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Gas–solid coupling systems operating at low pressure or the micro/nanoscale generally exist in nature and industrial manufacture. Although the gas-scattering model has been widely used to study this problem on the dust surface, the consideration of gas physisorption was often neglected in previous applications of gas–surface scattering models. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the distribution of gas physisorption on the dust surface and assess its impact on the static force experienced by nonspherical dust in free-molecule flows. In this study, the prolate dust spinning around its minor axis is considered and the in-house direct simulation Monte Carlo code is used. Results show that gas physisorption on prolate dust is influenced by changes in gas number densities, Mach number, and dust shape. Furthermore, the gas physisorption enhances the gas–dust coupling for dust with a smooth surface at low gas pressure, attributed to the increasing ratio of Maxwell diffuse scattering of gas molecules on the gas-adsorbed part of the surface. Hence, gas physisorption was suggested as a potential factor for gas–dust coupling at low gas pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) theory [S. Brunauer et al., "Adsorption of gases in multimolecular layers," J. Am. Chem. Soc. 60, 309–319 (1938)] constitutes a cornerstone in gas-adsorption physics. Recently, the kinetic BET equation of single-kind adsorbate has been proposed [H. Yu and X. Zhang, "Molecular-kinetic study of multilayers gas-adsorption in a rarefied gas environment," Phys. Fluids 34, 123106 (2022)], while its counterpart of mixed adsorbates is currently unknown. Gas mixtures are commonly found in both natural and artificial systems. To address this limitation, we have proposed a kinetic BET theory for adsorbate mixtures in this paper. Moreover, we gave an analytical solution addressing low gas pressure conditions. In this condition, we predicted the "over-adsorption" of one species in the mixture with a higher desorption rate over time, and the "inertia effect" during the crowed-out process of the fast-desorbing species. Further, we also simulated the reciprocal influence of multilayer gas adsorption on the non-equilibrium fluids. Our findings provide valuable insights into gas-adsorption experiments and can facilitate technological advancements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas adsorption by the spherical particles in gas–particle flows has been recently studied by Yu et al. ["Direct simulation Monte Carlo of the gas adsorption of particles in gas–particle flows," Phys. Fluids 34, 083302 (2022)]. However, the gas-adsorption distribution on the particle surface has heretofore remained unknown. This paper addresses this knowledge gap by introducing a numerical method to calculate the gas-adsorption distribution for ellipsoidal particles in gas–particle flows. We split the particle surface into internal flat plates and calculate the gas adsorption for each internal flat plate in the gas flow. Based on this numerical method, the gas adsorption distribution for the ellipsoidal particles is reconstructed by using the direct simulation Monte Carlo method. The results show that the average adsorption by prolate particles with particle eccentricity reverses as the particle temperature increases. Moreover, we show that the density-dependent drag coefficient for particle motion in the free-molecule flow may evince gas adsorption at the particle surface. Those points could inspire the studies of dust physics in rarefied gas spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deception has been reported to be influenced by task-relevant emotional information from an external stimulus. However, it remains unclear how task-irrelevant emotional information would influence deception. In the present study, facial expressions of different valence and emotion intensity were presented to participants, where they were asked to make either truthful or deceptive gender judgments according to the preceding cues. We observed the influence of facial expression intensity upon individuals' cognitive cost of deceiving (mean difference of individuals' truthful and deceptive response times). Larger cost was observed for high intensity faces compared to low intensity faces. These results provided insights on how automatic attraction of attention evoked by task-irrelevant emotional information in facial expressions influenced individuals' cognitive cost of deceiving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper acetate mediated (4 + 2) annulation of sulfonylacetylenes with salicylic acids provides sulfonyl chromen-4-ones in the presence of benzotriazol-1-yloxy tri(dimethylamino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (BOP, Castro's reagent) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) in MeNO2 at reflux for 3 h. The uses of various metal complexes and activating reagents are investigated for