Notch prevents transforming growth factor-beta-assisted epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cultured limbal progenitor cells through the induction of Smad7.

Purpose: Continuous culture of limbal epithelial stem cells (LSCs) slows down proliferation, which inevitably results in differentiation. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ)-assisted epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is often found in the late stage of LSC culture. Thus, EMT is proposed to be part of the mechanism responsible for the loss of LSCs in culture.

[Removal of heavy metals from extract of Angelica sinensis by EDTA-modified chitosan magnetic adsorbent].

The concentrations of heavy metals in the extracting solutions of traditional Chinese medicine are usually very low. Furthermore, a vast number of organic components contained in the extracting solutions would be able to coordinate with heavy metals, which might lead to great difficulty in high efficient removal of them from the extracting solutions. This paper was focused on the removal of heavy metals of low concentrations from the extracting solution of Angelica sinensis by applying an EDTA-modified chitosan magnetic adsorbent (EDTA-modified chitosan/SiO2/Fe3O4, abbreviated as EDCMS).

Characteristics of the pelvic axial rotation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a comparison between major thoracic curve and major thoracolumbar/lumbar curve.

Background Context: As the biomechanical foundation of the spine, the pelvis was found to display rotation in the transverse plane in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). However, the possible factors influencing the pelvic axial rotation (PAR) and its mechanism in patients with AIS remain unclear.

Purpose: To characterize the PAR in AIS patients with right major thoracic (MT) or major left thoracolumbar/lumbar (TL/L) curve and to explore the associated influencing factors and probable mechanism of compensation by analyzing the association between PAR and other spinal radiographic parameters.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound characteristics of breast cancer: correlation with prognostic factors.

The purpose of the work described here was to investigate the correlation of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) characteristics with prognostic factors in breast cancer. Forty-five consecutive breast cancer patients were studied with CEUS. All patients were diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma on the basis of biopsy or surgery results.

Dry eye after LASIK with a femtosecond laser or a mechanical microkeratome.

Purpose: Dry eye is the most common complication after LASIK procedure and is associated with corneal denervation. We conducted the study to compare dry eye parameters and corneal sensitivity (CS) after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) with a femtosecond laser (FS) or microkeratome (MK).

Methods: In this prospective, nonrandomized, comparative study, 87 consecutive patients with myopia were assigned to receive either LASIK surgery with an FS (n = 44) or MK-assisted LASIK surgery (n = 43).

N'-(3-Hy-droxy-benzyl-idene)-4-methyl-benzohydrazide.

The title compound, C(15)H(14)N(2)O(2), was obtained from the reaction of 3-hy-droxy-benzaldhyde and 4-methyl-benzo-hydrazide in methanol. In the mol-ecule, the benzene rings form a dihedral angle of 2.9 (3)°.

In vitro enantioselective metabolism of TJ0711 hydrochloride by human liver microsomes using a novel chiral liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method.

A novel liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method employing chiral analytical techniques was developed and validated for in vitro enantioselective metabolic stability study of racemic 1-[4-(2-methoxyethyl) phenoxy]-3-[[2-(2-methoxyphenoxy) ethyl]amino]-2-propanol hydrochloride (TJ0711 HCl), a newly developed vasodilatory β-blocker. Robust enantiomeric separations were achieved on a chiral SUMICHIRAL OA-2500 column using ethanol and hexane (40:60, v/v) as a mobile phase. Metabolic stability results demonstrated that both TJ0711 enantiomers underwent a rapid phase I metabolism, but preferential metabolism of R-TJ0711 was observed.

Cyclosporine a eye drop-induced elongated eyelashes: a case report.

Purpose: The most common ocular adverse event following the use of cyclosporine A (CsA) 0.05% ophthalmic emulsion is ocular burning (17%). Other adverse effects that have been reported include conjunctival hyperemia (1-5%), discharge, epiphora, eye pain, foreign body sensation, pruritus, stinging and blurred vision.

Down-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 by pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate prevented retinal ganglion cell death after transection of optic nerve in rats.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), a nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) inhibitor, on the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and MMP-mediated apoptosis in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) following the transection of the optic nerve (ON) in rats.

Materials And Methods: The ON of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats was transected. The expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and NF-κB was measured by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical analysis following transection.

Effect of hyperglycemia on the changes of intracellular [Ca2+]i in heart myoblast.

A rise in cytosolic free Ca2+ is the immediate trigger for contraction in heart muscle. In the present study, we investigated changes of intracellular Ca2+ increased by potassium chloride (KCl) and phenylephrine (PE) under hyperglycemia in rat heart myoblast H9c2 cells (BCRC 60096), respectively. We employed the fluorescent Ca2+-indicator, fura-2, and digital imaging microscopy to measure [Ca2+]i in H9c2 cells.

