The within-subject comparisons for appetite and food intake.

<p>appetite measurements by a VAS with fasting vs. postprandial plasma (A); appetite measurements by a VAS with sad tears vs. trickled saline (B); the amount of food intake with fasting vs. postprandial plasma (C); and the amount of food intake with sad tears vs. trickled saline (D). Chi-square values and the corresponding <i>P</i>-values are shown. If the circles are on the diagonal line, there was no difference between the two conditions. If a greater number of circles are observed under the diagonal line, the values for the conditions shown in the horizontal axis were greater.</p

eGFR categories of ineligible and eligible population by the sCr level, KNHANES 2009–2014.

<p>eGFR categories of ineligible and eligible population by the sCr level, KNHANES 2009–2014.</p

The correlation between appetite and food intake.

<p>Appetite was measured by a VAS. The correlation coefficients and corresponding <i>P</i>-values were calculated by a Spearman's test.</p

Effect of prescribing metformin according to eGFR instead of serum creatinine level: A study based on Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2009-2014

<div><p>Background</p><p>The metformin label has recently been changed from serum creatinine (sCr)-based to estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)-based indication, which is expected to expand its use for patients with mild renal insufficiency. However, because the sCr level is lower in Asians than in Caucasians at the same level of renal function, this change might not expand metformin use in the Asian population. We investigated the effect of this change among Korean patients with diabetes.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009 to 2014 were used and included 4,127 adult patients with diabetes. The metformin eligibility was assessed by the sCr level (1.4 mg/dL for women and 1.5 mg/dL for men) or by eGFR categories (contraindicated, <30; indeterminate, ≥30, <45; likely safe, ≥45 mL/min/1.73 m²) calculated by various eGFR equations including MDRD equation. We designated the ‘expanding’ and ‘contracting’ population as those who are likely safe according to eGFR among sCr-ineligible patients and those contraindicated according to eGFR among sCr-eligible patients, respectively. Results were weighted to the whole Korean adult population.</p><p>Results</p><p>All eGFR equations showed expansion in the population for whom metformin is likely safe, ranging from 14.3% to 19.9% of the sCr-ineligible population. With the MDRD equation, the expanding population was 15,264 (15.8%) and the contracting population was 0 (0.0%). Male sex and younger age were significantly associated with the expanding population.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Contrary to our concern, prescribing metformin according to eGFR substantially expanded the indication of its use among the Korean diabetic patients.</p></div

The study protocol.

<p>On day 1, we collected fasting and postprandial plasma samples before and during mixed meal tests in healthy male subjects (n = 20). On days 2 and 3, a sample of their own fasting or postprandial plasma at 60 min was randomly applied to the male subjects. On days 4 and 5, a sample of the fresh sad tears or the trickled saline from young healthy female volunteers was randomly applied to the male subjects. Details of the study protocol are described in the <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0042352#s2" target="_blank">methods</a> section. R denotes randomization.</p

Flow diagram of study selection.

<p>KNHANES, Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; sCr, serum creatinine. “Study” refers to actual study participants’ data. “National estimate” refers to representative population estimates of the total Korean population.</p

Expanding effects of changing from sCr-based to eGFR-based (MDRD) metformin prescription.

<p>Each number represents national estimates of each populations. sCr, serum creatinine; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; F, female; M, male.</p

Baseline characteristics of total study population according to metformin eligibility by sCr level, KNHANES 2009–2014.

<p>Baseline characteristics of total study population according to metformin eligibility by sCr level, KNHANES 2009–2014.</p

Characteristics according to eGFR categories of ineligible population by the sCr level, KNHANES 2009–2014.

<p>Characteristics according to eGFR categories of ineligible population by the sCr level, KNHANES 2009–2014.</p

Enhanced Thermal Stability of Polyaniline with Polymerizable Dopants

Diacetylene (DA) is an amphiphilic structure and has been studied as a variety of PDA-based chemosensors. However, the prospect of using diacetylene (DA) as dopant of polyaniline (PANI) is yet to be reported. In this study, new amphiphilic PCDA-taurine and PCDA-pBzS dopants were synthesized by changing the primary functional group to a sulfonic group. These polymerizable dopants are photopolymerized by UV irradiation in PANI solution. Thereby we expect to enhance the thermal stability and sustain the conductivity of PANI. The polymerizable dopants were characterized by FT-IR, NMR, and GC-MS. PANI with polymerizable dopants was analyzed by resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS). The thermal stability and conductivity of PANI were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Comparing the TGA results of PANI doped with general dopants with PANI doped with polymerizable dopants, we found that PANI with polymerizable dopants showed enhanced thermal stability