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Background/Aims Guide tube-assisted endoscopy for procedures that require repeated endoscopic access is safer and more effective than conventional endoscopy. However, its effectiveness has not been confirmed in animal studies. We assessed the usefulness of guide tube-assisted endoscopic procedures in an in vivo porcine model. Methods Five different guide tube-assisted endoscopic procedures were performed by experienced endoscopists on a pig weighing 32 kg. To evaluate the efficacy of these procedures, we compared the endoscopic approach time when a guide tube was used to that when it was not. Additional endoscopic procedures using a guide tube were performed, including multiple foreign body extractions, multiple polypectomies, and multiple submucosal dissections. To evaluate safety, we compared the insertion force into the proximal esophagus between the guide tube and conventional overtube methods. Results Using the endoscopic approach with a guide tube required a shorter average approach time to reach the three target lesions than when using the endoscopic approach without a guide tube (p

Background/Aims We developed a new endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) simulator and evaluated its efficacy and realism for use training endoscopists. Methods An ESD simulator was constructed using polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel sheets and compared to a previous ESD simulator. Between March 1, 2020, and December 30, 2021, eight expert endoscopists from three different centers analyzed the procedure-related factors of the simulator. Five trainees performed gastric ESD exercises under the guidance of these experts. Results Although the two ESD simulators provided overall favorable outcomes in terms of ESD-related factors, the new simulator had several benefits, including better marking of the target lesion’s limits (p

The oral sulfate tablet (OST), commercially available as Orafang® (Pharmbio Korea Co., Seoul, Korea) in Korea, is being used increasingly because of its bowel-cleansing efficacy, safety, and tolerability in adults undergoing colonoscopy. Other bowel cleansing agents, such as polyethylene glycol and sodium picosulfate/magnesium citrate, can cause plasma volume depletion and electrolyte disturbances, such as hyponatremia. On the other hand, the OST has never been reported to cause hyponatremia in Korea. To our knowledge, the authors experienced the first case of hyponatremic seizure in an 81-year-old woman to whom an OST was administered for bowel preparation before a colonoscopy. After ingesting the OST, she presented with seizure, confusion, and dyspnea. Upon arrival, her serum sodium level was 120 mEq/L, and the urine osmolality and sodium levels were 449 mOsm/kg and 253 mOsm/kg, respectively; chest imaging suggested pulmonary edema. The associated symptoms disappeared following treatment with an intravenous injection of normal saline and 3% NaCl to normalize the sodium level. This case shows that the OST can cause hyponatremia and other severe complications related to hyponatremia.

Objectives: To investigate the clinical characteristics of adverse events (AEs) after COVID-19 vaccination in patients in South Korea. Design: Data from the Korean Disease Control and Prevention Agency on AEs from 4 COVID-19 vaccines, including AZD1222, BNT162b2, JNJ-78436735, and mRNA-1273, from February 26, 2021, to August 21, 2021, were assessed. The epidemiological characteristics, clinical symptoms, severity, complications, and mortality were descriptively analyzed. Results: Overall, 36.3 million individuals who completed the COVID-19 vaccination doses during the study period were included, and 153,183 AEs were reported. Most AEs occurred after the first dose (80.6%) and within a day (63.2%) after vaccination. Of the AEs, 95.5% were nonsevere cases; however, 4.5% were severe. Most mild AEs showed a similar frequency across all age groups, but major severe AEs and mortality events increased with age. Conclusions: Although there were differences in the frequency of occurrence, various adverse reactions were confirmed in using all 4 COVID-19 vaccines, even with the BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine. Caution is needed, and further research should be continuously conducted.

