The Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Treating Spinocerebellar Ataxia: Advances and Future Directions.

Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by impaired balance and coordination caused by cerebellar dysfunction. The absence of treatments approved by the U.S.

Synthesis and Characterisation of Porous Titania-Silica Composite Aerogel for NO(x) and Acetaldehyde Removal.

In this study, the synthesis of porous titania-silica (TiO2-SiO2) composite aerogel at ambient pressure by using non-hazardous chemicals as a source of silica was investigated. TiO2-SiO2 composite aerogels were characterised and their photocatalytic performances were investigated for the removal efficiency of acetaldehyde and NO(x) under UV light. Results showed that porous composite aerogel with aggregated morphology, high surface area and an increased mesoporosity were formed.

Synthesis and Characterisation of Silica-Modified Titania for Photocatalytic Decolouration of Crystal Violet.

In the past few years, silica-modified titania has drawn increasing attention due to their special properties making them ideal candidates for a wide range of applications. In this study, we report a novel method for the synthesis of silica-modified titania by a sol-gel method using sodium silicate solution (1 M). The hydrolysis and condensation reactions of titanium dioxide (TiO2, Degussa Aeroxide® P25) in sodium silicate solution proceeded with citric acid (3 M) as a catalyst.

Titania produced from Ti-salt flocculated sludge: photocatalytic activity under solar light.

In this study, titania photocatalyst was produced from the wastewater sludge of Ti-salt flocculation. The high photocatalytic activity of titania reported was evaluated based on a single organic substrate. However, the photocatalytic activity is a substrate-specific; one photocatalyst showed different photocatalytic degradation rates for different substrates.

Unraveling the genetic basis of aspirin hypersensitivity in asthma beyond arachidonate pathways.

Although aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) has attracted a great deal of attention because of its association with severe asthma, it remains widely under-diagnosed in the asthmatic population. Oral aspirin challenge is the best method of diagnosing AERD, but this is a time-consuming procedure with serious complications in some cases. Thus, development of non-invasive methods for easy diagnosis is necessary to prevent unexpected complications of aspirin use in susceptible patients.

Preparation of iron-doped titania from flocculated sludge with iron-titanium composite coagulant.

The main drawback of flocculation process with dye wastewater is the large amount of unrecyclable sludge which needs disposal. A novel process using Ti-salt flocculation to purify wastewater was developed to produced sludge that can be calcined to produce titania. In this study, iron-doped TiO2 nanomaterial was successfully produced from sludge obtained by the flocculation of dye wastewater with a composite floculant including TiCl4 and FeSO4.

Asthma-predictive genetic markers in gene expression profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Purpose: We sought to identify asthma-related genes and to examine the potential of these genes to predict asthma, based on expression levels.

Methods: The subjects were 42 asthmatics and 10 normal healthy controls. PBMC RNA was subjected to microarray analysis using a 35K array; t-tests were used to identify genes that were expressed differentially between the two groups.

Adsorption of pyridine onto the metal organic framework MIL-101.

The adsorption of pyridine onto the metal organic framework MIL-101 was investigated by experimental and theoretical methods. The amount of pyridine adsorbed on MIL-101 was extraordinarily large at 20 °C, corresponding to about 950 mg/g of dried MIL-101 and approximately half of the voids being filled. Most of the pyridine that had filled the voids was rapidly removed by evacuation at room temperature, but some of the pyridine was so strongly adsorbed that it was retained even under evacuation at 150 °C.

Association analysis of RGS7BP gene polymorphisms with aspirin intolerance in asthmatic patients.

Background: Signal-regulated palmitoylation of RGS7BP(regulator of G-protein-signaling 7-binding protein) initiates the activation of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), including muscarinic receptors, which contribute to the development of asthma and its subphenotypes.

Objective: To determine the association of RGS7BP gene polymorphisms with the development of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD).

Methods: We evaluated the association of RGS7BP gene polymorphisms with response to oral aspirin challenge and with responsiveness to methacholine challenge.

Association analysis of thromboxane A synthase 1 gene polymorphisms with aspirin intolerance in asthmatic patients.

Aim: Thromboxane A synthase (TBXAS1) converts prostaglandin H to thromboxane A, a potent constrictor of smooth respiratory muscle. Thus, functional alterations of the TBXAS1 gene may contribute to aspirin-intolerant asthma (AIA).

Materials & Methods: We investigated the relationship between SNPs in the TBXAS1 gene and AIA.

Effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms within the interleukin-4 promoter on aspirin intolerance in asthmatics and interleukin-4 promoter activity.

Objective: Aspirin affects interleukin-4 (IL-4) synthesis; however, the genetic role of IL-4 has not been evaluated in asthmatics with aspirin hypersensitivity. The objective of the study was to examine the influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL-4 gene on aspirin hypersensitivity in asthmatics at the genetic and molecular levels.

Methods: Aspirin-intolerant (AIA, n=103) and aspirin-tolerant asthmatics (n=270) were genotyped and functional promoter assays were performed.

Highly selective carbon dioxide sorption in an organic molecular porous material.

The organic molecular porous material 1 obtained by recrystallization of cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]) from HCl shows a high CO(2) sorption capacity at 298 K, 1 bar. Most interestingly, 1 showed the highest selectivity of CO(2) over CO among the known porous materials so far. The remarkable selectivity of CO(2) may be attributed to the exceptionally high enthalpy of adsorption (33.

Association of IKBA gene polymorphisms with the development of asthma.

Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) orchestrates the expression of genes responsible for airway inflammation and remodeling in asthma. The activity of NF-κB is tightly regulated by IKBA, which may be modulated by genetic polymorphisms of the IKBA gene. We investigated the association between asthma susceptibility and IKBA gene polymorphisms in a Korean population.

Association analysis of N-acetyl transferase-2 polymorphisms with aspirin intolerance among asthmatics.

Aims: Cysteinyl leukotrienes are inactivated by acetyl coenzyme A-dependent N-acetyltransferase (NAT). Thus, functional alterations of the NAT gene may contribute to the risk of aspirin-intolerant asthma.

Materials & Methods: Asthmatics (n = 438) were categorized into aspirin-intolerant asthma (15% or greater decrease in the forced expiratory volume in 1 s or cutaneous reactions, n = 170) or aspirin-tolerant asthma (n = 268) groups.

Association of PTGER gene family polymorphisms with aspirin intolerant asthma in Korean asthmatics.

Aspirin-intolerant asthma (AIA) is characterized by severe asthmatic attack after ingestion of aspirin and/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In this study, we investigated the relationship between Prostaglandin E2 receptor (PTGER) gene family polymorphisms and AIA in 243 AIA patients and 919 aspirin-tolerant asthma (ATA) controls of Korean ethnicity in two separate study cohorts. After genotyping 120 SNPs of the PTGER gene family for the 1(st) cohort study, four SNPs in PTGER1, ten in PTGER3, six in PTGER3, and a haplotype of PTGER2 showed association signals with decreased or increased risk of AIA.

Protection of leukotriene receptor antagonist against aspirin-induced bronchospasm in asthmatics.

Purpose: Leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) are used to treat aspirin-intolerant asthma (AIA); however, the protective effects of long-term LTRA administration against aspirin-induced bronchospasm have not been evaluated.

Objectives: We investigated the efficacy of a 12-week treatment with a LTRA in protecting against aspirin-induced asthma in AIA patients.

Methods: Fifty-two adult patients with AIA underwent an aspirin challenge test just before administration of montelukast (10 mg/day) and just after 12 weeks of treatment.

Association analysis of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors gamma gene polymorphisms with asprin hypersensitivity in asthmatics.

Purpose: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are transcriptional factors activated by ligands of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. The activation of PPARgamma regulates inflammation by downregulating the production of Th2 type cytokines and eosinophil function. In addition, a range of natural substances, including arachidonate pathway metabolites such as 15-hydroxyeicosatetranoic acid (15-HETE), strongly promote PPARG expression.

Genetic effect of CysLTR2 polymorphisms on its mRNA synthesis and stabilization.

Background: We previously demonstrated that single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and haplotypes were associated with aspirin hypersensitivity in asthmatics. We investigated the genetic effects of the SNPs and haplotypes on the expression of the CysLTR2 gene.

Methods: We measured CysLTR2 protein and mRNA expression in EB virus-infected B cell lines from asthmatics having ht1+/+ and ht2+/+.

Postsynthetic modification switches an achiral framework to catalytically active homochiral metal-organic porous materials.

The postsynthetic modification strategy is adopted to demonstrate for the first time the syntheses of catalytically active chiral MOPMs from a preassambled achiral framework, MIL-101, by attaching L-proline-derived chiral catalytic units to the open metal coordination sites of the host framework. Various characterization techniques (including PXRD, TGA, IR, and N(2) absorption measurements) indicated that the chiral units are successfully incorporated into MIL-101, keeping the parent framework intact. The new chiral MOPMs show remarkable catalytic activities in asymmetric aldol reactions (yield up to 90% and ee up to 80%).

Association of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma gene polymorphisms with the development of asthma.

Background: The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) are the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily of ligand-activated transcriptional factors. PPAR-gamma (PPARG) activation downregulates production of Th2 type cytokines and eosinophil function. Additionally, treatment with a synthetic PPARG ligand can reduce lung inflammation and IFN-gamma, IL-4, and IL-2 production in experimental allergic asthma.

Genetic effect of CCR3 and IL5RA gene polymorphisms on eosinophilia in asthmatic patients.

Background: Eosinophilic infiltration and peripheral blood eosinophilia in asthma require the cooperation of eosinophil-specific cytokines and chemokines and their receptors.

Objective: We investigated the association of polymorphisms in CCR3 and IL5RA with asthma susceptibility or peripheral blood eosinophilia and the effects of the polymorphisms on receptor expression.

Methods: Polymorphisms in CCR3 and IL5RA were identified and genotyped in 576 asthmatic patients and 180 healthy control subjects.

Exceptional performance of sulfonic acid-incorporated-MCM-41 mesoporous materials prepared using a silane containing polysulfide linkages in the acetylation of anisole.

Sulfonic acid-incorporated-MCM-41 mesoporous materials prepared using a silane containing tetrasulfide linkages showed exceptional yields of the acetylated product in the acetylation of anisole due to their high content of strong acid sites.

Comparison of plasma eotaxin family level in aspirin-induced and aspirin-tolerant asthma patients.

Study Objective: Eosinophilic infiltration of airway tissue is a central feature of aspirin-induced asthma (AIA). Eotaxins belong to the family of CC chemokines, which coordinate the recruitment of inflammatory cells bearing chemokine (C-C motif) receptor-3 to sites of allergic inflammation. In the present study, the levels of eotaxin-1, eotaxin-2, and eotaxin-3 following an oral aspirin provocation test (APT) were measured, and the relationship between the eotaxin level and clinical parameters in patients with asthma was evaluated.