Curative effect of combined lamivudine, adefovir dipivoxil, and stem cell transplantation on decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis.

This study assessed the clinical efficacy of lamivudine and adefovir dipivoxil combined with autologous bone marrow stem cell transplantation as treatment for patients with hepatitis B and decompensated liver cirrhosis. In total, 77 patients with hepatitis B and decompensated liver cirrhosis were randomly divided into two groups. Under general symptomatic and supportive treatment, the patients in group A (37 cases) were treated with lamivudine and adefovir dipivoxil, whereas those in group B (40 cases) were treated with autologous bone marrow stem cell transplantation in combination with lamivudine and adefovir dipivoxil.

Pharmacokinetics and safety of boosted elvitegravir in subjects with hepatic impairment.

Elvitegravir (EVG), an HIV strand transfer integrase inhibitor, is metabolized primarily via cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A) and secondarily via glucuronidation. The pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of cobicistat (COBI)-boosted EVG (EVG/co) were evaluated in subjects with impaired liver function. The enrolled subjects had stable moderate liver impairment (n = 10; Child-Pugh-Turcotte [CPT] class B) or were healthy controls (n = 10) matched for age (±5 years), gender, and body mass index (±15%).

Development of reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for rapid detection of an emerging potyvirus: tomato necrotic stunt virus.

Tomato necrotic stunt virus (ToNStV) is an emerging potyvirus that causes severe stunting to infected tomato plants. A reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay was developed for sensitive detection of ToNStV. The sensitivity of RT-LAMP was comparable to that of conventional RT-PCR, with detection of ToNStV in a reaction containing only 8 pg of total tomato RNA or with 1:20,000 dilution of crude tissue extract.

[A preliminary clinical study on endoscopic measurement of lesion area with the method of digital image processing technology].

It is of great importance to measure the lesion area in scientific research and clinical practice. The present study aims to solve barrel distortion and measure lesion area with the technology of computer visualization. With the ultimate purpose to obtain the precise lesion area, the study, based on the original endoscopy system and digital image processing technology, dealt with the correction of barrel distortion by lens adjustment, calculated the gastric ulcer area with the aid of Qt database and finally developed an image processing software--Endoscope Assistant (EAS).

PIPKIγ targets to the centrosome and restrains centriole duplication.

Centriole biogenesis depends on the polo-like kinase (PLK4) and a small group of structural proteins. The spatiotemporal regulation of these proteins at pre-existing centrioles is essential to ensure that centriole duplication occurs once per cell cycle. Here, we report that phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase type-1 gamma (PIP5K1C, hereafter referred to as PIPKIγ) plays an important role in centriole fidelity.

Pharmacokinetics of cobicistat boosted-elvitegravir administered in combination with rosuvastatin.

Statins are commonly used medications by HIV-1 patients. Elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir DF is a single tablet regimen for the treatment of HIV. The pharmacokinetic interaction between cobicistat-boosted elvitegravir (EVG/co) and rosuvastatin was evaluated.

A colorimetric method for the molecular weight determination of polyethylene glycol using gold nanoparticles.

A gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-based colorimetric method was developed for the molecular weight (MW) determination of polyethylene glycol (PEG), a commonly used hydrophilic polymer. Addition of a salt solution to PEG-coated AuNP solutions helps in screening the electrostatic repulsion between nanoparticles and generating a color change of the solutions from wine red to blue in 10 min in accordance with the MW of PEG, which illustrates the different stability degrees (SDs) of the AuNPs. The SDs are calculated by the absorbance ratios of the stable to the aggregated AuNPs in the solution.

Transition fibre protein FBF1 is required for the ciliary entry of assembled intraflagellar transport complexes.

Sensory organelle cilia have critical roles in mammalian embryonic development and tissue homeostasis. Intraflagellar transport (IFT) machinery is required for the assembly and maintenance of cilia. Yet, how this large complex passes through the size-dependent barrier at the ciliary base remains enigmatic.

The road to memory: an early rest for the long journey.

