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This study is to identify correlation between end-of-life care stress, clinical decision-making and resilience of nurses in cancer care unit. This study was conducted for 150 nurses having more than an year of work experience in end-of-life care part at cancer care unit of 3 different hospitals in B mtropolitan City. In result, end-of-life care stress was 3.78±0.39, clinical decision-making was 3.06±0.25, and resilience was 2.42±0.41. In resilience, significant differnce was found depending on age, religion, clinical experience, and final education. End-of-life care stress was correlated with subfactor(evaluation and reevaluation of consequences) in clinical decision-making, and subfactor(spirituality) in resilience. Clinical decision-making was correlated with resilience. Therefore, guidelines should be developed to make appropriate clinical decision for patients’ situation to alleviate the end-of-life care stress of nurse in cancer ward. Additionally, continuous education for nurses who take of dying patients should be accompanied.

Few studies have described the aetiologies of neonatal cholestasis, and the overall neonatal cholestasis-related mortality (NCM) rate is unclear. We investigated the aetiology and outcome of neonatal cholestasis in a tertiary hospital and developed an NCM prediction model for these patients.Patients aged100 days with serum direct bilirubin (DB) levels of1.0 mg/dL were retrospectively screened. Diagnostic and laboratory data during the 8-week follow-up period after enrolment between 2005 and 2020 were extracted digitally, and medical charts were reviewed manually by clinicians. Logistic regression was used to derive a prediction model for the 1-year mortality outcome of neonatal cholestasis, and performance evaluation and external validation were conducted for the NCM prediction model.We enrolled 4028 neonates with DB of1.0 mg/dL at least once. Prematurity and birth injury (35.4%), complex heart anomalies (18.6%), liver diseases (11.4%), and gastrointestinal anomalies (9.2%) were the most common aetiologies; 398 (9.9%) patients died before one year of age. The peak value of DB was positively correlated to the 1-year mortality rate. In the multivariate analysis, simple laboratory indices, including platelet, prothrombin time, aspartate aminotransferase, albumin, direct bilirubin, creatinine, and C-reactive protein, were independent predictors of 1-year mortality outcome of complete-case subjects. Using these laboratory indices, a logistic regression-based NCM prediction model was constructed. It showed acceptable performances on discrimination (area under the curve, 0.916), calibration (slope, 1.04) and Brier scoring (0.072). The external validation of the sample (n = 920) from two other centres also revealed similar performance profiles of the NCM model.Various aetiologies of neonatal cholestasis were identified in a tertiary hospital, resulting in unfavourable outcomes of a large proportion. The NCM prediction model may have the potential to help clinicians to be aware of high-risk neonatal cholestasis.Ministry of HealthWelfare, Republic of Korea.

Bloodstream infection (BSI) is one of the most significantly adverse events that can occur after liver transplantation (LT) in children.To analyze the profile of BSI according to the postoperative periods and assess the risk factors after pediatric LT.Clinical data, collected from medical charts of children (Of the examined patients, 106 (28%) experienced 162 episodes of pathogen-confirmed BSI during the first year after LT. There were 1.53 ± 0.95 episodesBSI was frequently observed in patients after pediatric LT, affecting survival outcomes. The profile of BSI may inform clinical treatment and management in high-risk children after LT.

