Explore the Predictors of Fall Risk Factors for Residents in the Long-Term Care Facility

Hung-Chun Lee,Huei-Ru Lin,Chieh-Yu Liu,Chia-Jung Hsieh,Fang-Wun Cai 한국간호과학회 2015 한국간호과학회 학술대회 Vol.2015 No.10

An Improvement on Robust H<SUB>∞</SUB> Control for Uncertain Continuous-Time Descriptor Systems

Hung-Jen Lee,Shih-Wei Kau,Yung-Sheng Liu,Chun-Hsiung Fang,Jian-Liung Chen,Ming-Hung Tsai,Li Lee 대한전기학회 2006 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.4 No.3

This paper proposes a new approach to solve robust H∞ control problems for uncertain continuous-time descriptor systems. Necessary and sufficient conditions for robust H∞ control analysis and design are derived and expressed in terms of a set of LMIs. In the proposed approach, the uncertainties are allowed to appear in all system matrices. Furthermore, a couple of assumptions that are required in earlier design methods are not needed anymore in the present one. The derived conditions also include several interesting results existing in the literature as special cases.

Lipopolysaccharide-induced Autophagy Increases SOX2-positive Astrocytes While Decreasing Neuronal Differentiation in the Adult Hippocampus

Liu Wen-Chung,Wu Chih-Wei,Fu Mu-Hui,Tain You-Lin,Liang Chih-Kuang,Chen I-Chun,Hung Chun-Ying,Lee Yu-Chi,Wu Kay L.H. 한국뇌신경과학회 2022 Experimental Neurobiology Vol.31 No.5

Inflammation alters the neural stem cell (NSC) lineage from neuronal to astrogliogenesis. However, the underlying mechanism is elusive. Autophagy contributes to the decline in adult hippocampal neurogenesis under E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. SRY-box transcription Factor 2 (SOX2) is critical for NSC self-renewal and proliferation. In this study, we investigated the role of SOX2 in induced autophagy and hippocampal adult neurogenesis under LPS stimulation. LPS (5 ng•100 g-1•hour-1 for 7 days) was intraperitoneally infused into male Sprague–Dawley rats (8 weeks old) to induce mild systemic inflammation. Beclin 1 and autophagy protein 12 (Atg12) were significantly upregulated concurrent with decreased numbers of Ki67- and doublecortin (DCX)-positive cells in the dentate gyrus. Synchronically, the levels of phospho(p)-mTOR, the p-mTOR/mTOR ratio, p-P85s6k, and the p-P85s6k/P85s6k ratio were suppressed. In contrast, SOX2 expression was increased. The fluorescence micrographs indicated that the colocalization of Beclin 1 and SOX2 was increased in the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the dentate gyrus. Moreover, increased S100β-positive astrocytes were colocalized with SOX2 in the SGZ. Intracerebroventricular infusion of 3-methyladenine (an autophagy inhibitor) effectively prevented the increases in Beclin 1, Atg12, and SOX2. The SOX2+-Beclin 1+ and SOX2+-S100β+ cells were reduced. The levels of p-mTOR and p-P85s6k were enhanced. Most importantly, the number of DCX-positive cells was preserved. Altogether, these data suggest that LPS induced autophagy to inactivate the mTOR/P85s6k pathway, resulting in a decline in neural differentiation. SOX2 was upregulated to facilitate the NSC lineage, while the autophagy milieu could switch the SOX2-induced NSC lineage from neurogenesis to astrogliogenesis.

Schistosomiasis Combined with Colorectal Carcinoma Diagnosed Based on Endoscopic Findings and Clinicopathological Characteristics: A Report on 32 Cases

Liu, Wei,Zeng, Hong-Ze,Wang, Qi-Ming,Yi, Hang,Mou, Yi,Wu, Chun-Cheng,Hu, Bing,Tang, Cheng-Wei Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.8

Aims and Background: To improve understanding of the relationship between schistosome-related enteropathy and colorectal carcinoma with particular focus on endoscopic findings and clinicopathological characteristics of colonic schistosomiasis. Materials and Methods: All cases of intestinal schistosomiasis diagnosed at West China Hospital, Chengdu, China, between October 2006 and October 2012 were included in this study. A total of 179 cases of colonic schistosomiasis diagnosed through colonoscopy and pathological examinations were collected for analysis and the demographics, symptoms, endoscopic findings and clinicopathological characteristics were retrospectively evaluated. Results: Of the 179 colonic schistosomiasis patients, 32 combined with colorectal cancer (CRC) were found, between the ages of 44 and 85 years (24 males, 75%). These 32 lesions were classified as 12 endophytic/ulcerative (37.5%), 10 exophytic/fungating (31.2%), 4 annular (12.5%), 3 giant polypus (9.4%), and 3 IIc (superficial depressed type) (9.4%). The segments of rectum and sigmoid colon were involved in 19 patients (59.4%) and 6 patients (18.8%), respectively. The histopathologic types were classified as follows: 30 welldifferentiated adenocarcinomas, one mucinous adenocarcinoma and one poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. The pathological findings suggest colorectal malignancy with deposited schistosome ova. Conclusions: Chronic schistosomal infestation has a probable etiological role in promoting genesis of colorectal neoplasms.

