Tissue Quality Comparison Between Heparinized Wet Suction and Dry Suction in Endoscopic Ultrasound-Fine Needle Biopsy of Solid Pancreatic Masses: A Randomized Crossover Study

Lin Meng-Ying,Wu Cheng-Lin,Su Yung-Yeh,Huang Chien-Jui,Chang Wei-Lun,Sheu Bor-Shyang 거트앤리버 소화기연관학회협의회 2023 Gut and Liver Vol.17 No.2

Background/Aims: A high-quality sample allows for next-generation sequencing and the administration of more tailored precision medicine treatments. We aimed to evaluate whether heparinized wet suction can obtain higher quality samples than the standard dry-suction method during endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided biopsy of pancreatic masses. Methods: A prospective randomized crossover study was conducted. Patients with a solid pancreatic mass were randomly allocated to receive either heparinized wet suction first or dry suction first. For each method, two needle passes were made, followed by a switch to the other method for a total of four needle punctures. The primary outcome was the aggregated white tissue length. Histological blood contamination, diagnostic performance and adverse events were analyzed as secondary outcomes. In addition, the correlation between white tissue length and the extracted DNA amount was analyzed. Results: A total of 50 patients were enrolled, and 200 specimens were acquired (100 with heparinized wet suction and 100 with dry suction), with one minor bleeding event. The heparinized wet suction approach yielded specimens with longer aggregated white tissue length (11.07 mm vs 7.96 mm, p=0.001) and less blood contamination (p=0.008). A trend towards decreasing tissue quality was observed for the 2nd pass of the dry-suction method, leading to decreased diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy, although the accumulated diagnostic performance was comparable between the two suction methods. The amount of extracted DNA correlated positively to the white tissue length (p=0.001, Spearman̕s ρ=0.568). Conclusions: Heparinized wet suction for EUS tissue acquisition of solid pancreatic masses can yield longer, bloodless, DNA-rich tissue without increasing the incidence of adverse events (ClinicalTrials.gov. identifier NCT04707560).

Chinese Undergraduate Students’ Motivation to Learn L2 English and L3 Korean Simultaneously

SU Lin,심재우,이희철 대한언어학회 2023 언어학 Vol.31 No.3

This study examined the motivation of undergraduate students in a Sino-Korean joint education programme to learn two foreign languages simultaneously, specially L2 English and L3 Korean. Using Dörnyei’s L2 Motivational Self System (L2MSS), the relationship between participants’ intended effort in L2 and L3 learning and other variables in L2 and L3 motivational systems was explored. A total of 222 subjects completed the 6-point Likert Scale questionnaire, and the collected data were processed using SPSS. Besides the descriptive statistics, canonical correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between L2 and L3 intended effort and other constructs, including ideal L2/L3 self, ought-to L2/L3 self, L2/L3 positive learning experience, and L2/L3 negative learning experience. Research results showed an intermediate level of motivation for both L2 and L3. Canonical correlation analysis revealed that L2 together with L3 intended effort in the dependent variable set shared approximately 75.6% variance with the linear combination of the other constructs in the independent variable set, indicating that L2MSS is explanatory for simultaneous language learning. Moreover, the results also indicated that L3 negative learning experience had positive influence on L2 intend effort, suggesting an interaction between L2 and L3 motivational systems among the subjects. Based on the findings, activities that could stimulate learners’ ideal multilingual self are proposed.

Moving Mass Actuated Reentry Vehicle Control Based on Trajectory Linearization

Su, Xiao-Long,Yu, Jian-Qiao,Wang, Ya-Fei,Wang, Lin-lin The Korean Society for Aeronautical and Space Scie 2013 International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sc Vol.14 No.3

The flight control of re-entry vehicles poses a challenge to conventional gain-scheduled flight controllers due to the widely spread aerodynamic coefficients. In addition, a wide range of uncertainties in disturbances must be accommodated by the control system. This paper presents the design of a roll channel controller for a non-axisymmetric reentry vehicle model using the trajectory linearization control (TLC) method. The dynamic equations of a moving mass system and roll control model are established using the Lagrange method. Nonlinear tracking and decoupling control by trajectory linearization can be viewed as the ideal gain-scheduling controller designed at every point along the flight trajectory. It provides robust stability and performance at all stages of the flight without adjusting controller gains. It is this "plug-and-play" feature that is highly preferred for developing, testing and routine operating of the re-entry vehicles. Although the controller is designed only for nominal aerodynamic coefficients, excellent performance is verified by simulation for wind disturbances and variations from -30% to +30% of the aerodynamic coefficients.

