The in vivo photothermal treatment of gold nanorod in the mouse ear model

Liu, Bruce Yao Wen,Chen, Cheng-Lung,Lee, Shin-Yu,Chang, Fu-Hsiung,Lin, Win-Li,Chia, Chih-Ta,Chen, Yang-Yuan Techno-Press 2014 Biomaterials and biomedical engineering Vol.1 No.1

Gold nanorod's exceptional light to heat transduction is a robust phonomenon that has been extensively verified. The phenomenon is a trait from which many novel applications across disciplines have been proposed. In this investigation, the feasibility of utilizing heat harvested from such photothermal method to combat cancer is presented. Using non-invasive laser methods, an in vivo study is conducted on mouse ear tumors administered with gold nanorods (Au NRs). An emphasis is placed on monitoring the tumor developments after photothermal treatments, over time. The findings reveal significant tumor growth surpression at a threshold laser power of $0.6W/cm^2$ lasting 2 minutes; this energy also brought about dramatic size reduction in treated tumors. Furthermore, the apparent formation of an eschar over the laser treated region indicates extensive hemorrhagic necrosis of the tumor tissue; a phenomenon implicative to the inhibition of angiogenesis.

The in vivo photothermal treatment of gold nanorod in the mouse ear model

Liu, Bruce Yao Wen,Chen, Cheng-Lung,Lee, Shin-Yu,Chang, Fu-Hsiung,Lin, Win-Li,Chia, Chih-Ta,Chen, Yang-Yuan Techno-Press 2014 Biomaterials and Biomechanics in Bioengineering Vol.1 No.1

Gold nanorod's exceptional light to heat transduction is a robust phonomenon that has been extensively verified. The phenomenon is a trait from which many novel applications across disciplines have been proposed. In this investigation, the feasibility of utilizing heat harvested from such photothermal method to combat cancer is presented. Using non-invasive laser methods, an in vivo study is conducted on mouse ear tumors administered with gold nanorods (Au NRs). An emphasis is placed on monitoring the tumor developments after photothermal treatments, over time. The findings reveal significant tumor growth surpression at a threshold laser power of $0.6W/cm^2$ lasting 2 minutes; this energy also brought about dramatic size reduction in treated tumors. Furthermore, the apparent formation of an eschar over the laser treated region indicates extensive hemorrhagic necrosis of the tumor tissue; a phenomenon implicative to the inhibition of angiogenesis.

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.

Exendin-4 improves resistance to Listeria monocytogenes infection in diabetic db/db mice

Hsien Yueh Liu,Chih-Yao Chung,Wen-Chin Yang,Chih-Lung Liang,Chi-Young Wang,Chih-Yu Chang,Cicero Lee-Tian Chang 대한수의학회 2012 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.13 No.3

The incidence of diabetes mellitus is increasing among companion animals. This disease has similar characteristics in both humans and animals. Diabetes is frequently identified as an independent risk factor for infections associated with increased mortality. In the present study, homozygous diabetic (db/db) mice were infected with Listeria (L.) monocytogenes and then treated with the anti-diabetic drug exendin-4, a glucagon-like peptide 1 analogue. In aged db/db mice, decreased CD11b+ macrophage populations with higher lipid content and lower phagocytic activity were observed. Exendin-4 lowered high lipid levels and enhanced phagocytosis in macrophages from db/db mice infected with L. monocytogenes. Exendin-4 also ameliorated obesity and hyperglycemia, and improved ex vivo bacteria clearance by macrophages in the animals. Liver histology examined during L. monocytogenes infection indicated that abscess formation was much milder in exendin-4-treated db/db mice than in the control animals. Moreover, mechanistic studies demonstrated that expression of ATP binding cassette transporter 1, a sterol transporter, was higher in macrophages isolated from the exendin-4-treated db/db mice. Overall, our results suggest that exendin-4 decreases the risk of infection in diabetic animals by modifying the interaction between intracellular lipids and phagocytic macrophages.

