The Effect of Tai Chi on Psychosocial Well-being: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Wei Chun Wang,Bodil Rasmussen,Anthony Lin Zhang,Li-Wei Lin,Trisha Dunning,강승완,Byung-Joo Park,Sing Kai Lo 사단법인약침학회 2009 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.2 No.3

Objective: This systematic review aimed to critically appraise published clinical trials designed to assess the effect of Tai Chi on psychosocial well-being. Data Sources: Databases searched included MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, HEALT, PsycINFO, CISCOM, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials of the Cochrane Library, and dissertations and conference proceedings from inception to August 2008. Review Methods: Methodological quality was assessed using a modified Jadad scale. A total of 15 studies met the inclusion criteria (i.e. English publications of randomized controlled trials with Tai Chi as an intervention and psychological well-being as an outcome measure), of which eight were high quality trials. The psychosocial outcomes measured included anxiety (eight studies), depression (eight studies), mood (four studies), stress (two studies), general mental health three studies), anger, positive and negative effect, self-esteem, life satisfaction, social interaction and self-rated health (one study each). Results: Tai Chi intervention was found to have a significant effect in 13 studies, especially in the management of depression and anxiety. Although the results seemed to suggest Tai Chi is effective, they should be interpreted cautiously as the quality of the trials varied substantially. Furthermore, significant findings were shown in only six high quality studies. Moreover, significant between group differences after Tai Chi intervention was demonstrated in only one high quality study (the other three significant results were observed in non-high quality studies). Two high quality studies in fact found no significant Tai Chi effects. Conclusion: It is still premature to make any conclusive remarks on the effect of Tai Chi on psychosocial well-being. Objective: This systematic review aimed to critically appraise published clinical trials designed to assess the effect of Tai Chi on psychosocial well-being. Data Sources: Databases searched included MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, HEALT, PsycINFO, CISCOM, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials of the Cochrane Library, and dissertations and conference proceedings from inception to August 2008. Review Methods: Methodological quality was assessed using a modified Jadad scale. A total of 15 studies met the inclusion criteria (i.e. English publications of randomized controlled trials with Tai Chi as an intervention and psychological well-being as an outcome measure), of which eight were high quality trials. The psychosocial outcomes measured included anxiety (eight studies), depression (eight studies), mood (four studies), stress (two studies), general mental health three studies), anger, positive and negative effect, self-esteem, life satisfaction, social interaction and self-rated health (one study each). Results: Tai Chi intervention was found to have a significant effect in 13 studies, especially in the management of depression and anxiety. Although the results seemed to suggest Tai Chi is effective, they should be interpreted cautiously as the quality of the trials varied substantially. Furthermore, significant findings were shown in only six high quality studies. Moreover, significant between group differences after Tai Chi intervention was demonstrated in only one high quality study (the other three significant results were observed in non-high quality studies). Two high quality studies in fact found no significant Tai Chi effects. Conclusion: It is still premature to make any conclusive remarks on the effect of Tai Chi on psychosocial well-being.

Kinetically Blocked Stable Heptazethrene and Octazethrene: Closed-Shell or Open-Shell in the Ground State?

Li, Yuan,Heng, Wee-Kuan,Lee, Byung Sun,Aratani, Naoki,Zafra, José,L.,Bao, Nina,Lee, Richmond,Sung, Young Mo,Sun, Zhe,Huang, Kuo-Wei,Webster, Richard D.,Ló,pez Navarrete, Juan T.,Kim, Dongh American Chemical Society 2012 JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY - Vol.134 No.36

<P>Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with an open-shell singlet biradical ground state are of fundamental interest and have potential applications in materials science. However, the inherent high reactivity makes their synthesis and characterization very challenging. In this work, a convenient synthetic route was developed to synthesize two kinetically blocked heptazethrene (<B>HZ-TIPS</B>) and octazethrene (<B>OZ-TIPS</B>) compounds with good stability. Their ground-state electronic structures were systematically investigated by a combination of different experimental methods, including steady-state and transient absorption spectroscopy, variable temperature NMR, electron spin resonance (ESR), superconducting quantum interfering device (SQUID), FT Raman, and X-ray crystallographic analysis, assisted by unrestricted symmetry-broken density functional theory (DFT) calculations. All these demonstrated that the heptazethrene derivative <B>HZ-TIPS</B> has a closed-shell ground state while its octazethrene analogue <B>OZ-TIPS</B> with a smaller energy gap exists as an open-shell singlet biradical with a large measured biradical character (<I>y</I> = 0.56). Large two-photon absorption (TPA) cross sections (σ<SUP>(2)</SUP>) were determined for <B>HZ-TIPS</B> (σ<SUP>(2)</SUP><SUB>max</SUB> = 920 GM at 1250 nm) and <B>OZ-TIPS</B> (σ<SUP>(2)</SUP><SUB>max</SUB> = 1200 GM at 1250 nm). In addition, <B>HZ-TIPS</B> and <B>OZ-TIPS</B> show a closely stacked 1D polymer chain in single crystals.</P><P><B>Graphic Abstract</B> <IMG SRC='http://pubs.acs.org/appl/literatum/publisher/achs/journals/content/jacsat/2012/jacsat.2012.134.issue-36/ja304618v/production/images/medium/ja-2012-04618v_0015.gif'></P><P><A href='http://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/ja304618v'>ACS Electronic Supporting Info</A></P>