facile and efficient transformation. A plausible mechanism is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we developed a concise synthetic route for the synthesis of polysubstituted naphthalenes starting from commercially available isovanillin and its derivatives. Reaction with styryl bromide via O-styrylation, Claisen rearrangement, ene reaction, and O-alkylation occurred in high yields. The key structures were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is characterized by reproductive failure of sows and respiratory problems of nursery and growing pigs. Current management strategies mainly focus on preventing PRRS virus (PRRSV) infection through vaccination. However, the currently available modified live vaccines are not sufficient to eradicate the virus and do not provide complete immunity from infection. In search of agents that may be proven clinically effective against North American PRRSV (NA-PRRSV or US-PRRSV) infection, 42 natural herb hydrosols were purified and subjected to screening of their antiviral activity against two US-PRRSV strains in MARC-145 cells. Based on results obtained from cell viability test, the highest concentration showing less than 10% cytotoxicity in MARC-145 cells was chosen for each of the plant hydrosols. Antiviral activity assay indicated that both Thymus vulgaris and Nepeta cataria hydrosols reduced the PRRSV load in vitro significantly (p < 0.05). Moreover, the anti-PRRSV mechanisms of both T. vulgaris and N. cataria hydrosols were in both pre-entry and post-entry steps. These results suggest that both T. vulgaris and N. cataria hydrosols have therapeutic potential in the prophylaxis and treatment of US-PRRSV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to explore the judgment criteria used by university students for evaluating online information about a socio-scientific issue and the associations, if any, with their epistemic beliefs. The problem context was a socio-scientific issue concerning the impact of electromagnetic waves on human health. The participants were 36 university students, who were asked to read a news report, briefly state their thoughts, and then proceed to the web search activity in order to determine if their thoughts were legitimate. The students' search processes were recorded by web camera. After the search activity, all students were interviewed about the criteria used to determine the credibility of the online information. The students responded to the interview questions as they were watching their own web search processes. Epistemic beliefs were then assessed using questionnaires. A coding scheme was developed to analyze the students' oral responses. It was found that these university students determined the credibility of the online information mostly with reference to the richness and explanative power of argument, the presence of evidence, and the authority source of information. However, few of them went further to examine the validity of the evidence. Correlation analyses and ANOVA showed that the use of overall criteria for judging the online information was associated significantly with students' epistemic beliefs regarding authority. Meanwhile, the number of criteria used for justifying evidence was significantly associated with the students' beliefs about learning ability and justification in science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing a standard 0.18-μm CMOS process, a receiver frontend and a local oscillator (LO) module are implemented for RF applications at the 24-GHz industrial, scientific, medical band. The proposed frontend is composed of a three-stage low-noise amplifier, a down-conversion mixer, and IF amplifiers. With an IF frequency of 4.82 GHz, the fabricated circuit demonstrates a conversion gain of 28.4 dB and a noise figure of 6.0 dB while maintaining an input return loss better than 14 dB. The measured Pin-1dB and IIP3 of the receiver frontend are -23.2 and -13.0 dBm, respectively. In addition, a circuit module, which generates the required dual down-conversion LO signals, is also included in this study. The proposed LO generator consists of a 19-GHz low-phase-noise voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), a 4: 1 frequency divider, and a quadrature phase-tuning circuit. From the measurement results, the VCO exhibits a tuning range of 850 MHz and a phase noise of -110 dBc/Hz at 1-MHz offset frequency. Operated at a supply voltage of 1.8 V, the current consumptions for the receiver frontend and the LO generator are both 30 mA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel circuit topology suitable for millimeter-wave voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) is presented. With the admittance-transforming technique, the proposed VCO can operate at a frequency close to the fmax of the transistors while maintaining remarkable circuit performance in terms of phase noise, tuning range, and output power. Using a standard micrometer CMOS process, a U-band VCO is implemented for