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Background Oxytocin ( OT) reduces rat duodenal tone and mouse intestinal transit; however, the underlying mechanisms are not totally understood. Consequently, this study was designed to investigate the influence of OT on spontaneous mechanical activity and neurally evoked responses, to characterize the mechanisms of the action, and to determine the distribution of the OT receptor ( OTR) in rat proximal colonic muscle strips. Methods The organ bath technique with electrical field stimulation, western blotting, and immunofluorescence were used. Key Results In rat proximal colon, exogenous OT induced a concentration-dependent reduction of the spontaneous mechanical activity without affecting the resting basal tone, which was abolished by atosiban, an OTR antagonist, by tetrodotoxin ( TTX), a neural blocker or by N ω-propyl- l-arginine hydrochloride, an inhibitor of neuronal nitric oxide synthase ( nNOS). The inhibitory effects of OT were not affected by atropine or the vasoactive intestinal peptide ( VIP) receptor antagonist [Lys1, Pro2,5, Arg3,4, Tyr6]-VIP ( VIPHyb). Proximal colon responses to electrical field stimulation were characterized by nonadrenergic, noncholinergic ( NANC) relaxation, which was followed by an off-contraction. Oxytocin enhanced only NANC relaxation. Oxytocin stimulated spontaneous NO release from the longitudinal muscle myenteric plexus preparation of rat proximal colon. Western blot and immunohistochemistry experiments showing the presence of the OTR in proximal colon, and its co-localization with nNOS established that myenteric nitrergic neurons express OTR. Conclusions & Inferences The activation of OTR located on nitrergic neurons may negatively modulate colonic spontaneous contraction and enhance electrically evoked NANC relaxation through excitation of NO release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To optimize the preparation process for ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)/rectorite nanocomposites during the melt extrusion, the effect of rectorite on the rheological property of molten polymer has been explored in this paper. The dispersion of rectorite in EVA was probed by X-ray diffraction, and the rheological behaviors of EVA copolymer and EVA/rectorite nanocomposites during the extrusion process were investigated by means of HAAKE minilab. The positron results reveal that introducing the rectorite in EVA matrix increases the interfaces in composites. And the rheological results indicate that the viscosity of EVA and EVA/rectorite nanocomposites in the molten state was influenced by the processing temperature, processing time and shearing rate. For all the samples, the viscosity increases with increasing the shear rate, and decreases with increasing extrusion temperature. Moreover, compared with the pure EVA, the EVA/rectorite nanocomposite presents a lower viscosity at the same processing condition. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enrichment and propagation of gonocytes or spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) from cryopreserved testicular tissue is essential to apply SSCs-related techniques in large domestic animals. We previously reported the cryopreservation of adult bovine testicular tissue. Here, we conducted the enrichment and culture of putative gonocytes from cryopreserved testicular tissues of post-natal 1-day-old bulls. The testicular structure was well maintained after freezing and thawing. Higher mRNA levels of gonocyte/SSCs markers (PLZF, GFRα1, and UCHL-1) than those of pluripotency genes (Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog) were detected in the frozen–thawed sex cords. GFRα1 was specifically detected in the membrane and cytoplasm of gonocytes by immunostaining. Differential plating provided 40–50% enrichment of putative gonocytes. They were single, paired-, aligned-cells, or grape cluster-like colonies in minimum essential medium (MEM) containing 2.5% FBS + 2 mM glutamine + 100 IU/mL penicillin-streptomycin + 40 μg/mL gentamycin + 15 mM HEPES + 10 mM β-mercaptoethanol + 0.1 mM non-essential amino acids + 1 mM sodium pyruvate. On day 3, gonocyte progeny increased and the contaminated somatic cells spread and concurrently divided slowly. On day 5, gonocyte progeny proliferated continuously and typical intercellular bridges formed by incomplete cytokinesis in paired-cells or aligned-cysts were observed. Immunochemically, they were still GFRα1 and PLZF positive. These cells expressed significantly higher gonocyte/SSCs marker mRNAs than pluripotency gene mRNAs, concomitant with a higher level of differentiated spermatogonia marker c-kit. With time, gonocyte progeny colonies appeared in varied sizes and expanded dramatically on day 7. After cultured for 9–10 days, however, large colonies