Prediction of Chemotherapeutic Response in Unresectable Non-small-cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Patients by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) Assay

Chen, Juan,Cheng, Guo-Hua,Chen, Li-Pai,Pang, Ting-Yuan,Wang, Xiao-Le Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.5

Background: Selecting chemotherapy regimens guided by chemosensitivity tests can provide individualized therapies for cancer patients. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2Htetrazolium, inner salt (MTS) assay is one in vitro assay which has become widely used to evaluate the sensitivity to anticancer agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical applicability and accuracy of MTS assay for predicting chemotherapeutic response in unresectable NSCLC patients. Methods: Cancer cells were isolated from malignant pleural effusions of patients by density gradient centrifugation, and their sensitivity to eight chemotherapeutic agents was examined by MTS assay and compared with clinical response. Results: A total of 37 patients participated in this study, and MTS assay produced results successfully in 34 patients (91.9%). The sensitivity rates ranged from 8.8% to 88.2%. Twenty-four of 34 patients who received chemotherapy were evaluated for in vitro-in vivo response analysis. The correlation between in vitro chemosensitivity result and in vivo response was highly significant (P=0.003), and the total predictive accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for MTS assay were 87.5%, 94.1%, 71.4%, 88.9%, and 83.3%, respectively. The in vitro sensitivity for CDDP also showed a significant correlation with in vivo response (P=0.018, r=0.522). Conclusion: MTS assay is a preferable in vitro chemosensitivity assay that could be use to predict the response to chemotherapy and select the appropriate chemotherapy regimens for unresectable NSCLC patients, which could greatly improve therapeutic efficacy and reduce unnecessary adverse effects.

Performance of the TPS vacuum system

Gao-Yu HSIUNG,I-Chen YANG,Hsin-Pai HSUEH,Shen-Nung HSU,June-Rong CHEN,June-Rong CHEN 한국진공학회 2016 한국진공학회 학술발표회초록집 Vol.2016 No.8

The Effect of Agomelatine in Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia

Carol Sheei-Meei Wang(Carol Sheei-Meei Wang ),Kuo-Sheng Cheng(Kuo-Sheng Cheng),Chia-Hung Tang(Chia-Hung Tang),Ming-Chyi Pai(Ming-Chyi Pai),Pai-Lien Chen(Pai-Lien Chen),Pei-Fang Chien(Pei-Fang Chien) 대한정신약물학회 2022 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.20 No.4

Objective: Moderate and severe behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) often need medical treatment to improve symptoms. Agomelatine is a selective melatonergic (MT1/MT2) agonist that has normalizing effects on disturbed circadian rhythms and disrupted sleep−wake cycles. Its activity of 5HT-2C receptor antagonism is associated with lessening depression and anxiety and increasing slow-wave sleep. Based on past clinical records and current findings it suggests that agomelatine can improve BPSD for patients. This retrospective cohort study was designed to compare the BPSD before and after using agomelatine. Methods: Records of dementia cases who had ever received agomelatine treatment for BPSD in a general hospital setting during the past 2.5 years were identified and reviewed. Scores from before and after 3 months of treatment with agomelatine were collected for Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) to compare and analyze the difference of psychological and behavioral symptoms pre- and post-agomelatine used. Results: Records of 144 cases of dementia with BPSD who had ever used agomelatine from January 2015 to June 2017 were collected. All of the 112 cases had BPRS and CGI scores, of which 75 cases had additional NPI scores. Among these 112 cases, the BPRS and CGI scores were significantly improved in all types of dementia. NPI scores indicated that the use of agomelatine alleviated obvious symptoms and decreased overall distress, especially in the depression/poor mood, anxiety, and sleep/night behavior. Conclusion: It is consistent with an effective result of agomelatine in improving BPSD.

