Comparison of 90‐day case‐fatality after ischemic stroke between two different stroke outcome registries using propensity score matching analysis

Yu, K&#x2010,H.,Hong, K&#x2010,S.,Lee, B&#x2010,C.,Oh, M&#x2010,S.,Cho, Y&#x2010,J.,Koo, J&#x2010,S.,Park, J&#x2010,M.,Bae, H&#x2010,J.,Han, M&#x2010,K.,Ju, Y&#x2010,S.,Kang, D&#x2010,W.,Appelros, P. Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2011 Acta neurologica Scandinavica Vol.123 No.5

<P>Yu K‐H, Hong K‐S, Lee B‐C, Oh M‐S, Cho Y‐J, Koo J‐S, Park J‐M, Bae H‐J, Han M‐K, Ju Y‐S, Kang D‐W, Appelros P, Norrving B, Terent A. Comparison of 90‐day case‐fatality after ischemic stroke between two different stroke outcome registries using propensity score matching analysis. 
Acta Neurol Scand: 2011: 123: 325–331. 
© 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.</P><P><B>Background – </B> It has not been clarified whether the disparity in ischemic stroke outcome between populations is caused by ethnic and geographic differences or by variations in case mix. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis can overcome some analytical problems but is rarely used in stroke outcome research. This study was to compare the ischemic stroke case‐fatality between two PSM cohorts of Sweden and Korea.</P><P><B>Methods – </B> Prognostic variables related to baseline characteristics and stroke care were included in our PSM model. Then, we selected 7675 Swedish and 1220 Korean patients with ischemic stroke from each stroke registers and performed one‐to‐one matching based on propensity scores of each patient.</P><P><B>Results – </B> After PSM, all measured variables were well balanced in 1163 matched subjects, and the 90‐day case‐fatality was identical 6.2% (HR 0.997, 95%CI 0.905–1.099) in Sweden and Korea.</P><P><B>Conclusions – </B> No difference is found in the 90‐day case‐fatality in propensity score‐matched Swedish and Korean patients with ischemic stroke.</P>

Plant‐expressed Fc‐fusion protein tetravalent dengue vaccine with inherent adjuvant properties

Kim, Mi Young,Copland, Alastair,Nayak, Kaustuv,Chandele, Anmol,Ahmed, Muhammad S.,Zhang, Qibo,Diogo, Gil R.,Paul, Matthew J.,Hofmann, Sven,Yang, Moon&#x2010,Sik,Jang, Yong&#x2010,Suk,Ma, Julian K&#x20 BLACKWELL 2018 PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL Vol.16 No.7

<P><B>Summary</B></P><P>Dengue is a major global disease requiring improved treatment and prevention strategies. The recently licensed Sanofi Pasteur Dengvaxia vaccine does not protect children under the age of nine, and additional vaccine strategies are thus needed to halt this expanding global epidemic. Here, we employed a molecular engineering approach and plant expression to produce a humanized and highly immunogenic poly‐immunoglobulin G scaffold (PIGS) fused to the consensus dengue envelope protein III domain (cEDIII). The immunogenicity of this IgG Fc receptor‐targeted vaccine candidate was demonstrated in transgenic mice expressing human FcγRI/CD64, by induction of neutralizing antibodies and evidence of cell‐mediated immunity. Furthermore, these molecules were able to prime immune cells from human adenoid/tonsillar tissue <I>ex vivo</I> as evidenced by antigen‐specific CD4<SUP>+</SUP> and CD8<SUP>+</SUP> T‐cell proliferation, IFN‐γ and antibody production. The purified polymeric fraction of dengue PIGS (D‐PIGS) induced stronger immune activation than the monomeric form, suggesting a more efficient interaction with the low‐affinity Fcγ receptors on antigen‐presenting cells. These results show that the plant‐expressed D‐PIGS have the potential for translation towards a safe and easily scalable single antigen‐based tetravalent dengue vaccine.</P>

OGLE‐2009‐BLG‐023/MOA‐2009‐BLG‐028: characterization of a binary microlensing event based on survey data

Hwang, K.&#x2010,H.,Han, C.,Udalski, A.,Sumi, T.,Gould, A.,Jaroszy&#x144,ski, M.,Kubiak, M.,Szyma&#x144,ski, M. K.,Pietrzy&#x144,ski, G.,Soszy&#x144,ski, I.,Szewczyk, O.,Ulaczyk, K.,Wyrzykowski, &#x13 Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2011 MONTHLY NOTICES- ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY Vol.413 No.2

