Rosiglitazone Suppresses In Vitro Seizures in Hippocampal Slice by Inhibiting Presynaptic Glutamate Release in a Model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.

Peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a nuclear hormone receptor whose agonist, rosiglitazone has a neuroprotective effect to hippocampal neurons in pilocarpine-induced seizures. Hippocampal slice preparations treated in Mg2+ free medium can induce ictal and interictal-like epileptiform discharges, which is regarded as an in vitro model of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). We applied rosiglitazone in hippocampal slices treated in Mg2+ free medium.

Assessment of serial multi-parametric functional MRI (diffusion-weighted imaging and R2*) with (18)F-FDG-PET in patients with head and neck cancer treated with radiation therapy.

Objective: To evaluate the serial changes and correlations between readout-segmented technique with navigated phase correction diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI), R2*-MRI and (18)F-FDG positron emission tomography (PET) CT performed before and during radiation therapy (RT) in patients with mucosal primary head and neck cancer.

Methods: The mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCmean) from DWI (at b = 50 and 800 s mm(-2)), the mean R2* values derived from T2(*)-MRI, and PET metabolic parameters, including maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumour volume (MTV) and total lesional glycolysis (TLG) were measured for the primary tumour. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated to evaluate correlations between ADCmean, R2*, SUVmax, MTV and TLG.

Mitigating ammonia nitrogen deficiency in dairy wastewaters for algae cultivation.

This study demonstrated that the limiting factor to algae growth on dairy wastewater was the ammonia nitrogen deficiency. Dairy wastewaters were mixed with a slaughterhouse wastewater that has much higher ammonia nitrogen content. The results showed the mixing wastewaters improved the nutrient profiles and biomass yield at low cost.

Conserved molecular interactions in centriole-to-centrosome conversion.

Centrioles are required to assemble centrosomes for cell division and cilia for motility and signalling. New centrioles assemble perpendicularly to pre-existing ones in G1-S and elongate throughout S and G2. Fully elongated daughter centrioles are converted into centrosomes during mitosis to be able to duplicate and organize pericentriolar material in the next cell cycle.

The Safety of a Conservative Fluid Replacement Strategy in Adults Hospitalised with Malaria.

Background: A conservative approach to fluid resuscitation improves survival in children with severe malaria; however, this strategy has not been formally evaluated in adults with the disease.

Methods: Adults hospitalised with malaria at two tertiary referral hospitals in Myanmar received intravenous fluid replacement with isotonic saline, administered at a maintenance rate using a simple weight-based algorithm. Clinical and biochemical indices were followed sequentially.

Treatment of recalcitrant granuloma annulare (GA) with adalimumab: A single-center, observational study.

Background: Generalized or disseminated granuloma annulare (GA) is therapeutically challenging. Adalimumab, a tumor necrosis factor-α antagonist, has recently been used to treat GA.

Objective: We sought to evaluate adalimumab's efficacy in treating GA.

Enhancement of photodetection characteristics of MoS2 field effect transistors using surface treatment with copper phthalocyanine.

Recently, two-dimensional materials such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) have been extensively studied as channel materials for field effect transistors (FETs) because MoS2 has outstanding electrical properties such as a low subthreshold swing value, a high on/off ratio, and good carrier mobility. In this study, we characterized the electrical and photo-responsive properties of MoS2 FET when stacking a p-type organic copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) layer on the MoS2 surface. We observed that the threshold voltage of MoS2 FET could be controlled by stacking the CuPc layers due to a charge transfer phenomenon at the interface.

Expression of Transcription Factor FOXO3a is Decreased in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is associated with differential expression of genes involved in inflammation and tissue remodeling, including FOXO3a, which encodes a transcription factor known to promote inflammation in several tissues. However, FOXO3a expression in tissues affected by UC has not been examined. This study investigated the effects of FOXO3a on UC pathogenesis.

Efficient APC/C substrate degradation in cells undergoing mitotic exit depends on K11 ubiquitin linkages.

The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) directs programmed destruction of key cellular regulators via posttranslational modification of its targets with polyubiquitin chains. These commonly contain Lys-48 (K48)-directed ubiquitin linkages, but chains containing atypical Lys-11 (K11) linkages also target substrates to the proteasome--for example, to regulate cell cycle progression. The ubiquitin ligase called the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) controls mitotic exit.

Growing Chlorella sp. on meat processing wastewater for nutrient removal and biomass production.

In this work, Chlorella sp. (UM6151) was selected to treat meat processing wastewater for nutrient removal and biomass production. To balance the nutrient profile and improve biomass yield at low cost, an innovative algae cultivation model based on wastewater mixing was developed.

Morphological and physiological evidence of a synaptic connection between the lateral parabrachial nucleus and neurons in the A7 catecholamine cell group in rats.

