Acute chemical ingestion in the under 19 population in South Korea: A brief report

Background Most people are frequently exposed to chemicals and chemical products. This study provides basic information on the outcomes of acute chemical ingestion of patients aged under 19 years. Methods Patients aged under 19 years who had ingested chemicals and thus visited the emergency department between January 2011 and December 2016 were included in this study. Results In all, 1,247 patients included (1,145 in the unintentional group and 102 in the intentional group). The mean age was 3.27±4.77 in the unintentional ingestion group and 16.49±1.94 in the intentional group. In the unintentional group, detergents were most frequently ingested (by 219 patients), followed by hypochlorite-based agents, ethanol, sodium hydroxide, acetone, silica gel, and citric acid. Cases of boric acid (odds ratio [OR] = 6.131), ethylene glycol (OR = 6.541), glacial acetic acid (OR = 7.644), other hydrocarbons (OR = 4.496), hypochlorite-based agent (OR = 2.627), nicotine (OR = 5.635), and sodium peroxocarbonate (OR = 6.783) ingestion was associated with a significantly high admission rate. In the intentional group, there were 54 cases of ingestion of hypochlorite-based agent, followed by detergent, ethylene glycol, ethanol, methanol and sodium peroxycarbonate. The significant risk factors for admission in the intentional group were ingestion of ethylene glycol (OR = 37.333) and hypochlorite-based agent (OR = 5.026). There was no mortality case. Conclusion The most commonly ingested substances were sodium hypochlorite (hypochlorite-related agent), surfactants (detergent and soap), and ethanol. The ingestion of hypochlorite or ethylene glycol was the main risk factor for admission. Intentional ingestion was higher in adolescents than in children.

Supply Chain Modeling Based on Multi-AGENT Research

In view of the AGENT has the characteristics such as autonomous, collaborative and other characteristics, based on the CPRF multiple AGENT is carried out on the supply chain modeling, and builds the seven AGENT module and discusses the functions and the interaction relationship of each related AGENT, supply chain model is obtained.

Assisting Learners to Dynamically Adjust Learning Processes by Software Agents

In order to make online learning more productive, software agent technology has been applied to provide services for learners to assist them to construct knowledge in constructivist ways. This paper is focused on the application of software agents in assisting learners to dynamically adjust learning processes. Unlike pedagogical agents, the agents in this application do not hold domain knowledge but simply assist learners to get through the learning process by a variety of supportive services. They assist learners to develop personalized preferred learning plans and guide them to dynamically align learning towards their goals. In this paper, the online learning process is first investigated and an approach to assisting learners to dynamically adjust learning processes is outlined. Then the structure of the UOL (unit of learning) database that provides links between a practical learning scenario and the required services is explored. A multi-agent architecture for realizing the services is configured and the roles of the involved agents are described. After that, the related agent algorithms for guiding learners to dynamically adjust learning processes are described.

Assisting Learners to Dynamically Adjust Learning Processes Through Software Agents

To make online learning more productive, software agent technology has been applied to provide services for learners in order to assist them to construct knowledge in constructivist ways. This paper is focused on the application of software agents in assisting learners to dynamically adjust learning processes. Unlike pedagogical agents, the agents in this application do not hold domain knowledge but simply assist learners to get through learning processes by a variety of supportive services. They assist learners to develop personalized preferred learning plans and to guide them to dynamically adjust learning toward their goals. In this article, the online learning process is first investigated, and an approach to assisting learners to dynamically adjust learning is outlined. Then, the structure of the UOL (unit of learning) database that provides links between a practical learning scenario and the required services is explored. A multi-agent architecture for realizing the services is configured, and the roles of the involved agents are described. After that, the related agent algorithms for guiding learners to dynamically adjust learning are described.

