Growth properties and cholesterol removal ability of electroporated Lactobacillus acidophilus BT 1088.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of electroporation on the cell growth, cholesterol removal, and adherence abilities of L. acidophilus BT 1088 and their subsequent passages. The growth of electroporated parent cells increased (P<0.

Triplex PCR using new primers for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii.

Molecular methods are used increasingly for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection. This study developed a rapid, sensitive, and specific conventional triplex PCR for the detection of the B1 gene and ITS1 region of T. gondii using newly designed primers and an internal control based on the Vibrio cholerae HemM gene.

Antisense-mediated exon-skipping to induce gene knockdown.

Exon-skipping antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) can be used to knockdown the expression of an undesired gene or specific gene isoform. This chapter discusses the potential therapeutic applications of the technique and provides a sample protocol for inducing exon-skipping in Apolipoprotein B in vitro, as well as a protocol for quantifying exon-skipping using real-time PCR.

High-speed jetting and spray formation from bubble collapse.

A method to create impacting jets at the micrometer length scale by means of a collapsing cavitation bubble is presented. A focused shock wave from a lithotripter leads to the nucleation of a cavitation bubble below a hole of 25 μm diameter etched in a silicon plate. The plate is placed at an air-water interface.

Conformal mapping for the Helmholtz equation: acoustic wave scattering by a two dimensional inclusion with irregular shape in an ideal fluid.

The complex variables method with mapping function was extended to solve the linear acoustic wave scattering by an inclusion with sharp/smooth corners in an infinite ideal fluid domain. The improved solutions of Helmholtz equation, shown as Bessel function with mapping function as the argument and fractional order Bessel function, were analytically obtained. Based on the mapping function, the initial geometry as well as the original physical vector can be transformed into the corresponding expressions inside the mapping plane.

Interaction of two differently sized oscillating bubbles in a free field.

Most real life bubble dynamics applications involve multiple bubbles, for example, in cavitation erosion prevention, ultrasonic baths, underwater warfare, and medical applications involving microbubble contrast agents. Most scientific dealings with bubble-bubble interaction focus on two similarly sized bubbles. In this study, the interaction between two oscillating differently sized bubbles (generated in tap water) is studied using high speed photography.

Inhibition of barnacle cyprid settlement using low frequency and intensity ultrasound.

Low frequency, low intensity ultrasound was demonstrated as an effective inhibitor of barnacle cyprid settlement. When the same substratum vibration amplitude (10.05 nm) and acoustic pressure (5 kPa) were applied, ultrasound at a frequency of 23 kHz significantly reduced cyprid settlement.

Ultrasound enhanced growth and cholesterol removal of Lactobacillus fermentum FTDC 1311 in the parent cells but not the subsequent passages.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ultrasound on the intestinal adherence ability, cell growth, and cholesterol removal ability of parent cells and subsequent passages of Lactobacillus fermentum FTDC 1311. Ultrasound significantly decreased the intestinal adherence ability of treated parent cells compared to that of the control by 11.32% (P<0.

Outcomes in 125 individuals with adrenal incidentalomas from a single centre. a retrospective assessment of the 1 mg overnight and low dose dexamethasone suppression tests.

Adrenal masses discovered incidentally during imaging studies - adrenal incidentalomas (AIs) - are common and prompt investigations to exclude secretory lesions and malignancy. Their best management strategy is unknown. Our objectives were to identify all outcomes of AI investigation in a UK centre and to assess the performance of the 2 mg low dose (LDDST) and 1 mg overnight dexamethasone (ODST) suppression tests in this setting.

UBC and YWHAZ as suitable reference genes for accurate normalisation of gene expression using MCF7, HCT116 and HepG2 cell lines.

Relative quantification of in vitro gene expression using real-time PCR requires stably expressed reference gene for normalisation. In this study, total RNA from MCF7, HCT116 and HepG2 cells were extracted and converted to cDNA using commercially available kit, and real-time PCR was then performed to analyse the expression levels of twelve reference genes to select the most ideal reference gene for accurate normalisation in gene expression study. geNorm and NormFinder software were used to analyse the stabilities of the reference genes, which showed a wide range of C(t) values.

Differences in structural geometrical outcomes at the neck of the proximal femur using two-dimensional DXA-derived projection (APEX) and three-dimensional QCT-derived (BIT QCT) techniques.

Unlabelled: Structural geometric parameters at neck of the proximal femur were obtained using DXA-derived hip structural analysis (APEX 3) and quantitative computed tomography-derived (BIT QCT) techniques in 237 elderly females. Linear correlations for parameters ranged from 0.45 to 0.

Performance of a third-generation TSH-receptor antibody in a UK clinic.

Background: UK national guidelines recommend the measurement of TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb) in certain clinical scenarios. A commercial third-generation TRAb autoantibody M22-biotin ELISA assay was introduced in May 2008 in our centre.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of a TRAb assay in a retrospective and subsequently a prospective cohort in a UK centre.

Effect of ultrasound on cyprids and juvenile barnacles.

