Core prescription pattern of Chinese herbal medicine for depressive disorders in Taiwan: a nationwide population-based study

Diem Ngoc Hong Tran,I-Hsuan Hwang,Fun-Jou Chen,Yuan-Pu Tseng,Ching-Mao Chang,Shih-Jen Tsai,Jen-Lin Yang,Ta-Peng Wu,Chung-Hua Hsu,Fang-Pey Chen,Yen-Ying Kung 한국한의학연구원 2021 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.10 No.3

Background: Depressive disorders (DD) affect not only mood and behavior but also various physical functions. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been shown to have some benefits in treating DD. However, one formula or one single herb might be not show high efficacy when used to treat depression. Thus, this study aimed to examine the core prescription pattern of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) among patients with DD in Taiwan as a reference for related research and clinical applications. Methods: All patients, who had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder or minor depression or dysthymia without any other baseline diseases and had at least one CHM outpatient clinical visit from 2002 to 2011, were extracted from three randomly sampled cohorts, namely the 2000, 2005 and 2010 cohorts of the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan. The collected data was analyzed to explore the patterns of herbal products. Results: There were 197,146 patients with a diagnosis of DD and of these 1806 subjects had only a diagnosis of DD and utilized CHM. The most common formula was Gan-Mai-Da-Zao-Tang (12.19%), while Suan-Zao-Ren (3.99%) was the most commonly prescribed single herb. The core pattern of prescriptions consisted of a combination of Gan-Mai-Da-Zao-Tang, Jia-Wei-Xiao-Yao-San, Chai-Hu-Jia-Long-Gu-Mu-Li-Tang, He-Huan-Pi, Yuan-Zhi and Shi-Chang-Pu. Conclusions: This study describes the CHM core prescription pattern used to treat patients in Taiwan with DD and it is a potential candidate for study in future pharmacological or clinical trials targeting DD.

Research and Development of RFIC Technology in Smart Temperature Information Material

Chang, Chih-Yuan,Hung, San-Shan,Chang, Yu-Chueh,Peng, Yu-Fang Korea Institute of Construction Engineering and Ma 2011 Journal of construction engineering and project ma Vol.1 No.1

Conservation of energy and fuel is the trend in smart building design. Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC) technology is often used in temperature sensing and signal transmission to manage indoor temperature, but it is rarely applied to the shell of the building. Heat retention and poor insulation in building shells are the largest causes of high energy consumption by indoor air conditioning. Through combining RFIC technology with temperature sensors, this study will develop smart temperature information material that can be embedded in concrete. In addition to accurately evaluating the effectiveness of shell insulation material, the already-designed Building Physiology Information System can monitor long-term temperature changes, leading to smarter building health management.

Effect of Tea on Resistance to Type 2 Diabetes

Peng Lu,Kai Fan,Ya-Ting Lu,Yuan-Xu Shi,Dong-Mei Fan,Xiao-Chang Wang 한국차학회 2015 한국차학회지 Vol.- No.S

Insulinotropic hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) degrades rapidly under the catalytic of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV). Consequently, DPP-IV which is widely expressed in small intestine takes a key role in the prevention and treatment of Type 2 Diabetes. To identify the capability of anti-type 2 diabetes by tea, the inhibition of different types of Chinese teas on DPP-IV was tested. The inhibitory ratio of Buddha Longjing is 31.74%, Tangji Gaoshan Tea is 62.08% (p < 0.01), Yunnan black tea is 66.29% (p < 0.01), Lapsang souchon is 76.40% (p <0.01), Dahongpao is 62.08% (p < 0.01), Tieguanyin is 66.85% (p < 0.01), Moganhuangya is 65.45% (p < 0.01),Huoshanhuangya is 50.56% (p < 0.05).

Diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Associated with a Sb Accumulator Plant, Ramie (Boehmeria nivea), in an Active Sb Mining

( Yuan Wei ),( Zhi Peng Chen ),( Feng Chang Wu ),( Ji Ning Li ),( Yu Xian Shangguan ),( Fa Sheng Li ),( Qing Ru Zeng ),( Hong Hou ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2015 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.25 No.8

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have great potential for assisting heavy metal hyperaccumulators in the remediation of contaminated soils. However, little information is available about the symbiosis of AMF associated with an antimony (Sb) accumulator plant under natural conditions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the colonization and molecular diversity of AMF associated with the Sb accumulator ramie (Boehmeria nivea) growing in Sb-contaminated soils. Four Sb mine spoils and one adjacent reference area were selected from Xikuangshan in southern China. PCR-DGGE was used to analyze the AMF community composition in ramie roots. Morphological identification was also used to analyze the species in the rhizosphere soil of ramie. Results obtained showed that mycorrhizal symbiosis was established successfully even in the most heavily polluted sites. From the unpolluted site Ref to the highest polluted site T4, the spore numbers and AMF diversity increased at first and then decreased. Colonization increased consistently with the increasing Sb concentrations in the soil. A total of 14 species were identified by morphological analysis. From the total number of species, 4 (29%) belonged to Glomus, 2 (14%) belonged to Acaulospora, 2 (14%) belonged to Funneliformis, 1 (7%) belonged to Claroideoglomus, 1 (7%) belonged to Gigaspora, 1 (7%) belonged to Paraglomus, 1 (7%) belonging to Rhizophagus, 1 (7%) belonging to Sclervocystis, and 1 (7%) belonged to Scutellospora. Some AMF sequences were present even in the most polluted site. Morphological identification and phylogenetic analysis both revealed that most species were affiliated with Glomus, suggesting that Glomus was the dominant genus in this AMF community. This study demonstrated that ramie associated with AMF may have great potential for remediation of Sb-contaminated soils.

