Measurements and Correlations of MTBE and BETX in Traffic Tunnels

ABSTRACT In this study, the concentrations of five volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including BTEX and methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE), were investigated in five different traffic tunnels (including Liangshan, Yueguangshan, Zoying, Guogang and Zhongliao tunnels) in southern Taiwan. Results showed that Guogang Tunnel was the most polluted with the highest average levels of both MTBE and BTEX while ethylbenzene had the lowest levels. The range of measured concentration of toluene in Liangshan, Yueguangshan, Zoying, Guogang and Zhongliao tunnels were from 5.6 to 6.2 (mean = 1.6), from 0.0 to 62.3 (mean = 17.6), from 2.7 to 26.7 (mean = 13.1), from 15.2 to 125.5 (mean = 57.5), and from 43.7 to 197.1 (mean = 115.8) g/m 3 , respectively. In Guogang Tunnel, the average MTBE-BTEX ratios at two peak rush periods were (5.0:1, 5:3, 4:1, 0:1, 5:1.1) and (5.7:1, 3:3, 2:1, 0:1, 4:1.1). From morning till night, the ratios at different sampling periods in the five different tunnels suggest the existence of both different traffic flow and variations in traffic fleet type in different tunnels. T/B ratio ranged from 0 to 2.3, from 0 to 1.9, from 0.6 to 2.5, from 0.9 to 2.6 and from 0 to 10.5 in Liangshan, Yueguangshan, Zoying, Guogang and Zhongliao tunnels, respectively. We also observed a wide range of (m+p+o)-xylenes/ethylbenzene ( X/E) or m,p-X/E ratio in all five tunnels. The m,p-xylene/ethylbenzene ratio ranged from 2.2 to 5.7, from 1.4 to 3.3, from 2.0 to 7.7, from 1.4 to 1.5 and from 5.5 to 8.1 in Liangshan, Yueguangshan, Zoying, Guogang and Zhongliao Tunnels, respectively. Notably, those high X/E ratios in all tunnels reflect a fresh air parcel in the tunnels due to the enclosed/half-enclosed environment. Nevertheless, it is important that the characteristics of X/E in different traffic tunnels are explored

Women with endometriosis have higher comorbidities: Analysis of domestic data in Taiwan

AbstractEndometriosis, defined by the presence of viable extrauterine endometrial glands and stroma, can grow or bleed cyclically, and possesses characteristics including a destructive, invasive, and metastatic nature. Since endometriosis may result in pelvic inflammation, adhesion, chronic pain, and infertility, and can progress to biologically malignant tumors, it is a long-term major health issue in women of reproductive age. In this review, we analyze the Taiwan domestic research addressing associations between endometriosis and other diseases. Concerning malignant tumors, we identified four studies on the links between endometriosis and ovarian cancer, one on breast cancer, two on endometrial cancer, one on colorectal cancer, and one on other malignancies, as well as one on associations between endometriosis and irritable bowel syndrome, one on links with migraine headache, three on links with pelvic inflammatory diseases, four on links with infertility, four on links with obesity, four on links with chronic liver disease, four on links with rheumatoid arthritis, four on links with chronic renal disease, five on links with diabetes mellitus, and five on links with cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, etc.). The data available to date support that women with endometriosis might be at risk of some chronic illnesses and certain malignancies, although we consider the evidence for some comorbidities to be of low quality, for example, the association between colon cancer and adenomyosis/endometriosis. We still believe that the risk of comorbidity might be higher in women with endometriosis than that we supposed before. More research is needed to determine whether women with endometriosis are really at risk of these comorbidities

Nationwide Population-Based Epidemiological Study for Outcomes of Adjunctive Steroid Therapy in Pediatric Patients with Bacterial Meningitis in Taiwan

