Increased expression of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 and O-GlcNAcylation in hepatocytes drives non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Aims: Steatosis reducing effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has been consistently reported in humans, but their mechanism remains uncertain. In this study, we examined the expression of SGLT2 in human livers and investigated the crosstalk between SGLT2 inhibition and hepatic glucose uptake, intracellular O-GlcNAcylation, and autophagic regulation in NASH.

Materials And Methods: Human liver samples obtained from subjects with/without NASH were analyzed.

High dose tetrabromobisphenol A impairs hippocampal neurogenesis and memory retention.

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is a brominated flame retardant that is commonly used in commercial and household products, such as, computers, televisions, mobile phones, and electronic boards. TBBPA can accumulate in human body fluids, and it has been reported that TBBPA possesses endocrine disruptive activity. However, the neurotoxic effect of TBBPA on hippocampal neurogenesis has not yet been investigated.

Ring-Puckering Potential Energy Functions for Trimethylene Sulfide and Its Monovalent Cation.

The spectra and ring-puckering potential energy function for trimethylene sulfide cation (TMS) from vacuum ultraviolet mass-analyzed threshold ionization spectra have recently been reported. To provide an in-depth comparison of the potential function with that of trimethylene sulfide (TMS) itself, we have used ab initio MP2/cc-pVTZ calculations and DFT B3LYP/cc-pVTZ calculations to predict the structures of both TMS and TMS and then used these to calculate coordinate-dependent ring-puckering kinetic energy functions for both species. These kinetic energy functions allowed us to calculate refined potential energy functions of the puckering for both molecules based on the previously published spectra.

Vapor-Phase Raman Spectra and the Barrier to Planarity of Cyclohexane.

The vapor-phase Raman spectra of an atmosphere of cyclohexane vapor heated to 90 and 110 °C collected over a large period of time and utilizing a high laser power of 4 W show hot band series starting at 380.8 cm and corresponding to the v(A) ring-inversion vibration. Fitting this data with a one-dimensional potential energy function allows the barrier to planarity of 8600 cm (24.

Neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of morin in a murine model of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders and is characterized by loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). Although the causes of PD are not understood, evidence suggests that oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation are associated with its pathogenesis. Morin (3,5,7,2',4'-pentahydroxyflavone) is a flavonol found in wine and many herbs and fruits.

PMC-12, a traditional herbal medicine, enhances learning memory and hippocampal neurogenesis in mice.

The beneficial effects of traditional Korean medicine are recognized during the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions, such as, Alzheimer's disease and neurocognitive dysfunction, and recently, hippocampal neurogenesis has been reported to be associated with memory function. In this study, the authors investigated the beneficial effects of polygonum multiflorum Thunberg complex composition-12 (PMC-12), which is a mixture of four medicinal herbs, that is, Polygonum multiflorum, Polygala tenuifolia, Rehmannia glutinosa, and Acorus gramineus, on hippocampal neurogenesis, learning, and memory in mice. PMC-12 was orally administered to male C57BL/6 mice (5 weeks old) at 100 or 500 mg/kg daily for 2 weeks.

Methylglyoxal Causes Cell Death in Neural Progenitor Cells and Impairs Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis.

Methylglyoxal (MG) is formed during normal metabolism by processes like glycolysis, lipid peroxidation, and threonine catabolism, and its accumulation is associated with various degenerative diseases, such as diabetes and arterial atherogenesis. Furthermore, MG has also been reported to have toxic effects on hippocampal neurons. However, these effects have not been studied in the context of neurogenesis.

Silibinin suppresses astroglial activation in a mouse model of acute Parkinson's disease by modulating the ERK and JNK signaling pathways.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease, and is characterized by dopaminergic neuronal loss in midbrain. The MPTP-induced PD model has been well characterized by motor deficits and selective dopaminergic neuronal death accompanied by glial activation. Silibinin is a constituent of silymarin, an extract of milk thistle seeds, and has been proposed to have hepatoprotective, anti-cancer, anti-oxidative, and neuroprotective effects.

Silibinin prevents dopaminergic neuronal loss in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease via mitochondrial stabilization.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal pathway. The lipophile 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) can cross the blood-brain barrier and is subsequently metabolized into toxic1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine (MPP(+) ), which causes mitochondrial dysfunction and the selective cell death of dopaminergic neurons. The present article reports the neuroprotective effects of silibinin in a murine MPTP model of PD.

Vibrational spectra, theoretical calculations, and two-dimensional potential energy surface for the ring-puckering vibrations of 2,4,7-trioxa[3.3.0]octane.

