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The geographic distribution of the major clone of sequence type 131 (ST131) in extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) infections is not known. We analyzed the clinical features, resistance mechanisms, and geographic distribution of ESBL-producing E. coli clones in 120 children. We studied the 120 ESBL-producing E. coli strains from children younger than 18 years. A VITEK 2 automated system was used to determine bacterial identification and ESBL production. Sequence type was determined by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). The genetic relationship of the ESBL-producing strains was studied using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Phylogenetic group and blaCTX-M group was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Multiplex PCR for detecting the common group 9 variant, CTX-M-14, and group 1 variant, CTX-M-15, was also performed. The addresses of the 120 children were collected, and plotted on the Taiwan map. The groups in the center of Kaohsiung City lived mainly in urban areas with a population density of over 10,000 people per square kilometer, and the majority of the Kaohsiung groups on the outskirts of the city center lived in suburban areas with a population density of under 6000 people per square kilometer. There was no statistically significant difference between the city center and outskirt groups in terms of clinical presentation, laboratory, and imaging data. However, more ST131 clones, major pulsotype groups, and phylogenetic group B2 strains were found in the center of Kaohsiung than on the outskirts. ESBL-producing E. coli clones may be more challenging to treat clinically. Most infections were community-acquired, and there appeared to be major pulsotype clones, mainly in urban areas. This reinforces the necessity of environmental surveillance and sanitary procedures for ESBL-producing E. coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascularization of engineered tissues remains one of the key problems. Here, we described a novel approach to promote vascularization of engineered tissues using fibronectin (FN) incorporated gold nanoparticles (AuNP) coated onto catheters with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for tissue engineering. We found that the FN-AuNP composite with 43.5 ppm of AuNP exhibited better biomechanical properties and thermal stability than pure FN. FN-AuNP composites promoted MSC proliferation and increased the biocompatibility. Mechanistically, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promoted MSC migration on FN-AuNP through the endothelial oxide synthase (eNOS)/metalloproteinase (MMP) signaling pathway. Vascular femoral artery tissues isolated from the implanted FN-AuNP-coated catheters with MSCs expressed substantial CD31 and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), displayed higher antithrombotic activity, as well as better endothelialization ability than those coated with all other materials. These data suggested that the implantation of FN-AuNP-coated catheter with MSCs could be a novel strategy for vascular biomaterials applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolic disorders hamper the brain metabolism and functions. The astrocytic glucose-derived lactate is known to fill the increased energy needs of neurons during synaptic transmission. However, whether systemic metabolism dysregulation affects the astrocytic lactate metabolism in the brain remain unexamined. To address this question, we adopt a 12-week high-fat diet to induce metabolic disorders in adult mice, and the effects of high-fat diet on the lactate metabolism in the hippocampus were examined. Results showed that a 12-week high-fat diet induced obesity and insulin resistance in mice. High-fat diet also decreased the lactate content levels and the expression of glial glutamate transporters, GLAST and GLT-1, in the hippocampus. Strong correlations between the lactate levels and the levels of GLAST and GLT-1 were evidenced. In conclusion, high-fat feeding induces metabolic disorders and disrupts lactate metabolism in the hippocampus. GLAST and GLT-1 may contribute to the HFD-induced abnormalities of the hippocampal lactate metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A tandem catalyst (CuO/V O -MnO 2) for catalytic ozonation of S-VOCs has been developed. • A significant improvement in CH 3 SH elimination under mild condition over the state-of-the-art catalysts has been achieved. • The superior catalytic performance of CuO/V O -MnO 2 is attributed to the tandem adsorption and catalytic ozonation by multivalent CuO and oxygen vacancy rich MnO 2. • The efficient electron replenishing interaction and cycling of oxygen vacancies at the reactive site of CuO/V O -MnO 2 interface ensured