NDO Group Research Articles

Gut microbiome signatures associated with type 2 diabetes in obesity in Mongolia.

Mongolian people possess a unique dietary habit characterized by high consumption of meat and dairy products and fewer vegetables, resulting in the highest obesity rate in East Asia. Although obesity is a known cause of type 2 diabetes (T2D), the T2D rate is moderate in this population; this is known as the "Mongolian paradox." Since the gut microbiota plays a key role in energy and metabolic homeostasis as an interface between food and body, we investigated gut microbial factors involved in the prevention of the co-occurrence of T2D with obesity in Mongolians. We compared the gut microbiome and metabolome of Mongolian adults with obesity with T2D (DO: n = 31) or without T2D (NDO: n = 35). Dysbiotic signatures were found in the gut microbiome of the DO group; lower levels of Faecalibacterium and Anaerostipes which are known as short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) producers and higher levels of Methanobrevibacter, Desulfovibrio, and Solobacterium which are known to be associated with certain diseases. On the other hand, the NDO group exhibited a higher level of fecal SCFA concentration, particularly acetate. This is consistent with the results of the whole shotgun metagenomic analysis, which revealed a higher relative abundance of SCFA biosynthesis-related genes encoded largely by Anaerostipes hadrus in the NDO group. Multiple logistic regression analysis including host demographic parameters indicated that acetate had the highest negative contribution to the onset of T2D. These findings suggest that SCFAs produced by the gut microbial community participate in preventing the development of T2D in obesity in Mongolians.

Nitrodiazene oxides: a unique nitrogen- and oxygen-containing functional group.

Nitrogen-/oxygen-containing functional groups (N/O groups) may be found in a wide variety of areas such as agriculture, drug design and energetic materials. Exploring the chemistry and synthesis of N/O groups is desirable as compounds containing their functionality may prove to be invaluable in a variety of fields. A unique N/O functional group which may offer additional insight into the design of high-heteroatom content systems is the 2-nitrodiazene-1-N-oxide group (NDO group). While unique on their own, NDOs combine the well-known azoxy (N(O)=N) and nitro (-NO2) groups into a single unique N/O functional group. Although NDOs may offer superior densities and enthalpies of formations relative to their nitro counterparts, NDOs have been significantly less investigated than their nitro-bearing counterparts. This work will discuss NDOs in chemical literature from their initial discovery to modern synthesis techniques, energetic properties and chemical stability.

MO747AN ASSESSMENT OF COMPLEXITY OF CARDIOVASCULAR SIGNALS USING ENTROPY IN HEMODIALYSIS SESSION AND GLUCOSE INJECTION DURING HEMODIALYSIS IN END STAGE RENAL DISEASE PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT DIABETES MELLITUS TYPE 2

Abstract Background and Aims Few studies have focused on the imbalance of the autonomic nervous system during hemodialysis (HD), although it seems to be an important factor for the maintenance of blood pressure. The aim of this work was to assess the impact of hemodialysis (HD) and glucose injection upon entropy of heart rate and blood pressure during HD session in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with and without diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2. Method 21 patients without DM (NDO), in age 54,95 +/-13,08 y.o., and 10 DM patients, in age 69,70 +/- 8,27 y.o., were studied during HD. 30 minutes after dialysis begins, 40% glucose solution was administered in the amount of 0.5g/kg body dry-weight (constant rate of 1 mL/s). The cardiovascular signals were extracted from the recordings using Portapres® system. The analysis was performed using Amplitude Aware Permutation Entropy (AAPE). The parameters of AAPE were set as d=7, A=0.5. All statistical analysis were performed on significance level α=0.05. The comparisons between groups were conducted with Mann-Whitney test with Holm corrections. The comparisons in time points were performed using Friedman test with post-hoc (Wilcoxon test with Holm corrections). The calculations of AAPE and all statistical analysis were performed with Matlab R2020a and R. Results The results are presented in table. It was found that AAPE(HR) tends to decrease during dialysis (NS) and increases only in the DM group after glucose injection (p=0.019); without difference between groups. There were no differences in AAPE of blood pressure between the groups, but hemodialysis reduces AAPE(fiSYS) in both groups (p<0.001 in both DM and NDO groups) and AAPE(fiDIA) in NDO (p<0.01). AAPE(TPR) is high before dialysis, and decreases during HD in both groups (p<0.0001). There is no effect of glucose injection on AAPE(HR) in both groups, but AAPE(fiSYS) and AAPE(fiDIA) increase in NDO (p<0.001, p<0.01, p<0.05 respectively); without difference between groups. AAPE(TPR) tends to increase after glucose injection (p<0.05 for NDO, NS for DM). Conclusion AAPE(HR)tends to decrease during HD, and glucose injections increase AAPE(HR) in DM patients. Hemodialysis reduce, and glucose injections increase AAPE of blood pressure especially in NDO. A weaker response to hemodialysis and glucose injection in diabetic patients may be caused by impairment of the autonomic system, and may have clinical impact – may leads to faint. Glucose administration does not prevent autonomic system disorders in patients with DM.

