Experimental results from an X-ray imaging crystal spectrometer utilizing multi-wire proportional counter for KSTAR.

The inconsistency of the first experimental results from the X-ray imaging crystal spectrometer for the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research device utilizing a multi-wire proportional counter (MWPC) is clarified after improving the photon-count rate of the data acquisition system for the MWPC and ground loop isolator for the whole spectrometer system. The improved MWPC is successfully applied to pure Ohmic plasmas as well as plasmas with high confinement modes.

Efficacy and safety of teneligliptin, a novel dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a 24-week multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III trial.

We assessed the 24-week efficacy and safety of teneligliptin, a novel dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that was inadequately controlled with diet and exercise. The present study was designed as a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, phase III study. Patients (n = 142) were randomized 2 : 1 into two different treatment groups as follows: 99 received teneligliptin (20 mg) and 43 received placebo. The primary endpoint was change in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level from baseline to week 24. Teneligliptin significantly reduced the HbA1c level from baseline compared with placebo after 24 weeks. At week 24, the differences between changes in HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose (FBG) in the teneligliptin and placebo groups were -0.94% [least-squares (LS) mean -1.22, -0.65] and -1.21 mmol/l (-1.72, -0.70), respectively (all p < 0.001). The incidence of hypoglycaemia and adverse events were not significantly different between the two groups. This phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled study provides evidence of the safety and efficacy of 24 weeks of treatment with teneligliptin as a monotherapy in Korean patients with T2DM.

The usefulness of arbekacin compared to vancomycin.

The bacteriological efficacy response (improved, arbekacin vs. vancomycin; 71.2% vs. 79.5%) and clinical efficacy response (improved, arbekacin vs. vancomycin; 65.3% vs. 76.1%) were not statistically different between the two groups. The complication rate was significantly higher in the vancomycin group (32.9%) compared to the arbekacin group (15.1%) (p=0.019). Arbekacin was not inferior to vancomycin, and it could be a good alternative drug for vancomycin in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) treatment.

The first experimental results from x-ray imaging crystal spectrometer for KSTAR.

The x-ray imaging crystal spectrometer (XICS) for the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research has been first applied for the experimental campaign in 2009. The XICS was designed to provide measurements of the profiles of the ion and electron temperatures from the heliumlike argon (Ar XVII) spectra. The basic functions of the XICS are properly working although some satellites lines are not well matched with the expected theoretical values. The initial experimental results from the XICS are briefly described.

Spectral resolution measurement of an x-ray imaging crystal spectrometer for KSTAR.

A spectral resolution measurement of the x-ray imaging crystal spectrometer for the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research machine utilizing a segmented position-sensitive detector and time-to-digital converter based delay-line readout electronics was performed by using an x-ray tube in a laboratory. The measured spectral resolution is about 12,600, which means the actual energy resolution is 0.32 eV for the x-ray tube's bremsstrahlung peak energy of 4 keV. The results from the spectral resolution measurement are described.

Association of polymorphisms in the insulin-degrading enzyme gene with type 2 diabetes in the Korean population.

Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) is a metalloproteinase which degrades insulin and terminates its action. Homologous deletion of IDE gene resulted in hyperinsulinemia and glucose intolerance in a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Several genetic association studies examined IDE as a susceptibility gene for type 2 diabetes in European descents. Here we investigated the genetic association of IDE polymorphisms with the risk of type 2 diabetes and its related phenotypes in the Korean population. Among six single nucleotide polymorphisms analyzed, g.-179T>C (OR=1.73, P=0.04), and g.IVS18+99G>A (OR=1.23, P=0.02) revealed borderline association with increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Combining our results with previous data obtained from the European population, g.-179T>C (OR=1.11, P=0.03), and g.IVS24-64A>T (OR=1.18, P=0.005) showed significant association with type 2 diabetes. Haplotype consisting of common alleles of the six polymorphisms was associated with decreased risk of type 2 diabetes (OR=0.82, P=0.02). However, none of the polymorphisms was significantly associated with metabolic phenotypes. We can conclude that variations in IDE might contribute to diabetes susceptibility in the Korean population.

