Visualization of cecal tumor by near-infrared laparoscopy and intraoperative colonoscopy.

BACKGROUND: In laparoscopic colorectal surgery, accurate localization of a tumor is essential for ensuring an adequate ablative margin. Therefore, a new method, near-infrared laparoscopy combined with intraoperative colonoscopy, was developed for visualizing the contour of a cecal tumor from outside of the bowel. The method was used after it was verified on a model that employed a silicone tube. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 77-year-old man with a cecal tumor near the appendiceal orifice. Laparoscopy was used to clamp of the terminal ileum, and a colonoscope was then inserted through the anus to the cecum. The laparoscope in the normal light mode could not be used to identify the cecal tumor. However, a laparoscope in the near-infrared ray mode could clearly visualize the contour of the cecal tumor from outside of the bowel, and the tumor could be safely resected by a stapler. The histopathological diagnosis of the resected specimen was adenocarcinoma with an invasion depth of M and a clear negative margin. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of the laparoscopic detection of the contour of a cecal tumor from outside the bowel. This technique is useful and safe for contouring tumors in laparoscopic colorectal surgery and can be used in various surgeries that combine endoscopy and laparoscopy.

Toloese Generates Nitric Oxide through Natural Radiation of Far Infrared Rays, Reducing Serum Glucose, Cholesterol, and Triglycerides.

Toloese, a bed composition, is formulated with a combination of minerals of various wavelengths by utilizing a specific ratio and particle size. A maturation mixing technique is used without additional compression processes, resulting in the natural formation of numerous fine pores in the bed structure. At 40 °C, far infrared radiation in the range of 5-20 µm is emitted with a 0.916 radiant ratio, and the measured emitted radiant energy is 3.69 × 102 W/m2·µm. This study aimed to investigate the influence of far infrared radiation emitted from a Toloese bed on endogenous nitric oxide production. Clinical trials were conducted with 20 healthy adults aged 20 years. Blood samples were collected before and after Toloese bed usage for 1 h daily for 3 weeks. Nitric oxide levels in the saliva and blood of men and women significant increased after they used the Toloese bed for 1 h. Additionally, sweating sharply increased in the upper and lower body regions after Toloese bed usage. No hematological changes or adverse effects were observed, but blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides decreased after Toloese bed usage compared with those before Toloese bed usage. These findings demonstrated that far infrared radiation emitted by the Toloese bed induced endogenous nitric oxide production and contributed to significant reductions in blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.

Ureteroureterostomy With Near-Infrared Ray Catheter in a Kidney Transplant.

Transplant ureteral stenosis (US) is a complication of kidney transplantation (KT) that sometimes adversely affects kidney function. Endoscopic treatment may be selected as the initial treatment; however, the recurrence rate is high. Ureteral reconstruction is necessary as a secondary treatment, but it is often difficult to identify the transplanted ureter due to reoperation; therefore, transplanted ureter and renal arteriovenous injury are intraoperative complications that should be noted. The Near-Infrared Ray Catheter (NIRC™) fluorescent ureteral catheter (NIRFUC) fluoresces by illuminating near-infrared rays, facilitating the identification of intraoperative ureteral locations. Herein, we report the case of a 34-year-old woman who developed US following KT. She underwent balloon dilation for transplant US, but the stenosis recurred; therefore, she underwent transplant ureteral auto-ureteral anastomosis. Although it was difficult to identify and detach the transplanted ureter owing to adhesions, the use of NIRFUC facilitated the identification of the ureter in the surgical field and enabled safe end-side anastomosis between the transplanted ureter and the autologous ureter. In conclusion, although there is no consensus on the best method for complex transplantation-related US cases, NIRFUC may be used to safely identify and perform surgeries on the ureter.

Characteristics of Far-Infrared Ray Emitted from Functional Loess Bio-Balls and Its Effect on Improving Blood Flow.

XRD diffraction and IR absorption were investigated for raw loess powder and heat-treated loess powder. Raw loess retains its useful minerals, but loses their beneficial properties when calcined at 850 °C and 1050 °C. To utilize the useful minerals, loess balls were made using a low-temperature wet-drying method. The radiant energy and transmittance were measured for the loess balls. Far-infrared ray (FIR) emitted from loess bio-balls is selectively absorbed as higher vibrational energy by water molecules. FIR can raise the body's core temperature, thereby improving blood flow through the body's thermoregulatory mechanism. In an exploratory study with 40 participants, when the set temperature of the loess ball mat was increased from 25 °C to 50 °C, blood flow increased by 39.01%, from 37.48 mL/min to 52.11 mL/min, in the left middle finger; in addition, it increased by 39.62%, from 37.15 mL/min to 51.87 mL/min, in the right middle finger. The FIR emitted from loess balls can be widely applied, in various forms, to diseases related to blood flow, such as cold hands and feet, diabetic foot, muscle pain, and menstrual pain.

