TLR7 and TLR8 Gene Variations and Susceptibility to Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play pivotal roles in the innate immune system and control inflammatory responses and adaptive immunity. We previously evaluated associations between TLR7 and TLR8 gene SNPs and susceptibility to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Our results suggested that TLR7IVS2-151G and TLR8-129G alleles were present at higher frequency in males of an HCV-infected group as compared to a control group (24.1% vs. 14.4%, p = 0.028; 17.6% vs. 6.8%, p = 0.004, respectively). Based upon their recognition of single stranded viral RNA, this suggested that TLR7 and TLR8 played a significant role in anti-HCV immune responses. Here, we studied the functional effects of these polymorphisms by analyzing the mRNA expressions of TLR7 and TLR8 and cytokine production induced ex vivo by TLR7- and TLR8-specific agonists using whole blood of subjects with different genotypes. The percentage of CD14+ cells from those with an AG haplotype that expressed TLR7 and TLR8 was significantly lower, but higher in intensity compared to cells from those with GG and AC haplotypes. Cells from those with an AG haplotype produced more IFN-α and less amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines upon stimulation. This suggests that variations in TLR7 and TLR8 genes might impair immune responses during HCV infection

InGaN-based light-emitting diodes with an embedded conical air-voids structure

The conical air-void structure of an InGaN light-emitting diode (LEDs) was formed at the GaN/sapphire interface to increase the light extraction efficiency. The fabrication process of the conical air-void structure consisted of a dry process and a crystallographic wet etching process on an undoped GaN layer, followed by a re-growth process for the InGaN LED structure. A higher light output power (1.54 times) and a small divergent angle (120o) were observed, at a 20mA operation current, on the treated LED structure when compared to a standard LED without the conical air-void structure. In this electroluminescence spectrum, the emission intensity and the peak wavelength varied periodically by corresponding to the conical air-void patterns that were measured through a 100nm-optical-aperture fiber probe. The conical air-void structure reduced the compressed strain at the GaN/sapphire interface by inducing the wavelength blueshift phenomenon and the higher internal quantum efficiency of the photoluminescence spectra for the treated LED structure

A Single Nucleotide in Stem Loop II of 5′-Untranslated Region Contributes to Virulence of Enterovirus 71 in Mice

BACKGROUND: Enterovirus 71 (EV71) has emerged as a neuroinvasive virus responsible for several large outbreaks in the Asia-Pacific region while virulence determinant remains unexplored. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this report, we investigated increased virulence of unadapted EV71 clinical isolate 237 as compared with isolate 4643 in mice. A fragment 12 nucleotides in length in stem loop (SL) II of 237 5'-untranslated region (UTR) visibly reduced survival time and rate in mice was identified by constructing a series of infectious clones harboring chimeric 5'-UTR. In cells transfected with bicistronic plasmids, and replicon RNAs, the 12-nt fragment of isolate 237 enhanced translational activities and accelerated replication of subgenomic EV71. Finally, single nucleotide change from cytosine to uridine at base 158 in this short fragment of 5'-UTR was proven to reduce viral translation and EV71 virulence in mice. Results collectively indicated a pivotal role of novel virulence determinant C158 on virus translation in vitro and EV71 virulence in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: These results presented the first reported virulence determinant in EV71 5'-UTR and first position discovered from unadapted isolates

Isolation and Characterization of Novel Murine Epiphysis Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

BACKGROUND: While bone marrow (BM) is a rich source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), previous studies have shown that MSCs derived from mouse BM (BMMSCs) were difficult to manipulate as compared to MSCs derived from other species. The objective of this study was to find an alternative murine MSCs source that could provide sufficient MSCs. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this study, we described a novel type of MSCs that migrates directly from the mouse epiphysis in culture. Epiphysis-derived MSCs (EMSCs) could be extensively expanded in plastic adherent culture, and they had a greater ability for clonogenic formation and cell proliferation than BMMSCs. Under specific induction conditions, EMSCs demonstrated multipotency through their ability to differentiate into adipocytes, osteocytes and chondrocytes. Immunophenotypic analysis demonstrated that EMSCs were positive for CD29, CD44, CD73, CD105, CD166, Sca-1 and SSEA-4, while negative for CD11b, CD31, CD34 and CD45. Notably, EMSCs did not express major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC I) or MHC II under our culture system. EMSCs also successfully suppressed the proliferation of splenocytes triggered by concanavalin A (Con A) or allogeneic splenocytes, and decreased the expression of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α in Con A-stimulated splenocytes suggesting their anti-inflammatory properties. Moreover, EMSCs enhanced fracture repair, ameliorated necrosis in ischemic skin flap, and improved blood perfusion in hindlimb ischemia in the in vivo experiments. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCES: These results indicate that EMSCs, a new type of MSCs established by our simple isolation method, are a preferable alternative for mice MSCs due to their better growth and differentiation potentialities