Although corticosteroids can serve as an effective anti-inflammatory adjuvant therapy, the role of adjunctive steroid therapy in pediatric bacterial meningitis in Taiwan remains under-investigated. Cases of acute bacterial meningitis, aged between 1 month and 20 years, were divided into a steroid group (empirical antibiotics with adjunctive steroid therapy) and a non-steroid group (empirical antibiotics only). Data were identified from the annual hospitalization discharge claims of the National Health Insurance Research Database using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes. Of the 8083 episodes enrolled in this study, 26% (2122/8083) and 74% (5961/8083) were divided into the steroid and non-steroid groups, respectively. The fatality rates were 7.9% in the steroid group and 1.7% in the non-steroid group during hospitalization (p < 0.0001). In the steroid and non-steroid groups, the median length of hospital stay was 13 and 6 days, respectively (p < 0.0001). Medical costs (median (interquartile range)) of hospitalization were 77,941 (26,647–237,540) and 26,653 (14,287–53,421) New Taiwan dollars in the steroid and non-steroid groups, respectively (p < 0.0001). The steroid group had a more fulminant course at baseline, a higher fatality rate, length of hospital stay, and medical cost of hospitalization. Therefore, the beneficial effects of the adjunctive use of corticosteroids in pediatric bacterial meningitis are inconclusive, and additional prospective multicenter investigations are required to clarify this issue

Radiotherapy Is Associated with an Accelerated Risk of Carotid Atherosclerosis in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Nine-Year Prospective Follow-Up Study

Radiation-related extracranial vasculopathy is a common late effect after radiation in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We proposed the hypothesis that radiation-related extracranial vasculopathy is a progressive process that can begin immediately after radiotherapy and persist for a longer period, and inflammation and oxidative stress may play a pivotal role in this process. Thirty-six newly diagnosed NPC patients were assessed with B-mode ultrasound for the common carotid artery (CCA) intima media thickness (IMT) measurement as well as surrogate markers at three different stages (baseline, immediately after concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT), and 9 years after enrollment). A healthy control group was also recruited for comparison. Surrogate markers including a lipid profile, HbA1c, inflammation, oxidative stress, and platelet activation markers were assessed. The mean CCA IMT in the NPC group were increased immediately after CCRT (p = 0.043). The mean CCA IMT value after a 9-year follow-up also showed a significant increase in NPC and control group, respectively (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001, paired t test). The annual increase mean CCA IMT (mm) was 0.053 ± 0.025 and 0.014 ± 0.013 in NPC and control group, respectively (p < 0.0001). The baseline high sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP), thiol, TBARS, and CD63 level were significantly higher in the NPC group (hs-CRP, p = 0.001, thiol, p < 0.0001, TBARS, p = 0.05, and CD63 level, p = 0.04). The thiol and TBARS levels were significantly lower in NPC patients immediately after CCRT (thiol, p < 0.0001, and TBARS, p = 0.043). The CD62P level was significantly higher while the thiol level was significantly lower in the NPC group after a 9-year follow-up (CD62P level, p = 0.007; and thiol level, p = 0.004). Radiation-related extracranial vasculopathy is a progressive process that begins immediately after radiotherapy with significantly increased carotid IMT compared to the control group during the 9-year follow-up. Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress might serve to drive the process and also contribute to increased platelet activation

Crystal Structure of Vaccinia Viral A27 Protein Reveals a Novel Structure Critical for Its Function and Complex Formation with A26 Protein

<div><p>Vaccinia virus envelope protein A27 has multiple functions and is conserved in the <i>Orthopoxvirus</i> genus of the poxvirus family. A27 protein binds to cell surface heparan sulfate, provides an anchor for A26 protein packaging into mature virions, and is essential for egress of mature virus (MV) from infected cells. Here, we crystallized and determined the structure of a truncated form of A27 containing amino acids 21–84, C71/72A (tA27) at 2.2 Å resolution. tA27 protein uses the N-terminal region interface (NTR) to form an unexpected trimeric assembly as the basic unit, which contains two parallel α-helices and one unusual antiparallel α-helix; in a serpentine way, two trimers stack with each other to form a hexamer using the C-terminal region interface (CTR). Recombinant tA27 protein forms oligomers in a concentration-dependent manner <i>in vitro</i> in gel filtration. Analytical ultracentrifugation and multi-angle light scattering revealed that tA27 dimerized in solution and that Leu47, Leu51, and Leu54 at the NTR and Ile68, Asn75, and Leu82 at the CTR are responsible for tA27 self-assembly <i>in vitro</i>. Finally, we constructed recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing full length mutant A27 protein defective in either NTR, CTR, or both interactions; the results demonstrated that wild type A27 dimer/trimer formation was impaired in NTR and CTR mutant viruses, resulting in small plaques that are defective in MV egress. Furthermore, the ability of A27 protein to form disulfide-linked protein complexes with A26 protein was partially or completely interrupted by NTR and CTR mutations, resulting in mature virion progeny with increased plasma membrane fusion activity upon cell entry. Together, these results demonstrate that A27 protein trimer structure is critical for MV egress and membrane fusion modulation. Because A27 is a neutralizing target, structural information will aid the development of inhibitors to block A27 self-assembly or complex formation against vaccinia virus infection.</p></div

