Selectivity of Electrochemical Reactions Based on Adsorption at Nanoporous Electrodes.

Enhancing selectivity is a pivotal area of research when electrodes are utilized as catalysts or sensors. Nanoporous electrodes are representative electrode materials for diverse applications, such as catalysts and sensors. Selectivity arising from nanoporous structures has been applied to systems involving nonfaradaic reactions such as capacitive deionization, electrochemical supercapacitors, and conductometry. Since selectivity in faradaic reactions has primarily been explored based on reactivity and molecular charge and size, we propose that the surface adsorption of reactant molecules can be considered as another crucial factor in achieving selectivity. Our observations reveal that the nonadsorptive reaction of 2-propanol and 2-butanol experienced a more pronounced enhancement compared to the adsorptive reaction of 1-propanol and 1-butanol at nanoporous Pt electrodes, owing to the nanoconfinement effect. Even within the same molecule with a mixture of adsorptive and nonadsorptive reactions, the degree of influence of the nanostructure depends on the adsorptive capacity of the reaction, which affects the overall selectivity. Moreover, the size effect of the reactants in the nanoporous electrode is also dependent on the degree of adsorption. These findings provide valuable insights into the effective utilization of nanoporous materials as catalysts or sensors.

Thermodynamic patterns duringin-situheating of InAs nanowires encapsulated in Al2O3shells.

Understanding the dynamic thermal behavior of nanomaterials based on their unique physical and chemical properties is critical for their applications. In this study, the thermal behavior of single-crystalline InAs nanowires in an amorphous Al2O3shell was investigated by conductingin situheating experiments in a transmission electron microscope. Two different thermodynamic patterns were observed during thein situheating experiments: (1) continuous vaporization and condensation simultaneously at temperatures lower than 838.15 K, and (2) pure evaporation at temperatures higher than 878.15 K. During the simultaneous condensation and vaporization in closer areas in a single InAs nanowire, the front edge of the vaporization was flat, while that of the condensation actively changed with time and temperature. Pure vaporization was conducted via layer-by-layer evaporation followed by three-dimensional vaporization at the final stage. The thermal behaviors of the InAs nanowires were demonstrated from a thermodynamic point of view.

Application of a puffer fish skin gelatin film containing Moringa oleifera Lam. leaf extract to the packaging of Gouda cheese.

This study aims to develop a puffer fish skin gelatin (PSG) film that contains Moringa oleifera Lam. leaf extract (ME) as a new biodegradable film. With the increase in ME concentration, the tensile strength and elongation at break of the PSG film increased, whereas the oxygen permeability and water vapor permeability decreased. In addition, the PSG film with ME exhibited antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes and antioxidant activity. To apply the ME-containing PSG film to food packaging, Gouda cheese was wrapped with the ME-containing PSG film. During storage, the cheese packaging with the ME-containing PSG film effectively inhibited the microbial growth and retarded the lipid oxidation of cheese compared with the control sample. Thus, the ME-containing PSG film can be used as an antimicrobial and antioxidative packaging material to improve the quality of food products.

The Different Associations of White Matter Hyperintensities With Severity of Dementia and Cognitive Impairment According to the Distance From the Lateral Ventricular Surface in Patients With Alzheimer's Disease.

OBJECTIVE: White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are common among the elderly. Although WMH play a key role in lowering the threshold for the clinical expression of dementia in Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related pathology, the clinical significance of their location is not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the association between WMH and cognitive function according to the location of WMH in AD. METHODS: Subjects underwent clinical evaluations including volumetric brain magnetic resonance imaging study and neuropsychological tests using the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Packet. WMH were calculated using automated quantification method. According to the distance from the lateral ventricular surface, WMH within 3 mm, WMH within 3-13 mm, and WMH over 13 mm were classified as juxtaventricular WMH (JVWMH), periventricular WMH (PVWMH), and deep WMH (DWMH), respectively. RESULTS: Total WMH volume was associated with poor performance in categorical verbal fluency test (ß=-0.197, p=0.035). JVWMH volume was associated with poor performances on categorical verbal fluency test (ß=-0.201, p=0.032) and forward digit span test (ß= -0.250, p=0.012). PVWMH volume was associated with poor performances on categorical verbal fluency test (ß=-0.185, p=0.042) and word list memory test (ß=-0.165, p=0.042), whereas DWMH volume showed no association with cognitive tests. PVWMH volume were also related to Clinical Dementia Rating Scale Sum of Boxes score (ß=0.180, p=0.026). CONCLUSION: WMH appear to exhibit different associations with the severity of dementia and cognitive impairment according to the distance from ventricle surface in AD.