Thermometry for Dirac Fermions in Graphene

Fan-Hung Liu,Chang-Shun Hsu,Shun-Tsung Lo,Chiashain Chuang,Lung-I Huang,Tak-Pong Woo,Chi-Te Liang,Y. Fukuyama,Y. Yang,R. E. Elmquist,Pengjie Wang,Xi Lin 한국물리학회 2015 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.66 No.1

We use both the zero-magnetic-field resistivity and the phase coherence time determined by weaklocalization as independent thermometers for Dirac fermions (DF) in multilayer graphene. In thehigh current (I) region, there exists a simple power law TDF / I0.5, where TDF is the effective Diracfermion temperature for epitaxial graphene on SiC. In contrast, TDF / I1 in exfoliated multilayergraphene. We discuss possible reasons for the different power laws observed in these multilayergraphene systems. Our experimental results on DF-phonon scattering may find applications ingraphene-based nanoelectronics.

Formation of CuInGaSe2 Thin Film Photovoltaic Absorber by Using Rapid Thermal Sintering of Binary Nanoparticle Precursors

Chung Ping Liu,Ming Wei Chang,Chuan Lung Chuang 한국물리학회 2013 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.63 No.11

It was known that properties of copper-indium-gallium-diselenide (CIGS) thin films were evidentlyaffected by precursor nanoparticle-ink and sintering technology. The nanoparticles were fabricatedby using a rotary ball-milling (RBM) technique. After RBM, the particle size of the agglomeratedCIGS powder was smaller than 100 nm. The nanoparticle ink was printed onto a Mo/soda limeglass substrate and baked at a low temperature to remove solvents and to form a dry precursor. Crystallographic, morphological, and stoichiometric properties of films were then obtained by usingthe precursor CIGS samples sintered at various heating rates in a non-vacuum environment withoutselenization. Analytical results revealed that the 2-theta data of the sample sintered at a heatingrate of 15 C/s were the closest to the data on the JCPDS card for Cu(Ga0.3In0.7)Se2.0 because theirangles were 26.8, 44.5, and 52.7, respectively. In addition, analytical results indicated that theCIGS absorption layer prepared at a heating rate of 15 C/s had a chalcopyrite structure and favorablecompositions. For this sample, the mole ratio of Cu:In:Ga:Se was equal to 0.98:0.81:0.28:1.93,and related ratios of Ga/(In+Ga) and Cu/(In+Ga) were 0.26 and 0.90, respectively.

Effect of rapid thermal oxidation on structure and photoelectronic properties of silicon oxide in monocrystalline silicon solar cells

Chung Ping Liu,Ming Wei Chang,Chuan Lung Chuang 한국물리학회 2014 Current Applied Physics Vol.14 No.5

This paper concerns the topic of surface passivation properties of rapid thermal oxidation on p-type monocrystalline silicon wafer for use in screen-printed silicon solar cells. It shows that inline thermal oxidation is a very promising alternative to the use of conventional batch type quartz tube furnaces for the surface passivation of industrial phosphorus-diffused emitters. Five minutes was the most favorable holding time for the rapid thermal oxidation growth of the solar cell sample, in which the average carrier lifetime was increased 19.4 ms. The Fourier transform infrared spectrum of the rapid thermal oxidation sample, whose structure was Al/Al-BSF/p-type Si/n-type SiP/SiO2/SiNx/Ag solar cell with an active area of 15.6 cm2, contained an absorption peak at 1085 cm1, which was associated with the SieO bonds in silicon oxide. The lowest average reflectance of this sample is 0.87%. Furthermore, for this sample, its average of internal quantum efficiency and conversion efficiency are respectively increased by 8% and 0.23%, compared with the sample without rapid thermal oxidation processing.

