Full Endoscopic Removal of Cervical Spinal Epidural Abscess: Case Report and Technical Note

Kai-Sheng Chang,Li-Wei Sun,Chun-Yuan Cheng,Shang-Wen Chang,Chien-Min Chen 대한척추신경외과학회 2020 Neurospine Vol.17 No.sup.

Spinal epidural abscess is a rare disease that is less likely to occur in the cervical region. When it occurs here, cervical spondylodiscitis can develop. Surgical treatment is recommended because of possible life-threatening septic and neurological complications. We present a case of an 81-year-old man who suffered from right side paralysis and was subsequently diagnosed with a C4 to C7 epidural abscess. We utilized full endoscopic surgery for patient management. The traditional surgical methods for treating cervical epidural abscesses may cause spinal instability. There has only been one previous case report on the endoscopic-assisted method. Minimal invasive surgery by a full endoscopic method can be done with a small incision and is associated with minimal blood loss and muscle damage. This is the first report on cervical epidural abscess drainage utilization a full endoscopic method. We recommend this alternative minimally invasive method to manage cervical epidural abscess.

Characteristics and source apportionment of fine haze aerosol in Beijing during the winter of 2013

Shang, Xiaona,Zhang, Kai,Meng, Fan,Wang, Shihao,Lee, Meehye,Suh, Inseon,Kim, Daigon,Jeon, Kwonho,Park, Hyunju,Wang, Xuezhong,Zhao, Yuxi Copernicus GmbH 2018 Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Vol.18 No.4

<P>Abstract. For PM2.5 filter samples collected daily at the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (Beijing, China) from December of 2013 to February of 2014 (the winter period), chemical characteristics and sources were investigated with an emphasis on haze events in different alert levels. During the 3 months, the average PM2.5 concentration was 89 µg m−3, exceeding the Chinese national standard of 75 µg m−3 in 24 h. The maximum PM2.5 concentration was 307 µg m−3, which characterizes developed-type pollution (PM2.5 / PM10>0.5) in the World Health Organization criteria. PM2.5 was dominated by SO42−, NO3−, and pseudo-carbonaceous compounds with obvious differences in concentrations and proportions between non-haze and haze episodes. The non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) analysis provided reasonable PM2.5 source profiles, by which five sources were identified: soil dust, traffic emission, biomass combustion, industrial emission, and coal combustion accounting for 13, 22, 12, 28, and 25 % of the total, respectively. The dust impact increased with northwesterlies during non-haze periods and decreased under stagnant conditions during haze periods. A blue alert of heavy air pollution was characterized by the greatest contribution from industrial emissions (61 %). During the Chinese Lantern Festival, an orange alert was issued and biomass combustion was found to be the major source owing to firework explosions. Red-alert haze was almost equally contributed by local traffic and transported coal combustion emissions from the vicinity of Beijing (approximately 40 % each) that was distinguished by the highest levels of NO3− and SO42−, respectively. This study also reveals that the severity and source of haze are largely dependent on meteorological conditions. </P>

IP-10 Expression in Patients with Chronic HBV Infection and Its Ability to Predict the Decrease in HBsAg Levels after Treatment with Entecavir

Kai Zhao,Tao Yang,Mimi Sun,Wei Zhang,Yong An,Gang Chen,Lei Jin,Qinghua Shang,Wengang Song 한국분자세포생물학회 2017 Molecules and cells Vol.40 No.6

Interferon-γ-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), also known as chemokine C-X-C motif ligand (CXCL) 10, is closely associ-ated with antiviral immunity and the progression of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, the value of baseline serological and histological IP-10 expression levels in predicting the efficacy of the antiviral response to nucleoside/nucleotide analogues (NAs) is still unknown. In our research, intrahepatic and peripheral IP-10 expression levels were systemically examined before and after treatment with entecavir (ETV). Baseline serological and histological IP-10 expression levels were significantly increased in patients with CHB, particularly in patients with higher degrees of liver inflammation and liver fibrosis. Moreover, higher baseline intrahepatic IP-10 levels indicated better prognoses in patients with CHB after entecavir therapy. The baseline IP-10 level was also positively associated with several clinical parameters, including baseline levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and with the decrease in HBsAg levels after treatment. In addition, monocyte-derived IP-10 was expressed at higher levels in patients with CHB than in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and healthy controls (HC). According to the results of our in vitro experiments, IP-10 directly promoted hepatocyte apoptosis. Based on these findings, baseline serological and histological IP-10 levels might predict CHB severity and the decrease in HBsAg levels after entecavir therapy.

