Accelerated colorimetric immunosensingusing surface-modified porous monolithsand gold nanoparticles

A rapid and sensitive immunoassay platform integrating polymerized monoliths and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) has been developed. The porous monoliths are photopolymerized in situ within a silica capillary and serve as solid support for high-mass transport and high-density capture antibody immobilization to create a shorter diffusion length for antibody–antigen interactions, resulting in a rapid assay and low reagent consumption. AuNPs are modified with detection antibodies and are utilized as signals for colorimetric immunoassays without the need for enzyme, substrate and sophisticated equipment for quantitative measurements. This platform has been verified by performing a human IgG sandwich immunoassay with a detection limit of 0.1 ng ml−1. In addition, a single assay can be completed in 1 h, which is more efficient than traditional immunoassays that require several hours to complete

Interpretation as a factor influencing translation: the case of a biblical metaphor

This paper identifies interpretation as a crucial factor influencing translation of biblical metaphors. Data are drawn from five Chinese Bible translations. Qualitative analysis is conducted. The results show that it is highly likely for translators’ interpretation of biblical metaphors to affect the metaphor translation. More researches probing into translation variations of biblical metaphors in Chinese Bible translations are called for

Interpretation as a factor influencing translation: the case of a biblical metaphor

This paper identifies interpretation as a crucial factor influencing translation of biblical metaphors. Data are drawn from five Chinese Bible translations. Qualitative analysis is conducted. The results show that it is highly likely for translators’ interpretation of biblical metaphors to affect the metaphor translation. More researches probing into translation variations of biblical metaphors in Chinese Bible translations are called for

Neurological Complications in Young Infants With Acute Bacterial Meningitis

We aimed to evaluate the occurrence, treatment, and outcomes of neurological complications after bacterial meningitis in young infants. A case series study from a retrospective cohort from two tertiary-level medical centers in Taiwan between 2007 and 2016 was conducted. Eighty-five young infants aged < 90 days with bacterial meningitis were identified. 25 (29.4%) were born at preterm. Group B Streptococcus (GBS) and Escherichia coli caused 74.1% of identified cases. Despite the majority (90.6%) initially received microbiologically appropriate antibiotics, 65 (76.5%) had experienced at least one neurological complication identified at a median of 6 days (range: 1–173) after onset of bacterial meningitis. The most common neurological complication was seizure (58.8%), followed by subdural effusion (47.1%), ventriculomegaly (41.2%), subdural empyema (21.2%), hydrocephalus (18.8%), ventriculitis (15.3%), periventricular leukomalacia (11.8%), and encephalomalacia (10.6%). Nine patients (10.6%) died (including 4 had critical discharge on request) and 29/76 (38.2%) of the survivors had major neurological sequelae at discharge. Nighteen (22.4%) received surgical intervention due to these complications. After multivariate logistic regression, initial seizure (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 4.76, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.7–13.0, P = 0.002) and septic shock (aOR: 6.04; 95% CI: 1.35–27.0, P = 0.019) were independent predictors for final unfavorable outcomes.Conclusions: Neurological complications and sequelae are common in young infants after bacterial meningitis. Patients presented with early seizure or septic shock can be an early predictor of final unfavorable outcomes and require close monitoring. Further research regarding how to improve clinical management and outcomes is warranted

Molecular Characteristics and Antimicrobial Resistance of Group B Streptococcus Strains Causing Invasive Disease in Neonates and Adults

We aimed to analyze the molecular characteristics, clonality and antimicrobial resistance profiles of group B streptococcus (GBS) isolates collected in Taiwan from invasive diseases and carriage. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was used to assess the genetic diversity of 225 GBS strains from neonates and adults with invasive GBS diseases. 100 GBS strains collected from colonized pregnant women during the same period were compared, and all strains were characterized for one of nine capsule genotypes. We also determined the susceptibilities of all GBS isolates to various antimicrobial agents. The most frequently identified serotypes that caused invasive disease in neonates were III (60.6%) and Ia (17.3%), whereas type VI (32.7%), Ib (19.4%), and V (19.4%) were the most common to cause invasive disease in adults. Serotype VI was the leading type that colonized pregnant women (35.0%). Twenty-six sequence types (STs) were identified, and 90.5% of GBS strains were represented by 6 STs. ST-17 and ST-1 were more prevalent in invasive diseases in neonates and adults, respectively. The majority of serotype III and VI isolates belonged to clonal complex (CC)-17 and CC-1, respectively. ST-17 strains were more likely to cause meningitis and late-onset disease than other strains. In addition, ST-12 and ST-17 GBS strains showed the highest rate of resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin (range: 75.8–100%). In conclusion, CC-17/type III and CC-1/type VI are the most important invasive pathogens in infants and non-pregnant adults in Taiwan, respectively. GBS genotypes vary between different age groups and geographical areas and should be considered during GBS vaccine development

