Electrical Characterization of Proposed Transpositional Acupoints on the Urinary Bladder Meridian in a Rat Model

Specific electrical characteristicsof acupointswere investigated on the urinary bladder (BL) meridian in 14 rats. BL acupointsand non-acupoints on the back were selected and their electrical voltages were measured by using aSPACsystem.The mean voltages of each point or each line were statistically analyzed by using the ANOVA test.The BL meridian showed voltages higher than those of the reference line (P < .05). Bilateral 1st BL lines presented higher voltages than bilateral 2nd BL lines (P < .05). Most BL acupoints had voltageshigher than those for the corresponding reference points (P < .05). In particular, theright BL16 exhibited the biggest difference from the reference point, followed by the left extra BL point-2, the right BL27, the left BL17, and theleft BL45. Additionally, the distributions of neurofilamentsfor several points were investigated by using immunohistochemistry. There was a trend for the BL acupoints to have larger numbers of neurofilaments than the reference points, and that trend seemed to be directly proportional to the difference in voltage between the points.In conclusion, BL acupoints on the back in ratsexhibited specific electric and histologic characteristics. Therefore, those acupointsmay be utilized to investigate the efficacy of acupuncturewith laboratory animals

Adiponectin is Associated with Impaired Fasting Glucose in the Non-Diabetic Population

OBJECTIVES: Adiponectin is strongly associated with diabetes in the Western population. However, whether adiponectin is independently associated with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) in the non-obese population is unknown. METHODS: The serum adiponectin, insulin resistance (IR), and waist circumference (WC) of 27,549 healthy Koreans were measured. Individuals were then classified into tertile groups by gender. IFG was defined as a fasting serum glucose of 100-125 mg/dL without diabetes. IR was calculated using the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The association of adiponectin and IFG was determined using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: WC and adiponectin were associated with IFG in both men and women. However, the association of WC with IFG was attenuated in both men and women after adjustment for the HOMA-IR. Adiponectin was still associated with IFG after adjustment for and stratification by HOMA-IR in men and women. Strong combined associations of IR and adiponectin with IFG were observed in men and women. Multivariate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence interval [CI]) among those in the highest tertile of IR and the lowest tertile of adiponectin were 9.8 (7.96 to 12.07) for men and 24.1 (13.86 to 41.94) for women. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that adiponectin is strongly associated with IFG, and point to adiponectin as an additional diagnostic biomarker of IFG in the non-diabetic population.ope

A Case of Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome with PHOX2B Gene Mutation in a Korean Neonate

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is a life-threatening disorder with apnea and cyanosis during sleep requiring immediate endotracheal intubation during the first day of life. The PHOX2B gene has been identified as the major gene involved in CCHS. This is the first report of a Korean neonate with CCHS confirmed to have a PHOX2B mutation with expanded alleles containing 20 polyalanine repeats that is a relatively small number compared to previous cases. The patient required intermittent ventilator support during sleep only and did not suffer from any other disorders of the autonomic nerve system. He consistently needs ventilator support during sleep and remains alive. Analysis of PHOX2B gene is useful for diagnosis and appropriate therapeutic intervention of CCHS patients

Ultrasonographic scoring system score versus liver stiffness measurement in prediction of cirrhosis

Background/AimsWe compared the cirrhosis-prediction accuracy of an ultrasonographic scoring system (USSS) combining six representative sonographic indices with that of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by transient elastography, and prospectively investigated the correlation between the USSS score and LSM in predicting cirrhosis.MethodsTwo hundred and thirty patients with chronic liver diseases (187 men, 43 women; age, 50.4±9.5 y, mean±SD) were enrolled in this prospective study. The USSS produces a combined score for nodularity of the liver surface and edge, parenchyma echogenicity, presence of right-lobe atrophy, spleen size, splenic vein diameter, and abnormality of the hepatic vein waveform. The correlations of the USSS score and LSM with that of a pathological liver biopsy (METAVIR scoring system: F0-F4) were evaluated.ResultsThe mean USSS score and LSM were 7.2 and 38.0 kPa, respectively, in patients with histologically overt cirrhosis (F4, P=0.017) and 4.3 and 22.1 kPa in patients with fibrotic change without overt cirrhosis (F0-F3) (P=0.025). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of the USSS score and LSM for F4 patients were 0.849 and 0.729, respectively. On the basis of ROC curves, criteria of USSS ≥6: LSM ≥17.4 had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of 89.2%:77.6%, 69.4%:61.4%, 86.5%:83.7%, 74.6%:51.9% and 0.83:0.73, respectively, in predicting F4.ConclusionsThe results indicate that this USSS has comparable efficacy to LSM in the diagnosis of cirrhosis

