370 research outputs found
Antiatherogenic Effect of Camellia japonica Fruit Extract in High Fat Diet-Fed Rats
© 2016 Hyun-Ho Lee et al. Hypercholesterolemia is a well-known etiological factor for cardiovascular disease and a common symptom of most types of metabolic disorders. Camellia japonica is a traditional garden plant, and its flower and seed have been used as a base oil of traditional cosmetics in East Asia. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of C. japonica fruit extracts (CJF) in a high fat diet- (HFD-) induced hypercholesterolemic rat model. CJF was administered orally at three different doses: 100, 400, and 800 mg·kg-1·day-1 (CJF 100, 400, and 800, resp.). Our results showed that CJF possessed strong cholesterol-lowering potency as indicated by the decrease in serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), accompanied by an increase in serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Furthermore, CJF reduced serum lipid peroxidation by suppressing the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance. In addition, oil red O (ORO) staining of rat arteries showed decreased lipid-positive staining in the CJF-treated groups compared to the control HFD group. Taken together, these results suggest that CJF could be a potent herbal therapeutic option and source of a functional food for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis and other diseases associated with hypercholesterolemia
Angiographic and Clinical Result of Endovascular Treatment in Paraclinoid Aneurysms
PurposeThe purpose of this study was to analyze the results of an immediate and mid-term angiographic and clinical follow-up of endovascular treatment for paraclinoid aneurysms.Materials and MethodsFrom January 2002 to December 2012, a total of 113 consecutive patients (mean age: 56.2 years) with 116 paraclinoid saccular aneurysms (ruptured or unruptured) were treated with endovascular coiling procedures. Clinical and angiographic outcomes were retrospectively evaluated.ResultsNinety-three patients (82.3%) were female. The mean size of the aneurysm was 5.5 mm, and 101 aneurysms (87.1%) had a wide neck. Immediate catheter angiography showed complete occlusion in 40 aneurysms (34.5%), remnant sac in 51 (43.9%), and remnant neck in 25 (21.6%). Follow-up angiographic studies were performed on 80 aneurysms (69%) at a mean period of 20.4 months. Compared with immediate angiographic results, follow-up angiograms showed no change in 38 aneurysms, improvement in 37 (Fig. 2), and recanalization in 5. There were 6 procedure-related complications (5.2%), with permanent morbidity in one patient.ConclusionOut study suggests that properly selected patients with paraclinoid aneurysms can be successfully treated by endovascular means
Square to stripe transition and superlattice patterns in vertically oscillated granular layers
We investigated the physical mechanism for the pattern transition from square
lattice to stripes, which appears in vertically oscillating granular layers. We
present a continuum model to show that the transition depends on the
competition between inertial force and local saturation of transport. By
introducing multiple free-flight times, this model further enables us to
analyze the formation of superlattices as well as hexagonal lattice
Correlation between thigh skinfold thickness and physical fitness factors in Korean adults and older individuals
Background: This cross-sectional epidemiological study aimed to compare
the differences in physical fitness variables according to the skinfold thickness
in the thigh area in adults and Korean older individuals. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2015 National Fitness Survey. A
total of 4034 healthy adults (2442 men, 1592 women) with an average age of 38.19
± 12.41 years and 880 healthy older subjects (369 men, 511 women) with an
average age of 72.32 ± 5.49 years participated in this study. The skinfold
thickness of the thigh was measured using a skinfold caliper (Dynatron,
Dynatronics, USA). The participants underwent physical fitness tests, including
the hand squeeze strength test, abdominal curl ups, standing double-leg long
jump, 50 m shuttle run, sit and reach, and 20 m shuttle run for adult men and
women. Older men and women performed the following tests: hand squeeze strength,
abdominal curl ups, sit to stand test, single leg balance (open eyes), sit and
reach, Apley scratch test for shoulder mobility, and 6-minute walk test.
Independent t-tests and Pearson correlation analyses were used for the
analysis. Results: Among the older men, significant differences were found in
thigh skinfold thickness (t = –21.122, p < 0.001), abdominal
curl ups (t = 2.165, p = 0.031), and sit and reach in men
(t = 2.609, p = 0.009), and thigh skinfold (t =
–29.611, p < 0.001), and Apley scratch test for shoulder mobility in
women (t = –2.120, p = 0.034). There was a significant
correlation between thigh skinfold thickness and physical activity (thigh
skinfold thickness) in adult men (t = –54.202, p < 0.001),
nondominant hand squeeze strength (t = 2.632, p = 0.009),
abdominal curl ups (t = 4.292, p < 0.001), sit and reach
(t = 3.063, p = 0.002), twenty meters shuttle run (t =
4.657, p < 0.001).
