Association Between Serratia marcescens Contamination and Hygiene Compliance in Orthokeratology.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Given the characteristics of Serratia marcescens (S. marcescens), this study aimed at investigating its presence in the hands and contact lens cases of orthokeratology wearers, along with the status of bacterial contamination. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The 39 patients received the questionnaires about the background of orthokeratology and hygiene habits. A total of 39 contact lens cases and 39 hand samples from the patients were collected at Show Chwan Memorial Hospital from June to August in 2020 and sent to National Chung Cheng University for DNA extraction and PCR identification. RESULTS: The results indicated a detection rate of 5.13% for S. marcescens in the contact lens cases and 12.82% in the hand samples. Additionally, 66.67% of contact lens case samples and 30.77% of hand samples found positive for 16s bacterial amplicons. The relationship between hand contamination and the duration of contact lens usage were revealed for both S. marcescens (p=0.021) and 16s bacterial amplicons (p=0.048). CONCLUSION: The results indicated that hand hygiene is more critical than focusing on contact lens hygiene when it comes to preventing S. marcescens infections. Nevertheless, both proper hand and contact lens hygiene practices can reduce the detection of bacterial eye pathogens, especially a common intestinal bacterium.

Effects of Fecal Occult Blood Immunoassay Screening for Colorectal Cancer-Experience from a Hospital in Central Taiwan.

Background and Objectives: In 2004, the Health Administration of Taiwan began to promote a hospital-based cancer screening quality improvement program, under the principle that "prevention is better than therapy". The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in patients who received a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) at a hospital in central Taiwan. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study. Results: Fecal occult blood immunoassays for CRC screening were conducted in 58,891 participants, of whom 6533 were positive (positive detection rate 11.10%). The positive patients then underwent colonoscopy, and the detection rates of polyps and CRC accounted for 53.6% and 2.4% of all colonoscopy-confirmed diagnoses (3607), respectively. We further enrolled data from patients diagnosed with CRC at our hospital from 2010 to 2018. The patients with CRC were divided into two groups according to whether or not they had received fecal occult blood screening. Among the 88 patients with CRC by screening, 54 had detailed medical records including cancer stage. Of these 54 patients, 1 (1.8%) had pre-stage, 11 (20.4%) had stage I, 24 (44.4%) had stage II, 10 (18.5%) had stage III, and 8 (14.8%) had stage IV CRC. The early cancer detection rates of the screening and non-screening groups were 66.7% and 52.7%, respectively, and the difference was significant (p = 0.00130). Conclusions: In this study, screening with FIT significantly increased the early detection of CRC. The main advantage of FIT is the non-invasiveness and low cost. It is hoped that the further adoption of early screening can increase the detection rates of colorectal polyps or early cancer to improve survival, reduce the high cost of subsequent cancer treatment, and reduce the burden on the patient and healthcare system.

Short- and Long-Term Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Poststroke Visuospatial Neglect: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and select a suitable protocol for poststroke visuospatial neglect. DESIGN: PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases were searched for relevant studies from the inception date to October 31, 2021. The inclusion criteria were (1) randomized controlled trials, (2) people with visuospatial neglect, (3) treatment with different repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation protocols, (4) comparison with sham or blank control, and (5) reports of performance measurements. RESULTS: Data were obtained from 11 randomized controlled trials. The effects of immediate and 1-mo postintervention were measured using line bisection test, cancellation test, and Catherine Bergego Scale. Results showed statistically significant improvement when applying low-frequency (0.5-1 Hz) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation or continuous theta burst stimulation to the left hemisphere on short- and long-term line bisection test (standardized mean difference = -1.10, 95% confidence interval = -1.84 to -0.37; standardized mean difference = -1.25, 95% confidence interval = -2.11 to -0.39) and cancellation test (standardized mean difference = 1.08, 95% confidence interval = 0.45 to 1.71; standardized mean difference = 1.45, 95% confidence interval = 0.42, 2.47). CONCLUSIONS: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation may be considered a treatment option for poststroke visuospatial neglect. This review proves that a decrease in neuronal excitation in the left hemisphere, which restores the interhemispheric balance, benefits poststroke visuospatial neglect.

Rapid automatic naming and phonological awareness deficits in preschool children with probable developmental coordination disorder.

Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) have been reported to have a higher risk of dyslexia than children with typical development (TD). Phonological awareness (PA) and rapid automatic naming (RAN) are known to be predictive of children's reading development. The present study examined PA and RAN in preschool children with and without probable DCD in Taiwan. In total, 704 children aged 5-6 years old from 25 preschools in Taichung City were included as participants. The probable DCD children performed more poorly than the children with TD on the PA and the RAN tests. Put in deficit terms, 22% of the children with TD, but 48% of the probable DCD children, had a single or dual PA/RAN deficit. Furthermore, it was manual dexterity that bore the unique relationship with RAN. Automatic visual perceptual-motor coordination may be the common processing component that underlies RAN and probable DCD. The early visual perceptual-motor profile of probable DCD children has not been well recognized before.

NAXE gene mutation-related progressive encephalopathy: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: Progressive encephalopathy with brain edema and/or leukoencephalopathy-1 is an infantile, lethal neurometabolic disorder caused by a NAD(P)HX epimerase (NAXE) gene mutation. It is characterized by a fluctuating disease course with repeated episodes of improvement and regression. In this report, we present a rare case of NAXE gene mutation-related encephalopathy with unexpected neurological recovery and long survival time. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 20-month-old girl presented with progressively unsteady gait and bilateral hand tremors after a trivial febrile illness. Her disease rapidly progressed to consciousness disturbance, 4-limb weakness (muscle power: 1/5 on the Medical Research Council scale), and respiratory failure. The patient gradually recovered 2 months later. However, another episode of severe fever-induced encephalopathy developed 2 years after the initial presentation. DIAGNOSES: Results of laboratory investigations, including complete blood count, blood chemistry, inflammatory markers, and cerebral spinal fluid analysis were unremarkable. Electroencephalography and nerve conduction velocity studies yielded normal results. Brain magnetic resonance imaging on diffusion-weighted imaging revealed abnormal sysmmetric hyperintensity in the bilateral middle cerebellar peduncles. A genetic study using whole exome sequencing confirmed the diagnosis of NAXE gene mutation-related encephalopathy. INTERVENTIONS: Pulse therapy with methylprednisolone, intravenous immunoglobulin, coenzyme Q10, and carnitine were initially introduced. After a NAXE gene defect was detected, the vitamin B complex and coenzyme Q10 were administered. A continuous rehabilitation program was also implemented. OUTCOMES: NAXE gene mutation-related encephalopathy is usually regarded as a lethal neurometabolic disorder. However, the outcome in this case is better than that in the previous cases. She showed progressive neurological recovery and a longer survival time. The muscle power of the 4 limbs recovered to grade 4. At present (age of 5.5 years old), she can walk with an unsteady gait and go to school. LESSONS: Although NAXE gene mutation-related encephalopathy is rare, it should be considered as a differential diagnosis of early onset progressive encephalopathy.

Impact of heavy precipitation events on pathogen occurrence in estuarine areas of the Puzi River in Taiwan.

Pathogen populations in estuarine areas are dynamic, as they are subject to multiple natural and anthropogenic challenges. Heavy rainfall events bring instability to the aquatic environment in estuaries, causing changes in pathogen populations and increased environmental sanitation and public health concerns. In this study, we investigated the effects of heavy precipitation on the occurrence of pathogens in the Puzi River estuary, which is adjacent to the largest inshore oyster farming area in Taiwan. Our results indicated that Vibrio parahaemolyticus and adenovirus were the most frequently detected pathogens in the area. There was a significant difference (Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.01) in water quality parameters, including total coliform, Escherichia coli, water temperature, turbidity, salinity, and dissolved oxygen, between groups with and without V. parahaemolyticus. In addition, the detection rate was negatively correlated with the average daily rainfall (r2 > 0.8). There was no significant difference between water quality parameters and the presence/absence of adenovirus, but a positive correlation was observed between the average daily rainfall and the detection rate of adenovirus (r2 ≥ 0.75). We conclude that heavy precipitation changes estuarine water quality, causing variations in microbial composition, including pathogens. As extreme weather events become more frequent due to climate change, the potential impacts of severe weather events on estuarine environments require further investigation.

Association between the Severity of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and the Risk of Coronary Artery Calcification.