Data acquisition system for an advanced x-ray imaging crystal spectrometer using a segmented position-sensitive detector.

A versatile time-to-digital converter based data acquisition system for a segmented position-sensitive detector has been developed. This data acquisition system was successfully demonstrated to a two-segment position-sensitive detector. The data acquisition system will be developed further to support multisegmented position-sensitive detector to improve the photon count rate capability of the advanced x-ray imaging crystal spectrometer system.

Development of advanced x-ray imaging crystal spectrometer utilizing a large area segmented proportional counter for KSTAR.

An advanced x-ray imaging crystal spectrometer (XICS) for KSTAR tokamak has been developed by utilizing a segmented two dimensional (2D) position-sensitive multiwire proportional counter. The XICS for the KSTAR tokamak provides time-resolved measurements of the radial ion and electron temperature profiles, toroidal plasma rotation velocity, and ionization equilibrium. The segmented 2D detector with delay-line readout and supporting electronics has been adopted to improve the photon count rate capability. The current fabrication status of the XICS for the KSTAR tokamak and the first performance test results of the prototype segmented 2D detector are presented.

Genetic polymorphisms in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma are associated with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity in the Korean population.

AIMS: We examined whether the common polymorphisms of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) gene are associated with Type 2 diabetes or obesity in the Korean population. METHODS: We genotyped two common PPARgamma polymorphisms (Pro12Ala and 161C > T) and examined their association with the clinical phenotypes found in 684 patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and 291 non-diabetic control subjects. RESULTS: The 12Ala allele was less frequent in the Type 2 diabetic patients than in the non-diabetic control subjects (0.036 vs. 0.053, P = 0.024). The allele frequencies of the 161C > T polymorphism did not differ between the control and Type 2 diabetic group (0.158 vs. 0.173). In the non-diabetic controls, those with the T allele had lower BMI and fasting serum triglyceride (TG) concentrations than those with the C/C homozygote (22.7 +/- 2.9 vs. 23.8 +/- 3.2 kg/m2, P = 0.002; 1.45 +/- 0.81 vs. 1.65 +/- 0.83 mmol/l, P = 0.03, respectively). The 12Ala-161T haplotype was associated with a decreased risk for Type 2 diabetes (OR = 0.47, P = 0.009), whereas the 12Pro-161T haplotype was associated with lower BMI and lower fasting serum TG (22.5 +/- 2.8 vs. 23.7 +/- 3.2 kg/m2, P = 0.004; 1.41 +/- 0.87 vs. 1.64 +/- 0.79 mmol/l, P = 0.02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The PPARgamma 12Ala allele was associated with a reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes, whereas the PPARgamma 161T allele was associated with lower BMI and fasting serum TG concentrations in the Korean subjects. The subjects with 12Ala-161T haplotypes had a reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Genetic association study of adiponectin polymorphisms with risk of Type 2 diabetes mellitus in Korean population.

AIMS: To investigate any association between Type 2 diabetes mellitus and two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the adiponectin gene, T45G and G276T, in the Korean population. METHODS: We genotyped 427 non-diabetic controls and 493 Type 2 diabetic patients for SNPs T45G and G276T of adiponectin gene, measured plasma adiponectin concentrations, and examined clinical parameters in Koreans. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in allele frequencies of SNPs 45 and 276 comparing control with Type 2 diabetic subjects (T frequency 68.3% vs. 71.6%, P=0.13 for SNP45, G frequency 72.2% vs. 68.9%, P=0.12 for SNP276). The genotype distributions of these SNPs had no association with the risk of Type 2 diabetes and metabolic parameters of insulin resistance. Plasma levels of adiponectin were not statistically different according to T45G and G276T either, in both control and Type 2 diabetic subjects. CONCLUSION: The T45G and G276T of the adiponectin gene may not be an important determinant of Type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance in Korean subjects.