Daehang Hospital

The human immune system is a complex defense mechanism against exogenous pathogens, and optimizing its function is vital for maintaining health. Previous studies have shown that specific probiotics can enhance immune function through mechanisms involving the activation of natural killer (NK) cells and modulation of cytokines such as interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-12 (IL-12), which are critical for innate immune responses. In this study, we conducted a clinical trial to investigate the immune effects of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei ( Lcb. paracasei ) HY7017. Eighty participants suspected of having reduced immune function were randomized into two groups: the Lcb. paracasei HY7017 supplemented group and the control group. Participants in the HY7017 group consumed one capsule daily containing 5.0 × 10 9 Colony Forming Unit (CFU) of Lcb. paracasei HY7017, while the placebo group received identical capsules without live bacteria. After 8 weeks of consumption, NK cell activity was significantly higher in the HY7017 group compared with the control group. In addition, IFN-γ levels were considerably elevated in the HY7017 group at both 4 and 8 weeks, and an increase in IL-12 was observed after 8 weeks. No clinically notable differences in adverse events were observed between the two groups. As NK cells and cytokines are key immunomodulators, the observed increases in these biofactors support the immune-enhancing potential of Lcb. paracasei HY7017. These findings support the potential of Lcb. paracasei HY7017 as a functional health food ingredient for immune enhancement.

The aim of this case report is to describe comprehensive imaging such as CT scanning, endoscopy, histopathology, and clinical outcomes following medical and endoscopic treatment. A 5-year-old spayed female Chihuahua presented with chronic unilateral nasal discharge, congestion, and intermittent stertor, unresponsive to initial antibiotics and steroids. Further diagnostics, including endoscopy, revealed a cystic lesion with osseous fragments in the left nasal cavity, while CT imaging identified a soft tissue mass with associated bone resorption. Histopathology confirmed chondro-osseous respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma (COREAH), a rare benign lesion characterized by respiratory epithelium, fibrovascular proliferation, and osseous components, along with lymphoplasmacytic and eosinophilic inflammation. Clinical signs improved following endoscopic aspiration and drainage, which restored nasal cavity space. This case highlights the importance of combining endoscopy, advanced imaging, and histopathology for accurate diagnosis and effective management of COREAH, a condition with potential for recurrence. The use of endoscopy enabled real-time visualization and precise tissue sampling, distinguishing this case from others relying solely on imaging. This report contributes to the limited veterinary literature on COREAH and underscores the need for long-term monitoring due to its uncertain pathogenesis and variable presentation.

The emergence of plastics as an essential item in modern society has led to the problem of accumulating plastic waste. Accordingly, research is being conducted around the world to reduce the production of new plastics and develop technologies to recycle waste plastics. Among the existing waste plastic recycling technologies, oil production is possible through pyrolysis, but the pyrolysis oil produced in this way has a wide carbon range (more than C5–C25), and a very high olefin content (the presence of aromatic compounds), and the resulting high calorific value of pyrolysis oil is limited in its application range. In the case of oil obtained by pyrolyzing waste plastic containing Cl, there is a concern about corrosion in the reactor. Accordingly, it is possible to diversify the range of use of pyrolysis oil produced by suppressing corrosion through Cl removal as well as oil upgrading through cracking. Therefore, this study used red mud mixed with a series of adsorbents for Cl removal and pyrolysis oil upgrade. The adsorbent was physically mixed with a binder (kaolin or methylcellulose) and activated carbon, and the results before and after the reaction were confirmed through basic characteristic analysis.

The application area of biportal endoscopic spine surgery (BESS) is gradually expanding. Compared with conventional fusion surgery, transforaminal interbody fusion (TLIF) using BESS (BESS-TLIF) has the advantages of less bleeding, minimal postoperative pain, and faster recovery. This technical note highlights its application in managing complex conditions such as scar tissue adhesion, altered anatomy, and implant removal, common in reoperations. The method focuses on precise dissection, endoscopic visualization, and careful tissue handling to ensure effective decompression and stabilization. Three representative cases, including reoperations for recurrent disc herniation, adjacent segment disease (ASD) following prior fusion, and ASD with nonunion of the prior fusion site requiring fusion extension, were described. All three cases exhibited clinical improvement following surgery. BESS is an effective and safe method for spinal revision surgery not only in simple decompression surgery but also in cases that required fusion surgery. As BESS is advancing, its role in complex spinal surgeries is expected to expand, potentially setting new standards in minimally invasive spine surgery.