Abstract We aimed to assess the relationship between lifestyle-related variables, metabolic syndrome, and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men ≥ 40 years. We also assessed the impact of these variables on quality of life. From 2014 to 2020, 5355 men who underwent health check-ups with I-PSS questionnaires at our institute were included in the analysis. The impact of LUTS on sleep disorders and moderate to severe degrees of stress were assessed. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine the variables associated with LUTS and prostate volume. Moderate and severe LUTS were present in 1317 (24.6%) and 211 (3.9%) men, respectively. Moderate and severe LUTS were significantly associated with the presence of sleep disorders and stress. On multivariable analysis, age, amount of life-long smoking, marital status, income, job, and decreased HDL-cholesterol were associated with the presence of moderate to severe LUTS. Although older age and the amount of life-long smoking was associated with both voiding and storage sub-score, socioeconomic status, including marital status and income were only associated with storage sub-score. In men ≥ 40 years, stable socioeconomic status, in addition to older age, and life-long smoking amount are associated with the presence of moderate to severe LUTS, which worsens sleep quality and stress level, by worsen storage sub-score.

Background/Aims: The protective effects of vitamin D and calcium on colorectal neoplasms are known. Bone mineral density (BMD) may be a reliable biomarker that reflects the long-term anticancer effect of vitamin D and calcium. This study aimed to evaluate the association between BMD and colorectal adenomas including high-risk adenoma. Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional, case-control study was conducted among participants with average risk of colorectal cancer who underwent BMD and screening colonoscopy between 2015 and 2019. The main outcome was the detection of colorectal neoplasms. The variable under consideration was low BMD (osteopenia/osteoporosis). The logistic regression model included baseline demographics, components of metabolic syndrome, fatty liver disease status, and aspirin and multivitamin use. Results: A total of 2,109 subjects were enrolled. The mean age was 52.1±10.8 years and 42.6% were male. The adenoma detection rate was 43%. Colorectal adenoma and high-risk adenoma were both more prevalent in subjects with low BMD than those with normal BMD (48.2% vs 38.8% and 12.1% vs 9.1%). In the univariate analysis, old age, male sex, smoking, metabolic components, fatty liver, and osteoporosis were significantly associated with the risk of adenoma and high-risk adenoma. In the multivariate analysis, osteoporosis was independently associated with risk of colorectal adenoma (odds ratio [OR], 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11 to 2.46; p=0.014) and high-risk adenoma (OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.14 to 3.29; p=0.014). Conclusions: Osteoporosis is an independent risk factor of colorectal adenoma and high-risk adenoma.

Abstract The influence of body fat on arterial stiffness remains controversial. This study was performed to investigate the associations between four different types of body fat parameters and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). A total of 3758 subjects (mean age, 53.4 ± 8.8 years; females, 36.3%) who underwent health check-up were retrospectively analyzed. Anthropometric parameters including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist–hip ratio (WHR) were assessed, and visceral fat area (VFA) was calculated by bioelectrical impedance analysis. In simple linear correlation analyses, baPWV was associated with WC, WHR and VFA (P 0.05 for each). Even after controlling for potential confounders, higher baPWV was significantly associated not only with higher WHR [for > 0.90 in men and > 0.85 in women: odds ratio (OR), 1.23; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06–1.42; P = 0.005; for the highest tertile compared to the lowest tertile: OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.15–1.66; P

Background/Aims: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease for which new serological markers are required. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of the mucosa-associated epithelial chemokine CCL28 in UC. Methods: The study included 50 patients; of these, 25 were patients with UC, and 25 were healthy controls. The levels of serum CCL28 were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. CCL28 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 15 representative colon tissues biopsied based on disease activity (UC patients with severe activity, five samples; UC patients with mild activity, five samples; healthy controls, five samples). Results: The serum CCL28 levels were remarkably higher (p

Abstracts Background Lymph node (LN) metastasis is negligible in early gastric cancer (EGC) within expanded criteria for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). However, regional lymph nodes in abdominal CT scans are sometimes enlarged in patients with EGC within the expanded criteria for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). In this study, we investigated the clinical significance of regional lymph node enlargement on abdominal CT scan in patients with EGC within the expanded criteria for ESD. Methods From December 2010 to April 2015, among 301 patients with EGC within the ESD expanded criteria, 47 patients with regional lymph node enlargement shown by abdominal CT scan were prospectively enrolled. We performed surgical resection or periodic follow-up with abdominal CT scans and upper endoscopy every 6 months to evaluate whether the enlarged lymph nodes are due to metastasis or a reactive change. Results The mean age of the 47 patients (38 males, 9 female) was 64.8 years. The enlarged lymph nodes were usually single (26/47, 44.6%) and sized as follows: 11 nodes were ≤ 5 mm, 19 were 6–10 mm, and 17 were ≥ 10 mm. Four of the 47 patients initially underwent surgical resection, and 8 patients underwent surgical resection after ESD. However, there was no lymph node metastasis in surgical specimens. Thirty-five patients received ESD and periodically followed up at a median duration of 56 months (IQR: 44–59 month). The enlarged lymph node disappeared in 12 of 35 patients, decreased in 9 patients and remained the same size in 13 patients, and increased in 1 patient. Conclusion Regional lymph node enlargement on abdominal CT scan in patients within expanded criteria for ESD of ECG may be not due to metastasis but a reactive change.

