Early Intervention with High-Dose Steroid Pulse Therapy Prolongs Disease-Free Interval of Severe Alopecia Areata: A Retrospective Study

( Chao Chun Yang ),( Chun Te Lee ),( Chao Kai Hsu ),( Yi Pei Lee ),( Tak Wah Wong ),( Sheau Chiou Chao ),( Julia Yu Yun Lee ),( Hamm Ming Sheu ),( Wenchieh Chen ) 대한피부과학회 2013 Annals of Dermatology Vol.25 No.4

Background: Spontaneous recovery of severe alopecia areata is rare and the condition is difficult to treat. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate and compare the effects and safety of steroid pulse therapy between oral and intravenous administrations between 1999 and 2010 at the Department of Dermatology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital. Methods: Data were retrospectively retrieved. A satisfactory response was defined as more than 75% hair regrowth in the balding area. Results: A total of 85 patients with more than 50% hair loss were identified and treated, with an overall satisfactory response rate of 51.8%. The mean follow-up time was 37.6 months, with a relapse rate of 22.7%. Patients with alopecia areata (hereafter, AA) of recent onset within one year showed higher response rates (p< 0.001) and lower relapse rates compared to patients with AA persisting for more than 1 year. Further, even in patients with alopecia totalis, alopecia universalis or ophiasis type, early treatment resulted in a satisfactory response rate of 47% among the treated patients. In general, oral therapy was as effective and well-tolerated as intravenous therapy. Conclusion: The response rate is determined by disease severity and time of intervention, not by the administration form of steroid pulse therapy. Oral steroid pulse therapy can be considered as the first-line treatment for patients with severe AA of recent onset within one year. (Ann Dermatol 25(4) 471∼474, 2013)

The Clinical Observation of Inflammation Theory for Depression: The Initiative of the Formosa Long COVID Multicenter Study (FOCuS)

Shu-Tsen Liu(Shu-Tsen Liu),Sheng-Che Lin(Sheng-Che Lin),Jane Pei-Chen Chang(Jane Pei-Chen Chang),Kai-Jie Yang(Kai-Jie Yang),Che-Sheng Chu(Che-Sheng Chu),Chia-Chun Yang(Chia-Chun Yang),Chih-Sung Liang( 대한정신약물학회 2023 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.21 No.1

There is growing evidence that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is associated with increased risks of psychiatric sequelae. Depression, anxiety, cognitive impairments, sleep disturbance, and fatigue during and after the acute phase of COVID-19 are prevalent, long-lasting, and exerting negative consequences on well-being and imposing a huge burden on healthcare systems and society. This current review presented timely updates of clinical research findings, particularly focusing on the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying the neuropsychiatric sequelae, and identified potential key targets for developing effective treatment strategies for long COVID. In addition, we introduced the Formosa Long COVID Multicenter Study (FOCuS), which aims to apply the inflammation theory to the pathogenesis and the psychosocial and nutrition treatments of post-COVID depression and anxiety.

Preparation of minor ginsenosides C-Mc, C-Y, F2, and C-K from American ginseng PPD-ginsenoside using special ginsenosidase type-I from Aspergillus niger g.848

Chun-Ying Liu,Rui-Xin Zhou,Chang-Kai Sun,Ying-Hua Jin,Hong-Shan Yu,Tian-Yang Zhang,Long-Quan Xu,Feng-Xie Jin 고려인삼학회 2015 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.39 No.3

