Outcomes of limited period of adalimumab treatment in moderate to severe Crohn’s disease patients: Taiwan Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Study

( Wei-chen Lin ),( Jen-wei Chou ),( Hsu-heng Yen ),( Wen-hung Hsu ),( Hung-hsin Lin ),( Jen-kou Lin ),( Chiao-hsiung Chuang ),( Tien-yu Huang ),( Horng-yuan Wang ),( Shu-chen Wei ),( Jau-min Wong ) 대한장연구학회 2017 Intestinal Research Vol.15 No.4

Background/Aims: In Taiwan, due to budget limitations, the National Health Insurance only allows for a limited period of biologics use in treating moderate to severe Crohn’s disease (CD). We aimed to access the outcomes of CD patients following a limited period use of biologics, specifically focusing on the relapse rate and remission duration; also the response rate to second use when applicable. Methods: This was a multicenter, retrospective, observational study and we enrolled CD patients who had been treated with adalimumab (ADA) according to the insurance guidelines from 2009 to 2015. Results: A total of 54 CD patients, with follow-up of more than 6 months after the withdrawal of ADA, were enrolled. The average period of treatment with ADA was 16.7±9.7 months. After discontinuing ADA, 59.3% patients suffered a clinical relapse. In the univariate analysis, the reason for withdrawal was a risk factor for relapse (P=0.042). In the multivariate analysis, current smoker became an important risk factor for relapse (OR, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.2-14.8; P=0.044) and male sex was another risk factor (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.1-8.6; P=0.049). For those 48 patients who received a second round of biologics, the clinical response was seen in 60.4%, and 1 anaphylaxis occurred. Conclusions: Fifty-nine percent of patients experienced a relapse after discontinuing the limited period of ADA treatment, and most of them occurred within 1 year following cessation. Male sex and current smoker were risk factors for relapse. Though 60.4% of the relapse patients responded to ADA again. (Intest Res 2017;15:487-494)

Competition between Phase Separation and Crystallization in a PCL/PEG Polymer Blend Captured by Synchronized SAXS, WAXS, and DSC

Wei Tsung Chuang,U Ser Jeng,Hwo Shuenn Sheu,Po Da Hong 한국고분자학회 2006 Macromolecular Research Vol.14 No.1

Bioinspired Hierarchical Layer-within-network Structure of Polymer Nanocomposites for High-performance All-solid-state Flexible Supercapacitors

Wei-Tsung Chuang,Rong-Hao Guo,Che-Min Chou,Chun-Chieh Wang,Ming-Jay Deng,Jhih-Min Lin,Chun-Yu Chen,Yao-Chang Lee 한국고분자학회 2021 한국고분자학회 학술대회 연구논문 초록집 Vol.46 No.2

To meet future demands for cutting-edge wearable electronics, flexible supercapacitors must possess many features, such as eco-friendly processing, aesthetic appeal and no health hazards, in addition to have lightweight, robust and excellent cycling stability. We proposed a biomimetic and scalable method to fabricate an all-solid-state flexible supercapacitor (assFSC) using bioinspired clay/polymer nanocomposites as electrode materials and a gel electrolyte. Experimental results from X-ray techniques (tomography, scattering and diffraction) showed that the electrode’s structure features a 3D ant-nest-like framework composed of 2D nacre-like clay nanosheets, i.e. hierarchical layers-within-networks structure. Accordingly, the structural electrodes exhibit high tensile strength of 62 MPa, Young’s modulus of 4.4 GPa, and torsional strength of 165 MPa. Under a large operating potential of 4.0 V, the assFSC exhibited ultrahigh energy density (233.3 W h kg<SUP>-1</SUP> at 2 kW kg<SUP>-1</SUP>), ultrahigh power density (125 kW kg<SUP>-1</SUP> at 55.5 W h kg<SUP>-1</SUP>), and outstanding static cyclability (less than 10% loss after 5,000 cycles). We also performed a cycle-life test under dynamic deformation and demonstrated that the assFSC had charging and discharging abilities during motion, according to particle applications of wearable electronics. Thus stable and superior electrochemical performance can be attributed to the biomimetic layers-within-networks structure, which not only provided robust framework but also induced 3D conducting networks with increasing ion channels and shortening charge transports. The shapeable electrodes made by a molding process could, therefore, be used to meet the demands for fashionable, wearable electronics.

