Comparison of 2.5D and 3D Quantification of Femoral Head Coverage in Normal Control Subjects and Patients with Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is characterized by insufficient femoral head coverage (FHC). Quantification of FHC is of importance as the underlying goal of the surgery to treat hip dysplasia is to restore a normal acetabular morphology and thereby to improve FHC. Unlike a pure 2D X-ray radiograph-based measurement method or a pure 3D CT-based measurement method, previously we presented a 2.5D method to quantify FHC from a single anteriorposterior (AP) pelvic radiograph. In this study, we first quantified and compared 3D FHC between a normal control group and a patient group using a CT-based measurement method. Taking the CT-based 3D measurements of FHC as the gold standard, we further quantified the bias, precision and correlation between the 2.5D measurements and the 3D measurements on both the control group and the patient group. Based on digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs), we investigated the influence of the pelvic tilt on the 2.5D measurements of FHC. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for absolute agreement was used to quantify interobserver reliability and intraobserver reproducibility of the 2.5D measurement technique. The Pearson correlation coefficient, r, was used to determine the strength of the linear association between the 2.5D and the 3D measurements. Student’s t-test was used to determine whether the differences between different measurements were statistically significant. Our experimental results demonstrated that both the interobserver reliability and the intraobserver reproducibility of the 2.5D measurement technique were very good (ICCs > 0.8). Regression analysis indicated that the correlation was very strong between the 2.5D and the 3D measurements (r = 0.89, p < 0.001). Student’s t-test showed that there were no statistically significant differences between the 2.5D and the 3D measurements of FHC on the patient group (p > 0.05). The results of this study provided convincing evidence demonstrating the validity of the 2.5D measurements of FHC from a single AP pelvic radiograph and proved that it could serve as a surrogate for 3D CT-based measurements. Thus it may be possible to use this method to avoid a CT scan for the purpose of estimating 3D FHC in diagnosis and post-operative treatment evaluation of patients with hip dysplasia.     

Production and Characterization of a Single-Chain Fv Antibody–Alkaline Phosphatase Fusion Protein Specific for Clenbuterol

The production and characterization of an anti-clenbuterol single-chain Fv antibody (CBLscFv)–bacterial alkaline phosphatase (AP) fusion protein are described. The CBLscFv and the phoA gene of Escherichia coli strain K12 chromosomal DNA were cloned by PCR and sequentially inserted into the expression vector pBV220 to express the CBLscFv–AP fusion protein in E. coli strain BL21(DE3)pLysS. SDS–PAGE and western blot analyses revealed that the fusion protein showed a molecular weight of 73 kDa and bound with the antibacterial AP monoclonal antibody. Determination of enzymatic activity indicated that k _cat and K _m values of the fusion protein were 113.60 s⁻¹ and 29.82 μM, respectively. Competitive direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on the obtained fusion protein indicated that the average concentration required for 50% inhibition of binding (IC₅₀) and the limit of detection for CBL were 4.74 ± 0.003 (n = 3) and 0.54 ± 0.004 (n = 3) μg/l, respectively, and the linear response range extended from 1.13 to 69.68 μg/l. Cross-reactivity studies showed that the fusion protein did not cross-react with CBL analogs. The present findings indicate that the production of the CBLscFv–AP fusion protein in E. coli strain BL21(DE3)pLysS is feasible and suggest that it could be further used to develop a one-step ELISA for the specific detection of CBL.     

Microdontochromis rotundiventralis, a new cichlid fish (perciformes: Cichlidae) from Lake Tanganyika

Microdontochromis rotundiventralis, a new species of cichlid fish, is described on the basis of 13 specimens from Nkumbula Island, Lake Tanganyika (Zambia). It is distinct from its only congener,M. tenuidentatus, in having two (rarely one) rows of teeth on both jaws, a rounded distal margin on the pelvic fin, the outermost pelvic fin soft ray length 1.23–1.43 times the innermost ray, a deeper body (depth 26.8–29.1% standard length) and the anal fin with 9 (rarely 8 or 10) soft rays.     