Background and Objectives: There are limited data on the association between severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and coronary artery calcification. This study investigated sonographic diagnosed NAFLD and coronary artery calcium score (CAC) as detected by cardiac multidetector computed tomography in general populations. Materials and Methods: A total of 545 patients were enrolled in this study. NAFLD was diagnosed by ultrasonography examination and CAC score were evaluated by cardiac multidetector computed tomography. The association between NAFLD and artery calcium score stage was determined by logistic regression analysis and Spearman correlation coefficient analysis. Results: Of all the participants, 437 (80.2%) had ultrasonography-diagnosed NAFLD and 242 (44%) had coronary artery calcification (CAC > 0). After adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, the risk of developing coronary artery calcification was 1.36-fold greater in the patients with different severity of NAFLD compared to those without NAFLD (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.07-1.77, p = 0.016). The highest OR for separate coronary artery calcification was 1.98 (OR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.37-2.87, p < 0.001) in the left main artery, and the risk was still 1.71-fold greater after adjustments (OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.16-2.54, p = 0.007). Conclusions: This cross-sectional study demonstrated that the severity of NAFLD was associated with the presence of significant coronary artery calcification, especially in the left main coronary artery, suggesting increasing the cardiovascular risk.

Prevalence, virulence-gene profiles, antimicrobial resistance, and genetic diversity of human pathogenic Aeromonas spp. from shellfish and aquatic environments.

Aeromonas are found in various habitats, particularly in aquatic environments. This study examined the presence of the most common human pathogenic Aeromonas species (Aeromonas caviae, A. hydrophila, and A. veronii) in surface water, sea water, and shellfish. The detection rates in fishing harbour seawater, shellfish farming seawater, and a river basin were 33.3%, 26.4%, and 29.4%, respectively, and high prevalence was observed in summer. The detection rates in shellfish procured from a fish market and shellfish farm were 34.9% and 13.3%, respectively. The most abundant species of human pathogenic Aeromonas detected via water sampling was A. caviae, whereas that obtained via shellfish sampling was A. veronii. The prevalence of human pathogenic Aeromonas in river water was lower in fishing harbours and in the estuary shellfish farming area. Here, 25 isolates of human pathogenic Aeromonas species were isolated from 257 samples and divided among 16 virulence profiles. The high virulence gene-carrying isolates (more than six genes) belonged to A. hydrophila. The shellfish-sourced isolates had the highest detection rates of act, aerA, and fla genes than of other virulence genes, and vice versa for seawater-sourced isolates. The Aeromonas isolates showed high levels of resistance to ampicillin-sulbactam; however, none were resistant to cefepime, ciprofloxacin, or gentamicin. The incidence of multiple drug resistance (MDR) in Aeromonas isolates was 20%. In this study, phylogenetic analysis with 16S rRNA sequencing, biochemical tests and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-polymerase chain reaction fingerprinting facilitated the distinct categorisation of three species of human pathogenic Aeromonas isolates. In addition, A. veronii isolates from the same geographical area were also concentrated in the same cluster. This study provides information on the risk of infection by Aeromonas with MDR and multiple virulence genes isolated from shellfish and aquatic environments.

Characterization, Phylogeny, and Genome Analyses of Nonpathogenic Xanthomonas campestris Strains Isolated from Brassica Seeds.

Xanthomonads were detected by using the Xan-D(CCF) medium from the brassica seeds, and their pathogenicity was determined by plant inoculation tests. It was found that some seed lots were infested with Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, some with X. campestris pv. raphani, and some with nonpathogenic xanthomonads. The nonpathogenic xanthomonad strains were identified as X. campestris, and the multilocus sequence analysis showed that the nonpathogenic X. campestris strains were grouped together with pathogenic X. campestris, but not with nonpathogenic strains of X. arboricola. In addition, all isolated X. campestris pv. campestris and X. campestris pv. raphani strains were positive in the hrpF-PCR, but the nonpathogenic strains were negative. It was further found that nonpathogenic X. campestris strain nE1 does not contain the entire pathogenicity island (hrp gene cluster; type III secretion system) and all type III effector protein genes based on the whole genome sequence analyses. The nonpathogenic X. campestris strain nE1 could acquire the entire pathogenicity island from the endemic X. campestris pv. campestris and X. campestris pv. raphani strains by conjugation, but type III effector genes were not cotransferred. The studies showed that the nonpathogenic X. campestris strains indeed exist on the brassica seeds, but it could be differentiated by the PCR assays on the hrp and type III effector genes. Nevertheless, the nonpathogenic X. campestris strains cannot be ignored because they may be potential gene resources to increase genetic diversity in the endemic pathogenic X. campestris pv. campestris and X. campestris pv. raphani strains.

AR ubiquitination induced by the curcumin analog suppresses growth of temozolomide-resistant glioblastoma through disrupting GPX4-Mediated redox homeostasis.

