Objective: Limited evidence exists concerning whether combined pharmacotherapy is more effective than monotherapy for increased smoking abstinence and post-cessation weight gain prevention. This research investigated the effect of combined pharmacotherapy on smoking abstinence and post-cessation weight change. Methods: A meta-analytic review of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) published between January 1990 and July 2016 was conducted across PubMed, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. Aggregate fixed effects were estimated for continuous abstinence and mean post-cessation weight change. Keyword search terms included: “smoking cessation,” “naltrexone”, “varenicline”, and “bupropion”. Results: Eight RCTs with 2,513 participants were included. Aggregate fixed effect estimates revealed an increase in continuous smoking abstinence (OR = 1.81, p < .001) and mean decrease in post-cessation weight change (-.15 kg, p = .001). Decreased weight change was observed at 6-8 weeks follow-up (-.14 kg, p = .02). Increased mean weight change was observed among varenicline plus nicotine patch abstainers (.21 kg, p = .01), whereas bupropion plus NRT pharmacotherapies showed decreased mean weight change (-.15 kg, p = .01). Conclusion: Combination pharmacotherapy generates increased smoking abstinence and small short-term post-cessation weight change among abstainers, particularly among bupropion plus NRT when compared against varenicline plus nicotine patch.

Homer proteins are scaffold proteins that regulate calcium (Ca2+) signaling by modulating the activity of multiple Ca2+ signaling proteins. In our previous report, Homer2 and Homer3 regulated NFATc1 function through its interaction with calcineurin, which then acted to regulate receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis and bone metabolism. However, to date, the role of Homers in osteoclastogenesis remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the roles of Homer2 and Homer3 in aging-dependent bone remodeling. Deletion of Homer2 /Homer3 (Homer2/3 DKO) markedly decreased the bone density of the femur. The decrease in bone density was not seen in mice with Homer2 (Homer2−/−) and Homer3 (Homer3−/−) deletion. Moreover, RANKL treatment of bone marrow-derived monocytes/macrophages in Homer2/3 DKO mice significantly increased the formation of multinucleated cells and resorption areas. Finally, Homer2/3 DKO mice decreased bone density in an aging-dependent manner. These findings suggest a novel potent mode of bone homeostasis regulation through osteoclasts differentiation during aging by Homer proteins, specifically Homer2 and Homer3.

Herein, we report significantly enhanced mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of polyimide (PI) by incorporating a small amount (0.01 wt %) of individualized boron-doped high-quality graphene as a filler. The boron-doped expandable graphite (B-EG) was synthesized by mixing boric acid ( H3BO4) with expandable graphite (EG) and thermally treating the mixture at 2450 °C for 30 min using a graphite furnace in an argon atmosphere. The boron-doped graphene (B-g) was prepared by the solution-phase exfoliation of B-EG with an ultrasonication process, which is a method to obtain individualized graphene as well as few-layer graphene. The PI nanocomposites were prepared using the obtained graphene. The PI nanocomposites synthesized with high-quality B-graphene (B-g) showed enhanced mechanical properties and thermal conductivity compared to those of pure PI due to the doping effects and strong interfacial interactions between graphene and the PI matrix.

고추 비가림하우스에서 에어포그 시스템을 이용한 무인방제 효과를 평가하기 위해 본 시험을 수행하였다. 에어포그 시스템과 동력분무기를 이용한 관행방제의 약제살포 시간은 동일한 약량으로 살포하였을 때 처리 간에 차이가 없었으나, 에어포그 시스템으로 1/2약량을 살포하였을 때는 관행방제 보다 살포시간이 약 50% 줄었다. 약제부착 능력을 감수지로 조사하였을 때, 고추 생육초기와 중기에는 모든 처리에서 약제 부착이 우수 하였지만, 생육후기에는 관행방제의 약제 부착이 에어포그 시스템보다 균일하지 않았다. 처리별 총채벌레 살충률은 관행살포 90.0%, 에어포그 시스템 90.8%, 에어포그 시스템 1/2약량이 83.5% 로 유사한 방제효과를 나타내었다. 이러한 결과로 에어포그 시스템은 고추 비가림하우스 내에서 노동시간과 약제 살포량을 줄이면서 총채벌레를 효과적으로 방제할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

우리나라에서 흰등멸구는 매년 해외로부터 비래, 정착한 후 2~3세대를 경과하며 벼의 생육 및 품질 저하에 영향을 미치는 벼의 중요 해충 중 하나이며, 비래해충의 경우 비래 후 세대에 따른 변화 양상을 정확하게 예측하는 것은 방제시기와 방제수단을 결정하는데 중요하다. 공시충은 2018년 사육실에서(25±2 ℃, 60±5% RH, L:D=16:8) 누대사육하여 사용하였다. 흰등멸구가 국내에 비래 후 3세대까지 세대증식하면서 피해를 주는 것으로 가정하여 1세대와 3세대 간의 발육과 산란 등을 조사하였으며 얻어진 결과를 토대로 생명표를 작성하였다. 약충기간은 1세대와 3세대에서 각각 14.5일, 13.6일, 암컷 성충기간은 각각 17.2일, 11.8일로 나타났으며, 우화율은 98.3%, 85.0%로 조사되었 다. 산란기간은 각각 6.8일, 6.0일이었으며 산란수는 47.5마리, 122.6마리로 세대가 늘어나면서 증가하는 것으로 나타났다. 생명표 분석 결과, 순증가율, 내적자연증가율이 각각 5배, 1.7배 증가한 것으로 나타났다.