BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The PDZ (PSD-95/Drosophila discs-large protein/zonula occludens protein) domain-containing proteins Na(+)/H(+) exchanger regulatory factor 1 (NHERF1) and NHERF2 interact with the glutamate transporter GLAST. To characterize the roles of these NHERF proteins in the plasma membrane targeting of GLAST, we examined the interaction of green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-tagged GLAST with epitope-tagged NHERF proteins in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T cells. Co-expression of either NHERF protein increased the cell surface expression of EGFP-GLAST. Deletion of the C-terminal PDZ domain-binding motif caused an increase in EGFP-GLAST with immature endoglycosidase H-sensitive N-linked oligosaccharides, suggesting impaired exit of EGFP-GLAST from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that NHERF1 predominantly bound EGFP-GLAST containing immature N-glycans, whereas NHERF2 co-precipitated EGFP-GLAST with mature N-glycans. Expression of a dominant-negative mutant of the GTPase Sar1 increased the interaction of EGFP-GLAST with NHERF1 in the ER. By contrast, immunofluorescence microscopy showed that NHERF2 co-localized with EGFP-GLAST in ER-Golgi intermediate compartments (ERGICs), at the plasma membrane and in early endosomes, but not in the ER. These results suggest that NHERF1 interacts with GLAST during ER export, while NHERF2 interacts with GLAST in the secretory pathway from the ERGIC to the plasma membrane, thereby modulating the cell surface expression of GLAST.

背景与目标： : 含有PDZ (PSD-95/果蝇盘-大蛋白/小带闭塞蛋白) 结构域的蛋白Na(+)/H(+) 交换调节因子1 (NHERF1) 和NHERF2与谷氨酸转运蛋白GLAST相互作用。为了表征这些NHERF蛋白在GLAST质膜靶向中的作用，我们检查了绿色荧光蛋白 (EGFP) 标记的GLAST与表位标记的NHERF蛋白在人胚肾 (HEK) 293T细胞中的相互作用。NHERF蛋白的共表达增加了EGFP-GLAST的细胞表面表达。C末端PDZ结构域结合基序的缺失导致未成熟的内切糖苷酶H敏感的N连接寡糖的EGFP-GLAST增加，表明EGFP-GLAST从内质网 (ER) 的退出受损。免疫沉淀实验表明，NHERF1主要结合含有未成熟N-聚糖的EGFP-GLAST，而NHERF2与成熟N-聚糖共同沉淀EGFP-GLAST。GTPase Sar1的显性负突变体的表达增加了ER中EGFP-GLAST与NHERF1的相互作用。相比之下，免疫荧光显微镜显示NHERF2与EGFP-GLAST共定位在ER-高尔基体中间区室 (ERGICs)，质膜和早期内体中，但不在ER中。这些结果表明，在ER输出过程中，NHERF1与GLAST相互作用，而NHERF2在从能膜到质膜的分泌途径中与GLAST相互作用，从而调节GLAST的细胞表面表达。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic material is an essential step in the bioethanol production process. However, complete cellulose hydrolysis by cellulase is difficult due to the irreversible adsorption of cellulase onto cellulose. Thus, part of the cellulose remains in crystalline form after hydrolysis. In this study, after 96-h hydrolysis of Avicel crystalline cellulose, 47.1 % of the cellulase was adsorbed on the cellulose surface with 10.8 % crystalline cellulose remaining. In simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of 100 g/L Avicel with 1.0 filter paper unit/mL cellulase, a wild-type yeast strain produced 44.7 g/L ethanol after 96 h. The yield of ethanol was 79.7 % of the theoretical yield. On the other hand, a recombinant yeast strain displaying various cellulases, such as β-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase, and endoglucanase, produced 48.9 g/L ethanol, which corresponds to 87.3 % of the theoretical yield. Higher ethanol production appears to be attributable to higher efficiency of cellulase displayed on the cell surface. These results suggest that cellulases displayed on the yeast cell surface improve hydrolysis of Avicel crystalline cellulose. Indeed, after the 96-h simultaneous saccharification and fermentation using the cellulase-displaying yeast, the amount of residual cellulose was 1.5 g/L, one quarter of the cellulose remaining using the wild-type strain, a result of the alleviation of irreversible adsorption of cellulases on the crystalline cellulose.

