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Ecosystem water use efficiency (WUE) is a crucial parameter for understanding the interaction between carbon and water cycles. However, the spatio–temporal evolution and drivers of WUE remain unclear. This study utilized global annual scale global land surface satellite gross primary productivity and evapotranspiration data from 1982 to 2018 to estimate WUE and analyze its spatio–temporal characteristics. Additionally, the study investigated the response of WUE changes to five environmental factors (precipitation [PRE], soil moisture, temperature [TEM], palmer drought severity index, and vapor pressure deficit [VPD]) on WUE changes using partial correlation and structural equation modeling. The results suggested that the global annual WUE increased markedly over the study period, at an average rate of 0.0016 gC m−2 mm−1 H2O year−1. In contrast to the existing knowledge on the drivers of WUE change, climate change was found to have a larger contribution to WUE changes at the global and regional scales, especially in terms of TEM and VPD. A positive correlation between TEM and WUE was observed, but extreme TEM could lead to a decrease in WUE. VPD had the most significant direct effect on WUE, and its negative effect offset the positive influence of TEM especially in hyper‐arid, semi‐arid, and arid regions. These findings offer new insights into the impact of VPD and global warming on WUE. Plain Language Summary: Water use efficiency (WUE), defined as the ratio of gross primary productivity to evapotranspiration, is one of the key indicators for measuring the carbon‐water coupling in ecosystems. Analyzing the temporal and spatial evolution of global WUE and its influencing factors can offer valuable insights into addressing the challenges posed by global climate change. In this study, we examined the spatio‐temporal dynamics of global WUE over an extensive time span and utilized structural equation modeling to identify the primary drivers of WUE variation. Our findings reveal a consistent increasing trend in annual global WUE from 1982 to 2018, with an average annual increase of 0.0016 gC m−2 mm−1 H2O. Temperature and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) emerged as the key drivers of WUE changes, with the positive effect of temperature on WUE being counteracted by its negative influence through VPD (approximately 75%). This research contributes to our understanding of how climate change impacts carbon and water cycles within ecosystems and lays a foundation for enhancing carbon budget assessments. Key Points: Global water use efficiency (WUE) increased at an average rate of 0.0016 gC m−2 mm−1 H2O year−1 between 1982 and 2018Extreme temperatures that either excessively high (>26°C) or low (<2°C) can cause WUE to decreaseThe positive effect of temperature on WUE was offset by its negative effect on WUE through vapor pressure deficit [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA) neonates are at increased risk of perinatal mortality and morbidity. We aimed to investigate the performance of uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA‐PI) at 19–24 weeks' gestation to predict the delivery of a SGA neonate in a Chinese population. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study using data obtained between January 2010 and June 2018. Doppler ultrasonography was performed at 19–24 weeks' gestation. SGA was defined as birth weight below the 10th centile according to the INTERGROWTH‐21st fetal growth standards. The performance of UtA‐PI to predict the delivery of a SGA neonate was assessed using receiver‐operating‐characteristics (ROC)‐curve analysis. Results: We included 6964 singleton pregnancies, of which 748 (11%) delivered a SGA neonate, including 115 (15%) women with preterm delivery. Increased UtA‐PI was associated with an elevated risk of SGA, both in neonates delivered at or after 37 weeks' gestation (term SGA) and those delivered before 37 weeks (preterm SGA). The areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) for UtA‐PI were 64.4% (95% CI, 61.5–67.3%) and 75.8% (95% CI, 69.3–82.3%) for term and preterm SGA, respectively. The performance of combined screening by maternal demographic/clinical characteristics and estimated fetal weight in the detection of term and preterm SGA was improved significantly by the addition of UtA‐PI, although the increase in AUC was modest (2.4% for term SGA and 4.9% for preterm SGA). Conclusions: This is the first Chinese study to evaluate the role of UtA‐PI at 19–24 weeks' gestation in the prediction of the delivery of a neonate with SGA. The addition of UtA‐PI to traditional risk factors improved the screening performance for SGA, and this improvement was greater in predicting preterm SGA compared with term SGA. © 2023 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Meteorological Organization stipulates a minimum of 30 years of historical data is needed to obtain meaningful results in climatological research. However, large numbers of studies have explored downscaling approaches based on