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The role of Slit/Robo signaling has extended from initial axon repulsion in the developing nervous system to organ morphogenesis, cancer development and angiogenesis. Slit/Robo signaling regulates similar pathways within these processes. Slit/Robo ensures the homeostasis of the dynamic interaction between cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. The dysregulation of Slit/Robo signaling damages the tissue barrier, resulting in developmental abnormalities or disease. Here, we summarize how Slit/Robo controls kidney morphogenesis and describe the dual roles of Slit/Robo signaling in the regulation of tumorigenesis and angiogenesis.

Objective Patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) have postural changes and increased risk of falling. The aim of this study is to compare balance characteristics between patients with OVCF and healthy control subjects. Methods Patients with severe OVCF and control subjects underwent computerised dynamic posturography (CDP) in this case-control study. Results Forty-seven OVCF patients and 45 controls were recruited. Compared with the control group, the OVCF group had significantly decreased average stability; maximal stability under the `eye open with swayed support surface' (CDP subtest 4) and 'eye closed with swayed support surface' conditions (subtest 5); and decreased ankle strategy during subtests 4 and 5 and under the `swayed vision with swayed support surface' condition (subtest 6). The OVCF group fell more frequently during subtests 5 and 6 and had longer overall reaction time and longer reaction time when moving backward during the directional control test. Conclusion OVCF patients had poorer static and dynamic balance performance compared with normal control. They had decreased postural stability and ankle strategy with increased fall frequency on a swayed surface; they also had longer reaction times overall and in the backward direction. Therefore, we suggest balance rehabilitation for patients with OVCF to prevent fall.

To investigate possible correlations between the incidence and severity of Bell's palsy and seasonal variations in Taiwan.We studied data on the incidence of Bell's palsy over a 3-year period in Taiwan. The electroneurographic quotient was used as an index for the severity of nerve involvement. A higher electroneurographic quotient indicates less severe disease.Data were collected from 775 patients. We analyzed the data using the chi-square goodness-of-fit test, and the results showed that seasonality was significantly associated with the incidence of Bell's palsy among men, with the incidence increasing during the cold months (p = 0.012). A significant association was evident between age and incidence, with a higher incidence among patients aged 50 years or younger (p = 0.027). By contrast, no significant relationship was found between seasonality and either female sex or older age. No statistical association was found between the degree of nerve involvement and season of onset in patients with Bell's palsy.Bell's palsy increased among men and among younger patients during the cold seasons in Taiwan. No association emerged between the severity of Bell's palsy and the season of onset.

Background Metabolic syndrome has been shown to be associated with lower levels of plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (Nt-proBNP) in the general population. We sought to elucidate the relationship between Nt-proBNP and components of metabolic syndrome in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Methods Fasting blood samples were obtained from 93 patients in our institution. Plasma levels of Nt-proBNP and other biochemical data were measured. The New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification system (I-IV) was used to define the functional capacity of CHF. Metabolic syndrome and its components were defined using diagnostic criteria from the International Diabetes Federation. Results Forty-nine patients (52.7%) had CHF. There was a positive correlation between plasma Nt-proBNP levels and NYHA functional capacity in CHF patients. Plasma Nt-proBNP levels increased significantly with each increasing NYHA class of the disease. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in CHF patients was higher than that in patients without CHF. Most importantly, we found that plasma Nt-proBNP levels were lower in CHF patients with metabolic syndrome attributable to inverse relationships between plasma Nt-proBNP and body mass index (β = −0.297), plasma triglyceride (β = −0.286) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR; β = −0.346). Fasting glucose to insulin ratio (FGIR, an insulin sensitivity index) was positively associated with plasma Nt-proBNP levels (β = 0.491), and was the independent predictor of plasma Nt-proBNP levels in CHF patients. Conclusions Plasma Nt-proBNP levels are inversely associated with metabolic syndrome in CHF patients. Reduced plasma Nt-proBNP levels in CHF patients may lead to impaired lipolysis and metabolic function, and may contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome in CHF patients.