<P><B>ABSTRACT</B></P><P>We report the result of the analysis of the light curve of a caustic‐crossing binary‐lens microlensing event OGLE‐2009‐BLG‐023/MOA‐2009‐BLG‐028. Even though the event was observed solely by survey experiments, we could uniquely determine the mass of the lens and distance to it by simultaneously measuring the Einstein radius and lens parallax. From this, we find that the lens system is composed of M‐type dwarfs with masses (0.50 ± 0.07) and (0.15 ± 0.02) M<SUB>⊙</SUB> located in the Galactic disc with a distance of ∼1.8 kpc toward the Galactic bulge direction. The event demonstrates that physical lens parameters of binary‐lens events can be routinely determined from future high‐cadence lensing surveys and thus microlensing can provide a new way to study Galactic binaries.</P>

Serum Adipokine Concentrations in Dogs with Naturally Occurring Pituitary‐Dependent Hyperadrenocorticism

Cho, K.&#x2010,D.,Paek, J.,Kang, J.&#x2010,H.,Chang, D.,Na, K.&#x2010,J.,Yang, M.&#x2010,P. John Wiley and Sons Inc. 2014 Journal of veterinary internal medicine Vol.28 No.2

<P><B>Background</B></P><P>An excess of intra‐abdominal fat is observed frequently in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism (HAC). Adipokine dysregulation is a possible cause of complications related to visceral obesity, but little information is available on adipokine in dogs with naturally occurring HAC.</P><P><B>Objectives</B></P><P>To examine the differences in the circulating adipokines concentrations in overweight dogs with and without pituitary‐dependent HAC (PDH).</P><P><B>Animals</B></P><P>Thirty healthy dogs and 15 client‐owned dogs with PDH.</P><P><B>Methods</B></P><P>Case–controlled observational study, which enrolled 15 overweight dogs diagnosed with PDH and 30 otherwise healthy dogs of similar body condition score. Nine of 15 dogs with PDH were treated with low‐dose trilostane twice daily and reassessed after treatment.</P><P><B>Results</B></P><P>The serum leptin (<I>P</I> < .0001) and insulin (<I>P</I> < .0001) concentrations were significantly higher in the PDH group (leptin, 22.8 ± 8.8 [mean ± SD]; insulin, 9.1 ± 6.1) than the healthy group (leptin, 4.9 ± 3.7; insulin, 1.9 ± 0.9). However, there were no significant differences in the adiponectin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐10, and IL‐18 levels between the 2 groups. In the PDH group, the serum cortisol concentrations had a linear association with the leptin concentrations, and there were significant decreases in the leptin (<I>P</I> = .0039) and insulin (<I>P</I> = .0039) levels after trilostane treatment. However, the leptin and insulin levels remained higher after trilostane treatment than in healthy control dogs with similar body condition score.</P><P><B>Conclusions and Clinical Importance</B></P><P>Hypercortisolemia in dogs with PDH might upregulate the circulating leptin levels. However, a large population‐based study will be necessary to determine whether the upregulation of leptin is involved directly with the complications caused by HAC.</P>

Serum Adipokine Concentrations in Dogs with Acute Pancreatitis

Paek, J.,Kang, J.&#x2010,H.,Kim, H.&#x2010,S.,Lee, I.,Seo, K.W.,Yang, M.&#x2010,P. John Wiley and Sons Inc. 2014 Journal of veterinary internal medicine Vol.28 No.6

