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TiO 2 nanoparticles are full of porosity that can be impregnated with a strong alkaline catalyst CH 3 ONa to form a TiO 2 /CH 3 ONa catalyst. TiO 2 of the anatase phase, which is a semiconductor material, has been a prominent photocatalyst due to its excited photocatalyst activity, chemical and biological stability, and nontoxicity. The CH 3 ONa compound has been widely used as a catalyst for transesterification. Although the synthesized photocatalyst TiO 2 powder with CH 3 ONa is anticipated to greatly enhance the transesterification efficiency, leading to improving biodiesel properties, relevant studies have not been found. After the photocatalyst was prepared, a reactant mixture of palm oil, methanol, and heterogeneous catalyst TiO 2 /CH 3 ONa was illuminated by ultraviolet (UV) light from light-emitting diode (LED) lamps. The experimental results revealed that the formation of fatty acid methyl esters was significantly increased to 98.4% with ultraviolet-light illumination for the molar ratio of methanol/palm oil equal to 6 and 3 wt % catalyst addition. The decrease of the catalyst amount to 2 wt % resulted in a slight decrease of the fatty acid methyl esters to 97.06 wt %. The lowest kinematic viscosity and acid value and the highest distillation temperature, heating value, and cetane index were observed under the above reaction conditions. The distillation temperature and cetane index were increased while the acid value was decreased under ultraviolet illumination on the reactant mixture. Consequently, the optimum preparing conditions for biodiesel production were 6 and 3 wt % for the molar ratio of methanol/palm oil and catalyst addition under UV-light irradiation., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) pose a critical medical challenge, significantly im-pairing the quality of life of patients. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have been identified as a promising therapeutic approach for improving wound healing in DFUs. Despite extensive exploration of the mechanical aspects of ADSC therapy against DFU, its clinical applications remain elusive. In this review, we aimed to bridge this gap by evaluating the use and advancements of ADSCs in the clinical management of DFUs. The review begins with a discussion of the classification and clinical management of diabetic foot conditions. It then discusses the current landscape of clinical trials, focusing on their geographic distribution, reported efficacy, safety profiles, treatment timing, administration techniques, and dosing considerations. Finally, the review discusses the preclinical strategies to enhance ADSC efficacy. This review shows that many trials exhibit biases in study design, unclear inclusion criteria, and intervention protocols. In conclusion, this review underscores the potential of ADSCs in DFU treatment and emphasizes the critical need for further research and refinement of therapeutic approaches, with a focus on improving the quality of future clinical trials to enhance treatment outcomes and advance the field of diabetic wound care., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article., (©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Wound repair is a complex challenge for both clinical practitioners and researchers. Conventional approaches for wound repair have several limitations. Stem cell-based therapy has emerged as a novel strategy to address this issue, exhibiting significant potential for enhancing wound healing rates, improving wound quality, and promoting skin regeneration. However, the use of stem cells in skin regeneration presents several challenges. Recently, stem cells and biomaterials have been identified as crucial components of the wound-healing process. Combination therapy involving the development of biocompatible scaffolds, accompanying cells, multiple biological factors, and structures resembling the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) has gained considerable attention. Biological scaffolds encompass a range of biomaterials that serve as platforms for seeding stem cells, providing them with an environment conducive to growth, similar to that of the ECM. These scaffolds facilitate the delivery and application of stem cells for tissue regeneration and wound healing. This article provides a comprehensive review of the current developments and applications of biological scaffolds for stem cells in wound healing, emphasizing their capacity to facilitate stem cell adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, and paracrine functions. Additionally, we identify the pivotal characteristics of the scaffolds that contribute to enhanced cellular activity., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article., (©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Benzodipyrrole-2,6-dione-3,7-diylidenedimalononitriles (BDPMs) were synthesized as active materials for the use in air-stable n -type organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), whose optical and electrochemical properties were examined. BDPM-based small molecules exhibit deep lowest unoccupied molecular orbital levels, which are required in air-stable n -type OFETs. An OFET device that was based on BDPM-But and fabricated by vapor deposition provided a maximum electron mobility of 0.131 cm 2 V -1 s -1 under ambient conditions.

