Using a Sensor-Embedded Baseball to Identify Finger Characteristics Related to Spin Rate and Pitching Velocity in Pitchers.

BACKGROUND: Previous investigations have shown a positive relationship between baseball pitching velocity and the kinetic chain involved in pitching motion. However, no study has examined the influence of finger characteristics on pitching velocity and rate of spin via a sensor-embedded baseball. METHODS: Twenty-one pitchers volunteered and were recruited for this study. An experimental baseball embedded with a force sensor and an inertial measurement unit was designed for pitching performance measurement. Finger length and strength were measured as dependent variables. Spin rate and velocity were independent variables. Pearson product-moment correlations (r) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) determined the relationship between finger characteristics and pitching performance. RESULTS: Finger length discrepancy, two-point pinch strength, index finger RFD (rate of force development), middle finger impulse, and force discrepancy had significant correlations with spin rate (r = 0.500~0.576, p ≤ 0.05). Finger length discrepancy, two-point pinch, three-point pinch strength, index and middle finger RFD, middle finger impulse, and force combination had significant correlations with fastball pitching velocity (r = 0.491~0.584, p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Finger length discrepancy, finger pinch strength, and pitching finger force including maximal force and RFD may be factors that impact fastball spin rate and fastball pitching velocity.

Visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of ibuprofen by Cu-doped tubular C3N4: Mechanisms, degradation pathway and DFT calculation.

The copper-modified tubular carbon nitride (CTCN) with higher specific surface area and pore volume was prepared by a simple in-situ hydrolysis and self-assembly. Increased ∼4.7-fold and ∼2.3-fold degradation rate for a representative refractory water pollutant (Ibuprofen, IBP) were achieved with low-energy light source (LED, 420 ± 10 nm), as compared to graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) and tubular carbon nitride (TCN), respectively. The high efficiency of IBP removal was supported by narrow band gap (2.15 eV), high photocurrent intensity (1.10 µA/cm2) and the high surface -OH group (14.75 µg/cm3) of CTCN. According to analysis of the various reactive species in the degradation, the superoxide radical (•O2-) played a dominant role, followed by •OH and h+, responsible for IBP degradation. Furthermore, Fukui functions were employed to predict the active sites of IBP, and combined with the HPLC-MS/MS results, possible mechanisms and pathways for photocatalytic degradation were indicated. This study will lay an important scientific foundation and a possible new approach for the treatment of emerging aromatic organic pollutants in visible-light-driven heterogeneous catalytic oxidation environment.

Visible-light-driven EDA complex-promoted cascade cyclization to construct 4-cyanoalkyl isoquinoline-1,3-diones.

Visible-light-induced EDA complex-promoted ring-opening of cycloketone oxime esters to synthesise various cyanoalkylated products with N-methacryloyl benzamides was developed. Various radical receptors were compatible with the current reaction system to furnish diverse heterocyclic compounds. Mechanistic analysis shows that the formation of an EDA complex was crucial to the photocatalytic strategy. Importantly, 4-cyanoalkyl isoquinoline-1,3-diones were obtained in high yields by using a catalytic amount of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) through prolonging the reaction time, which provided a practical approach to give a variety of isoquinoline-1,3-dione derivatives.