Background: The descending noradrenergic (NAergic) system is one of the important endogenous analgesia systems. It has been suggested that noxious stimuli could activate descending NAergic system; nevertheless, the underlying neuronal circuit remains unclear. As NAergic neurons in the A7 catecholamine cell group (A7) are a part of the descending NAergic system and the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPB) is an important brainstem structure that relays ascending nociceptive signal, we aimed to test whether LPB neurons have direct synaptic contact with NAergic A7 neurons.

Prognostic value of high sensitivity C-reaction protein in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background And Purpose: High sensitivity C-reaction protein (hsCRP) has been used as a significant predictive factor of cardiovascular events in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). However, existing reports in regards to the significance of hsCRP in predicting the progression of hepatic complications in NIDDM patients are too sparse to deliver clear results. This study is aimed at investigating the prognostic value of hsCRP in NIDDM patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Functional characterization and reconstitution of ABA signaling components using transient gene expression in rice protoplasts.

The core components of ABA-dependent gene expression signaling have been identified in Arabidopsis and rice. This signaling pathway consists of four major components; group A OsbZIPs, SAPKs, subclass A OsPP2Cs and OsPYL/RCARs in rice. These might be able to make thousands of combinations through interaction networks resulting in diverse signaling responses.

Genetic diversity and genetic structure of the Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) populations from Asia.

Background: The roe deer, Capreolus sp., is one of the most widespread meso-mammals of Palearctic distribution, and includes two species, the European roe deer, C. capreolus inhabiting mainly Europe, and the Siberian roe deer, C.

Electrical and Optical Characterization of MoS2 with Sulfur Vacancy Passivation by Treatment with Alkanethiol Molecules.

We investigated the physical properties of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) atomic crystals with a sulfur vacancy passivation after treatment with alkanethiol molecules including their electrical, Raman, and photoluminescence (PL) characteristics. MoS2, one of the transition metal dichalcogenide materials, is a promising two-dimensional semiconductor material with good physical properties. It is known that sulfur vacancies exist in MoS2, resulting in the n-type behavior of MoS2.

Lipid Production of Heterotrophic Chlorella sp. from Hydrolysate Mixtures of Lipid-Extracted Microalgal Biomass Residues and Molasses.

This study investigated the feasibility of lipid production of Chlorella sp. from waste materials. Lipid-extracted microalgal biomass residues (LMBRs) and molasses were hydrolyzed, and their hydrolysates were analyzed.

Haploinsufficiency caused by a nonsense mutation in NCSTN underlying hidradenitis suppurativa in a Chinese family.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic disease of follicular occlusion. It involves the axilla, groin, perianal and perineal regions, and is characterized by recurrent draining sinuses, skin abscesses and disfiguring scars. Loss-of-function mutations in the genes encoding γ-secretase have been identified as a cause of HS.

Developmental outcomes of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy)-exposed infants in the UK.

Objective: This paper aims to review findings from a longitudinal study of prenatal methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") on infant development.

Methods: In a prospective, longitudinal cohort design, we followed 28 MDMA-exposed and 68 non-MDMA-exposed infants from birth to 2 years of age. Women recruited voluntarily into a study of recreational drug use during pregnancy were interviewed to obtain type, frequency, and amount of recreational drug use.

Prenatal cocaine exposure and child outcomes: a conference report based on a prospective study from Cleveland.

Objective: The study aims to describe developmental outcomes from a longitudinal prospective cohort (Cleveland study) of prenatally cocaine-exposed (CE) infants.

Methods: Two hundred eighteen CE and 197 nonexposed infants were enrolled at birth and followed through mid-adolescence. Birth CE status was determined by interview and biologic measures.

High-order neural networks and kernel methods for peptide-MHC binding prediction.

Motivation: Effective computational methods for peptide-protein binding prediction can greatly help clinical peptide vaccine search and design. However, previous computational methods fail to capture key nonlinear high-order dependencies between different amino acid positions. As a result, they often produce low-quality rankings of strong binding peptides.

Expression mechanism of tryptophan hydroxylase 1 in mouse islets during pregnancy.

Serotonin signaling plays key roles in augmentation of pancreatic β-cell function during pregnancy. Increased expression of tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (Tph1), a rate-limiting enzyme for serotonin synthesis by lactogenic hormones, is involved in this phenomenon. To investigate its mechanisms, we here performed 5'-RACE and identified β-cell-specific transcription initiation sites for Tph1.

Investigation of Marine-Derived Fungal Diversity and Their Exploitable Biological Activities.

Marine fungi are potential producers of bioactive compounds that may have pharmacological and medicinal applications. Fungi were cultured from marine brown algae and identified using multiple target genes to confirm phylogenetic placement. These target genes included the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the nuclear large subunit (LSU), and the β-tubulin region.