Search

Tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) has been recently suggested as a promising therapeutic target for treating obesity and fatty liver disease. A new series of 1,2,4-oxadiazolylphenyl alanine derivatives were identified as TPH1 inhibitors. Among them, compound 23a was the most active in vitro, with an IC50 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) value of 42 nM, showed good liver microsomal stability, and showed no significant inhibition of CYP and hERG. Compound 23a inhibited TPH1 in the peripheral tissue with limited BBB penetration. In high-fat diet-fed mice, 23a reduced body weight gain, body fat, and hepatic lipid accumulation. Also, 23a improved glucose intolerance and energy expenditure. Taken together, compound 23a shows promise as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of obesity and fatty liver diseases.

The optimal transfection conditions for efficient transgene delivery into a specific cell type should be empirically determined, particularly in cases involving unusual cell types. We compared the conditions for effective introduction of transgenes into Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) cell lines by evaluating the cytotoxicity and transfection efficiency of three commercially available transfection reagents: Lipofectamine 2000, X-tremeGENE HP DNA Transfection Reagent, and GeneJuice Transfection Reagent. Plasmid vectors containing the gene encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein were mixed with each of the transfection reagents using reagent-to-plasmid ratios of 1:1, 2:1, and 4:1. Then, the complexes were used to transfect three Siberian sturgeon cell lines derived from the heart, head kidney, and gonad. Cytotoxicity and transfection efficiency were measured via flow cytometry after propidium iodide staining. No significant cytotoxicity was observed at the optimal treatment conditions in all cases, with the exception of Lipofectamine 2000-treated gonad-derived cells. Although the transfection efficiencies in A. baerii cells were generally low, X-tremeGENE HP DNA Transfection Reagent showed the highest transfection efficiency at ratios of 2:1 or 4:1, depending on the cell type. Hence, X-tremeGENE HP DNA Transfection Reagent can be used to effectively transfer foreign genes into three A. baerii cell lines.

A series of novel Nb(V) tBu-imido/N-alkoxy carboxamide complexes, NbCl2(NtBu)(pyridine)(edpa) (1), NbCl2(NtBu)(pyridine)(mdpa) (2), and Nb(NtBu)(mdpa)3 (3), were successfully synthesized by metathesis reaction between Nb(NtBu)Cl3(py)2 and several equivalents of Na(edpa) (edpaH = Nethoxy-2,2-dimethylpropanamide) and Na(mdpa) (mdpaH = N-methoxy-2,2-dimethylpropanamide). These complexes could potentially serve as precursors for Nb-containing thin films. Compounds 1–3 were characterized by FT-IR and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopies, elemental analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis suggested that complex 3 has a distorted pentagonal bipyramidal geometry around the central Nb atom, with three bidentate mdpa ligands and one tBu imido group saturating the coordination. TGA analysis revealed that the thermal characteristics of 3 were superior to those of 1 and 2. All prepared complexes were able to be distilled or sublimed and expected potential precursors for the fabrication of thin films.

Fixed restoration using implants for patients with posterior partial edentulism is generalized technique. As patient demands increase, the functional and esthetic implant restoration to achieve similar results to lost natural teeth is becoming an important issue. It is inevitable to use customized CAD/CAM abutments rather than ready-made abutments for the creation of implant prosthesis which closely resembles natural teeth. Using CAD/CAM abutment made it possible to obtain natural emergency profiles for posterior implant prostheses, ensuring more comfortable, efficient management of oral hygiene. However, keratinized gingiva with sufficient width and height for a natural emergence profile is required to use a large diameter CAD/CAM abutment which ensures stability and esthetics of hard/soft tissue around the implants. In this case, for esthetical and functional implant zirconia prosthesis, soft tissue graft was performed and customized CAD/CAM abutments were used following ridge augmentation, sinus graft and implantation. Satisfactory results were obtained functionally and esthetically through periodic clinical evaluation, and I hereby report this case.

