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Purpose: We investigated the relationship between nocturia and mortality risk in the United States. Methods: Data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2010. Mortality data were obtained by linking the primary database to death certificate data found in the National Death Index with mortality follow-up up to December 31, 2015. Nocturia was defined based on symptoms reported in the symptom questionnaire. We categorized patients into 2 groups: mild nocturia (2-3 voids/night) and moderate-to severe nocturia (=4 voids/night). Multiple Cox regression analyses were performed with adjustment for confounding variables at the baseline survey. Results: This study included 9,892 adults (4,758 men, 5,134 women). Nocturia occurred in 3,314 individuals (33.5%). Nocturia was significantly associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-1.39) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality (HR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.19-2.01). Moreover, the mortality risk increased with increasing nocturia severity. Further analysis with propensity score matching showed that nocturia was still significantly associated with all-cause mortality and CVD mortality. In subgroup analysis according to sex, nocturia was significantly associated with allcause mortality and CVD mortality in men. In women, moderate-to-severe nocturia was significantly associated with allcause mortality and CVD mortality. In subgroup analysis according to cardio-metabolic diseases, nocturia was associated with CVD mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, or CVD at baseline. In subgroup analysis of patients without diabetes mellitus, hypertension or CVD, nocturia was significantly associated with all-cause mortality. Conclusions: Nocturia was significantly associated with mortality in men and women after adjusting for major confounding factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the use of bundles in the field of English education and to trace their development between 2001 and 2020 by compiling two corpora of PhD dissertations that add up to 2,390,093 words. The bundles have changed significantly in length, structure, and function over the past two decades, suggesting that the field of English education changes quickly. Regarding length, the percentage of three-word bundles has increased from 92.2% to 93.4%, whereas that of four-word bundles has decreased from 7.8% to 5.4%. Structurally, patterns such as "noun phrase + of," "of + noun phrase," and "in + noun phrase" have decreased in the last decade, while patterns like "noun phrase" have increased. Functionally, the proportion of research-oriented bundles has increased by 4.4%, while the percentages of text-oriented and participant-oriented bundles have dropped by 3.8% and .6%, respectively. At the same time, similarities across corpora have also been observed: three-word bundles make up an overwhelming proportion of the bundles; most of the bundles are noun-based or preposition-based; research-oriented bundles make up the largest percentage, followed by text-oriented bundles, with participant-oriented bundles accounting for a significantly small percentage. This study may have important implications for writers, teachers, students, textbook developers, and researchers in English education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurexins (Nrxns) and LAR-RPTPs (leukocyte common antigen-related protein tyrosine phosphatases) are presynaptic adhesion proteins responsible for organizing presynaptic machineries through interactions with nonoverlapping extracellular ligands. Here, we report that two members of the LAR-RPTP family, PTPσ and PTPδ, are required for the presynaptogenic activity of Nrxns. Intriguingly, Nrxn1 and PTPσ require distinct sets of intracellular proteins for the assembly of specific presynaptic terminals. In addition, Nrxn1a showed robust heparan sulfate (HS)-dependent, high-affinity interactions with Ig domains of PTPσ that were regulated by the splicing status of PTPσ. Furthermore, Nrxn1α WT, but not a Nrxn1α mutant lacking HS moieties (Nrxn1α ΔHS), inhibited postsynapse-inducing activity of PTPσ at excitatory, but not inhibitory, synapses. Similarly, cis expression of Nrxn1α WT, but not Nrxn1α ΔHS, suppressed the PTPσ-mediated maintenance of excitatory postsynaptic specializations in mouse cultured hippocampal neurons. Lastly, genetics analyses using male or female Drosophila Dlar and Dnrx mutant larvae identified epistatic interactions that control synapse formation and synaptic transmission at neuromuscular junctions. Our results suggest a novel synaptogenesis model whereby different presynaptic adhesion molecules combine with distinct regulatory codes to orchestrate specific synaptic adhesion pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutations in the cereblon (CRBN) gene cause human intellectual disability, one of the most common cognitive