collapsed and dispersed as some single cells and small syncytial cysts. Together, MEM containing 10% dimethyl sulfoxide + 2.5% newborn calf serum provides efficient cryoprotection for the testicular tissue from 1-day-old neonatal bulls. Putative gonocytes enriched from these nascent tissues present robust proliferation capacity, conserved gonocyte/SSCs markers, and SSCs-like in vitro features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Whether 10-day or 14-day sequential therapy is superior to 14-day triple therapy in the first-line treatment of Helicobacter pylori remains controversial. Aim To compare the efficacy of 10-day or 14-day sequential therapy vs. 14-day triple therapy. Methods Randomised controlled trials ( RCTs) comparing 10-day or 14-day sequential therapy and 14-day triple therapy as first-line treatment in adults were searched from the PubMed and Cochrane databases from 2000 to October 2015. Abstracts from international annual conferences were also searched. The primary and secondary outcomes were the eradication rate according to the intention-to-treat analysis and adverse effects, respectively. Results Of the 109 articles identified, 13 RCTs including 2749 patients in the sequential therapy group and 2424 patients in the 14-day triple therapy group were eligible. Overall, sequential therapy for 10 or 14 days was not significantly superior to 14-day triple therapy [Risk ratio ( RR) 1.04, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 0.99-1.08, P = 0.145]. However, there was significant heterogeneity ( I2 = 57.6%, P = 0.005). In the subgroup analysis of four trials, we found that 14-day sequential therapy was significantly more effective than 14-day triple therapy ( RR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.04-1.16, P = 0.002), and there was no significant heterogeneity ( I2 = 0%, P = 0.624) in this comparison. Sequential therapy given for 10 days was not superior to 14-day triple therapy ( RR: 1.03, 95% CI: 0.98-1.09, P = 0.207). There was no significant difference in the risk of adverse effects. Conclusion Sequential therapy given for 14 days, but not 10 days, was more effective than 14-day triple therapy as first-line treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined how knowledge of metacognitive strategies and navigation skills mediate the relationship between online reading activities and printed reading assessment ( PRA) and electronic reading assessment ( ERA) across 19 countries using the PISA ( Programme for International Student Assessment) 2009 database. Participants were 34 104 fifteen-year-old students (female: 50.1%). The results showed that information-seeking activity, knowledge of metacognitive strategies and navigations skills positively predicted ERA and PRA. Social reading activities negatively predicted knowledge of metacognitive strategies and PRA but had no effect on ERA and the navigation skills in most countries. Increased information-seeking reading resulted in higher ERA and PRA as demonstrated by navigation skills and knowledge of metacognitive strategies. Gender differences in online reading engagement were not statistically significant in most countries. However, girls performed better in knowledge of metacognitive strategies, navigation skills and PRA but were not significantly better on ERA. Multiple group comparisons of gender indicated that the hypothesized model held for both boys and girls. Besides the infrastructure of information and communications technology as a tool to access the cyber informational space, students should be empowered to use appropriate strategies and navigation skills to achieve their goals. Implications for teaching and learning practices are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine serum is widely used for cryopreservation of various cells and tissues. However, its cryoprotective effects on the cells and tissues are ambiguous and controversial. To test the effects of newborn calf serum (NCS) on cryopreservation of bovine testis tissue, NCS of 0%, 5%, 10% and 20% (v/v) was added into minimum essential medium + 10% dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO)-based medium according to our previous report. Interestingly, the testicular cell viabilities and spermatogonia percentages from four groups were very close. The results indicated that an increase in the concentration of NCS in freezing medium to 20% has no significant effect on survival of both testicular cells and spermatogonia, and 10% DMSO-based freezing medium can maintain the testicular cell viability and spermatogonia percentage at a relatively high level (83.4 ± 0.7 and 56.5 ± 2.2 respectively). Taken together, NCS is dispensable for cryopreservation of adult bovine testis tissue. Our results provide an evidence for cutting down the costs in cryopreservation research of