Drug resistance is the main obstacle in the improvement of chemotherapeutic efficacy in glioblastoma. Previously, we showed that dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), one kind of androgen/neurosteroid, potentiates glioblastoma to acquire resistance through attenuating DNA damage. Androgen receptor (AR) activated by DHEA or other types of androgen was reported to promote drug resistance in prostate cancer. However, in DHEA-enriched microenvironment, the role of AR in acquiring resistance of glioblastoma remains unknown. In this study, we found that AR expression is significantly correlated with poor prognosis, and AR obviously induced the resistance to temozolomide (TMZ) treatment. Herein, we observed that ALZ003, a curcumin analog, induces FBXL2-mediated AR ubiquitination, leading to degradation. Importantly, ALZ003 significantly inhibited the survival of TMZ-sensitive and -resistant glioblastoma in vitro and in vivo. The accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation and suppression of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) 4, which are characteristics of ferroptosis, were observed in glioblastoma cell after treatment of ALZ003. Furthermore, overexpression of AR prevented ferroptosis in the presence of GPX4. To evaluate the therapeutic effect in vivo, we transplanted TMZ-sensitive or -resistant U87MG cells into mouse brain followed by intravenous administration with ALZ003. In addition to inhibiting the growth of glioblastoma, ALZ003 significantly extended the survival period of transplanted mice, and significantly decreased AR expression in the tumor area. Taken together, AR potentiates TMZ resistance for glioblastoma, and ALZ003-mediated AR ubiquitination might open a new insight into therapeutic strategy for TMZ resistant glioblastoma.

[Characteristics of clinical effectiveness of bloodletting and proposed ways of mechanism research].

According to the operative characteristics, the stimulated site and the curative effect-emerged site of bloodletting therapy, its clinical characteristics may be divided into three categories: a) local stimulation induced focus-local effect, b) local stimulation induced effect of the distal target organ (point-to-point distal effect), and c) special point stimulation induced broader effect of the whole body. Accordingly, the underlying mechanisms of clinical outcomes mainly involve the improvement of the local microcirculation and secondary changes of inflammatory substances for the first category (local focus). The point-to-point distal effect might mainly involve the innervation of nerve segments, while the broad effect of specific acupoint stimulation might involve multiple levels of the neuro-endocrine-immune system. The future research on the mechanisms of bloodletting should starts from its specific effects and the type of disease, which should not be generalized.

Swimming Pool-Associated Vittaforma-Like Microsporidia Linked to Microsporidial Keratoconjunctivitis Outbreak, Taiwan.

We analyzed 2 batches of environmental samples after a microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis outbreak in Taiwan. Results indicated a transmission route from a parking lot to a foot washing pool to a swimming pool and suggested that accumulation of mud in the foot washing pool during the rainy season might be a risk factor.

Inspiratory muscle training attenuates irradiation-induced diaphragm dysfunction.

Because radiotherapy (RT) can induce diaphragm dysfunction, this study investigated the protective effect of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on RT-induced diaphragm damage in patients with esophageal cancer during concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in a preclinical setting, and an animal model was designed to confirm and explore the underlying mechanism. Six subjects who underwent CCRT were randomly enrolled in the control or concurrent-IMT group (n=3 per group). The training intensity was set to 30% maximal effort. The diaphragmatic function and functional exercise capacity were assessed weekly during the course of CCRT. Furthermore, Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned to receive IMT using the tracheal banding method over a 1-week period (n=6) or the sham group (n=6). After training was completed, 5-Gy RT was applied to the diaphragm. All the rats were sacrificed 24 h following RT, and their diaphragms were removed and examined for contractile function, antioxidant capacity, and oxidative injury. In patients receiving IMT, the diaphragm activation efficiency and fatigability and the functional exercise capacity were improved during the CCRT course. The animals belonging to the training group demonstrated significantly higher peak twitch (P<0.01) and tetanus tension (P<0.001), less fatigue (P=0.04), lower protein carbonyl levels (P<0.01) and higher Cu/Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD mRNA expression levels (both P<0.05) compared with those belonging to the control group. Preclinical human and animal models show that the IMT-conditioned diaphragm exhibits better resistance to off-target irradiation damage, but studies with a larger patient sample size are warranted to confirm the applicability of this concept in clinical practice.

