MR Imaging of Pregnancy Luteoma: a Case Report and Correlation with the Clinical Features

Hung-Wen Kao,Ching-Jiunn Wu,Kuo-Teng Chung,Sheng-Ru Wang,Cheng-Yu Chen 대한영상의학회 2005 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.6 No.1

We report here on a 26-year-old pregnant female who developed hirsutism and virilization during her third trimester along with a significantly elevated serum testosterone level. Abdominal US and MR imaging studies were performed, and they showed unique imaging features that may suggest the diagnosis of pregnancy luteoma in the clinical context. After the delivery, the serum testosterone level continued to decrease, and it returned to normal three weeks postpartum. The follow-up imaging findings were closely correlated with the clinical presentation.

Explore the Predictors of Fall Risk Factors for Residents in the Long-Term Care Facility

Hung-Chun Lee,Huei-Ru Lin,Chieh-Yu Liu,Chia-Jung Hsieh,Fang-Wun Cai 한국간호과학회 2015 한국간호과학회 학술대회 Vol.2015 No.10

Establishing a Nomogram for Stage IA-IIB Cervical Cancer Patients after Complete Resection

Zhou, Hang,Li, Xiong,Zhang, Yuan,Jia, Yao,Hu, Ting,Yang, Ru,Huang, Ke-Cheng,Chen, Zhi-Lan,Wang, Shao-Shuai,Tang, Fang-Xu,Zhou, Jin,Chen, Yi-Le,Wu, Li,Han, Xiao-Bing,Lin, Zhong-Qiu,Lu, Xiao-Mei,Xing, H Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.9

Background: This study aimed to establish a nomogram by combining clinicopathologic factors with overall survival of stage IA-IIB cervical cancer patients after complete resection with pelvic lymphadenectomy. Materials and Methods: This nomogram was based on a retrospective study on 1,563 stage IA-IIB cervical cancer patients who underwent complete resection and lymphadenectomy from 2002 to 2008. The nomogram was constructed based on multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazard regression. The accuracy and discriminative ability of the nomogram were measured by concordance index (C-index) and calibration curve. Results: Multivariate analysis identified lymph node metastasis (LNM), lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI), stromal invasion, parametrial invasion, tumor diameter and histology as independent prognostic factors associated with cervical cancer survival. These factors were selected for construction of the nomogram. The C-index of the nomogram was 0.71 (95% CI, 0.65 to 0.77), and calibration of the nomogram showed good agreement between the 5-year predicted survival and the actual observation. Conclusions: We developed a nomogram predicting 5-year overall survival of surgically treated stage IA-IIB cervical cancer patients. More comprehensive information that is provided by this nomogram could provide further insight into personalized therapy selection.

Association of the PPAR-γ Gene with Altered Glucose Levels and Psychosis Profile in Schizophrenia Patients Exposed to Antipsychotics

Yun-Ru Liu,El-Wui Loh,Tsung-Ming Hu,Tsuo-Hung Lan,Hsien-Jane Chiu,Yung-Han Chang,Shuo-Fei Chen,Yen-Hsin Yu,Cheng-Chung Chen 대한신경정신의학회 2014 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.11 No.2

Objective Metabolic abnormalities, e.g., diabetes, are common among schizophrenia patients. Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) regulates glucose/lipid metabolisms, and schizophrenia like syndrome may be induced by actions involving retinoid X receptor-α/PPAR-γ heterodimers. We examined a possible role of the PPAR-γ gene in metabolic traits and psychosis profile in schizophrenia patients exposed to antipsychotics. Methods Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the PPAR-γ gene and a serial of metabolic traits were determined in 394 schizophrenia patients, among which 372 were rated with Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Results SNP-10, -12, -18, -19, -20 and -26 were associated with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) whereas SNP-18, -19, -20 and -26 were associated with fasting plasma glucose (FPG). While SNP-23 was associated with triglycerides, no associations were identified between the other SNPs and lipids. Further haplotype analysis demonstrated an association between the PPAR-γ gene and psychosis profile. Conclusion Our study suggests a role of the PPAR-γ gene in altered glucose levels and psychosis profile in schizophrenia patients exposed to antipsychotics. Although the Pro12Ala at exon B has been concerned an essential variant in the development of obesity, the lack of association of the variant with metabolic traits in this study should not be treated as impossibility or a proof of error because other factors, e.g., genes regulated by PPAR-γ, may have complicated the development of metabolic abnormalities. Whether the PPAR-γ gene modifies the risk of metabolic abnormalities or psychosis, or causes metabolic abnormalities that lead to psychosis, remains to be examined.

