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Stroke is a major public health problem and ranks third most common cause of death in adults worldwide. Thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and endovascular thrombectomy are the main revascularization therapies for acute ischemic stroke. However, ischemia-reperfusion injury, mainly caused by oxidative/nitrosative stress injury, after revascularization therapy can result in worsening outcomes. For better clinical prognosis, more and more studies have focused on the pharmaceutical neuroprotective therapies against free radical damage. The impact of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) on oxidative stress-related diseases is moderate because of its limited oral bioavailability and rapid clearance. However, recent evidence of the clinical benefit of parenteral vitamin C administration has emerged, especially in critical care. In this study we demonstrated that parenteral administration of vitamin C significantly improved neurological deficits and reduced brain infarction and brain edema by attenuating the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO)-induced nitrosative stress, inflammatory responses, and the resultant disruptions of blood brain barrier and cerebral neuronal apoptosis. These results suggest that parenteral administration of vitamin C has potential as an adjuvant agent with intravenous thrombolysis or endovascular thrombectomy in acute treatment of ischemic stroke.

Background There are two main types of dementia: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and protects against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. We aimed to investigate the protective role of ALA in cerebral I/R injury-related cognitive impairment in a rat model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO), which mimics VCID in humans. Methods After I/R injury, rats were treated with either an intraperitoneal injection of ALA (25 mg/kg) or vehicle. Infarct volume, brain edema, modified neurologic severity scores, and Y-maze test for cognitive impairment were assessed. In addition, activation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and microglia, and expression of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP), β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), amyloid-β (Aβ), tau, and synaptophysin were measured 7 days after tMCAO. Results We found that administration of ALA after cerebral I/R injury reduced cerebral infarction, brain edema, and improved neurologic deficits and cognitive impairment. In parallel, ALA reduced the expression of APP, BACE1, Aβ, and phosphorylated tau in the hippocampus, down-regulated the activation of GSK-3β and microglia, and improved the integrity of neuronal synapses. Conclusion ALA alleviated the severity of cerebral I/R injury and AD-related pathologies, preserved neuronal integrity, and improved cognitive impairment by down-regulating the activation of GSK-3β and microglia.

We theoretically investigated hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) on the XRD observed (100), (110), (111), and (210) surfaces of pyrite structure CoS2. The random structure searching method was employed in this work to thoroughly and less-biasedly identify the active sites for each considered surface. We calculated the free energy of hydrogen adsorption, and found that (110) and (210) surfaces are more active than the conventionally assumed (100) facet. While the lowest energy active site on the (100) and (210) surfaces is the five-coordinated transition metal site that is commonly seen in other HER catalysts, the lowest energy active site on the (110) surface is the two-coordinated S site, which is a S tetrahedron with two corners missing. Besides those lowest energy active sites, both (110) and (210) have more than one species of active site on the surface, including not fully coordinated transition metals and sulfur. We further explored the reaction for MnS2, FeS2, and NiS2, and analyzed the density of states. Our results showed both CoS2 and NiS2 (110) and (210) surfaces are catalytically reactive for HER.

Background and aims Renal dysfunction is a potent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including stroke. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of admission estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels on short-term (1-month) and long-term (1-year) mortality in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods From the Taiwan Stroke Registry data, we classified ischemic stroke patients, identified from April 2006 to December 2015, into 5 groups by eGFR at admission: ≥ 90, 60–89, 30–59, 15–29, and Results Among 52,732 ischemic stroke patients, 1480 died within one month. The 1-month mortality rate was over 5-fold greater in patients with eGFR Conclusions After acute ischemic stroke, patients with reduced eGFR are at elevated risks of short-term and long-term deaths in a graded relationship.

