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Abstract Background Poor body composition may affect health status, and better body composition is often associated with better academic performance. Nursing students face heavy academic and practical pressures, and the relationship between body composition and academic performance in this group is not fully understood. Methods This cross-sectional observational study used de-identified student data from a university of technology in southern Taiwan to analyze the correlation between body composition characteristics and academic performance using regression models. Results A total of 275 nursing college students were divided into four groups according to academic performance. The group with the lowest academic performance had a lower percentage of body fat (P

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons from the brain and spinal cord. The excessive neuroinflammation is thought to be a common determinant of ALS. Suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS3) is pathologically upregulated after injury/diseases to negatively regulate a broad range of cytokines/chemokines that mediate inflammation; however, the role that SOCS3 plays in ALS pathogenesis has not been explored. Here, we found that SOCS3 protein levels were significantly increased in the brainstem of the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1)-G93A ALS mice, which is negatively related to a progressive decline in motor function from the pre-symptomatic to the early symptomatic stage. Moreover, SOCS3 levels in both cervical and lumbar spinal cords of ALS mice were also significantly upregulated at the pre-symptomatic stage and became exacerbated at the early symptomatic stage. Concomitantly, astrocytes and microglia/macrophages were progressively increased and reactivated over time. In contrast, neurons were simultaneously lost in the brainstem and spinal cord examined over the course of disease progression. Collectively, SOCS3 was first found to be upregulated during ALS progression to directly relate to both increased astrogliosis and increased neuronal loss, indicating that SOCS3 could be explored to be as a potential therapeutic target of ALS.

We report on the use of a lab-on-CMOS biosensor platform for quantitatively tracking the proliferation of RAW 264.7 murine Balb/c macrophages. We show that macrophage proliferation correlates linearly with an average capacitance growth factor resulting from capacitance measurements at a plurality of electrodes dispersed in a sensing area of interest. We further show a temporal model that captures the cell number evolution in the area over long periods (e.g., 30 h). The model links the cell numbers and the average capacitance growth factor to describe the observed cell proliferation.

Parasitic copepods are frequently discovered in many marine animals, and they exhibit great species diversity with remarkable morphological adaptations to their parasitic lifestyle. Similar to their free-living relatives, parasitic copepods usually develop through complex life cycle, but they eventually transform into a modified adult form with reduced appendages. Although the life cycle and distinct larval stages have been described in a few species of parasitic copepods, particularly those infecting commercially valuable marine animals (such as fishes, oysters, and lobsters), very little is known about the developmental process of the species that transformed into extremely simplified adult body plan. This paucity also causes some difficulties when investigating the taxonomy and phylogeny of this kind of parasitic copepods. Here we describe the embryonic development and a series of sequential larval stages of a parasitic copepod, Ive ptychoderae, which is a vermiform endoparasite living inside the hemichordate acorn worms. We devised laboratory regimes that enable us raising large quantity of embryos and free living larvae, and obtaining post-infested I. ptychoderae samples from the host tissues. Using defined morphological features, the embryonic development of I. ptychoderae can be categorized into eight stages (1-, 2-, 4-, 8-, 16- cell stages, blastula, gastrula, and limb bud stages) and the post-embryonic development comprises six larval stages (2 naupliar and 4 copepodid stages). Based on the comparisons of morphological characters in the nauplius stage, our results provide evidence to support that the Ive-group is more closely related to the Cyclopoida, which represents one of the two major clades that contain many highly transformed parasitic copepods. Thus, our results help to resolve the problematic phylogenetic position of the Ive-group in previous study based on analysis using 18S rDNA sequences. Combining with more molecular data, future comparative analyses on the morphological features of copepodid stages will further refine our understanding of the phylogenetic relationships of parasitic copepods.