Competition between Phase Separation and Crystallization in a PCL/PEG Polymer Blend Captured by Synchronized SAXS, WAXS, and DSC

Chuang Wei-Tsung,Jeng U-Ser,Sheu Hwo-Shuenn,Hong Po-Da The Polymer Society of Korea 2006 Macromolecular Research Vol.14 No.1

We conducted simultaneous, small-angle, X-ray scattering/differential scanning calorimetry (SAXS/DSC) and simultaneous, wide-angle, X-ray scattering (WAXS)/DSC measurements for a polymer blend of poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone)/poly(ethylene glycol)(PCL/PEG). The time-dependent SAXS/DSC and WAXS/DSC results, measured while the system was quenched below the melting temperature of PCL from a melting state, revealed the competitive behavior between liquid-liquid phase separation and crystallization in the polymer blend. The time-dependent structural evolution extracted from the SAXS/WAXS/DSC results can be characterized by the following four stages in the PCL crystallization process: the induction (I), nucleation (II), growth (III), and late (IV) stages. The influence of the liquid-liquid phase separation on the crystallization of PCL was also observed by phase-contrast microscope and polarized microscope with 1/4$\lambda$ compensator.

Daclatasvir plus Asunaprevir in Interferon (± Ribavirin)- Ineligible/Intolerant Asian Patients with Chronic HCV Genotype-1b Infection

( Lai Wei ),( Mingxiang Zhang ),( Min Xu ),( Wan-Long Chuang ),( Wei Lu ),( Wen Xie ),( Zhansheng Jia ),( Guozhong Gong ),( Yueqi Li ),( Si Hyun Bae ),( Yong-Feng Yang ),( Qing Xie ),( Shumei Lin ),( 대한간학회 2016 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2016 No.1

Aims: The efficacy/safety of daclatasvir (pan-genotypic NS5A inhibitor) plus asunaprevir (NS3 protease inhibitor) in interferon (± ribavirin)- ineligible/intolerant patients with chronic HCV genotype-1b infection from mainland China, Korea and Taiwan was investigated in a phase 3, open-label study. Methods: Patients received daclatasvir 60 mg (tablet) once daily plus asunaprevir 100 mg (soft capsule) twice daily for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was sustained virologic response at post-treatment Week 24 (SVR24). Results: This study treated 159 patients from mainland China (80%), Korea (11%) and Taiwan (9%), including patients with cirrhosis (33%), IL28B non-CC genotypes (40%), and aged ≥70 years (4%). SVR24 was achieved by 91% of patients (100% concordance with SVR12) and was similarly high in all subgroups, e.g. cirrhotic patients (90%), and in patients from mainland China (91%), Korea (94%) and Taiwan (87%). SVR24 was higher in patients without baseline NS5A (L31M/Y93H) resistance-associated variants (RAVs) (n=137/139 [99%]), regardless of the presence (98%) or absence (99%) of cirrhosis, and lower in patients with baseline NS5A RAVs (n=8/19 [42%]). All serious adverse events (AEs) (n=5/159 [3.1%]), grade 4 laboratory abnormalities (n=3/159 [1.9%]) and deaths (n=1/159 [0.6%]) that occurred on-treatment were unrelated to the study drugs; two patients discontinued due to AEs. Treatment was generally well tolerated regardless of cirrhosis status. Conclusions: Daclatasvir plus asunaprevir achieved a high SVR24 rate of 91%, rising to 99% in patients without baseline NS5A RAVs, and was generally well tolerated in cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic interferon (± ribavirin)-ineligible/intolerant patients with HCV genotype-1b infection from mainland China, Korea and Taiwan.