demonstration. The fabricated circuit exhibits a frequency tuning range of 1.1 GHz in the vicinity of 50 GHz. The measured output power and phase noise at 1-MHz offset are -11 dBm and -101 dBcIHz, respectively. Op- erated at a supply voltage of 1.8 V, the VCO core consumes a dc power of 45 mW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a concise, easy-operational, and high-yield method for the synthesis of 2-aryl-3-sulfonylchromans is described by two-step routes: (i) NH4OAc mediated Knoevenagel condensation of β-ketosulfones and o-hydroxybenzaldehydes in a cosolvent of toluene and THF at reflux for 10 h, and (ii) NaBH4 promoted regio- and stereocontrolled reduction of the resulting 2-arylchromen-2-ols in a cosolvent of MeOH and THF at rt for 1 h. This protocol provides a highly effective (4+2) annulation via one carbon-oxygen and one carbon-carbon bond formations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study is to modulate the transfection efficiency of adenovirus (Ad) on the cornea by the covalent attachment of chitosan on adenoviral capsids via a thioether linkage between chitosan modified with 2- iminothiolane and Ad cross-linked with N-[c-maleimidobutyryloxy]succinimide ester (GMBS). Methodology/Principal Findings: Modified Ad was obtained by reaction with the heterobifunctional crosslinking reagent, GMBS, producing maleimide-modified Ad (Ad-GMBS). Then, the chitosan-SH was conjugated to Ad-GMBS via a thioether bond at different ratios of Ad to GMBS to chitosan-SH. The sizes and zeta potentials of unmodified Ad and chitosanmodified Ads were measured, and the morphologies of the virus particles were observed under transmission electron microscope. Primary cultures of bovine corneal epithelial cells were transfected with Ads and chitosan-modified Ads in the absence or presence of anti-adenovirus antibodies. Chitosan modification did not significantly change the particle size of Ad, but the surface charge of Ad increased significantly from 224.3 mV to nearly neutral. Furthermore, primary cultures of bovine corneal epithelial cells were transfected with Ad or chitosan-modified Ad in the absence or presence of anti-Ad antibodies. The transfection efficiency was attenuated gradually with increasing amounts of GMBS. However, incorporation of chitosan partly restored transfection activity and rendered the modified antibody resistant to antibody neutralization. Conclusions/Significance: Chitosan can provide a platform for chemical modification of Ad, which offers potential for further in vivo applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background ‒ Foreign bodies in the kidney have rarely been reported. However, they can be a clinical problem for urologists. We report on a patient with a residual segment of guidewire coating embedded in the renal parenchyma following computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous nephrostomy drainage (PCND), and our successful minimally invasive management with retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS). Case presentation ‒ A 40-year-old female with urosepsis due to a right upper ureteral stone with hydronephrosis received emergent CT-guided PCND and subsequent ureteroscopic lithotripsy, double J stent insertion, and percutaneous catheter removal. Follow-up radiography showed a coiled object within the upper pole parenchyma of the right kidney, which might be the remnant of a guidewire used during the PCND procedure. Flexible ureteroscopy (fURS) was performed. Under fluoroscopy, the foreign body was localized, the renal parenchyma was incised with laser, and the foreign body was retrieved using a stone basket. Conclusion ‒ Although guidewire breakage is uncommon, clinicians should keep it in mind during interventional procedures. Several methods can be used to eradicate foreign objects from the urinary tract, and the first choice should always be the least invasive one. RIRS with fURS is considered as a safe, efficient, and minimally invasive option for the extraction of foreign bodies from the kidney. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive case report detailing the removal of a foreign object by RIRS in the English literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Double-J stent (DJ) placement is usually the treatment of choice for relieving external compression of the ureter. However, in some cases DJ function may become impaired and a percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) may be required. Previous studies have reported different predictive factors for choosing PCN or DJ insertion as the initial treatment. In this study, we analyzed the risk factors for DJ failure in patients with external ureteral compression. Our results showed that the patients with moderate and severe hydronephrosis (p-value = 0.0171 and 0.0249, respectively), preexisting pyuria (p-value = 0.0128), or lower ureter obstruction (p-value = 0.0305) were more prone to DJ laterality. Age was also an important predictor. Urologists should