Comparison of stomach microRNA transcriptomes of Tibetan and Yorkshire pigs by deep sequencing

Wen‑kui Sun,Yanyue Li,Chi Cheng,Yi‑hui Chen,Kai Zeng,Xiaohui Chen,Yiren Gu,Rui Liu,Xuebin Lv,Rong Gao 한국유전학회 2018 Genes & Genomics Vol.40 No.9

MiRNAs regulate the expression of target genes in diverse cellular processes and hence play important roles in different physiological processes, yet little is known about the stomach microRNAome (miRNAome) of the Tibetan pig. The objective of this experiment was to investigate differentially expressed stomach miRNAs participating in digestion. Firstly, we isolated total RNA by Trizol reagent from three Tibetan and three Yorkshire purebred pigs stomach samples at 90-day-old. Secondly, a comprehensive analysis of Tibetan and Yorkshire pig stomach miRNAomes was performed by small RNA sequencing in the Illumina HiSeq 2000 system. Finally, SYBR Green Real-time RT-PCR was performed to validate the differentially expressed miRNAs. We identified 318 unique miRNAs, 260 were co-expressed in both libraries, 17 and 31 miRNAs were specifically expressed in Tibetan and Yorkshire pigs respectively. Fifty six differentially expressed miRNAs were identified by the identifying differentially expressed genes 6 (IDEG6). Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analysis revealed that some of the differentially expressed miRNAs were associated with protein and fat digestion. Two differentially expressed miRNAs (miR-214-3p and ssc-un39) participating in the digestion of lipid were identified. Additionally, qRT-PCR results suggested that a higher expression of miR-214-3p in the Tibetan pig stomach could lead to relatively lower expression of calcium-dependent phospholipase A2, which is an enzyme important for the digestion of glycerol phospholipid. This study has delineated the different stomach miRNAs expression patterns of Tibetan and Yorkshire pigs, which would help explain the regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs in digestion of Tibetan pigs, and contribute to utilize a the unique digestion merits of Tibetan pig in future porcine hybridization breeding.

Prevention of Natural Flowering in Pineapple (Ananas comosus) by Shading and Urea Application

Meng-Tzu Lin,Alfred Ming Chen1,Tzong-Shyan Lin,Ching-San Kuan,Ching-Lung Lee,Wen-Ju Yang 한국원예학회 2015 Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology Vol.56 No.1

The year-round production of pineapple (Ananas comosus var. comosus) is often interrupted by natural flowering during winter in Taiwan. A stable and promising technique for preventing natural flowering is required. In this study, we have tested the effect of shading and urea application on the flowering of pineapple. Shading 90% of sun light(s) before mid-November delayed the natural flowering of pineapple and the delay was affected by the plant age. For pineapples planted less than 11 month before mid-November, applying 1% urea plus shading treatment (SN) completely inhibited natural flowering. All the flowering-inhibited plants could be forced to flower by applying calcium carbide. Long-term shading might result in a decreased number of fruitlets within a fruit. However, 6 weeks of recovery before forcing flowering was sufficient for plants to produce fruits with quality equal to that of the control plants. In winter, pineapple plants that were prone to flowering tended to accumulate more leaf starch and increase their C/N ratio. The SN treatment increased the leaf nitrogen concentration and thus effectively maintained a low leaf C/N ratio. Furthermore, flowering-inhibited plants exhibited a constantly low level of leaf starch during the winter and their flowering forced by calcium carbide did not accompany with leaf starch accumulation.

Cav3.2 T-Type Ca2+ Channel-Dependent Activation of ERK in Paraventricular Thalamus Modulates Acid-Induced Chronic Muscle Pain.

Chen, Wen-Kwei,Liu, Ingrid Y,Chang, Ya-Ting,Chen, Yong-Cyuan,Chen, Chih-Cheng,Yen, Chen-Tung,Shin, Hee-Sup,Chen, Chien-Chang The Society 2010 The Journal of neuroscience Vol.30 No.31

