Most loci associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) discovered to date are within noncoding regions of unknown functional significance. By contrast, exonic regions have advantages for biological interpretation.

Most loci associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) discovered to date are within noncoding regions of unknown functional significance. By contrast, exonic regions have advantages for biological interpretation.

Nontraumatic cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea is a very rare disease that comprises 3-4% of all CSF rhinorrhea cases. The principle treatment for CSF rhinorrhea is surgery because more conservative treatments usually fail. The authors executed extracranial repair of the fistula and sphenoid sinus obliteration with abdominal fat in a 33-year old male diagnosed with nontraumatic CSF rhinorrhea not accompanied by intracranial lesion. The CSF rhinorrhea stopped after the operation, but acute hydrocephalus developed on the postoperative second day, and a ventriculospinal shunt was performed. The authors report a case of acute hydrocephalus occurring after the repair of the CSF rhinorrhea, a development that, to our knowledge, has never been reported in the literature.
Abdominal Fat ; Adult ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Fistula ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus* ; Male ; Rare Diseases ; Sphenoid Sinus

Background and Objectives: Previous studies reported abnormalities in MRI as a poor prognostic indicator of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Since abnormalities in three-dimensional (3D) fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) are strongly correlated with the initial hearing function, the prognostic value of the 3D FLAIR images should be carefully evaluated to avoid collinearity. We aimed to evaluate abnormalities on the 3D FLAIR images as an independent prognostic factor in the matched SSNHL groups.Subjects and Method We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 179 patients with SSNHL who underwent temporal MRI, including the 3D FLAIR sequence, between January 2015 and December 2019. Patients were divided based on the presence of cochlear abnormalities on the 3D FLAIR images. Hearing prognosis was evaluated with and without matching for initial hearing and treatment interval. Results: The groups were similar in sex (p=0.091), age (p=0.925), treatment interval (p= 0.216), and MRI interval (p=0.828). Notably, patients with cochlear abnormalities on the 3D FLAIR images showed distinctly more severe hearing loss (p<0.001) at the initial pure tone average (PTA) assessment and poorer outcomes (p<0.001) compared to those without abnormality. After matching for initial hearing and treatment interval, the hearing outcome, measured by PTA, was similar between the groups (p=0.681). Conclusion Cochlear signal abnormality in 3D FLAIR MRI was associated with poor initial hearing. However, it did not affect hearing recovery outcomes when the groups were matched.

An age-dependent cellular change of DNA contents in the testis of Sprague-Dawley rats was investigated by flow-cytometric method. Testicular cell suspensions at the age of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 16 and 26 weeks were prepared and stained with propidium iodide. The relative proportions in the number of mature and immature haploid (1n), diploid (2n), S-phase and tetraploid (4n) cells were calculated. The proportion in the number of mature haploid cells was sharply increased to the age of 10 weeks (about 38%), thereafter increased slightly to the level of 42% at the age of 26 weeks. The proportion of immature haploid cells was dramatically increased to the age of 6 weeks, then maintained at the level of 20 to 30% thereafter. The proportion of diploid cells was 64% at the age of 4 weeks, then decreased gradually through the age of 26 weeks. The proportion of S-phase cells was increased to the age of 4 weeks, then maintained at a plateau level to the age of 26 weeks. The proportion of tetraploid cells were about 26% at the age of 4 weeks, then decreased gradually to the age of 26 weeks. These results suggest that the proportions of testicular cells may depend on the age of the rat and that the flow cytometric method may be useful in the evaluation of the spermatogenic status with regard to accuracy and sensitivity.
Animals ; DNA/*analysis/genetics ; Diploidy ; Flow Cytometry/methods/veterinary ; Haploidy ; Male ; Rats ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis/chemistry/*growth & development