The synthesis, characterization, and application of two angular-shaped naphthalene bis(1,5-diamide-2,6-diylidene)malononitriles (NBAMs) as high-performance air-stable n-type organic field effect transistor (OFET) materials are reported. NBAM derivatives exhibit deep lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) levels, suitable for air-stable n-type OFETs. The OFET device based on NBAM-EH fabricated by vapor deposition exhibits a maximum electron mobility of 0.63 cm 2 V -1 s -1 in air with an on/off current ratio ( I on / I off ) of 10 5 .

Purpose: To investigate the meibomian gland (MG) performance in patients with glaucoma under topical intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering medications., Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional case-control study. Patients with glaucoma under different dosages and instillation periods of topical IOP-lowering medications were included. A total of 30 eyes out of 30 healthy participants and 85 eyes out of 85 patients with glaucoma were analyzed. The burden of instilling antiglaucoma agents [burden of antiglaucoma (BAG)] was simply scored for each participant based on the number, formula, frequency, and duration of topical IOP-lowering medications used. All participants completed the MG and tear assessments, including Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness questionnaire, lipid layer thickness, MG secretion and dropout, Schirmer test, tear break-up time, and blinking patterns., Results: Patients with glaucoma had significantly lower Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness scores, thinner lipid layer thickness, worse mebium quality, and lower MG secretion compared with healthy participants. Among the patients with glaucoma, MG loss ratio (P=0.006) and meiboscale (P=0.017) were significantly correlated with the BAG score. Compared with the low BAG group (score <80), the high BAG group (score ≥80) had significantly shorter tear break-up time (P=0.047), lower MG density (P=0.032), higher MG loss ratio (P=0.011), and higher meiboscale (P=0.036)., Conclusions: Patients with a higher BAG agents had more unstable tear films and more severe MG dropout. Therefore, MG disease should be particularly observed in patients with glaucoma following a higher BAG regimen.

Purpose: Developing a DNA dot hybridization model for diagnosing parasitic keratitis., Methods: Newly designed oligonucleotide probes for detecting Acanthamoeba and microsporidia were tested with target reference strains of Acanthamoeba (n = 20) and microsporidia (n = 3), and non-target microorganisms, including bacteria (n = 20) and fungi (n = 20). These probes, which had passed the preliminary tests, were then assembled as a parasite dot hybridization (PDH) model for assessing 33 clinical samples from patients with clinically suspected Acanthamoeba and microsporidia keratitis, including eight positives for Acanthamoeba , 13 positives for microsporidia, and 12 negatives for both pathogens., Results: Two probes for detecting Acanthamoeba and two for detecting microsporidia passed the tests using target and non-target strains and then were assembled in the PDH model. For clinical samples, one Acanthamoeba -positive sample (proved with pathology) was falsely negative according to the PDH assay. The sensitivity and specificity of the PDH assay for diagnosing Acanthamoeba keratitis were 87.5% and 100%, respectively, while the sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing microsporidia keratitis were 100%. The infectious agent of all clinical samples of microsporidia keratitis was identified as Vittaforma corneae with DNA sequencing, while those of Acanthamoeba keratitis were caused by four species of Acanthamoeba , with Acanthamoeba castellanii found in four samples (50%, 4/8)., Conclusions: The PDH model has the potential to be a molecular assay for diagnosing Acanthamoeba and microsporidia keratitis. However, a prospective clinical study might be needed before the model is adopted in routine clinical practice.

Background: The aim of this study was to measure the changes in the bacterial bioburden in orthokeratology (OK) lens storage cases using the DNA dot hybridization assay (DHA) after forewarning patients about their bacterial contamination severity., Methods: Thirty-one OK lens wearers were prospectively enrolled in this study. Dot hybridization assay was used for serial measurements of bacterial bioburden in OK storage cases after lenses had been soaked for approximately 6 hr. After the first assessment, the lens wearers were informed of the extent of case contamination and the possible risk of microbial keratitis (MK), and best practices for lens care and lens case hygiene were reviewed and reinforced. A second assessment by the same DHA method was performed after approximately 6 months., Results: Two universal bacterial probes confirmed a significant decrease in bacterial bioburden at the second assessment (P<0.01 and P<0.001). Genus-specific probes showed significant reductions in Acinetobacter and Klebsiella (P=0.02 and P=0.01), but not in Pseudomonas (P=0.42)., Conclusions: Making OK lens wearers aware of the bacterial bioburden in their lens cases resulted in improved quality of case care and reduced bioburden. Our results suggest that a strategy of bioburden assessment with forewarning could be a useful method to decrease the incidence of OK-related MK.

