Equal Z standard-setting method to estimate the minimum number of panelists for a medical school’s objective structured clinical examination in Taiwan: a simulation study

Ying-Ying Yang,Pin-Hsiang Huang,Ling-Yu Yang,Chia-Chang Huang,Chih-Wei Liu,Shiau-Shian Huang,Chen-Huan Chen,Fa-Yauh Lee,Shou-Yen Kao,Boaz Shulruf 한국보건의료인국가시험원 2022 보건의료교육평가 Vol.19 No.-

Purpose Undertaking a standard-setting exercise is a common method for setting pass/fail cut scores for high-stakes examinations. The recently introduced equal Z standard-setting method (EZ method) has been found to be a valid and effective alternative for the commonly used Angoff and Hofstee methods and their variants. The current study aims to estimate the minimum number of panelists required for obtaining acceptable and reliable cut scores using the EZ method. Methods The primary data were extracted from 31 panelists who used the EZ method for setting cut scores for a 12-station of medical school’s final objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) in Taiwan. For this study, a new data set composed of 1,000 random samples of different panel sizes, ranging from 5 to 25 panelists, was established and analyzed. Analysis of variance was performed to measure the differences in the cut scores set by the sampled groups, across all sizes within each station. Results On average, a panel of 10 experts or more yielded cut scores with confidence more than or equal to 90% and 15 experts yielded cut scores with confidence more than or equal to 95%. No significant differences in cut scores associated with panel size were identified for panels of 5 or more experts. Conclusion The EZ method was found to be valid and feasible. Less than an hour was required for 12 panelists to assess 12 OSCE stations. Calculating the cut scores required only basic statistical skills.

Normative FJS-12 scores for the knee in an Asian population: a cross-sectional study

( Jia Ying Lee ),( Wai Weng Yeo ),( Zi Yang Chia ),( Paul Chang ) 대한슬관절학회 2021 대한슬관절학회지 Vol.33 No.-

Background: The Forgotten Joint Score is a patient-reported outcome measure validated in assessing patients post knee arthroplasty, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery and patellar dislocation. A previous study had established the normative scores of a population in the USA but included knees with pathology. The aim of our study is to obtain normative Forgotten Joint Scores in young Asian adults without any pre-existing knee pathologies to increase the interpretability of the Forgotten Joint Score-12 (FJS-12) score. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study across young healthy Asian adults via electronic platforms. Participants who had sought either Western medical consultation, physiotherapy or traditional medical therapies were excluded. Demographic data, occupation, type of sport played, and FJS-12 scores were collected. Scores were stratified into subgroups and analysed. Results: There were 172 participants who met our inclusion criteria for this study. The average age of participants in our study was 28.1 ± 10.5 years (range 14-70 years), with 83 (47.7%) participants falling into the ages 21-25 years. Average body mass index (BMI) was 21.9 ± 3.3 kg/m² (range 14.7-36.3 kg/m²). The average FJS-12 score was 62.8 ± 25.6. The median FJS-12 was 63.5 with a range of 4.2-100. Nine participants (5.2%) scored the maximum score possible, and 56 (32.6%) participants scored below the midpoint score of 50. The percentiles for each subgroup of participants were tabulated and reported. Notably, males aged 46-70 years old scored the highest average FJS-12 score of 73.4 ± 5.5, and females aged 31-45 years old scored the lowest FJS-12 score of 57.1 ± 25.1. Females scored lower than males, although the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.157). There were no significant correlations between BMI, age, or type of sport played with FJS-12; however, interestingly, we observed that women reported similar FJS-12 scores across all age groups, while men reported better scores with increasing age.Interestingly,we observed that women reported similar FJS-12 scores across all age groups,while men reported better scores with increasing age. Conclusion: Having normative values provides opportunities for benchmarking and comparing individuals against age- and gender-matched peers in the general population. Knowledge of normative values for FJS-12 scores would aid evaluating and tracking progress in patients recovering from injuries or undergoing post-surgery rehabilitation. This would help clinicians determine if they return to ‘normal’ post intervention.