ABSTRACT Aims/Introduction Identifying diabetes‐susceptible genetic variants will help to provide personalized therapy for the management of type 2 diabetes. Previous studies have reported a genetic risk score (GRS), computed by the sum of nuclear DNA (nDNA) risk alleles, that may predict the future requirement for insulin therapy. Although mitochondrial dysfunction has a close association with insulin resistance (IR), there are few studies investigating whether genetic variants of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) will affect the clinical characteristics of type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods Mitochondrial haplogroups were determined using mtDNA whole genome next generation sequencing and 13 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in nDNA susceptibility loci of 13 genes in 604 Taiwanese subjects with type 2 diabetes. A GRS of nDNA was computed by summation of the number of risk alleles. The correlation between the mtDNA haplogroup and the clinical characteristics of type 2 diabetes was assessed by logistic regression analysis. The results were compared with the GRS subgroups for the risk of insulin requirement. Results Mitochondrial haplogroups modulate the clinical characteristics of type 2 diabetes, in which patients harboring haplogroup D4, compared with those harboring non‐D4 haplotypes, were less prone to require insulin treatment, after adjusting for age, gender, and diabetes duration. However, there was no association between insulin requirement and GRS calculated from nuclear genetic variants. Conclusions Mitochondrial haplogroups, but not nuclear genetic variants, have a better association with the insulin requirement. The results highlight the role of mitochondria in the management of common metabolic diseases.

Background/Purpose: Improvement of the medical and social environment is an important aspect of government policies in assuring the quality of life (QoL) of older adults. However, few studies have appraised the impact and relationship of QoL with clinical factors among elderly individuals in affluent residential areas. Methods: A total of 166 older adults from Chang Gung Health and Culture Village were enrolled. Oral health-related QoL was measured using the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index. Self-assessed chewing abilities and demographic characteristics were collected by questionnaire. Physical health was scored by activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL. Mini nutrition assessment questionnaire was used to evaluate the nutritional intake. Multiple linear regression was used to predict risk factors affecting QoL and to examine whether chewing ability was a mediator of oral health-related QoL. Results: Poor chewing ability was associated with older age (OR = 1.82 for 76–85 years and 3.58 for 86–95 years), sufficient economic status (OR = 5.55) and removable denture-wearing (OR = 7.52). On the other hand, poor chewing ability (OR = 0.11), removable denture-wearing (OR = 0.48), periodontal disease (OR = 0.38) had lower likelihood of good oral health-related QoL. Mediator analyses showed that chewing ability was a mediator for the association between oral health-related QoL and economic status or removable denture-wearing or having more than 20 teeth. Periodontal disease was an independent factor for oral health-related QoL. Conclusion: Among older adults in an affluent community, periodontal disease is an independent risk factor directly related to oral health-related QoL, whereas chewing ability is a mediator between QoL and removable denture-wearing.

Abstract Background This study assessed international variations in changes in drowning mortality rates and the quality of reporting specific information in death certificates over the past decade. Methods Drowning mortality data of 61 countries were extracted from the World Health Organization Mortality Database. We calculated the percentage change (PC) in age-standardized drowning mortality rates and percentage of drowning deaths reported with unspecified codes between 2004 and 2005 and 2014–2015. Results Of the 61 countries studied, 50 exhibited a reduction in drowning mortality rates from 2004 to 2005 to 2014–2015. Additionally, five countries—Lithuania, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Romania, and El Salvador—with a high mortality rate in 2004–2005 (> 40 deaths per 100,000) showed improvement (PC 40%) exhibited a marked reduction (PC

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) severity, obesity, sex difference, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) had a complex impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, the interactive effects among these features on HRQoL remained to be clarified. This study aimed to investigate the individual and interactive associations between the four characteristics of interest and HRQoL as determined by 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). This non-interventional, prospective, observational study enrolled a total of 132 patients with suspected OSAS for analysis. While OSAS severity and ADHD detected by adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, termed as screened ADHD, interact with each other, all the four studied features were individually associated with HRQoL. After adjusting for potential physiological and polysomnographic confounders, screened ADHD was independently correlated with PSQI > 5 (OR = 4.126, 95% CI, 1.490–11.424), mental component score < 50 (OR = 5.873, 95% CI, 2.262–15.251) and ESS > 10 (OR = 3.648, 95% CI, 1.738–7.657). Our results show that ADHD detection is necessary and should be incorporated into clinical practice for OSAS management.