Effects of beta-amyloid on proliferation and morphology of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Summary Deposition of beta-amyloid peptide (1–42) (βAP) in the brain is an early event linked with pathogenesis of cell injury and death in Alzheimer disease. Previous studies have demonstrated that βAP induces cytotoxicity in several types of human cells. Surprisingly, the peptide was found not only to be non toxic for yeast cells, but to stimulate growth of yeast culture. The results are consistent with βAP binding to yeast cell as illustrated by binding isotherms with the apparent dissociation constant of 8×10⁻⁷ M and B_max of 4.7×10⁴ molecules/cell.     

Hemimyzon nanensis, a new balitorid fish from the chao phraya basin, thailand

A new balitorid fish,Hemimyzon nanensis, is described from the Mae Nam Nan River basin, a tributary of the Chao Phraya River, in northern Thailand. This species is distinguishable from its congeners by the following unique combination of characters: pectoral fin with 9–11 simple and 10–12 branched, rays; pelvic fin with 3–4 (usually 3) simple and 8–9 (usually 9) branched rays; 59–63 total lateral line scales; distance between pelvic fin bases 8.1–9,6% SL.H. nanensis is the first species of the genus recorded outside China and Taiwan.     

Muscle activity during the active straight leg raise (ASLR), and the effects of a pelvic belt on the ASLR and on treadmill walking

Women with pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PPP), or athletes with groin pain, may have trouble with the active straight leg raise (ASLR), for which a pelvic belt can be beneficial. How the problems emerge, or how the belt works, remains insufficiently understood. We assessed muscle activity during ASLR, and how it changes with a pelvic belt. Healthy nulligravidae (N=17) performed the ASLR, and walked on a treadmill at increasing speeds, without and with a belt. Fine-wire electromyography (EMG) was used to record activity of the mm. psoas, iliacus and transversus abdominis, while other hip and trunk muscles were recorded with surface EMG. In ASLR, all muscles were active. In both tasks, transverse and oblique abdominal muscles were less active with the belt. In ASLR, there was more activity of the contralateral m. biceps femoris, and in treadmill walking of the m. gluteus maximus in conditions with a belt. For our interpretation, we take our starting point in the fact that hip flexors exert a forward rotating torque on the ilium. Apparently, the abdominal wall was active to prevent such forward rotation. If transverse and oblique abdominal muscles press the ilia against the sacrum (Snijders’ “force closure”), the pelvis may move as one unit in the sagittal plane, and also contralateral hip extensor activity will stabilize the ipsilateral ilium. The fact that transverse and oblique abdominal muscles were less active in conditions with a pelvic belt suggests that the belt provides such “force closure”, thus confirming Snijders’ theory.     

Mechanism of intermolecular hydroacylation of vinylsilanes catalyzed by a rhodium(I) olefin complex: a DFT study

Density functional theory (DFT) was used to investigate the Rh(I)-catalyzed intermolecular hydroacylation of vinylsilane with benzaldehyde. All intermediates and transition states were optimized completely at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level (LANL2DZ(f) for Rh). Calculations indicated that Rh(I)-catalyzed intermolecular hydroacylation is exergonic, and the total free energy released is −110 kJ mol⁻¹. Rh(I)-catalyzed intermolecular hydroacylation mainly involves the active catalyst CA2, rhodium–alkene–benzaldehyde complex M1, rhodium–alkene–hydrogen–acyl complex M2, rhodium–alkyl–acyl complex M3, rhodium–alkyl–carbonyl–phenyl complex M4, rhodium–acyl–phenyl complex M5, and rhodium–ketone complex M6. The reaction pathway CA2 + R2 → M1b → T1b → M2b → T2b1 → M3b1 → T4b → M4b → T5b → M5b → T6b → M6b → P2 is the most favorable among all reaction channels of Rh(I)-catalyzed intermolecular hydroacylation. The reductive elimination reaction is the rate-determining step for this pathway, and the dominant product predicted theoretically is the linear ketone, which is consistent with Brookhart’s experiments. Solvation has a significant effect, and it greatly decreases the free energies of all species. The use of the ligand Cp′ (Cp′ = C₅Me₄CF₃) decreased the free energies in general, and in this case the rate-determining step was again the reductive elimination reaction.     