Characteristics and Trends of Pediatric Trauma in Jeju Island, South Korea: A Community Level Serial Cross-sectional study.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the characteristics and epidemiological trends of pediatric injuries among patients visiting emergency departments (EDs) on Jeju Island. Method: Employing a community-level serial cross-sectional analysis, we targeted pediatric patients aged 18 years or younger who visited EDs for injuries over a ten-year period. The data, sourced from the Jeju Injury Surveillance System (JISS), facilitated a comprehensive examination of injury characteristics and epidemiological trends. This included an evaluation of the annual incidence and overall trends in pediatric injury cases. Results: The study found toddlers (42.5% of cases) to be the most frequently injured age group. Males were more prone to injuries, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.7:1. Injuries among visitors accounted for 17.3% of cases, with a seasonal spike in Summer, evenings and weekends. Most incidents occurred at home, predominantly accidental in nature, with adolescents more likely to require EMS services. The common mechanisms of injuries were blunt force (49.2%), slips/falls (22.0%), and motor vehicle collisions (13.2%), leading to bruises, cuts, and sprains. Over the decade, a general increase in pediatric injuries was observed. Accidental injuries initially surged but later stabilized, while self-harm/suicide and assault/violence injuries showed a concerning upward trend. Age-specific analysis revealed increasing trends in infants and adolescents. Conclusion: The study underscores the crucial need for targeted injury prevention and resource allocation strategies, particularly for high-risk groups and times, to effectively mitigate pediatric trauma on Jeju Island.

Prevalence of shoulder pain and its correlates in Jeju agricultural population: A retrospective cross-sectional study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of shoulder pain and analyze its association with socio-demographic factors, agricultural work-related conditions, and biomechanical factors among farmers on Jeju Island. We utilized initial survey data from the Safety for Agricultural Injury of Farmers' cohort study involving adult farmers on Jeju Island. The presence and characteristics of shoulder pain, socio-demographics, agricultural work-related conditions, and biomechanical factors were assessed using semi-structured questionnaires. A total of 1206 participants were analyzed for prevalence and associated risk factors using frequency and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The overall prevalence of shoulder pain was 17%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis, adjusted for significant socio-demographic and agricultural work-related condition variables, revealed that stress level, type of farming, and experiencing an agricultural injury within the preceding year were significantly associated with shoulder pain (stress level: "occasional," adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.581; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.079-2.318; "frequent," aOR, 1.964; 95% CI, 1.205-3.200; and "extreme," aOR, 2.999; 95% CI, 1.480-6.074 vs "rarely"; type of farming: "orchard," aOR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.597-1.124; "livestock," aOR, 0.225; 95% CI, 0.079-0.641 vs "field"; and experienced an agricultural injury within the past year: "yes," aOR, 2.078; 95% CI, 1.269-3.405). In addition, 3 biomechanical factors significantly contributed to shoulder pain: activities requiring significant power such as shoveling, pickaxing, and hammering; repetitive use of a particular body part; and constant elevation of the arm above the head. The findings highlight the importance of postural education, injury prevention, and psychological support in managing shoulder pain among farmers.

Association Between Executive Dysfunction-Related Activities of Daily Living Disability and Clinical Dementia Rating Domain Patterns in Patients With Vascular Dementia and Age-Matched Patients With Alzheimer's Dementia.

OBJECTIVE: Although the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale was originally developed to stage Alzheimer's dementia (AD), it is now used globally for various types of dementia. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristic pattern of CDR domains and its association with neuropsychological findings and activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with vascular dementia (VaD) and patients with AD. METHODS: We recruited very mild to mild VaD and AD patients who were age-matched among the first visitors to a dementia clinic. All subjects underwent a standardized clinical interview, physical and neurological examinations, and laboratory tests, including brain magnetic resonance imaging, according to the protocol of the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease assessment battery. RESULTS: A total of 105 pairs of VaD and AD patients participated in this study. Although the adjusted scores on Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination were similar between the two groups, the VaD patients performed better on the Boston Naming Test, Word List Memory, Word List Recall, Word List Recognition, and Constructional Recall Test. However, the scores on global CDR, CDR sum of boxes, and ADL-related CDR domains were higher in VaD patients than in AD patients (p<0.001). The VaD patients also showed poor performances on the Disability Assessment for Dementia Scale, Frontal Assessment Battery, Executive Clock Drawing Task, and Stroop tests. CONCLUSION: Despite similar general cognitive function and better memory function, patients with VaD tend to be staged as severer dementia on the CDR scale than patients with AD because of more impaired ADL associated with executive dysfunction.

