Abstract: A method is provided, including adding a phthalide to a stem cell medium to provide a phthalide-containing medium, and then culturing a stem cell using the phthalide-containing medium. The use of a phthalide in a medium for culturing stem cells optionally maintains the pluripotency of stem cells. The phthalide also enhances the generation efficiency of induced pluripotent stem cells to decrease the culture cost.

Abstract: A medicinal carrier is provided. The medicinal carrier comprises a first component, which is a biocompatible polymer with an amino group (—NH2); a saccharide; and a second component which is a biocompatible material. The saccharide grafts to the first component via the amino group (—NH2) of the first component, and the first component bonds to the second component via an ionic bond. The medicinal carrier can protect the medicine from gastric acid and swell or decompose to release the medicine under a specific pH condition, thus, showing a good applicability.

Abstract: A method for liver protection of a mammal is provided and includes administering an effective amount of isolated Lactobacillus plantarum CMU995 thereto. Providing a new use of Lactobacillus plantarum CMU995, which is deposited at the Food Industry Research and Development Institute (FIRDI) in Taiwan under accession number BCRC 910472 and in the German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ) under accession number DSM 23780.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting dipeptidyl-peptidase IV is provided and includes administering a peptide to the dipeptidyl-peptidase IV, in which the peptide is isolated from a gelatin hydrolysate produced by enzymatic digestion with alcalase (ALA), bromelain (BRO), and flavourzyme (FLA).

Abstract: A method for diagnosing whether a subject is at high risk for developing atherosclerotic vascular disease (ASVD) is provided. The method comprises the following steps: (1) providing a specimen from a subject; (2) analyzing the specimen by using a gradient gel electrophoresis analysis; and (3) based on the result of the gel electrophoresis analysis in step (2), determining if the subject is at high risk for developing atherosclerotic vascular disease.

Abstract: A microscanning system including a microscope, a relay lens device, a stepping motor and a hyper-spectrometer is disclosed. The microscope is adapted to acquire and enlarge an image of an object to generate an enlarged image which is a 2D image distributed along the first direction and second direction. The relay lenses device disposed behind the microscope receives and transfers the enlarged image outputted by the microscope. The stepping motor electrically connected to the relay lens device reciprocates the relay lens linearly in the first direction device in a stepwise manner along the second direction. The hyper-spectrometer disposed behind the rely lens device receives the partial enlarged images of the object along the first direction that are transferred by the relay lens device sequentially along the second direction, and transform the partially enlarged images into the corresponding spectrum information.

Abstract: Provided is a method for diagnosis of schizophrenia, which comprises: detecting G72 gene product in a body fluid sample from a subject by an assay to determine G72 expression level; comparing said G72 expression level to a baseline G72 expression; and relating the G72 expression level to the patient's risk of schizophrenia by assigning an increased risk of schizophrenia when said G72 expression level is greater than said baseline G72 expression. Through detecting G72 expression level in a peripheral sample, the method can be simply performed by an in vitro assay and accurately predict or diagnose a subject with schizophrenia.

Abstract: A fiber-type image capturing apparatus includes a fiber optic, an optical rotating module, an outer tube, an air inlet hole, and an air outlet hole. The optical rotating module is connected to one end of the fiber optic and has a light forward exit and a light lateral exit. The optical rotating module further includes a stator, a rotor, and a light path selector. The stator is fixed correspondingly to the fiber optic. The rotor has a fan blade which is pivotally connected to the stator. The light path selector is installed at the rotor and has a forward scanning path and a lateral scanning path. The outer tube fixes the fiber optic and the optical rotating module. The air inlet hole is disposed at the outer tube and feeds the fan blade with air. The air outlet hole is disposed at the outer tube and vents the air.

Abstract: A polypeptide, a nucleic acid molecule encoding the polypeptide and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the polypeptide are provided. The polypeptide is as defined in the description, can bind to insulin receptors, and is effective in reducing blood sugar, reducing glycated hemoglobin, and ameliorating hepato-renal disorders caused by diabetes.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting the autophagy of motor neurons in a subject is provided. The method comprises administrating to the subject an effective amount of an active ingredient selected from the group consisting of a compound of formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound, a pharmaceutically acceptable ester of the compound and combinations thereof: wherein A is a C1-C5 alkyl optionally having one or more unsaturated bonds and optionally being substituted by one or more substituents selected from a group consisting of —OH, ?O and C1-C3 alkyl; X is H, —OH, Y is O or S and can optionally combine with A to form a five-membered ring; and R1 is H or a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C20 alkyl, wherein one or more —CH2— of the C1-C20 alkyl are optionally being replaced by —NH— or —O—.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of determining a risk for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a subject, comprising the following steps: (1) measuring a concentration of an autoantibody against HMGB1 in a biological sample from the subject; and (2) comparing the measured concentration of the autoantibody against HMGB1 with a control value for autoantibody against HMGB1; wherein a difference between the measured concentration of the autoantibody against HMGB1 from the biological sample and the control value for autoantibody against HMGB1 is indicative of the risk of ALS in the subject.