Microfluidic Generation of Near-Infrared Photothermal Vitexin/ICG Liposome with Amplified Photodynamic Therapy.

Glioma, in which a malignant tumor cell occurs in neural mesenchymal cells, has a rapid progression and poor prognosis, which is still far from desirable in clinical treatments. We developed a lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for the rapid and efficient preparation of vitexin/indocyanine green (ICG) liposomes. Vitexin could be released from liposome to kill cancer cell, which can potentially improve the glioma therapeutic effect and reduce the treatment time through synergistic photodynamic/photothermal therapies (PDT/PTT). The vitexin/ICG liposome was fabricated via LOC and its physicochemical property and release in vitro were evaluated. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method and live/dead staining were used to examine the enhanced antitumor effect of vitexin/ICG liposome in cooperation with PDT/PTT, while the related mechanism was explored by flow cytometry and western blot. The results were as follows: (1) The prepared vitexin/ICG liposome was smaller in size, homogenous in particle size distribution with significant low polydispersity index (PDI), and enhanced cumulative release in vitro. (2) We found that the formulated liposome presented strong cancer cell inhibition and suppression of its migration in a dose-dependent manner. (3) Further mechanistic studies showed that liposome combined with near-infrared irradiation could significantly upregulate levels of B cell lymphoma 2-associated X (Bax) protein and decrease B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) at protein levels. The vitexin/ICG liposomes prepared based on a simple LOC platform can effectively enhance the solubility of insoluble drugs, and the combined effect of PTT/PDT can effectively increase their antitumor effect, which provides a simple and valid method for the clinical translation of liposomes.

A Non-Invasive Method for Monitoring Osteogenesis and Osseointegration Using Near-Infrared Fluorescent Imaging: A Model of Maxilla Implantation in Rats.

Currently, computed tomography and conventional X-ray radiography usually generate a micro-artifact around metal implants. This metal artifact frequently causes false positive or negative diagnoses of bone maturation or pathological peri-implantitis around implants. In an attempt to repair the artifacts, a highly specific nanoprobe, an osteogenic biomarker, and nano-Au-Pamidronate were designed to monitor the osteogenesis. In total, 12 Sprague Dawley rats were included in the study and could be chategorized in 3 groups: 4 rats in the X-ray and CT group, 4 rats in the NIRF group, and 4 rats in the sham group. A titanium alloy screw was implanted in the anterior hard palate. The X-ray, CT, and NIRF images were taken 28 days after implantation. The X-ray showed that the tissue surrounded the implant tightly; however, a gap of metal artifacts was noted around the interface between dental implants and palatal bone. Compared to the CT image, a fluorescence image was noted around the implant site in the NIRF group. Furthermore, the histological implant-bone tissue also exhibited a significant NIRF signal. In conclusion, this novel NIRF molecular imaging system precisely identifies the image loss caused by metal artifacts and can be applied to monitoring bone maturation around orthopedic implants. In addition, by observing the new bone formation, a new principle and timetable for an implant osseointegrated with bone can be established and a new type of implant fixture or surface treatment can be evaluated using this system.

Effect of infrared irradiation combined with mannitol and kinesiology tape on postoperative swelling and pain in patients with a periarticular ankle fracture.

Objectives: To explore the effect of infrared irradiation combined with mannitol and Kinesiology tape on postoperative swelling and pain in patients with a periarticular ankle fracture. Methods: The research subjects of this study were 88 patients with periarticular ankle fracture treated by surgery in the Department of Orthopedics of Baoding No.1 Central Hospital from October, 2019 to May, 2021. They were randomly divided into the observation group and the control group based on the random number table method, with 44 cases in each group. All patients were treated after the operation. Patients in the control group were treated with conventional drugs; while those in the observation group were provided with infrared irradiation combined with mannitol and Kinesiology tape. Further comparison was conducted on the degree of swelling, pain and satisfaction after treatment at three, five and seven days after operation. Results: At three, five and seven days after operation, the cross-section diameter of the injured limb was significantly smaller in the observation group than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0. 05). The degree of pain in both groups was significantly lower at three, five and seven days after operation than that before treatment; moreover, the degree of pain in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0. 05). Besides, the comparison of posttreatment satisfaction in both groups after treatment revealed that the total satisfaction of patients in the observation group (97.73%) was higher than that in the control group (79.55%), with a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). Conclusion: Infrared irradiation combined with mannitol and Kinesiology tape can effectively alleviate postoperative swelling and pain of patients with a periarticular ankle fracture.