Acid phosphatase activity in hemolymph of the migratory grasshopper,Melanoplus sanguinipes, duringBeauveria bassiana infection

The distribution and abundance of acid phosphatase (AP) in hemolymph (HL), plasma (PM) and hemocyte lysate supernatant (HLS) of the migratory grasshopper,Melanoplus sanguinipes infected withBeauveria bassiana (strain GK 2016) has been examined. AP activity was determined at intervals from 30 min to 60 h postinjection of 2 μl of 1×10⁸ conidia/ml per grasshopper. The enzyme was detected with the substrate β-glycerophosphate in sodium acetate acetic acid buffer form hemocytes (HC) and withp-nitrophenol phosphate sodium salt for HL, PM and HLS. In results of experiment 1 proportion of HC showing AP activity increased 1–2 h, then returned to normal after 4 h. However, inB. bassiana-injected grasshoppers, a second increase was noted 24 h later which was not seen in the Tween-80-injected insects. Uninjected controls showed no change with time in the proportion of HC with AP activity. Studies were also made of the distribution of AP activity in the HL, PM, and HLS. AP activity in HL appeared to vary with the sex of the grasshoppers. Females showed increase in AP activity in HL 18–24 h after injection withB. bassiana, whereas males only showed an increase 1 h after injection. Assay of HLS showed that the level of AP activity did not change significantly throughout the experiment. Changes in AP activity in PM, in bothB. bassiana — and Tween-80-injected insects (both sexes) paralleled those of the HL, indicating that the enzyme is released from the HC. The observations are discussed in terms of the possible role of AP in the immune response ofM. sanguinipes.     

Combination of pharmacological analgesics and microwave irradiation of an acupuncture point for suppression of visceral pain in mice: Role of the opioid and serotonergic cerebral systems

We studied suppression of pain-related reactions induced in mice by i.p. injection of 0.08 ml of a 2% solution of acetic acid using pharmacological analgesics (analgin and tramadol) combined with low-intensity microwave irradiation of an acupuncture point (AP) E-36 (frequency 30 to 300 GHz and power rate density 3·10⁻⁹ W/cm²). The respective effects were also observed under conditions of suppression of the functions of opioid and serotonergic cerebral systems using injections of, respectively, naloxone and DL-p-chlorophenylalanine (p-CPA). We found that antinociceptive effects provided by analgesics used in a 50% mean single dose in the combination with microwave irradiation of the AP were significantly more intense than those induced by isolated injection of analgesics used in both 50% and full mean single doses and isolated microwave irradiation of the AP E-36. After injections of naloxone, analgesic effects caused by the combined action of analgin and microwave irradiation of the AP were considerably smaller. At the same time, after injection of p-CPA, analgesic effects, provided by the combination of injection of pharmacological agents and microwave irradiation of the AP, weakened in the case of use of both analgesics. This was manifested in a significant increase in the total duration of pain-related behavioral reactions. Therefore, the studied analgesic effects observed in the examined animal groups are realized due to the involvement of the opioid and serotonergic cerebral systems. Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 39, No. 6, pp. 468–477, November–December, 2007.     

The prognostic significance of the adaptation potential of the cardiovascular system in 10- and 11-year-old children

Experimental physiological studies were made in 10–11-year-old boys and girls, students of a gymnasium and an education-upbringing complex. The functional parameters recorded in children momentarily included: the heart rate, systolic and diastolic arterial pressure, Roufier index, and the adaptation potential (AP) of the cardiovascular system as an integral index of the adaptivity level of human organism on the whole, measured according to special formulas, and the index of the risk of disease development. Apart from it, the height, body mass, vital lung capacity, and strength of hand grip were measured, the puberty stage and deviations in the functioning of organs and systems were revealed. The AP levels used to evaluate adults’ adaptation did not agree with 10–11-year-old children’s physical development degree, puberty stages, and health condition (belonging to different health groups). No agreement was found between the levels of these parameters and the degrees of AP of the cardiovascular system in 10–11-year-old children based on their individual values and sigmal deviations of this index. Therefore, a conclusion on the adaptation capacities of a child’s organism and the risk of disease development in it based on the AP values may be erroneous. The authors suggest an age scale of the AP levels for 10–11-year-old children.     