Background Epstein-Barr virus-associated T/natural killer-cell lymphoproliferative disorders (EBV-T/NK-LPD) is a group of rare disorders resulting from EBV-infected T/NK-cells. It manifests as a broad spectrum of clinical symptoms according to immunologic status and viral load of an infected patient. Here, we report a boy who developed central nervous system (CNS) vasculitis and myelopathy as possible neurologic manifestations of EBV-T/NK-LPD. Case report A 16-year-old boy came to our hospital with a necrotic skin lesion on his right shoulder. He suffered from local skin reactions with high fevers after mosquito bites since he was 10 years old. During the evaluation of his skin lesion, he suddenly developed left facial palsy. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) showed acute infarctions of the pons and middle cerebellar peduncle and irregularities of both anterior inferior cerebellar arteries. Serologic testing showed an elevation of total Ig E levels, anti-VCA IgG levels, and anti-EA IgG titers. EBV DNA copy numbers of the whole blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were elevated. Biopsy of the right shoulder skin showed extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma. According to clinical features and laboratory findings, he was diagnosed with EBV-T/NK-LPD. He was treated with chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation but developed recurrent infarctions during treatment. Conclusion This case showed the diagnostic challenge of neurologic manifestations of EBV-T/NK-LPD. EBV-T/NK-LPD-associated CNS vasculitis needs to be considered as a differential diagnosis of CNS vasculitis, when it is accompanied by the typical clinical spectrum of EBV-T/NK-LPD such as severe mosquito bite allergy, extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma.

Fast charging capability is a high demand feature of lithium ion batteries used in electric vehicles; however, current lithium ion battery technology does not meet electric vehicles fast charging requirements. In this work, it demonstrates that surface modification of graphite using amorphous Al2O3 is an efficient way to improve the fast charging capability of graphite anode materials for lithium ion batteries. Surface-engineered graphite with 1 wt% Al2O3 exhibits a reversible capacity of about 337.1 mAh g−1, even at a high rate of 4000 mA g−1, corresponding to 97.2% of the capacity obtained at a current density of 100 mA g−1. Full cell tests adopting LiCoO2 cathodes and Al2O3-coated graphite anodes confirm that the introduction of amorphous Al2O3 can improve the fast charging capability of graphite anode materials. Wettability tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis reveal that this fast charging improvement results from the increased electrolyte wettability on the graphite that is induced by the Al2O3 layer on its surface. Our approach is a practical means to attaining enhanced fast charging capabilities from graphite anode materials for use in high power lithium ion batteries.

Natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma is an aggressive malignancy [1]. Although regimens including asparaginases are effective and increase the complete remission rate [2], the outcomes for stage IV ...

A metal-bound phosphorus atom can actively participate in various organometallic reactions as an electron reservoir and/or a group transfer site, because a phosphorus atom can adopt several distinct forms such as cationic phosphenium, anionic phosphide, neutral phosphine, or a phosphinyl radical, thus making it more versatile. Furthermore, the ability of the phosphorus atom to have various oxidation states promotes the phosphorus atom to be cooperatively engaged in the reaction occurring at a metal center. By using such properties of phosphorus, metal-ligand cooperative (MLC) reactions occurring at a P-M moiety embedded in several transition metal pincer systems are discussed in this chapter.

ConspectusCarbon dioxide conversion mediated by transition metal complexes continues to attract much attention because of its future potential utilization as a nontoxic and inexpensive C1 source for the chemical industry. Given the presence of nickel in natural systems that allow for extremely efficient catalysis, albeit in an Fe cluster arrangement, studies that focus on selective CO2 conversion with synthetic nickel species are currently of considerable interest in our group. In this Account, the selective conversion of CO2 to carbon monoxide occurring at a single nickel center is discussed. The chemistry is based on a series of related nickel pincer complexes with attention to the uniqueness of the coordination geometry, which is crucial in allowing for particular reactivity toward CO2. Our research is inspired by the efficient enzymatic CO2 catalysis occurring at the active site of carbon monoxide dehydrogenase. Since the binding and reactivity toward CO2 are controlled in part by the geometry of a L3...

In this study, adsorption mechanism of alkyl polyglucoside (APG) on calcium carbonate (CaCO3) nanoparticles (CCNPs) in aqueous medium at varying pH was identified. An initial adsorption of APG on CCNP surface seemed to be occurred due to the van der Waals force. An initial surface charge influenced determination of a major driving force, which resulted in hydrogen bonds (pH 7) and the hydrophobic interaction (pH 10) as a main sources of adsorption of APG on the CCNP surface. Even if the initial surface charge of CCNPs had little effect on a quantitative adsorption of APG on CCNPs, eventually, it influence on the definitive adsorption structure between APG and CCNPs and improvement of dispersion stability of CCNPs in water. In conclusion, it was revealed that 0.39% APG aqueous solution was most appropriate to improve the dispersion stability of CCNPs, which is postulated to be used effectively in food and pharmaceutical fields.

