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The aim of the present study was to examine the protective effects of the urinary trypsin inhibitor ulinastatin (UTI) on renal interstitial inflammation and fibrosis in rats subjected to unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). A total of 24 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the three groups; the sham operation (SOR) group (n=8), the UUO group (n=8) and the UUO+UTI group (post-UUO UTI treatment, n=8). UUO was performed with complete ligation of the left ureter. As a medical intervention, saline (4 ml kg-1 d-1) and UTI (40000 units kg-1 d-1) were injected, respectively, into the animals of the corresponding groups on day one following surgery. The rats in all three groups were euthanized on day seven post surgery. Blood samples were harvested for blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr) content measurements. The degree of interstitial pathological changes in the tissues from the obstructed kidneys were observed through hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson staining. The CD68+ macrophage amount, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and type I collagen (Col-I) levels were examined immunohistochemically. The protein expression levels of NF-κB were examined using western blot analysis. Total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content of homogenates were measured spectrophotometrically. The results revealed that ulinastatin had no statistically significant effect on the BUN and Scr levels (P>0.05). However, in comparison with the SOR group, the UUO group exhibited significantly more severe renal interstitial pathological injury in terms of tubular dilation, epithelial atrophy, renal interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration and proliferation of fibrous tissues, as well as significantly elevated levels of interstitial CD68+ macrophages, IL-1β, TNF-α, NF-κB, TGF-β1 and Col-I (P<0.01). UTI treatment significantly reduced UUO-induced renal interstitial damage with reduced levels of interstitial CD68+ macrophages, IL-1β, TNF-α, NF-κB, TGF-β1 and Col-I and MDA (P<0.05), and increased SOD levels (P<0.05). In conclusion, the present study indicated that UTI is able to effectively inhibit UUO-side renal interstitial inflammatory reaction and fibrosis in UUO-inflicted rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the influence of lipids on amylose, amylopectin and total starch content in barley. Comparisons of various methods of single-wavelength colorimetric procedure (SWC) for amylose, dual-wavelength colorimetric method (DWC) for amylose, amylopectin and total starch, and polarimetric method by calcium chloride dissolution (PCC) for total starch content were conducted as well in barley. The results showed that defatted samples measured by SWC had higher amylose than non-defatted ones (P<0.05). Several samples exhibited significant difference for amylose content when defatted and non-defatted samples were analyzed by DWC (P<0.05). However, for amylopectin, the defatted samples determined by DWC were significantly lower than that of non-defatted ones (P<0.05). The total starch of defatted samples measured by DWC was much lower than those with fat (P<0.05). According to various methods, the amylose contents of defatted samples measured by SWC were higher than those measured by DWC (P<0.05). The non-defatted samples measured by PCC had lower starch than those measured by DWC, but had higher starch than the defatted samples measured by DWC (P<0.05). Collectively, defatting should not be omitted in determining starch content, and DWC is a suitable method for the measuring of barley starch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air-promoted coupling reaction of arylhydrazines and arylamines is developed for the selective synthesis of 2-aminobiaryls. This protocol provides a green, cost-effective, and scale-up method for preparation of 2-aminobiaryls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial antibiotic resistance (BAR) in drinking water has become a global issue because of its risks on the public health. Usually, the antibiotic concentrations in drinking water are too low to select antibiotic resistant strains effectively, suggesting that factors other than antibiotics would contribute to the emergence of BAR. In the current study, the impacts of mutagenic disinfection byproducts (DBPs) on BAR were explored, using four typical DBPs: dibromoacetic acid, dichloroacetonitrile, potassium bromate, and 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX). After exposure to DBPs, resistances to 10 individual antibiotics and multiple antibiotics were both raised by various levels, norfloxacin and polymycin B resistances were enhanced even greater than 10-fold compared with control. MX increased the resistance most observably in the selected DBPs, which was consistent with its mutagenic activity. The resistant mutants showed hereditary stability during 5-day culturing. The increase of BAR was caused by the mutagenic activities of DBPs, since mutation frequency declined by adding ROS scavenger. Mutagenesis was further confirmed by sequencing of the related genes. Our study indicated that mutagenic activities of the selected DBPs could induce antibiotic resistance, even multidrug resistance, which may partially explain the lack of agreement between BAR and antibiotic levels in drinking water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To clarify the time-course changes in left ventricular myocardial deformation using velocity vector imaging and to provide insights into our understanding of the cardiac pathophysiology in diabetes mellitus. Methods Thirty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into either the control group (n = 10) or the diabetes mellitus (DM) group (induced with STZ, n = 20). For the myocardial deformation studies, echocardiography and syngo-vector velocity imaging (VVI) were performed at baseline and after 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks in all of the rabbits. The left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal and circumferential strain and strain rate were measured. For histomorphological study of the heart structure, 2 of the STZ-induced rabbits were killed at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Routine hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed. Results At 2 weeks, the global longitudinal strain (GLS), systolic strain rate (GLSRs), and diastolic strain rate (GLSRd) were significantly lower in the DM group compared with the control group (-18.16% versus -24.00%, -1.86 s-1 versus -2.49 s-1, 1.93 s-1 versus 2.42 s-1, respectively, P < 0.05), while, compared with the control group, the global circumferential strain (GCS), systolic strain rate (GCSRs), and diastolic strain rate (GCSRd) in the DM group were significantly decreased (-12.77% versus -23.31%, -1.31 s-1 versus -2.20 s-1, 1.41 s-1 versus 2.15 s-1, respectively, P < 0.05) at 8 weeks. With the progression of untreated diabetes, the histoanatomical alterations intensified gradually beginning at 2 weeks. Conclusions The progressive impairments in LV myocardial deformation and structure occurred early in diabetic rabbits with normal LV ejection fraction (EF), FS, and E/A. VVI could be used to evaluate subtle cardiac dysfunction in the early phase of DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic and resistive anisotropies have been