Predictive Significance of Claudin-3 for Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction in Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps

Huang Zhi-Qun,Ye Jing,Liu Jing,Sun Li-Ying,Ong Hsiao Hui,Wei Yong-Hao,Fu Shu-Cai,Hu Xiao-Xun,Xu Yu,Wang De-Yun 대한천식알레르기학회 2023 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.15 No.4

Purpose: The abnormal expression of tight junction (TJ) plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). However, there is no appropriate tool to distinguish and diagnose epithelial barrier defects in clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of claudin-3 for epithelial barrier dysfunction in CRSwNP. Methods: In this study, TJ protein levels were evaluated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescent, and immunohistochemistry staining in control subjects and CRSwNP patients. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was created to assess the predictive value of TJ breakdown in clinical outcomes. In vitro, human nasal epithelial cells were cultured at the air-liquid interface to analyze the transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) level. Results: The expression levels of occludin, tricellulin, claudin-3, and claudin-10 were decreased (all P < 0.05), and those of claudin-1 was increased (P < 0.05) in CRSwNP patients as compared to healthy subjects. Additionally, claudin-3 and occludin levels were negatively correlated with the computed tomography score in CRSwNP (all P < 0.05), and the ROC curve indicated that the claudin-3 level had the most predictive accuracy in evaluating epithelial barrier disruption (area under the curve = 0.791, P < 0.001). Finally, the time-series analysis showed the highest correlation coefficient between TER and claudin-3 (cross-correlation function = 0.75). Conclusion: In this study, we suggest that claudin-3 could be a valuable biomarker for predicting nasal epithelial barrier defects and disease severity in CRSwNP.

Microstructure study of the Co-added FePt thin films with high energy density

F. T. Yuan,S. N. Hsiao,S. K. Chen,H. W. Huang,Y. W. Hsu,H. W. Chang,D. H. Wei,Y. D. Yao,H. Y. Lee 한국자기학회 2007 한국자기학회 학술연구발표회 논문개요집 Vol.- No.-

An Economic-Statistical Design of Moving Average Control Charts

Yu, Fong-Jung,Chin, Hsiang,Huang, Hsiao Wei The Korean Society for Quality Management 2006 The Asian Journal on Quality Vol.7 No.3

Control charts are important tools of statistical quality control. In 1956, Duncan first proposed the economic design of $\bar{x}-control$ charts to control normal process means and insure that the economic design control chart actually has a lower cost, compared with a Shewhart control chart. An moving average (MA) control chart is more effective than a Shewhart control chart in detecting small process shifts and is considered by some to be simpler to implement than the CUSUM. An economic design of MA control chart has also been proposed in 2005. The weaknesses to only the economic design are poor statistics because it dose not consider type I or type II errors and average time to signal when selecting design parameters for control chart. This paper provides a construction of an economic-statistical model to determine the optimal parameters of an MA control chart to improve economic design. A numerical example is employed to demonstrate the model's working and its sensitivity analysis is also provided.

Comparison of Transforming Growth Factor-Beta1 and Lovastatin on Differentiating Mesenchymal Stem Cells toward Nucleus Pulposus-like Phenotype: An In Vitro Cell Culture Study

Shu-Hua Yang,Kai-Chiang Yang,Chih-Wei Chen,Ting-Chun Huang,Yuanhui Sun,Ming-Hsiao Hu 대한척추외과학회 2019 Asian Spine Journal Vol.13 No.5

