Needle Extracts Research Articles

Automatic Lung Nodules Detection Using a Modified YOLOv5

Lung cancer diagnosis involves a detection strategy to determine the specific location of the abnormality and its likelihood whether cancerous or non-cancerous. In existing methods such as Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle extraction (EBUS-TBNA) method requires specific equipment and trained operators. The limits in biomarker discovery begin with sample collection, transportation, representative tissue processing, reference standards, assay sensitivity and specificity. Liquid biopsy method requires tissue biopsy for initial diagnosis and may increase the likelihood of false negatives and false positives. To overcome these challenges, initially in this paper, three detectors are trained for nodule detection i.e. You Only Look Once version 3 (YOLOv3), YOLOv4 and YOLOv5. YOLOv3 achieved precision of 72%, recall of 75%, mean Average Precision (mAP) of 70%, F1 Score of 0.73 and Giga Floating-Point Operations (GFLOPs) of 30. In contrast, YOLOv4 achieved 85% precision, 70% recall, 80% mAP, F1 score of 0.76 and 65 GFLOPs. On the other hand, YOLOv5 achieved precision of 90%, recall of 80%, mAP of 85%, F1 Score of 0.85 and FLOPs of 217. These three detectors also faced few challenges like complexity, have high computation time and low performance. So, to overcome the problems of YOLO based methods, a modified YOLOv5 model has been proposed for the automatic detection of lung nodules in CT scans. Key modifications include enhanced feature extraction layers and customized anchor boxes tailored for small nodule detection. These modifications demonstrate the model's potential for reliable and efficient lung cancer screening, aligning with the manuscript's focus on advancing detection techniques through customized YOLOv5 enhancements. The modified model achieves a 90% precision, 85% recall, 88% mAP, 0.87 F1 score and 35.2 GFLOPs. These results represent an improvement in accuracy and increase in sensitivity compared to the standard YOLOv5 model. Also, GFLOPs have been reduced which demonstrates low computing requirement for the proposed model. The proposed model could be further used as clinical tool for lung cancer diagnosis.

Experimental Study of Needle Insertion into Gerbil Tympanic Membrane.

The perforation characteristics and fracture-related mechanical properties of the tympanic membrane (TM) greatly affect surgical procedures like myringotomy and tympanostomy performed on the middle ear. We analyzed the most important features of the gerbil TM perforation using an experimental approach that was based on force measurement during a 2-cycle needle insertion/extraction process. Fracture energy, friction energy, strain energy, and hysteresis loss were taken into consideration for the analysis of the different stages of needle insertion and extraction. The results demonstrated that (1) although the TM shows viscoelastic behavior, the contribution of hysteresis loss was negligible compared to other irreversible dissipated energy components (i.e., fracture energy and friction energy). (2) The TM puncture force did not substantially change during the first hours after animal death, but interestingly, it increased after 1week due to the drying effects of soft tissue. (3) The needle geometry affected the crack length and the most important features of the force-displacement plot for the needle insertion process (puncture force, puncture displacement, and jump-in force) increased with increasing needle diameter, whereas the insertion velocity only changed the puncture and jump-in forces (both increased with increasing insertion velocity) and did not have a noticeable effect on the puncture displacement. (4) The fracture toughness of the gerbil TM was almost independent of the needle geometry and was found to be around 0.33 0.10kJ/m2.

ИЗУЧЕНИЕ АНТИМИКРОБНОЙ АКТИВНОСТИ ЭКСТРАКТОВ МОЖЖЕВЕЛЬНИКА И ИХ ВЛИЯНИЕ НА МИКРОБНУЮ КОНТАМИНАЦИЮ ХЛЕБОБУЛОЧНЫХ ИЗДЕЛИЙ

The purpose of the study is to determine the antimicrobial activity of extracts of juniper berries and needles and their effect on microbial contamination of bakery products by microscopic fungi. In the course of the work, experimental extracts from juniper berries and needles with various concentrations were obtained, the antimicrobial activity of experimental extracts was assessed on strains of yeast Candida tropicalis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rhodotorula rubra and bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli, as well as test baking of bread and its implementation. storage for further assessment of the effect of the studied concentrations of extracts on microbial contamination and shelf life of products. The extractants used to obtain experimental extracts were water and an aqueous solution of 50 % alcohol. The antimicrobial activity of the experimental extracts was assessed using the disk-diffusion method; dry nutrient media GMF and Sabouraud were used for the growth of microorganisms. The results of assessing the antimicrobial activity of the experimental extracts showed that none of the obtained extracts affected the growth of yeast strains. Aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of juniper needles at a concentration of 25 % showed inhibition of the growth of Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli bacteria. After test baking on a prototype bread with an aqueous extract of juniper needles, 25 % growth of mold fungi was detected after 72 hours of storage. No fungal growth was detected on the sample with a hydroalcoholic extract of juniper needles after 96 hours of storage.