the long-term stability. Tandem catalysis can carry out the sequential coupling of multiple reactions in one operation, which is promising for sulfur-containing volatile organic compounds (S-VOCs) control. Herein, a tandem catalyst (CuO/V O -MnO 2) consisting of well-dispersed CuO shell and oxygen vacancy-rich (V O) hollow-structured MnO 2 core exhibited superior adsorption and catalytic performance under the mild condition for the elimination of CH 3 SH. The optimum 5CuO/V O -MnO 2 can reach a significant improvement in CH 3 SH elimination of ∼99 % conversion over bare CuO/ pristine MnO 2 at 25 ℃ under a GHSV of 60,000 mL h−1 g−1, and an almost 4-fold enhanced catalytic activity of the individual O 3 with ∼99 % utilization of the applied O 3 in the feed gas. The underlying tandem catalytic mechanism was in-depth identified by XPS, in situ DRIFTs and high-level computational study. The secret to the superior performance of CuO/V O -MnO 2 lies in that CH 3 SH was preferentially chemisorbed on multivalent CuO (Cu(I)/Cu(II)), then deeply oxidized into final product of SO 4 2−/CO 3 2− via the catalytic ozonation by multivalent CuO and oxygen vacancies of neighbouring V O -MnO 2. Attributed to the efficient electron replenishing interaction and cycling of active oxygen vacancies at the tandem reactive site of CuO/V O -MnO 2 interface (Mn(IV) + Cu(II) + 2O latt → Mn(II)/Mn(III) + V O + Cu(I) + O 2), its lifetime can extend to 300 min with limited loss of activity. These findings thus open up a way to address current multiple challenges in S-VOCs control using a single hierarchical core-shell structure with tandem catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To study the applicability of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) in early predicting the prognosis of poststroke dysphagia in an acute ward.Methods: This is an observational retrospective cohort study including adult patients with ischemic stroke. Patients with various factors affecting swallowing were excluded to obtain a representative sample of 165 patients. The main outcome measure was the improvements of oral intake function.Results: The scores of facial palsy (NIHSS item 4) (odds ratio [OR]: 0.484, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.279-0.838, P = .0096] and language/aphasia (NIHSS item 9) (OR: 0.562, 95% CI: 0.321-0.982, P = .0430) demonstrated significantly negative effects on the early improvement of dysphagia. Moreover, the improved patients had a 4.14-fold (95% CI: 2.53-11.23, P = .005) increased odds of returning home compared with nonimproved patients.Conclusions: Our findings provide evidence that early improvement of poststroke dysphagia was significantly associated with a favorable discharge destination and NIHSS items of facial palsy and language/aphasia can be used at the onset of stroke to identify dysphagic patients at risk of achieving limited improvement. These findings provide valuable prognostic indicators for clinicians to make a precise outcome prediction at very early stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells are in clinical testing against various tumor types, including multiple myeloma. In this study, we show that CIK cells have activity against subcutaneous and disseminated models of human myeloma (KAS-6/1), which can be enhanced by infecting the CIK cells with an oncolytic measles virus (MV) or by pretreating the myeloma cells with ionizing radiation (XRT). KAS-6/1 cells were killed by coculture with CIK or MV-infected CIK (CIK/MV) cells, and the addition of an anti-NKG2D antibody inhibited cytolysis by 50%. However, human bone marrow stromal cells can reduce CIK and CIK/MV mediated killing of myeloma cells (RPMI 8226, JJN-3 and MM1). In vivo, CIK and CIK/MV prolonged the survival of mice with systemic myeloma, although CIK/MV showed enhanced antitumor activity compared with CIK. Irradiation of the KAS-6/1 cells induced mRNA and protein expression of NKG2D ligands, MICA, and MICB in a dose-dependent manner and enhanced delivery of CIK/MV to the irradiated tumors. In both subcutaneous and disseminated myeloma models, XRT at 2 Gy resulted in superior prolongation of the survival of mice given CIK/MV therapy compared with CIK/MV with no XRT. This study demonstrates the potential of CIK against myeloma and that the combination of virotherapy with radiation could be used to further enhance therapeutic outcome using CIK cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides a first attempt from a toxicological perspective to put forward, in general terms and explanations, the toxicity series of Cd(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) to Thiobacillus thiooxidans BC1. Sulphur oxidation and sulphuric acid production are strongly related to microbial growth at pH less than 4. Dose–response analysis on