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Purpose: The specific characteristics of autonomic involvement in patients with early Parkinson's disease (PD) are unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of autonomic dysfunction in drug-naïve patients with early-stage PD without orthostatic hypotension (OH) by analyzing Valsalva maneuver (VM) parameters. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed drug-naïve patients without orthostatic hypotension (n = 61) and controls (n = 20). The patients were subcategorized into early PD (n = 35) and mid-PD (n = 26) groups on the basis of the Hoehn and Yahr staging. VM parameters, including changes in systolic blood pressure at late phase 2 (∆SBPVM2), ∆HRVM3, Valsalva ratio (VR), pressure recovery time, adrenergic baroreflex sensitivity, and vagal baroreflex sensitivity, were assessed. Results: In the early PD group, ∆SBPVM2, a marker of sympathetic function, was significantly lower compared with that in controls (risk ratio = 0.95, P = 0.027). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed an optimal cut-off value of −10 mmHg for ∆SBPVM2 [P = 0.002, area under the curve (AUC): 0.737]. VR exhibited an inverse relationship with Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part 3 scores in the multivariable regression analysis (VR: P = 0.038, β = −28.61), whereas age showed a positive relationship (age: P = 0.027, β = 0.35). Conclusion: The ∆BPVM2 parameter of the VM may help detect autonomic nervous system involvement in early-PD without OH. Our results suggest that sympathetic dysfunction is an early manifestation of autonomic dysfunction in patients with PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A smart thinning operation refers to an advanced method of selecting and cutting trees to be thinned based on digitally captured forest information. In smart thinning operations, workers use the coordinates of individual trees to navigate to the target trees for thinning. However, it is difficult to accurately locate individual trees in a forest stand covered with a canopy, necessitating a precise real-time positioning system that can be used in the forest. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the applicability of the global navigation satellite system real-time kinematic (GNSS-RTK) device in a forest stand through analysis of its positioning accuracy within the forest environment and evaluation of the operational range of the single-baseline RTK based on analysis of the positioning precision and radio signal strength index (RSSI) change with increasing distance from the base station. The results showed that the root mean square error (RMSE) of the horizontal positioning error was highly accurate, with an average of 0.26 m in Larix kaempferi stands and 0.48 m in Pinus koraiensis stands. The RSSI decreased to a minimum of −103.3 dBm within 1 km of distance from the base station; however, this had no significant impact on the horizontal positioning precision. The conclusion is that the GNSS-RTK is suitable for use in smart thinning operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various techniques have been formulated to reduce pain and ensure early recovery after surgery, as these are major concerns among surgeons, anesthesiologists, and patients. Erector spinae plane block (ESPB), the injection of local anesthetic into the fascial plane, is a simple and novel analgesia technique widely used due to its minimal risk of complications. ESPB has been tried in various surgeries; however, no study has reported its use in colorectal surgery. This study investigated whether ESPB could promote early recovery following laparoscopic colorectal surgery (LCS) by reducing opioid consumption and pain intensity. After randomization into the ESPB or control groups, an ultrasound-guided ESPB was performed at the thoracic 10th–11th level with 40 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine or normal saline. The ESPB group used less fentanyl during the initial 24 h after surgery (P = 0.004) and experienced less pain (P < 0.05 at all-time points) than the control group. The time to the first ambulation and the length of hospital stay were shorter in the ESPB group than in the control group (P = 0.015 and P = 0.008, respectively). In conclusion, ESPB could promote early recovery by reducing opioid consumption and pain intensity in patients receiving LCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hyperalgesia frequently occurs after surgery and is associated with adverse effects on surgical outcomes. Thus, we aimed to examine whether the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function after surgery is involved in the development of postoperative hyperalgesia. Methods: Surgery- and pain-related variables were measured 24 and 48 h after the first and second total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) in postmenopausal patients undergoing 1-week-interval staged bilateral TKA. Two sets of saliva samples were consecutively collected from patients before (pre-T1) and 1 week after (post-T1) the first TKA (n = 69). HPA axis function was analyzed in a subgroup of 20 patients with a typical cortisol awakening response (CAR) in both the sets of saliva samples. Results: Surgery-related variables were comparable between the first and second TKAs. However, pain-related variables (pain ratings and the amount of opioid analgesics consumed) were greater after the second than the first TKA. Cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) secretion during the post-awakening period (CARauc and Daucawk, respectively) was higher at post-T1 than at pre-T1, but the molar CARauc/Daucawk ratio was comparable between the time points examined. No relationship was observed between the pre-T1 CARauc and pain ratings after the first TKA. However, post-T1 CARauc showed a positive correlation with pain ratings after the second TKA. Postoperative pain ratings were negatively correlated with Daucawk and positively correlated with the molar CARauc/Daucawk ratio at all examined time points. Discussion/Conclusion: The results suggest that adrenocortical steroidogenic activity favoring the production of cortisol over DHEA after surgery may contribute to the development of hyperalgesia during the early postoperative period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The marbled flounder (Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae) is a fish species with high commercial value in Korea and has been gaining attention as a new aquaculture target. To clarify the digestive physiology and feeding habits of the marbled flounder, this study conducted morphological, histological, and histochemical analyses of its digestive tract. In conclusion, the feeding habits of marbled flounder are close to those of carnivorous fish. In addition, we found that the marbled flounder has a stomach with a structure suitable for eating small amounts of hard food, and that most of its digestion takes place in the anterior intestine portion. Our study presents the histological and histochemical characteristics of the digestive tract of the marbled flounder, providing basic knowledge for both physiological and nutritional studies. This study investigated the morphological, histological, and histochemical characteristics of the digestive tract of the marbled flounder (Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae). The relative length of the gut of the marbled flounder digestive tract was 1.54 ± 0.10 (n = 20), and it had a simple stomach and 6–9 pyloric caeca. The mucosal folds of the marbled flounder digestive tract exhibited a general branched morphology. The thickness and mucosal fold length of the intestinal muscularis externa showed similar aspects in all areas. The thickness of the intestinal muscularis externa was the thickest in the posterior intestine portion, and the length of mucosal folds was the longest in the anterior intestine portion. It was indicated that food digested by gastric acid in the stomach moves to the anterior portion (including pyloric caeca) and mid portion of the intestine, ensuring effective stimulation of cholecystokinin (CCK)-producing cells. In addition, the distribution pattern of CCK-producing cells in the intestine was very similar to that of mucus-secreting goblet cells. The CCK-producing cells and goblet cells in the marbled flounder were well-adapted to promote optimal control of the digestive process. Based on the morphological and histochemical studies, it was concluded that the marbled flounder displays a digestive tract comparable to that of fish species with carnivorous habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pipelines are crucial for transporting liquid and gaseous resources at various industrial sites. As unexpected pipeline failures and improper spill responses often cause detrimental effects on the environment and public safety, real-time leakage monitoring and detection are important. This study proposes a nonintrusive sensor system to measure the pressure and integrity of a pipeline in real time by easily installing nonintrusive sensors on the exterior of the pipelines. Initially, a prototype of the nonintrusive pressure-monitoring sensor was designed and fabricated. This sensor correlated the changes in pressure inside a pipe with those in the contact force exerted between the pipe and the surrounding high-stiffness band; a force-sensing resistor was used to measure the contact force. Furthermore, parametric studies were performed on a six-inch pipe, which indicated that the developed sensor can accurately monitor the inner pressure of the pipe. We also developed a methodology to determine the optimal sensor placement in a pipeline network for detecting damages using the Euclidean distance method. This was combined with the methodology of determining the decision boundary for classifying the damage location using a support vector machine to rapidly detect the damage using a minimum number of sensors. Finally, a nonintrusive sensor system was installed on the fire main pipeline system, and the damage