背景与目标： : 纤维素材料的酶水解是生物乙醇生产过程中必不可少的步骤。然而，由于纤维素酶不可逆地吸附在纤维素上，纤维素酶很难完全水解纤维素。因此，部分纤维素在水解后保持结晶形式。在这项研究中，在Avicel结晶纤维素水解96小时后，纤维素酶的47.1% 吸附在纤维素表面，剩余10.8% 结晶纤维素。在用1.0滤纸单位/mL纤维素酶同时糖化和发酵100g/L Avicel的过程中，野生型酵母菌株在96小时后产生44.7g/L乙醇。乙醇的产率是理论产率的79.7%。另一方面，显示各种纤维素酶 (例如 β-葡萄糖苷酶、纤维二糖水解酶和内切葡聚糖酶) 的重组酵母菌株产生48.9g/L乙醇，这相当于理论产量的87.3%。较高的乙醇产量似乎归因于细胞表面显示的纤维素酶效率较高。这些结果表明，酵母细胞表面显示的纤维素酶可改善Avicel结晶纤维素的水解。实际上，在使用显示纤维素酶的酵母进行96小时的同时糖化和发酵之后，残留纤维素的量为1.5g/L，为使用野生型菌株剩余纤维素的四分之一，这是纤维素酶在结晶纤维素上不可逆吸附的减轻的结果。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: PURPOSE:Amniotic membrane (AM) transplantation is an accepted procedure in ocular surgery. However, little is known of the interdonor and intradonor variability within the membrane. In addition, the effects of the methods of processing, storage, and preoperative preparation on the membrane are not fully elucidated. The purpose of this study was to use TGF-beta as an example to investigate interdonor and intradonor variability and to determine the effect of "handling " on TGF-beta1 within fresh, processed and stored, and transplantation-ready AM (TRAM). METHODS:Seventeen human AMs, both fresh and handled, were analyzed for TGF-beta1 by real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, SDS-PAGE, and Western blotting. RESULTS:TGF-beta1 was the highest normalized expressed isoform of TGF-beta in all samples, but it varied between membranes of different donors and at different sites within the same membrane. The highest concentration was noted in the spongy layer. Removal of the spongy layer successfully removed the bulk of TGF-beta1 from TRAM. Latency-associated protein (LAP) and a latent TGF-beta-binding protein (LTBP) were also detected. CONCLUSION:TGF-beta1 is present in various regulatory forms in the AM. A degree of intermembrane and intramembrane variation is modified by handling. Unless a standardized protocol is adopted that delivers a membrane with consistent constituents, clinical outcomes may vary and comparisons may be invalid.

背景与目标：

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :A transmembrane extracellular matrix receptor of the integrin family, alpha 6 beta 4, is a component of the hemidesmosome, an adhesion complex of importance in epithelial cell-connective tissue attachment (Stepp, M. A., S. Spurr-Michaud, A. Tisdale, J. Elwell, and I. K. Gipson. 1990. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 87:8970-8974; Jones, J. C. R., M. A. Kurpakus, H. M. Cooper, and V. Quaranta. 1991. Cell Regulation. 2:427-438). Cytosolic components of hemidesmosomes include bullous pemphigoid (BP) antigens while extracellular components include a 125-kD component of anchoring filaments (CAF) and collagen type VII-containing anchoring fibrils. We have monitored the incorporation of the alpha 6 beta 4 integrins into forming hemidesmosomes in an in vitro wound-healing explant model. In epithelial cells recently migrated from the edges of unwounded sites over bare connective tissue, alpha 6 beta 4 first appears along the entire cell surface. At this stage, these cells contain little or no cytosolic hemidesmosomal components, at least as detectable by immunofluorescence using BP autoantibodies, whereas they are already positive for laminin and CAF. At a later stage, as cells become positive for cytosolic hemidesmosome components such as BP antigens as well as collagen type VII, alpha 6 beta 4 becomes concentrated along the basal pole of the epithelial cell where it abuts the connective tissue of the explant. Polyclonal antibodies to beta 4 do not interfere with the migration of epithelial cells in the explant. However, they prevent assembly of hemidesmosomal complexes and inhibit expression of collagen type VII in cells that have migrated over wound areas. In addition, they induce disruption of established hemidesmosomes in nonmigrating cells of the unwounded area of the explant. Monoclonal antibodies to alpha 6 have a more dramatic effect, since they completely detach epithelial cells in the unwounded area of the explant. Antibodies to CAF also detach epithelial cells in unwounded areas, apparently by inducing separation between epithelium and connective tissue at the lamina lucida of the basement membrane zone. These results suggest a model whereby polarization of alpha 6 beta 4 to the basal surface of the cells, perhaps induced by a putative anchoring filament-associated ligand, triggers assembly of hemidesmosome plaques.