The most ideal interval between blastocyst biopsy and vitrification applied in preimplantation genetic screening (PGS)

( Hui-ying Low ),( Hsiu-hui Chen ),( Chun-chia Huang ),( Tsung-hsien Lee ),( Chung-i Chen ),( Lii-sheng Huang ),( Maw-sheng Lee ) 대한산부인과학회 2016 대한산부인과학회 학술대회 Vol.102 No.-

Study Question: To evaluate the most ideal interval between blastocyst biopsy and vitrification in preimplantation genetic screening (PGS). Study Design, Size, Duration: This is a retrospective study and total 224 patients underwent the PGS from 2012 Dec. to 2015 Mar. All of patients underwent blastocyst vitrification after biopsy and 1~2 euploid blastocyst for transfer after warming. The primary outcome measures were the implantation and pregnancy rates per PGS-frozen embryo transfer cycle. Materials, Setting, Methods: The blastocyst grading including grade 4, 5 and 6 (according to Gardner grading system) on day 5 or day 6 were selected for trophectoderm biopsy. All blastocyst underwent vitrification immediately (interval: 0.5 hour) or 1 to 7 hours after biopsy. At the time of vitrification the grade of blastocyst expansion was also recorded. All patients were divided into two groups according to the grade of expanded (Group1: ≤1/2 expansion (n=41), Group2: ≥3/4 expansion (n=183)). Furthermore, combined two factors including the interval and morphology of blastocyst after biopsy, all patients were further divided into interval 1 (<3 hours and ≤1/2 expansion) and interval 2 (≥3 hours and ≥3/4 expansion). The morphologically best euploid blastocyst(s) (1~2 embryos) was/were selected first for transfer on the next cycle. Main Results: Assessment morphology of blastocyst after biopsy in different interval, at 0.5 hour after biopsy, 100% blastocyst was non-expansion; at 1 hour after biopsy, only 17% blastocyst was 3/4 expansion or all-expansion; at 3 hours after biopsy, 86% blastocyst was 3/4 expansion or all-expansion and after 5.5 hours, 100% blastocyst was all-expansion or hatching. All blastocysts were survival (100%, 359/359) after warming. The mean of embryo transfer number between all groups were no significantly difference. The implantation rate in Group2 (63.4%) was significantly higher than that in Group1 (46.9%, p=0.014). The pregnancy rates in Group4 (73.8%) was sig-nificantly higher than that in Group1 (51.2%, p=0.004). The implantation and pregnancy rates in the group of embryo ≥3/4 expansion combined with ≥3 hours after biopsy (63.6%, 178/280; 73.8%, 127/172) were significantly higher than that in the group of ≤1/2 expansion with <3 hour (45.6, 26/57; 50.0%, 18/36; p=0.0113 and p=0.0056, respectively). Conclusion: The most ideal interval between biopsy and vitrification was least 3 hours and ≥3/4 expansion of blastocyst after biopsy could improve the implantation and pregnancy rates for PGS.

Infusion of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improves Regenerative Niche in Thioacetamide-Injured Mouse Liver

Kao Ying-Hsien,Lin Yu-Chun,Lee Po-Huang,Lin Chia-Wei,Chen Po-Han,Tai Tzong-Shyuan,Chang Yo-Chen,Chou Ming-Huei,Chang Chih-Yang,Sun Cheuk-Kwan 한국조직공학과 재생의학회 2020 조직공학과 재생의학 Vol.17 No.5

Background: This study investigated whether xenotransplantation of human Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) reduces thioacetamide (TAA)-induced mouse liver fibrosis and the underlying molecular mechanism. Methods: Recipient NOD/SCID mice were injected intraperitoneally with TAA twice weekly for 6 weeks before initial administration of WJ-MSCs. Expression of regenerative and pro-fibrogenic markers in mouse fibrotic livers were monitored post cytotherapy. A hepatic stallate cell line HSC-T6 and isolated WJ-MSCs were used for in vitro adhesion, migration and mechanistic studies. Results: WJ-MSCs were isolated from human umbilical cords by an explant method and characterized by flow cytometry. A single infusion of WJ-MSCs to TAA-treated mice significantly reduced collagen deposition and ameliorated liver fibrosis after 2-week therapy. In addition to enhanced expression of hepatic regenerative factor, hepatocyte growth factor, and PCNA proliferative marker, WJ-MSC therapy significantly blunted pro-fibrogenic signals, including Smad2, RhoA, ERK. Intriguingly, reduction of plasma fibronectin (pFN) in fibrotic livers was noted in MSC-treated mice. In vitro studies further demonstrated that suspending MSCs triggered pFN degradation, soluble pFN conversely retarded adhesion of suspending MSCs onto type I collagen-coated surface, whereas pFN coating enhanced WJ-MSC migration across mimicked wound bed. Moreover, pretreatment with soluble pFN and conditioned medium from MSCs with pFN strikingly attenuated the response of HSC-T6 cells to TGF-β1-stimulation in Smad2 phosphorylation and RhoA upregulation. Conclusion: These findings suggest that cytotherapy using WJ-MSCs may modulate hepatic pFN deposition for a better regenerative niche in the fibrotic livers and may constitute a useful anti-fibrogenic intervention in chronic liver diseases.