Four nickel-iron metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells with a diameter of 2.4 cm and a cathode active area of 1.76 cm 2 are fabricated by atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) and heat-treated in air at 850 °C and 500 g cm −2 pressure for 4 h. These cells with the same functional layer materials have electrolyte layers produced by different APS torch powers, but the APS fabrication parameters for other functional layers of these cells are kept the same. XRD data show that there is a LaSrGaO 4 impurity phase in the prepared dense LSGM electrolyte produced at 54 kW torch power. According to experimental data on the current-voltage-power and AC impedance measurements at temperatures ranging from 550 to 800 °C, the cell with dense LSGM electrolyte produced at 52 kW torch power has the best power performance and the lowest electrolyte resistance and the corresponding delivered power densities at 0.7 V for 550, 600, 650, 700, 750 and 800 °C temperatures are 0.147, 0.271, 0.426, 0.585, 0.716 and 0.796 W cm −2 , respectively.

We investigated the impact of serum cholesterol levels on 30-day mortality after ischemic stroke in dialysis patients.From the Taiwan Stroke Registry data, we identified 46,770 ischemic stroke cases, including 1101 dialysis patients and 45,669 nondialysis patients from 2006 to 2013.Overall, the 30-day mortality was 1.46-fold greater in the dialysis group than in the nondialysis group (1.75 versus 1.20 per 1000 person-days). The mortality rates were 1.64, .62, 2.82, and 2.23 per 1000 person-days in dialysis patients with serum total cholesterol levels of 120 mg/dL, 120-159 mg/dL, 160-199 mg/dL, and ≥200 mg/dL, respectively. Compared to dialysis patients with serum total cholesterol levels of 120-159 mg/dL, the corresponding adjusted hazard ratios of mortality were 4.20 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01-17.4), 8.06 (95% CI = 2.02-32.2), and 6.89 (95% CI = 1.59-29.8) for those with cholesterol levels of 120 mg/dL, 160-199 mg/dL, and ≥200 mg/dL, respectively.Dialysis patients with serum total cholesterol levels of ≥160 mg/dL or 120 mg/dL on admission are at an elevated hazard of 30-day mortality after ischemic stroke.

In this study, the large-scale mold for compression molding process is prepared and a compression load of 120 ton is applied to form a porous alloy specimen with dimension of 12×12×1.2 cm. The carbon is used as pyrolyzable filler in the period of manufacturing processes in order to produce porous interconnected networks of molybdenum (Mo)-containing nickel (Ni)-based alloy. The specimens are sintered in hydrogen at the temperature of 1250°C to obtain porous alloy substrate. The flexural strength of porous alloy supporting component is measured in this work. The strength of porous alloy substrate (Sintered at 1250°C) in three-point flexure at 25°C and 750°C are 188 MPa and 76.5 MPa, respectively. Metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells (MS-SOFCs) are fabricated by thermal plasma spraying technique and the anode (Ce0.55La0.45O2-δ -NiO,LDC-NiO), electrolyte (La0.8Sr0.2Ga0.8Mg0.2O3-δ, LSGM) and cathode (Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3- δ,SSC) functional layers are deposited onto porous alloy substrate. The 10×10 cm2 MS-SOFC with effective electrode area of 81 cm2 shows the open circuit voltages is 1.09 V at 700°C. The measured maximum output power densities (@0.76V) of this cell has reached 588 mW/cm2 at 700°C by employing hydrogen as fuel and air as oxidant.

We theoretically investigated hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) on the XRD observed (100), (110), (111), and (210) surfaces of pyrite structure CoS

Metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells (MS-SOFCs) are prepared by the high-temperature plasma spraying technique in this paper. The positive electrolyte and negative functional layers are deposited onto porous alloy substrate using thermal plasma in the air. The porous alloy supporting component is produced by molding ( $6 \times 6$ cm2), pressing (35 ton), and sintering (e.g., 1000 °C, 1100 °C, 1200 °C, and 1250 °C). The $5 \times 5$ -cm2 MS-SOFC with an effective electrode area of 16 cm2 shows that the open-circuit voltages are 0.95 V (Cell-1100), 1.09 V (cell-1200), and 1.08 V (Cell-1250) at 650 °C. In addition, the maximum power at a cell potential of 0.6 V is 5.7 W (Cell-1100), 11.5 W (Cell-1200), and 12.1 W (Cell-1250) at 650 °C. Thermal expansion coefficient of porous alloy supporting component is also measured in this paper. MS-SOFCs without cracking and deforming following thermal plasma spraying process have good electrical performance. Atmospheric plasma spraying method is revealed as a suitable deposition technique for manufacturing MS-SOFCs.