bovine testis tissue by reducing or giving up the use of serum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medium-format digital cameras are a useful tool in airborne lidar missions to produce digital ortho-images. This study investigates the quality of digital elevation models ( DEMs) and digital surface models ( DSMs) derived from such cameras. An image-matching strategy is used to produce height information from highly overlapping images and the quality of the derived height information is analysed using synchronous lidar point clouds as the reference data. The evaluation focused on various types of land cover and DEM generation methods. The RMSE between lidar and image-derived height information for two datasets was 0·054% and 0·027% of the flying height in flat, bare-earth areas, but studies with manually edited vegetated areas using stereo photogrammetry revealed high uncertainties, especially in steep terrain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of macrocyclic aryl ketone oligomers were prepared by the reaction of phthaloyl dichloride or isophthaloyl dichloride with various bridge-linking electron-rich aromatic hydrocarbons 3a-d under pseudo-high dilution conditions in the presence of Lewis base via Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction. Detailed structural characterization of these oligomers confirmed the cyclic nature by a combination of MALDI-TOF-MS, GPC, and 1H NMR analyses. These cyclic ketone oligomers have high solubility in organic solvents and the cyclic oligomers derived from phthaloyl dichloride are amorphous. The cyclic ketone oligomers readily undergo anionic ring-opening polymerization in the melt by using potassium 4,4′-biphenoxide as the initiator, producing linear, high molecular weight poly(ether ketone)s. Moreover, the isothermal chemorheology of the ring-opening polymerization of cyclic oligomers 4a and 4b was also investigated. The results show that the shear viscosity of the molten reactive mixture is lower than 10 Pa · S at a constant shear rate of 0.05 rad/sec and increases slowly in the initial stage of ring-opening polymerization. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromosome 6p is one of the most commonly implicated regions in the genome-wide linkage scans of schizophrenia, whereas further association studies for markers in this region were inconsistent likely due to heterogeneity. This study aimed to identify more homogeneous subgroups of families for fine mapping on regions around markers D6S296 and D6S309 (both in 6p24.3) as well as D6S274 (in 6p22.3) by means of similarity in neurocognitive functioning. A total of 160 families of patients with schizophrenia comprising at least two affected siblings who had data for eight neurocognitive test variables of the continuous performance test (CPT) and the Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST) were subjected to cluster analysis with data visualization using the test scores of both affected siblings. Family clusters derived were then used separately in family-based association tests for 64 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) covering the region of 6p24.3 and 6p22.3. Three clusters were derived from the family-based clustering, with deficit cluster 1 representing deficit on the CPT, deficit cluster 2 representing deficit on both the CPT and the WCST, and a third cluster of nondeficit. After adjustment using false discovery rate for multiple testing, SNP rs13873 and haplotype rs1225934-rs13873 on BMP6-TXNDC5 genes were significantly associated with schizophrenia for the deficit cluster 1 but not for the deficit cluster 2 or nondeficit cluster. Our results provide further evidence that the BMP6-TXNDC5 locus on 6p24.3 may play a role in the selective impairments on sustained attention of schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the study which identifies genetic variants in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region associated with kawasaki disease and the development of coronary artery anerurysmss in Taiwan. The study analyzed the cohort study of 93 Taiwanese patients and 680 unrelated healthy children for sex and age with the study patients with genetic influence. The study suggests that the genotype of the gene polymorphism played an important role in the pathogenesis of kawasaki disease.

The article investigates the non-isothermal crystallization kinetics and gas permeability of cross-linked and uncross-linked biodegradable nanocomposites of poly(butylenesuccinates) (PBS). The study examined the effects of cross-linking and organically modified layered silicates (OMLS) on non-isothermal crystallization kinetics. Analysis showed the correlation between the crystallization temperatures of the nanocomposites with OMLS content, and between the gas permeability of PBS and OMLS.