CYP17A1 Maintains the Survival of Glioblastomas by Regulating SAR1-Mediated Endoplasmic Reticulum Health and Redox Homeostasis.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 17A1 is an important steroidogenic enzyme harboring 17α-hydroxylase and performing 17,20 lyase activities in multiple steps of steroid hormone synthesis, including dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) biosynthesis. Previously, we showed that CYP17A1-mediated DHEA production clearly protects glioblastomas from temozolomide-induced apoptosis, leading to drug resistance. Herein, we attempt to clarify whether the inhibition of CYP17A1 has a tumor-suppressive effect, and to determine the steroidogenesis-independent functions of CYP17A1 in glioblastomas. Abiraterone, an inhibitor of CYP17A1, significantly inhibits the proliferation of A172, T98G, and PT#3 (the primary glioblastoma cells) by inducing apoptosis. In parallel, abiraterone potently suppresses tumor growth in mouse models through transplantation of PT#3 cells to the back or to the brain. Based on evidence that abiraterone induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, followed by the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), CYP17A1 is important for ER health and redox homeostasis. To confirm our hypothesis, we showed that CYP17A1 overexpression prevents the initiation of ER stress and attenuates ROS production by regulating SAR1a/b expression. Abiraterone dissociates SAR1a/b from ER-localized CYP17A1, and induces SAR1a/b ubiquitination, leading to degradation. Furthermore, SAR1 overexpression rescues abiraterone-induced apoptosis and impairs redox homeostasis. In addition to steroid hormone synthesis, CYP17A1 associates with SAR1a/b to regulate protein processing and maintain ER health in glioblastomas.

Trajectories of functional exercise capacity in patients undergoing pulmonary rehabilitation.

Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is now considered fundamental when managing patients with chronic respiratory disease. The individual variation in functional exercise capacity (FEC) response to PR within the cohort is unknown. The purpose of this study was to identify FEC patterns in response to PR in patients with chronic respiratory disease using the trajectory modeling method. Methods: The data of 67 patients with the chronic respiratory disease were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed in this study. All patients received once-weekly supervised training for 8 weeks. Six-minute walk distance (6MWD) was used to measure FEC. Muscle strength and 6MWD were assessed at baseline, Week 4, Week 8 and monthly for two months after PR completion. Group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) was used to identify patterns in 6MWD in response to PR. The generalized estimating equation method was then used to detect the differences within and between the trajectories of identified groups across time. Results: Patients were grouped into low- (n=13), moderate- (n=34) and high- (n=20) FEC group based on GBTM analysis. All groups demonstrated significant improvements in 6MWD and leg muscle strength after 8-week PR. Compared to the high-FEC group, a greater proportion of the patients in the low-FEC group required oxygen supplementation during training and had worse baseline leg muscle strength. Conclusions: Patients showed distinct patterns of 6MWD changes in response to 8-week PR. Distinct characteristics for the low-FEC group included poor lower extremity strength and a greater proportion of required oxygen use at home and during training.

Wernicke encephalopathy concurrent with polyradiculoneuropathy in a young man after bariatric surgery: A case report.

RATIONALE: Bariatric surgery is the recommended treatment for morbid obesity because of its rapid and sustained body weight loss effect. Nutrient deficiency-related neurological complications after bariatric surgery are often disabling. Thus, early recognition of these complications is important. Neurological complications involving the central and peripheral nerve system after bariatric surgery were reported. However, the report on the clinical course of the concurrent involvement of central and peripheral nervous system is limited. We present a rare case of a patient who developed Wernicke encephalopathy concurrent with polyradiculoneuropathy after receiving bariatric surgery. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 22-year-old man with a history of morbid obesity presented progressive bilateral lower limbs weakness, blurred vision, and gait disturbance 2 months after receiving laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Bilateral lower limb numbness and cognition impairment were also noted. DIAGNOSIS: Brain magnetic resonance imaging and electrophysiologic studies confirmed the diagnosis of Wernicke encephalopathy concurrent with acute polyradiculoneuropathy. INTERVENTIONS: Vitamin B and folic acid were given since admission. He also received regular intensive rehabilitation program. OUTCOMES: The subject's cognitive impairment and diplopia improved 1 week after admission under medical treatments, yet lower limb weakness and gait disturbance were still noted. After a month of intensive inpatient rehabilitation, he was able to ambulate with a walker for 30 munder supervision. LESSONS: Nutrient deficiency-related neurological complications after bariatric surgery are often disabling and even fatal. Prevention of neurological complications can be improved through close postsurgical follow-up of the nutritional status. Recognizing the signs and symptoms and evaluating the medical history are critical to the early diagnosis and treatment of this potentially serious yet treatable condition.