背景与目标： : 整联蛋白家族的跨膜细胞外基质受体 α6β4是半染色体的组成部分，半染色体是上皮细胞-结缔组织附着中重要的粘附复合物 (Stepp，m.a.，S. Spurr-Michaud，A. Tisdale，J. Elwell，和I. K. Gipson。1990. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.美国。87:8970-8974; Jones，j.c.R.，M.Kurpakus，H. M. Cooper和V. Quaranta。1991.细胞调控。2:427-438)。半桥粒的胞质组分包括大疱性类天疱疮 (BP) 抗原，而细胞外组分包括锚定细丝 (CAF) 的125-kD组分和含VII型胶原的锚定原纤维。我们已经在体外伤口愈合外植体模型中监测了 α6β4整合素在形成半桥体中的掺入。在最近从裸露的结缔组织上未受伤部位的边缘迁移的上皮细胞中，α6β4首先出现在整个细胞表面。在这个阶段，这些细胞含有很少或没有胞质半染色体成分，至少可以通过使用BP自身抗体的免疫荧光检测到，而它们已经对层粘连蛋白和CAF呈阳性。在稍后的阶段，随着细胞对胞质半桥粒成分 (例如BP抗原) 以及VII型胶原呈阳性，α6β4沿着上皮细胞的基极集中，并与外植体的结缔组织邻接。针对 β4的多克隆抗体不会干扰外植体中上皮细胞的迁移。但是，它们阻止了半桥粒复合体的组装，并抑制了在伤口区域迁移的细胞中VII型胶原的表达。此外，它们还会诱导外植体未受伤区域的非迁移细胞中已建立的半桥粒的破坏。针对 α6的单克隆抗体具有更显着的作用，因为它们完全脱离了外植体未受伤区域的上皮细胞。针对CAF的抗体也可以通过诱导基底膜区的上皮和结缔组织之间的分离而分离未受伤区域的上皮细胞。这些结果提出了一个模型，其中 α6β4极化到细胞的基底表面，可能是由假定的锚定细丝相关配体诱导的，触发了半桥粒斑块的组装。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The environmental mobility of newly deposited radionuclides in surface soil is driven by complex biogeochemical relationships, which have significant impacts on transport pathways. The partition coefficient (Kd) is useful for characterizing the soil-solution exchange kinetics and is an important factor for predicting relative amounts of a radionuclide transported to groundwater compared to that remaining on soil surfaces and thus available for transport through erosion processes. Measurements of Kd for 238U are particularly useful because of the extensive use of 238U in military applications and associated testing, such as done at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Site-specific measurements of Kd for 238U are needed because Kd is highly dependent on local soil conditions and also on the fine soil fraction because 238U concentrates onto smaller soil particles, such as clays and soil organic material, which are most susceptible to wind erosion and contribute to inhalation exposure in off-site populations. We measured Kd for uranium in soils from two neighboring semiarid forest sites at LANL using a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-based protocol for both whole soil and the fine soil fraction (diameters<45 microm). The 7-d Kd values, which are those specified in the EPA protocol, ranged from 276-508 mL g-1 for whole soil and from 615-2249 mL g-1 for the fine soil fraction. Unexpectedly, the 30-d Kd values, measured to test for soil-solution exchange equilibrium, were more than two times the 7-d values. Rates of adsorption of 238U to soil from solution were derived using a 2-component (FAST and SLOW) exponential model. We found significant differences in Kd values among LANL sampling sites, between whole and fine soils, and between 7-d and 30-d Kd measurements. The significant variation in soil-solution exchange kinetics among the soils and soil sizes promotes the use of site-specific data for estimates of environmental transport rates and suggests possible differences in desorption rates from soil to solution (e.g., into groundwater or lung fluid). We also explore potential relationships between wind erosion, soil characteristics, and Kd values. Combined, our results highlight the need for a better mechanistic understanding of soil-solution partitioning kinetics for accurate risk assessment.