Background/Aims: Public hospitals were established to provide high quality medical services to low socioeconomic status patients. This study examined the effects of public hospitals on the treatment and prognosis of patients with five-major gastrointestinal (GI) cancers (stomach cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, bile duct cancer, and pancreatic cancer). Methods: Among the 1,268 patients treated at Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center from January 2010 to December 2017, 164 (13%) were in the medicare group. The data were analyzed to identify and compare the clinical manifestations, treatment modality, and clinical outcomes between the groups. Results: No statistically significant differences in the clinical data (age, sex), treatment method, and five-year survival rate were observed between the health insurance group and medicare group in the five major GI cancer patients. On the other hand, some medicare group patients tended more comorbidities and fewer treatment options than health insurance patients. Conclusions: Public hospitals have a positive effect on the treatment and prognosis in medicare group patients with the five-major GI cancers.

Monolithic perovskite/Si tandem solar cells have attracted particular interest because of the potential to achieve high power conversion efficiencies. However, tandem cells require the use of textured Si substrates for efficient light harvesting, and conformal deposition of the perovskite absorption layer on textured Si substrates remains challenging. Here, we introduce a process to prepare a conformal methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) film on the various substrates regardless of their morphologies via the electrodeposition followed by vapor reaction. First, PbO2 films were electrodeposited on the planar indium tin oxide/NiO substrates in aqueous electrolyte, with their thickness and grain size controlled by adjusting the potential and reaction time. XPS and XRD analyses confirmed that the PbO2 film was fully reduced to PbO by annealing under a reducing atmosphere. Finally, the PbO films were converted into conformal MAPbI3 via MAI vapor reaction for 25 min at 180 °C. We also demonstrated that the PbO2 films could be evenly deposited on textured Si/ITO substrates using pulsed electrodeposition and were then converted into conformal MAPbI3 using the same vapor reaction process. The proposed approach thus provides a novel route for the preparation of high-quality perovskite films on both planar and textured substrates. Keywords: Electrochemical deposition, Thermal vapor reaction, Kinetics, Perovskite

Background/Aims Many gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopic procedures are difficult and cumbersome owing to the limitation of currently available endoscopic devices. This study aimed to develop an endoscopic guidetube for multipurpose endoscopic procedures and assess its use in a realistic GI endoscopic simulator. Methods The guidetube used is a soft overtube composed of neoprene and is designed to assist various endoscopic procedures on demand. In total, 15 types of procedures were performed in GI simulators. Four procedures were performed in the stomach model and 11 in the colon model. The procedures include repeated endoscopic insertion and foreign body removal in various positions. The mean insertion and procedure time were assessed in each session. All procedures were performed by 5 expert endoscopists. Results Endoscopic procedures with the new guidetube were faster and more effective than the conventional endoscopic techniques. The mean insertion time of the endoscope with the guidetube was significantly shorter than that without the guidetube. The guidetube was safely inserted without scratch using low pushing force. Objects of various sizes larger than the endoscopic channel were easily removed by the guidetube-assisted endoscopic procedures. Conclusions This preliminary study shows that guidetube-assisted endoscopic procedures are faster, easier, safer and cheaper than conventional endoscopic procedures.