Efficacy and safety of Qingda granule versus valsartan capsule in Chinese grade 1 hypertensive patients with low-moderate risk: A randomized, double-blind, double dummy, non-inferiority, multi-center trial.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of Qingda granule (QDG) in managing blood pressure (BP) among grade 1 hypertensive patients with low-moderate risk remain uncertain. METHODS: In the randomized, double-blind, double dummy, non-inferiority and multicenter trial, 552 patients with grade 1 hypertension at low-moderate risk were assigned at a ratio of 1:1 to receive either QDG or valsartan for 4 weeks, followed up by a subsequent 4 weeks. RESULTS: Post-treatment, clinic systolic/diastolic BPs (SBP/DBP) were reduced by a mean change of 9.18/4.04 mm Hg in the QDG group and 9.85/5.05 mm Hg in the valsartan group (SBP P = 0.47, DBP P = 0.16). Similarly, 24-hour, daytime and nighttime BPs were proportional in both groups (P > 0.05) after 4 weeks treatment. After discontinuing medications for 4 weeks, the mean reduction of clinic SBP/DBP were 0.29/0.57 mm Hg in the QDG group compared to -1.59/-0.48 mm Hg in the valsartan group (SBP P = 0.04, DBP P = 0.04). Simultaneously, the 24-hour SBP/DBP were reduced by 0.9/0.31 mm Hg in the QDG group and -1.66/-1.08 mm Hg in the valsartan group (SBP P = 0.006, DBP P = 0.02). And similar results were observed regarding the outcomes of daytime and nighttime BPs. There was no difference in occurrence of adverse events between two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: QDG proves to be efficacious for grade 1 hypertension at a low-to-medium risk, even after discontinuation of the medication for 4 weeks. These findings provide a promising option for managing grade 1 hypertension and suggest the potential for maintaining stable BP through intermittent administration of QDG. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2000033890.

The Critical Intersect of Regulations, Health Technology Assessment, and Drug Safety Assessments.

Health technology assessment (HTA) is a multidisciplinary process that determines the value of health technology at different points in its lifecycle. Safety issues have become more important since regulatory authorities are increasingly adopting flexible standards, processes, and evidentiary requirements for drug approval. In this article, we compared the different role of regulatory authorities and HTA agencies. Additionally, the experience of regulatory-HTA collaboration for assessment and/or decision-making on safety issues in the lifecycle of a health technology is illustrated, including olmesartan (angiotensin II receptor antagonist) and the direct-acting hepatitis C virus (HCV) antiviral agents. Post-licensing data can be derived from various sources such as electronic health records, medical claims, drug and disease registries, post-authorization safety studies (PASS) or post-authorization safety efficacy studies (PAES), periodic benefit-risk assessment reports, as well as HTA reassessment reports, which incorporate utilization information from patients in a real-world setting and provide crucial evidence for various purposes. With the ongoing accumulation of safety and efficacy information during post-regulatory approval, a standardized process for continuous data collection and active reassessment of risk and benefit becomes crucial for managing the lifecycle of health technologies. In order to define evidence requirements clearly, reduce uncertainty, and minimize delays in HTA approval, early engagement and collaboration of HTA agencies in the regulatory review processes have become more common. However, there is currently limited interaction and collaboration between regulatory authorities and HTA agencies. This article aims to identify the challenges faced by regulators and HTA agencies today, emphasizing the significance of conducting regulatory reviews and health technology assessments throughout a technology's lifecycle, underlining the value of utilizing real-world data and evidence, and emphasizing the necessity of enhancing collaboration between regulatory authorities and HTA agencies, all within the overarching context of drug safety.

Policy and Strategy for Hepatitis C Virus Elimination at the National Level: Experience in Taiwan.

The estimated prevalence of anti-HCV was 3.1% in Taiwan. Studies have shown iatrogenic behavior was the major transmission route. It is highest in specific populations including patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD), human immunodeficiency virus infection, who inject drug (PWID), and under opioid substitution treatment. Approximately 405,160 patients were seropositive for HCV RNA and in need of treatment. Taiwan government claims to reach WHO's 2030 goal of HCV elimination by 2025 and works hard to resolve several barriers of HCV elimination including political commitment, sustainable financing, minimize reimbursement restrictions, instituted monitoring, and perform micro-elimination of specific populations. The last stage of HCV elimination is to accelerate the universal HCV screening program of populations aged 45-79 years and resolve the unawareness issue of HCV infection. Hopefully, we can achieve the targets of HCV elimination set by WHO and reach the goal earlier in 2025.

The Development of Health Technology Assessment in Taiwan: Perspectives and Analysis.