The objectives of this study were to obtain Opuntia ficus-indica fruit (OFIF) extract by autoclave treatment, to convert the flavonoid glycosides in the autoclave extract (AE) to aglycones by enzymatic hydrolysis, and to compare the antioxidant activity of AE and OFIF extracts obtained by other conventional methods. It was revealed that the total polyphenol and flavonoid content and antioxidant activity of AE were higher than those of water extract but were a slightly lower than those of ethanol extract, which indicates that autoclave treatment might be an efficient extraction method for OFIF. Moreover, it was confirmed that the conversion of various flavonoid glycosides to aglycones in all the OFIF extracts does not significantly affect the antioxidant activities. Therefore, it is extrapolated that the antioxidant activity might be correlated to the intestinal absorption rates and metabolic pathway induction upon oral administration rather than the structure of compound itself.

Strongly emissive cuprous complexes containing a stable σ-SiH-Cu motif were prepared. These complexes serve as a proof of principle that σ-complexation can be utilized as a design principle for engineering responsive light emitting materials. Their excited state lifetimes were found to be long (∼20 μs) with high quantum yields (φ = 0.40-0.59).

TWIK-related potassium channel-1 (TREK-1) is broadly expressed in the brain and involved in diverse brain diseases, such as seizures, ischemia, and depression. However, the cell type-specific roles of TREK-1 in the brain are largely unknown. Here, we generated a Cre-dependent TREK-1 knockdown (Cd-TREK-1 KD) transgenic mouse containing a gene cassette for Cre-dependent TREK-1 short hairpin ribonucleic acid to regulate the cell type-specific TREK-1 expression. We confirmed the knockdown of TREK-1 by injecting adeno-associated virus (AAV) expressing Cre into the hippocampus of the mice. To study the role of hippocampal neuronal TREK-1 in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depression model, we injected AAV-hSyn-BFP (nCTL group) or AAV-hSyn-BFP-Cre (nCre group) virus into the hippocampus of Cd-TREK-1 KD mice. Interestingly, the immobility in the tail suspension test after LPS treatment did not change in the nCre group. Additionally, some neurotrophic factors (BDNF, VEGF, and IGF-1) significantly increased more in the nCre group compared to the nCTL group after LPS treatment, but there was no difference in the expression of their receptors. Therefore, our data suggest that TREK-1 in the hippocampal neurons has antidepressant effects, and that Cd-TREK-1 KD mice are a valuable tool to reveal the cell type-specific roles of TREK-1 in the brain.

Nickel(II) complexes supported by a diphosphinosilyl ligand, [PhSi(2-PiPr2C6H4)2]− (PhSiP2), reveal unusual metal–ligand cooperativity (MLC). While (PhSiP2)Ni(NHMes) (2a) was cleanly isolated at ro...

The bestrophin family comprises well-known Ca2+-activated chloride channels (CaCC) that are expressed in a variety tissues including the brain, eye, gastrointestinal tract, and muscle tissues. Among the family members, bestrophin-1 (BEST1) is known to exist mainly in retinal pigment epithelium cells, but we recently reported that BEST1 mediates Ca2+-activated Cl- currents in hippocampal astrocytes. Despite its critical roles in physiological processes, including tonic γ-aminobutyric acid release and glutamate transport, the mechanisms that regulate BEST1 are poorly understood. In this study, we identified NEDD4L (NEDD4-2), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, as a binding partner of BEST1. A series of deletion constructs revealed that the WW3-4 domains of NEDD4L were important for interaction with BEST1. We observed that BEST1 underwent ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis and found that the conserved lysine370 residue in the C-terminus of BEST1 was important for its ubiquitination. Finally, we demonstrated that NEDD4L inhibited whole cell currents mediated by BEST1 but not by the BEST1(K370R) mutant. Collectively, our data demonstrated that NEDD4L played a critical role in regulating the surface expression of BEST1 by promoting its internalization and degradation.

