Effects of Ox-LDL on Macrophages NAD(P)H Autofluorescence Changes by Two-photon Microscopy

Ox-LDL uptakes by macrophage play a critical role in the happening of atherosclerosis. Because of its low damage on observed cells and better signal-to- background ratio, two-photon excitation fluorescence microscopy is used to observe NAD(P)H autofluorescence of macrophage under difference cultured conditions- bare cover glass, coated with fibronectin or poly-D-lysine. The results show that the optimal condition is fibronectin coated surface, on which, macrophages profile can be clearly identified on NAD(P)H autofluorescence images collected by two-photon microscopy. Moreover, different morphology and intensities of autofluorescence under different conditions were observed as well. In the future, effects of ox-LDL on macrophages will be investigated by purposed system to research etiology of atherosclerosis.Comment: Submitted on behalf of TIMA Editions (http://irevues.inist.fr/tima-editions

Pengembangan Suplemen Pembelajaran Fisika Gelombang Elektromagnetik Cahaya Sebagai Partikel Memanfaatkan Virtual Laboratorium

This research has been done to make a supplement for physics learning about light electromagnetic wave as a particle using virtual laboratory. The population of this research was the second year science-students at SMA Muhammadiyah 1 Metro. This development is begun by needs analysis, then identification of resource which is the background of this developmental research. The next step is, identifying the product specification then developing products which contained a tutorial book for teacher and a work sheet for student (LKS). The material and design expert test result is that those products were approved. The external test resulted by users show that the LKS was attractive, very easy to use, and useful. It also was effective to be used as a learning resource because 80% of students reached the passing grade.Telah dilakukan penelitian untuk mengembangkan suplemen pembelajaran fisika gelombang elektromagnetik cahaya sebagai partikel dengan memanfaatkan virtual laboratorium. Populasi penelitian pengembangan ini adalah siswa kelas XI IPA di SMA Muhammadiyah 1 Metro. Pengembangan ini diawali dengan analisis kebutuhan, kemudian identifikasi sumber daya yang melatar belakangi pengembangan. Langkah selanjutnya identifikasi spesifikasi produk yang dilanjutkan dengan mengembangkan produk berupa LKS untuk siswa dan buku panduan untuk guru. Hasil uji internal oleh ahli materi dan ahli desain menyatakan produk yang dikembangkan layak digunakan sebagai media pembelajaran. Hasil uji eksternal oleh pengguna menunjukkan kualitas media pembelajaran menarik, sangat mudah digunakan, dan bermanfaat serta efektif digunakan sebagai media pembelajaran dengan presentase hasil belajar sebesar 80% siswa telah memenuhi KKM

Bioassay-Guided Evolution of Glycosylated Macrolide Antibiotics in Escherichia coli

Macrolide antibiotics such as erythromycin are clinically important polyketide natural products. We have engineered a recombinant strain of Escherichia coli that produces small but measurable quantities of the bioactive macrolide 6-deoxyerythromycin D. Bioassay-guided evolution of this strain led to the identification of an antibiotic-overproducing mutation in the mycarose biosynthesis and transfer pathway that was detectable via a colony-based screening assay. This high-throughput assay was then used to evolve second-generation mutants capable of enhanced precursor-directed biosynthesis of macrolide antibiotics. The availability of a screen for macrolide biosynthesis in E. coli offers a fundamentally new approach in dissecting modular megasynthase mechanisms as well as engineering antibiotics with novel pharmacological properties

Serologic and Molecular Biologic Methods for SARS-associated Coronavirus Infection, Taiwan

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has raised a global alert since March 2003. After its causative agent, SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV), was confirmed, laboratory methods, including virus isolation, reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and serologic methods, have been quickly developed. In this study, we evaluated four serologic tests ( neutralization test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA], immunofluorescent assay [IFA], and immunochromatographic test [ICT]) for detecting antibodies to SARS-CoV in sera of 537 probable SARS case-patients with correlation to the RT-PCR . With the neutralization test as a reference method, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 98.2%, 98.7%, 98.7%, and 98.4% for ELISA; 99.1%, 87.8%, 88.1% and 99.1% for IFA; 33.6%, 98.2%, 95.7%, and 56.1% for ICT, respectively. We also compared the recombinant-based western blot with the whole virus–based IFA and ELISA; the data showed a high correlation between these methods, with an overall agreement of >90%. Our results provide a systematic analysis of serologic and molecular methods for evaluating SARS-CoV infection

Assessing trends and predictors of tuberculosis in Taiwan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Variety of environmental and individual factors can cause tuberculosis (TB) incidence change. The purpose of this study was to assess the characteristics of TB trends in the period 2004 - 2008 in Taiwan by month, year, gender, age, temperature, seasonality, and aborigines.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The generalized regression models were used to examine the potential predictors for the monthly TB incidence in regional and national scales.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that (<it>i</it>) in Taiwan the average TB incidence was 68 per 100,000 population with mortality rate of 0.036 person^-1yr^-1, (<it>ii</it>) the highest TB incidence rate was found in eastern Taiwan (116 per 100,000 population) with the largest proportion of TB relapse cases (8.17%), (<it>iii</it>) seasonality, aborigines, gender, and age had a consistent and dominant role in constructing TB incidence patterns in Taiwan, and (<it>iv</it>) gender, time trend, and 2-month lag maximum temperature showed strong association with TB trends in aboriginal subpopulations.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The proposed Poisson regression model is capable of forecasting patterns of TB incidence at regional and national scales. This study suggested that assessment of TB trends in eastern Taiwan presents an important opportunity for understanding the time-series dynamics and control of TB infections, given that this is the typical host demography in regions where these infections remain major public health problems.</p

Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049