Efforts to advance health technology assessment (HTA) in Taiwan have aimed to optimize the allocation of National Health Insurance (NHI) resources. This study documents and analyzes the historical timeline of Taiwan's efforts in HTA, identifying areas to advance the HTA system, such as gaining broad stakeholder acceptance. We document ambitious plans to establish a larger, independent HTA center and how these plans did not materialize. The historical timeline also describes the primary focus of HTA shifting to serve the needs of decision-making authorities and committees. We argue that these changes resulted in growth of the HTA system, but also led to significant external criticism and potential compromise of its foundational principles. The inability to create a national HTA center can be attributed to several factors, including an immature ecosystem of HTA-Policy-Patient-Provider-Academic collaboration, a lack of a supportive culture, and challenging political and economic conditions. Nevertheless, if effectively managed, Taiwan's current HTA system could play a crucial role in rational decision-making, informed choices, and efficient NHI resource management. We argue that greater autonomy is crucial for enhancing financial sustainability and protecting against external influences to ensure objective and credible assessments. Additionally, we emphasize the importance of fostering a conducive learning environment to improve methodological expertise.

Growth factor for therapeutic angiogenesis in ischemic heart disease: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Aim: This study was designed to systematically evaluate the effects of growth factor (GF) for therapeutic angiogenesis on ischemic heart disease (IHD) by pooling the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods and Results: PubMed, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases were searched from inception to October 2022. RCTs, investigating the effects of GF therapy on IHD, were included. The risk bias of included study was assessed according to Cochrane tool. Weighted mean difference (WMD), calculated with fixed effect model or random effect model, was used to evaluate the effects of GF therapy on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) angina class. Relative risk (RR) was used to evaluate the effects of GF therapy on all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and revascularization. Meta-analysis, meta-regression analysis and publication bias analysis were performed by RevMan 5.3 or Stata 15.1 software. Twenty-nine studies involving 2899 IHD patients (1,577 patients in GF group and 1,322 patients in control group) were included. Compared with the control group, GF therapy did not reduce all-cause mortality (RR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.54-1.24; p = 0.341), MACE [(RR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.61-1.12; p = 0.227), revascularization (RR: 1.27, 95% CI: 0.82-1.96, p = 0.290) and CCS angina class (WMD: -0.08, 95% CI: -0.36 to 0.20, p = 0.560). However, GF therapy could increase LVEF during short-term follow-up (<1 year). Conclusion: GF for therapeutic angiogenesis was beneficial for increasing LVEF during short-term follow-up (<1 year), however, the therapy was not efficacious in decreasing all-cause mortality, MACE and revascularization.

Physical activity intervention promotes working memory and motor competence in preschool children.

Objective: This study investigated the effects of 12 weeks of specifically designed physical activity intervention on working memory and motor competence in preschool children and explored the correlation between working memory changes and motor competence changes by the intervention. Methods: Four classes of preschool children were grouped into an intervention group and a control group. Children in the intervention group received a 12-week physical activity intervention, while children in the control group followed their daily routine as usual. Before and after the intervention period, children were assessed with the 1-back task and Movement Assessment Battery for Children, second edition (MABC-2) to measure their working memory and motor competence, respectively. Results: Regarding working memory, the accuracy on the 1-back task increased significantly in the intervention group relative to the control group. The intervention group demonstrated a greater decrease in response time from pre- to posttest than the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Regarding motor competence, children's manual dexterity, aiming and catching and total score increased significantly in the intervention group relative to the control group, while no significant difference in static and dynamic balance was observed between the two groups. Furthermore, the correlation results showed that changes in the efficacy and efficiency of working memory were positively related to changes in static and dynamic balance and the total score on the MABC-2. Conclusion: These findings demonstrated that 12 weeks of specifically designed physical activity intervention could improve preschool children's efficacy of working memory as well as manual dexterity, aiming and catching and global motor competence. The improvement in the efficacy and efficiency of working memory was positively related to the improvement in static and dynamic balance and global motor competence.