Development of Wider Bandgap n-type a-SiOx:H and μc-SiOx:H as Both Doped and Intermediate Reflecting Layer for a-Si:H/a-Si1-xGex:H Tandem Solar Cells

Po-Wei Chen,Pei-Ling Chen,Chuang-Chuang Tsai 대한금속·재료학회 2016 ELECTRONIC MATERIALS LETTERS Vol.12 No.4

In this work, we developed a-SiOx:H(n) and μc-SiOx:H(n) films as ntypelayer, intermediate reflecting layer (IRL), and back-reflectinglayer (BRL) to improve the light management in silicon thin-filmsolar cells. In the development of SiOx:H films, by properly adjustingthe oxygen content of the films, the optical bandgap of μc-SiOx:H(n)can be increased while maintaining sufficient conductivity. Similareffect was found for a-SiOx:H(n). In a-Si:H single-junction cells,employing a-SiOx:H(n) as the replacement for a-Si:H(n) resulted in arelative efficiency enhancement of 11.4% due to the reduced parasiticabsorption loss. We have also found that μc-SiOx:H(n) can replaceback ITO layer as BRL, leading to a relative efficiency gain of 7.6%. For a-Si:H/a-Si1-xGex:H tandem cell, employing μc-SiOx:H(n) asIRL increased the current density of top cell. In addition, employinga-SiOx:H(n) as a replacement of a-Si:H(n) in the top cell increasedthe current density of bottom cell due to the reduction of absorptionloss. Combining all the improvements, the a-Si:H/a-Si1-xGex:Htandem cell with efficiency of 9.2%, VOC = 1.58 V, JSC = 8.43 mA/cm2, and FF = 68.4% was obtained.

Management of ulcerative colitis in Taiwan: consensus guideline of the Taiwan Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

( Shu-Chen Wei ),( Ting-An Chang ),( Te-Hsin Chao ),( Jinn-Shiun Chen ),( Jen-Wei Chou ),( Yenn-Hwei Chou ),( Chiao-Hsiung Chuang ),( Wen-Hung Hsu ),( Tien-Yu Huang ),( Tzu-Chi Hsu ),( Chun-Chi Lin ) 대한장연구학회 2017 Intestinal Research Vol.15 No.3

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by chronic mucosal inflammation of the colon, and the prevalence and incidence of UC have been steadily increasing in Taiwan. A steering committee was established by the Taiwan Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease to formulate statements on the diagnosis and management of UC taking into account currently available evidence and the expert opinion of the committee. Accurate diagnosis of UC requires thorough clinical, endoscopic, and histological assessment and careful exclusion of differential diagnoses, particularly infectious colitis. The goals of UC therapy are to induce and maintain remission, reduce the risk of complications, and improve quality of life. As outlined in the recommended treatment algorithm, choice of treatment is dictated by severity, extent, and course of disease. Patients should be evaluated for hepatitis B virus and tuberculosis infection prior to immunosuppressive treatment, especially with steroids and biologic agents, and should be regularly monitored for reactivation of latent infection. These consensus statements are also based on current local evidence with consideration of factors, and could be serve as concise and practical guidelines for supporting clinicians in the management of UC in Taiwan. (Intest Res 2017;15:266-284)

IGAA : An Efficient Optimization Technique for RFID Network Topology Design in Internet of Things

Po-Jen Chuang,Wei-Ting Tsai 보안공학연구지원센터 2015 International Journal of Future Generation Communi Vol.8 No.1

Most RFID applications in the Internet of Things (IoTs) use multiple readers to read the IDs of multiple tags and form the RFID network. In such a network, unguarded reader deployment may generate over-crowded readers, cause interferences and, as a result, increases the deployment cost while degrading tag detection. Seeing that desirable reader deployment is crucial for RFID system performance, this paper introduces an optimization-based IGAA approach which outperforms existing RFID topology designs by turning up more favorable reader deployment and system performance. The new approach employs an advanced multi-objective fitness function and improved genetic annealing algorithms (GAA) to pursue a better RFID topology design. By involving an improved gene-stirring operation to help preserve good genes and locate optimal solutions for reader deployment, it is simple in operation but effective in practice. Experimental evaluation shows that when compared with related approaches, IGAA can yield better solution quality with less search time.

