Development and characterization of a potential diagnostic monoclonal antibody against capsid protein VP1 of the chicken anemia virus

Yi-Yang Lien,Chi-Hung Huang,Fang-Chun Sun,Shyang-Chwen Sheu,Tsung-Chi Lu,Meng-Shiunn Lee,Shu-Chin Hsueh,Hsi-Jien Chen,Meng-Shiou Lee 대한수의학회 2012 JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE Vol.13 No.1

Chicken anemia virus (CAV) is an important viral pathogen that causes anemia and severe immunodeficiency syndrome in chickens worldwide. In this study, a potential diagnostic monoclonal antibody against the CAV VP1 protein was developed which can precisely recognize the CAV antigen for diagnostic and virus recovery purposes. The VP1 gene of CAV encoding the N-terminus-deleted VP1 protein, VP1Nd129, was cloned into an Escherichia (E.) coli expression vector. After isopropyl-b-D-thiogalactopyronoside induction, VP1Nd129 protein was shown to be successfully expressed in the E. coli. By performing an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay using two coating antigens, purified VP1Nd129 and CAV-infected liver tissue lysate, E3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) was found to have higher reactivity against VP1 protein than the other positive clones according to the result of limiting dilution method from 64 clones. Using immunohistochemistry, the presence of the VP1-specific mAb, E3, was confirmed using CAV- infected liver and thymus tissues as positive-infected samples. Additionally, CAV particle purification was also performed using an immunoaffinity column containing E3 mAb. The monoclonal E3 mAb developed in this study will not only be very useful for detecting CAV infection and performing histopathology studies of infected chickens, but may also be used to purify CAV particles in the future.

REVIEW : Mass Eradication of Helicobacter pylori to Prevent Gastric Cancer: Theoretical and Practical Considerations

( Yi Chia Lee ),( Tsung Hsien Chiang ),( Jyh Ming Liou ),( Hsiu Hsi Chen ),( Ming Shiang Wu ),( David Y Graham ) 대한간학회 2016 Gut and Liver Vol.10 No.1

Although the age-adjusted incidence of gastric cancer is declining, the absolute number of new cases of gastric cancer is increasing due to population growth and aging. An effective strategy is needed to prevent this deadly cancer. Among the available strategies, screen-and-treat for Helicobacter pylori infection appears to be the best approach to decrease cancer risk; however, implementation of this strategy on the population level requires a systematic approach. The program also must be integrated into national healthcare priorities to allow the limited resources to be most effectively allocated. Implementation will require adoption of an appropriate screening strategy, an efficient delivery system with a timely referral for a positive test, and standardized treatment regimens based on clinical efficacy, side effects, simplicity, duration, and cost. Within the population, there are subpopulations that vary in risk such that a "one size fits all" approach is unlikely to be ideal. Sensitivity analyses will be required to identify whether the programs can be utilized by heterogeneous populations and will likely require adjustments to accommodate the needs of subpopulations. (Gut Liver 2016;10:12-26)

Fabrication and applications of ultraflexible nanostructures using dielectric heating-assisted nanoimprint on PVC films

Tsung-Yeh Wu,Po-Cheng Tsai,Shu-Cheng Lo,Yi-Ru Li,Kuang-Li Lee,Sen-Yeu Yang,Pei-Kuen Wei 한국물리학회 2018 Current Applied Physics Vol.18 No.1

We developed dielectric heating-assisted nanoimprint method for rapid fabrication of ultraflexible nanostructures. Using spin-coating polyvinyl-chloride (PVC) film on the glass slide, the dielectric heating on PVC film helped the pattern transfer from the mold to PVC film in few seconds. Various kinds of nanostructures were successfully made on PVC films with about 20-mm thickness. We demonstrated the applications of ultraflexible metallic nanostructures for bending measurement using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) on the curved surfaces. For measuring bending angles using SPR on capped nanowire arrays, the minimum detection angle was 2.4 103 degree under 0.02 nm wavelength resolution. For SERS measurement, the nanorod arrays on a curved substrate can increase SERS signals for two times as compared to planar SERS substrate.

Effects of Death Preparation Education on Awareness of Hospice Palliative Care and Withdrawing Life Sustaining Treatment in City Dwellers

Pei-Ling Tsung,Yoon-Joo Lee,Su-Yeon Kim,Seul-Ki Kim,Si-Ae Kim,Hyeon-Ji Kim,Yi Nam,Suk-Young Ham,Kyung-Ah Kang 한국간호과학회 2015 한국간호과학회 학술대회 Vol.2015 No.10

Comparison of the Efficacy of Two Microsphere Embolic Agents for Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients

Shao-Hua Lee,Chia-Ying Lin,Ya-Chun Hsu,Yi-Sheng Liu,Ming-Tsung Chuang,Ming-Ching Ou 대한암학회 2020 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.52 No.1

