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>

Serine palmitoyltransferase inhibitor myriocin induces growth inhibition of B16F10 melanoma cells through G₂/M phase arrest

Lee, Y.&#x2010,S.,Choi, K.&#x2010,M.,Choi, M.&#x2010,H.,Ji, S.&#x2010,Y.,Lee, S.,Sin, D.&#x2010,M.,Oh, K.&#x2010,W.,Lee, Y.&#x2010,M.,Hong, J.&#x2010,T.,Yun, Y.&#x2010,P.,Yoo, H.&#x2010,S. Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2011 Cell proliferation Vol.44 No.4

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P><B>Objectives: </B> Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer, and it resists chemotherapy. Candidate drugs for effective anti‐cancer treatment have been sought from natural resources. Here, we have investigated anti‐proliferative activity of myriocin, serine palmitoyltransferase inhibitor, in the <I>de novo</I> sphingolipid pathway, and its mechanism in B16F10 melanoma cells.</P><P><B>Material and methods: </B> We assessed cell population growth by measuring cell numbers, DNA synthesis, cell cycle progression, and expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins. Ceramide, sphingomyelin, sphingosine and sphingosine‐1‐phosphate levels were analysed by HPLC.</P><P><B>Results: </B> Myriocin inhibited proliferation of melanoma cells and induced cell cycle arrest in the G<SUB>2</SUB>/M phase. Expressions of cdc25C, cyclin B1 and cdc2 were decreased in the cells after exposure to myriocin, while expression of p53 and p21<SUP>waf1/cip1</SUP> was increased. Levels of ceramide, sphingomyelin, sphingosine and sphingosine‐1‐phosphate in myriocin‐treated cells after 24 h were reduced by approximately 86%, 57%, 75% and 38%, respectively, compared to levels in control cells.</P><P><B>Conclusions: </B> Our results suggest that inhibition of sphingolipid synthesis by myriocin in melanoma cells may inhibit expression of cdc25C or activate expression of p53 and p21<SUP>waf1/cip1</SUP>, followed by inhibition of cyclin B1 and cdc2, resulting in G<SUB>2</SUB>/M arrest of the cell cycle and cell population growth inhibition. Thus, modulation of sphingolipid metabolism by myriocin may be a potential target of mechanism‐based therapy for this type of skin cancer.</P>

Biocompatible Poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate)‐<i>b</i>‐poly(<small>L</small>‐histidine) Hybrid Materials for pH‐Sensitive Intracellular Anticancer Drug Delivery

Johnson, Renjith P.,Jeong, Young&#x2010,Il,Choi, Eunji,Chung, Chung&#x2010,Wook,Kang, Dae Hwan,Oh, Sae&#x2010,Ock,Suh, Hongsuk,Kim, Il WILEY‐VCH Verlag 2012 Advanced Functional Materials Vol.22 No.5

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>A series of synthetic polymer bioconjugate hybrid materials consisting of poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (p(HEMA)) and poly(<SMALL>l‐</SMALL>histidine) (p(His)) are synthesized by combining atom transfer radical polymerization of HEMA with ring opening polymerization of benzyl‐<I>N</I>‐carboxy‐<SMALL>L</SMALL>‐histidine anhydride. The resulting biocompatible and membranolytic p(HEMA)<SUB>25</SUB>‐<I>b</I>‐p(His)<SUB><I>n</I></SUB> (<I>n</I> = 15, 25, 35, and 45) polymers are investigated for their use as pH‐sensitive drug‐carrier for tumor targeting. Doxorubicin (Dox) is encapsulated in nanosized micelles fabricated by a self‐assembly process and delivered under different pH conditions. Micelle size is characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations. Dox release is investigated according to pH, demonstrating the release is sensitive to pH. Antitumor activity of the released Dox is assessed using the HCT 116 human colon carcinoma cell line. Dox released from the p(HEMA)‐<I>b</I>‐p(His) micelles remains biologically active and has the dose‐dependent capability to kill cancer cells at acidic pH. The p(HEMA)‐<I>b</I>‐p(His) hybrid materials are capable of self‐assembling into nanomicelles and effectively encapsulating the chemotherapeutic agent Dox, which allows them to serve as suitable carriers of drug molecules for tumor targeting.</P>

<i>In vitro</i> inhibitory effects of Wen‐pi‐tang‐Hab‐Wu‐ling‐san on human cytochrome P450 isoforms

Lee, H. W.,Kim, D. W.,Phapale, P. B.,Lim, M. &#x2010,S.,Park, J.,Seo, J. J.,Park, K. M.,Park, Y. &#x2010,K.,Yoon, Y. &#x2010,R. Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2011 Journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics Vol.36 No.4