Background/AimsWe used 3-dimensional (3D) printing technology to create a new hemostasis simulator for the stomach and investigated its efficacy and realism in endoscopic hemostasis training.Methods : A new stomach hemostasis simulator, with two hemostasis modules for hemoclipping and injection, was constructed using a 3D printer. Twenty-one endoscopists, including 11 first-year fellows (beginner group) and 10 faculty members (expert group), tested the performance of the simulator. We recorded and reviewed five training sessions and evaluated the simulator with questionnaires using a 7-point Likert scale.Results : The mean evaluation score of the expert group was 6.3±0.5 for the hemoclipping module and 6.0±0.6 for the injection module. The expert group strongly agreed that endoscopic handling in the simulator was realistic and reasonable for hemostasis training. The mean procedure time for hemoclipping was 72.7±7.1 seconds for the beginner group and 19.7±1.2 seconds for the expert group. The mean procedure time for injection was 92.1±9.8 seconds for the beginner group and 36.3±2 seconds for the expert group. The procedure time of beginner group became shorter with repetition and was significantly lower by the fifth trial.Conclusion : sA new 3D-printed hemostasis simulator is capable of hemostasis training and can very effectively train beginners before they perform the procedure in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding.

AimsMetabolic syndrome (MS) is a global health problem associated with an increased risk of diabetes mellitus (DM), cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer. Body composition parameters, including obesity, visceral adiposity, and sarcopenia contribute to the development of MS and CVD. Previous studies have investigated the association of individual body composition parameters with MS. Studies analyzing the association between multiple body composition parameters and MS have been rare. We aimed to investigate the association between MS and multiple body composition parameters, including obesity, visceral adiposity, and sarcopenia.MethodsA total of 13,620 subjects who underwent voluntary routine checkups at the Health Care Center of our institution between October 2014 and December 2019 were enrolled. Only data from the first examination of subjects who underwent repeated checkups were included. Clinical and laboratory data were collected. Skeletal muscle mass and visceral fat area (VFA) were measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) was divided by body weight (in kg) and expressed as a percentage (calculated as, ASM% = ASM × 100/Weight). Data were compared between the groups based on obesity, VFA, and ASM%. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the risk of MS in each group.ResultsBody mass index and VFA were significantly higher in subjects with MS than in those without MS. ASM% was significantly lower in subjects with MS than in those without MS. Subjects with obesity, visceral adiposity, or sarcopenia had a higher prevalence of MS than those without. As the number of metabolic components increased from 0 to 5, we identified a decreasing trend of ASM% and an increasing trend of VFA and BMI (P for trend < 0.001 for all). In the paired analyses, all the three body composition parameters showed additive effects in predicting MS. In the logistic regression analysis, the three parameters were associated with an increased risk of MS after adjustment for age, sex, hypertension, DM, dyslipidemia, smoking, alcohol intake, and C-reactive protein.ConclusionsObesity, visceral adiposity, and sarcopenia showed additive effects on MS prediction. Subjects with obesity, visceral adiposity, or sarcopenia were significantly associated with the increased risk of MS after adjustment for multiple confounders. Increasing skeletal muscle and reducing visceral fat may be strategies for the prevention or treatment of MS.

AimLiver cirrhosis and features of muscle or adipose tissues may affect the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP). We aimed to evaluate the impact of body composition parameters and liver cirrhosis on the severity of AP in patients with alcohol-induced AP (AAP).MethodsPatients with presumed AAP who underwent CT within one week after admission were retrospectively enrolled. L3 sectional areas of abdominal fat and muscle, and mean muscle attenuations (MMAs) were quantified. The presence of liver cirrhosis was determined using clinical and CT findings. Factors potentially associated with moderately severe or severe AP were included in the multivariable logistic regression analysis.ResultsA total of 242 patients (47.0 ± 12.6 years, 215 males) with presumed AAP were included. The mild and moderately severe/severe (MSS) groups included 137 (56.6%) and 105 patients (43.4%), respectively. Patients in the MSS group had higher rates of liver cirrhosis, organ failure, and local complications. Among body composition parameters, mean MMA (33.4 vs 36.8 HU, PConclusionThe results of this study suggest that liver cirrhosis has a significant impact on the severity of AAP. Of the body composition parameters examined, MMA and abdominal muscle mass showed potential as promising predictors.

