Human enterovirus 71 (EV71) is the major causative agent of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), particularly in infants and children below 4 years of age. Shikonin is a bioactive compound with anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial activities derived from the roots of the Chinese medicinal herb Lithospermum erythrorhizon. This study aimed to examine the antiviral activity of PMM-034, a shikonin ester derivative, against EV71 in rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells. Cytotoxicity of PMM-034 on RD cells was determined using WST-1 assay. Dose- and time-dependent effects of PMM-034 on EV71 replication in RD cells were determined using plaque reduction assay. mRNA expression levels of EV71/VP1 and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) were determined by real-time RT-PCR, and EV71/VP1 and phospho-p65 protein expressions were determined by western blot analysis. PMM-034 exhibited only weak cytotoxicity against RD cells. However, PMM-034 exhibited significant antiviral activity against EV71 in RD cells with 50% inhibitory concentration of 2.31 μg/mL. The VP1 mRNA and protein levels were significantly reduced in cells treated with PMM-034. Furthermore, relative mRNA expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α significantly decreased in the cells treated with PMM-034, while the phospho-p65 protein expression was also significantly lower in the treated cells. These results indicated that PMM-034 suppressed the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines in RD cells, exhibiting antiviral activity against EV71, as evidenced by the reduced VP1 mRNA and protein levels in PMM-034-treated cells. Thus, PMM-034 is a promising candidate for further development as an EV71 inhibitor.

Cardioplegic reperfusion during a long term ischemic period interrupts cardiac surgery and also increases cellular edema due to repeated solution administration. We reviewed the clinical experiences on myocardial protection of a single perfusion with histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) for high-risk patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with complex congenital heart disease. This retrospective study included 101 high-risk patients undergoing arterial switch operation between March 2001 and July 2012. We divided the cohort into two groups: HTK group, myocardial protection was carried out with one single perfusion with HTK solution; and St group, myocardial protection with conventional St. Thomas' crystalloid cardioplegic solution. The duration of cardiopulmonary bypass did not differ between the two groups. The mortality, morbidity, ICU stay, post-operative hospitalization time, and number of transfusions in HTK group were lower than those in St group (P<0.05). Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that HTK is a statistically significant independent predictor of decreased early mortality and morbidity (P<0.05). In conclusion, HTK solution seems to be an effective and safe alternative to St. Thomas' solution for cardioplegic reperfusion in high-risk patients with complex congenital heart disease.

The aim of this article attempts to propose an advanced design of driver assistance system which can provide the driver advisable information about the adjacent lanes and approaching lateral vehicles. The experimental vehicle has a camera mounted at the left side rear view mirror which captures the images of adjacent lane. The detection of lane lines is implemented with methods based on image processing techniques. The candidates for lateral vehicle are explored with lane-based transformation, and each one is verified with the characteristics of its length, width, time duration, and height. Finally, the distances of lateral vehicles are estimated with the well-trained recurrent functional neuro-fuzzy network. The system is tested with nine video sequences captured when the vehicle is driving on Taiwan’s highway, and the experimental results show it works well for different road conditions and for multiple vehicles.

The Pearl River Delta (PRD) region in southern China has experienced rapid urbanization and dramatic economic growth in last 25 years. Using identical observed meteorology for lateral boundary conditions, two one-month simulations were conducted: one using the original United States Geological Survey (USGS) 24-category land cover data (namely NU) and the other using the urban land cover data from 2004 Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite images (namely HU) as lower boundary conditions in a mesoscale model. October 2004 was chosen for simulation due to no precipitation in the Pearl River Delta corresponding to drought conditions. The spatially averaged value (domain-averaged, land-averaged value, urban-averaged value) used for the analysis can reflect the regional climate over an area of several hundreds of kilometers. The simulation results show that the additional urbanization in the PRD amplifies the spatially averaged diurnal cycle of surface temperature, sensible heat fluxes and planetary boundary layer (PBL) height, decreases relative humidity, water vapor in the air and latent heat flux, and increases the diurnal temperature range (DTR). The simulation also shows that the urban heat island (UHI) intensity is about 0.4° in the nighttime and about 1.3° in the daytime after the urban expansion.