the TRMM Multi‐Satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) data, which span only from 1998 to the present, to obtain the precipitation estimates (~1‐km resolution). The main aim of the present study was to develop a new method for obtaining long‐term (>30 years) precipitation estimates at ~1‐km resolution and to apply that method to a region with complex topography, the Tibetan Plateau. First, PERSIANN‐CDR (Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks—Climate Data Record) data were used for downscaling. Considering the characteristics of the PERSIANN‐CDR data, a new downscaling‐calibration procedure utilizing a combination of a spatial data mining downscaling algorithm (Cubist) and a geographical ratio analysis calibration method was proposed. We found that (1) both the original PERSIANN‐CDR data (Bias ~40.79%) and the downscaled results before calibration (Bias ~26.78%) overestimated the precipitation compared with ground observations; (2) the final downscaled results based on the PERSIANN‐CDR data after calibration were close to the ground observations (Bias ~5%); (3) compared to the results interpolated based on the PERSIANN‐CDR data (E <−1.0), both the downscaling procedure and calibration procedure contributed significantly to the accuracy of the final downscaled results (E ~0.83). These findings suggest that the proposed downscaling‐calibration procedure has great potential as an approach for retrieving long‐term precipitation estimates (~1‐km resolution) over the Tibetan Plateau. Key Points: A downscaling‐calibration procedure was developed for downscaling PERSIANN‐CDR dataThe PERSIANN‐CDR data significantly overestimated precipitation (Bias >40%) over the Tibetan PlateauThe final downscaled results (>30 years) were of higher quality, with Bias around 5% [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the appropriate fasting plasma glucose threshold by which to define prediabetes in children and adolescents, based on its ability to predict incident paediatric diabetes. Methods: In a nationwide survey of diabetes and renal disease conducted between 1992 and 2000 in all school‐aged children in Taiwan, those with abnormal results in repeated urine tests received further physical examination and blood tests. Students who had blood tests for at least two time points were selected for the present study (N = 12 119). The incidence of paediatric diabetes, adjusted hazard ratio and predictive power of fasting plasma glucose were analysed. Results: The incidence of paediatric diabetes increased with increasing fasting plasma glucose levels. Groups with fasting plasma glucose >5.6 mmol/l had a higher adjusted hazard ratio. The adjusted hazard ratio of incident diabetes for participants with higher fasting plasma glucose rose continuously when using a higher threshold for fasting plasma glucose. The area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve for fasting plasma glucose was 0.628 for predicting paediatric diabetes. The association between fasting plasma glucose and incident paediatric diabetes and the area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve were similar in boys and girls and were higher in the age group 12–18 years. According to receiver‐operating characteristic curve analysis, the optimal thresholds, sensitivity and specificity were 4.75 mmol/l, 65% and 51%, respectively, for those aged 6–11 years and 5.19 mmol/l, 60% and 73%, respectively, for those aged 12–18 years. Conclusion: Fasting plasma glucose is associated with the incidence of paediatric diabetes. The results of the present study can be used as reference data to suggest a cut‐off value to define paediatric prediabetes. What's new?: This is one of the few studies to investigate the plasma glucose threshold to predict incident paediatric diabetes.Using a nationwide dataset, we found that fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level was associated with the incidence of paediatric diabetes.The predictive power of FPG is better in the age group 12–18 years than in the age group 6–11 years.The results of the present study can be used as reference data to suggest a cut‐off value of FPG for paediatric prediabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is generally accepted that the additional hardening of materials could largely shorten multi-axis fatigue life of engineering components. To consider the effects of additional hardening under multi-axial loading, this paper summarizes a new multi-axial low-cycle fatigue life prediction model based on the critical plane approach. In the new model, while critical plane is adopted to calculate principal equivalent strain, a new plane, subcritical plane, is also defined to calculate a correction parameter due to the effects of additional hardening. The proposed fatigue damage parameter of the new model combines the material properties and the angle of the loading orientation with respect to the principal axis and can be established with Coffin-Manson equation directly. According to experimental verification and comparison with other traditional models, it