A bench study comparing between scalpel-bougie technique and cannula-to-Melker technique in emergency cricothyroidotomy in a porcine model

See Seong Chang,Qian Jun Tong,Zhi Yuen Beh,Kelvin Howyow Quek,Bun Hui Ang 대한마취통증의학회 2018 Korean Journal of Anesthesiology Vol.71 No.4

Background: The ideal emergency cricothyroidotomy technique remains a topic of ongoing debate. This study aimed to compare the cannula-to-Melker technique with the scalpel-bougie technique and determine whether yearly training in cricothyroidotomy techniques is sufficient for skill retention. Methods: We conducted an observational crossover bench study to compare the cannula-to-Melker with the scalpel- bougie technique in a porcine tracheal model. Twenty-eight anesthetists participated. The primary outcome was time taken for device insertion. Secondary outcomes were first-pass success rate, incidence of tracheal trauma, and technique preference. We also compared the data on outcome measures with the data obtained in a similar workshop a year ago. Results: The scalpel-bougie technique was significantly faster than the cannula-to-Melker technique for cricothyroidotomy (median time of 45.2 s vs. 101.3 s; P = 0.001). Both techniques had 100% success rate within two attempts; there were no significant differences in the first-pass success rates and incidence of tracheal wall trauma (P > 0.999 and P = 0.727, respectively) between them. The relative risks of inflicting tracheal wall trauma after a failed cricothyroidotomy attempt were 6.9 (95% CI 1.5–31.1), 2.3 (95% CI 0.3–20.7) and 3.0 (95% CI 0.3–25.9) for the scalpel-bougie, cannula-cricothyroidotomy, and Melker-Seldinger airway, respectively. The insertion time and incidence of tracheal wall trauma were lower when the present data were compared with data from a similar workshop conducted the previous year. Conclusions: This study supports the use of a scalpel-bougie technique for cricothyroidotomy by anesthetists and advocates a yearly training program for skill retention.

The New Structural Design Process of Supertall Buildings in China

Lianjin, Bao,Jianxing, Chen,Peng, Qian,Yongqinag, Huang,Jun, Tong,Dasui, Wang Council on Tall Building and Urban Habitat Korea 2015 International journal of high-rise buildings Vol.4 No.3

By the end of 2014, the number of completed and under-construction supertall buildings above 250 meters in China reached 90 and 129, respectively. China has become one of the centers of supertall buildings in the world. Supertall buildings in China are getting taller, more slender, and more complex. The structural design of these buildings focuses on the efficiency of lateral resisting systems and the application of energy dissipation. Furthermore, the research, design, and construction of high-performance materials, pile foundations, and mega-members have made a lot of progress. Meanwhile, more and more challenges are presented, such as the improvement of structural system efficiency, the further understanding of failure models, the definition of design criteria, the application of high-performance materials, and construction monitoring. Thus, local structural engineers are playing a more important role in the design of supertall buildings.

Endothelial Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) Expression Is Regulated by Transcription Factor Mef2c

Jiang, Yong,Liu, He,Liu, Wen-jing,Tong, Hai-bin,Chen, Chang-jun,Lin, Fu-gui,Zhuo, Yan-hang,Qian, Xiao-zhen,Wang, Zeng-bin,Wang, Yu,Zhang, Peng,Jia, Hong-liang Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology 2016 Molecules and cells Vol.39 No.4

Aquaporin 1 (AQP1) is expressed in most microvasculature endothelial cells and forms water channels that play major roles in a variety of physiologic processes. This study aimed to delineate the transcriptional regulation of AQP1 by Mef2c in endothelial cells. Mef2c cooperated with Sp1 to activate human AQP1 transcription by binding to its proximal promoter in human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Over-expression of Mef2c, Sp1, or Mef2c/Sp1 increased HUVEC migration and tube-forming ability, which can be abolished AQP1 knockdown. These data indicate that AQP1 is a direct target of Mef2c in regulating angiogenesis and vasculogenesis of endothelial cells.

Microbial Floral Dynamics of Chinese Traditional Soybean Paste (Doujiang) and Commercial Soybean Paste

( Xiu Zhi Gao ),( Hui Liu ),( Xin Xin Yi ),( Yi Qian Liu ),( Xiao Dong Wang ),( Wen Sheng Xu ),( Qi Gen Tong ),( Zong Jun Cui ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2013 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.23 No.12

Traditional soybean paste from Shandong Liangshan and Tianyuan Jiangyuan commercial soybean paste were chosen for analysis and comparison of their bacterial and fungal dynamics using denaturing gel gradient electrophoresis and 16S rRNA gene clone libraries. The bacterial diversity results showed that more than 20 types of bacteria were present in traditional Shandong soybean paste during its fermentation process, whereas only six types of bacteria were present in the commercial soybean paste. The predominant bacteria in the Shandong soybean paste were most closely related to Leuconostoc spp., an uncultured bacterium, Lactococcus lactis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus spp., and Citrobacter freundii. The predominant bacteria in the Tianyuan Jiangyuan soybean paste were most closely related to an uncultured bacterium, Bacillus licheniformis, and an uncultured Leuconostoc spp. The fungal diversity results showed that 10 types of fungi were present in the Shandong soybean paste during the fermentation process, with the predominant fungi being most closely related to Geotrichum spp., an uncultured fungal clone, Aspergillus oryzae, and yeast species. The predominant fungus in the commercial soybean paste was Aspergillus oryzae.

