Angiopoietin-like protein (ANGPTL)8 is a liver- and adipocyte-derived protein that controls plasma triglyceride (TG) levels. Most animal studies have used mouse models. Here, we generated an KO rat model using a clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) (CRISPR/Cas9) system to clarify the roles of ANGPTL8 in glucose and lipid metabolism. Compared with WT rats, KO rats had lower body weight and fat content, associated with impaired lipogenesis in adipocytes; no differences existed between the groups in food intake or rectal temperature. Plasma TG levels in both the fasted and refed states were significantly lower in KO than in WT rats, and an oral fat tolerance test showed decreased plasma TG excursion in KO rats. Higher levels of lipase activity in the heart and greater expression of genes related to β-oxidation in heart and skeletal muscle were observed in KO rats. However, there were no significant differences between KO and WT rats in glucose metabolism or the histology of pancreatic β-cells on both standard and high-fat diets. In conclusion, we demonstrated that KO in rats resulted in lower body weight and plasma TG levels without affecting glucose metabolism. ANGPTL8 might be an important therapeutic target for obesity and dyslipidemia.

The results show that the occupation-based approach is associated with significantly improved QALYs and has potential cost effectiveness, compared with the impairment-based approach.

Animation for a metasurface hologram was achieved using a cinematographic approach. Time-lapsed images were reconstructed using sequentially arranged metasurface hologram frames. An Au rectangular nanoaperture was adopted as a meta-atom pixel and arrayed to reproduce the phase distribution based on the help of a Pancharatnam–Berry phase. We arrayed 48 hologram frames on a 2-cm2 substrate and measured and assessed the retardation of fabricated meta-atoms to reconstruct the holographic image, successfully demonstrating the movie with a frame rate of 30 frames per second.

No abstract

refusal of VTE prophylaxis doses is the most common documented reason these doses are not administered. A small number of patients and nursing units account for a vast majority of refused doses. We have initiated a mixed-methods investigation to determine what patient, nursing unit, and culture of care-level factors may explain refusal of these doses. OBJECTIVES:To assess the impact of pharmacist-led face-to-face counseling on prescription first refill rate in patients who are new to statins or thyroid medications. METHODS: A retrospective pre-post with case-control cohort study design was employed. In May 2010, two community pharmacies implemented face-to-face counseling by trained pharmacists at the site of care when patients initially filled their statin or thyroid prescriptions. Patients' first refill rate, defined as percentage of patients who refilled their prescriptions within a two-week's period after exhaustion of their initial fill, was assessed as the primary outcome measure. Similar computations were performed for patients' who filled their study medications at the two stores, 12-months prior to the intervention program. Additionally, two control pharmacy stores were selected based on pharmacy type, operational years of stores, prescription volume, and corresponding population characteristics. Refill rates in the pre and post-periods were also computed for control stores. A chi-square test was performed to investigate the relationship between face-to-face intervention and patients' first refill rate. RESULTS: Test stores that implemented face-to-face counseling, conducted interventions on 81 new to therapy patients in the post period, while a total of 76 (new to therapy patients) were included in the pre-period. A total of 73 and 81 new to therapy patients were selected from control stores in the pre and post-period respectively. For test stores, chi-square analyses showed a significant increase in the refill rates in the postperiod as compared to the pre-period (Pre-period: 55.7% Vs Post-period: 70.4% pϽ0.01), whereas control stores did not show any significant increase across two periods (Pre-period: 56.2% Vs Post-period: 61.7%, pϾ0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacist-led face-to-face counseling had a positive impact on patient's refill behavior. The study showed an early impact of the program; additional larger pilot studies and longer follow-up period are needed to better understand the full benefit of the program.