KDM4C promotes mouse hippocampal neural stem cell proliferation through modulating ApoE expression.

KDM4C is implicated in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, and maintenance in various stem cell types. However, its function in neural stem cells (NSCs) remains poorly understood. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the role and regulatory mechanism of KDM4C in NSCs. Primary hippocampal NSCs were isolated from neonatal mice, and both in vivo and in vitro lentivirus-mediated overexpression of KDM4C were induced in these hippocampal NSCs. Staining results revealed a significant increase in BrdU- and Ki-67-positive cells, along with an elevated number of cells in S phases due to KDM4C overexpression. Subsequently, RNA-seq was employed to analyze gene expression changes following KDM4C upregulation. GO enrichment analysis, KEGG analysis, and GSEA highlighted KDM4C-regulated genes associated with development, cell cycle, and neurogenesis. Protein-protein interaction analysis uncovered that ApoE protein interacts with several genes (top 10 upregulated and downregulated) regulated by KDM4C. Notably, knocking down ApoE mitigated the proliferative effect induced by KDM4C overexpression in NSCs. Our study demonstrates that KDM4C overexpression significantly upregulates ApoE expression, ultimately promoting proliferation in mouse hippocampal NSCs. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms governing neurodevelopment, with potential implications for therapeutic strategies in neurological disorders.

Physical activity-induced alterations of the gut microbiota are BMI dependent.

Physical inactivity is one of the leading causes of chronic metabolic disease including obesity. Increasing physical activity (PA) has been shown to improve cardiometabolic and musculoskeletal health and to be associated with a distinct gut microbiota composition in trained athletes. However, the impact of PA on the gut microbiota is inconclusive for individuals performing PA in their day-to-day life. This study examined the role of PA and hand-grip strength on gut microbiome composition in middle-aged adults (40-65 years, n = 350) with normal (18.5-24.9 kg/m2 ) and overweight (25-29.9 kg/m2 ) body mass index (BMI). PA was recorded using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and hand-grip strength was measured using a dynamometer. Serum samples were assessed for lipidomics while DNA was extracted from fecal samples for microbiome analysis. Overweight participants showed a higher concentration of triacylglycerols, and lower concentrations of cholesteryl esters, sphingomyelin, and lyso-phosphotidylcholine lipids (p < .05) compared with those with normal BMI. Additionally, overweight participants had a lower abundance of the Oscillibacter genus (p < .05). The impact of PA duration on the gut microbiome was BMI dependent. In normal but not overweight participants, high PA duration showed greater relative abundance of commensal taxa such as Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria phyla, as well as Collinsella and Prevotella genera (p < .05). Furthermore, in males with normal BMI, a stronger grip strength was associated with a higher relative abundance of Faecalibacterium and F. prausnitzii (p < .05) compared with lower grip strength. Taken together, data suggest that BMI plays a significant role in modeling PA-induced changes in gut microbiota.

Reduced incidence of diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta: A time-segmented longitudinal study of Alberta's Tomorrow Project.

AIM: To characterize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on diabetes diagnosis using data from Alberta's Tomorrow Project (ATP), a population-based cohort study of chronic diseases in Alberta, Canada. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ATP participants who were free of diabetes on 1 April 2018 were included in the study. A time-segmented regression model was used to compare incidence rates of diabetes before the COVID-19 pandemic, during the first two COVID-19 states of emergency, and in the period when the state of emergency was relaxed, after adjusting for seasonality, sociodemographic factors, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle behaviours. RESULTS: Among 43 705 ATP participants free of diabetes (65.5% females, age 60.4 ± 9.5 years in 2018), the rate of diabetes was 4.75 per 1000 person-year (PY) during the COVID-19 pandemic (up to 31 March 2021), which was 32% lower (95% confidence interval [CI] 21%, 42%; p < 0.001) than pre-pandemic (6.98 per 1000 PY for the period 1 April 2018 to 16 March 2020). In multivariable regression analysis, the first COVID-19 state of emergency (first wave) was associated with an 87.3% (95% CI -98.6%, 13.9%; p = 0.07) reduction in diabetes diagnosis; this decreasing trend was sustained to the second COVID-19 state of emergency and no substantial rebound (increase) was observed when the COVID-19 state of emergency was relaxed. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 public health emergencies had a negative impact on diabetes diagnosis in Alberta. The reduction in diabetes diagnosis was likely due to province-wide health service disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Systematic plans to close the post-COVID-19 diagnostic gap are required in diabetes to avoid substantial downstream sequelae of undiagnosed disease.