Partitioning <i>H</i>-minor free graphs into three subgraphs with no large components

Liu, Chun-Hung,Oum, Sang-il Elsevier 2018 Journal of combinatorial theory. Series B Vol.128 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>We prove that for every graph <I>H</I>, if a graph <I>G</I> has no (odd) <I>H</I> minor, then its vertex set V ( G ) can be partitioned into three sets <SUB> X 1 </SUB> , <SUB> X 2 </SUB> , <SUB> X 3 </SUB> such that for each <I>i</I>, the subgraph induced on <SUB> X i </SUB> has no component of size larger than a function of <I>H</I> and the maximum degree of <I>G</I>. This improves a previous result of Alon, Ding, Oporowski and Vertigan (2003) stating that V ( G ) can be partitioned into four such sets if <I>G</I> has no <I>H</I> minor. Our theorem generalizes a result of Esperet and Joret (2014) , who proved it for graphs embeddable on a fixed surface and asked whether it is true for graphs with no <I>H</I> minor.</P> <P>As a corollary, we prove that for every positive integer <I>t</I>, if a graph <I>G</I> has no <SUB> K t + 1 </SUB> minor, then its vertex set V ( G ) can be partitioned into 3<I>t</I> sets <SUB> X 1 </SUB> , … , <SUB> X 3 t </SUB> such that for each <I>i</I>, the subgraph induced on <SUB> X i </SUB> has no component of size larger than a function of <I>t</I>. This corollary improves a result of Wood (2010) , which states that V ( G ) can be partitioned into ⌈ 3.5 t + 2 ⌉ such sets.</P>

3.2-kW 9.7-GHz Polarization-maintaining Narrow-linewidth All-fiber Amplifier

Hang Liu,Yujun Feng,Xiaobo Yang,Yao Wang,Hongming Yu,Jue Wang,Wanjing Peng,Yanshan Wang,Yinhong Sun,Yi Ma,Qingsong Gao,Chun Tang 한국광학회 2024 Current Optics and Photonics Vol.8 No.1

We present a Yb-doped narrow-linewidth polarization-maintaining (PM) all-fiber amplifier that achieves a high mode-instability (MI) threshold, high output power, and 9.7-GHz spectral linewidth. Six wavelength-multiplexed laser diodes are used to pump this amplifier. First, we construct a high-power fiber amplifier based on a master oscillator-power amplifier (MOPA) configuration for experiments. Subsequently, we examine the MI threshold by individually pumping the amplifier with wavelengths of 976, 974, 981, 974, and 981 nm respectively. The experimental results demonstrate that the amplifier exhibits a high MI threshold (>3.5 kW) when pumped with a combination of wavelengths at 974 and 981 nm. Afterward, we inject an optimized phase-modulated seed with a nearly flat-top spectrum into this amplifier. Ultimately, laser output of 3.2 kW and 9.7 GHz are obtained.

Combination Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis B: Current Updates and Perspectives

( Tung-hung Su ),( Chun-jen Liu ) 대한간학회 2017 Gut and Liver Vol.11 No.5

Nucleos(t)ide analogues (NUCs) and interferon have been used for several decades to treat chronic hepatitis B; how-ever, the therapeutic response remains unsatisfactory. Although NUC therapy exhibits potent on-treatment viral sup-pression, frequent off-therapy virological relapses suggest an indefinite treatment course. Interferon modulates the innate and adaptive antiviral immune responses and thus increases the chance of viral eradication. Interferon therapy has the advantage of a finite duration, absence of drug resis-tance, and durable posttreatment responses. Therefore, the combination of NUCs and interferon can theoretically facili-tate a synergistic therapeutic effect. This paper summarizes the current strategies of various combination therapies into three categories: the simultaneous “dual” strategy, sequen-tial combination “add-on” strategy, and “switch” strategy. Generally, dual therapy exhibits greater on-treatment and off-therapy viral suppression and lower drug resistance compared with NUC monotherapy. Compared with inter-feron monotherapy, dual therapy has greater on-treatment viral suppression but shows no difference in off-therapy sustained virological responses. Specific add-on or switch strategies provide promising on-treatment efficacy in select patients. Pretreatment or on-treatment quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen and e antigen are predictive for the treat-ment efficacy of combination therapy. The optimal schedule of combination regimens and individualized therapy remain to be comprehensively evaluated. (Gut Liver 2017;11:590- 603)

Clinical practice guidelines and real-life practice in hepatocellular carcinoma: A Taiwan perspective

Tung-Hung Su,Chih-Horng Wu,Tsung-Hao Liu,Cheng-Maw Ho,Chun-Jen Liu 대한간학회 2023 Clinical and Molecular Hepatology(대한간학회지) Vol.29 No.2

