The association between glycated albumin, glycohemoglobin, and glycated albumin to glycohemoglobin ratio in diabetic retinopathy of prediabetes.

Prediabetes increased risk of diabetes and diabetes-related macrovascular and microvascular complication. Glycohemoglobin (HbA ) is clinically used as the gold standard for glycemic control of diabetes. Glycated albumin (GA) is an early Amadori-type glycation protein between glucose and serum albumin, which changes in a shorter period of time than HbA and is superior to HbA in reflecting fluctuations in blood glucose.

Impact of Excessive Sublimation Cooling on the Internal Temperature of Passive Shippers Cooled by Dry Ice.

The internal temperature of a passive thermal shipper employing dry ice as the coolant often decreases to less than the equilibrium sublimation point (-78.5°C) during shipment. In this paper, we demonstrate that in many cases, this unexpected phenomenon is due to excessive sublimation cooling by the dry ice.

GREATER LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN CHOLESTEROL VARIABILITY INCREASES THE RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS.

Variability in lipid levels has been associated with poor cardiovascular outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to investigate whether low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) variability can be used to predict cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). A total of 5,354 patients with type 2 DM were enrolled in this study.

Fluid Shear Stress Induces Cell Cycle Arrest in Human Urinary Bladder Transitional Cell Carcinoma Through Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor-Smad1/5 Pathway.

Introduction: Mechanical force generated from the interstitial fluid flow inside and surrounding tissue has been known to play a significant role in cancer pathophysiology. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of laminar shear stress (LSS) in modulating the cell cycle of human bladder transitional carcinoma (BFTC-905) cells which are frequently stimulated by not only the interstitial fluid flow, but also the urine flow transported from kidney to bladder in the urinary tract.

Methods: The BFTC-905 cells were subjected to 0-12 dynes cm LSS for 1, 4, 8, or 12 h, respectively, followed by cellular and molecular assays for investigations of cell cycle regulation protein expressions, cell growth rates, and the potential mechanism.

A microfluidic chip for formation and collection of emulsion droplets utilizing active pneumatic micro-choppers and micro-switches.

The formation of emulsification droplets is crucial for many industrial applications. This paper reports a new microfluidic chip capable of formation and collection of micro-droplets in liquids for emulsion applications. This microfluidic chip comprising microchannels, a micro-chopper and a micro-switch was fabricated by using micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) technology.

Avian influenza virus hemagglutinin display on baculovirus envelope: cytoplasmic domain affects virus properties and vaccine potential.

Hemagglutinin (HA) is the major immunogen on the envelope of avian influenza virus (AIV). Therefore we constructed two recombinant baculoviruses: Bac-HA, expressing histidine-tagged HA with the cytoplasmic domain (CTD) derived from HA, and Bac-HA64, expressing histidine-tagged HA with the CTD derived from baculovirus envelope protein gp64. After infection, HA with either CTD was expressed and anchored on the plasma membrane of Sf-9 cells, as revealed by confocal microscopy.

Accelerated induction of apoptosis in insect cells by baculovirus-expressed SARS-CoV membrane protein.

It has been shown that severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) 3a and 7a proteins, but not membrane (M) protein, induce apoptosis in mammalian cells. Upon expression of SARS-CoV M protein using the baculovirus/insect cell expression system, however, we found that the expressed M protein triggered accelerated apoptosis in insect cells, as characterized by rapid cell death, elevated cytotoxicity, cell shrinkage, nuclear condensation and DNA fragmentation. Conversely, the M protein expressed in mammalian cells did not induce apoptosis.

Efficient expression of histidine-tagged large hepatitis delta antigen in baculovirus-transduced baby hamster kidney cells.

Aim: To study the baculovirus/mammalian cell system for efficient expression of functional large hepatitis delta antigen (L-HDAg).

Methods: A recombinant baculovirus expressing histidine-tagged L-HDAg (L-HDAgH) was constructed to transduce baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells by a simplified transduction protocol.

Results: The recombinant baculovirus transduced BHK cells with efficiencies higher than 90% as determined by flow cytometry.

Expression, purification and characterization of enterovirus-71 virus-like particles.

Aim: Enterovirus 71 (EV71) has been implicated as the etiological agent responsible for the recent outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease associated with severe neurological diseases in the Asia-Pacific region.

Methods: The assembly process was hypothesized to occur via an orchestrated proteolytic processing of the P1 precursor by the viral protease 3CD. To test this hypothesis, we constructed 3 recombinant baculoviruses: Bac-P1 expressing P1; Bac-3CD expressing 3CD; and Bac-P1-3CD co-expressing P1 and 3CD.

Determination of the baculovirus transducing titer in mammalian cells.

Baculovirus has emerged as a promising vector for in vivo or ex vivo gene therapy. To date, the infectious titer and multiplicity of infection (MOI) based on the ability of baculovirus to infect insect cells are commonly adopted to indicate the virus dosage. However, the infectious titer and MOI do not reliably represent the baculovirus transducing ability, making the comparison of baculovirus-mediated gene transfer difficult.

Expression and purification of N and E proteins from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus: a comparative study.

Histidine-tagged N (rNH) and E (rEH) proteins of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-coronovirus were expressed in the baculovirus/insect cell system and purified by immobilized metal affinity chromatography. rNH and rEH proteins differed markedly with respect to expression levels, cell death kinetics and subcellular localizations that led to different extraction and purification schemes. The features of both proteins are compared and the potential applications of purified rNH and rEH are discussed.

Baculovirus-mediated production of HDV-like particles in BHK cells using a novel oscillating bioreactor.

We have recently demonstrated the assembly of hepatitis delta virus-like particles (HDV VLP) by co-transducing hepatoma cells using two recombinant baculoviruses, one encoding hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and one encoding large delta antigen (L-HDAg). In this study, we further demonstrated the assembly and secretion of VLP in other mammalian cells. The assembly efficiency varied depending on cell lines, the baculovirus constructs and the relative dosage of both recombinant viruses.