Purpose Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) delivers cytotoxic drugs intra-arterially and induces ischemic necrosis by arterial embolization. Embolization is achieved using a variety of agents that differ widely in particle size and range, deformation, and in vivo arterial distribution. The clinical significance of these differences has not been thoroughly characterized. The present study is to compare the efficacy of Embosphere and Embozene microspheres in TACE therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Materials and Methods This retrospective study includes 108 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who received TACE/doxorubicin with Embozene (70 patients) or Embosphere (38 patients) at a single medical center. Patient outcomes, including liver function, tumor size, tumor response, and complications after treatment, were analyzed. The change in total target lesion size and tumor response was evaluated according to embolization agent and clinical characteristics. Results The postoperative glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (mean, 194.5 vs. 147.5; p=0.032) and bilirubin (mean, 1.11 mg/dL vs. 0.73 mg/dL; p=0.016) were higher among patients treated with Embozene, the decrease in the number (55.86±25.55% vs. 41.81±38.51%, p=0.027) and size (56.37±25.91 mm vs. 43.44±37.89 mm, p=0.001) of liver tumors relative to baseline was greater in these patients than in those treated with Embosphere. These greater antitumor effects were achieved using lower doses of doxorubicin than for treatment with Embozene. Minor complications were more common among patients treated with Embosphere than with Embozene. Conclusion These results suggest that Embozene is more efficacious than Embosphere for HCC treatment using TACE/doxorubicin.

A systematic approach for the diagnosis and treatment of idiopathic peptic ulcers

Chen-Shuan Chung,Tsung-Hsien Chiang,Yi-Chia Lee 대한내과학회 2015 The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine Vol.30 No.5

An idiopathic peptic ulcer is defined as an ulcer with unknown cause or an ulcer that appears to arise spontaneously. The first step in treatment is to exclude common possible causes, including Helicobacter pylori infection, infection with other pathogens, ulcerogenic drugs, and uncommon diseases with upper gastrointestinal manifestations. When all known causes are excluded, a diagnosis of idiopathic peptic ulcer can be made. A patient whose peptic ulcer is idiopathic may have a higher risk for complicated ulcer disease, a poorer response to gastric acid suppressants, and a higher recurrence rate after treatment. Risk factors associated with this disease may include genetic predisposition, older age, chronic mesenteric ischemia, smoking, concomitant diseases, a higher American Society of Anesthesiologists score, and higher stress. Therefore, the diagnosis and management of emerging disease should systematically explore all known causes and treat underlying disease, while including regular endoscopic surveillance to confirm ulcer healing and the use of proton-pump inhibitors on a case-by-case basis.

The Environmental Policy Stringency in Taiwan and Its Challenges on Green Economy Transition

Mu-Xing Lin,Tsung-Yi Lee,Kuei-Tien Chou 서울대학교 사회발전연구소 2018 Journal of Asian Sociology Vol.47 No.3

With the aim of promoting green economic transition on a national level, this study applies the environmental policy stringency index, developed by OECD, to analyse Taiwan’s energy policies between 1990 and 2015, and compare results with those of other OECD countries. After examining the institutional foundation and regulatory tools in Taiwan’s green economy transition, we found that green transition in Taiwan currently faces eight major challenges in common with other OECD member states. We argue that the government of Taiwan needs to make adjustments to its environmental policy or follow OECD trends and strengthen environmental regulations. However, we also argue that the goal of green economic transition will never be easy to reach as long as a nation remains heavily dependent on “non-market mechanisms.” The establishment of the OECD environmental policy stringency provides an international standard by which individual countries can compare themselves to measure their development.

Overall and cause-specific mortality in patients with dementia: a population-based cohort study in Taiwan

Chia-Lun Kuo,Pei-Chen Lee,Li-Jung Elizabeth Ku,Yu Sun,Tsung-Hsueh Lu,Muhammad Atoillah Isfandiari,Chung-Yi Li 한국역학회 2023 Epidemiology and Health Vol.45 No.-

OBJECTIVES: Information regarding the underlying causes of death (UCODs) and standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of dementia is instrumental in formulating medical strategies to prolong life in persons with dementia (PWD). We examined the leading UCODs among PWD and estimated the overall and cause-specific SMRs in relation to dementia in Taiwan. METHODS: Data were retrieved from 2 national datasets: the Taiwan Death Registry and the medical claim datasets of the National Health Insurance program. The observed person-years for each study participant were counted from the date of cohort enrollment to either the date of death or the final day of 2016. Sex-specific and age-specific SMRs were then calculated. RESULTS: The leading UCOD was circulatory disease, accounting for 26.0% of total deaths (n=3,505), followed by respiratory disease at 21.3% (n=2,875). PWD were at significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality (SMR, 2.01), with SMR decreasing with advancing age. A cause-specific analysis revealed that the highest SMRs were associated with nervous system diseases (SMR, 7.58) and mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental disorders (SMR, 4.80). Age appeared to modify SMR, suggesting that younger age at cohort enrollment was linked to higher SMRs for nearly all causes of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Circulatory and respiratory diseases were the leading UCODs among PWD. The particularly elevated mortality due to nervous system diseases and mental disorders suggests that allocating more resources to neurological and psychiatric services is warranted. The elevated SMRs of various UCODs among younger PWD underscore the need for clinicians to pay particular attention to the medical care provided to these patients.