The carbonylation of a nickel(II) anilido species 2 led to the formation of a dinickel(0)-CO complex (P2 P-PP2 ){Ni(CO)}2 3 with a P-P bond along with isocyanate generation. In this reaction, the central phosphide moiety of an anionic PPP ligand (PPP- =- P[2-Pi Pr2 C6 H4 ]2 ) acts as a single-electron donor to form a P radical. Alternatively, 3 can be synthesized from the reduction of (PPP)NiCl (1) in the presence of CO; thus, the reaction proceeds by radical coupling of a . P-Ni0 -CO species. The reverse reaction occurred to generate 1 when 3 was treated with AgCl. Since the P-P bond is light-sensitive, its homolysis is possible and was explored by EPR spectroscopy and DFT analysis. Finally, various bond-activation reactions of 3 occurred under visible-light conditions, thus indicating that a P-P bond can act as an active reaction site.

The aims of the present study were to prepare different-sized red ginseng powders and investigate the particle size effect on the release property of ginsenosides in in vitro digestion conditions. Ultrafine powder showed bimodal particle size distribution with a large peak at around 100 μm and small peak at around 10 μm, differently from fine powder showing unimodal distribution at 100 μm. The specific surface areas of fine- and ultrafine powders were 48.72 ± 6.41 and 86.74 ± 5.96 m2/g, respectively. Time-dependent release property of the powders in the simulated gastrointestinal fluids was determined by quantifying ginsenoside Rg1 released. The initial and final concentrations of ginsenoside Rg1 released was higher in ultrafine powder than fine one. It is expected that particle size reduction and corresponding increase in the specific surface area have a potential to improve the release of ginsenosides in the gastrointestinal tract and enhance the chances to be absorbed in human body.

The objectives of this study were to encapsulate lyophilized garlic powder with various coating materials for reducing its unpleasant taste and odor and to investigate their physiochemical and taste masking properties. All coating materials used in this study were edible ones such as maltodextrin (MD), whey protein isolate (WPI), whole milk powder (WMP), and skim milk powder (SMP). To produce encapsulated garlic powders, lyophilized garlic powder was mixed with coating materials at the ratio of 1:1 followed by homogenization for 30 min, and then spray- or freeze-dried. Physiochemical property measurements and quantitative analyses were carried out for the encapsulated garlic powders. Encapsulated garlic powder using WMP with spray drying method showed the highest alliin concentration (4.131 mg/g) compared to those coated with other coating materials. Sensory evaluation showed that encapsulated garlic powder using WPI and WMP reduced unpleasant garlic taste and odor effectively. Milk fats in the WMP and hydrophobic chains of the proteins in WPI might bind with volatile and hydrophobic odor emitting molecules. In evaluation for aqueous stability, encapsulated garlic powder using WMP showed better stability compared to others. This garlic taste and odor masking study can contribute to a number of possible health benefits by adding garlic powder to a wide variety of functional foods.

A mild copper-catalyzed regio- and stereoselective monoborylation of conjugated diynes with bis(pinacolato)diboron that affords enynylboronates is reported. The reaction is efficient for different types of conjugated diynes including unsymmetrical diynes and produces enynylboron compounds with high and complementary regioselectivity compared with classical hydrometalation reactions. In particular, the reactions of internal conjugated diynes with a silyl substitution produced highly functionalized enynes with high regio- and stereoselectivity, which can be used in further transformations.