Cristobalite-fused silica powder was prepared from a mixture of fused silica and cristobalite seed with a high-speed stirrer at 2400 r.p.m. for five minutes. Mixtures were then heated to the soaking temperature, between 1275 °C and 1350 °C, for different time periods. The formation of cristobalite was determined by a quantitative X-ray diffraction (QXRD). Cristobalite, as a phase transformation inhibitor, could affect the rate of transformation of fused silica to cristobalite. In the initial stage of the heating, the presence of cristo-balite seed assists the crystallization of fused silica. However, it retards the crystallization as the soaking time is increased, the evidence shows that the cristobalite seed could induce a compressive stress due to the abrupt volume increase as cristobalite transformed from α phase to β phase at elevated temperature. From the kinetic analysis, the time exponent, n , decreases with increasing cristobalite seed additions, suggesting that the transformation kinetics is controlled by a long-range diffusion mechanism from a two-dimensional plate-like growth to a one dimensional needle-like growth. The activation energy calculation shows that the nucleation and growth process of cristobalite crystals is not similar to the incubation process of cristobalite nucleation in the solid-state reaction of fused silica-cristobalite.

SiO2-ZrSiO4 powder mixture was prepared from powders of fused silica and zircon with a high-speed stirrer at 2400rpm for 5min. Mixtures were, then, heated at the soaking temperature between 1275°C and 1350°C for different time periods. The fraction of cristobalite precipitated was determined by a quantitative X-ray diffraction (QXRD). It was found that zircon affects the rate of transformation of fused silica to cristobalite. In the initial stage of the heating, the presence of zircon assists the crystallization of fused silica. However, it retards the crystallization as the soaking time is increased. The EDS analysis shows that zirconium diffuses into the surface layer of silica particle to form a solid solution, resulting in the lattice distortion which may generate a compressive stress on the surface layer. From the kinetic analysis, the time exponent, n, in Avrami equation decreases with increasing zircon additions suggesting that the transformation kinetic is controlled by long-range diffusion mechanism from two dimensional plate-like growth to one dimensional needle-like growth.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Ophiopogon japonicus is a traditional Chinese medicine that might be helpful for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Recent studies have confirmed its beneficial properties, but not the mechanism of action. Aim of study In this study, we examined the effects of a water-soluble β- d -fructan (MDG-1) from O. japonicus on type 2 diabetes through the PI3K/Akt pathway in a diabetic KKAy mouse model. Materials and methods MDG-1 was extracted from the tube root of O. japonicus and purified as described previously ( Xu et al., 2005 ). The KKAy mice were gavaged once daily with either distilled water, MDG-1or rosiglitazonefor 8 weeks. Blood glucose levels were tested regularly for the fed and fasted mice. In order to evaluate the effect of MDG-1 on disease progression, the proteins of InsR/IRS-1/PI3K/Akt/GSK-3/Glut-4 were detected by Western blotting and serum TG, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C were also dertermined. Results MDG-1 reduced the hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and hyperlipidemia in the KKAy mice. The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and the level of insulin in the serun showed that insulin resistance in KKAy mice was ameliorated after MDG-1 treated. After 8 weeks treatment with 300 mg/kg MDG-1, the content of triglycerides (TG) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) the serum decreased significantly. Meanwhile high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) content increased notably. MDG-1 did not have any effect on total cholesterol (TC) content in the serum, whereas rosiglitazone significantly decreased the TC content. In addition, MDG-1 upregulates the phosphoinositide 3-kinase p85 subunit, Akt, insulin receptor (InsR), insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and Glut-4 expression, but downregulates glycogen synthase kinase 3β expression. Conclusions These data indicate that MDG-1 has remarkable anti-diabetic activity through the InsR/IRS-1/PI3K/Akt/GSK-3/Glut-4 signaling pathway. We believe that MDG-1 is a promising anti-diabetic compound that will be helpful for the treatment of T2DM.

Background This study aimed to evaluate the still unknown factors correlating with the degree of nerve involvement in early Bell's palsy. Methods This retrospective chart review study of newly diagnosed cases of Bell's palsy was conducted over a three-year period. Information on age, sex, day of onset, comorbidities, corticosteroid use, and electroneurographic test results were collected. The electroneurographic quotient (amplitude of compound muscle action potential on the affected side divided by that on the healthy side and expressed in percent) was used as an index of nerve involvement, with lower quotient indicating more severe disease. Results Data were collected on 563 patients. The mean electroneurographic quotient varied inversely with age (p < 0.001) and was higher in patients who used corticosteroids than those who did not (47.1% vs. 40.3%; p = 0.002). There was no correlation between the degree of nerve involvement and sex, season of onset, hypertension, or diabetes. Conclusion The degree of nerve involvement in early Bell's palsy correlates positively with age and negatively with corticosteroid use.