Multiple shoot induction and callus regeneration in Sarcostemma brevistigma Wight & Arnott, a rare medicinal plant

An efficient micropropagation protocol based on multiple shoot induction and callus regeneration has been standardized in Sarcostemma brevistigma, a rare medicinal plant. The nodal cuttings were cultured on MS medium supplemented with BA (0.5–8 μM) or Kn (0.5–8 μM) alone or in combination with NAA (0.5–1.5 μM). Maximum multiple shoot induction was observed on MS medium supplemented with 4 μM BA. On this medium, 100% cultures responded with an average number of 11.3 shoots per explant. However, the average shoot length was limited to only 0.9 cm on this medium. The addition of 1 μM NAA along with 4 μM BA gave rise to an average number of 10.9 shoots with an average shoot length of 1.8 cm. Luxuriantly growing callus was obtained on MS medium supplemented with BA (5 μM) and 2,4-D (2 μM). The callus was subcultured on MS medium supplemented with BA (2–15 μM) or Kn (2–15 μM) alone or in combination with NAA (0.5–2 μM) for shoot organogenesis. Optimum callus regeneration was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 10 μM BA and 1 μM NAA. On this medium, 100% cultures responded with an average number of 13.4 shoots per culture. The shoots obtained via multiple shoot induction and organogenesis were rooted on half-strength MS medium supplemented with NAA (1–7 μM) or IBA (1–7 μM). IBA was better than NAA in terms of both the percentage of cultures that responded and the average number of roots per explant. The rooted shoots were successfully transplanted to soil with 86% success. This standardized protocol will help to conserve this rare medicinal plant.     

Involvement of the serotonergic cerebral system in microwave-induced analgesia in mice of different genotypes

Under conditions of the formalin test, we studied changes in the level of analgesia induced by the action of low-intensity microwaves on the antinociceptive acupuncture point (AP) E36 in mice of strains CBA/CaLac (CBA) and C57BL/6j (C57) and in albino mongrel mice. Measurements were performed under control conditions and with experimentally induced decrease in the serotonin level in the brain (by injections of DL-parachlorophenylalanine, p-CPA). In the latter cases, the duration of the pain behavioral reaction increased despite irradiation of the AP E36. In mongrel, CBA, and C57 mice, the intensity of pain manifestations was 114.4, 29.0, and 21.1% greater, respectively, than in mice of these groups with no injections of p-CPA. These facts show that the serotonergic brain system is profoundly involved in the formation of analgesia after irradiation of the AP by low-intensity microwaves, and this involvement significantly depends on the genotype of the animals. Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 38, Nos. 5/6, pp. 495–497, September–December, 2006.     

Analgesia induced by combined action of Tramadol and microwave irradiation in somatic pain in mice

In experiments on albino male mice weighing 24 to 32 g, we studied the suppression of the pain reaction induced by injection of formalin into the dorsal surface of the foot, using a combination of injection of tramadol hydrochloride (Tramal) in a dose of 0.42 mg/kg and irradiation of the acupuncture point (AP) E-36 with low-intensity microwaves (frequency 30 to 300 GHz and power rate density 3·10⁻⁹ W/cm²). The combined use of tramadol injection and the action of microwaves on the AP led to a decrease in the duration of the pain reaction (licking of the pain nidus), on average, by 58.2%, as compared with that in the control animal group. The analgesic effect was more strong in the case of such a combination than after isolated injection of tramadol in doses of 0.83 and 0.42 mg/kg (by 14.4 and by 10.0%, respectively) and isolated microwave irradiation of the AP TA E-36 (by 48.7%). The data obtained demonstrate the possibility of effective analgesia using a combination of microwave irradiation of the AP and the pharmacological influence with a significant decrease in the dose of the analgesic. Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 38, No. 4, pp. 314–319, July–August, 2006.     

Microwave-induced and pharmacological suppression of somatic pain under conditions of the formalin test in mice

We examined pain-related behavioral reactions and non-pain behavioral manifestations in mice under conditions of the formalin test. Levels of analgesia induced by i.p. injections of analgin, microwave irradiation of an antinociceptive acupuncture point (AP), E-36, or combined application of the above factors were measured. The duration of the pain behavioral reaction (licking of the injured limb) decreased due to irradiation of the AP with microwaves and to injection of 8.3 mg/kg analgin by 24.3% and 53.8%, on average, respectively. Combination of injection of analgin in a smaller dose (4.2 mg/kg) and microwave irradiation of the AP suppressed manifestations of the pain behavioral reaction by 43.4%. Thus, combination of pharmacologically induced analgesia with the action of microwaves on the antinociceptive AP allows one to significantly decrease the doses of analgesic preparations necessary to provide a full-level analgesic effect; in such a way, side effects of the respective drugs can be weakened. Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 38, No. 1, pp. 46–51, January–February, 2006.     

