Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Increases Peritonsillar Abscess Susceptibility: Real-World Evidence

Ching-Lung Wu,Ming-Shao Tsai,Ta-Jen Lee,Yun-Ting Wang,Chia-Yen Liu,Yao-Hsu Yang,Yao-Te Tsai,Cheng-Ming Hsu,Ching-Yuan Wu,Pey-Jium Chang,Geng-He Chang 대한이비인후과학회 2021 Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology Vol.14 No.3

Objectives. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a risk factor for deep neck infection (DNI) and leads to complications and poor outcomes. Our study aimed to investigate the risk, prognosis, and complications of peritonsillar abscess (PTA) in patients with T2DM. Methods. We extracted data of patients newly diagnosed as having T2DM between January 2000 and December 2011 from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database. These patients were matched with patients without T2DM, and PTA incidence was compared between both cohorts. Results. In total, 67,852 patients with and 135,704 patients without T2DM were enrolled. PTA incidence was significantly higher in patients with T2DM (incidence rate ratio, 1.91; P<0.001); moreover, PTA incidence was higher at 1 to 5 years after T2DM diagnosis than at <1 and >5 years after T2DM diagnosis. Cox regression analysis showed that patients with T2DM had an approximately 2-fold higher PTA risk (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.89, P<0.001). Patients with a higher adapted Diabetes Complications Severity Index (aDCSI) had higher PTA risk than those with a lower aDCSI (aHRs: 2.17 for aDCSI ≥1, P=0.006 and 1.81 for aDCSI=0, P=0.002). T2DM patients with a high aDCSI (≥1) had a nonsignificantly longer hospitalization duration and a higher rate of DNI complications than did those with a low aDCSI (=0). Conclusion. In patients with T2DM, PTA incidence was relatively high, and it increased with T2DM severity. Moreover, T2DM patients should be particularly careful about PTA within 1 to 5 years after the diagnosis, and physicians should keep in mind that the prognosis of PTA was correlated with T2DM severity.

Growing pigs developed different types of diabetes induced by streptozotocin depending on their transcription factor 7-like 2 gene polymorphisms

Ching-Fu Tu,Chi-Yun Hsu,Meng-Hwan Lee,Bo-Hui Jiang,Shyh-Forng Guo,Chai-Ching Lin,Tien-Shuh Yang 한국실험동물학회 2018 Laboratory Animal Research Vol.34 No.4

The different polymorphisms of the transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene promote variances in diabetes susceptibility in humans. We investigated whether these genotypes also promote differences in diabetic susceptibility in commercial pigs. Growing pigs (Landrace, both sex, 50-60 kg) with the C/C (n=4) and T/T (n=5) TCF7L2 genotypes were identified and intravenously injected with streptozotocin (STZ, 40 mg/kg) twice in weekly intervals, then a high-energy diet was offered. Oral glucose tolerance tests, blood analyses and the homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index calculations were performed. The animals were sacrificed at the end of 12 weeks of treatment to reveal the pancreas histomorphometry. The results showed that all of the treated pigs grew normally despite exhibiting hyperglycemia at two weeks after the induction. The glycemic level of the fasting or postprandial pigs gradually returned to normal. The fasting insulin concentration was significantly decreased for the T/T carriers but not for the C/C carriers, and the resulting HOMA-IR index was significantly increased for the C/C genotype, indicating that the models of insulin dependence and resistance were respectively developed by T/T and C/C carriers. The histopathological results illustrated a significant reduction in the pancreas mass and insulin active sites, which suggested increased damage. The results obtained here could not be compared with previous studies because the TCF7L2 background has not been reported. Growing pigs may be an excellent model for diabetic in children if the animals are genetically pre-selected.

Study on Decision-Making Factors of Big Data Application in Enterprises: Using Company S as an Example

Yun Kuei Huang,Wen I. Yang,Ching Sen Chan 동아시아경상학회 2016 The East Asian Journal of Business Economics Vol.4 No.1

With vigorous development of global network community, smart phones and mobile devices, enterprises can rapidly collect various kinds of data from internal and external environments. How to discover valuable information and transform it into new business opportunities from big data which grow rapidly is an extremely important issue for current enterprises. This study treats Company S as the subject and tries to find the factors of big data application in enterprises by a modified Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and perceived benefits ─ perceived barriers relation matrix as reference for big data application and management of managers or marketing personnel in other organizations or related industry.

