Caregiver-mediated intervention can improve physical functional recovery of patients with chronic stroke: a randomized controlled trial.

Background and Purpose. Patients with chronic stroke may benefit from continuing rehabilitation training after hospital discharge. This study examined whether caregiver-mediated, home-based intervention (CHI) could improve physical functioning and social participation in these patients.

Heat shock induces expression of OSTC/DC2, a novel subunit of oligosaccharyltransferase, in vitro and in vivo.

Mammalian oligosaccharyltransferase complex subunit OSTC/DC2 protein has recently been shown to be a new subunit of the oligosaccharyltransferase; however, its physiological role is still unclear. Here, we report the expression pattern of OSTC/DC2 protein in the context of heat shock stress. Its upregulation was detected both in cells treated with heat shock in vitro and in an animal model of heat shock in vivo.

Functional analysis of an orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) interferon gene and characterisation of its expression in response to nodavirus infection.

We cloned and sequenced 2C I-IFN, a two-cysteine containing type I interferon (I-IFN) gene, in orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides). The cDNA has 769 base pairs, the protein has 172 amino acids, and the predicted signal peptide has 18 amino acids with two cysteines. This gene is similar to I-FNs from sea bass and other teleosts.

Antioxidant and anticancer constituents from the leaves of Liriodendron tulipifera.

Sixteen compounds were extracted and purified from the leaves of Liriodendron tulipifera. These compounds include aporphines, oxoaporphine, coumarin, sesquiterpene lactone, benzenoids, cyclitol and steroids. (+)-Norstephalagine (2) (an aporphine) and scopoletin (8) (a coumarin) were isolated from Liriodendron tulipifera leaves from the first time.

Effects of bilateral medial knee osteoarthritis on intra- and inter-limb contributions to body support during gait.

Patients with knee OA show altered gait patterns, affecting their quality of living. The current study aimed to quantify the effects of bilateral knee OA on the intra-limb and inter-limb sharing of the support of the body during gait. Fifteen patients with mild, 15 with severe bilateral knee OA, and 15 healthy controls walked along a walkway while the kinematic and kinetic data were measured.

Outcomes for type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with diverse regimens.

Aims And Objectives: To compare the levels of self-care behaviour, social support and quality of life among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients who underwent three regimens: taking medicine, taking-medicine-while dieting and taking-medicine-while-dieting-with exercise.

Background: Diabetes treatment is a critical concern worldwide. However, studies on self-care behaviour, social support and quality of life based on diabetes patients' diverse regimens are few.

Effect of bisphenol A on Ca(2+) fluxes and viability in Madin-Darby canine renal tubular cells.

The effect of the environmental contaminant, bisphenol A, on cytosolic free Ca(2+) concentrations ([Ca(2+)](i)) in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells is unclear. This study explored whether bisphenol A changed basal [Ca(2+)](i) levels in suspended MDCK cells by using fura-2 as a Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescent dye. Bisphenol A, at concentrations between 50 and 300 µM, increased [Ca(2+)](i) in a concentration-dependent manner.

Cloning of crystallin from orange-spotted grouper and characterization of its activity as potential protective agent.

Oxidative stress associated with nodavirus infection is poorly understood, especially pertaining to infection-mediated brain injury. Indirect evidence indicates that infection increases cellular abundance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with consequent increase in cellular dityrosine production. The detection of dityrosine in nodavirus-infected grouper was demonstrated using immunohistochemical (IHC) staining.

[Factors related to health status in mothers of children with cancer].

Background: Mothers are typically the primary caretakers of children with cancer, and the burden of caring responsibilities may influence their health status. Few studies have previously explored factors related to the health status of mothers with children suffering from cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine factors related to health status in mothers of children with cancer.

Effectiveness of informational and emotional consultation on the psychological impact on women with breast cancer who underwent modified radical mastectomy.

Background: Female breast cancer has been ranked as the leading cause of cancer death in Taiwan. Women who undergo a mastectomy are at risk of suffering emotional disturbance because of deteriorating body image. A nursing intervention designed to restore body image perceptions and to reduce anxiety and emotional distress in this vulnerable group should be developed and administered.

Factors influencing oncology nurses' approaches to accommodating cultural needs in palliative care.

Aims And Objectives: The purpose of this study is to explore the social construction of cultural issues in palliative care amongst oncology nurses.

Background: Australia is a nation composed of people from different cultural origins with diverse linguistic, spiritual, religious and social backgrounds. The challenge of working with an increasingly culturally diverse population is a common theme expressed by many healthcare professionals from a variety of countries.

Wavelet-based ECG data compression system with linear quality control scheme.

Maintaining reconstructed signals at a desired level of quality is crucial for lossy ECG data compression. Wavelet-based approaches using a recursive decomposition process are unsuitable for real-time ECG signal recoding and commonly obtain a nonlinear compression performance with distortion sensitive to quantization error. The sensitive response is caused without compromising the influences of word-length-growth (WLG) effect and unfavorable for the reconstruction quality control of ECG data compression.

Correlations between quality of life and psychological factors in patients with chronic neck pain.