Influence of the Ratio of Surfactant Additives on the Anisotropic Etching Process Used to Make Small Pyramids for Use in Solar Cells

Chung Ping Liu,Ming Wei Chang,Chuan Lung Chuang 한국물리학회 2014 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.64 No.9

This paper focuses on surfactant additives (SA) that are used in alkaline etching of p-typemonocrystalline silicon wafers for use in screen-printed silicon solar cells. An Al/p-type Si/ntypeSiP/SiNx/Ag solar cell with an active area of 15.6 cm2 was fabricated. The highest measuredefficiency of the solar cells was 19.24%, which proves that the SA method is highly efficient for fabricatingmonocrystalline silicon solar cells. The results show that 0.4 L of SA is the most favorablevolume for alkaline etching of solar-cell samples. Samples etched at this volume exhibit the lowestaverage reflectance of 0.596%, an average internal quantum efficiency (IQE) gain of 5.6% and anefficiency gain of 0.84%, thus showing the SA method to be an efficient anisotropic etching process. In addition, the cell with the highest efficiency had an increase of 4.57% in power, an increase of3.1% in the short-circuit current, and an increase of 1.43% in the open-circuit voltage. In summary,microstructural, reflectance, IQE, and I − V measurements revealed that the best cell was formedusing an optimal SA volume of 0.4 L.

Feline mammary carcinoma-derived extracellular vesicle promotes liver metastasis via sphingosine kinase-1-mediated premetastatic niche formation

Yi-Chih Chang,Hao-Ping Liu,Hsiao-Li Chuang,Jiunn-Wang Liao,Pei-Ling Kao,Hsun-Lung Chan,Ter-Hsin Chen,Yu-Chih Wang 한국실험동물학회 2023 Laboratory Animal Research Vol.39 No.4

Background: Feline mammary carcinoma (FMC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies of female cats. FMC is highly metastatic and thus leads to poor disease outcomes. Among all metastases, liver metastasis occurs in about 25% of FMC patients. However, the mechanism underlying hepatic metastasis of FMC remains largely uncharacterized. Results: Herein, we demonstrate that FMC-derived extracellular vesicles (FMC-EVs) promotes the liver metastasis of FMC by activating hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) to prime a hepatic premetastatic niche (PMN). Moreover, we provide evidence that sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) delivered by FMC-EV was pivotal for the activation of HSC and the formation of hepatic PMN. Depletion of SK1 impaired cargo sorting in FMC-EV and the EV-potentiated HSC activation, and abolished hepatic colonization of FMC cells. Conclusions: Taken together, our findings uncover a previously uncharacterized mechanism underlying liver-metastasis of FMC and provide new insights into prognosis and treatment of this feline malignancy.

Use of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection and severe renal impairment

Desmond Y. H. Yap,Kevin S. H. Liu,Yu-Chun Hsu,Grace L. H. Wong,Ming-Chang Tsai,Chien-Hung Chen,Ching-Sheng Hsu,Yee Tak Hui,Michael K. K. Li,Chen-Hua Liu,Yee-Man Kan,Ming-Lung Yu,Man-Fung Yuen 대한간학회 2020 Clinical and Molecular Hepatology(대한간학회지) Vol.26 No.4

Background/Aims: Data on treatment efficacy and safety of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB) for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Asian patients with severe renal impairment are limited. This study aimed to study the treatment and side effects of GLE/PIB in these patients infected with non-1 genotype (GT) HCV. Methods: We prospectively recruited patients with Child’s A cirrhosis and eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2 in Hong Kong and Taiwan during 2017–2018 to receive GLE/PIB treatment. Results: Twenty-one patients (GT2, n=7; GT3, n=6; and GT6, n=8) received GLE/PIB for 11.2±1.8 weeks. All except one were treatment-naïve. GLE/PIB was initiated in 16 patients while on dialysis (seven on peritoneal dialysis [PD] and nine on hemodialysis) and in five patients before dialysis. One patient died of PD-related peritonitis during treatment and two were lost to follow up. The SVR12 rate in the remaining 18 patients was 100%. All patients achieved undetectable levels at 4-, 12-, 24- and 48-week after treatment. Patients with deranged alanine aminotransferase showed normalization after 4 weeks and the response was sustained for 48 weeks. No significant adverse event was observed. Conclusions: GLE/PIB treatment was associated with high efficacy and tolerability in HCV-infected patients with severe renal impairment.