Melanoma is notoriously resistant to current cancer therapy. However, the chemoresistance mechanism of melanoma remains unclear. The present study unveiled that chemotherapy drug cisplatin induced the formation of giant cells, which exhibited enlargement in cell diameter and nucleus in mice and human melanoma cells. Giant cells were positive with melanoma maker S100 and cancer stem cell markers including ABCB5 and CD133 in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, giant cells retained the mitotic ability with expression of proliferation marker Ki-67 and exhibited multiple drug resistance to doxorubicin and actinomycin D. The mitochondria genesis/activities and cellular ATP level were significantly elevated in giant cells, implicating the demand for energy supply. Application of metabolic blockers such as sodium azide or 2-deoxy glucose abolished the cisplatin-induced giant cells formation and expression of cancer stemness markers. The present study unveils a novel chemoresistance mechanism of melanoma cells via size alteration and the anti-neoplastic strategy by targeting giant cells.

Objective: This study was to assess the 30-day and 1-year mortality associated with serum triglyceride levels on admission for patients with acute ischemic stroke using the Taiwan Stroke registry (TSR) data. Patients and methods: From the TSR database, we identified 45931 acute ischemic stroke patients from April 2006 to April 2014 and stratified them into 3 groups by the serum triglyceride level measured on admission: 200 mg/dL, those with triglyceride levels

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic debilitating anxiety disorder significant in intrusive thoughts and compensation repetitive behaviors. Few studies have reported on this condition Asia. This study estimated the prevalence, incidence and psychiatric comorbidities of OCD in Taiwan. We identified study subjects for 2000-2008 with a principal diagnosis of OCD according to the International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) diagnostic criteria by using National Health Research Institute database. These patients received either outpatient or inpatient care for their condition. Rates were directly age- and sex-adjusted to the 2004 Taiwan population distribution. The estimated mean annual incidence was 27.57 per 10(5) inhabitants and the one year prevalence was 65.05 per 10(5) inhabitants. Incidence and prevalence increased with age, peaking at age 18-24 years in males and at 35-44 years in females. About 53% of adults (≥18 years) and 48% of child and adolescent patients (6-17 years) had one or more comorbid psychiatric conditions. The most common comorbid diagnosis was depressive disorders for both adult and child-adolescent patients. We found a lower prevalence and incidence of clinically diagnosed OCD than that of community studies. Many Asian patients with OCD also had various psychiatric comorbidities, a clinically relevant finding.

Samaria-doped ceria (SDC)/La 1− x Sr x Co 1− y Fe y O 3− δ (LSCF) and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ)/Ni were prepared as the cathode and anode of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), respectively, using glancing angle deposition (GLAD) in electron beam physical vapor deposition. Fuel cell current–voltage measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were performed at 600 °C. The investigations of the crystalline structures were examined using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A fluorite structure of SDC and the rhombohedral phase of the LSCF film were obtained. TEM images show that the diameter of each SDC single-crystalline column was approximately 50 nm. The results of scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicate that high-density triple phase boundary (TPB) in the cathode enhances the performance of SOFC.

