FORCE platform overcomes barriers of oligonucleotide delivery to muscle and corrects myotonic dystrophy features in preclinical models.

Background: We developed the FORCE platform to overcome limitations of oligonucleotide delivery to muscle and enable their applicability to neuromuscular disorders. The platform consists of an antigen-binding fragment, highly specific for the human transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), conjugated to an oligonucleotide via a cleavable valine-citrulline linker. Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a neuromuscular disorder caused by expanded CUG triplets in the DMPK RNA, which sequester splicing proteins in the nucleus, lead to spliceopathy, and drive disease progression.

Uncovering latent infections in kidneys: A novel molecular approach for differential detection.

Leptospirosis, a re-emerging zoonotic disease caused by spp., poses significant global health and veterinary challenges. Long-term colonization of renal tubules by in asymptomatic hosts highlights the need for sensitive detection methods.

Nutrient Supplementation Improves Contact Lens-Induced Corneal Cell Damage Based on a SIRC Cellular Model.

Objectives: The long-term use of contact lenses may damage the structure of the ocular surface and cause metabolic disorders in corneal cells. Vitamins and amino acids help maintain the physiological function of the eye. In the present study, the effects of nutrient (vitamin and amino acid) supplementation on corneal cell repair after contact lens-induced damage was investigated.

Disentangling Phase and Morphological Evolution During the Formation of the Lithium Superionic Conductor Li GeP S.

The structural and morphological changes of the Lithium superionic conductor Li GeP S , prepared via a widely used ball milling-heating method over a comprehensive heat treatment range (50 - 700 °C), are investigated. Based on the phase composition, the formation process can be distinctly separated into four zones: Educt, Intermediary, Formation, and Decomposition zone. It is found that instead of Li GeS -Li PS binary crystallization process, diversified intermediate phases, including GeS in different space groups, multiphasic lithium phosphosulfides (Li P S ), and cubic Li Ge PS phase, are involved additionally during the formation and decomposition of Li GeP S .

Identification of CD8 + T-Cell-Immune Cell Communications in Ileal Crohn's Disease.

Introduction: Crohn's disease (CD) is a major subtype of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a spectrum of chronic intestinal disorders caused by dysregulated immune responses to gut microbiota. Although transcriptional and functional changes in a number of immune cell types have been implicated in the pathogenesis of IBD, the cellular interactions and signals that drive these changes have been less well-studied.

Methods: We performed Cellular Indexing of Transcriptomes and Epitopes by sequencing on peripheral blood, colon, and ileal immune cells derived from healthy subjects and patients with CD.

Tumor Cell Extrinsic Synaptogyrin 3 Expression as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker in Head and Neck Cancer.

Over 70% of oropharyngeal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) cases in the United States are positive for human papillomavirus (HPV) yet biomarkers for stratifying oropharyngeal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) patient risk are limited. We used immunogenomics to identify differentially expressed genes in immune cells of HPV(+) and HPV(-) squamous carcinomas. Candidate genes were tested in clinical specimens using both quantitative RT-PCR and IHC and validated by IHC using the Carolina Head and Neck Cancer Study (CHANCE) tissue microarray of HNSC cases.

Longitudinal non-cystic fibrosis trends of pulmonary disease from 2010 to 2017: spread of the "globally successful clone" in Asia.

Background: (MAB) has emerged as the predominant pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial pathogen in parts of Asia, including Taiwan. The reasons for the significant increase in MAB infections in the non-cystic fibrosis (CF) populations are poorly understood. The study aimed to elucidate whether this increase is related to the spread of the globally successful clone of MAB.

Automated Recognition of Regional Wall Motion Abnormalities Through Deep Neural Network Interpretation of Transthoracic Echocardiography.

Background: Automated interpretation of echocardiography by deep neural networks could support clinical reporting and improve efficiency. Whereas previous studies have evaluated spatial relationships using still frame images, we aimed to train and test a deep neural network for video analysis by combining spatial and temporal information, to automate the recognition of left ventricular regional wall motion abnormalities.

Methods: We collected a series of transthoracic echocardiography examinations performed between July 2017 and April 2018 in 2 tertiary care hospitals.

Intravitreal Injection with a Conjunctival Injection Device: A Single-Center Experience.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical performance of the intravitreal injection assistant device (InVitria) compared with the conventional freehand technique for delivering intravitreal injections.

Methods: Seventy patients were randomized to receive intravitreal injections via the conventional freehand technique while 70 received injections using the InVitria. Half of all procedures in each group were performed by junior surgeons, while the rest were performed by senior surgeons.

Smoking Paradox in Stroke Survivors?: Uncovering the Truth by Interpreting 2 Sets of Data.

