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Abstract: Background and aims: Adiponectin plays important roles in the regulation of insulin action and metabolism of glucose and lipids. We investigated whether ADIPOQ genetic variants are associated with serum lipid levels in Korean children and whether those influences might be modulated by dietary factors such as dietary monounsaturated fatty acid to saturated fatty acid ratio (MUFA:SFA). Method and results: The study included a population-based sample of 687 children aged 7–11 years in Gwacheon city, Kyunggi Province, Korea. Anthropometric and biochemical measurements and ADIPOQ genotype (−11377 C/G, +45 T/G, and +276 G/T) were determined. Dietary intake was estimated with a self reported 3-day food diary. The −11377 G allele carriers had significantly higher serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol compared to non-carriers. When dietary MUFA:SFA ratio was dichotomized (MUFA:SFA ≥1 or <1), the aggravating effects of the minor allele on serum total and LDL cholesterol were only present when the MUFA:SFA ratio was <1. Additionally, we observed that the ADIPOQ haplotype influenced serum total and LDL cholesterol levels. G–T–G haplotype carriers had higher total and LDL cholesterol levels than non-G–T–G carriers. The deleterious effect of ADIPOQ G–T–G haplotype to increase serum total and LDL cholesterol could be seen only when the MUFA:SFA ratio was <1. Conclusion: In this present study, we found interaction effects between ADIPOQ genetic variants and dietary MUFA:SFA ratio on serum lipid levels in Korean children. These results suggest that individual genetic information and dietary fatty acid intake information should be assessed together to achieve an effective outcome for reducing the atherogenic lipid profile. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background Current tracheal tubes (TTs) cannot guarantee a perfect seal against pulmonary aspiration of upper airway secretions. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a gel layer between the tracheal tube with double cuffs (Double cuffs) prevents fluid leakage past TT cuffs. Methods In vitro fluid leakage tests were performed using the Double cuff with or without a gel layer between the two cuffs and four commercially available TTs (Euromedical Standard TT, Mallinckrodt Hi-Lo™, Microcuff, and Mallinckrodt TaperGuard™) when placed in artificial tracheas with three-different internal diameters (ID; 16, 20, and 22 mm). Blue-dyed water (5 ml) was placed above the cuff, and the extent of fluid leakage was observed for 48 h. Each test was repeated five times with new tubes at six different intracuff pressures (15, 20, 25, 30, 40, and 50 cm H2O). Results In all of the conventional TTs and the Double cuff without a gel layer, fluid leakage was observed even at clinically acceptable intracuff pressures (25–30 cm H2O). However, in the Double cuff with a gel layer, no fluid leakage was observed for 48 h at all intracuff pressures in three-different sized artificial tracheas. At an intracuff pressure of 20 cm H2O in a 20 mm ID trachea, the average volume of injected gel was 2.0 ml. After removal of the TT, the mean volume of the remaining gel in the trachea was 0.10 ml. Conclusions A prototype TT with gel-layered Double cuffs completely blocked fluid leakage past the cuffs for 48 h in a bench-top model. Clinical studies are required to determine whether this TT reduces the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In a randomized, double-blind, prospective study, we have evaluated the effect of i.v. infusion of magnesium sulphate during spinal anaesthesia on postoperative analgesia and postoperative analgesic requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to an article on the role of intravenous infusion of magnesium sulphate during spinal anaesthesia in improving postoperative analgesia.

Sulfuretin, one of the major flavonoid glycosides found in the stem bark of Albizzia julibrissin and heartwood of Rhus verniciflua , is a known anti-oxidant. We previously demonstrated that sulfuretin inhibits neuronal death via reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent mechanisms in human SH-SY5Y cells, although other relevant mechanisms of action of this compound remain largely uncharacterized. As part of our ongoing exploration of the pharmacological actions of sulfuretin, we studied the neuroprotective effects of sulfuretin against amyloid beta (Aβ)-induced neurotoxicity in human SH-SY5Y and primary hippocampal neuron cells and investigated the possible mechanisms involved. Specifically, we found in the present study that sulfuretin significantly attenuates the decrease in cell viability, release of lactate dehydrogenase, and accumulation of ROS associated with Aβ 25–35 -induced neurotoxicity in neuronal cells. Furthermore, sulfuretin stimulated the activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a downstream target of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3K)/Akt. We demonstrated that sulfuretin induces the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an anti-oxidant response gene. Notably, we found that the neuroprotective effects of sulfuretin were diminished by an Nrf2 small interfering RNA (siRNA), the HO-1 inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP), as well as the PI3K/Akt inhibitor LY294002. Taken together, these results indicated that sulfuretin protects neuronal cells from Aβ 25–35 -induced neurotoxicity through activation of Nrf/HO-1 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Our results also indicate that sulfuretin-induced induction of Nrf2-dependent HO-1 expression via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway has preventive and/or therapeutic potential for the management of Alzheimer’s disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, we evaluated the effects of magnesium sulphate on neuromuscular blocking agent requirements and analgesia in children with cerebral palsy (CP). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aim: To compare the image quality of computed tomography angiography (CTA) reconstructed by sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction (SAFIRE) with that of advanced modelled iterative reconstruction (ADMIRE) in children with congenital heart disease (CHD).Material and Methods: Thirty-one children (8.23±13.92 months) with CHD who underwent CTA were enrolled. Images were reconstructed using SAFIRE (strength 5) and ADMIRE (strength 5). Objective image qualities (attenuation, noise) were measured in the great vessels and heart chambers. Two radiologists independently calculated the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) by measuring the intensity and noise of the myocardial walls. Subjective noise, diagnostic confidence, and sharpness at the level prior to the first branch of the main pulmonary artery were also graded by the two radiologists independently.Results: The objective image noise of ADMIRE was significantly lower than that of SAFIRE in the right atrium, right ventricle, and myocardial wall (p<0.05); however, there were no significant differences observed in the attenuations among the four chambers and great vessels, except in the pulmonary arteries (p>0.05). The mean CNR values were 21.56±10.80 for ADMIRE and 18.21±6.98 for SAFIRE, which were significantly different (p<0.05). In addition, the diagnostic confidence of ADMIRE was significantly lower than that of SAFIRE (p<0.05), while the subjective image noise and sharpness of ADMIRE were not significantly different (p>0.05).Conclusion: CTA using ADMIRE was superior to SAFIRE when comparing the objective and subjective image quality in children with CHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temporal evolution of non-equilibrium γ' precipitates in a rapidly quenched and isothermally annealed commercial nickel base superalloy has been investigated by coupling transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography. When subjected to rapid quenching from above the γ' solvus temperature, the supersaturated single phase γ matrix appears to undergo compositional phase separation possibly via spinodal decomposition to form solute-rich and solute-depleted regions. The regions that have a depletion in Cr and Co undergo an ordering process resulting in the γ' domains which exhibit a far-from equilibrium composition. Upon isothermal annealing, the γ/γ' interface sharpens and the compositions of both γ and γ' phases approach equilibrium. The influence of a non-classical mechanism of γ' precipitation on the size distribution of precipitates as well as the precipitate and matrix compositions, and its subsequent evolution during isothermal annealing has been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The inertial spin rate of LAGEOS-1 and LAGEOS-2 determined with frequency analysis. [•] The spin axis orientation of LAGEOS-1 and LAGEOS-2 determined with frequency analysis. [•] The spin slowing down trends are not stable and vary by 50% over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]