Synthesis of Bifunctional Poly(Vinyl Phosphonic Acid-co-glycidyl Metacrylate-co-divinyl Benzene) Cation-Exchange Resin and Its Indium Adsorption Properties from Indium Tin Oxide Solution

ABSTRACT Poly(vinyl phosphonic acid-co-glycidyl methacrylate-co-divinyl benzene) (PVGD) and PVGD containing an iminodiacetic acid group (IPVGD), which has indium ion selectivity, were synthesized by suspension polymerization, and their indium adsorption properties were investigated. The synthesized PVGD and IPVGD resins were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and mercury porosimetry. The cation-exchange capacity, the water uptake and the indium adsorption properties were investigated. The cation-exchange capacities of PVGD and IPVGD were 1.2 -4.5 meq/g and 2.5 -6.4 meq/g, respectively. The water uptakes were decreased with increasing contents of divinyl benzene (DVB). The water uptake values were 25% -40% and 20% -35%, respectively. The optimum adsorption of indium from a pure indium solution and an artificial indium tin oxide (ITO) solution by the PVGD and IPVGD ion-exchange resins were 2.3 and 3.5 meq/g, respectively. The indium adsorption capacities of IPVGD were higher than those of PVGD. The indium ion adsorption selectivity in the artificial ITO solution by PVGD and IPVGD was excellent, and other ions were adsorbed only slightly

Fatty Acid Composition and Sensory Characteristics of Eggs Obtained from Hens Fed Flaxseed Oil, Dried Whitebait and/or Fructo-oligosaccharide

This study was conducted to assess the effects of flaxseed oil and dried whitebait as a source of ω-3 fatty acids (ω-3 FA), which could be used to produce eggs enriched with ω-3 FA, and of fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) as a source of prebiotics on performance of hens (commercial Hy-Line Brown laying hens), and FA composition, internal quality, and sensory characteristics of the eggs. Dietary FOS increased egg weight. The amounts of α-linolenic (ALA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA) in the eggs from the hens fed the flaxseed oil alone or flaxseed oil+dried whitebait diets were higher than those of the control. Hedonic scores for off-flavor, fishy flavor, buttery taste and overall acceptability of the eggs from the hens fed the diet containing flaxseed oil+ dried whitebait were lower (p<0.05) than those of the control. Overall acceptability of the eggs from the hens fed the diet containing soybean oil+dried whitebait was lower (p<0.05) than that of the control. However, all the sensory attributes of the eggs from the hens fed the diet containing flaxseed oil, dried whitebait and FOS were not significantly different from those of the control. These results confirmed that flaxseed oil increases the ALA content in the eggs and a combination of flaxseed oil and dried whitebait increases EPA and DHA in the eggs. Of significance was that addition of FOS to the flaxseed oil+dried whitebait diet improves the sensory characteristics of the eggs enriched with ω-3 FA

Sex- and Age-Related Changes in Connexin 43 Expression in Normal Rat Bladder

Purpose Gap junctions are intercellular channels to facilitate electrical and metabolic communication between adjacent cells. Connexin 43 is the most predominant type of connexin expressed on rat detrusor muscle cells. We investigated the connexin 43 expressions in various age groups of either sex in normal rats. Methods Eighty Sprague-Dawley rats were used for analysis. Each group was quantified by 8 rats at 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months of age in either sex. In each animal, bladder was removed without any kind of intervention and fresh-frozen in liquid nitrogen. Total RNA extraction was done with easy-BLUE total RNA extraction kit. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was done for connexin 43 and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase as an internal control using ImProm-II Reverse Transcription System. Results In female rats, no age-related change was detected in connexin 43 expressions. In male rats, connexin expression at 3 months of age showed significant decrease compared with 1 week, 2 weeks, and 6 months of age (P<0.05). When connexin expression at the same age in male and female were compared, only 3 months group in male showed significant decrease than the same age group in female. Conclusions Our data suggest that the expressions of connexin 43 mRNA in normal detrusor muscle cell showed age-related changes especially in male rats. Although it is difficult to interpret these findings at this stage, age should be considered as a possible compounding factor affecting connexin 43 expressions in male rats

The effect of hidden female smoking on the relationship between smoking and cardiovascular disease