Comparison of the analgesic effect of dezocine and esketamine in combination with sufentanil respectively after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Sufentanil in combination with dezocine or esketamine is often used for postoperative analgesia. However, there is a lack of clinical evidence of efficacy. This study compares the analgesic effects of esketamine and dezocine combined with sufentanil for relieving pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC). METHODS: A total of 58 patients were randomly assigned to the esketamine group (ES group) and dezocine group (DE group). In the ES group, 1.5 mg/kg esketamine was used. In the DE group, 0.3 mg/kg dezocine was used. Primary outcome measures were Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score at 4 h, 8 h, 24 h and 48 h after surgery. The second outcome measures were Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in the serum 10 minutes before anesthesia induction, and at 24 h and 48 h after surgery. RESULTS: The VAS scores at 4 h, 8 h, 24 h and 48 h after the surgery in the ES group vs DE group were 2.70 vs 3.50(P=0.013),2.35 vs 3.15(P=0.004),1.69 vs 2.58(P=0.002), and 1.50 vs 2.26(P=0.002), respectively. The serum IL-6 concentrations 10 minutes before anesthesia induction, and at 24 h and 48 h after surgery in the ES group and DE group were 34.39 and 34.12(P=0.901),112.33 and 129.60(P=0.014), and 89.69 and 108.46(P<0.001), respectively. The CRP levels in serum 10 minutes before anesthesia induction, and at 24 h and 48 h after the surgery in the ES group and DE group were 5.99 and 5.86(P=0.639), 28.80 and 35.37(P<0.001), and 23.17 and 30.11(P<0.001), respectively. CONCLUSION: For postoperative pain after LC, 1.5mg/kg esketamine provided better analgesia and reduced inflammation levels than 0.3mg/kg dezocine. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered in the China Clinical Research Information Center in 31/05/2023 : https://www.chictr.org.cn/bin/home (Registration number: ChiCTR2300072011).

Isoflurane preconditioning attenuates OGD/R-induced cardiomyocyte cytotoxicity by regulating the miR-210/BNIP3 axis.

Isoflurane, a commonly used inhaled anesthetic, has been found to have a cardioprotective effect. However, the precise mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Here, we found that isoflurane preconditioning enhanced OGD/R-induced upregulation of miR-210, a hypoxia-responsive miRNA, in AC16 human myocardial cells. To further test the roles of miR-210 in regulating the effects of isoflurane preconditioning on OGD/R-induced cardiomyocyte injury, AC16 cells were transfected with anti-miR-210 or control anti-miRNA. Results showed that isoflurane preconditioning attenuated OGD/R-induced cardiomyocyte cytotoxicity (as assessed by cell viability, LDH and CK-MB levels), which could be reversed by anti-miR-210. Isoflurane preconditioning also prevented OGD/R-induced increase in apoptotic rate, caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities, and Bax level and decrease in Bcl-2 expression level, while anti-miR-210 blocked these effects. We also found that anti-miR-210 prevented the inhibitory effects of isoflurane preconditioning on OGD/R-induced decrease in adenosine triphosphate content; mitochondrial volume; citrate synthase activity; complex I, II, and IV activities; and p-DRP1 and MFN2 expression. Besides, the expression of BNIP3, a reported direct target of miR-210, was significantly decreased under hypoxia condition and could be regulated by isoflurane preconditioning. In addition, BNIP3 knockdown attenuated the effects of miR-210 silencing on the cytoprotection of isoflurane preconditioning. These findings suggested that isoflurane preconditioning exerted protective effects against OGD/R-induced cardiac cytotoxicity by regulating the miR-210/BNIP3 axis.

