Light-Induced Histidine Adducts to an IgG1 Molecule Via Oxidized Histidine Residue and the Potential Impact of Polysorbate-20 Concentration.

Purpose: Histidine (His) undergoes light-induced reactions such as oxidation, crosslinking and addition. These reactions are initiated by singlet oxygen (O) to generate His photo-oxidation products, which are subject to nucleophilic attack by a non-oxidized His residue from another protein or by nucleophilic buffer components such as Tris and His. This report aims to identify light-induced His-adducts to a monoclonal antibody (mAb-1) due to the reaction of His molecules in the buffer with the photooxidized His residues under ICH light conditions.

E7766, a Macrocycle-Bridged Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) Agonist with Potent Pan-Genotypic Activity.

A strategy for creating potent and pan-genotypic stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonists is described. Locking a bioactive U-shaped conformation of cyclic dinucleotides by introducing a transannular macrocyclic bridge between the nucleic acid bases leads to a topologically novel macrocycle-bridged STING agonist (MBSA). In addition to substantially enhanced potency, the newly designed MBSAs, exemplified by clinical candidate E7766, exhibit broad pan-genotypic activity in all major human STING variants.

Technical Report: A New Device Attached to a Smartphone for Objective Vision Screening.

Significance: A new device attached to a smartphone was created for objective vision screening of young children including infants and newborns. The device is compact, lightweight, portable, cost-effective, and easy to operate. Therefore, it is suitable for screening large numbers of children in clinical settings, schools, and communities.

How 'Blue' Is 'Green' Energy?

Often perceived as environmentally benign, 'green' renewable energy technologies have ecological costs that are often overlooked, especially those occurring below the waterline. After briefly discussing the impacts of hydropower on freshwater and marine organisms, we focus this review on the impacts of marine renewable energy devices (MREDs) on underwater marine organisms, particularly offshore wind farms and marine energy converters (e.g.

Severe mutilation of a Critically Endangered Taiwanese humpback dolphin Sousa chinensis taiwanensis by fishing gear.

Direct observations of the causes of injuries to cetaceans are rare events. For very small and declining populations, such events may be even less likely to be observed because of the few individuals that remain. A long-term monitoring program using photographic identification of individuals resulted in the documentation of an individual Taiwanese humpback dolphin Sousa chinensis taiwanensis that survived a harmful interaction with fishing gear.

Unsustainable human-induced injuries to the Critically Endangered Taiwanese humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis taiwanensis).

The Critically Endangered Taiwanese humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis taiwanensis) is endemic to inshore and estuarine waters of central western Taiwan. It numbers fewer than 75 individuals, is declining and faces a myriad of human threats. Data from a long-term photo-identification program on these dolphins allowed major injuries to be examined quantitatively.

Vertebral column anomalies in Indo-Pacific and Atlantic humpback dolphins Sousa spp.

Conspicuous vertebral column abnormalities in humpback dolphins (genus Sousa) were documented for the first time during 3 photo-identification field studies of small populations in Taiwan, Senegal and Angola. Seven Taiwanese humpback dolphins S. chinensis taiwanensis with vertebral column anomalies (lordosis, kyphosis or scoliosis) were identified, along with 2 possible cases of vertebral osteomyelitis.

Biology and Conservation of the Taiwanese Humpback Dolphin, Sousa chinensis taiwanensis.

The humpback dolphins of the eastern Taiwan Strait were first discovered scientifically in 2002 and since then have received much research attention. We reviewed all information published in peer-reviewed scientific journals on these dolphins and where appropriate and available, peer-reviewed scientific workshop reports and graduate theses were also examined. Recent evidence demonstrated that this population warranted recognition as a subspecies, Sousa chinensis taiwanensis.

Comparison of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) whistles from two areas of western Peninsular Malaysia.

Differences in the acoustic variables of whistles emitted by Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) from two coastal locations along western Peninsular Malaysia were investigated. Duration, frequency, and frequency modulation variables were extracted from and used to characterize recordings of free-ranging humpback dolphins that were made using a broadband towed hydrophone. A total of 960 whistles from Matang Mangroves and 823 whistles from Langkawi Island were used in analyses.