Near-infrared ray catheter and indocyanine green via nephrostomy in delayed robotic reconstruction of injured ureter: A case report.

Delayed surgical reconstruction of iatrogenic ureteral injuries is often a challenging procedure because spreading scar tissue impedes accurate identification and dissection of the injured ureter. We report a novel real-time navigation system using a ureteral near-infrared ray catheter (NIRC) and indocyanine green (ICG) via nephrostomy in delayed robot-assisted ureteral reconstruction. A female patient presented with complete obstruction of the right upper ureter after gynecological surgery with extensive lymphadenectomy. A nephrostomy tube was urgently placed, and surgical repair was performed. A straight NIRC was placed in the right ureter up to the obstruction point. ICG was administered via nephrostomy. Near-infrared light could clearly visualize the ureter and renal pelvis encased in scar tissue. The ureter and renal pelvis were dissected and successfully anastomosed. We found that near-infrared navigation using ureteral NIRC and ICG via nephrostomy was valuable for delayed laparoscopic reconstruction of the injured ureter.

Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery with a fluorescent near-infrared ray ureteral catheter for a rectal cancer patient with pelvic kidney: A case report.

An 85-year-old woman presented with a stomachache after a meal and was admitted to the previous clinic. Multi-detector computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen showed wall thickening in the rectum and right ectopic pelvic kidney. Colonoscopy revealed a mass at the rectum, and a biopsy showed adenocarcinoma. CT showed no lymphadenopathy or distant metastasis. Hartmann's procedure with fluorescent near-infrared ray ureteral catheters was used to avoid causing urinary injury. Robotic surgery was performed while checking the route of the ureter in near-infrared mode. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 14 without specific complications. This case appears to be the first of robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery for a rectal cancer patient with pelvic kidney.

Near infrared ray-guided surgery using Firefly technology of the daVinci Xi system and intraoperative upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for subtotal gastrectomy and surgery for cancer of the gastroesophageal junction.

BACKGROUND: In gastrectomies, especially subtotal gastrectomies and operations on the gastroesophageal junction, identifying the exact location of the tumor and establishing the appropriate resection line is very important. Accurate resection lines have a major impact on the preservation of organ function and curability. Preservation of as much as possible of the remaining stomach, including the fornix, may be an important surgical goal for maintaining an adequate postoperative quality of life. In adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction, the height of the esophageal dissection may affect reconstruction of the transhiatal approach. METHODS: We perform a new technique, near infrared ray-guided surgery, for the accurate localization of a tumor using the Firefly technology of the daVinci Xi system and intra-operative upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. We used this new technique for cases of upper gastric cancer or adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction. In this retrospective study, we examined to determine the extent (mm) of the tumor invasion of the esophagus, visualization of near infrared ray contained within endoscopic light, and distance from the proximal margin of the tumor to the surgical cut line on rapid histopathology and in the permanent preparation, including the operative videos and extracted specimens. RESULTS: We performed near infrared ray-guided surgery for 12 patients with gastric cancer or adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction, and the near infrared ray was clearly seen as green light with Firefly mode in all the patients. Near infrared ray-guided surgery was useful for obtaining localization of the tumor. In addition, it was possible to resect organ with adequate margins from tumor. Rapid intraoperative histopathological examinations confirmed that the resected specimens had negative margins. None of the patients required additional resection. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that because near infrared ray-guided surgery can provide an accurate resection line, it will be useful for the resection of upper gastric cancer and adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction. It will also provide patients with a good postoperative quality of life after surgery.

Establishing a Thermal Imaging Technology (IRT) Based System for Evaluating Rat Erectile Function.