is clear that the new model has satisfactory reliability and accuracy in multi-axial fatigue life prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neutral sphingomyelinase (nSMase) 1 homologue gene LsSMase was cloned from Laodelphax striatellus, a direct sap-sucker and virus vector of gramineous plants, and expressed via a Bac to Bac baculovirus expression system. The LsSMase-enhanced green fluorescent protein fusion protein was located in the endoplasmic reticulum in a similar manner to mammalian nSMase 1. The biochemical properties of LsSMase were determined in detail. The optimal pH and temperature for recombinant LsSMase were 8 and 37 °C, respectively. LsSMase was an Mg2+ or Mn2+ dependent enzyme, but different concentration of each were needed. The activity of LsSMase was significantly stimulated by Ethylene glycol bis(2-aminoethyl ether)tetraacetic acid (EGTA), whereas it was inhibited by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Millimolar concentrations of Zn2+ completely inhibited LsSMase. The reducing agents dithiothreitol and β-mercaptoethanol varied in their effects on activity. Phospholipids were not found to stimulate LsSMase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction As there is currently no complete cure for hemophilia A ( HA), the identification of pathogenic mutations in factor VIII ( FVIII) gene from HA patients and carriers, which can contribute to genetic counseling prenatal diagnosis, and preimplantation genetic diagnosis ( PGD), is an important step to prevent HA. Methods A total of 14 unrelated Chinese HA subjects ( FVIII activity <40%), 20 carrier subjects, three fetuses, and one PGD were included in this study. We first screened for the presence of FVIII intron 22 and intron 1 inversions. Second, the coding region of the FVIII gene was sequenced. For the novel mutations, FVIII mRNA expression was detected by real-time PCR and the protein structures were analyzed by bioinformatic tools. Results Five novel mutations (c.1A>C, c.304_305insA, c.1594T>A, c.6045G>A, and c.2645_2646insG) were found. The real-time PCR showed that the expression of FVIII mRNAs was lower in HA patients than in normal subjects. Prenatal diagnosis and PGD were successfully performed: Two of three fetuses and four of eight blastomeres were confirmed to be normal. Conclusion In conclusion, genetic diagnosis of 14 unrelated HA subjects, 20 carrier subjects, three fetuses, and one PGD was successfully performed in our study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Detection of leukemogenic fusion transcripts in acute myeloid leukemia ( AML) is critical for AML diagnosis. NanoString nCounter system is a novel probe-based gene expression platform capable of measuring up to 800 targets with advantages of reproducibility, accuracy, and sample type flexibility. To study the potential application of NanoString in leukemia at clinic, we used this technology to detect AML leukemogenic fusion transcripts and compared the performances with clinical molecular assays. Methods We developed a NanoString assay to detect seven leukemogenic fusion transcripts, namely RUNX1- RUNX1T1 (e5e12), PML- RARA (bcr1, bcr2, and bcr3), and CBFB- MYH11 (e5e12, e5e8, and e5e7). We set up the cut-off value for each fusion transcript and tested 42 de novo AML samples. We compared the results with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction ( RT- PCR) and TaqMan reverse quantitative-polymerase chain reaction ( RQ- PCR), the molecular methods standardly used at clinic. Results We demonstrated that the NanoString and RT- PCR results correlate well ( P < 0.0001) and are highly concordant (95.2%). Using TaqMan RQ- PCR as a validation method and gold standard, we demonstrated superior accuracy and sensitivity of NanoString compared to RT- PCR and comparable specificity. Furthermore, we showed that NanoString is not as sensitive as TaqMan RQ- PCR in detecting very low level of fusion transcripts. Conclusions NanoString can serve as a reliable and alternative molecular method to multiplexed RT- PCR for diagnosis of de novo AML with the perspective of screening/quantitation of a large number of leukemogenic fusion transcripts and prognostic genes. However, NanoString may not be an alternative method for monitoring minimal residual disease in AML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In cognitive radios, the biggest challenge is spectrum sensing. It usually makes use of the amplitude, frequency or space dimension of the received signal to differentiate signal from background noise. Polarization, also as an inherent characteristic of signals, provides an additional degree of freedom in signal space. Polarization-based spectrum sensing has been identified as an effective method for improving detection performance. In this paper, various polarization-based spectrum sensing methods including the optimal polarization likelihood ratio test using Neyman-Pearson theorem, virtual polarization detection utilizing maximum signal to noise ratio method and blind polarization detectors based on generalized likelihood ratio test method are reviewed. Then, a comprehensive comparison of various polarization-based sensing methods in terms of detection performance and computational complexity is detailed. Finally, challenges and possible future studies on polarization-based spectrum sensing are described. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To identify the contributions of various mechanical factors related to cast posts in a root filled tooth by integration of finite element analysis and the Taguchi method. The investigated factors included post-length (Post-L), post-diameter (Post-D), ferrule height (Ferrule-H) and periodontal bone loss (Bone-H). Methodology Three-dimensional finite element models of a mandibular premolar were developed to simulate a root filled tooth. For each investigated factor, three levels and values were selected, and based on a Taguchi orthogonal array, nine models were established. An inclination load of 100 N was applied on the buccal cusp tip, and the dentine peak von Mises stress was used as the evaluation index. Results Among the four investigated factors, Bone-H was the predominant mechanical factor, with a contribution of more than 97%. Among the other three controllable factors of post-design, Post-D was the primary contributing factor and was almost five times more substantial than the least contributing factor, Ferrule-H. Conclusion Bone-H was the predominant factor influencing the stress of the dentine on a post-restored root filled tooth, followed by the Post-D, Post-L and Ferrule-H. For patients with severe periodontal bone loss, a large post-diameter is essential for endodontic post-restoration treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is one of major environmental stresses that dramatically threaten plant growth, and variations in genetic structure and functional traits have important effects on the salt tolerance of perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.). The objectives of this study were to: (i) assess the inter-clonal variation of functional traits of accessions among geographic groups or between wild and commercial groups in response to salt stress; (ii) develop a mathematical model to effectively assess salt tolerance of perennial ryegrass accessions originating from different geographic populations; and (iii) determine the relation between spatial genetic structure and salt tolerance in perennial ryegrass. Wide variations were found among the accessions for seven functional traits. One regression model ( F = 0.49 × F1 + 0.303 × F2 + 0.207 × F3) was established to ascertain salt tolerance of each accession. The highest variation of the traits and salt tolerance were obtained for accessions from the European group. Wild accessions exhibited more variation in functional traits and salt tolerance than commercial cultivars. Both molecular marker techniques and functional traits were used to conduct phylogenetic analysis, and the majority of accessions from the same or adjacent regions were clustered into the same group or subgroup. The perennial ryegrass accessions with similar salt tolerance had a close phylogenetic background. The patterns in functional trait variations associated with salt tolerance might allow acceleration of the process for improving salt stress resistance in perennial ryegrass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stoichiometric strontium-incorporated hydroxyapatite (Sr-HA) with different Sr concentrations [Sr/(Sr+Ca)] were synthesized using a wet chemical approach and characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transformed infrared absorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Rietveld Structure Refinement. The crystal lattice parameter, Sr distribution, chemical state of Sr, and also the relationships between their variations and the Sr concentrations have been intensively studied. The results show that both the crystal lattice parameters and crystal plane space of Sr-HA remarkably increase with the Sr concentration increasing. Whether Sr preferably occupies the Ca(I) site or Ca(II) site after incorporated into apatite lattice depends on the Sr number incorporated into apatite. All the Sr ions completely occupy the Ca(II) sites when the Sr concentration is below 5%. With the exception of partial Sr ions occupying the Ca(II) sites, the other Sr ions start to occupy the Ca(I) sites when the Sr concentration doped in HA is beyond 10%. The ratio of Sr ions occupying the Ca(I) sites increases with the further raising Sr concentration up to 20%. The Sr ions inherit the chemical state and environment of the original Ca(I) or Ca(II) site after incorporated into apatite. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 101B: 1275-1283, 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In coastal China, there is an urgent need to increase land for agriculture. One solution is land reclamation from coastal tidelands, but soil salinization poses a problem. Thus, there is need to map saline areas and identify appropriate management strategies. One approach is the use of digital soil mapping. At the first stage, auxiliary data such as remotely sensed multispectral imagery can be used to identify areas of low agricultural productivity due to salinity. Similarly, proximal sensing instruments can provide data on the distribution of soil salinity. In this study, we first used multispectral QuickBird imagery (Bands 1-4) to provide information about crop growth and then EM38 data to indicate relative salt content using measurements of apparent soil electrical conductivity (ECa) in the horizontal (ECh) and vertical (ECv) modes of operation. Second, we used a fuzzy k-means (FKM) algorithm to identify three salinity management zones using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), ECh and ECv/ECh. The three identified classes were statistically different in terms of auxiliary and topsoil properties (e.g. soil organic matter) and more importantly in terms of the distribution of soil salinity (ECe) with depth. The resultant three classes were mapped to demonstrate that remote and proximally sensed auxiliary data can be used as surrogates for identifying soil salinity management zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramidases are a group of enzymes that catalyse hydrolysis of ceramides to generate fatty acid and sphingosine. In this study, we report the cloning and characterization of the rice small brown planthopper Laodelphax striatellus neutral ceramidase ( nCDase), LsnCer. LsnCer was identified by sequencing the transcriptome of L. striatellus and is a protein of 717 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 79.3 kDa. Similarly to other known nCDases, the optimum pH for LsnCer is 8.0 and the optimum temperature is 37 ° C for its in vitro activity. LsnCer activity is inhibited by Zn2+ significantly and Fe2+ slightly. LsnCer has broad substrate specificity with a preference for ceramides with a medium acyl-chain or a monounsaturated long acyl-chain. Infection with rice strip virus ( RSV) or treatment with insecticides significantly increased LsnCer mRNA expression and its enzymatic activity in L. striatellus. These results suggest that LsnCer is a bona fide nCDase that may have a role in adaption of L. striatellus to environmental stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabet. Med. 27, 636–643 (2010) Aim To evaluate annual prevalence and incidence of Type 2 diabetes and to examine possible trends among adults in Taiwan. Methods A retrospective nationwide longitudinal study using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database collected during 1999–2004. Adult patients aged ≥ 20 years old with prevalent and incident Type 2 diabetes were identified using ICD-9-CM diagnostic codes. Age-specific and age-direct-standardized annual incidence and prevalence were calculated to describe their trends in different gender and age group and compared using Poisson regression. Results During the study years, the age-standardized prevalence of Type 2 diabetes increased from 4.7 to 6.5% for men and from 5.3 to 6.6% for women. The increasing trends in prevalence were significant and higher among people aged < 40 and ≥ 80 years. The age-standardized incidence rates of Type 2 diabetes per 1000 person-years were approximately 7.6 and remain stable for men, but decreasing from 7.7 to 6.9 for women. However, the incidence increased significantly in younger adults aged < 40 years whose relative incidence (RI with 95% confidence interval) was 1.31 (1.20–1.42) for men and 1.04 (1.01–1.08) for women. The incidence trends for people aged ≥ 40 years were decreased for men and women. The differences in incidence trends between age groups and between genders were all statistically significant (all P < 0.001). Conclusions This study demonstrated a substantial increasing trend in Type 2 diabetes prevalence during 1999–2004 among adults in Taiwan. Despite the incidence decreased in older people, young men aged 20–40 years were most susceptible to higher incidence of Type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semen sample was collected from two captive adult Yangtze finless porpoises ( Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis) during physical examination. One individual was aged about 9 years with body length 143 cm (total length) and body weight 46.1 kg in 2003. The age of the other was unknown and its body length was 147 cm and body weight was 43 kg in 2004. Ultrastructure of their spermatozoa was examined using scanning and transmission electron microscope. The sperm concentration was 4.17 × 109 spermatozoa per ml by the cytometer. The approximate dimensions of the spermatozoa were as follows: head length, 3.366 ± 0.140 μm (mean ± SE, n = 15); head width, 1.896 ± 0.099 μm ( n = 15); and neck length, 1.004 ± 0.074 μm ( n = 10). The tail included midpiece, principal piece and terminal piece. The length of the midpiece was 1.882 ± 0.077 μm ( n = 9). There is no apparent boundary between the principal piece and the terminal piece, so the length of the principal piece and the terminal piece was 44.612 ± 3.485 μm ( n = 5). Total length of the spermatozoa was 53.314 ± 4.580 μm ( n = 10). The acrosome covered approximately 45.8% of the anterior portion of the head. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of grape seed-derived procyanidins (GSP), gypenosides (GPE), and combination procyanidins/gypenosides on insulin resistance in mice and HepG2 cells. ICR mice were randomly divided into 2 control and 4 treatment groups. The control mice were to receive either normal diet (ND) or high-fat diet (HFD), and the treatment groups were fed high-fat diet with either 80 mg/kg of GSP (GSP80), GPE (GPE80), GSP + GPE (1: 1, GSP40 + GPE40), or 500 mg/kg of metformin for a 6-wk period. All the groups of mice except the normal control were on high-fat diet along with fructose (15%) administered in drinking water throughout the period of treatment. An insulin-resistant HepG2 cell model was developed after 24 h of 5 × 10−7 mol/L insulin incubation. The treatment of GPE80 could significantly reduce the index of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and increase hepatic glycogen concentration, compared with HFD group ( P < 0.05). When GSP and GPE were administered simultaneously, synergic effects were observed in decreasing the HOMA-IR index and serum total cholesterol (TC) level and enhancing glucose tolerance. All treatment groups showed considerable raise of hepatic glucokinase activity ( P < 0.05 compared with HFD group). GSP application increased the consumption of extracellular glucose in HepG2 cells. Our data suggest that the combination of GSP and GPE may have functional efficacy in consumers with insulin resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mudshrimps are important soft shore bioturbators but research on the ecology of tropical species has received less attention when compared with their temperate counterparts. The mudshrimp Austinogebia edulis is common on Asian soft shores and lives in burrows for its entire adult life. Epoxy resin casting of A. edulis burrows showed that they were approximately Y-shaped, with an upper U-part and the lower central shaft part. The burrows had two openings extending to the surface; the mean distance between the two openings was 11.0 cm in Hong Kong and 26.4 cm in Taiwan. Openings of the burrows had small chimneys. The tunnels of the burrows were circular, narrow and with a smooth surface (tunnel diameter corresponded to shrimp carapace width). Each burrow was inhabited by a single shrimp and burrows were inter-connected during the mating and reproductive season. Each burrow had four to 12 spherical chambers, which were free of detritus. The chambers were thought to be used for suspension feeding, current generation and as turning points. The depth of burrows was up to 1.1 m. Multivariate analysis on various burrow parameters showed that burrows collected on a mud flat in Taiwan were deeper, had a wider distance between the openings and a larger volume than burrows collected from a sandy shore in Hong Kong, suggesting that burrow architecture is variable between shore types. Burrow architecture, however, did not vary between tidal levels, seasons and shrimp density on the shores in Hong Kong, indicating that the burrows were quite stable within the substratum and were not affected by environmental and biological factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To further explore the role of enamel matrix proteins (EMPs) in periodontal regeneration, we have used porcine bone marrow-derived stromal cells (BMSCs) to observe whether the EMPs could have an effect on their differentiation into cementoblasts. Materials and methods: In this study, EMPs were extracted from porcine tooth germs by the use of acetic acid. BMSCs obtained from porcine iliac marrow aspiration were inoculated onto the surface of autologous root slices treated with or without EMPs. Following 7-day co-culture, all the BMSC-seeded root slices, with their respective non-cell-inoculated control specimens, were pocketed with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane and were transplanted subcutaneously into 11 nude mice. The animals were sacrificed after 3 and 8 weeks, and the new specimens were processed for haematoxylin and eosin staining. Results: Histological analysis demonstrated new cellular cementum-like tissue formed along EMP-treated root slices. Conclusion: Our work has indicated for the first time, differentiation of BMSCs into cementoblasts using an EMP-based protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Pulmonary gene therapy requires aerosolisation of the gene vectors to the target region of the lower respiratory tract. Pulmonary absorption enhancers have been shown to improve the penetration of pharmaceutically active ingredients in the airway. In this study, we investigate whether certain absorption enhancers may also enhance the aerosolisation properties of spray-dried powders containing non-viral gene vectors. Methods Spray-drying was used to prepare potentially respirable trehalose-based dry powders containing lipid-polycation-pDNA (LPD) vectors and absorption enhancers. Powder morphology and particle size were characterised using