Effect of precursor ratio on the structural properties of ZnO thin films deposited by low pressure MOCVD

The effect of precursor ratio (H2O/DEZ) on the texture orientation, surface morphology, optical transparency and electrical resistivity of ZnO thin films deposited by MOCVD was investigated. Deposition temperature and pressure were fixed at 120 degrees C and 0.67 torr, respectively. The precursor ratio was varied between 0.1 and 4. It was found that the texture orientation changed from (0002) to (1120) with increase of the precursor ratio. (1120) textured film shows well facetted tetrapod like rough surface morphology, which scatters the incident light very effectively. The electrical resistivity was in the range of about 0.1 omega cm in the undoped state, which was found to decrease with increase of the film thickness and decrease of the precursor ratio.

A weekly administered sustained-release growth hormone reduces visceral fat and waist circumference in abdominal obesity

Administration of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in obesity has been known to lead to a decrease in visceral adiposity and an increase in lean body mass. Most studies have used supraphysiological doses of rhGH, which were administered daily or every other day. We aimed to evaluate whether weekly administered low dose of sustained-release rhGH (SR-rhGH) could play a therapeutic role in the treatment of abdominal obesity. Prospective, single-arm, open-label, multicenter pilot study was carried out. Participants were 26 adults aged 40-65 years old with abdominal obesity (male: waist circumference >90 cm, female: waist circumference >85 cm). The subjects were given 3 mg of SR-rhGH, administered subcutaneously, weekly for 26 weeks. SR-rhGH treatment for 26 weeks increased the IGF-1 level by 56.53±76.09 μg/l (SDS 0.77±1.12) compared to the baseline (p=0.0022). After 26 weeks, SR-rhGH treatment reduced abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) (140.35±75.97 to 128.43±73.85 cm2, p=0.0038). Average waist circumference decreased from 96.25±6.41 to 91.93±6.13 cm (p<0.0001) after treatment. However, body weight or lean body mass did not show any significant change. In conclusion, SR-rhGH treatment for 26 weeks reduced abdominal visceral fat and waist circumference without severe adverse events. Further studies may be considered on the role of weekly administered SR-rhGH as a treatment for abdominal obesity.

Premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction prevalence and attitudes in the Asia-Pacific region

INTRODUCTION

Premature ejaculation (PE) is a common male sexual dysfunction. The prevalence of PE in the Asia-Pacific region has not been comprehensively studied.

AIM

The aim of this study is to evaluate PE prevalence in nine Asia-Pacific countries and the impact of PE on sufferers.

METHODS

A random sample of heterosexual males aged 18-65 years in a stable sexual relationship currently or in the past 2 years completed a 48-question survey by computer-assisted interviewing, online, or in-person; the survey and recruitment methodologies varied by location. The survey included demographic questions, the five-question Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT), the five-question Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM), and the 10-question Index of Premature Ejaculation (IPE). Separately, men self-reported having PE (lifelong or acquired) or erectile dysfunction (ED).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The PEDT was used to diagnose PE or probable PE; the SHIM was used to diagnose ED; and the IPE was used to assess respondent's attitudes toward PE.

RESULTS

Of the 4,997 men who completed the survey, the prevalences of PEDT-diagnosed PE, PEDT-diagnosed probable PE, and self-reported PE were 16%, 15%, and 13%, respectively. Less than half of men with PEDT-diagnosed PE (N = 816) or probable PE (N = 738) self-reported the condition (40% and 19%, respectively), and 6% of men with a PEDT diagnosis of no PE self-reported PE. In contrast, more respondents self-reported ED (8%) than had SHIM-diagnosed moderate or severe ED (5%). IPE responses indicated that 45%, 46%, and 23% of men with PEDT-diagnosed PE were somewhat or very dissatisfied with the length of intercourse before ejaculation, their control over ejaculation, and with sexual intercourse, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, PE was more prevalent than ED in the Asia-Pacific countries surveyed, but only 40% of men with PEDT-diagnosed PE self-reported PE.

