Effects of Codeine on Esophageal Peristalsis in Patients With Ineffective Esophageal Motility: Studies Using High-resolution Manometry

Wei-Yi Lei,Tso-Tsai Liu,Wei-Chuan Chang,Chih-Hsun Yi,Jui-Sheng Hung,Ming-Wun Wong,Shu-Wei Liang,Lin Lin,Chien-Lin Chen 대한소화기 기능성질환∙운동학회 2024 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.30 No.1

Background/AimsThis study aims to evaluate the effects of acute codeine administration on primary and secondary esophageal peristalsis in patients with ineffective esophageal motility (IEM). MethodsEighteen IEM patients (8 women; mean age 37.8 years, range 23-64 years) were enrolled in the study. The patients underwent high-resolution manometry exams, consisting of 10 single wet swallows, multiple rapid swallows, and ten 20 mL rapid air injections to trigger secondary peristalsis. All participants completed 2 separate sessions, including acute administration of codeine (60 mg) and placebo, in a randomized order. ResultsCodeine significantly increased the distal contractile integral (566 ± 81 mmHg∙s∙cm vs 247 ± 36 mmHg∙s∙cm, P = 0.001) and shortened distal latency (5.7 ± 0.2 seconds vs 6.5 ± 0.1 seconds, P < 0.001) for primary peristalsis compared with these parameters after placebo treatment. The mean total break length decreased significantly after codeine treatment compared with the length after placebo (P = 0.003). Codeine significantly increased esophagogastric junction-contractile integral (P = 0.028) but did not change the 4-second integrated relaxation pressure (P = 0.794). Codeine significantly decreased the frequency of weak (P = 0.039) and failed contractions (P = 0.009), resulting in increased frequency of normal primary peristalsis (P < 0.136). No significant differences in the ratio of impaired multiple rapid swallows inhibition and parameters of secondary peristalsis were detected. ConclusionsIn IEM patients, acute administration of codeine increases contraction vigor and reduces distal latency of primary esophageal peristalsis, but has no effect on secondary peristalsis. Future studies are required to further elucidate clinical relevance of these findings, especially in the setting of gastroesophageal reflux disease with IEM.

Esophageal Bolus Domain Pressure and Peristalsis Associated With Experimental Induction of Esophagogastric Junction Outflow Obstruction

( Wei-yi Lei ),( Taher Omari ),( Tso-tsai Liu ),( Ming-wun Wong ),( Jui-sheng Hung ),( Chih-hsun Yi ),( Shu-wei Liang ),( Charles Cock ),( Chien-lin Chen ) 대한소화기기능성질환·운동학회 2022 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.28 No.1

Background/Aims Intrabolus pressures are important for esophageal bolus transport and may detect obstructed bolus flow. This study measured the effect esophageal outflow obstruction experimentally induce by a leg-lift protocol. Methods Twenty-five gastroesophageal reflux disease patients referred for esophageal manometry and a normal motility diagnosis were included. Supine liquid swallows were tested. Leg-lift protocol generated esophageal outflow obstruction by increasing abdominal pressure. Esophageal pressure topography and intrabolus pressure metrics were calculated. These included, (1) mid-domain bolus distension pressure during esophageal emptying (DPE, mmHg) and (2) ramp pressure (mmHg/sec), generated by compression of the bolus between the peristaltic contraction and esophagogastric junction (EGJ). Results EGJ relaxation pressure was increased by leg-lift from 13 (11-17) to 19 (14-30) mmHg (P < 0.005) and distal contractile integral also increased from 1077 (883-1349) to 1620 (1268-2072) mmHgㆍcmㆍsec (P < 0.001) as a physiological response to obstruction. All bolus pressures were increased by leg lift; DPE increased from 17 (15-20) to 27 (19-32) mmHg (P < 0.001), and ramp pressure increased from 3 (1-4) to 5 (2-9) mmHg/sec (P < 0.05). Conclusion Measuring pressures within the intrabolus domain can quantify changes related to obstruction to outflow and may serve as adjunct measures for confirming a diagnosis EGJ outflow obstruction. (J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2022;28:62-68)

Transient Hiatal Separation During Straight Leg Raise Can Predict Reflux Burden in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Patients With Ineffective Esophageal Motility