Background: Minor ginsenosides, those having low content in ginseng, have higher pharmacological activities. To obtain minor ginsenosides, the biotransformation of American ginseng protopanaxadiol (PPD)-ginsenoside was studied using special ginsenosidase type-I from Aspergillus niger g.848. Methods: DEAE (diethylaminoethyl)-cellulose and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were used in enzyme purification, thin-layer chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used in enzyme hydrolysis and kinetics; crude enzyme was used in minor ginsenoside preparation from PPD-ginsenoside; the products were separated with silica-gel-column, and recognized by HPLC and NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance). Results: The enzyme molecular weight was 75 kDa; the enzyme firstly hydrolyzed the C-20 position 20- O-b-D-Glc of ginsenoside Rb1, then the C-3 position 3-O-b-D-Glc with the pathway Rb1/Rd/F2/C-K. However, the enzyme firstly hydrolyzed C-3 position 3-O-b-D-Glc of ginsenoside Rb2 and Rc, finally hydrolyzed 20-O-L-Ara with the pathway Rb2/C-O/C-Y/C-K, and Rc/C-Mc1/C-Mc/C-K. According to enzyme kinetics, Km and Vmax of MichaeliseMenten equation, the enzyme reaction velocities on ginsenosides were Rb1 > Rb2 > Rc > Rd. However, the pure enzyme yield was only 3.1%, so crude enzyme was used for minor ginsenoside preparation. When the crude enzyme was reacted in 3% American ginseng PPD-ginsenoside (containing Rb1, Rb2, Rc, and Rd) at 45C and pH 5.0 for 18 h, the main products were minor ginsenosides C-Mc, C-Y, F2, and C-K; average molar yields were 43.7% for CMc from Rc, 42.4% for C-Y from Rb2, and 69.5% for F2 and C-K from Rb1 and Rd. Conclusion: Four monomer minor ginsenosides were successfully produced (at low-cost) from the PPDginsenosides using crude enzyme.

Reliability Evaluation of Electrical Distribution Network Containing Distributed Generation Using Directed-Relation-Graph

Yang, He-Jun,Xie, Kai-Gui,Wai, Rong-Jong,Li, Chun-Yan The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers 2014 Journal of Electrical Engineering & Technology Vol.9 No.4

This paper presents an analytical technique for reliability evaluation of electrical distribution network (EDN) containing distributed generation (DG). Based on hierarchical levels of circuit breaker controlling zones and feeder sections, a directed-relation-graph (DRG) for an END is formed to describe the hierarchical structure of the EDN. The reliability indices of EDN and load points can be evaluated directly using the formed DRG, and the reliability evaluation of an EDN containing DGs can also be done without re-forming the DRG. The proposed technique incorporates multi-state models of photovoltaic and diesel generations, as well as weather factors. The IEEE-RBTS Bus 6 EDN is used to validate the proposed technique; and a practical campus EDN containing DG was also analyzed using the proposed technique.

Bioactivity of essential oil of Litsea cubeba from China and its main compounds against two stored product insects

Kai Yang,Cheng FangWang,Chun Xue You,Zhu Feng Geng,Rui Qi Sun,Shan Shan Guo,Shu Shan Du,Zhi Long Liu,Zhi Wei Deng 한국응용곤충학회 2014 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.17 No.3

During our screening program for agrochemicals from Chinese medicinal herbs and wild plants, the essential oilof Litsea cubeba fruits was found to possess strong contact toxicity against the cigarette beetle Lasiodermaserricorne adults and the booklouse Liposcelis bostrychophila, with LD50 values of 27.33 μg/adult and71.56 μg/cm2, respectively, and also showed strong fumigant toxicity against the two stored product insectswith LC50 values of 22.97 and 0.73 mg/L, respectively. The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation wasinvestigated by GC MS. The main components of the essential oil were identified to be E-citral (geranial)(27.49%), Z-citral (neral) (23.57%) and D-limonene (18.82%) followed by β-thujene (3.34%), β-pinene (2.85%), α-pinene (2.57%), 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one (2.40%) and linalool (2.36%). Citral (Z/E-citral), D-limonene, β-pinene,α-pinene and linalool were separated and purified by silica gel column chromatography and preparative thinlayer chromatography, and further identified by means of physicochemical and spectrometric analysis. Citral andlinalool showed strong contact toxicity against L. serricorne and L. bostrychophila (LD50 = 11.76, 12.74 μg/adultand 20.15, 99.97 μg/cm2, respectively) and fumigant toxicity against L. serricorne and L. bostrychophila (16.54,18.04 mg/L air and 0.14, 0.71 mg/L air, respectively). Otherwise, citral, D-limonene and linalool were strongly repellentagainst the cigarette beetle L. serricorne as the essential oil whereas β-pinene and α-pinene exhibited weakerrepellency against the cigarette beetle compared with the positive control, DEET. Moreover, except α-pinene andlinalool, the other three compounds as well as the essential oil exhibited comparable repellency against thebooklouse relative to DEET.