EFFECTIVENESS OF SIBERIAN FIR EXTRACT USED AS AN INTERFERON INDUCTOR IN COMPLEX THERAPY OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY VIRAL INFECTIONS

Objective is a study of the effectiveness and safety of using a "Florenta" dietary supplement based on Siberian fir extract as an interferon inducer in the complex therapy of acute respiratory viral infections. Material and methods. The object of the study was a biologically active food supplement based on a concentrated aqueous extract of Siberian fir needles (Abies sibirica L.). The patients under observation were adults with various manifestations of acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI). The pa-tients were matched in age, gender and concomitant pathology. During the study, vital signs were monitored and tolerability and possible adverse events were recorded. The results of laboratory parameters were as-sessed and an overall evaluation of the effectiveness of therapy and patient satisfaction with treatment results was made. Results. It has been established that the Siberian fir extract included into the treatment of patients with mild to moderate ARVI allows managing the clinical symptoms of the disease in a shorter time and increasing the effectiveness of complex therapy. At the same time, the risk of complications is reduced and the prognosis for the disease course becomes positive. The drug under study has been proven to be well tolerated and safe. Analysis of interferon status has revealed a significant improvement in the parameters of interferons under study. Conclusions. As a result of the studies, it has been found out that a biologically active food supplement based on Siberian fir extract as part of com-plex therapy for ARVI reduces the severity and intensity of symptoms of the disease, accelerates the recovery of patients and leads to the normaliza-tion of their interferon status

Environmentally Friendly Processing of Forestry Biomass Side Streams – Coniferous Needles and Greenery

Replacement of fossil materials with renewable biomass is essential to address climate change challenges and implement bioeconomy as essential element of sustainable development model. A significant source of biomass is forestry, however besides timber significant amounts of forestry biomass side streams are formed and from circular bioeconomy perspective full utilisation of valuable resources is requested. One of side products of coniferous tree processing are needles and greenery and as these trees are dominant in Northern regions full use of their biomass can provide significant input to replace fossil resource-based substances and materials. Coniferous tree needles and greenery are a rich source of biologically active substances with wide application potential as resource for biopharma industries, for food and feed supplements and materials for diverse application. Traditionally for extraction of biologically active substances from coniferous needles and greenery toxic and hazardous solvents, such as organochlorine and hydrocarbon solvents has been used. The aim of the present study is to develop possibilities to use green chemistry approaches for coniferous needle and greenery extraction and following biorefinery to obtain biologically active components. For extraction of coniferous needle and greenery green solvents has been tested as well as so called intensive extraction methos has been used. The yield of extracts depends on extraction temperature, duration, solvent and other factors and optimal extraction conditions provide possibilities to obtain yield of extracts higher that use of traditionally used solvents. As a powerful tool to increase yields of extracts so called intensive extraction methods, such as treatment with ultrasound, microwaves, accelerated solvent extraction has been studied. The obtained extracts were characterised using gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection, liquid chromatography and other methods. Possibilities of biorefinery of obtained extracts to isolate groups of substances or individual substances has been discussed.

