Factors Related to Treatment Refusal in Taiwanese Cancer Patients

Chiang, Ting-Yu,Wang, Chao-Hui,Lin, Yu-Fen,Chou, Shu-Lan,Wang, Ching-Ting,Juang, Hsiao-Ting,Lin, Yung-Chang,Lin, Mei-Hsiang Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.8

Background: Incidence and mortality rates for cancer have increased dramatically in the recent 30 years in Taiwan. However, not all patients receive treatment. Treatment refusal might impair patient survival and life quality. In order to improve this situation, we proposed this study to evaluate factors that are related to refusal of treatment in cancer patients via a cancer case manager system. Materials and Methods: This study analysed data from a case management system during the period from 2010 to 2012 at a medical center in Northern Taiwan. We enrolled a total of 14,974 patients who were diagnosed with cancer. Using the PRECEDE Model as a framework, we conducted logistic regression analysis to identify independent variables that are significantly associated with refusal of therapy in cancer patients. A multivariate logistic regression model was also applied to estimate adjusted the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results: A total of 253 patients (1.69%) refused treatment. The multivariate logistic regression result showed that the high risk factors for refusal of treatment in cancer patient included: concerns about adverse effects (p<0.001), poor performance(p<0.001), changes in medical condition (p<0.001), timing of case manager contact (p=.026), the methods by which case manager contact patients (p<0.001) and the frequency that case managers contact patients (${\geq}10times$) (p=0.016). Conclusions: Cancer patients who refuse treatment have poor survival. The present study provides evidence of factors that are related to refusal of therapy and might be helpful for further application and improvement of cancer care.

An Experimental Study to Improve Due-date Performance

Wang, Mei-Ting,Li, Rong-Kwei,Chen, Ching-Piao,Chen, Hsien-Ching,Tsai, Chih-Hung The Korean Society for Quality Management 2009 The Asian Journal on Quality Vol.10 No.3

Due-date performance (DDP) is a very important performance indicator for the companies. Thus, companies with a high hit rate would have greater competitive advantage; on the contrary, companies that delay customers' orders frequently would lose sales opportunities and reputations. Therefore, there were many academic studies and practical efforts to improve DDP in the past, but the problem of low hit rate still exists. In order to increase the hit rate, some companies have focused on reducing the variation, while others focus on production management, but is the real problem affecting the low rate variability or production management? This is indeed difficult to be validated through practice. Therefore, this study designed three scenarios, tested each scenario for 30 times, each test involved seven subjects. The tests were to provide counter-evidence in the Job Shop environment without variation. If the variation is the main factor of affecting hit rate, the rate at this time should be good; otherwise, the assumption that variation is the main cause is rebutted. The results demonstrated that production management planning is the main cause, and the method of enhancing the hit rate is obtained during the test.

Biochemical Characterization of a GDSL-Motif Esterase from Bacillus sp. K91 with a New Putative Catalytic Mechanism

( Jun Mei Ding ),( Ting Ting Yu ),( Lian Ming Liang ),( Zhen Rong Xie ),( Yun Juan Yang ),( Jun Pei Zhou ),( Bo Xu ),( Jun Jun Li ),( Zun Xi Huang ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2014 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.24 No.11

The esterase gene Est8 from the thermophilic bacterium Bacillus sp. K91 was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The monomeric enzyme exhibited a theoretical molecular mass of 24.5 kDa and an optimal activity around 50°C at pH 9.0. A model of Est8 was constructed using a hypothetical YxiM precursor structure (2O14_A) from Bacillus subtilis as template. The structure showed an α/β-hydrolase fold and indicated the presence of a typical catalytic triad consisting of Ser-11, Asp-182, and His-185, which were investigated by site directed replacements coupled with kinetic characterization. Asp-182 and His-185 residues were more critical than the Ser-11 residue in the catalytic activity of Est8. A comparison of the amino acid sequence showed that Est8 could be grouped into the GDSL family and further classified as an SGNH hydrolase. Est8 is a new member of the SGNH hydrolase subfamily and may employ a different catalytic mechanism.