Analysis of vaccinia A27 orthologs.

<p>(A) Multiple sequence alignment of A27 orthologs. The alignment contains group A from Parapoxvirus, including Bovine papular stomatitis virus (BPSV) and Orf virus (ORFV) group B from Orthopoxvirus including Vaccinia virus (VV), Variola virus (VARV), Monkeypox virus (MPXV), Cowpox virus (CPXV), and Ectromelia virus (ECTV) group C from Capripoxvirus, including Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), Goatpox virus (GTPV), Sheeppox virus (SPPV), and Suipoxvirus with Swinepox virus (SWPV); and group D from Leporipoxvirus, including Rabbit fibroma virus (RFV) and Myxoma virus (MYXV). Note the heparin binding domain (HBD, <i>orange</i>), coiled-coil domain (CCD, <i>purple</i>), and leucine zipper domain (LZD, <i>grey</i>) regions. The conserved residues surrounding the CCD are marked with orange boxes for NTR and green boxes for CTR. The two cysteine residues in the CCD are denoted by red boxes and dots. Identical and similar amino acid residues are shaded in black and gray, respectively. Dashes denote the sequence gaps introduced to optimize the amino acid sequence alignment. The accession numbers are: BPSV (NP958013); ORFV (AAR98199); VV (YP233032); VARV (ABF23908); MPXV (NP536566); ECTV (NP671648); CPXV (NP619946); LSDV (NP150551); GTPV (ABS72324); SPPV (NP659689); SWPV (NP570274); RFV (NP052004); and MYXV (NP051829). (B) The protein evolution of A27 orthologs. The respective A27 protein lengths of Groups A, B, C, and D are represented by black, cyan, orange and green lines, respectively. The inserted residues are marked with triangles, and the corresponding conserved regions of CCD are boxed in red dashes. (C) Computer modeling of vaccinia A27 orthologues with the X-ray structures of vaccinia virus tA27 show that the CCD regions are structurally conserved, as predicted by molecular modeling, in group A (BPSV, <i>black</i>), group C (LSDV, <i>orange</i>), and group D (RFV, <i>green</i>). The predicted modeling structures were produced by the Phyre server <a href="http://www.plospathogens.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.ppat.1003563#ppat.1003563-Kelley1" target="_blank">[61]</a>.</p

WRΔA27L, WR-A27-TM-N, WR-A27-TM-C, and WR-A27-6A induce cell-to-cell membrane fusion on L cells at neutral pH.

<p>(A) L cells expressing GFP or RFP (1∶1 mixture) were either mock-infected or infected with WR, WRΔA27L, WR-A27R, WR-A27-TM-N, WR-A27-TM-C, and WR-A27-6A viruses at an MOI of 50 PFU/cell at 37°C for 30 min and monitored for cell-to-cell fusion at a neutral pH, as described in <a href="http://www.plospathogens.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.ppat.1003563#s4" target="_blank">Materials and Methods</a>. Cell images were photographed at 2 h post-infection. (B) Quantification of cell-to-cell fusion at neutral pH. The percentage of cells containing both GFP and RFP fluorescence was quantified as cell-cell fusion using Axio Vision Rel. 4.8 with a Zeiss Axiovert fluorescence microscope.</p