disorders. However, the molecular mechanisms of CRBN-related intellectual disability remain poorly understood. We investigated the role of CRBN in synaptic function and animal behavior using male mouse and Drosophila models. Crbn knock-out (KO) mice showed normal brain and spine morphology as well as intact synaptic plasticity; however, they also exhibited decreases in synaptic transmission and presynaptic release probability exclusively in excitatory synapses. Presynaptic function was impaired not only by loss of CRBN expression, but also by expression of pathogenic CRBN mutants (human R419X mutant and Drosophila G552X mutant). We found that the BK channel blockers paxilline and iberiotoxin reversed this decrease in presynaptic release probability in Crbn KO mice. In addition, paxilline treatment also restored normal cognitive behavior in Crbn KO mice. These results strongly suggest that increased BK channel activity is the pathological mechanism of intellectual disability in CRBN mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective N-acetylation of (1S,2R)-1-amino-2-indanol by immobilized lipase B from Candida antarctica showed high enantiomeric excess when ethyl acetate was used as the acyl donor in a THF solution. Combining this process with continuous-flow system, we could obtain enantiomerically pure N-acetyl-aminoindanol at a flow rate of 0.1 mL/min (residence time of 64 min). It has been demonstrated to be more efficient compared to the flask mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and highly atom-economical method for the direct N-alkylation of aromatic amines by using a microflow reactor was developed to overcome the problem of over-alkylation. In the developed method, high-yield conversion (up to 100%) was achieved in a relatively short reaction time. The ratio of mono- to di-benzylated products (3.57:1) was higher than that achieved with batch reactions conducted in a 1 L scale flask (0.87:1). The structural features of the microflow reactor meant that short-chain alkyl halides could be converted into products with high reactivity and selectivity under superheating conditions, although their boiling point was much lower than the reaction temperature. This method was successfully applied to the synthesis of a range of secondary amines including an intermediate of indobufen synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thread embedding acupuncture (TEA) is an acupuncture treatment applied to many diseases in Korean medical clinics because of its therapeutic effects by continuous stimulation to tissues. It has recently been used to enhance facial skin appearance and antiaging, but data from evidence-based medicine are limited. To investigate whether TEA therapy can inhibit skin photoaging by ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation, we performed analyses for histology, histopathology, in situ zymography and western blot analysis in HR-1 hairless mice. TEA treatment resulted in decreased wrinkle formation and skin thickness (Epidermis; P = 0.001 versus UV) in UVB irradiated mice and also inhibited degradation of collagen fibers (P = 0.010 versus normal) by inhibiting proteolytic activity of gelatinase matrix-metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Western blot data showed that activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) induced by UVB (P = 0.002 versus normal group) was significantly inhibited by TEA treatment (P = 0.005 versus UV) with subsequent alleviation of MMP-9 activation (P = 0.048 versus UV). These results suggest that TEA treatment can have anti-photoaging effects on UVB-induced skin damage by maintenance of collagen density through regulation of expression of MMP-9 and related JNK signaling. Therefore, TEA therapy may have potential roles as an alternative treatment for protection against skin damage from aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Establishment and segregation of distinct chromatin domains are essential for proper genome function. The insulator protein CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) is involved in creating boundaries that segregate chromatin and functional domains and in organizing higher-order chromatin structures by promoting chromosomal loops across the vertebrate genome. Here, we investigate the insulation properties of CTCF at the human and mouse homeobox gene A (HOXA) loci. Although cohesin loading at the CTCF binding site is required for looping, we found that cohesin is dispensable for chromatin barrier activity at that site. Using mouse embryonic stem cells in both a pluripotent and differentiated neuronal progenitor state, we determined that embryonic stem cell pluripotency factor OCT4 antagonizes cohesin loading at the CTCF binding site. Loss of OCT4 in the committed and differentiated neuronal progenitor cells results in loading of cohesin and chromosome looping, which contributes to heterochromatin partitioning and selective gene activation across the HOXA locus. Our