Branched-chain amino acids complex inhibits melanogenesis in B16F0 melanoma cells.

Present study was investigated the effect of each or complex of three branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs; isoleucine, leucine, and valine) on melanin production in B16F0 melanoma cells treated with various concentrations (1-16 mM) for 72 h. Among the 20 amino acids, lysine and glycine showed the highest activities of DPPH radical scavenging and mushroom tyrosinase inhibition, respectively. Each and combination of BCAAs reduced melanogenesis in a concentration-dependent manner without any morphological changes and cell viability in melanoma cells. Present study was also investigated the inhibitory effects of each or complex of BCAAs at each 10 mM concentration on the 100 µM IBMX-mediated stimulation of melanogenesis in melanoma cells for 72 h and found that IBMX treatment was stimulated to enhance melanin synthesis and that the complex of BCAAs was the most effectively inhibited in the melanin amounts of cellular and extracellular and the whitening the cell pellet. When the inhibitory effect of BCAAs on tyrosinase was examined by intracellular tyrosinase assay, both isoleucine and valine exhibit slightly inhibition, but leucine and combination of BCAAs did not inhibit the cell-derived tyrosinase activity. Present study demonstrated that complex of BCAAs inhibited melanin production without changes intercellular tyrosinase activity. Thus, the complex of BCAAs may be used in development of safe potentially depigmenting agents.

Survival and medical costs of melanoma patients with subsequent cancer diagnoses: A South Korean population-based retrospective cohort study.

AIM: Subsequent cancers (SCs) after melanoma diagnosis further increases the risks of mortality and medical costs. This population-based analysis aimed to evaluate risk factors for SC, mortality, and medical costs of melanoma patients with SC. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted using a nationwide claims database during 2002-2017 in South Korea. SC was defined as having other types of cancer diagnoses other than subsequent melanoma during-up to 5 years after melanoma diagnosis. Melanoma patients were divided into patients with and without SC, and the overall and subgroup survival rates, the risk of developing SC, and the total medical costs were analyzed using a Kaplan-Meier method and regressions. RESULTS: A total of 3740 melanoma patients were included in the analysis (mean age, 62.3 ± 15.4 y; 47.2% men), and 2273 patients (1157 within 2 months, 756 after 2 months of melanoma diagnosis) had SC. Higher Charlson comorbidity index score and male sex significantly increased the risk of developing SC. Five-year survival rate and cumulative medical costs were 62.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 60.8-63.9) and $21,413, respectively, in all patients. Patients with SC diagnosed after 2 months showed the lowest survival rate of 47.8% (95% CI, 44.3-51.4) and the highest costs of $27,081, showing a mortality hazard ratio of 1.65 (range, 1.46-1.86) and a cost ratio of 1.189 (range, 1.112-1.271) compared with those without SC. CONCLUSION: This study presented survival outcomes and medical costs in melanoma patients and confirmed that SC after the first diagnosis of melanoma significantly increased disease burden in terms of mortality and medical costs.

The Moderating Effects of Accurate Expectations of Lethality in the Relationships between Suicide Intent and Medical Lethality on Suicide Attempts.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore the accuracy of expectation of medical lethality and to identify characteristics related to high medical lethality in suicide attempters. METHODS: A total of 370 suicide attempters (173 men, 197 women) who visited the emergency department at one university hospital were interviewed. RESULTS: Using the Lethality Scale, 103 (27.8%), 114 (30.8%), and 153 (41.4%) suicide attempters were assigned to the low, medium, and high medical lethality groups, respectively. The medium and high medical lethality groups were older, and reported poorer socioenvironmental conditions, compared with the low lethality group. Higher levels of suicide intent were associated with more lethal attempts but only for those attempters who had accurate expectations of the medical lethality of their attempts. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of expectations about the likelihood of dying was found to moderate the relationships between suicide intent and medical lethality.