Objective: To examine changes in the number and causes of maternal deaths after the introduction of pregnancy checkbox on the death certificate in January 2014 in Taiwan. Materials and methods: We first used the cause-of-death (COD) mortality data for years 2010 through 2017 to examine the number of deaths by item of pregnancy checkbox. We then compared the distribution of the causes of maternal deaths before and after the introduction of pregnancy checkbox. Results: Between 2014 and 2017, 111 women died, for whom the certifiers indicated the following in the pregnancy checkbox items: 2 (pregnant at the time of death; n = 10), 3 (died within 42 days after the termination of pregnancy; n = 64), and 4 (died between 43 days and 1 year after the termination of pregnancy; n = 37). However, in only 61 of the 111 deaths, the certifiers reported pregnancy or delivery-related diagnosis in the COD section of the death certificate—5 each for items 2 and 4 and 51 for item 3. The number of maternal deaths was 55 in 2010–2013; this number increased to 82 in 2014–2017. A decline in the percentage of maternal deaths from obstetric hemorrhage was noted from 38% (21/55) in 2010–2013 to 21% (17/82) in 2014–2017. Conclusion: The number of maternal deaths increased, and the distribution of causes of maternal deaths changed after the introduction of pregnancy checkbox. Additional studies are required to examine the possible misclassification of pregnancy-associated deaths indicated in the pregnancy checkbox. Keywords: Cause-of-death, Death certificate, Pregnancy checkbox, Pregnancy-associated deaths, Maternal deaths

Objective: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of dietary supplements and herbal medicines for the care of pregnant women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Materials and methods: A total of 366 women undergoing ART and their children from the dataset of Taiwan Birth Cohort Study (TBCS, 2005) were enrolled in this study. Structured questionnaires were applied to collect the health information at 6-month follow-up after their delivery. The related use patterns were analyzed to investigate the final birth outcomes. Results: Comparing with those of non-ART group, the women undergoing ART consumed more supplements of multivitamin, fish oil, and calcium than herbal medicines during pregnancy. This study revealed that the consumptions of multivitamin, calcium pills, Genseng, and Suz-Wu-Tang were associated with low birth weight, whereas the intake of Huanglian was associated with birth weight. Besides, the uses of multivitamin and Suz-Wu-Tang were related to lower gestational age of infants. Conclusions: Physicians and nurses must educate themselves in dietary supplements and herbal/alternative medicines for offering accurate advices for pregnant women to optimize their care. The results could be of reference for further investigation on longitudinal effects of dietary supplements and herbal medicines during pregnancy in women undergoing ART continuously followed with TBCS. Keywords: Assisted reproductive technologies (ART), Dietary supplements, Herbal medicines, Pregnancy, Postpartum

MicroRNA (miRNA) acts as a critical regulator of growth in various human malignancies. However, the role of miRNA-3614 in the progression of human prostate cancer remains unknown. In this study, our results demonstrated that miRNA-3614-5p exerts a significant inhibitory effect on cell viability and colony formation and induces sub-G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells. Myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) acts as a master regulator of cell survival. Using the miRNA databases, miRNA-3614-5p was found to regulate Mcl-1 expression by targeting positions of the Mcl-1-3′ UTR. The reduction of Mcl-1 expression by miRNA-3614-5p was further confirmed using an immunoblotting assay. Pro-apoptotic caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) were significantly activated by miRNA-3614-5p to generate cleaved caspase-3 (active caspase-3) and cleaved PARP (active PARP), accompanied by the inhibited Mcl-1 expression. These findings were the first to demonstrate the anti-growth effects of miRNA-3614-5p through downregulating Mcl-1 expression in human prostate cancer cells.

