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Circulating inflammatory cytokines and markers are increased in patients with psoriasis. Recent studies have shown that a higher red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with disease activity in various disorders. Our objective was to investigate whether RDW is increased in psoriasis patients, and to evaluate its possible association with disease severity. We conducted a retrospective study of psoriasis patients seen in a university hospital in South Korea. Information about demographics, hematological parameters and disease severity were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test, multivariable logistic regression, Fisher's exact test and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient analysis as appropriate. A total of 261 psoriasis patients and 102 healthy controls were included in our study. The mean RDW value was significantly increased in psoriasis patients compared with healthy control (P = 0.037). Compared with mild psoriasis patients (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index [PASI],7), moderate to severe patients (PASI, ≥7) showed significantly higher RDW values (P = 0.044). However, RDW did not show significant correlation with PASI (P = 0.358). When patients were divided into two groups according to their RDW value (14.6% and ≥14.6%), the mean value of PASI was not significantly different (P = 0.219). Patients with psoriasis showed increased RDW values compared with healthy controls. It was also higher in the moderate and severe disease group than the mild group. Though this is only a pilot study, it is possible that RDW value can reflect the inflammatory status of psoriasis patients.

Isolated vestibular syndrome may occur all along the vestibular pathways from the peripheral labyrinth to the brain. By virtue of recent developments in clinical neurotology and neuroimaging, however, diagnosis of isolated central vestibulopathy is increasing. Here, we review five distinct syndromes of isolated central vestibular syndrome from lesions restricted to the vestibular nuclei, the nucleus prepositus hypoglossi, the flocculus, the tonsil, and the nodulus, and introduce a new vestibular syndrome from isolated involvement of the inferior cerebellar peduncle. Decreased responses to head impulses do not exclude a central lesion as a cause of isolated vestibular syndrome. Brain imaging, including diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may be falsely negative during the acute phase in patients with isolated vestibular syndrome because of a stroke. Central signs should be sought carefully in patients with isolated vertigo, even when the patients show the features of peripheral vestibulopathy and negative MRIs. Recognition of these isolated central vestibular syndromes would aid in defining the lesions responsible for various vestibular manifestations in central vestibulopathy.

Highlights • An ethanol extract of black pepper inhibits eugenol-induced signal transduction. • The extract reduces eugenol-induced cAMP and Ca2+ levels, and phosphorylation of CREB. • Piperine inhibits eugenol-induced signal transduction. • Piperine reduces eugenol-induced cAMP and Ca2+ levels, and phosphorylation of CREB., This study investigated the effects of an ethanol extract of black pepper and its constituent, piperine, on odorant-induced signal transduction in non-chemosensory cells. An ethanol extract of black pepper decreased eugenol-induced cAMP and calcium levels in preadipocyte 3T3-L1 cells with no toxicity. Phosphorylation of CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein) was down-regulated by the black pepper extract. The concentration (133.8 mg/g) and retention time (5.5 min) of piperine in the ethanol extract were quantified using UPLC–MS/MS. Pretreatment with piperine decreased eugenol-induced cAMP and calcium levels in 3T3-L1 cells. Piperine also decreased the phosphorylation of CREB, which is up-regulated by eugenol. These results suggest that piperine inhibits the eugenol-induced signal transduction pathway through modulation of cAMP and calcium levels and phosphorylation of CREB in non-chemosensory cells.

Decursin (De), an active component of Angelica gigas, is known to exert anticancer and neuroprotective effects. However, its antiobesity and antidiabetic potential has not yet been investigated. This study evaluated the antiobesity effect of decursin, particularly focusing on its ability to inhibit adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells. Decursin treatment resulted in the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation and the expression of fatty acid synthase. The study further investigated these antiobesity effects using mice fed a normal diet (ND), a high-fat diet (HFD) and a HFD plus decursin 200 mg/kg diet (HFD + De) for 7 weeks. Mice administered HFD plus decursin showed a drastic decrease in weight gain, triglyceride content, total cholesterol content and fat size compared with those that received the HFD alone; this was observed despite similar quantities of total food intake. Furthermore, decursin improved glucose tolerance in mice fed a HFD. Finally, administration of decursin along with the HFD significantly reduced the secretion of HFD-induced adipocytokines such as leptin, resistin, IL-6 and MCP-1. These results suggest that decursin might be useful for the treatment of obesity and diabetes.