Phytoncidal activity of the needles of Juniperus L. representatives in the technogenic conditions of the city of Dnipro

The territory of the Dnipro urban agglomeration is one of the most polluted in Ukraine. The high concentration of industrial enterprises, roads, density of residential buildings and urban population are factors of anthropogenic pressure on urban ecosystems that significantly affect the quality of the habitat of living organisms and human life. Therefore, an urgent problem of modern urban planning and urban amenities is compliance with sanitary requirements for landscaping residential and industrial areas. The creation of decorative compositions with a predominance of tree and shrub species ensures the landscape attractiveness of the city, reduces the level of noise and dust pollution, improves temperature and wind conditions, improves public health by normalizing the psychological state of people and purifying the city air with phytoncides of plants, especially conifers. Taking into account the high decorative qualities and resistance of junipers to adverse climatic conditions, the aim of the study was to analyze the annual dynamics of phytoncidal activity of Juniperus media V. D. Dmitriev «Blue gold» and J. sabina L. «Tamariscifolia» needles in conditionally clean and polluted by vehicle emissions areas of Dnipro city. The plant material was collected at 4 monitoring points in Dnipro, 1 was a conditional control, and the other 3 were experimental plots with different levels of vehicle traffic. Needles were sampled at all periods of shoot ontogeny. The phytoncidal activity was determined by the method of «steaming» microbial test cultures with volatile needle secretions on test cultures of Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus sp., Bacillus subtilis, Esherechia coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Candida albicans. The results of the study show that the dynamics of phytoncidal activity of J. media and J. sabina needles during the year is the same in plants growing in a conditionally clean area and under the influence of motor vehicle traffic: the amount of released phytoncides increases in spring, during the period of intensive shoot growth, reaches a maximum at the stage of slowing down their growth (in summer), decreases in autumn, with the cessation of growth processes, and is minimal in winter, when there is no shoot growth. It has been shown that in a clean area, needle extracts of both representatives of the genus Juniperus have the greatest inhibitory effect on the growth of S. aureus colonies, and under the influence of vehicle emissions, the phytoncidal activity is highest against S. aureus and S. epidermidis strains. It was found that out of the two studied representatives of the genus Juniperus, J. media has the highest stability of the ability to secrete phytoncides under conditions of motor vehicle traffic load, which we recommend for use in urban landscaping.

Lost and Found: Endobronchial Extraction of an Endobronchial Ultrasound Needle Partially Stuck in Bronchus.

Lost and Found: Endobronchial Extraction of an Endobronchial Ultrasound Needle Partially Stuck in Bronchus.

Isolation, characterization, and LC MS/MS determination of anti-obesity components from pine needles of Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) G. Don.

This study aimed to isolate and analyze the components in cedar pine needles (needle leaves of Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) G. Don) that exhibit anti-obesity effects, as determined through animal experiments. The extract of cedar pine needles was separated into four fractions of different polarities using a macroporous resin column. The fraction that retained anti-obesity activity was evaluated based on the results of animal experiments. Monomeric compounds were structurally characterized and isolated from the active fraction using a preparative liquid chromatography system. Combined with subsequent glucose gel chromatographic separation. The content of the separated components was determined using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-QQQ-MS/MS). The water-washed fraction retained anti-obesity activity of the cedar pine needles more effectively. A total of 16 compounds were separated from this fraction, and the contents of 14 of these compounds were determined to be present in cedar pine needles. Nine components, namely p-hydroxy benzyl alcohol, chlorogenic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, P-coumaric acid, sinapic acid, benzoic acid, phenylacetic acid, salicylic acid, were characterized and determined for the first time in cedar pine needles. The components with anti-obesity activity in the pine needles of Cedrus are mainly derived from phenolic acids.

Synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles obtained with the "green" method using spruce needles extract

This study explores the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using spruce needles extract, a novel approach leveraging the bioactive compounds in the needles. The synthesized silver nanoparticles, characterized by scanning electron microscopy, exhibited an average size of 61.8 nm and good distribution within the organic medium. Antibacterial activity was evaluated using bacterial colony counts from a food sample (chicken wing flush). Two batches of silver nanoparticles were tested: the first with a 1:4 proportion of plant extract to 1mM AgNO3, and the second with a 1:9 proportion. The best antibacterial results were observed in the 1:9 proportion sample synthesized with both needles and branches, indicating the convenience of using unseparated plant material. The presence of the organic medium may influence antibacterial efficacy, suggesting the need for further research. Our antibacterial tests, conducted with a real food sample, provide relevant insights for potential applications in the food industry. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using spruce needles extract for sustainable silver nanoparticles synthesis, highlighting the potential for innovative applications in food safety and medical fields. Future research should focus on optimizing synthesis conditions and further characterizing the nanoparticles to enhance antibacterial performance.

Pinuseldarone, a Clerodane-Type Diterpene from Pinus eldarica Needles and Phytochemicals as Novel Agents for Regulating Brown Adipogenesis and Thermogenesis.

