Distinct firing activities of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus neurons to appetite hormones

The hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (Arc) is a central unit that controls the appetite through the integration of metabolic, hormonal, and neuronal afferent inputs. Agouti-related protein (AgRP), proopiomelanocortin (POMC), and dopaminergic neurons in the Arc differentially regulate feeding behaviors in response to hunger, satiety, and appetite, respectively. At the time of writing, the anatomical and electrophysiological characterization of these three neurons has not yet been intensively explored. Here, we interrogated the overall characterization of AgRP, POMC, and dopaminergic neurons using genetic mouse models, immunohistochemistry, and whole-cell patch recordings. We identified the distinct geographical location and intrinsic properties of each neuron in the Arc with the transgenic lines labelled with cell-specific reporter proteins. Moreover, AgRP, POMC, and dopaminergic neurons had different firing activities to ghrelin and leptin treatments. Ghrelin led to the increased firing rate of dopaminergic and AgRP neurons, and the decreased firing rate of POMC. In sharp contrast, leptin resulted in the decreased firing rate of AgRP neurons and the increased firing rate of POMC neurons, while it did not change the firing rate of dopaminergic neurons in Arc. These findings demonstrate the anatomical and physiological uniqueness of three hypothalamic Arc neurons to appetite control

Distinct Firing Activities of the Hypothalamic Arcuate Nucleus Neurons to Appetite Hormones

The hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (Arc) is a central unit that controls the appetite through the integration of metabolic, hormonal, and neuronal afferent inputs. Agouti-related protein (AgRP), proopiomelanocortin (POMC), and dopaminergic neurons in the Arc differentially regulate feeding behaviors in response to hunger, satiety, and appetite, respectively. At the time of writing, the anatomical and electrophysiological characterization of these three neurons has not yet been intensively explored. Here, we interrogated the overall characterization of AgRP, POMC, and dopaminergic neurons using genetic mouse models, immunohistochemistry, and whole-cell patch recordings. We identified the distinct geographical location and intrinsic properties of each neuron in the Arc with the transgenic lines labelled with cell-specific reporter proteins. Moreover, AgRP, POMC, and dopaminergic neurons had different firing activities to ghrelin and leptin treatments. Ghrelin led to the increased firing rate of dopaminergic and AgRP neurons, and the decreased firing rate of POMC. In sharp contrast, leptin resulted in the decreased firing rate of AgRP neurons and the increased firing rate of POMC neurons, while it did not change the firing rate of dopaminergic neurons in Arc. These findings demonstrate the anatomical and physiological uniqueness of three hypothalamic Arc neurons to appetite control

Characteristics of Ba(Zr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2)O3-δ nano-powders synthesized by different wet-chemical methods for solid oxide fuel cells

This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (NRF-2017R1A6A3A03004416) and (NRF-2015M1A2A2056833).Ba(Zr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2)O3-δ nano-particles were prepared by different wet-chemical synthesis, Pechini (BZCY(P)) and co-precipitation (BZCY(C)), respectively. The BZCY(C) powders have a particle size in range of about 50~150 nm, which is smaller than the BZCY(P) powders with about 500~900 nm. Both the BZCY materials show perovskite structures, but there are impurities in the BZCY (P). Moreover, the electrolyte density was higher in the BZCY (C) than the BZCY (P). The single cells with BZCY (C) electrolytes exhibited about 0.23 W cm−2 at 600 °C and about 0.31 W cm−2 at the same temperature were obtained when the anode-functional layer was introduced between the anode and electrolyte. Thus, the BZCY prepared by carbonate-derived co-precipitation method can be more favorable for high-purity and dense electrolytes in the solid oxide fuel cells than the BZCY prepared by Pechini method.PostprintPeer reviewe

A Case of Right Sided Aortic Arch Combined with Atrial Septal Defect

Right sided aortic arch is an uncommon congenital anomaly. It can be classified into three types, depending on the left aortic arch's degenerating pattern and the branching pattern of the great vessels. It can be associated with major congenital heart disease, depending on the type of right sided aortic arch. We report a case of an 18-years-old female who has right sided aortic arch with atrial septal defect (ASD). In our case, the patient had a right sided aortic arch and aberrant left subclavian artery, also she had ASD (ostium secundum) and moderate tricuspid regurgitation with pulmonary hypertension. The patient was successfully performed patch closure of ASD and tricuspid valve annuloplasty via midline sternotomy. The patient had uneventful postoperative course

Practice Pattern of Gastroenterologists for the Management of GERD Under the Minimal Influence of the Insurance Reimbursement Guideline: A Multicenter Prospective Observational Study