Background: Plenty of evidence suggested that chronic low-grade inflammation triggered by innate immunity activation contributes to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Using the trans-mitochondrial cybrid cell model, we have demonstrated that mitochondria independently take part in the pathological process of insulin resistance (IR) and pro-inflammatory phenotype in cybrid cells harboring mitochondrial haplogroup B4, which are more likely to develop T2D. The mitochondrial network is more fragmented, and the expression of fusion-related proteins is low in Cybrid B4. We also discovered the causal role of mitochondrial dynamics (mtDYN) proteins in regulating IR in this cybrid model, and the bidirectional interaction between mtDYN and mitochondrial oxidative stress is considered etiologically important. In this study, we further investigated whether mtDYN bridges the gap between nutrient excess and chronic inflammation in T2D.Methods: Trans-mitochondrial cybrid cells derived from the 143B human osteosarcoma cell line were cultured in a medium containing glucose (25 mM) with or without saturated fatty acid (0.25 mM BSA-conjugated palmitate), and the expression of innate immunity/inflammasome molecules was compared between cybrid B4 (the major T2D-susceptible haplogroup among the Chinese population) and cybrid D4 (the major T2D-resistant haplogroup among the Chinese population). We investigated the causal relationship between mtDYN and nutrient excess-induced inflammation in cybrid B4 by genetic manipulation of mtDYN and by pharmacologically inhibiting mitochondrial fission using the Drp1 inhibitor, mdivi-1, and metformin.Results: Under nutrient excess with high fatty acid, cybrid B4 presented increased mitochondrial pro-fission profiles and enhanced chronic inflammation markers (RIG-I, MDA5, MAVS) and inflammasome (NLRP3, Caspase-1, IL-1β), whereas the levels in cybrid D4 were not or less significantly altered. In cybrid B4 under nutrient excess, overexpression of fusion proteins (Mfn1 or Mfn2) significantly repressed the expression of innate immunity/inflammasome-related molecules, while knockdown had a less significant effect. On the contrary, knockdown of fission proteins (Drp1 or Fis1) significantly repressed the expression of innate immunity/inflammasome-related molecules, while overexpression had a less significant effect. In addition, Drp1 inhibitor mdivi-1 and metformin inhibited mitochondrial fission and attenuated the pro-inflammation expression as well.Conclusion: Our results discovered the causal relationship between mtDYN and nutrient excess-induced chronic inflammation in a diabetes-susceptible cell model. Targeting mtDYN by direct interfering pro-fission can be a therapeutic intervention for chronic inflammation in T2D.

Therapeutic resistance in recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) after concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is a challenging issue. Although standard fractionated radiation is essential to treat GBM, it has led to local recurrence along with therapy-resistant cells in the ionizing radiation (IR) field. Lines of evidence showed cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a vital role in therapy resistance in many cancer types, including GBM. However, the molecular mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we proposed that autophagy could be involved in GSC induction for radioresistance. In a clinical setting, patients who received radiation/chemotherapy had higher LC3II expression and showed poor overall survival compared with those with low LC3 II. In a cell model, U87MG and GBM8401 expressed high level of stemness markers CD133, CD44, Nestin, and autophagy marker P62/LC3II after receiving standard fractionated IR. Furthermore, Wnt/β-catenin proved to be a potential pathway and related to P62 by using proteasome inhibitor (MG132). Moreover, pharmacological inhibition of autophagy with BAF and CQ inhibit GSC cell growth by impairing autophagy flux as demonstrated by decrease Nestin, CD133, and SOX-2 levels. In conclusion, we demonstrated that fractionated IR could induce GSCs with the stemness phenotype by P62-mediated autophagy through the Wnt/β-catenin for radioresistance. This study offers a new therapeutic strategy for targeting GBM in the future.