Mental health service use and associated predisposing, enabling and need factors in community living adults and older adults across Canada.

OBJECTIVES: Using Andersen's model of health care seeking behavior, we examined the predisposing, enabling, and need factors associated with mental health service use (MHSU) during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic across Canada. METHODS: The sample included n = 45,542 participants in the 5 established regional cohorts of the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow's Health (CanPath) and who responded to the CanPath COVID-19 health survey (May-December 2020), with complete data on MHSU. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were carried out to study MHSU as a function of predisposing, enabling, and need factors. Analyses were stratified by regional cohort. RESULTS: Among the need factors, individuals reporting moderate/severe symptoms of depression and anxiety and poorer self-rated mental health were more likely to report MHSU. Among the enabling factors, receipt of informational/financial/practical support was associated with increased MHSU. While income was not consistently associated with MHSU, reported decrease in income was marginally associated with reduced MHSU. Among the predisposing factors, identifying as female or other gender minority was associated with increased MHSU, as was the presence of past-year cannabis use. In contrast, older age and alcohol consumption were associated with reduced MHSU. CONCLUSION: Need factors were consistently associated with MHSU. Although income inequities in MHSU were not observed, changes such as reduced income during the pandemic may lead to barriers in accessing mental health services. Future research should focus on better identifying contextual enabling factors and policies that overcome financial barriers to MHSU.

Towards refining World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research cancer prevention recommendations for red and processed meat intake: insights from Alberta's Tomorrow Project cohort.

Current cancer prevention recommendations advise limiting red meat intake to <500 g/week and avoiding consumption of processed meat, but do not differentiate the source of processed meat. We examined the associations of processed meat derived from red v. non-red meats with cancer risk in a prospective cohort of 26 218 adults who reported dietary intake using the Canadian Diet History Questionnaire. Incidence of cancer was obtained through data linkage with Alberta Cancer Registry with median follow-up of 13·3 (interquartile range (IQR) 5·1) years. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were adjusted for covariates and stratified by age and sex. The median consumption (g/week) of red meat, processed meat from red meat and processed meat from non-red meat was 267·9 (IQR 269·9), 53·6 (IQR 83·3) and 11·9 (IQR 31·8), respectively. High intakes (4th Quartile) of processed meat from red meat were associated with increased risk of gastrointestinal cancer adjusted hazard ratio (AHR): 1·68 (95 % CI 1·09, 2·57) and colorectal cancers AHR: 1·90 (95 % CI 1·12, 3·22), respectively, in women. No statistically significant associations were observed for intakes of red meat or processed meat from non-red meat. Results suggest that the carcinogenic effect associated with processed meat intake may be limited to processed meat derived from red meats. The findings provide preliminary evidence towards refining cancer prevention recommendations for red and processed meat intake.

Bioequivalence study of two formulations of terazosin hydrochloride capsule in healthy Chinese subjects under fasting and fed conditions.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to assess the pharmacokinetic and safety profiles between a new oral formulation of terazosin hydrochloride capsule compared with the brand-name drug. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized, open-label, single-dose, 2-period crossover study under fasting or fed conditions was conducted in healthy Chinese subjects. 24 individuals were selected, respectively. Each subject was randomized at the beginning to receive a 2-mg capsule of the test or the reference terazosin during the first period and then received the alternate formulation during the second period following a 1-week washout period. Blood samples were collected at pre-dose and up to 60 hours after administration. Plasma terazosin was quantified by a validated LC-MS/MS method. RESULTS: 48 healthy subjects were enrolled, and 47 completed the study. Cmax, AUC0-t, and AUC0-∞ were similar and the 90% CIs for the geometric mean ratios of these parameters between the two groups were all bounded within the predefined bioequivalence criterion of 80 - 125% under both fasting and fed conditions. Throughout the study period, a total of 30 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported under fasting condition. 35 TEAEs were observed under fed conditions. No serious adverse event was observed. CONCLUSION: The test and reference formulations of terazosin were bioequivalent and well tolerated under both fasting and fed conditions.

