Regenerated Cellulose Fiber Solar Cell

Wearable electronics and smart textiles are growing fields in the cause to integrate modern communication and computing tools into clothing instead of carrying around smart phones and tablets. Naturally, this also requires power sources to be integrated in textiles. In this paper, a proof-of-concept is presented in form of a photovoltaic cell based on a commercially available viscose fiber. This has been realized using a silver nanowire network around the viscose fiber to establish electrical contact and a photoactive coating using the standard workhorse among organic thin film solar cells, a blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). Structure and performance of single fiber devices demonstrate their feasibility and functionality. The applied materials and methods are compatible to solution processing therewith qualifying for potential roll-to-roll large-scale production

Effects of detraining on functional fitness and lymphocyte subsets in postmenopausal females

Introduction: Aging leads to declines of functional fitness and regular exercise has been recognized to be beneficial for keeping health and preventing degenerative diseases in older adults. Limited evidences connect the relationships among detraining, functional fitness, immunosenescence, and vascular integrity in aged individuals. Thus, the aims of this study was to inspect: How training and detraining influence functional fitness, mobilization of circulating leukocytes and lymphocyte subsets? Method: Twenty-two female volunteers aged 50 to 65 years were recruited as participants in this study. Participants were assigned into training group (TG, n=13) and control group (CG, n=9). The participants in TG were asked to attend exercise program, including aerobic exercise at 70% HRR for 60 min twice per week and resistance training at 60-70% 1RM, 3 sets and 9 exercises for 60 min per week for 16 weeks and subsequently avoid exercise for 6 weeks to investigate detraining effects. CG were asked to stay in their regular lifestyles. A six-items measurement of functional fitness and resting (at fasting status) venous blood samples were collected at before training program (Pre-training), 8th week of training (Mid-training), after training program (Post-training), and 6th week of detraining 6 weeks (Detraining). Blood cell counts (WBC, RBC, HCT, LYM) were measured using an automated cell counter and lymphocyte subsets (CD4, CD8, CD19, CD56) were analyzed by flow cytometry. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistic, mixed two-factors (time × group) measures ANOVA or ACOVA and the significance was set at pResult: Functional fitness of TG was not significantly improved following the training program although it was significantly better than CG in Pre-training. Blood cell counts were not changed and all in normal range. A significant difference in CD19 counts were observed between TG and CG (71.23±32.05 vs. 116.45±67.95 103/mL) in Post-training. CD19 counts in TG were increased at Detraining compared with Mid-training and Post-training (138.08±50.22 vs. 74.92±31.20, 71.23±32.05 103/mL). No alterations in quantity and percentage of CD4, CD8, and CD56 were observed in this study. Conclusion: Findings of this study suggest that both a 16-week moderate exercise program and a 6-week detraining did not significantly change the functional fitness and lymphocyte subsets in postmenopausal females

Green tea extract supplementation ameliorates CCl4-induced hepatic oxidative stress, fibrosis, and acute-phase protein expression in rat

Background/PurposeWe evaluated the long-term effects of green tea extract (GTE) supplementation on oxidative stress, biliary acute phase protein expression, and liver function in CCl4-induced chronic liver injury.MethodsWe evaluated the antioxidant activity of GTE in comparison with those of vitamin C, vitamin E, and β-carotene in vitro by using an ultrasensitive chemiluminescence analyzer. Chronic liver injury was induced by intraperitoneally administering carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) (1mL/kg body weight, twice weekly) to female Wistar rats for 8 weeks. The effects of low (4mg/kg body weight per day) and high (20mg/kg body weight per day) doses of intragastric GTE on CCl4-induced liver dysfunction and fibrosis were examined by measuring the bile and blood reactive oxygen species levels and biochemical parameters by using Western blot and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis techniques.ResultsGTE has greater scavenging activity against O2–, H2O2, and Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) in vitro than vitamin C, vitamin E, and β-carotene do. In vivo, CCl4 markedly increased bile and blood reactive oxygen species production, lipid accumulation, number of infiltrated leukocytes, fibrosis, hepatic hydroxyproline content, and plasma alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities, and reduced plasma albumin levels. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that CCl4 increased the acute-phase expression of six biliary proteins and decreased hepatic B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), catalase, and CuZn superoxide dismutase protein expression. GTE supplementation attenuated CCl4-enhanced oxidative stress, levels of biochemical parameters, pathology, and acute-phase protein secretion, and preserved antioxidant/antiapoptotic protein expression.ConclusionGTE supplementation attenuates CCl4-induced hepatic oxidative stress, fibrosis, acute phase protein excretion, and hepatic dysfunction via the antioxidant and antiapoptotic defense mechanisms