However, no significant differences were found in
dominant hand squeeze strength, standing double leg long jump, or 50 m shuttle
run in men (p < 0.05). In adult women, there was a significant
correlation between thigh skinfold thickness and physical activity (thigh
skinfold thickness (t = –49.405, p < 0.001), dominant hand
squeeze strength (t = 7.789, p < 0.001), nondominant hand
squeeze strength (t = 6.944, p < 0.001), abdominal curl ups
(t = 5.347, p < 0.001), standing double leg long jump
(t = 5.890, p < 0.001), sit and reach (t = 5.384,
p < 0.001), twenty meter shuttle run (t = 5.223, p < 0.001).
However, no significant differences were found in fifty meter shuttle
run in women (p < 0.05). Among older men, only single leg balance and
sit and reach were correlated with thigh skinfold (single leg balance r
= 0.169, p = 0.01; sit and reach r = –0.201, p =
0.001). In women, only abdominal curl ups, sit and reach, and Apley scratch test
correlated with thigh skinfold (abdominal curl ups r = –0.088,
p = 0.002; sit and reach r = –0.137, p = 0.002; Apley
scratch test r = 0.090, p = 0.041). Conclusions: The effect of thigh skinfold thickness on the level of
physical activity was more pronounced in adults than in older subjects. Our
findings show that muscle strength and body fat in the lower extremities can
affect overall muscle strength, endurance, and balance
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3-mediated CD133 up-regulation contributes to promotion of hepatocellular carcinoma
published_or_final_versio
Photoemission and x-ray absorption spectroscopy study of electron-doped colossal magnetoresistance manganite: La0.7Ce0.3MnO3 film
The electronic structure of La0.7Ce0.3MnO3 (LCeMO) thin film has been
investigated using photoemission spectroscopy (PES) and x-ray absorption
spectroscopy (XAS). The Ce 3d core-level PES and XAS spectra of LCeMO are very
similar to those of CeO2, indicating that Ce ions are far from being trivalent.
A very weak 4f resonance is observed around the Ce 4d 4f absorption edge,
suggesting that the localized Ce 4f states are almost empty in the ground
state. The Mn 2p XAS spectrum reveals the existence of the Mn(2+) multiplet
feature, confirming the Mn(2+)-Mn(3+) mixed-valent states of Mn ions in LCeMO.
The measured Mn 3d PES/XAS spectra for LCeMO agrees reasonably well with the
calculated Mn 3d PDOS using the LSDA+U method. The LSDA+U calculation predicts
a half-metallic ground state for LCeMO.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure
Bowel Preparation for Capsule Endoscopy: A Prospective Randomized Multicenter Study
Background/Aims: The ability to visualize the small bowel mucosa by capsule endoscopy is limited. Moreover, studies involving small-bowel preparation with purgative drugs have failed to establish which preparations produce better images and higher diagnostic yields. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacies and diagnostic yields of different bowel preparations. Methods: A cohort of 134 patients with suspected small bowel disease was randomly assigned to 3 groups. Patients in group A (n=44) fasted for 12 h before being administered an M2A capsule (Given Imaging, Yoqneam, Israel). Patients in group B (n=45) were asked to drink two doses of 45 mL of sodium phosphate (NaP) with water during the afternoon and evening on the day before the procedure and to drink at least 2 L of water thereafter. Patients in group C (n=45) drank 2 L of a polyethylene glycol (PEG) lavage solution the evening before the procedure. Results: Overall cleansing of the small bowel was adequate in 43% of patients in group A, 77% of those in group B, and 56% of those in group C (group A vs; group B, p=0.001). Diagnoses for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding were established in 9 patients (39%) in group A, 16 patients (69%) in group B, and 14 patients (50%) in group C. No significant difference in diagnostic yield was observed between groups. Conclusions: Bowel preparation with NaP for capsule endoscopy improved small-bowel mucosal visualization when compared to 12-h overnight fasting. (Gut and Liver 2009;3:180-185)Wei W, 2008, AM J GASTROENTEROL, V103, P77, DOI 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2007.01633.xCheon JH, 2007, GUT LIVER, V1, P118van Tuyl SAC, 2007, ENDOSCOPY, V39, P1037, DOI 10.1055/s-2007-966988Ben-Soussan E, 2005, J CLIN GASTROENTEROL, V39, P381FIREMAN Z, 2005, WORLD J GASTROENTERO, V11, P5863DAI N, 2005, GASTROINTEST ENDOSC, V61, P28Viazis N, 2004, GASTROINTEST ENDOSC, V60, P534Niv Y, 2004, SCAND J GASTROENTERO, V39, P1005, DOI 10.1080/00365520410003209Fireman Z, 2004, ISRAEL MED ASSOC J, V6, P521Albert J, 2004, GASTROINTEST ENDOSC, V59, P487Pennazio M, 2004, GASTROENTEROLOGY, V126, P643, DOI 10.1053/j.gastro.2003.11.057Mylonaki M, 2003, GUT, V52, P1122Costamagna G, 2002, GASTROENTEROLOGY, V123, P999, DOI 10.1053/gast.2002.35988Lewis BS, 2002, GASTROINTEST ENDOSC, V56, P349, DOI 10.1067/mge.2002.126906Kastenberg D, 2001, GASTROINTEST ENDOSC, V54, P705Aronchick CA, 2000, GASTROINTEST ENDOSC, V52, P346