奈米碳管之表面活化與改質

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have attracted a wide research interest since they were discovered by Iijima in 1991. Because of their special characteristics, such as one-dimensional nano-scale hollow cores, high surface areas, excellent mechanical properties, and good chemical stability, CNTs are possessed potential applications such as the composites, catalyst supports, field emitters, supercapacitor electrodes, heterojunctions and probes of CNTs. Although many methods have been used to prepare CNTs, the BET specific surface area the CNTs without treatments are not very large (the typical value is about 200 m2/g). In order to enlarge the BET specific surface area of the CNTs, the raw CNTs were prepared with KOH as the activating agent. The CNTs after activation treatment were possessed a larger specific surface area and shown a better performance than those of the pristine CNTs. For example, in the applications of electrochemical supercapacitor electrodes, the electrochemical capacitance of the activated CNTs is twice as large as that of the pristine CNTs. In this study, we have investigated the effects on the larger BET specific surface areas of activated CNTs by the chemical preparation and modification.在奈米材料的研究領域中，奈米碳管（CNTs）因為具有優異的特性，如：表面特性、高彈性、高導電性、極佳的場發射特性、金屬及半導體特性，使其具有多方面的應用潛力，如：觸媒載體、燃料電池之陰極觸媒載體、微感測器、場發射顯示器、超級電容器、奈米碳管異質結（heterojunction）及奈米碳針等。 雖然有許多研究製備奈米碳管的方法,但是未經處理的奈米碳管初產物BET比表面積都不是太大(平均都在200m2/g)。由於BET比表面積的增加在電化學超級電容器電极材料方面以及作為場發射平面顯示器陰極陣列材料方面都具有潛在的應用。因此為了增加奈米碳管的BET比表面積，本研究所使用的是利用醇還原法先制備出雙成分及三成份(Ni/Mo/Mg)之奈米介金屬合金觸媒，再將製備出的奈米介金屬合金觸媒以化學氣相沉積法進行奈米碳管成長。化學氣相沉積法進行奈米碳管成長的奈米碳管初產物經過空氣氧化以及酸洗的純化步驟，得到純化之奈米碳管。純化之奈米碳管在經過活化劑KOH活化處理純化之奈米碳管表面，而得到活化之奈米碳管。此種經過純化以及活化處理的CNTs比未處理過的奈米碳管初產物顯然提高了BET比表面積。本研究採用的是利用化學活化的方法,將現有的奈米碳管進行純化及活化處理後,可以得到比表面積更大的活化之奈米碳管。目 錄 中文摘要-------------------------------------------------------------------------- I Abstract--------------------------------------------------------------------------- II 致謝------------------------------------------------------------------------------- III 目錄------------------------------------------------------------------------------ IV 表目錄-------------------------------------------------------------------------- VIII 圖目錄----------------------------------------------------------------------------XI 第一章 前言---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 第二章 文獻回顧---------------------------------------------------------------- 3 （一）奈米微粒的性質及應用--------------------------------------------3 （二）奈米材料在催化領域的應用--------------------------------------4 （三）奈米材料的製備方法-----------------------------------------------5 1. 奈米微粒的製備方法--------------------------------------------7 （四）奈米介金屬合金的介紹--------------------------------------------7 （五）奈米合金的製備方法-----------------------------------------------9 1. 醇還原法的製備原理-------------------------------------------10 （六）奈米碳管的歷史回顧----------------------------------------------12 1. 製造奈米碳管主要的幾種製程-------------------------------12 1-1 電弧放電法------------------------------------------------13 1-2 雷射蒸發法------------------------------------------------14 1-3 化學氣相沈積法------------------------------------------ 15 2. 