Efficacy of high-voltage, long-duration pulsed radiofrequency for the treatment of acute herpes zoster-related trigeminal neuralgia in a patient with permanent pacemaker

Li-Mei Li,Xiao-Dong Liu,Yue Liu,Ting-ting Liu,Zhi-Li Zhang 대한통증학회 2024 The Korean Journal of Pain Vol.37 No.2

The Influence of Rapid Thermal Annealing Processed Metal-Semiconductor Contact on Plasmonic Waveguide Under Electrical Pumping

Yang Lu,Ting Mei,Ting Mei 한국광학회 2016 Current Optics and Photonics Vol.20 No.1

The influence of Au/Ni-based contact formed on a lightly-doped (7.3×1017cm-3, Zn-doped) InGaAsP layerfor electrical compensation of surface plasmon polariton (SPP) propagation under various rapid thermalannealing (RTA) conditions has been studied. The active control of SPP propagation is realized byelectrically pumping the InGaAsP multiple quantum wells (MQWs) beneath the metal planar waveguide. The metal planar film acts as the electric contact layer and SPP waveguide, simultaneously. The RTAprocess can lower the metal-semiconductor electric contact resistance. Nevertheless, it inevitably increasesthe contact interface morphological roughness, which is detrimental to SPP propagation. Based on thisdilemma, in this work we focus on studying the influence of RTA conditions on electrical control of SPPs. The experimental results indicate that there is obvious degradation of electrical pumping compensationfor SPP propagation loss in the devices annealed at 400oC compared to those with no annealing treatment. With increasing annealing duration time, more significant degradation of the active performance is observedeven under sufficient current injection. When the annealing temperature is set at 400oC and the durationtime approaches 60s, the SPP propagation is nearly no longer supported as the waveguide surfacemorphology is severely changed. It seems that eutectic mixture stemming from the RTA process significantlyincreases the metal film roughness and interferes with the SPP signal propagation.

Fabrication of a Biodegradable Multi-layered Polyvinyl Alcohol Stent

Mei-Chen Lin,Ching-Wen Lou,Jan-Yi Lin,Ting An Lin,Yueh-Sheng Chen,Jia-Horng Lin 한국섬유공학회 2018 Fibers and polymers Vol.19 No.8

This study aims to develop biodegradable vascular stents that prevent permanent damage caused by rejection of the immune system of the human body. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) yarns are twisted to enhance their strength. The twisted yarns are braided and then coated with chitosan (CS). The CS-coated PVA vascular stents are chemically crosslinked with genipin (GP) to improve their flexibility and biodegradability. Their morphological characteristics are also observed using a stereoscopic microscope, and their properties are evaluated through scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, bending test, biodegradability test, drug release measurement, and MTT assay. Results reveal that wet PVA-CS-GP vascular stents coated with multiple CS layers can maintain a tubular structure when they are bent. After crosslinking is performed, the compressive strength of the PVA-CS-GP stents is 17.04 times higher than that of pure PVA. The weight loss rate of the PVA-CS-GP vascular stents as <3 % after 30 days. The PVA-CS-GP vascular stents composed of 0.10 % heparin sodium show a good drug release effect. Biological activity test indicates that these stents exhibit good proliferation, and our structural model verifies that they are good vascular stents.

Altered Auditory P300 Performance in Parents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Offspring

Mei Hung Chi,Ching-Lin Chu,I Hui Lee,Yi-Ting Hsieh,Ko Chin Chen,Po See Chen,Yen Kuang Yang 대한정신약물학회 2019 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.17 No.4

Objective: Altered event-related potential (ERP) performances have been noted in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients and reflect neurocognitive dysfunction. Whether these ERP alterations and correlated dysfunctions exist in healthy parents with ADHD offspring is worth exploring. Methods: Thirteen healthy parents with ADHD offspring and thirteen healthy controls matched for age, sex and years of education were recruited. The auditory oddball paradigm was used to evaluate the P300 wave complex of the ERP, and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and continuous performance test were used to measure neurocognitive performance. Results: Healthy parents with ADHD offspring had significantly longer auditory P300 latency at Fz than control group. However, no significant differences were found in cognitive performance. Conclusion: The presence of a subtle alteration in electro-neurophysiological activity without explicit neurocognitive dysfunction suggests potential candidate of biological marker for parents with ADHD offspring.

