This study was performed to investigate the relationship between milk and milk product consumption and dietary nutrient intake among Korean adolescents. Questionnaire survey and 3-day diet survey using the food record method were completed by a total of 664 subjects. Subjects were divided into three groups, Q1 (low group), Q2 (middle group), and Q3 (high group), according to dairy equivalent of calcium. Dairy equivalent of calcium was determined by the amount of calcium eaten from milk and milk products by individual subjects. As a result, the ratio of school milk service was higher in Q3 (P<0.001). The most frequent answer about the reason for consuming milk and milk products was 'to be taller' followed by 'good taste' and 'health promotion'. Preference for all types of milk such as white-, enriched-, and flavored- milk was higher in Q3 followed by Q2>Q1 (P<0.05). Ratio of mean daily dietary nutrient intakes of dietary fiber, vitamin C, folate, and calcium to RNI was lower than 2/3 for all of the groups. These mean daily dietary nutrient intakes were significantly higher in Q3 (P<0.05), and in particular, mean daily dietary calcium intake, which was the lowest nutrient consumed by Korean adolescents, was also the highest in Q3 followed by Q2>Q1 (P<0.05). The above results suggest that the school milk program is very helpful in encouraging adolescents to consume milk and milk products and consequently ensure their optimal nutrition. Therefore, we should try to encourage adolescents to participate in the school milk program more actively through nutritional education and government policy.
Adolescent ; Ascorbic Acid ; Calcium ; Calcium, Dietary ; Diet Surveys ; Dietary Fiber ; Dietary Sucrose ; Folic Acid ; Humans ; Milk ; Nutritional Requirements ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Background: To assess the normal retina of the pigeon eye using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and establish a normative reference. Methods: Twelve eyes of six ophthalmologically normal pigeons (Columba livia) were included. SD-OCT images were taken with dilated pupils under sedation. Four meridians, including the fovea, optic disc, red field, and yellow field, were obtained in each eye. The layers, including full thickness (FT), ganglion cell complex (GCC), thickness from the retinal pigmented epithelium to the outer nuclear layer (RPE-ONL), and from the retinal pigmented epithelium to the inner nuclear layer (RPE-INL), were manually measured. Results: The average FT values were significantly different among the four meridians (p < 0.05), with the optic disc meridian being the thickest (294.0 ± 13.9 µm). The average GCC was thickest in the optic disc (105.3 ± 27.1 µm) and thinnest in the fovea meridian (42.8 ± 15.3 µm). The average RPE-INL of the fovea meridian (165.5 ± 18.3 µm) was significantly thicker than that of the other meridians (p < 0.05). The average RPE-ONL of the fovea, optic disc, yellow field, and red field were 91.2 ± 5.2 µm, 87.7 ± 5.3 µm, 87.6 ± 6.5 µm, and 91.4 ± 3.9 µm, respectively. RPE-INL and RPE-ONL thickness of the red field meridian did not change significantly with measurement location (p > 0.05). Conclusions Measured data could be used as normative references for diagnosing pigeon retinopathies and further research on avian fundus structure.

Background: To assess the normal retina of the pigeon eye using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and establish a normative reference. Methods: Twelve eyes of six ophthalmologically normal pigeons (Columba livia) were included. SD-OCT images were taken with dilated pupils under sedation. Four meridians, including the fovea, optic disc, red field, and yellow field, were obtained in each eye. The layers, including full thickness (FT), ganglion cell complex (GCC), thickness from the retinal pigmented epithelium to the outer nuclear layer (RPE-ONL), and from the retinal pigmented epithelium to the inner nuclear layer (RPE-INL), were manually measured. Results: The average FT values were significantly different among the four meridians (p < 0.05), with the optic disc meridian being the thickest (294.0 ± 13.9 µm). The average GCC was thickest in the optic disc (105.3 ± 27.1 µm) and thinnest in the fovea meridian (42.8 ± 15.3 µm). The average RPE-INL of the fovea meridian (165.5 ± 18.3 µm) was significantly thicker than that of the other meridians (p < 0.05). The average RPE-ONL of the fovea, optic disc, yellow field, and red field were 91.2 ± 5.2 µm, 87.7 ± 5.3 µm, 87.6 ± 6.5 µm, and 91.4 ± 3.9 µm, respectively. RPE-INL and RPE-ONL thickness of the red field meridian did not change significantly with measurement location (p > 0.05). Conclusions Measured data could be used as normative references for diagnosing pigeon retinopathies and further research on avian fundus structure.