Elevated plasma YKL-40 level is found in the dogs with cancer and is related to poor prognosis

Kai-Chung Cheng,Jih-Jong Lee,Shang-Lin Wang,Chun-Yu Lin,Ching-Tien Tseng,Chen-Si Lin,Albert Taiching Liao 대한수의학회 2019 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.20 No.5

YKL-40, a secreted glycoprotein, may serve as an autoantigen, which mediates multipleinflammatory diseases and cancers. A high YKL-40 serum level is correlated with metastasisand poor survival in a variety of human cancers. However, the role of YKL-40 in dogs is stillunder evaluation. Herein, we examined the associations between plasma YKL-40 level andYKL-40 autoantibody (YAA) titers with malignancy and prognosis in canine cancer. Plasmalevels of YKL-40 in healthy dogs (n = 20) and in dogs (n = 82) with cancer were evaluatedusing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Our results indicated that plasma YKL-40 levelswere significantly higher (p < 0.01) in dogs with cancer than in healthy dogs. A significantdecrease in the YAA titers was detected in the dogs with cancer when compared with thoseof the healthy dogs (p < 0.05), although the change was not correlated with the YKL-40levels. Among the dogs with cancer, plasma YKL-40 levels in the dogs that later relapsed orhad metastasis were significantly higher than in the dogs with no signs of relapse (p < 0.01)or metastasis (p <0.05). The relapse and metastasis rates were significantly higher in thehigh YKL-40 group (> 180 pg/mL) than in the low YKL-40 group (< 180 pg/mL). The resultsimply that plasma YKL-40 levels might have the potential to be developed as a marker ofmalignancy progression and prognosis in canine cancers.

Molecular Characteristics and Potent Immunomodulatory Activity of Fasciola hepatica Cystatin

Kai Zhang,Yucheng Liu,Guowu Zhang,Xifeng Wang,Zhiyuan Li,Yunxia Shang,Chengcheng Ning,Chunhui Ji,Xuepeng Cai,Xianzhu Xia,Jun Qiao,Qingling Meng 대한기생충학ㆍ열대의학회 2022 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.60 No.2

Cystatin, a cysteine protease inhibitor found in many parasites, plays important roles in immune evasion. This study analyzed the molecular characteristics of a cystatin from Fasciola hepatica (FhCystatin) and expressed recombinant FhCystatin (rFhcystatin) to investigate the immune modulatory effects on lipopolysaccharide-induced proliferation, migration, cytokine secretion, nitric oxide (NO) production, and apoptosis in mouse macrophages. The FhCystatin gene encoded 116 amino acids and contained a conserved cystatin-like domain. rFhCystatin significantly inhibited the activity of cathepsin B. rFhCystatin bound to the surface of mouse RAW264.7 cells, significantly inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis. Moreover, rFhCystatin inhibited the expression of cellular nitric oxide, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α, and promoted the expression of transforming growth factor-β and interleukin-10. These results showed that FhCystatin played an important role in regulating the activity of mouse macrophages. Our findings provide new insights into mechanisms underlying the immune evasion and contribute to the exploration of potential targets for the development of new drug to control F. hepatica infection.