Evaluation of a FPGA controlled distributed PV system under partial shading condition

Chao, Ru-Min,Ko, Shih-Hung,Chen, Po-Lung Techno-Press 2013 Advances in energy research Vol.1 No.2

This study designs and tests a photovoltaic system with distributed maximum power point tracking (DMPPT) methodology using a field programmable gate array (FPGA) controller. Each solar panel in the distributed PV system is equipped with a newly designed DC/DC converter and the panel's voltage output is regulated by a FPGA controller using PI control. Power from each solar panel on the system is optimized by another controller where the quadratic maximization MPPT algorithm is used to ensure the panel's output power is always maximized. Experiments are carried out at atmospheric insolation with partial shading conditions using 4 amorphous silicon thin film solar panels of 2 different grades fabricated by Chi-Mei Energy. It is found that distributed MPPT requires only 100ms to find the maximum power point of the system. Compared with the traditional centralized PV (CPV) system, the distributed PV (DPV) system harvests more than 4% of solar energy in atmospheric weather condition, and 22% in average under 19% partial shading of one solar panel in the system. Test results for a 1.84 kW rated system composed by 8 poly-Si PV panels using another DC/DC converter design also confirm that the proposed system can be easily implemented into a larger PV power system. Additionally, the use of NI sbRIO-9642 FPGA-based controller is capable of controlling over 16 sets of PV modules, and a number of controllers can cooperate via the network if needed.

Waterlogging influences the physiology index and antioxidant enzyme activity in Cucurbita maxima and Cucurbita moschata

Lin Kuan-Hung,Chen Shi-Peng,Su Yi-Ru,Tsai Yi-Heng,Lin Hsin-Hung 한국원예학회 2024 Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology Vol.65 No.1

Waterlogging is one of the major environmental challenges that can adversely impact squash growth, development, and productivity. Nevertheless, studies on the physiological changes of squash to waterlogging stress are scarce. Previously, we reported that the Cucurbita moschata (Cmo) Early Price (Ep) cultivar showed higher chlorophyll content (CC) and spectral refl ectance compared to the Cucurbita maxima (Cma) OK-101 (Ok) cultivar after waterlogging. In the present work, we further examined more physiological parameters in eight cultivars of Cmo and Cma, and studied whether these non-destruc tive indices could effi ciently identify various waterlogging-tolerant genotypes and were consistent with visual evaluations. Moreover, we investigated the eff ects of waterlogging on the antioxidant system of cucurbit species, and evaluated dynamic changes occurring in these plants during varying waterlog periods by determining physiological characteristics. The activ ity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) showed a signifi cant increase in Ep plant leaves and roots after 72 h and 6 h of waterlogging, respectively, compared to Ok plants. In addition, Ep exhibited a higher tolerance to waterlogging than Ok in terms of enhanced root length, values in CC, spectral refl ectance, and APX and SOD activity, plus decreased levels of electrolyte leakage, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging, and hydrogen peroxide levels. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the physiological variations in response to waterlogging stress and can potentially be used to breed cucurbit species with waterlogging tolerance for a wetter future climate.

Thyroid Fine-Needle Aspiration in Taiwan: The History and Current Practice

Jen-Fan Hang,Chiung-Ru Lai,Chih-Yi Hsu 대한병리학회 2017 Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine Vol.51 No.6

In Taiwan, thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine gland malignancy and the incidence of thyroid cancer has increased four-fold in the past two decades. Fine-needle aspiration is an accurate and cost-effective method of evaluating thyroid nodules and has been the gold-standard diagnostic tool for thyroid tumors in Taiwan since the 1980s. This article reviews the history, current practice, reporting systems, training, and quality assurance for thyroid fine-needle aspiration cytology in Taiwan.

