A thioredoxin with cell adhesion and antioxidant function.

Background: () is a widespread, zoonotic protozoan intracellular parasite with a complex life cycle, which can cause toxoplasmosis, a potentially serious disease. During the invasion process, proteins first bind to the relevant host cell receptors, such as glycosaminoglycan molecule (GAG-binding motif), which is one of the main receptors for parasites or virus to infect host cells. However, research on TGME49_216510 ( Trx21), a protein from , is limited.

A Hierarchical Prediction Method for Pedestrian Head Injury in Intelligent Vehicle with Combined Active and Passive Safety System.

With the development of intelligent vehicle technology, the probability of road traffic accidents occurring has been effectively reduced to a certain extent. However, there is still insufficient research on head injuries in human vehicle collisions, making it impossible to effectively predict pedestrian head injuries in accidents. To study the efficacy of a combined active and passive safety system on pedestrian head protection through the combined effect of the exterior airbag and the braking control systems of an intelligent vehicle, a "vehicle-pedestrian" interaction system is constructed in this study and is verified by real collision cases.

Comparative analysis of codon usage patterns of helical interspersed subtelomeric (PHIST) proteins.

Background: is a protozoan parasite that causes the most severe form of malaria in humans worldwide, which is predominantly found in sub-Saharan Africa, where it is responsible for the majority of malaria-related deaths. helical interspersed subtelomeric (PHIST) proteins are a family of proteins, with a conserved PHIST domain, which are typically located at the subtelomeric regions of the chromosomes and play crucial roles in the interaction between the parasite and its human host, such as cytoadherence, immune evasion, and host cell remodeling. However, the specific utilization of synonymous codons by PHIST proteins in is still unknown.

Barrier Properties of Layered-Silicate Reinforced Ethylenepropylenediene Monomer/Chloroprene Rubber Nanorubbers.

The triacetin and nitroglycerin barrier properties of layered-silicate reinforced ethylenepropylenediene monomer/chloroprene rubber (EPDM/CR) nanorubbers were investigated as rocket-propellant inhibitors. EPDM/CR nanorubbers with intercalated structures were formulated and prepared by the melt-compounding method. The triacetin permeability and nitroglycerin absorption were observed to decrease with increasing layered-silicate content.

Impact of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Elderly Breast Patients in Taiwan, A Hospital-Based Study.

Purpose: Decisions as to whether to provide adjuvant treatment in older breast cancer patients remains challenging. Side effects of chemotherapy have to be weighed against life expectancy, comorbidities, functional status, and frailty. To aid decision-making, we retrospectively analyzed 110 women with breast cancer treated with a curative intention from 2006 to 2012.

Use of Carbapenems against clinical, nontyphoid Salmonella isolates: results from in vitro and in vivo animal studies.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant Salmonella isolates has created the need for new therapeutic agents. We evaluated the intracellular activity of four carbapenem compounds against clinical nontyphoid Salmonella (NTS) isolates in vitro and ex vivo. Subsequently, the efficacy of carbapenem treatment against selected Salmonella isolates in vivo was assessed using a murine peritonitis model.

Synergistic antimicrobial effect of cefotaxime and minocycline on proinflammatory cytokine levels in a murine model of Vibrio vulnificus infection.

Background And Purpose: Vibrio vulnificus causes primary bacteremia and necrotizing wound infection, leading to high morbidity and mortality in humans. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of cefotaxime and minocycline on proinflammatory cytokine levels in a murine model of V. vulnificus infection.

Successful treatment of life-threatening melioidosis with activated protein C and meropenem.

Melioidosis is an endemic disease in southeast Asia and northern Australia, caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei. A typhoon-related outbreak occurred in southern Taiwan in July 2005. High mortality in melioidosis associated with bacteremic pneumonia and septic shock.

Influence of cetirizine and loratadine on granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-8 release in A549 human airway epithelial cells stimulated with interleukin-1beta.

Background And Purpose: In addition to being antagonists of histamine receptors, some antihistamines modulate the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation by reducing mediator release, adhesion molecule expression and, consequently, recruitment of inflammatory cells. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of 2 second-generation antihistamines, cetirizine and loratadine, on granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) secretions in human airway epithelial cells.

Methods: A549 cells were pre-incubated with cetirizine (1, 5, 10 microM) or loratadine (1 microM) individually for 16 h followed by stimulation with IL-1beta for 8 h.

Characterization and quantification of the return map of RR intervals by Pearson coefficient in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

The return map is the plot that displays the relationship between a point and its consecutive point in a time series. This study tried to characterize and quantify the return map of RR intervals (RRI) in subjects with patent coronary arteriogram and in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by using some parameters of linear regression between RRI(n+1) and RRI(n), and compared the newly introduced parameters with the time- and frequency-domain indices of heart rate variability (HRV) obtained from the same RRI. Three quantitative measures were introduced to quantify the return map of RRI: the Pearson coefficient, slope and Y-intercept of linear regression between RRI(n+1) and RRI(n).

Microplate diffusion assay for screening of beta-glucanase-producing microorganisms.

A method is described to screen fungal strains rapidly for overexpression of extracellular beta-1,4-endoglucanase in the presence of high levels of sugar compounds. The semi-quantitative assay utilizes microplates in a 96-well format and an azurine dye covalently cross-linked (AZCL) chromogenic substrate. The digestion of AZCL-hydroxyethyl-beta-1,4-endoglucanase results in the release of a blue dye directly proportional to the amount of enzyme activity present in the sample.