Characteristics of Laser Aided Direct Metal Powder Deposition Process for Nickel-based Superalloy

Zhang Kai,Liu Weijun,Shang Xiaofeng 한국분말야금학회 2006 한국분말야금학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2006 No.1

Laser additive direct deposition of metals is a new rapid manufacturing technology, which combines with computer aided design, laser cladding and rapid prototyping. The advanced technology can build fully-dense metal components directly from CAD files with neither mould nor tool. Based on the theory of this technology, a promising rapid manufacturing system called "Laser Metal Deposition Shaping (LMDS)" is being developed significantly. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the LMDS-formed samples are tested and analyzed synthetically. As a result, significant processing flexibility with the LMDS system over conventional processing capabilities is recognized, with potentially lower production cost, higher quality components, and shorter lead time.

IP-10 Expression in Patients with Chronic HBV Infection and Its Ability to Predict the Decrease in HBsAg Levels after Treatment with Entecavir

Zhao, Kai,Yang, Tao,Sun, Mimi,Zhang, Wei,An, Yong,Chen, Gang,Jin, Lei,Shang, Qinghua,Song, Wengang Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology 2017 Molecules and cells Vol.40 No.6

Interferon-${\gamma}$-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), also known as chemokine C-X-C motif ligand (CXCL) 10, is closely associated with antiviral immunity and the progression of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, the value of baseline serological and histological IP-10 expression levels in predicting the efficacy of the antiviral response to nucleoside/nucleotide analogues (NAs) is still unknown. In our research, intrahepatic and peripheral IP-10 expression levels were systemically examined before and after treatment with entecavir (ETV). Baseline serological and histological IP-10 expression levels were significantly increased in patients with CHB, particularly in patients with higher degrees of liver inflammation and liver fibrosis. Moreover, higher baseline intrahepatic IP-10 levels indicated better prognoses in patients with CHB after entecavir therapy. The baseline IP-10 level was also positively associated with several clinical parameters, including baseline levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and with the decrease in HBsAg levels after treatment. In addition, monocyte-derived IP-10 was expressed at higher levels in patients with CHB than in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and healthy controls (HC). According to the results of our in vitro experiments, IP-10 directly promoted hepatocyte apoptosis. Based on these findings, baseline serological and histological IP-10 levels might predict CHB severity and the decrease in HBsAg levels after entecavir therapy.

International Young Doctors` Session : Session 3 ; Monozygotic twinning after IVF/ICSI treatment: the first single-center experience in Taiwan

( Dennis Wu ),( Shang Yu Huang ),( Hsien Ming Wu ),( Chun Kai Chen ),( Yung Kuei Soong ),( Hong Yuan Huang ) 대한산부인과학회 2013 서울심포지움 Vol.18 No.-

Study on joint speech encoding technology based on compressed sensing

Guangchun Gao,Lina Shang,Kai Xion 보안공학연구지원센터 2014 International Journal of Multimedia and Ubiquitous Vol.9 No.7

Investigation of the Deformation and Failure Characteristics of High-Strength Concrete in Dynamic Splitting Tests

Xudong Chen,Jin Wu,Kai Shang,Yingjie Ning,Lihui Bai 한국콘크리트학회 2022 International Journal of Concrete Structures and M Vol.16 No.6

The dynamic response properties of concrete have been of interest during the use of buildings due to seismic, impact, and explosion events. The splitting Hopkinson lever is a classical device for testing the dynamic mechanical properties of materials. In this paper, dynamic splitting tests on concrete were conducted using it, and a time series predictive computational model for the incident, reflected and transmitted pulses of high-strength concrete specimens at high strain rates was developed, and the extension mechanism of splitting tensile cracks in high-strength concrete was detected and analyzed based on the DIC technique. The results show that: the peak strength of C60 specimens and C80 specimens increased by about 60% and 90%, respectively, from 0.05 MPa to 0.09 MPa in impact strength; the triangular damaged area at the end of the contact surface of the specimen and the rod subjected to high impact pressure increased significantly, the dynamic energy dissipation increased, and the damage degree of the specimens increased; under the action of high strain rate, the brittleness of the concrete specimens with higher strength increased, the damage rate The higher strength concrete specimens have increased brittleness, faster damage rate and higher crack extension under high strain rate. The results of the paper can provide important references for the design of buildings under impact loading.