High aspect ratio nanoimprinted grooves of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) control the length and direction of retraction fibers during fibroblast cell division

Retraction fibers (RFs) determine orientation of the cell division axis and guide the spreading of daughter cells. Long and unidirectional RFs, which are especially apparent during mitosis of cells in three-dimensional (3D) environments, enable improved control over cell fate, following division. However, 3D gel environments lack the cues necessary for predetermining the orientation of RFs to direct tissue architecture. While patterning of focal adhesion regions by microcontact printing can determine orientation of the RFs through enhancing focal adhesion numbers along particular directions, the RFs remain short due to the two-dimensional culture environment. Herein, the authors demonstrate that nanoimprinted grooves of polylactic acid glycolic acid (PLGA) with a high aspect ratio (A.R. of 2.0) can provide the cues necessary to control the direction of RFs, as well as enable the maintenance of long and unidirectional RFs as observed within 3D cultures, while the same is not possible with PLGA grooves of lower A.R. (1.0 or lower). Based on enhanced levels of contact guidance of premitotic fibroblast protrusions at high A.R. grooves and deeper levels of focal adhesion due to filopodia extensions into these grooves, it is suggested that submicron (800 nm width) PLGA grooves with A.R. of 2 are capable of supporting mechanical forces from cell protrusions to a greater depth, thereby enabling the maintenance of the protrusions as long and unidirectional RFs during cell division. Given the scalability and versatility of nanoimprint techniques, the authors envision a platform for designing nanostructures to direct tissue regeneration and developmental biology.This is the publisher’s final pdf. The article is copyrighted by the American Vacuum Society and published by Springer. It can be found at: http://link.springer.com/journal/13758See supplementary material at http://dx.doi.org/10.1116/1.4936589 for movies on cell trajectories during division on the grooves, as well as for alignment and elongation of pre-mitotic protrusions on PLGA grooves

Sexually transmitted disease surveillance 2007

Division of STD Prevention."December 2008."Also available via the World Wide Web as an html or an Acrobat .pdf file (7.3 MB, 194 p.).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance, 2007. At lanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; December 2008

Pretreatment carcinoembryonic antigen level is a risk factor for para-aortic lymph node recurrence in addition to squamous cell carcinoma antigen following definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To identify pretreatment carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels as a risk factor for para-aortic lymph node (PALN) recurrence following concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for cervical cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>From March 1995 to January 2008, 188 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the uterine cervix were analyzed retrospectively. No patient received PALN irradiation as the initial treatment. CEA and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) were measured before and after radiotherapy. PALN recurrence was detected by computer tomography (CT) scans. We analyzed the actuarial rates of PALN recurrence by using Kaplan-Meier curves. Multivariate analyses were carried out with Cox regression models. We stratified the risk groups based on the hazard ratios (HR).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Both pretreatment CEA levels ≥ 10 ng/mL and SCC-Ag levels < 10 ng/mL (<it>p </it>< 0.001, HR = 8.838), SCC-Ag levels ≥ 40 ng/mL (<it>p </it>< 0.001, HR = 12.551), and SCC-Ag levels of 10-40 ng/mL (<it>p </it>< 0.001, HR = 4.2464) were significant factors for PALN recurrence. The corresponding 5-year PALN recurrence rates were 51.5%, 84.8%, and 27.5%, respectively. The 5-year PALN recurrence rate for patients with both low (< 10 ng/mL) SCC and CEA was only 9.6%. CEA levels ≥ 10 ng/mL or SCC-Ag levels ≥ 10 ng/mL at PALN recurrence were associated with overall survival after an isolated PALN recurrence. Pretreatment CEA levels ≥ 10 ng/mL were also associated with survival after an isolated PALN recurrence.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Pretreatment CEA ≥ 10 ng/mL is an additional risk factor of PALN relapse following definitive CCRT for SCC of the uterine cervix in patients with pretreatment SCC-Ag levels < 10 ng/mL. More comprehensive examinations before CCRT and intensive follow-up schedules are suggested for early detection and salvage in patients with SCC-Ag or CEA levels ≥ 10 ng/mL.</p