Comparison of the Efficacy of Two Microsphere Embolic Agents for Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients

Shao-Hua Lee,Chia-Ying Lin,Ya-Chun Hsu,Yi-Sheng Liu,Ming-Tsung Chuang,Ming-Ching Ou 대한암학회 2020 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.52 No.1

Purpose Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) delivers cytotoxic drugs intra-arterially and induces ischemic necrosis by arterial embolization. Embolization is achieved using a variety of agents that differ widely in particle size and range, deformation, and in vivo arterial distribution. The clinical significance of these differences has not been thoroughly characterized. The present study is to compare the efficacy of Embosphere and Embozene microspheres in TACE therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Materials and Methods This retrospective study includes 108 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who received TACE/doxorubicin with Embozene (70 patients) or Embosphere (38 patients) at a single medical center. Patient outcomes, including liver function, tumor size, tumor response, and complications after treatment, were analyzed. The change in total target lesion size and tumor response was evaluated according to embolization agent and clinical characteristics. Results The postoperative glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (mean, 194.5 vs. 147.5; p=0.032) and bilirubin (mean, 1.11 mg/dL vs. 0.73 mg/dL; p=0.016) were higher among patients treated with Embozene, the decrease in the number (55.86±25.55% vs. 41.81±38.51%, p=0.027) and size (56.37±25.91 mm vs. 43.44±37.89 mm, p=0.001) of liver tumors relative to baseline was greater in these patients than in those treated with Embosphere. These greater antitumor effects were achieved using lower doses of doxorubicin than for treatment with Embozene. Minor complications were more common among patients treated with Embosphere than with Embozene. Conclusion These results suggest that Embozene is more efficacious than Embosphere for HCC treatment using TACE/doxorubicin.

A Dynamic Resource Management with Energy Saving Mechanism for Supporting Cloud Computing

Liang-Teh Lee,Kang-Yuan Liu,Hui-Yang Huang,Chia-Ying Tseng 보안공학연구지원센터(IJGDC) 2013 International Journal of Grid and Distributed Comp Vol.6 No.1

Nerve growth factor upregulates sirtuin 1 expression in cholestasis: a potential therapeutic target

Ming-Shian Tsai,Po-Huang Lee,Cheuk-Kwan Sun,Ting-Chia Chiu,Yu-Chun Lin,I-Wei Chang,Po-Han Chen,Ying-Hsien Kao 생화학분자생물학회 2018 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.50 No.-

This study investigated the regulatory role of nerve growth factor (NGF) in sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) expression in cholestatic livers. We evaluated the expression of NGF and its cognate receptors in human livers with hepatolithiasis and the effects of NGF therapy on liver injury and hepatic SIRT1 expression in a bile duct ligation (BDL) mouse model. Histopathological and molecular analyses showed that the hepatocytes of human diseased livers expressed NGF, proNGF (a precursor of NGF), TrkA and p75NTR, whereas only p75NTR was upregulated in hepatolithiasis, compared with non-hepatolithiasis livers. In the BDL model without NGF therapy, p75NTR, but not TrkA antagonism, significantly deteriorated BDL-induced liver injury. By contrast, the hepatoprotective effect of NGF was abrogated only by TrkA and not by p75NTR antagonism in animals receiving NGF therapy. Intriguingly, a positive correlation between hepatic SIRT1 and NGF expression was found in human livers. In vitro studies demonstrated that NGF upregulated SIRT1 expression in mouse livers and human Huh-7 and rodent hepatocytes. Both NGF and proNGF induced protective effects against hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity in Huh-7 cells, whereas inhibition of TrkA and p75NTR activity prevented oxidative cell death. Mechanistically, NGF, but not proNGF, upregulated SIRT1 expression in human Huh-7 and rodent hepatocytes via nuclear factor (NF)-κB activity, whereas NGF-induced phosphoinositide-3 kinase/Akt, extracellular signal–regulated kinase and NF-κB signaling and SIRT1 activity were involved in its hepatoprotective effects against oxidative injury. These findings suggest that pharmacological manipulation of the NGF/SIRT1 axis might serve as a novel approach for the treatment of cholestatic disease.

