THE KINEMATIC ANALYSIS of BASKETBALL THREE POINT SHOOT AFTER HIGH INTENSITY PROGRAM

The purpose of this study was to analyze kinetic and kinematic characteristics of three points shooting by high speed camera. Basketball players have to finish the high intensity program which was designed from simulative basketball games. The high intensity testing program includes dribbling, sprint, slide, jump shooting and three points shooting. The results of the experiments indicated that elbow, wrist, hip and ankle joints angle velocities would decrease, except the knee joint, after the high intensity program. The knee angle of take-off would also increase. It indicated that the upper limb joints angular velocity would decrease and players had to increase knee joint angular velocity to maintain original power. The time from take-off to ball release also decreased which means that there was a change in the coordinates in knee joint and elbow joint. After high intensity program the elbow and knee joints extension were closed to produce more power for the shot

Induced pluripotent stem cells and regenerative medicine

AbstractStem cells, a special subset of cells derived from embryo or adult tissues, are known to present the characteristics of self-renewal, multiple lineages of differentiation, high plastic capability, and long-term maintenance. Recent reports have further suggested that neural stem cells (NSCs) derived from the adult hippocampal and subventricular regions possess the utilizing potential to develop the transplantation strategies and to screen the candidate agents for neurogenesis, neuroprotection, and neuroplasticity in neurodegenerative diseases. In this article, we review the roles of NSCs and other stem cells in neuroprotective and neurorestorative therapies for neurological and psychiatric diseases. We show the evidences that NSCs play the key roles involved in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders, including depression, stroke, and Parkinson’s disease. Moreover, the potential and possible utilities of induced pluripotent stem cells, reprogramming from adult fibroblasts with ectopic expression of four embryonic genes, are also reviewed and further discussed. An understanding of the biophysiology of stem cells could help us elucidate the pathogenicity and develop new treatments for neurodegenerative disorders. In contrast to cell transplantation therapies, the application of stem cells can further provide a platform for drug discovery and small molecular testing, including Chinese herbal medicines. In addition, the high-throughput stem cell-based systems can be used to elucidate the mechanisms of neuroprotective candidates in translation medical research for neurodegenerative diseases

Quantitative assessment of female pattern hair loss

AbstractBackground/ObjectiveThe conventional approach to evaluate female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is to visually inspect and score images of balding area (BA). However, visual estimates vary widely among different physicians, and may hinder objective assessment of hair loss and subsequent treatment response. For this reason, we propose a quantitative method using a computer-aided imaging system to help physicians evaluate the severity of FPHL clinically.MethodsWe use a series of digital image processing techniques to measure the width of central balding area of FPHL. A total of 184 photos were collected form 33 Chinese women with FPHL (stages I-2 to II-2 on the Savin scale). Each photograph underwent standardized exposure correction. The balding areas were detected through this computer system and then transformed into an equivalent ellipse by principal component analysis. The width of ellipse [balding width (BW)] was measured. Spearman's rank correlation was used to detect the correlation between our measurements and clinical staging.ResultsExposure correction resulted in a 16.97% (|BWcorrected − BWoriginal|/BWcorrected) difference in BW.‏ The average BW was 54.98 mm in all patients, 25.79 mm in type I-2 patients, 37.41 mm in I-3, 54.08 mm in I-4, 72.10 mm in II-1, and 85.53 mm in II-2. The values of BW were correlated with Savin scale stages clinically (rBW = 0.967), which was significant statistically (p < 0.05).ConclusionA computer-aided imaging system could be a useful tool to assist physicians to evaluate the balding area more precisely for clinical staging in FPHL. The BW instead of the balding area is simple to use clinically to represent the severity of FPHL

Preoperative treatment with 5α-reductase inhibitors and the risk of hemorrhagic events in patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate – A population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVES: To assess the associations between preoperative treatment with 5-alpha reductase inhibitors and the risks of blood transfusion during transurethral resection of the prostate and blood clot evacuation or emergency department visits for hematuria within 1 month after surgery. METHODS: We used data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database in this population-based cohort study. A total of 3,126 patients who underwent first-time transurethral resection of the prostate from 2004 to 2013 were identified. Adjusted odds ratios estimated by multiple logistic regression models were used to assess the independent effects of the preoperative use of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors on the risks of perioperative hemorrhagic events after adjustment for potential confounders. RESULTS: Two hundred and ninety-seven (9.4%) patients were treated with 5-alpha reductase inhibitors fo