<P><B>Summary</B></P><P><B>What is known and Objective: </B> Although Wen‐pi‐tang‐Hab‐Wu‐ling‐san (WHW), an oriental herbal medicine, has been prescribed for the treatment of chronic renal failure (CRF) in Korean clinics, no studies regarding WHW–drug interactions had been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibility that WHW inhibits the catalytic activities of major cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms.</P><P><B>Methods: </B> The abilities of various WHW extracts to inhibit phenacetin O‐de‐ethylation (CYP1A2), tolbutamide 4‐methylhydroxylation (CYP2C9), omeprazole 4′‐hydroxylation (CYP2C19), dextromethorphan O‐demethylation (CYP2D6), chlorzoxazone 6‐hydroxylation (CYP2E1) and midazolam 1‐hydroxylation (CYP3A4) were assessed using human liver microsomes.</P><P><B>Results and Discussion: </B> WHW extract at concentrations up to 100 μ<SMALL>m</SMALL> showed negligible inhibition of the six CYP isoforms tested (CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2E1 and CYP3A4), with apparent IC<SUB>50</SUB> values (concentration of the inhibitor causing 50% inhibition of the original enzyme activity) of 817.5, 601.6, 521.7, 310.2, 342.8 and 487.0 μg/mL, respectively.</P><P><B>What is new and Conclusion: </B> Our <I>in vitro</I> findings suggest that WHW extract at concentrations corresponding to a clinically recommended dosage range has no notable inhibitory effects on CYP isoforms. Therefore, we believe that WHW extract may be free of drug–herb interactions when co‐administered with other medicines. However, <I>in vivo</I> human studies are needed to confirm these results.</P>

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>

Serum Concentrations of Leptin and Adiponectin in Dogs with Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease

Kim, H.&#x2010,S.,Kang, J.&#x2010,H.,Jeung, E.&#x2010,B.,Yang, M.&#x2010,P. John Wiley and Sons Inc. 2016 Journal of veterinary internal medicine Vol.30 No.5

<P><B>Background</B></P><P>The concentrations of circulating adipokines in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) have not been investigated in detail.</P><P><B>Objectives</B></P><P>To determine whether serum concentrations of adipokines differ between healthy dogs and dogs with MMVD and whether circulating concentrations depend on the severity of heart failure resulting from MMVD.</P><P><B>Animals</B></P><P>In the preliminary study, 30 healthy dogs and 17 client‐owned dogs with MMVD, and in the subsequent study, 30 healthy dogs and 46 client‐owned dogs with MMVD.</P><P><B>Methods</B></P><P>Prospective case‐controlled observational study. In the preliminary study, serum concentrations of leptin, adiponectin, resistin, visfatin, interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐10, IL‐18, and tumor necrosis factor‐α were measured. In the subsequent study, MMVD dogs were divided into three groups according to the International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council (ISACHC) classification, and serum concentrations of leptin and adiponectin were measured.</P><P><B>Results</B></P><P>In the preliminary study, serum leptin and adiponectin concentrations differed significantly between dogs with MMVD and healthy dogs. Serum leptin (<I>P</I> = .0013) concentrations were significantly higher in dogs with MMVD than in healthy dogs, whereas adiponectin (<I>P</I> = .0009) concentrations were significantly lower in dogs with MMVD. However, we observed no significant differences in the other variables. In the subsequent study, dogs classified as ISACHC class 3 had higher serum concentrations of leptin (<I>P</I> = .0022) than healthy dogs but ISACHC class 1 or 2 dogs did not. Serum adiponectin concentrations were significantly lower in ISACHC class 1 (<I>P</I> < .0001) dogs than in healthy dogs, whereas adiponectin concentrations in ISACHC class 3 dogs were significantly higher than in ISACHC class 1 dogs (<I>P</I> = .0081).</P><P><B>Conclusions and Clinical Importance</B></P><P>Circulating concentrations of leptin and adiponectin might be altered in dogs with MMVD.</P>

Solar Water Splitting with a Hydrogenase Integrated in Photoelectrochemical Tandem Cells

Nam, Dong Heon,Zhang, Jenny Z.,Andrei, Virgil,Kornienko, Nikolay,Heidary, Nina,Wagner, Andreas,Nakanishi, Kenichi,Sokol, Katarzyna P.,Slater, Barnaby,Zebger, Ingo,Hofmann, Stephan,Fontecilla&#x2010,Ca John Wiley and Sons Inc. 2018 Angewandte Chemie Vol.57 No.33