Effect of arginine on the alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase enzymes of alcohol metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Arginine possesses advantageous pharmacological properties such as liver injury protection. We have previously shown that the arginine stimulated the activities of commercial alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH, EC 1.1.1.1) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH, EC 1.2.1.10) enzymes in vitro experiment. We therefore examined on the activities, zymogram staining intensity, and protein expression of alcohol metabolizing ADH and ALDH in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cultured in a medium supplemented with different concentrations of arginine. The enhanced activity, zymogram staining intensity, and protein expression of ADH in the cell-free extracts of S. cerevisiae showed at 0.01 and 0.05% (w/v) arginine supplementation. These parameters of ALDH in the cell-free extracts of S. cerevisiae showed in the 0.005-0.05% arginine treatment concentration, but these parameters were shown to be decreased at a concentration of 0.1% (w/v) arginine, which was the highest supplementation. These results indicate that arginine can be used to enhance the enzyme activities, staining intensity for the protein activity in the zymogram analysis, and increased protein expression of ADH and ALDH in S. cerevisiae. These results also indicate that arginine can be used to the protection of alcoholic liver injury and hangover by strong activation of alcohol metabolizing ADH and ALDH.

Melanogenesis effect of Cordyceps militaris culture broth on the melanin formation of B16F0 melanoma cells.

The effect of Cordyceps militaris culture broth (CMB) on melanogenesis in B16F0 melanoma cells was evaluated by measurement of the melanin concentration after 3 days of incubation. The B16F0 melanoma cells were treated with various concentrations of CMB 10-100 µg/mL and arbutin of 200 µM. Phenolic content and antioxidant activity of CMB were also measured. Phenolic content of CMB was 3.28 mg/g. The DPPH radical scavenging and ferric ion donating activities were 79.64% and 0.16, respectively. The melanin concentration and cell viability of melanoma cells by arbutin treatment decreased to 43% and 91% of the control, respectively. The CMB treatment showed a significant inhibitory effect of melanin production by 29%, 50%, and 56% at 50, 80, and 100 µg/mL concentration treatment, respectively, while over 90% of cells were viable. The CMB treatment at 50, 80, and 100 µg/mL concentrations in cultivation decreased extracellular melanin release induced by 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) treatment by 19%, 38%, and 48%, respectively. The CMB showed inhibitory activity against intracellular tyrosinase extracted from melanoma cells, while it had no inhibition on the activity of mushroom tyrosinase. The cellular glutathione contents were enhanced by CMB treatment in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggested that CMB suppressed cellular tyrosinase activity and total melanin content in cultured B16F0 melanoma cells without any significant effects on cell proliferation and it might be candidate anti-melanogenic agent.

The Association of White Matter Hyperintensities with Frailty in Patients with Very Mild to Moderate Alzheimer's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Frailty, one of serious global health problems in the elderly, is a growing concern in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) because of its high prevalence in AD and its impact on the prognosis. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the quantitative association between white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and frailty in AD. METHODS: A total of 144 outpatients were included. All subjects were evaluated by using Korean version of the CERAD assessment battery and diagnosed very mild to moderate AD. WMH volume was calculated using automated segmentation analysis from the 3D MRI image and further partitioned according to the distance from the ventricular surface. Using the Korean Frailty Index, prefrailty was defined by the scores of 3 and 4 and frailty by the score of 5 and higher. RESULTS: In total, 23.6%were frailty, 32.6%were pre-frailty, and 43.8%were classified as a robust group. The frailty group had higher WMH volume compared to the robust group (p = 0.02), and these trends remained significant after linear regression analyses. According to the subclassification of WMH, using the robust group as a reference, total WMH (OR = 6.297, p = 0.013, 95%CI = 1.463-27.114), juxtaventricular WMH (OR = 12.955, p = 0.014, 95%CI = 1.687-99.509), and periventricular WMH (OR = 3.382, p = 0.025, 95%CI = 1.163-9.8531) volumes were associated with frailty, but deep WMH volume was not. CONCLUSIONS: A quarter of patients with very mild to moderate AD is suffering from frailty. Our study provides the evidence of a cross-sectional relationship between WMH volume and frailty, and there is a difference in the association between the subclassification of WMH volume and frailty.

Association between Maternal Adverse Childhood Experiences and Risk of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in the Offspring.