본 연구에서는 기-액 평형장치와 반응열 측정장치를 이용하여 2-methylpiperidine (2MPD), 3-methylpiperidine (3MPD), 4-methylpiperidine (4MPD) 흡수제의 이산화탄소 흡수특성을 연구하였다. 기-액 평형장치를 이용하여 각 흡수제의 이산화탄소 흡수능을 알아보았고, 흡수평형 후의 흡수액을 핵자기공명장치(nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy: NMR)로 분석하여 종 형성을 확인하였다. 추가적으로 반응열 측정장치를 이용하여 흡수능에 따른 반응열을 제시하였다. 실험결과 2MPD, 3MPD, 4MPD 흡수제는 작용기 위치에 따라 다른 특성을 나타내었다. Ortho 위치에 메틸기를 가진 2MPD는 입체장애효과로 인하여 흡수반응에서 특이성이 나타났으나 3MPD와 4MPD는 (H2O-piperidine-CO2) 시스템에서 반응 특이성이 나타나지 않았다.

This study aimed to study the effect of frozen-storage period on the quality of sirloin and mackerel (Scomber japonicus). The samples were evaluated after being kept in frozen storage at −17.9 °C for different periods of time (1, 8, 15, 22, and 29 days). The frozen storage resulted in increase in ice crystal formation on the surface of both sirloin and mackerel. Frozen-storage period had an effect on the increase in the drip loss of both sirloin and mackerel with a positive correlation (p

Three hundred thirty two bacterial colonies which were able to degrade crude oil were isolated from soil samples that were contaminated with oil in Daejon area. Among them, one bacterial strain was selected for this study based on its low surface tension ability, and this selected bacterial strain was identified as Pseudomonas sp. G314 through physiological-biochemical tests and analysis of its 16S rRNA sequence. Pseudomonas sp. G314 showed a high resistance to antibiotics such as ampicillin, chloramphenicol, spectinomycin, and streptomycin, and heavy metals such as Li, Cr, and Mn. It was found that the optimal pH and temperature for biosurfactant production of Pseudomonas sp. G314 were pH 7.0 and , respectively. After seven hours of inoculated, the biosurfactant activity reached the maximum, and surface tension of the culture broth was decreased from 72 to 25 dyne/cm. The crude biosurfactant was obtained from the culture broth by acid precipitation, followed by solvent extraction, evaporation and then freeze drying. The CMC (critical micelle concentration) value of the crude biosurfactant was 20 mg/L.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Ginseng and ginsenosides are frequently used in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. Recently, 20- O- β - d -glucopyranosyl-20( S )-protopanaxadiol (GPD), the main metabolite of ginsenosides, was reported to have both anti-allergic and anti-pruritic effects. The immunomodulatory effects of GPD-fortified ginseng extract (GFGE) on atopic dermatitis (AD)-like symptoms in mice were investigated. This study was designed to investigate the preventive effect of GFGE on AD-like symptoms. Materials and methods The effects of orally administered GFGE on Dermatophagoides farinae body extract (DFE)-induced AD-like symptoms in NC/Nga mice were assessed by analyzing dermatitis score, ear thickness, scratching time, skin histological changes, and serum level of macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC). In addition, splenocytes were isolated from the mice and stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 monoclonal antibodies to produce cytokines. Results Oral administration of GFGE significantly attenuated DFE-induced increases in dermatitis score, ear thickness, scratching time, and severity of skin lesions in NC/Nga mice. GFGE treatment also reduced level of MDC in serum, infiltration of eosinophils and mast cells in skin, and production of cytokines in splenocytes. Conclusions These results suggest that GFGE might ameliorate DFE-induced AD-like symptoms and be an alternative therapeutic agent for the prevention of AD.