Drug therapy and monitoring for inflammatory bowel disease: a multinational questionnaire investigation in Asia

( Chenwen Cai ),( Juntao Lu ),( Lijie Lai ),( Dongjuan Song ),( Jun Shen ),( Jinlu Tong ),( Qing Zheng ),( Kaichun Wu ),( Jiaming Qian ),( Zhihua Ran ) 대한장연구학회 2022 Intestinal Research Vol.20 No.2

Background/Aims: The incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is rising in Asia recently. The study aimed to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the current status of drug therapy and monitoring for IBD in Asia. Methods: A questionnaire investigation on drug therapy and monitoring for IBD was conducted right before the 6th Annual Meeting of Asian Organization for Crohn’s & Colitis. Questionnaires were provided to Asian physicians to fill out via emails between March and May 2018. Results: In total, responses of 166 physicians from 129 medical centers were included for analysis. Among the surveyed regions, the most average number of IBD specialist gastroenterologists and nurses was 4.8 per center in Taiwan and 2.5 per center in Mainland China, respectively. 5-Aminosalicylic acid/sulfasalazine (99.4%) was the most preferred first-line choice for mild-moderate ulcerative colitis (UC), meanwhile corticosteroid (83.7%) was widely applied for severe UC. The first-line medication for Crohn’s disease (CD) markedly varied as corticosteroid (68.1%) was the most favored in Mainland China, Japan, and South Korea, followed by infliximab (52.4%) and azathioprine (47.0%). Step-up strategy was preferred in mild-moderate UC (96.4%), while 51.8% of the physicians selected top-down treatment for CD. Only 25.9% and 17.5% of the physicians could test blood concentration of infliximab and antibody to infliximab in their hospitals, respectively. Conclusions: The current status of drug therapy and monitoring for IBD in Asia possesses commonalities as well as differences. Asian recommendations, IBD specialist teams and practice of therapeutic drug monitoring are required to improve IBD management in Asia. (Intest Res 2022;20:213-223)

Endothelial Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) Expression Is Regulated by Transcription Factor Mef2c

Yong Jiang,He Liu,Wen-jing Liu,Hai-bin Tong,Chang-jun Chen,Fu-gui Lin,Yan-hang Zhuo,Xiao-zhen Qian,Zeng-bin Wang,Yu Wang,Peng Zhang,Hong-liang Jia 한국분자세포생물학회 2016 Molecules and cells Vol.39 No.4

Aquaporin 1 (AQP1) is expressed in most microvascula-ture endothelial cells and forms water channels that play major roles in a variety of physiologic processes. This study aimed to delineate the transcriptional regulation of AQP1 by Mef2c in endothelial cells. Mef2c cooperated with Sp1 to activate human AQP1 transcription by binding to its proximal promoter in human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Over-expression of Mef2c, Sp1, or Mef2c/Sp1 increased HUVEC migration and tube-forming ability, which can be abolished AQP1 knockdown. These data indicate that AQP1 is a direct target of Mef2c in regulating angiogenesis and vasculogenesis of endothelial cells.

Randomized, controlled trial comparing respiratory and analgesic effects of interscalene, anterior suprascapular, and posterior suprascapular nerve blocks for arthroscopic shoulder surgery

Yean Chin Lim,Zhao Kun Koo,Vivian. W. Ho,See Seong Chang,Shivani Manohara,Qian Jun Tong 대한마취통증의학회 2020 Korean Journal of Anesthesiology Vol.73 No.5

Background: Interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) provides excellent analgesia for arthroscopic shoulder surgeries but is associated with adverse effects including hemidiaphragmatic paresis. We aimed to compare the respiratory effects, forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) between suprascapular nerve block (SSB) and ISB. Methods: Sixty patients were recruited and randomized into ISB, anterior SSB, and posterior SSB groups. FVC, FEV1, and diaphragmatic excursion were evaluated at baseline and 30 minutes after intervention. Blocks were performed under ultrasound guidance with 15 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine. Pain scores were assessed at 1, 6, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively. Results: The ISB group showed a reduced FVC of 31.2% ± 17.5% (mean ± SD), while the anterior and posterior SSB groups had less reduction of 3.6% ± 18.6% and 6.8% ± 6.5%, respectively (P < 0.001). The ISB group showed more reduction in diaphragmatic excursion than the anterior and posterior SSB groups (median [IQR]): −85.7% (−95.3% to −63.3%) vs. −1.8% (−13.1% to 2.3%) and −1.2% (−8.8% to 16.8%), respectively (P < 0.001). The median pain scores (IQR) in the ISB and anterior SSB groups were lower than those in the posterior SSB group at 6 hours on movement: 0 (0–2), 1.8 (0–4.5) vs. 5 (2.5–8), respectively (P = 0.002). There was no significant difference in oxycodone consumption postoperatively. Conclusions: Anterior SSB preserves lung function and has a comparable analgesic effect as ISB. Thus, it is recommended for arthroscopic shoulder surgeries, especially in patients who have reduced lung function.