생태미학적 관점에서 본 한국 전통공간의 특성에 관한 연구

양은지(Yang, Eun-Jee),김개천(Kim, kai-chun) 한국실내디자인학회 2010 한국실내디자인학회논문집 Vol.19 No.3

Currently, the nature and ecosystem’s destruction by human beings and science is appearing as a serious problem. The possibility of ecological aesthetics is being sought as one of operations for new society in the contemporary society that the nature and ecosystem are getting attention. The present research aims to examine the characteristics and its expression method by setting the ecological aesthetics as an alternative of the future design. The history, meaning, mental image and image of Korean traditional Space forming the balance and harmony with the Nature, etc., which are important design concepts, were deduced as the beauty of emptiness, the beauty of a gap, the beauty of harmony and the beauty of changing and the beauty of simplicity as characteristics of experiencing space. If the deduced expression is examined through a case analysis of traditional housing, the characteristics trying to unite with the Nature while seeing ecology and aesthetics as one root, which the ecological aesthetics regarding as a root. The ecological arts based on the ecological aesthetics enters inside the universal life of human beings by examining the ecological and aesthetic characteristics appearing in Korean traditional Space, and the arts will move forward in a direction that its function and role link with maintenance of total ecosystem. The space application possibility and expression characteristics of ecological aesthetics should be continuously researched.

생태 미학적 관점에서 본 지속가능한 건축 공간 특성에 관한 연구

양은지(Yang, Eun-Ji),김개천(Kim, Kai-Chun) 한국실내디자인학회 2012 한국실내디자인학회논문집 Vol.21 No.4

Ecosystem and environment have been a serious challenge facing the modern society. It"s been the new paradigm from ecological view of the world and the alternative based on Orientalism. From the Oriental standpoint, ecological aesthetics and sustainable architecture are no longer new, which then servers the background of this study. The nature and the space, the life where the human is harmonized and integrated and the wish to make the balance through that life are the basic philosophy which the Orientalism has pursued. Based on such a basic concept, the study is intended to review the connectivity, expression approach and the features in Korean traditional residential space based on previous studies on ecological aesthetics and sustainable architecture. Such attempt is meaningful in seeking the possibility of presenting the new frame as well as forming the various views to the traditional space and spatial recognition. The nature was categorized into tangible element and intangible element and also direct approach and indirect approach before evaluating the characteristics. Sustainable architecture is not the concept to simply maintain or sustain the environment, but plays more important role in economical aspect. Traditional space accommodates the nature and circulation principle and the circulation in the nature controls the energy and enhances the efficiency, playing significant role. The nature itself serves the alternative energy and has the aesthetic element in such a way of concealing itself. This study is intended to analyze the Byulseo Jeongwon which formed many relations with the nature and the residential space, thereby identifying the expression characteristics of eco-aesthetic sustainable architect. This study offers the answers with regard to the coexistence of the expression characteristics of sustainable architecture with the nature, space and the human from eco aesthetic viewpoint as well as the solution in dealing with the ecological and environmental challenges. Furthermore, it suggested the possibility that the traditional space would possibly be succeedable in new and creative way and sought the way for coexistence among the nature, space and human and eco aesthetics, and finally paved the pivotal foundation as the sustainable design alternative in future.

