting and has become an inseparable part of naval architecture and ocean engineering fields. Limitless possibilities in cause and scenario make the demand to understand the physical behavior of ship structures due to impact phenomenon is increasing. In present work, a series of virtual experiment is performed by finite element method to solve several defined collision scenarios. Two involved ships are classified as the striking ship which penetrates the target and struck ship as the target. Hull arrangement of the struck ship is considered as main parameter which single and double hull configurations are proposed to be assessed. An observation of the damage extent on struck ship subjected to collision loads are presented. The results indicate that the internal arrangement of the struck ship provides significant effects to resistance capability and structural failure after collision process. Finally, an analysis regarding the extent of the damage is summarized with a statistical calculation to provide distribution of crashworthiness criteria of the defined scenarios.

ABSTRACT Purpose: Currently, several modalities are used to manage bladder stones. We report laparoscopic single port cystolithotomy using stone basket via pneumovesicum method.

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to examine the effect of alpha-lipoic acid with vitamin C and E on growth performance, intestinal morphology, and meat quality in broiler chickens under tropical conditions. A total of 288 one-day-old male ROSS 308 chicks (40±0.1 g) were used in a completely randomized design and allotted to one of six dietary treatments to form sixe replicates per treatment (eight birds per cage). The six dietary treatments were: a corn-soybean meal-based diet (NC; no antimicrobial compounds added) with 8 ppm alpha-lipoic acid (ALA); 150 ppm vitamin C and 75 ppm vitamin E (E-75); E-75 plus ALA (E-75-ALA); 150 ppm vitamin C and 50 ppm vitamin E (E-50) plus ALA (E-50-ALA); and 150 ppm vitamin C and 25 ppm vitamin E (E-25) plus ALA (E-25-ALA). All dietary treatments were continuously provided in liquid form, dissolved in water. Birds were housed in a battery cage (n = 36), and were offered dietary treatments on an ad libitum basis. The ambient temperature was maintained at 32±1 ºC for the first three weeks and reduced gradually to 28 ºC by the end of the experiment (day 35) to induce moderate tropical condition. One bird per pen (n = 6), and another bird per pen (n = 6) were euthanized via cervical dislocation to obtain terminal ileum to measure villus height and crypt depth at day 21, and to harvest breast meat and drumsticks to evaluate meat quality traits at day 35, respectively. Dietary treatment E-75-ALA improved body weight and average daily gain compared with birds fed other dietary treatments from day 1 to day 35. Birds fed dietary treatment E-75-ALA and E-50-ALA had higher villus height than those fed the other dietary treatments at day 21. Dietary treatments E-75-ALA and E-50-ALA reduced thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) in drumsticks compared with other dietary treatments, but only treatment E-75-ALA decreased TBARS in breast meat at day 35. Liquid form of antioxidant compounds such as E-75-ALA can improve growth performance, histology of terminal ileum, and meat quality traits in broiler chickens under moderate tropical condition for 35 days.

Purpose Several surgical approaches have been used for varicocelectomy. We report single port varicocelectomy using SILS™ (Covidien, Norwalk, CT) multiple access port. Case The greade III varicocele patient was 23 years old and placed in supine position. About 2 cm vertical skin incision was made in a crease just lateral to the umbilicus and SILS™ port was placed with three 5-mm trocars. Incision to posterior peritoneum from the point 3 cm superior to the internal inguinal was made by needle holder with a broken 15th blade tip. The testicular vessels were exposed. The lymphatic vessels and testicular artery were identified and separated from the testicular vein with flexible laparoscopic instruments and conventional rigid instruments. Three testicular veins were clipped with hemoclips (EndoClip , Autosuture, Norwalk, CT). Posterior peritoneum was repaired with 4-0 vicryl with one side of 5 mm Hem-o-lok clip (Weck Research,Triangle Park, NC). Than the distal end of suture site was also closed with Hem-o-lok. Results The whole procedure was completed with no complication. The operative time was 85 minutes, and blood loss was minimal. The patient was discharged 2 days after the operation. Left scrotal pain and vein engorgement was disappeared. Conclusions Our single port varicocelectomy method is a safe and effective alternative to conventional method. This will provide minimally invasive surgical option for varicocele and we can expect more potential cosmetic benefit and less morbid.