Streptomyces Telomeres Contain a Promoter

Lin, Yuh-ru,Hahn, Mi-Young,Roe, Jung-Hye,Huang, Tzu-Wen,Tsai, Hsiu-Hui,Lin, Yung-Feng,Su, Tsung-Sheng,Chan, Yu-Jiun,Chen, Carton W. American Society for Microbiology 2009 Journal of Bacteriology Vol.191 No.3

<B>ABSTRACT</B><P>Bidirectional replication of the linear chromosomes and plasmids of <I>Streptomyces</I> spp. results in single-strand overhangs at their 3′ ends, which contain extensive complex palindromic sequences. The overhangs are believed to be patched by DNA synthesis primed by a terminal protein that remains covalently bound to the 5′ ends of the telomeres. We discovered that in vitro a conserved 167-bp telomere DNA binds strongly to RNA polymerase holoenzyme and exhibits promoter activities stronger than those of an rRNA operon. In vivo, the telomere DNA exhibited promoter activity in both orientations on a circular plasmid in <I>Streptomyces</I>. The telomere promoter is also active on a linear plasmid during exponential growth. Such promoter activity in a telomere has not hitherto been observed in eukaryotic or prokaryotic replicons. <I>Streptomyces</I> telomere promoters may be involved in priming the terminal Okazaki fragment (during replication) replicative transfer (during conjugation), or expression of downstream genes (including a conserved <I>ttrA</I> helicase-like gene involved in conjugal transfer). Interestingly, the <I>Streptomyces</I> telomeres also function as a promoter in <I>Escherichia coli</I> and as a transcription enhancer in yeast.</P>

Molecular and Crystalline Structure of Rice Starches according to Processing Adaptability

Su-Yeon You,Lin-Lin Bian,Hyun-Jung Chung 한국식품영양과학회 2014 한국식품영양과학회 학술대회발표집 Vol.2014 No.10

Beyond the Imaginary Relationship between Western Feminists and Third-World Women

Su-lin YU 이화여자대학교 아시아여성학센터 2007 Asian Journal of Women's Studies(AJWS) Vol.13 No.1

This study reveals a postcolonial desire not only to redraw the boundary between western and Third-World women, but also to investigate the imaginary relationship, or rather, the psychological dynamics involved in western women’s relationship with Third- World women. Rather than reduce the relationship between western women and Third-World women to a simple opposition; it attempts to understand the ambivalence in their relationship. This study is driven by my desire to understand how western feminists’ seek to identify with Third-World women and how this can contribute to an understanding of postcolonial power relations and move beyond the assumed polarities of identity politics. I want to be able to think beyond a simple binary analysis of culpability and innocence and move toward an understanding of how differences among women can be seen to be enriching and valuable.

Direct-to-implant breast reconstruction following nipple-sparing mastectomy: predictive factors of adverse surgical outcomes in Asian patients

Su, Chun-Lin,Yang, Jia-Ruei,Kuo, Wen-Ling,Chen, Shin-Cheh,Cheong, David Chon-Fok,Huang, Jung-Ju Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surge 2021 Archives of Plastic Surgery Vol.48 No.5

Background Direct-to-implant (DTI) breast reconstruction after nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) with the use of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) provides reliable outcomes; however, the use of ADM is associated with a higher risk of complications. We analyzed our experiences of post-NSM DTI without ADM and identified the predictive factors of adverse surgical outcomes. Methods Patients who underwent NSM and immediate DTI or two-stage tissue expander (TE) breast reconstruction from 2009 to 2020 were enrolled. Predictors of adverse endpoints were analyzed. Results There were 100 DTI and 29 TE reconstructions. The TE group had a higher rate of postmastectomy radiotherapy (31% vs. 11%; P=0.009), larger specimens (317.37±176.42 g vs. 272.08±126.33 g; P=0.047), larger implants (360.84±85.19 g vs. 298.83±81.13 g; P=0.004) and a higher implant/TE exposure ratio (10.3% vs. 1%; P=0.035). In DTI reconstruction, age over 50 years (odds ratio [OR], 5.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.50-19.74; P=0.010) and a larger mastectomy weight (OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.08-2.51; P=0.021) were associated with a higher risk of acute complications. Intraoperative radiotherapy for the nipple-areolar complex increased the risk of acute complications (OR, 4.05; 95% CI, 1.07-15.27; P=0.039) and the likelihood of revision surgery (OR, 5.57; 95% CI, 1.25-24.93; P=0.025). Conclusions Immediate DTI breast reconstruction following NSM is feasible in Asian patients with smaller breasts.