한국 전통 건축 공간에 나타난 건축 재료의 특성에 관한 연구

양은지(Yang, Eun-ji),김개천(Kim, Kai-Chun) 한국실내디자인학회 2012 한국실내디자인학회논문집 Vol.21 No.6

Although evolution of construction materials brought about development of modern architecture, they caused destruction of the environment and pollution. This problem is not a new one in terms of ecological esthetics and materials of sustainable architecture in light of the Eastern view of nature and this idea became a background of this study. The basic concept is to try to find out their characteristics from a perspective of ecological esthetics in relation to traditional building materials that nature, architecture, and humans coexist and live with each other to balance. Based on ecological esthetics and precedent studies on materials of traditional architecture, we investigated connections, expressive methods and characteristics in traditional residential construction space. This attempt has meanings in that it can propose a new framework of forming various viewpoints and spatial perceptions in relation to esthetics and traditional construction materials. The current study examined the characteristics by dividing them into tangible and intangible elements based on expressive features of elements of nature. The characteristics found by this process are not simply notion of physical materials, but plays a key role aesthetically and ecologically. Nature and materials take circulation of the law of nature, regulate energy, increase efficiency and play a major role in an economic way. Nature in itself becomes natural alternative energy, and plays its role in an invisible fashion. It examined how expressive characteristics of construction materials are reflected through analyzing residential space and Korean traditional garden having relationships with Eastern viewpoint of nature in relation to Korean traditional construction materials from a perspective of ecological esthetics. Findings of the above study indicate that expressive characteristics of Korean traditional construction materials from a perspective of ecological esthetics are that nature, space, humans coexist and live together and they will provide a clue to an alternative to solve ecological and environmental problems modern society will have in the future. Through this process, it provided a possibility that traditional space and materials can be succeeded in creative and new ways, and it found out the way for nature, space, and humans to coexist and a possibility of ecological esthetics. It addition, it will provide a key base as an alternative of sustainable design of the future.

Genetic Epidemiological Analysis of Esophageal Cancer in High-incidence Areas of China

Wang, Kai-Juan,Yang, Jun-Xia,Shi, Jia-Chen,Deng, Song-Yuan,Cao, Xiao-Qin,Song, Chun-Hua,Wang, Peng Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.22

Genetic epidemiological studies have shown that genetic susceptibility to esophageal cancer (EC) is an important cause of its high incidence within families in some areas of China. The purpose of this study was to obtain evidence of a genetic basis of EC in Xin-an and Xin-xiang counties in China. Familial aggregation and complex segregation analyses were performed of 79 EC families in these counties. The heritability of EC was examined using Falconer's method and complex segregation analysis was conducted with the SEGREG program in Statistical Analysis for Genetic Epidemiology (SAGE version 5.3.1). The results showed that the distribution of EC in families did not fit well into a binomial distribution. The heritability of EC among first-degree and second-degree relatives was $67.0{\pm}7.31%$ and $43.1%{\pm}9.80%$, respectively, and the summing up powered heritability was $53.2{\pm}6.74%$. The segregation ratio was 0.045. Complex segregation analysis showed that the genetic model of EC was additive. The current results provide evidence for an inherited propensity to EC in certain high-risk groups in China, and support efforts to identify the genes that confer susceptibility to this disease.

Classifying Endemic Fagaceae Species in Taiwan using Leaf Images

( Hao-chun Hsu ),( Cheng-hao Lee ),( Chih-kai Yang ),( Fang-hua Chu ),( Ming-jer Tsai ),( Yan-fu Kuo ) 한국농업기계학회 2018 한국농업기계학회 학술발표논문집 Vol.23 No.1

Fagaceae is one of the plant family which dominate the broad-leaved forests in Taiwan and have considerable value in economy and ecology. Traditionally, plant species identification based on leaf morphologies and is conducted using naked-eye observation. This study is proposed to distinguish the Fagaceae species using image processing and machine learning. In this study, leaf images of 10 Fagaceae species were collected. A serial of traits relevant to leaf morphologies, such as morphological, color, shape, and venation traits, were quantified from the leaf images. A support vector machine classifier was then developed to identify the species using the quantified traits. The proposed approach reached an identification accuracy of 95.8%.