奈米碳管的結構-------------------------------------------------17 3. 奈米碳管的各種應用及性質--------------------------------- 21 4. 奈米碳管應用在場發射電子源------------------------------ 25 4-1 奈米碳管作為場發射電子源---------------------------25 4-2 應用在場發射平面顯示器----------------------------- 28 4-3 應用在真空三極元件----------------------------------- 29 5. 多壁奈米碳管成長的反應機構------------------------------ 31 第三章 實驗 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 34 （一）實驗流程-------------------------------------------------------------34 （二）實驗裝置-------------------------------------------------------------35 （三）觸媒製備-------------------------------------------------------------37 1. 實驗藥品----------------------------------------------------------37 2. 奈米介金屬合金微粒的製備----------------------------------37 （四）奈米碳管成長------------------------------------------------------39 （五）奈米碳管活化------------------------------------------------------40 1. 利用水熱法活化奈米碳管------------------------------------ 40 2. 奈米碳管的純化與活化----------------------------------------41 2-1 奈米碳管的純化----------------------------------------- -41 2-2 奈米碳管的活化------------------------------------------ 43 （六）分析儀器------------------------------------------------------------45 1. 比表面積分析（BET surface area）-------------------------45 2. 粉末X 光繞射（X-ray powder diffraction，XRD）-----48 3. 穿透式電子顯微鏡及電子繞射分析（TEM and diffraction pattern）----------------------------------------------------------49 4. 掃瞄式電子顯微鏡及能量分散光譜分析（SEM and EDS）---------------------------------------------------------------------50 5. 熱重分析（Thermogravimetric analysis，TGA）---------51 6. 拉曼光譜儀(Raman Spetroscory)----------------------------52 第四章 結果與討論 ---------------------------------------------------------- 53 （一）奈米碳管製備與分析---------------------------------------------53 1. 鎂-鎳-鉬合金奈米碳管FE-SEM之分析--------------------53 2. 鎂-鎳-鉬合金奈米碳管TEM之分析------------------------56 3. 鎂-鎳-鉬合金奈米碳管XRD之分析-----------------------57 4. 鎂-鎳-鉬合金奈米碳管TGA之分析------------------------ 58 （二）奈米碳管活化-水熱法特性分析--------------------------------59 1. 奈米碳管活化前後XRD之圖譜------------------------------ 59 2. 奈米碳管活化前後的BET分析---------------------------------60 （三）奈米碳管純化及活化分析----------------------------------------61 1. 奈米碳管純化之分析-空氣氧化及鹽酸酸洗---------------61 1-1奈米碳管純化之空氣氧化------------------------------ 61 1-2奈米碳管純化之酸洗------------------------------------ 61 1-3奈米碳管純化前後的TGA圖譜------------------------ 62 1-4奈米碳管純化前後的XRD圖譜------------------------ 63 1-5奈米碳管純化前後的RAMAN圖譜--------------------- 64 2.奈米碳管純化後活化之分析-利用活化劑KOH活化-----66 2-1奈米碳管活化前後的XRD圖譜-------------------------66 2-2奈米碳管活化前後的Raman圖譜---------------------68 2-3奈米碳管活化前後的BET分析------------------------70 2-4奈米碳管活化前後的氮氣吸附結果分析-------------72 2-5奈米碳管純化前後的FE-SEM分析-------------------74 2-6活化之奈米碳管FE-SEM及EDS分析---------------76 2-7活化之奈米碳管HR-TEM分析------------------------78 第五章 結論 --------------------------------------------------------------------79 （一）結論--------------------------------------------------------------------79 （二）未來展望-------------------------------------------------------------80 第六章 參考文獻 --------------------------------------------------------------8