High-resolution diffusion-weighted imaging of neck lymph nodes using 2D-single-shot interleaved multiple inner volume imaging diffusion-weighted echo-planar imaging at 3T

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

2D-ss-IMIV-DWEPI is an ss-DWEPI with greatly reduced geometric distortion. The purposes of this paper are to 1) evaluate of the utility of 2D-ss-IMIV-DWEPI for high-resolution neck LN imaging; 2) determine whether 2D-ss-IMIV-DWEPI can depict normal LN hilum; and 3) evaluate whether the inclusion of LN hilum within ROIs affects the measured LN ADC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

HR-DWI was acquired with 1-mm² in-plane resolution and 2-mm section thickness by using 2D-ss-IMIV-DWEPI. In total, 58 LNs from 18 subjects were evaluated. The ADC map was calculated by using DWI with b = 10 and 300 s/mm². In those LNs where the LN hilum could be recognized, the LN ADC was measured with and without inclusion of the hilum, and the mean difference of the resulting ADC values was determined.

RESULTS

The hilar structure was identified by DWI in 15 LNs. The ADC of the hilum was 1.981 ± 0.331 × 10⁻³ mm²/s. In these 15 LNs, the ADC value excluding hilar structure was significantly lower than the ADC value including hilar structure (0.983 ± 0.169 versus 1.206 ± 0.244 × 10⁻³ mm²/s; P < .0001). The mean ADC in a total of 58 LNs excluding the hilar structure was significantly lower than the value obtained including the hilar structure (1.034 ± 0.183 versus 1.095 ± 0.213 × 10⁻³ mm²/s; P = .0002).

CONCLUSIONS

HR-DWI of neck LNs obtained by using 2D-ss-IMIV-DWEPI could identify the hilar structure. The ADC of normal neck LNs seemed significantly different when the hilum was included. The results suggest that HR-DWI may be helpful to aid selection of proper ROIs within LNs for accurate and reliable ADC measurements.

Variations in the course of the cervical vagus nerve on thyroid ultrasonography

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Only 1 ultrasonography study that described the variation of the VN had been published at the time our research was begun. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and type of variation in the course of the cervical VN on thyroid ultrasonography.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From August 2009 to September 2010, 163 consecutive patients were evaluated by sonography for the screening and characterization of thyroid nodules (mean age, 49.0 ± 14.4 years, male:female, 20:143). Two types of variation were defined as follows: 1) anterior variation, when the course of the VNs changed from the typical location to an anterior location in front of the CCA; and 2) medial variation, when the course of the VNs changed from the typical location to a location medial to the CCA (between CCA and thyroid gland). The incidence of the each variation was studied.

RESULTS

Variation in the course of the VN occurred in 5.5% (18/326) of cases. The anterior variation was observed in 4.3% (14/326, right:left = 4:10), and the medial variation was observed in 1.2% (4/326, right:left = 3:1). For both variations, the VN was close to or nearly abutted the thyroid gland after it changed course.

CONCLUSIONS

Variation in the course of the cervical VN could be assessed by ultrasonography. Two variations were observed in 5.5% of cases. The anterior variation was more common than the medial variation.

Long-term outcome of tamsulosin for patients with lower urinary tract symptoms according to the treatment response defined by lower urinary tract symptom outcomes score

IMS: To evaluate long-term outcome of tamsuolsin 0.2 mg for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients using a new subjective assessment of patient-reported outcomes and the lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) outcome score (LOS) over a 48-week period.

METHODS

This study investigated the long-term outcomes of either well-responded or poorly responded patient group as defined by LOS at the period of 12 weeks after BPH treatment. Outcome parameters used in this study were the most bothersome symptoms, BPH K1-short form as well as International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), maximum flow rate (Qmax) and postvoiding residual urine volume at 24-, 36- and 48-week follow-up.

RESULTS

Of the 414 patients recruited initially, 310 (75.2%) were defined as the responders and 39 (9.5%) as the non-responders to the treatment at 12 weeks, which was stratified by LOS. In this long-term study, the differences in improvement rates of clinical parameters between responder and non-responder groups at 12 weeks of treatment were maintained over the period of 48 weeks. Among the responder patients, most (75.6%) chose continuous administrations of tamsulosin. Improvements in clinical parameters were maintained in this subgroup. It is noteworthy that the improvements in clinical parameters of the non-responder group were dismal despite switching to the other treatment modalities.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term tamsulosin 0.2 mg for BPH patients is an effective treatment, both subjectively and objectively. Considering its integrative nature, LOS seemed to be one of the useful tools to predict the outcome after the management of LUTS.