JNK suppression is essential for 17β-Estradiol inhibits prostaglandin E2-Induced uPA and MMP-9 expressions and cell migration in human LoVo colon cancer cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Epidemiological studies demonstrate that the incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer in women are lower than in men. However, it is unknown if 17β-estradiol treatment is sufficient to inhibit prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)-induced cellular motility in human colon cancer cells.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We analyzed the protein expression of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), matrix metallopeptidases (MMPs), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), and the cellular motility in PGE2-stimulated human LoVo cells. 17β-Estradiol and the inhibitors including LY294002 (Akt activation inhibitor), U0126 (ERK1/2 inhibitor), SB203580 (p38 MAPK inhibitor), SP600125 (JNK1/2 inhibitor), QNZ (NFκB inhibitor) and ICI 182 780 were further used to explore the inhibitory effects of 17β-estradiol on PGE2-induced LoVo cell motility. Student's t-test was used to analyze the difference between the two groups.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Upregulation of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and matrix metallopeptidases (MMPs) is reported to associate with the development of cancer cell mobility, metastasis, and subsequent malignant tumor. After administration of inhibitors including LY294002, U0126, SB203580, SP600125 or QNZ, we found that PGE2 treatment up-regulated uPA and MMP-9 expression via JNK1/2 signaling pathway, thus promoting cellular motility in human LoVo cancer cells. However, PGE2 treatment showed no effects on regulating expression of tPA, MMP-2, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, -2, -3 and -4 (TIMP-1, -2, -3 and -4). We further observed that 17β-estradiol treatment inhibited PGE2-induced uPA, MMP-9 and cellular motility by suppressing activation of JNK1/2 in human LoVo cancer cells.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Collectively, these results suggest that 17β-estradiol treatment significantly inhibits PGE2-induced motility of human LoVo colon cancer cells.</p

Pioglitazone retrieves hepatic antioxidant DNA repair in a mice model of high fat diet

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pioglitazone was reported to improve hepatic steatosis and necroinflammation in human studies. To investigate whether the hepato-protective effect of pioglitazone was associated with an improvement of antioxidant defense mechanism, oxidative DNA damage and repair activity were determined in a high fat diet model. Male C57BL/6 mice were respectively fed with a 30% fat diet, the same diet with pioglitazone 100 mg/kg/day, or a chow diet as control for 8 weeks. Tissue oxidative stress was indicated by malondialdehyde concentration. Oxidative DNA damage was detected by immunohistochemical 8-oxoG staining. Enzymatic antioxidant defense was detected by the real-time PCR of superoxide dismutase (<it>Sod1, Sod2</it>) and DNA glycosylase (<it>Ogg1, MutY</it>). Oxidative DNA repair was detected by immunohistochemical staining and western blotting of OGG1 expression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our results show that hepatic steatosis was induced by a high-fat diet and improved by adding pioglitazone. Malondialdehyde concentration and 8-oxoG staining were strongly increased in the high-fat diet group, but attenuated by pioglitazone. Gene expressions of antioxidant defense mechanism: <it>Sod1, Sod2, Ogg1 </it>and <it>MutY </it>significantly decreased in the high-fat diet group but reversed by pioglitazone co-administration.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The attenuation of hepatic oxidative DNA damage by pioglitazone in a high-fat diet may be mediated by up-regulation of the antioxidant defense mechanism and oxidative DNA repair activity. The diminution of oxidative damage may explain the clinical benefit of pioglitazone treatment in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.</p

Use of Seasonal Influenza Vaccination and Its Associated Factors among Elderly People with Disabilities in Taiwan: A Population-Based Study

Influenza immunization among elderly people with disabilities is a critical public health concern; however, few studies have examined the factors associated with vaccination rates in non-Western societies.By linking the National Disability Registration System and health service claims dataset from the National Health Insurance program, this population-based study investigated the seasonal influenza vaccination rate among elderly people with disabilities in Taiwan (N = 283,172) in 2008. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to adjust for covariates.Nationally, only 32.7% of Taiwanese elderly people with disabilities received influenza vaccination. The strongest predictor for getting vaccinated among older Taiwanese people with disabilities was their experience of receiving an influenza vaccination in the previous year (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 6.80, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.67-6.93). Frequent OPD use (AOR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.81-1.89) and undergoing health examinations in the previous year (AOR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.62-1.69) also showed a moderate and significant association with receiving an influenza vaccination.Although free influenza vaccination has been provided in Taiwan since 2001, influenza immunization rates among elderly people with disabilities remain low. Policy initiatives are required to address the identified factors for improving influenza immunization rates among elderly people with disabilities

The discovery of potential acetylcholinesterase inhibitors: A combination of pharmacophore modeling, virtual screening, and molecular docking studies