studied for the La0.325Pr0.3Ca0.375MnO3 films with different thicknesses grown on low symmetric (011)-oriented (LaAlO3)0.3(SrAl0.5Ta0.5O3)0.7 substrates. In the magnetic and electronic phase separation region, a colossal anisotropic resistivity (AR) of ~105% and an anomalous large anisotropic magnetoresistance can be observed for 30 nm film. However, for 120 nm film, the maximum AR decreases significantly (~2×10³%) due to strain relaxation. The colossal AR is strongly associated with the oriented formation of magnetic domains, and the features of the strain effects are believed to be useful for the design of artificial materials and devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: RECQL1, a member of the human RECQ helicase family, participates in DNA repair. Recent reports showed that RECQL1 silencing in cancer cells resulted in mitotic catastrophe, which prevented tumor growth in murine models. However, its therapeutic potential has never been examined in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Methods: To explore the role of RECQL1 in the development of tongue SCC, we used RNA interference technology to silence RECQL1 in SCC-9 and SCC-15 human tongue SCC cell lines, and to subsequently evaluate its effects both in vitro and in vivo. Results: After RECQL1 was silenced in SCC cells by siRNA, we observed downregulation of RECQL1 mRNA and protein in cancer cells. RECQL1 is one of the predicted miR-203 targets, and we found that miR-203 downregulated the expression of RECQL1 at the post-transcriptional level. RECQL1-shRNA or miR-203 overexpression inhibited SCC-9 cell growth. In addition, there was accumulation of cells in the sub-G1 fraction and increased apoptosis 72 h post-transfection. In addition, knockdown of RECQL1 led to a strong anticancer effect, as the tumorigenicity of SCC-9 cells was inhibited in vivo. Moreover, we found that two immunosuppressive factors were also significantly downregulated upon RECQL1 knockdown or miR-203 overexpression in vitro. Conclusion: Collectively, these results indicate that RECQL1 plays an important regulatory role in cancer cell proliferation and tumor progression. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the design of two collagen-mimetic peptide sequences, NSI and NSII, that self-assemble into structurally defined nanoscale sheets. The underlying structure of these nanosheets can be understood in terms of the layered packing of collagen triple helices in two dimensions. These nanosheet assemblies represent a novel morphology for collagen-based materials, which, on the basis of their defined structure, may be envisioned as potentially biocompatible platforms for controlled presentation of chemical functionality at the nanoscale. The molecularly programmed self-assembly of peptides NSI and NSII into nanosheets suggests that sequence-specific macromolecules offer significant promise as design elements for two-dimensional (2D) assemblies. This investigation provides a design rubric for fabrication of structurally defined, peptide-based nanosheets using the principles of solution-based self-assembly facilitated through complementary electrostatic interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the advantage of controllability on the mechanical property and the degradation rates, electrospun PCL/PTMC nanofibrous scaffold could be appropriate for vascular tissue engineering. However, the tissue response and degradation of electrospun PCL/PTMC scaffold in vivo have never been evaluated in detail. So, electrospun PCL/PTMC scaffolds with different blend ratios were prepared in this study. Mice subcutaneous implantation showed that the continuous degradation of PCL/PTMC scaffolds induced a lasted macrophage-mediated foreign body reaction, which could be in favor of the tissue regeneration in graft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An essay is presented on the nature of rationality and reality based on the two modes of reasoning in the book "Mūlamadhyamakakārikā," (MMK) by Nāgārjuna, and Indian actor and producer. Topics discussed include the history of Western and Indian philosophy, the notion of emptiness relative to the idea of origination, and the scholastic Buddhism.

Background. The aim of this study was to establish a hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination protocol among orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) recipients under the coverage of a low-dose hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) combined with an antiviral agent prophylaxis protocol. Method. Two hundred OLT recipients were included in this study. The vaccine was injected at months 0,1, 2, and 6. Low-dose HBIG combined with antiviral agent prophylaxis protocol was continued before reestablishment of active immunity against HBV in order to maintain a steady anti-HBs titer. Results. Active immunity against HBV was reestablished in 50 patients, for an overall response rate of 25%. Of the 50 patients, 24 discontinued HBIG without any HBV graft reinfection during a follow-up period of 26.13 ± 7.05 months. 21 patients discontinued both HBIG and antiviral agents during a follow-up period of 39.86 ± 15.47 months, and 4 patients among them appeared to be HBsAg positive. There was no recipient death or graft loss because of HBV reinfection. Conclusions. Vaccination preventing HBV reinfection for OLT recipients is feasible. The strategy withdrawal of HBIG with induction of active immunity against hepatitis B is reasonable for long-term survivors of OLT; however, discontinuation nucleoside analogues should be cautious. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyomaviruses have repeating sequences at their origins of replication that bind the origin-binding domain of virus-encoded large T antigen. In murine polyomavirus, the central region of the origin contains four copies (P1 to P4) of the sequence G(A/G) GGC. They are arranged as a pair of inverted repeats with a 2-bp overlap between the repeats at the center. In contrast to simian virus 40 (SV40), where the repeats are nonoverlapping and all four repeats can be simultaneously occupied, the crystal structure of the four central murine polyomavirus sequence repeats in complex with the polyomavirus origin-binding domain reveals that only three of the four repeats (P1, P2, and P4) are occupied. Isothermal titration calorimetry confirms that the stoichiometry is the same in solution as in the crystal structure. Consistent with these results, mutation of the third repeat has little effect on DNA replication in vivo. Thus, the apparent 2-fold symmetry within the DNA repeats is not carried over to the protein-DNA complex. Flanking sequences, such as the AT-rich region, are known to be important for DNA replication. When the orientation of the central region was reversed with respect to these flanking regions, the origin was still able to replicate and the P3 sequence (now located at the P2 position with respect to the flanking regions) was again dispensable. This highlights the critical importance of the precise sequence of the region containing the pentamers in replication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The etiology of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) is controversial and the prognosis is unpredictable. Previous studies have not investigated the expression of hypoxiarelated markers in IMTs. Methods Between 2002 and 2012, 12 consecutive patients with histologically proven IMTs were enrolled in the study. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect GLUT-1, HIF-1α, PI3K, and p-Akt expression in paraffin-embedded tumor specimens. Associations among GLUT-1, HIF- 1α, PI3K, and p-Akt protein expression and clinical parameters were investigated. Results The mean duration of follow-up was 52.1 months (range, 11 to 132 months). Six patients had local recurrence. GLUT-1, HIF-1α, PI3K, and p-Akt expression were detected in 41.7%, 50.0%, 33.3%, and 41.7% of patients, respectively. Fisher's exact test revealed significant correlations between recurrence of IMT and PI3K expression (P = 0.01) and p-Akt expression (P = 0.015). Univariate analyses revealed significant correlations between survival and GLUT-1 expression (P = 0.028), PI3K expression (P = 0.006), and p-Akt expression (P = 0.028). Multivariate analysis did not show a significant relationship between survival and GLUT-1, HIF-1α, PI3K, or p-Akt. Spearman rank correlation analysis showed significant correlations between HIF-1α and PI3K expression (r = 0.707, P = 0.01) and between p-Akt and PI3K expression (r = 0.837, P = 0.001). Conclusions Although our results are inconclusive owing to the small sample size, they suggest that PI3K and p-Akt expression may play a role in the recurrence of IMTs of the head and neck. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) controls most cell signaling, but the current understanding of its many isoforms, e.g. as tumor suppressors, is limited. Results: Differentiation was controlled by the small fraction of PP2A using the Aβ scaffold. Conclusion: PP2A Aβ regulates Akt. Significance: Given the extreme importance of Akt in cancer, these findings help explain why Aβ is a tumor suppressor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity is a growing problem worldwide and can often result in a variety of negative health outcomes. In this study we aim to apply partial least squares (PLS) methodology to estimate the separate effects of age, period and cohort on the trends in obesity as measured by body mass index (BMI). Methods: Using PLS we will obtain gender specific linear effects of age, period and cohort on obesity. We also explore and model nonlinear relationships of BMI with age, period and cohort. We analysed the results from 7,796 men and 10,220 women collected through the SLAN (Surveys of Lifestyle, attitudes and Nutrition) in Ireland in the years 1998, 2002 and 2007. Results: PLS analysis revealed a positive period effect over the years. Additionally, men born later tended to have lower BMI (-0.026 kg⋅m-2 yr-1, 95% CI: -0.030 to -0.024) and older men had in general higher BMI (0.029 kg⋅m-2 yr-1, 95% CI: 0.026 to 0.033). Similarly for women, those born later had lower BMI (-0.025 kg⋅m-2 yr-1, 95% CI: -0.029 to -0.022) and older women in general had higher BMI (0.029 kg⋅m-2 yr-1, 95% CI: 0.025 to 0.033). Nonlinear analyses revealed that BMI has a substantial curvilinear relationship with age, though less so with birth cohort. Conclusion: We notice a generally positive age and period effect but a slightly negative cohort effect. Knowing this, we have a better understanding of the different risk groups which allows for effective public intervention measures to be designed and targeted for these specific population subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate the hypothesis that MRI derived diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and perfusion (MRP) parameters are sensitive image biomarkers for monitoring early antiangiogenic effects and predicting progression free survival (PFS) in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: In this phase II clinical trial, 23 of 34 patients were included in the imaging and circulating biomarker study. DWI and MRP were performed at the baseline and at 2-weeks after initiation of sunitinib. The imaging protocol included an axial DWI sequence using b values of 50, 400 and 800 sec/mm², and MRP using a series of coronal 3D-VIBE following 20 ml of Gd-DTPA at 2 ml/sec. These parameters were compared with clinical outcome and PFS at 6-months. Correlation between changes in MRI parameters and plasma biomarkers was also evaluated. Results: After 2-week of sunitinib, substantial Ktrans changes in HCC were observed from median baseline value 2.15 min-1 to 0.94 min-1 (P = 0.0001) with increases in median apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) from 0.88 × 10-3 mm²/s to 0.98 × 10-3 mm²/s (P = 0.0001). Tumor size remained unchanged by RECIST and mRECIST (both P > 0.05). Patients who showed larger drop in Ktrans and Kep at 2 weeks correlated with favorable clinical outcome, and higher baseline Ktrans and larger drop in EVF correlated with longer PFS (all P < 0.05). There was a significant association between a decrease in sVEGFR2 and the drop in Ktrans and Kep (P = 0.044, P = 0.030), and a significant and borderline association between decrease in TNF-α and the drop in Ktrans and Kep, respectively (P = 0.051, P= 0.035). Conclusion: In HCC, MRP may be a more sensitive biomarker in predicting early response and PFS following sunitinib than RECIST and mRECIST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer incidence is increasing, and bone metastases in terminal breast cancer cause considerable patient suffering. Many researchers have reported that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) benefits breast cancer patients with bone metastasis. However, no conclusive evidence can be proved for its effects. This paper assesses the effects of TCM on bone metastasis of breast cancer. Databases were searched independently for randomized controlled trials about TCM for bone metastasis of breast cancer by two reviewers. The effective rate was assessed as the primary outcome. Patient's condition and adverse events were assessed as secondary outcomes. Thirteen articles were included in our meta-analysis. The results showed that TCM is effective for treating bone metastasis of breast cancer (RR (Risk ratio) = 1.10, 95% CI (Confidence interval) (1.04, 1.16), p < 0.05). TCM can improve metastasis to the bone in breast cancer (RR = 1.52, 95% CI (1.33, 1.74), p < 0.05). TCM also relieved pain in patients with bone metastasis of breast cancer (RR = 1.41, 95% CI (1.22, 1.63), p < 0.05). Six studies reported adverse events (RR = 0.41, 95% CI (0.28, 0.62), p < 0.05). This shows that adjuvant treatment with TCM can reduce the incidence of adverse reactions. TCM treatment is an effective and safe adjuvant therapy for bone metastasis in breast cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To facilitate the clinical implementation of genomic medicine by next-generation sequencing, it will be critically important to obtain accurate and consistent variant calls on personal genomes. Multiple software tools for variant calling are available, but it is unclear how comparable these tools are or what their relative merits in real-world scenarios might be. Methods: We sequenced 15 exomes from four families using commercial kits (Illumina HiSeq 2000 platform and Agilent SureSelect version 2 capture kit), with approximately 120X mean coverage. We analyzed the raw data using near-default parameters with five different alignment and variant-calling pipelines (SOAP, BWA-GATK, BWA-SNVer, GNUMAP, and BWA-SAMtools). We additionally sequenced a single whole genome using the sequencing and analysis pipeline from Complete Genomics (CG), with 95% of the exome region being covered by 20 or more reads per base. Finally, we