背景与目标： : 新沉积的放射性核素在表层土壤中的环境迁移率是由复杂的生物地球化学关系驱动的，这些关系对运输途径有重大影响。分配系数 (Kd) 可用于表征土壤溶液交换动力学，并且是预测输送到地下水的放射性核素与残留在土壤表面的放射性核素的相对量相比的重要因素，因此可用于通过侵蚀过程进行运输。238U的Kd测量特别有用，因为238U在军事应用和相关测试中广泛使用，例如在洛斯阿拉莫斯国家实验室 (LANL) 进行的。需要对238U进行特定地点的Kd测量，因为Kd高度依赖于当地土壤条件，也高度依赖于精细的土壤分数，因为238U集中在较小的土壤颗粒上，例如粘土和土壤有机材料，这些颗粒最容易受到风蚀的影响并有助于异地人群的吸入暴露。我们使用基于美国环境保护局 (EPA) 的协议，针对整个土壤和细土部分 (直径 <45微米)，测量了LANL两个相邻的半干旱森林站点土壤中铀的Kd。EPA协议中指定的7-d Kd值的范围为整个土壤的g-1为276-508 mL，而细土部分的g-1为615-2249 mL。出乎意料的是，为测试土壤溶液交换平衡而测得的30 d Kd值是7-d值的两倍以上。使用2组分 (快速和慢速) 指数模型得出溶液中238U对土壤的吸附率。我们发现LANL采样点之间，整个土壤和细土之间以及7-d和30d Kd测量值之间的Kd值存在显着差异。土壤之间的土壤溶液交换动力学和土壤大小的显着变化促进了使用特定地点的数据来估算环境迁移速率，并暗示了从土壤到溶液 (例如，进入地下水或肺液) 的解吸速率可能存在差异。我们还探讨了风蚀，土壤特征和Kd值之间的潜在关系。结合起来，我们的结果强调了需要对土壤溶液分配动力学进行更好的机械理解，以进行准确的风险评估。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Facile fabrication of nanostructured surface is of great importance for the use of titanium (Ti) implants in biomedical field. In this study, a low-cost and easy-to-operate method called HPT (hydrothermal & pressure) here has been developed and used to fabricate the expected nanostructured surface on Ti substrates. The effects of experimental parameters on the morphology of Ti surface were investigated and characterized. The results indicated that by altering the hydrothermal pressure, NaOH concentration and treating time, surface nanostructure like nanopetals or nanoflakes could be formed on the surface of Ti substrates. The orthogonal experiments were conducted to demonstrate the optimized operation conditions. A formation mechanism of the nanostructured titanate layer was proposed, revealing that the nanostructured layer could be formed via a special upward and downward co-growth manner. In vitro cell culture showed that the HPT treated Ti substrates, especially the T-10 sample, could greatly enhance the cell-material interactions, i.e. the cell proliferation and differentiation, focal protein adhesion, and osteogenic factor expression. The HPT method paves a new way to modify the surface of Ti implants with better bioactivity and promising prospect for future biomedical applications.

背景与目标： : 纳米结构表面的简便制造对于在生物医学领域中使用钛 (Ti) 植入物非常重要。在这项研究中，已经开发了一种称为HPT (水热 & 压力) 的低成本且易于操作的方法，并将其用于在Ti衬底上制造预期的纳米结构表面。研究并表征了实验参数对Ti表面形貌的影响。结果表明，通过改变水热压力，NaOH浓度和处理时间，可以在Ti基材表面形成类似纳米颗粒或纳米薄片的表面纳米结构。进行正交实验以证明优化的操作条件。提出了纳米结构钛酸盐层的形成机理，揭示了纳米结构层可以通过特殊的向上和向下共生长方式形成。体外细胞培养表明，经HPT处理的Ti底物，尤其是T-10样品，可以大大增强细胞与物质的相互作用，即细胞增殖和分化，聚焦蛋白粘附和成骨因子的表达。HPT方法为修饰Ti植入物表面提供了一种新方法，具有更好的生物活性，并有望在未来的生物医学应用中获得广阔的前景。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :We investigated the conditions under which inhomogeneity in electrical conductivity may significantly modify the magnetic evoked field (MEF) due to primary currents (i.e., neuronal currents) in the brain. In the case of an isolated turtle cerebellum immersed in a large bath of physiological saline, our theoretical analysis showed the cerebellar surface to significantly enhance the MEF due to a primary current, by a factor of as much as two, for experimentally determined values of the conductivities of the cerebellar tissue and saline. A further parametric investigation of the conductivity effect revealed that conductivity boundaries may significantly modify the MEF due to neuronal currents located within 1 mm of a conductivity boundary, as would be the case for active neurons near an edema, an anoxic fringe such as might occur during stroke, or a ventricle in the human head. For a stationary neural source, conductivity boundaries may modify the magnitude of its MEF without affecting its temporal waveform. However, this boundary effect was found to be small for a model geometry locally approximating cortical sources in a sulcus or a fissure, where the boundary effects from adjacent sulcal walls tend to cancel each other.