Outcome of surgical-orthodontic treatment in hemifacial microsomia with and without early mandibular distraction osteogenesis

The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of surgical-orthodontic treatment between hemifacial microsomia (HFM) patients who had and had not undergone early mandibular distraction osteogenesis (DO). Twenty adult unilateral HFM patients were included, seven who had undergone early mandibular DO (DO group) and 13 who had not (NDO group). All patients were type IIB, except for one type IIA patient in the NDO group. Mean age at definitive surgery was 20.72±2.96 years. Linear, cross-sectional, and volumetric measurements were obtained from serial cone beam computed tomography scans. Data were obtained pre-surgery (T0), 1 week after surgery (T1), and at treatment completion (T2) to determine surgical movement, post-surgical stability, and net gain movement. Surgical and ultimate outcomes did not differ significantly between the groups. The overall surgical movement among all patients was as follows (mean values): maxillomandibular complex (MMC) symmetry was achieved by Le Fort I differential roll movement (3.78mm extrusion on the affected side, 4.28mm impaction on the non-affected side), a combination of medial movement and yaw rotation of MMC, and genioplasty. Upper and lower dental midlines and deviated menton were shifted by 5.73mm, 5.08mm, and 12.38mm, respectively. Anterior impaction and advancement with counterclockwise rotation of MMC were also performed. Menton was advanced by 6.14mm and lower facial height was increased by 3.55mm. Neither group exhibited a significant difference in stability. Relapse at the maxilla was <1mm and relapse at the mandible was <1.5mm. The results suggest that early DO had limited beneficial effects on the definitive correction outcome. HFM patients achieved acceptable symmetry and a stable surgical outcome, regardless of early DO, following surgical-orthodontic correction at skeletal maturity with three-dimensional surgical simulation.

Impulsivity and problem awareness predict therapy compliance and dropout from treatment for gambling disorder.

This study investigates the predictive value of impulsivity traits (as measured by the UPPS-P impulsive behaviour scale) and relevant covariates (sociodemographics, gambling severity, dysphoric mood, other potentially addictive behaviours, and non-verbal intelligence) with regard to treatment dropout and level of adherence to therapy guidelines and instructions in patients with gambling disorder. Sixty-six patients seeking treatment for gambling disorder, and recruited to participate in a larger protocol (G-Brain), were initially assessed in impulsivity traits and relevant covariates in the first six months after admission. Of these, 24 patients dropped out (DO) and 42 patients remained in therapy (NDO) during the subsequent 6-month follow-up period. A multivariate analysis of impulsivity subscales suggested prospective differences between DO and NDO, with affect-driven dimensions (positive and negative urgency) seemingly driving these differences. Among these, only positive urgency independently predicted a slight increase in the drop-out probability. In the NDO group, a higher degree of adherence to therapy was independently predicted by lower sensation-seeking scores and stronger awareness of gambling-related problems. Results suggest the presence of affect-driven impulsivity traits as dropout predictors in patients with gambling disorder. Awareness of gambling-related problems and lower sensation-seeking enhanced compliance with therapeutic guidelines and instructions.

COMPARISON OF THE LEVELS OF C-REACTIVE PROTEIN, GLP-1 AND GLP-2 AMONG INDIVIDUALS WITH DIABETES, MORBID OBESITY AND HEALTHY CONTROLS: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY.

