PurposeIn the present study, the visual discomfort induced by smart mobile devices was assessed in normal and healthy adults.MethodsFifty-nine volunteers (age, 38.16 ± 10.23 years; male : female = 19 : 40) were exposed to tablet computer screen stimuli (iPad Air, Apple Inc.) for 1 hour. Participants watched a movie or played a computer game on the tablet computer. Visual fatigue and discomfort were assessed using an asthenopia questionnaire, tear film break-up time, and total ocular wavefront aberration before and after viewing smart mobile devices.ResultsBased on the questionnaire, viewing smart mobile devices for 1 hour significantly increased mean total asthenopia score from 19.59 ± 8.58 to 22.68 ± 9.39 (p < 0.001). Specifically, the scores for five items (tired eyes, sore/aching eyes, irritated eyes, watery eyes, and hot/burning eye) were significantly increased by viewing smart mobile devices. Tear film break-up time significantly decreased from 5.09 ± 1.52 seconds to 4.63 ± 1.34 seconds (p = 0.003). However, total ocular wavefront aberration was unchanged.ConclusionsVisual fatigue and discomfort were significantly induced by viewing smart mobile devices, even though the devices were equipped with state-of-the-art display technology.

Race and ethnicity are influential in estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR). We aimed to find the Korean coefficients for the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) study equations and to obtain novel proper estimation equations. Reference GFR was measured by systemic inulin clearance. Serum creatinine (SCr) values were measured by the alkaline picrate Jaffé kinetic method, then, recalibrated to CX3 analyzer and to isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS). The Korean coefficients for the 4 and 6 variable MDRD and IDMS MDRD study equations based on the SCr recalibrated to CX3 and to IDMS were 0.73989/0.74254 and 0.99096/0.9554, respectively. Coefficients for the 4 and 6 variable MDRD equations based on the SCr measured by Jaffé method were 1.09825 and 1.04334, respectively. The modified equations showed better performances than the original equations. The novel 4 variable equations for Korean based on the SCr measured and recalibrated to IDMS were 107.904×SCr-1.009×age-0.02 (×0.667, if woman) and 87.832×SCr-0.882×age0.01 (×0.653, if woman), respectively. Modified estimations of the MDRD and IDMS MDRD study equations with ethnic coefficients and the novel equations improve the performance of GFR estimation for the overall renal function.

The present study evaluated the reliability of equations using spot urine (SU) samples in the estimation of 24-hour urine sodium excretion (24-HUNa). Equations estimating 24-HUNa from SU samples were derived from first-morning SU of 101 participants (52.4 ± 11.1 years, range 24–70 years). Equations developed by us and other investigators were validated with SU samples from a separate group of participants (n = 224, 51.0 ± 10.9 years, range 24–70 years). Linear, quadratic, and cubic equations were derived from first-morning SU samples because these samples had a sodium/creatinine ratio having the highest correlation coefficient for 24-HUNa/creatinine ratio (r = 0.728, p < 0.001). In the validation group, the estimated 24-HUNa showed significant correlations with measured 24-HUNa values. The estimated 24-HUNa by the linear, quadratic, and cubic equations developed from our study were not significantly different from measured 24-HUNa, while estimated 24-HUNa by previously developed equations were significantly different from measured 24-HUNa values. The limits of agreement between measured and estimated 24-HUNa by six equations exceeded 100 mmol/24-hour in the Bland-Altman analysis. All equations showed a tendency of under- or over-estimation of 24-HUNa, depending on the level of measured 24-HUNa. Estimation of 24-HUNa from single SU by equations as tested in the present study was found to be inadequate for the estimation of an individual’s 24-HUNa.

Metformin is a widely prescribed antidiabetic agent, whereas Scutellaria baicalensis (SB) is a commonly used medicinal herb for treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Gut microbiota is involved in pathophysiology of metabolic diseases including T2D, and intestinal microbiota may be one of the important therapeutic targets for the ailment. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of SB combined with metformin on treatment of T2D while evaluating changes in the gut microbiota composition. Patients with T2D were randomized into control and treatment groups. Subjects who had already been prescribed metformin were allotted to additional SB (3.52 g/day) group or placebo group. The initial treatment session was 8 wk, and after washout period for 4 wk they were crossed over to the opposite treatment for another 8 wk. The influence of SB and placebo on the intestinal microbiota was analyzed by MiSeq system based on 16S rRNA gene. Glucose tolerance was lower in the SB group than the placebo group. Similarly, the relative RNA expression of TNF-α was significantly reduced after SB treatment. SB treatment influenced the gut microbiota, especially Lactobacillus and Akkermansia, which showed remarkable increases after SB treatment. Some subjects showed high liver enzyme levels after SB treatment, and their microbiota composition at baseline differed with subjects whose liver enzymes were not affected. We also predicted that selenocompound metabolism was increased and naphthalene degradation was decreased after SB treatment. These results suggest that SB with metformin treatment may improve the glucose tolerance and inflammation and influence the gut microbiota community in T2D.

PurposeEvogliptin (DA-1229) is a novel, potent, and selective dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitor in clinical development for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles and tolerability of evogliptin after repeated oral administration in healthy subjects.Patients and methodsA block-randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multiple-dose, dose-escalation study was performed in a total of 30 subjects. Repeated once-daily doses of 5, 10, or 20 mg evogliptin or the same doses of placebo were orally administered to ten subjects in each dosage group for 10 days. Subjects in each group were randomized to receive evogliptin or placebo with a ratio of 8:2. Pharmacokinetics of evogliptin were evaluated, with its concentrations in serial plasma and urine samples collected following the first and last administrations. DPP-IV activity and glucagon-like peptide-1, glucose, and insulin levels were quantified to evaluate evogliptin’s pharmacodynamics on the first and last dosing days.ResultsAll participants completed the study without any serious or severe adverse event. The evogliptin plasma concentration reached its peak within 4–5 hours and decreased relatively slowly, with a terminal elimination half-life of 33–39 hours. Repeated administration resulted in a 1.4- to 1.5-fold accumulation. Evogliptin’s systemic exposure and inhibition of plasma DPP-IV activity increased in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of DPP-IV activity >80% was sustained over 24 hours in all evogliptin dose groups and provided an increase in postprandial active glucagon-like peptide-1 levels by 1.5- to 2.4-fold. Postprandial glucose levels in the evogliptin-treated groups were reduced 20%–35% compared to placebo, but were not accompanied by increased insulin levels.ConclusionRepeated administration of evogliptin in healthy subjects was well tolerated and exhibited linear pharmacokinetics within the 5–20 mg dose range. A once-daily regimen of 5–20 mg evogliptin effectively inhibited DPP-IV activity.