2,4,7-Trioxa[3.3.0]octane (247TOO) is an unusual bicyclic molecule which can exist in four different conformational forms which are determined by the directions of the two ring- puckering motions.

Association between metabolic syndrome and gallbladder polyps in healthy Korean adults.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the association between gallbladder (GB) polyps and metabolic syndrome. A total of 5,685 healthy subjects were included, and 485 of these subjects had GB polyps and 744 had metabolic syndrome. In this study, metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to standards suggested by the AHA/NHLBI ATP III 2005, and abdominal obesity (≥ 90 cm in men and ≥ 85 cm in women for Korean) was diagnosed according to standards set forth by the Korean Society for Study of Obesity.

Effect of stellate ganglion block on laryngopharyngeal reflux disease.

Background: Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) disease has many symptoms such as globus pharyngeus, excessive throat clearing and hoarseness. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of stellate ganglion block (SGB) in addition to proton pump inhibitors (PPI) on LPR.

Methods: Fifty patients complaining of more than 3 typical LPR symptoms for over 3 months were enrolled in the study.

Assessing the Prevalence of Recurrent Neck and Shoulder Pain in Korean High School Male Students: A Cross-sectional Observational Study.

Background: Neck and shoulder pain (NSP) is fairly common in adolescents, which is associated with a high prevalence of NSP found during adulthood as well; therefore, its significance during adolescence should not be underestimated. We surveyed the prevalence of recurrent NSP, lifestyle, and risk factors in Korean high school students, and examined the influence of recurrent NSP on the quality of life.

Methods: Nine hundred thirty one male students (16-19 years old) from two academic high schools in Seoul were included in this study.

Raman spectroscopy analysis of botryococcene hydrocarbons from the green microalga Botryococcus braunii.

Botryococcus braunii, B race is a unique green microalga that produces large amounts of liquid hydrocarbons known as botryococcenes that can be used as a fuel for internal combustion engines. The simplest botryococcene (C(30)) is metabolized by methylation to give intermediates of C(31), C(32), C(33), and C(34), with C(34) being the predominant botryococcene in some strains. In the present work we have used Raman spectroscopy to characterize the structure of botryococcenes in an attempt to identify and localize botryococcenes within B.

EGCG and quercetin protected INS-1 cells in oxidative stress via different mechanisms.

EGCG and quercetin are known as beneficial dietary flavonoid for various diseases including diabetes mellitus. But it is not certain whether they could protect pancreatic beta cell directly. We performed this study to test both EGCG and quercetin could directly protect beta cell line under oxidative stress, and verify the action mechanisms.

Allergic reactions after intravenous injection of methylprednisolone: A case report.

Corticosteroid preparations have anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties and are used widely for the treatment of allergic disorders and asthma. Steroids themselves, however, can induce hypersensitivity reactions. In this study, we report the case of a 66-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who exhibited an allergic reaction (rash, bronchospasm, bradycardia, severe hypotension and cardiac arrest) immediately after the intravenous injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate.

A conifer genomics resource of 200,000 spruce (Picea spp.) ESTs and 6,464 high-quality, sequence-finished full-length cDNAs for Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis).

Background: Members of the pine family (Pinaceae), especially species of spruce (Picea spp.) and pine (Pinus spp.), dominate many of the world's temperate and boreal forests.

Analysis of 4,664 high-quality sequence-finished poplar full-length cDNA clones and their utility for the discovery of genes responding to insect feeding.

Background: The genus Populus includes poplars, aspens and cottonwoods, which will be collectively referred to as poplars hereafter unless otherwise specified. Poplars are the dominant tree species in many forest ecosystems in the Northern Hemisphere and are of substantial economic value in plantation forestry. Poplar has been established as a model system for genomics studies of growth, development, and adaptation of woody perennial plants including secondary xylem formation, dormancy, adaptation to local environments, and biotic interactions.

A multispecialist teleconsultation system using multiple unicasting.

Multispecialist teleconsultation systems can be particularly useful in obtaining a second opinion from remote medical specialists. In this paper, a multispecialist teleconsultation (MST) system was designed by using multiple unicasting to enable operability over the existing Internet infrastructure and the support of reliable data transmission. The MST was tested over Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), Very high speed Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and the hospital Local Area Network (LAN) to demonstrate the operability of the designed system over popularly deployed networks that together make up the current Internet.

Evaluation of two mobile telemedicine systems in the emergency room.

Two different prototype mobile telemedicine systems were constructed for use in the emergency room. They could transmit physiological signals as well as video pictures and sound. One device, the mobile emergency bed (MEB), was powered by battery and had a wireless connection to the local-area network (LAN).