Settlement inhibition of barnacle (Amphibalanus amphitrite) cypris larvae resulting from exposure to ultrasound was measured at three frequencies (23, 63, and 102 kHz), applied at three acoustic pressure levels (9, 15, and 22 kPa) for exposure times of 30, 150, and 300 s. The lowest settlement was observed for 23 kHz, which also induced the highest cyprid mortality. Cyprid settlement following exposure to 23 kHz at 22 kPa for 30 s was reduced by a factor of two.

Characterizing bubble dynamics created by high-intensity focused ultrasound for the delivery of antibacterial nanoparticles into a dental hard tissue.

Hig hintensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has been applied for drug delivery in various disease conditions. Delivery of antibacterial-nanoparticles into dental hard tissues may open up new avenues in the treatment of dental infections. However, the basic mechanism of bubble dynamics, its characterization, and working parameters for effective delivery of nanoparticles, warrants further understanding.

Proximal femur structural geometry changes during and following lactation.

Human lactation is associated with transient decreases in bone mineral density (BMD). Bone strength is related to both mass and structural geometry. This study investigated longitudinal changes of hip bone strength during lactation using hip structural analysis (HSA), which determines hip structural geometry (including areal BMD, BMDa) from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans (DXA).

Scaling law for bubbles induced by different external sources: theoretical and experimental study.

The scaling relations for bubbles induced by different external sources are investigated based on a modified Rayleigh model and experimental observations. The equations derived from the modified Rayleigh model are presented to describe the collapse of bubbles induced by the different external sources such as electrical spark, laser, and underwater explosion. A scaling law is then formulated to establish the scaling relations between the different types of bubbles.

Optimization of Toxoplasma gondii cultivation in VERO cell line.

In vitro culture of Toxoplasma gondii can provide tachyzoites which are active, viable and with desirable purity. Thus the aim of this study was to optimize the cell culture method for T. gondii propagation to obtain a consistent source of parasites with maximum yield and viability, but minimum host cell contamination for use in production of excretory-secretory antigen.

Apoptotic effects of chrysin in human cancer cell lines.

Chrysin is a natural flavonoid currently under investigation due to its important biological anti-cancer properties. In most of the cancer cells tested, chrysin has shown to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis, and is more potent than other tested flavonoids in leukemia cells, where chrysin is likely to act via activation of caspases and inactivation of Akt signaling in the cells. Moreover, structure-activity relationships have revealed that the chemical structure of chrysin meets the key structural requirements of flavonoids for potent cytotoxicity in leukemia cells.

Characterization of aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP) mutations in familial isolated pituitary adenoma families.

Familial isolated pituitary adenoma (FIPA) is an autosomal dominant condition with variable genetic background and incomplete penetrance. Germline mutations of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP) gene have been reported in 15-40% of FIPA patients. Limited data are available on the functional consequences of the mutations or regarding the regulation of the AIP gene.

Malignant somatostatinoma presenting with diabetic ketoacidosis and inhibitory syndrome: pathophysiologic considerations.

Objective: To describe a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis secondary to a malignant somatostatinoma.

Methods: We present the clinical, laboratory, radiologic, and pathologic findings of a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis secondary to a malignant somatostatinoma. We also review the potential effects of somatostatin on glucose homeostasis and discuss the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms.

Repair of aberrant splicing in growth hormone receptor by antisense oligonucleotides targeting the splice sites of a pseudoexon.

Context: The GH receptor (GHR) pseudoexon 6Psi defect is a frequent cause of GH insensitivity (GHI) resulting from a non-functioning GH receptor (GHR). It results in a broad range of phenotypes and may also be present in patients diagnosed as idiopathic short stature.

Objective: Our objective was to correct aberrant GHR splicing and inclusion of 6Psi using exon-skipping antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs).

Nonspherical laser-induced cavitation bubbles.

The generation of arbitrarily shaped nonspherical laser-induced cavitation bubbles is demonstrated with a optical technique. The nonspherical bubbles are formed using laser intensity patterns shaped by a spatial light modulator using linear absorption inside a liquid gap with a thickness of 40 microm. In particular we demonstrate the dynamics of elliptic, toroidal, square, and V-shaped bubbles.

SDHD-related chromaffin tumours: disease localisation to genetic dysfunction.

Background/aims: To describe the management of a subject with multiple chromaffin tumours found to have a novel succinate dehydrogenase D (SDHD) mutation.

Case: A 15-year-old boy with marked hypertension was found to have elevated urinary catecholamines and initial imaging thought to represent bilateral adrenal phaeochromocytomas. An adrenal venous catheter was required to clarify a right adrenal phaeochromocytoma and a left abdominal paraganglioma, distinct from the left adrenal gland.

Authentication and data hiding using a hybrid ROI-based watermarking scheme for DICOM images.

Authenticating medical images using watermarking techniques has become a very popular area of research, and some works in this area have been reported worldwide recently. Besides authentication, many data-hiding techniques have been proposed to conceal patient's data into medical images aiming to reduce the cost needed to store data and the time needed to transmit data when required. In this paper, we present a new hybrid watermarking scheme for DICOM images.