Purpose: To evaluate a bacterial dot hybridization (BDH) assay for the diagnosis of bacterial keratitis (BK)., Methods: Sixty-one qualified corneal scrapings from 61 patients with suspected microbial keratitis were collected consecutively and prospectively. Among the 61 patients, 16 cases were BK and 45 cases were non-BK, including fungal keratitis, viral keratitis, parasitic keratitis, and non-microbial keratitis. Molecular diagnosis of BK in these corneal scrapes was performed using the BDH assay with three universal bacterial probes (PB1, PB2, and PB3) and three genus-specific probes (Aci, Klb, and Psu) to detect Acinetobacter , Klebsiella , and Pseudomonas , respectively. Signals were standardized after grayscale image transformation for objective validation using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves., Results: The standardized intensities for the three universal probes differed statistically significantly between the BK group and the non-BK group. Based on the ROC curves, the sensitivities of PB1, PB2, and PB3 were 81.3%, 81.3%, and 93.8%, and the specificities were 71.1%, 88.9%, and 91.1%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the Psu probe were 92% and 100%, respectively, while those of the Aci and Klb probes could not be estimated because there were no BK cases caused by Acinetobacter spp. or Klebsiella spp., Conclusions: The BDH assay is an effective molecular approach to improve the diagnosis of BK. Because the bias from bacterial contamination on the ocular surface can be minimized with signal standardization, the assay has the potential to be adopted for routine clinical practice.

Background: To establish the seroepidemiologic data of hepatitis A virus (HAV) vaccine-preventable HAV diseases among school children (7-12 years old) attending elementary schools in New Taipei City, Taiwan. This is a pilot study of an ongoing nationwide study, and will be the reference for a national immunization program., Methods: The school children were selected for samplings, based on a multistage stratified sampling method that included 14 variables (4 socioeducational variables, 4 socioeducational variables, and 6 medical facilities' variables). The 29 administrative districts of New Taipei City were categorized into five strata. In total, 936 school children from 14 schools were recruited and bled for the serologic tests of HAV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method., Results: The seropositive rate for HAV was 8.33% among the 936 children. From each school, the difference in the seropositive rate for HAV ranged 0-18.75%. There was no significant difference between each stratum (p = 0.059) or grade (p = 0.570); however, there was a difference between schools in the first stratum (p = 0.033) that was associated with different vaccination rates. This study also revealed a significantly greater seropositive rate in the vaccination group (p < 0.001) and in females (p = 0.02)., Conclusion: The seropositive rate for the HAV was <10% and was mostly associated with the vaccination status. Because of the low HAV vaccination rate and low seropositive rate for the HAV, an effective hepatitis A vaccine is a useful tool to prevent HAV infection. It is worthy to discuss whether to include the HAV vaccine as part of a routine vaccination program in Taiwan., (Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Purpose: We verified a multiplex dot hybridization (MDH) assay for the rapid detection and differentiation of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) and herpes simplex keratitis (HSK)., Methods: Molecular detection of Acanthamoeba and herpes simplex virus in corneal scrapes was performed with the MDH assay and standard diagnostic methods. The experimental group included corneal scrapes (n = 33) from patients with culture- or pathology-confirmed AK (n = 15) and real-time PCR-confirmed HSK (n = 16). The control group included 50 samples from cases of bacterial keratitis (n = 15), fungal keratitis (n = 15), and initially presumed AK (n = 5) or HSK (n = 17) which finally were excluded by culture for Acanthamoeba or by real-time PCR for herpes simplex virus, respectively. Discrepant results between methods were resolved by DNA sequencing of the PCR amplicons., Results: After discrepant analysis, the sensitivity for the diagnosis of AK and HSK was both 93.3% by the MDH assay, while the specificity was 100% for the two types of keratitis. The turnaround time of MDH assay was within a working day using an already prepared array. Two false-negatives (one AK case and one HSK case) were obtained by the MDH assay., Conclusions: The MDH assay could effectively prevent missed or delayed diagnosis of AK and HSK and has a potential to be adopted in routine clinical practice if the test is commercialized.