Wei-Yi Lei,Shu-Wei Liang,Taher Omari,Wei-Chuan Chang,Ming-Wun Wong,Jui-Sheng Hung,Chih-Hsun Yi,Tso-Tsai Liu,Lin Lin,C Prakash Gyawali,Chien-Lin Chen 대한소화기 기능성질환∙운동학회 2022 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.28 No.4

Background/Aims Straight leg raise (SLR) can be utilized to evaluate the integrity of the esophagogastric junction during high-resolution manometry (HRM). We aim to assess the value of transient hiatal separation during SLR in symptomatic reflux patients. Methods Consecutive reflux patients undergoing esophageal HRM and pH monitoring were included. Transient hiatal separation was defined by a ≥ 1 cm separation between the lower esophageal sphincter and crural diaphragm during SLR. We compared esophageal motor patterns and reflux monitoring parameters between patients with normal, transiently abnormal and consistently abnormal esophagogastric junction morphology during SLR. Results Of 85 (56.3% female, mean age: 46.7 ± 12.3 years) completed SLR, esophagogastric junction morphology was normal in 31 (36.5%), transient hiatal separation in 19 (22.3%), and consistently hiatal hernia in 35 (41.2%). The values of total acid exposure time (P = 0.016), longest acid reflux episodes (P = 0.024), and DeMeester scores (P = 0.016) were higher in hiatal hernia compared to patients with non-transient hiatal separation, but there were no differences between those with and without transient hiatal separation. Within ineffective esophageal motility, the presence of transient hiatal separation during SLR significantly associated with a higher total acid exposure time (P = 0.014), higher DeMeester scores (P = 0.019), higher total acid reflux events (P = 0.037), and higher longest acid reflux episodes (P = 0.006). Conclusion Our work suggests that SLR may have value as a provocative test during HRM, and future outcome studies are warranted to elucidate the clinical relevance of motor abnormalities depicted from SLR.

Feasible Management of Southern Corn Leaf Blight via Induction of Systemic Resistance by Bacillus cereus C1L in Combination with Reduced Use of Dithiocarbamate Fungicides

Yi-Ru Lai,Pei-Yu Lin,CHAO-YING CHEN,Chien-Jui Huang 한국식물병리학회 2016 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.32 No.5

Dithiocarbamate fungicides such as maneb and mancozebare widely used nonsystemic protectant fungicidesto control various plant fungal diseases. Dithiocarbamatefungicides should be frequently applied toachieve optimal efficacy of disease control and avoideither decline in effectiveness or wash-off from leafsurface. Dithiocarbamates are of low resistance riskbut have the potential to cause human neurological diseases. The objective of this study was to develop a strategyto effectively control plant disease with reduceduse of dithiocarbamtes. Southern corn leaf blight wasthe model pathosystem for the investigation. Whencorn plants were drench-treated with Bacillus cereusC1L, a rhizobacterium able to induce systemic resistancein corn plants against southern leaf blight, frequencyof spraying dithiocarbamate fungicides couldbe decreased. The treatment of B. cereus C1L was ableto protect maize from southern leaf blight while residuesof dithiocarbamates on leaf surface were too lowto provide sufficient protection. On the other hand,frequent sprays of mancozeb slightly but significantlyreduced growth of corn plants under natural conditions. In contrast, application of B. cereus C1L cansignificantly promote growth of corn plants whethersprayed with mancozeb or not. Our results provide theinformation that plant disease can be well controlledby rhizobacteria-mediated induced systemic resistancein combination with reduced but appropriate applicationof dithiocarbamate fungicides just before a heavyinfection period. An appropriate use of rhizobacteriacan enhance plant growth and help plants overcomenegative effects caused by dithiocarbamates.

Anti-inflammatory Cembranoids from the Formosan Soft Coral Sinularia discrepans

Yi Lu,Huey-Jen Su,Yung-Husan Chen,Zhi-Hong Wen,Jyh-Horng Sheu,Jui-Hsin Su 대한약학회 2011 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.34 No.8

A new cembranoid, discrepanolide A (1), along with four known cembranoids 2-5 were isolated from the Formosan soft coral Sinularia discrepans. The structures of these compounds were determined by analysis of spectroscopic data and by comparison of NMR data with those of known compounds. None of these compounds were found to be cytotoxic towards a limited panel of cancer cell lines. Compounds 3-5 were found to display significant in vitro anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells by inhibiting the expression of the iNOS protein. Compound 5 also significantly inhibited the accumulation of pro-inflammatory COX-2 protein.

