DA-1241, a Novel GPR119 Agonist, Improves Hyperglycaemia by Inhibiting Hepatic Gluconeogenesis and Enhancing Insulin Secretion in Diabetic Mice

Background@#We investigated the antidiabetic effects of DA-1241, a novel G protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 119 agonist, in vitro and in vivo. @*Methods@#DA-1241 was administrated to high-fat diet (HFD)-fed C57BL/6J mice for 12 weeks after hyperglycaemia developed. Oral/intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test and insulin tolerance test were performed. Serum insulin and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) levels were measured during oral glucose tolerance test. Insulinoma cell line (INS-1E) cells and mouse islets were used to find whether DA-1241 directly stimulate insulin secretion in beta cell. HepG2 cells were used to evaluate the gluconeogenesis and autophagic process. Autophagic flux was evaluated by transfecting microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-fused to green fluorescent protein and monomeric red fluorescent (mRFP-GFP-LC3) expression vector to HepG2 cells. @*Results@#Although DA-1241 treatment did not affect body weight gain and amount of food intake, fasting blood glucose level decreased along with increase in GLP-1 level. DA-1241 improved only oral glucose tolerance test and showed no effect in intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test. No significant effect was observed in insulin tolerance test. DA-1241 did not increase insulin secretion in INS-1E cell and mouse islets. DA-1241 reduced triglyceride content in the liver thereby improved fatty liver. Additionally, DA-1241 reduced gluconeogenic enzyme expression in HepG2 cells and mouse liver. DA-1241 reduced autophagic flow in HepG2 cells. @*Conclusion@#These findings suggested that DA-1241 augmented glucose-dependent insulin release via stimulation of GLP-1 secretion, and reduced hepatic gluconeogenesis, which might be associated with autophagic blockage, leading to improved glycaemic control.

The effect of biphasic calcium phosphate and demineralized bone matrix on tooth eruption in mongrel dogs

Background: Bone grafts can provide an optimal environment for permanent tooth to erupt and enhance the stability of the alveolar maxilla. Although autologous bone is an optimal source for osteogenesis, its inevitable donor site morbidity has led to active research on bone substitutes. This study was designed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of using biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP; Osteon) as a bone substitute in dogs. Methods: Bilateral third and fourth premolars of four 15-week-old mongrel dogs were used. All teeth were extracted except the third premolar of the right mandible, which was used as a control. After extraction of the premolars, each dog was administered BCP (Osteon), demineralized bone matrix (DBM; DBX), and no graft in the hollow sockets of the right fourth premolar, left fourth premolar, and left third premolar, respectively. Radiographs were taken at 2-week intervals to check for tooth eruption. After 8 weeks, each dog was sacrificed, and tooth and bone biopsies were performed to check for the presence of tooth and bone substitute particle remnants. Results: Four weeks after the operation, permanent tooth eruptions had started at all the extraction sites in each dog. Eight weeks after the operation, all teeth had normally erupted, and histological examination revealed BCP particles at the right fourth premolar. Conclusion: In all four dogs, no delay in the eruption of the teeth or shape disfigurement of permanent teeth was observed on gross inspection and radiologic evaluation. On histological examination, most of the BCP and DBM were replaced by new bone. Bone substitutes can be used as graft materials in patients with alveolar clefts.

Correlation between Fatigue and Quality of Life Caused by Stress of Researchers' Work / 한국직업건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to provide baseline data by utilizing solutions to health problems caused by work-related stress and to examine a way of treatment by comparing and analyzing how the stresses link to fatigue and quality of researchers' life. METHODS: A survey was conducted with 50 researchers working for in H research institute in Daejeon Metropolitan City from April 10th to May 10th, 2012 to examine the correlation of work stress, fatigue and quality of life. The data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test to look into examine the difference in work stress, fatigue, and quality of life. Also, the correlation of work stress, fatigue and quality of life was measured through by the Pearson correlation coefficient. The data collected through the questionnaires was were analyzed by SPSS 21.0 based on the significant level with a p-value, 0.05. RESULTS: The results showed that fatigue was caused by work stresses in researchers and quality of life was ranked in a relatively low level. Correlation of work stresses, quality of life and fatigue and work stresses against mental health index was negative and fatigue against physical index was also negative. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to maintain more detailed provisions in order to improve mental health and stress level of researchers. Moreover, systematic, in-depth evaluation should be done to reduce researcher's work-related stress and fatigue. In addition, stress management and prevention program should be implemented for these researchers.