INTRODUCTION: Measurement of intra-cavernous pressure (ICP) is an internationally recognized method to evaluate erectile function of animals, however, this process is invasive, destructive, and cannot be repeated, leading to a daunting challenge for monitoring the changes in erectile function throughout the whole treatment duration. AIM: To verify whether infrared ray thermography technology based system could be a good substitution of ICP for evaluating rat erectile function. METHODS: A novel thermal image-based method, infrared ray thermography technology (IRT) was employed to monitor erectile function in erectile dysfunction (ED) rats. To detect the sensitivity and specificity of this new technology, 4 ED rat models (Diabetic, nerve-injury, vascular-injury and aged ED models) were established and subjected to both ICP and IRT test. OUTCOMES: Statistical comparisons were done to test the effectiveness of this new way for detecting and dynamically monitoring erectile function. RESULTS: Based on the data curves obtained from ICP and IRT, the IRT showed a similar trend (including peak value, climbing speed) as that of ICP. IRT is considered as a precise way to monitor the real-time changes of erectile function in all ED rat models. The AUC of peak temperature detected by IRT in DMED, aged ED, vascular-injury ED, the nerve-injury ED and total ED rat models were 0.9811,0.9836,0.9893,0.9989 and 0.9882, respectively. Meanwhile, the AUC of temperature climbing rate were 0.6486,0.8357,0.9184,0.8675and 0.8168.Also,it is a non-invasive process of dynamically monitoring erectile function of a same rat at different time points (before and after drug intervention). The data showed that the real-time recovery by tadalafil was obtained by IRT methods even after treatment for only 2 weeks in the diabetic ED (DMED) rat model. CONCLUSION: A novel noninvasive method for monitoring erectile function in rat ED models was established, and can replace or supplement ICP test. Liu S, Zhao Z, Wang Z et al. Establishing a Thermal Imaging Technology (IRT) Based System for Evaluating Rat Erectile Function. Sex Med 2022;10:100475.

Infrared Clinical Enamel Crack Detector Based on Silicon CCD and Its Application: A High-Quality and Low-Cost Option.

Enamel cracks generated in the anterior teeth not only affect the function but also the aesthetics of the teeth. Chair-side tooth enamel crack detection is essential for clinicians to formulate treatment plans and prevent related dental disease. This study aimed to develop a dental imaging system using a near-IR light source to detect enamel cracks and to investigate the relationship between anterior enamel cracks and age in vivo. A total of 68 subjects were divided into three groups according to their age: young, middle, and elderly. Near-infrared radiation of 850 nm was used to identify enamel cracks in anterior teeth. The results of the quantitative examination showed that the number of enamel cracks on the teeth increased considerably with age. For the qualitative examination, the results indicated that there was no significant relationship between the severity of the enamel cracks and age. So, it can be concluded that the prevalence of anterior cracked tooth increased significantly with age in the young and middle age. The length of the anterior enamel cracks tended to increase with age too; however, this result was not significant. The silicon charge-coupled device (CCD) with a wavelength of 850 nm has a good performance in the detection of enamel cracks and has very good clinical practicability.

Effect of infrared ray roasting on oxidation stability and flavor of virgin rapeseed oils.

Effects of infrared ray roasting (IRR) on the oxidation stability and flavors of virgin rapeseed oil (VROs) at 110-170°C were investigated and compared with traditional roller roasting (TRR). Results showed that IRR samples showed lower acid and peroxides values, higher oxidation stability index, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity than TRR ones. IRR samples displayed better thermal expansion of rapeseed for internal fragmentation from microstructures, which facilitated the release of tocophenols (652.63-748.78 mg/kg) and 4-vinylsyringol (7.54-678.19 mg/kg), compared with TRR ones with tocophenols (652.63-689.28 mg/kg) and 4-vinylsyringol (7.54-524.18 mg/kg) contributing to better oxidation stability. Moreover, important volatile compounds, including pyrazines, isothiocyanates, nitriles and aldehydes, were formed quantitatively more in IRR than TRR samples, which was attributed to better heat transfer efficiency and internal fragmentation promoting complex reactions inside rapeseed. Therefore, IRR has more positive roasting effects on VROs than TRR. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Virgin rapeseed oil is a massively consumed flavor vegetable oil, but the traditional high-temperature roller seed roasting process can cause serious quality problems. Our work applied a novel roasting technology, infrared ray roasting to rapeseed pretreatment. The results show that this new type of roasting technology is more efficient and stable and has important applications in the production of virgin rapeseed oil with better oxidative stability and flavor.

Far-Infrared Emission Properties and Thermogravimetric Analysis of Ceramic-Embedded Polyurethane Films.