analysis reveals that chromatin barrier activity of CTCF is evolutionarily conserved and is responsible for the coordinated establishment of chromatin structure, higher-order architecture, and developmental expression of the HOXA locus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microglia are the primary central nervous system immune effector cells. Microglial activation is linked to interactions with extracellular cytokines and the extracellular matrix (ECM). Astrocytomas are characterized by their diffuse nature, which is regulated by insoluble ECM components produced by the tumor cells that are largely absent from normal central nervous system tissue. The present study examined the influence of astrocytoma (C6 rat glioma) insoluble matrix components on interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-mediated inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS) induction in microglial cells. We found that IFN-γ-stimulated iNOS induction and nitric oxide release was greater in microglia cultured on C6 glioma cell-derived matrices compared with microglia cultured on primary rat astrocyte-derived matrices. Culture of microglia on C6 glioma cell-derived matrices also led to activation of STAT1, augmentation of IFN-γ-induced STAT-3 activation, and an increase in IFN-γ-activated site (GAS)-luciferase reporter activity. In addition, culture of microglia on C6 glioma cell-derived matrices activated NF-κB DNA binding activity and transcriptional activity. The results suggest that insoluble matrix components derived from malignant glioma cells can regulate microglia activation. These factors may include ECM components, such as fibronectin, collagen, laminin, vitronectin, and other nondiffusible compounds, and laminin seems to a critical regulator of this process. Microglia activation and subsequent brain inflammation may influence tumor growth, treatment, and metastasis. Better understanding of the regulation of microglial activation by astrocytoma-derived insoluble matrix components may be important in the development of immune-based treatment strategies against malignant brain tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Actinorhodin production is markedly enhanced when an acidic pH shock is applied to a surface-grown culture of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). For an in-depth study of this phenomenon, transcriptional analyses using DNA microarrays and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and proteomic analysis were performed. Investigated were expression levels of the regulators and enzymes responsible for signal transduction and actinorhodin biosynthesis and enzymes involved in some major metabolic pathways. Regulators PkaG, AfsR, AfsS and/or another unidentified regulator and ActII-ORF4, in sequence, were observed to be activated by pH shock. In addition, a number of genes associated with actinorhodin production and secretion and the major central metabolic pathways investigated were observed to be upregulated with pH shock. Fatty acid degradation was particularly promoted by pH shock, while fatty acid biosynthesis was suppressed; it is envisaged that this enriches the precursor pool (acetyl-CoA) and building blocks for actinorhodin biosynthesis. Furthermore, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenases, initiating the pentose phosphate pathway, were highly activated by pH shock, enriching the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) pool for biosynthesis in general. It is deduced that these metabolic changes caused by pH shock have positively contributed to the stimulation of actinorhodin biosynthesis in a concerted manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective : This study compared the quality of recovery (QoR) after minicraniotomy for clipping of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) between patients with and without scalp nerve block (SNB). Methods : Patients were randomly assigned to the SNB (SNB using ropivacaine with epinephrine, n=27) and control (SNB using normal saline, n=25) groups. SNB was performed at the end of surgery. To assess postoperative QoR, the QoR-40, a patient-reported questionnaire, was used. The QoR-40 scores were measured preoperatively, 1-3 days postoperatively, at hospital discharge, and 1 month postoperatively. Pain and intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) consumption were evaluated 3, 6, 9, and 12 hours and 1-3 days postoperatively. Results : All QoR-40 scores, including those measured 1 day postoperatively (primary outcome measure; 155.0 [141.0-176.0] vs. 161.0 [140.5-179.5], p=0.464), did not significantly differ between the SNB and control groups. The SNB group had significantly less severe pain 3 (numeric rating scale [NRS]; 3.0 [2.0-4.0] vs. 5.0 [3.5-5.5], p=0.029), 9 (NRS; 3.0 [2.0-4.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0-5.0], p=0.048), and 12 (NRS; 3.0 [2.0-4.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0-5.0], p=0.035) hours postoperatively. The total amount of IV-PCA consumed was significantly less 3 hours postoperatively in the SNB group (2.0 [1.0-4.0] vs. 4.0 [2.0-5.0] mL, p=0.044). Conclusion : After minicraniotomy for clipping of UIAs, SNB reduced pain and IV-PCA consumption in the early postoperative period but did not improve the QoR-40 scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the study on the neuroprotective effects of selenoflavanones and flavanones. The study reportedly involved synthesis of flavanones and selenoflavanones to determine whether they can pass through blood-brain barrier. The results revealed that selenoflavanones have an in vitro antioxidant effects against hydrogen peroxide and does not cause severe cytotoxicity.