Polymorphisms in CYP2C9 and VKORC1 have been shown to be associated with warfarin dose requirements and could be used to predict warfarin dose. We conducted a prospective study in which warfarin dose was prescribed based on CYP2C9 and VKORC1 polymorphisms in 108 Han-Chinese patients without prior warfarin treatments. Using the genotype-based dosing, 83% of patients reached stable, therapeutic international normalized ratio (INR) within 2 weeks of treatment initiation and none of the patients developed clinical bleeding or thromboembolic event. Ten percent (11) of patients with INR >4 and no clinical bleeding were detected during this study. At 12 weeks, 69% of the patients' maintenance doses matched the prediction. Dosing algorithms incorporating genetic factors, age, and body surface area were developed, which could explain up to 62% of the total variation (R2 of 0.62). This study demonstrated that pharmacogenetics-based dosing could improve time to stable, therapeutic INR, reduce adverse events, and achieve high sensitivity.Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2008); 84, 1, 83–89 doi:10.1038/sj.clpt.6100453 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infection of freshly isolated and cryopreserved lymphocytes with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) leads to the establishment of human B lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). Techniques for optimal infection of the lymphocytes are vital for the establishment of a human biobank. The present study found that more than half (58–86%) of such established LCLs had transport times of less than 48 h, cell densities exceeding 106 cells/ml and cell viabilities greater than 90%. After EBV infection, 3306 freshly isolated lymphocytes required 30.0 ± 0.1 days to become LCLs. Conversely, 1210 cryopreserved lymphocytes required 36.2 ± 0.4 days. Cell density and viability of the culture affected transformation time in freshly isolated lymphocytes. On the other hand, blood transport time, cryopreservation time and initial cell viability were major factors in cryopreserved specimens. These results contribute to general information concerning the establishment of a human biobank for EBV infected cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Bismuth salts are not available worldwide. It remains unknown whether clarithromycin can replace bismuth salts as an adjuvant agent in the rescue regimens for Helicobacter pylori infection. We therefore designed the prospective study to compare the efficacies of two rescue therapies for H. pylori infection after standard triple therapies. Patients and methods Ninety-three patients who failed H. pylori eradication using proton pump inhibitor plus clarithromycin and amoxicillin were randomly assigned to undergo rescue therapy with esomeprazole, clarithromycin, tetracycline and metronidazole (ECTM group, n = 46) or esomeprazole, bismuth subcitrate, tetracycline and metronidazole (EBTM group, n = 47). Follow-up endoscopy was performed at 8 weeks after the end of treatment to assess the treatment response. Results Intention-to-treat analysis demonstrated both groups had similar eradication rates (ECTM 74% vs. EBTM 77%; P = 0·76) and drug compliance (ECTM 94% vs. EBTM 96%; P = 0·68). However, the frequency of adverse events in the ECTM group was higher than that in EBTM group (ECTM 57% vs. EBTM 36%, P = 0·05). In the EBTM group, eradication rate of metronidazole-resistant strains was lower than that of metronidazole-susceptible strains (67%[8/12] vs. 100%[9/9], P = 0·05). However, eradication rates were similar between metronidazole-susceptible and metronidazole-resistant strains in ECTM group (69%[9/13] vs. 70%[7/10], P = 1·00). Conclusions The new ECTM second-line therapy can achieve similar eradication rate as standard EBTM therapy. It may be very useful in countries where bismuth salts are not available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report here a novel DRB1 allele (DRB1*1147) identified by sequence-based typing. The DRB1*1147 allele was detected during routine human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-typing of a patient and his family prior to bone marrow transplantation. This allele was found in the patient and his two sisters and five brothers. The new allele is identical to DRB1*110601 at exon 2 except for a single-nucleotide substitution at codon 37 (TAC→TCC), changing the encoded tyrosine to serine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Current body mass index (BMI) norms for children and adolescents are developed from a reference population that includes obese and slim subjects. The validity of these norms is influenced by the observed secular increase in body weight and BMI. We hypothesized that the performance of children in health-related physical fitness tests would be negatively related to increased BMIs, and therefore fitness tests might be used as criteria for developing a more appropriate set of BMI norms. We evaluated the existing data from a nation-wide fitness survey for students in Taiwan (444 652 boys and 433 555 girls) to examine the relationship between BMI and fitness tests. The fitness tests used included: an 800/1600-m run/walk; a standing long jump; bent-leg curl-ups; and a sit-and-reach test. The BMI percentiles developed from the subgroup whose test scores were better than the ‘poor’ quartile