Study Design: In vitro cell culture study. Purpose: This study aims to investigate the impact of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) and lovastatin on differentiating human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) toward nucleus pulposus (NP)-like phenotype. Overview of Literature: MSCs offer a cell source to the cell-based therapy for intervertebral disc degeneration. TGF-β1 is used to induce MSCs to differentiate into NP-like cells; however, an undesired expression of collagen type I has been reported. Statins reportedly stimulate expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and promote the chondrogenic phenotype to NP cells. However, the effects of statins with or without TGF-β1 on the differentiation of MSCs into NP-like cells remain unclear. Methods: Human MSCs were treated with TGF-β1 alone, lovastatin alone, and simultaneous or sequential treatment with TGF-β1 and lovastatin. After the proposed stimulation, the total RNA was extracted to assess the expression profile of NP cells-specific genes. Hematoxylin–eosin staining was used for examining the microscopic morphology. Furthermore, we detected the syntheses of S-100 protein, aggrecan , and collagen type II in the extracellular matrix using immunohistochemical staining. Results: Simultaneous or sequential treatment of TGF-β1 and lovastatin could further augment the BMP-2 overexpression compared with lovastatin-alone treatment. However, the mRNA expression of aggrecan and collagen type II was not compatible with the expression level of BMP-2 . Immunohistochemical studies revealed compatible production of aggrecan, collagen type II , and S-100 protein in all three groups treated with lovastatin. Cells in groups treated with lovastatin were less populated than that in the group treated with TGF-β1 alone. Conclusions: This study demonstrates a promising role of lovastatin in inducing human MSCs into NP-like cells. However, further optimization of cell density before lovastatin treatment, treatment duration, and combination with TGF-β1 are warranted to attain better stimulatory effects.

An Economic-Statistical Design of Moving Average Control Charts

( Fong Jung Yu ),( Hsiang Chin ),( Hsiao Wei Huang ) 한국품질경영학회 2006 The Asian Journal on Quality Vol.7 No.3

A New Comprehensive Short-form Health Literacy Survey Tool for Patients in General

Tuyen Van Duong,Peter WuShou Chang,Shih-Hsien Yang,Ming-Chu Chen,Wei-Ting Chao,Tara Chen,Priscilla Chiao,Hsiao-Ling Huang 한국간호과학회 2017 Asian Nursing Research Vol.11 No.1

Purpose: To validate a conceptual short-form health literacy 12 items questionnaire (HL-SF12) in patient populations. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted via a convenient sample of 403 patients from three departments of a community general hospital in the northern Taiwan. Patients’ health literacy was assessed with a validated HL-SF12, derived from the full scale, the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q), as well as a single-item from Chew’s Set of Brief Health Literacy Question. A reference population in Northern Taiwan (n = 928) via the HLS-EU-Q in 2013e2014 was used as a reference to compare the health literacy between that of the general public and the patients. Data was analyzed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), internal consistency analysis, correlation analysis, and linear regression models. Results: Patients’ health literacy assessed with the HL-SF12 was shown with high internal consistency (Cronbach a = .87), and moderately correlated with the single-item from Chew's Set of Brief Health Literacy Question, with satisfactory item-scale convergent validity (item-scale correlation> .40), without floor/ceiling effect, and with satisfactory goodness of fit indices of the three-factor construct model for most of the patients. Their health literacy was significantly positively associated with female gender, higher income, and more often watching health-related TV programs. On the other hands, patients were reported with significantly higher healthcare health literacy than the general public, but not in general health literacy, disease prevention health literacy, or health promotion health literacy. Conclusion: The comprehensive HL-SF12 was a valid and easy to use tool for assessing patients’ health literacy in the hospitals to facilitate healthcare providers in enhancing patients’ health literacy and healthcare qualities.

The role of the genomic mutation signature and tumor mutation burden on relapse risk prediction in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma after concurrent chemoradiotherapy

Wang Hui-Ching,Moi Sin-Hua,Chan Leong-Perng,Wu Chun-Chieh,Du Jeng-Shiun,Liu Pei-Lin,Chou Meng-Chun,Wu Che-Wei,Huang Chih-Jen,Hsiao Hui-Hua,Pan Mei-Ren,Chen Li-Tzong 생화학분자생물학회 2023 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.55 No.-

Personalized genetic profiling has focused on improving treatment efficacy and predicting risk stratification by identifying mutated genes and selecting targeted agents according to genetic testing. Therefore, we evaluated the role of genetic profiling and tumor mutation burden (TMB) using next-generation sequencing in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC). The relapse mutation signature (RMS) and chromatin remodeling mutation signature (CRMS) were explored to predict the risk of relapse in patients with HNSC treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) with platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients in the high RMS and CRMS groups showed significantly shorter relapse-free survival than those in the low RMS and CRMS groups, respectively (p < 0.001 and p = 0.006). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that extranodal extension, CCRT response, and three somatic mutation profiles (TMB, RMS, and CRMS) were independent risk predictors for HNSC relapse. The predictive nomogram showed satisfactory performance in predicting relapse-free survival in patients with HNSC treated with CCRT.