The glucagon-like peptides 1 and 2 (GLP-1/GLP-2) are gut hormones that may directly affect the glucose homeostasis and their activity seems to be significantly affected by chronic inflammation. To evaluate the postprandial levels of glucagon-like peptides 1 and 2 (GLP-1/GLP-2), C-reactive protein (CRP), and the postprandial glucose and insulin levels among individuals with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and healthy controls. An exploratory cross-sectional study, which involved individuals awaiting for bariatric/metabolic surgery and healthy controls. Postprandial levels of GLP-1, GLP-2, glucose, and insulin were obtained after a standard meal tolerance test. Inflammation was assessed by means of CRP. There were 30 individuals enrolled in the study, divided into three groups: non-diabetic with morbid obesity (NDO; n=11 individuals), diabetic with mild obesity (T2D; n=12 individuals), and healthy controls (C; n=7 individuals). The mean CRP levels were significantly higher in the NDO group (6.6±4.7 mg/dL) than in the T2D (3.3±2.2 mg/dL) and C groups (2.5±3.2 mg/dL) (P=0.038). The GLP-1 levels following standard meal tolerance test and the area under the curve of GLP-1 did not differ among the three groups. The GLP-2 levels were significantly lower in the NDO and T2D than in the C group following standard meal tolerance test at all the times evaluated. The area under the curve of the GLP-2 was significantly lower in the NDO and T2D groups than in the C group (P=0.05 and P=0.01, respectively). GLP-2 levels were impaired in the individuals with obesity and diabetes. This mechanism seems to be enrolled in preventing the worsening of the glucose homeostasis in these individuals.

Estrogen deprivation aggravates cardiometabolic dysfunction in obese-insulin resistant rats through the impairment of cardiac mitochondrial dynamics

The incidence of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome increases after the onset of menopause, suggesting estrogen has a vital role in their prevention. Mitochondrial dynamics are known to play an important role in the maintenance of cardiac physiological function. However, the effects of estrogen deprivation on cardiometabolic status and cardiac mitochondrial dynamics under conditions of obese-insulin resistance have never been investigated. We hypothesized that estrogen deprivation aggravates cardiac dysfunction through increased cardiac mitochondrial fission in obese-insulin resistant rats. Female rats were fed on either a high fat (HFD, 57.60% fat) or normal (ND, 19.77% fat) diet for 13 weeks. The rats were then divided into 4 groups. Two sham groups (HFS and NDS) and 2 operated or ovariectomized (HFO and NDO) groups (n = 8/group). Six weeks after surgery, metabolic status, heart rate variability (HRV), left ventricular (LV) function, cardiac mitochondrial function and dynamics, and metabolic parameters were determined. Insulin resistance developed in NDO, HFS and HFO rats as indicated by increased plasma insulin and HOMA index. Although rats in both NDO and HFS groups had markedly impaired LV function indicated by reduced %LVFS and impaired cardiac mitochondrial function, rats in the HFO group had the most severe impairments. Moreover, the estrogen deprived rats (NDO and HFO) had increased cardiac mitochondrial fission through activation of phosphorylation of Drp-1 at serine 616. Our findings indicated that estrogen deprivation caused the worsening of LV dysfunction through increased cardiac mitochondrial fission in obese-insulin resistant rats.

Comparison of the adult three-dimensional craniofacial features of patients with unilateral craniofacial microsomia with and without early mandible distraction

This study was conducted to analyze the long-term facial growth of patients with craniofacial microsomia (CFM) after early mandible distraction osteogenesis (DO), and compared adult three-dimensional (3D) craniofacial features of patients with and without early mandibular DO for Pruzansky grade II deformities. The study included 20 patients: 9 with early mandible DO (the DO group) and 11 without previous treatment (the NDO group). Longitudinal radiographs were measured for growth changes after DO. The 3D craniofacial images were constructed to compare the craniofacial forms between the two groups. The patients with early DO presented 8 to 9mm forward and downward maxillary growth and 4.6mm limited forward and 17.3mm substantial downward mandibular growth. The ramus length ratio (affected/nonaffected) was 90.8% at DO completion and decreased to 69.5% at growth completion during 13 years of follow-up. Both groups showed obvious craniofacial asymmetry, as indicated by occlusal plane canting, chin deviation, transverse and vertical condyle positions, and mandibular contours. Although all the bilateral differences were higher in the NDO group than in the DO group, no statistical differences were found. Early mandible distraction could not alter the inherent facial growth pattern in patients with grade II CFM. Limited changes are derived for definitive facial correction with early DO.