in all four tests were compared with those of the whole population and linked to the adult criteria for overweight and obesity. The BMIs were significantly related to the results of fitness testing. A total of 43% of students had scores better than the poorest quartile in all of their tests. The upper BMI percentile curves of this fitter subgroup were lower than those of the total population. The 85th and 95th BMI percentile values of the fitter 18-year-old-students (23.7 and 25.5 kg m-2 for boys; 22.6 and 24.6 kg m-2 for girls) linked well with the adult cut-off points of 23 and 25 kg m-2 , which have been recommended as the Asian criteria for adult overweight and obesity. Hence, the BMI norms for children and adolescents could be created from selected subgroups that have better physical fitness. We expect that the new norms based on this approach will be used not only to assess the current status of obesity or overweight, but also to encourage activity and exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present authors report the first case of Beare–Stevenson syndrome in Taiwan. The patient shares several clinical characteristics of Beare–Stevenson syndrome such as cutis gyrata, cloverleaf skull, prominent eyes, cleft palate, ear defects and a protruding umbilical stump. Molecular genetic analysis of the FGFR2 gene in this patient's DNA revealed a missense A → G mutation on nucleotide 1303 of the FGFR2 cDNA. This mutation leads to a Tyr → Cys substitution at residue 375 located at the N-terminal end of the transmembrane domain of FGFR2 . The present results are in accordance with other previously published reports and strengthen the importance of the FGFR2 gene in the pathogenesis of Beare–Stevenson syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beef sirloin tip steaks from 12 steer carcasses were cooked prerigor and postrigor using three heating methods and stored at 4 °C or-20 °C. Prerigor cooked steak had lower cook loss higher pH, higher shear force, and sensory hardness than postrigor cooked steak. Conventional oven cooking produced the lowest cook loss for prerigor steak. Prerigor cooked steak had lower thiobarbituric acid value than postrigor cooked samples after 2 wks at 4 °C or 3 mo at -20 °C. Sensory warmed-over flavor intensity scores were low and showed no differences between prerigor and postrigor cooked steaks for refrigerated or frozen samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the codon mutation in the core binding factor-alpha 1 gene in a Taiwan Chinese causes cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) patient. Regulation of core binding factor-alpha 1 (CBFA 1) on the expression of multiple genes expressed in osteoblasts; Site of mutations responsible for CCD; Description of missense mutation.

The development of the PML has resulted in a significant number of publications on its use in finite methods. It is interesting to note that the PML is more widely used in FDTD than FEM. In fact, many researchers find that there are larger reflections in FEM than in FDTD. In this paper we explain the reasons for this and show that the knowledge we gain from FDTD does not necessarily apply to FEM. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To define the nature and incidence of minor anomalies in Chinese newborn infants and to evaluate the validity of the hypothesis that infants with three or more minor surface anomalies will also have a major malformation. Methods: A total of 3,345 Chinese newborn infants were examined based on a list of 67 items of minor anomalies. Results: About 44.9% of the newborn infants had at least one minor anomaly that was unrelated to gender, maternal age, or gestational age, but significantly associated with fetal presentation. Breech-presented newborn infants had double the risk of minor anomalies. Simian crease, upward slant and frontal bossing could be considered normal variants for Chinese newborn infants, because the incidence of each was higher than 4%. Conclusions: Although some studies have shown that approximately 90% of infants having three or more minor anomalies are associated with a major malformation, we found only a 10.1% predictive value based on this study. Nevertheless, we suggest that infants with three or more minor anomalies be carefully evaluated for the possibility of major malformation in order to provide early management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlabelled: A unique Pro250Arg mutation in fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) was recently found in patients with non-syndromic craniosynostosis. We studied 18 Taiwan Chinese patients with various types of craniosynostosis to evaluate if this mutation is also prevalent in the Chinese population. Genomic DNA was analysed by polymerase chain reaction based restriction analysis and direct sequencing to identify the Pro250Arg mutation in FGFR3. Five (28%) of 18 probands were heterozygous for the Pro250Arg mutation. Only those patients with coronal synostosis carried this mutation.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that all patients with coronal synostosis should be examined for this unique mutation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HLA‐DRB1*12:51 has a single nucleotide difference to DRB1*12:02:01 at position 208, G > T. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]