Predictive Validity of the Johns Hopkins Fall Risk Assessment Tool for Older Patients in Stroke Rehabilitation.

The aim of this retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study was to assess the frequency of falls and evaluate the predictive validity of the Johns Hopkins Fall Risk Assessment Tool (JHFRAT) among patients aged ≥65 years, transferred to the rehabilitation ward of a university hospital. The predictive ability was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, and the optimal threshold was established using the Youden index. We analyzed the overall cohort (N = 175) with subacute stroke and the subgroup with a low unaffected handgrip strength (HGS; men: <28 kg, women: <18 kg). Overall, 135/175 patients (77.1%) had a low HGS. The fall rate was 6.9% overall and 5.9% for patients with a low HGS. The JHFRAT predictive value was higher for patients with a low HGS than that for the overall cohort, but acceptable in both. The optimal cutoff score for the overall cohort was 11 (sensitivity, 67%; specificity, 68%), whereas that for the subgroup was 12 (sensitivity, 75%; specificity: 72%). These results are expected to aid nurses working in rehabilitation wards in more effectively utilizing JHFRAT outcomes for post-stroke older patients with a low HGS and contribute to the development of more appropriate fall prevention strategies for high-risk patients in the future.

Associations of leptin receptors and miRNA polymorphisms with susceptibility to hypertension.

Leptin receptors (LEPR) are located in the central nervous system and other tissues including adipocytes and endothelial cells, where they play a key role in mediating the effects of leptin. MicroRNA (miR/miRNA)-27a and miR-155 have been shown to play an important role in the regulation of LEPR expression and are differentially expressed in various diseases. Therefore, the present study analyzed potential associations of LEPR deletion/insertion (Del/Ins), miR-27aA>G (rs895819) and miR-155T>A (rs767649) polymorphisms with a predisposition to hypertension (HTN). Genotyping was performed by a PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. Frequencies of LEPR Del/Ins and miRNA gene polymorphisms in patients diagnosed with HTN (n=232) and randomly selected healthy controls (n=247) were assessed. The present study found that Del/Ins and Ins/Ins genotypes and the Ins allele of the LEPR Del/Ins polymorphism were associated with a decreased risk of HTN compared with controls, whereas the miR-27aA>G rs895819 polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of HTN. Combined genotype and allele analyses for LEPR Del/Ins and two miRNA polymorphisms revealed an association with an increased risk or a decreased risk of HTN. Furthermore, stratification analysis revealed that HTN risk factors were associated with waist circumference (WC) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) values in LEPR Del/Ins polymorphism. They were also associated with body mass index, WC, triglyceride and HDL-C values in miR-27aA>G polymorphism. The present study revealed a combined effect of LEPR Del/Ins and miR-27aA>G polymorphisms on the risk of HTN in Koreans, suggesting that these gene polymorphisms could be potential markers for predicting HTN risk.

Genetic associations between miR­200bT>C and miR­495A>C polymorphisms and hypertension susceptibility.

Although microRNA (miRNA)-mediated functions and gene expression regulation are involved in the susceptibility to vascular diseases, the potential effect of miRNA polymorphisms on the susceptibility of patients to hypertension (HTN) remains to be sufficiently elucidated. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify the potential association between miRNA (miR)-200bT>C (rs7549819) and miR-495A>C (rs2281611) polymorphisms, which may be implicated in stroke and vascular pathogenesis, and the susceptibility to HTN and relevant risk factors in a Korean cohort recruited from Jeju National University Hospital (Jeju, South Korea). Using an analysis of PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism, genotype analysis was conducted to assess the frequency of miR-200bT>C and miR-495A>C gene polymorphisms in the HTN group (n=232) and the non-HTN healthy control group (n=247). The results showed significant differences in the genotype distributions of the miR-495A>C polymorphism between the HTN and control groups, specifically with the CC genotype and C allele. However, neither the miR-200bT>C nor the dominant and recessive models were found to be distributed differently between the two groups. Following analysis of the genotype combination of the single nucleotide polymorphisms, the TC/CC and CC/CC combined genotypes of the miR-200bT>C and miR-495A>C polymorphisms were observed to be associated with susceptibility to HTN. The haplotype results demonstrated that the allele combination frequency of haplotype C-A was significantly different between the two groups. The stratified analysis revealed that the miR-200b and miR-495 polymorphisms are associated with the risk of HTN, exhibiting differences in the levels of body-mass index (<28.12 kg/m2), fasting blood glucose (<106.26 mg/dl), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (<44.29 mg/dl) and systolic blood pressure (≥132.67 mmHg). Data from the present study suggested that the variant of miR-495A>C polymorphism and allelic combinations (haplotype C-A of miR-200bT>C/miR-495A>C) can increase hypertension susceptibility among a Korean population.