Multiple pathways are responsible to the inhibitory effect of butorphanol on OGD/R-induced apoptosis in AC16 cardiomyocytes.

Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of cardiovascular mortality, which is related to cardiac myocyte apoptosis. Butorphanol is an opioid receptor agonist with potential cardioprotective function. The purpose of this work is to explore the function and mechanism of butorphanol in oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R)-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. The overlapping targets of ischemic heart disease and butorphanol were analyzed according to GeneCards, ParmMapper, Cytoscape, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Human cardiomyocyte AC16 cells were incubated with butorphanol and then stimulated with OGD/R. Cell injury was investigated by Cell Counting Kit-8, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay kit, TUNEL staining, caspase-3 activity assay kit, and Western blotting. The proteins in signaling pathways were measured using Western blotting. A total of 93 overlapping targets of ischemic heart disease and butorphanol were obtained. Pathway analysis exhibited that these targets might be involved in multiple signaling pathways. Butorphanol alone showed little cytotoxicity to cardiomyocytes, and it protected against OGD/R-induced viability inhibition, LDH release, cell apoptosis, and increase of caspase-3 activity and expression levels of cleaved caspase-3 and Bim. Butorphanol promoted the activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/forkhead box O (FoxO) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathways and attenuated the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling in OGD/R-treated cardiomyocytes. In conclusion, butorphanol prevents OGD/R-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis through activating the PI3K/Akt/FoxO and HIF-1α/VEGF pathways and inactivating the MAPK pathway.

[Characteristic chromatogram and index components content of substance benchmark of Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction].

The methods for determining the characteristic chromatogram and index components content of Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction were established to provide a scientific basis for the quality evaluation of substance benchmarks and preparations. Eighteen batches of Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction were prepared with the decoction pieces of different batches and of the same batch were prepared respectively, and the HPLC characteristic chromatograms of these samples were established. The similarities of the chromatographic fingerprints were analyzed. With liquiritin, glycyrrhizic acid, 6-gingerol, ginsenoside Rg_1, and ginsenoside Re as index components, the high performance liquid chromatography was established for content determination with no more than 70%-130% of the mass average as the limit. The results showed that there were 19 characteristic peaks corresponding to the characteristic chromatograms of 18 batches of Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction, including 8 peaks representing liquiritin, 1,5-O-dicaffeoylqunic acid, ginsenoside Rg_1, ginsenoside Re, 1-O-acetyl britannilactone, ginsenoside Rb_1, glycyrrhizic acid, and 6-gingerol, and the fingerprint similarity was greater than 0.97. The contents of liquiritin, glycyrrhizic acid, 6-gingerol, and ginsenosides Rg_1 + Re in the prepared Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction samples were 0.53%-0.86%, 0.61%-1.2%, 0.023%-0.068%, and 0.33%-0.66%, respectively. Except for several batches, most batches of Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction showed stable contents of index components, with no discrete values. The characteristic chromatograms and index components content characterized the information of Inulae Flos, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, and Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens in Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction. This study provides a scientific basis for the further research on the key chemical properties of substance benchmark and preparations of Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction.

Premature Mortality Due to Hodgkin Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Multiple Myeloma, and Leukemia in Canada: A Nationwide Analysis From 1980 to 2015.

Recently, we introduced a novel measure of "average life span shortened" (ALSS) to improve comparability of premature mortality over time. In this study, we applied this novel measure to examine trends in premature mortality caused by hematological cancers in Canada from 1980 to 2015. Mortality data for Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and leukemia were obtained from the World Health Organization mortality database. Years of life lost was calculated according to Canadian life tables. ALSS was defined as the ratio between years of life lost and expected life span. Over the study period, age-standardized rates of mortality decreased for all types of hematological cancers. Our new ALSS measure showed favorable trends in premature mortality for all types of hematological cancers among both sexes. For instance, men with non-Hodgkin lymphoma lost an average of 23.7% of their life span in 1980 versus 16.1% in 2015, while women with non-Hodgkin lymphoma lost an average of 21.7% of their life span in 1980 versus 15.5% in 2015. Results from this study showed that patients with hematological cancers experienced prolonged survival over a 35-year period although the magnitude of these life span gains varied by types of hematological cancers.