BACKGROUND: In general, measuring the level of consciousness in neurological patients is important. To assess the patient's mental status, the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and the level of consciousness (drowsiness, stupor, and coma) have been used in clinical situations. The aim of the present study was to identify the correlation between bispectral index (BIS) and level of consciousness in brain injured patients. METHODS: Eighty-nine adult patients of both sexes were included in the study. A blinded observer evaluated the mental status (GCS and level of consciousness) of a patient who is admitted in intensive care unit with brain injury, while an investigator noted the patient's BIS. The BIS was measured using a BIS monitor, Model A-3000 vista(TM) with Sensor Bis quatro(TM) (Aspect Medical Systems, Norwood, USA). A Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to determine if the level of consciousness correlated with the BIS. RESULTS: In 89 patients, the BIS was found to be significantly correlated with the level of consciousness (r = 0.723, P < 0.01) and GCS (r = 0.646, P < 0.01). The BIS values increased with an increasing level of consciousness. Mean BIS values of coma, semicoma, stupor and drowsiness were 0.14 +/- 0.23, 38.9 +/- 18.0, 60.3 +/- 14.5, and 73.6 +/- 16.5, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, a significant correlation existed between level of consciousness and BIS. These findings suggest that BIS may be used for assessing the level of consciousness in brain injured patients. However, the scatter of BIS values for any level of consciousness limited the worth of BIS in predicting mentality except in coma patients.
Adult ; Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Coma ; Consciousness ; Consciousness Monitors ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Research Personnel ; Sleep Stages ; Stupor

Calving records of Holstein dairy cows from 2005 to 2010 comprising Goyang and Paju cities herd with 2,362 calving events representing 240 twin births were used to evaluate the effect of abomasal displacement and retained placenta after single or twin births on fertility. In retained placenta cows, the period of twin pregnancy (mean 270.5 days) was shorter than that of single pregnancy (mean 274.8 days), however first artificial insemination period (twin: mean 107.4 days, single: mean 92.0 days), non-pregnant period (twin: 154.8 days, single: 132.2 days), and number of insemination (twin: mean 2.00 times, single: mean 1.87 times) of twin pregnancy were increased as compared with single pregnancy. In abomasal displacement cows, first artificial insemination period (twin: mean 122.9 days, single: mean 106.0 days), non-pregnant period (twin: 172.4 days, single: 152.0 days), and number of insemination (twin: mean 2.16 times, single: mean 1.89 times) of twin pregnancy were increased as compared with single pregnancy. The prevalence of complication such as retained placenta, abomasal displacement with single or twin births increased first artificial insemination period, non-pregnant period, and number of insemination period.
Displacement (Psychology) ; Fertility ; Humans ; Insemination ; Insemination, Artificial ; Korea ; Parturition ; Placenta, Retained ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Twin ; Prevalence ; Twins

The effects of ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (EGEE) on testicular cell populations in pubertal (5 weeks old) and adult (9 weeks old) male rats were investigated by a flow cytometric method. A total of 50 rats (in number, 25 pubertal and 25 adult rats) was divided into 5 experimental groups including 0 (control), 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg EGEE/kg of body weight. The animals were administered by gavage for 4 weeks. In adult rats, the treatment of EGEE at the dose of 400 mg/kg of body weight decreased significantly the populations of haploid, while it increased those of diploid and tetraploid cells. In pubertal rats, the treatment of EGEE at the dose of 400 mg/kg of body weight caused only minimal changes in the relative percent of testicular cell types. These results suggest that the effects of EGEE on testicular function in pubertal rats appear to be less pronounced than in adult rats.
Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Ethylene Glycols/*toxicity ; Male ; Organ Size/drug effects ; Rats ; Sexual Maturation/*drug effects ; Solvents/*toxicity ; Spermatogenesis/*drug effects ; Testis/drug effects/*pathology ; Time Factors