Novel Deadlock Control for Smartphone Manufacturing Systems Using Petri Nets

Yi-Nan Lin,Sheng-Kuan Wang,Gwo-Jen Chiou,Cheng-Ying Yang,Victor R. L. Shen,Tony Tong-Ying Juang,Ting-Jui Huang 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2022 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.20 No.3

Currently, the marketing strategy in the manufacturing industry is becoming more and more competitive. Thus, the production efficiency becomes the main developing trend, which many people are now pursuing. However, the automatic production might cause resource conflicts and system deadlocks. In this study, Petri net models and analysis were used to effectively avoid deadlocks and to achieve the goal of lean production. The iPhone XS device developed by Apple is now a popular product. Consequently, this paper aims to describe its manufacturing system by using Petri net models. Meanwhile, the siphon property of Petri nets can be used to detect the deadlock in the manufacturing processes and to avoid it from occurring. Two simulation software tools, WoPeD and PIPE, were applied to conduct the experiments. The experimental results have indicated that our proposed approach is more feasible and acceptable than other existing ones.

Feasible Management of Southern Corn Leaf Blight via Induction of Systemic Resistance by Bacillus cereus C1L in Combination with Reduced Use of Dithiocarbamate Fungicides

Lai, Yi-Ru,Lin, Pei-Yu,Chen, Chao-Ying,Huang, Chien-Jui The Korean Society of Plant Pathology 2016 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.32 No.5

Dithiocarbamate fungicides such as maneb and mancozeb are widely used nonsystemic protectant fungicides to control various plant fungal diseases. Dithiocarbamate fungicides should be frequently applied to achieve optimal efficacy of disease control and avoid either decline in effectiveness or wash-off from leaf surface. Dithiocarbamates are of low resistance risk but have the potential to cause human neurological diseases. The objective of this study was to develop a strategy to effectively control plant disease with reduced use of dithiocarbamtes. Southern corn leaf blight was the model pathosystem for the investigation. When corn plants were drench-treated with Bacillus cereus C1L, a rhizobacterium able to induce systemic resistance in corn plants against southern leaf blight, frequency of spraying dithiocarbamate fungicides could be decreased. The treatment of B. cereus C1L was able to protect maize from southern leaf blight while residues of dithiocarbamates on leaf surface were too low to provide sufficient protection. On the other hand, frequent sprays of mancozeb slightly but significantly reduced growth of corn plants under natural conditions. In contrast, application of B. cereus C1L can significantly promote growth of corn plants whether sprayed with mancozeb or not. Our results provide the information that plant disease can be well controlled by rhizobacteria-mediated induced systemic resistance in combination with reduced but appropriate application of dithiocarbamate fungicides just before a heavy infection period. An appropriate use of rhizobacteria can enhance plant growth and help plants overcome negative effects caused by dithiocarbamates.

Copper recovery via polyelectrolyte enhanced ultrafiltration followed by dithionite based chemical reduction: Effects of solution pH and polyelectrolyte type