A Total Lp-Norm Optimization for Bearing-Only Source Localization in Impulsive Noise with SαS Distribution.

This paper considers the problem of robust bearing-only source localization in impulsive noise with symmetric α-stable distribution based on the Lp-norm minimization criterion. The existing Iteratively Reweighted Pseudolinear Least-Squares (IRPLS) method can be used to solve the least LP-norm optimization problem. However, the IRPLS algorithm cannot reduce the bias attributed to the correlation between system matrices and noise vectors. To reduce this kind of bias, a Total Lp-norm Optimization (TLPO) method is proposed by minimizing the errors in all elements of system matrix and data vector based on the minimum dispersion criterion. Subsequently, an equivalent form of TLPO is obtained, and two algorithms are developed to solve the TLPO problem by using Iterative Generalized Eigenvalue Decomposition (IGED) and Generalized Lagrange Multiplier (GLM), respectively. Numerical examples demonstrate the performance advantage of the IGED and GLM algorithms over the IRPLS algorithm.

Neuroprotection of miR-214 against isoflurane-induced neurotoxicity involves the PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway in human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y.

Isoflurane, one of the commonly used inhalation anesthetics worldwide in clinical practice, may generate substantial risks of neurotoxicity in the developing brains. The present study aimed to illustrate the effects and underlying mechanisms of miR-214 on isoflurane-induced neurotoxicity in human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y. SH-SY5Y cells were transfected with miR-214 or miR-con alone or in combination with pcDNA empty vector or pcDNA-PTEN in the presence of 3% isoflurane and incubated for 48 h. Cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, apoptosis, and caspase-3/7 activity were evaluated using CCK-8, LDH release assay, flow cytometry analysis, and caspase-3/7 activity assay, respectively. The superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) activities were measured using commercial kits. miR-214 expression and alterations of the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)/phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. The interaction between miR-214 and PTEN was explored by luciferase reporter assay. We found that isoflurane exposure induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells, as evidenced by the reduced cell viability, increased LDH release, apoptotic rate, caspase-3/7 activity, and oxidative stress levels. Moreover, isoflurane exposure decreased the expression of miR-214 and affected the PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway in SH-SY5Y cells. miR-214 overexpression significantly suppressed isoflurane-induced viability reduction, LDH release, apoptosis and oxidative stress, as well as inactivation of the PI3K/Akt pathway in SH-SY5Y cells. Interestingly, PTEN was identified as a target of miR-214. Moreover, PTEN upregulation blocked the effects of miR-214 on isoflurane-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. In conclusion, miR-214 protected against isoflurane-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells via regulation of PI3K/Akt pathway by targeting PTEN, contributing to better understanding the underlying mechanisms of anesthetics-induce neurotoxicity.

An Unbalanced Weighted Sequential Fusing Multi-Sensor GM-PHD Algorithm.

In this paper, we study the multi-sensor multi-target tracking problem in the formulation of random finite sets. The Gaussian Mixture probability hypothesis density (GM-PHD) method is employed to formulate the sequential fusing multi-sensor GM-PHD (SFMGM-PHD) algorithm. First, the GM-PHD is applied to multiple sensors to get the posterior GM estimations in a parallel way. Second, we propose the SFMGM-PHD algorithm to fuse the multi-sensor GM estimations in a sequential way. Third, the unbalanced weighted fusing and adaptive sequence ordering methods are further proposed for two improved SFMGM-PHD algorithms. At last, we analyze the proposed algorithms in four different multi-sensor multi-target tracking scenes, and the results demonstrate the efficiency.