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia characterized by progressive cognitive impairment in the elderly people. The most dramatic abnormalities are those of the cholinergic system. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) plays a key role in the regulation of the cholinergic system, and hence, inhibition of AChE has emerged as one of the most promising strategies for the treatment of AD.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this study, we suggest a workflow for the identification and prioritization of potential compounds targeted against AChE. In order to elucidate the essential structural features for AChE, three-dimensional pharmacophore models were constructed using Discovery Studio 2.5.5 (DS 2.5.5) program based on a set of known AChE inhibitors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The best five-features pharmacophore model, which includes one hydrogen bond donor and four hydrophobic features, was generated from a training set of 62 compounds that yielded a correlation coefficient of R = 0.851 and a high prediction of fit values for a set of 26 test molecules with a correlation of R²= 0.830. Our pharmacophore model also has a high Güner-Henry score and enrichment factor. Virtual screening performed on the NCI database obtained new inhibitors which have the potential to inhibit AChE and to protect neurons from Aβ toxicity. The hit compounds were subsequently subjected to molecular docking and evaluated by consensus scoring function, which resulted in 9 compounds with high pharmacophore fit values and predicted biological activity scores. These compounds showed interactions with important residues at the active site.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The information gained from this study may assist in the discovery of potential AChE inhibitors that are highly selective for its dual binding sites.</p

A pre-S gene chip to detect pre-S deletions in hepatitis B virus large surface antigen as a predictive marker for hepatoma risk in chronic hepatitis B virus carriers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an important cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. The pre-S₁and -S₂mutant large HBV surface antigen (LHBS), in which the pre-S₁and -S₂regions of the LHBS gene are partially deleted, are highly associated with HBV-related HCC.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The pre-S region of the LHBS gene in two hundred and one HBV-positive serum samples was PCR-amplified and sequenced. A pre-S oligonucleotide gene chip was developed to efficiently detect pre-S deletions in chronic HBV carriers. Twenty serum samples from chronic HBV carriers were analyzed using the chip.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The pre-S deletion rates were relatively low (7%) in the sera of patients with acute HBV infection. They gradually increased in periods of persistent HBV infection: pre-S mutation rates were 37% in chronic HBV carriers, and as high as 60% in HCC patients. The Pre-S Gene Chip offers a highly sensitive and specific method for pre-S deletion detection and is less expensive and more efficient (turnaround time 3 days) than DNA sequencing analysis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The pre-S_1/2mutants may emerge during the long-term persistence of the HBV genome in carriers and facilitate HCC development. Combined detection of pre-S mutations, other markers of HBV replication, and viral titers, offers a reliable predictive method for HCC risks in chronic HBV carriers.</p

Identification of prior dengue-naïve Dengvaxia recipients with an increased risk for symptomatic dengue during fever surveillance in the Philippines

IntroductionDengue virus (DENV) is the leading cause of mosquito-borne viral diseases in humans. Dengvaxia, the first licensed dengue vaccine, is recommended for DENV-seropositive individuals aged 9–45 years. In the Philippines, Dengvaxia was administered to more than 830,000 children without prior serological testing in 2016–2017. Subsequently, it was revealed that DENV-seronegative children who received Dengvaxia developed severe disease following breakthrough DENV infection. As a result, thousands of children participating in the mass vaccination campaign were at higher risk of severe dengue disease. It is vital that an assay that identifies baseline DENV-naïve Dengvaxia recipients be developed and validated. This would permit more frequent and extensive assessments and timely treatment of breakthrough DENV infections.MethodsWe evaluated the performance of a candidate assay, the DENV1–4 nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), developed by the University of Hawaii (UH), using well-documented serum/plasma samples including those &gt;20 years post-DENV infection, and tested samples from 199 study participants including 100 Dengvaxia recipients from the fever surveillance programs in the Philippines.ResultsThe sensitivity and specificity of the assay were 96.6% and 99.4%, respectively, which are higher than those reported for pre-vaccination screening. A significantly higher rate of symptomatic breakthrough DENV infection was found among children that were DENV-naïve (10/23) than among those that were DENV-immune (7/53) when vaccinated with Dengvaxia (p=0.004, Fisher’s exact test), demonstrating the feasibility of the assay and algorithms in clinical practice.ConclusionThe UH DENV1–4 NS1 IgG ELISA can determine baseline DENV serostatus among Dengvaxia recipients not only during non-acute dengue but also during breakthrough DENV infection, and has implications for assessing the long-term safety and effectiveness of Dengvaxia in the post-licensure period