Gout and the risk of epilepsy: A population-based cohort study.

Gout is a chronic disease related to uric acid metabolism. It involves crystals of uric acid accumulating in the joints, causing joint pain and releasing cytokines that trigger inflammation. Inflammation is a key component in the pathogenesis of epilepsy.

FXYD8, a Novel Regulator of Renal Na/K-ATPase in the Euryhaline Teleost, .

FXYD proteins are important regulators of Na/K-ATPase (NKA) activity in mammals. As an inhabitant of estuaries, the pufferfish () responds to ambient salinity changes with efficient osmoregulation, including alterations in branchial, and renal NKA activities. Previous studies on teleostean FXYDs have mainly focused on the expression and potential functions of FXYD proteins in gills.

Chromosome-mediated multidrug resistance in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi.

A salmonella genomic island, designated SGI11, was found in 18 of 26 multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi isolates from Bangladesh. SGI11 was an IS1 composite transposon and carried 7 resistance genes that conferred resistance to 5 first-line antimicrobials. Eleven of the 18 SGI11-carrying S.

Antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi isolates from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

We characterized Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi isolates from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Vietnam to investigate their genetic relatedness and antimicrobial resistance. The isolates from Bangladesh and Vietnam were genetically closely related but were distant from those from Indonesia and Taiwan. All but a few isolates from Indonesia and Taiwan were susceptible to all antimicrobials tested.

Analysis of optical properties in injection-molded and compression-molded optical lenses.

Numerical mold-flow simulations and experimental measurements for injection-molded lenses have been investigated in form accuracy on a two-cavity mold with various process conditions. First, form profiles of the molded lenses have been measured together with the corresponding simulated mold-temperature distribution and displacement distribution of the lens in the z direction. A flow-through type layout of cooling channels has been devised for balance of mold-temperature distribution in mold cavities with various parametric distances for assessments in uniformity of temperature distribution.

Neutron capture nuclei-containing carbon nanoparticles for destruction of cancer cells.

HeLa cells were incubated with neutron capture nuclei (boron-10 and gadolinium)-containing carbon nanoparticles, followed by irradiation of slow thermal neutron beam. Under a neutron flux of 6 x 10(11) n/cm(2) (or 10 min irradiation at a neutron flux of 1 x 10(9) n/cm(2) s), the percentages of acute cell death at 8 h after irradiation are 52, 55, and 28% for HeLa cells fed with BCo@CNPs, GdCo@CNPs, and Co@CNPs, respectively. The proliferation capability of the survived HeLa cells was also found to be significantly suppressed.

Investigation of multiphase liquid roughness using an atomic force microscope.

The roughness of a multiphase interface and the associated topography between silicone oil and an alcohol-based fluid were measured with an atomic force microscope (AFM) and compared with the results of calculations based upon a capillary-wave model. According to this theory, the interfacial roughness of a liquid-liquid interface depends on the density, interfacial tension, and temperature of the liquids. Test samples prepared with both silicone oil and an alcohol-based fluid at various volumetric ratios and controlled temperatures were carefully measured.

Differential responses in gills of euryhaline tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, to various hyperosmotic shocks.

Euryhaline tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) survived in brackish water (BW; 20 per thousand) but died in seawater (SW; 35 per thousand) within 6 h when transferred directly from fresh water (FW). The purpose of this study was to clarify responses in gills of FW tilapia to various hyperosmotic shocks induced by BW or SW. In FW-acclimated tilapia, scanning electron micrographs of gills revealed three subtypes of MR cell apical surfaces: wavy-convex (subtype I), shallow-basin (subtype II), and deep-hole (subtype III).

Branchial FXYD protein expression in response to salinity change and its interaction with Na+/K+-ATPase of the euryhaline teleost Tetraodon nigroviridis.

Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) is a ubiquitous membrane-bound protein crucial for teleost osmoregulation. The enzyme is composed of two essential subunits, a catalytic alpha subunit and a glycosylated beta subunit which is responsible for membrane targeting of the enzyme. In mammals, seven FXYD members have been found.

Study of process parameters on optical qualities for injection-molded plastic lenses.

Numerical simulations for mold-flow analysis and experimental measurements of injection-molded plastic lenses have been conducted for investigation of optical qualities, residual birefringence, and form accuracy resulting from various pertinent process conditions. First, residual birefringence distributions on the lens have been predicted and verified experimentally. Furthermore, full-scale factorial design of experiments was conducted to comprehend the influences of qualities, such as shear stresses, form accuracy, and volumetric deviation, on the measured primary or Seidel aberrations.

Rho mediates cytokinesis and epiboly via ROCK in zebrafish.

To study the regulation of embryonic development by Rho, we microinjected Clostridium botulinum C3-exoenzyme (C3) into zebrafish embryos. We found that C3 inhibited cytokinesis during early cleavages. C3 inhibition appeared to be specific on RhoA, since the constitutively active RhoA could partially rescued the C3-induced defects.

Inhibition of embryonic development by microcystin-LR in zebrafish, Danio rerio.

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR), a cyanobacterial toxin, is a potent inhibitor of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) and protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). PP1 and PP2A are critical regulators in embryonic development. However, the effects of MC-LR in embryonic development have been controversial.

Simulation of two-dimensional fully developed laminar flow for a magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) pump.

MHD micro-pumps circumvent the wear and fatigue caused by high pressure-drop across the check valves of mechanical micro-pumps in micro-fluidic systems. Early analyses of the fluid flow for MHD micro-pumps were mostly made possible by the Poiseuille flow theory; however, this conventional laminar approach cannot illustrate the effects of various channel sizes and shapes. This paper, therefore, presents a simplified MHD flow model based upon steady state, incompressible and fully developed laminar flow theory to investigate the characteristics of a MHD pump.