Magnetic Properties and Microstructure of TbCo/(Co/SiN<SUB>x</SUB>)<SUB>n</SUB> Films

Pai Li Lin,Po Cheng Kuo,Sheng Chi Chen,Yen Hsiang Fang 한국자기학회 2007 한국자기학회 학술연구발표회 논문개요집 Vol.- No.-

Vector boson fusion versus gluon fusion

Chan, Chen-Hsun,Cheung, Kingman,Chung, Yi-Lun,Hsu, Pai-Hsien American Physical Society 2017 Physical Review D Vol.96 No.9

<P>Vector-boson fusion (VBF) is a clean probe of the electroweak-symmetry breaking (EWSB), which inevitably suffers from some level of contamination due to the gluon fusion (ggF). In addition to the jet variables used in the current experimental analysis, we analyze a few more jet-shape variables defined by the girth and integrated jet shape. Taking H -> WW* -> e nu mu nu and H -> gamma gamma as examples, we perform the analysis with a new technique of the two-step boosted-decision-tree method, which significantly reduces the contamination of the ggF in the VBF sample, thus, providing a clean environment in probing the EWSB sector.</P>

Experience in Professional Resilience for Nurses Caring for Patients with COVID-19: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

Chiu Pai-En,Lin Shu-Chuan A.,Li Ya-Ping,Huang Chiao-Hsin,Shu Ying-Mei,Chen Chi-Wen 한국간호과학회 2024 Asian Nursing Research Vol.18 No.1

Purpose During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses have faced many professional and ethical dilemmas and challenges along with bearing physical, mental, and emotional stress resulting from worrying about themselves or their family being infected and stigmatized. This stress can potentially lead to burnout and resignation. Professional resilience is crucial for nurses to cope with these adverse situations. This study aimed to investigate the process by which nurses adapt, change, and overcome challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and ultimately demonstrate professional resilience. Methods Descriptive phenomenology was applied. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 nurses working in COVID-19 wards and intensive care units to collect data. Giorgi's phenomenological analysis method was employed. Results Based on the interview responses, four major themes were identified: 1) balancing patient care, self-protection, and passing on experience; 2) providing timely pandemic team resources and social support; 3) nurses' perseverance amid social discourse and constrained lives; and 4) selfless dedication shaping nursing's pinnacle experiences. Conclusions In the face of a sudden pandemic, frontline nurses play a critical role in maintaining medical capacity. Consequently, they must balance their families, lives, and work while adapting to the impact of the pandemic and changing practices and procedures based on the development of the pandemic and policy demands. The study findings provide insights into the challenges and emotional experiences encountered by nurses during a sudden pandemic outbreak and can serve as a reference for developing strategies to help nurses overcome these challenges and enhance their professional resilience.

Increase in Plasma Glucose Lowering Action of Rosiglitazone by Electroacupuncture at Bilateral Zusanli Acupoints (ST.36) in Rats

Hui-Ching Pai,Chung-Yuh Tzeng,Yu-Chen Lee,Chin-Hsien Chang,Jaung-Geng Lin,Juei-Tang Cheng,Shih-Liang Chang 사단법인약침학회 2009 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.2 No.2

Objectives: Hypoglycemia induced by electroacupuncture (EA) is due to an increase of insulin secretion and/or mediation of β-endorphin. We applied EA at the Zusanli (ST.36) acupuncture point (acupoint) in combination with rosiglitazone (TZD) administration to evaluate their effect on plasma glucose and to explore possible mechanisms of action. Methods: Thirty six normal adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: the 0.1 mg/kg TZD group (0.1TZD), 0.1 mg/kg TZD and EA group (0.1TZD + EA), EA group, and control group. In other experiments, streptozotocin was used to induce type 2 diabetes mellitus in neonatal rats; these were then randomly divided into a 0.1TZD group, 0.1TZD + EA group, and EA group and changes in plasma glucose and insulin concentrations evaluated. Results: A marked hypoglycemic response was observed in the normal rat 0.1TZD, 0.1TZD + EA and EA groups, with the response more significant in the 0.1TZD + EA group than in the 0.1TZD group. Among the diabetic animals, the hypoglycemic responses in the 0.1TZD + EA and EA groups were greater than in the 0.1TZD group. In both the normal and diabetic rats, insulin secretion was increased by EA or 0.1TZD + EA treatment, but not by 0.1TZD. Conclusions: The plasma glucose lowering action of rosiglitazone was increased by EA in both normal and diabetic rats, indicating that the application of EA may enhance the hypoglycemic action of this insulin sensitizer. Objectives: Hypoglycemia induced by electroacupuncture (EA) is due to an increase of insulin secretion and/or mediation of β-endorphin. We applied EA at the Zusanli (ST.36) acupuncture point (acupoint) in combination with rosiglitazone (TZD) administration to evaluate their effect on plasma glucose and to explore possible mechanisms of action. Methods: Thirty six normal adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: the 0.1 mg/kg TZD group (0.1TZD), 0.1 mg/kg TZD and EA group (0.1TZD + EA), EA group, and control group. In other experiments, streptozotocin was used to induce type 2 diabetes mellitus in neonatal rats; these were then randomly divided into a 0.1TZD group, 0.1TZD + EA group, and EA group and changes in plasma glucose and insulin concentrations evaluated. Results: A marked hypoglycemic response was observed in the normal rat 0.1TZD, 0.1TZD + EA and EA groups, with the response more significant in the 0.1TZD + EA group than in the 0.1TZD group. Among the diabetic animals, the hypoglycemic responses in the 0.1TZD + EA and EA groups were greater than in the 0.1TZD group. In both the normal and diabetic rats, insulin secretion was increased by EA or 0.1TZD + EA treatment, but not by 0.1TZD. Conclusions: The plasma glucose lowering action of rosiglitazone was increased by EA in both normal and diabetic rats, indicating that the application of EA may enhance the hypoglycemic action of this insulin sensitizer.