SEROEPIDEMIOLOGY OF HUMAN PARVOVIRUS B19 IN TAIWAN

In order to determine the prevalence and risk factors of human parvovirus B19 (B19) infection in Taiwan, a seroepidemiological study was carried out in 19 townships. Serum samples were collected from 862 healthy residents, who were selected by stratified random sampling from various study areas. They were chosen from four different ethnic groups including aborigines, Fukien Taiwanese, Hakka Taiwanese, and mainland Chinese. Serum samples were screened for B19 IgG antibody by indirect antibody capture enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and B19 IgM by IgM antibody capture (MAC)-ELISA, respectively. The overall prevalence of anti-B19 IgG and anti-B19 IgM was 32.8% and 0. 35%, respectively. The anti-B19 seropositive rate in females was significantly higher than that of males (36.4% vs. 29.4%, P < .001). The age-sex-adjusted seropositive rate in urban townships (39.9%) was higher than that in aboriginal townships (30.5%, P < .001). The seropositive rate increased significantly with age showing a dose- response relationship(P = 0.0001 based on a trend test). Blood transfusion was found to be associated with an increased seropositive rate showing a multivariate-adjusted odds ratios of 1.6. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc

SEROEPIDEMIOLOGY OF HUMAN PARVOVIRUS B19 IN TAIWAN

In order to determine the prevalence and risk factors of human parvovirus B19 (B19) infection in Taiwan, a seroepidemiological study was carried out in 19 townships. Serum samples were collected from 862 healthy residents, who were selected by stratified random sampling from various study areas. They were chosen from four different ethnic groups including aborigines, Fukien Taiwanese, Hakka Taiwanese, and mainland Chinese. Serum samples were screened for B19 IgG antibody by indirect antibody capture enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and B19 IgM by IgM antibody capture (MAC)-ELISA, respectively. The overall prevalence of anti-B19 IgG and anti-B19 IgM was 32.8% and 0. 35%, respectively. The anti-B19 seropositive rate in females was significantly higher than that of males (36.4% vs. 29.4%, P < .001). The age-sex-adjusted seropositive rate in urban townships (39.9%) was higher than that in aboriginal townships (30.5%, P < .001). The seropositive rate increased significantly with age showing a dose- response relationship(P = 0.0001 based on a trend test). Blood transfusion was found to be associated with an increased seropositive rate showing a multivariate-adjusted odds ratios of 1.6. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc

SEROEPIDEMIOLOGY OF HUMAN PARVOVIRUS B19 IN TAIWAN

In order to determine the prevalence and risk factors of human parvovirus B19 (B19) infection in Taiwan, a seroepidemiological study was carried out in 19 townships. Serum samples were collected from 862 healthy residents, who were selected by stratified random sampling from various study areas. They were chosen from four different ethnic groups including aborigines, Fukien Taiwanese, Hakka Taiwanese, and mainland Chinese. Serum samples were screened for B19 IgG antibody by indirect antibody capture enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and B19 IgM by IgM antibody capture (MAC)-ELISA, respectively. The overall prevalence of anti-B19 IgG and anti-B19 IgM was 32.8% and 0. 35%, respectively. The anti-B19 seropositive rate in females was significantly higher than that of males (36.4% vs. 29.4%, P < .001). The age-sex-adjusted seropositive rate in urban townships (39.9%) was higher than that in aboriginal townships (30.5%, P < .001). The seropositive rate increased significantly with age showing a dose- response relationship(P = 0.0001 based on a trend test). Blood transfusion was found to be associated with an increased seropositive rate showing a multivariate-adjusted odds ratios of 1.6. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc

台灣地區由ca24v引起之ahc流行前後之血清流行病學研究

由柯沙奇病毒 A24 型變異株所引起之急性出血性結膜炎（ AHC ）於1985 年十月及 1986 年六月在台灣爆發首次的大流行。為瞭解流行前後，民眾對此病毒感染之免疫 狀況，在流行發生後 7-21 個月（1987年元月至七月）採取下列之血清樣本進行血清 流行病學之研究：( 1 ) 16 例病毒分離確定者， ( 2 ) 18 例臨床診斷確定者， ( 3) 374 個無 AHC 病歷之隨機血清樣本做為流行後之對照組。而 1980年所採之 206 個無 AHC 病歷之隨機血清樣本則做為流行前之對照組。研究法方採微量中和試驗， 血清抗體效價臨界值為 1 : 8。研究結果顯示 CA24v 抗體陽性率，在流行前後的兩 組隨機血清樣本對照組問具有意義的差別（P 0.05). For comparison, the enterovirus 70 (EV7O) NTAb of the samples was studied simultaneously. The results showed that the positive rate and geometric mean titer of CA 24v NTAb were lower than those of EV7O even in the post- epidemic serum samples collected shortly after the CA24v epidemic