Overexpression of Ornithine Decarboxylase Suppresses Thapsigargin-Induced Apoptosis

Wei-Chung Hsieh,Pei-Chen Hsu,Ya-Fan Liao,Shu-Ting Young,Zeng-Wei Wang,Chih-Li Lin,Gregory J. Tsay,Huei Lee,Hui-Chih Hung,Guang-Yaw Liu 한국분자세포생물학회 2010 Molecules and cells Vol.30 No.4

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the key enzyme of poly-amine biosynthesis, has paradoxical roles in apoptosis. Our published papers show overexpression of ODC pre-vents the apoptosis induced by many cytotoxic drugs. Thapsigargin (TG) is an inhibitor of the sarcoplasmic/en-doplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) pumps and causes ER stress-induced apoptosis. We used ODC overexpressing cell lines to examine whether overexpres-sion of ODC inhibits TG-induced apoptosis. Our results indicated overexpression of ODC attenuated TG-induced apoptosis. Overexpression of ODC blocked procaspse-4 cleavage and phosphorylation of protein kinase-like ER-resident kinase (PERK), triggered by TG. It also attenuated the increase in CAAT/enhancer binding protein homolo-gous protein (CHOP). Cells with overexpressed ODC had greater Bcl-2 expression. Overexpression of ODC pre-served the expression of Bcl-2, inhibited the increase in Bak and stabilized mitochondrial membrane potential without the influences of TG. Cytochrome c release and downstream caspase activation were blocked. That is, overexpression of ODC inhibits the mitochondria-medi-ated apoptotic pathway, induced by TG. Finally, overex-pression of ODC maintains the protein and mRNA expres-sion of SERCA. In conclusion, overexpression of ODC suppresses TG-induced apoptosis by blocking caspase-4 activation and PERK phosphorylation, attenuating CHOP expression and inhibiting the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway.

Smart monitoring system with multi-criteria decision using a feature based computer vision technique

Chih-Wei Lin,Wen-Ko Hsu,Dung-Jiang Chiou,Cheng-Wu Chen,Wei-Ling Chiang 국제구조공학회 2015 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.15 No.6

When natural disasters occur, including earthquakes, tsunamis, and debris flows, they are often accompanied by various types of damages such as the collapse of buildings, broken bridges and roads, and the destruction of natural scenery. Natural disaster detection and warning is an important issue which could help to reduce the incidence of serious damage to life and property as well as provide information for search and rescue afterwards. In this study, we propose a novel computer vision technique for debris flow detection which is feature-based that can be used to construct a debris flow event warning system. The landscape is composed of various elements, including trees, rocks, and buildings which are characterized by their features, shapes, positions, and colors. Unlike the traditional methods, our analysis relies on changes in the natural scenery which influence changes to the features. The “background module” and “monitoring module” procedures are designed and used to detect debris flows and construct an event warning system. The multi-criteria decision-making method used to construct an event warring system includes gradient information and the percentage of variation of the features. To prove the feasibility of the proposed method for detecting debris flows, some real cases of debris flows are analyzed. The natural environment is simulated and an event warning system is constructed to warn of debris flows. Debris flows are successfully detected using these two procedures, by analyzing the variation in the detected features and the matched feature. The feasibility of the event warning system is proven using the simulation method. Therefore, the feature based method is found to be useful for detecting debris flows and the event warning system is triggered when debris flows occur.

Overexpression of Ornithine Decarboxylase Suppresses Thapsigargin-Induced Apoptosis

Hsieh, Wei-Chung,Hsu, Pei-Chen,Liao, Ya-Fan,Young, Shu-Ting,Wang, Zeng-Wei,Lin, Chih-Li,Tsay, Gregory J.,Lee, Huei,Hung, Hui-Chih,Liu, Guang-Yaw Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology 2010 Molecules and cells Vol.30 No.4