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>Hydrogenases (H<SUB>2</SUB>ases) are benchmark electrocatalysts for H<SUB>2</SUB> production, both in biology and (photo)catalysis in vitro. We report the tailoring of a p‐type Si photocathode for optimal loading and wiring of H<SUB>2</SUB>ase through the introduction of a hierarchical inverse opal (IO) TiO<SUB>2</SUB> interlayer. This proton‐reducing Si|IO‐TiO<SUB>2</SUB>|H<SUB>2</SUB>ase photocathode is capable of driving overall water splitting in combination with a photoanode. We demonstrate unassisted (bias‐free) water splitting by wiring Si|IO‐TiO<SUB>2</SUB>|H<SUB>2</SUB>ase to a modified BiVO<SUB>4</SUB> photoanode in a photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell during several hours of irradiation. Connecting the Si|IO‐TiO<SUB>2</SUB>|H<SUB>2</SUB>ase to a photosystem II (PSII) photoanode provides proof of concept for an engineered Z‐scheme that replaces the non‐complementary, natural light absorber photosystem I with a complementary abiotic silicon photocathode.</P>

Burden of dengue among febrile patients at the time of chikungunya introduction in Piedecuesta, Colombia

Carabali, Mabel,Lim, Jacqueline K.,Palencia, Diana C.,Lozano&#x2010,Parra, Anyela,Gelvez, Rosa Margarita,Lee, Kang Sung,Florez, Janeth P.,Herrera, Victor Mauricio,Kaufman, Jay S.,Rojas, Elsa M.,Villar John Wiley and Sons Inc. 2018 Tropical medicine & international health Vol.23 No.11

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P><B>Objective</B></P><P>To estimate the age‐specific incidence of symptomatic dengue and chikungunya in Colombia.</P><P><B>Method</B></P><P>A passive facility‐based fever surveillance study was conducted among individuals with undifferentiated fever. Confirmatory diagnostics included serological and molecular tests in paired samples, and surveillance's underreporting was assessed using capture–recapture methods.</P><P><B>Results</B></P><P>Of 839 febrile participants 686 completed the study. There were 33.2% (295/839) dengue infections (51% primary infections), and 35.9% (191/532) of negative dengue cases there were chikungunya cases. On average, dengue cases were younger (median = 18 years) than chikungunya cases (median = 25 years). Thrombocytopaenia and abdominal pain were the main dengue predictors, while presence of rash was the main predictor for chikungunya diagnosis. Underreporting of dengue was 31%; the estimated expansion factors indicate an underreporting rate of dengue cases of threefold for all cases and of almost sixfold for inpatients.</P><P><B>Conclusions</B></P><P>These findings highlight the ongoing coexistence of both arboviruses, a distinct clinical profile of each condition in the study area that could be used by clinicians to generate a differential diagnosis, and the presence of underreporting, mostly among hospitalised cases.</P>

Influence of Cr Doping on the Critical Behavior of Amorphous Alloy Ribbons Fe_{78–<i>x</i>}Cr_<i>x</i>Si₄Nb₅B₁₂Cu₁

Phan, T. L.,Thanh, P. Q.,Chau, N.,Huu, C. X.,Ngo, D.-T,Ho, T. A.,Thanh, T. D.,Yu, S. C. IEEE 2014 IEEE transactions on magnetics Vol.50 No.11

<P>Though many previous works focused on studying Cr-doped Fe-Si-Nb-B-Cu amorphous alloys, magnetic-interaction mechanisms in these materials have not been carefully investigated yet. Dealing with these issues, we have prepared the amorphous alloy ribbons Fe<SUB>78-x</SUB>Cr<SUB>x</SUB>Si<SUB>4</SUB>Nb<SUB>5</SUB>B<SUB>12</SUB>Cu<SUB>1</SUB> with x= 1, 3, and 6, and then studied their magnetic and critical properties. Magnetization versus temperature and magnetic-field measurements, MHT, performed on a vibrating sample magnetometer reveal that the Cr-content increase in Fe<SUB>78-x</SUB>Cr<SUB>x</SUB>Si<SUB>4</SUB>Nb<SUB>5</SUB>B<SUB>12</SUB>Cu<SUB>1</SUB> reduces the T<SUB>C</SUB> from 430 K for x= 1 to about 322 K (for x= 6). This indicates the decline of ferromagnetic (FM) exchange interactions between Fe atoms when there is the presence of Cr atoms. We have also analyzed the M(H) data at the temperatures in the vicinity of the T<SUB>C</SUB> using the modified Arrott plot method and the scaling hypothesis, and determined the values of the critical exponents β = 0.367-0.376 and γ = 1.315-1.338. These values are close to those expected for the 3-D Heisenberg model with β = 0.365 and γ = 1.336, proving the existence of short-range FM order in the amorphous alloy ribbons.</P>