Whether blogs possess relationship marketing outcomes is a subject that has not been analyzed empirically. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between blog function characteristics and relationship marketing outcomes as well as to clarify the role of tour leaders’ charisma. Online survey data from 415 customers indicate that blog function characteristics have a positive effect on relationship marketing outcomes. Tour leaders’ charisma also has a significant moderating effect on the relationship between blog function characteristics and relationship marketing outcomes. Implications of these findings as well as future research are subsequently discussed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Objective The relationship between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the risk of dementia remains controversial. This population based study was designed to estimate and compare the risk of dementia in TBI and non-TBI individuals during the 5 year period after TBI. Methods This study was a retrospective cohort study. Data were obtained from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000. We included 44 925 patients receiving ambulatory or hospital care and 224 625 non-TBI patients; patients were matched for sex, age and year of index use of healthcare. Patients Results During the 5 year follow-up period, 1196 TBI (2.66%) and 224 625 non-TBI patients (1.53%) patients developed dementia. During the 5 year follow-up period, TBI was independently associated with a 1.68 (range 1.57–1.80) times greater risk of dementia after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and selected comorbidities. Conclusions The findings of this study suggest an increased risk of dementia among individuals with TBI. We suggest the need for more intensive medical monitoring and health education in individuals with TBI.

Yttrium doped zirconia (YSZ) film was deposited on poly-crystalline 10 at.% samaria doped ceria (SDC) and YSZ plate (doped with 8 at.% yttria) by electron beam evaporation deposition. For electrolyte application in solid oxide fuel cells, YSZ can be used with SDC and act as an electron barrier. The conductivity of YSZ and SDC was measured after sintering at 1000 °C. Results indicated that YSZ film became columnar structure, and a new layer formed between the YSZ film and SDC, due to the inter-diffusion between zirconium ions and cerium ions.

Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) are a metabolite of probiotics which have gained wide interest recently, but little is known about their function. EPS was isolated from Bifidobacterium longum BCRC 14634 and sterilized by 0.22 μm filter. The proliferation of J77A.1 macrophages and their secretion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) was elevated after treatment with heat-killed B. longum or 5 μg/mL EPS. The endotoxin, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), a potent inducer of pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), significantly suppressed the growth of J77A.1 cells, and induced the secretion of TNF-α from J774A.1 cells. Furthermore, 24h pretreatment with 5 μg/ml EPS suppressed 100 ng/ml LPS-induced cell growth inhibition and release of TNF-α from J774A.1 cells. Additional experiments showed that 80 μg/mL EPS had antimicrobial activity against 7 species of food-spoilage and infection bacteria. Our results suggest that EPS from B. longum might be useful as a mild immune modulator for macrophages, contributing to the capacity of B. longum to fight against gastrointestinal infections, and even some food-spoilage microbe.

Porous bilayer films of yttria-doped zirconia and strontia-doped lanthanum manganite are deposited by using electron beam evaporation. For practical use in solid oxide fuel cells, fully-stabilized zirconia is a candidate for the solid electrolyte due to its high oxygen diffusion rate. Longer triple phase boundary, which consists of catalyst, reacting gas and solid electrolyte in the cathode, is helpful for the exchange of oxygen gas and ions. By glancing angle deposition, higher density of triple phase boundary is achieved in the form of catalyst and electrolyte bilayer structure. This kind of triple phase boundary can be estimated from SEM images and it is rather easier than from conventional composite cathode which can only be analyzed with assistance of mathematic simulation. The resistance of this bilayer at 600 °C is ten times lower than porous catalyst single layer.

Ischemic stroke, caused by obstruction of blood flow to the brain, would initiate microglia activation which contributes to neuronal damage. Therefore, inhibition of microglia-mediated neuroinflammation could be a therapeutic strategy for ischemic stroke. This study was aimed to elucidate the anti-inflammatory effects of alpha-lipoic acid and etanercept given either singly or in combination in rats subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion. Both α-lipoic acid and etanercept markedly reduced cerebral infarct, blood-brain barrier disruption, and neurological motor deficits with the former drug being more effective with the dosage used. Furthermore, when used in combination, the reduction was more substantial. Remarkably, a greater diminution in the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha as well as the brain levels of microglial activation (e.g., microgliosis, amoeboid microglia, and microglial overexpression of tumor necrosis factor-α) was observed with the combined drug treatment as compared to the drugs given separately. We conclude that inhibition of peripheral tumor necrosis factor-alpha as well as downregulation of brain microglial activation by alpha-lipoic acid or etanercept protect rat brain against ischemic stroke. Moreover, when both drugs were used in combination, the stroke recovery was promoted more extensively.