Central memory T lymphocytes were reported to develop after acute but not chronic infection, which prompted this feasibility study on generating long-term CD8 T cells ex vivo, by applying a culture condition that simulates an acute infection. During 35 d of culture, naive T cells (CD45RA(+), CD127(+), CCR7(+), CD62L(+), CXCR3(+)) first developed into effector T cells (CD45RA(+/-), CD127(+/-), CCR7(+/-), CD62L(+), CXCR3(+)), followed by three intermediate stages: intermediate T cells 1 (CD45RO(+), CD127(+/-), CCR7(+), CD62L(+), CXCR3(+)), intermediate T cells 2 (CD45RO(+), CD127(-), CCR7(-), CD62L(+), CXCR3(+)), and intermediate T cells 3 (CD45RO(+/-), CD127(+), CCR7(+), CD62L(-), CXCR3(+)) before reverting to stable CD45RA(+) central memory T cells (CD45RA(+), CD127(+), CCR7(+), CD62L(+), CXCR3(+)). If both anti-CD3 and the inflammatory milieu persisted beyond day 10, intermediate T cells 2 gradually developed into effector memory T cells (CD45RO(+), CD127(-), CCR7(-), CD62L(-), CXCR3(+)).

Effect of food on rilpivirine/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, an antiretroviral single-tablet regimen for the treatment of HIV infection.

The effect of food on rilpivirine/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate single-tablet regimen (STR) was evaluated in healthy subjects. Subjects (N = 24) received rilpivirine/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (25/200/300 mg) under fasted or fed conditions (light [390 kcal, 12 g fat]; standard [540 kcal, 21 g fat]) followed by pharmacokinetic (PK) sampling. The 90% confidence interval (CI) of the geometric mean ratio for rilpivirine, emtricitabine, tenofovir exposure was estimated for fed versus fasted dosing and light versus standard meal, with equivalence boundaries of 80 - 125%.

Genetic diversities of cytochrome B in Xinjiang Uyghur unveiled its origin and migration history.

Background: Uyghurs are one of the many populations of Central Eurasia that is considered to be genetically related to Eastern and Western Eurasian populations. However, there are some different opinions on the relative importance of the degree of Eastern and Western Eurasian genetic influence. In addition, the genetic diversity of the Uyghur in different geographic locations has not been clearly studied.

Complete genome sequence of a new tobamovirus naturally infecting tomatoes in Mexico.

The complete genomic sequence of a new tobamovirus in tomatoes was determined through deep sequencing and assembly of small RNAs, then validated through Sanger sequencing. Based on the low sequence identity (≤85%) to known viruses and a close phylogenetic relationship to tobamoviruses, it was identified as a new species.

Generalized eigenvalue minimization for uncertain first-order plus time-delay processes.

This paper shows how to apply generalized eigenvalue minimization to processes that can be described by a first-order plus time-delay model with uncertain gain, time constant and delay. An algorithm to transform the uncertain first-order plus time delay model into a state-space model with uncertainty polyhedron is firstly described. The accuracy of the transformation is studied using numerical examples.

The use of parenteral nutrition in an acute care hospital.

Introduction: Parenteral nutrition (PN) is an important supportive therapy. However, it is expensive and associated with significant complications. Our aim is to describe the patients given PN in 2006, to compare with the 2001 cohort and determine if PN had been prescribed for the appropriate indications.

Pathological impact of SMN2 mis-splicing in adult SMA mice.

Loss-of-function mutations in SMN1 cause spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a leading genetic cause of infant mortality. The related SMN2 gene expresses suboptimal levels of functional SMN protein, due to a splicing defect. Many SMA patients reach adulthood, and there is also adult-onset (type IV) SMA.

Molecular and biological properties of tomato necrotic stunt virus and development of a sensitive real-time RT-PCR assay.

The newly identified tomato necrotic stunt virus (ToNStV), with a genome of 10,057 nucleotides, had 60 % nucleotide sequence and 70 % coat protein amino acid sequence identity to other potyviruses. Analysis of a second ToNStV isolate revealed two single nucleotide substitutions. ToNStV induced stunting and chlorotic to necrotic leaf symptoms on tomato plants.

Alterations in milk metabolome and coagulation ability during the lactation of dairy cows.