The far-infrared ray (FIR) is one kind of electromagnetic wave employed for numerous bio-interactive applications such as body thermoregulation, infrared therapy, etc. Tuning the FIR-emitting property of the functional textile surface can initiate a new horizon to utilize this property in sportswear or even smart textiles. Ceramic particles were studied for their unique ability to constantly emit FIR rays. The purpose of this research is to characterize the FIR emission properties and the thermogravimetric analysis of ceramic-embedded polyurethane films. For this purpose, ceramic particles such as aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide, and titanium dioxide were incorporated (individually) with water-based polyurethane (WPU) binder by a sonication technique to make a thin layer of film. Significant improvement in FIR emissive property of the films was found when using different ceramic particles into the polyurethane films. Reflection and transmission at the FIR range were measured with a gold integrating sphere by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. The samples were also characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Different physical tests, such as tensile strength and contact angle measurements, were performed to illustrate the mechanical properties of the films. The study suggested that the mechanical properties of the polyurethane films were significantly influenced by the addition of ceramic particles.

Extremely rare case of H-type gallbladder duplication coexistent with carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Multiple gallbladders represent a rare congenital disorder, and coexistence with carcinoma is extremely rare, leading to a high possibility of misdiagnosis and surgical complications. In this study, a case was reported and the literature was reviewed. CASE PRESENTATION: An 80-year-old woman was diagnosed with acute cholecystitis via ultrasonography and was successfully treated with antibiotics. After the patient's biliary colic relapsed, she was referred to our hospital. Multiple imaging modalities revealed duplication of her gallbladder (H-type) and suggested coexistence with carcinoma. According to preoperative evaluations, we assumed the patient had stage IIIA disease, and cholecystectomy, cholangiography using a near-infrared ray vision system, and sectionectomy of segments 4a and 5 were performed. Contrary to the high standardized uptake values obtained by 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography, gallbladder carcinoma was pathologically diagnosed as stage 0 mucosal cancer. Seven days after the operation, portal thrombosis of the posterior branch was revealed, and conservative therapy was indicated; satisfactory results were achieved. The patient was discharged 65 days after surgery. No recurrence was observed for 1 year after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: An extremely rare case of malignancy in a duplicated gallbladder was reported, and the literature was reviewed. Accurate estimations are feasible for diagnoses of multiple gallbladders, where correct evaluations are vital, especially in malignant cases. Because of the possibility of malignancy, resected accessory gallbladders should be scrutinized pathologically.

Evolution of photodynamic medicine based on fluorescence image-guided diagnosis using indocyanine green and 5-aminolevulinic acid.

New diagnostic techniques based on photodynamic medicine, such as near-infrared fluorescence using indocyanine green (NIR-ICG) and 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic diagnosis (ALA-PDD), are aiding navigation tasks across various fields of surgery. Specifically, NIR-ICG is being used for the intraoperative identification of sentinel lymph nodes or blood vessels in organ resection and for blood flow evaluation in surgery. These ICG-fluorescent imaging techniques could provide an additional and potentially valuable way to identify vascular and lymphatic structures in surrounding tissue. 5-Aminolevulinic acid is a precursor of a photosensitizing substance with affinity for tumors; thus, diagnostic laparoscopy using ALA-PDD in combination should improve the accuracy of detecting peritoneal dissemination in patients with advanced gastric cancer. The ability to overlay fluorescent imaging with conventional color images in real time using ALA-PDD and NIR with ICG would be of immense benefit to surgeons, providing good visualization and detection of target lesions not seen with the naked eye. A multi-center clinical study examining the safety and efficacy of ALA-PDD during laparoscopic examination for patients with advanced gastric cancer is currently underway in the form of doctor-initiated trials, and further verification studies will be conducted. Such imaging capability could have broad potential across cancer and vascular surgery.

Accurate localization of rectal cancer using near infrared ray-guided surgery with intra-operative colonoscopy and da Vinci Firefly technology.

Accurate localization of the tumor during robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer is crucial. Several techniques have been described, but each has its shortcomings. We developed a new technique of near infrared ray-guided surgery (NIRGS) to localize the tumor accurately, using intra-operative colonoscopy and da Vinci Firefly technology. After clamping the oral side of the tumor, the colonoscope was inserted. In the normal visible light mode, we could not recognize the endoscopic light; however, after changing to the Firefly mode, the endoscopic light was seen clearly. Using this simple and new technique, we could locate the tumor easily and accurately. We performed this technique in 12 patients and detected the location of the tumor clearly in all, without any procedure-related complications. Based on these findings, NIRGS is a useful and safe technique for detecting tumor location during robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer.