Comparative transcriptome analysis has revealed several acidic pH shock-induced genes presumably involved with stimulation of antibiotic production by S. coelicolor (Kim et al. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2007). Streptomyces sp. CK4412 produces a novel T cell-specific immunosuppressive compound, tautomycetin (TMC). When cultured at acidic pH medium, it also exhibited higher TMC productivity. To verify a gene responsible for acidic pH shock-induced TMC stimulation, a putative acid-shock-induced gene, SCO7832 encoding an Na+/H+ antiporter protein, was cloned under the influence of a strong constitutive ermE* promoter in an integrative expression pSET152 vector. This was followed by its conjugation into the TMC-producing Streptomyces sp. CK4412. Comparing TMC production and antifungal activity of wild-type and the SCO7832-containing exconjugant revealed that SCO7832 stimulated TMC production more than 3.5-fold in Streptomyces sp. CK4412. The over-expression of SCO7832 did not affect the ratio between intra- and extra-cellular TMC productions. However, it significantly stimulated the expression of a TMC-specific positive regulatory gene. This implies that the stimulatory effect of SCO7832 functions in TMC-producing Streptomyces sp. CK4412 via up-regulation of a TMC pathway-specific positive regulatory gene, tmcN overexpression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stroke is a major cause of death and disability in the world. But few drugs are used in the clinical setting against stroke. When treated for 7 days before ischemic insult, a preparation of Triticum aestivum L. extract (TALE) and its starch fraction reduced the ischemic area and therefore was effective as a preventive drug. ht the ischemic brain, the induction of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, increased neutrophil infiltration and microglial activation were observed. By treating the animals with TALE, ICAM-1 and neutrophils were both reduced. In addition, microglial activation was also attenuated by TALE. Brain edema formation and blood brain barrier disruption were not prevented by TALE treatment, however. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) induction was also not inhibited by TALE. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that TALE has a neuroprotective effect in an animal model of brain ischemia. TALE may act by preventing neutrophil or microglia related inflammation in ischemic brain. These results suggest that TALE can be used as a medicinal material for the development of neuroprotective agents in ischemic brain injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity is a chronic disease associated with metabolic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved liraglutide as an anti-obesity drug for nondiabetic patients in 2014, it has been widely used for weight control in overweight and obese people. This study aimed to systematically analyze the effects of liraglutide on body weight and other cardiometabolic parameters. Methods: We investigated articles from PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library to search randomized clinical trials that examined body weight changes with liraglutide treatment. Results: We included 31 studies with 8,060 participants for this meta-analysis. The mean difference (MD) between the liraglutide group and the placebo group was -4.19 kg (95% confidence interval [CI], -4.84 to -3.55), with a -4.16% change from the baseline (95% CI, -4.90 to -3.43). Liraglutide treatment correlated with a significantly reduced body mass index (MD: -1.55; 95% CI, -1.76 to -1.34) and waist circumference (MD: -3.11 cm; 95% CI, -3.59 to -2.62) and significantly decreased blood pressure (systolic blood pressure, MD: -2.85 mm Hg; 95% CI, -3.36 to -2.35; diastolic blood pressure, MD: -0.66 mm Hg; 95% CI, -1.02 to -0.30), glycated hemoglobin (MD: -0.40%; 95% CI, -0.49 to -0.31), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (MD: -2.91 mg/dL; 95% CI, -5.28 to -0.53; MD: -0.87% change from baseline; 95% CI, -1.17 to -0.56). Conclusion: Liraglutide is effective for weight control and can be a promising drug for cardiovascular protection in overweight and obese people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurofibroma is a benign neurogenic tumor that most often occurs in the head and neck region. However, a solitary neurofibroma on the nasolabial fold is extremely rare, with only a few reported cases reported in the English literature. A 45-year-old woman with a nasolabial mass visited our department, and we performed an excisional biopsy using asublabial approach. The histopathology of the mass revealed it to be neurofibroma. We report a unique case of neurofibromain then asolabial region with an associated literature review. To the best of our knowledge, no such case has previously been reported in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell cycle is a cellular process that is subject to stringent control. In contrast to the wealth of knowledge of proteins controlling the cell cycle, very little is known about the molecular role of lncRNAs (long noncoding RNAs) in cell-cycle progression. By performing genome-wide transcriptome analyses in cell-cycle-synchronized cells, we observed cell-cycle phase-specific induction of >2000 lncRNAs. Further, we demonstrate that an S-phase-upregulated lncRNA, SUNO1, facilitates cell-cycle progression by promoting YAP1-mediated gene expression. SUNO1 facilitates the cell-cycle-specific transcription of WTIP, a positive regulator of YAP1, by promoting the co-activator, DDX5-mediated stabilization of RNA polymerase II on chromatin. Finally, elevated SUNO1 levels are associated with poor cancer prognosis and tumorigenicity, implying its pro-survival role. Thus, we demonstrate the role of a S-phase up-regulated lncRNA in cell-cycle progression via modulating the expression of genes controlling cell proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We have previously reported that histamine-induced pruritus was attenuated in toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) knockout mice due to decreased transient receptor potential V1 (TRPV1) sensitivity. Our results implied that TLR4 potentiated TRPV1 activation in sensory neurons; however, the molecular mechanism has yet to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of TLR4-mediated TRPV1 potentiation using TLR4-deficient sensory neurons and a heterologous expression system. Methods: Primary sensory neurons were obtained from wild-type or TLR4 knockout mice, and HEK293T cells expressing TRPV1 and TLR4 were prepared by transient transfection. TRPV1 activity was analyzed by calcium imaging, fluorophotometry, and patch-clamp recording. Subcellular protein distribution was tested by immunocytochemistry and cell surface biotinylation assay. Protein interaction was assessed by western blot and immunoprecipitation assay. Results: Direct association between TRPV1 and TLR4 was detected in HEK293T cells upon heterologous TRPV1 and TLR4 expression. In an immunoprecipitation assay using TLR4-deletion mutants and soluble toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) protein, the cytoplasmic TIR domain of TLR4 was required for TLR4-TRPV1 association and TRPV1 potentiation. In TLR4-deficient sensory neurons, the activation-induced desensitization of TRPV1 increased, accompanied by enhanced TRPV1 clearance from the cell membrane upon activation compared to wild-type neurons. In addition, heterologous TLR4 expression inhibited activation-induced TRPV1 endocytosis and lysosomal degradation in HEK293T cells. Conclusion: Our data show that direct association between TRPV1 and TLR4 through the TIR domain enhances TRPV1 activity by blocking activation-induced TRPV1 desensitization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary central nervous system marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (MZBCL) is very rare, with only a few reported cases worldwide. It has an indolent disease course with high cure potential. We experienced a rare case of dural MZBCL of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) in a 69-year-old man who presented with headache. A magnetic resonance imaging scan of brain showed a 1.9×3.6-cm-sized extra-axial mass with a broad based dural attachment to the anterosuperior aspect of the falx cerebri, radiographically consistent with meningioma. Surgical resection yielded a MZBCL of the MALT type. Histopathology revealed a lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of the dura, and immunohistochemical study showed a B-cell phenotype with CD20, bcl-2, MUM- 1, Ki-67 positive. He was treated with chemotherapy after complete surgical resection and remained free of disease at 30 months after chemotherapy. MALT lymphoma must be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients presenting radiographically with meningioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previously, cutaneous lymphomas were classified according to either the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) or the World Health Organization (WHO) classification paradigms. The aim of this study was to determine the relative frequency of Korean cutaneous lymphoma according to the new WHO-EORTC classification system. Methods: A total of 517 patients were recruited during a recent 5 year-period (2006-2010) from 21 institutes and classified according to the WHO-EORTC criteria. Results: The patients included 298 males and 219 females, and the mean age at diagnosis was 49 years. The lesions preferentially affected the trunk area (40.2%). The most frequent subtypes in order of decreasing prevalence were mycosis fungoides (22.2%), peripheral T-cell lymphoma (17.2%), CD30+ T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder (13.7%), and extranodal natural killer/T (NK/T) cell lymphoma, nasal type (12.0%). Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma accounted for 11.2% of cases, half of which were secondary cutaneous involvement; other types of B-cell lymphoma accounted for less than 1% of cases. Conclusions: In comparison with data from Western countries, this study revealed relatively lower rates of mycosis fungoides and B-cell lymphoma in Korean patients, as well as higher rates of subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma and NK/T cell lymphoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aziridinyl imines are well-known carbene equivalents because they are precursors of diazo compounds from which reactive intermediates can be produced. These carbene equivalents can be utilized as zwitterionic species, diradicals, or 4π system for cycloaddition reactions. Thus, the intermediates derived from aziridinyl imines have been used in the sulfur-ylide-mediated epoxide formation, tandem free-radical reactions, or cyclopropanation reaction via carbene intermediates to form trimethylenemethane (TMM) diyls, which undergo [2 + 3] cycloaddition reactions to form cyclopentanoids. Diazo compounds generated from aziridinyl imines also react with allenes to form TMM diyls. This reaction was utilized in tandem cycloaddition reactions of linear substrates to form polyquinanes. These tandem reaction strategies were successfully applied to the total synthesis of various cyclopentanoid natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thyroid function depends on ethnic and environmental factors. North Korean refugees have the same genetic background as South Koreans, but they have been exposed to different environments. This study examines the prevalence and pattern of thyroid disorders in North Korean women living in South Korea, focusing on subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH). Methods: The intended sample was a total of 327 North Korean women residing in Seoul. Health questionnaires and medical examinations, including serum thyrotropin (thyroid stimulating hormone, TSH), free thyroxine, and thyroid autoantibodies, were conducted. Results: The prevalence of SCH was 9.4%. In logistic regression analysis, smoking, menopause, length of stay in South Korea, body mass index, history of thyroid disease, and metabolic syndrome were not associated with the risk of SCH. Whereas, the positivity of autoantibodies were associated with a high risk for SCH (odds ratio [OR], 4.840; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.80-13.017; P = 0.002), and age was associated with a low risk for SCH (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.888-0.994; P = 0.031). The serum TSH levels also decreased with increasing age, and in particular, there was significant difference between 30-39 years, and over 60 years (2.33 ± 1.51 µIU/mL vs. 1.54 ± 0.73 µIU/mL, P = 0.028). Conclusion: In North Korean women, the positivity of autoantibodies was associated with a high risk for SCH. But interestingly, a younger age was associated with a high risk for SCH. Considering that they suffered from severe famine at the period of growth, and this led to malnutrition, their thyroid dysfunction might be associated with the peculiar environment that they experienced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Complements play important roles in both rejection and ischemia-reperfusion injury after transplantation. Complement 5 (C5) is a pivotal complement, which initiates the assembly of the membrane attack complex, and mediates chemotaxis of various immune cells. We investigated the impacts of genetic variations in C5 and its receptor (C5aR) of both recipients and donors on renal allograft outcomes. Methods: Seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in C5 (rs12237774, rs2159776, rs17611, rs25681, rs2241004, rs10985126 and rs10818500) and one SNP (rs10404456) in the C5aR gene were genotyped in 191 recipient-donor pairs. The association of the polymorphisms with allograft outcomes was determined. Results: Three C5 SNPs (rs2159776, rs17611 and rs25681) in recipients had a tendency toward a reduced glomerular filtration rate at 1 year after transplantation. There were four haplotypes in the H2 linkage disequilibrium block, which was formed by four SNPs (rs2159776, rs17611, rs25681 and rs2241004). The GGCG haplotype in both recipients and donors was