detection performance was experimentally validated. The developed nonintrusive sensor system can be easily installed on operating pipes to monitor the inner pressure of a pipe in real-time and accurately detect damages in a pipeline network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intravenous sedative drugs are commonly administered during regional anesthesia. However, reducing the excessive use of sedatives while providing adequate sedation is important from the clinical perspective, since the use of sedatives can cause considerable complications. We hypothesized that the application of earmuffs and eye masks would help reduce the sedative dose required to maintain proper sedation by blocking external stimuli. Patients who underwent orthopedic surgery under spinal anesthesia were randomly allocated to the control (no intervention) or intervention group (wearing earmuffs and eye masks). Intravenous sedation was administered using target-controlled infusion of propofol. The target concentration was controlled to maintain a Modified Observer's Assessment of Alertness and Sedation score of 3 or 4. The primary outcome was the intraoperative propofol requirement. We also investigated the incidence of apnea, and patient satisfaction. Propofol requirement was significantly lower in the intervention group than that in the control group (2.3 (2.0–2.7) vs. 3.1 (2.7–3.4) mg·kg−1·h−1; p < 0.001). Intraoperative apnea occurred less frequently (p = 0.038) and patient satisfaction was higher (p = 0.002) in the intervention group compared to the control group. This study demonstrated that the use of earmuffs and eye masks during sedation was associated with lower propofol requirement and improved sedation quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A piezoelectric tactile sensor is beneficial for creating a self‐powered system with a compact design, which is essential in electronic‐skin technology. However, piezoelectricity is only capable of dynamic pressure detection because it responds to sudden environmental changes. Since it is common to add another sensing unit to detect static pressure that accompanies bulkiness, including a measuring apparatus, we demonstrate a self‐powered, single‐mode piezoelectric tactile sensor by fabricating a piezoelectric gel through the electrospinning technique. As piezoelectricity senses the dynamic pressure without an external power supply, ions detect the static pressure by maintaining the potential difference upon sustained pressure. Since each component outputs a voltage signal of the same type but different profiles upon pressure, it is possible to distinguish dynamic and static pressure in a single mode. Moreover, inspired by the sensory adaptation of mammalian skin, an ion‐assisted piezoelectric tactile sensor efficiently detects concurrently stacked stimuli by decreasing the output signal for sustained stimuli. The sensitivity for superimposed pressure upon initial 14.7 kPa increases by more than four times compared to that without sensory adaptation for both dynamic and static pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-obstructive azoospermia is a major clinical issue associated with male infertility that remains to be addressed. Although neogenin is reportedly abundantly expressed in the testis, its role in mammalian spermatogenesis is unknown. We systematically investigated the role of neogenin during spermatogenesis by performing loss-of-function studies. Testis-specific neogenin conditional knock-out (cKO) mice were generated using CRISPR/Cas9 and neogenin-targeting guide RNAs. We analyzed the expression profiles of germ cell factors by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Neogenin localized mainly to spermatogonia in seminiferous tubules of mouse testes. RT-PCR and Western blot analyses further demonstrated that neogenin expression varied during spermatogenesis and was dramatically increased at postnatal day 12–25 during the pubertal stage. In neogenin-cKO mouse testes, the ratio of primary and secondary spermatocytes was significantly decreased compared with the control, while the number of apoptotic testicular cells was significantly increased. Taken together, these results suggest that neogenin plays a pivotal role in the maintenance and proliferation of spermatogonia during the early stage of spermatogenesis in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hyaluronic acid (HA) filler injection is easy and effective for augmenting the temple. However, there are multiple layers in the temple and multiple guidelines regarding the optimal layer for administering these fillers. In this study, we used ultrasonography to reveal relatively safe layers for augmenting the temple and selected the space between the superficial temporal fascia (STF) and deep temporal fascia (DTF) as an injection site. Methods: Doppler ultrasonography was used to differentiate anatomic layers of the temple and detect the blood vessels. HA filler was injected in the space between the STF and DTF. After filler injection, ultrasonography was used to detect the proper filler location. Patient satisfaction and complications were evaluated. Results: Hyaluronic acid filler was injected into the space between the STF and DTF in all patients. An average of 1.08 ml of HA filler was injected into one side of the temple. In 15 out of 50 patients, the frontal branch of the superficial temporal artery was detected at the hairline or on the anterior side of the hairline, which was the location where the temple augmentation was performed. Forty‐nine patients were satisfied with the results after 3 months postoperatively. No serious complications were observed. Conclusions: Hyaluronic acid filler injection in the space between the STF and DTF is a relatively safe and easy site for temple augmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the osteogenesis-related cell functions of osteoprogenitor cells modulated by surface chemistry modification using lithium (Li) ions in a current clinical oral implant surface in order to gain insights into the future development of titanium (Ti) implants with enhanced osteogenic capacity. Wet chemical treatment was performed to modify a sandblasted/acid-etched (SLA) Ti implant surface using Li ions. The osteogenesis-related cell response to the surface Li ion-modified SLA sample was evaluated using two kinds of murine bone marrow stem cells, bipotent ST2 cells and primary multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The modified surface exhibited the formation of an Li-containing Ti oxide layer with plate-like nanostructures. The Li-incorporated surface enhanced early cellular events, including spreading, focal adhesion formation and integrin mRNA expression (α2, α5, αv and β3), and accelerated osteogenic differentiation of bipotent ST2 cells compared with unmodified SLA surface. Surface Li modification significantly increased GSK-3β phosphorylation and suppressed β-catenin phosphorylation, and promoted the subsequent osteogenic differentiation of primary MSCs. These results indicate that surface chemistry modification of SLA implants by wet chemical treatment with Li ions induces a more favorable osseointegration outcome through the promotion of the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow MSCs via the positive regulation of GSK-3β and β-catenin activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Step length is a critical hallmark of health status. However, few studies have investigated the modifiable factors that may affect step length. An exploratory, cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate the surface electromyography (sEMG) and body impedance analysis (BIA) parameters, combined with individual demographic data, to predict the individual step length using the GAITRite® system. Healthy participants aged 40–80 years were prospectively recruited, and three models were built to predict individual step length. The first model was the best-fit model (R2 = 0.244, p < 0.001); the root mean square (RMS) values at maximal knee flexion and height were included as significant variables. The second model used all candidate variables, except sEMG variables, and revealed that age, height, and body fat mass (BFM) were significant variables for predicting the average step length (R2 = 0.198, p < 0.001). The third model, which was used to predict step length without sEMG and BIA, showed that only age and height remained significant (R2 = 0.158, p < 0.001). This study revealed that the RMS value at maximal strength knee flexion, height, age, and BFM are important predictors for individual step length, and possibly suggesting that strengthening knee flexor function and reducing BFM may help improve step length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: This study aimed to assess and compare the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of a fixed-dose combination product (FDCP) comprising four different drugs (two antihypertensive drugs, amlodipine and losartan, and two lipid-lowering agents, ezetimibe and rosuvastatin) with their separate tablets.A total of 60 participants were enrolled in this open-label, randomized, single-dose crossover study. Each participant received a single dose of FDCP and individual tablets during each period, with a 14-day washout period between the periods. The pharmacokinetic parameters of amlodipine, losartan, EXP3174 (an active metabolite of losartan), rosuvastatin, free ezetimibe, and total ezetimibe were evaluated and compared.The pharmacokinetic profiles of amlodipine, losartan, rosuvastatin, and ezetimibe after administration of the individual products were similar to those of FDCP. The geometric mean ratios and 90% confidence intervals for maximum concentration (Cmax) and area under the curve (AUC) of FDCP to individual tablets were within 0.8–1.25 for all six analytes. No clinically relevant changes were observed in the vital signs or physical, biochemical, hematological, electrocardiographic, or urinalysis findings during the study, and no serious adverse events were reported.This study demonstrated