Methylation status of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 concurs with the malignance of oral tongue cancer

BACKGROUND: Aberrant insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP-7) expression has been found in various cancers such as prostate, breast, and colon. IGFBP-7 induced the apoptosis of tumor and potentially predicted the clinical outcome in some cancers is further demonstrated. This study investigates the causes and underlying mechanisms of aberrant IGFBP-7 expression in unravelling head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). METHODS: A total of 47 oral tongue cancer patient samples were primarily analyzed for the methylation status in 5′ region of IGFBP-7 by methylation-specific PCR (MS-PCR). Subsequently the invasion, overexpression, and knockdown of IGFBP-7 in the HNSCC A253 invasive subpopulation were employed to examine the effect of IGFBP-7. The epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker genes and AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling were further evaluated by Western blot for the understanding the role of aberrant IGFBP-7 expression and thereof putative mechanism. RESULTS: EMT expressed in the invasive subpopulation of HNSCC cell lines (A253 and RPMI 2650) was contemporary with the down-regulation of IGFBP-7. After treatment with 5-AZA-2′ deoxycytidine, the de-methylated CpG sites in the 5′ region of IGFBP-7 were observed and IGFBP-7 mRNA expression was also restored. Accordingly, re-expression IGFBP-7 in invasive subpopulation of A253 could induce the mesenchymal–epithelial transition (MET) and concurrently inhibited the cell invasion. Moreover, IGFBP-7 methylation status of 47 oral tongue tumors showed a positive correlation to invasive depth of the tumor, loco-regional recurrence, and cancer sequence. CONCLUSIONS: IGFBP-7 can alter EMT relative marker genes and suppress cell invasion in A253 cell through AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling. The epigenetic control of IGFBP-7 in the invasion and metastasis of HNSCC was reported, suggesting that IGFBP-7 could be a prognostic factor for the probability of invasion and a therapeutic remedy. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13046-015-0138-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Urinary levels of organophosphate flame retardants metabolites in a young population from Southern Taiwan and potential health effects

BackgroundOrganophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are widely distributed in the environment and their metabolites are observed in urine, but little is known regarding OPFRs in a broad-spectrum young population from newborns to those aged 18 years.ObjectivesInvestigate urinary levels of OPFRs and OPFR metabolites in Taiwanese infants, young children, schoolchildren, and adolescents within the general population.MethodsDifferent age groups of subjects (n=136) were recruited from southern Taiwan to detect 10 OPFR metabolites in urine samples. Associations between urinary OPFRs and their corresponding metabolites and potential health status were also examined.ResultsThe mean level of urinary Σ10 OPFR in this broad-spectrum young population is 2.25 μg/L (standard deviation (SD) of 1.91 μg/L). Σ10 OPFR metabolites in urine are 3.25 ± 2.84, 3.06 ± 2.21, 1.75 ± 1.10, and 2.32 ± 2.29 μg/L in the age groups comprising of newborns, 1-5 year-olds, 6-10 year-olds, and 11-18 year-olds, respectively, and borderline significant differences were found in the different age groups (p=0.125). The OPFR metabolites of TCEP, BCEP, DPHP, TBEP, DBEP, and BDCPP predominate in urine and comprise more than 90% of the total. TBEP was highly correlated with DBEP in this population (r=0.845, p&lt;0.001). The estimated daily intake (EDI) of Σ5OPFRs (TDCPP, TCEP, TBEP, TNBP, and TPHP) was 2,230, 461, 130, and 184 ng/kg bw/day for newborns, 1-5 yr children, 6-10 yr children, and 11-17 yr adolescents, respectively. The EDI of Σ5OPFRs for newborns was 4.83-17.2 times higher than the other age groups. Urinary OPFR metabolites are significantly correlated with birth length and chest circumference in newborns.ConclusionTo our knowledge, this is the first investigation of urinary OPFR metabolite levels in a broad-spectrum young population. There tended to be higher exposure rates in both newborns and pre-schoolers, though little is known about their exposure levels or factors leading to exposure in the young population. Further studies should clarify the exposure levels and factor relationships