Vertically aligned, laterally spaced nanoscale titanium nanotubes were grown on a titanium surface by anodization, and the growth of chondroprogenitors on the resulting surfaces was investigated. Surfaces bearing nanotubes of 70 to 100 nm in diameter were found to trigger the morphological transition to a cortical actin pattern and rounded cell shape (both indicative of chondrocytic differentiation), as well as the up-regulation of type II collagen and integrin beta4 protein expression through the down-regulation of Erk activity. Inhibition of Erk signaling reduced stress fiber formation and induced the transition to the cortical actin pattern in cells cultured on 30-nm-diameter nanotubes, which maintained their fibroblastoid morphologies in the absence of Erk inhibition. Collectively, these results indicate that a titanium-based nanotube surface can support chondrocytic functions among chondroprogenitors, and may therefore be useful for future cartilaginous applications.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Differentiation/*drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chick Embryo ; Chickens ; Chondrocytes/cytology/drug effects/metabolism ; Chondrogenesis/*drug effects ; Collagen Type II/metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Integrin beta4/metabolism ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/*cytology/*drug effects/metabolism ; Nanotubes/*chemistry ; Titanium/*chemistry/*pharmacology

The purpose of this study was to develop effective dental hygiene chews for cats based on the anatomical features of the dentition and patterns of chewing motion. All cats were volunteered for dental prophylaxis followed by dental impressions using yellow stone and alginate under general anesthesia. Twenty parameters related to dentition were defined in order to compare dental impressions using digital caliper. For the chewing motion study, patterns of chewing motion were identified based on recordings made with a digital camera. Ten cats (4 domestic shorthairs, 2 Russian blues, 1 American shorthair, 1 Persian, 1 Turkish Angora, and 1 Devon Rex) were recruited for the study. The parameters related to teeth and oral size were similar among the studied cats. Chewing motion can be described as more of a guillotine-like motion rather than a crushing motion, with cats chewing 3–7 times before swallowing. The chewing pattern of cats involves shearing for a short period of time followed by immediate swallowing. Therefore, the overall size of the dental hygiene chew could be determined based on the measurement of the oral size for inducing chewing. The surface details of the dental hygiene chew could be designed for prevention and removal of dental calculus and plaque in cats considering the anatomical teeth parameters. Dental hygiene chews customized for cats considering the different anatomical features of their teeth might be effective for oral care.
Anesthesia, General ; Animals ; Cats ; Deglutition ; Dental Calculus ; Dental Prophylaxis ; Dentition ; Gingiva ; Mastication ; Oral Hygiene ; Periodontal Diseases ; Tooth

Background: Dry eye disease (DED) cannot be diagnosed by a single test because it is a multifactorial disorder of the ocular surface. Although studies on various dry eye tests (DETs) in dogs have been reported, standard criteria have not been established except for the Schirmer tear test 1 (STT-1). Objectives: To establish reference values for DETs in dogs with normal STT-1 values (≥ 15 mm/min) and to analyze the correlation between DETs. Methods: The STT-1 was performed in 10 healthy Beagle dogs (20 eyes). After 20 min, interferometry (IF) for estimating the lipid layer thickness (LLT) of the tear film, tear meniscus height (TMH), non-invasive tear breakup time (NIBUT), and meibomian gland loss rate of the upper eyelid (MGLRU) and lower eyelid (MGLRL), were measured using an ocular surface analyzer. Results: Mean values for STT-1, TMH, and NIBUT were as follows: 21.7 ± 3.4 mm/min, 0.41 ± 0.21 mm, and 19.1 ± 9.5 sec, respectively. The most frequent LLT range, measured by IF, was 30–80 nm (11 eyes), followed by 80 nm (5 eyes) and 80–140 nm (4 eyes). MGLRU ≤ 25% was measured in 11 eyes and 26%–50% in 9 eyes; MGLRL ≤ 25% in 8 eyes and 26%–50% in 12 eyes. Besides positive correlation between TMH and NIBUT (P = 0.038), there were no significant associations between DETs. Conclusions Data obtained in this study provided normative references that could be useful for diagnosing DED and for further research into correlation between DETs in dogs with DED.