that a newly developed FDCP containing amlodipine, losartan, ezetimibe, and rosuvastatin exhibited pharmacokinetic equivalence with the individual products and met the regulatory criteria. Both formulations were well tolerated.This trial (NCT04322266) was retrospectively registered on 9 September 2019.Methods: This study aimed to assess and compare the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of a fixed-dose combination product (FDCP) comprising four different drugs (two antihypertensive drugs, amlodipine and losartan, and two lipid-lowering agents, ezetimibe and rosuvastatin) with their separate tablets.A total of 60 participants were enrolled in this open-label, randomized, single-dose crossover study. Each participant received a single dose of FDCP and individual tablets during each period, with a 14-day washout period between the periods. The pharmacokinetic parameters of amlodipine, losartan, EXP3174 (an active metabolite of losartan), rosuvastatin, free ezetimibe, and total ezetimibe were evaluated and compared.The pharmacokinetic profiles of amlodipine, losartan, rosuvastatin, and ezetimibe after administration of the individual products were similar to those of FDCP. The geometric mean ratios and 90% confidence intervals for maximum concentration (Cmax) and area under the curve (AUC) of FDCP to individual tablets were within 0.8–1.25 for all six analytes. No clinically relevant changes were observed in the vital signs or physical, biochemical, hematological, electrocardiographic, or urinalysis findings during the study, and no serious adverse events were reported.This study demonstrated that a newly developed FDCP containing amlodipine, losartan, ezetimibe, and rosuvastatin exhibited pharmacokinetic equivalence with the individual products and met the regulatory criteria. Both formulations were well tolerated.This trial (NCT04322266) was retrospectively registered on 9 September 2019.Results: This study aimed to assess and compare the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of a fixed-dose combination product (FDCP) comprising four different drugs (two antihypertensive drugs, amlodipine and losartan, and two lipid-lowering agents, ezetimibe and rosuvastatin) with their separate tablets.A total of 60 participants were enrolled in this open-label, randomized, single-dose crossover study. Each participant received a single dose of FDCP and individual tablets during each period, with a 14-day washout period between the periods. The pharmacokinetic parameters of amlodipine, losartan, EXP3174 (an active metabolite of losartan), rosuvastatin, free ezetimibe, and total ezetimibe were evaluated and compared.The pharmacokinetic profiles of amlodipine, losartan, rosuvastatin, and ezetimibe after administration of the individual products were similar to those of FDCP. The geometric mean ratios and 90% confidence intervals for maximum concentration (Cmax) and area under the curve (AUC) of FDCP to individual tablets were within 0.8–1.25 for all six analytes. No clinically relevant changes were observed in the vital signs or physical, biochemical, hematological, electrocardiographic, or urinalysis findings during the study, and no serious adverse events were reported.This study demonstrated that a newly developed FDCP containing amlodipine, losartan, ezetimibe, and rosuvastatin exhibited pharmacokinetic equivalence with the individual products and met the regulatory criteria. Both formulations were well tolerated.This trial (NCT04322266) was retrospectively registered on 9 September 2019.Conclusion: This study aimed to assess and compare the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of a fixed-dose combination product (FDCP) comprising four different drugs (two antihypertensive drugs, amlodipine and losartan, and two lipid-lowering agents, ezetimibe and rosuvastatin) with their separate tablets.A total of 60 participants were enrolled in this open-label, randomized, single-dose crossover study. Each participant received a single dose of FDCP and individual tablets during each period, with a 14-day washout period between the periods. The pharmacokinetic parameters of amlodipine, losartan, EXP3174 (an active metabolite of losartan), rosuvastatin, free ezetimibe, and total ezetimibe were evaluated and compared.The pharmacokinetic profiles of amlodipine, losartan, rosuvastatin, and ezetimibe after administration of the individual products were similar to those of FDCP. The geometric mean ratios and 90% confidence intervals for maximum concentration (Cmax) and area under the curve (AUC) of FDCP to individual tablets were within 0.8–1.25 for all six analytes. No clinically relevant changes were observed in the vital signs or physical, biochemical, hematological, electrocardiographic, or urinalysis findings during the study, and no serious adverse events were reported.This study demonstrated that a newly developed FDCP containing amlodipine, losartan, ezetimibe, and rosuvastatin exhibited pharmacokinetic equivalence with the individual products and met the regulatory criteria. Both formulations were well tolerated.This trial (NCT04322266) was retrospectively registered on 9 September 2019.Clinical Trial Registration: This study aimed to assess and compare the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of a fixed-dose combination product (FDCP) comprising four different drugs (two antihypertensive drugs, amlodipine and losartan, and two lipid-lowering agents, ezetimibe and rosuvastatin) with their separate tablets.A total of 60 participants were enrolled in this open-label, randomized, single-dose crossover study. Each participant received a single dose of FDCP and individual tablets during each period, with a 14-day washout period between the periods. The pharmacokinetic parameters of amlodipine, losartan, EXP3174 (an active metabolite of losartan), rosuvastatin, free ezetimibe, and total ezetimibe were evaluated and compared.The pharmacokinetic profiles of amlodipine, losartan, rosuvastatin, and ezetimibe after administration of the individual products were similar to those of FDCP. The geometric mean ratios and 90% confidence intervals for maximum concentration (Cmax) and area under the curve (AUC) of FDCP to individual tablets were within 0.8–1.25 for all six analytes. No clinically relevant changes were observed in the vital signs or physical, biochemical, hematological, electrocardiographic, or urinalysis findings during the study, and no serious adverse events were reported.This study demonstrated that a newly developed FDCP containing amlodipine, losartan, ezetimibe, and rosuvastatin exhibited pharmacokinetic equivalence with the individual products and met the regulatory criteria. Both formulations were well tolerated.This trial (NCT04322266) was retrospectively registered on 9 September 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a large variability in individual responses to atorvastatin administration. This study assessed the pharmacogenetic effects of solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 1B1 (SLCO1B1, c.388A>G and c.521T>C) and cytochrome P450 3A5 (CYP3A5, CYP3A5*3) genetic polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetics of atorvastatin and its active metabolite, 2-hydroxy (2-OH) atorvastatin, in 46 individuals who were administered a clinically used single oral dosage of 80 mg. The Cmax and AUC of atorvastatin in CYP3A5*3/*3 carriers were 2.6- and 2.8-fold higher, respectively, than those in CYP3A5*1/*1 carriers, and similar results were observed for 2-OH atorvastatin pharmacokinetics. SLCO1B1 c.521T>C also increased the AUC of atorvastatin and 2-OH atorvastatin. The AUC ratio of atorvastatin and 2-OH atorvastatin were not affected by SLCO1B1 c.388A>G or c.521T>C, whereas CYP3A5*3 reduced the AUC ratio. In an analysis evaluating the simultaneous effect of the SLCO1B1 c.521T>C and CYP3A5*3 polymorphisms, SLCO1B1 c.521TT/CYP3A5*1/*1 carriers showed lower Cmax and AUC values for atorvastatin and 2-OH atorvastatin than in individuals with the SLCO1B1 c.521T>C and/or CYP3A5*3 genotypes. Among the participants with the SLCO1B1 c.521TT genotype, the CYP3A5*3 carriers had a higher systemic exposure to atorvastatin and 2-OH atorvastatin than the CYP3A5*1/*1 carriers. Thus, SLCO1B1 c.521T>C and CYP3A5*3 polymorphisms affect the pharmacokinetics of atorvastatin and 2-OH atorvastatin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium deficiency, which is known to be highly prevalent among patients with diabetes, has been associated with insulin resistance and poor glucose control. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of intraoperative magnesium administration on postoperative glucose control in patients with diabetes. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with type 2 diabetes who had undergone total joint arthroplasty at a tertiary hospital, where intraoperative magnesium sulfate injections were frequently performed for postoperative analgesia. The patients were grouped based on whether treated with magnesium or not (magnesium vs. control groups). We investigated postoperative blood glucose levels and sliding scale insulin requirements. After propensity matching, 170 patients were allotted to each group. Both the mean glucose level and the incidence of a mean glucose level of >200mg/dL were significantly lower in the magnesium group than in the control group (p = 0.040 and 0.013, respectively). There was also a lower insulin requirement in the magnesium group (p = 0.043). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that magnesium treatment was significantly related to a less frequent incidence of a mean blood glucose level of >200 mg/dL (p = 0.047). This study demonstrated that magnesium sulfate infusion was associated with an improved postoperative blood glucose profile in patients with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment options for Bowen's disease (BD) include surgical excision, cryotherapy, curettage with cautery, topical 5-fluorouracil or imiquimod, and photodynamic therapy. However, it is not clear which treatment is the most effective due to lack of studies. We reviewed the electronic medical records of 158 patients who were diagnosed with BD and treated at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital from January 2011 to December 2020. Treatment modalities were surgical excision, cryotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and imiquimod. A total of 121 patients was enrolled in this study. The average treatment period was longest for cryotherapy, followed by imiquimod, PDT, and excision (119.53, 87.75, 68.50, and 1 day, respectively). The therapeutic efficacy was highest in the surgical excision group (100%) and lowest in the PDT group (62.5%). The recurrence rate was highest in the imiquimod group (33.33%). Surprisingly, only in patients treated with cryotherapy, satellite lesions developed in 9.09% of them during follow-up. Surgical excision exhibited the highest clearance rate and the lowest recurrence rate, and its treatment period was the shortest, confirming that it remains the gold standard. In contrast, since cryotherapy demonstrated a relatively high recurrence rate including development of satellite lesions, careful monitoring is required when performing cryotherapy for treatment of BD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing and installing jigs and fixtures for new products are very costly tasks. In order to rapidly respond to frequent product changes in a manufacturing system, we developed a transformable pin array fixture system including reconfiguration planning software that finds the optimal position for mounting an assembly part and automatically generates a pin height control code. We first classified main fixturing quality factors such as type of contact, distance between a pin and a joining point, and part shape. We then formulate the part positioning problem as an alignment problem between the joining point set and the pin point set in the xy plane in consideration of the fixturing quality factors. A car door trim assembly module was used to verify the proposed method. Finite-element analysis results showed that in a car door trim assembly process such as ultrasonic welding and screwing, relocating an assembly part at the optimal position reduces its deformation. Note to Practitioners—Jigs and fixture systems are the fundamental manufacturing elements that are used for ensuring assembly quality. Traditionally, manufacturers have produced a small variety of products in massive quantities using dedicated jig and fixture systems. However, these dedicated workholding systems do not fit for the Today’s rapidly changing market. In order to enhance the reconfigurability of these systems, we propose a transformable pin array-based part fixturing system including part position optimization. Due to the system complexity, the assembly quality can be lower using the transformable fixtures than the conventional fixtures. Therefore, it is further necessary to develop a cost-effective reconfigurable fixture while preserving the assembly quality for the better chance of its industrial implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dapagliflozin, a selective sodium–glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor, and linagliptin, a competitive, reversible dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, are commonly prescribed antidiabetic medications in general clinics. Since there are several merits to combining them in a fixed-dose combination product, this study investigated the pharmacokinetic equivalence between the individual component (IC) and fixed-combination drug product (FCDP) forms of dapagliflozin and linagliptin. A randomized, open-label, single-dose crossover study was conducted. All participants (n = 48) were randomly allocated to group A (period 1: ICs, period 2: FCDP) or group B (period 1: FCDP, period 2: ICs), and each group received either a single dose of IN-C009 (FCDP) or single doses of both dapagliflozin and linagliptin. There was no statistically significant difference found between the pharmacokinetic variables of FCDP and IC. The values of estimated geometric mean ratios and the 90% confidence interval for both maximum concentration and area under the plasma drug concentration–time curve were within the range of 0.8–1.25 for both dapagliflozin and linagliptin. The results of the clinical study demonstrated comparable pharmacokinetic characteristics between IC and FCDP forms of dapagliflozin and linagliptin. The combined use of dapagliflozin and linagliptin was safe and tolerable in both formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The manganese (Mn) ion has recently been probed as a potential candidate element for the surface chemistry modification of titanium (Ti) implants in order to develop a more osteogenic surface with the expectation of taking advantage of its strong binding affinity to the integrins on bone-forming cells. However, the exact mechanism of how Mn enhances osteogenesis when introduced into the surface of Ti implants is not clearly understood. This study investigated the corrosion resistance and potential osteogenic capacity of a Mn-incorporated Ti surface as determined by electrochemical measurement and examining the behaviors of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in a clinically available sandblasted/acid-etched (SLA) oral implant surface intended for future biomedical applications. The surface that resulted from wet chemical treatment exhibited the formation of a Mn-containing nanostructured TiO2 anatase thin film in the SLA implant and improved corrosion resistance. The Mn-incorporated SLA surface displayed sustained Mn ion release and enhanced osteogenesis-related MSC function, which enhanced early cellular events such as spreading, focal adhesion, and mRNA expression of critical adhesion-related genes and promoted full human MSC differentiation into mature osteoblasts. Our findings indicate that surface Mn modification by wet chemical treatment is an effective approach to produce a Ti implant surface with increased osteogenic capacity through the promotion of the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. The improved corrosion resistance of the resultant surface is yet another important benefit of being able to provide favorable osseointegration interface stability with an increased barrier effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sintering behavior of 0.36BiScO 3 -0.64PbTiO 3 (0.36BS-0.64 PT) ceramics was studied to investigate the effect of grain growth by the sillenite Bi 12 PbO 19 (BP) phase on their piezoelectric properties for application in high-temperature piezoelectric devices. The BP phase formed during calcination at temperatures <750 °C led to a grain growth anomaly of the 0.36BS-0.64 PT ceramics sintered at 1000 °C. This phase assisted the grain growth of the 0.36BS-0.64 PT ceramics by liquid phase sintering. In particular, the 0.36BS-0.64 PT ceramic calcined at 700 °C exhibited excellent piezoelectric properties with a d 33 of 531 pC/N, g 33 of 41×10−3 Vm/N, k p of 61.8%, and Q m of 16. In addition, the 0.36BS-0.64 PT ceramics exhibited ferroelectric relaxor-like characteristics with an extremely large relaxation coefficient (γ) of 1.94 along with high maximum dielectric permittivity temperature (426 °C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of both a video laryngoscope and a video intubation stylet, compared with the use of a direct laryngoscope, is not only easier to learn but also associated with a higher success rate in performing endotracheal intubation for novice users. However, data comparing the two video devices used by novice personnel are rarely found in literature. Nondelayed intubation is an important condition to determine the prognosis in critically ill patients; hence, exploring intubation performance in various situations is of clinical significance. This study is aimed at comparing a video stylet and a video laryngoscope for intubation in an airway manikin with normal airway and cervical spine immobilization scenarios by novice personnel. We compared the performance of intubation by novices between the Aram Video Stylet and the McGrath® MAC video laryngoscope in an airway manikin. Thirty medical doctors with minimal experience of endotracheal intubation attempted intubation on a manikin five times with each device in each setting (normal airway and cervical spine immobilization scenarios). The order of use of the devices in each scenario was randomized for each participant. In the normal airway scenario, the Aram stylet showed a significantly higher rate of successful intubation than the McGrath® (98.7% vs. 92.0%; odds ratio (95% CI): 6.4 (1.4–29.3); p = 0.006). The intubation time was shorter using the Aram Stylet than that using the McGrath® video laryngoscope (p < 0.001). In the cervical immobilization scenario, successful endotracheal intubation was also more frequent using the Aram stylet than with the McGrath® (96.0% vs. 87.3%; odds ratio (95% CI): 3.5 (1.3–9.0); p = 0.007). The Aram Stylet intubation time was shorter (p < 0.001). In novice personnel, endotracheal intubation appears to be more successful and faster using the Aram Video Stylet than the McGrath® MAC video laryngoscope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on the effects of memantine on QT prolongation have yielded conflicting results. For a long time, memantine was reported to be a safe drug without QT prolongation; however, several case studies have reported memantine‐induced QT prolongation in Alzheimer's patients. This study evaluated the relationship between memantine blood levels, and QT interval changes. Over a 2‐week period, we orally administered 20 mg of memantine daily to achieve a steady state in 57 healthy Korean subjects. We measured and analyzed the QT interval and blood memantine concentrations simultaneously before and after treatment, as well as 2 weeks after the last dosing. Correlation analysis was done between blood memantine level and QT interval. No serious adverse events occurred during the study period. Repeated dosing of memantine did not show clinically significant QT interval changes after treatment. Regression analysis was performed based on the results; there was no statistical association between memantine blood level and QT prolongation. In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrated no clinically significant changes in the QT interval with therapeutic blood levels of memantine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epigenetic dysregulation has been strongly implicated in carcinogenesis and is one of the mechanisms that contribute to the development of lung cancer. Using genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 library screening, we showed SET domain-containing protein 1A (SETD1A) is an essential epigenetic modifier of the proliferation of NSCLC H1299 cells. Depletion of SETD1A strikingly inhibited the proliferation of NSCLC cells. IHC staining and bioinformatics showed that SETD1A is upregulated in lung cancer. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that high expression of SETD1A is associated with poor prognosis of patients with NSCLC. We revealed that loss of SETD1A inhibits DNA replication and induces replication stress accompanied by impaired fork progression. In addition, transcription of CDC7 and TOP1, which are involved in replication origin activation and fork progression, respectively, was significantly reduced by knockdown of SETD1A. Taken together, these findings demonstrated SETD1A is a critical epigenetic modifier of NSCLC cell proliferation by promoting the transcription of a subset of DNA replication-associated genes. • SETD1A is an essential epigenetic modifier for proliferation of H1299 cells. • SETD1A knockdown impairs replication fork progression and induces replication stress. • SETD1A is required to transcription of S-phase associated target gene s via H3K4me3 methylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we define the poly-Bernoulli polynomials of the second kind by using the polyexponential function and find some interesting identities of those polynomials. In addition, we define unipoly-Bernoulli polynomials of the second kind and study some properties of those polynomials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The level of histone H3 lysine 79 methylation is regulated by the cell cycle and involved in cell proliferation. KDM2B is an H3K79 demethylase. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is a component of the DNA replication machinery. This study aimed at elucidating a molecular link between H3K79me recognition of PCNA and cell cycle control. Materials and methods: We generated KDM2B‐depleted 293T cells and histone H3‐K79R mutant‐expressing 293T cells. Western blots were primarily utilized to examine the H3K79me level and its effect on subsequent PCNA dissociation from chromatin. We applied IP, peptide pull‐down, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and ChIP experiments to show the PCNA binding towards methylated H3K79 and DNA replication origins. Flow cytometry, MTT, iPOND and DNA fibre assays were used to assess the necessity of KDM2B for DNA replication and cell proliferation. Results: We revealed that KDM2B‐mediated H3K79 demethylation regulated cell cycle progression. We found that PCNA bound chromatin in an H3K79me‐dependent manner during S phase. KDM2B was responsible for the timely dissociation of PCNA from chromatin, allowing to efficient DNA replication. Depletion of KDM2B aberrantly enriched chromatin with PCNA and caused slow dissociation of residual PCNA, leading to a negative effect on cell proliferation. Conclusions: We suggested a novel interaction between PCNA and H3K79me. Thus, our findings provide a new mechanism of KDM2B in regulation of DNA replication and cell proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the interfacial adhesion strength (σint) of transparent conductive oxide (TCO) coatings on polymer substrates using a nanosecond Nd:YAG pulsed laser. We compared our results with those achieved using conventional testing methods such as bending and fragmentation tests as well as theoretical calculations. In the fragmentation and bending tests, mechanical compressive stress is induced in the film due to mismatches in Poisson's ratio and Young's modulus between the substrate and film. But, the incident laser makes the film under compression due to the mismatch in thermal expansion between the TCO and the polymer substrate. With a pulse incident to the substrate, the TCO rapidly expands by laser-induced instant heating while the transparent polymer does little, which causes the TCO to buckle and delaminate over the critical pulse energy. The critical compressive stress that scales with σint was calculated using simple equations, which agreed well with the results from previous theoretical calculations. Because the films preferentially delaminate at the defects and grain boundaries, this technique also provided useful information regarding the interface microstructures. Moreover, because the laser can scan over large areas, this method is suitable for flexible substrates that are produced by a roll-to-roll process. Nevertheless, the mechanical stress introduced by the bending and fragmentation tests causes the TCO to buckle without interfacial delamination. Hence, the stresses at the buckling disagreed with the results obtained from the laser test and the theoretical calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, symmetric properties of some special polynomials arising from p-adic q-integrals on Z p have been investigated extensively by many researchers. In this paper, we find some symmetric identities for type 2 q-Bernoulli polynomials under the symmetry group S n of degree n by using the bosonic p-adic q-integral on Z p . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, transparent organic light‐emitting diodes (T‐OLEDs) are presented with excellent light‐emission performance achieved by virtue of optically transparent functional layers. In this T‐OLED, indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films are used not only as a transparent bottom anode but also as a transparent top cathode. Blue polymer poly(9,9‐di‐n‐octylfluorenyl‐2,7‐diyl) (PFO) is used as a host material for the emission layer (EML) of T‐OLEDs, to achieve an optical light transmittance of 70% in the visible range of the light spectrum. By controlled blending of the commercial emitting material Super Yellow with PFO, the light‐emission efficiency of EML is significantly improved through a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) radiative recombination between electronic charge carriers. The organic functional layers of T‐OLEDs are protected from plasma damage during direct‐current magnetron sputtering deposition of the ITO cathode, using a spin‐coated bilayer electron‐transport coating of zinc oxide nanoparticle layers and cesium carbonate‐doped polyethyleneimine ethoxylated (d‐PEIE). As a result, T‐OLED exhibits a combined luminance of 1600 cd m−2 from the top ITO cathode (700 cd m−2) and bottom glass surfaces (900 cd m−2). The T‐OLED shows a device transmittance of 70% in the visible range and a current efficiency twice as high as that of pure PFO‐type T‐OLED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sperm motility is a crucial factor for normal fertilisation that is partly supported by mitochondrial activity. Enzymatic biofuel cells (EBFCs) generate electric currents by an electron grade from anodic to cathodic electrodes in a culture media. We demonstrate that electrical stimulation by EBFC at the nano-Ampere range enhances sperm motility that can potentially allow the development of a new therapeutic tool for male infertility, including poor motility. EBFC was set up with three different electrical currents (112 nA/cm2 and 250 nA/cm2) at two different times (1 h, 2 h). Each sample was evaluated for its motility by computer-assisted sperm analyses and sperm viability testing. In the expanded study, we used the optimal electrical current of the EBFC system to treat asthenozoospermia and sperm with 0% motility. Results showed that optimal electrical stimulation schemes with EBFCs enhanced sperm motility by 30–40% compared with controls. Activated spermatozoa led to tyrosine phosphorylation in the tail area of the sperm following the electrical stimulation in the nano-Ampere range. However, the electrically stimulated group did not exhibit increased acrosomal reaction rates compared with the control group. In cases related to asthenozoospermia, 40% of motility was recovered following the electrical stimulation at the nano-Ampere range. However, motility is not recovered in sperm with 0% motility. In conclusion, we found that sperm motility was enhanced by exposure to electrical currents in the nano-Ampere range induced by optimal EBFCs. Electrical stimulation enhanced the motility of the sperm though tyrosine phosphorylation in spermatozoa. Therefore, our results show that electrical currents in the nano-Ampere range can be potentially applied to male infertility therapy as enhancers of sperm motility in assisted reproductive technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate whether strontium (Sr) ion delivery to the surface of microstructured titanium (Ti) oral implants drives favorable osteoblast functions of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) under a Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated inflammatory condition. The goal is to gain insight for future surface engineering of Ti implants with increased resistance to peri-implantitis and better bone recovery capacity from peri-implant bone destruction. The Sr ions were introduced into a clinically available sandblasted/acid-etched (SLA) Ti implant surface by wet chemical treatment. The results showed that Sr ion incorporation enhances the osteogenesis-related cell functions of bipotent ST2 stem cells in the microstructured SLA type implant surface. Early spreading and osteogenic differentiation (osteogenesis-related mRNA expression, ALP activity and osteocalcin protein secretion) were notably increased in Sr-incorporated SLA implant surface under 1 µg of