<P>Treatments for chronic musculoskeletal pain, such as lower back pain, fibromyalgia, and myofascial pain syndrome, remain inadequate because of our poor understanding of the mechanisms that underlie these conditions. Although T-type Ca(2+) channels (T-channels) have been implicated in peripheral and central pain sensory pathways, their role in chronic musculoskeletal pain is still unclear. Here, we show that acid-induced chronic mechanical hyperalgesia develops in Ca(v)3.1-deficient and wild-type but not in Ca(v)3.2-deficient male and female mice. We also show that T-channels are required for the initiation, but not maintenance, of acid-induced chronic muscle pain. Blocking T-channels using ethosuximide prevented chronic mechanical hyperalgesia in wild-type mice when administered intraperitoneally or intracerebroventricularly, but not intramuscularly or intrathecally. Furthermore, we found an acid-induced, Ca(v)3.2 T-channel-dependent activation of ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) in the anterior nucleus of paraventricular thalamus (PVA), and prevention of the ERK activation abolished the chronic mechanical hyperalgesia. Our findings suggest that Ca(v)3.2 T-channel-dependent activation of ERK in PVA is required for the development of acid-induced chronic mechanical hyperalgesia.</P>

Association between PM2.5 exposure and risk of Parkinson’s disease in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Taiwan: a nested case-control study

Ci-Wen Luo(Ci-Wen Luo),Yu-Hsiang Kuan(Yu-Hsiang Kuan),Wen-Ying Chen(Wen-Ying Chen),Chun-Jung Chen(Chun-Jung Chen),Frank Cheau-Feng Lin(Frank Cheau-Feng Lin ),Stella Chin-Shaw Tsai(Stella Chin-Shaw Tsa 한국역학회 2023 Epidemiology and Health Vol.45 No.-

OBJECTIVES: This cohort study investigated the correlation between Parkinson’s disease (PD) risk and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) risk under particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5) exposure. METHODS: Data from the National Health Research Institutes of Taiwan were used in this study. The Environmental Protection Administration of Taiwan established an air quality monitoring network for monitoring Taiwan’s general air quality. COPD was indicated by at least 3 outpatient records and 1 hospitalization for COPD. After the implementation of age, sex, and endpoint matching at a 1:4 ratio, 137 patients and 548 patients were included in the case group and control group, respectively. Based on the 2005 World Health Organization (WHO) standards, monthly air particle concentration data were classified into the following 4 groups in analyses of exposure–response relationships: normal level, and 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 times the WHO level ([concentration ≥2]×25 μg/m3×number of exposure months). RESULTS: A multivariate logistic regression revealed that the 1.0 and 1.5 WHO level groups did not significantly differ from the normal level group, but the 2.0 WHO level did (odds ratio, 4.091; 95% confidence interval, 1.180 to 14.188; p=0.038). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated PM2.5 concentrations were significantly correlated with an increased risk of PD among patients with COPD. Furthermore, exposure to high PM2.5 levels can further increase the risk of PD.

2022 Taiwan clinical multicenter expert consensus and recommendations for thyroid radiofrequency ablation

Wei-Che Lin,Wen-Chieh Chen,Pei-Wen Wang,Yi-Chia Chan,Yen-Hsiang Chang,Harn-Shen Chen,Szu-Tah Chen,Wei-Chih Chen,Kai-Lun Cheng,Shun-Yu Chi,Pi-Ling Chiang,Chen-Kai Chou,Feng-Fu Chou,Shun-Chen Huang,Feng 대한초음파의학회 2023 ULTRASONOGRAPHY Vol.42 No.3

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive management strategy that has been widely applied for benign and recurrent malignant thyroid lesions as an alternative to surgery in Taiwan. Members of academic societies for specialists in interventional radiology, endocrinology, and endocrine surgery collaborated to develop the first consensus regarding thyroid RFA in Taiwan. The modified Delphi method was used to reach a consensus. Based on a comprehensive review of recent and valuable literature and expert opinions, the recommendations included indications, pre-procedural evaluations, procedural techniques, post-procedural monitoring, efficacy, and safety, providing a comprehensive review of the application of RFA. The consensus effectively consolidates advice regarding thyroid RFA in clinical practice for local experts.