In this paper, a cost-effective method for mass production of optically transparent super-hydrophobic PDMS thin film is proposed and characterized. The dual-scaled micro-/nano PDMS patterns are re-replicated using a photoresist mold (reverse image), PDMS mold (dual-scaled positive structures) and UV curable polyurethane acrylate (PUA, negative structures) mold. The PUA mold can be employed as a reusable mold for continuous production of the super-hydrophobic PDMS thin film in a home-made roll-to-roll system. The proposed method is extremely simple and cost-effective in comparing with previous methods. Thanks to the proposed PUV mold and the roll to roll system, continuous production of transparent super-hydrophobic PDMS film is possible, which will be a basis for mass production. The experimental results reveal that the proposed method has great potential to extend the utility of the optically transparent super-hydrophobic thin film.

The effects of high frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on sensory perception and the pain tolerance thresholds were investigated applying both motor cortex stimulation and medial frontal cortex stimulation in normal study participants. Both the sensory perception and pain tolerance thresholds were significantly increased in the motor cortex stimulation, whereas the pain tolerance thresholds, but not the sensory perception was significantly decreased in the medial frontal cortex stimulation. These results suggest the dissociable modulating effects of sensory and pain perception by the high frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on the medial pain regulating system, but not the lateral pain regulating system.

We satisfactorily repaired a wide cleft palate using a method of V-Y pushback and anchoring the oral mucoperiosteal flap onto the bony ridge of the cleft. An 8-year-old Vietnamese girl had a wide incomplete bilateral posterior cleft palate associated with congenital cardiac malformations. The gap of the posterior cleft was 2.5 cm, which exceeded the total widths of the palatal shelves. We applied V-Y pushback and used a vomer flap to close the wide cleft palate. The posterior two thirds of the nasal mucosae from the cleft margins were sutured to the vomer flap. The nasal side of the anterior one third of the bony cleft was uncovered. The elevated bilateral mucoperiosteal flaps were brought together to the midline and sutured to the anterior triangular flap in a V-Y pushback fashion. Four holes were drilled 5 mm lateral to each bony cleft margin. The lateral sides of the mucoperiosteal flaps were fixed to the palate bone with 3-0 Vicryl through the hole. This method reduces the tension of the flap which might frequently cause oronasal fistula and also improve viability.

Background and Purpose Stroke is common among cancer patients. However, risk factors and biomarkers of stroke in cancer patients are not well established. This study aimed to investigate risk factors and biomarkers as well as etiology of ischemic stroke in cancer patients. Methods A retrospective review was conducted in cancer patients with ischemic stroke who were admitted to a general hospital in Busan, Korea, between January 2003 and December 2012. The risk factors and biomarkers for stroke and stroke subtypes in cancer patients were compared with age- and sex-matched noncancer patients with ischemic stroke who were admitted to the same hospital during the same period. Results One hundred fifty-six cancer patients with ischemic stroke were identified. Cancer patients with ischemic stroke were found to have a significantly lower proportion of hypertension, atrial fibrillation, hyperlipidemia, and ischemic heart disease than noncancer patients with ischemic stroke. However, stroke biomarkers, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, pro-brain natriuretic peptide, and D-dimer levels, were significantly increased in cancer patients with ischemic stroke than in noncancer patients. Large-artery atherosclerosis and stroke of undetermined cause were more common in cancer patients with ischemic stroke than in noncancer patients with ischemic stroke. Conclusions Cancer patients with ischemic stroke showed different risk factors, stroke biomarkers, and stroke etiology compared with noncancer patients with ischemic stroke.