Purpose: To develop a PCR gel analysis method for assessing the bacterial bioburden in orthokeratology contact lens (OK) case fluid determined by culture., Methods: A prospective study with the participation of 41 OK wearers (20 girls, 21 boys) was performed. The mean OK-wearing experience was 3.5±1.9 years. PCR was used to assess the bacterial bioburden (colony-forming units per milliliter) of OK after removal and soaking in the storage case for 6 h. The signal intensity of the PCR bands was analyzed after grayscale image transformation. The difference (cPCR-d) and ratio (cPCR-r) between a PCR signal and its background were used as two standardized indices of PCR signals. The association between the two indices of the PCR signals and the bacterial bioburden determined by culture were analyzed with Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) plots., Results: At least one microbe was isolated from the OK lens case from 38 of the 41 subjects. Both cPCR-d and cPCR-r showed strong correlations with the bacterial bioburden (r>0.7, p<0.0001). ROC analysis enabled good determination of the cutoff values for the two PCR indices with acceptable sensitivity and specificity (78-89%) to assess the degree of bacterial contamination., Conclusions: The high microbial contamination rate of the OK lens cases revealed the general inappropriate lens care by OK wearers. PCR analysis provides an alternative and rapid method for assessing the bacterial bioburden of OK lens cases, and these results should serve as a warning to OK wearers to follow appropriate lens care procedures to prevent infection.

Objective: To assess the bioburden in an orthokeratology contact lens (OK) care system (defined by microbial identification from OK case fluid) and to identify the risk factors causing high bioburden for pediatric OK wearers in southern Taiwan., Methods: A prospective study for the investigation of bioburden in the OK care system was performed in a tertiary medical center in southern Taiwan. Microbial isolates from the case fluids soaking OKs were analyzed, and pathogenicity was determined. Age, gender, OK experiences, and contact lens care habits were considered the potential risk factors of microbial bioburden (colony-forming units per milliliter) for causal analysis., Results: Forty-one OK wearers (20 female and 21 male subjects) participated in this study. The mean age was 12.7 years, and the mean OK-wearing experience was 3.5 years. A total of 86 microbial strains were isolated from 38 culture-positive specimens. Frequently reported pathogens in contact lens-related microbial keratitis were less common in the current study, but still present, including 4 strains (5%) of Serratia marcescens, 1 strain (1%) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and 1 strain (1%) of Staphylococcus aureus. Microbial bioburden of the OK care system was significantly higher (P<0.05) in male subjects., Conclusions: The contamination rate of the OK care system was high, and many isolated microorganisms had potential pathogenicity. Reinforcement of proper contact lens care and education should be mandatory for OK wearers, particularly for male subjects, to decrease the risk of high bioburden of the OK care system.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate a DNA dot hybridization assay (DHA) for assessing bacterial bioburden in orthokeratology lens (OK) storage cases., Methods: Forty-one OK wearers participated in this study. The dot hybridization assay was used to assess the bacterial bioburden of OK after removal and 6-hour soaking in a storage case. Signals of the DHA were standardized after gray image transformation. The correlations between the hybridization intensities of three universal bacteria probes (BP1, BP2, and BP3) and bacterial bioburden determined by culture (colony forming units per milliliter) was analyzed by Pearson's correlation coefficient and receiver operating characteristic plots. In addition, three genus-specific probes for Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Klebsiella were used to detect potentially hazardous bacterial contamination regardless of bacterial viability status., Results: Among the three universal probes, there were good correlations between probe BP2 (r2 = 0.31, P = 9.5 × 10(-5)) and probe BP3 (r2 = 0.35, P = 3.1 × 10(-5)) with bacterial bioburden, but no correlation was found between probe BP1 and bacterial bioburden (r2 = 0.04, P = 0.11). In 41 samples, one was Pseudomonas-positive by both DHA and culture, while 10 were Pseudomonas-positive by DHA but negative by culture. Furthermore, nine samples tested positive for Acinetobacter (n = 7) and Klebsiella (n = 2) by DHA only., Conclusions: The dot hybridization assay provides a novel way to assess the bacterial bioburden of OK storage cases. Lens care quality can be assessed with universal bacteria probes, while potentially hazardous bacterial contamination can be traced with genus-specific probes., (Copyright 2015 The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc.)