Effective Antiviral Activity of the Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Sunitinib Malate against Zika Virus

Lin Chen-Sheng,Huang Su-Hua,Yan Bo-Yu,Lai Hsueh-Chou,Lin Cheng-Wen 대한감염학회 2021 Infection and Chemotherapy Vol.53 No.4

Introduction: Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus, causes the outbreaks of Latin America in 2015 - 2016, with the incidence of neurological complications. Sunitinib malate, an orally bioavailable malate salt of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is suggested as a broadspectrum antiviral agent against emerging viruses like severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and SARS-CoV-2. Materials and Methods: This study investigated the antiviral efficacy and antiviral mechanisms of sunitinib malate against ZIKV infection using cytopathic effect reduction, virus yield, and time-of-addition assays. Results: Sunitinib malate concentration-dependently reduced ZIKV-induced cytopathic effect, the expression of viral proteins, and ZIKV yield in supernatant with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 0.015 μM, and the selectivity index of greater than 100 against ZIKV infection, respectively. Sunitinib malate had multiple antiviral actions during entry and post-entry stages of ZIKV replication. Sunitinib malate treatment at entry stage significantly reduced the levels of ZIKV RNA replication with the reduction of (+) RNA to (-) RNA ratio and the production of new intracellular infectious particles in infected cells. The treatment at post-entry stage caused a concentration-dependent increase in the levels of ZIKV (+) RNA and (-) RNA in infected cells, along with enlarging the ratio of (+) RNA to (-) RNA, but caused a pointed increase in the titer of intracellular infectious particles by 0.01 and 0.1 μM, and a substantial decrease in the titer of intracellular infectious particles by 1 μM. Conclusion: The study discovered the antiviral actions of sunitinib malate against ZIKV infection, demonstrating a repurposed, host-targeted approach to identify potential antiviral drugs for treating emerging and global viral diseases.

Waterlogging influences the physiology index and antioxidant enzyme activity in Cucurbita maxima and Cucurbita moschata

Lin Kuan-Hung,Chen Shi-Peng,Su Yi-Ru,Tsai Yi-Heng,Lin Hsin-Hung 한국원예학회 2024 Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology Vol.65 No.1

Waterlogging is one of the major environmental challenges that can adversely impact squash growth, development, and productivity. Nevertheless, studies on the physiological changes of squash to waterlogging stress are scarce. Previously, we reported that the Cucurbita moschata (Cmo) Early Price (Ep) cultivar showed higher chlorophyll content (CC) and spectral refl ectance compared to the Cucurbita maxima (Cma) OK-101 (Ok) cultivar after waterlogging. In the present work, we further examined more physiological parameters in eight cultivars of Cmo and Cma, and studied whether these non-destruc tive indices could effi ciently identify various waterlogging-tolerant genotypes and were consistent with visual evaluations. Moreover, we investigated the eff ects of waterlogging on the antioxidant system of cucurbit species, and evaluated dynamic changes occurring in these plants during varying waterlog periods by determining physiological characteristics. The activ ity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) showed a signifi cant increase in Ep plant leaves and roots after 72 h and 6 h of waterlogging, respectively, compared to Ok plants. In addition, Ep exhibited a higher tolerance to waterlogging than Ok in terms of enhanced root length, values in CC, spectral refl ectance, and APX and SOD activity, plus decreased levels of electrolyte leakage, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging, and hydrogen peroxide levels. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the physiological variations in response to waterlogging stress and can potentially be used to breed cucurbit species with waterlogging tolerance for a wetter future climate.

Genetic Factors, Viral Infection, Other Factors and Liver Cancer: An Update on Current Progress

Su, Cheng-Hao,Lin, Yong,Cai, Lin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.9

Primary liver cancer is one of the most common cancers at the global level, accounting for half of all cancers in some undeveloped countries. This disease tends to occur in livers damaged through alcohol abuse, or chronic infection with hepatitis B and C, on a background of cirrhosis. Various cancer-causing substances are associated with primary liver cancer, including certain pesticides and such chemicals as vinyl chloride and arsenic. The strong association between HBV infection and liver cancer is well documented in epidemiological studies. It is generally acknowledged that the virus is involved through long term chronic infection, frequently associated with cirrhosis, suggesting a nonspecific mechanism triggered by the immune response. Chronic inflammation of liver, continuous cell death, abnormal cell growth, would increase the occurrence rate of genetic alterations and risk of disease. However, the statistics indicated that only about one fifth of HBV carries would develop HCC in lifetime, suggesting that individual variation in genome would also influence the susceptibility of HCC. The goal of this review is to highlight present level of knowledge on the role of viral infection and genetic variation in the development of liver cancer.