Aims and objectives This study identified the factors that affect health-related quality of life at one and six months post-stroke in women who have undergone a mild stroke and that affect their informal caregivers’ psychological health status. Background Middle-aged women perform the main care roles in a family. When they suffer a stroke, it upsets the equilibrium of their family life. Design This is a longitudinal design. Methods This prospective follow-up study recruited 41 middle-aged women stroke survivors (mean age = 54·95, SD = 9·63) and their informal caregivers (mean age = 41·56, SD = 15·93). The Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to assess stroke survivor's health-related quality of life, and the Chinese Health Questionnaire was used to measure the level of depression of the stroke survivor's informal caregiver. Data were analysed through descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and the generalised estimating equation approach for modelling repeatedly measures. Results All stroke survivors showed significant improvement in the physical component summary of the health-related quality of life at one and six months after stroke, but there was no significant difference in the mental component summary. In addition, there was no significant difference in the health of the informal caregivers of the women over time. Generalised estimating equation analysis showed that the most important determinant of mental component summary of health-related quality of life among women stroke survivors was cognitive appraisal. The informal caregivers’ most important determinants of health status, as measured by level of depression, were their sense of coherence, burden and patients’ mental component summary of the health-related quality of life. Conclusion This study highlights the impact of cognitive appraisal in determining health-related quality of life of women stroke survivors and how it affects their caregivers’ mental health. Relevance to clinical practice The findings of this study may contribute to home care nurses’ understanding the importance of the psychosocial impact of the stroke for the survivor and their ability to help the surviving women to promote the confidence needed for self-care, which will contribute to their quality of life and affect their caregivers’ health.

A diet consisting of high levels of saturated fat has been linked to a dramatic rise in obesity. Long-term exposure to high fat, “Western diet” (WD), is detrimental to ischemic brain injury. Adiponectin receptor 1 (ADR-1) activation is also shown to exacerbate ischemic neuronal death. However, it is not known whether increasing percentages of adiponectin (APN)-containing neurons attenuates ischemic neuronal apoptosis by modulating ADRS. To explore the role of APN and its ADRs in the development of acute cerebral injury, we subjected WD and control diet (CD) rats to 1 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by 23 h of reperfusion. Compared with CD rats, WD rats exhibited higher levels of brain infarct, neurologic deficits, brain edema, and apoptosis of APN-containing neurons; upregulation of both ADR-1 and P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (P38MAPK); and downregulation of ADR-2 in ischemic brain tissues including frontal cortex, striatum, and hippocampus. Increasing percentages of APN-containing neurons by baculovirus-mediated administration of APN, in addition to reducing apoptosis of APN-containing neurons in ischemic brain tissues, significantly attenuated brain infarct and edema, neurologic deficits, and altered expression of ADR-1, P38MAPK, and ADR-2 in both WD and CD group rats. These data suggest a negative correlation between percentages of APN-containing neurons and cerebral ischemic injury. Obesity could exacerbate rat cerebral ischemic injury by enhancing apoptosis of APN-containing neurons in ischemic brain tissues probably via modulating ADRs and P38MAPK.

Ceria truncated nano-tetrahedron islands, triangular plate stacks, and columns were deposited using EB-PVD and the application of glancing angle deposition (GLAD). The film surface morphology and nano-structures were characterized using FE-SEM, and TEM, respectively. The {111} facets were the dominant plane on the film surface, and the islands grew in a particular direction toward these plates.