Defecation Frequency, Symptoms and Quality of Life Among Constipated Older People

Li-Wei Lin,Trisha Dunning,Shu-Hui Yeh,Anthony Lin Zhang,Tsung-Kuei Kao,Maxine Duke,Sing Kai Lo 한국간호과학회 2009 한국간호과학회 학술대회 Vol.2009 No.10

IL-33/ST2 axis mediates hyperplasia of intrarenal urothelium in obstructive renal injury

Wei-Yu Chen,Jenq-Lin Yan,Yi-Hsiu Wu,Lung-Chih Li,Ru-Fang Li,Ya-Ting Chang,Lo-Hsin Dai,Wan-Chen Wang,Ya-Jen Chang 생화학분자생물학회 2018 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.50 No.-

The monolayered intrarenal urothelium covers the renal papilla and ureteropelvic junction (UPJ). In response to increased renal pressure during obstruction or ischemic injuries, intrarenal urothelial cells begin to proliferate and form a multilayered urothelium. Little is known regarding the mechanism and pathophysiological role of urothelium hyperplasia during renal obstruction. In this study, we investigated the expression of interleukin (IL)-33, an IL-1 family cytokine, in kidneys with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced obstructive injury. IL-33 levels in hydronephrotic urine and serum were upregulated 2 days after UUO. The number of ST2-expressing immune cells was increased in the UUO kidney. We found that IL-33 was upregulated in vimentin-positive cells in the cortical and medullar layers and the UPJ stroma. Moreover, IL-33 expression was predominantly induced in multilayered keratin 5- positive urothelial cells in the UPJ. IL-33 was not detected in terminally differentiated superficial umbrella cells expressing uroplakin 3a. In vivo, we confirmed that deficiency of IL33 or its receptor ST2 attenuated UUO-induced hyperplasia of the UPJ urothelium. Deficiency of IL33 attenuated the expression of UUO-induced type 2 inflammatory cytokines and upregulated uroplakins and urothelial differentiation signaling in UPJ tissues. Our results collectively suggest that the IL-33/ST2 axis mediates the activation of innate immune responses and contributes to urothelial hyperplasia by regulating urothelial differentiation in obstructive kidney injury.

The accuracy and clinical applicability of a sensor based electromagnetic nonfluoroscopic catheter tracking system

Shinya Yamada,Li-Wei Lo,Yenn-Jiang Lin,Shih-Lin Chang,Fa-Po Chung,Yu-Feng Hu,Ta-Chuan Tuan,Tze-Fan Chao,Jo-Nan Liao,Chin-Yu Lin,Shih-Ann Chen 대한심장학회 2019 Korean Circulation Journal Vol.49 No.1

Background and Objectives: The differences between electromagnetic-based mapping (EM) and impedance-based mapping (IM) in 3D anatomical reconstruction have not been fully clarified. We aimed to investigate the anatomical accuracy between EM (MediGuide™) and IM (EnSite Velocity™) systems. Methods: We investigated 15 consecutive patients (10 males, mean age 58±9 years) who underwent pulmonary veins (PVs) isolation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) image of the left atrium (LA) was acquired before ablation and the 3D geometry of the LA was constructed using EM during ablation procedure. We measured the 4 PV angles between the main trunk of each PV and the posterior LA after field scaling. Additionally, the posterior LA surface area was measured. The variables were compared to those of CT-based geometry. A control group of 40 patients who underwent conventional PVs isolation using IM were also evaluated. Results: The actual and relative changes of EM and CT-based geometry in all PV angles and posterior LA were significantly smaller compared to those of IM and CT-based geometry. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between EM and CT-based geometry were 0.871 (right superior pulmonary vein [RSPV]), 0.887 (right inferior pulmonary vein [RIPV]), 0.853 (left superior pulmonary vein [LSPV]), 0.911 (left inferior pulmonary vein [LIPV]), and 0.833 (posterior LA). On the other hand, ICC between IM and CT-based geometry were 0.548 (RSPV), 0.639 (RIPV), 0.691 (LSPV), 0.706 (LIPV), and 0.568 (posterior LA). Conclusions: Image integration with EM enables high accurate visualization of cardiac anatomy compared to IM in PAF ablation.