pay more attention to these patients and consider PCN as the initial treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Taiwan's population is aging rapidly. Taiwan has met the criteria for an “aged society" in 2018, with more than 14 percent of the population aged 65 years of age or older. The rapid growth of the elderly population results in a great need for long-term care services and a heavy burden on families and the whole society. Taiwan's government launched the new “10-year long-term care 2.0 plan" in 2016 to establish a comprehensive community care service system that promoted “aging in place". Home based, instead of institutional based long-term care services were encouraged. However, the difference of the health care utilization and mortality of the patients between the two services were not fully investigated. National Health Insurance program in Taiwan reimburses skilled nursing services for patients living in home or institutions who have limited activities of daily living, receive palliative care for terminal illness or are dependent on ventilators. The policy gives us a chance to compare the clinical impact on the patients living in home and institutions. Objects: The aim of the study was to investigate the difference of health care utilization and one- year mortality between patients receiving home care and nursing home care. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. 678 home care patients and 84 nursing home residents receiving skilled nursing services from 2015 to 2017 at National Taiwan UniversityHospital, Bei-Hu Branch were enrolled. We applied Cox regression and Poisson regression models for data analysis. Results: In comparison with nursing home residents, patients living at home significantly had higher educational level, were more in married status, with religion, higher ratio to sign do not resuscitation (DNR) directives, had more pressure ulcer and higher utilization of outpatient clinic, emergency room services, hospitalization with longer hospital length of stay (LOS). The ratio of nasogastric (NG) tube use is lower for home care cases. Patients who had higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), not used NG tube and signed DNR directives were independently associated with 1-year mortality. Conclusion: In comparison with nursing home residents, patients receiving our nursing care at home had higher utilization of outpatient clinic, emergency room services, hospitalization and longer hospital LOS. The place they lived was not related to patients' one-year mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 protein possesses protease and helicase activities and is considered an oncoprotein in virus-derived hepatocellular carcinoma. The NS3-associated oncogenesis has been studied but not fully understood. In this study, we have identified novel interactions of the NS3 protein with DNA repair factors, Werner syndrome protein (WRN) and Ku70, in both an HCV subgenomic replicon system and Huh7 cells expressing NS3. HCV NS3 protein inhibits WRN-mediated DNA repair and reduces the repair efficiency of nonhomologous end joining. It interferes with Ku70 recruitment to the double-strand break sites and alters the nuclear distribution of WRN-Ku repair complex. In addition, WRN is a substrate of the NS3/4A protease; the level of WRN protein is regulated by both the proteasome degradation pathway and HCV NS3/4A protease activity. The dual role of HCV NS3 and NS3/4A proteins in regulating the function and expression level of the WRN protein intensifies the effect of impairment on DNA repair. This may lead to an accumulation of DNA mutations and genome instability and, eventually, tumor development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penile calciphylaxis is a rare cause of penile gangrene that presents in patients with end-stage renal disease. The rates of comorbidity and mortality of penile calciphylaxis are extremely high. Unlike other penile gangrene, such as Fournier’s gangrene, the benefit of aggressive surgical therapy is controversial. Here we present a case of penile calciphylaxis in a 43-year-old man with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis. He received total penectomy but died due to multisystem complications 2 weeks after surgery. We review the literature on the management options and outcomes in patients with penile calciphylaxis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the structural, optical, and electrical properties of amorphous IGZO/silver/amorphous IGZO (α-IGZO/Ag/α-IGZO) triple-layer structures that were deposited at room temperature on Eagle XG glass and flexible polyethylene terephthalate substrates through the sputtering method. Thin Ag layers with different thicknesses were inserted between two IGZO layers to form a triple-layer structure. Ag was used because of its lower absorption and resistivity. Field emission scanning electron microscopy measurements of the triple-layer structures revealed that the thicknesses of the Ag