Size- and locomotion-related aspects of hominid and anthropoid pelves: An osteometrical multivariate analysis

Two multivariate methods — the logarithmic principal component analysis (LPCA), and the logarithmic factorial analysis (LFA) — have been used tocompare the hip bone proportions of hominoids biometrically. The results have shown that size effects among apes and hominids interact to a centain extent with locomotor specializations, which are related to the attainment of more or less terrestrial behaviors. The pelvic morphology of great apes (Pongo, Pan, Gorilla) has retained numerous morphological traits — such as a gracile and elongated hip bone —, which were inherited from common adaptations to arboreal locomotion. In spite of these common traits, the African pongids (Pan, Gorilla) present two very different pelvic morphologies corresponding to two adaptative modes of terrestrial quadrupedalism. The hip bone of humans is proportionnally short and robust, most particularly at the level of its axial part. These characteristics, as well as the whole pelvic proportions, clearly indicate that gravitational forces exert a strong pressure on the pelvic walls during bipedalism. Among hominids, the transition from an australopithecine-like pelvic pattern to a human-like one corresponds to an increase of loading constraints on the hip jiont. This seems to indicate an evident change in locomotor behavior. Progression apparently became exclusively terrestrial with the genusHomo.     

Gonad protection in young orthopaedic patients.

OBJECTIVE--To determine whether gonad shields are correctly positioned on the pelvic radiographs of children with slipped capital femoral epiphysis. DESIGN--Retrospective study of radiographs taken of children treated by in situ pinning of slipped capital femoral epiphysis between 1 January 1983 and 31 December 1988. SETTING--Three teaching hospitals in north west England. PATIENTS--32 patients with complete set of radiographs. RESULTS--An average of 10.8 anteroposterior pelvic radiographs plus 8.9 lateral hip radiographs had been performed per patient. Gonad shields had been completely omitted in 137 (40%) anteroposterior pelvic radiographs performed on the 32 patients at the time of completion of the study. In 100 (29%) the gonad shields were adequately protecting the gonads, but in 109 (31%) the gonad shields were not protecting the gonads due to incorrect positioning of the shield. The incorrect positioning of the gonad shields was more commonly found in girls than boys (64 vs 45; p less than 0.012), presumably because of the difficulty in determining gonadal position in relation to surface landmarks. Absence of gonad shields was also more commonly seen in girls (82 v 55; p less than 0.005), but this is not easily explained. CONCLUSIONS--Gonad shields are not protecting the gonads in a large percentage of anteroposterior pelvic radiographs (71%) because they have been omitted or inadequately placed. This avoidable excess radiation exposure to the gonads, combined with the inability to shield the gonads in lateral hip radiographs and the large number of radiographs performed, results in the gonads receiving a higher dose of radiation than may otherwise be the case, and may increase the potential for disease in the future offspring of these patients.     

Inhibitory effects of various L-type and T-type calcium antagonists on electrically generated, potassium-induced and carbachol-induced contractions of porcine detrusor muscle

The inhibitory effects of different calcium antagonists on contractions of isolated porcine detrusor muscle were investigated. Suppression of the maximum potassium-induced contraction and electrically generated contractions by nifedipine, verapamil and diltiazem were investigated. Furthermore, concentration–response curves of carbachol after pretreatment with the L-type antagonists nifedipine, verapamil, diltiazem, nimodipine and the T-type antagonist mibefradil at different concentrations were performed. Nifedipine significantly reduced the potassium-induced maximum contraction to 89, 60, 21, 8 and 4% (10⁻⁹–10⁻⁵ M). Verapamil and diltiazem significantly reduced it to 64, 30 and 5% (10⁻⁷–10⁻⁵ M) or 79, 27, 7 and 1% (10⁻⁷–10⁻⁴ M), respectively. Nifedipine, verapamil and diltiazem significantly reduced the electrically generated contraction to 55, 36, 34 and 25% (10⁻⁷–10⁻⁴ M), 71, 32 and 2% (10⁻⁶–10⁻⁴ M), 96, 78, 38 and 5% (10⁻⁷–10⁻⁴ M), respectively. pD2 values of nifedipine, verapamil and diltiazem amounted to 7.07, 5.56 and 5.40 and differed significantly. After pretreatment with nifedipine at 10⁻⁶ M, the concentration–response curve of carbachol was nearly suppressed. The effects of nimodipine, verapamil and diltiazem were smaller. Mibefradil caused only at 10⁻⁵ M a significant reduction. All investigated L-type calcium antagonists were strong inhibitors of the examined contractions. Nifedipine showed the biggest inhibitory effect.     