Multiplex PCR System for Rapid Detection of Pathogens in Patients with Presumed Sepsis – A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Blood culture is viewed as the golden standard for the diagnosis of sepsis but suffers from low sensitivity and long turnaround time. LightCycler SeptiFast (LC-SF) is a real-time multiplex polymerase chain reaction test able to detect 25 common pathogens responsible for bloodstream infections within hours. We aim to assess the accuracy of LC-SF by systematically reviewing the published studies. Method Related literature on Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases was searched up to October 2012 for studies utilizing LC-SF to diagnose suspected sepsis and that provided sufficient data to construct two-by-two tables. Results: A total of 34 studies enrolling 6012 patients of suspected sepsis were included. The overall sensitivity and specificity for LC-SF to detect bacteremia or fungemia was 0·75 (95% CI: 0·65–0·83) and 0·92 (95%CI:0·90–0·95), respectively. LC-SF had a high positive likelihood ratio (10·10) and a moderate negative likelihood ratio (0·27). Specifically, LC-SF had a sensitivity of 0·80 (95%CI: 0·70–0·88) and a specificity of 0·95(95%CI: 0·93–0·97) for the bacteremia outcome, and a sensitivity of 0·61 (95%CI: 0·48–0·72) and a specificity of 0·99 (95%CI: 0·99–0·99) for the fungemia outcome. High heterogeneity was found in the bacteremia outcome subgroup but not in the fungemia outcome subgroup. Conclusion: LC-SF is of high rule-in value for early detection of septic patients. In a population with low pretest probability, LC-SF test can still provide valuable information for ruling out bacteremia or fungemia

Identification of Postoperative Prognostic MicroRNA Predictors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Comparison of microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles in the noncancerous liver tissues adjacent to hepatocelluar carcinomas (HCCs) was a strategy to identify postoperative prognostic predictors in this study. Expression profiles of 270 miRNAs were determined in the paraneoplastic liver tissues of 12 HCC patients with known postoperative prognosis. A panel of candidate miRNA predictors was identified. The prognostic predictive value of these candidate miRNAs was then verified in 216 postoperative HCC patients. Univariate analysis identified 8 and 3 miRNA predictors for recurrence-free (RFS) and overall (OS) survivals, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed high expression levels of miR-155 (HR, 2.002 [1.324–3.027]; P = .001), miR-15a (HR, 0.478 [0.248–0.920]; P = .027), miR-432 (HR, 1.816 [1.203–2.740]; P = .015), miR-486-3p (HR, 0.543 [0.330–0.893]; P = .016), miR-15b (HR, 1.074 [1.002–1.152]; P = .043) and miR-30b (HR, 1.102 [1.025–1.185]; P = .009) were significantly associated with RFS. When clinicopathological predictors were included, multivariate analysis revealed that tumor number and miR-432, miR-486-3p, and miR-30b expression levels remained significant as independent predictors for RFS. Additionally, expression knockdown of miR-155 in J7 and Mahlavu hepatoma cells resulted in decreased cell growth and enhanced cell death in xenograft tumors, suggesting an oncogenic effect of miR-155. In conclusion, significant prognostic miRNA predictors were identified through examination of miRNA expression levels in paraneoplastic liver tissues. Functional analysis of a miRNA predictor, miR-155, suggested that the prognostic miRNA predictors identified under this strategy could serve as potential molecular targets for anticancer therapy

Phenome-wide analysis of Taiwan Biobank reveals novel glycemia-related loci and genetic risks for diabetes

To explore the complex genetic architecture of common diseases and traits, we conducted comprehensive PheWAS of ten diseases and 34 quantitative traits in the community-based Taiwan Biobank (TWB). We identified 995 significantly associated loci with 135 novel loci specific to Taiwanese population. Further analyses highlighted the genetic pleiotropy of loci related to complex disease and associated quantitative traits. Extensive analysis on glycaemic phenotypes (T2D, fasting glucose and Hb