Evaluating Mild Cognitive Dysfunction in Patients with Parkinson's Disease in Clinical Practice in Taiwan.

Our study aimed to examine the contribution of commonly used tools, including the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and develop a formula for conversion of these tests in the Chinese population. We also create a predictive model for the detection of Chinese patients' mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We recruited 168 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) from 12 medical centres or teaching hospitals in Taiwan, and each participant received a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment.

Passive Magnetic-Flux-Concentrator Based Electromagnetic Targeting System for Endobronchoscopy.

In this paper, we demonstrate an innovative electromagnetic targeting system utilizing a passive magnetic-flux-concentrator for tracking endobronchoscope used in the diagnosis process of lung cancer tumors/lesions. The system consists of a magnetic-flux emitting coil, a magnetic-flux receiving electromagnets-array, and high permeability silicon-steel sheets rolled as a collar (as the passive magnetic-flux-concentrator) fixed in a guide sheath of an endobronchoscope. The emitting coil is used to produce AC magnetic-flux, which is consequently received by the receiving electromagnets-array.

Two novel lipases purified from rice bran displaying lipolytic and esterification activities.

In this study, two novel lipases, rice bran lipase 1 (RBL1) and rice bran lipase 2 (RBL2), were first identified in rice (Oryza sativa) bran. Through the purification by ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography and size-exclusion chromatography, RBL1 and RBL2 were purified to 36- and 339-fold with the final specific activity of 4.73 and 44.

Bi-functional fusion enzyme EG-M-Xyn displaying endoglucanase and xylanase activities and its utility in improving lignocellulose degradation.

In this study, the gene fusion of endoglucanase (EG, one of cellulases) from Teleogryllus emma and xylanase (Xyn, one of hemicellulases) from Thermomyces lanuginosus was constructed to generate a fusion enzyme (EG-M-Xyn). Through the expression and purification by ultrafiltration and size-exclusion chromatography, the purified EG-M-Xyn had a molecular weight of 75.5 kDa and exhibited the specific activity of CMCase and xylanase as 306.

PDD-5S: A useful screening tool for Parkinson's disease dementia.

Introduction: Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) contributes to poor quality of life and increases the mortality risk. Early detection and diagnosis of PDD are essential for clinical care.

Methods: We recruited patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD), who underwent clinical assessments and neuropsychological tests, at 12 teaching hospitals in Taiwan.

HHP1, a novel signalling component in the cross-talk between the cold and osmotic signalling pathways in Arabidopsis.

Heptahelical protein 1 (HHP1) is a negative regulator in abscisic acid (ABA) and osmotic signalling in Arabidopsis. The physiological role of HHP1 was further investigated in this study using transgenic and knock-out plants. In HHP1::GUS transgenic mutants, GUS activity was found to be mainly expressed in the roots, vasculature, stomata, hydathodes, adhesion zones, and connection sites between septa and seeds, regions in which the regulation of turgor pressure is crucial.

HHP1 is involved in osmotic stress sensitivity in Arabidopsis.

HHP1 (heptahelical protein 1), a protein with a predicted seven transmembrane domain structure homologous to adiponectin receptors (AdipoRs) and membrane progestin receptors (mPRs), has been characterized. Expression of HHP1 was increased in response to abscisic acid (ABA) and salt/osmotic stress as shown by quantitative real-time PCR and HHP1 promoter-controlled GUS activity. The HHP1 T-DNA insertion mutant (hhp1-1) showed a higher sensitivity to ABA and osmotic stress than the wild-type (WT), as revealed by the germination rate and post-germination growth rate.