OBJECTIVES: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) of mothers may negatively affect the mental health of their offspring. Little is known about the intergenerational effect of maternal ACE on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the offspring. This study inves-tigated the impact of maternal ACEs on PTSD in the offspring. METHODS: A total of 156 mothers with children aged 13-18 years completed the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC) Predictive Scales to determine the presence of psychiatric disorders in their offspring. The subjects completed the ACE questionnaire and the Early Trauma Inventory Self-Report-Short Form. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between ma-ternal ACEs and PTSD in the offspring. RESULTS: Of the mothers, 23.7% had at least one ACE, and PTSD was reported in 21.8% of the offspring. The offspring of the mothers in the ACE group had a significantly higher rates of traumatic experiences and PTSD than the offspring of the mothers in the no ACE group. Maternal household dysfunction independently predicted offspring PTSD [odds ratio (OR)=3.008, p=0.05), and three or more maternal ACEs were significantly related to PTSD in the offspring (OR=10.613, p=0.025). CONCLUSION: Maternal ACEs have a significant impact on the risk of traumatic experiences and PTSD in the offspring. These findings suggest the presence of intergenerational transmissions by which maternal ACEs affect the mental health of the offspring.

Association between subclinical hypothyroidism and metabolic syndrome among individuals with depression.

BACKGROUND: Although the connection among low thyroid function, metabolic abnormalities, and depression is well documented, the relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in depression remains unclear. This study examined the association between SCH and MetS in a large sample with depression. METHODS: The study analyzed 370 individuals with depression who participated in the 2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Associations between the presence of SCH and MetS were estimated after adjusting for related factors using multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: In the 370 individuals with depression, the prevalence of SCH was 9.4% (SE = 1.6%). The prevalence of MetS was significantly higher in depressed individuals with than in those without SCH (56.3 ±â€¯9.5% vs. 22.8 ±â€¯2.6%; p = 0.001). After adjusting for covariates, the odds of having MetS were 7.127 times greater among depressed individuals with SCH than among those without SCH (95% confidence interval, 2.077-24.458). LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional study design prevented inferences regarding causality and the effects of changes in variables. CONCLUSIONS: Depressed individuals with SCH are more likely to meet the criteria for MetS. These results highlight the significance of low thyroid function and the metabolic burden of individuals with depression.

"Choosing Wisely": Apolipoprotein E Genetic Testing for the Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease in Dementia Clinics.

BACKGROUND: Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ɛ4 allele carriers have an increased risk of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, in the "Choosing Wisely" campaign for avoiding unnecessary medical tests, treatments, and procedures, APOE genetic testing is not recommended as a predictive test for AD. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential value of APOE genetic testing in a specific clinical context. METHODS: Subjects with poor performance in the Korean version of the Mini-Mental Status Examination for dementia screening (MMSE-DS) with a Z-score of less than -1.5 were recruited from the public health centers. All participants underwent APOE genetic testing. Family history of dementia (FHx) was confirmed if one or more first-degree relatives had dementia. RESULTS: Among 349 subjects, 162 (46.4%) were diagnosed with AD. APOEɛ4 allele carriers had a much higher risk of AD in the group with FHx than in the group without FHx (OR = 15.81, 95% CI = 2.74-91.21 versus OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.00-3.27, z = 2.293, p = 0.011). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for the APOEɛ4 allele were 47.7%, 90.9%, 91.3%, and 46.5% in the group with FHx. CONCLUSION: It would be a wise choice to perform the APOE genetic testing for the diagnosis of AD in subjects with poor performance in a screening test and a family history of dementia.

Clinical significance of abnormal chest radiographic findings for acute kidney injury in patients with scrub typhus.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal chest radiographs are frequently encountered in patients with scrub typhus. This study aimed to investigate whether chest radiography on admission is significant as a predictive factor for acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with scrub typhus. METHODS: From 2010 to 2016, 467 patients were diagnosed with scrub typhus in our hospital. We divided the patients into two groups: normal chest radiograph (NCR) and abnormal chest radiograph (AbNCR), based on chest radiography findings. The incidence, clinical characteristics, and severity of AKI were compared between AKI and non-AKI groups according to the RIFLE classification. RESULTS: Of the 467 patients, 96 (20.6%) constituted the AbNCR group. Compared with NCR patients, AbNCR patients were older (71 ± 11 vs. 62 ± 13 years, P < 0.001) and had higher total leukocyte counts (9.43 × 103/mL vs. 6.98 × 103/mL, P < 0.001). The AbNCR group had significantly longer duration of hospital stay (8.9 ± 5.5 vs. 6.3 ± 2.8 days, P < 0.001) and higher incidence of AKI (46.9% vs. 15.1%, P < 0.001). The common abnormal chest radiographic findings were pulmonary abnormalities, such as pulmonary congestion and pleural effusion. The overall AKI incidence was 21.6%, of which 12.4%, 7.9%, and 1.3% cases were classified as risk, injury, and failure, respectively. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis for association with AKI, old age, presence of chronic kidney disease or hypertension, leukocytosis, hypoalbuminemia, and chest radiographic abnormalities on admission were significant predictors of AKI. CONCLUSION: Chest radiographic abnormalities on admission were independently associated with AKI in patients with scrub typhus.