<P><B>Background</B></P><P>Limited information is available about the role of adipokines in the development and progression of acute pancreatitis (AP) in dogs.</P><P><B>Objectives</B></P><P>To determine whether the circulating concentrations of adipokines differed between healthy dogs and dogs with AP, and whether the circulating concentrations differed between AP survivors and AP nonsurvivors.</P><P><B>Animals</B></P><P>Twenty‐eight healthy dogs and 25 client‐owned dogs with AP.</P><P><B>Methods</B></P><P>Prospective observational cohort study of 25 client‐owned dogs with newly diagnosed AP and 28 otherwise healthy dogs with similar body condition scores. The serum concentrations of leptin, adiponectin, resistin, visfatin, interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐10, IL‐18, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α were measured.</P><P><B>Results</B></P><P>The serum concentrations of leptin (<I>P </I>=<I> </I>.0021), resistin (<I>P </I>=<I> </I>.0010), visfatin (<I>P </I><<I> </I>.0001), IL‐1β (<I>P </I><<I> </I>.0001), IL‐6 (<I>P </I>=<I> </I>.0002), IL‐10 (<I>P </I><<I> </I>.0001), and IL‐18 (<I>P </I><<I> </I>.0001) were significantly higher in dogs with AP than healthy dogs, whereas the adiponectin concentration (<I>P </I>=<I> </I>.0011) was significantly lower. There were significant differences in the serum concentrations of leptin (<I>P </I>=<I> </I>.028) and adiponectin (<I>P </I>=<I> </I>.046) in survivors and nonsurvivors. After the disappearance of clinical signs, the concentrations of resistin (<I>P </I>=<I> </I>.037) and IL‐1β (<I>P </I>=<I> </I>.027) decreased significantly, whereas the serum concentrations of leptin (<I>P </I>><I> </I>.999), adiponectin (<I>P </I>=<I> </I>.11), visfatin (<I>P </I>=<I> </I>.83), IL‐6 (<I>P </I>=<I> </I>.82), IL‐10 (<I>P </I>=<I> </I>.82), IL‐18 (<I>P </I>=<I> </I>.56), and TNF‐α (<I>P </I>=<I> </I>.94) did not differ significantly.</P><P><B>Conclusion and Clinical Importance</B></P><P>This study showed that dysregulation of adipokines might be involved in the pathogenesis of AP. In addition, leptin and adiponectin are likely to be associated with mortality rate in AP.</P>

High‐Mobility Air‐Stable Naphthalene Diimide‐Based Copolymer Containing Extended π‐Conjugation for n‐Channel Organic Field Effect Transistors

Kim, Ran,Amegadze, Paul S. K.,Kang, Il,Yun, Hui&#x2010,Jun,Noh, Yong&#x2010,Young,Kwon, Soon&#x2010,Ki,Kim, Yun&#x2010,Hi WILEY‐VCH Verlag 2013 Advanced Functional Materials Vol.23 No.46

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>A high‐performance naphthalene diimide (NDI)‐based conjugated polymer for use as the active layer of n‐channel organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs) is reported. The solution‐processable n‐channel polymer is systematically designed and synthesized with an alternating structure of long alkyl substituted‐NDI and thienylene–vinylene–thienylene units (PNDI‐TVT). The material has a well‐controlled molecular structure with an extended π‐conjugated backbone, with no increase in the LUMO level, achieving a high mobility and highly ambient stable n‐type OFET. The top‐gate, bottom‐contact device shows remarkably high electron charge‐carrier mobility of up to 1.8 cm<SUP>2</SUP> V<SUP>−1</SUP> s<SUP>−1</SUP> (<I>I</I><SUB>on</SUB>/<I>I</I><SUB>off</SUB> = 10<SUP>6</SUP>) with the commonly used polymer dielectric, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Moreover, PNDI‐TVT OFETs exhibit excellent air and operation stability. Such high device performance is attributed to improved π–π intermolecular interactions owing to the extended π‐conjugation, apart from the improved crystallinity and highly interdigitated lamellar structure caused by the extended π–π backbone and long alkyl groups.</P>

Transparent and Photo‐stable ZnO Thin‐film Transistors to Drive an Active Matrix Organic‐Light‐ Emitting‐Diode Display Panel

Park, Sang&#x2010,Hee K.,Hwang, Chi&#x2010,Sun,Ryu, Minki,Yang, Shinhyuk,Byun, Chunwon,Shin, Jaeheon,Lee, Jeong&#x2010,Ik,Lee, Kimoon,Oh, Min Suk,Im, Seongil WILEY‐VCH Verlag 2009 ADVANCED MATERIALS Vol.21 No.6

<P><B>Transparent ZnO thin‐film transistors (TFTs)</B> with a defect‐controlled channel and channel/dielectric interface maintain good photo‐stability during device operation. The figure shows a cross‐sectional view of a top‐gate ZnO‐based transparent TFT/storage capacitor cell structure, connected to front‐panel organic‐light‐emitting‐diode pixels to operate in bottom emission mode. </P>

Separation dynamics of hydrogen isotope gas in mesoporous and microporous adsorbent beds at 77 K: SBA-15 and zeolites 5A, Y, 10X

Chu, X.Z.,Cheng, Z.P.,Xiang, X.X.,Xu, J.M.,Zhao, Y.J.,Zhang, W.G.,Lv, J.S.,Zhou, Y.P.,Zhou, L.,Moon, D.K.,Lee, C.H. Pergamon Press ; Elsevier Science Ltd 2014 International journal of hydrogen energy Vol.39 No.9