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the key enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis, has paradoxical roles in apoptosis. Our published papers show overexpression of ODC prevents the apoptosis induced by many cytotoxic drugs. Thapsigargin (TG) is an inhibitor of the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum (ER) $Ca^{2+}$ ATPase (SERCA) pumps and causes ER stress-induced apoptosis. We used ODC overexpressing cell lines to examine whether overexpression of ODC inhibits TG-induced apoptosis. Our results indicated overexpression of ODC attenuated TG-induced apoptosis. Overexpression of ODC blocked procaspse-4 cleavage and phosphorylation of protein kinase-like ER-resident kinase (PERK), triggered by TG. It also attenuated the increase in CAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein (CHOP). Cells with overexpressed ODC had greater Bcl-2 expression. Overexpression of ODC preserved the expression of Bcl-2, inhibited the increase in Bak and stabilized mitochondrial membrane potential without the influences of TG. Cytochrome c release and downstream caspase activation were blocked. That is, overexpression of ODC inhibits the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway, induced by TG. Finally, overexpression of ODC maintains the protein and mRNA expression of SERCA. In conclusion, overexpression of ODC suppresses TG-induced apoptosis by blocking caspase-4 activation and PERK phosphorylation, attenuating CHOP expression and inhibiting the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway.

Epidemiological trend in inflammatory bowel disease in Taiwan from 2001 to 2015: a nationwide population-based study

Hsu-Heng Yen,Meng-Tzu Weng,Chien-Chih Tung,Yu-Ting Wang,Yuan Ting Chang,Chin-Hao Chang,Ming-Jium Shieh,Jau-Min Wong,Shu-Chen Wei 대한장연구학회 2019 Intestinal Research Vol.17 No.1

Background/Aims: Incidences of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and Crohn’s disease (CD), havebeen increasing in Asia. In this study, we report the relevant clinical characteristics and determined the epidemiological trend ofIBD in Taiwan from 2001 to 2015. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to analyze data recorded from January 2001through December 2015 in the registered database compiled by the National Health Insurance and provided by the Ministry ofHealth and Welfare, Taiwan. Results: A total of 3,806 patients with catastrophic IBD illness were registered from 2001 to 2015 inTaiwan (CD, 919; UC, 2,887). The crude incidence of CD increased from 0.17/100,000 in 2001 to 0.47/100,000 in 2015, whereasthat of UC increased from 0.54/100,000 in 2001 to 0.95/100,000 in 2015. The prevalence of CD increased from 0.6/100,000 in2001 to 3.9/100,000 in 2015, whereas that of UC increased from 2.1/100,000 in 2001 to 12.8/100,000 in 2015. The male-to-femaleratio in the study sample was 2.19 for CD and 1.62 for UC. The median age of those registered with CD was lower than that ofthose registered for UC: 38.86 and 44.86 years, respectively. A significantly greater increase in CD incidence rate was identifiedamong 20 to 39-year-old compared with other age groups. Conclusions: Using Taiwan’s nationwide insurance database, we determinedthat the number of patients with CD increased more rapidly during the study period than the number of patients withUC, especially among age 20 to 39-year-old, resulting in a decreased UC-to-CD ratio. (Intest Res 2019;17:54-62)

Clinical Features and Computed Tomography Characteristics of Non-Klebsiella pneumoniae Liver Abscesses in Elderly (>65 Years) and Nonelderly Patients

Chih-Weim Hsiang,Wei-Chou Chang,Chang-Hsien Liu,Hsiu-Lung Fan,Kai-Hsiung Ko,Chih-Yung Yu,Hong-Hau Wang,Wen-I Liao,Hsian-He Hsu 연세대학교의과대학 2015 Yonsei medical journal Vol.56 No.2