背景与目标： : 我们研究了电导率不均匀性可能会由于大脑中的主要电流 (即神经元电流) 而显着改变磁诱发场 (MEF) 的条件。如果将孤立的乌龟小脑浸入一个大的生理盐水浴中，我们的理论分析表明，由于一次电流，小脑表面显着提高了MEF，对于实验确定的小脑组织和盐水的电导率值，其系数高达两倍。对电导率效应的进一步的参数研究表明，由于位于电导率边界的1毫米内的神经元电流，电导率边界可能会显著地改变MEF，如在水肿、缺氧边缘 (例如在中风期间可能发生) 或人头部的心室附近的活动神经元的情况。对于固定神经源，电导率边界可能会改变其MEF的大小，而不会影响其时间波形。然而，对于局部近似于沟或裂缝中的皮质源的模型几何，发现这种边界效应很小，其中相邻沟壁的边界效应趋于相互抵消。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The aim of this study was to assess the frequencies and patterns of naturally occurring genotypic resistance to nucleos(t)ide analogues (NUCs) and typical hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) amino acid substitutions in naive hemodialysis (HD) patients with chronic hepatitis B. In order to achieve this, the genotypic resistance to NUCs and HBsAg amino acid substitutions were classified into primary/compensatory resistance mutation and antiviral drug-associated potential vaccine-escape mutation (ADAPVEM)/typical HBsAg amino acid substitution, respectively. Direct sequencing of polymerase (pol) gene of hepatitis B virus (HBV) was performed on DNA samples obtained from 248 HBsAg-positive Turkish patients. Overall, 38% (n = 94) of HBsAg-positive HD patients had detectable HBV DNA in their serum. Naturally occurring primary and compensatory resistance mutations to NUCs were detected in 30% (n = 28) and 52% (n = 49) of HD patients, respectively. However, 6 types of ADAPVEMs and 48 types of typical HBsAg amino acid substitutions were found in 10.6% (n = 10) and 46% (n = 43) of the HD patients, respectively. Our study suggests that every HD patient diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B, who is a potential candidate for NUCs treatment, should also be monitored for the baseline pol gene sequence changes before the initial treatment, for a more effective management of future treatment options. Further, a relatively higher frequency of ADAPVEMs variants needs to be addressed as a public health problem.