Association of Temporalis Muscle Mass with Early Cognitive Impairment in Older Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke.

The prognostic value of temporal muscle mass has been studied in various neurological disorders. Herein, we investigated the association between temporal muscle mass and early cognitive function in patients with acute ischemic stroke. This study included 126 patients with acute cerebral infarction aged ≥65 years. Temporal muscle thickness (TMT) was measured using T2-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging at admission for acute stroke. Within 2 weeks of stroke onset, skeletal mass index (SMI) and cognitive function were assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis and the Korean version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), respectively. Pearson's correlation analyzed the correlation between TMT and SMI, and multiple linear regression analyzed independent predictors of early post-stroke cognitive function. TMT and SMI were significantly positively correlated (R = 0.36, p < 0.001). After adjusting for covariates, TMT was an independent predictor of early post-stroke cognitive function, stratified by the MoCA score (ß = 1.040, p = 0.017), age (ß = -0.27, p = 0.006), stroke severity (ß = -0.298, p = 0.007), and education level (ß = 0.38, p = 0.008). TMT may be used as a surrogate marker for evaluating skeletal muscle mass because it is significantly associated with post-stroke cognitive function during the acute phase of ischemic stroke; therefore, TMT may help detect older patients at a high risk of early post-stroke cognitive impairment.

The efficacy and safety of tadalafil in the management of erectile dysfunction with diabetes and blood circulation issues.

BACKGROUND: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common diabetes-related complication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study examined the effect of daily low-dose tadalafil (5 mg) on patients' quality of life (including that of sex life) and blood circulation. Erectile dysfunction questionnaires were administered to 20 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and ED. The safety and efficacy of tadalafil were evaluated using laboratory tests, and the effect on blood circulation was measured through nail fold capillaroscopy. RESULTS: Daily tadalafil use by patients with T2DM and ED showed a statistically significant increase in the erectile reliability score from of 1.15 to 3.20 (p < .00012). Capillary blood circulation improvement tests showed a statistically significant increase in apical limb width from 13.1 to 14.64 µm (p = .04829) and flow from 9035 to 11946 µm3/s (p = .04405). Although not significant, increased capillary width and speed (rate of blood flow) confirmed improved blood circulation. There were no significant changes in the cardiac indicators (troponin, prostate-specific antigen, or electrocardiogram tests) before and after tadalafil administration, supporting the safety of its low-dose daily administration. CONCLUSIONS: A small dose of daily tadalafil was shown to safely improve erectile dysfunction and peripheral blood flow in patients with T2DM, in which peripheral arterial diseases should not be considered separately but rather as complex entities.

Multiresponsive Polymer Nanocomposite Liquid Crystals Having Heterogeneous Phase Transitions for Battery-Free Temperature Maintenance Indicators.

Multiresponsive functional materials that respond to more than one external stimulus are promising for novel photonic, electronic, and biomedical applications. However, the design or synthesis of new multiresponsive materials is challenging. Here, this work reports a facile method to prepare a multiresponsive colloidal material by mixing a liquid-crystalline 2D nanocolloid and a functional polymer colloid. For this purpose, electrically sensitive exfoliated α-ZrP 2D nanocolloids and thermosensitive block copolymer colloids that are dispersed well in water are mixed. In the liquid-crystalline nanocomposite, nematic, antinematic, or isotropic assemblies of α-ZrP, nanoparticles can be electrically and selectively obtained by applying electric fields with different frequencies; furthermore, their rheology is thermally and reversibly controlled through thesol-gel-sol transition. The nanocomposite exhibits a solid gel phase within a predesigned gel temperature range and a liquid sol phase outside this range. These properties facilitate the design of a simple display device in which information can be electrically written and thermally stabilized or erased, and using the device, a battery-free temperature maintenance indication function is demonstrated. The proposed polymer nanocomposite method can enrich the physical properties of 2D nanocolloidal liquid crystals and create new opportunities for eco-friendly, reusable, battery-free electro-optical devices.

Genetic association between miR-27a and miR-449b polymorphisms and susceptibility to diabetes mellitus.