Candida albicans ENO1 Null Mutants Exhibit Altered Drug Susceptibility, Hyphal Formation, and Virulence

Hui-Ching Ko,Ting-Yin Hsiao,Chiung-Tong Chen,Yun-Liang Yang 한국미생물학회 2013 The journal of microbiology Vol.51 No.3

We previously showed that the expression of ENO1 (enolase) in the fungal pathogen Candida albicans is critical for cell growth. In this study, we investigate the contribution of the ENO1 gene to virulence. We conducted our functional study of ENO1 in C. albicans by constructing an eno1/eno1 null mutant strain in which both ENO1 alleles in the genome were knockouted with the SAT1 flipper cassette that contains the nourseothricin-resistance marker. Although the null mutant failed to grow on synthetic media containing glucose, it was capable of growth on media containing yeast extract, peptone, and non-fermentable carbon sources. The null mutant was more susceptible to certain antifungal drugs. It also exhibited defective hyphal formation, and was avirulent in BALB/c mice.

Chlorophyll-Related Compounds Inhibit Cell Adhesion and Inflammation in Human Aortic Cells

Kuan-Hung Lin,Ching-Yun Hsu,Ya-Ping Huang,Jun-You Lai,Wen-Bin Hsieh,Meng-Yuan Huang,Chi-Ming Yang,Pi-Yu Chao 한국식품영양과학회 2013 Journal of medicinal food Vol.16 No.10

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of chlorophyll-related compounds (CRCs) and chlorophyll (Chl) a + b on inflammation in human aortic endothelial cells. Adhesion molecule expression and interleukin (IL)-8, nuclear factor (NF)-jB p65 protein, and NF-jB and activator protein (AP)-1 DNA binding were assessed. The effects of CRCs on inflammatory signaling pathways of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) and mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4, respectively induced by IL-6 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-b, in human aortic smooth muscle cells cultured in vitro were also investigated. HAECs were pretreated with 10 lM of CRCs, Chl a + b, and aspirin (Asp) for 18 h followed by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a (2 ng/mL) for 6 h, and U937 cell adhesion was determined. TNF-a–induced monocyte-endothelial cell adhesion was significantly inhibited by CRCs. Moreover, CRCs and Chl a + b significantly attenuated vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and IL-8 expressions. Treatments also significantly decreased in NF-jB expression, DNA binding, and AP-1 DNA binding by CRCs and Asp. Thus, CRCs exert anti-inflammatory effects through modulation of NF-jB and AP-1 signaling. Ten micromoles of CRCs and Asp upregulated the expression of mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4 (Drosophila) (SMAD4) in the TGF-b receptor signaling pathway, and SMAD3/4 transcription activity was also increased. Ten micromoles of CRCs were able to potently inhibit STAT3-binding activity by repressing IL-6–induced STAT3 expression. Our results provide a potential mechanism that explains the anti-inflammatory activities of these CRCs.

Controlled Release of Clenbuterol from a Hydroxyapatite Carrier for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

Yi-Wen Lin,Chih-Hsiang Fang,Ya-Jyun Liang,Ching-Yun Yang,Wei-Ting Kuo,Feng-Huei Lin 한국생체재료학회 2023 생체재료학회지 Vol.27 No.00

Background Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder, and Aβ aggregation is considered to be the central process implicated in its pathogenesis. Current treatments are faced by challenges such as serious side effects and reduced drug bioavailability. In this study, we developed a drug delivery system for intramuscular injection that uses cellular activity to achieve constant and long-term drug release. Methods Synthesized mesoporous hydroxyapatite (SHAP) was prepared via co-precipitation, and hydrophobic surface modification using stearic acid was then used to load clenbuterol by physical absorption, thus creating the drug delivery system. Clenbuterol release was achieved through cellular activity, with macrophage uptake triggering lysosome/endosome disruption, cytoplasmic release, extracellular exocytosis, and subsequent systemic circulation. Results We found that clenbuterol-loaded SHAP enabled sustained release for more than 2 weeks and effectively modulated inflammation, reduced Aβ oligomer-induced toxicity, and prevented Aβ aggregation. Conclusions Our findings suggest that treatment with clenbuterol loaded in this SHAP delivery system could be a promising strategy for treating Alzheimer’s disease.