Large-scale dataset from China gives new insights into leaf margin-temperature relationships

Chen, Wen-Yun,Su, Tao,Adams, Jonathan M.,Jacques, Fré,dé,ric M.B.,Ferguson, David K.,Zhou, Zhe-Kun Elsevier 2014 Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology Vol.402 No.-

Leaf margin analysis (LMA) is an important method of estimating paleotemperatures from fossil leaf floras or modern floras. Although some calibration has been carried out based upon large-scale studies of modern forests, most of this research has been in North America and Europe, with relatively little calibration work in East Asia. In the present study, we used species range maps of 3116 native dicot trees of China to derive synthetic local floras for each county from the Chinese humid region, and compared the percentage of untoothed leaf margined species with several temperature and precipitation related parameters. The results confirm the generally strong relationship between the proportion of species with untoothed leaf margins and climatic parameters within China. Leaf habit (deciduous vs. evergreen) does not strongly affect this relationship. The transfer function obtained from China, while not identical, is similar to those obtained from other regions, and is affected by regional restrictions, such as complex topography and relic taxa. As such it clarifies the potential range of error inherent in the LMA method as applied to paleodimate reconstruction. It is possible, however, that with the close similarity of the modern Chinese tree floras to Neogene floras in the Northern Hemisphere, the present estimate offers a better transfer function for reconstructing the Neogene paleoclimate in various regions without extremely cold conditions across the Northern Hemisphere. (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Lightweight corundum-mullite refractories: II, Effects of porous aggregates on the slag resistances of corundum-mullite refractories

Wen Yan,Qingjie Chen,Xiaoli Lin,Junfeng Chen,Nan Li 한양대학교 세라믹연구소 2016 Journal of Ceramic Processing Research Vol.17 No.4

Corrosion of five corundum-mullite refractories with the different porous aggregates and the same matrix by the blast furnaceslag was conducted using the static crucible test. Effects of properties of corundum-mullite aggregates on the slag resistanceof refractories were investigated through X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and mercuryporosimetry measurement, etc. It is found that the porous corundum-mullite aggregates have different slag absorbing capacity,which affects the composition of the corroded aggregates and matrices at slag/refractory interface, and thus affects the slagcorrosion and penetration resistances. Comparing with the dense corundum-mullite refractory, the porous corundum-mulliteaggregate with 31.6% apparent porosity (AP) substituting the dense aggregates in the refractories does not make the slagresistance degenerate and reduces the bulk density by 16.7 wt%; whereas, when the APs of aggregates increase to 41.6-44.8%,the slag resistance sharply deceases. It is a successful case that the developed lightweight refractory with high slag resistancehas a potential application for working lining of high-temperature furnace.

Ocean Flow

Chen Wenli,Hong, Kwan Seon 한국콘텐츠학회 2015 ICCC International Digital Design Invitation Exhib Vol.2015 No.12

Post-Traumatic Cerebral Infarction Following Low-Energy Penetrating Craniocerebral Injury Caused by a Nail

Chen, Po-Chuan,Tsai, Shih-Hung,Chen, Yu-Long,Liao, Wen-I The Korean Neurosurgical Society 2014 Journal of Korean neurosurgical society Vol.55 No.5

Post-traumatic cerebral infarction (PTCI) is a secondary insult which causes global cerebral hypoxia or hypoperfusion after traumatic brain injury, and carries a remarkable high mortality rate. PTCI is usually caused by blunt brain injury with gross hematoma and/or brain herniation. Herein, we present the case of a 91-year-old male who had sustained PTCI following a low-energy penetrating craniocerebral injury due to a nail without evidence of hematoma. The patient survived after a decompressive craniectomy, but permanent neurological damage occurred. This is the first case of profound PTCI following a low-energy penetrating craniocerebral nail injury and reminds clinicians of possibility this rare dreadful complication for care of head-injured patients.

Dental arch wires with tooth-like color

Chen, Sinn-Wen,Wu, Hsin-Jay,Liu, Chih-Hao,Chien, Yuan-Chun,Hu, Chih-Chang Techno-Press 2012 Advances in materials research Vol.1 No.1

Unique tooth-like (milky white) color ${\beta}$-Ti dental arch wires are prepared by anodization in a 1M $H_2SO_4$ electrolyte at $30^{\circ}C$ and 30 V for 88 min and 40 s. Aggregates are formed on these surfaces of the anodized wires with tooth-like colors, and the results are different from those of the anodized wires with monochromatic colors which have smooth oxide surfaces. Similar to the monochromatic wires, the composition of the oxide layer is $TiO_{2-x}$ and the x approaches zero at the outer layer. But different from the amorphous structure observed in monochromatic wires, the oxide layers are partially crystallized with an anatase structure. The milky white colors result from the rough and crystalized oxide layers, not by the interference effect as observed in monochromatic wires.