죽음준비교육이 일반인의 연명치료중단 및 호스피스·완화의료에 대한 인식에 미치는 효과

총배령,이윤주,김수연,김슬기,김시애,김현지,남이,함석영,강경아,Tsung, Pei-Ling,Lee, Yoon Joo,Kim, Su Yeon,Kim, Seul Ki,Kim, Si Ae,Kim, Hyeon Ji,Nam, Yi,Ham, Suk Young,Kang, Kyung Ah 한국호스피스완화의료학회 2015 한국호스피스.완화의료학회지 Vol.18 No.3

목적: 본 연구에서는 일반인을 대상으로 죽음준비교육 프로그램이 연명치료중단 및 호스피스 완화의료에 대한 인식에 미치는 효과를 규명하기 위해 수행되었다. 방법: 본 연구의 죽음준비교육 프로그램은 총 5주에 걸쳐 진행되었으며 연구 대상자는 서울시 소재 일개구청과 대학교의 협력사업으로 진행한 죽음준비교육 참여자로 실험군 35명, 대조군 40명으로 총 75명이었고 사전 사후 측정은 자가 보고식 설문지를 이용하여 자료를 수집하였다. 결과: 죽음준비교육 후 호스피스 완화의료에 대한 인식은 실험군과 대조군에서 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았으나 연명치료중단 인식정도는 실험군이 대조군보다 유의하게 높은 결과를 보였다. 결론: 인간은 의미를 추구하는 존재로서 늘어나는 기대수명에 맞춰 삶의 질을 높이려는 욕구 또한 증가하고 있으며 자신의 삶의 마지막을 결정할 권리가 있는데, 본 연구결과는 인생의 마지막 순간에 자신의 삶을 결정하는 것에 대한 이론적 근거가 되었다고 본다. 또한, 일반인들에게 호스피스 완화의료에 대한 인식에 긍정적으로 영향을 줄 수 있는 죽음준비교육 프로그램 개발과 적절한 교육과정과 기간 및 교육방법에 대한 평가연구가 계속되어야겠다. Purpose: This study was done to analyze how a death preparation education program have the effects on awareness of hospice palliative care and withdrawing life sustaining treatment in older adults. Methods: This study employed a non-equivalent control group design among quasi-experimental designs. The experimental group was comprised with 35 adults and the control group with 40 adults. The death preparation program consisted of five two-hour sessions and was administered once a week for five straight weeks. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ${\chi}^2$ test, Fisher's exact test, and ANCOVA using SPSS version 18.0. Results: The mean age of the participants was 66.2 years. A significant difference between the experimental and control groups was observed in withdrawing life sustaining treatment (F=3.380, P=0.040). However, no significant difference was found in awareness of hospice palliative care (F=0.163, P=0.850). Conclusion: The study results indicate that death preparation training could positively affect people's awareness of withdrawing life sustaining treatment. More studies should be conducted to explore effects of death preparation education for all ages and help people better understand hospice palliative care.

Synthesis of ginsenoside Rb₁-imprinted magnetic polymer nanoparticles for the extraction and cellular delivery of therapeutic ginsenosides

Liu, Kai-Hsi,Lin, Hung-Yin,Thomas, James L.,Shih, Yuan-Pin,Yang, Zhuan-Yi,Chen, Jen-Tsung,Lee, Mei-Hwa The Korean Society of Ginseng 2022 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.46 No.5

Background: Panax ginseng (ginseng) is a traditional medicine that is reported to have cardioprotective effects; ginsenosides are the major bioactive compounds in the ginseng root. Methods: Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (MMIP) nanoparticles might be useful for both the extraction of the targeted (imprinted) molecules, and for the delivery of those molecules to cells. In this work, plant growth regulators were used to enhance the adventitious rooting of ginseng root callus; imprinted polymeric particles were synthesized for the extraction of ginsenoside Rb₁ from root extracts, and then employed for subsequent particle-mediated delivery to cardiomyocytes to mitigate hypoxia/reoxygenation injury. Results: These synthesized composite nanoparticles were first characterized by their specific surface area, adsorption capacity, and magnetization, and then used for the extraction of ginsenoside Rb₁ from a crude extract of ginseng roots. The ginsenoside-loaded MMIPs were then shown to have protective effects on mitochondrial membrane potential and cellular viability for H9c2 cells treated with CoCl₂ to mimic hypoxia injury. The protective effect of the ginsenosides was assessed by staining with JC-1 dye to monitor the mitochondrial membrane potential. Conclusion: MMIPs can play a dual role in both the extraction and cellular delivery of therapeutic ginsenosides.