Effects of Organic Farming on Communities of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

Red pepper (Capsicum annum L.) roots and soils representing different agricultural management practices such as conventional (CON), no-chemical (NOC), and organic farming systems (ORG) were collected from 32 farm field sites in Kyunggi, Korea to investigate the effects of these agricultural practices on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. ORG inoculum significantly increased plant growth compared to inoculum from CON and NOC. A community analysis of AM fungi (AMF) using morphological features of spores revealed that AMF spore abundance and species diversity were significantly higher in ORG than in CON. Additionally, a community analysis of AMF colonizing roots using a molecular technique revealed higher AMF diversity in ORG than in CON. These results suggest that agricultural practices significantly influence AM fungal community structure and mycorrhizal inoculum potential.

Correction of the Epicanthal Fold with Invisible Scar

The epicanthal fold is common natural finding in Asian eyes. It is very common that patients, who look for oriental blephaloplasty for double eye lid, request correction epicanthal fold. It is very often difficult to achieve satisfactory results if the correction of the epicanthal fold is not corrected concomitantly. Many authors described surgical procedures for correction of epicanthal folds. But most of them leave additional scars which tend to be hypertrophic and noriceable. We achieved satisfactory result in epicanthoplasty with invisible scar, using combination of procedures, such as upward incision, double eyelid operation, anchoring suture of the medial upper lid skin to the medial canthal tendon, trans-nasal root subcutaneous mattress suture of the epicanthal fold itself and combined rhinoplasty. For past six years (1998 to 2003) 17 patients have been operated with one of these mentioned procedures. The mean follow up was 4months (2weeks to 6months). All patients were satisfied and no major complication was noted. This method can be one of the effective procedures for correcting the Asian epicanthal fold for avoiding potential visible scar and ancillary procedure in double eye lid blephaloplasty.

Simple Classification of Foot Polydactyly Based on The Status of Metatarsal Bone and Varus Deformity

Polydactyly is a most common congenital anomaly of the foot. As is in the hand, it's classification systems and operative methods are various and complicated, but not much attention is given. We reviewed 129 foot polydactylies of 96 patients since the last 10 years(1993- 2003). Cases were classified morphologically and radiologically by previous classification systems(Wassel's classification, Hirase's classification) and then operative methods, complications, residual deformities were reviewed. Cases from the complications related to surgery including residual deformities were the major concern and 20 cases of unfavorable results were mainly due to varus deformity and metatarsal bone status. Based on our study, cases were reclassified by metatarsal bone status and varus deformity, and in conclusion we found that the new classification system is more helpful in deciding surgical method, predicting complications and residual deformities. Therefore, we suggested a new simple classification system based on the status of metatarsal bone and varus deformity, which is a more suitable system to planning operative method and predicting complication and residual deformity than the previous classification system.

Amyloid Deposits in Supratentorial Meningiomas: Clinicopathological and Immunohistochemical Study

Amyloidosis is the definition for a group of diseases that have, in common, the infiltration of one or more tissues by an abnormal protein material-the amyloid substance, which is detected histologically by their green polarization color after Congo red staining. Despite increased interest on basic nature of amyloidosis by recent immunohistochemical or experimental study, the knowledge about the incidence and neurotoxic effect of cerebral amyloid or concomitant occurrence with brain tumor is still inchoate. We examined the incidence and clinico-pathologic characteristics of the patients with amyloid deposits in supratentorial meningiomas. Particularly about their neurotoxic effect to adjacent brain is considered one of the possible cause of seizure in 33 patients who underwent resection surgery for meningioma at the Keimyung University during the past three years. The pathological review and subgrouping by histologic type were done in all 33 specimens with sufficient size of paraffin block, defined by their morphology and polarization color after Congo red staining for diagnosis of amyloid deposits localized in the tumor. Immunohistochemical studies using monoclonal antibodies for amyloid-A protein(AA) and beta-amyloid(A beta) were evaluated to identify subtypes of amyloidosis. The rate of incidence of amyloid deposit in meningioma was 21%, i.e. seven out of thirty three cases. All laboratory findings and clinical studies did not suggest a systemic form. Seizure occurrence was one out of seven cases(14%), which was of no statistical significance. Immunohistochemical study for AA subtype was all negative, but showed all positive for A beta protein around the vessels. Recent reports has also demonstrated that Amyloid precusor protein(APP) and A beta is related in Alzheimer's disease, hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis-Dutch type(HCHWA-D) and amyloid angiopathy. Our research data indicates that the incidence of amyloid deposit is as high as 21% in supratentorial meningiomas. It seems that it is one of the possible cause of seizure. Nonsystemic microdeposits of amyloid and their subtype and it's relationship to neurotoxic effect in meningiomas remain to be confirmed by immunoelectron microscopic examination or immunohistochemical methods.