Diagnosability and description of a new subspecies of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, (Osbeck, 1765), from the Taiwan Strait.

Background: Subspecies recognition can affect how people (scientists and non-scientists alike) view organisms and thus has important implications for research on, as well as the conservation of, these entities. Recently, a small group of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins was discovered inhabiting the waters off central western Taiwan. This geographically isolated population possesses pigmentation patterns that are subtly, but noticeably, different from their nearest conspecifics in the neighbouring waters of the Jiulong River Estuary and Pearl River Estuary of mainland China.

Total synthesis of 6-deoxypladienolide D and Assessment of Splicing Inhibitory Activity in a Mutant SF3B1 cancer cell line.

A total synthesis of the natural product 6-deoxypladienolide D (1) has been achieved. Two noteworthy attributes of the synthesis are (1) a late-stage allylic oxidation which proceeds with full chemo-, regio-, and diastereoselectivity and (2) the development of a scalable and cost-effective synthetic route to support drug discovery efforts. 6-Deoxypladienolide D (1) demonstrates potent growth inhibition in a mutant SF3B1 cancer cell line, high binding affinity to the SF3b complex, and inhibition of pre-mRNA splicing.

Effect of EDTA and methionine on preventing loss of viscosity of cellulose-based topical gel.

Methylcellulose and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (hypromellose) are used in topical formulations of a protein to form a viscous hydrogel. Five lots of hypromellose raw material were made into 3% gel; all showed viscosity loss after sterilization by autoclave. EDTA (edetate disodium) minimized the viscosity loss caused by autoclaving in the presence of up to 100 ppm H(2)O(2).

Recent advances of MEK inhibitors and their clinical progress.

The RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway has been a major clinical focus in oncology research in recent years. A clearer association of B-RAF mutations to cancers such as melanoma, papillary thyroid cancer and others has brought an increasing interest in chemotherapeutics that target this cellular signaling pathway. In this review, the authors summarize the current understanding of science and therapeutic use of the MEK inhibitors targeting the RAS/RAF/ MEK/ERK pathway.

Association of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 with neurological deterioration of ischemic stroke: The Chongqing Stroke Study.

Background: Adhesion molecules play important roles in the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether serum levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1), soluble vascular cellular adhesion molecule 1 (sVCAM-1) and soluble E-selectin were associated with neurological deterioration of ischemic stroke.

Methods: 238 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke examined within 24 h from onset were enrolled into the study.

Frequency and risk factors of vascular cognitive impairment three months after ischemic stroke in china: the Chongqing stroke study.

Background: Frequency of poststroke cognitive impairment is high in western countries, and the risk factors of poststroke cognitive impairment have not been fully understood yet. We sought to examine the frequency and risk factors of cognitive impairment after ischemic stroke in a large stroke cohort of China.

Methods: A total of 434 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke were enrolled.

Study on frequency and predictors of dementia after ischemic stroke: the Chongqing stroke study.

Objective: We studied a large hospitalized cohort of patients aged 55 years and over with acute ischemic stroke to identify the frequency and predictors of poststroke dementia.

Methods: A total of 434 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke were enrolled in this study. During admission, the demographic data, vascular risk factors, stroke features, and neurological status information were collected.

New records for Dinemoura ferox (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Pandaridae) from Pacific sleeper sharks captured in waters off eastern Taiwan.

Four of the 27 Pacific sleeper sharks (Somniosus pacificus Bigelow and Schroeder) captured in the western North Pacific Ocean off eastern Taiwan between 19 March and 18 May 2002 hosted the parasitic copepod Dinemoura ferox (Krøyer, 1838) on their body surface including the fins. This report documents a new host record as well as a new ocean record for D. ferox, which until now has only been reported from the benthopelagic sharks, Somniosus microcephalus (Bloch and Schneider) and Centrophorus squamosus (Bonnaterre), occurring in the north Atlantic Ocean off Greenland and Iceland.