Promoter hypermethylation of the ADAM23 gene, which is normally involved in cell-to-cell and cell-to matrix adhesion, has been reported in pancreatic, breast and brain cancer, and recently the role of this gene was examined in gastric cancer. In this study, we analyzed ADAM23 expression in colorectal cancer cell lines and examined its methylation by methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and bisulfate-modified DNA sequencing analysis. Methylated cells were treated with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine to restore the ADAM23 expression. We then examined ADAM23 methylation status in colorectal cancer tissues and their corresponding normal tissues. We found that ADAM23 was aberrantly silenced or expressed at very low levels in 28 of the 32 (88%) colorectal cancer cell lines. MSP analysis showed that ADAM23 was methylated in 29 of 32 (91%) colorectal cancer cell lines and attenuated expression of ADAM23 was found to be related to hypermethylation in its promoter region. Moreover, the CpG dinucleotide methylation threshold of 70-90% was found to be required for complete silencing. In addition, when some cell lines without ADAM23 expression were treated with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, ADAM23 was reexpressed. In colorectal cancer tissues, the promoter region of ADAM23 was hypermethylated in 36 of 76 (47%). These results demonstrated that ADAM23 may be down-regulated by aberrant promoter hypermethylation during the progression of colorectal cancer.

Rigid polyurethane foams (RPUFs) have been fabricated from crude MDI (CMDI) and polypropylene glycols (PPGs) of various hydroxyl values (OHVs) of 300–600 with an environmentally friendly blowing agent (HFC 365mfc). The closed cell content, compression strength, and dimensional stability of the foam increased with increase in the OHV due to the increased crosslink density, which was evidenced from the increased glass transition temperature (Tg). The cream time, gel time, tack-free time, and density of the foam showed a minimum at 500OHV. The decrease and increase around the minimum were, respectively, interpreted in terms of increased mixture mobility and extensive allophanate crosslinks, which retard gelling as well as foaming reactions. The thermal conductivity also showed a small minimum at 500OHV. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Rigid polyurethane foams (RPUFs) have been fabricated from crude MDI (CMDI) and polypropylene glycols (PPGs) of various functionalities (f) with HFC 365mfc as a blowing agent. Foam density increased, cell size and density distribution decreased with increasing f while the closed cell content was kept constant over 92%. The gel time, tack-free time, volume change, and the thermal conductivity of the foam showed a minimum with f = 5, and the existence of minimum has been explained in terms of a large mixture viscosity and cell wall resistance. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008

Rigid polyurethane foams (RPUFs) have been synthesized from high-functional polymeric 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (PMDI) and polypropylene glycols (PPG), which were prepared from sorbitol and its combinations with toluene diamine (TDA, T), ethylene diamine (EDA, E), and sucrose/glycerin (G) using environmentally friendly blowing agent, i.e., HFC 365mfc and/or distilled water. Effects of initiator type and blowing agent content have been analyzed in terms of cell morphology, thermal conductivity, and mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties. It was found that TDA-based initiators gave smallest cell, highest value of rubbery plateau modulus, and greatest thermal insulation, whereas EDA gave the greatest dimensional stability. It was also found that the foam properties were largely governed by the blowing agent, whereas initiator gave fine controls of the properties. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers

Recent studies have shown that keratinocytes can sense temperature via thermo-transient receptor potential (TRP) channels. It is not known whether other thermosensitive ion channels such as TREK-1, TREK-2 and TRAAK (TREKs/TRAAK) that are members of the two-pore domain K(+) (K(2P)) channel family are expressed in human keratinocytes. Here, we identified the expression of TREKs/TRAAK in human keratinocytes-derived cell line HaCaT cells using RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry, Western blot analysis and patch-clamp technique. RT-PCR showed that all six K(2P) channels tested (TASK-1, TASK-3, TREK-1, TREK-2, TRAAK and TASK-2) were expressed in HaCaT cells, as well as in skin and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of rat. The expression of TREKs/TRAAK mRNA identified by RT-PCR was further studied at the protein level. Using anti-TREK-1, -TREK-2 and -TRAAK, bands of approximately 46, approximately 60 and approximately 43 kDa, respectively, were observed at plasma membrane of HaCaT cells. Immunostaining also showed that TREK-1, TREK-2 and TRAAK were expressed in all area of cells including plasma membrane. Whole-cell K(+) currents recorded from HaCaT cells were activated by arachidonic acid and heat. These results suggest that TREKs/TRAAK channels could act as thermosensors in human keratinocytes.