layers ranged from 13 to 41 nm. The thickness of the Ag layer had a large effect on the electrical and optical properties of the electrodes. The optimum thickness of the Ag metal thin film could be evaluated according to the optical transmittance, electrical conductivity, and figure of merit of the electrode. This study demonstrates that the α-IGZO/Ag/α-IGZO triple-layer transparent electrode can be fabricated with low sheet resistance (4.2 Ω/□) and high optical transmittance (88.1%) at room temperature without postannealing processing on the deposited thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six new 9-hydroxybriarane diterpenoids, briarenolides ZI–ZVI (1–6), were isolated from a gorgonian coral Briareum sp. The structures of briaranes 1–6 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and by comparison of their spectroscopic data with those of related analogues. Briarenolides ZII (2) and ZVI (6) were found to significantly inhibit the expression of the pro-inflammatory inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Sex hormones and calcium (Ca2 +) regulation play roles in the pathophysiology of ventricular tachycardia from right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether androgen receptor knockout (ARKO) can increase RVOT arrhythmogenesis through modulating RVOT electrophysiology and Ca2 + homeostasis. Methods Conventional microelectrodes were used to study the action potential (AP) in RVOT tissues prepared from wild type (WT) and ARKO mice (aged 6-10 months) before and after caffeine (1 mM), isoproterenol (1 μM), adenosine (10 μM) and flecainide (5 μM) administration. The Fluo-3 fluorescence Ca2 + imaging with confocal microscopy and western blots were used to investigate intracellular Ca2 + (Ca2 +i) transients, Ca2 + sparks, and the expressions of ionic channel proteins in ARKO and WT RVOT myocytes. Results We found that ARKO RVOTs (n = 13) had longer AP duration, faster burst firing (5.4 ± 0.7 vs. 3.4 ± 0.7 Hz, P < 0.05), and higher incidence of early afterdepolarizations (82% vs. 8%, P < 0.001) than WT RVOTs (n = 11). Adenosine and flecainide can suppress caffeine- or isoproterenol-induced spontaneous rates and burst firing in WT RVOTs, but not in ARKO RVOTs. ARKO RVOT myocytes had a higher frequency (7.7 ± 2.8 vs. 1.3 ± 0.4 spark/mm/s, P < 0.05) and incidence (89% vs. 47%, P < 0.05) of Ca2 + sparks, and greater expressions of Cav1.2, NCX, phosphorylated RyR (s2814), phosphorylated phospholamban (Thr17), CAMKII and GRK2 than WT RVOT myocytes. However, ARKO and WT RVOT myocytes exhibit similar Ca2 +i transients and SR Ca2 + content, and less expression of calsequestrin. Conclusions ARKO changes RVOT electrophysiology and Ca2 + homeostasis with increased ventricular arrhythmogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Complete or partial trisomy 10q involves a duplication of 10q, or the long arm of chromosome 10. Distal 10q trisomy is a well-recognized and defined but rare genetic syndrome in which duplication of distal segments of 10q results in a pattern of malformations. Although abnormal chromosome phenotypes are commonly detected by visualization of chromosomes by traditional cytogenetic techniques, this approach is marginal in both diagnostic sensitivity and potential for biological interpretation, thus making implementation of advanced techniques and analysis methods an important consideration in a health service. Case presentation: The present study describes the case of a Taiwanese boy from healthy parents with mental, growth, and psychomotor retardations. Additional clinical features included facial dysmorphism, microcephaly, brain atrophy, camptodactyly, and--as the first reported case--bilateral renal atrophy with chronic kidney disease stage 2 and the presence of a renal cyst in one kidney. A novel 21.8 Mb copy number variation region in chromosome region 10q23.1-10q25.1 was verified by array-comparative genomic hybridization in combination with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Subsequently, 200 protein-coding genes were identified in this copy number variation region and analyzed for their biological meaning using the database for annotation, visualization and integrated discovery. Conclusion: According to the result of gene functional enrichment analysis using database for annotation, visualization and integrated discovery, the Wnt signaling pathway is the most pertinent to the gene content in the copy number variation region. A change in the expression levels of some Wnt signaling pathway components and of NFKB2 and PTEN genes due to a gain in their gene copy number may be associated with the patient's clinical outcomes including brain atrophy, bilateral renal atrophy with chronic kidney disease stage 2, a renal cyst in one kidney, and growth retardation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer deaths worldwide. However, current chemotherapeutic drugs for HCC are either poorly effective or expensive, and treatment with these drugs has not