Various mutations in microRNAs (miRs) are associated with the pathogenesis of several diseases including cancers and vascular diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the potential association between miR-27a A>G (rs895819) and miR-449b A>G (rs10061133) polymorphisms with the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and its associated risk factors in the Korean population. Genotype analysis was performed using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis to assess the frequency of miR-27a and miR-449b gene polymorphisms in patients diagnosed with T2DM (n=238) and healthy controls (n=247). The miR-27a GG genotype, recessive model, and G allele were significantly associated with a decreased risk of T2DM [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=0.378, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.208-0.686, P=0.001; AOR=0.425, 95% CI: 0.246-0.734, P=0.002; AOR=0.640, 95% CI: 0.493-0.831, P=0.001, respectively). Although the miR-449b polymorphism was not associated with the prevalence of T2DM, the genotype and allele combination analyses for miR-27a and miR-449b polymorphisms showed associations with T2DM prevalence. Furthermore, stratification analysis revealed that the miR-27a polymorphism was associated with DM risk factors including body mass index (<28.12 kg/m2, P=0.031), waist circumference (<93.03 cm, P=0.036), systolic blood pressure (<132.67 mmHg, P=0.017), fasting blood glucose levels (<106.26 mg/dl, P=0.015), glycosylated hemoglobin, type A1C (≤125.5 mg/dl, P=0.001), total cholesterol (≤240 mg/dl, P=0.010) and low-density lipoprotein levels (≤130 mg/dl, P=0.028). The present study revealed an association between miR-27a A>G and miR-449b A>G polymorphisms and the risk of DM in Koreans, which suggests that these gene polymorphisms could represent potential markers for predicting T2DM risk.

Effects of methionine synthase and methionine synthase reductase polymorphisms on hypertension susceptibility.

BACKGROUND: Polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene are strongly associated with hypertension incidence, although such association is inconsistent among ethnicities studied. However, effects of polymorphisms of other genes related to folate metabolism besides MTHFR on hypertension susceptibility are not well known yet. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to elucidate whether methionine synthase (MTR) 2756A>G and methionine synthase reductase (MTRR) 66A>G polymorphisms might be associated with risks of hypertension susceptibility in the Korean population. METHODS: Genotyping of these two polymorphisms was performed for 232 hypertensive patients and 247 unrelated healthy controls using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. RESULTS: In the present study, mutations of MTR 2756A>G and MTRR 66A>G polymorphisms were associated with increased and decreased susceptibility to hypertension, respectively. Allele combinations from these two polymorphisms were also related to hypertension prevalence. When polymorphism data were stratified according to clinical components of hypertension, The G allele of MTR 2756A>G polymorphism was significantly associated with an increased risk of hypertension in subjects with BMI < 26.1 kg/m2 (P = 0.004), WC < 87.2 in. (P = 0.021), FBG < 95.5 mg/dL (P = 0.011), triglyceride < 133.5 mg/dL (P = 0.034), and HDL-cholesterol < 52.2 mg/dL (P = 0.036). The G allele of MTRR 66A>G polymorphism was significantly associated with a decreased risk of hypertension in subjects with WC ≥ 87.2 in. (P = 0.029), FBG ≥ 95.5 mg/dL (P = 0.032) and triglyceride ≥ 133.5 mg/dL (P = 0.027). CONCLUSION: MTR 2756A>G and MTRR 66A>G polymorphisms related to folate metabolism might be genetic markers for risk of hypertension in the Korean population.

Generation and manipulation of isotropic droplets in nematic medium using switchable dielectrophoresis.

Dielectrophoresis (DEP) in a medium with anisotropic dielectric susceptibility is very different from typical DEP in an isotropic medium: The direction of particle actuation can be switched depending on the direction of the susceptibility tensor of the medium. However, the understanding of switchable DEP (SDEP) in an anisotropic medium is still in its infant stage. Here, we investigate SDEP using heat-generated isotropic droplets in a nematic liquid crystal (LC) medium. We demonstrate that the location of the generation of isotropic droplets can be partially controlled by controlling the temperature gradient within the LC cell using dielectric loss. The SDEP actuation of isotropic droplets is also highly dependent on the location of the isotropic droplets. Using this method, we fabricated different array patterns of isotropic and nematic phase separations under different applied signals.

Dual-field-induced biaxial nematic ordering of two-dimensional nanoparticles and enhancement of interparticle interactions.