Purpose: To compare the clinical and computed tomography (CT) appearances of liver abscesses caused by non-Klebsiella pneumoniae bacterial pathogens in elderly and nonelderly patients. Materials and Methods: Eighty patients with confirmed non-Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscesses (non-KPLAs) were enrolled and dividedinto two age groups: elderly (age ≥65 years, n=42) and nonelderly (age <65 years, n=38). Diagnosis of non-KPLA was established by pus and/or blood culture. We compared clinical presentations, outcomes, and CT characteristics of the two groups, and performed multivariate analysis for significant variables and receiver-operating-characteristic analysis to determine the cutoff value of abscess diameter for predicting non-KPLA. Results: Elderly patients with non-KPLA were associatedwith a longer hospital stay (p<0.01). Regarding etiology, biliary sources had a strong association in the elderly group (p<0.01), and chronic liver diseases were relatedto the nonelderly group (p<0.01). Non-KPLAs (52.5%) tended to show a large, multiloculated appearance in the elderly group and were associated with bile duct dilatation (p<0.01), compared with the nonelderly group. The abscess diameter (cutoff value, 5.2 cm; area under the curve, 0.78) between the two groups was predicted. In multivariate analysis, underlying biliary tract disease [odds ratio (OR), 3.58, p<0.05], abscess diameter (OR, 2.40, p<0.05), and multiloculated abscess (OR, 1.19, p<0.01) independently predicted elderly patients with non-KPLA. Conclusion:In the elderly patients with non-KPLA, a large, multiloculated abscess with a diameter greater than 5.2 cm was the predominant imaging feature.

Intra-Arterial Treatment in Patients with Acute Massive Gastrointestinal Bleeding after Endoscopic Failure: Comparisons between Positive versus Negative Contrast Extravasation Groups

Wei-Chou Chang,Chang-Hsien Liu,Hsian-He Hsu,Guo-Shu Huang,Ho-Jui Tung,Tsai-Yuan Hsieh,Shih-Hung Tsai,Chung-Bao Hsieh,Chih-Yung Yu 대한영상의학회 2011 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.12 No.5

Objective: To determine whether treatment outcome is associated with visualization of contrast extravasation in patients with acute massive gastrointestinal bleeding after endoscopic failure. Materials and Methods: From January 2007 to December 2009, patients that experienced a first attack of acute gastrointestinal bleeding after failure of initial endoscopy were referred to our interventional department for intra-arterial treatment. We enrolled 79 patients and divided them into two groups: positive and negative extravasation. For positive extravasation, patients were treated by coil embolization; and in negative extravasation, patients were treated with intra-arterial vasopressin infusion. The two groups were compared for clinical parameters, hemodynamics, laboratory findings, endoscopic characteristics, and mortality rates. Results: Forty-eight patients had detectable contrast extravasation (positive extravasation), while 31 patients did not (negative extravasation). Fifty-six patients survived from this bleeding episode (overall clinical success rate, 71%). An elevation of hemoglobin level was observed in the both two groups; significantly greater in the positive extravasation group compared to the negative extravasation group. Although these patients were all at high risk of dying, the 90-day mortality rate was significantly lower in the positive extravasation than in the negative extravasation (20% versus 42%, p < 0.05). A multivariate analysis suggested that successful hemostasis (odds ratio [OR] = 28.66) is the most important predictor affecting the mortality in the two groups of patients. Conclusion: Visualization of contrast extravasation on angiography usually can target the bleeding artery directly, resulting in a higher success rate to control of hemorrhage. Objective: To determine whether treatment outcome is associated with visualization of contrast extravasation in patients with acute massive gastrointestinal bleeding after endoscopic failure. Materials and Methods: From January 2007 to December 2009, patients that experienced a first attack of acute gastrointestinal bleeding after failure of initial endoscopy were referred to our interventional department for intra-arterial treatment. We enrolled 79 patients and divided them into two groups: positive and negative extravasation. For positive extravasation, patients were treated by coil embolization; and in negative extravasation, patients were treated with intra-arterial vasopressin infusion. The two groups were compared for clinical parameters, hemodynamics, laboratory findings, endoscopic characteristics, and mortality rates. Results: Forty-eight patients had detectable contrast extravasation (positive extravasation), while 31 patients did not (negative extravasation). Fifty-six patients survived from this bleeding episode (overall clinical success rate, 71%). An elevation of hemoglobin level was observed in the both two groups; significantly greater in the positive extravasation group compared to the negative extravasation group. Although these patients were all at high risk of dying, the 90-day mortality rate was significantly lower in the positive extravasation than in the negative extravasation (20% versus 42%, p < 0.05). A multivariate analysis suggested that successful hemostasis (odds ratio [OR] = 28.66) is the most important predictor affecting the mortality in the two groups of patients. Conclusion: Visualization of contrast extravasation on angiography usually can target the bleeding artery directly, resulting in a higher success rate to control of hemorrhage.