Multiple Heterohelicenes: Synthesis, Properties and Applications.

Multiple heterohelicenes are a unique class of helical nonplanar scaffolds that have attracted great attention due to their appealing shapes, optical and electronic properties, and potential applications in chiral materials. This review describes the recent advances and challenges in the design and synthesis of representative multiple heterohelicenes with intriguing chiral properties. And the corresponding applications are also covered.

Factors Associated With Informational Support in Transitional Care for Older Adults With Chronic Diseases: A Cross-Sectional Study.

To evaluate the current situation and associated factors of informational support for older adults with chronic diseases in transitional care. Study was conducted in five hospitals of five different cities in Jiangsu Province, China. A random cluster sample of 800 older adults with chronic diseases responded to the informational support questionnaire of transitional care survey. Descriptive analysis, t-tests, variance analysis, and stepwise multiple linear regression were used to analyze data. The STROBE statement for observational studies was applied. Total score of ISQTC for older adults with chronic diseases was (44.05 ± 17.21). Marital status, educational level, past occupation, close friends, medical insurance, complications, and exercise habits were significantly correlated with informational support. The level of informational support in transitional care for older adults with chronic diseases was low. Clinical staff should periodically and primarily assess their informational support, help find information resources for those who have low initial informational support, and identify which information they preferred to carry out accurate transitional care.

Xylariaopyrones E-I, five new α-pyrone derivatives from the endophytic fungus Xylariales sp. (HM-1).

Five new α-pyrones, xylariaopyrones E-I (1-5), along with three known analogues (6-8) were isolated from the cultivation broth of the endophytic fungus Xylariales sp. (HM-1). The structures of the new compounds including their absolute configurations were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic methods and quantum ECD calculations. Xylariaopyrone E (1) is the first example of α-pyrone derivative with a novel [3, 2, 0] bridge ring system via a ketal function group in the side chain. In bioactivity assays, xylariaopyrones E-G (1-3) showed moderate inhibiting activities against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with MIC values from 25.4 to 64.5 µg/mL, whereras xylariaopyrone G (3) exhibited significant inhibition of monoamine oxidase B with an IC50 value of 15.6 µmol/L. Xylariaopyrone H (4) and the known compound 7 showed moderate toxicity against brine shrimp larvae with inhibition rates of 42.8% and 44.5%, respectively.

Urinary metabolomics analysis to reveal metabolic mechanism of guanxinning injection on heart failure with renal dysfunction.

Consistently, the multiple heart-kidney interactions make pharmaceutical research for cardiorenal syndrome difficult and complex. Guanxinning Injection (GXN) has been reported to provide unique advantage for treating cardiac and renal diseases compared to typical monotherapies. However, the protection mechanism of GXN is largely unknown. This study explored the acting mechanism of GXN on heart failure with renal dysfunction from a metabolic perspective. Transverse aortic constriction (TAC) surgery was performed on C57/BL/6 mice to induce heart failure with renal dysfunction. Using telmisartan as a positive control, GXN treatment was applied during the 12th to 16th week after TAC. Cardiac function and structure were examined using M-mode echocardiography, and renal function was evaluated via representative biochemical parameters and hematoxylin-eosin staining. Moreover, untargeted metabolomic analyses of urine were conducted to screen for differential substances associated with the cardiorenal protection effect of GXN. As a result, GXN provided good cardioprotective effects on left ventricular ejection fraction elevation, fractional shortening, internal diastolic, and mass maintenance. GXN also reduced TAC-induced elevation of blood urea nitrogen, and serum Cystatin C and relieved kidney pathological damage. Metabolomic analyses identified 21 differential metabolites in the TAC model group. Ten metabolites involving the metabolic pathways of carnitine synthesis, valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation, and glutamate metabolism, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, and purine metabolism were restored by GXN. The main cardiorenal protection mechanism of GXN was found to be related to energy metabolism and oxidative stress. Taken together, this study provides the first evidence of the metabolic protection mechanism of GXN on heart failure with renal dysfunction for the first time and provides a research basis for the application of GXN in CRS-2 pharmaceuticals.