Artificial wood films containing cellulose, xylan, and lignin were easily prepared by the dissolution of wood components in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate followed by reconstitution with distilled water. The composition and characteristics of wood films were highly controllable and predictable through the variation of the concentration of each component in the wood solution. The water vapor solubility of the wood films was increased when the xylan content was increased and the content of lignin was decreased. The biodegradability of the artificial wood films was investigated with cellulase from Trichoderma viride. The relative degradability of the wood film prepared with 5% cellulose and 5% lignin was 42%, whereas that of the wood film made with 5% cellulose and 5% xylan was 189%. The biodegradability of cellulose in the wood films correlated well with the content of xylan and lignin, and it was enhanced when the xylan content was increased and the content of lignin was decreased. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42109.

The purpose of the present study was to show that people's emotional reactions to both good and bad events happening to others can be influenced by how their own experiences compare with these events. Female undergraduate students took a test of intellectual ability and received false feedback suggesting that they had done well or poorly. Later, they viewed written feedback apparently given to another participant suggesting that she had performed well or poorly. Finally, participants gave their emotional reactions to their own performance as well as the performance of the other participant. Results showed that participants' relative performance influenced how happy they felt for the high performing other participant and how sad they felt for the low performing other participant. Participants' self-focused emotions of pride and shame were also affected by the relative performance of the other participant.

Both Cinnamomi cassiae and Rhodiola rosea extracts are used as anti-diabetic folk medicines. Recently, increased oxidative stress was shown to play an important role in the etiology and pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and its complications. This study was designed to examine the effects of Cinnamomi cassiae and Rhodiola rosea extracts on blood glucose, lipid peroxidation, the level of reduced glutathione and its related enzymes (glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase), and the activity of the antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) in the liver of db/db mice. Diabetic C57BL/Ks db/db mice were used as experimental models. Mice were divided into control (n=10), Cinnamomi cassiae (200 mg/kg/day, n=10), and Rhodiola rosea (200 mg/kg/day, n=10) treated groups for 12 weeks of treatment. These type II diabetic mice were used to investigate the effects of Cinnamomi cassiae and Rhodiola rosea on blood glucose, reduced glutathione, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, lipid peroxidation, catalase and superoxide dismutase. Cinnamomi cassiae and Rhodiola rosea extracts significantly decreased on blood glucose, increased levels of reduced glutathione and the activities of glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase in the liver. Extract treatment also significantly decreased lipid peroxidation. Cinnamomi cassiae and Rhodiola rosea extracts may be effective for correcting hyperglycemia and preventing diabetic complications.

The objective of this study was to measure the differences in color and color parameters between dental porcelain and porcelain-repairing resin composites. The colors of three shades (A2, A3, A3.5) of one brand of dental porcelain, three original shades (A2, A3, A3.5), and three combinations (A2/A3, A3/3.5, A2/A3.5) of three brands of porcelain-repairing resin composites (ABT, FSP, TCR) were measured. The specimens were 2 mm thick, and 1 mm of each shade was layered to make combined shades. Differences in color (DeltaE(ab) (*)), lightness (DeltaL*), chroma (DeltaC(ab) (*)), and hue (DeltaH(*)) between porcelain and resin composite were calculated. Color difference was calculated as DeltaE(ab) (*) = (DeltaL*(2) + Deltaa*(2) + Deltab*(2))(1/2), chroma difference was calculated as DeltaC(ab) (*) = (Deltaa*(2) + Deltab*(2))(1/2), and hue difference was calculated as DeltaH(ab) (*) = (DeltaE(ab) (*2) - DeltaL*(2) - DeltaC(ab) (*2))(1/2). The influence of porcelain shade, brand of resin composites, and shade of resin composites were analyzed by three-way analyses of variance, and the differential influence of color parameters on color difference was analyzed with multiple regression analysis (alpha = 0.05). Differences in color and color parameters were influenced by the porcelain shade, brand and shade of resin composites. The DeltaE(ab) (*) value was in the range of 2.2-16.9. The DeltaE(ab) (*) value was correlated with DeltaC(ab) (*) (standardized correlation coefficient, beta = - 0.85), DeltaL* (beta = - 0.52), and DeltaH(ab) (*) (beta = 0.08). Between the same shade designated pairs of porcelain and repairing composite, color difference was perceptible. Therefore, studies to improve the color matching between porcelain and repairing resin are recommended.