chronic and acute toxicity (e.g. EC20, median effective dose EC50 and slope factor B) of divalent cadmium, copper and zinc cations suggests a toxicity series of Cu>Cd>>Zn to T. thiooxidans BC1. Zn(II) is termed non-toxic and the maximum treatment concentrations of Cd(II) and Cu(II) are approximately 300, 400 mg/l, respectively. This assessment clearly indicates viable operation ranges of metal bioleaching for mine wastewater treatment, suggesting a technological feasibility of biotreatment using acidophilic thiobacilli T. thiooxidans BC1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights • HFD induces astrocyte activation in the hippocampus. • HFD represses the process arborization of the hippocampal astrocytes. • HFD downregulates the hippocampal expression of astrocytic glutamate transporters. • HFD induces depression-like behaviors in mice. Abstract Metabolic disorders induce adverse effects on brain functions. The hippocampus is one of the most vulnerable regions to metabolic disorders. Disrupted neuroplasticity is a major cause of hippocampus-related behavioral impairments, including memory loss, anxiety, and depression. Astrocytes support processes of neuroplasticity. However, whether metabolic disorders induce changes in astrocytes and their roles in affective disorders is relatively unclear. To answer this question, we fed 8-week-old male C57BL/6 mice with a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks to induce metabolic disruption and then examined their performance of hippocampus-related memory, and anxiety- and depression-like behaviors. The morphology of astrocytes and the expression of astrocytic neuroplasticity-related proteins in the hippocampus were also assessed. The results showed that HFD led to obesity, systemic insulin resistance and dysregulated lipid metabolism in mice. HFD induced depression-like behaviors, but not anxiety or memory impairment. Furthermore, HFD increased the expression of GFAP, shortened the processes of GFAP+ cells, and downregulated the expression of astrocytic neuroplasticity-related protein, GLAST, GLT-1, and connexin-43 in the hippocampi. In conclusion, HFD disturbs the function of hippocampal astrocytes and induces depression-like behaviors in mice. A decrease of hippocampal glutamate transporters may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of metabolic disorder-related depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipotoxicity is associated with a high level of fatty acid accumulation in pancreatic β-cells. An overload of free fatty acids contributes to pancreatic β-cell apoptosis and dysfunction. Insulin secretion involves sequential ionic events upon glucose stimulation. ATP sensitive potassium (KATP) channels serve as glucose sensors and effectively initiate glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. This study investigated the effects of lipotoxicity on the trafficking of KATP channels in pancreatic β cells using chronic palmitic acid -injected mice and treated insulinoma cells. The chronic palmitic acid -injected mice displayed type II diabetic characteristics. The pancreatic sections of these mice exhibited a decrease in the expression of KATP channels. We then tested the time and dose effects of palmitic acid on the cell viability of INS-1 cells. We observed a significant decrease in the surface expression of KATP channels after 72 h of treatment with 0.4 mM palmitic acid. In addition, this treatment induced pancreatic β-cell apoptosis by increasing cleaved caspase 3 protein level. Our results demonstrated cotreatment with glibenclamide, the sulfonylurea compounds for type II diabetes mellitus, in palmitic acid -treated cells reduces cell death and recovers the glucose stimulated insulin secretion through increasing the surface expression of KATP channels. Importantly, glibenclamide also improved glucose tolerance, triglyceride concentration, and insulin sensitivity in the palmitic acid-injected mice. In conclusion, an increase in the surface expression of KATP channels restores insulin secretion, reduces pancreatic β-cell's apoptosis, highlighting correct trafficking of KATP channels is important in survival of β-cells during lipotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A total of 142 sets of PM10 and PM2.5 aerosol particles collected from Taipei during a period from April 2003 to February 2004 were determined for atmospheric Pb concentrations. Among these samples, 77 sets of samples representing four seasons were selected for measuring Pb isotopic compositions to determine the relative contributions of various pollution sources. Results reveal an evident seasonality of high winter and low summer Pb concentrations, resembling those observed in Shanghai, China as well as many East Asian countries. Together with synoptic atmospheric conditions