Comparative Analysis of the Genomes of Bombyx mandarina and Bombyx mori Nucleopolyhedroviruses

Yi-Peng Xu,Zheng-Pei Ye,Chang-Ying Niu,Yan-Yuan Bao,Wen-Bing Wang,Wei-De Shen,Chuan-Xi Zhang 한국미생물학회 2010 The journal of microbiology Vol.48 No.1

The Bombyx mandarina nucleopolyhedrovirus (BomaNPV) S1 strain can infect the silkworm, Bombyx mori,but is significantly less virulent than B. mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) T3 strain. The complete nucleotide sequence of the S1 strain of BomaNPV was determined and compared with the BmNPV T3 strain. The circular, double stranded DNA genome of the S1 strain was 126,770 nucleotides long (GenBank accession no. FJ882854), with a G+C content of 40.23%. The genome contained 133 potential ORFs. Most of the putative proteins were more than 96% identical to homologs in the BmNPV T3 strain, except for bro-a, lef-12,bro-c, and bro-d. Compared with the BmNPV T3 strain, however, this genome did not encode the bro-b and bro-e genes. In addition, hr1 lacked two repeat units, while hr2L, hr2R, hr3, hr4L, hr4R, and hr5 were similar to the corresponding hrs in the T3 strain. The sequence strongly suggested that BomaNPV and BmNPV are variants with each other, and supported the idea that baculovirus strain heterogeneity may often be caused by variation in the hrs and bro genes.

High-Performance Bottom-Contact Organic Thin-Film Transistors Based on Benzo[<i>d</i>,<i>d</i>′]thieno[3,2-<i>b</i>;4,5-<i>b</i>′]dithiophenes (BTDTs) Derivatives

Huang, Peng-Yi,Chen, Liang-Hsiang,Kim, Choongik,Chang, Hsiu-Chieh,Liang, You-jhih,Feng, Chieh-Yuan,Yeh, Chia-Ming,Ho, Jia-Chong,Lee, Cheng-Chung,Chen, Ming-Chou American Chemical Society 2012 ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES Vol.4 No.12

<P>Three benzo[<I>d</I>,<I>d</I>′]thieno[3,2-<I>b</I>;4,5-<I>b</I>′]dithiophene (<B>BTDT</B>) derivatives, end-functionalized with benzothiophenyl (<B>BT-BTDT</B>; <B>2</B>), benzothieno[3,2-b]thiophenyl (<B>BTT-BTDT</B>; 3), and benzo[<I>d</I>,<I>d</I>′]thieno[3,2-<I>b</I>;4,5-<I>b</I>′]dithiophenyl (<B>BBTDT</B>; <B>4</B>), were prepared for bottom-contact/bottom-gate organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs). An improved one-pot [2 + 1 + 1] synthetic method of <B>BTDT</B> with improved synthetic yield was achieved, which enabled the efficient realization of new <B>BTDT</B>-based semiconductors. All of the <B>BTDT</B> compounds exhibited high performance p-channel characteristics with carrier mobilities as high as 0.34 cm<SUP>2</SUP>/(V s) and a current on/off ratio of 1 × 10<SUP>7</SUP>, as well as enhanced ambient stability. The device characteristics have been correlated with the film morphologies and microstructures of the corresponding compounds.</P><P><B>Graphic Abstract</B> <IMG SRC='http://pubs.acs.org/appl/literatum/publisher/achs/journals/content/aamick/2012/aamick.2012.4.issue-12/am3022448/production/images/medium/am-2012-022448_0010.gif'></P><P><A href='http://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/am3022448'>ACS Electronic Supporting Info</A></P>

EFFECTS OF INJECTION TIMING ON TRANSIENT PERFORMANCE OF A REGULATED TWO-STAGE TURBOCHARGED DIESEL ENGINE WITH TURBINE BYPASS VALVE

Zhong Chang Liu,Xing Yuan,Jing Tian,Yong Qiang Han,Kai Bo Yu,Peng Kun Teng 한국자동차공학회 2018 International journal of automotive technology Vol.19 No.5

The object of this paper is to reduce soot emissions under typical 5s transient conditions of constant speed and increasing torque. And effects of fuel injection timing on combustion and emissions parameters were experimentally and numerically studied in a regulated two-stage turbocharged diesel engine with a turbine bypass valve (TBV). The test results indicated that: the smaller TBV opening could improve deterioration of smoke emissions and BSFC at medium and heavy loads. Afterward, the full-stage injection timing (FSIT) strategies (delaying injection timing during the entire transient process) could reduce soot and NOX emissions simultaneously. However, when TBV opening became larger, smoke emissions and BSFC were deteriorated gradually. Moreover, the sectional-stage injection timing (SSIT) strategies (advancing injection timing from 10 % load to a preset load and delaying injection timing from the preset load to 100 % load) could markedly reduce soot emissions by 75.8 % with TBV opening 20 %; the degradation of fuel consumption could be effectively suppressed. Finally, coupling the SSIT strategies with the TBV control strategies could significantly improve the transient performance.