The objectives of this study were to obtain Opuntia ficus-indica fruit (OFIF) extract by autoclave treatment, to convert the flavonoid glycosides in the autoclave extract (AE) to aglycones by enzymatic hydrolysis, and to compare the antioxidant activity of AE and OFIF extracts obtained by other conventional methods. It was revealed that the total polyphenol and flavonoid content and antioxidant activity of AE were higher than those of water extract but were a slightly lower than those of ethanol extract, which indicates that autoclave treatment might be an efficient extraction method for OFIF. Moreover, it was confirmed that the conversion of various flavonoid glycosides to aglycones in all the OFIF extracts does not significantly affect the antioxidant activities. Therefore, it is extrapolated that the antioxidant activity might be correlated to the intestinal absorption rates and metabolic pathway induction upon oral administration rather than the structure of compound itself.

Si/SiO x composites have attracted much interest as high capacity materials for lithium-ion battery with their good cycle performance. However, the main problem with Si/SiO x anode materials is their low initial Coulombic efficiency resulting from the irreversible reaction of SiO x with Li. In this work, to improve initial Coulombic efficiency, we propose a mechanochemically reduced Si/SiO x nanospheres through high-energy mechanical milling with reactive Mg metal particles. We found that milling time and the relative amount of Mg metal as a reducing agent are key variables to govern the electrochemical performance of mechanochemically reduced Si/SiOx nanocomposite anode materials. The obtained Si/SiO x nanospheres exhibited improved initial Coulombic efficiency of 55 % with initial discharge capacity of 1140 mAh g-1. The microstructure and electrochemical properties of the reduced-Si/SiO x will be discussed in more detail.

Sodium metal has gain recent attention as a high capacity anode material for sodium rechargeable battery because of its abundance as well as high energy density with low-working potential. Unfortunately, low Coulombic efficiency and dendrite formation of sodium metal anode during cycling are key hurdles to be utilized for practical application. In this work, we have investigated the electrochemical properties of sodium metal interphase with highly concentrated Na+-conductive inorganic electrolyte by various analytical techniques and electrochemical measurements. We found the morphological stability of sodium metal anode with NaAlCl4-2SO2 inorganic electrolyte, forming dendrite-free polygonal sodium deposition. By adopting a highly stable electrolyte for sodium metal, the electrochemical characteristics of sodium metal anode showed significant improvement compared to the conventional Na ion conducting organic electrolyte, encouraging the development of room-temperature sodium metal-based rechargeable batteries. More details of electrochemical performance of sodium metal anode will be discussed on this presentation.

Along with the rapid growth in robots, mobile electronics and electric vehicles (EVs) technology, lithium ion batteries (LIBs) are facing several technical challenges such as higher energy density and fast charging capability. Graphite, currently used anode materials for LIBs, has technical limitations to be used for robots, mobile electronics and EVs in terms of energy density and fast charging capability. To solve these problems, various anode materials have been suggested for alternative graphite anode material. In this work, black titanium dioxide coated graphite was investigated as an anode material with fast charging capability for LIBs. The proposed core-shell structure, black titanium dioxide coated graphite anode electrode exhibited an excellent rate capability of 96.4 % of the capacity retention at a rate of 10 C compare to that tested at a rate of 0.2 C without any degradation of reversible capacity and long-term cycle performance. The characterization, microstructure and electrochemical properties of the black titanium dioxide coated graphite will be discussed in more detail.

We investigated the in vitro effect of modified Je-Ho-Tang (MJHT) hot-water extract on platelet aggregation and activation induced by agonists in human whole blood, and on platelet adhesion to a collagen-coated surface under flow shear stress conditions. MJHT extract potently inhibited the collagen-induced platelet aggregation in human whole blood in a dose-dependent manner, with a half-maximal inhibitory dose (IC(50)) value of 526 microg/mL. We accessed several markers of platelet activation using receptor expression on platelet membranes, including GPIIb/IIIa-like expression (PAC-1) and P-selectin (CD62); we monitored the intracellular calcium mobilization response by flow cytometry in healthy subjects. A significant decrease in PAC-1 (P=0.002), CD62 (P=0.002), and intracellular calcium mobilization (P0.001) were seen in the presence of MJHT extract. In addition, we have used image analysis to study human platelet adhesion to collagen under physiologic flow conditions in a perfusion chamber. MJHT extract markedly decreased platelet adhesion to the collagen-coated surface. These results show that MJHT has potent anti-platelet activity.