The Crucial Role of the Establishment of Computed Tomography Density Conversion Tables for Treating Brain or Head/Neck Tumors

Yang, Shu-Chin,Lo, Su-Hua,Shie, Li-Tsuen,Lee, Sung-Wei,Ho, Sheng-Yow Korean Society of Medical Physics 2021 의학물리 Vol.32 No.3

Purpose: The relationship between computed tomography (CT) number and electron density (ED) has been investigated in previous studies. However, the role of these measures for guiding cancer treatment remains unclear. Methods: The CT number was plotted against ED for different imaging protocols. The CT number was imported into ED tables for the Pinnacle treatment planning system (TPS) and was used to determine the effect on dose calculations. Conversion tables for radiation dose calculations were generated and subsequently monitored using a dosimeter to determine the effect of different CT scanning protocols and treatment sites. These tables were used to retrospectively recalculate the radiation therapy plans for 41 patients after an incorrect scanning protocol was inadvertently used. The gamma index was further used to assess the dose distribution, percentage dose difference (DD), and distance-to-agreement (DTA). Results: For densities <1.1 g/cm³, the standard deviation of the CT number was ±0.6% and the greatest variation was noted for brain protocol conditions. For densities >1.1 g/cm³, the standard deviation of the CT number was ±21.2% and the greatest variation occurred for the tube voltage and head and neck (H&N) protocol conditions. These findings suggest that the factors most affecting the CT number are the tube voltage and treatment site (brain and H&N). Gamma index analyses for the 41 retrospective clinical cases, as well as brain metastases and H&N tumors, showed gamma passing rates >90% and <90% for the passing criterion of 2%/2 and 1%/1 mm, respectively. Conclusions: The CT protocol should be carefully decided for TPS. The correct protocol should be used for the corresponding TPS based on the treatment site because this especially affects the dose distribution for brain metastases and H&N tumor recognition. Such steps could help reduce systematic errors.

Fabrication and applications of ultraflexible nanostructures using dielectric heating-assisted nanoimprint on PVC films

Tsung-Yeh Wu,Po-Cheng Tsai,Shu-Cheng Lo,Yi-Ru Li,Kuang-Li Lee,Sen-Yeu Yang,Pei-Kuen Wei 한국물리학회 2018 Current Applied Physics Vol.18 No.1

We developed dielectric heating-assisted nanoimprint method for rapid fabrication of ultraflexible nanostructures. Using spin-coating polyvinyl-chloride (PVC) film on the glass slide, the dielectric heating on PVC film helped the pattern transfer from the mold to PVC film in few seconds. Various kinds of nanostructures were successfully made on PVC films with about 20-mm thickness. We demonstrated the applications of ultraflexible metallic nanostructures for bending measurement using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) on the curved surfaces. For measuring bending angles using SPR on capped nanowire arrays, the minimum detection angle was 2.4 103 degree under 0.02 nm wavelength resolution. For SERS measurement, the nanorod arrays on a curved substrate can increase SERS signals for two times as compared to planar SERS substrate.

Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Tachycardia in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/Cardiomyopathy

Fa-Po Chung,Chin-Yu Lin,Yenn-Jiang Lin,Shih-Lin Chang,Li-Wei Lo,Yu-Feng Hu,Ta-Chuan Tuan,Tze-Fan Chao,Jo-Nan Liao,Ting-Yung Chang,Shih-Ann Chen 대한심장학회 2018 Korean Circulation Journal Vol.48 No.10

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) is predominantly an inherited cardiomyopathy with typical histopathological characteristics of fibro-fatty infiltration mainly involving the right ventricular (RV) inflow tract, RV outflow tract, and RV apex in the majority of patients. The above pathologic evolution frequently brings patients with ARVD/C to medical attention owing to the manifestation of syncope, sudden cardiac death (SCD), ventricular arrhythmogenesis, or heart failure. To prevent future or recurrent SCD, an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) is highly desirable in patients with ARVD/C who had experienced unexplained syncope, hemodynamically intolerable ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation, and/or aborted SCD. Notably, the management of frequent ventricular tachyarrhythmias in ARVD/C is challenging, and the use of antiarrhythmic drugs could be unsatisfactory or limited by the unfavorable side effects. Therefore, radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) has been implemented to treat the drug-refractory VT in ARVD/C for decades. However, the initial understanding of the link between fibro-fatty pathogenesis and ventricular arrhythmogenesis in ARVD/C is scarce, the efficacy and prognosis of endocardial RFCA alone were limited and disappointing. The electrophysiologists had broken through this frontier after better illustration of epicardial substrates and broadly application of epicardial approaches in ARVD/C. In recent works of literature, the application of epicardial ablation also successfully results in higher procedural success and decreases VT recurrences in patients with ARVD/C who are refractory to the endocardial approach during long-term follow-up. In this article, we review the important evolution on the delineation of arrhythmogenic substrates, ablation strategies, and ablation outcome of VT in patients with ARVD/C.