scanning electron microscopy and laser diffraction, respectively, with gel electrophoresis used to assess the structural integrity of the pDNA. The biological functionality of the powders was quantified using in vitro cell (A549) transfection. Aerosolisation from a Spinhaler® dry powder inhaler into a multistage liquid impinger (MSLI) was used to assess the in vitro dispersibility and deposition of the powders. Results Spray-dried powder containing dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin (DMC) demonstrated substantially altered particle morphology and an optimal particle size distribution for pulmonary delivery. The inclusion of DMC did not adversely affect the structural integrity of the LPD complex and the powder displayed significantly greater transfection efficiency as compared to unmodified powder. All absorption enhancers proffered enhanced powder deposition characteristics, with the DMC-modified powder facilitating high deposition in the lower stages of the MSLI. Conclusions Incorporation of absorption enhancers into non-viral gene therapy formulations prior to spray-drying can significantly enhance the aerosolisation properties of the resultant powder and increase biological functionality at the site of deposition in an in vitro model. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Pulmonary delivery of gene therapy offers the potential for the treatment of a range of lung conditions, including cystic fibrosis, asthma and lung cancer. Spray-drying may be used to prepare dry powders for inhalation; however, aerosolisation of such powders is limited, resulting in poor lung deposition and biological functionality. In this study, we examine the use of amino acids (arginine, aspartic acid, threonine, phenylalanine) to enhance the aerosolisation of spray-dried powders containing model non-viral gene vectors. Methods Lipid/polycation/pDNA (LPD) vectors, in the presence or absence of amino acids, were dispersed in lactose solutions, and spray-dried to produce appropriately sized dry powders. Scanning electron microscopy and laser diffraction were used to determine particle morphology and diameter, respectively. Gel electrophoresis was used to examine the influence of amino acids on the structural integrity of the LPD complex. In vitro cell (A549) transfection was used to determine the biological functionality of the dry powders, and the in vitro aerosolisation performance was assessed using a multistage liquid impinger (MSLI). Results Both gel electrophoresis and in vitro cell transfection indicated that certain amino acids (aspartic acid, threonine) can adversely affect the integrity and biological functionality of the LPD complex. All amino acids significantly increased the aerosolisation of the powder, with the arginine and phenylalanine powders showing optimal deposition in the lower stages of the MSLI. Conclusions Amino acids can be used to enhance the aerosolisation of spray-dried powders for respiratory gene delivery, allowing the development of stable and viable formulations for pulmonary gene therapy. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented which discusses the genetic aspects of benign familial infantile seizures (BFIS).

Diabet. Med. 30, 318-325 (2013) Abstract Aims To evaluate whether homeostasis model assessment and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein improve the prediction of isolated post-load hyperglycaemia. Methods The subjects were 1458 adults without self-reported diabetes recruited between 2006 and 2010. Isolated post-load hyperglycaemia was defined as fasting plasma glucose < 7 mmol/l and 2-h post-load plasma glucose ≥ 11.1 mmol/l. Risk scores of isolated post-load hyperglycaemia were constructed by multivariate logistic regression. An independent group ( n = 154) was enrolled from 2010 to 2011 to validate the models' performance. Results One hundred and twenty-three subjects (8.28%) were newly diagnosed as having diabetes mellitus. Among those with undiagnosed diabetes, 64 subjects (52%) had isolated post-load hyperglycaemia. Subjects with isolated post-load hyperglycaemia were older, more centrally obese and had higher blood pressure, HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and lower homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function than those without diabetes. The risk scores included age, gender, BMI, homeostasis model assessment, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and HbA1c. The full model had high sensitivity (84%) and specificity (87%) and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.91), with a cut-off point of 23.81; validation in an independent data set showed 88% sensitivity, 77% specificity and an area under curve of 0.89. Conclusions Over half of those with undiagnosed diabetes had isolated post-load hyperglycaemia. Homeostasis model assessment and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein are useful to identify subjects with isolated post-load hyperglycaemia, with improved performance over fasting plasma glucose or HbA1c alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]