validated 919 single-nucleotide variations (SNVs) and 841 insertions and deletions (indels), including similar fractions of GATK-only, SOAP-only, and shared calls, on the MiSeq platform by amplicon sequencing with approximately 5000X mean coverage. Results: SNV concordance between five Illumina pipelines across all 15 exomes was 57.4%, while 0.5 to 5.1% of variants were called as unique to each pipeline. Indel concordance was only 26.8% between three indel-calling pipelines, even after left-normalizing and intervalizing genomic coordinates by 20 base pairs. There were 11% of CG variants falling within targeted regions in exome sequencing that were not called by any of the Illumina-based exome analysis pipelines. Based on targeted amplicon sequencing on the MiSeq platform, 97.1%, 60.2%, and 99.1% of the GATK-only, SOAP-only and shared SNVs could be validated, but only 54.0%, 44.6%, and 78.1% of the GATKonly, SOAP-only and shared indels could be validated. Additionally, our analysis of two families (one with four individuals and the other with seven), demonstrated additional accuracy gained in variant discovery by having access to genetic data from a multi-generational family. Conclusions: Our results suggest that more caution should be exercised in genomic medicine settings when analyzing individual genomes, including interpreting positive and negative findings with scrutiny, especially for indels. We advocate for renewed collection and sequencing of multi-generational families to increase the overall accuracy of whole genomes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New, simple, sulfinamide-based branched olefin ligands have been developed and successfully used in Rh-catalyzed asymmetric arylations of cyclic ketimines, providing efficient and highly enantioselective access to valuable benzosultams and benzosulfamidates containing a stereogenic quaternary carbon center. This is the first example of applying a sulfur-olefin ligand in catalytic asymmetric addition of imines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we examined whether or not contingencies of self-worth (CSW) moderated the effect of specific self-esteem on self-liking or self-competence. Chinese university students (N = 210) completed the Chinese version of the Contingencies of Self-worth Scale (Crocker, Luhtanen, Cooper, & Bouvrette, 2003; translated into Chinese by Cheng & Kwan, 2008), the Chinese version of the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965; translated into Chinese by Wang, Wang, & Ma, 1999), and our own adaptation for this study of the Self- attribution Questionnaire (Pelham & Swann, 1989) to assess self-liking, self-competence, global self-esteem, 6 domains of CSW consisting of others' approval, appearance, academic competence, competition, family support, and virtue, and specific self-esteem in these same 6 domains. Results showed that CSW did not have a moderating effect on the relationship between specific self-esteem and global self-esteem in the 6 domains. However, when we classified self-esteem into 2 distinct categories of self-liking and self-competence, we found that there were moderator effects of CSW between specific self-esteem and either self-liking or self-competence in 3 of the 6 domains. The different moderator effects in the 6 domains are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of microwave delivered power and radiation time in microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MHD) on the yield and composition of the essential oil obtained from dry fruits of Pimenta dioica were studied. The optimum conditions for MHD were microwave delivered power 1000 W for microwave radiation time 3 min and then microwave delivered power 300 W for microwave radiation time 1 h at a 1:20 ratio of spice to water. In order to compare with classical hydrodistillation (HD), the HD extraction was also performed. The obtained oils were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Twenty-four components were identified in the HD oil and twenty-two components in the MHD oil. Among the identified volatile compounds from P. dioica, the main components from both oils were found to be similar, but their contents were significantly different including methyleugenol (43.01% in the HD oil, 44.10% in the MHD oil), eugenol (28.84%, 30.91%), caryophyllene (6.64%, 5.10%) and α-pinene (6.34%, 5.55%). In addition two minor compounds, citronellal and palmitic acid are only present in the HD oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Citalopram is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) mainly prescribed to treat major depression. Objective The aim of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetic characteristics of a new and a branded citalopram 20 mg formulation to support the marketing authorization of the test formulation in China. Methods A single-dose, open-label, randomized-sequence, two-period crossover design was used in this study. Healthy Chinese male cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C19 extensive metabolizers, aged 18-40 years, were eligible to participate. CYP2C19 poor metabolizers were excluded, based on genotyping of genomic DNA from blood samples. Twenty-four subjects were randomly assigned to receive the test formulation followed by the reference formulation, and then vice versa. A 2-week washout occurred between study periods. Blood samples were collected for up to 144 h post-dose. Quantification was carried out using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated and analysed statistically. The two formulations were considered pharmacokinetically equivalent if the 90 % confidence intervals (CIs) of the log-transformed ratios (test/reference) of the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to the last measurable concentration (AUClast), and area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC∞) were within the predetermined acceptance range (70-143 % for Cmax; 80-125 % for AUClast and AUC∞) according to China State Food and Drug Administration bioequivalence guidelines. Tolerability was monitored by clinical assessment, vital signs, laboratory analysis and interviews with participants about adverse events. Results A total of 24 participants, with a mean (SD) age of 26 (3) years (range 22-32 years), body weight of 65.2 (5.0) kg (range 53-73 kg), and height of 172.7 (4.9) cm (range 159-182 cm), were enrolled in this study. Both formulations showed similar pharmacokinetic profiles. Mean (SD) AUClast, AUC∞ and Cmax were 1436 (341) ng ⋅ h/mL, 1595 (381) ng ⋅ h/mL and 32.3 (5.9) ng/mL, respectively, for the test formulation, and 1444 (388) ng ⋅ h/mL, 1648 (504) ng ⋅ h/mL, 33.1 (7.4) ng/mL, respectively, for the reference formulation. Median (range) time to reach Cmax (tmax) was 2 (1-12) hours (test) and 3 (1-6) hours (reference). The 90 % CIs of the treatment ratios for the ln-transformed values of Cmax, AUClast and AUC∞ were 92.5-103.6, 95.2-100.6 and 96.4-105.4, respectively. No significant difference was found between treatments with regard to pharmacokinetic parameters. Fifteen adverse events were reported during the study but none were considered serious. Conclusion This single-dose study found that the test and reference citalopram 20 mg tablets met the regulatory criteria for assuming bioequivalence in the selected healthy Chinese male subjects. Both formulations were well tolerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This study is to investigate the effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) transplantation on acute liver failure (ALF). Methods. BMSCs were separated from rat bone marrow, cultured, and identified by flow cytometry. Rat model with ALF was established by injecting D-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide. Rats were randomly divided into the control group and BMSC transplantation group. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured at 24h, 120 h, and 168 h after BMSC transplantation. Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay. The expression of VEGF and AFP proteins was detected by immunofluorescence. Caspase-1 and IL-18 proteins and mRNA were detected by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. Results. Compared with the control group, levels of ALT, AST, caspase-1 and IL-18 proteins, and mRNA in the transplantation group were significantly lower at 120 h and 168 h after BMSCs transplantation. Apoptosis was inhibited by BMSCs transplantation. The VEGF protein levels were increased with the improvement of liver function, and the AFP protein levels were increased with the deterioration of the liver function after BMSCs transplantation. Conclusions. BMSCs transplantation can improve liver function and inhibit hepatocyte apoptosis as well as promote hepatocyte proliferation in rat model with ALF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genes encoding IRF1 and IRF8 protein have been proposed as candidate tuberculosis susceptibility genes. In order to elucidate whether the IRF1 and IRF8 variants were associated with tuberculosis susceptibility, we conducted a case-control study consisting of 495 controls and 452 ethnically matched cases with tuberculosis in a Chinese population. Seven haplotype tagging single- nucleotide polymorphisms (tagSNPs) (rs2057656; rs2706381; rs2070724; rs2070721; rs2549008; rs2549007; rs2706386) from HapMap database were analyzed, which provided an almost complete coverage of the genetic variations in the IRF1 gene. Fifteen tagSNPs (rs12924316; rs182511; rs305080; rs2292980; rs925994; rs424971; rs16939967; rs11117415; rs4843860; rs9926411; rs8064189; rs12929551; rs10514611; rs1044873; rs6638) were observed in the IRF8 gene. All these tagSNPs were genotyped by SNPstream genotyping and SNaPshot typing. None of the seven tagSNPs was individually associated with tuberculosis in the IRF1 gene. In the IRF8 gene, interestingly, we found that three tagSNPs (rs925994 and rs11117415 located in the intron region; rs10514611 located in the 39UTR) were associated with risk of tuberculosis after Bonferroni correction. Per allele OR was 1.75 (95% CI 1.35 ˜ 2.27, P = 0.002), 4.75 (95% CI 2.16 ˜ 10.43, P = 0.002) and 3.39 (95% CI 1.60 ˜ 7.20, P = 0.015) respectively. Luciferase reporter gene assay showed that the construct that contained the non-risk allele C of rs10514611 showed significantly higher luciferase activity than did the risk T allele (P<0.01), which implied rs10514611 was a potential functional SNP site. Our results indicated that the IRF8 gene might participate in genetic susceptibility to tuberculosis in a Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chern-Simons mechanics in noncommutative phase space is studied from both classical and quantum aspects in this paper. We find that there are two parameters in the full theory which lead to two different reduced theories when they take certain values. We analyze these two reduced models also from two aspects and find that the classical aspect of the full theory has a continuous limit when both of these parameters take their certain values. However, the quantum aspect of the full theory does not have the similar limit. The spectra of the full theory will be infinite when these parameters take these values. We propose artificial regularization schemes to get rid of these infinity and resort to Dirac's theories to verify our scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given a positive integer n and a graph F, the Turán number ex(n, F) is themaximum number of edges in an n-vertex simple graph that does not contain F as a subgraph. Let H be a graph and p a positive even integer. Let H(p) denote the graph obtained from H by subdividing each of its edges p-1 times. We prove that ex(n,H(p)) = O(n1+(16/p)). This follows from a more general result that we establish, where different edges of H are allowed to be subdivided different numbers of times. Our result is closely related to the results of Jiang [J. Graph Theory, 67 (2011), pp. 139-152] and of Kostochka and Pyber [Combinatorica, 8 (1988), pp. 83-86] on topological minors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Amniotic membrane is known to have the ability to transdifferentiate into multiple organs and is expected to stimulate a reduced immunologic reaction. Human amniotic membrane-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMCs) do not express the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule and may be expected to show immunologic tolerance. A good deal of research has explored the clinical therapeutic potential of hAMCs. In the present study, we isolated hAMCs and transfected them with the brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene using lentiviral vectors. These cells were then transplanted into the brains of rats subjected to a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The hAMCs survived for three weeks in the brains of the ischemic rats, and some of the transplanted hAMCs expressed the neuronal marker MAP2 and the neuronal progenitor marker Nestin. Furthermore, caspase-3 activity and iNOS expression were decreased in the vicinity of the graft and injection site. Importantly, intracerebral grafting of EGFP-modified hAMCs and BDNF-transduced hAMCs significantly ameliorated behavioral dysfunction in ischemic rats. BDNF-hAMCs ameliorated the behavioral dysfunction of rats more rapidly and effectively relative to EGFP-hAMC-treated rats. Finally, the grafts also reduced the infarct volume. hAMCs survived in the brain tissue and improved functional recovery. Because of the lack of ethical concerns and the high supply of these cells, hAMCs represent a promising clinical treatment for gene delivery similar to stem cell strategies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the dosimetry, efficacy and toxicity of reduced field intensity-modulated radiation therapy (RF-IMRT) for patients with advanced cervical cancer. Methods: From August 2005 to August 2010, 60 patients with stage IIB–IIIB cervical cancer underwent reduced field IMRT (RF-IMRT group) and 62 patients treated with conventional radiotherapy (c-RT group) were enrolled. The RF-IMRT plans were as follows: whole pelvic IMRT plan was performed to deliver a dose of 30Gy firstly, then the irradiated volume was reduced to lymphatic drainage region as well as paracervix and parametrium for an additional 30Gy boost. Intracavitary brachytherapy and concurrent chemotherapy were performed during external irradiation. The tumor coverage and normal tissue avoidance were evaluated. Treatment response, toxicities and survival were assessed. Results: The mean dose delivered to the planning target volume was significantly higher in RF-IMRT group than in c-RT group (61.5 vs. 50.8Gy, P =0.046). IMRT plans yielded better dose conformity to the target and better sparing of the rectal, bladder and small intestine. The RF-IMRT patients experienced significantly lower acute and chronic toxicities with comparable