Farnesyltransferase inhibitor (FTI) acts on ras, which can ultimately enhance radiosensitivity. The objective of this study was to explore whether FTI could potentiate the antitumor efficacy of radiation in vivo, particularly in radio-resistant hepatocarcinomas (HCa-I) syngeneic to C3H/HeJ mice. The presence of ras mutations was examined by PCR and DNA sequencing. C3H/HeJ mice, bearing HCa-I, were treated with FTI, LB42907, and 25 Gy radiation. FTI was orally administered, 60 mg/kg, twice daily for 30 days. The expression of regulating molecules was analyzed by Western blotting for p53, p21 W A F 1 / C I P 1 , and the Bcl-2 family, such as Bcl-2, Bax, and Bcl-X L / s . In HCa-I, no ras mutations were detected. Downregulation of ras by FTI was most prominent at 4 h after treatment. In a tumor growth delay assay, FTI increased the effect of the tumor's radioresponse, with an enhancement factor of 1.32. Combined irradiation and FTI increased radiation-induced apoptosis; the peak apoptotic index was 3.6% with irradiation alone and with the drug alone but 7.1% in the combined treatment group. The analysis of apoptosis-regulating molecules by Western blotting showed upregulation of p53 and p21 W A F 1 / C I P 1 in the combined treatment group compared with those in either of the single treatment groups, but the Bcl-2 family remained unchanged. FTI, in combination with radiation therapy, may have potential benefits in cancer treatment even if there are no ras mutations. FTI could inhibit ras activity but may also affect any protein that requires farnesylation for its activity.

Self-employed business owners in Korea are likely to be male with at least a high school education and no young children in the home. Evidence is that businesses of the self-employed in Korea are small, primarily focused on sales and trade, and financially vulnerable. Willingness to leave self- employment is less likely for those who are male, enjoy work, have high household expenditures, are satisfied with the work of the business, and are optimistic about the future potential of their business.

Excited-state energy dynamics of the conjugated polycarbogermane oligomers, poly{[1,4-bis(thiophenyl)buta-1,3-diyne]-alt-(dimethylgermane)} (PBTBD-DMG; n = 33), poly{[1,4-bis-(thiophenyl)buta-1,3-diyne]-alt-(diphethylgermane)} (PBTBD-DPG; n = 12), poly{[1,4-bis(phenyl)buta-1,3-diyne]-alt-(dimethylgermane)} (PBPBD-DMG; n = 36), and poly{[1,4-bis(phenyl)buta-1,3-diyne]-alt-(diphenylgermane)} (PBPBD-DPG; n = 2), were investigated by steady-state and picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopies in liquid solution. The introduction effect of a germanium atom into π-conjugated oligomer backbones and the substitution effect of a methyl or phenyl group on the germanium atom are discussed from solvent polarity-dependent studies. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence studies on the thiophene-containing polycarbogermane (PBTBD-DMG and PBTBD-DPG) oligomers revealed considerable solvent polarity-dependent characteristics, whereas those of the phenylene-containing polycarbogermane (PBPBD-DMG and PBPBD-DPG) oligomers do not significantly show such characteristics. As the solvent polarity increased from n-hexane to tetrahydrofuran, the steady-state fluorescence spectra of PBTBD-DMG and PBTBD-DPG oligomers were significantly redshifted, and their fluorescence lifetimes seemed to change from ∼624 to ∼46 ps. These results suggest that the excited-state dynamics of PBTBD-DMG and PBTBD-DPG oligomers are related to an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) emission process through (d-p) π conjugation between the π-conjugated system and unoccupied 4d orbitals of the germanium atom. These results are supported by quantum chemical (AM1 and CNDO/2) calculations. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1298–1306, 2002