Hydrogen Sulfide Attenuates Hypertensive Inflammation via Regulating Connexin Expression in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

BACKGROUND Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has anti-inflammatory and anti-hypertensive effects, and connexins (Cxs) are involved in regulation of immune homeostasis. In this study, we explored whether exogenous H2S prevents hypertensive inflammation by regulating Cxs expression of T lymphocytes in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). MATERIAL AND METHODS We treated SHR with sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) for 9 weeks. Vehicle-treated Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKYs) were used as a control. The arterial pressure was monitored by the tail-cuff method, and vascular function in basilar arteries was examined by pressure myography. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to show vascular remodeling and renal injury. The percentage of T cell subtypes in peripheral blood, surface expressions of Cx40/Cx43 on T cell subtypes, and serum cytokines level were determined by flow cytometry or ELISA. Expression of Cx40/Cx43 proteins in peripheral blood lymphocytes was analyzed by Western blot. RESULTS Chronic NaHS treatment significantly attenuated blood pressure elevation, and inhibited inflammation of target organs, vascular remodeling, and renal injury in SHR. Exogenous NaHS also improved vascular function by attenuating KCl-stimulated vasoconstrictor response in basilar arteries of SHR. In addition, chronic NaHS administration significantly suppressed inflammation of peripheral blood in SHR, as evidenced by the decreased serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, and CD4/CD8 ratio and the increased IL-10 level and percentage of regulatory T cells. NaHS treatment decreased hypertension-induced Cx40/Cx43 expressions in T lymphocytes from SHR. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate that H2S reduces hypertensive inflammation, at least partly due to regulation of T cell subsets balance by Cx40/Cx43 expressions inhibition.

An alternative technique for Descemet's membrane detachment following phacoemulsification: case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Descemet's membrane detachment (DMD) is one of the most serious complications of modern cataract surgery. We present an alternative technique for management of DMD with a review of the literature on current strategies for the treatment of DMD. CASE PRESENTATION: A 74-year-old woman developed DMD after phacoemulsification and failed the first descemetopexy with air tamponade. An alternative method was used to drain the pre-descematic fluid and reposition the detached Descemet's membrane in this rare case. This technique involved completely filling the anterior chamber with an intracameral air injection, followed by using a 23-gauge needle to puncture the peripheral cornea to drain the pre-descematic fluid. The Descemet's membrane was completely reattached to the stroma during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Drainage of pre-descematic fluid combined with intracameral air tamponading was used as an alternative surgical option for the management of this severe case of DMD.

Comprehension and Use of Nutrition Facts Tables among Adolescents and Young Adults in Canada.

PURPOSE: Limited evidence exists on the comprehension and use of Nutrition Facts tables (NFt) among adolescents and young adults. This study provides an account of how young people engage with, understand, and apply nutrition information on the current and modified versions of the NFt to compare and choose foods. METHODS: Participants aged 16-24 years (n = 26) were asked to "think aloud" while viewing either the current or 1 of 5 modified NFts and completing a behavioural task. The task included a questionnaire with 9 functional items requiring participants to define, compare, interpret, and manipulate serving size and percentage daily value (%DV) information on NFts. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to further probe thought processes and difficulties experienced in completing the task. RESULTS: Equal serving sizes on NFts improved ability to accurately compare nutrition information between products. Most participants could define %DV and believed it can be used to compare foods, yet some confusion persisted when interpreting %DVs and manipulating serving-size information on NFts. Where serving sizes were unequal, mathematical errors were often responsible for incorrect responses. CONCLUSIONS: Results reinforce the need for equal serving sizes on NFts of similar products and highlight young Canadians' confusion when using nutrition information on NFts.

Experimental passive round-robin differential phase-shift quantum key distribution.

