This paper presents an electromagnetic testing method for the inspection of cracks in an overlay welding area. The overlay welding method is usually used to repair failure welds in a structure in which the components are difficult and expensive to replace. The inspection system uses an air-core exciting coil to produce an electromagnetic field in the overlay welding area and a linearly integrated giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensor array (LIGiS) to measure the distribution of the electromagnetic field around the cracks; thus, the cracks can be inspected. The LIGiS is fabricated using 32 GMR sensor elements arrayed at 0.6 mm intervals. Artificial cracks with different sizes, orientations, and locations on the crisp surface of an overlay welding sample are tested to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH) is the most frequent complication of tonsillectomy, and occasionally results in a lethal outcome. A 21-year-old man (height 180 cm, weight 95 kg) was scheduled for a bilateral tonsillectomy and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. He required 5 rounds of general anesthesia due to recurrent PTH. The anesthesiologist used sugammadex a total of 3 times to achieve the successful reversal of the deep neuromuscular blockade (NMB) induced by rocuronium. After sugammadex 2 mg/kg was administered, the NMB was reversed in 2 minutes each time. Re-administration of rocuronium within a short time interval after sugammadex may result in unpredictable effects of neuromuscular blocking agents. Sugammadex made it possible to perform a rapid, complete reverse when the residual block was maintained by an incomplete reversal of anticholinesterase.

BackgroundPostoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) occurs in up to 63-84% of patients after thyroid surgery. This study aims to assess the effects of using a capsicum plaster to reduce PONV after thyroid surgery at either the Chinese acupuncture point (acupoint) Pericardium 6 (P6) or Korean hand acupuncture point K-D2.MethodsOne-hundred eighty-four patients who underwent thyroid surgery were randomized in four groups (n = 46 each): control group = inactive tape at P6 acupoints and on both shoulders as a nonacupoint; P6 group = capsicum plaster at P6 points and inactive tape on both shoulders; K-D2 group = capsicum plaster at K-D2 acupoints and inactive tape on both shoulders; Sham group = capsicum plaster on both shoulders and inactive tape at P6 acupoints. The capsicum plaster was applied before the induction of anesthesia and removed at 8 hr after surgery.ResultsThe incidence and severity of nausea and vomiting and the need for rescue antiemetics were decreased in the patients in the P6 and K-D2 groups compared to the patients in the control and sham groups (P < 0.001). The patients in the P6 and K-D2 groups also reported that they were more satisfied (P < 0.05).ConclusionsWe conclude that the capsicum plaster at the P6 and K-D2 acupoint was a promising antiemetic method for the patients undergoing thyroid surgery.

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Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasingly prevalent worldwide, causing serious liver complications, including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Recent findings suggest that peripheral serotonin (5hydroxytryptamine, 5HT) regulates energy homeostasis, including hepatic lipid metabolism. More specifically, liver-specific 5HT 2A knockout mice exhibit alleviated hepatic lipid accumulation and hepatic steatosis. Here, structural modifications of pimavanserin (CNS drug), a 5HT 2A antagonist approved for Parkinson's disease, led us to synthesize new peripherally acting 5HT 2A antagonists. Among the synthesized compounds, compound 14a showed good in vitro activity, good liver microsomal stability, 5HT subtype selectivity, and no significant inhibition of CYP and hERG. The in vitro and in vivo blood−brain barrier permeability study proved that 14a acts peripherally. Compound 14a decreased the liver weight and hepatic lipid accumulation in high-fat-diet-induced obesity mice. Our study suggests new therapeutic possibilities for peripheral 5HT 2A antagonists in NAFLD.