The effect of electric field, magnetic field, and infrared ray combination to reduce HOMA-IR index and GLUT 4 in diabetic model of Mus musculus.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose level (hyperglycemia). Type 2 diabetes mellitus is mainly featured by low cell sensitivity towards insulin stimulation, caused by ectopic fat storage. Insulin resistance can be quantified from high number of HOMA-IR index and observed from glucose transporter 4 (GLUT-4) translocation on membrane of skeletal muscle cells. Combined treatment of electric field, magnetic field, and infrared ray have potential to reduce insulin resistance due to improving blood circulation and increasing intracellular Ca2+ level. The aim of study was to determine the effect of electric field, magnetic field, and infrared ray combination to lower insulin resistance in the type II diabetic model of Mus musculus. This study used 30 adult male mice strain BALB/c. Diabetes was induced using high-fat diet/streptozotocin method until random blood glucose level reached > 200 mg/dL. Diabetic mice were then exposed to electrical field (static and dynamic), magnetic field (static and induce), and infrared ray (with or without infrared ray) combination therapy 15 min daily for 28 days. Fasting blood glucose level, plasma insulin level, HOMA-IR index, and membrane GLUT-4 density after treatment were analyzed statistically at α = 0.05. Result showed that exposure combination of electrical field, magnetic field, and infrared were found to be able to lower fasting blood glucose level and HOMA-IR index significantly, but plasma insulin level and GLUT-4 density were not found to be significantly different compared to diabetic control. Based on current study result, the best combination for reducing insulin resistance in diabetic mice is BsEsI (combination of static magnetic field (Bs), static electric field (Es), with infrared (I)), indicated by lowest HOMA-IR compared to other groups. Exposure to combination of magnetic field, electrical field, and infrared resulted in lowering fasting blood glucose level and HOMA-IR index in diabetic mice, indicating reduced insulin resistance.

Evaluation of the immunobiological effects of a regenerative far-infrared heating system in pigs.

Thermal conditions are an important environmental factor in maintaining healthy pigs because they affect feed intake, growth efficiency, reproduction and immune responses in pigs. RAVI, a regenerative far-infrared heating system, can effect pig production by emitting an optimal far-infrared wavelength. Far-infrared radiation has been reported to increase microvascular dilation and vascular flow volume. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immunobiological differences between pigs raised with the RAVI system and the gasoline heater system. Twenty-six-week-old weaned pigs were raised in two rooms that were equipped with a RAVI system or a gasoline heater for 8 weeks. A porcine atrophic rhinitis vaccine was administered after two weeks and transcriptome analysis in whole blood were analyzed at 2-week intervals. Signaling pathway analyses of the RAVI group at 8 weeks showed the activation of pathways related to nitric oxide (NO) production. This suggests that the application of RAVI might induce the production of NO and iNOS, which are important for increasing the immune activity. Similar to the result of microarray, phenotypic changes were also observed at a later period of the experiment. The increase in body weight in the RAVI group was significantly higher than the gasoline heater group at 8 weeks. The antibody titer against the vaccine in the RAVI group was also higher than that the gasoline heater group at 4 weeks and 8 weeks. This evaluation of the use of a far-infrared heating system with pigs will be helpful for applications in the pig farm industry and pig welfare.

Effects of Far-infrared Ray on Temozolomide-treated Glioma in Rats.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Malignant glioma is a rapidly progressive primary brain cancer. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of far-infrared ray (FIR) on temozolomide (TMZ)-treated glioma in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male, 8-week old, Fischer 344 inbred rats with glioma were randomly divided into three study groups (20 rats in each group). The control group received saline only once daily for 5 days. The TMZ group received TMZ (30 mg/kg) once daily for 5 days. The TMZ plus FIR group received TMZ (30 mg/kg) once daily for 5 days and infrared-c irradiation of 40 min twice daily for 4 weeks. The relative tumor fold and the expression of hypoxia-induced factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were compared using one-way ANOVA at the end of study. RESULTS: The relative tumor fold of the TMZ+FIR group was significantly higher compared to the control group, and was borderline higher compared to the TMZ group at Day 7. The relative tumor fold of TMZ+FIR group was significantly higher compared to the control group and the TMZ group at Days 14, 21 and 28. HIF-1α expression of TMZ+FIR group was borderline higher compared to the control group at Day 28. The VEGF expression of TMZ+FIR group was significantly higher compared to the control group and the TMZ group at Day 28. CONCLUSION: FIR might increase the growth of glioma under TMZ treatment in rats possibly via increasing VEGF expression, but not HIF-1α expression.