P. gingivalis LPS stimulation. In addition, Sr ion modification increased early osteogenic differentiation (ALP mRNA expression and ALP activity) of ST2 cells, again under the more severe inflammatory condition induced by a high dose of LPS (10 µg/mL). These results indicate that surface chemistry modification using Sr ions provides microstructured Ti oral implants with greater resistance to the development and progression of inflammatory bone tissue destruction, and increased bone recovery capacity in the bacterial LPS-contaminated Ti oral implant surface by enhancing the early osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strain sensors capable of monitoring complex human motions are highly desirable for the development of wearable electronic devices and healthcare monitoring systems. Excellent sensitivity and a wide working range of the sensor material are important requirements for distinguishing dynamic human motion. In this study, a highly stretchable strain sensor was fabricated via inkjet printing of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) thin films on a stretchable polydimethylsiloxane substrate. The sensor was attached to the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint of the hand in 12 healthy male subjects. The subjects placed their hands next to a conventional goniometer and flexed the MCP joint to predetermined angles. A linear relationship was found between the change in the length of the strain sensor and the intended angle of the MCP joint. The fabricated thin films showed high durability during repeated cycling (1,000 cycles) and good sensitivity with a gauge factor of 2.75. This study demonstrates that the newly developed stretchable CNT strain sensor can be used for effectively measuring MCP joint angles. This sensor may also be useful for the analysis of complex and dynamic hand motions that are difficult to measure using a conventional goniometer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether cytochrome P450 (CYP)4F2 is involved in the exposure of vitamin K1 through a drug interaction study with ketoconazole, a CYP4F2 inhibitor, and a pharmacogenetic study with CYP4F2*3. Twenty‐one participants with different CYP4F2*3 polymorphisms were enrolled (8 for *1/*1, 7 for *1/*3, and 6 for *3/*3). All participants were treated twice daily for 5 days with 200 mg of ketoconazole or placebo. Finally, a single dose of 10 mg vitamin K1 was administered, plasma levels of vitamin K1 were measured, and its pharmacokinetics was assessed. Ketoconazole elevated the plasma levels of vitamin K1 and increased the average area under the concentration‐time curve (AUCinf) and peak concentration by 41% and 40%, respectively. CYP4F2*3 polymorphism also affected plasma levels of vitamin K1 and its pharmacokinetics in a gene dose–dependent manner. The average AUCinf value was 659.8 ng·h/mL for CYP4F2*1/*1, 878.1 ng·h/mL for CYP4F2*1/*3, and 1125.2 ng·h/mL for CYP4F2*3/*3 (P =.010). This study revealed that ketoconazole and CYP4F2*3 polymorphism substantially increased the exposure of vitamin K1 in humans. These findings provide a plausible explanation for variations in warfarin dose requirements resulting from interindividual variations in vitamin K1 exposure due to CYP4F2‐related drug interactions and genetic polymorphisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of calcium channel blockers (CCB) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) for the treatment of hypertension showed improved efficacy and safety. Amlodipine is mainly metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4, whereas losartan is metabolized by CYP2C9 and CYP3A4. The potential pharmacokinetic interactions between amlodipine and losartan were assessed. An open‐label, three‐period, fixed‐sequence trial was conducted. Amlodipine, losartan and combined amlodipine and losartan were administered to 24 healthy male participants during periods 1, 2 and 3, respectively, for 9 days each. The pharmacokinetics of amlodipine, losartan and EXP‐3174, an active metabolite of losartan, were assessed at steady‐state. Twenty participants completed the study without serious adverse events. Losartan did not influence the exposure of amlodipine at steady‐state (AUCτ, 165.15 ng h/mL [amlodipine alone] vs 172.36 ng h/mL [combination], P = 0.389) [geometric mean ratio (GMR) (90% confidence interval [CI]), 1.060 (0.954‐1.178)]. In addition, the exposure of EXP‐3174 was not affected by amlodipine (AUCτ, 1159.46 ng h/mL vs 1105.10 ng h/mL, P = 0.295) (GMR [90% CI], 0.957 [0.891‐1.027]). However, amlodipine significantly decreased the exposure of losartan at steady‐state (AUCτ, 1241.50 ng h/mL vs 1082.02 ng h/mL, P = 0.006) (GMR [90% CI], 0.875 [0.813‐0.942]) and increased oral clearance of losartan (84.65 L/h vs 97.26 L/h, P = 0.002). Combination use of two drugs caused additive haemodynamic changes compared to treatment of amlodipine or losartan alone. The co‐administration of amlodipine and losartan was tolerable and did not cause substantial pharmacokinetic interaction, even though losartan disposition was affected. Combination use of the two drugs caused additive haemodynamic changes compared to monotherapy of amlodipine or losartan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Static foot assessment is commonly performed in clinical practice to classify foot type for prescribing therapeutic interventions. Foot posture index is known to be a reliable indicator for foot position. Resting calcaneal stance position angle is used widely to determine foot posture and manufacture orthoses for pediatric flat foot patients. However, the relationship between foot posture index and resting calcaneal stance position angle in elementary school students is currently unclear.Research Question: To investigate the relationship between foot posture index and resting calcaneal stance position angle in elementary school students.Methods: Between January 2016 and December 2017, 208 elementary school students (average age, 10.3 years; range, 8-13 years) were enrolled for this study. All students were examined physically by one practitioner to measure foot posture index and resting calcaneal stance position angle. Age, gender, and body mass index were analyzed for factors associated with flat foot prevalence. This study was conducted as a retrospective comparative study. Associations between foot posture index and resting calcaneal stance position angle were determined by Pearson's correlation analysis.Results and Significance: When measured by foot posture index and resting calcaneal stance position angle, the overall prevalence of flatfoot was 29% and 24% in the right foot and 26% and 23% in the left foot, respectively. Resting calcaneal stance position angle and foot posture index score showed moderate correlation in Pearson's correlation analysis (left side foot: kappa value = 0.710; right side foot: kappa value = 0.704).Conclusion: There is a moderate correlation between foot posture index and resting calcaneal stance position angle in elementary school students. Thus, both foot posture index with proven validity and reliability and resting calcaneal stance position widely used in the manufacture of insoles can be used as important biomechanical evaluation tools for feet in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is known and objective: Teneligliptin is a DPP‐4 inhibitor used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, commonly prescribed in combination with glimepiride. Teneligliptin is metabolized by CYP3A4, and glimepiride might be partly metabolized by CYP3A4. The aim of the study was to investigate the possible effect of glimepiride on the pharmacokinetics of teneligliptin in healthy subjects. Methods: A repeated dose, open‐label, fixed‐sequence study was conducted in 26 healthy subjects. All participants were administered 20 mg teneligliptin daily for 6 days. On day 7, 4 mg glimepiride was administered together with 20 mg teneligliptin. Plasma teneligliptin concentrations were measured at a steady state, and its pharmacokinetic characteristics were compared without and with glimepiride. Results and discussion: No statistically significant difference was found in the effect of glimepiride on teneligliptin pharmacokinetics. The steady‐state Cmax,ss values of teneligliptin without and with glimepiride were 207.01 ng/mL and 202.15 ng/mL, respectively. Its AUCτ values at steady‐state without and with glimepiride were 1527.8 ng · h/mL and 1578.6 ng · h/mL, respectively. The point estimation of geometric mean ratios (GMR) and the 90% confidence interval for both Cmax,ss and AUCτ were within the equivalence range of 0.8‐1.25. The results of the present study revealed that glimepiride did not cause pharmacokinetic interaction with teneligliptin in humans. What is new and conclusion: Glimepiride did not affect the pharmacokinetic characteristics of teneligliptin in healthy subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Changhee polynomials and numbers are introduced in [3], and some interesting identities and properties of these polynomials are found by many researcher. In this paper, we consider the q-analogue of modified degen-erated Changhee polynomials and derive some new and interesting identities and properties of those polynomials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies used automated segmentation of hippocampal subfield (ASHS) for detailed measurements of anatomic subregions of the hippocampus, especially in the field of neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, we investigated the hippocampal subfield volume of patients with early-stage nondementia PD compared with normal healthy subjects using the ASHS method. A total of 32 subjects were enrolled in this study (sixteen patients with drug naive nondementia PD and sixteen healthy controls). All subjects were scanned with a 1.5 tesla MRI. The volumes of the seven subfields were calculated separately, and then, the whole hippocampal volume was calculated by the summing of CA1, CA2-3, CA4-DG, subiculum, presubiculum, and fimbria, excluding the hippocampal