To compare the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome using the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definitions and to contrast the association between the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and the metabolic syndrome using both definitions in the Korean population, we used data from the 2001 Korean Nation Health and Nutrition Survey, which is a nationally representative survey of the noninstitutionalized civilian population. The age-adjusted prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 18.8%+/-0.5% (men, 17.8%+/-0.8%; women, 20.5%+/-0.7%) using the NCEP definition and 19.5%+/-0.5% (men 15.0%+/-0.8%, women 23.9%+/-0.7%) using the IDF definition among participants 20 years or older. The agreement rate, which is the percentage of participants who were classified as either having or not having the metabolic syndrome by both definitions of the metabolic syndrome, was 84.6%+/-0.5% (kappa=0.54). The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome using the NCEP definition was higher in participants with lower body mass index, whereas the prevalence using the IDF definition was higher in subjects with higher body mass index. The odds ratio (OR) for coronary artery disease was 3.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.0-6.1) for participants with the metabolic syndrome defined by the NCEP definition, whereas it was 2.8 (95% CI, 1.6-5.0) for those with the metabolic syndrome defined by the IDF definition. Similarly, the OR for stroke was higher using the NCEP definition (OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.7-5.2) compared with that of the IDF definition (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.3-4.0). However, the CIs by both definitions overlapped considerably. In conclusion, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome using the IDF definition was higher than that using the NCEP definition, whereas the NCEP definition was more closely associated with cardiovascular disease in the Korean population.

A mild copper-catalyzed regio- and stereoselective monoborylation of conjugated diynes with bis(pinacolato)diboron that affords enynylboronates is reported. The reaction is efficient for different types of conjugated diynes including unsymmetrical diynes and produces enynylboron compounds with high and complementary regioselectivity compared with classical hydrometalation reactions. In particular, the reactions of internal conjugated diynes with a silyl substitution produced highly functionalized enynes with high regio- and stereoselectivity, which can be used in further transformations.

Reversible transformations are observed between a phosphide-nickel(II) alkoxide and a phosphinite-nickel(0) species via a P-O bond formation coupled with a 2-e(-) redox change at the nickel center. In the forward reaction, the nickel(0) dinitrogen species (PP(OMe)P)Ni(N2) (2) and {(PP(OMe)P)Ni}2(μ-N2) (3) were formed from the reaction of (PPP)NiCl (1) with a methoxy anion. In the backward reaction, a (PPP)Ni(II) moiety was regenerated from the CO2 reaction of 3 with the concomitant formation of a methyl carbonate ligand in (PPP)Ni(OCOOMe) (7). Thus, unanticipated metal-ligand cooperation involving a phosphide based ligand is reported.

High regioselectivity was achieved in the Cu(i)-catalyzed borylation of internal propargylic alkynes with a silyl substituent to afford multifunctionalized alkenylboron compounds. While both the silyl and propargylic substituents are known to act as directing groups, a N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-Cu complex furnished β-vinylboronate products (relative to Si) with high selectivity.

We introduced carbazole and fluorene moieties into pentacene compound for comparing optical and EL properties together. The structure was identified by NMR, IR, UV–Visible spectroscopies and FAB-Mass analysis. 6,13-Bis(9,9-diethyl-9 H -fluoren-2-ly)pentacene (DFP) and 6,13-bis(9-ethyl-9 H -carbazol-3-yl)pentacene (ECP) showed similar red PL spectrum pattern and their maximum wavelengths appeared at 627 nm and 633 nm. ITO/m-MTDATA/NPB/Alq 3 :DFP (5%)/LiF/Al device showed red EL spectrum at 636 nm with 0.03 cd/A efficiency. ITO/m-MTDATA/NPB/Alq 3 :ECP (5%)/LiF/Al device also showed similar red EL spectrum at same range and higher efficiency (> 0.21 cd/A) than DFPs. We suppose the dopant EL property of pentacene compound can be changed as the electronic property and steric effect of 6,13-substituted moiety in 6- and 13-positions.