Start-up Current Overshoot Moderation for a Headlight Driver with a Microcontroller Unit

Kai-Jun Pai,Po-Hsun Chen 전력전자학회 2019 ICPE(ISPE)논문집 Vol.2019 No.5

The laser headlamp driver (LHD) possessing with a DC–DC converter, a feedback controller, and a safety standard circuit, was developed in this study. The buck–boost converter composed of the two–switch and two–diode for the DC–DC converter, which can be implemented in both boost or buck operations. Due to the operating ambient temperature of the laser diode causes the forward bias drift; using the feedback controller, the driving current of the leaser diode could be settled to deal with forward bias drift. In addition, the current overshoot exists when the operation of the buck–boost converter changes to the constant-current from the constant-voltage output mode, during the LHD start-up phase; the current overshoot would be exacerbated when laser diodes operate in the high ambient temperature. In this study, the proportional shifting proportional-integral technology was employed to the current-feedback controller to moderate the start-up current overshoot.

On the Design of the Latch Mechanism for Wafer Containers in a SMIF Environment

Lee, Jyh-Jone,Chen, Dar-Zen,Pai, Wei-Ming,Wu, Tzong-Ming The Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers 2006 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.20 No.12

This paper presents, the design of a latch mechanism for wafer containers in a standard mechanical interface environment. For an integrated circuits fabrication factory, the standard mechanical interfaced wafer container is an effective tool to prevent wafers from particle contamination during wafer storage, transporting or transferring. The latch mechanism inside the container door is used to latch and further seal the wafer container for safety and air quality. Kinematic characteristics of the mechanism are established by analyzing the required functions of the mechanisms. Based on these characteristics, a methodology for enumerating feasible latch mechanisms is developed. New mechanisms with one degree-of-freedom and up to five links are generated. An optimum design is also identified with respect to the criteria pertinent to the application. The computer-aided simulation is also built to verify the design.

Semi-Lagrangian Reproducing Kernel Particle Method for Slope Stability Analysis and Post-Failure Simulation

On-Lei Annie Kwok,Pai-Chen Guan,Wei-Po Cheng,Chien-Ting Sun 대한토목학회 2015 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.19 No.1

Slope stability analyses are often performed using Limit Equilibrium Methods (LEMs) and Finite Element Method (FEM). However, these methods can only model the slope condition up to the point of failure. Meshfree methods, which do not require amesh or a grid in the simulation process, have the potential to model the post-failure slope behavior as mesh tangling would not occurto cause numerical instability and non-convergence. Hence, while retaining the benefits of conventional numerical schemes,meshfree method can be more advantageous when problems with large deformation are encountered. In this paper, Semi-LagrangianReproducing Kernel Particle Method (SLRKPM), which is a type of meshfree method, is extended to analyze geomechanicsproblems such as the stability of a slope and post failure slope behavior. The results from SLRKPM agree well with those fromconvention methods (LEMs and FEM) in terms of factor-of-safety and failure surface. In addition, SLRKPM is able to simulate theslope failure process and successfully capture the development of shear band. This proves that SLRKPM has a significant advantageover FEM when dealing with problems involving large deformation and failure of geomaterials.