Differences in EMG activity during exercises targeting the scapulothoracic region: a preliminary study.

Surface electromyographic response of the middle, lower serratus anterior, and the upper trapezius muscles was investigated within a number of exercises. In total, 16 healthy, physically active volunteers completed three individual trials consisting of arm elevation above 120°, diagonal elevation, dynamic hug, dynamic hug plus, and push-up plus while surface electromyography was used to record muscle activity in the lower and middle serratus anterior (LSA, MSA) and upper trapezius (UT) muscles. The dynamic hug plus exercise caused significant increases in the activity of the MSA compared with the other exercises (P < 0.

Enantioselective phase-transfer catalytic α-alkylation of 2-methylbenzyl tert-butyl malonates.

A new asymmetric synthetic method to prepare α,α-dialkylmalonates for the construction of a quaternary carbon center via phase-transfer catalytic (PTC) alkylation has been developed. Enantioselective α-alkylation of 2-methylbenzyl tert-butyl α-methylmalonates under phase-transfer catalytic conditions in the presence of (S,S)-3,4,5-trifluorophenyl-NAS bromide () afforded the corresponding α,α-dialkylmalonates in high chemical (up to 99%) and optical yields (up to 91% ee), which were selectively hydrolyzed to malonic monoacids under alkali basic conditions for conversion to versatile chiral intermediates.

Seven dietary minerals (Ca, P, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn) and their relationship with blood pressure and blood lipids in healthy adults with self-selected diet.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the dietary intakes of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) and investigate their correlation with blood pressure and blood lipids. Targeting 258 healthy men and women, blood pressure was measured, and blood samples were collected to analyze serum lipids, and then the intakes of seven minerals were assessed through a food intake survey for 3 days using a 24-h recall method. The average age of the men and women was 49.

Syntheses and biological evaluation of 1-heteroaryl-2-aryl-1H-benzimidazole derivatives as c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitors with neuroprotective effects.

1-Heteroaryl-2-aryl-1H-benzimidazole derivatives were synthesized as inhibitors of c-Jun N-terminal kinases, JNK3. Their activities were evaluated through measurement of Kd using SPR, JNK3 kinase assay, and cell-viability of human neuroblastoma cells. Most tested compounds showed high affinity (10 μM-46 nM) to JNK3.

Dietary nutrient and food intake and their relations with serum heavy metals in osteopenic and osteoporotic patients.

Several studies have reported that heavy metals have a relation with osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures. In this study, we investigated the association between heavy metal exposure status, as assessed by serum major heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) and bone mineral density (BMD) status among Korean adults. A total of 64 adults participated in this study and were assigned to one of three study groups based on the T-score of spine BMD: a normal group (n = 21, T-score > -1), osteopenia group (n = 29, -2.

Dietary isoflavone intake, urinary isoflavone level, and their relationship with metabolic syndrome diagnostic components in korean postmenopausal women.

Recent studies have suggested that natural agents such as isoflavones, resveratrol, and anthocyanin have beneficial effects on metabolic syndrome-related disorders. The objective of this study was to evaluate dietary isoflavone intake, urinary isoflavone level, and their relationship with the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Korean postmenopausal women. The subjects included 46 MetS and 60 controls.

3D-QSAR studies of 1,2-diaryl-1H-benzimidazole derivatives as JNK3 inhibitors with protective effects in neuronal cells.

JNKs (c-Jun N-terminal kinases) have the potential to serve as a therapeutic target for various inflammatory, vascular, neurodegenerative, metabolic and oncological diseases. In particular, ATP-competitive JNK3 inhibitors act as neuroprotective agents. Here we introduce 1,2-diaryl-1H-benzimidazole derivatives as selective JNK3 inhibitors from among our in-house compounds and describe our elucidation of their SAR using 3D-QSAR models.

Insulin/glucose infusion successfully resuscitates bupivacaine-induced sudden-onset circulatory collapse in dogs.