associated with lower glomerular filtration rate at 1 year (60.9 ± 15.9 versus 66.4 ± 15.5 mL/min/1.73 m(2), P = 0.020; 60.6 ± 15.3 versus 66.2 ± 15.8 mL/min/1.73 m(2), P = 0.017). The association was sustained over 7 years after transplantation (P = 0.015 in recipients; P = 0.039 in donors). The presence of the GGCG haplotype in recipients was associated with poorer graft survival (logrank test, P = 0.024). However, C5 polymorphisms were not correlated with serum C5 level. C5aR polymorphism had no significant impact on the allograft outcomes. Conclusions: The GGCG haplotype of C5 in both recipients and donors was associated with lower renal allograft function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although vascular dementia is the second leading cause of dementia and often underdiagnosed, there are no drugs yet approved for the treatment of vascular dementia. In this study, it is demonstrated that water extract of Triticum aestivumL. (TALE) and some of its components have protective effects against vascular dementia-induced damage by preserving the myelin sheath and inhibiting astrocytic activation. The memory test used a vascular dementia model utilizing bilateral ligation of the carotid arteries of rats. TALE, some of its components, such as starch, total dietary fiber (TDF), arabinoxylan, β-glucan, and degraded products of arabinoxylan, such as arabinose and xylose, were administered to the animals from day 8 to day 14, following the surgery. Twenty-one days after the surgery, the water maze test was performed for 5 days, and the time taken to find the platform during training trials (mean escape latency) was measured. The mean escape latency was decreased consistently in the TALE-, starch-, TDF-, arabinoxylan-, and arabinose-treated groups, compared with that in the vascular dementia group. To measure brain damage, Luxol fast blue staining and immunohistochemistry of myelin basic protein (MBP) were performed to observe myelin sheath in the white matter, and immunohistochemistry of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was performed to observe the astrocytic reaction. Vascular dementia reduced the MBP level and increased the GFAP level. Arabinose effectively inhibited the MBP and GFAP change, whereas arabinoxylan inhibited the GFAP change only. These results suggest that TALE and some of its components can be used as a medicinal material for the development of neuroprotective agents against vascular dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study concerned the effect of the substrate on the nucleation and growth behavior of Ge2Sb2Te5(GST) thin films deposited by a combination of plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (for Sb and Te) and plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (for Ge) processes at wafer temperatures ranging from 100 to 200 °C using Ge(i-C4H9)4, Sb(i-C3H7)3, and Te(i-C3H7)2as the Ge, Sb, and Te precursors, respectively. Several oxide and nitride layers that were formed on the Si substrate were concerned as substrates. The nucleation of the GST films on the SiO2, Si3N4, and ZrO2substrates was seriously retarded (long incubation cycles) compared to those on the TiN and TiO2substrates, where smooth film growth with negligible incubation cycles was achieved. The GST film did not grow at all on the HfO2substrate. The reason for the enhanced nucleation and growth properties of GST on the TiO2and TiN (partially oxidized) substrates was related to the formation of a GeO2phase and the charge exchange effect of a partially reduced Ti oxide. On the other hand, the SiO2surface remained insulating during deposition, which inhibited GST nucleation. The different nucleation behaviors also influenced the crystallization behavior of the film, which in turn altered the saturated film growth rates. It is believed that the crystallized GST surface reduced the activation energy for the chemisorption of the precursors, which enhanced the saturated growth rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the electrical properties of ferroelectric Pb(Zr,Ti)O3(PZT) capacitor on TiN/W storage node contact plug that is capacitor over bitline(COB) cell structure for a high density ferroelectric memory. In order to protecting TiN/W contact plug from oxidation failure during furnace annealing of PZT capacitor, the oxidation barrier of Ti1 - xAlxN (x∼ 0.25) film was interposed at between Pt/IrO2/Ir bottom electrode and TiN/W plug of the COB cell, resulting in the robust contact resistance property of 27 ohm per contact plug after furnace annealing performed at 600°C in O2 ambient for 90 min. The remanent polarization value and leakage current density of the fully integrated PZT capacitor with a top electrode area of 1.8 × 1.8 um2 on TiN/W contact plug showed 32 μ C/cm2 and 2.5 × 10- 6A/cm2, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insulin resistance in skeletal muscle and heart plays a major role in the development of type 2 diabetes and diabetic heart failure and may be causally associated with altered lipid metabolism. Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) is a rate-determining enzyme in the hydrolysis of triglyceride in adipocytes, and HSL-deficient mice have reduced circulating fatty acids and are resistant to diet-induced obesity. To determine the metabolic role of HSL, we examined the changes in tissue-specific insulin action and glucose metabolism in vivo during hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamps after 3 wk of high-fat or normal chow diet in awake, HSL-deficient (HSL-KO) mice. On normal diet, HSL-KO mice showed a twofold increase in hepatic insulin action but a 40% decrease in insulin-stimulated cardiac glucose uptake compared with wild-type littermates. High-fat feeding caused a similar increase in whole body fat mass in both groups of mice. Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake was reduced by 50–80% in skeletal muscle and heart of wild-type mice after high-fat feeding. In contrast, HSL-KO mice were protected from diet-induced insulin resistance in skeletal muscle and heart, and these effects were associated with reduced intramuscular triglyceride and fatty acyl-CoA levels in the fat-fed HSL-KO mice. Overall, these findings demonstrate the important role of HSL on skeletal muscle, heart, and liver glucose metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the physiological effects of modulating the abundance of Munc18c or syntaxin 4 (Syn4) proteins on the regulation of glucose homeostasis in vivo, we generated tetracycline-repressible transgenic mice that overexpress either Munc18c or Syn4 proteins in skeletal muscle, pancreas and adipose tissue seven-, five-, and threefold over endogenous protein, respectively. Munc18c transgenic mice displayed whole-body insulin resistance during hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp resulting from >41% reductions in skeletal muscle and white adipose tissue glucose uptake, but without alteration of hepatic insulin action. Munc18c transgenic mice exhibited approximately 40% decreases in whole-body glycogen/lipid synthesis, skeletal muscle glycogen synthesis, and glycolysis. Glucose intolerance in Munc18c transgenic mice was reversed by repression of transgene expression using tetracycline or by simultaneous overexpression of Syn4 protein. In addition, Munc18c transgenic mice had depressed serum insulin levels, reflecting a threefold reduction in insulin secretion from islets isolated therefrom, thus uncovering roles for Munc18c and/or Syn4 in insulin granule exocytosis. Taken together, these results indicate that balance, more than absolute abundance, of Munc18c and Syn4 proteins directly affects whole-body glucose homeostasis through alterations in insulin secretion and insulin action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims Pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) treatment with a high rate of off-therapy host immune control is still an attractive treatment for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. There remains uncertain about the prognosis of sustained responder after PEG-IFN treatment who do not need nucleos(t)ides (NAs). We investigated the long-term outcomes of PEG-IFN treatment focused on tolerant patients without NAs up to 13 years. Methods A consecutive 172 patients treated with PEG-IFN for chronic hepatitis B or compensated liver cirrhosis between 2005 and 2014 were enrolled and finally 122 patients who fully completed PEG-IFN treatment were analyzed. The definition of response for PEG-IFN treatment at 6months posttreatment were as follows: hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive patients, achieve both virologic response (VR; <2,000 IU/mL of HBV DNA) and serologic response (HBeAg loss or seroconversion); HBeAg negative patients, reach VR. During follow-up period, we analyzed the number of patients with HBsAg loss, starting NAs due to viral activation and disease progression including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Results The median follow-up period of 122 patients were 7.2 years (range, 1.1 to 13.2 years). Of 122 patients, 43 patients (35.2%) had a response at 6 months posttreatment. During follow-up, 69 patients (56.6%) started NAs and the patients who had a response for PEG-IFN significantly lower rate of starting NAs (14/43 vs 55/79, p<0.001). HBsAg loss occurred in nine patients (7.4%) and sustained responders without further NAs treatment had significantly high rate of HBsAg loss compared to the patients with starting NAs (13.2% vs 2.9%, p=0.01). Eight patients (6.6%) developed disease progression including HCC (n=3). All of them were nonsustained responders who started NAs after PEG-IFN therapy compared to sustained responders (p=0.03). Conclusions Sustained responders without further NAs treatment after PEG-IFN treatment had a favorable clinical outcome in HBsAg loss and no disease progression up to 13 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]