Phytochemical investigation of the MeOH extract of Pinus eldarica needles led to the isolation and identification of a new clerodane-type diterpene, pinuseldarone (1), along with a known flavonoid, 5,4'-dihydroxy-3,7,8-trimethoxy-6-C-methylflavone (2), through HPLC purification. The structure of the new compound 1 was elucidated using spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR, as well as HRESIMS. Its absolute configuration was established through NOESY analysis and computational methods, including electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations and gauge-including atomic orbital NMR chemical shift calculations, followed by DP4+ probability analysis. The metabolic implications of the isolated compounds were assessed using a cultured brown adipocyte model derived from murine brown adipose tissue. It was observed that treatment with dihydroxy-3,7,8-trimethoxy-6-C-methylflavone (2) downregulates the adipogenic marker C/EBPδ and fatty acid transporter CD36, resulting in a significant reduction in lipid accumulation during brown adipocyte differentiation. However, pinuseldarone (1) treatment did not affect brown adipocyte differentiation. Interestingly, pretreatment with pinuseldarone (1) potentiated the pharmacological stimulation of brown adipocytes, seemingly achieved by sensitizing their response to β3-adrenoreceptor signaling. Therefore, our findings indicate that phytochemicals derived from P. eldarica needles could potentially serve as valuable compounds for adjusting the metabolic activity of brown adipose tissue, a vital component in maintaining whole-body metabolic homeostasis.

Comparative Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Several Conifer Needles and Bark Extracts.

Nowadays, an increased concern regarding using natural products for their health benefits can be observed. The aim of this study was to assess and compare several phenolic compounds found in 15- to 60-year-old Douglas fir, silver fir, larch, pine, and spruce needle and bark extracts and to evaluate their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Spectrophotometric assays were used to determine the total polyphenol content and the antioxidant activity that was assessed by using the DPPH• radical scavenging assay (RSA), the ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP), and the ABTS•+ radical cation scavenging assay (ABTS). The phytochemical content was determined by using high-performance liquid chromatography, and the antimicrobial activity was determined by assessing the minimal inhibition concentration (MIC). The results of the study show a total polyphenol content of 62.45-109.80 mg GAE/g d.w. and an antioxidant activity of 91.18-99.32% for RSA, 29.16-35.74 µmol TE/g d.w. for FRAP, and 38.23-53.57 µmol TE/g d.w. for ABTS. The greatest quantity of phenolic compound for most of the extracts was for (+)-catechin, and it had values between 165.79 and 5343.27 µg/g d.w. for these samples. The antimicrobial inhibition for all the extracts was the strongest for Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 62.5-125 µg/mL). The extracts analyzed could be used for their bioactive potential after further investigations.

In-Silico Analysis of Optimal Configurations for Rotational Bioinspired Bone Marrow Biopsy Needle Designs: An ANN Approach.

Medical needle innovations have utilized rotating motion to enhance tissue-cutting capabilities, reducing cutting force and improving clinical outcomes. This study analyzes the effects of six essential factors on insertion and extraction forces during bone marrow biopsy (BMB) procedures. The study uses Taguchi's L32 orthogonal array and numerically simulates the BMB process using the Lagrangian surface-based method on a three-dimensional (3D) heterogeneous Finite Element (FE) model of the human iliac crest. The study evaluates cutting forces in needle insertion and extraction using uni-directional (360° rotation) and bidirectional (180° clock and anti-clock rotation) bioinspired BMB needles. This work aims to create an AI tool that assists researchers and clinicians in selecting the most suitable and safe design parameters for a bio-inspired barbed biopsy needle. An efficient Graphical User Interface (GUI) has been developed for easy use and seamless interaction with the AI tool. With a remarkable accuracy rate exceeding 98%, the tool's predictions hold significant value in facilitating the development of environmentally conscious biopsy needles. The tool demonstrates significantly higher efficiency compared to Abaqus, rendering it a valuable asset for researchers and clinicians engaged in bio-inspired biopsy needle development.