背景与目标： : 这项研究的目的是评估天然发生的基因型对核苷 (酸) 类似物 (NUCs) 和典型乙型肝炎表面抗原 (HBsAg) 氨基酸替代的频率和模式在幼稚血液透析 (HD) 患者慢性乙型肝炎。为了实现这一目标，将对NUCs和HBsAg氨基酸取代的基因型抗性分别分为原发性/代偿性耐药突变和抗病毒药物相关潜在的疫苗逃逸突变 (ADAPVEM)/典型HBsAg氨基酸取代。乙型肝炎病毒 (HBV) 的聚合酶 (pol) 基因的直接测序是从248 HBsAg阳性土耳其患者获得的DNA样品。总体而言，38% (n = 94) HBsAg阳性HD患者的血清中可检测到HBV DNA。分别在30% (n = 28) 和52% (n = 49) 的HD患者中检测到自然发生的对NUCs的原发性和代偿性耐药突变。然而，在HD患者的10.6% (n = 10) 和46% (n = 43) 中分别发现了6种类型的ADAPVEMs和48种类型的典型HBsAg氨基酸取代。我们的研究表明，每个HD患者诊断为慢性乙型肝炎，谁是NUCs治疗的潜在候选者，也应该监测基线pol基因序列变化之前的初始治疗，以更有效地管理未来的治疗选择。此外，需要将相对较高的ADAPVEMs变体频率作为公共卫生问题来解决。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The cleanability of titanium and 316L stainless steel particles was studied in terms of their apparent surface charge density (sigma(app)). Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as the model fouling agent. Curves for the sigma(app) of titanium and stainless steel particles showed the apparent points of zero charge (pzc(app)) of 4.6 and 8.5, respectively. Compared with the curve for the sigma(app) of stainless steel, that of titanium was characterized by small positive and large negative sigma(app) values. The isotherms for BSA adsorption and the saturation amount of BSA adsorbed on titanium and stainless steel depended largely on the intrinsic properties of BSA. In continuous cleaning in a plug-flow column fed by a 0.05M NaOH solution, BSA was found to be faster desorbed from titanium than from stainless steel, and smaller amounts of BSA remaining after 120-min cleaning were observed on titanium. Kinetic analysis showed that the two first-order desorption rate constants, reflecting the rate of BSA desorption in the initial and later stages of cleaning, for titanium were respectively 1.7-fold and 1.3-fold higher than those values for stainless steel. It could be suggested that the better cleanability of titanium was probably due to the small binding strength of BSA on slightly negatively-charged titanium surfaces and due to their large negative sigma(app) values under alkaline cleaning conditions.

背景与目标： : 根据钛和316L不锈钢颗粒的表观表面电荷密度 (sigma(app)) 研究了其可清洗性。牛血清白蛋白 (BSA) 用作模型结垢剂。钛和不锈钢颗粒的sigma(app) 曲线分别显示了4.6和8.5的零电荷 (pzc(app)) 的表观点。与不锈钢的sigma(app) 曲线相比，钛的特征是正负sigma(app) 值小。BSA吸附的等温线和BSA吸附在钛和不锈钢上的饱和度在很大程度上取决于BSA的固有性能。在由0.05M NaOH溶液进料的活塞流柱中连续清洗中，发现BSA从钛解吸比从不锈钢解吸更快，并且在钛上观察到120分钟清洗后剩余的BSA的量较少。动力学分析表明，钛的两个一级解吸速率常数 (反映了清洁初期和后期BSA解吸速率) 分别比不锈钢高1.7倍和1.3倍。可以认为，钛的更好的清洁性可能是由于BSA在带负电的钛表面上的结合强度较小，以及在碱性清洁条件下它们的负 σ (app) 值较大。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: BACKGROUND/PURPOSE:Several anti-viral drugs are approved for the treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, whether quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen (qHBsAg) can predict the therapeutic response during long-term entecavir treatment remains unclear. METHODS:Fifty-five chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients who received entecavir for more than 2 years were enrolled. The serum qHBsAg level was measured by HBsAg II quant immunoassay. A significant decline in the qHBsAg level was defined as > 1 log reduction from baseline to 6 months of entecavir treatment. RESULTS:Of the 55 patients (41 males and 14 females with a mean age of 48.3 ± 11.4 years), 23 patients were positive for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg). The median treatment period was 34 months, and ranged from 26 months to 43 months. A total of 288 serum samples were used to determine the qHBsAg levels. At year 3 of entecavir therapy, one (1.8%) patient had HBsAg seroclearance. A high qHBsAg level was defined as greater than 10,000 IU/mL. Patients with a high baseline qHBsAg level had a lower rate of virologic response at year 1 (37.5% vs. 89.7%, p < 0.001) and year 2 (56.2% vs. 94.9%, p = 0.001). In this study population, 14.5% had a significant decline of the qHBsAg level. A significant decline could not predict HBeAg loss in HBeAg-positive or virologic response in all patients. CONCLUSION:The baseline serum qHBsAg level can predict virologic response in entecavir-treated CHB patients. However, a significant decline in the qHBsAg level cannot predict serologic or virologic response of entecavir treatment.