After extensive synthetic efforts, we found that many structurally diverse bioisosteres could be generated via derivatizing the C-4 alkyl chain on the pyrazole ring of compound 3 (B/P = 1/33) with different electronegative groups. Especially when a sulfonamide or sulfamide moiety was added, resulting compounds exhibited not only potent CB1R activity but also a desired tPSA value over 90 Å(2), a threshold considered to possess a low probability to cross BBB, leading to the identification of compound 4 (B/P = 1/64) as a peripherally restricted CB1R antagonist. Apart from its significant weight-loss efficacy in DIO mice, compound 4 also displays 163 clean off-target profiles and is currently under development for treating obesity and the related metabolic syndrome.

A novel alkynylthiophene series of cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonists has been described to exhibit distinct intrinsic activities with minimal substructure modifications. The three representatives, BPR0432, BPR0568 and BPR0569, functioning as a neutral antagonist, an inverse agonist and a partial agonist, respectively, in GTP binding assay, were further characterized for their downstream signaling activities in relation to in vivo efficacy in appetite suppression to diets of different macronutrients. Interestingly, these three derivatives all behaved as inverse agonists with the potency of BPR0432>BPR0568>BPR0569 in cAMP assay. After administered to non-deprived rats, the potency in appetite suppression was positively related to their strength in intrinsic activity in the first hour of intake. The preferential suppression to high fat and high carbohydrate diets was revealed after 6h and only appeared in the treatment of BPR0568, presumably due to its metabolic stability in addition to its intrinsic activity. These results indicated the suppression of appetite was controlled in a biphasic manner, and these three structurally close but functionally distinct compounds are invaluable tools in elucidating the mechanism of neuronal response to appetite and palatability., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Intensive bone cell apoptosis contributes to osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH). Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) reportedly mediates various types of skeletal disorders. This study investigated whether DKK1 was linked to the occurrence of ONFH. Thirty-nine patients with various stages of ONFH were recruited. Bone specimens were harvested from 34 ONFH patients underwent hip arthroplasty, and from 10 femoral neck fracture patients. Bad, Bcl2 TNFalpha, DKK1, Wnt3a, LRP5, and Axin1 expressions were analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR and ELISA. Apoptotic cells were assayed using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end-labelling (TUNEL). Primary bone-marrow mesenchymal cells were treated with DKK1 RNA interference and recombinant DKK1 protein. ONFH patients with the histories of being administrated corticosteroids and excessive alcohol consumption had significantly higher Bad and DKK1 mRNA expressions in bone tissue and DKK1 abundances in serum than femoral neck fracture patients. Bone cells adjacent to osteonecrotic bone displayed strong DKK1 immunoreactivity and TUNEL staining. Increased DKK1 expression in bone tissue and serum correlated with Bad expression and TUNEL staining. Serum DKK1 abundance correlated with the severity of ONFH. The DKK1 RNA interference and recombinant DKK1 protein regulated Bad expression and apoptosis of primary bone-marrow mesenchymal cells. Knock down of DKK1 reduced dexamethasone-induced apoptosis of mesenchymal cells. Taken together, promoted DKK1 expression was associated with bone cell apoptosis in the occurrence of ONFH patients with the histories of corticosteroid and alcohol intake and progression of ONFH. DKK1 expression in injured tissue provides new insight into ONFH pathogenesis.

By using the active metabolite 5 as an initial template, further structural modifications led to the identification of the titled compound 24 (BPR-890) as a highly potent CB1 inverse agonist possessing an excellent CB2/1 selectivity and remarkable in vivo efficacy in diet-induced obese mice with a minimum effective dose as low as 0.03 mg/kg (po qd) at the end of the 30-day chronic study. Current SAR studies along with those of many existing rimonabant-mimicking molecules imply that around the pyrazole C3-position, a rigid and deep binding pocket should exist for CB1 receptor. In addition, relative to the conventional carboxamide carbonyl, serving as a key hydrogen-bond acceptor during ligand-CB1 receptor interaction, the corresponding polarizable thione carbonyl might play a more critical role in stabilizing the Asp366-Lys192 salt bridge in the proposed CB1-receptor homology model and inducing significant selectivity for CB1R over CB2R.