Chou, Yi-Hsuan,Choo, Kwang-Ho,Chen, Shiao-Shing,Yu, Jui-Hsuan,Peng, Ching-Yu,Li, Chi-Wang Elsevier 2018 Separation and purification technology Vol.198 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>A chemical reduction process was proposed to recover copper from the retentate of polyelectrolyte enhanced ultrafiltration (PEUF). Three polyelectrolytes (PSS, PAA, and PEI) containing various functional groups and molecular weights were studied to explore their effects on the copper removal in PEUF and on the copper recovery by chemical reduction under various pH conditions. With PSS which contains sulfonic group, copper was removed reasonably well (ca. 75%) by PEUF even under acidic pH value of 3. With PAA which contains carboxylic group, copper removal was a bit low (∼60%) under pH 3.0 but increased substantially at pH 4.0. A branched PEI having amine group achieved the highest Cu removal of 94% at pH 3. The copper removal efficiency decreased slightly with increasing pH due to the high permeation of PEI through membrane.</P> <P>Chemical reduction achieved the complete copper recovery for solution containing PSS. The copper recovery efficiencies were more than 95% for PAA solution with pH values ranging from 3 to 9 at reaction time of one hour. For PEI, the recovery efficiencies ranged from 20 to 96% and were pH dependent. Aggregated and settled readily copper particles were produced by chemical reduction in PSS solution. XRD analysis identified cuprous oxide in all of the samples. Dependent of pH and polyelectrolytes, additional peaks matching those of elemental copper were identified. TGA analysis showed that solids produced from PSS and PAA systems contained no polyelectrolytes while solid collected from PEI system contained 32% of polyelectrolyte.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Polyelectrolytes with different functional groups and MW were applied in PEUF. </LI> <LI> Effects of polyelectrolytes and pH on the reduction of copper were studied. </LI> <LI> Both Cu<SUB>2</SUB>O and Cu<SUP>0</SUP> were identified by XRD analysis of solids obtained. </LI> </UL> </P>

Viability and Functions of Alginate-microencapsulated Islets Isolated from Neonatal Pigs

Lin, Yi-Juain,Wang, Jui-Ping,Chung, Yu-Tung,Sun, Yu-Ling,Chou, Yu-Chi Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2007 Animal Bioscience Vol.20 No.5

Patients with Type I diabetes mellitus have been treated with porcine insulin for several decades and pigs have recently been deemed an ideal source of microencapsulated islet cells for clinical xenotransplantation. In this study, neonatal pigs were anesthetized and sacrificed prior to a pancreatectomy. Islet cells were isolated from pancreas via collagenase digestion. Islet cells were separated and collected by hand under microscopic guidance. These cells were suspended in 1.4% sodium alginate solution and encapsulated by dropping them into 1.1% calcium chloride solution and in which the round gel in size was 250-400 ${\mu}m$ in diameter. Viability of the microencapsulated islet cells cultured in medium at $37^{\circ}C$ was assessed by MTT assay. Furthermore, insulin released in response to glucose challenge was investigated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Secretion of insulin was low in response to the basal glucose solution (4.4 mM) in medium and was significantly higher in response to the high glucose solution (16.7 mM). The viability of microencapsulated islet cells did not differ significantly over a period of 7 days; that is, the increasing pattern of insulin concentration in the culture medium after glucose stimulation interval day was similar throughout the 7 days cultivation. In summary, experimental evidences indicated that the effects of alginate-microencapsulation prolonged survival of the neonatal porcine islets in vitro cultures and the insulin response to glucose of the islets was maintained.

Kinetic investigation on asymmetric bioreduction of ethyl 4-chloro acetoacetate catalyzed by baker’s yeast in an organic solvent-water biphasic system

Jer-Yiing Houng,Jui-Ching Tseng,Hsia-Fen Hsu,Jiumn-Yih Wu 한국화학공학회 2008 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.25 No.6

This study investigated the kinetic characteristics of asymmetric bioreduction of ethyl 4-chloro acetoacetate (ECA) to produce (S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyric acid ethyl ester (S-CHBE) by baker’s yeast in a water-organic solvent biphasic system. Exactly how several organic solvents affect reaction performance was studied first. Among the solvents tested, petroleum ether exhibited the optimum reaction efficiency. Compared with the aqueous system, reaction yield was enhanced from 74.5% to 84.0%, and the product’s ee increased from 82.3% to 88.0% after 10% petroleum ether was added. The kinetic behavior of asymmetric bioreduction of ECA in the petroleum ether-water biphasic system was then examined by using a mathematical model. Kinetic analysis reveals that the maximal reaction rate and affinity between the substrate and the biocatalyst were both lower in the biphasic system than in the aqueous system. Additionally, the substrate inhibition effect was greater in this biphasic system than in the aqueous system. However, the ratio of the formation rate for producing S-CHBE to that for producing R-CHBE in the biphasic system was significantly higher than that in the aqueous system. Moreover, adding petroleum ether reduced spontaneous ECA degradation markedly. These two kinetic characteristics explain why the biphasic system exhibited a higher yield and a better product’s ee (enantiomeric excess) than the aqueous system.