Abstract Eight weeks post contusive spinal cord injury, we built a peripheral nerve graft bridge (PNG) through the cystic cavity and treated the graft/host interface with acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) and chondroitinase ABC (ChABC). This combinatorial strategy remarkably enhanced integration between host astrocytes and graft Schwann cells, allowing for robust growth, especially of catecholaminergic axons, through the graft and back into the distal spinal cord. In the absence of aFGF+ChABC fewer catecholaminergic axons entered the graft, no axons exited, and Schwann cells and astrocytes failed to integrate. In sharp contrast with the acutely bridge-repaired cord, in the chronically repaired cord only low levels of serotonergic axons regenerated into the graft, with no evidence of re-entry back into the spinal cord. The failure of axons to regenerate was strongly correlated with a dramatic increase of SOCS3 expression. While regeneration was more limited overall than at acute stages, our combinatorial strategy in the chronically injured animals prevented a decline in locomotor behavior and bladder physiology outcomes associated with an invasive repair strategy. These results indicate that PNG+aFGF+ChABC treatment of the chronically contused spinal cord can provide a permissive substrate for the regeneration of certain neuronal populations that retain a growth potential over time, and lead to functional improvements.

Two novel polythiophene derivatives with linear or hyperbranched architectures using diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) as linking groups as well as normal poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) were synthesized via the Universal Grignard metathesis polymerization. The molecular weights of the linear polythiophene containing DPP linking moieties are higher than those of P3HT, while molecular weights of the hyperbranched one are smaller. The main decomposition temperatures of polymers were measured at 470 °C from TGA experiments. The UV-vis absorption behaviors of the DPP-containing polymers are similar to that of P3HT; moreover, these DPP-containing polythiophenes show distinct PL decay both in solution and thin film states. The electrochemical experiments reveal that the incorporation of DPP groups resulted in lowering HOMO levels of polymers. All polymers were blended with PC61BM and used as active layers for the fabrication of inverted polymer solar cells. The power conversion efficiency of devices based on linear and hyperbranched polythiophenes reached 3.74% and 2.38%, respectively, revealing comparable or even higher efficiency than the one based on normal P3HT.

The two aims of this study were (1) designing and developing an affordable visual reaction system for badminton training that monitors and provides instant feedback on agility; and (2) to measure and improve the footwork and movement of badminton players and output useful reference data. Ten junior high school badminton players were invited to serve as the subjects of this study. They participated in a three-week (nine sessions) training program. Training was primarily in the form of fixed or random footwork drills. Timed tests were performed before and after each session to measure the players’ agility in performing six-point and four-point footwork drills. The results were compared to the training effects calculated using dependent-sample t-tests. In addition, the long-term durability and functionality of the training system were tested. The training system was able to maintain stable and reliable training and evaluation operations for extended periods. Results showed significant improvements in the visual reaction time (p = 0.003) and agility (p = 0.001) of players. The proposed training system is an affordable option for training and monitoring, evaluating, and recording training performance. It can accurately record movement and response times and simulate competitive environments.

The trend of medical career choice in the younger generation has resulted in deficiency of manpower in the four major disciplines of internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics/gynecology, and pediatrics, which will threaten people's health care in Taiwan. However, perceptions of gender awareness and factors affecting the career choices of medical students have not been investigated systemically in Taiwan. To explore the perceptions on gender awareness and considerations in career choices, we recruited 280 1st- and 7th-year male and female medical students at a Medical University for the study. A modified Nijmegen questionnaire using a 5-point Likert scale containing medical curricula (18 items), gender awareness (13 items), and career inclination (9 items) was adopted as the investigation tool in our study. The response rate was 75% (224/280). With regard to gender, the 1st-year male students had greater confidence in being a physician than the female students (p