The Changes of Cell Mediated Immunity Correlated with Severity of Head Injury

Severe head injury results in the suppression of cellular immunity associated with dysfunctioning of effector lymphocytes, such as helper T cells(CD4) (and cytotoxic T cells(CD8). Despite progress in the management of increased intracranial pressure following head injury, infection remains the most common complication and the primary cause of prolonged hospitalization and death. This study attempts to assess the cellular immune function following head injury according to the degree of severity, and to establish the clinically available parameters of cell mediated immune(CMI) function, which can then be used for coherent prediction of infection risk. Eighteem head injury patients without severe systemic injury, who divided into three subgroups depending on the severity of head injury, were estimated with the use of CMI multitest kit(Merieux Institute, France) to test delayed-type hypersensitivity(DTH) and enumerated the circulating lymphocyte subpopulation(pan T-cell marker CD3, helper T cell marker CD4, cytotoxic T cell marker CD8 and B-cell marker CD19) on the 1st, 7th, and 21th day of injury. Patients were monitored for evidence of infection for this period. Fourteen patients had no reaction to any antigens of the DTH skin test(anergy) and the remaining four patients had also some degree of anergy. Seven patients became infected and all of them were anergic. There were significant decrease of circulating effector T lymphocytes, both CD4-positive and CD8-positive cells, within 24 hours of injury in the mild as well as the moderate and severe head injury group. CD4-positive cells were nearly completely recovered by the 7th day of injury. CD8-positive cells had sustained significant decrease even after 3 weeks of injury. There was no significant change in pan T-cells(CD3-positive cells) and B-cells(CD19-positive cells). The results suggest that DTH skin test and effector T cell enumeration are both relatively simple and highly sensitive parameters for monitoring CMI function. Especially, anergy of DTH skin test can be used for indicator to predict risk of infection. Mild as well as moderate and severe head injuries may result in the suppression of cellular immunity associated with the dysfunctioning of effector T cell.

Surgery for seizure-related structural lesions of the brain with intraoperative acute recording(ECoG) and functional mapping

Epilepsy surgery has been demonstrated to be an effective alternative treatment for intractable partial or localization related epilepsy. Primary intracranial neoplasms and other structural lesions of the brain are important etiological factors in patients with partial seizure disorders. A neuroimaging identified lesion in patients with seizures, not necessarily medically refractory, may also be an indication for surgery in selected patients. Twelve patients operated on under local or general anesthesia for resection surgery underwent intraoperative recording(electrocorticogram) and/or functional mapping by electrical stimulation or somatosensory evoked potentials-(SSEPs) for identification of the secondary epileptogenic area and/or functional area; 2 meningiomas, 5 astrocytomas, 1 gangliocytoma, 1 abscess, 1 small AVM, 1 cysticercosis and one gliosis by previous intracerebral hemorrhage with middle cerebral artery(MCA) aneurysm. Among these, additional corticectomy or anterior temporal lobectomy was performed in eleven patients. All the patients did well after surgery with good outcomes as seizure free in nine(75%) out of 12 patients with 11.9 months of follow-up period, without any neurological deficits. Intraoperative recording and functional mapping of adjacent areas of the structural lesions of the brain are useful in surgery and can guide the extent of further resection.