Effects of allelochemicals from Juniperus phoenicea L. needles on the germination and growth of chosen agricultural crops

In this study, we examined the allelopathic potential of Juniperus phoenicea L. needles on the seed germination and seedling growth of various crops. The investigation focused on the phytotoxic effects of Juniperus phoenicea L. needles, encompassing leachate, aqueous, and organic extracts, on radish, lettuce, barley, and tomato crops. To comprehensively assess their impact, we established pot cultures by incorporating needle powder into the soil at rates of 50 and 100 g/kg, accompanied by irrigation with leachate and aqueous extracts at concentrations corresponding to IC50 (50 % growth inhibition) and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC, resulting in 100 % growth inhibition).The volatile components of petroleum ether, chloroform, and acetone extracts were subjected to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis to elucidate their chemical composition. The germination index underwent significant reduction due to the influence of the needle extract and leachate. Concerning growth, the needle extract exhibited maximum toxicity at a concentration of 40 g/L. Remarkably, the needle leachate exerted a pronounced inhibitory effect on the growth of radish, tomato, and lettuce seedlings, notably at a concentration of 200 g/L.In the context of organic extracts, all three fractions displayed substantial toxicity at a concentration of 30 mg/kg. Incorporating residues into the soil at a rate of 100 g/kg led to a notable decrease in the root and shoot length of the target crops. Soil irrigation with aqueous needle extracts and leachate adversely affected radish, lettuce, and tomato. The biomass of J. phoenicea L. emerges as a potential source of herbicidal substances, offering a promising avenue for integration into agricultural systems to achieve effective and sustainable weed control. However, to solidify these findings within authentic field conditions and to identify specific bioactive compounds for the development of sustainable weed management strategies, further research is imperative.

Development of a Workplace-Based Training Program for Nurse-Led Ultrasound-Guided Femoral Nerve Blocks: A Feasibility Study with the Patients’ Perspective in Focus

Background. Task shifting is a systematic delegation of tasks in order to make more efficient use of the available human resources for health. Training programs and the quality of these are sparsely studied and specially they that include the patients’ perspectives to an even lesser degree. Aim. A single-center feasibility study with a convergent parallel mixed method approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative components, was conducted at an emergency department aimed to evaluate a training program for nurse-led ultrasound-guided femoral nerve block. Method. Registered nurses (RNs) (n = 5), supervising anesthesiologists (n = 7), and patients with hip fracture (n = 15) participated. The training consisted of a one-day program that included comprehensive theoretical and practical instruction in anatomy, hygiene, and the application of ultrasound. The one-day training program was evaluated through an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Following that, each registered nurse conducted three supervised procedures in the weeks that followed. These procedures were performed on patients admitted with hip fractures in the emergency department. The patients (n = 15) were interviewed regarding their experiences and perspectives of pain, safety, and information of the procedures in emergency department. Results. In questionnaire, the RNs and anesthesiologists agreed that the training procedures were beneficial for the patients due to pain relief. Pain intensity showed a mean baseline pain score of 6.0 (95% CI 4.9–7.1) decreasing to 2.5 (95% CI 1.4–3.6) at 30 minutes after needle extraction. The interviews revealed that all patients experienced pain relief after the in situ nerve block training procedures as well as they felt safe and taken care of. Conclusions. The training program for nurse-led ultrasound-guided femoral nerve blocks was considered feasible. All included RNs learned the procedure for task shifting in a satisfactory way.

Assessment of the preventive activity of Pinus brutia Ten. (Pinaceae) against in vivo acute lung injury model