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a mathematical equation to predict the birth weight during the second trimester at 20-24 weeks of gestation. Materials and Methods: In a university hospital, 110 healthy pregnant women were eligible for inclusion at 20-24 weeks of gestation. We recorded the maternal weight (pre-pregnancy, mid-pregnancy, and at delivery) and body mass index (BMI), newborn birth weight, time period from ultrasound examination to term delivery, and also the fetal biometrics sonographically at 20-24 weeks of gestation. Pearson's correlation was used to verify the extent of the relationship between all the above measurements and the newborn birth weight. Multiple regressions with the stepwise method were used to analyze maternal weight factors, fetal biometrical factors, and pregnancy interval. An equation for term birth weight estimation during the second trimester was determined. Results: Maternal BMI at mid-pregnancy, time interval from mid-pregnancy to term, and abdominal circumference had the highest correlation with newborn birth weight (r = 0.388, 0.341, and 0.315, respectively, p < 0.05). Using the stepwise regression analysis, an optimal formula with variance of 0.303 was derived: estimated birth weight = −700 + 49.766 × (mid-pregnancy BMI [kg/m2]) + 13.362 × (time interval from mid-pregnancy to term delivery [days]) + 68.696 × (abdominal circumference [cm]). Conclusion: We propose an accurate, simple, and easy formula to better assess the newborn birth weight at mid-pregnancy for the Asian population. Mid-pregnancy BMI was a more significant factor for birth weight estimation than other maternal weight factors in this study.

Praeruptorin A (PA) is a pyranocumarin present in the dried root of Peucedanumpraeruptorum Dunn that has anticancer effects against several types of cells. However, the effect of PA on human cervical cancer cells is unknown. Our results indicate that PA significantly inhibited cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, invasion, and wound closure of HeLa and SiHa cells, induced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase, upregulated Rb, p16, p21 and p27 proteins and downregulated cyclin D1 and S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2) proteins. PA also significantly reduced expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and increased expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2). In addition, PA suppressed ERK1/2 activation and increased the effect of PD98059 (a specific MEK1/2 inhibitor) in downregulation of MMP-2 and upregulation of TIMP-2. PA treatment inhibited the effect of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on upregulation of ERK1/2 activation, MMP-2 expression, cellular migration, and invasion of HeLa cells. Our findings are the first to demonstrate the activity of PA against cervical cancer cells, and suggest this agent has promise as a therapeutic agent in treatment of human cervical cancer.

The loss of lower urinary tract (LUT) control is a ubiquitous consequence of a complete spinal cord injury, attributed to a lack of regeneration of supraspinal pathways controlling the bladder. Previous work in our lab has utilized a combinatorial therapy of peripheral nerve autografts (PNG), acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), and chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) to treat a complete T8 spinal cord transection in the adult rat, resulting in supraspinal control of bladder function. In the present study we extended these findings by examining the use of the combinatorial PNG+aFGF+ChABC treatment in a T8 transected mouse model, which more closely models human urinary deficits following spinal cord injury. Cystometry analysis and external urethral sphincter electromyograms reveal that treatment with PNG+aFGF+ChABC reduced bladder weight, improved bladder and external urethral sphincter histology, and significantly enhanced LUT function, resulting in more efficient voiding. Treated mice's injured spinal cord also showed a reduction in collagen scaring, and regeneration of serotonergic and tyrosine hydroxylase-positive axons across the lesion and into the distal spinal cord. Regeneration of serotonin axons correlated with LUT recovery. These results suggest that our mouse model of LUT dysfunction recapitulates the results found in the rat model and may be used to further investigate genetic contributions to regeneration failure.