Abstract: A pressure measurement member includes an insulation bottom layer, a flexible insulation top layer and at least one spacer. The insulation bottom layer has a bottom conductive element on the surface thereof. The flexible insulation top layer has a top conductive element on the surface thereof adjacent to the insulation bottom layer and opposite to the bottom conductive element. The spacer is located between the insulation bottom layer and flexible insulation top layer to separate the insulation bottom layer and flexible insulation top layer. As different pressures could result in different impedance variations on the contact area between the top conductive element and bottom conductive element, the pressure being applied can be derived from the impedance variation. The invention can measure pressure without using piezoresistive material to reduce cost.

Abstract: A liquid trap cup and a liquid trap assembly using the same are provided. The liquid trap cup comprises a hollow cup tube with a upper portion and a lower portion, a piston element with a top portion and a tail portion and a liquid discharge structure, in which the piston element is arranged airtight in the lower portion and is movable between a start point and an end point of the lower portion so as to control the opening and the closing of the liquid discharge structure. The liquid trap assembly includes the liquid trap cup and a multi-necked adapter tube with an expanded-plate structure, in which expanded-plate structure can be tightly sealed with the liquid trap. The liquid trap assembly is useful to a breathing system.

Abstract: A method for liver protection of a mammal is provided and includes administering an effective amount of isolated Lactobacillus plantarum CMU995 thereto. Providing a new use of Lactobacillus plantarum CMU995, which is deposited at the Food Industry Research and Development Institute (FIRDI) in Taiwan under accession number BCRC 910472 and in the German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ) under accession number DSM 23780.

Abstract: Provided is a compound of the formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or stereoisomer thereof: wherein Ar represents R5, R6, R7, R8, R1?, R2?, R3?, R4?, R5?, R6?, R7?, R8? independently represent H, OH, F, Cl, Br, C1 to C6 alkyl group, C1 to C6 alkoxy group, C2 to C6 alkenyl group, C2 to C6 alkenoxy group, C2 to C6 alkynyl group, C2 to C6 alkynoxy group, amine group, mono- or di-substituted amino group, cyclic C1 to C5 alkylamino group, imidazolyl group, morpholino group, piperazinyl group, optionally substituted with one or more hydroxy or halo; and X represents NH, O or S. The present invention also provides a composition comprising the compound of formula I. The compound and the composition in accordance with the present invention are effective on treating or alleviating a disease or disorder, such as malignant glioma.

Abstract: A polypeptide, a nucleic acid molecule encoding the polypeptide and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the polypeptide are provided. The polypeptide is as defined in the description, can bind to insulin receptors, and is effective in reducing blood sugar, reducing glycated hemoglobin, and ameliorating hepato-renal disorders caused by diabetes.

Abstract: A medicinal carrier is provided. The medicinal carrier comprises a first component, which is a biocompatible polymer with an amino group (—NH2); a saccharide; and a second component which is a biocompatible material. The saccharide grafts to the first component via the amino group (—NH2) of the first component, and the first component bonds to the second component via an ionic bond. The medicinal carrier can protect the medicine from gastric acid and swell or decompose to release the medicine under a specific pH condition, thus, showing a good applicability.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting inflammation, comprising (a) hyaluronic acid, (b) a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, and (c) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, is provided. Also provided is a method for inhibiting inflammation in a mammal, comprising administrating to the mammal an effective amount of a composition comprising (a) hyaluronic acid and (b) an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor.

Abstract: A method for liver protection of a mammal is provided and includes administering an effective amount of isolated Lactobacillus plantarum CMU995 thereto. Providing a new use of Lactobacillus plantarum CMU995, which is deposited at the Food Industry Research and Development Institute (FIRDI) in Taiwan under accession number BCRC 910472 and in the German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ) under accession number DSM 23780.

Abstract: A method for in vitro detecting keratin gene fusion of squamous-cell cancer comprises steps: (a) obtaining a sample of squamous cells from a testee; and (b) detecting whether the sample of squamous cells has gene fusion, which is likely to occur in squamous-cell cancer and unlikely to occur in healthy tissue. The sample of squamous cells is determined to have squamous-cell cancer if the gene fusion exists in the sample of squamous cells.