Background and Purpose- The observation that smokers with stroke could have better outcome than nonsmokers led to the term "smoking paradox." The controversy of such a complex claim has not been fully settled, even though different case mix was noted. Analyses were conducted on 2 independent data sets to evaluate and determine whether such a paradox truly exists.

A fully automated sample-to-answer PCR system for easy and sensitive detection of dengue virus in human serum and mosquitos.

Background: The insulated isothermal PCR (iiPCR) technology enables consistent PCR amplification and detection in a simple heating device. A pan-dengue virus (DENV) RT-iiPCR, targeting the 5' untranslated region, was validated previously on the semi-automated POCKIT combo system (involving separate devices for nucleic acid extraction and PCR amplification/detection) to offer performance comparable to a laboratory real-time PCR. Working on the same technologies, a compact automated sample-in-answer-out system (POCKIT Central Nucleic Acid Analyser) has been available commercially for iiPCR, minimizing human error risks and allowing easy molecular bio-detection near points of need.

An RT-PCR panel for rapid serotyping of dengue virus serotypes 1 to 4 in human serum and mosquito on a field-deployable PCR system.

Background: Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne disease, is caused by dengue virus (DENV) which includes four major serotypes (DENV-1, -2, -3, and -4). Some serotypes cause more severe diseases than the other; severe dengue is associated with secondary infections by a different serotype. Timely serotyping can provide early warning of dengue epidemics to improve management of patients and outbreaks.

A generalized unimolecular impulsive model for curved reaction path.

This work aims to introduce a generalized impulsive model for unimolecular dissociation processes. This model allows us to take into account the curvature of the reaction path explicitly. It is a generalization of the previously developed multi-center impulsive model [P.

Photodissociation of CHCHO at 248 nm: identification of the channels of roaming, triple fragmentation and the transition state.

Quasi-classical trajectory (QCT) calculations are performed on the molecular products CO + CHvia the tight transition state (TS) and global minimum configurations. With the aid of this theoretical evidence, we have re-examined the experimental results published previously to clarify the controversial issue of photodissociation dynamics of CHCHO at 248 nm. For the CO (v = 0 and 1) bimodal rotational distributions obtained previously [K.

Efficacy of synchronous verbal training during repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in patients with chronic aphasia.

Background And Purpose: Although multiple studies have suggested that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may facilitate recovery after stroke, the efficacy of synchronous speech therapy integrated with an rTMS protocol has yet to be determined. We investigated language responses to this strategy and determined the longevity of the resulting therapeutic outcomes.

Methods: Forty-five patients with stroke who presented with nonfluent aphasia were randomly assigned to the TMSsyn group and underwent synchronous picture-naming training together with contralesional 1 Hz-rTMS for 10 daily sessions.

Trends in the incidence and management of acute myocardial infarction from 1999 to 2008: get with the guidelines performance measures in Taiwan.

Background: The American Heart Association Get With the Guidelines (GWTG) program has improved care quality of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with important implications for other countries in the world. This study evaluated the incidence and care of AMI in Taiwan and assessed the compliance of GWTG in Taiwan.

Methods And Results: We used the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (1999-2008) to identify hospitalized patients ≥18 years of age presenting with AMI.

Screen-printed carbon electrodes modified with cobalt phthalocyanine for selective sulfur detection in cosmetic products.

Cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) films were deposited on the surface of a screen-printed carbon electrode using a simple drop coating method. The cyclic voltammogram of the resulting CoPc modified screen-printed electrode (CoPc/SPE) prepared under optimum conditions shows a well-behaved redox couple due to the (Co(I)/Co(II)) system. The CoPc/SPE surface demonstrates excellent electrochemical activity towards the oxidation of sulfur in a 0.

Structural characterization of autoinhibited c-Met kinase produced by coexpression in bacteria with phosphatase.

Protein kinases are a large family of cell signaling mediators undergoing intensive research to identify inhibitors or modulators useful for medicine. As one strategy, small-molecule compounds that bind the active site with high affinity can be used to inhibit the enzyme activity. X-ray crystallography is a powerful method to reveal the structures of the kinase active sites, and thus aid in the design of high-affinity, selective inhibitors.

Regulation of the Bacillus subtilis extracytoplasmic function protein sigma(Y) and its target promoters.

The Bacillus subtilis extracytoplasmic function sigma factor sigma(Y) is of unknown function. We demonstrate that the sigY operon is expressed from an autoregulatory promoter site, P(Y). We selected for transposon-induced mutations that upregulate P(Y) transcription in an attempt to identify genes involved in sigma(Y) regulation.