Suppressors of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS3) is associated with limitations of nerve growth capacity after injury to the central nervous system. Although genetic manipulations of SOCS3 can enhance axonal regeneration after optic injury, the role of SOCS3 in dendritic outgrowth after spinal cord injury (SCI) is still unclear. The present study investigated the endogenous expression of SOCS3 and its role in regulating neurite outgrowth in vitro. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) induces SOCS3 expression at the mRNA and protein levels in neuroscreen-1 (NS-1) cells. In parallel to SOCS3 expression, IL-6 induced tyrosine phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in NS-1 cells. Lentiviral delivery of short hairpin RNA (shSOCS3) (Lenti-shSOCS3) to decrease SOCS3 expression into NS-1 cells enhanced IL-6-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3 (P-STAT3 Tyr705) and promoted neurite outgrowth. In addition, we determined if reduction of SOCS3 expression by microinjection of Lenti-shSOCS3 into spinal cord enhances dendrite outgrowth in spinal cord neurons after SCI. Knocking down of SOCS3 in spinal cord neurons with Lenti-shSOCS3 increased complete SCI-induced P-STAT3 Tyr705. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that complete SCI induced a significant reduction of microtubule association protein 2-positive (MAP-2+) dendrites in the gray and white matter at 1 and 4 weeks after injury. The SCI-induced reduction of MAP-2+ dendrites was inhibited by infection with Lenti-shSOCS3 in areas both rostral and caudal to the lesion at 1 and 4 weeks after complete SCI. Furthermore, shSOCS3 treatment enhanced up-regulation of growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43) expression, which co-localized with MAP-2+ dendrites in white matter and with MAP-2+ cell bodies in gray matter, indicating Lenti-shSOCS3 may induce dendritic regeneration after SCI. Moreover, we demonstrated that Lenti-shSOCS3 decreased SCI-induced demyelination in white matter of spinal cord both rostral and caudal to the injury site 1 week post-injury, but not rostral to the injury at 4 weeks post-injury. Importantly, similar effects as Lenti-shSOCS3 on increasing MAP-2+ intensity and dendrite length, and preventing demyelination were observed when a second shSOCS3 (Lenti-shSOCS3 #2) was applied to rule out the possibilities of off target effects of shRNA. Collectively, these results suggest that knocking down of SOCS3 enhances dendritic regeneration and prevents demyelination after SCI.

In utero exposure to phthalates may adversely affect reproductive development in children due to the anti-androgenic properties of the pthalates. Accordingly, we aimed to determine the effects of in utero and environmental phthalate exposure on the reproductive development of eight-year-old children. We recruited 180 children in central Taiwan during November 2001 and followed them until August 2009 when all children became eight years old. Birth outcomes were collected. Bone age, hormone concentrations, and reproductive developmental stages were determined. Phthalate metabolite levels, including mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate [MEHP], mono-n-butyl phthalate [MnBP], and mono-benzyl phthalate [MBzP], were assessed. No significant gender differences were found in in utero phthalate exposure. Maternal urinary levels of phthalate metabolites did not correlate significantly with birth outcomes, physical characteristics, and reproductive hormones of the eight-year-old children. Regarding the urinary phthalate metabolite levels of the eight-year-old children, MEHP correlated significantly with serum progesterone levels. MEHP levels in girls correlated significantly with serum progesterone levels. MnBP correlated significantly with serum FSH in all children. In girls, MnBP correlated with serum FSH, and MBzP correlated with serum progesterone and FSH levels. Urinary phthalate metabolite levels did not correlate with female developmental stages or the development of female reproductive organs. Phthalate metabolites did not correlate with the physical characteristics and reproductive hormones in boys. Therefore, environmental exposure to phthalates, as determined by urinary phthalate metabolite levels of eight-year-old children, may affect reproductive hormone levels in children, indicating that further studies on the environmental health effects of phthalates are warranted.

This ex vivo study evaluates the incidence of sinus membrane perforation during implant site osteotomy with two different types of drills and drilling techniques. Fifty goat heads with 50 sinus pairs (100 sinus sides) were assigned to two groups (osseodensification bur [OB] group and inverse conical shape bur [ICSB] group) to simulate transcrestal sinus elevation (50 sinus sides per group). An osteotomy was performed to pass through the lateral sinus wall no more than 3 mm. The integrity of the sinus membranes was examined and confirmed under a microscope. Of the 50 sinuses per group, the OB group presented with 14 (28%) perforated sinuses, while the ICSB group presented with 2 (4%) perforated sinuses. Of the 14 perforations from the OB group, 6 (42.9%) showed a pinpoint perforation pattern, 4 (28.5%) of which were not visible until direct air pressure was applied. Overall, the ICSB drill group demonstrated a lower sinus perforation rate than the OB group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]