Purpose: In previous studies, insulin reversed the cardiac toxicity gradually induced by a continuous infusion of bupivacaine. In this randomized controlled study, we intended to simulate a more relevant clinical situation by injecting bupivacaine rapidly as a bolus to induce sudden-onset circulatory collapse in dogs. We then evaluated the insulin effect.

Interleukin-21 receptor gene polymorphisms in kawasaki disease.

Background And Objectives: Interleukin-21 receptor (IL-21R) gene polymorphism is related with the development of systemic vasculitis. In this study, we investigated the polymorphisms of IL-21R gene in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD).

Subjects And Methods: We genotyped the promoter region of IL-21R gene (-2500 bp to +1 bp) in 100 patients with KD and 100 healthy controls.

Highly enantioselective synthesis of 5-phenyl-2-alkylprolines using phase-transfer catalytic alkylation.

An efficient enantioselective synthetic method for the synthesis of (2R)-5-phenyl-2-alkylproline tert-butyl esters was reported. The phase-transfer catalytic alkylation of tert-butyl-5-phenyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole-2-carboxylate in the presence of chiral quaternary ammonium catalysts gave the corresponding alkylated products (up to 97% ee). The following diastereoselective reductions afforded chiral 5-phenyl-2-alkylprolines which can be applied to asymmetric synthesis as organocatalysts or synthesis of biologically active proline based compounds, such as chiral α-alkylated analogues of (+)-RP66803, as potential CCK antagonists.

Daily calcium intake and its relation to blood pressure, blood lipids, and oxidative stress biomarkers in hypertensive and normotensive subjects.

Several studies revealed that low calcium intake is related to high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension is high in Koreans along with their low dietary calcium consumption. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the status of calcium intake between the hypertension and normotension groups and to investigate the correlation between dietary calcium intake and blood pressure, blood lipid parameters, and blood/urine oxidative stress indices.

Prognostic factors of patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation in a medical intensive care unit of Korea.

Background: We evaluated the clinical outcomes and prognostic factors of patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV), defined as ventilator care for ≥21 days, who were admitted to the medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital in Korea.

Methods: During the study period, a total of 2,644 patients were admitted to the medical ICU, and 136 patients (5.1%) were enrolled between 2005 and 2010.

Effects of Astragalus membranaceus with supplemental calcium on bone mineral density and bone metabolism in calcium-deficient ovariectomized rats.

It has been reported that Astragalus membranaceus, an Asian traditional herb, has an estrogenic effect in vitro. To examine the possible role of A. membranaceus extract with supplemental calcium (Ca) on bone status in calcium-deficient (LCa) ovariectomized (OVX) rats, a total of 48 female rats were divided into six groups: (1) normal control, (2) sham operation with LCa (sham-LCa), (3) OVX with LCa (OVX-LCa), (4) A.

Controlled synthesis of monodisperse SiO(2)--TiO(2) microspheres with a yolk-shell structure as effective photocatalysts.

Monodisperse yolk-shell SiO(2) -TiO(2) microspheres were synthesized using core-shell silica microspheres as templates. In the absence of prior surface modifications, a uniform coating of the TiO(2) layer on the core-shell silica was achieved through a sol-gel route. Mesoporous silica shells between the outer TiO(2) shell and the SiO(2) core were selectively removed by using a weak base, yielding yolk-shell SiO(2) -TiO(2) microspheres (ys-SiO(2) @TiO(2) ).

Elevated Serum Levels of IL-21 in Kawasaki Disease.

Purpose: The serum level of immunoglobulin (Ig)E has been reported to be elevated in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD). We investigated whether interleukin (IL)-21, rather than IL-4, could be related to elevated serum levels of IgE in KD.

Methods: Sera from 48 patients with KD and 12 controls with high fever were collected to determine the level of IgE using an immunoassay system and the levels of IL-4 and IL-21 were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.

Testicular tuberculosis in multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis.

We report a rare case of multidrug-resistant pulmonary and testicular tuberculosis (TB) in a 25-year-old immunocompetent patient. The patient was suspected to have a testicular cancer. He underwent radical orchiectomy, and surgical pathology revealed a granuloma containing acid-fast bacilli in the testis.