Camptothecin activates SIRT1 to promote lipid catabolism through AMPK/FoxO1/ATGL pathway in C2C12 myogenic cells

Mei-Chen Lo,Jia-Yin Chen,Yung-Ting Kuo,Wei-Lu Chen,Horng-Mo Lee,Shyang-Guang Wang 대한약학회 2019 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.42 No.8

Caloric restriction activates sirtuin 1 (SIRT1)and induces a variety of metabolic effects that are beneficialfor preventing age-related disease. The present studyscreened a commercially available used drug library todevelop small molecule activators of SIRT1 as therapeuticsfor treatment of metabolic disorders. Using an in vitrofluorescence assay, the cancer therapeutic camptothecinincreased SIRT1 enzymatic activity by 5.5-fold, indicatingit to be a potent SIRT1 activator. Camptothecin also elevatedthe nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)?/NADH ratio and increased SIRT1 protein levels in differentiatedC2C12 myogenic cells. Treatment of C2C12 myotubeswith camptothecin increased phosphorylation ofAMP-dependent kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-coenzyme Acarboxylase, caused nuclear translocation and deacetylationof forkhead box O1 (FoxO1), increased transcriptionand protein expression of adipose triglyceride lipase(ATGL), decreased the amount of intracellular oil droplets,and significantly increased b-oxidation of fatty acids. These in vitro data were confirmed in vivo as camptothecintreatment of C57BL/6J mice reduced fat and plasmatriglyceride levels. All of the above camptothecin-inducedalterations were attenuated by the SIRT1-specific inhibitornicotinamide and/or 6-[4-(2-piperidin-1-ylethoxy) phenyl]-3-pyridin-4-ylpyrazolo [1,5-a]pyrimidin (compound C). Thus, camptothecin activation of SIRT1 promotes lipidcatabolism through AMPK/FoxO1/ATGL signaling.

Shielding-benefit Evaluation of Electromagnetic Radiation and UV Radiation for Multifunctional Composite Polypropylene Woven Fabrics

Ting An Lin,Yu-Chun Chuang,Jan-Yi Lin,Mei-Chen Lin,Ching-Wen Lou,Keng Siang Sim,Jia-Horng Lin 한국섬유공학회 2020 Fibers and polymers Vol.21 No.10

People have increasingly rising health consciousness in recent years and researchers are thus devoted themselvesto develop multi-functional textile products. In this study, stainless steel (SS) filaments are used for electromagnetic shieldingeffectiveness (EMSE) while polypropylene (PP) filaments are used for ultraviolet resistance and good mechanical properties. Spinning and weaving continuous formation techniques are employed to produce wrapped yarns with SS and PP filaments,after which a weaving process is employed for the preparation of SS/PP woven fabrics. The woven fabrics are tested forEMSE and UV resistance, examining the effect of the lamination-layer numbers and lamination-layer angles. Test resultsshow that the optimal EMSE and UV resistance occur when SS/PP woven fabrics are laminated with two layers at 90 °. Notonly focus on the mechanical performance, the proposed woven fabrics with good EMSE, UV resistance, and a light weight,and are good candidate for a variety of application as required. The proposed UV resistance and EMSE woven fabricssignificantly increase the additional values of traditional textiles.

Loss of MicroRNA-137 Impairs the Homeostasis of Potassium in Neurons via KCC2

Ting-Wei Mi,Xiao-Wen Sun,Zhi-Meng Wang,Ying-Ying Wang,Xuan-Cheng He,Cong Liu,Shuang-Feng Zhang,Hong-Zhen Du,Chang-Mei Liu,Zhao-Qian Teng 한국뇌신경과학회 2020 Experimental Neurobiology Vol.29 No.2

Neuropsychiatric disorders are the leading cause of mental and intellectual disabilities worldwide. Current therapies against neuropsychiatric disorders are very limited, and very little is known about the onset and development of these diseases, and their most effective treatments. MIR137 has been previously identified as a risk gene for the etiology of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism spectrum disorder. Here we generated a forebrain-specific MIR137 knockout mouse model, and provided evidence that loss of miR-137 resulted in impaired homeostasis of potassium in mouse hippocampal neurons. KCC2, a potassium-chloride co-transporter, was a direct downstream target of miR-137. The KCC2 specific antagonist VU0240551 could balance the current of potassium in miR-137 knockout neurons, and knockdown of KCC2 could ameliorate anxiety-like behavior in MIR137 cKO mice. These data suggest that KCC2 antagonists or knockdown might be beneficial to neuropsychiatric disorders due to the deficiency of miR-137.