The purpose of this study was to investigate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and associated factors in patients with chronic neck pain (CNP). The HRQOL of patients with CNP was assessed by the Short Form-36 questionnaire in this cross-sectional study. To evaluate the psychological factors related to HRQOL, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, Chinese Health Questionnaire, and Beck Anxiety Inventory were used.

Effects of Antrodia camphorata extracts on the viability, apoptosis, [Ca2+]i, and MAPKs phosphorylation of OC2 human oral cancer cells.

The effect of Antrodia camphorata (AC) on human oral cancer cells has not been explored. This study examined the effect of AC on the viability, apoptosis, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) phosphorylation and Ca2+ regulation of OC2 human oral cancer cells. AC at a concentration of 25 microM induced an increase in cell viability, but AC at concentrations > or = 50 microg/ml decreased viability in a concentration-dependent manner.

Fendiline-evoked [Ca2+]i rises and non-Ca2+-triggered cell death in human oral cancer cells.

The effect of fendiline on cytosolic free Ca(2+) concentrations ([Ca(2+)](i)) and proliferation has not been explored in human oral cancer cells. This study examined whether fendiline altered Ca(2+) levels and caused cell death in OC2 human oral cancer cells. [Ca(2+)](i) and cell viability were measured using the fluorescent dyes fura-2 and WST-1, respectively.

Accommodating the diverse cultural needs of cancer patients and their families in palliative care.

Cultural issues have become an increasingly important consideration in healthcare. Such cultural issues, however, are underresearched in Australia, especially in palliative care. This study has sought to address this gap, exploring the social construction of cultural issues in palliative care by oncology nurses.

Effect of general flexibility on thumb-tip force generation - implication for mobilization and manipulation.

Pain involving basal joints of the thumb is one of the major occupation-related disorders for orthopedic physiotherapists and manual therapists. The thumb-tip force generation while performing manual techniques may be influenced not only by the specific manual techniques employed but also by general flexibility of the therapist. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of general flexibility and different techniques on thumb-tip force generation.

[Exploration of social support available to mothers of children with cancer, their health status, and other factors related to their family function].

The mother is typically the primary caregiver for children suffering from cancer. The long-term care responsibilities involved with caring for a cancer-stricken child impacts upon the mother's family role and functions and causes lifestyle changes or imbalances. The aim of this study was to explore social support, health status, and related factors in families of children with cancer.

Tamoxifen-induced [Ca2+]i rise and apoptosis in corneal epithelial cells.

The effect of tamoxifen on cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) and viability has not been explored in corneal epithelial cells. This study examined whether tamoxifen altered [Ca2+]i and viability in SIRC corneal epithelial cells. Tamoxifen at concentrations > or = 1 microM increased [Ca2+]i in a concentration-dependent manner with an EC50 value of 6 microM.

Detection of nitrogen dioxide using mixed tungsten oxide-based thick film semiconductor sensor.

The thick film semiconductor sensor for NO(2) gas detection was fabricated by screen-printing method using a mixed WO(3)-based as sensing material. The sensing characteristics, such as response time, response linearity, sensitivity, working range, cross sensitivity, and long-term stability were further studied by using a WO(3)-based mixed with different metal oxides (SnO(2), TiO(2) and In(2)O(3)) and doped with noble metals (Au, Pd and Pt) as sensing materials was observed. The highest sensitivity for low concentrations (<16 mg l(-1)) was observed using WO(3)-based mixed with In(2)O(3) or TiO(2).

New bioactive clerodane diterpenoids from the roots of Casearia membranacea.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the acetone extract of the roots of Casearia membranacea furnished three new clerodane diterpenes, caseamembrins S-U (1-3) and the known caseamembrin Q (4). Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analyses, especially 2D-NMR. Compounds 1-4 were tested against human tumor cells, including HeLa (cervical epitheloid carcinoma), DLD-1 (colon carcinoma), Daoy (medulloblastoma), and KB (oral epidermoid carcinoma) cell lines.

High efficient ECG compression based on reversible round-off non-recursive 1-D discrete periodized wavelet transform.

Error propagation and word-length-growth are two intrinsic effects influencing the performance of wavelet-based ECG data compression methods. To overcome these influences, a non-recursive 1-D discrete periodized wavelet transform (1-D NRDPWT) and a reversible round-off linear transformation (RROLT) theorem are developed. The 1-D NRDPWT can resist truncation error propagation in decomposition processes.

Self-care behavior, hope, and social support in Taiwanese patients awaiting heart transplantation.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the self-care behavior, hope, and social support in patients awaiting heart transplantation and to explore all the correlative and related factors.

Methods: In total, 45 participants who met the selection criteria were selected by purposive sampling from four medical centers in Taiwan. The three instruments Self-Care Behavior Scale, Herth Hope Index (HHI), and Social Support Inventory were used for data collection.

Ornithine decarboxylase prevents methotrexate-induced apoptosis by reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species production.

Methotrexate (MTX), a folate antagonist, was developed for the treatment of malignancies, and is currently used in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other chronic inflammatory disorders. It has been proven in short-term and long-term prospective studies that low doses of MTX (0.75 mg/Kg/week) are effective in controlling the inflammatory manifestations of RA.