背景与目标：

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Intervertebral disc spacers using bioactive ceramics have been used to treat degenerative spinal disease. Tooth-shaped spacers are commonly used to prevent migration, but there is a possibility of fracture when inserted or after insertion. Intervertebral disc spacers with either an isosceles triangle-shaped tooth (T1) or a right triangle-shaped tooth (T2) were used as a control group. The design factors for the experimental group were modified to prevent fractures induced by stress concentration, and the surfaces of the spacers were designed as either an isosceles triangle-shaped valley (V1) or a right triangle-shaped valley (V2). Linear analysis using finite element model (FEM) was performed, and Von Mises stress distribution was calculated by applying 1000 N of uniformly distributed load. Samples of the V2 design were made with bioactive glass-ceramics (BGS-7) and evaluated for compressive strength, fatigue degree, and impact strength. Von Mises stress was highest at the first tooth from the posterior side for the control group and at the center for the experimental group. Compared with the control group, the experimental group showed 18.4% and 82.5% reduction (V1 vs. T1 and V2 vs. T2, respectively) in the maximum stress at the bottom of the valleys. The FEM analysis revealed that the V2 design had the most even load distribution. The V2 samples with bioactive glass-ceramics were evaluated for compressive strength, and all six samples were not fractured up to 24 000 N. However, the average impact strength was 19.42 kN, suggesting that momentary force caused damage at a lower load than compression with a steady speed. The BGS-7 intervertebral disc spacer with V2 design was not fractured during the fatigue test at maximum pressure of 8000 N, R ≥10, 5 Hz, and 5 million cycles. These data confirm that the BGS-7 spacer with the V2 design may be clinically applicable. Collectively, the modified surface geometry of the experimental group significantly lowered Von Mises stress values at the bottom of the valleys, and thus the possibility of fracture by compressive load was greatly reduced. Also, impact during insertion was confirmed to cause fracture more easily, as the impact strength was lower than the compressive strength in the experimental group.

背景与目标： : 使用生物活性陶瓷的椎间盘垫片已用于治疗退行性脊柱疾病。通常使用齿形垫片来防止迁移，但是插入时或插入后有断裂的可能性。将具有等腰三角形牙齿 (T1) 或直角三角形牙齿 (T2) 的椎间盘间隔物用作对照组。修改了实验组的设计因素，以防止应力集中引起的裂缝，并将垫片的表面设计为等腰三角形谷 (V1) 或直角三角形谷 (V2)。使用有限元模型 (FEM) 进行线性分析，并通过1000 N均匀分布的载荷计算Von Mises应力分布。用生物活性玻璃陶瓷 (BGS-7) 制成V2设计的样品，并评估其抗压强度，乏力程度和冲击强度。对照组从后侧开始的第一颗牙齿和实验组的中心位置的Von Mises应力最高。与对照组相比，实验组在谷底的最大应力显示出18.4% 和82.5% 的降低 (分别为V1对T1和V2对T2)。有限元分析表明，V2设计的载荷分布最均匀。评估了具有生物活性微晶玻璃的V2样品的抗压强度，并且所有六个样品的断裂都达到24 000 N。但是，平均冲击强度为19.42 kN，这表明瞬时力在比稳定速度的压缩低的载荷下引起损坏。在最大压力为8000 N，R ≥ 10、5Hz和500万个循环的疲劳试验中，采用V2设计的BGS-7椎间盘垫片没有断裂。这些数据证实具有V2设计的BGS-7间隔物可以在临床上适用。总的来说，实验组的修改后的表面几何形状显着降低了谷底部的Von Mises应力值，因此大大降低了压缩载荷导致断裂的可能性。此外，由于插入过程中的冲击强度低于实验组的抗压强度，因此确认插入过程中的冲击更容易导致断裂。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :We investigated immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclass antibody responses to Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1) and MSP-2 in 112 malaria-exposed subjects in Brazil. IgG3 polarization was primarily epitope driven, being little affected by cumulative or current exposure to malaria and not affected by a subject's age and Fcgamma receptor IIA genotype.