A Theoretical Study of the Performance of a CuPc/V2O5/CuPc Vertical Triode by Using Numerical Simulations

Chih-Chieh Hsu,He-Ping Chen,Wei-Chieh Ting 한국물리학회 2015 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.67 No.2

was studied by using numerical simulations. The electrical characteristics of the triodes with V2O5 doping concentrations of 1016 − 1018 cm −3 and electrode work functions (WFs) of 4.4 − 5.1 eV were simulated. In addition, the corresponding physical mechanisms were investigated by quantitatively analyzing the energy band diagram, carrier distribution, injection and transports which were difficult to measure and obtain experimentally. The optimal triode performance was obtained for a doping concentration of V2O5 of 2 × 1017 cm −3 and WFs of the emitter and the collector electrodes of 5.1 eV and 4.8 eV, respectively. The simulation results were reasonable when compared with experimental data reported by other groups.

Preparation and characterization of Y-TZP powders coated with alumina

Chih-Cheng Chen,Shu-Wei Hsu,Hsing-I Hsiang 한양대학교 세라믹연구소 2008 Journal of Ceramic Processing Research Vol.9 No.2

In this study, alumina was coated onto yttria tetragonally stabilized zirconia (Y-TZP)core powder using aluminum nitrate with urea in an aqueous solution. Boehmite coating onto the surface of Y-TZP powders was confirmed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and zeta potential measurements. The sintering behaviors of Y-TZP powders with and without an alumina coating were investigated using a dilatometer and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Boehmite coating onto the surface of Y-TZP powders significantly improved the densification of the resulting ceramic bodies. The relative density of the Y-TZP with a boehmite coating sintered at 1350oC can reach 97.3%. In this study, alumina was coated onto yttria tetragonally stabilized zirconia (Y-TZP)core powder using aluminum nitrate with urea in an aqueous solution. Boehmite coating onto the surface of Y-TZP powders was confirmed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and zeta potential measurements. The sintering behaviors of Y-TZP powders with and without an alumina coating were investigated using a dilatometer and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Boehmite coating onto the surface of Y-TZP powders significantly improved the densification of the resulting ceramic bodies. The relative density of the Y-TZP with a boehmite coating sintered at 1350oC can reach 97.3%.

Grasping the Pseudo-Cleft in the Case of a Small, Severely Tethered Posterior Mitral Leaflet

Ching-Wei Lee,Shih-Hsien Sung,Ting-Yung Chang,I-Lin Tsai,Chih-Po Hsu,Chun-Che Shih 대한심장학회 2017 Korean Circulation Journal Vol.47 No.4

Implementation of IMS-based PoC Service with Context-Aware Interaction

Jenq-Muh Hsu,Wei-Bin Lain,Chih-Chuan Chan,Yi-Ming Huang 보안공학연구지원센터 2008 International Journal of Multimedia and Ubiquitous Vol.3 No.4

Push-to-Talk (PTT) is a half-duplex and one-to-many voice group communication. In past decades, PTT service has been widely adopted in various areas, including practical military, police, security, rescue, and emergency radio communication, etc. In addition, PTT service has also annunciated being an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)-based service defined by Open Mobile Alliance (OMA), which is called Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC).Context-aware computing derived from the field of ubiquitous computing as a technique for imbuing application services with an awareness of users’ surroundings and situations for achieving transparent interaction. Thus, a user can obtain some reasonable and proper services among context-aware interactions. In this paper we try combine the features of PoC and context-aware service to implement a context-aware PoC service based on the Open IMS core. The context-aware PoC service can be aware to filter context information and to form an applicable PoC session according to the current contexts of participant PoC users. By the way, our implemented context-aware PoC service can be realizedly used to play an applicable IMS application service in the next generation network (NGN).