Point cloud denoising is a challenging task due to the high-dimensional nature of data. To remove the compression artifact in the point cloud, this letter presents a static point cloud color attribute denoising method based on the geometry-guided Latent Diffusion Model (LDM). In specific, to better mimic realistic noise in LDM, we propose a color noise simulation strategy that interpolates distortion levels from Geometry-Based Point Cloud Compression (G-PCC) into the continuous noise distribution. Additionally, a dynamic sampling step control mechanism adaptively allocates diffusion steps based on local texture complexity, ensuring detailed denoising in complex regions while efficiently processing smoother areas. In the reverse denoising process, the geometry information is enabled as condition to guide color attribute recovery. Experimental results indicate that our method outperforms the state-of-the-art work, effectively balancing denoising quality and computational efficiency.

In recent years, the automobile industry has rapidly shifted towards electric vehicles, with an increasing number of vehicles using aluminum instead of steel for a significant portion or the entire or part of the vehicle body. Aluminum body panels reduce sound insulation performance compared to steel panels because they depend on surface density. This situation causes uncomfortable sound environment for vehicle passengers. To address the sound insulation issues associated with lightweight panels, it is necessary to research how to optimize the thickness and weight of interior and exterior car components in order to enhance sound insulation performance. In this study, the acoustic characteristics were initially confirmed by measuring indoor noise while driving a vehicle constructed from two different materials: steel and aluminum, under the same conditions as other parts. In addition, to select a sound absorbing material suitable for the characteristics of the vehicle body material, steel and aluminum panels were installed between the reverberation chamber and the anechoic chamber, respectively, and sound transmission loss was evaluated by combining the various thickness and weight. Based on these results, we decided on a proposed specification (aluminum panel with weight/thickness added) above the basic specification (steel panel with existing sound insulation parts).

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a novel app-based rehabilitation counselling program in patients recovering from total knee arthroplasty. In the app-based rehabilitation counselling program, a counselor provides one-on-one rehabilitation exercises and management-focused psychological counselling after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study included 42 patients, who were divided into three groups of 14 patients each: Group A, whose rehabilitation training was based on a guideline leaflet; Group B, whose rehabilitation was based on the app-based rehabilitation counselling program; and Group C, whose rehabilitation training was based on continuous passive motion combined with the app-based rehabilitation counselling program. To determine the effects of rehabilitation, the isokinetic knee muscle strength and knee joint range of motion were measured in addition to knee function tests such as the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain at two and three months after rehabilitation. The comparison of the means of the three groups was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), with Group C showing significant variance in isokinetic knee muscle strength (p < 0.05), passive ROM (p < 0.01), and WOMAC (p < 0.05) after three months. As a result, this study confirmed the positive potential of the app-based rehabilitation counselling program.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of subtalar joint axis-based balance exercises on the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) thickness, ankle strength, and ankle stability after an arthroscopic modified Broström operation (AMBO) for chronic ankle instability (CAI). Materials and Methods: The study included 47 patients diagnosed with CAI who underwent AMBO and were randomly divided into three groups: control (n=11), general balance exercise (n=17), and subtalar joint axis balance exercise (n=19), regardless of the affected area. Participants in the exercise rehabilitation group performed exercises for 60 min twice a week for 6 weeks, starting 6 weeks after AMBO. ATFL thickness, ankle strength, and ankle dynamic stability were measured using musculoskeletal ultrasonography, Biodex, and Y-balance test, respectively, before and after treatment. Results: Compared with the remaining groups, the subtalar joint axis balance exercise group had reduced ATFL thickness (p = 0.000), improved ankle strength for eversion (p = 0.000) and inversion (p = 0.000), and enhanced ankle stability (p = 0.000). Conclusions: The study results suggests that subtalar joint axis-based balance exercises may contribute to the early recovery of the ankle joint after AMBO.