Replacing the conventional pyrazole 5-aryl substituent of 1 (SR141716A) with the 2-thienyl moiety appended with an appropriate alkynyl unit, a novel class of 5-(5-alkynyl-2-thienyl)pyrazole derivatives, behaving as highly potent CB1 receptor antagonists with good CB1/2 selectivity, was discovered, many of which, as typified by compound 18, showed significant weight reduction in diet-induced obese mouse model, thus pharmacologically validating that the bioisosteric replacement described above is viable. Also encouraging was the finding that a subtle structural modification of the newly developed series could result in a distinct difference in the intrinsic property, as demonstrated by compounds 12 (NA) and its methylated structural isomers 15 (PA) and 18 (IA). Moreover, current structure-activity relationship studies revealed that around the pyrazole 5-position of 1, a deep and flat crevice surrounded by a sequence of hydrophobic/aromatic residues as indicated by the CB1-receptor homology model might exist in the binding site.

We evaluated whether proinflammatory cytokine expression and myofibroblast recruitment in subacromial bursa was linked to rotator cuff lesions with shoulder stiffness. We analyzed expressions of IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha in subacromial bursa and joint fluid collected from 14 patients with cuff tears with stiffness as a study group (Group I) and 14 patients with rotator cuff tears without shoulder stiffness as a control group (Group II) using real-time RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA. Myofibroblast apoptosis in subacromial bursa was analyzed using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase -mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) and alpha-smooth muscle actin immunofluorescence staining. Shoulder function was evaluated using the Constant score. Group I had higher mRNA expression (p < 0.001) and immunoreactivities (p < 0.001) of IL-1beta. They also had higher levels of IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha in joint fluid. Increased IL-1beta mRNA expression in the subacromial bursa and IL-1beta levels in joint fluid were correlated with a preoperative deficit in shoulder motion (p < 0.001) and preoperative Constant scores (p < 0.001). Immunofluorescence observations showed that Group I subjects had more myofibroblasts (p < 0.001) than Group II. In Group II, a significant correlation was found between apoptotic myofibroblasts and total myofibroblasts (p = 0.002), but not in Group I (p = 0.510). Increased expression of IL-1beta and myofibroblast recruitment in the subacromial bursa in rotator cuff lesions are linked to shoulder stiffness.

A novel class of (5-(pent-1-enyl)thiophen-2-yl)pyrazole antagonists was discovered, many of which exhibited potent CB1 activity and good CB1/2 selectivity, suggesting that along with a 1,3-transposition of the carbonyl of the pyrazole 3-carboxamide, bioisosteric replacement of the conventional pyrazole 5-aryl group with a thienyl ring substituted with an appropriate alkenyl moiety is viable.

The effects of four metals (Ag, Au, Pt, and Cu) doped on TiO2 on the photocatalysis of pentachlorophenol (PCP) were investigated. The results of this study indicated that all four metals-doped TiO2 catalysts were able to enhance the efficiency of PCP photocatalysis with an optimum metallic content of 0.1 wt%. For the metal-doped TiO2 samples (Au, Pt, and Cu), the patterns of light absorption were significantly extended toward visible light spectra in the wavelengths between 400 and 800 nm. The photocatalysis of PCP was pH dependent with the maximum degradation rate achieved in the solution at pH 3. The formation of chloride ion corresponded with the concentration of PCP degraded which confirmed that dechlorination was the major pathway of PCP photocatalysis. The overall toxicities of PCP samples were reduced with the extension of light exposure using the microtox test. The results of PCP photocatalysis are also discussed based on the characteristics of metal/TiO2 including X-ray differential (XRD) patterns, Brunquer Emmett Teller (BET) specific area analysis, and Ultra Violet (UV)-Vis absorption spectra.

The percutaneous delivery of PGE1 and its alkyl esters in alcoholic saline solution through hairless mouse skin was compared. The quantification of alkyl esters was based on the same principle as that for PGE1, which was converted to PGB1 to enhance the sensitivity and minimize the interference. Results showed that it was PGE1 that appeared in the receiver compartment for all alkyl esters examined. The flux of all alkyl esters of PGE1 in the same concentration was higher than PGE1 itself at most of saline vehicle with various fractions of alcohol. The maximal flux for a fixed concentration of each alkyl ester appeared at different fractions of alcohol. When the fractions of alcohol was kept constant, the alkyl ester that showed the maximal flux at this concentration appeared to have a longer chain length with increasing the fraction of alcohol. But isopropyl ester deviated from this order. It was concluded that the alkyl ester derivatives promoted the penetration of PGE1 mainly as a result of enhancing the drug partitioning into the stratum corneum. The alcohol fraction that needed to achieve the maximal flux at the same concentration increased with the increase of alkyl chain length, which resulted in the decrease of solubility parameter. It is necessary to optimize the fraction of alcohol in the saline solution in order to achieve the maximal flux at a fixed concentration for these alkyl esters with different alkyl chain length.