Purpose The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of antibiotic susceptibility and resistance of Escherichia coli in urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 212 inpatients aged 18 years or younger with UTIs treated at the Pediatric Department of Dongguk University Gyeongju Hospital between January 2008 and December 2016. For comparison, patients were divided into three groups according to age as follows: group 1, ≤1 month; group 2, >1 month to ≤12 months; and group 3, ≥13 months. The antibiotic resistance rates from January 2008 to December 2012 (study period 1) and from January 2013 to December 2016 (study period 2) were analyzed statistically by group. Results As the patient age increased, the antibiotic resistance rate to ampicillin (P=0.013), levofloxacin (P=0.050), piperacillin/tazobactam (TZP) (P

Stroke is a serious, adverse neurological event and the third leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Most strokes are caused by a block in cerebral blood flow, resulting in neurological deficits through the death of brain tissue. Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) is currently the only immediate treatment medication for stroke. The goal of rt-PA administration is to reduce the thrombus and/or embolism via thrombolysis; however, the administration of rt-PA must occur within a very short therapeutic timeframe (3 h to 6 h) after symptom onset. Components of the pathological mechanisms involved in ischemic stroke can be used as potential biomarkers in current treatment. However, none are currently under investigation in clinical trials; thus, further studies investigating biomarkers are needed. After ischemic stroke, microglial cells can be activated and release inflammatory cytokines. These cytokines lead to severe neurotoxicity via the overactivation of microglia in prolonged and lasting insults such as stroke. Thus, the balanced regulation of microglial activation may be necessary for therapy. Stem cell therapy is a promising clinical treatment strategy for ischemic stroke. Stem cells can increase the functional recovery of damaged tissue after post-ischemic stroke through various mechanisms including the secretion of neurotrophic factors, immunomodulation, the stimulation of endogenous neurogenesis, and neovascularization. To investigate the use of stem cell therapy for neurological diseases in preclinical studies, however, it is important to develop imaging technologies that are able to evaluate disease progression and to “chase” (i.e., track or monitor) transplanted stem cells in recipients. Imaging technology development is rapidly advancing, and more sensitive techniques, such as the invasive and non-invasive multimodal techniques, are under development. Here, we summarize the potential risk factors and biomarker treatment strategies, stem cell-based therapy and emerging multimodal imaging techniques in the context of stroke. This current review provides a conceptual framework for considering the therapeutic targets and directions for the treatment of brain dysfunctions, with a particular focus on ischemic stroke.

Background: To date, there are limited studies on the sex-specific relationship between fetuins (Ft-A and Ft-B) and metabolic diseases. Our recent proteomic study has shown that fetuins may play sex-dependent roles in obesity and diabetes. In the present study, we investigated the expression of hepatic fetuins with respect to the effects of sex hormones both in vivo and in vitro. Methods & Results: A sex hormone-treated rat model was established in order to study the effects of sex hormones on hepatic fetuin expression. Animal experiments revealed that 17β-estradiol (E2)- and dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-treated rats showed opposite effects in terms of body weight gain in both genders. Interestingly, Ft-A and Ft-B were sex-dependently expressed in the livers of rats, responding to different regulatory modes of sex hormone receptors (ERα, ERβ, and AR). To validate in vivo data, rat normal liver cells were treated with E2 or DHT at different concentrations, and similar expression patterns as those in the animal-based experiments were confirmed. We found that these changes were mediated via sex hormone receptors using antagonist experiments. Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that sex hormones induce gender-dimorphic expression of hepatic fetuins directly via sex hormone receptors. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first approach to address the effects of sex hormones on hepatic fetuin expression.

Introduction: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast is a rare condition, and cases in male patients are even less common. Case: We describe a case of ACC of the breast with axillary lymph node metastasis, disseminated osteolytic bone metastasis and bone marrow involvement in a 41-year-old man. Conclusion: Male breast ACC is an extremely rare malignancy; there can be difficulty in obtaining a final diagnosis. We report this case because of its rarity.