Negative Regulation of Schistosoma japonicum Egg-Induced Liver Fibrosis by Natural Killer Cells
The role of natural killer (NK) cells in infection-induced liver fibrosis remains obscure. In this study, we elucidated the effect of NK cells on Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum) egg-induced liver fibrosis. Liver fibrosis was induced by infecting C57BL/6 mice with 18–20 cercariae of S. japonicum. Anti-ASGM1 antibody was used to deplete NK cells. Toll-like receptor 3 ligand, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I∶C) was used to enhance the activation of NK cells. Results showed that NK cells were accumulated and activated after S. japonicum infection, as evidenced by the elevation of CD69 expression and IFN-γ production. Depletion of NK cells markedly enhanced S. japonicum egg-induced liver fibrosis. Administration of poly I∶C further activated NK cells to produce IFN-γ and attenuated S. japonicum egg-induced liver fibrosis. The observed protective effect of poly I∶C on liver fibrosis was diminished through depletion of NK cells. Disruption of IFN-γ gene enhanced liver fibrosis and partially abolished the suppression of liver fibrosis by poly I∶C. Moreover, expression of retinoic acid early inducible 1 (RAE 1), the NKG2D ligand, was detectable at high levels on activated hepatic stellate cells derived from S. japonicum-infected mice, which made them more susceptible to hepatic NK cell killing. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the activated NK cells in the liver after S. japonicum infection negatively regulate egg-induced liver fibrosis via producing IFN-γ, and killing activated stellate cells
Comparison of trauma systems in Asian countries: a cross-sectional study.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the demographic characteristics and trauma service structures and processes of hospitals in 15 countries across the Asia Pacific, and to provide baseline data for the integrated trauma database: the Pan-Asian Trauma Outcomes Study (PATOS). METHODS: Medical directors and emergency physicians at PATOS-participating hospitals in countries across the Asia Pacific were surveyed through a standardized questionnaire. General information, trauma care system data, and trauma emergency department (ED) outcomes at each hospital were collected by email and analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Survey data from 35 hospitals across 15 countries were collected from archived data between June 2014 and July 2015. Designated trauma centers were identified as the highest hospital level for trauma patients in 70% of surveyed countries. Half of the hospitals surveyed had special teams for trauma care, and almost all prepared activation protocol documents for these teams. Most hospitals offered specialized trauma education programs, and 72.7% of hospitals had a hospital-based trauma registry. The total number of trauma patients visiting the ED across 25 of the hospitals was 300,376. The overall survival-to-discharge rate was 97.2%; however, it varied greatly between 85.1% and 99.7%. The difference between survival-to-discharge rates of moderate and severe injury groups was highest in Taiwan (41.8%) and lowest in Thailand (18.6%). CONCLUSION: Trauma care systems and ED outcomes vary widely among surveyed hospitals and countries. This information is useful to build further detailed, systematic platforms for trauma surveillance and evidence-based trauma care policies
The First Very Long Baseline Interferometry Image of 44 GHz Methanol Maser with the KVN and VERA Array (KaVA)
We have carried out the first very long baseline interferometry (VLBI)
imaging of 44 GHz class I methanol maser (7_{0}-6_{1}A^{+}) associated with a
millimeter core MM2 in a massive star-forming region IRAS 18151-1208 with KaVA
(KVN and VERA Array), which is a newly combined array of KVN (Korean VLBI
Network) and VERA (VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry). We have succeeded in
imaging compact maser features with a synthesized beam size of 2.7
milliarcseconds x 1.5 milliarcseconds (mas). These features are detected at a
limited number of baselines within the length of shorter than approximately 650
km corresponding to 100 Mlambda in the uv-coverage. The central velocity and
the velocity width of the 44 GHz methanol maser are consistent with those of
the quiescent gas rather than the outflow traced by the SiO thermal line. The
minimum component size among the maser features is ~ 5 mas x 2 mas, which
corresponds to the linear size of ~ 15 AU x 6 AU assuming a distance of 3 kpc.
The brightness temperatures of these features range from ~ 3.5 x 10^{8} to 1.0
x 10^{10} K, which are higher than estimated lower limit from a previous Very
Large Array observation with the highest spatial resolution of ~ 50 mas. The 44
GHz class I methanol maser in IRAS 18151-1208 is found to be associated with
the MM2 core, which is thought to be less evolved than another millimeter core
MM1 associated with the 6.7 GHz class II methanol maser.Comment: 19 pages, 3 figure
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