Three-dimensional nano-foam of few-layer graphene grown by CVD for DSSC

We report a robust and direct route to fabricate a three-dimensional nano-foam of few-layer graphene (3D-NFG) with large area coverage via a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique. Pyrolysis of polymer/nickel precursor film under a hydrogen environment, simply prepared by spin-coating, leads to the creation of nano-foam in the film and the reduction process of nickel ions. Carbonized-C and the nickel nano-frame formed from the pyrolysis are used as a solid carbon source and as a catalyst for the growth of graphene under CVD conditions, respectively. We investigate the use of 3D-NFG, with the advantage of large surface area and high conductivity, as an alternative to the Pt counter electrode material in dye sensitized solar cells. The excellent properties of 3D-NFG, fabricated in this simple and direct manner, suggest a great potential for interconnected graphene networks in electronic devices and photocatalytic sensors as well as in energy-related materials.close221

Efficacy and safety of ginsam, a vinegar extract from Panax ginseng, in type 2 diabetic patients: Results of a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study

Abstract Aims/Introduction: The efficacy, dose–response relationship and safety of ginsam, a vinegar extract from Panax ginseng, were evaluated in an 8‐week, double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled study in drug‐naïve patients with type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods: A total of 72 diabetic patients were randomized to receive 1500, 2000 or 3000 mg of ginsam, or placebo daily for 8 weeks (n = 18 in each group). The primary end‐point was the changes from the baseline HbA1c level. The secondary end‐points were the changes of fasting and postprandial 2‐h glucose concentration, and the proportion of patients achieving a reduction in HbA1c >0.5%. Results: In the intention‐to‐treat analysis, ginsam treatment reduced HbA1c level significantly: −0.56 ± 0.25% in the 1500 mg group, −0.31 ± 0.12% in the 2000 mg group, and −0.29 ± 0.11% in the 3000 mg group (all P 0.5% differed significantly between the placebo group (11.1%) and the 1500 mg (27.8%) and 2000 mg (27.8%) groups. No severe adverse events were observed in any group. Conclusions: An 8‐week treatment with ginsam, a vinegar extract from P. ginseng, moderately improved HbA1c level and was well tolerated in type 2 diabetic patients with inadequate glycemic control. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrial.Gov (no. NCT01008163). (J Diabetes Invest, doi: 10.1111/j.2040‐1124.2011.00185.x, 2011

The Relation between Birth Weight and Insulin Resistance in Korean Adolescents

Low birth weight is associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes in adults. The fetal programming hypothesis has shown that insulin resistance and its associated metabolic disturbances result from a poor gestational environment, for which low birth weight is a surrogate. An at-home questionnaire survey was performed on 660 middle school students (12-15 years) in Seoul, Korea, and 152 cases were randomly selected based on their birth weight. Subjects were divided into three groups according to birth weight. We recorded their birth weight and measured their current anthropometric data, blood pressure, lipid profile, HOMA-IR, and HOMA-β, and compared these parameters among the groups. The relation of birth weight to physiological characteristics in adolescence was examined. Systolic blood pressure, lipid profiles, and fasting plasma glucose, HOMA-β were not significantly different among the groups, but diastolic blood pressure was lower in the third tertile. Insulin, C-peptide, and HOMA-IR were higher in the lower birth weight tertile. After adjustment for confounding factors, birth weight was inversely related to diastolic blood pressure, insulin, C-peptide, and HOMA-IR. We conclude that low birth weight may predict the risk of the insulin resistance and its progression over age, and that adequate gestational nutrition is therefore necessary to prevent low birth weight

A Case of Superficial Giant Basal Cell Carcinoma with Satellite Lesions on Scalp

Giant basal cell carcinoma (BCC), defined as a lesion greater than 5 cm at its largest diameter, is a rare variant of BCC. In contrast to small BCC, giant BCC develops on skin that is not exposed to sunlight, including the back, shoulder, groin and thigh. Most of the histopathologic subtypes of giant BCC are micronodular, morpheaform and nodular, but the superficial subtype is rare. Giant superficial BCC arising on the scalp is extremely rare. We report the case of giant superficial BCC with four satellite lesions on the scalp in a 53-year-old male without predisposing factors

