Heat-moisture treatment of freshly harvested high-amylose maize kernels improves its starch thermal stability and enzymatic resistance.

The objective of this work was to study the effects of heat-moisture treatment (HMT) of freshly harvested mature high-amylose maize (HAM) kernels on its starch structure, properties, and digestibility. Freshly harvested HAM kernels were sealed in Pyrex glass bottles and treated at 80 °C, 100 °C, or 120 °C. HMT of HAM kernels had no impact on its starch X-ray diffraction pattern but increased the relative crystallinity.

Dynamic rheological behavior of high-amylose wheat dough during various heating stages: Insight from its starch characteristics.

The objective of this study was to understand how the dynamic rheological behaviors of high-amylose wheat (HAW) dough during various heating stages measured using a mixolab were affected by the starch properties. At the heating stage of 30 °C - 90 °C, low minimum (C2) and peak (C3) torques were observed for HAW doughs, which resulted from their reduced starch granule swelling. During holding at 90 °C, HAW doughs had low minimum (C4) and C3 - C4 torques, indicating a good resistance to mechanical shear and endogenous enzyme degradation.

Understanding resistant-starch formation during drying high-amylose maize kernels.

Interests in using high-amylose maize (HAM) flour and starch for low glycemic index foods continue to grow. The objective of this work was to understand resistant-starch formation during drying the HAM kernels. Freshly harvested HAM kernels with 28.

Pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and immunogenic rationale for optimal dosing of pegvaliase, a PEGylated bacterial enzyme, in adult patients with phenylketonuria.

Phenylketonuria (PKU), a deficiency in the activity of the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase, leads to toxic levels of phenylalanine (Phe) in the blood and brain. Pegvaliase (recombinant Anabaena variabilis phenylalanine ammonia lyase conjugated with polyethylene glycol) is approved to manage PKU in patients aged greater than or equal to 18 years in the United States and in patients aged greater than or equal to 16 years in the European Union. Pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and immunogenicity results from five open-label pegvaliase trials were assessed.

Pegvaliase for the treatment of phenylketonuria: Results of a long-term phase 3 clinical trial program (PRISM).

Background: Phenylketonuria (PKU) is caused by phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency that results in phenylalanine (Phe) accumulation. Pegvaliase, PEGylated recombinant Anabaena variabilis phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), converts Phe to trans-cinnamic acid and ammonia, and is a potential enzyme substitution therapy to lower blood Phe in adults with PKU.

Methods: Two Phase 3 studies, PRISM-1 and PRISM-2, evaluated the efficacy and safety of pegvaliase treatment using an induction, titration, and maintenance dosing regimen in adults with PKU.

Pegvaliase for the treatment of phenylketonuria: A pivotal, double-blind randomized discontinuation Phase 3 clinical trial.

Introduction: Pegvaliase is a recombinant Anabaena variabilis phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) enzyme under investigation for treatment of adult phenylketonuria (PKU). This manuscript describes results of a randomized discontinuation trial (RDT) designed to evaluate the effects of pegvaliase treatment on blood phenylalanine (Phe) and neuropsychiatric outcomes in adults with PKU.

Methods: PRISM-2 is a 4-part, Phase 3 study that enrolled adults with PKU receiving pegvaliase treatment (initiated in a prior Phase 2 or Phase 3 study).

Experimental demonstration of highly sensitive optical sensor based on grating-assisted light coupling between strip and slot waveguides.

An optical sensor based on grating-assisted light coupling between a strip waveguide and a slot waveguide is demonstrated (the sensor was proposed and analyzed in [Opt. Express21, 5897-5909 (2013)]. The wavelength at which the light is strongly coupled between two waveguides is used to the measure the external medium's refractive index.

Rapid evolving into acute myeloid leukemia in a patient with multiple myeloma and concurrent myelodysplasia after VTD therapy.

The association of Myelodysplasia (MDS) and multiple myeloma (MM) has been usually described not only as a complication of chemotherapy but also in the absence of preceding chemotherapy or together at the time of diagnosis. Optimal therapies of a coexisting MM and MDS have not been well established up to now. We report a case of MDS diagnosed simultaneously with MM.

A rapid amplification/detection assay for analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis using an isothermal and silicon bio-photonic sensor complex.

Global tuberculosis (TB) control is hampered by cost and slow or insensitive diagnostic methods to be used for TB diagnosis in clinic. Thus, TB still remains a major global health problem. The failure to rapidly and accurately diagnose of TB has posed significant challenges with consequent secondary resistance and ongoing transmission.

Silicon waveguide filter based on cladding modulated anti-symmetric long-period grating.

In this paper, we demonstrate an optical filter using cladding modulated anti-symmetric long-period grating in a two-mode silicon waveguide. The filter consists of a two-mode waveguide connected with an input and output single-mode waveguide through two linear tapers. The anti-symmetric grating is formed by placing two periodic arrays of silicon squares offset by half of a grating pitch along the two-mode waveguide.

Single-channel Mach-Zehnder interferometric biochemical sensor based on two-lateral-mode spiral waveguide.

We propose and demonstrate a single-channel Mach-Zehnder interferometric (MZI) biochemical sensor consisting of two single-mode waveguides connected by a two-lateral-mode spiral sensing waveguide through two discontinuous junctions. The use of a two-lateral-mode waveguide offers the advantage of simple fabrication using single-step lithography and etching process. Meanwhile, the two-mode waveguide folded in a spiral layout can achieve high sensitivity of a long sensing waveguide while providing a compact sensing area compatible with commercial spotting machine and requiring small volume of sample.

Single-dose, subcutaneous recombinant phenylalanine ammonia lyase conjugated with polyethylene glycol in adult patients with phenylketonuria: an open-label, multicentre, phase 1 dose-escalation trial.

Background: Phenylketonuria is an inherited disease caused by impaired activity of phenylalanine hydroxylase, the enzyme that converts phenylalanine to tyrosine, leading to accumulation of phenylalanine and subsequent neurocognitive dysfunction. Phenylalanine ammonia lyase is a prokaryotic enzyme that converts phenylalanine to ammonia and trans-cinnamic acid. We aimed to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic characteristics, and efficacy of recombinant Anabaena variabilis phenylalanine ammonia lyase (produced in Escherichia coli) conjugated with polyethylene glycol (rAvPAL-PEG) in reducing phenylalanine concentrations in adult patients with phenylketonuria.

Overexpression of glucosylceramide synthase in associated with multidrug resistance of leukemia cells.

Ceramide, as a second messenger, initiates one of the major signal transduction pathways in tumor apoptosis. Glucosylceramide synthase (GCS) catalyzes glycosylation of ceramide and produces glucosylceramide. Through GCS, ceramide glycosylation allows cellular escape from ceramide-induced programmed cell death.

[Relation between glucosylceramide synthase and multidrug resistance in leukemia cells].

This study was purposed to explore the expression of glucosylceramide synthase (GCS) in human leukemia cells and its relationship with multidrug resistance. RT-PCR was used to analyze peripheral blood samples from 53 leukemia patients with multidrug resistance/non-resistance, and to detect the expression level of GCS gene in HL-60 cells and HL-60/ADR cells, the expression level was compared with the level of mdr-1. The expressions of GCS protein and P-gp protein in HL-60 cells and HL-60/ADR cells were assayed by Western blot analysis.