Chloroform extract of aged black garlic attenuates TNF-α-induced ROS generation, VCAM-1 expression, NF-κB activation and adhesiveness for monocytes in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Aged black garlic is a type of fermented garlic (Allium sativum) which has been used in Oriental countries for a long time because of various biological properties of garlic derivatives. The current study explored the potential of the chloroform extract of aged black garlic (CEABG) in attenuating the activities of adhesion molecules in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The study was performed on HUVECs that were pretreated with 30 μg/mL of CEABG before TNF-α treatment. Treatment of HUVECs with CEABG significantly inhibited TNF-α-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. HUVECs treated with CEABG showed markedly suppressed TNF-α-induced mRNA expression of VCAM-1, but little alteration in ICAM-1 and E-selectin mRNA expression. CEABG treatment also significantly decreased the TNF-α-induced cell surface and total protein expression of VCAM-1 without affecting ICAM-1 and E-selectin expression. In addition, treatment of HUVECs with CEABG markedly reduced THP-1 monocyte adhesion to TNF-α-stimulated HUVECs. Furthermore, CEABG significantly inhibited NF-κB transcription factor activation in TNF-α-stimulated HUVECs. The data provide new evidence of the antiinflammatory properties of CEABG that may have a potential therapeutic use for the prevention and treatment of vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis through mechanisms involving the inhibition of VCAM-1 expression and NF-κB activation in vascular endothelial cells.

Characterization of the expression of cytokeratins 5, 8, and 14 in mouse thymic epithelial cells during thymus regeneration following acute thymic involution

The thymus is a central lymphoid organ for T cell development. Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) constitute a major component of the thymic stroma, which provides a specialized microenvironment for survival, proliferation, and differentiation of immature T cells. In this study, subsets of TECs were examined immunohistochemically to investigate their cytokeratin (CK) expression patterns during thymus regeneration following thymic involution induced by cyclophosphamide treatment. The results demonstrated that both normal and regenerating mouse thymuses showed a similar CK expression pattern. The major medullary TECs (mTEC) subset, which is stellate in appearance, exhibited CK5 and CK14 staining, and the minor mTEC subset, which is globular in appearance, exhibited CK8 staining, whereas the vast majority of cortical TECs (cTECs) expressed CK8 during thymus regeneration. Remarkably, the levels of CK5 and CK14 expression were enhanced in mTECs, and CK8 expression was upregulated in cTECs during mouse thymus regeneration after cyclophosphamide-induced acute thymic involution. Of special interest, a relatively high number of CK5⁺CK8⁺ TEC progenitors occurred in the thymic cortex during thymus regeneration. Taken together, these findings shed more light on the role of CK5, CK8, and CK14 in the physiology of TECs during mouse thymus regeneration, and on the characterization of TEC progenitors for restoration of the epithelial network and for concomitant regeneration of the adult thymus.

Feasibility of nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma for intracoronal bleaching

AIM

To investigate the effect of nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma on intracoronal tooth bleaching in blood stained human teeth.

METHODOLOGY

Forty extracted single-root and blood stained human teeth were used. The teeth were randomly divided into two groups (n=20): group 1 received 30% HP activated by nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma in the pulp chamber for 30 min, whilst group 2 received 30% HP alone in the pulp chamber for 30 min. The overall colour changes (ΔE) were assessed using the Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE) Lab Colour System. The data were analysed using Student's t-test to determine the significant differences.

RESULTS

The temperature of all teeth was maintained at approximately 37 °C during plasma bleaching. The plasma treatment with 30% HP resulted in significantly higher bleaching efficacy compared to 30% HP alone in discoloured teeth (P<0.05). The average ΔE values of group 1 and group 2 were 9.24 (0.37) and 4.47 (1.62), respectively, at 30 min.

CONCLUSIONS

The application of nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma to intracoronal bleaching could be a novel and efficient therapy in the bleaching of haemorrhagically stained teeth.

A new biosensor for specific determination of glucose or fructose using an oxidoreductase of Zymomonas mobilis

Cells of Zymomonas mobilis were permeabilized with toluene in order to utilize the enzymes, glucose-fructose oxidoreductase and gluconolactonase, inside the intact cells. Permeabilized cells were immobilized in a gelatin membrane, and a whole cell enzyme electrode was constructed by fixing the membrane on pH electrode. The biosensor developed was used for specific determination of glucose or fructose by detecting the production rate of hydrogen ion. Optimum conditions for biosensor response were pH 6.2 and temperature of 39 degrees C. The biosensor was highly specific and reproducible, and calibration curves for glucose and fructose were excellent, being linear up to 5 and 50 g/L, respectively.