En el sur de China la región del delta del río Perla (PRD, por sus siglas en inglés) ha experimentado una rápida urbanización y un dramático crecimiento económico en los últimos veinticinco años. Utilizando observaciones meteorológicas idénticas para condiciones de frontera laterales, se realizaron dos simulaciones de un mes: la primera utilizando los datos originales de la cobertura de superficie de 24 categorías del United States Geological Survey (USGS) y la otra con los datos de cobertura de superficie de 2004 de las imágenes de satélite del Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer como condiciones de frontera baja en un modelo de mesoescala. Se escogió el mes de octubre de 2004 debido a que no hubo precipitación por corresponder a condiciones de sequía. El valor promedio espacial (promedio del dominio, valor promedio de superficie, valor promedio urbano) utilizado para el análisis puede reflejar el clima regional en un área de cientos de kilómetros. Los resultados de la simulación muestran que la urbanización adicional en la región del PRD incrementa el promedio espacial del ciclo diario de temperatura de superficie, los flujos de calor sensible y la altura de la capa límite planetaria (PBL, por sus siglas en inglés), disminuye la humedad relativa, el vapor de agua en el aire y el flujo de calor latente, e incrementa el rango de temperatura diurno. La simulación también muestra que después de la expansión urbana la intensidad de la isla urbana de calor es de unos 0.4° en la noche y de unos 1.3° en el día.

OBJETIVO: A articulação temporomandibular é freqüentemente afetada pela artrite idiopática juvenil, e esta doença degenerativa, durante o crescimento facial, resulta em disfunção mandibular grave. No entanto, não há estudos que avaliam conjuntamente alterações na saúde oral (cáries e doenças gengivais) e na articulação temporomandibular decorrentes da artrite idiopática juvenil. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar a condição dentária e a função mandibular de pacientes com artrite idiopática juvenil tratados em um hospital escola. MÉTODO: Trinta e seis pacientes com artrite idiopática juvenil (26 meninas e 10 meninos) foram submetidos a uma avaliação clínica sistemática de suas estruturas dentárias, orais e faciais (índice CPO-D, índice de placa e sangramento gengival, relação dentária, perfil facial e índice de Helkimo para articulação temporomandibular). O grupo controle foi composto por 13 crianças saudáveis. RESULTADOS: A média de idade dos pacientes com diagnóstico de artrite idiopática juvenil foi 10,8 anos; o perfil facial convexo foi encontrado em 12 pacientes com artrite idiopática juvenil e relação molar classe II esteve presente em 12 deles (p=0,032). Os índices de placa e sangramento gengival foram significantes em pacientes com artrite idiopática juvenil que apresentavam maior número de articulações dos membros superiores comprometidas (p=0,055). Mordida aberta anterior (cinco) e ruídos articulares (oito) foram encontradas no grupo com artrite idiopática juvenil . Este grupo apresentou 94% dos pacientes com disfunção da articulação temporomandibular (p=0,017), além de amplitude mandibular diminuída (p=0,0002) e mobilidade mandibular gravemente comprometida em 33% (p=0,015). CONCLUSÃO: Este estudo confirma que pacientes com artrite idiopática juvenil: a) têm alto índice de disfunção mandibular, que pode ser atribuído ao efeito direto da doença sobre a articulação temporomandibular e b) maior índice de doença gengival, que pode ser considerado como efeito indireto da artrite idiopática juvenil na saúde oral.

OBJECTIVE: It has been shown that the temporomandibular joint is frequently affected by juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and this degenerative disease, which may occur during facial growth, results in severe mandibular dysfunction. However, there are no studies that correlate oral health (tooth decay and gingival diseases) and temporomandibular joint dysfunction in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the oral and facial characteristics of the patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis treated in a large teaching hospital. METHOD: Thirty-six patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (26 female and 10 male) underwent a systematic clinical evaluation of their dental, oral, and facial structures (DMFT index, plaque and gingival bleeding index, dental relationship, facial profile, and Helkimo's index). The control group was composed of 13 healthy children. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis was 10.8 years; convex facial profile was present in 12 juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients, and class II molar relation was present in 12 (P = .032). The indexes of plaque and gingival bleeding were significant in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients with a higher number of superior limbs joints involved (P = .055). Anterior open bite (5) and temporomandibular joint noise (8) were present in the juvenile idiopathic arthritis group. Of the group in this sample, 94% (P = .017) had temporomandibular joint dysfunction, 80% had decreased mandibular opening (P = 0.0002), and mandibular mobility was severely impaired in 33% (P = .015). CONCLUSION: This study confirms that patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis a) have a high incidence of mandibular dysfunction that can be attributed to the direct effect of the disease in the temporomandibular joint and b) have a higher incidence of gingival disease that can be considered a secondary effect of juvenile idiopathic arthritis on oral health.