Application of the "Plan-Do-Study-Act" Model to Improve Survival after Cardiac Arrest in Korea: A Case Study.

OBJECTIVE: Low rates of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) were identified as a shortcoming in the "chain of survival" for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) care in the Korean city of Ansan. This study sought to evaluate the effect of an initiative to increase bystander CPR and quality of out-of-hospital resuscitation on outcome from OHCA. The post-intervention data were used to determine the next quality improvement (QI) target as part of the "Plan-Do-Study-Act" (PDSA) model for QI. HYPOTHESIS: The study hypothesis was that bystander CPR, return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and survival to discharge after OHCA would increase in the post-intervention period. METHODS: This was a retrospective pre/post study. The data from the pre-intervention period were abstracted from 2008-2011 and the post-intervention period from 2012-2013. The effect of the intervention on the odds of ROSC and survival to hospital discharge was determined using a generalized estimating equation to account for confounders and the effect of clustering within medical centers. The analysis was then used to identify other factors associated with outcomes to determine the next targets for intervention in the chain of survival for cardiac arrest in this community. RESULTS: Rates of documented bystander CPR increased from 13% in the pre-intervention period to 37% in the post-intervention period. The overall rate of ROSC decreased from 18.4% to 14.3% (risk difference -4.1%; 95% CI, -7.1%-1.0%), whereas survival to hospital discharge increased from 3.9% to 5.0% (risk difference 1.1%; 95% CI, -1.8%-3.8%), and survival with good neurologic outcome increased from 0.8% to 1.6% (risk difference 0.8%; 95% CI, -0.8%-2.4%). In multivariable analyses, there was no association between the intervention and the rate of ROSC or survival to hospital discharge. The designated level of the treating hospital was a significant predictor of both survival and ROSC. CONCLUSION: In this case study, there were no observed improvements in outcomes from OHCA after the targeted intervention to improve out-of-hospital CPR. However, utilizing the PDSA model for QI, the designated level of the treating hospital was found to be a significant predictor of survival in the post-period, identifying the next target for intervention.

Renoprotective effects of rosiglitazone in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Rosiglitazone (RGTZ) has a protective effect against various types of injury. We evaluated the effects of RGTZ on renal injury in a stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHRSP) model. METHODS: Male SHRSP rats were observed with or without RGTZ treatment for 10 weeks. Age-matched male Wistar-Kyoto rats were used as controls. The effect of RGTZ on hypertensive nephropathy was evaluated by assessing renal function, pathology, pro-inflammatory cytokine (osteopontin), profibrotic cytokine (betaig-h3), apoptotic cell death (TUNEL staining and caspase 3 expression), marker of oxidative stress (8-OHdG) and endothelial damage (eNOS). RESULTS: RGTZ treatment improved renal function and histopathology compared with SHRSP rats without treatment (p < 0.05). Osteopontin and betaig-h3 were significantly increased in SHRSP rat kidneys, but RGTZ treatment decreased both mediators. Apoptotic cell death was increased in renal tubular cells in the injured area in SHRSP rat kidneys, but RGTZ treatment decreased apoptotic cell death and caspase 3 expression. Increased urinary 8-OHdG excretion and decreased eNOS in SHRSP rats was reversed with RGTZ treatment. CONCLUSIONS: RGTZ protects hypertensive nephropathy in SHRSP rats.

Characterization of red ginseng residue protein films incorporated with hibiscus extract.

An edible film was prepared from red ginseng residue protein (RGRP) and incorporated with hibiscus extract (HE). RGRP was extracted from red ginseng residue, which is an inexpensive by-product of the red ginseng processing industry. Different concentrations of HE were added to an RGRP film-forming solution as a natural antioxidant. The prepared RGRP films without HE had a tensile strength of 16.9 MPa and an elongation at break of 25.1%. The antioxidant activity of the RGRP film increased with increasing concentration of HE. In addition, the RGRP film with 1% HE exhibited the lowest value of water vapor permeability (1.88×10-9 g·m/m2·s·Pa), which indicates that the film has high water barrier property. The results present the production of edible films from discarded red ginseng residue, and the antioxidant activity of RGRP films as a packaging material can prevent lipid oxidation and quality loss of food products.