The objective of the study was to document practice pattern of gastroenterologists for the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) under the minimal influence of the insurance reimbursement guideline. Data on management for 1,197 consecutive patients with typical GERD symptoms were prospectively collected during 16 weeks. In order to minimize the influence of reimbursement guideline on the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), rabeprazole was used for the PPI treatment. A total of 861 patients (72%) underwent endoscopy before the start of treatment. PPIs were most commonly prescribed (87%). At the start of treatment, rabeprazole 20 mg daily was prescribed to 94% of the patients who received PPI treatment and 10 mg daily to the remaining 6%. At the third visits, rabeprazole 20 mg daily was prescribed to 70% of those who were followed and 10 mg daily for the remaining 30%. Continuous PPI treatment during the 16-week period was performed in 63% of the study patients. In conclusion, a full-dose PPI is preferred for the initial and maintenance treatment of GERD under the minimal influence of the insurance reimbursement guideline, which may reflect a high proportion of GERD patients requiring a long-term treatment of a full-dose PPI

High-Temperature Stable Operation of Nanoribbon Field-Effect Transistors

We experimentally demonstrated that nanoribbon field-effect transistors can be used for stable high-temperature applications. The on-current level of the nanoribbon FETs decreases at elevated temperatures due to the degradation of the electron mobility. We propose two methods of compensating for the variation of the current level with the temperature in the range of 25–150°C, involving the application of a suitable (1) positive or (2) negative substrate bias. These two methods were compared by two-dimensional numerical simulations. Although both approaches show constant on-state current saturation characteristics over the proposed temperature range, the latter shows an improvement in the off-state control of up to five orders of magnitude (−5.2 × 10−6)

Control of fluid balance guided by body composition monitoring in patients on peritoneal dialysis (COMPASS): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: The clinical benefits of bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS)-guided fluid management in patients on hemodialysis have been widely demonstrated. However, no previous reports have evaluated the effect of regular and serial BIS-guided fluid management on the residual renal function (RRF) in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Therefore, we will evaluate the clinical efficacy of BIS-guided fluid management for preserving RRF and protecting cardiovascular events in patients on PD. Methods/design: This is a multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial. A total of 138 participants on PD will be enrolled and randomly assigned to receive either BIS-guided fluid management or fluid management based only on the clinical information for 1 year. The primary outcome is the change in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) between months 0 and 12 after starting treatment. The secondary outcomes will include GFR at month 12, time to the anuric state (urine volume <100 ml/day), and fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events during treatment. Discussion: This is the first clinical trial to investigate the effect of BIS-guided fluid management on RRF and for protecting against cardiovascular events in patients on PD.Peer Reviewe

Apolipoprotein B is Highly Associated with the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease as Estimated by the Framingham Risk Score in Healthy Korean Men

The aim of this study was to examine the association between serum apolipoprotein B (apoB) and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) using Framingham risk score (FRS) in healthy Korean men. A total of 13,523 men without medication history of diabetes and hypertension were enrolled in this study. The FRS is based on six coronary risk factors. FRS ≥ 10% was defined as more-than-a-moderate risk group and FRS ≥ 20% as high risk group, respectively. The logistic regression analyses were conducted. When quartile 1 (Q1) set as a reference, in unadjusted analyses, the Q2, Q3, Q4 of apoB level had increased odds ratio (OR) for the risk of CHD in both more-than-a-moderate risk and high risk group, respectively. After adjusting for confounding variables, multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analyses showed a strong relationship between the quartiles of apoB level and more-than-a-moderate risk and high risk group, respectively. These associations were attenuated, but still remained statistically significant. ApoB is found to be independently related to the risk of CHD using FRS in healthy Korean men, and the link between apoB and the risk of CHD is dose-depedent

Changes in histopathology and tumor necrosis factor-α levels in the hearts of rats following asphyxial cardiac arrest

Objective Post cardiac arrest (CA) syndrome is associated with a low survival rate in patients who initially have return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after CA. The aim of this study was to examine the histopathology and inflammatory response in the heart during the post CA syndrome. Methods We induced asphyxial CA in male Sprague-Dawley rats and determined the survival rate of these rats during the post resuscitation phase. Results Survival of the rats decreased after CA: 66.7% at 6 hours, 36.7% at 1 day, and 6.7% at 2 days after ROSC following CA. The rats were sacrificed at 6 hours, 12 hours, 1 day, and 2 days after ROSC, and their heart tissues were examined. Histopathological scores increased at 12 hours post CA and afterwards, histopathological changes were not significant. In addition, levels of tumor necrosis factor-α immunoreactivity gradually increased after CA. Conclusion The survival rate of rats 2 days post CA was very low, even though histopathological and inflammatory changes in the heart were not pronounced in the early stage following CA