Background: Smoking is a known risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, but several Korean studies have shown differing results on the association of current smoking status and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between smoking status and CVD (myocardial infarction and stroke) using national representative populationbased samples. The aim was also to investigate the effects of hidden smokers on the association between CVD and smoking.Methods: Data were acquired from 28,620 participants (12,875 men and 15,745 women), age 19 years or older, who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) conducted from 2008 to 2016.Results: The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that ex-smoking status was correlated with CVD when self-reported (odds ratio [OR]: 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.20–2.19) and for survey-cotinine verified-smoking status (OR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.20–2.19). Interestingly, the present study showed current smoking was not significantly associated with CVD. For the effect of sex on smoking and CVD, self-reported and survey-cotinine-verified ex-smoking status were correlated with CVD in males (OR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.04–2.04 and OR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.02–2.02) and in females (OR: 2.74; 95% CI: 1.59–4.71 and OR: 2.92; 95% CI: 1.64–5.18). The ratios of cotinine-verified to self-reported smoking rates were 1.95 for women and 1.08 for men.Conclusions: In the current study, while ex-smoking status was significantly associated with CVD, current smoking status was not. Female ex-smoking status had a higher adjusted odds ratio for CVD than males compared to non-smoking status. An effect of hidden female smoking was also found on the association between smoking status and CVD in Korean adults

Antidiabetic Effect of Morinda citrifolia

Antidiabetic effects of Morinda citrifolia (aka Noni) fermented by Cheonggukjang (fast-fermented soybean paste) were evaluated using a T2DM (type 2 diabetes mellitus) murine model. Six-week-old KK-Ay/TaJcl mice were randomly divided into four groups: (1) the diabetic control (DC) group, provided with a normal mouse diet; (2) the positive control (PC) group, provided with a functional health food diet; (3) the M. citrifolia (MC) group, provided with an MC-based diet; (4) the fermented M. citrifolia (FMC) group, provided with an FMC-based diet. Over a testing period of 90 days, food and water intake decreased significantly in the FMC and PC groups compared with the DC group. Blood glucose levels in the FMC group were 211.60–252.20 mg/dL after 90 days, while those in the control group were over 400 mg/dL after 20 days. In addition, FMC supplementation reduced glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, enhanced insulin sensitivity, and significantly decreased serum triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Furthermore, a fermented M. citrifolia 70% ethanolic extract (FMCE) activated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-(PPAR-) γ and stimulated glucose uptake via stimulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in cultured C2C12 cells. These results suggest that FMC can be employed as a functional health food for T2DM management

Riboflavin Inhibits Histamine-Dependent Itch by Modulating Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1)

Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2, isfound in foods and is used as a dietary supplement. Its deficiency (also called ariboflavinosis) results in some skin lesions and inflammations, such as stomatitis, cheilosis, oily scaly skin rashes, and itchy, watery eyes. Various therapeutic effects of riboflavin, such as anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-nociceptive effects, are well known. Although some studies have identified the clinical effect of riboflavin on skin problems, including itch and inflammation, its underlying mechanism of action remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of the effects of riboflavin on histamine-dependent itch based on behavioral tests and electrophysiological experiments. Riboflavin significantly reduced histamine-induced scratching behaviors in mice and histamine-induced discharges in single-nerve fiber recordings, while it did not alter motor function in the rotarod test. In cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, riboflavin showed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the histamine- and capsaicin-induced inward current. Further tests wereconducted to determine whether two endogenous metabolites of riboflavin, flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), have similar effects to those of riboflavin. Here, FMN, but not FAD, significantly inhibited capsaicin-induced currents and itching responses caused by histamine. In addition, in transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1)-transfected HEK293 cells, both riboflavin and FMN blocked capsaicin-induced currents, whereas FAD did not. These results revealed that riboflavin inhibits histamine-dependent itch by modulating TRPV1 activity. This study will be helpful in understanding how riboflavin exerts antipruritic effects and suggests that it might be a useful drug for the treatment of histamine-dependent itch

Autoimmune Hypoglycemia in a Patient with Characterization of Insulin Receptor Autoantibodies

BackgroundType B insulin resistance syndrome is a manifestation of autoantibodies to the insulin receptor that results in severe hyperglycemia and acanthosis nigricans. However, the mechanisms by which these autoantibodies induce hypoglycemia are largely unknown. In this paper, we report the case of patient with type B insulin resistance syndrome who presented with frequent severe fasting hypoglycemia and acanthosis nigricans.MethodsTo evaluate the mechanism of hypoglycemia, we measured the inhibition of insulin binding to erythrocytes and IM9 lymphocytes in a sample of the patient's dialyzed serum before and after immunosuppressive therapy.ResultsIn the patient's pre-treatment serum IgG, the binding of 125I-insulin to erythrocytes was markedly inhibited in a dose-dependent manner until the cold insulin level reached 10-9 mol/L. We also observed dose-dependent inhibition of insulin binding to IM9 lymphocytes, which reached approximately 82% inhibition and persisted even when diluted 1:20. After treatment with glucocorticoids, insulin-erythrocyte binding activity returned to between 70% and 80% of normal, while the inhibition of insulin-lymphocyte binding was reduced by 17%.ConclusionWe treated a patient with type B insulin resistance syndrome showing recurrent fasting hypoglycemia with steroids and azathioprine. We characterized the patient's insulin receptor antibodies by measuring the inhibition of insulin binding