Less is more—A pilot study evaluating one to three intradetrusor sites for injection of OnabotulinumtoxinA for neurogenic and idiopathic detrusor overactivity

To determine if minimizing the number of onabotulinumtoxinA (BTX) injection sites to one to three locations provides similar clinical efficacy and duration of effect compared to the established technique in treating patients with neurogenic (NDO) or idiopathic detrusor overactivity (IDO). Prospective data were collected on BTX naïve patients with NDO or IDO who were intolerant or refractory to oral medications. Patients were treated with 100-300 U of BTX via one to three injection sites. Patients completed the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-SF) prior to and after treatment. The primary endpoint was defined as ICIQ-SF score improvement of >5 points. Secondary endpoints included subjective success, complete continence, quality of life score, post void residual (PVR), duration of effect and adverse events. Fourty-five patients (22 IDO, 23 NDO) were included. ICIQ-SF score improvement of >5 points was achieved in 73% (IDO 55%, NDO 91%) and the subjective success rate was 69% (50% IDO, 87% NDO). 52% of NDO patients attained complete continence. PVR increased by a mean of 32 and 156 ml in the IDO and NDO groups. Hematuria occurred in 6.7% and symptomatic urinary tract infection occurred in 11.1%. No systemic BTX adverse events occurred. Mean duration of effect was 31 weeks. Our technique for administering BTX via one to three intradetrusor injection sites has similar clinical efficacy and rates of adverse events compared to the established technique for treating patients with IDO and NDO. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:1104-1107, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Obesity does not aggravate osteoporosis or osteoblastic insulin resistance in orchiectomized rats.

The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that testosterone deprivation impairs osteoblastic insulin signaling, decreases osteoblast survival, reduces bone density, and that obesity aggravates those deleterious effects in testosterone-deprived rats. Twenty four male Wistar rats underwent either a bilateral orchiectomy (O, n=12) or a sham operation (S, n=12). Then the rats in each group were further divided into two subgroups fed with either a normal diet (ND) or a high-fat diet (HF) for 12 weeks. At the end of the protocol, blood samples were collected to determine metabolic parameters and osteocalcin ratios. The tibiae were collected to determine bone mass using microcomputed tomography and for osteoblast isolation. The results showed that rats fed with HF (sham-operated HF-fed rats (HFS) and ORX HF-fed rats (HFO)) developed peripheral insulin resistance and had decreased trabecular bone density. In ND-fed rats, only the ORX ND-fed rats (NDO) group had decreased trabecular bone density. In addition, osteoblastic insulin resistance, as indicated by a decrease in tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor and Akt, were observed in all groups except the sham-operated ND-fed rats (NDS) rats. Those groups, again with the exception of the NDS rats, also had decreased osteoblastic survival. No differences in the levels of osteoblastic insulin resistance and osteoblastic survival were found among the NDO, HFS, and HFO groups. These findings suggest that either testosterone deprivation or obesity alone can impair osteoblastic insulin signaling and decrease osteoblastic survival leading to the development of osteoporosis. However, obesity does not aggravate those deleterious effects in the bone of testosterone-deprived rats.

Influence of age and bladder dysfunction on the contractile properties of isolated human detrusor smooth muscle

To test the hypothesis that the in vitro contractile properties of human detrusor smooth muscle are dependent on the age, gender and lower urinary tract pathology of the patient. Contractions were elicited in isolated human detrusor smooth muscle preparations by nerve-mediated electrical field stimulation, agonist application (carbachol, α,β-methylene ATP and high-K solutions) or direct muscle electrical stimulation. Biopsies (n = 227) were obtained from four groups of patients with: stable bladders (control), bladder outlet obstruction (BOO), idiopathic (IDO), or neurogenic (NDO) detrusor overactivity. The magnitude of nerve-mediated contractions declined as a function of patients' age in each of the BOO, IDO and NDO groups but not in the control group. Contractions elicited by direct muscle activation (10 µM carbachol or electrical stimulation with 20 ms pulses in the presence of 1 µM tetrodotoxin) did not vary with patient age. Carbachol contractions were significantly smaller in samples from NDO bladders. Atropine resistance was more prevalent in the pathology groups compared with the control group and was greatest in the IDO group. There was no influence of age in the prevalence or magnitude of atropine-resistant contractions in any group. Muscle excitability to direct electrical stimulation was similar in all groups. In the human bladder there is no evidence for a decline of detrusor smooth muscle contractility or excitability as a function of age, nor any gender difference or presence of pathology. In the pathology groups there was evidence for a decline of functional innervation with age.