Gastroparesis following radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) is a very rare complication, as only two cases have been reported in the English literature. A 42-year-old man underwent RFCA due to recurrent drug-resistant symptomatic atrial fibrillation. The patient complained of indigestion and early satiety 2 days after the procedure. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography and an upper gastrointestinal series of the abdomen showed a large amount of material remaining in the stomach area. All food material was removed by endoscopy, and the patient received medical treatment. We suggest a flow chart for diagnosis and treatment of AFGS based on the present case and previous cases. Endoscopic medical patent was designed on the basis of this case.

Objective: To investigate the anti-colon cancer effects of ethylacetate fraction from Orostachys japonicus (O. japonicus) on HT-29 cancer cells. Methods: The viability of HT-29 cells was assayed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) method. Apoptosis induction and cell cycle inhibition were confirmed by fluorescein isothiocyanate and propidium iodide staining using flow cytometry. Morphological changes in the nucleus were observed, using a fluorescence microscope with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) nuclear staining. The expression levels of the upstream and downstream proteins involved in the anti-cancer mechanism were confirmed by Western blotting. Results: After treating HT-29 cells with different concentrations of ethylacetate fraction from O. japonicus, the viability of cells decreased in a concentration-dependent manner, while apoptosis induction and apoptotic body formation increased. Cell cycle analysis showed that the arrest occurred at the sub-G1 and S phase. Among the upstream and downstream proteins involved in anti-cancer activity, the level of B cell lymphoma-2 decreased, and the bcl-2-associated x protein increased. The level of pro-caspase-3, pro-caspase-8, and pro-caspase-9 decreased, while the level of cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-8, and cleaved-caspase-9 increased. Moreover, the phosphorylation, that is, activation of extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2, Jun-N-terminal kinase, and p38 increased. Conclusions: Combining the above results, it is thought that the survival of HT-29 cells is suppressed by ethylacetate fraction from O. japonicus through mitochondrial regulation-induced caspase cascade activation, induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.

Background/Aims: Guide tube-assisted endoscopy for procedures that require repeated endoscopic access is safer and more effective than conventional endoscopy. However, its effectiveness has not been confirmed in animal studies. We assessed the usefulness of guide tube-assisted endoscopic procedures in an in vivo porcine model. Methods: Five different guide tube-assisted endoscopic procedures were performed by experienced endoscopists on a pig weighing 32 kg. To evaluate the efficacy of these procedures, we compared the endoscopic approach time when a guide tube was used to that when it was not. Additional endoscopic procedures using a guide tube were performed, including multiple foreign body extractions, multiple polypectomies, and multiple submucosal dissections. To evaluate safety, we compared the insertion force into the proximal esophagus between the guide tube and conventional overtube methods. Results: Using the endoscopic approach with a guide tube required a shorter average approach time to reach the three target lesions than when using the endoscopic approach without a guide tube (p<0.001). Compared to the conventional overtube method, the guide tube method produced a lower average resistance during insertion into the upper esophagus (p<0.001). Conclusions: Guide tube-assisted endoscopic procedures are effective and safe for repeated endoscopic access in an in vivo porcine model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic, relapsing, immunological, inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). It has been reported that UC, which is studied using a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis model, is associated with the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the apoptosis of intestine epithelial cells (IEC). Mitochondrial NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH2) has been reported as an essential enzyme in the mitochondrial antioxidant system via generation of NADPH. Therefore, we evaluated the role of IDH2 in DSS-induced colitis using IDH2-deficient (IDH2-/-) mice. We observed that DSS-induced colitis in IDH2-/- mice was more severe than that in wild-type IDH2+/+ mice. Our results also suggest that IDH2 deficiency exacerbates PUMA-mediated apoptosis, resulting from NF-κB activation regulated by histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity. In addition, DSS-induced colitis is ameliorated by an antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) through attenuation of oxidative stress, resulting from deficiency of the IDH2 gene. In conclusion, deficiency of IDH2 leads to increased mitochondrial ROS levels, which inhibits HDAC activity, and the activation of NF-κB via acetylation is enhanced by attenuated HDAC activity, which causes PUMA-mediated apoptosis of IEC in DSS-induced colitis. The present study supported the rationale for targeting IDH2 as an important cancer chemoprevention strategy, particularly in the prevention of colorectal cancer.