Objetivo: Avaliar a segurança e a eficácia da artroplastia total de disco (ATD) em dois níveis, usando o disco cervical artificial Mobi-C(r) aos 36 meses de acompanhamento. Métodos: Realizou-se estudo clínico prospectivo, randomizado, controlado e multicêntrico de disco cervical artificial (Mobi-C(r)) regido pelas regulamentações de Investigational Device Exemptions (IDE, isenção do dispositivo em investigação) e da Food & Drug Administration (FDA) dos Estados Unidos. Um total de 339 pacientes com doença degenerativa de disco foi inscrito para receber tratamento com ATD em dois níveis ou discectomia cervical anterior e fusão em dois níveis (DCAF) que constituíram o grupo controle. Os 234 pacientes tratados com ATD e os 105 tratados com DCAF tiveram acompanhamento em pontos do tempo regulares durante três anos após a cirurgia. Resultados: Aos 36 meses, ambos os grupos apresentaram melhora das medidas de desfecho clínico e perfil de segurança comparável. Os escores NDI, SF-12 e PCS, a satisfação dos pacientes e o êxito geral indicaram melhora com maior significância estatística desde o início do estudo no grupo ATD, em comparação com o grupo DCAF. Os pacientes do grupo ATD tiveram percentuais menores de cirurgia subsequente e taxas inferiores de degeneração do segmento adjacente. Em média, os pacientes do grupo ATD mantiveram a amplitude de movimento segmentar nos 36 meses, sem falhas do dispositivo. Conclusão: Os resultados aos três anos corroboram que a ATD é uma alternativa segura, eficaz e estatisticamente superior à DCAF no tratamento de doenças degenerativas de disco em dois níveis cervicais contíguos.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of two-level total disc replacement (TDR) using a Mobi-C(r) Cervical Artificial Disc at the 36 month follow-up. Methods: a Prospective, randomized, controlled, multicenter clinical trial of an artificial cervical disc (Mobi-C(r) Cervical Artificial Disc) was conducted under the Investigational Device Exemptions (IDE) and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) regulations. A total of 339 patients with degenerative disc disease were enrolled to receive either two-level treatment with TDR, or a two-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) as control. The 234 TDR patients and 105 ACDF patients were followed up at regular time points for three years after surgery. Results: At 36 months, both groups demonstrated an improvement in clinical outcome measures and a comparable safety profile. NDI scores, SF-12 PCS scores, patient satisfaction, and overall success indicated greater statistically significant improvement from baseline for the TDR group, in comparison to the ACDF group. The TDR patients experienced lower subsequent surgery rates and a lower rate of adjacent segment degeneration. On average, the TDR patients maintained segmental range of motion through 36 months with no device failure. Conclusion: Results at three-years support TDR as a safe, effective and statistically superior alternative to ACDF for the treatment of degenerative disc disease at two contiguous cervical levels.

Objetivo: Evaluar la seguridad y la eficacia de la artroplastía total de disco (ATD) en dos niveles, usando el disco cervical artificial Mobi-C(r) a los 36 meses de acompañamiento. Métodos: Se realizó estudio clínico prospectivo, aleatorio, controlado y multicéntrico de disco cervical artificial (Mobi-C(r)) regido por las reglamentaciones de Investigational Device Exemptions (IDE, exención del dispositivo en investigación) y de la Food & Drug Administration (FDA) de los Estados Unidos. Un total de 339 pacientes con enfermedad degenerativa de disco fue inscripto para recibir tratamiento con ATD en dos niveles o discectomía cervical anterior y fusión en dos niveles (DCAF) que constituyeron el grupo control. Los 234 pacientes tratados con ATD y los 105 tratados con DCAF tuvieron acompañamiento en puntos de tiempo regulares durante tres años después de la cirugía. Resultados: A los 36 meses, ambos grupos presentaron mejora de las medidas de resultado clínico y perfil de seguridad comparable. Los registros NDI, SF-12 y PCS, la satisfacción de los pacientes y el éxito general indicaron mejora con mayor significado estadístico desde el inicio del estudio en el grupo ATD, en comparación con el grupo DCAF. Los pacientes del grupo ATD tuvieron porcentuales menores de cirugía subsiguiente y tasas inferiores de degeneración del segmento adyacente. Como promedio, los pacientes del grupo ATD mantuvieron la amplitud de movimiento segmentar en los 36 meses, sin fallas del dispositivo. Conclusión: Los resultados a los tres años corroboran que la ATD es una alternativa segura, eficaz y estadísticamente superior a DCAF en el tratamiento de enfermedades degenerativas de disco en dos niveles cervicales contiguos.