Twenty–Four Month Coronal Caries Incidence: The Role of Dental Care and Race

Objectives: To describe for a diverse sample of dentate middle–aged and older adults: (1) the 24–month incidence of coronal caries, and (2) its association with a broad range of clinical, behavioral, financial, attitudinal, and sociodemographic factors. Methods: The Florida Dental Care Study is a prospective observational longitudinal cohort study of 873 persons who at baseline had at least 1 tooth and were 45 years or older. In–person interviews and clinical examinations were conducted at baseline and 24 months, with 6–monthly telephone interviews between those times. A multinomial logistic regression was done to predict whether a participant was in one of four mutually exclusive groups at the 24–month examination (new decay only [NDO]; new filling(s) only [NFO]; both new decay and filling(s) [BOTH]; or neither [NONE]). Results: Only 33% of the 24–month participants were in the NONE group. There was no significant difference in caries incidence between regular attenders and problem–oriented attenders, regardless of whether teeth crowned at baseline, incident crowns, or incident root fragments were excluded. However, once differences in incident tooth loss and baseline clinical, behavioral, financial, and attitudinal differences were taken into account, regular attenders did appear to benefit by developing fewer coronal lesions and fewer dental symptoms than problem–oriented attenders. Baseline carious surfaces, filled surfaces, number of teeth, and bulk restoration fractures predicted caries incidence, but baseline cusp fractures did not. Persons with negative dental attitudes were more likely to be in the NDO and BOTH groups, and negative attitude toward brushing and flossing (but not their frequency) also predicted caries incidence. Conclusion: Certain baseline clinical conditions, approach to dental care, ability to pay for dental care, dental attitudes, race, and age group were predictive of coronal caries incidence, and regular attenders appeared to benefit from regular attendance.

Alterations in the memory code for temporal events induced by differential outcome expectancies in pigeons

The effect of differential outcome expectancies on memory for temporal and nontemporal information was examined. Pigeons were trained to match short (2-sec) and long (8-sec) sample durations to red and green comparison stimuli, and vertical and horizontal lines to vertical and horizontal comparison stimuli. In Experiment 1, one differential outcome (DO) group received food for correct choices on short-sample trials, whereas another received food for correct choices on long-sample trials. On line-orientation trials, half of each DO group received food for correct responses following vertical samples, whereas the other half received food for correct responses following horizontal samples. Overall retention was greater in the DO groups than in a nondifferential (NDO) group that received either food or no food for correct responses on a random half of all trials. Furthermore, although the NDO group displayed a choose-short bias for temporal samples, both DO groups displayed equivalent biases to select the comparison stimulus associated with food. In Experiment 2, differential outcome expectancies were extinguished off-baseline. Subsequently, in the first nondifferential outcome test session, the. DO groups performed less, accurately than the NDO group. These findings indicate that temporal samples are not retrospectively and analogically coded when they are differentially associated with food and no food. Instead, they are remembered in terms of the corresponding outcome expectancies.

Influence of Perceived Competence and Causal Dimension Orientation on Expectations, Persistence, and Performance during Perceived Failure

This investigation was conducted to compare the influence of high and low perceived competence (PC) and various causal dimension orientations on expectations, persistence, and performance while perceiving failure on a motor task. Based on a response to a PC scale, 84 junior high school students were selected to participate in this study. Separately, 42 low and 42 high PC subjects were oriented to perceive their performance on a stabilometer balancing task as due to: (a) internal, controllable, unstable factors (ICU); (b) internal, uncontrollable, stable factors (IUS); or (c) nothing in particular (NDO). Subjects then received fictitious negative feedback over 15 trials. Results revealed that persistence, expectations, and performance dependent measures were significant for PC and Causal Dimension groups. More specifically, the High PC group persisted longer, had higher expectations, and performed significantly better than the Low PC group. Furthermore, the subjects presented ICU orientations persisted for a longer amount of time, revealed higher expectations over trials, and performed significantly better over trials than the subjects in the IUS and NDO groups. These findings suggest that perceived competence and causal dimensional orientations influence children's expectations, persistence, and performance when perceiving failure on a motor task.