Management of Crohn`s disease in Taiwan: consensus guideline of the Taiwan Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

( Shu-Chen Wei ),( Ting-An Chang ),( Te-Hsin Chao ),( Jinn-Shiun Chen ),( Jen-Wei Chou ),( Yenn-Hwei Chou ),( Chiao-Hsiung Chuang ),( Wen-Hung Hsu ),( Tien-Yu Huang ),( Tzu-Chi Hsu ),( Chun-Chi Lin ) 대한장연구학회 2017 Intestinal Research Vol.15 No.3

Crohn`s disease (CD) is a chronic relapsing and remitting inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. CD is rare in Taiwan and other Asian countries, but its prevalence and incidence have been steadily increasing. A steering committee was established by the Taiwan Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease to formulate statements on the diagnosis and management of CD taking into account currently available evidence and the expert opinion of the committee. Thorough clinical, endoscopic, and histological assessments are required for accurate diagnosis of CD. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are complementary to endoscopic evaluation for disease staging and detecting complications. The goals of CD management are to induce and maintain remission, reduce the risk of complications, and improve quality of life. Corticosteroids are the mainstay for inducing re-mission. Immunomodulating and biologic therapies should be used to maintain remission. Patients should be evaluated for hepatitis B virus and tuberculosis infection prior to treatment and receive regular surveillance for cancer. These consensus statements are based on current local evidence with consideration of factors, and could be serve as concise and practical guidelines for supporting clinicians in the management of patients with CD in Taiwan. (Intest Res 2017;15:285-310)

Expression profiles of circular RNAs in sheep skeletal muscle

Cao, Yang,You, Shuang,Yao, Yang,Liu, Zhi-Jin,Hazi, Wureli,Li, Cun-Yuan,Zhang, Xiang-Yu,Hou, Xiao-Xu,Wei, Jun-Chang,Li, Xiao-Yue,Wang, Da-Wei,Chen, Chuang-Fu,Zhang, Yun-Feng,Ni, Wei,Hu, Sheng-Wei Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2018 Animal Bioscience Vol.31 No.10

Objective: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a newfound class of non-coding RNA in animals and plants. Recent studies have revealed that circRNAs play important roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, autophagy and apoptosis during development. However, there are few reports about muscle development-related circRNAs in livestock. Methods: RNA sequencing analysis was employed to identify and annotate circRNAs from longissimus dorsi of sheep. Reverse transcription followed by real-time quantitative (q) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis verified the presence of these circRNAs. Targetscan7.0 and miRanda were used to analyse the interaction of circRNA-microRNA (miRNA). To investigate the function of circRNAs, an experiment was conducted to perform enrichment analysis hosting genes of circRNAs using gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathways. Results: About 75.5 million sequences were obtained from RNA libraries of sheep skeletal muscle. These sequences were mapped to 729 genes in the sheep reference genome. We identified 886 circRNAs, including numerous circular intronic RNAs and exonic circRNAs. Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and DNA sequencing analysis confirmed the presence of several circRNAs. Real-Time RT-PCR analysis exhibited resistance of sheep circRNAs to RNase R digestion. We found that many circRNAs interacted with muscle-specific miRNAs involved in growth and development of muscle, especially circ776. The GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that hosting genes of circRNAs was involved in muscle cell development and signaling pathway. Conclusion: The study provides comprehensive expression profiles of circRNAs in sheep skeletal muscle. Our study offers a large number of circRNAs to facilitate a better understanding of their roles in muscle growth. Meanwhile, we suggested that circ776 could be analyzed in future study.