short-term effects than did those treated with conventional RT (CR: 87.7% vs. 88.3%, P =0.496; PR: 7.0% vs. 6.7%, P =0.440). No significant differences were found between treatment groups for 1year, 3year, and 5year overall survival (OS) levels, although the latter approached statistical significance in favor of IMRT, while a significantly higher progression-free survival (PFS; P =0.031) was seen for IMRT. Conclusions: RF-IMRT yields improved dose distributions, with lower toxicities, while providing comparable clinical outcomes. The increased PFS may be an advantage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Progranulin (PGRN) is a widely expressed protein with diverse biological functions. We generated a transgenic mouse overexpressing PGRN and found significantly elevated expression in the forebrain. To explore the neuroprotective capacity of PGRN, we measured brain infarct volume and functional recovery in wild type and transgenic mice following middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo). Both neurological and motor functions were rescued by PGRN overexpression, as behaviors recovered more rapidly and to a greater extent following ischemia in PGRN transgenic mice and in wild type mice injected with lentivirus-PGRN. Furthermore, infarct volumes were smaller in transgenic mice compared to wild type (WT) mice as revealed by computerized image analysis. Glial cells overexpressing PGRN were protected from LPS-induced cytotoxicity in vitro. Seven days after LPS treatment, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) was lower in glial cells cultured from PGRN-overexpressing mice compared to glia from WT mice, while expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was upregulated in glial cells from transgenic mice. Our results demonstrate consistent and significant improvements in postischemic neurological functions in mice overexpressing PGRN, possibly due to reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine release and elevated anti-inflammatory cytokine release. Progranulin is a promising endogenous neuroprotectant with anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Target monitoring is an important application of wireless sensor networks. In this paper, we develop an energy-efficient miner monitoring system with sensor nodes. To keep monitoring miners' activities in tunnels, periodical localization and timely data transmission are both required. Since the localization and data transmission much depend on the media access control (MAC) scheme, codesign of localization and MAC scheme is actually needed for the resource-constrained system, which is seldom discussed in existing related works. Moreover, as sensor nodes form an ultra-sparse network with linear topology in tunnels, it is a challenge for existing range-free localization methods to localize targets. In this paper, we propose a localization-MAC codesign approach for the monitoring system under the environment of coal mine. With the proposed approach, the system can achieve higher localization accuracy with low energy consumption and transmission delay, compared with existing range-free localization methods for sensor nodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterization of modified humic substances based binders for iron ore agglomeration was examined by chemical analysis, optical density, Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR), and thermogravimeoy and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC). Chemical analysis displays the proportion of fulvic acid (FA) to humic acid (HA) in the binder is 1:10. Compared with the HA, the FA possesses more functional groups. Meantime, optical density ratio analysis shows that the molecular weight and aromatization degree of the FA are smaller than those of the HA. FTIR spectra further confirm aromatic and aliphatic fractions are associated with various types of oxygen-rich groups including carbo.ryl and hydroxyl groups. TG-DSC and chemical analysis indicate structural changes of the binder including thermal decomposition, dehydroaylation and/or decarboxylation are caused during heating. The structural characterization of the binder ensures its good performance in the field of iron ore agglomeration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dengue is emerging as the most important mosquito borne viral disease in the world. In mainland China, sporadic and large outbreaks of dengue illness caused by the four serotypes of dengue virus (DENV-1 to DENV-4) have been well documented. Guangdong province is the major affected area in China, and DENV-1 has dominantly circulated in Guangdong for a long time. In this study, a family cluster of DENV-3 infection in Guangzhou was described. Three cases were diagnosed as dengue fever based on clinical manifestation, serological and RT-PCR assays. Two DENV-3 strains were isolated in C6/36 cells and the complete genome sequences were determined. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the new DENV-3 isolates from the family cluster were grouped within genotype III. Considering the fact that several DENV-3 strains within genotype V were also identified in Guangzhou in 2009, at least two genotypes of DENV-3 co-circulated in Guangzhou. Careful investigation and virological analysis should be warranted in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clustering 16S/18S rRNA amplicon sequences into operational taxonomic units (OTUs) is a critical step for the bioinformatic analysis of microbial diversity. Here, we report a pipeline for selecting OTUs with a relatively low computational demand and a high degree of accuracy. This pipeline is referred to as two-stage clustering (TSC) because it divides tags into two groups according to their abundance and clusters them sequentially. The more abundant group is clustered using a hierarchical algorithm similar to that in ESPRIT, which has a high degree of accuracy but is computationally costly for large datasets. The rarer group, which includes the majority of tags, is then heuristically clustered to improve efficiency. To further improve the computational efficiency and accuracy, two preclustering steps are implemented. To maintain clustering accuracy, all tags are grouped into an OTU depending on their pairwise Needleman-Wunsch distance. This method not only improved the computational efficiency but also mitigated the spurious OTU estimation from 'noise' sequences. In addition, OTUs clustered using TSC showed comparable or improved performance in beta-diversity comparisons compared to existing OTU selection methods. This study suggests that the distribution of sequencing datasets is a useful property for improving the computational efficiency and increasing the clustering accuracy of the high-throughput sequencing of PCR amplicons. The software and user guide are freely available at http://hwzhoulab.smu.edu.cn/paperdata/. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. The dysregulation of miRNAs has been linked to a series of diseases, including various types of cancer. Since their discovery in the circulation of cancer patients, there has been a steady increase in the study of circulating miRNAs as stable, non-invasive biomarkers. However, the origin and function of circulating miRNAs has not been systematically elucidated. In this review, we summarize the discovery of circulating miRNAs and their potential as biomarkers. We further emphasize their possible origin and function. Finally, we discuss the application and existing questions surrounding circulating miRNAs in cancer diagnostics. Although several challenges remain to be concerned, circulating miRNAs could be useful, non-invasive biomarkers for cancer diagnosis [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: High molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GSs), encoded by the genes at Glu-1 loci in wheat and its related species, are significant in the determination of grain processing quality. However, the diversity and variations of HMW-GSs are relatively low in bread wheat. More interests are now focused on wheat wild relatives in Triticeae. The genus Aegilops represents an important germplasm for novel HWM-GSs and other useful genes for wheat genetic improvement. Results: Six novel Glu-1 alleles and HMW-GSs were identified and characterized from three species of Aegilops section Sitopsis (S genome). Both open reading frames (ORFs) and promoter regions of these Glu-1 alleles were sequenced and characterized. The ORFs of Sitopsis Glu-1 genes are approximately 2.9 kb and 2.3 kb for x-type and y-type subunits, respectively. Although the primary structures of Sitopsis HMW-GSs are similar to those of previously reported ones, all six x-type or y-type subunits have the large fragment insertions. Our comparative analyses of the deduced amino acid sequences verified that Aegilops section Sitopsis species encode novel HMW-GSs with their molecular weights larger than almost all other known HMW-GSs. The Glu-1 promoter sequences share the high homology among S genome. Our phylogenetic analyses by both network and NJ tree indicated that there is a close phylogenetic evolutionary relationship of x-type and y-type subunit between S and D genome. Conclusions: The large molecular weight of HMW-GSs from S genome is a unique feature identified in this study. Such large subunits are resulted from the duplications of repetitive domains in Sitopsis HMW-GSs. The unequal crossover events are the most likely mechanism of variations in glutenin subunits. The S genome-encoded subunits, 1Dx2.2 and 1Dx2.2* have independent origins, although they share similar evolutionary mechanism. As HMW-GSs play a key role in wheat baking quality, these large Sitopsis glutenin subunits can be used as special genetic resources for wheat quality improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the active metamaterial transmission line at microwave frequency. The active composite right-handed or left-handed transmission line was designed to incorporate a germanium tunnel diode with a negative differential resistance property as the gain device at the unit cell level. Measurements of the fabricated planar transmission line structures with one-, two-, and three-unit cells showed that the addition of the dc pumped tunnel diodes not only provided gain but also maintained the left handedness of the transmission line metamaterial. Simulation results agree well with experimental observation. This work demonstrated that negative index material can be obtained with a net gain when an external source is incorporated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationships among self-esteem, self-efficacy, and faith in people in Chinese heroin abusers were investigated. We used 3 rating scales to survey a sample of 200 heroin abusers: the Self-esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965), the Self-efficacy Questionnaire for Chinese Drug Users (Geng & Han, 2008), and the Faith in People Scale (Rosenberg, 1956). A correlation analysis and a regression analysis were employed to analyze the data. The correlations among self-esteem, self-efficacy, and faith in people were significantly positive. Self-efficacy and faith in people results were found to be predictive of the self-esteem level of participants at a statistically significant level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given a set S of vertices in a connected graph G, the classic Steiner tree problem asks for the minimum number of edges of a connected subgraph of G that contains S. We study this problem in the hypercube. Given a set S of vertices in the n-dimensional hypercube Qn, the Steiner cost of S, denoted by cost(S), is the minimum number of edges among all connected subgraphs of Qn that contain S. We obtain the following results on cost(S). Let ε be any given small, positive constant, and set k = |S|. (1) [upper bound] For every set S we have cost(S) < (1/3 k + 1 + 1/2 ln k)n. In particular, there is a constant c1 depending only on ε such that if k > c1, then cost(S) < (1/3 + ε)kn. (2) We develop a randomized algorithm of running time O(kn) that produces a connected subgraph H of Qn containing S such that with probability approaching 1 as k, n → ∞ we have |E(H)| < (1/3 + ε)kn. (3) [lower bound] There are constants c2 and b (with 1 < b < 2) depending only on ε such that if c2 < k < bn then as n → ∞ almost all sets S of size k in Qn satisfy cost(S) > (1/3 + ε)kn. Thus for k in this range with k → ∞, the upper bound (1) is asymptotically tight. We also show that for fixed k, as n → ∞, almost always a random family of k vertices in Qn satisfies [k/3 + 2/9(-1 + (-1/2)k)]n - √ n ln n ≤ cost(S) ≤ [k/3 + 2/9(-1 + (-1/2)k)]n + √ n ln n. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium chloride supported vanadium/titanium bimetallic Ziegler-Natta catalysts with di- i-butyl phthalate as internal donor for copolymerization of ethylene and propylene were prepared. The effects of reaction temperature, ethylene/propylene molar ratio, aluminium/vanadium (Al/V) molar ratio and titanium/vanadium molar ratio on the catalytic activity were investigated. The molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, sequence composition and crystallinity of the products were measured by gel permeation chromatography, C-NMR and differential scanning calorimetry analysis, respectively. In comparison to the vanadium and titanium catalysts, the bimetallic catalyst showed higher catalytic activity and better copolymerization performance. The obtained ethylene/propylene copolymers have high molecular weight (10), broad molecular weight distribution, high propylene content with random or short blocked sequence structures ( r r = 1.919), low melting temperatures and low crystallinities ( X < 20%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using dissipative particle dynamics simulation, structural evolution from concentric multicompartment micelles to raspberry-like multicompartment micelles self-assembled from linear ABC triblock copolymers in selective solvents was investigated. The structural transformation from concentric micelles to raspberry-like micelles can be controlled by changing either the length of B blocks or the solubility of B block. It was found that the structures with B bumps on C surface (B-bump-C) are formed at shorter B block length and the structures with C bumps on B surface (C-bump-B) are formed at relative lower solubility of B blocks. The formation of B-bump-C is entropy-driven, while the formation of C-bump-B is enthalpy-dominated. Furthermore, when the length of C blocks is much lower than that of B blocks, an inner-penetrating vesicle was discovered. The results gained through the simulations provide an insight into the mechanism behind the formation of raspberry-like micelles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diet-induced obesity (DIO) and insulin resistance in mice are associated with proteinuria, renal