fissure. There were significant diagnosis-by-hemisphere interactive effects on the total hippocampal volume (F = 5.197; p=0.031) and the subfield volume of CA2-3 (F = 7.586; p=0.010) and CA4-DG (F = 7.403; p=0.011). The volumes of CA2-3 (F = 19.911; p<0.001), CA4-DG (F = 20.273; p<0.001), and total hippocampus (F = 10.573; p=0.005) in the left hemisphere were reduced compared to the right hemisphere. We suggest that the hippocampal volume asymmetry, especially in CA4-DG and CA2-3, could be observed in drug-naïve PD patients even in the early stage of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A production capacity analysis considering market demand and raw materials is very important to design a new plant. However, in the food processing industry, the supply uncertainty of raw materials is very high, depending on the production site and the harvest season, and further, it is not straightforward to analyze too complex food production systems by using an analytical optimization model. For these reasons, this study presents a simulation-based decision support model to select the right location for a new food processing plant. We first define three supply vulnerability factors from the standpoint of regional as well as seasonal instability and present an assessment method for supply vulnerability based on fuzzy quantification. The evaluated vulnerability scores are then converted into raw material supply variations for food production simulation to predict the quarterly production volume of a new food processing plant. The proposed selection procedure is illustrated using a case study of semiprocessed kimchi production. The best plant location is proposed where we can reduce and mitigate risks when supplying raw material, thereby producing a target production volume steadily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In present work, we synthesized ZnFe 2 O 4 nanorods on a fluorine-doped tin oxide substrate using spray coating method followed by two-step high-temperature quenching (HTQ). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results indicate that Sn 4+ is diffused from the FTO substrate after the second quenching, which could help in minimizing the recombination of photogenerated carriers. Photoelectrochemical measurements of the ZnFe 2 O 4 nanorod photoelectrodes quenched at 780 °C, 800 °C, and 820 °C indicate that among the studied samples (ZFO1, ZFO2 and ZFO3), the highest photocurrent density was observed for nanotextured ZFO3 photoelectrodes (130 µA cm −2 at 1.23 V vs RHE). The photoelectrochemical performances of the ZnFe 2 O 4 nanorods after the second quenching were compared with those of the firstly quenched ZnFe 2 O 4 nanorod samples; water-oxidation photocurrent density of the former (ZFO3) was increased by 6.9 times compared with that of the first quenching (PZFO). Intensity modulated photocurrent spectroscopy (IMPS) and photoluminescence (PL) results confirm the faster charge extraction was achieved for the ZFO3 photoelectrode. Thus, the overall photocurrent density during the second quenching process results from the effectively improved crystallinity, the reduced strain and suppressed charge–carrier recombination's on both the surface as well as in the bulk of the ZnFe 2 O 4 nanorods. In terms of solar water splitting, these research findings provide an effective route for the synthesis of other nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the osteogenic functionality of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) modulated by a chemically modified super-hydrophilic titanium (Ti) bone implant surface to elucidate the biological mechanism underlying the bone healing capacity of this modified Ti surface. A microstructured Ti surface incorporating bioactive ions (in this study, phosphate (P) ions) was prepared by wet chemical treatment. The results showed that the hydrothermally obtained crystalline P-incorporated Ti surface (P surface) displayed long-term super-hydrophilicity (water contact angles <5°) during a 36-week observation period. The hydrophilic P surface enhanced early cellular functions and osteogenic differentiation of multipotent MSCs derived from mouse bone marrow and human adipose tissue. The expression of critical integrins affecting subsequent osteoblast function and osteoblast phenotype genes was notably upregulated in multipotent MSCs grown on the P surface compared with the commercially available grit-blasted microrough clinical oral implant surface. The P surface supported better cell spreading, focal adhesion and ALP activity of MSCs. These results indicate that a super-hydrophilic P-incorporated Ti surface accelerates implant bone healing by enhancing the early osteogenesis functions of multipotent MSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Synthesis of Porous Nanostructures using Dopamine via the soft-templating methods. • Synthesis of Monometallic Catalysts Using Various Elements (Ni, Fe, Co, Pt, Ir). • 120Ni-MSAC with less Ni content exhibits better HER performance than Ni Plate. • Confirmation of Volmer-Heyrovsky pathway as dominant reaction mechanism through DFT. A single atom catalyst (SAC) is a type of heterogeneous catalyst in which individual metal atoms are dispersed on a support material, such as carbon, metal oxides, or zeolites, rather than forming nanoparticles or clusters. SACs have unique catalytic properties, such as high selectivity and activity, due to their high surface area and the exposed active metal sites, allowing them to interact more efficiently with the reactants. SACs also have the advantage of being more environmentally friendly and cost-effective than traditional catalysts, as they require smaller amounts of metal and can be easily recycled. In this study, we report the synthetic method of mesoporous single atom catalysts (MSACs) containing nickel (Ni), platinum (Pt), iridium (Ir), cobalt (Co), and iron (Fe) as metal-centered atoms for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). MSACs are successfully synthesized with metal-chelation and soft-templating methods. The results show that highly uniform MSACs can be fabricated with high reproducibility. The metal contents in MSACs can be reduced to under 1wt%, keeping good HER reactivity. For HER, the Ni mesoporous single atom catalysts (Ni-MSACs) show 270 mV overpotential at 10 mA/cm2 at the initial polarization curve and reduces to 190 mV after 2,000 cycles, which outperforms Ni bulk catalyst (Ni plate). In contrast, porous pure carbon without Ni atoms shows inferior performance, indicating that Ni metal center plays an important role in the catalytic activity. The computational calculation using density functional theory (DFT) tells that Volmer-Heyrovsky pathway is dominant for HER using the Ni-MSACs. The performance of MSACs has a high potential for improvement of performance and extreme reduction of metal usage by doping nitrogen, phosphorous, and two or more metal atoms into MSACs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification that regulates gene expression and plays an essential role in hematopoiesis. UHRF1 and DNMT1 are both crucial for regulating genome-wide maintenance of DNA methylation. Specifically, it is well known that hypermethylation is crucial characteristic of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the mechanism underlying how DNA methylation regulates the differentiation of AML cells, including THP-1 is not fully elucidated. In this study, we report that UHRF1 or DNMT1 depletion enhances the phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-induced differentiation of THP-1 cells. Transcriptome analysis and genome-wide methylation array results showed that depleting UHRF1 or DNMT1 induced changes that made THP-1 cells highly sensitive to PMA. Furthermore, knockdown of UHRF1 or DNMT1 impeded solid tumor formation in xenograft mouse model. These findings suggest that UHRF1 and DNMT1 play a pivotal role in regulating differentiation and proliferation of THP-1 cells and targeting these proteins may improve the efficiency of differentiation therapy in AML patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early responses of blood platelets and immunoinflammatory cells (macrophages) to titanium (Ti) bone implants affect the subsequent biological healing of implants by modulating early tissue healing-microenvironments via the formation of temporary fibrin matrix scaffolds for stem cell migration and production of growth factors and cytokines. This study investigated the effects of nanoscale surface topography and calcium ion (Ca2+) modification of Ti surfaces on biocompatibility regulated by blood platelets and macrophages, for the future surface design of Ti bone implants with enhanced early osteogenic capacity. A nanostructured Ti surface with or without Ca2+ enrichment was prepared using the hydrothermal treatment. Immediate and early functions of platelets and macrophages modulated by modified Ti surfaces were investigated by morphological observation of platelet spreading and fibrin matrix formation, platelet growth factor release, immunostaining of macrophage phenotypes, and macrophage inflammatory cytokine production. The results showed that surface nanoscale topographical modification of Ti promotes blood platelet activation and suppresses the inflammatory response of macrophages. In addition, surface chemistry modifications with Ca2+ enhanced the platelet response-modulating function of the nanostructured Ti surface, which accelerated immediate fibrin matrix formation and platelet-derived growth factor-AB release. Thus, nanotopographical and Ca2+ modifications of implant surfaces are expected to be effective approaches that favor the initial phase of wound healing around the Ti bone implants through positive modulation of immediate blood platelet function and early macrophage immunoinflammatory response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gonadal development and sexual maturation of fish are often related to photic conditions. We attempted to utilise the direct application of melatonin to elicit similar effects in the absence