Lactiplantibacillus plantarum L67 reduces diet-induced obesity by stimulating gene programming for adipose lipolysis and energy expenditure

Obesity and its associated metabolic diseases, including diabetes and fatty liver diseases, represent a significant global health concern. While substantial evidence highlights the role of probiotic bacteria in alleviating diet-induced obesity, the effect of probiotics on lipolysis in relation to diet-induced obesity remains unexplored. This study demonstrated that administration of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum L67 (L67) ameliorated diet-induced obesity, lipid accumulation in adipose and liver tissues, and insulin resistance and improved cold tolerance in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice by regulating the expression of lipolysis- and energy dissipation-related genes. Notably, L67 administration increased PPARγ deacetylation by increasing Sirt1 expression, which, in turn, regulated the expression of genes related to lipolysis (ATGL and G0S2) and thermogenesis (UCP1 and PGC-1α), facilitating lipolysis, and enhancing mitochondrial levels and oxygen consumption rates in adipocytes. Overall, these findings suggest that L67 protects against diet-induced obesity and associated metabolic abnormalities by stimulating lipolysis and energy expenditure

Detection of an Impact Flash Candidate on the Moon with an Educational Telescope System

At the suggestion of the NASA Meteoroid Environment Office (NASA/MEO), which promotes lunar impact monitoring worldwide during NASA’s Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) mission period (launched Sept. 2013), we set up a video observation system for lunar impact flashes using a 16-inch educational telescope at Chungnam National University. From Oct. 2013 through Apr. 2014, we recorded 80 hours of video observation of the unilluminated part of the crescent moon in the evening hours. We found a plausible candidate impact flash on Feb. 3, 2014 at selenographic longitude 2.1° and latitude 25.4°. The flash lasted for 0.2 s and the light curve was asymmetric with a slow decrease after a peak brightness of 8.7 ± 0.3 mag. Based on a star-like distribution of pixel brightness and asymmetric light curve, we conclude that the observed flash was due to a meteoroid impact on the lunar surface. Since unequivocal detection of an impact flash requires simultaneous observation from at least two sites, we strongly recommend that other institutes and universities in Korea set up similar inexpensive monitoring systems involving educational or amateur telescopes, and that they collaborate in the near future

Detection of an Impact Flash Candidate on the Moon with an Educational Telescope System

At the suggestion of the NASA Meteoroid Environment Office (NASA/MEO), which promotes lunar impact monitoring worldwide during NASA’s Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) mission period (launched Sept. 2013), we set up a video observation system for lunar impact flashes using a 16-inch educational telescope at Chungnam National University. From Oct. 2013 through Apr. 2014, we recorded 80 hours of video observation of the unilluminated part of the crescent moon in the evening hours. We found a plausible candidate impact flash on Feb. 3, 2014 at selenographic longitude 2.1° and latitude 25.4°. The flash lasted for 0.2 s and the light curve was asymmetric with a slow decrease after a peak brightness of 8.7 ± 0.3 mag. Based on a star-like distribution of pixel brightness and asymmetric light curve, we conclude that the observed flash was due to a meteoroid impact on the lunar surface. Since unequivocal detection of an impact flash requires simultaneous observation from at least two sites, we strongly recommend that other institutes and universities in Korea set up similar inexpensive monitoring systems involving educational or amateur telescopes, and that they collaborate in the near future

Targeted Inactivation of Testicular Nuclear Orphan Receptor 4 Delays and Disrupts Late Meiotic Prophase and Subsequent Meiotic Divisions of Spermatogenesis

Testicular orphan nuclear receptor 4 (TR4) is specifically and stage-dependently expressed in late-stage pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids. In the developing mouse testis, the highest expression of TR4 can be detected at postnatal days 16 to 21 when the first wave of spermatogenesis progresses to late meiotic prophase. Using a knockout strategy to delete TR4 in mice, we found that sperm production in TR4(−/−) mice is reduced. The comparison of testes from developing TR4(+/+) and TR4(−/−) mice shows that spermatogenesis in TR4(−/−) mice is delayed. Analysis of the first wave of spermatogenesis shows that the delay can be due to delay and disruption of spermatogenesis at the end of late meiotic prophase and subsequent meiotic divisions. Seminiferous tubule staging shows that stages X to XII, where late meiotic prophase and meiotic divisions take place, are delayed and disrupted in TR4(−/−) mice. Histological examination of testis sections from TR4(−/−) mice shows degenerated primary spermatocytes and some necrotic tubules. Testis-specific gene analyses show that the expression of sperm 1 and cyclin A1, which are genes expressed at the end of meiotic prophase, was delayed and decreased in TR4(−/−) mouse testes. Taken together, results from TR4(+/+) and TR4(−/−) mice indicate that TR4 is essential for normal spermatogenesis in mice

Validity and Reliability Study of the Korean Tinetti Mobility Test for Parkinson’s Disease

Objective Postural instability and gait disturbance are the cardinal symptoms associated with falling among patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Tinetti mobility test (TMT) is a well-established measurement tool used to predict falls among elderly people. However, the TMT has not been established or widely used among PD patients in Korea. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the TMT for PD patients. Methods Twenty-four patients diagnosed with PD were enrolled in this study. For the interrater reliability test, thirteen clinicians scored the TMT after watching a video clip. We also used the test-retest method to determine intrarater reliability. For concurrent validation, the unified Parkinson’s disease rating scale, Hoehn and Yahr staging, Berg Balance Scale, Timed-Up and Go test, 10-m walk test, and gait analysis by three-dimensional motion capture were also used. We analyzed receiver operating characteristic curve to predict falling. Results The interrater reliability and intrarater reliability of the Korean Tinetti balance scale were 0.97 and 0.98, respectively. The interrater reliability and intra-rater reliability of the Korean Tinetti gait scale were 0.94 and 0.96, respectively. The Korean TMT scores were significantly correlated with the other clinical scales and three-dimensional motion capture. The cutoff values for predicting falling were 14 points (balance subscale) and 10 points (gait subscale). Conclusion We found that the Korean version of the TMT showed excellent validity and reliability for gait and balance and had high sensitivity and specificity for predicting falls among patients with PD

Validity and Reliability Study of the Korean Tinetti Mobility Test for Parkinson’s Disease

Objective Postural instability and gait disturbance are the cardinal symptoms associated with falling among patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Tinetti mobility test (TMT) is a well-established measurement tool used to predict falls among elderly people. However, the TMT has not been established or widely used among PD patients in Korea. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the TMT for PD patients. Methods Twenty-four patients diagnosed with PD were enrolled in this study. For the interrater reliability test, thirteen clinicians scored the TMT after watching a video clip. We also used the test-retest method to determine intrarater reliability. For concurrent validation, the unified Parkinson’s disease rating scale, Hoehn and Yahr staging, Berg Balance Scale, Timed-Up and Go test, 10-m walk test, and gait analysis by three-dimensional motion capture were also used. We analyzed receiver operating characteristic curve to predict falling. Results The interrater reliability and intrarater reliability of the Korean Tinetti balance scale were 0.97 and 0.98, respectively. The interrater reliability and intra-rater reliability of the Korean Tinetti gait scale were 0.94 and 0.96, respectively. The Korean TMT scores were significantly correlated with the other clinical scales and three-dimensional motion capture. The cutoff values for predicting falling were 14 points (balance subscale) and 10 points (gait subscale). Conclusion We found that the Korean version of the TMT showed excellent validity and reliability for gait and balance and had high sensitivity and specificity for predicting falls among patients with PD

Distribution of data in Session I.

<p>The number of the CTRS scores of two neurologists for (A) resting and (B) postural tremor tasks.</p