mesangial expansion, accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins, and activation of oxidative stress, proinflammatory cytokines, profibrotic growth factors, and the sterol regulatory element binding proteins, SREBP-1 and SREBP-2, that mediate increases in fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether treatment of DIO mice with the vitamin D receptor (VDR) agonist doxercalciferol (1α-hydroxyvitamin D2) prevents renal disease. Our results indicate that treatment of DIO mice with the VDR agonist decreases proteinuria, podocyte injury, mesangial expansion, and extracellular matrix protein accumulation. The VDR agonist also decreases macrophage infiltration, oxidative stress, proinflammatory cytokines, and profibrotic growth factors. Furthermore, the VDR agonist also prevents the activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system including the angiotensin II type 1 receptor and the mineralocorticoid receptor. An additional novel finding of our study is that activation of VDR results in decreased accumulation of neutral lipids (triglycerides and cholesterol) and expression of adipophilin in the kidney by decreasing SREBP-1 and SREBP-2 expression and target enzymes that mediate fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis and increasing expression of the farnesoid X receptor. This study therefore demonstrates multiple novel effects of VDR activation in the kidney which prevent renal manifestations of DIO in the kidney. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethambutol (EMB), one of the effective anti-mycobacterial drugs, inhibits the biosynthesis of mycobacterium cell wall. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of EMB against tuberculosis (TB), Mycobacterium smegmatis mc155 was employed as a model of mycobacterial system in this study. We compared the protein profiles on M. smegmatis mc155 treated by EMB and untreated using fluorescence difference two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-D DIGE). A total of 40 differential protein spots were selected and 22 proteins were identified by HPLC-nano ESI-MS/MS analysis, including 16 over-expressed proteins and 6 under-expressed proteins. These proteins mainly affected energy metabolism, as well as synthesis and modification of macromolecules. The expressions of correspondent genes were confirmed by RT-PCR. This investigation provided some clues for searching potential drug targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporation of active devices/media such as transistors for microwave and gain media for optics may be very attractive for enabling desired low loss and broadband metamaterials. Such metamaterials can even have gain which may very well lead to new and exciting physical phenomena. We investigate microwave composite right/left-handed transmission lines (CRLH-TL) incorporating ideal gain devices such as constant negative resistance. With realistic lumped element values, we have shown that the negative phase constant of this kind of transmission lines is maintained (i.e., left-handedness kept) while gain can be obtained (negative attenuation constant of transmission line) simultaneously. Possible implementation and challenging issues of the proposed active CRLH-TL are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an extremely contagious viral disease of cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and many cloven-hoofed wild animals. FMDV serotypes O and Asia 1 have circulated separately in China during the last fifty years, and eliminating infected animals and vaccination are the main policies to prevent and control FMD. Antibodies to NSPs exist in infected animals, and were utilized to differentiate between infected and vaccinated animals. The reliability of detection of 3AB or 3ABC antibodies is higher than that of other NSPs. The test of 3AB is still credible because 3C protein's immunogenicity is the weakest. The 2C protein, immediately Nterminal of 3AB, was used to differentiate between infected and vaccinated animals. The use of the immunochromatographic strip is facile for clinical laboratories lacking specialized equipment and for rapid field diagnosis. Results: In this study, an immunochromatographic strip with non-structural protein (NSP) 2C'3AB was developed and validated to differentiate foot-and-mouth disease infected from vaccinated animals. A part of N-terminal of 2C protein gene and whole 3AB gene were connected and prokaryotically expressed as the antigens labeled with colloidal gold was used as the detector, the 2C'3AB protein and rabbits anti-2C'3AB antibodies were blotted on the nitrocellulose(NC) membrane for the test and control lines, respectively. 387 serum samples were collected to evaluate the characteristics of the strip in comparison with existing commercial 3ABC antibody ELISA kit. The coincidence rate of pigs negative serum, pigs vaccinated serum, pigs infected serum was 100%, 97.2%, 95.0%, respectively. The coincidence rate of cattle negative serum, cattle vaccinated serum, cattle infected serum was 100%, 96.7%, 98.0%, respectively. The coincidence rate of sheep negative serum, sheep infected serum was 97.6%, 96.3%, respectively. The strip was shown to be of high specificity and sensitivity, good repeatability and stability. Conclusion: These data suggest that the immunochromatographic strip is a useful tool for rapid on-site diagnosing animals infected foot-and-mouth disease virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Subependymal giant cell astrocytoma develops in a small proportion of tuberous sclerosis patients. There are still several controversies on the early diagnosis of the tumor, treatment of hydrocephalus, and timing of operation, etc. Methods: From September 1996 to April 2006, 17 patients were admitted in neurosurgical department of 'Beijing Tiantan Hospital'. The authors analyzed medical records and followed up every case. Results: There are 18 tumors out of 17 patients. One patient had double tumors. Sixteen patients except one underwent tumor resection 17 times. Fifteen tumors out of 17 were gross totally removed; two were partially removed. One patient died of brain infarction postoperatively. Three out of 13 patients with preoperative hydrocephalus still needed ventriculoperitoneal shunt after tumor resection. There was no recurrence after total resection. Conclusion: Diagnosis of tumor should be made by clinical criteria. Serial follow-up is essential for a suspected perimonro lesion to find tumor growth earlier. When there is growth, tumor should be removed as soon as possible. Hydrocephalus will resolve in most cases after tumor resection, while external drainage is suitable for emergent cases. Transcallosal and transcortical approaches are both effective to resect the tumor. Tumor will not recur after total removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel broadband circularly polarized slot antenna is presented in this article. The antenna is fed by a step-shaped coplanar waveguide (CPW). A central symmetry slot is etched in the center of the patch to create circularly polarized wave. A rectangle slot beside the CPW is applied to improve the impedance characteristic of the antenna. The presented antenna has axial ratio and impedance bandwidth of around 33.3 and 71%. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 52: 2111–2114, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.25363 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]