The proteolytic processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by β-secretase (BACE1) and γ-secretase releases amyloid-β peptide (Aβ), which deposits in amyloid plaques and contributes to the initial causative events of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In the present study, the regulatory mechanism of APP processing of three phlorotannins was elucidated in Swedish mutant APP overexpressed N2a (SweAPP N2a) cells. Among the tested compounds, dieckol exhibited the highest inhibitory effect on both intra- and extracellular Aβ accumulation. In addition, dieckol regulated the APP processing enzymes, such as α-secretase (ADAM10), β-secretase, and γ-secretase, presenilin-1 (PS1), and their proteolytic products, sAPPα and sAPPβ, implying that the compound acts on both the amyloidogenic and non-amyloidogenic pathways. In addition, dieckol increased the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) at Ser473 and GSK-3β at Ser9, suggesting dieckol induced the activation of Akt, which phosphorylated GSK-3β. The specific phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 triggered GSK-3β activation and Aβ expression. In addition, co-treatment with LY294002 noticeably blocked the effect of dieckol on Aβ production, demonstrating that dieckol promoted the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, which in turn inactivated GSK-3β, resulting in the reduction in Aβ levels.

This study optimized the preparation of electrosprayed microspheres containing leuprolide and developed an in vitro−in vivo correlation (IVIVC) model that enables mutual prediction between in vitro and in vivo dissolution. The pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) study of leuprolide was carried out in normal rats after subcutaneous administration of electrosprayed microspheres. The parameters of the IVIVC model were estimated by fitting the PK profile of Lucrin depot® to the release compartment of the IVIVC model, thus the in vivo dissolution was predicted from the in vitro dissolution. From this correlation, the PK profile of leuprolide was predicted from the results of in vivo dissolution. The IVIVC model was validated by estimating percent prediction error (%PE) values. Among prepared microspheres, an optimal formulation was selected using the IVIVC model. The maximum plasma concentration and the area under the plasma concentration−time curve from zero to infinity from the predicted PK profile were 4.01 ng/mL and 52.52 h·ng/mL, respectively, and from the observed PK profile were 4.14 ng/mL and 56.95 h·ng/mL, respectively. The percent prediction error values of all parameters did not exceed 15%, thus the IVIVC model satisfies the validation criteria of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance. The PK/PD evaluation suggests that the efficacy of OL5 is similar to Lucrin depot®, but the formulation was improved by reducing the initial burst release.

In this paper, a virtual touch sensor using a depth camera is proposed. Touch regions are detected by finding each region that consists of pixels within a certain distance from a touch surface. Touch points are detected by finding a pixel in each touch region whose neighboring pixels are closest to surfaces. A touch path error due to noise in the depth picture is corrected through a filter that introduces a weight parameter in order to respond quickly even with sudden changes. The virtual touch sensor is implemented by using the proposed methods for the touch point detection and the touch path correction. In the virtual touch sensor, a touch surface and pixels of a depth picture can be regarded as a virtual touch panel and virtual touch units, respectively. The virtual touch sensor can be applied to wide fields of touch interfaces. Results of simulations show the implementation of the touch-pen interface using the virtual touch sensor.

In this paper, an intra prediction method is proposed for coding of depth pictures using plane modelling. Each pixel in the depth picture is related to the distance from a camera to an object surface, and pixels corresponding to a flat surface of an object form a relationship with the 2D plane surface. The plane surface can be represented by a simple equation in the 3D camera coordinate system in such a way that the coordinate system of depth pixels can be transformed to the camera coordinate system. This paper finds the parameters which define the plane surface closest to given depth pixels. The plane model is then used to predict the depth pixels on the plane surface. A depth prediction method is also devised for efficient intra prediction of depth pictures, using variable-size blocks. For prediction with variable-size blocks, the plane surface that occupies a large part of the picture can be predicted using a large block size. The simulation results of the proposed method show that the mean squared error is reduced by up to 96.6% for a block size of 4 × 4 pixels and reduced by up to 98% for a block size of 16 × 16, compared with the intra prediction modes of H.264/AVC and H.265/HEVC.