Effects of aerobic exercise training on the risk factors for liver diseases in elderly women with obesity and impaired fasting glucose: A pilot study.

PURPOSE: In the present pilot study, we aimed to investigate the effects of the Silverrobics exercise program, which is similar to aerobic dance, on the factors related to glucose metabolism and liver enzymes. METHODS: Eight elderly women with obesity and impaired fasting glucose participated in the Silverrobics exercise program (60 minutes per session for five times a week for 8 weeks). The program was conducted at 50-60% of the heart rate reserve at 1 to 2 weeks and at 60-80% of the heart rate reserve at 3 to 8 weeks. To verify the effect of this 8-week exercise program on glucose metabolism and liver enzymes, blood analysis at pre- and post-training was performed. RESULTS: After the Silverrobics exercise program, there were significant decreases in the glucose (p<0.05), glycated hemoglobin A1c (p<0.05), 1,5-anhydroglucitol (p<0.05), and insulin levels (p<0.01) and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance score (p<0.05). However, there were no significant effects on the liver enzymes, except for alkaline phosphatase. The alkaline phosphatase level increased after the Silverrobics exercise program (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Although the Silverrobics exercise program had no beneficial effects on the liver enzymes, it may play an important role in preventing liver diseases considering the effects on glucose metabolism.

Growth without growth hormone in combined pituitary hormone deficiency caused by pituitary stalk interruption syndrome.

Growth hormone (GH) is an essential element for normal growth. However, reports of normal growth without GH have been made in patients who have undergone brain surgery for craniopharyngioma. Normal growth without GH can be explained by hyperinsulinemia, hyperprolactinemia, elevated leptin levels, and GH variants; however, its exact mechanism has not been elucidated yet. We diagnosed a female patient aged 13 with combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD) caused by pituitary stalk interruption syndrome (PSIS). The patient has experienced recurrent hypoglycemic seizures since birth, but reached the height of 160 cm at the age of 13, showing normal growth. She grew another 8 cm for 3 years after the diagnosis, and she reached her final adult height of 168 cm which was greater than the midparental height, at the age of 16. The patient's blood GH and insulin-like growth factor-I levels were consistently subnormal, although her insulin levels were normal. Her physical examination conducted at the age of 15 showed truncal obesity, dyslipidemia, and osteoporosis, which are metabolic features of GH deficiency (GHD). Herein, we report a case in which a PSIS-induced CPHD patient attained her final height above mid parental height despite a severe GHD.

Electromagnetic biaxial vector scanner using radial magnetic field.

We present an electromagnetic biaxial vector-graphic scanning micromirror. In contrast to conventional electromagnetic actuators using linear magnetic field, proposed device utilizes a radial magnetic field and uniquely designed current paths to enable the 2 degree-of-freedom scanning motion. As the radial field is generated by concentrically assembled magnets placed under the scanner die, large driving torque can be generated without the aid of hermetic packaging and relatively small device volume can be achieved. Mechanical half scan angle of 6.43° and 4.20° have been achieved at DC current of 250mA and 350mA for horizontal and vertical scans, respectively. Forced actuation along both scan axes has been realized by feedback control.

Development of fingermark on the surface of fired cartridge casing using amino acid sensitive reagents: Change of viewpoint.

Four amino acid sensitive fingermark enhancement reagents (ninhydrin, 5-methylthioninhydrin (5-MTN), 1,8-diazafloren-9-one (DFO), 1,2-indandione (1,2-IND) were used for the development of fingermark on the surface of brass. The reagents were used for the detection of a trace amount of metallic ion on the surface of cartridge casings to develop latent fingermarks. Ninhydrin-l-alanine (NIN-ALA), 5-MTN-l-alanine (MTN-ALA), DFO-l-alanine (DFO-ALA), 1,2-IND-l-alanine (IND-ALA) complexes were prepared and applied to the fired cartridge casings, for the further enhancement of fingermarks developed by corrosion on the surface of brass. Of the four complexes, NIN-ALA and MTN-ALA complexes induced color changes to enhance fingermarks on fired cartridge casings, but photoluminescence was not observed. About 31% of cartridge casings treated with MTN-ALA showed enhanced fingermarks. DFO-ALA and IND-ALA did not show any enhancement of fingermarks.

A new method of artificial latent fingerprint creation using artificial sweat and inkjet printer.

In order to study fingerprinting in the field of forensic science, it is very important to have two or more latent fingerprints with identical chemical composition and intensity. However, it is impossible to obtain identical fingerprints, in reality, because fingerprinting comes out slightly differently every time. A previous research study had proposed an artificial fingerprint creation method in which inkjet ink was replaced with amino acids and sodium chloride solution: the components of human sweat. But, this method had some drawbacks: divalent cations were not added while formulating the artificial sweat solution, and diluted solutions were used for creating weakly deposited latent fingerprint. In this study, a method was developed for overcoming the drawbacks of the methods used in the previous study. Several divalent cations were added in this study because the amino acid-ninhydrin (or some of its analogues) complex is known to react with divalent cations to produce a photoluminescent product; and, similarly, the amino acid-1,2-indanedione complex is known to be catalyzed by a small amount of zinc ions to produce a highly photoluminescent product. Also, in this study, a new technique was developed which enables to adjust the intensity when printing the latent fingerprint patterns. In this method, image processing software is used to control the intensity of the master fingerprint patterns, which adjusts the printing intensity of the latent fingerprints. This new method opened the way to produce a more realistic artificial fingerprint in various strengths with one artificial sweat working solution.

Electromagnetic biaxial microscanner with mechanical amplification at resonance.

We present the design, fabrication, and measurement results of an electromagnetic biaxial microscanner with mechanical amplification mechanism. A gimbaled scanner with two distinct single-crystal silicon layer thicknesses and integrated copper coils has been fabricated with combination of surface and bulk micromachining processes. A magnet assembly consisting of an array of permanent magnets and a pole piece has been placed under the substrate to provide high strength lateral magnetic field oriented 45° to two perpendicular scanning axes. Micromirror has been supported by additional gimbal to implement a mechanical amplification. A 1.2mm-diameter mirror with aluminum reflective surface has been actuated at 60Hz for vertical scan and at 21kHz for horizontal scan. Maximum scan angle of 36.12° at 21.19kHz and 17.62° at 60Hz have been obtained for horizontal and vertical scans, respectively.

Transfer of fibres on the hands of living subjects and their persistence during hand washing.

Textile fibres were transferred to the hands of ten living subjects and their persistence was determined after hand washing. Average number of fibres transferred was 300 ± 133 (female 288 ± 92, male 311 ± 163) per 100 cm(2) hand area in the 100 experiments. However the number of fibres transferred was not gender dependent but individual dependent. The hand texture of subjects was compared with the number of fibres transferred but the relationship was not observed. The number of fibres transferred varied significantly for the 10 repeated experiments performed under the same conditions for the same subject. The subjects were then asked to wash their hands with water. One test group washed their hands with standing water, and the other with running tap water. Afterwards, the number of fibres remaining on the test subjects' hands were investigated. Migration of the fibres on the surface of the observed hands did occur but total loss of transferred fibre after hand washing did not occur. The average number of fibres remaining per 100 cm(2) hand area was 14 ± 10 (range=3-72) for hand washing with standing water, and 10 ± 12 (range=0-79) for washing with running tap water. The results of this study show the possibility of finding fibres on the hands of a person involved in a criminal case even after hand washing before fibre collection.