Recurrence patterns of bladder transitional cell carcinoma after radical cystectomy.

Background: Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is widely accepted as an effective imaging modality in monitoring for bladder cancer recurrence after radical cystectomy. Elucidating the pattern of bladder cancer recurrence on CT can increase the diagnostic accuracy.

Purpose: To evaluate the recurrence patterns of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and the factors associated with cancer recurrence.

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the antifungal activity of allicin alone and in combination with antifungal drugs.

The antifungal activity of allicin and its synergistic effects with the antifungal agents flucytosine and amphotericin B (AmB) were investigated in Candida albicans (C. albicans). C.

The characteristics of the appearance and health risks of volatile organic compounds in industrial (pohang, ulsan) and non-industrial (gyeongju) areas.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the health and environmental risk factors of air contaminants that influence environmental and respiratory diseases in Gyeongju, Pohang and Ulsan in South Korea, with a focus on volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Methods: Samples were collected by instantaneous negative pressure by opening the injection valve in the canister at a fixed height of 1 to 1.5 m.

Sonography of the adrenal glands in the adult.

Although its capability has been overlooked, sonography can be a useful screening tool for adrenal lesion in adults. In this article, we discuss scan technique, patient positioning, and anatomic consideration for adrenal sonography in adults and illustrate sonographic appearance of normal adrenal gland as well as adrenal tumors and tumor-like lesions.

Ciliated adenocarcinomas of the lung: a tumor of non-terminal respiratory unit origin.

Whereas most carcinomas occur through a sequential step, atypical adenomatous hyperplasia and bronchioloalveolar carcinoma pathway is known for pulmonary adenocarcinoma. This type is known as terminal respiratory unit adenocarcinoma. Based on our observation of transitions from normal ciliated columnar cells to adenocarcinoma via dysplastic mucous columnar cells, we reviewed our archive of pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

Postmenopausal vegetarians' low serum ferritin level may reduce the risk for metabolic syndrome.

The present study was conducted to compare the serum ferritin status between the postmenopausal vegetarians and non-vegetarians and to identify the relation of serum ferritin with metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk factors in postmenopausal women. The two study groups consisted of postmenopausal vegetarians (n=59) who maintained a vegetarian diet for over 20 years and age-matched non-vegetarian controls (n=48). Anthropometric measurements, dietary intakes, serum metabolic syndrome-related parameters, and serum ferritin level between the two groups were compared.

Combined therapy of temozolomide and ZD6474 (vandetanib) effectively reduces glioblastoma tumor volume through anti-angiogenic and anti-proliferative mechanisms.

Currently, clinically available options for treating glioblastoma (GBM) are quite limited, and there is a clear need to develop novel treatment strategies that can more effectively manage tumors. Here, we present a combination treatment of temozolomide (TMZ), a blood-brain barrier penetrating DNA alkylating agent, and ZD6474 (vandetanib), a VEGFR2 and EGFR dual-targeting anti-angiogenic agent, as a novel treatment strategy for GBM. In a U-87MG orthotopic xenograft model, the combination treatment provided a marked 94% tumor volume reduction.

Cellular immunotherapy using dendritic cells against multiple myeloma.

Cellular therapy with dendritic cells (DCs) is emerging as a useful immunotherapeutic tool to treat multiple myeloma (MM). DC-based idiotype vaccination was recently suggested to induce idiotype-specific immune responses in MM patients. However, the clinical results so far have been largely disappointing, and the clinical effectiveness of such vaccinations in MM still needs to be demonstrated.

Portion sizes of foods frequently consumed by the Korean elderly: Data from KNHANES IV-2.

The purpose of this study was to define a one-portion size of food frequently consumed by the Koreans aged 65 years or over. From the original 8,631 people who took part in the Forth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV-2) 2008, we analyzed the data on 1,458 persons (16.9%) aged 65 and over, and selected food items consumed based on the intake frequency of 30 or more by all participant.