The TOP-SCOPE Survey of PGCCs: PMO and SCUBA-2 Observations of 64 PGCCs in the Second Galactic Quadrant

Zhang, Chuan-Peng,Liu, Tie,Yuan, Jinghua,Sanhueza, Patricio,Traficante, Alessio,Li, Guang-Xing,Li, Di,Tatematsu, Ken’ichi,Wang, Ke,Lee, Chang Won,Samal, Manash R.,Eden, David,Marston, Anthony,Liu, Xia American Astronomical Society 2018 The Astrophysical journal Supplement series Vol.236 No.2

<P>In order to understand the initial conditions and early evolution of star formation in a wide range of Galactic environments, we carried out an investigation of 64 Planck Galactic cold clumps (PGCCs) in the second quadrant of the Milky Way. Using the (CO)-C-13 and (CO)-O-18 J = 1-0 lines and 850 mu m continuum observations, we investigated cloud fragmentation and evolution associated with star formation. We extracted 468 clumps and 117 cores from the (CO)-C-13 line and 850 mu m continuum maps, respectively. We made use of the Bayesian distance calculator and derived the distances of all 64 PGCCs. We found that in general, the mass-size plane follows a relation of m similar to r(1.67). At a given scale, the masses of our objects are around 1/10 of that of typical Galactic massive star-forming regions. Analysis of the clump and core masses, virial parameters, densities, and mass-size relation suggests that the PGCCs in our sample have a low core formation efficiency (similar to 3.0%), and most PGCCs are likely low-mass star-forming candidates. Statistical study indicates that the 850 mu m cores are more turbulent, more optically thick, and denser than the (CO)-C-13 clumps for star formation candidates, suggesting that the 850 mu m cores are likely more appropriate future star formation candidates than the (CO)-C-13 clumps.</P>

Gene Therapy for Mice Sarcoma with Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Lacking the Apoptosis-inhibiting Gene, icp34.5

( Ping Lan ),( Chang Yuan Dong ),( Yi Peng Qi ),( Geng Fu Xiao ),( Feng Xue ) 생화학분자생물학회 2003 BMB Reports Vol.36 No.4

A mutant herpes simplex virus 1, mtHSV, was constructed by inserting the E. coli beta-galactosidase gene into the loci of icp34.5, the apoptosis-inhibiting gene of HSV. The mtHSV replicated in and lysed U251 (human glioma cells), EJ (human bladder cells), and S-180 (mice sarcoma cells), but not Wish (human amnion cells) cells. With its intact tk (thymidine kinase) hene, mtHSV exhibited susceptibility to acyclovir (ACV), which provided an approach to control viral replication. An in vivo test with mtHSV was conducted in immune-competent mice bearing sarcoma S-180 tumors, which were treated with a single intratumoral injection of mtHSV or PBS. Tumor dimensions then were measured at serial time points, and the tumor volumes were calculated. Sarcoma growth was significantly inhibited with prolonged time and reduced tumor volume. There was microscopic evidence of necrosis of tumors in treated mice, whereas no damage was found in other organs. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that virus replication was exclusively confined to the treated tumor cells. HSV-1 DNA was detected in tumors, but not in the other organs by a polymerase chain reaction analysis. From these experiments, we concluded that mtHSV should be a safe and promising oncolytic agent for cancer treatment.

Conditional Replication of a Recombinant Adenovirus Studied Using Neomycin as a Selective Marker

( Feng Xue ),( Yi Peng Qi ),( Mallam Nock Joshua ),( Ping Lan ),( Chang Yuan Dong ) 생화학분자생물학회 2003 BMB Reports Vol.36 No.3

An E1B-defective adenovirus, named r2/Ad carrying the neo expression cassette, was constructed by homologous recombination. The construction, selection (using neomycin as a seletive marker), and propagation of the recombinant virus was performed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells (HEK 293). An in vitro study demonstrated that this recombinant virus has the ability to replicate in and lyse some p53-deficient human bladder cells (EJ), but not in some cells with functional p53, such as human adenocarcinoma cells (A549) and human fibroblast cells (MRC-5). Also, based on the cytopathic effect (CPE), it was demonstrated, under identical conditions, that the U251 cells were more sensitive to r2/Ad replication than the EJ cells. In this paper, we report that r2/Ad could be very useful in studying the in vitro selective replication of EIB-defective adenovirus and has great potential in cancer gene therapy.