Bardoxolone treatment alleviates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury through suppressing inflammation and oxidative stress regulated by Nrf2 signaling.

Nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) plays critical roles in attenuating various inflammation- and oxidative stress-induced diseases, including acute lung injury (ALI). Bardoxolone (Bard), a synthetic triterpenoid based on natural product oleanolic acid, is one of the most potent Nrf2 activator. However, if Bard could prevent lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI by inducing Nrf2 activation and its down-streaming signals, is still poorly understood.

Multi/demulti-plexer based on transverse mode conversion in photonic crystal waveguides.

A novel mode multiplexer and demultiplexer (MMUX/DEMMUX) based on 2-D photonic crystal (PC) at 1550 nm is proposed. The PC-based mode MMUX/DEMMUX including mode conversion function with a single-mode and multi-mode waveguides can be realized by quasi phase-matching TE(0) & TE(1) modes of two waveguides. 2DFinite-Difference-Time-Domain and beam propagation methods are used for simulation.

Apelin attenuates the osteoblastic differentiation of aortic valve interstitial cells via the ERK and PI3-K/Akt pathways.

Aortic valve calcification (AVC), which used to be recognized as a passive and irreversible process, is now widely accepted as an active and regulated process characterized by osteoblastic differentiation of aortic valve interstitial cells (AVICs). Apelin, the endogenous ligand for G-protein-coupled receptor APJ, was found to have protective cardiovascular effects in several studies. However, the effects and mechanisms of apelin on osteoblastic differentiation of AVICs have not been elucidated.

Effectiveness of YouTube as a Source of Medical Information on Heart Transplantation.

Background: In this digital era, there is a growing tendency to use the popular Internet site YouTube as a new electronic-learning (e-learning) means for continuing medical education. Heart transplantation (HTx) remains the most viable option for patients with end-stage heart failure or severe coronary artery disease. There are plenty of freely accessible YouTube videos providing medical information about HTx.

Optically-controlled high-speed terahertz wave modulator based on nonlinear photonic crystals.

An optically-controlled terahertz (THz) modulator based on nonlinear photonic crystals (PCs) is proposed, which has the merits of high speed, compactness and easy integration. The PC structure consists of point and line defects. High speed modulation of THz wave can be realized by filling one of the point defects with organic polymer polyaniline which has rapid nonlinear response time.

[Quantitation of telomerase activity using the polymerase chain reaction-based enzyme immunoassay and its clinical application].

Objective: To investigate detective methodology of telomerase activity and its clinical application.

Methods: The telomerase activity was quantitated by polymerase chain reaction-base enzyme immunoassay (PCR-EIA). The TS primer was biotinylated (TS-B), and CX primer was digoxigeninated (CX-D).