Confocal laser displacement sensor using a micro-machined varifocal mirror.

A confocal laser displacement sensor using a micro-machined varifocal mirror is reported. The focal length modulation is a key function of the confocal sensor. The mechanism of the focal length modulation determines the measurement speed and range.

Resonant Varifocal Micromirror with Piezoresistive Focus Sensor.

This paper reports a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) resonant varifocal mirror integrated with piezoresistive focus sensor. The varifocal mirror is driven electrostatically at a resonant frequency of a mirror plate to obtain the wide scanning range of a focal length. A piezoresistor is used to monitor the focal length of the varifocal mirror.

Effects of Orally Administered Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Disodium Salt on Dry Skin Conditions in Mice and Healthy Female Subjects.

Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is a coenzyme involved in the redox-cycling system. The supplemental use of PQQ has been examined based on its properties as an antioxidant and redox modulator. Although an animal study on deficiency of PQQ suggested that PQQ contributes to skin conditions, its efficacy in humans has not been reported.

The Effect of Citicoline Supplementation on Motor Speed and Attention in Adolescent Males.

Objective: This study assessed the effects of citicoline, a nutraceutical, on attention, psychomotor function, and impulsivity in healthy adolescent males.

Method: Seventy-five healthy adolescent males were randomly assigned to either the citicoline group ( n = 51 with 250 or 500 mg citicoline) or placebo ( n = 24). Participants completed the Ruff 2&7 Selective Attention Test, Finger Tap Test, and the Computerized Performance Test, Second Edition (CPT-II) at baseline and after 28 days of supplementation.

Pantethine, a derivative of vitamin B5, favorably alters total, LDL and non-HDL cholesterol in low to moderate cardiovascular risk subjects eligible for statin therapy: a triple-blinded placebo and diet-controlled investigation.

High serum concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease. The efficacy of pantethine treatment on cardiovascular risk markers was investigated in a randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled study, in a low to moderate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk North American population eligible for statin therapy, using the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines. A total of 32 subjects were randomized to pantethine (600 mg/day from weeks 1 to 8 and 900 mg/day from weeks 9 to 16) or placebo.

Pyrroloquinoline quinone, a novel protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitor, activates insulin signaling in C2C12 myotubes and improves impaired glucose tolerance in diabetic KK-A(y) mice.

Insulin resistance is a pathological hallmark of type 2 diabetes mellitus and is characterized by defects in insulin signaling. Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) negatively regulates insulin signaling by tyrosine dephosphorylation of insulin receptor, and increased activity and expression of PTP1B is implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. Therefore, inhibition of PTP1B is anticipated to improve insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic subjects.

Pantethine, a derivative of vitamin B(5) used as a nutritional supplement, favorably alters low-density lipoprotein cholesterol metabolism in low- to moderate-cardiovascular risk North American subjects: a triple-blinded placebo and diet-controlled investigation.

Safety and efficacy of a biologically active derivative of vitamin B(5) (pantethine) on total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) metabolism was studied in North American subjects at conventional low to moderate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. A total of 120 subjects initiated a therapeutic lifestyle change (TLC) diet 4 weeks before randomization (baseline) and maintained the diet throughout a 16-week study period; at baseline, subjects were randomized in a triple-blinded manner to either pantethine (600 mg/d, baseline to week 8, and 900 mg/d, weeks 9-16) or identically labeled, nonbiologically active placebo (n = 60 per group). We hypothesized that pantethine would lower TC and low-density lipoprotein in low-CVD-risk North American subjects in a similar manner as reported in high-CVD-risk subjects studied mainly in Italy and Japan.

Citicoline affects appetite and cortico-limbic responses to images of high-calorie foods.

Objective: Cytidine-5'-diphosphocholine (citicoline) has a variety of cognitive enhancing, neuroprotective, and neuroregenerative properties. In cocaine-addicted individuals, citicoline has been shown to increase brain dopamine levels and reduce cravings. The effects of this compound on appetite, food cravings, and brain responses to food are unknown.

Suppression by Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium of D-galactosamine-induced liver injury in vitro and in vivo.

Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium, the fermented and dried leaves of Hydrangea macrophylla SER. var. thunbergii MAKINO, suppressed D-galactosamine-induced liver injury by 85.

Tempol-H inhibits opacification of lenses in organ culture.

Cataract is the world's leading cause of blindness and a disease for which no efficacious medical therapy is available. To screen potential anti-cataract agents, a lens organ culture model system was used. Opacification of lenses maintained in culture was induced by specific insults including H(2)O(2) or the cataractogenic sugar xylose.

Suppression of ethanol and lipopolysaccharide-induced liver injury by extracts of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium in rats.

In female SD rats that were injected with 4 g/kg BW ethanol p.o. followed by a 5 mg/kg BW lipopolysaccharide (LPS) i.

Small scale rat hepatocyte primary culture with applications for screening hepatoprotective substances.

Isolated hepatocytes are known to maintain their physiological functions for over a week when cultured on Matrigel, artificially reconstituted from basement membrane components. Although this culture technique has been frequently used in research on hepatocyte functions, there has been a limitation on its application for small scale experiments due to some technical problems. By using micro-culture plates with 96 round-bottom wells, we succeeded in coating the wells uniformly with Matrigel.

Dietary glutathione protects rats from diabetic nephropathy and neuropathy.

Recently, much attention has focused on the role of oxidative stress in the various forms of tissue damage in patients with diabetes. The aim of this study was to examine the involvement of oxidative stress in the progression of kidney dysfunction and neuropathy in diabetes and to evaluate the potential usefulness of glutathione (GSH) in diabetes. We examined the effect that treatment of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats with GSH has on the renal and neural functions.