Acute lung injury is a crucial inflammation-induced lung complication. Acute respiratory distress syndrome, which has a more severe course and is characterized by diffuse infiltration, develops with the progression of acute lung injury. The incidence of acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome is high and are both associated with increased mortality and morbidity rates worldwide. The leaves (needles) of Pinus brutia Ten. (Pinaceae) have been traditionally used against bronchitis and asthma. In addition, there are many Turkish folk medicine records regarding the use of its cones in respiratory system diseases such as cough, hoarseness, lung diseases, bronchitis, asthma, tuberculosis, and pneumonia. The present study aims to comparatively investigate the in vivo biological activity of the needles and cones of P. brutia against Acute Lung Injury (ALI) and to evaluate its potential use. The extracts of P. brutia needles and cones were investigated in ALI model in rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into sham control, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), reference, and six treatment groups. ALI model was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) LPS (5 mg/kg) injection. One hour before LPS administration, needle and cone extracts of the P. brutia at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg were given to the treatment groups. Carboxymethyl cellulose aqueous solution (0.5%) was given to the sham control group and LPS group. Dexamethasone (1.5 mg/kg) was administered to the reference group. In the 4th hour after LPS administration, inflammatory cells were counted in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and the levels of interleukin (IL)− 6 and − 8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Oxidative stress index (OSI) values and peroxiredoxin (PRDX)− 1 gene expression in lung tissues were calculated by quantitative real time polymer chain reaction (RT-PCR). Histopathological examination was performed by Hematoxylin Eosin (HE) and Masson Trichrome (MT) staining methods. In addition, the amounts of the phenolic compounds were determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Catechin hydrate and vanillic acid were determined to be higher; taxifolin was lesser in the cone extract than the needle extract. The best improvement in the macroscopic appearance of the lungs was observed in the cone extract (200 mg/kg) group compared to the other treatment groups. While the percentage of inflammatory cells in BALF was increased in the LPS group, these cells were in the lowest rate in the cone extract (200 mg/kg) group. Both needle and cone extracts decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines. The OSI values in the treatment groups decreased compared to the LPS group. PRDX-1 levels were the highest in the LPS group, but this level dropped in the treatment groups. The inflammation of the lung tissue in the LPS group was higher than in the other groups. The recovery of inflammation was similar to both needle and cone extracts of P. brutia. These data provide evidence that 200 mg/kg of the cone extract is a potential candidate for the prevention of ALI and warrants further preclinical evaluation.

Minimally invasive extraocular cranial nerve electromyography.

A reluctance to monitor extraocular cranial nerve (EOCN) function has restricted skull base surgery worldwide. Spontaneous and triggered electromyography (EMG) monitoring can be recorded intraoperatively to identify and assess potential cranial nerve injury. Determining the conductive function of EOCNs requires the collection of clear, reliable, and repeatable compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) secondary to stimulation. EOCN EMG needle electrodes can, although infrequently, cause ocular morbidity including hematoma, edema, and scleral laceration. The aim of this study was to ascertain if minimally invasive 7-mm superficial needle electrodes would record CMAPs as well as standard 13-mm intraorbital electrodes. Conventionally, the authors have monitored EOCN function with intraorbital placement of paired 13-mm needle electrodes into three extraocular muscles: medial rectus, superior oblique, and lateral rectus. A prospective case-control study was performed using shorter (7-mm) needle electrodes. A single minimally invasive electrode was placed superficially near each extraocular muscle and coupled with a common reference. CMAPs were recorded from the minimally invasive electrodes and compared with CMAPs recorded from the paired intraorbital electrodes. The presence or absence of CMAPs was analyzed and compared among EMG recording techniques. A total of 429 CMAPs were analyzed from 71 EOCNs in 25 patients. The experimental setup yielded 167 true-positive (39%), 106 false-positive (25%), 17 false-negative (4%), and 139 true-negative (32%) responses. These values were used to calculate the sensitivity (91%), specificity (57%), positive predictive value (61%), and negative predictive value (89%). EOCN electrodes were placed in 82 total eyes in 58 patients (CMAPs were obtained in 25 patients). Twenty-six eyes showed some degree of edema, bruising, or bleeding, which was transient and self-resolving. Three eyes in different patients had complications from needle placement or extraction including conjunctival hemorrhage, periorbital ecchymosis, and corneal abrasion, ptosis, and upper eyelid edema. Because of artifact contamination, 106 false-positive responses (25%), and 17 false-negative responses (4%), the minimally invasive EMG technique cannot reliably record CMAP responses intraoperatively as well as the intraorbital technique. Less-invasive techniques can lead to an inaccurate EOCN assessment and potential postoperative morbidity. EOCN palsies can be debilitating and lifelong; therefore, the benefits of preserving EOCN function outweigh the potential risks of morbidity from electrode placement. EMG monitoring with intraorbital electrodes remains the most reliable method of intraoperative EOCN assessment.