Background and Aims: Recent studies have shown that local radiotherapy can be an effective component of the treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma. To further improve therapeutic efficacy, use of drugs that can beneficially interact with radiation has been suggested. The purpose of this study was to identify drugs that can enhance radioresponse of murine hepatocarcinoma. Methods: C3H/HeJ mice bearing 8 mm tumors of murine hepatocarcinoma, HCa-I, were treated with 25 Gy radiation and one of the following drugs: 5-Fu, 150 mg/kg; adriamycin, 8 mg/kg; cisplatin, 6 mg/kg; paclitaxel, 40 mg/kg; and gemcitabine, 50 mg/kg. Tumor response to the treatment was determined by the use of a tumor growth delay assay and by an enhancement factor. The apoptotic level was assessed in tissue sections. The expression of regulating molecules was analyzed by using western blotting for p53, Bcl-2, Bax, Bcl-XL, Bcl-XS, and p21WAF1/CIP1. Results: Among the drugs tested, only gemcitabine enhanced the antitumor effect of radiation, with an enhancement factor of 1.6. The induction of apoptosis by a combination of gemcitabine and radiation was shown as only an additive level. In the analysis of radiation-induced expression of regulating molecules, the most significant change by combining gemcitabine with radiation was the activation of p21WAF1/CIP1. Conclusion: Gemcitabine is the first to show an enhancement of radioresponse of murine hepatocarcinoma when combined with radiation. The key element of enhancement is thought to be p21WAF1/CIP1.

One of the major limitations in coronary intervention is restenosis. This study was aimed to identify clinical, angiographic, and procedural factors that may be related to the second restenosis (SR). We studied 101 patients who underwent more than two follow-up coronary angiograms after two coronary interventions between January 1996 and December 1998 in Chonnam University Hospital (out of 4,092 total coronary interventions in 3,030 patients during the same period). The patients were divided into two groups according to the evidence of SR. Fifty-two patients (group A: 57 ± 10 years, M:F = 44:8) who had SR and the other 49 patients (group B: 54 ± 9 years, M:F = 44:5) without SR were analyzed. Clinical features, angiographic characteristics, coronary interventional procedures, and other risk factors were compared between two groups by univariate analysis and multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed for the predictive factors for SR. The clinical variables of age, sex, clinical diagnosis, and risk factors were not different between two groups. The lesion severer than B 2 by AHA/ACC classification were associated with SR (P < 0.05). Recurrent angina as an indication for follow-up angiography was associated with SR (P < 0.01). Predictive factors associated with SR were patient's subjective symptom and lesion severer than type B 2 according to AHA/ ACC classification.

The effect of Mn on the PTCR characteristics of La-doped BaTiO 3 ceramics was studied. Acceptor state density was measured from a ρ-1/T graph as a function of Mn concentration. The behavior of room-temperature resistivity with Mn concentration was explained by compensation of acceptors at grain boundaries. The valence state of Mn was analyzed by ESR, and it changed near the Curie temperature of BaTiO 3 from 3+ in tetragonal phase to 2+ in cubic phase. Therefore, the number of electron traps increased at the Curie temperature, leading to the great improvement in the PTCR effect. The valence change of Mn ions was explained by vanishing of the Jahn-Teller effect as the phase changes from tetragonal to cubic.

Research on Kelley's (1967, 1972) covariation model of causal attributions has typically overlooked the effects of subjects' prior knowledge of norms on causal judgements. The present studies were designed to show that such norms are important in part because they help govern the usefulness of distinctiveness information for making such attributions. Study 1 revealed that distinctiveness information is considered more useful for answering causal questions when it involves a low base rate event compared to when it involves a high base rate event. Study 2 showed that distinctiveness information involving a low base rate event makes dispositional attributions more likely. The results are discussed in terms of how they question the common belief that consensus information is underused in causal attributions and in terms of how various forms of social judgment appear affected by the inconspicuous yet influential presence of norms.

Expectations are a natural and necessary element in all negotiation. As one of the most important approaches to the settlement of conflict, negotiation necessarily entails the exchange of ambiguous information—about both one's adversary and the problem at hand. It is precisely because of this ambiguity that expectations, both intrapersonal and interpersonal, come to play an important role. While such expectations can be helpful in bringing about conflict settlement through negotiation, they can also contribute to the escalation of conflict and can move conflict in destructive directions. This article outlines both the beneficial and harmful effects of expectations in negotiation and speculates about some possible approaches to overcoming the negative effects of expectations.