‐ Abstract ‐ Cauda equina syndrome after epidural block is a rare complication, but it requires emergency surgery when it is diagnosed. A 65-year-old man who underwent epidural block at a local clinic was admitted with right lower leg weakness and decreased leg sensation, severe lower radiating pain, dysuria and decreasing sensation in the perianal region. Magnetic resonance image showed protruded disc material between L4-L5 and a hematoma that occupied most of the spinal canal and this was compressing the spinal cord. These findings were diagnostic for cauda equina syndrome after epidural block and so laminectomy, excision of the herniated disc and removal of the hematoma were done. At 6 months follow-up, the neurologic symptoms were resolved except for the dorsiflextion of the ankle and the big toe. We report here on a case of cauda equina syndrome as a rare complication after epidural anesthesia.

Purpose : Measurement of antistreptolysin O (ASO) is often necessary to confirm a clinical diagnosis of recent streptococcal infection, especially in patients suspected of rheumatic fever and acute glomerulonephritis. Standard normal ranges for ASO should be established locally for each age group. We analyzed ASO to determine the upper limit of normal (ULN) ASO in children in the Gyeonggi-Incheon area. Methods : ASO in normal individual concentrations were measured quantitatively by nephelometry on sera from 753 children (Male : 381, Female : 372). ULN were determined by separating the upper 20% from the lower 80% of the group (80 percentile). Results : The mean ASO concentration calculated in a total cases was 149.9±7.2 IU/mL. The ASO concentration in neonates was 83.4±10.7 IU/mL, and lowest in the 1 year of age group, 26.7±6.6 IU/ mL, and increased to 318.0±33.2 IU/mL gradually in the 9 years of age group. Thereafter, ASO concentration decreased. The ULN for neonates was 122 IU/mL, for 0-3 years, 40 IU/mL; for 4-6 years, 113 IU/ mL; for 7-9 years, 489 IU/mL; for 10-19 years, 433 IU/mL; for 20-29 years, 122 IU/mL. Conclusion : The age-specific ULN for children in the Gyeonggi-Incheon area were determined. The distribution of ASO concentration according to age groups was different from previous reports. These results should be of clinical value to physicians to interprete the ASO results of their patients.

Multicystic dysplastic kidney and congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung are independent disorders, but both result from abnormal morphogenesis during embryogenesis. Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung is associated with renal anomalies as well as other extrapulmonary anomalies and almost all cases with these anomalies are stillborn. We report a case of a 21-month-old male who was admitted with the impression of acute infectious gastroenteritis; multicystic dysplastic kidney with congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung was detected incidentally during evaluation.

국내에서는 아직도 소아연령에서 결핵 감염이 적지 않게 존재하기 때문에 폐외 결핵 환자가 발생될 위험도 지속적으로 존재한다. 이런 측면에서 폐외 결핵의 하나인 골관절 결핵은 매우 드물기는 하나, 관절염을 주소로 내원한 환자의 원인으로 고려해 볼만하다. 나이 어린 소아에서는 증상과 징후가 비특이적이기 때문에 오진이나 진단 지연이 우려되므로, 항생제 치료에 잘 반응하지 않는 관절염 환자에서는 결핵성 골관절염에 대한 진단과 치료를 시도하는 것이 중요하다. 【Tuberculosis still ranks as one of the three most important infectious diseases in the world in terms of morbidity and mortality. In Korea, an increased incidence of tuberculosis has been observed in recent years. With the resurge of tuberculosis, extrapulmonary tuberculosis has increased, too. From this point of view, tuberculous arthritis affecting knee is rare in all forms of tuberculosis, but we can consider tuberculous arthritis in patients with osteomyelitis. We report the case of a 14-month-old male child who presented with fever and swelling on the left knee joint. Histologic examination of knee joint fluid showed consistent with tuberculosis. Ziehl-Neelsen stain of joint fluid was positive for acid-fast bacilli(AFB). The outcome was favorable after treatment with anti-tuberculosis medication. Because clinical signs and symptoms of musculoskeletal tuberculosis in children is more indolent, we can misdiagnose or delay diagnosis. The diagnosis of tuberculous arthritis can be elusive, necessitating a high index of suspicion.】