NF-kB activity-dependent P-selectin involved in ox-LDL-induced foam cell formation in U937 cell.

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) plays a critical role in regulation of atherosclerosis. However, little is known about the role of Nuclear factor kB (NF-kB) activity-dependent P-selectin in ox-LDL-induced foam cell formation during atherosclerosis. In this study, we first investigated ox-LDL induced foam cell formation in the human U937 promonocytic cell line in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

Interaction between MMP-9 gene polymorphisms and smoking in relation to myocardial infarction in a Uighur population.

Objectives: Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) plays a pivotal role in early atherosclerosis, vascular remodeling, and development of arterial plaque rupture. The potentially functional MMP-9 gene polymorphism may contribute to the susceptibility of myocardial infarction (MI). We aimed to investigate the association between the interaction of 2 single-nucleotide polymorphisms ([SNPs] -1562C>T and R279Q) of the MMP-9 gene and smoking with MI in a Uighur population of China.

Three-dimensional high frequency power Doppler ultrasonography for the assessment of microvasculature during fracture healing in a rat model.

We aimed to establish a novel approach with 3D high frequency power Doppler ultrasonography (3D-HF-PDU) to assess microvasculature at the fracture site in rat femurs by comparing with microCT-based microangiography. Twenty-four 9-month-old ovariectomized (OVX) osteoporotic rats and age-matched sham-ovariectomized (Sham) rats were used for establishing closed fracture models on right femora. At 2, 4, and 8 weeks post-operatively, four rats in each group underwent in vivo 3D-HF-PDU scanning for evaluation of vascularization and blood flow at the fracture site.

Intestinal absorption and intestinal lymphatic transport of sirolimus from self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems assessed using the single-pass intestinal perfusion (SPIP) technique and a chylomicron flow blocking approach: linear correlation with oral bioavailabilities in rats.

This work aims to investigate the impact of different amount of oil or surfactant included in self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems on the intestinal lymphatic transport of sirolimus using the single-pass intestinal perfusion (SPIP) technique and a chylomicron flow blocking approach. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated intraperitoneally with 3.0mg/kg cycloheximide or saline.

The influence of co-solvents on the stability and bioavailability of rapamycin formulated in self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems.

Objective: This work aims to investigate the influence of various types and different contents of co-solvent on the stability and bioavailability of rapamycin formulated in self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDS).

Methods: A series of SMEDDS of rapamycin were prepared with different co-solvents [including PEG 400/ethanol (F1), glycerol/ethanol (F2), propylene glycol (F3), glycerol formal (F4), transcutol P (F5)]. Drug stability in aqueous media at different pH values and in vitro dispersion of SMEDDS were investigated prior to bioavailability assessment.

Endophthalmitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Taiwan.

Purpose: To investigate the clinical settings, treatment given, and visual outcomes for eyes with Pseudomonas aeruginosa endophthalmitis in Taiwan.

Methods: This is a retrospective, noncomparative, consecutive case series. Medical records were reviewed in 72 eyes of 71 patients with culture-proven P.

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound accelerated callus formation, angiogenesis and callus remodeling in osteoporotic fracture healing.

Osteoporotic fracture is a critical medico-social challenge leading to burdens in health care costs and hospital bed stays. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) was reported to accelerate normal fracture; however, its effect on osteoporotic fracture has not been previously addressed. We hypothesize that LIPUS can accelerate osteoporotic fracture healing and up-regulate the expression in the osteogenesis-, remodeling- and angiogenesis-related genes.

Molecular evolution of two duplicated CDPK genes CPK7 and CPK12 in grass species: a case study in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Gene duplication contributes to the expansion of gene families and subsequent functional diversification. Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) are members of an important calcium sensor family involved in abiotic and biotic stress signaling in plants. We report here the molecular evolution and expression analysis of a pair of duplicated CDPK genes CPK7 and CPK12 that arose in the common ancestor of grass species.

Endophthalmitis caused by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.

Background And Objective: The authors investigate clinical settings, antibiotic susceptibility and resistance patterns, and visual outcomes associated with endophthalmitis caused by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.

Patients And Methods: Records of six patients with S. maltophilia endophthalmitis between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2007, were reviewed.

Get With the Guidelines-Stroke performance indicators: surveillance of stroke care in the Taiwan Stroke Registry: Get With the Guidelines-Stroke in Taiwan.

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of death around the world. Improving the quality of stroke care is a global priority, despite the diverse healthcare economies across nations. The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Get With the Guidelines-Stroke program (GWTG-Stroke) has improved the quality of stroke care in 790 US academic and community hospitals, with broad implications for the rest of the country.