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in Taiwan. The Taiwan Liver Cancer Association and the Gastroenterological Society of Taiwan developed and updated the guidelines for HCC management in 2020. In clinical practice, we follow these guidelines and the reimbursement policy of the government. In Taiwan, abdominal ultrasonography, alpha-fetoprotein, and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) tests are performed for HCC surveillance every 6 months or every 3 months for high-risk patients. Dynamic computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and contrast-enhanced ultrasound have been recommended for HCC surveillance in extremely high-risk patients or those with poor ultrasonographic visualization results. HCC is usually diagnosed through dynamic imaging, and pathological diagnosis is recommended. Staging of HCC is based on a modified version of the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) system, and the HCC management guidelines in Taiwan actively promote curative treatments including surgery and locoregional therapy for BCLC stage B or C patients. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), drug-eluting bead TACE, transarterial radioembolization, and hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy may be administered for patients with BCLC stage B or C HCC. Sorafenib and lenvatinib are reimbursed as systemic therapies, and regorafenib and ramucirumab may be reimbursed in cases of sorafenib failure. First-line atezolizumab with bevacizumab is not yet reimbursed but may be administered in clinical practice. Systemic therapy and external beam radiation therapy may be used in specific patients. Early switching to systemic therapy in TACE-refractory patients is a recent paradigm shift in HCC management.

Metformin Inhibits Nuclear Receptor TR4–Mediated Hepatic Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase 1 Gene Expression With Altered Insulin Sensitivity

Kim, Eungseok,Liu, Ning-Chun,Yu, I-Chen,Lin, Hung-Yun,Lee, Yi-Fen,Sparks, Janet D.,Chen, Lu-Min,Chang, Chawnshang American Diabetes Association 2011 Diabetes Vol.60 No.5

<P><B>OBJECTIVE</B></P><P>TR4 is a nuclear receptor without clear pathophysiological roles. We investigated the roles of hepatic TR4 in the regulation of lipogenesis and insulin sensitivity in vivo and in vitro.</P><P><B>RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS</B></P><P>TR4 activity and phosphorylation assays were carried out using hepatocytes and various TR4 wild-type and mutant constructs. Liver tissues from TR4 knockout, C57BL/6, and <I>db/db</I> mice were examined to investigate TR4 target gene stearoyl-CoA desaturase (<I>SCD</I>) 1 regulation.</P><P><B>RESULTS</B></P><P>TR4 transactivation is inhibited via phosphorylation by metformin-induced AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) at the amino acid serine 351, which results in the suppression of SCD1 gene expression. Additional mechanistic dissection finds TR4-transactivated <I>SCD1</I> promoter activity via direct binding to the TR4-responsive element located at −243 to −255 on the promoter region. The pathophysiological consequences of the metformin→AMPK→TR4→SCD1 pathway are examined via TR4 knockout mice and primary hepatocytes with either knockdown or overexpression of TR4. The results show that the suppression of <I>SCD1</I> via loss of TR4 resulted in reduced fat mass and increased insulin sensitivity with increased β-oxidation and decreased lipogenic gene expression.</P><P><B>CONCLUSIONS</B></P><P>The pathway from metformin→AMPK→TR4→SCD1→insulin sensitivity suggests that TR4 may function as an important modulator to control lipid metabolism, which sheds light on the use of small molecules to modulate TR4 activity as a new alternative approach to battle the metabolic syndrome.</P>

Characterization of Cycle Obstruction Sets for Improper Coloring Planar Graphs

Choi, Ilkyoo,Liu, Chun-Hung,Oum, Sang-il Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics 2018 SIAM journal on discrete mathematics Vol.32 No.2

<P>For nonnegative integers <TEX>$k, d_1, \ldots, d_k$</TEX>, a graph is <TEX>$(d_1, \ldots, d_k)$</TEX>-colorable if its vertex set can be partitioned into <TEX>$k$</TEX> parts so that the <TEX>$i$</TEX>th part induces a graph with maximum degree at most <TEX>$d_i$</TEX> for all <TEX>$i\in\{1, \ldots, k\}$</TEX>. A class <TEX>$\mathcal C$</TEX> of graphs is <italic toggle='yes'>balanced <TEX>$k$</TEX>-partitionable</I> and <italic toggle='yes'>unbalanced <TEX>$k$</TEX>-partitionable</I> if there exists a nonnegative integer <TEX>$D$</TEX> such that all graphs in <TEX>$\mathcal C$</TEX> are <TEX>$(D, \ldots, D)$</TEX>-colorable and <TEX>$(0, \ldots, 0, D)$</TEX>-colorable, respectively, where the tuple has length <TEX>$k$</TEX>. A set <TEX>$X$</TEX> of cycles is a <italic toggle='yes'>cycle obstruction set</I> of a class <TEX>$\mathcal C$</TEX> of planar graphs if every planar graph containing none of the cycles in <TEX>$X$</TEX> as a subgraph belongs to <TEX>$\mathcal C$</TEX>. This paper characterizes all cycle obstruction sets of planar graphs to be balanced <TEX>$k$</TEX>-partitionable and unbalanced <TEX>$k$</TEX>-partitionable for all <TEX>$k$</TEX>; namely, we identify all inclusionwise minimal cycle obstruction sets for all <TEX>$k$</TEX>.</P>