背景与目标： : 我们调查了巴西112名疟疾暴露受试者对恶性疟原虫裂殖子表面蛋白1 (MSP-1) 和MSP-2的免疫球蛋白G (IgG) 亚类抗体反应。IgG3极化主要是表位驱动的，几乎不受累积或当前暴露于疟疾的影响，并且不受受试者年龄和Fcgamma受体IIA基因型的影响。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :This is the first study to explore the effect of biomaterial on tooth germ cell adhesion and proliferation in vitro. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of cell-surface interactions of tooth germ cells on biomaterials with various surface hydrophilicities. The biomaterials used in this study included polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol; EVAL), and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). Cell morphology was observed by photomicroscopy. Cell growth was assayed with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction activity and the characteristic expression of amelogenin and collagen type I in tooth germ cells was investigated using immunocytochemistry. The results indicated that adhesion and proliferation of tooth germ cells to biomaterials with moderate hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity was superior compared to most hydrophobic material PVDF or mosthydrophilic material PVA in this study. Cellular adhesion and proliferation was evident on all tested biomaterials except PVA. The cell spheroids on PVA appeared not to be proliferated and remained as well as reattachable to tissue culture plates. In conclusion, biomaterials with moderate hydrophilicity are suitable for adhesion and proliferation of tooth germ cells. The material PVA may be a good biomaterial for maintaining tooth germ cells in three-dimensional biological restoration.

背景与目标： : 这是首次探索生物材料对体外牙胚细胞粘附和增殖的影响的研究。这项研究的目的是评估牙胚细胞的细胞-表面相互作用对具有各种表面亲水性的生物材料的影响。本研究中使用的生物材料包括聚乙烯醇 (PVA)，聚 (乳酸-乙醇酸) (PLGA)，聚 (乙烯-乙烯醇; EVAL) 和聚偏二氟乙烯 (PVDF)。通过显微显微镜观察细胞形态。用3-(4,5-二甲基噻唑-2-基)-2,5-二苯基溴化四唑鎓 (MTT) 还原活性测定细胞生长，并使用免疫细胞化学研究牙胚细胞中釉原蛋白和I型胶原的特征性表达。结果表明，与大多数疏水性材料PVDF或嗜性材料PVA相比，牙胚细胞对具有中等亲水性/疏水性的生物材料的粘附和增殖要好。除PVA外，所有测试的生物材料都有明显的细胞粘附和增殖。PVA上的细胞球体似乎没有增殖，并且仍然可以重新附着到组织培养板上。总之，具有中等亲水性的生物材料适用于牙胚细胞的粘附和增殖。材料PVA可能是在三维生物修复中维持牙胚细胞的良好生物材料。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :We employed random mutagenesis to determine the region of the initial unfolding of hyper-alkaline-sensitive subtilisin, ALP I, that precedes the denaturation of the entire protein under highly alkaline conditions. This region comprises two alpha-helices and a calcium-binding loop. Stabilization of the region caused the stabilization of the entire protein at a high alkaline pH 12. The alkaline stability of this region was most effectively improved by hydrophobic interactions, followed by ionic interactions with Arg residues. The effect of mutations on the improvement was different with regard to the alkaline stability and thermostability. This indicated that different strategies were necessary to improve the alkaline stability and thermostability of the protein.

背景与目标： : 我们采用随机诱变来确定高碱性敏感枯草杆菌蛋白酶ALP I的初始展开区域，该区域在高度碱性条件下整个蛋白质变性之前。该区域包括两个 α 螺旋和一个钙结合环。该区域的稳定导致整个蛋白质在高碱性pH 12下的稳定。通过疏水相互作用，其次是与Arg残基的离子相互作用，可以最有效地改善该区域的碱性稳定性。突变对改善的影响在碱性稳定性和热稳定性方面有所不同。这表明需要不同的策略来提高蛋白质的碱性稳定性和热稳定性。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: PURPOSE:Tear film can be altered by chronic medications that may disrupt the equilibrium responsible for the functioning of the lacrimal gland and ocular surface. The purpose of this study was to determine if antiglaucomatous chronic treatment induced alterations in the tear film and ocular surface. METHODS:After informed consent, 21 patients using antiglaucomatous eye drops for more than 8 months and 20 age- and sex-matched volunteers without eye and systemic medications (control group) were enrolled. The data of ocular discomfort, fluorescein and lisamine green staining, tear film break-up time and Schirmer test were collected and compared by Student's t test. The impression cytology data were graded and compared by chi-square test. RESULTS:Patients chronically using antiglaucomatous medications presented with significant higher fluorescein staining (p=0.003), lisamine green staining (p=0.02) and lower TFBUT (p=0.001). The other compared parameters, including impression cytology were similar between the treated and control group (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS:The present study shows that the tear film and the ocular surface are altered in patients under antiglaucomatous medications. In common, all medications were preserved with benzalkonium chloride. Efforts to minimize the adverse effects of chronic use of antiglaucomatous drugs must be addressed.

背景与目标：