Impact of Interleukin-10 Gene Polymorphisms on Survival in Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Wen-Chien Ting,Lu-Min Chen,Li-Chia Huang,Mann-Jen Hour,Yu-Hsuan Lan,Hong-Zin Lee,Bang-Jau You,Ta-Yuan Chang,Bo-Ying Bao 대한의학회 2013 Journal of Korean medical science Vol.28 No.9

Chronic inflammation is thought to be the leading cause of colorectal cancer, and interleukin-10 (IL10) has been identified as a potent immunomodulatory cytokine that regulates inflammatory responses in the gastrointestinal tract. Although several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL10 have been associated with the risk of colorectal cancer, their prognostic significance has not been determined. Two hundred and eightytwo colorectal cancer patients were genotyped for two candidate cancer-associated SNPs in IL10. The associations of these SNPs with distant metastasis-free survival and overall survival were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression model. The minor homozygote GG genotype of IL10 rs3021094 was significantly associated with a 3.30-fold higher risk of death compared with the TT+TG genotypes (P = 0.011). The patients with IL10rs3021094 GG genotype also had a poorer overall survival in Kaplan-Meier analysis (log-rank P = 0.007) and in multivariate Cox regression model (P = 0.044) adjusting for age, gender,carcinoembryonic antigen levels, tumor differentiation, stage, lymphovascular invasion,and perineural invasion. In conclusion, our results suggest that IL10 rs3021094 might be a valuable prognostic biomarker for colorectal cancer patients.

Characteristics of mid-infrared PAH emission from star-forming galaxies selected at 250 μm in the North Ecliptic Pole field

Kim, Seong Jin,Jeong, Woong-Seob,Goto, Tomotsugu,Lee, Hyung Mok,Shim, Hyunjin,Pearson, Chris,Im, Myungshin,Matsuhara, Hideo,Seo, Hyunjong,Hashimoto, Tetsuya,Kim, Minjin,Chiang, Chia-Ying,Barrufet, Lai Astronomical Society of Japan 2019 Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan Vol.71 No.1

A Short Test of English Silent Word Reading for English Language Learners

Kalindi, Sylvia C.,McBride, Catherine,Chan, Shingfong,Chung, Kien Hoa Kevin,Lee, Chia-Ying,Maurer, Urs,Tong, Xiuhong Korean Association of Child Studies 2015 Child studies in Asia-Pacific context Vol.2 No.2

We developed a test of English silent word reading, following work by Mather, Hammill, Allen and Roberts (2004) and Bell, McCallum, Krik, Fuller, and McCane-Bowling (2007), in order to tap Hong Kong Chinese children's reading of English as a foreign language. We created one subtest of individual word reading and another of word reading contextualized within sentences; together, these tests require no more than 10 minutes for administration. In Study 1, we administered the entire test to 552 second grade Hong Kong Chinese children between the ages of 70 and 121 months old, from five different primary schools. The association between the subtests of English silent word reading and contextual reading was positively correlated (.78). In Study 2, 77 Hong Kong Chinese second graders were tested on our newly developed English silent word reading test, together with non-verbal IQ, an English word reading and a Chinese character recognition test (both read aloud). With age and non-verbal IQ statistically controlled, there was a significant correlation between English silent word reading and the more standard English word reading, read aloud, (.78); the association between English silent word reading and Chinese character recognition was also positively correlated (.49). This newly created test is a quick and reliable measure, suitable for both educators and researchers to use to identify poor readers who learn English as a foreign or second language.