The separation of a hydrogen isotope mixture on porous materials was studied using equilibrium and breakthrough experiments. The adsorption equilibria of H<SUB>2</SUB> and D<SUB>2</SUB> on SBA-15 with mesopores and molecular sieves 5A, Y, and 10X with micropores were measured at 77 K using the volumetric method. The breakthrough experiments of a H<SUB>2</SUB> and D<SUB>2</SUB> mixture in each adsorbent bed were carried out at various conditions of flow rate and pressure. The equilibrium ratio of D<SUB>2</SUB> to H<SUB>2</SUB> on mesoporous molecular sieves was larger than the ratio on microporous molecular sieves (SBA-15 > 10X > Y > 5A), but the difference among the adsorbents decreased with increases in pressure. On the other hand, the order of breakthrough separation factor showed the opposite result (SBA-15 < 10X < Y < 5A). The breakthrough separation factors for zeolite 10X was approximately equal to the equilibrium ratio of D<SUB>2</SUB> to H<SUB>2</SUB> at the corresponding partial pressures, whereas zeolites 5A and Y showed higher breakthrough separation factors than their equilibrium ratios. In SBA-15, the separation factors from breakthrough results were even smaller than the corresponding equilibrium ratio. In the microporous adsorbent with a limited pore size (zeolite 5A in the study), the diffusion mechanism contributed to the separation of hydrogen isotope gases as one of key factors.

Novel dentin phosphoprotein frameshift mutations in dentinogenesis imperfecta type II

Lee, K&#x2010,E,Kang, H&#x2010,Y,Lee, S&#x2010,K,Yoo, S&#x2010,H,Lee, J&#x2010,C,Hwang, Y&#x2010,H,Nam, KH,Kim, J&#x2010,S,Park, J&#x2010,C,Kim, J&#x2010,W Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2011 Clinical genetics Vol.79 No.4

<P>Lee K‐E, Kang H‐Y, Lee S‐K, Yoo S‐H, Lee J‐C, Hwang Y‐H, Nam KH, Kim J‐S, Park J‐C, Kim J‐W. Novel dentin phosphoprotein frameshift mutations in dentinogenesis imperfecta type II.</P><P>The dentin sialophosphoprotein (<I>DSPP</I>) gene encodes the most abundant non‐collagenous protein in tooth dentin and DSPP protein is cleaved into several segments including the highly phosphorylated dentin phosphoprotein (DPP). Mutations in the <I>DSPP</I> gene have been solely related to non‐syndromic form of hereditary dentin defects. We recruited three Korean families with dentinogenesis imperfecta (DGI) type II and sequenced the exons and exon–intron boundaries of the <I>DSPP</I> gene based on the candidate gene approach. Direct sequencing of PCR products and allele‐specific cloning of the highly repetitive exon 5 revealed novel single base pair (bp) deletional mutations (c.2688delT and c.3560delG) introducing hydrophobic amino acids in the hydrophilic repeat domain of the DPP coding region. All affected members of the three families showed exceptionally rapid pulp chambers obliteration, even before tooth eruption. Individuals with the c.3560delG mutation showed only mild, yellowish tooth discoloration, in contrast to the affected individuals from two families with c.2688delT mutation. We believe that these results will help us to understand the molecular pathogenesis of DGI type II as well as the normal process of dentin biomineralization.</P>

Asymptotics for self-normalized random products of sums of i.i.d. random variables

Pang, T.X.,Lin, Z.Y.,Hwang, K.S. Academic Press 2007 Journal of mathematical analysis and applications Vol.334 No.2

Let {X,X<SUB>i</SUB>;i>=1} be a sequence of independent and identically distributed positive random variables, which is in the domain of attraction of the normal law, and t<SUB>n</SUB> be a positive, integer random variable. Denote S<SUB>n</SUB>=@?<SUB>i=1</SUB><SUP>n</SUP>X<SUB>i</SUB>, V<SUB>n</SUB><SUP>2</SUP>=@?<SUB>i=1</SUB><SUP>n</SUP>(X<SUB>i</SUB>-X@?)<SUP>2</SUP>, where X@? denotes the sample mean. Then we show that the self-normalized random product of the partial sums, (@?<SUB>k=1</SUB><SUP>t<SUB>n</SUB></SUP>S<SUB>k</SUB>kμ)<SUP>&</SUP>mu;<SUP>V''<SUB>t'n</SUB></SUP>, is still asymptotically lognormal under a suitable condition about t<SUB>n</SUB>.