Association of body mass index trajectory and hypertension risk: A systematic review of cohort studies and network meta-analysis of 89,094 participants.

Introduction: Body mass index (BMI) trajectories, such as non-linear time trends and nonlinear changes in BMI with age, can provide information on the underlying temporal health patterns. The relationship between BMI trajectories and the risk of hypertension remains controversial. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched from their inception to January 31, 2022. We categorized BMI trajectories as "Stable high," "table normal," "Stable low," "Fluctuated (sharp increase)," and "Fluctuated (elevated-decrease)." The main outcome was the relative risk for the prevalence of hypertension in the different BMI trajectories. Potential sources of heterogeneity were examined using meta-regression and subgroup analysis. A publication bias test and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach were also used. Results: The 18 cohort studies included 89,094 participants. Compared with the "Stable normal" trajectory, "Stable high," "Fluctuated (sharp increase)," and "Fluctuated (elevated-decrease)" trajectories were associated with an increased relative risk of hypertension: [RR (95% CI)]: 1.80 (1.29 2.50), p < 0.001; 1.53 (1.27 1.83), p < 0.001; 1.30 (1.24 1.37), p = 0.001, respectively. The "Stable low" trajectory was associated with a reduced risk of hypertension [0.83 (0.79 0.83), p < 0.001]. The "Stable high" trajectory (surface under the cumulative ranking curve = 88.1%) had the highest probability of developing hypertension in the population. The certainty of the evidence for direct comparisons of the incidence of hypertension between various BMI trajectories was generally very low. Conclusion: Our findings suggested that "Stable high," "Fluctuated (sharp increase)," and "Fluctuated (elevated-decrease)" trajectories were associated with an increased relative risk of hypertension, with the "Stable high" trajectory most likely associated with hypertension. Systematic review registration: [https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=308575], identifier [CRD42022308575].

Taiwan accelerates its efforts to eliminate hepatitis C.

The estimated prevalence of anti-HCV was 3.3% (1.8-5.5%) in the general population in Taiwan with several regional disparities. The reactive anti-HCV in different regions may vary between 0% and 65%. The National Hepatitis C Program (NHCP) office estimated approximately 623,323 persons reactive with anti-HCV based on several extensive region- and cohort-wide studies. Taiwan has accelerated its efforts to eliminate hepatitis C since 2018 by committing to achieve World Health Organization (WHO)'s 2030 goal of treating 80% of eligible patients by 2025. Many aggressive measures by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) have been ongoing including several key success factors such as political commitment by the MOHW to finance this national program and improve National Health Insurance (NHI) reimbursement restrictions for treatment. Meanwhile, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) instituted harm reduction programs and the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) started to improve awareness and perform national screening programs. The NHCP office instituted monitoring, evaluation, micro-elimination and funding to linkage to care programs. In addition to sustainable financing, it is imperative to scale-up screening coverage through a precision public health approach to fill the gap of under-diagnosis. Hopefully, we can achieve early elimination by announcing the treatment target of 250000 CHC patients by 2025.