The ordering of 2D biaxial graphene oxide (GO) particles is investigated under the application of orthogonal electric (E) and magnetic fields (B); nematic, antinematic, or biaxial nematic ordering of GO particles is selectively obtained depending on the field conditions. Particularly, a perfect biaxial nematic ordering with the highest birefringence is induced by the dual fields. Unexpectedly, the presence of B enhances the effective polarizability anisotropy, which may attribute to the enhanced steric interparticle interaction. The dual fields induce the microscopic biaxial stacking assembly of GO particles, producing grainy flocs which are not observed in a single-field condition.

Laser-Induced Nanodroplet Injection and Reconfigurable Double Emulsions with Designed Inner Structures.

Microfabrication of complex double emulsion droplets with controlled substructures, which resemble biological cells, is an important but a highly challenging subject. Here, a new approach is proposed based on laser-induced injection of water nanodroplets into a liquid crystal (LC) drop. In contrast to the conventional top-down microfluidic fabrication, this method employs a series of bottom-up strategies such as nanodroplet injection, spontaneous and assisted coalescence, elastically driven actuation, and self-assembly. Each step is controlled precisely by adjusting the laser beam, interfacial tension, and its gradients, surface anchoring, and elasticity of the LC. Whispering gallery mode illumination is used to monitor the injection of droplets. A broad spectrum of double emulsions with a predesigned hierarchical architecture is fabricated and reconfigured by temperature, laser-induced coalescence, and injection. The proposed bottom-up method to produce customized microemulsions that are responsive to environmental cues can be used in the development of drug delivery systems, biosensors, and functional soft matter microstructures.

Associations of MTRR and TSER polymorphisms related to folate metabolism with susceptibility to metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Hyperhomocysteinemia is a potential risk factor for the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Among genes involved in homocysteine metabolism, polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene are known to be associated with MetS incidence. However, effects of polymorphisms of other folate metabolism-related genes on MetS susceptibility are not well known yet. OBJECTIVE: This study was to determine whether methionine synthase (MTR) 2756A > G, methionine synthase reductase (MTRR) 66A > G, and thymidylate synthase enhancer region (TSER) 2R/3R polymorphisms might be associated with risks of MetS development in the Korean population. METHODS: Genotype analysis of the three polymorphisms was performed for a total of 483 subjects including 236 MetS patients and 247 unrelated healthy controls using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. RESULTS: The present study revealed that MTRR and TSER polymorphisms were associated with susceptibility to MetS. Several genotypes and allele combinations from the three polymorphisms were also related to the MetS prevalence. When polymorphism data were stratified according to the risk components of MetS, MTR polymorphism was significantly associated with an increased risk of MetS in subjects with systolic blood pressure < 132.7 mmHg (AOR 1.842, 95% CI 1.039-3.266, P = 0.037) and fasting blood glucose level < 106.3 mg/dL (AOR 1.772, 95% CI 1.069-2.937, P = 0.027). MTRR polymorphism was significantly associated with a decreased risk of MetS in subjects with triglyceride level < 216.3 mg/dL (AOR 0.616, 95% CI 0.399-0.951, P = 0.029). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first to provide reliable evidence about the association of other folate metabolism-related gene polymorphisms besides MTHFR with MetS susceptibility and its risk factors. CONCLUSION: Results of this study suggest that MTRR and TSER polymorphisms might be potential genetic markers for the risk of MetS development in Korean population.

Selectivity of Threefold Symmetry in Epitaxial Alignment of Liquid Crystal Molecules on Macroscale Single-Crystal Graphene.

Epitaxial alignment of organic liquid crystal (LC) molecules on single-crystal graphene (SCG), an effective epitaxial molecular assembly template, can be used in alignment-layer-free liquid crystal displays. However, selectivity among the threefold symmetric easy axes of LCs on graphene is not well understood, which limits its application. Here, sixfold symmetric radial LC domains are demonstrated by dropping an LC droplet on clean SCG, which reveals that the graphene surface does not have an intrinsic preferential direction. Instead, the first contact geometry of the LC molecules determines the direction. Despite its strong anchoring energy on graphene, the LC alignment direction is readily erasable and rewritable, contrary to previous understanding. In addition, the quality of the threefold symmetric alignment is sensitive to alien residue and graphene imperfections, which can be used to detect infinitesimal impurities or structural defects on the graphene. Based on this unique epitaxial behavior of LCs on SCG, an alignment-layer-free electro-optical LC device and LC alignment duplication, which can result in practical graphene-based flexible LC devices, are realized.