Afferent loop syndrome caused by an impacted enterolith is very rare, and endoscopic removal of the enterolith may be difficult if a stricture is present or the normal anatomy has been altered. Electrohydraulic lithotripsy is commonly used for endoscopic fragmentation of biliary and pancreatic duct stones. A 64-year-old man who had undergone subtotal gastrectomy and gastrojejunostomy presented with acute, severe abdominal pain for a duration of 2 hours. Initially, he was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis because of an elevated amylase level and pain, but was finally diagnosed with acute afferent loop syndrome when an impacted enterolith was identified by computed tomography. We successfully removed the enterolith using direct electrohydraulic lithotripsy conducted using a transparent cap-fitted endoscope without complications. We found that this procedure was therapeutically beneficial.
Abdominal Pain ; Afferent Loop Syndrome* ; Amylases ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Endoscopes ; Gastrectomy ; Gastric Bypass ; Humans ; Lithotripsy* ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatitis

Psoriasis is a chronic, recurrent, heterogeneous, cutaneous inflammatory skin disease for which there is no cure. It affects approximately 7.5 million people in the United States. Currently, several biologic agents that target different molecules implicated in the pathogenic processes of psoriasis are being assessed in diverse clinical studies. However, relapse usually occurs within weeks or months, meaning there is currently no cure for psoriasis. Therefore, recent studies have discovered diverse new potential treatments for psoriasis: inhibitors of bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and neuropilin 1 (NRP1). A promising approach that has recently been described involves modifying antimicrobial peptides to develop new cutaneous anti-bacterial agents that target inflammatory skin disease induced by Staphylococcus. Increased expression of TRAIL and its death receptors DR4 and DR5 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of plaque psoriasis. In addition, TRAIL has the ability to inhibit angiogenesis by inducing endothelial cell death and by negative regulation of VEGF-induced angiogenesis via caspase-8-mediated enzymatic and non-enzymatic functions. Since NRP1 regulates angiogenesis induced by multiple signals, including VEGF, ECM and semaphorins, and also initiates proliferation of keratinocytes through NF-κB signaling pathway in involved psoriatic skin, targeting NRP1 pathways may offer numerous windows for intervention in psoriasis. In this review, we will focus on the current knowledge about the emerging role of synthetic antimicrobial peptides, TRAIL and NRP1 blocking peptides in the pathogenesis and treatment of psoriasis.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Biological Factors ; Endothelial Cells ; Keratinocytes ; Necrosis ; Neuropilin-1 ; Peptides ; Psoriasis ; Receptors, Death Domain ; Recurrence ; Semaphorins ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Therapeutic Uses ; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; United States ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Claudin-7 has recently been suggested to be a distal nephron marker. We tested the possibility that expression of claudin-7 could be used as a marker of renal tumors originating from the distal nephron. We examined the immunohistochemical expression of claudin-7 and parvalbumin in 239 renal tumors, including 179 clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC)s, 29 papillary RCCs, 20 chromophobe RCCs, and 11 renal oncocytomas. In addition, the methylation specific-PCR (MSP) of claudin-7 was performed. Claudin-7 and parvalbumin immunostains were positive in 3.4%, 7.8% of clear cell RCCs, 34.5%, 31.0% of papillary RCCs, 95.0%, 80.0% of chromophobe RCCs, and 72.7%, 81.8% of renal oncocytomas, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of claudin-7 in diagnosing chromophobe RCC among subtypes of RCC were 95.0% and 92.3%. Those of parvalbumin were 80.0% and 88.9%. The expression pattern of claudin-7 was mostly diffuse in chromophobe RCC and was either focal or diffuse in oncocytoma. All of the cases examined in the MSP revealed the presence of unmethylated promoter of claudin-7 without regard to claudin-7 immunoreactivity. Hypermethylation of the promoter might not be the underlying mechanism for loss of its expression in RCC. Claudin-7 can be used as a useful diagnostic marker in diagnosing chromophobe RCC and oncocytoma.
Tumor Markers, Biological/metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Tissue Distribution ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Reproducibility of Results ; Nephrons/metabolism ; Neoplasm Proteins/metabolism ; Membrane Proteins/analysis/*metabolism ; Kidney Neoplasms/*diagnosis/*metabolism ; Humans ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell/*diagnosis/*metabolism ; Adenoma, Oxyphilic/*diagnosis/*metabolism