[Effect of proximal and distal acupoint catgut-embedding on uterus prostaglandin, serum IL-2 and splenic NK cell activity in primary dysmenorrhea rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of proximal and distal acupoint catgut-embedding on the contents of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostaglandin F2α(PGF2α) in the uterus, serum Interleukin-2 (IL-2) contents and splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity in primary dysmenorrhea (PD) rats，so as to explore the different effects of proximal and distal acupoint catgut-embedding on PD rats. METHODS: Female Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, model, proximal catgut-embedding and distal catgut-embedding groups, with 8 rats in each group. The PD model was established by subcutaneous injection of estradiol ben-zoate (0.5 mg/rat on the first day and 10th day, and 0.2 mg/rat from the 2nd to the 9th day) and intraperitoneal injection of oxytocin (2 U/rat, on the 11th day). Catgut-embedding was applied at bilateral "Guanyuan"(CV4) and "Ciliao"(BL32) in the proximal catgut-embedding group, and bilateral "Sanyinjiao" (SP6) and "Diji"(SP8) in the distal catgut-embedding group. After the treatment, the body writhing times in 30 min and uterine mass were recorded, PGE2 and PGF2αin uterus and IL-2 in serum were assayed by using ELISA, the activity of NK cell in the spleen was detected using MTT colorimetry. RESULTS: Following modeling, the body writhing times of the model group was increased than that of the control group (P<0.01); After interventions, the body writhing times were decreased in the proximal and distal catgut-embedding groups than those of the model group (P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the uterine mass and uterus PGF2α content were increased (P<0.01), while uterus PGE2, serum IL-2 and splenic NK cell activity were decreased (P<0.01) in the model group. After interventions, the uterine mass and uterus PGF2α were down-regulated (P<0.01, P<0.05), while the contents of uterus PGE2, serum IL-2 and splenic NK cell activity up-regulated (P<0.01) in the proximal and distal catgut-embedding groups in contrast to the model group. The content of uterus PGF2α was down-regulated (P<0.05) and splenic NK cell activity was up-regulated (P<0.01) in the proximal catgut-embedding group than those of the distal catgut-embedding group. CONCLUSION: Both proximal and distal acupoint catgut-embeding can increase PGE2 and decrease PGF2α in the uterus, increase the level of serum IL-2 and the activity of NK cells in the spleen in PD model rats, thereby achieving analgesic effect. The effect of proximal catgut-embedding is better than that of distal catgut-embedding.

Hitting weighted baseball enhances the experience of bat-ball contacts.

Bat-ball contacts are critical in the baseball hitting process. However, an effective training method for increasing the impact perception of a bat-ball contact is currently unavailable. Although not widely used, hitting a stationary weighted baseball can be an appropriate method for batters to simulate the perception of hitting a moving baseball. Therefore, swing velocity, wrist vibration, and forearm muscle activation for hitting stationary weighted, stationary regulation, and pitched baseballs were investigated in this study. Twelve position players hit a stationary weighted, stationary regulation, and pitched baseball at a speed of 70.28 ± 3.84 km/h in a random order. The swing velocity, wrist vibration, forearm muscle activation, and co-contraction ratio during hitting phases were analysed. The results indicated that the swing velocity during each specific phase demonstrated no significant differences between the different conditions. Hitting weighted and pitched baseballs caused higher wrist vibration, muscle activation, and co-contraction ratio during the contact phase than hitting regulation balls (p < 0.05). The conclusion was that hitting weighted baseballs could mimic the impact condition of hitting pitched baseballs without changing the pattern of swing velocity, which suggested that this method has potential as a hitting drill for improving hitting perception at bat-ball contact.

Managing Vibration Training Safety by Using Knee Flexion Angle and Rating Perceived Exertion.

Whole-body vibration (WBV) is commonly applied in exercise and rehabilitation and its safety issues have been a major concern. Vibration measured using accelerometers can be used to further analyze the vibration transmissibility. Optimal bending angles and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) evaluations have not been sufficiently explored to mitigate the adverse effect. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate the effect of various knee flexion angles on the transmissibility to the head and knee, the RPE during WBV exposure, and the link between the transmissibility to the head and the RPE. Sixteen participants randomly performed static squats with knee flexion angles of 90, 110, 130, and 150 degrees on a WBV platform. Three accelerometers were fixed on the head, knee, and center of the vibration platform to provide data of platform-to-head and platform-to-knee transmissibilities. The results showed that the flexion angle of 110 degrees induced the lowest platform-to-head transmissibility and the lowest RPE (p < 0.01). A positive correlation between RPE and the platform-to-head transmissibility was observed. This study concluded that a knee flexion of about 110 degrees is most appropriate for reducing vibration transmissibility. The reported RPE could be used to reflect the vibration impact to the head.