여드름 개선용 화장품 소재 개발을 위한 솔잎 발효물에 대한 기능성 연구

In this study, the pine needles were fermented with microorganisms originated from
 Jeju island and the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the fermented extracts were
 investigated to develop new cosmetic materials. The microorganisms used for
 fermentation were Bacillus coagulans KK7 strain, Lactobacillus brevis GJ26 strain, and
 Pediococcus acidilactici BDD10 strain isolated from Jeju. The antioxidant activities of the
 fermented and non-fermented pine needles extracts were evaluated by the DPPH radical
 scavenging activity. The DPPH radical scavenging activities of the fermented pine
 needles extracts were relatively higher than the non-fermented pine needles extracts. In
 order to examine whether the fermented pine needle extracts can be used as acne
 improvement materials, antibacterial tests were conducted on Cutibacterium acnes,
 Staphylococcus epidermidis and S. aureus. The antibacterial activities of the fermented
 and non-fermented pine needles extracts against C. acnes were confirmed, and the
 extracts of pine needles fermented by BDD10 strain showed better antibacterial activity
 compared to non-fermented pine needles extracts. These results suggest that fermented
 pine needles can be used as a new cosmetic material with antioxidant and antibacterial
 functions.

Simultaneous Determination of Three Flavonoids in Rat Plasma of Masson Pinus Needles (Pinus massoniana L.) Extracts by UHPLC-MS/MS and Application to Pharmacokinetics Studies after Oral and Transdermal Administration.

Pinus massoniana needles, a traditional herb, were applied to prevent hair loss in China. Studies available mainly focused on pine needle flavonoids with various biological activities. However, there has been no pharmacokinetics study of the flavonoids from Pinus needles extract. A selective and sensitive ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method was developed to simultaneously quantify taxifolin, quercetin and catechin in rat plasma. To separate the three constituents, an Agilent Extend-C18 column (2.1mm × 100mm, 1.8μm) was used with a mobile phrase of (A) 0.1% formic acid and (B) acetonitrile. The analytes were measured by multiple reaction monitoring in the negative ionization mode. There was good linearity in the established UHPLC-MS/MS method, with a coefficient of determination (r2) of >0.99. The accuracy, intra-day and inter-day precision and recovery were all satisfactory and these 3 compounds were stable under the tested conditions. The validated method in this study was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study in healthy rats after oral and transdermal administration of Pinus needles extract. The results could provide further research foundation for pine needle extract as external preparations.

Principle active metabolites of Pinus morrisonicola Hayata synergistically inhibit cell proliferation and autophagy to elevate apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a common primary tumor of liver is a leading cause of cancer-associated deaths. Improving cellular apoptosis and enhancing autophagic clearance is been considered to improve treatment outcomes of HCC. Polyphenols from Pinus morrisonicola (Hayata) have shown various physiological and therapeutic benefits and the flavonoid chrysin is been known for their anticancer effects. However, the main bioactive principle and the mechanism underlying the antitumor activity of pine needle extract are not clear yet. In this study, the effects of ethanol extract from pine needle on HCC cells were determined. The results show that when compared with administration of chrysin alone, a fraction containing pinocembrin, chrysin, and tiliroside significantly reduced autophagy and increased apoptosis. The results also correlated with decrease in cell cycle regulators and the autophagic proteins like LC3-II. Collectively, the results imply the fraction containing pinocembrin, chrysin, and tiliroside as an ideal complementary medicine for an effective antitumor activity.

Crosslinking methods for improving the properties of soy-protein based films for meat packaging: a review

Crosslinking methods have been used to improve the properties of soy protein-based films for various applications, such as meat packaging. Some of the crosslinking methods that have been reported in the literature include boiling soy milk, baking soy protein isolates, adding canola and sorghum proteins, incorporating Plantago major seed mucilage and Anethum graveolens essential oil, adding pine needle extract (PNE), incorporating montmorillonite and citric acid, using xylose as a crosslinker, and crosslinking with glutaraldehyde. The incorporation of additives such as canola and sorghum proteins, Plantago major seed mucilage and Anethum graveolens essential oil, and pine needle extract (PNE) has also been reported to improve the properties of soy protein-based films. In conclusion, soy protein-based films have excellent film-forming properties and many functional characteristics, making them a promising material for food packaging applications. However, their poor moisture barrier properties must be improved to make them more suitable for food packaging applications. Crosslinking methods have been used to improve the properties of soy protein-based films for various applications, such as meat packaging. The incorporation of additives such as canola and sorghum proteins, Plantago major seed mucilage and Anethum graveolens essential oil, and pine needle extract (PNE) has also been reported to improve the properties of soy protein-based films.