Case-Control Study of Diet in Patients with Cervical Cancer or Precancerosis in Wufeng, a High Incidence Region in China

Jia, Yao,Hu, Ting,Hang, Chuan-Ying,Yang, Ru,Li, Xiong,Chen, Zhi-Lan,Mei, Ye-Dong,Zhang, Qing-Hua,Huang, Ke-Cheng,Xiang, Qun-Ying,Pan, Xiu-Yu,Yan, Yu-Ting,Wang, Xiao-Li,Wang, Shao-Shuai,Hang, Zhou,Tang Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.10

Purpose: To investigate the diet of patients with cervical cancer and precancerosis in the Wufeng area, a high-incidence region in China. Methods: In the case group, 104 patients diagnosed with cervical cancer or cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CINII/III) were recruited from the Wufeng area. Nine hundred thirty-six healthy women were selected from the same area as the matched controls. A questionnaire, which included questions about general lifestyle conditions, smoking and alcohol status, source of drinking water, green tea intake, and diet in the past year, was presented to all participants. Results: Green tea intake (P=0.022, OR=0.551, 95% CI=0.330-0.919) and vegetable intake (P=0.035, OR=0.896, 95% CI=0.809-0.993) were identified as protective factors against cervical cancer or CINII/III. There was no indication of any associations of other lifestyle factors (smoking status, alcohol status, source of drinking water) or diet (intake of fruit, meat/egg/milk, soybean food, onion/garlic, staple food and pickled food) with cervical cancer. Conclusions: The results suggest that eating more fresh vegetables and drinking more green tea may help to reduce the risk of cervical cancer or CINII/III in people of the Wufeng area.

급성 호산구성 심근염으로 나타난 과호산구 증후군 1예

박용호,홍그루,김민경,정항재,신동구,김영조,심봉섭 대한내과학회 2004 대한내과학회지 Vol.66 No.3

과호산구 증후군은 특별한 원인없이 호산구가 1,500/㎣ 이상의 호산구 증가증이 6개월 이상 지속되고 다양한 기관의 침범으로 인한 증상과 증후를 보이는 질환이다. 본 저자들은 흉부 불쾌감을 주소로 내원한 환자에서 과호산구 증후군의 합병증의 일종으로 다발성 뇌경색과 급성 호산구성 심근염으로 나타난 1예를 체험하여 문헌고찰과 함께 보고한다. The hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a leukoproliferative disorder, marked by sustained blood eosinophilia of greater than 1,500/㎣, for longer than 6 months and predilection to damage specific oragans. Any organ system may be affected in HES, but the most severe clinicopathophysio-logical involvements are of the heart and nervous system. We report a case of a 48-year-old man with acute eosinophilic myocarditis combined with hypereosinophilic syndrome who was successfully treated with steroids.

Taiwanese Parents’ Experience of Making a “Do Not Resuscitate” Decision for Their Child in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Shu-Mei Liu,Hung-Ru Lin,Frank L. Lu,Tzu-Ying Lee 한국간호과학회 2014 Asian Nursing Research Vol.8 No.1

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to explore the parental experience of making a “do not resuscitate” (DNR) decision for their child who is or was cared for in a pediatric intensive care unit in Taiwan. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted following parental signing of a standard hospital DNR form on behalf of their critically ill child. Sixteen Taiwanese parents of 11 children aged 1 month to 18 years were interviewed. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, analyzed and sorted into themes by the sole interviewer plus other researchers. Results: Three major themes were identified: (a) “convincing points to sign”, (b) “feelings immediately after signing”, and (c) “postsigning relief or regret”. Feelings following signing the DNR form were mixed and included “frustration”, “guilt”, and “conflicting hope”. Parents adjusted their attitudes to thoughts such as “I have done my best,” and “the child’s life is beyond my control.” Some parents whose child had died before the time of the interview expressed among other things “regret not having enough time to be with and talk to my child”. Conclusion: Open family visiting hours plus staff sensitivity and communication skills training are needed. To help parents with this difficult signing process, nurses and other professionals in the pediatric intensive care unit need education on initiating the conversation, guiding the parents in expressing their fears, and providing continuing support to parents and children throughout the child’s end of life process.