Milk composition has been known to change during lactation. To help understand the changes in metabolic profile throughout the whole lactation, liquid chromatography mass-spectrometry was used to analyze 306 milk samples from 82 primi- and multiparous dairy cows. Changes in metabolic profile common to all cows throughout lactation were ascertained based on principal component and general linear model analysis.

The influence of the family in conceptions of personhood in the palliative care setting in Singapore and its influence upon decision making.

Conceptions of personhood are critical to the preservation of dignity and quality of life key to a good death and pivotal to the provision of patient centred care. Increasingly there is speculation that this role may be wider still. It has been posited that it is Confucian inspired conceptions of personhood replete with its `dualistic' view of personhood that sees family members as part of the individual's personhood that predispose to the prevailing practices of collusion and the trumping of patient autonomy.

Development and Field Evaluation of Multiple Virus-Resistant Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria).

In an effort to develop bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) as a widely adapted rootstock for watermelon grafting, we sought to identify lines with broad resistance to several cucurbit viruses that are economically important in the United States. Preliminary analysis under greenhouse conditions indicated that the currently available commercial watermelon rootstocks were either highly susceptible or somewhat tolerant to one or more viruses. However, in greenhouse screening, several breeding lines of bottle gourd displayed broad-spectrum resistance to four viruses tested, including Zucchini yellow mosaic virus, Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV), Papaya ringspot virus watermelon strain (PRSV-W), and Squash vein yellowing virus.

Expression of ATF4 and VEGF in chorionic villus tissue in early spontaneous abortion.

Objective: To explore the relationship between early spontaneous abortion (SA) and the expression of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Study Design: The expression of ATF4 and VEGF protein and mRNA in villi from first trimester spontaneous abortion (SA, n=30) and normal pregnancy (NP, n=30) were detected by immunohistochemistry and fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR).

Results: Both protein and mRNA expressions of ATF4 and VEGF in the SA group were significantly lower than in the NP group (P<0.

Legal protection for healthcare workers from sharps injuries.

The implementation of the sharps directive is the result of a negotiated agreement at European level between employers' organisations and trade unions. In the UK, NHS Employers, health service unions--including Unison and the Royal College of Nursing--and others have worked with the Health and Safety Executive to try to ensure that the new rules are workable at local level.

Topical insulin for healing of diabetic epithelial defects?: A retrospective review of corneal debridement during vitreoretinal surgery in Malaysian patients.

Purpose: To investigate whether topical insulin improves healing rate of corneal epithelial erosions induced during vitreoretinal surgery in diabetics.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed case notes and serial post-operative photographs of 15 eyes of 14 patients who had corneal epithelial debridement performed during various vitreoretinal surgeries to improve one surgeon's view over a 10 month period in 2010.

Results: Three groups were identified: DTI, comprising diabetics who received topical insulin 1 unit qds postoperatively (n=5); DCT comprising diabetics treated with conventional post-operative medications only (n=5) and NDCT comprising non diabetic patients on conventional post operative therapy (n=5).

Quantitative PCR analysis of genes expressed during biofilm development of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Staphylococcus aureus biofilm associated infections remains a major clinical concern in patients with indwelling devices. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) can be used to investigate the pathogenic role of such biofilms. We describe qPCRs for 12 adhesion and biofilm-related genes of four S.

Healing the mucosa in Crohn's disease: does it matter?

Clinical remission has been the therapeutic goal of Crohn's disease treatment for many years. While it has helped to ameliorate the symptoms, this treatment strategy has not brought about significant changes in the need for abdominal surgery in the natural history of Crohn's disease. The advent of biological agents (biologics) has shown that it is possible to induce and maintain mucosal healing in a significant proportion of treated patients.

MicroRNAs and intellectual disability (ID) in Down syndrome, X-linked ID, and Fragile X syndrome.

Intellectual disability (ID) is one of the many features manifested in various genetic syndromes leading to deficits in cognitive function among affected individuals. ID is a feature affected by polygenes and multiple environmental factors. It leads to a broad spectrum of affected clinical and behavioral characteristics among patients.