Endoscopic variceal ligation(EVL) is effective in both emergent and elective treatment of esophageal varices and can be used as a safe alternative to sclerotherapy. However, as yet no transparent ligating device is widely available, the endoscopic view through the present commercial ligating device is so narrow that it is often difficult to both approach the target and accurately define and position the bleeding site. To assess the benifit of transparent EVL device, total 143 patients, 632 sessions, underwent EVL treatment. In 545 sessions the non-transparent, conventional-type ligating devices (Stigmann-Goff ligating devices) were used, whereas in 87 sessions the transparent ligating devices used. 35 patients underwent EVL under active bleeding conditions; in 29 patients a conventional ligation devices, whereas in 6 patients a transparent ligating devices were used. The remaining l08 patients were either electively treated by EVL. The visual fields decreased to 20-30% with the conventional devices, but no change of visual fields were noted with the transparent devices. In electively treated cases by EVL, the times need to ligate one band were not significantly different in the conventional devices (average, 18.5 sec) compared with that in the transparent devices (average, 16.7 sec), but in active bleeding conditions it took a significantly longer times in the conventional devices (mean, 30.7 sec) compared with that in the transparent devices (average, 19.4 sec). The hemostatic success rates in active bleeding conditions were 89.7%(26/29) using the conventional devices, 100%(6/6) using the transparent devices. In conclusion this newly developed transparent ligating device provides an improved visual field and shortens ligating time, especially in active bleeding condition. Therefore EVL using transparent device is more effective method in treatment of esophageal varices, especially active bleeding conditions.
Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ligation* ; Sclerotherapy ; Visual Fields

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a large animal (rabbit) model which has a proper solitary intrahepatic tumor with lower leakage rates through less traumatic methods. Consequently, we evaluated tumor progression following the intrahepatic inoculation of VX2 cells into New Zealand white rabbits to acquire baseline data on the progression of a VX2 tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty New Zealand white rabbits, each weighting 2.5-3 kg, were selected for this study. A 1 mm3 VX2 tumor fragment was created and then minced to enable the particles to pass through a 21 G needle mounting in a tuberculin syringe with 0.1 ml of normal saline. The minced VX2 tumor particles were injected into the subcapsular parenchyma of the left hepatic lobe. A 21 G needle was used to avoid penetrating large hepatic vessels. In order to prevent hemorrhage or leakage of the VX2 tumor cells through the injection route, a purse-string suture around the puncture site was made using black silk 4-0. The tumor particles were then injected through the center of the suture. While removing the needle, the suture was tightened to prevent hemorrhage or leakage of the VX2 tumor cells through the injection route. Finally, the injection site was covered with a Surgicel(R) patch. The inoculated intrahepatic VX2 tumors were then imaged with a 16 channel multidetector CT every week for the duration of the study. The CT images covered from the lung apex to the pelvic floor. Two radiologists evaluated the size, location, and peritoneal seeding of the tumors as well as metastasis of other organs. Three rabbits were sacrificed at random beginning in the second week, and this process continued on a weekly basis for the duration of the study. The CT images and pathologic findings for the sacrificed rabbits were correlated. RESULTS: The inoculated intrahepatic VX2 tumors were not visible in the first week. By the second week 66.7% were visible on CT images and by the third week all tumors were visible. Of the twenty rabbits, three (15%) had tumor growth both in the liver and the peritoneal cavity, suggesting tumor leakage from the injection site into the peritoneal cavity. The remaining rabbits (n=17) had successful inoculation in the liver parenchyma as a solitary mass. Three of twenty rabbits (15%) showed tumor regression after successful inoculation. Tumor metastasis in extratumoral regions, including the liver and peritoneal seeding, increased beginning in the fourth week and more than 12x103 mm3 in volume after the initial inoculation of the VX2 tumors. CONCLUSION: This new technique using innoculated intrahepatic VX2 tumor particles seems to be a simple and effective method for obtaining a solitary hepatic tumor in animal models. Results of this study suggest that a solitary intrahepatic tumor model without metastasis can be maintained. However, the evaluation of any therapeutic effects or any planned intervention should not occur until the fourth week following innoculation or less than 12x103 mm3 in volume after the inoculation of the VX2 tumor. The second highlighted section does not seem to fir with the rest of the sentence. Consider rephrasing the last part of the sentence.
Animals* ; Hemorrhage ; Liver ; Lung ; Models, Animal* ; Needles ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pelvic Floor ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Punctures ; Rabbits ; Silk ; Sutures ; Syringes ; Tuberculin