Inhibition of the PI3K-Akt pathway suppresses sFlt1 expression in human placental hypoxia models in vitro

OBJECTIVE

Although elevated expression of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt1) plays a major role in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia, it is unclear how hypoxia regulates placental sFlt1 expression. Thus, we investigated sFlt1 expression in placentas from normal and preeclamptic pregnancies and in human placental hypoxia models in vitro to examine the role of the PI3K-Akt pathway in regulating the expression of this molecule.

METHODS

We examined the expression of VEGF, PlGF, sFlt1, PI3K, Akt, and HIF-1 in placental samples from ten women with pre-eclampsia and ten normotensive control patients and in human choriocarcinoma trophoblast cells treated with 600muM CoCl(2) by Western blotting. Using models of placental hypoxia, we also determined whether inhibition of the PI3K-Akt pathway plays a direct role in regulating the expression of sFlt1.

RESULTS

The VEGF, PlGF, sFlt1, PI3K, Akt, and HIF-1 levels were significantly higher in the preeclamptic placentas than the normal placentas. In the placental hypoxia models, the expression of VEGF and PlGF increased in a time-dependent manner, whereas the expression of sFlt1 plateaued after 3h of CoCl(2) treatment. The expression levels of p-Akt and PI3K were maximal after 6 and 12h of CoCl(2) treatment, respectively. The expression of HIF-1alpha increased in a time-dependent manner with CoCl(2) treatment. Inhibition of the PI3K-Akt pathway with the PI3K-specific inhibitor LY294002 leads to decreased sFlt1 levels and unchanged or increased VEGF and PlGF levels.

CONCLUSION

Inhibition of the PI3K-Akt pathway may be a useful therapeutic approach, if it were to decrease sFlt1 secretion without inhibiting VEGF or PlGF secretion. This pathway provides a potential target for a new treatment strategy in patients with pre-eclampsia.

Electron beam induced current measurements on single-walled carbon nanotube devices

We report on electron beam induced current (EBIC) from individual carbon nanotubes (CNTs) which are in contact with metal electrodes. The EBIC signals originate from the diffusion of excess carriers induced by the electron beam bombardment. The EBIC image enables us to locate the individual CNTs efficiently. From the polarity of the EBIC signals we can identify the electrical contacts to the metal electrodes. More importantly, we demonstrate that the EBIC can be used to characterize the local electrical properties of CNT-based devices, such as asymmetry in metal contacts and the presence of defects. EBIC is also observed regardless of the presence of insulating surfaces, indicating that the EBIC is a result of the direct interaction between the CNTs and the electron beams.

New electrohydrodynamic flow caused by the Onsager effect

We report a new type of electrohydrodynamic (EHD) flow generated around a circular cylinder and a spherical particle in a dielectric liquid under dc and ac electric fields. The EHD flow is observed for various combinations of dielectric liquids and polar additives. We suggest that the EHD flow is caused by a gradient of electrical conductivity produced by a nonuniform electric field and subsequent generation of free charge in the bulk liquid. Analytical and numerical analyses which are based on the leaky-dielectric model show good agreement with experimental results.

An open, non-comparative, multicentre study on the impact of alfuzosin on sexual function using the Male Sexual Health Questionnaire in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia

OBJECTIVES

To determine the effect of alfuzosin on sexual function by using the Male Sexual Health Questionnaire (MSHQ) in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this multicentre, open-label and non-comparative study, a total of 135 sexually active patients with LUTS were enrolled in Korea to receive alfuzosin 10 mg once daily for 12 weeks. International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and a 25-item MSHQ exploring erection ejaculation and satisfaction with sex life were evaluated at baseline after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment.

RESULTS

Of 135 patients (age 58.8 years, duration of LUTS 2.6 years, mean values), 110 (81.5%) completed the study. The ejaculatory domain of the MSHQ significantly improved at the end-point in the intent-to-treat population (score difference of 2.24, p < or = 0.0001, n = 120). The domains of erection and sexual satisfaction improved at the end-point, but the score differences were not statistically significant. After the 12 weeks treatment, the total IPSS score significantly decreased from 17.9 to 12.1 (p < 0.0001), bother score decreased from 3.8 to 2.85 (p < 0.0001) and peak flow rate increased from 11.0 to 14.3 ml/s (p < 0.0001). A significant relationship between ejaculatory domains of MSHQ and IPSS was found. Four patients (2.9%) discontinued the trial for adverse event.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the analysis of MSHQ scores before and after alfuzosin treatment, improvement was significant on ejaculatory function, in addition to improvement on LUTS and quality of life. MSHQ is a useful tool to evaluate the male sexual dysfunction.