Expansion of a direct shoot organogenesis system in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) to include US cultivars

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, employing direct shoot organogenesis, allows for mature transgenic plants to be obtained quickly (3–4 mo). In this study, peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cultivars Florida-07, Georgia Green, Georgia Brown, New Mexico Valencia A, and VC-2 were selected to test their shoot induction response for use in future transformation experiments. Two types of cotyledon explants were examined, those that previously had an attached embryo axis upon cotyledon separation (explant A) and those that were embryo axis-free upon separation (explant B). Explants were placed onto a shoot induction medium with N ⁶-benzyladenine concentrations ranging from 10–80 μM for Florida-07, Georgia Green, and VC-2; 10–20 μM for Georgia Brown; and 10–640 μM for New Mexico Valencia A. Following a 4-wk culture period, explants were visually rated based on a scale of 1–4, where 1 indicated slight greening, but no growth, and 4 indicated greening, adventitious bud formation, as well as small leaf expansion. A difference in shoot induction was observed for the cotyledon explants examined (P > t = <0.0001). Explant A had greater shoot induction with a visual rating of 1.8 ± 0.1; explant B had a rating of 1.6 ± 0.1 (P > t = <0.0001). Additionally, cultivars responded to the culture conditions differently (cultivar × N ⁶-benzyladenine interaction). Georgia Green on 10 μM N ⁶-benzyladenine produced the most shoot buds (24.6%) and the highest visual rating (2.1), followed by VC-2 on 10 μM N ⁶-benzyladenine (22.1%, 1.8), New Mexico Valencia A on 640 μM N ⁶-benzyladenine (21.4%, 1.8), Georgia Brown on 80 μM N ⁶-benzyladenine (9.0%, 1.7), and Florida-07 on 40 μM N ⁶-benzyladenine (7.1%, 1.8). Of the tested varieties, Georgia Green, New Mexico Valencia A, and VC-2 were best suited for future transformation experiments based on their shoot bud production.     

Development of a Whole-organism Model to Screen New Compounds for Sun Protection

We used zebrafish as a whole-organism model to screen new compounds for sun protection activity. First of all, we designed a series of UVB exposure experiments and recorded the phenotypic changes of zebrafish embryos. Results showed that 100 mJ/cm² of UVB given six times separated by 30 min intervals is the best condition. Fin malformation (reduced and/or absent fin) phenotypes are the most evident consequences after exposure to UVB. Each fin was affected by UVB, including pelvic, ventral, caudal, and dorsal fin, but pelvic fin seemed to be the most sensitive target after UVB exposure. We furthermore carried out “prevention” and “treatment” experiments using green tea extract and/or (−)-epigallocatechin (EGCG) to test this whole-organism model by observing the morphological changes of all fins (especially pelvic fin) after UVB exposure. Effects of UVB, green tea extract and EGCG on fin development were assessed using the Kaplan–Meier analysis, log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression. Results showed that a zebrafish pelvic fin in the UVB + green tea (treatment) group is 5.51 (range from 2.39 to 14.90) times, one in the UVB + green tea (prevention) group is 7.04 (range from 3.11 to 18.92) times, and one in the 25 ppm of EGCG (prevention) group is 22.19 (range from 9.40 to 61.50) times more likely to return to normal fin than one in the UVB only group. On the basis of these observations, we believe this model is effective for screening the higher stability and lower toxicity of new compounds, such as small chemicals which are derivative from EGCG or other dietary agents for sun protection. Yun-Hsin Wang and Chi-Chung Wen contributed equally.