Push–Pull Type Oligo(<i>N</i>-annulated perylene)quinodimethanes: Chain Length and Solvent-Dependent Ground States and Physical Properties

Zeng, Zebing,Lee, Sangsu,Son, Minjung,Fukuda, Kotaro,Burrezo, Paula Mayorga,Zhu, Xiaojian,Qi, Qingbiao,Li, Run-Wei,Navarrete, Juan T. Ló,pez,Ding, Jun,Casado, Juan,Nakano, Masayoshi,Kim, Dongho American Chemical Society 2015 JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY - Vol.137 No.26

<P>Research on stable open-shell singlet diradicaloids recently became a hot topic because of their unique optical, electronic, and magnetic properties and promising applications in materials science. So far, most reported singlet diradicaloid molecules have a symmetric structure, while asymmetric diradicaloids with an additional contribution of a dipolar zwitterionic form to the ground state were rarely studied. In this Article, a series of new push pull type oligo(N-annulated perylene)quinodimethanes were synthesized. Their chain length and solvent-dependent ground states and physical properties were systematically investigated by various experimental methods such as steady-state and transient absorption, two-photon absorption, X-ray crystallographic analysis, electron spin resonance, superconducting quantum interference device, Raman spectroscopy, and electrochemistry. It was found that with extension of the chain length, the diradical character increases while the contribution of the zwitterionic form to the ground state becomes smaller. Because of the intramolecular charge transfer character, the physical properties of this push pull system showed solvent dependence. In addition, density functional theory calculations on the diradical character and Hirshfeld charge were conducted to understand the chain length and solvent dependence of both symmetric and asymmetric systems. Our studies provided a comprehensive understanding on the fundamental structure and environment property relationships in the new asymmetric diradicaloid systems.</P>

Pushing Extended <i>p</i>-Quinodimethanes to the Limit: Stable Tetracyano-oligo(<i>N</i>-annulated perylene)quinodimethanes with Tunable Ground States

Zeng, Zebing,Ishida, Masatoshi,Zafra, José,L.,Zhu, Xiaojian,Sung, Young Mo,Bao, Nina,Webster, Richard D.,Lee, Byung Sun,Li, Run-Wei,Zeng, Wangdong,Li, Yuan,Chi, Chunyan,Navarrete, Juan T. Lo American Chemical Society 2013 JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY - Vol.135 No.16

<P><I>p</I>-Quinodimethane (<I>p</I>-QDM) is a fundamental building block for the design of π-conjugated systems with low band gap and open-shell biradical character. However, synthesis of extended <I>p</I>-QDMs has usually suffered from their intrinsic high reactivity and poor solubility. In this work, benzannulation together with terminal cyano-substitution was demonstrated to be an efficient approach for the synthesis of a series of soluble and stable tetracyano-oligo(<I>N</I>-annulated perylene)quinodimethanes <B><I>n</I>Per-CN</B> (<I>n</I> = 1–6), with the longest molecule having 12 <I>para</I>-linked benzenoid rings! The geometry and electronic structures of these oligomers were investigated by steady-state and transient absorption spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, electron spin resonance, superconducting quantum interference device, and FT Raman spectroscopy assisted by density functional theory calculations. They showed tunable ground states, varying from a closed-shell quinoidal structure for monomer, to a singlet biradical for dimer, trimer, and tetramer, and to a triplet biradical for pentamer and hexamer. Large two-photon absorption cross-section values were observed in the near-infrared range, which also exhibited a clear chain-length dependence.</P><P><B>Graphic Abstract</B> <IMG SRC='http://pubs.acs.org/appl/literatum/publisher/achs/journals/content/jacsat/2013/jacsat.2013.135.issue-16/ja402467y/production/images/medium/ja-2013-02467y_0010.gif'></P><P><A href='http://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/ja402467y'>ACS Electronic Supporting Info</A></P>