Objective To delineate the relationship between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and mood disorders from population-based data in Taiwan. Study design This prospectively followed cohort study involved a subset of the National Health Insurance Research Database containing complete inpatient and outpatient data of 1 million randomly drawn beneficiaries. We included 10- to 24-year-old patients (n = 15 203) receiving the diagnosis of TBI in ambulatory visits or hospitalization from 2000-2004 and their age- and sex-matched comparison insureds using health service in the same year (n = 76 015). Diagnosis of mood disorders was recorded within 5 years after the traumatic event or index use of health service. Baseline demographics, clinical characteristics, and premorbid psychiatric conditions were compared using χ2 analysis. Increased risk during the 5-year follow-up period was represented by crude and adjusted hazard ratios with 95% CI using a Cox proportional hazard regression. Results A total of 451/15 203 patients with TBI (2.97%) received a diagnosis of mood disorders in the 5-year follow-up period compared with 1153/97 445 individuals (1.52%) without antecedent TBI. After adjusting for select premorbid comorbidities, TBI remained a significant predisposing factor with a 1.96-fold (95% CI 1.74-2.22) increase in risk of mood disorders. Conclusions Our findings show a higher likelihood of manifesting mood disorders in adolescents and young adults who sustained a prior TBI. Health professionals should carefully monitor both the physical and psychological impacts of head trauma.

Magnesium sulfate and nimesulide are commonly used drugs with reported neuroprotective effects. Their combination as stroke treatment has the potential benefits of decreasing individual drug dosage and fewer adverse effects. This study evaluated their synergistic effects and compared a low-dose combination with individual drug alone and placebo. Sprague-Dawley rats underwent 90 min of focal ischemia with intraluminal suture occlusion of the middle cerebral artery followed by reperfusion. The rats were randomly assigned to receive one of the following treatments: placebo, magnesium sulfate (MgSO4; 45 mg/kg) intravenously immediately after the induction of middle cerebral artery occlusion, nimesulide (6 mg/kg) intraperitoneally before reperfusion, and combined therapy. Three days after the ischemia-reperfusion insult, therapeutic outcome was assessed by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining and a 28-point neurological severity scoring system. Cyclooxygenase-2, prostaglandin E2, myeloperoxidase, and caspase-3 expression after treatment were evaluated using Western blot analyses and immunohistochemical staining, followed by immunoreactive cell analysis using tissue cytometry. Only the combination treatment group showed a significant decrease in infarction volume (10.93±6.54% versus 26.43±7.08%, p

Ultraviolet C (UVC) is a DNA damage inducer, and 20 J/m(2) of UVC irradiation caused cell growth inhibition and induced cell death after exposure for 24-36 h. The growth of NIH 3T3 cells was significantly suppressed at 24 h after UVC irradiation whereas the proliferation of A431 cells was inhibited until 36 h after UVC irradiation. UVC irradiation increased COX-2 expression and such up-regulation reached a maximum during 3-6 h in NIH 3T3 cells. In contrast, UVC-induced COX-2 reached a maximum after 24-36 h in A431 cells. Measuring prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) level showed a biphasic profile that PGE2 release was rapidly elevated in 1-12 h after UVC irradiation and increased again at 24 h in both cell lines. Treatment with the selective COX-2 inhibitor, SC-791, during maximum expression of COX-2 induction, attenuated the UVC induced-growth inhibition in NIH 3T3 cells. In contrast, SC-791 treatment after UVC irradiation enhanced death of A431 cells. These data showed that the patterns of UVC-induced PGE2 secretion from NIH 3T3 cells and A431 cells were similar despite the differential profile in UVC-induced COX-2 up-regulation. Besides, COX-2 might play different roles in cellular response to UVC irradiation in various cell lines.