Pentacene moiety in electro-optical device which includes solar cell and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) has attracted lots of interest because of its high carrier mobility and dopant propert...

Our preliminary study demonstrated that 70% ethanol Cortidis Rhizoma extracts (CR) had a hypoglycemic action in diabetic animal models. We determined whether CR fractions acted as anti-diabetic agent, and a subsequent investigation of the action mechanism of the major compound, berberine ([C(20)H(18)NO(4)](+)), was carried out in vitro. The 20, 40 and 60% methanol fractions from the XAD-4 column contained the most insulin sensitizing activities in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The common major peak in these fractions was berberine. Treatment with 50 microM berberine plus differentiation inducers significantly reduced triglyceride accumulation by decreased differentiation of 3T3-L1 fibroblasts to adipocytes and triglyceride synthesis. Significant insulin sensitizing activity was observed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes which were given 50 microM berberine plus 0.2 nM insulin to reach a glucose uptake level increased by 10 nM of insulin alone. This was associated with increased glucose transporter-4 translocation into the plasma membrane via enhancing insulin signaling pathways and the insulin receptor substrate-1-phosphoinositide 3 Kinase-Akt. Berberine also increased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and proliferation in Min6 cells via an enhanced insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling cascade. Data suggested that berberine can act as an effective insulin sensitizing and insulinotropic agent. Therefore, berberine can be used as anti-diabetic agent for obese diabetic patients.

An uncommon nickel dinitrogen adduct and its tendency toward CO2 binding are investigated using a (PP(Me)P)Ni scaffold. (PP(Me)P)Ni(N2) (1) and {(PP(Me)P)Ni}2(μ-N2) (2) were prepared and their treatment with CO2 revealed the formation of (PP(Me)P)Ni(η(2)-CO2) (3). This is a new type of CO2 binding for a zero-valent nickel center supported by three donor ligands, reminiscent of the CODH active site environment. Clear unique structural differences in 3 are evident when compared with previous 4-coordinate Ni-CO2 adducts. Compound 3 when treated with B(C6F5)3 gives the Lewis acid-base adduct (PP(Me)P)Ni{COOB(C6F5)3} (4) possessing a Ni-μ-CO2-κ(2)C,O-B moiety.

Chan Il Song, Yeong Eun Kim, Eun Hye Cha, Myung Hoon Yoo, Je Yeon Lee, and Hong Ju Park Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju; and Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul; and Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Korea

The determination of oxalate in urine is required for the diagnosis and treatment of primary hyperoxaluria, idiopathic stone disease and various intestinal diseases. We examined the possibility of using Fourier transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy analysis to quantitate urinary oxalate. The practical advantages of this method include ease of the sample preparation and operation technique, the absence of sample pre-treatments, rapid determination and non-invasiveness.The range of oxalate concentration in standard urine solutions was 0-221 mg/l. These 80 different samples were scanned in the region of 780-1,300 nm with a 0.5 nm data interval by a Spectrum One NTS FT-NIR spectrometer. PCR, PLSR and MLR regression models were used to calculate and evaluate the calibration equation.The PCR and PLSR calibration models were obtained from the spectral data and they are exactly same. The standard error of estimation (SEE) and the % variance were 10.34 mg/l and 97.86%, respectively. After full cross validation of this model, the standard error of estimation was 5.278 mg/l, which was much smaller than that of the pre-validation. Furthermore, the MCC (multiple correlation coefficient) was 0.998, which was compatible with the 0.923 or 0.999 obtained from the previous enzymatic methods.These results showed that FT-NIR spectroscopy can be used for rapid determination of the concentration of oxalate in human urine samples.