A New Organotypic Culture of Adipose Tissue Fragments Maintains Viable Mature Adipocytes for a Long Term, Together with Development of Immature Adipocytes and Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Like Cells

Adipose tissue that consists of mature and immature adipocytes is suggested to contain mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), but a culture system for analyzing their cell types within the tissue has not been established. Here we show that three-dimensional collagen gel culture of rat sc adipose tissue fragments maintained viable mature adipocytes for a long term, producing immature adipocytes and MSC-like cells from the fragments, using immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and real time RT-PCR. Bromodeoxyuridine uptake of mature adipocytes was detected. Adiponectin and leptin, and adipocyte-specific genes of adiponectin, leptin, and PPAR-γ were detected in culture assembly, whereas the lipogenesis factor insulin (20 mU/ml) and inflammation-related agent TNF-α (2 nm) increased and decreased, respectively, all of their displays. Both spindle-shaped cell types with oil red O-positive lipid droplets and those with expression of MSC markers (CD105 and CD44) developed around the fragments. The data indicate that adipose tissue-organotypic culture retains unilocular structure, proliferative ability, and some functions of mature adipocytes, generating both immature adipocytes and CD105+/CD44+ MSC-like cells. This suggests that our method will open up a new way for studying both multiple cell types within adipose tissue and the cell-based mechanisms of obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Phase I trial of dacarbazine and bortezomib in melanoma and soft tissue sarcoma

18008 Background: Dacarbazine (D) has modest single agent activity against melanoma and soft tissue sarcomas. NFκB is a transcription factor that in general promotes cell survival and antagonizes apoptosis. In melanoma NFκB is constitutively activated and increases further in response to D. Bortezomib (B) is a prosteasome inhibitor that down-regulates NFκB. In tissue culture and xenograft melanoma models B potentiates anticancer effects of D and the related agent temozolomide. Methods: The primary objective is to identify recommended phase II doses for D+B administered weekly. Patients with advanced melanoma or sarcoma are enrolled in a traditional ‘3+3‘ dose escalation format. Results: Recommended phase II doses will be at least D 250 mg/m2 and B 1.6 mg/m2, and dose escalation continues. Treatment has been generally well tolerated with known D and B toxicities. Among 8 melanoma patients there is 1 partial response (PR), 1 with stable disease on treatment 15 weeks, 6 with progressive disease (PD) 6, 7, 8, 8, 13, and 13 weeks. Among 5 sarcoma patients there is 1 PR and 4 with PD 4, 8, 16, and 24 wks. Conclusions: At full dose B and moderate dose D for this schedule, D+B is feasible and generally well-tolerated. Activity beyond that of D alone is not apparent to date, but several or all patients have been treated at less than maximum tolerated doses. [Table: see text]

Portal 5-hydroxytryptophan infusion enhances glucose disposal in conscious dogs

Intraportal serotonin infusion enhances net hepatic glucose uptake (NHGU) during glucose infusion but blunts nonhepatic glucose uptake and can cause gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhea at high doses. Whether the serotonin precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) could enhance NHGU without gastrointestinal side effects during glucose infusion was examined in conscious 42-h-fasted dogs, using arteriovenous difference and tracer ([3-3H]glucose) techniques. Experiments consisted of equilibration (−120 to −30 min), basal (−30 to 0 min), and experimental (EXP; 0–270 min) periods. During EXP, somatostatin, fourfold basal intraportal insulin, basal intraportal glucagon, and peripheral glucose (to double the hepatic glucose load) were infused. In one group of dogs (HTP, n = 6), saline was infused intraportally from 0 to 90 min (P1), and 5-HTP was infused intraportally at 10, 20, and 40 μg·kg−1·min−1from 90 to 150 (P2), 150 to 210 (P3), and 210 to 270 (P4) min, respectively. In the other group (SAL, n = 7), saline was infused intraportally from 0 to 270 min. NHGU in SAL was 14.8 ± 1.9, 18.5 ± 2.3, 16.3 ± 1.4, and 19.7 ± 1.6 μmol·kg−1·min−1in P1–P4, whereas NHGU in 5-HTP averaged 16.4 ± 2.6, 18.5 ± 1.4, 20.8 ± 2.0, and 27.6 ± 2.6 μmol·kg−1·min−1( P < 0.05 vs. SAL). Nonhepatic glucose uptake (μmol·kg−1·min−1) in SAL was 30.2 ± 4.3, 36.8 ± 5.8, 44.3 ± 5.8, and 54.6 ± 11.8 during P1–P4, respectively, whereas in HTP the corresponding values were 26.3 ± 6.8, 44.9 ± 10.1, 47.5 ± 11.7, and 51.4 ± 13.2 (not significant between groups). Intraportal 5-HTP enhances NHGU without significantly altering nonhepatic glucose uptake or causing gastrointestinal side effects, raising the possibility that a related agent might have a role in reducing postprandial hyperglycemia.