led to satisfactory outcomes. In a 2012 case report, we described our breakthrough finding in two advanced HCC patients, of whom one achieved complete remission of liver tumors and the other a normalized α-fetoprotein level, along with complete remission of their lung metastases, after the concomitant use of thalidomide and cyproheptadine. We assumed the key factor in our effective therapy to be cyproheptadine. In this study, we investigated the antiproliferative effects and molecular mechanisms of cyproheptadine. Methods: The effect of cyproheptadine on cell proliferation was examined in human HCC cell lines HepG2 and Huh-7. Cell viability was assayed with Cell Counting Kit-8; cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry. Mechanisms underlying cyproheptadine-induced cell cycle arrest were probed by western blot analysis. Results: Cyproheptadine had a potent inhibitory effect on the proliferation of HepG2 and Huh-7 cells but minimal toxicity in normal hepatocytes. Cyproheptadine induced cell cycle arrest in HepG2 cells in the G1 phase and in Huh-7 cells at the G1/S transition. The cyproheptadine-induced G1 arrest in HepG2 cells was associated with an increased expression of HBP1 and p16, whereas the G1/S arrest in Huh-7 cells was associated with an increase in p21 and p27 expression and a dramatic decrease in the phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein. Additionally, cyproheptadine elevated the percentage of Huh-7 cells in the sub-G1 population, increased annexin V staining for cell death, and raised the levels of PARP and its cleaved form, indicating induction of apoptosis. Finally, cyproheptadine-mediated cell cycle arrest was dependent upon the activation of p38 MAP kinase in HepG2 cells and the activation of both p38 MAP kinase and CHK2 in Huh-7 cells. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that a non-classical p38 MAP kinase function, regulation of cell cycle checkpoints, is one of the underlying mechanisms promoted by cyproheptadine to suppress the proliferation of HCC cells. These results provide evidence for the drug's potential as a treatment option for liver cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The timing intervals initiated by voluntary pressing actions are subjectively compressed compared with those initiated by voluntary releasing actions. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were employed in the present study to uncover the temporal mechanisms underlying this temporal illusion. The results revealed that the mean amplitude of the P1 component over the frontal-central recording sites, but not the P2 component, was larger in the voluntary pressing condition than in the voluntary releasing condition at the time perception stage. In the fronto-central region, increases in oscillatory activities of delta-theta frequency range (1-7 Hz) were found in the voluntary pressing condition, which corresponded with the emergence of the P1 peak. In addition, the P1 amplitude was negatively related to the corresponding reported time length at the single-trial level. These results are discussed in terms of the functional role of the response-locked P1 in the time perception stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new sterol, (22R,23R,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxy-22,23-methylene-24-methylcholest- 6,9(11)-dien-3β-ol (1), and two known sterols, (22R,23R,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxy-22,23-methylene-24-methylcholest-6-en-3β-ol (2) and 24-methylenecholestane-1α,3β,5α, 6β,11α-pentol (3), were isolated from the soft coral Sinularia gaweli. The structure of sterol 1 was established by spectroscopic methods and by comparison of the spectral data with those of known analogues. The cytotoxicity of sterols 1-3 towards various tumor cells is reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The transition probability of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is defined as the likelihood that the disease progresses from one stage to another in a given time period. Objective To estimate the separate stage-to-stage and stage-to-death transition probabilities for Taiwanese patients with AD and to evaluate the hazard ratios of age, sex, behavioral symptoms, and medications on disease progression. Method We examined data (severity of dementia, hallucinations or delusions, use of cholinesterase inhibitors [CEIs], survival) in 365 patients with probable AD at baseline and at follow-Gup (mean ± SD 29 ± 17 months, range 3–109 months). Results Modified survival analysis revealed that transition probabilities of Taiwanese patients were similar to those of Western patients. The probability of dementia remaining at the same stage was higher in patients taking CEIs than in other. Men had a higher probability of dying in the mild stage. Conclusion Transition probabilities can be used to measure AD progression. CEIs used to treat AD might alter the disease course. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]