We have examined the role of the breast cancer susceptibility genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 and other loci in the vicinity of these 2 genes on the long arms of chromosomes 17 and 13 (17q and 13q) for the presence of genomic deletions in breast cancer among Taiwanese women. Breast cancer in Taiwan is particularly characterized by its low incidence rate and its early age of tumor onset. Twelve microsatellite markers spanning the region 17q12-21 and 8 microsatellite markers spanning the region 13q12-14 were analyzed for allelic loss or loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in 90 patients with primary infiltrating ductal carcinoma. Compared with the background LOH level (10-12%) estimated by LOH at 4 unrelated loci, 17 markers (11 at 17q and 6 at 13q) demonstrated a significantly increased frequency (21-42%) of allelic loss (p < 0.05). Subsequent construction of deletion maps based on LOH at these significant loci localized the 6 smallest regions of overlap, including those harboring BRCA1, BRCA2, the retinoblastoma gene and 3 novel regions (the 1st located approximately 0.5 to 1 cM telomeric to BRCA1, the 2nd centromeric to BRCA1 flanked by D17S857/D17S846 and the 3rd closely adjacent to BRCA2), suggesting sites of susceptibility genes. Allelic loss at BRCA1 and BRCA2 was specifically associated with poorly differentiated tumors.

Cells with abnormal TP53 lose cell cycle checkpoints, resulting in genomic instability and neoplastic transformation. However, the evidence linking the tumor-specific targets of genomic alteration to an abnormal TP53 is limited. The present study tested the hypothesis that TP53 abnormalities are correlated with an increased frequency of deletion of breast cancer susceptibility loci (17q and 13q) in breast carcinomas. Tumors from 90 patients were examined for TP53 abnormality and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 11 loci on 17q (17q11.2-21) and 13q (13q12-14), including the loci for BRCA1 and BRCA2. A higher frequency of LOH was consistently found at 17q or 13q loci in tumors with an abnormal TP53. The increased LOH in relation to TP53 abnormality was statistically significant at the BRCA1, D17S588, and D13S267 loci (P < 0.05) but not at the locus for BRCA2 (P = 0.64). These observations imply a possible link between an abnormal TP53 and specific genomic deletions of breast cancer susceptibility loci, which may provide clues to the role of TP53 during breast tumorigenesis.

Among 114 breast cancers in Taiwan, the prevalence of p53 mutation (22.8%) and p53 accumulation (38.3%) was similar to that in high-incidence areas. However, novel patterns of p53 abnormalities, including unique sites or types of mutation (i.e. an excessive proportion of G:C to A:T transition at CpG site), and accumulation of wild-type p53 either within nuclear or cytoplasmic compartments were noted. These may have relevance to breast cancer in Taiwan, a low-incidence area.

This study was conducted to determine the source of cytomegalovirus (CMV) excretion in children who had persistent viruria. A total of 287 children, ages 3-5 years, enrolled in two kindergartens were followed for 9 months, and 28.8% of 139 CMV-infected children were found to have shed virus persistently in urine for > or = 3 months. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method provided direct evidence to demonstrate differences in CMV strains shed by 32 persistent shedders selected at random. The glycoprotein B (gB) nucleotide regions of CMV were amplified and analyzed by restriction enzyme digestion. The CMV strains shed by most of these children showed different restriction profiles compared with strains from their playmates. It is considered that persistent reactivation of endogenous CMV is the most plausible explanation.

Serum leukoagglutinating activity against the leukocytes of four patients with neutropenia was demonstrated using a modified microcapillary agglutination test. Cells from a panel of donors proved useful in attempting to define the identity of the antigens involved. In one instance anti-HLA-A9 activity could be demonstrated in a patient possessing HLA-A9. In the other three individuals no definite antigen assessment to HLA Series A and B antigens or the Lalezari series of neutrophil antigens could be made. Two of the patients' sera showed cross-reactivity and may be reactive with the same antigen or antigenic group. The microcapillary agglutination test appears to be useful in the evaluation of possible cases of autoimmune neutropenia.