analysis, the seasonal pattern is attributable to the impact of long-range transport of Pb-rich anthropogenic aerosols from the Chinese pollution outflows in the northeast monsoon and to the effective removal by wet deposition in summer. Results of 206Pb/207Pb and 208Pb/207Pb isotope ratios show a minimum in summer, thereafter increasing progressively to fall to winter and reaching a maximum in spring. The summer values are similar to that of tunnel particles for 206Pb/207Pb ratio but dissimilar to that of tunnel particles for 208Pb/207Pb ratio. Here summer aerosols may represent a local pollution-influenced case, and tunnel particles represent a vehicle exhaust source for atmospheric Pb. Therefore apart from vehicle emissions of Pb for Taipei aerosols, other sources such as incineration, metalliferous industry and coal combustion of fire power plants need to be taken into account. The winter and spring Pb isotope ratios are quite comparable with those measured in China, especially Shanghai in the Yangtze Delta. Again this demonstrates northern Taiwan has already been affected by continental pollution of long-range transport during the northeast monsoon season beginning in early fall and ending in late spring. By employing a two end-member mixing model based on the assumption that the summer case represents the local source end-member, the relative contributions of long-range transport for anthropogenic Pb have been estimated to be 40% in fall, 50% in winter, and 75–85% in spring. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have more risk to develop depression. Fluoxetine (FLX), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), is drug for mood and anxiety disorders. Previous studies showed that FLX could induce weight loss in non-depressed clinically overweight individuals. Although the anti-appetite effect of FLX is well-documented, its potential effects on metabolic abnormalities have not been investigated. In this study, we want to investigate whether FLX could be a therapeutic drug against high fat diet (HFD)-induced metabolic disorder. We generated metabolic disorders and depressed mouse model by feeding HFD for 12 weeks at the age of 8 weeks. Then, mice were intraperitoneally injected once daily with FLX (10 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg) for four weeks. Our results showed that FLX alleviated the HFD-induced metabolic dysfunctions and depressive phenotypes in mice. FLX improved systemic glucose homeostasis, at least in part, by improving visceral white adipose tissue (vWAT) insulin signaling. Moreover, FLX reduced circulating plasma leptin level, and decreased the expression of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) in vWAT. Our data revealed that FLX also reduced the triglyceride (TG) accumulation in vWAT. Therefore, these findings suggest that FLX exhibits significant potential on comorbidity of metabolic disorder and depression in mice. • Fluoxetine alleviated high-fat diet (HDF)-induced metabolic disorder in mice. • Fluoxetine reduced the HFD-induced upregulation of leptin levels. • Fluoxetine improved visceral white adipose tissue (vWAT) insulin signaling. • Fluoxetine reduced adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) expression in vWAT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of diabetes is rapidly increasing worldwide and is highly associated with the incidence of depression. Pioglitazone, a Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) agonist, is widely used for treating patients with type 2 diabetes. However, whether pioglitazone alleviates metabolic disorder-related depression and astrocytic deficits remains unclear. Here we showed that 12 weeks of high-fat diet (HFD) feeding (from 8- to 20-week-old) induced not only obesity and insulin resistance, but also depression-like behaviors in mice. Astrocytic activation, a sign closely associated with depression, was also evident in the ventral hippocampus. Four weeks of pioglitazone (10 or 20 mg/kg, daily, from 20- to 24-week-old) treatment alleviated the HFD-induced glucose-metabolic dysfunctions, upregulation of ventral hippocampal GFAP, reduction of the total process lengths and the number of branch points of the ventral hippocampal CA1 GFAP-immunoreactive astrocytes and depressive phenotypes but had no effect on anxiety-like behaviors or hippocampus-related learning and memory in mice. These findings suggest that pioglitazone could be a potential therapeutic agent for metabolic disorders and associated depression. • Pioglitazone alleviated high-fat diet (HDF)-induced depressive phenotypes in mice. • Pioglitazone reduced the HFD-induced upregulation of GFAP in hippocampal astrocytes. • Pioglitazone rescued HFD-disturbed the morphology of the hippocampal astrocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]