Power conversion efficiency enhancement based on the bio-inspired hierarchical antireflection layer in dye sensitized solar cells

We have investigated the effects of the introduction of an antireflection layer consisting of a hierarchically patterned diffraction grating into a conventional TiO2 working electrode on the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of a DSSC. High index-contrast TiO2 nanowires (NWs) were grown in the circular holes of the two-dimensional diffraction grating prepared through the use of a polymer template fabricated via interference lithography (IL) for maximized photon trapping effects in the visible region of light. The larger scale dimension of the polymer template was determined using the beam parameters of the IL and the smaller scale dimension in the structures was controlled by the growth conditions of the TiO2 NWs. Compared with a conventional DSSC, the hybrid nanostructure with an additional antireflection layer demonstrated higher and wider absorption bands of wavelength spectra, leading to an increased PCE due to enhanced light trapping effects achieved by the combination of antireflection and diffraction of the light on the front surface of the devices with minimum loss in the surface area of the hierarchical structure. The excellent performance of the optimized hybrid nanostructure indicates that the nanophotonic effects have strong potential for solar energy conversion, photocatalyst, and photoelectrode applications.close10

Android Fat Depot Is More Closely Associated with Metabolic Syndrome than Abdominal Visceral Fat in Elderly People

BACKGROUND: Fat accumulation in android compartments may confer increased metabolic risk. The incremental utility of measuring regional fat deposition in association with metabolic syndrome (MS) has not been well described particularly in an elderly population. METHODS AND FINDINGS: As part of the Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging, which is a community-based cohort study of people aged more than 65 years, subjects (287 male, 75.9±8.6 years and 278 female, 76.0±8.8 years) with regional body composition data using Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry for android/gynoid area, computed tomography for visceral/subcutaneous adipose tissue (VAT/SAT), and cardiometabolic markers including adiponectin and high-sensitivity CRP were enrolled. We investigated the relationship between regional body composition and MS in multivariate regression models. Mean VAT and SAT area was 131.4±65.5 cm(2) and 126.9±55.2 cm(2) in men (P = 0.045) and 120.0±46.7 cm(2) and 211.8±65.9 cm(2) in women (P<0.01). Mean android and gynoid fat amount was 1.8±0.8 kg and 2.5±0.8 kg in men and 2.0±0.6 kg and 3.3±0.8 kg in women, respectively (both P<0.01). VAT area and android fat amount was strongly correlated with most metabolic risk factors compared to SAT or gynoid fat. Furthermore, android fat amount was significantly associated with clustering of MS components after adjustment for multiple parameters including age, gender, adiponectin, hsCRP, a surrogate marker of insulin resistance, whole body fat mass and VAT area. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are consistent with the hypothesized role of android fat as a pathogenic fat depot in the MS. Measurement of android fat may provide a more complete understanding of metabolic risk associated with variations in fat distribution

Successful Treatment of Pure Red Cell Aplasia with Rituximab in Patients after ABO-Compatible Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been mostly reported in situations involving major ABO incompatibility between donor and recipient. Conventional treatments such as plasma exchange, erythropoietin, and steroid are often unsatisfactory. Rituximab has been reported to be highly effective for PRCA following major ABO-incompatible allogeneic HSCT. A 49-year-old woman with PRCA following ABO-matched allogeneic HSCT for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, refractory to erythropoietin treatment, received 4 doses of rituximab 375 mg/m2 weekly. After the 3rd dose of rituximab, she exhibited a striking rise in her reticulocyte count with an increase in her hemoglobin level. To our knowledge, this is the first case of PRCA following major ABO-compatible allogeneic HSCT resolving completely after rituximab treatment