In quantum key distribution (QKD), the bit error rate is used to estimate the information leakage and hence determines the amount of privacy amplification-making the final key private by shortening the key. In general, there exists a threshold of the error rate for each scheme, above which no secure key can be generated. This threshold puts a restriction on the environment noises. For example, a widely used QKD protocol, the Bennett-Brassard protocol, cannot tolerate error rates beyond 25%. A new protocol, round-robin differential phase-shifted (RRDPS) QKD, essentially removes this restriction and can in principle tolerate more environment disturbance. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a passive RRDPS QKD scheme. In particular, our 500 MHz passive RRDPS QKD system is able to generate a secure key over 50 km with a bit error rate as high as 29%. This scheme should find its applications in noisy environment conditions.

Protein kinase C mediates enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7-induced attaching and effacing lesions.

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli serotype O157:H7 causes outbreaks of diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, and the hemolytic-uremic syndrome. E. coli O157:H7 intimately attaches to epithelial cells, effaces microvilli, and recruits F-actin into pedestals to form attaching and effacing lesions. Lipid rafts serve as signal transduction platforms that mediate microbe-host interactions. The aims of this study were to determine if protein kinase C (PKC) is recruited to lipid rafts in response to E. coli O157:H7 infection and what role it plays in attaching and effacing lesion formation. HEp-2 and intestine 407 tissue culture epithelial cells were challenged with E. coli O157:H7, and cell protein extracts were then separated by buoyant density ultracentrifugation to isolate lipid rafts. Immunoblotting for PKC was performed, and localization in lipid rafts was confirmed with an anti-caveolin-1 antibody. Isoform-specific PKC small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to determine the role of PKC in E. coli O157:H7-induced attaching and effacing lesions. In contrast to uninfected cells, PKC was recruited to lipid rafts in response to E. coli O157:H7. Metabolically active bacteria and cells with intact lipid rafts were necessary for the recruitment of PKC. PKC recruitment was independent of the intimin gene, type III secretion system, and the production of Shiga toxins. Inhibition studies, using myristoylated PKCζ pseudosubstrate, revealed that atypical PKC isoforms were activated in response to the pathogen. Pretreating cells with isoform-specific PKC siRNA showed that PKCζ plays a role in E. coli O157:H7-induced attaching and effacing lesions. We concluded that lipid rafts mediate atypical PKC signal transduction responses to E. coli O157:H7. These findings contribute further to the understanding of the complex array of microbe-eukaryotic cell interactions that occur in response to infection.

Cyclosporine A and tacrolimus combined with enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium influence the plasma mycophenolic acid concentration - a randomised controlled trial in Chinese live related donor kidney transplant recipients.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the different concentrations of mycophenolic acid (MPA) during the early post-transplant phase for various combinations of cyclosporine A (CsA) and tacrolimus (Tac) with enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS). METHOD: A total of 42 Chinese adults receiving live related donor kidney transplants were studied. All received a triple immunosuppressive regimen of EC-MPS, CsA/Tac and corticosteroids and were divided randomly into CsA (n = 21) and Tac (n = 21) combination groups. The dosage of EC-MPS was the same (1440 mg/day) in the two groups. The MPA concentration was evaluated with an enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT) and the pharmacokinetic characteristics were investigated in both groups. RESULTS: The mean maximum plasma concentrations (Cmax ) of MPA in the CsA and Tac groups were 11.365 ± 9.522 and 9.748 ± 7.523 µg/ml, respectively (p = 0.137). The maximum times to Cmax (Tmax ) were 2.54 ± 1.53 and 2.67 ± 1.08 h, respectively (p = 0.341). The mean MPA 12-h areas under the curve (MPA-AUC0-12 h ) were 59.463 ± 16.252 and 77.535 ± 33.615 µg h/ml (p = 0.003) and the mean residence times (MRT) were 3.71 ± 0.829 and 3.928 ± 0.923 h (p = 0.038). CONCLUSION: Combined with the same EC-MPS dosage (1440 mg/day), the MPA-AUC0-12 of the Tac group was higher than that of the CsA group, and the Tac group had a longer MRT after kidney transplantation. Our data indicate that the concentration of MPA should be monitored in clinical therapy when EC-MPS is combined with different calcineurin inhibitors to reduce acute allograft rejection and avoid adverse events.