of photoperiod manipulation. We found no significant differences in somatic growth between melatonin-treated groups and controls, indicating that melatonin administration did not negatively affect the growth of the experimental fish. Treatment with low-dose melatonin (0.3 mg/kg BW) resulted in a decrease in spawning frequency, number of spawned eggs and gonadosomatic index in female tilapia. In male tilapia, low-dose melatonin was associated with a decrease in sperm count, spermatocrit and spermatozoa activity index, implying that exogenous melatonin might mimic the effects of shortened light photoperiod, which suppresses reproductive activity in this species. These results suggest the possibility that an optimised dose of melatonin treatment could be used to control the spawning behaviour of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual maturation and gonadal development of fish is greatly influenced by photic information, an external environmental factor, and melatonin mediates this information to regulate gonadotropin (GTH) secretion and gonadal activation. The relationship between gonadotropin inhibiting hormone (GnIH) and melatonin in fish, however, has not been studied to date. Here, the GnIH expression pattern and daily change of melatonin levels were compared to each other in mature tilapia (body length 16.1 ± 0.2 cm, body weight 77.7 ± 3.43 g), and the effect of melatonin injection on GnIH gene expression was investigated. GnIH gene expression increased at night when the secretion of melatonin increased, whereas gene expression decreased during the day when melatonin secretion decreased. Injecting tilapia intraperitoneally with melatonin increased GnIH gene expression and decreased the expression of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and GTH. Furthermore, the injection decreased the 11-KT concentration in male tilapia. These results indicate that melatonin is likely to suppress the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis via the action of GnIH in this species. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, we focus on the controlled growth mechanism of α-Fe2O3 nanostructures via the hydrothermal method. The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) results reveal that at a lower hydrothermal time, the initial nucleation involves the formation of short and thin β-FeOOH nanorods. The subsequent increase in the hydrothermal time leads β-FeOOH to form thicker and longer nanorods. However, high-temperature quenching (HTQ) at 800 °C for 10 min causes the conversion of akaganeite to the hematite phase and activation of hematite by Sn4+ diffusion from a FTO substrate. Sn4+ diffusion from the FTO substrate to the hematite nanostructure was elaborated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). An α-Fe2O3 nanorod photoanode prepared by a hydrothermal reaction for 3 h and HTQ exhibits the highest photocurrent density of 1.04 mA cm−2. The excellent photoelectrochemical performance could be ascribed to the synergistic effect of the optimum growth of α-Fe2O3 nanorod arrays and Sn4+ diffusion. Intensity modulated photovoltage spectroscopy (IMVS) studies revealed that the α-Fe2O3 photoanodes prepared at 3 h and HTQ exhibited a long electron lifetime (132.69 ms), and contribute to the enhanced PEC performance. The results confirmed that the controlled growth of the β-FeOOH nanorods, as well as Sn4+ diffusion, played a key role in charge transfer during the photoelectrochemical application. The charge transfer mechanisms in α-Fe2O3 nanostructure photoanodes prepared at different hydrothermal times and high-temperature quenching are also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evaluation of olfactory function is valuable for the detection of pre-motor state of Parkinson's disease (PD). PD patients have an increased risk of associated dementia and one-third of PD patients have mild cognitive impairment (MCI) at the time of diagnosis. However, the characteristics of olfactory dysfunction in PD-MCI patients are unclear. This study examined the relationship between olfactory dysfunction and cognitive function in drug-naïve PD at the time of diagnosis with the patterns of olfactory function in PD-MCI patients using the Korean version of the Sniffin' stick test II (KVSS II).Methods: A total of 66 drug-naïve PD patients were enrolled. A neuropsychiatric assessment battery and KVSS II were performed. For the statistical analyses, univariate, multivariable linear regression and Student's t-test were used to determine the relationship between the variables and olfactory function.Results: Olfactory dysfunction was more prevalent in the PD-MCI group than in the PD-normal cognition (PD-CN) group. Each domains of odor threshold, discrimination, identification and total olfactory score were more impaired in the PD-MCI group than the PD-CN group. Whether cognitive impairment was single or multiple domain was not affected.Conclusion: PD-MCI is more likely to be associated with severe olfactory impairment than PD-CN. There may be more extensive neurodegenerative processes affecting olfaction in PD-MCI patients. With further investigation and validation using neuropathological data, an objective olfactory function test could be used as a tool to evaluate disease progression. Further studies with prospective design investigating the prognostic value of olfactory dysfunction in PD-MCI patients are essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly efficient transparent heater was intensively studied by optimizing a solution-processed indium tin oxide nanoparticles (ITO-NPs) film with oxygen vacancy control. To control the oxygen vacancy, ITO-NPs layers coated onto glass substrates was annealed under various atmospheric conditions such as vacuum, air, and argon (Ar). In result, all the solution-processed ITO films achieved high transparency of more than 96% in the visible range (500–730 nm) with respect to the glass substrate. As well, sheet resistance (R s ) decreased with increasing temperature and the lowest R s (309.4 Ω/□) was achieved by annealing at 600 °C under Ar atmosphere. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis revealed that the highest concentration of oxygen vacancies occurred under Ar atmosphere resulting in the highest carrier mobility and lowest R s . Furthermore, application of the ITO-NPs films to transparent heater was attempted. In result, when applying 15 V, ITO-NPs film annealed under Ar atmosphere, showing the lowest R s , exhibited the highest temperature (215.1 °C) among the samples. Also, highly thermal efficiency of 162.9 °C/(W/cm 2 ) were achieved from the optimized sample. Thus, we suggest that the optimized ITO-NPs film was applicable to highly efficient transparent heater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effects of embedded titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles on the photocurrent and sensitivity of luminescent oxygen-sensing films based on platinum octaethylporphyrin (PtOEP), which is an indicator dye. The TiO 2 nanoparticles acted as light-scattering centers in the sensing films, and the light-scattering performance was evaluated in relation to TiO 2 nanoparticle diameter and crystal structure. In the presence of embedded light-scattering particles, the probabilities of PtOEP molecules encountering and being excited by light were expected to increase, resulting in improvement of the photoluminescence and sensitivity of the sensing films to oxygen gas. The diameter of the TiO 2 nanoparticles was changed by laser irradiation while they were dispersed in acetone. Through the laser irradiation, the particle size of the TiO 2 nanoparticles grew, and their morphology became spherical. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that the crystalline structure of the TiO 2 nanoparticles changed in relation to its calcination temperature. The photocurrent and sensitivity of the sensing films with embedded TiO 2 nanoparticles in relation to the oxygen gas concentration were measured using a green light-emitting diode (LED) as the light source and an Si photodiode as the photocurrent measuring device. Based on the results, it was confirmed that the photocurrent and sensitivity of the oxygen-sensing films were greatly improved with increases in the size and refractive index (n) of the embedded TiO 2 nanoparticles. Furthermore, the improvements in the photocurrent and sensitivity of the oxygen-sensing films allowed the fabrication of a high-resolution oxygen-sensing film that can detect the oxygen distribution over large areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Data from animal experiments suggest that exposure to general anesthetics in early life inhibits neurogenesis and causes long-term memory deficit. Considering short operating times and the popularity of sevoflurane in pediatric anesthesia, it is important to verify the effects of short-period exposure to sevoflurane on the developing brain. Methods: We measured the effects of short-term exposure (2 h) to 3%, 6%, or 8% sevoflurane, the most commonly used anesthetic, on neural precursor cells derived from human embryonic stem cells, SNUhES32. Cell survival, proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 post treatment were analyzed. Results: Treatment with 6% sevoflurane increased cell viability ( P = 0.046) and decreased apoptosis ( P = 0.014) on day 5, but the effect did not persist on day 7. Survival and apoptosis were not affected by 3% and 8% sevoflurane; there was no effect of proliferation at any of the tested concentrations. The differentiation of cells exposed to 6% or 8% sevoflurane decreased on day 1 ( P = 0.033 and P = 0.036 for 6% and 8% sevoflurane, respectively) but was again normalized on days 3-7. Conclusion: Clinically relevant treatment with sevoflurane for 2 h induces no significant changes in the survival, proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation of human neural precursor cells, although supraclinical doses of sevoflurane do alter human neurogenesis transiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]