Electrical switching of birefringence in zirconium phosphate colloids with various solvents.

Even though a graphene-oxide (GO) dispersion is attractive for electro-optical switching devices because of its high Kerr coefficient, it has several limitations such as chemical instability and optical loss due to absorption at visible wavelengths. Here we introduce the use of tetrabutylammonium-tethered α-zirconium phosphate (TBA-ZrP) colloid in various solvents for electro-optical switching devices; the TBA-ZrP colloid is chemically stable and optically transparent. We find that the electrical switching behavior of TBA-ZrP is sensitively dependent on the type of solvent. The TBA-ZrP colloid in acetone exhibits the highest effective Kerr coefficient and the fastest switching time, which is related to the unusual behavior of the viscosity of the TBA-ZrP colloid in acetone. Its viscosity is relatively low and less sensitive to concentration compared to ZrP in other solvents. This indicates that the motion of individual nanoparticles is relatively less restricted in acetone. These findings may be useful in developing electro-optical devices using lyotropic liquid crystal colloids.

Electrically and electrohydrodynamically driven phase transition and structural color switching of oligomer tethered 2D colloid.

Two-dimensional (2D) nanoparticles in an oligomer-tethered alpha zirconium phosphate (αZrP) colloid self-assemble to form a cofacial lamellar structure with regular spacing parallel to the surface and exhibit high reflectance and vivid structural colors within the visible frequency spectrum. Here, we demonstrate electrical switching of the structural color reflection by electrical control of the liquid crystalline phase of the αZrP colloid. At low frequency (less than 15 Hz, optimally at 1 Hz), electrohydrodynamic flow in the colloid destroys the photonic crystalline lamellar phase and creates an apparently disordered dynamic state with local nematic orientation. The method using electrohydrodynamic flow is a better approach to erase the photonic crystalline ordering of nanoparticles, than application of a high-frequency field, which has been proposed previously, in terms of the required voltage and color uniformity. The field-induced disordered particle orientation can be spontaneously recovered to the initial photonic crystal state by removing the applied voltage, but this method requires quite a long time and does not work in materials with a high nanoplatelet concentration. On the other hand, by applying a horizontal high-frequency field (approximately 10 kHz), the initial lamellar ordering can be forcibly recovered. In this way, the structural color in the 2D nanoparticle colloid can be repeatedly erased or rewritten by switching the frequency of the applied voltage from 10 kHz to 1 Hz and vice versa, respectively. Our method of switching a 2D colloid using both electrohydrodynamic flow and frequency modulation is expected to be a promising approach to control the photonic crystallinity of colloidal photonic crystals.

Promoter polymorphisms of the vascular endothelial growth factor gene are associated with metabolic syndrome susceptibility in Koreans.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent regulator of angiogenesis. Patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) have elevated plasma VEGF levels. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between promoter polymorphisms (the -2578C>A and -1154G>A) of the VEGF gene and MetS susceptibility. A total of 640 subjects were enrolled in the study including 320 patients with MetS and 320 healthy controls. Genotyping of the VEGF single nucleotide polymorphisms was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The CA and AA genotypes of the -2578C>A polymorphism were associated with decreased risk of MetS (P=0.018, P=0.003, respectively). For the -1154G>A polymorphism, although the GA genotype was more significantly frequent in MetS patients (P=0.022), the AA genotype and recessive model (GG+GA vs. AA) were protective against MetS susceptibility (P=0.016, 0.007, respectively). The A-G haplotype frequency composed of the -2578C>A and -1154G>A polymorphisms also differed between the 2 groups (P=0.011). The presented data suggested that the A alleles and A-G haplotype of the VEGF -2578C>A and -1154G>A polymorphisms are associated with decreased MetS susceptibility. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the current study is the first to investigate the associations between the VEGF -2578C>A and -1154G>A polymorphisms and MetS patients. Further evaluation is necessary to explore the associations between the VEGF polymorphisms and MetS patients in larger samples of other ethnic or racial populations.

Comment on "Tunable Design of Structural Colors Produced by Pseudo-1D Photonic Crystals of Graphene Oxide" and Thin-Film Interference from Dried Graphene Oxide Film.

The mechanism of the iridescent color reflection from dried thin graphene oxide (GO) film on Si wafer is clarified. Dissimilarly to the photonic crystalline reflection in aqueous GO dispersion, the color reflection in dried GO film originates from the thin film interference. The peak reflection can reach 23% by optimizing the GO thickness and the substrate.

