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Pleurotus sajor-caju is evaluated as an edible fungi with high nutritional and medicinal value, but fresh mushrooms are easily damaged after harvest due to many reasons. Drying methods can be taken to maintain mushroom quality, reduce losses and prolong postharvest storage time. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of polyethylene (PE) packaging thickness (91.70 µm; 81.30 µm and 53.50 µm), temperature (28 oC-30 oC and 3 oC-5 oC) (with air humidity of 60-62% and 76-78% respectively), to the quality of oyster mushrooms dried by solar energy, during storage. During the storage period, the total sugar and protein contents of all treatments decreased. Besides, the colour (through the difference in lightness and darkness (?L) value) and firmness of the solar-dried oyster mushrooms also decreased, so, oyster mushrooms were darkened and softened. After 6 months, the lowest protein, total sugar and lipid loss was found in PE packaging of 91.70 µm thickness at storage temperature of 3 oC-5 oC. In addition, the water activity of dried mushrooms was lower (less than 0.7), so it ensures microbiological safety.

The importance of cell phenotype in determining the molecular mechanisms underlying β2 -adrenoceptor (β2AR) function has been noted previously when comparing responses in primary cells and recombinant model cell lines. Here, we have generated haplotype-specific SNAP-tagged β2AR human embryonic stem (ES) cell lines and applied fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) to study cell surface receptors in progenitor cells and in differentiated fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes. FCS was able to quantify SNAP-tagged β2AR number and diffusion in both ES-derived cardiomyocytes and CRISPR/Cas9 genome-edited HEK293T cells, where the expression level was too low to detect using standard confocal microscopy. These studies demonstrate the power of FCS in investigating cell surface β2ARs at the very low expression levels often seen in endogenously expressing cells. Furthermore, the use of ES cell technology in combination with FCS allowed us to demonstrate that cell surface β2ARs internalize in response to formoterol-stimulation in ES progenitor cells but not following their differentiation into ES-derived fibroblasts. This indicates that the process of agonist-induced receptor internalization is strongly influenced by cell phenotype and this may have important implications for drug treatment with long-acting β2AR agonists.

A B S T R A C T Objective: The burden of disease due to otitis media (OM) in Asia Pacific countries was reviewed to increase awareness and raise understanding within the region. Methods: Published literature and unpublished studies were reviewed. Results: In school-age children, OM prevalence varied between 3.25% (Thailand) and 12.23% (Philippines) being highest (42%) in Aboriginal Australian children. OME prevalence at school age varied between 1.14% (Thailand) and 13.8% (Malaysia). Higher prevalence was reported in children with hearing impairment, HIV, pneumonia and rhinitis. CSOM prevalence was 5.4% in Indonesia (all ages), 15% in Aboriginal Australian children and 2–4% in Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam (WHO estimate). OM prevalence/incidence and service utilisation were highest in children 2–5 years of age. The disease burden was substantially higher in Pacific Island children living in New Zealand (25.4% with OME), and was highest in indigenous Australians (>90% with any OM). Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae dominated as primary causes of AOM in all studies. Few studies examined pneumococcal serotype distribution. Health-related cost estimates for OM, when available, were substantial. In developing countries, significant investment is needed to provide facilities for detection and treatment of ear disease in children, if long term hearing deficits and other sequelae are to be prevented. Conclusion: The available evidence suggests an important burden of disease and economic cost associated with OM in most Asia Pacific countries and a potential benefit of prevention through vaccination. Large, prospective community-based studies are needed to better define the prevalence of ear disease in children, and to predict and track pneumococcal conjugate vaccine impacts. AOM prevention through vaccination may also provide a means of reducing antibiotic use and controlling antibiotic-resistant disease in children. This review highlights the need for additional research, and provides a basis on which to build and develop regional guidelines for OM management.