Crystal structure of Tpa1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a component of the messenger ribonucleoprotein complex

Tpa1 (for termination and polyadenylation) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a component of a messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) complex at the 3′ untranslated region of mRNAs. It comprises an N-terminal Fe(II)- and 2-oxoglutarate (2OG) dependent dioxygenase domain and a C-terminal domain. The N-terminal dioxygenase domain of a homologous Ofd1 protein from Schizosaccharomyces pombe was proposed to serve as an oxygen sensor that regulates the activity of the C-terminal degradation domain. Members of the Tpa1 family are also present in higher eukaryotes including humans. Here we report the crystal structure of S. cerevisiae Tpa1 as a representative member of the Tpa1 family. Structures have been determined as a binary complex with Fe(III) and as a ternary complex with Fe(III) and 2OG. The structures reveal that both domains of Tpa1 have the double-stranded β-helix fold and are similar to prolyl 4-hydroxylases. However, the binding of Fe(III) and 2OG is observed in the N-terminal domain only. We also show that Tpa1 binds to poly(rA), suggesting its direct interaction with mRNA in the mRNP complex. The structural and functional data reported in this study support a role of the Tpa1 family as a hydroxylase in the mRNP complex and as an oxygen sensor

Adrenal cortical adenoma in adrenohepatic fusion tissue: a mimic of malignant hepatic tumor at CT

Adrenohepatic fusion is defined as adhesion of the liver and right adrenal cortex and close intermingling of the respective parenchymal cells [1], with partial or complete absence of the fibrous capsule dividing the two organs [2]. Although it is not rare at autopsy [1], the clinical significance of adrenohepatic fusion has been rarely described. We report a case of adrenal cortical adenoma that developed in adrenohepatic fusion tissue and mimicked malignant hepatic tumor at CT and angiography- assisted CT

Impact of concomitant methotrexate on disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis tapering abatacept: results from KOBIO registry

ObjectivesTapering biologic agents can be considered for patients with stable disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the specific strategy for abatacept is uncertain. This study aimed to examine the impact of tapering abatacept on disease activity in RA patients and assess the potential influence of concomitant methotrexate (MTX) treatment.MethodsUsing data from the KOBIO registry, we included 505 1 year intervals from 176 patients with RA that initiated abatacept with concomitant MTX at baseline. The intervals were divided into two groups based on the dose quotient (DQ) of abatacept during each period (i.e., the tapering group (DQ &lt; 1) and control group (DQ = 1)). The primary outcome was achieving DAS28-remission at 1 year intervals. Marginal structural models (MSM) were used to minimize confounding caused by an imbalance in time-varying variables.ResultsAbatacept was tapered at 146 (28.9%) intervals, and the mean DQ was 0.68. DAS28-remission was achieved in 207 (41.8%) intervals. Tapering abatacept did not affect the odds of achieving DAS28-remission compared with the control group (OR 1.04 [0.67–1.62]). The odds remained unaffected in the subgroup that continued MTX (OR 1.42 [0.88–2.30]) but not in the subgroup that discontinued MTX (OR 0.26 [0.10–0.57]). The effects of interaction between tapering abatacept and concomitant MTX use on DAS28 and patient’s functional status showed consistent results. The incidence of adverse events within a 1 year interval was comparable between the two groups.ConclusionWithdrawal of MTX while tapering abatacept may compromise meeting the treatment goal for patients with RA