What is the impact of metabolic syndrome and its components on reflux esophagitis? A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence rate of reflux esophagitis (RE) in Asia, including Taiwan, has increased dramatically in recent years. However, few studies have discussed on its relationship with metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between RE and MetS and its components. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study during 2013 to 2014 in Taiwan. A total of 4895 subjects who completed upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at the Health Examination Center of Changhua Christian Hospital were enrolled. RE was defined according to the upper gastrointestinal endoscopic findings and MetS was defined according to the Taiwanese criteria. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for each variable to assess the associated features for RE. We analyzed the relationship between the number of MetS components and the severity of RE using the chi-square test for trend. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of MetS and RE were respectively 28.5 and 59.6%. According to univariate logistic regression analysis, MetS was significantly associated with RE and remained a positive association in multivariate logistic regression analysis (adjusted ORß = 1.251; 95% CI = 1.071-1.462; p = 0.005). Furthermore, among the five MetS components, elevated blood pressure (adjusted ORγ = 1.163; 95% CI = 1.023-1.323; p = 0.021), abdominal obesity (adjusted ORγ = 1.173; 95% CI = 1.020-1.349; p = 0.026) and hyperglycemia (adjusted ORγ = 1.306; 95% CI = 1.142-1.495; p < 0.001) were positively associated with the presence of RE. A weak association was also found between elevated triglycerides and RE after adjusting for age and gender (adjusted ORα = 1.171; 95% CI = 1.022-1.343; p = 0.023). Reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol showed no significant difference between groups with and without RE. Older age (≥65 years), male gender, higher body mass index, higher uric acid, smoking, alcohol drinking, and hiatal hernia were found to be significant associated factors for RE. In addition, a dose-response relation between the number of MetS components and the presence of RE was demonstrated in the multivariate analysis. Furthermore, we performed a trend analysis and found the severity of RE got worse as the number of MetS components increased (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that MetS is significantly related to the presence and the severity of RE.

Butein induces apoptotic cell death of human cervical cancer cells.

Butein is a chalcone, a flavonoid that is widely biosynthesized in plants. Butein has been identified to possess varied pharmacological activity and is extractable from traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, therefore applicable for disease treatment. Recently, in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that butein may induce apoptotic cell death in various human cancer cells. In this study we investigated the apoptotic effect of butein and the underlying mechanisms in human cervical cancer cells. Two cell lines, C-33A and SiHa cells, were treated with butein at different dosages for different durations. The effect of butein on cell viability was assessed by MTT assay, which revealed that butein exerted cytotoxicity in both cervical cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. Apoptotic pathway-related factors in the butein-treated cervical cancer cells were then examined. JC-1 flow cytometry, cytochrome c assay, and caspase activity assays demonstrated that butein disturbed mitochondrial transmembrane potential, and increased cytosolic cytochrome c levels and caspase activities in both cervical cancer cells. Western blot analysis revealed that butein downregulated anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL and led to proteolytic cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. In addition, butein decreased expressions of the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins, including X-linked IAP, survivin, and cellular IAP-1. The findings of this study suggest that butein can decrease cervical cancer cell viability via a pro-apoptotic effect, which involves inhibition of the IAP proteins and activation of both extrinsic and intrinsic pro-apoptotic pathways. Therefore, butein may be applicable for cervical cancer treatment.

Tuning Semiconductor Performance of Nickel Complexes through Crystal Transformation.

Crystal transformation between two polymorphs (green, 1-G, and red, 1-R) of the square-planar nickel complex NiL2 (L = 2-ethoxy-6-( N-methyliminomethyl)phenolate) and their tuning effect to semiconductor properties were studied both experimentally and theoretically. When 1-G is heated to 413 K, it converts to 1-R, whereas soaking 1-R in several kinds of solvents causes it to revert to 1-G. Crystallographic and PXRD studies reveal the dramatic changes in crystal dimensions due to the changes of packing models. Heating device made from 1-G (D-1-G(298)) at 413 K significantly increases the electrical conductivity from 6.55 × 10-4 S cm-1 for D-1-G(298) to 1.11 × 10-3 S cm-1 for D-1-G(413), showing significant crystal form dependence. Heat-treating D-1-G and D-1-R devices at different temperatures clearly reveals the reason for the conductivity tuning. Thus, the conductivity of NiL2-based devices could be well tuned through crystal transformation by heating or by soaking in solvent. Theoretical calculations clearly revealed the reason for such conductivity changes and also predicted that both polymorphs are good p-type semiconductors with hole mobilities of 1.63 × 10-2 (1-G) and 2.11 × 10-1 cm2 V-1 s-1 (1-R).