Introduction Heatstroke has been defined as a form of hyperthermia associated with a systemic inflammatory response that leads to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). It has also been documented that heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) preconditioning is able to induce thermotolerance. Here, the authors further investigated whether hypobaric hypoxia preconditioning (HHP) improved the MODS in heatstroke by up-regulation of HSP70. Methods Anesthetized rats were randomly assigned to (a) non-HHP + nonheated group, (b) non-HHP + heated group, (c) HHP + heated group and (d) HHP + HSP70 antibodies (Abs) + heated groups. All heated groups were exposed to heat stress (43°C, 70 minutes) to induce heatstroke. For HHP, animals were exposed to 0.66 atmosphere absolute (18.3% O 2 ) for 5 hours daily for consecutive 5 days per week for 2 weeks before the start of heat exposure. Results HHP significantly (i) attenuated hypotension, (ii) reduced plasma index of the toxic oxidizing radicals and the organ injury indicator, (iii) attenuated plasma systemic inflammatory response molecules, (iv) reduced an index of infiltration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils in the lung like myeloper-oxidase activity, (v) promoted plasma levels of an anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10, (vi) promoted the survival time to fourfold compared with non-HHP group and (vii) promoted the overexpression of HSP70 in different organs (eg, the lung) during heatstroke. The beneficial effects of HHP could be significantly attenuated by HSP70 Ab preconditioning. Conclusion Our results show that HHP protects rats from heat-induced MODS via up-regulating HSP70. Thus, HHP could be a novel strategy for the prevention of heatstroke animals or patients before heat exposure.

The effects of brief actinomycin D treatment (0.1 microgram/ml, 0.5 h) on inhibition of cell growth and colony formation were studied in synchronized HeLa cells. Cells in late S and G2 phases were found to be maximally sensitive to inhibition of cell growth and colony formation after short exposure to actinomycin D. Cells in G1 and early S phases were less responsive to brief actinomycin D treatment, although there was a slowdown of cell growth between 24 and 48 h after removal of actinomycin D, recovery of cell growth was observed late (> 48 h) after drug removal. Cells in mitosis were maximally resistant to brief actinomycin D treatment, and continued to grow as did the control cells without drug. The effects of actinomycin D on inhibition of cell growth and colony formation were abolished by novobiocin but not by aphidicolin present during a brief actinomycin D treatment of cells at various cell cycle stages. Our results suggest that the effect of actinomycin D is cell cycle phase-dependent and may be involved in the action of topoisomerase II. Furthermore, actinomycin D at a low dose (0.1 microgram/ml, 0.5 h) induced a slight G1 block while a brief exposure to high dose actinomycin D (1.0 microgram/ml, 0.5 h) caused a slowdown in the rate of cell progression through S and G2/M phases. Similar S and G2/M phase block was seen in cells that had been briefly treated with actinomycin D (0.1 microgram/ml; 0.5 h) during late S and G2 phases.

Nucleophosmin (NPM/B23) is a nucleolar phosphoprotein involved in cellular response to many different stimuli. Herein, we studied the molecular mechanism of NPM/B23 induction by curcumin, a natural AP-1 inhibitor with antitumor properties. Exposure to 5-30 μM curcumin significantly and dose-dependently increased the level of NPM/B23 in non-transformed NIH 3T3 cells but not HeLa cells and F9 cells. Besides, the transformed F9 and HeLa cells are more sensitive to curcumin-induced cell death and growth inhibition than NIH 3T3 cells. Overexpression of c-Jun, but not c-Fos, decreased ∼40% of NPM/B23 and enhanced the sensitivity of NIH 3T3 cells to 30 μM curcumin. Furthermore, down-regulation of NPM/B23 by transfection with NPM/B23 antisense plasmid enhanced the sensitivity to curcumin-induced cell death and growth inhibition. These results indicated that NPM/B23 expression regulates cellular sensitivity to curcumin. Besides, NPM/B23 knockdown may facilitate as a novel strategy to promote the sensitivity of cancer cells to curcumin.