Associations of MicroRNA Polymorphisms (miR-146a, miR-196a2, and miR-499) with the Risk of Hypertension in the Korean Population.

AIMS: Polymorphisms in microRNA (miR) genes are thought to be associated with various cancers and vascular diseases. To date, however, the effects of the miR gene polymorphisms on susceptibility to hypertension have rarely been investigated. In this study, we investigated the associations of three miR gene polymorphisms (miR-146aC>G/rs2910164, miR-196a2T>C/rs11614913, and miR-499A>G/rs3746444) with the risk of hypertension in Korean patients. METHODS: A total of 855 study subjects (340 patients with hypertension and 515 healthy normotensive subjects) were included in this study. Genotyping of the three miR gene polymorphisms was accomplished by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in the genotype distributions of the miR-146aC>G polymorphism between the hypertensive patients and controls with the GG genotype, in both model-independent analyses, as well as in dominant (CC vs. CG+GG) and recessive (CC+CG vs. GG) models, being highly significantly associated with disease (AOR = 2.293, 95% CI: 1.466-3.586, p = 0.001; AOR = 1.727, 95% CI: 1.182-2.522, p = 0.015; AOR = 1.782, 95% CI: 1.267-2.506, p = 0.001, respectively). Neither the miR-196a2T>C nor the miR-499A>G polymorphisms were distributed significantly differently between hypertensive patients and control subjects. Several allelic combinations of the three miR polymorphisms were also associated with susceptibility to hypertension. Stratified analysis revealed that the miR-146aC>G and miR-499A>G polymorphisms are associated with a greater risk of hypertension. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the variant of miR-146aC>G polymorphism and allelic combinations, at least in Koreans, affect susceptibility to hypertension.

Association of Apolipoprotein A5 Gene Polymorphisms with Metabolic Syndrome in the Korean Population.

AIMS: Functional defects of the ApoA5 protein have been identified as risk factors for hypertriglyceridemia, vascular diseases and susceptibility to metabolic syndrome (MetS). These associations are neither strong nor consistent in all populations studied. In this study, we investigated the association between the ApoA5 -1131T>C and -12,238T>C polymorphic loci in Korean patients with MetS. METHODS: A total of 1074 subjects, including 415 patients with MetS and 659 healthy control subjects, were enrolled to investigate the affect of ApoA5 polymorphisms on risk of MetS. Genotyping of the ApoA5 polymorphisms was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques. RESULTS: The CC genotype and the dominant (TT vs. TC+CC) and recessive (TT+TC vs. CC) models of the -1131T>C polymorphism were associated with increased MetS susceptibility (p < 0.001, p = 0.018, and p = 0.002, respectively). The association was male-specific when stratified by gender. With regard to the -12,238T>C polymorphism, the TC and CC genotypes and the dominant (TT vs. TC+CC) and recessive (TT+TC vs. CC) models were frequently found in the patient group, compared with the control group (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.031, respectively). The T-C, C-T, and C-C haplotypes of the ApoA5 -1131T>C and -12,238T>C polymorphisms were associated with an increased risk for MetS (p < 0.001, p = 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). The variant of the ApoA5 -1131T>C polymorphism was also associated with increased triglyceride (TG) levels. Dominant models of ApoA5 -1131T>C and -12,238T>C polymorphisms were associated with the risk components of MetS by the stratification analysis. CONCLUSION: The -1131C and -12,238C variants and the C-containing haplotypes of ApoA5 -1131T>C and -12,238T>C polymorphisms were associated with higher risk for MetS in the Korean population. The -1131C variant was also associated with the increased level of TG.

Manipulation of structural color reflection in graphene oxide dispersions using electric fields.

Aqueous graphene oxide (GO) dispersions with a photonic crystal structure are carefully prepared to produce structural color reflection. We fabricate a simple reflective GO cell with a unique electrode design and demonstrate that the resulting structural color reflection is electrically erasable and rewritable. GO concentration and the direction of the electric field are vital factors in the development of the device. The resulting device works well, although it exhibits a rather slow response time; in particular, the spontaneous recovery time from dark to bright color reflection requires tens of minutes. Through the application of a horizontal electric field parallel to the substrate, the recovery time can be improved, resulting in a recovery period of 3 min. Although many unsolved issues remain, the findings in GO dispersion may provide a new possibility for color filter-less bi-stable color displays with low power consumption.