The epidemiological profile of chronic hepatitis C with advanced hepatic fibrosis regarding virus genotype in Taiwan: A nationwide study.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: This study aims at investigating the epidemiological profile of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) regarding hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype in Taiwan. METHODS: A total of 29,087 CHC patients with advanced fibrosis who received direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) therapy under Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) during 2017-2018 were recruited. The HCV genotype distribution and its association with patients' demographic factors including age, gender, and geographical areas were examined. RESULTS: The most common genotypes were 1b (59.5%) and 2 (30.1%) with characteristics of older age (mean ± standard deviation (SD): 66.5 ± 10.7 years and 67.3 ± 10.9 years) and female gender predominant (57.1% and 59.4%), which were associated with iatrogenic infection decades ago. Most of patients with genotype 1a (5.9%) and 6 (3.7%) infection were relatively younger (59.2 ± 12.0 years and 60.0 ± 13.8 years) and male gender predominant (59.1% and 61.1%), except Liujia and Liuying districts in southern Taiwan. The youngest group (53.2 ± 11.8 years) and most male gender predominant (74.3%) was genotype 3 (0.37%). These genotypes with characteristics of being younger and male gender predominant were highly related to injection drug use in recent years. The number of genotype 4 patients were extremely rare (n = 25) and efficacy of genotype-4-specific-DAA was significantly poorer than non-genotype-4-specific DAA (P value = 0.0411). CONCLUSION: The significant differences in demographic characteristics among CHC patients with different HCV genotypes found in this study suggest HCV genotype was highly associated with transmission pattern and may be used as a reference for HCV control.

Optimizing the Protein Fluorescence Reporting System for Somatic Embryogenesis Regeneration Screening and Visual Labeling of Functional Genes in Cotton.

Protein fluorescence reporting systems are of crucial importance to in-depth life science research, providing systematic labeling tools for visualization of microscopic biological activities in vivo and revolutionizing basic research. Cotton somatic cell regeneration efficiency is low, causing difficulty in cotton transformation. It is conducive to screening transgenic somatic embryo using the fluorescence reporting system. However, available fluorescence labeling systems in cotton are currently limited. To optimize the fluorescence reporting system of cotton with an expanded range of available fluorescent proteins, we selected 11 fluorescent proteins covering red, green, yellow, and cyan fluorescence colors and expressed them in cotton. Besides mRuby2 and G3GFP, the other nine fluorescent proteins (mCherry, tdTomato, sfGFP, Clover, EYFP, YPet, mVenus, mCerulean, and ECFP) were stably and intensely expressed in transgenic callus and embryo, and inherited in different cotton organs derive from the screened embryo. In addition, transgenic cotton expressing tdTomato appears pink under white light, not only for callus and embryo tissues but also various organs of mature plants, providing a visual marker in the cotton genetic transformation process, accelerating the evaluation of transgenic events. Further, we constructed transgenic cotton expressing mCherry-labeled organelle markers in vivo that cover seven specific subcellular compartments: plasma membrane, endoplasmic reticulum, tonoplast, mitochondrion, plastid, Golgi apparatus, and peroxisome. We also provide a simple and highly efficient strategy to quickly determine the subcellular localization of uncharacterized proteins in cotton cells using organelle markers. Lastly, we built the first cotton stomatal fluorescence reporting system using stomata-specific expression promoters (ProKST1, ProGbSLSP, and ProGC1) to drive Clover expression. The optimized fluorescence labeling system for transgenic somatic embryo screening and functional gene labeling in this study offers the potential to accelerating somatic cell regeneration efficiency and the in vivo monitoring of diverse cellular processes in cotton.