Professionals’ experiences and attitudes toward use of Traditional Chinese Medicine in hospice palliative inpatient care units: A multicenter survey in Taiwan

Yu-Jia Lin,Hsiao-Ting Chang,Ming-Hwai Lin,Ru-Yih Chen,Ping-Jen Chen,Wen-Yuan Lin,Jyh-Gang Hsieh,Ying-Wei Wang,Chung-Chieh Hu,Yi-Sheng Liou,Tai-Yuan Chiu,Chun-Yi Tu,Yi-Jen Wang,Bo-Ren Cheng,Tzeng-Ji Ch 한국한의학연구원 2021 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.10 No.2

Background: Medical staff may have difficulties in using conventional medicine to manage symptoms among terminally ill patients, including adverse effects of the treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is regarded as a complementary or alternative medicine, and has been increasingly used in the field of palliative medicine in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the experiences of and attitudes toward using TCM among palliative care professionals, and to provide preliminary information about its use in palliative care. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey study conducted in eight inpatient hospice wards in Taiwan between December 2014 and February 2016. The questionnaire was self-administered, and was analyzed with descriptive statistics including Pearson’s Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test. Results: A total of 251 palliative care professionals responded to the questionnaire, of whom 89.7% and 88.9% believed that the use of TCM could improve the physical symptoms and quality of life in terminally ill patients, respectively. Overall, 59.8%, of respondents suggested that TCM had rare side effects, and 58.2% were worried that TCM could affect the liver and kidney function of patients. In total, 89.7% and 88.0% of professionals agreed there were no suitable clinical practice guidelines and educational programs, respectively, for TCM use in palliative care. Conclusions: Most of the respondents agreed there was insufficient knowledge, skills-training, and continuing education on the use of TCM in terminally ill patients in Taiwan. These results show that to address patient safety considerations, guidelines about use of TCM in palliative care should be established.

Phase II Clinical Study on the GEMOX Regimen as Second-line Therapy for Advanced Ovarian Cancer

Yuan, Shao-Fei,Zhang, Lian-Ping,Zhu, Lin-Jia,Chen, Wen-Jun,Zheng, Wei-E,Xiong, Jian-Ping Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.6

Aim: To investigate the effectiveness and adverse effects of gemcitabine by fixed-dose rate infusion plus oxaliplatin (GEMOX regimen) as second-line therapy for advanced ovarian cancer. Methods: 64 patients with advanced ovarian cancer were divided into an experimental group (44 cases) and a control group (20 cases). The experimental group was treated with continuous intravenous infusion of gemcitabine at 1000 $mg/m^2$ with a fixed-dose rate of 10 $mg/m^2/min$, on days 1 and 8 and oxaliplatin at 100 $mg/m^2$ on day 1, IVGTT, repeated every 3 weeks. The control group was treated with intravenous infusion of gemcitabine at 1000 $mg/m^2$ within 30 min on days 1 and and oxaliplatin at 100 $mg/m^2$ on day 1, IVGTT, again repeated every 3 weeks. CT scans or MRI were used for review every 1-2 cycles. Results: The effective rate in the experimental group was significantly high than control group (43.2% vs 35.0%; P < 0.05), with no obvious difference of hematologic or non-hematologic toxicity between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: GEMOX regimen is very effective to treat advanced ovarian cancer, with low toxicity, good tolerance and improved life quality in patients.

TOSS: Telecom Operations Support Systems for Broadband Services

Yuan Kai Chen,Chang Ping Hsu,Chuang Hua Hu,Rong Syh Lin,Yi Bing Lin,Jian Zhi Lyu,Wudy Wu,Heychyi Young 한국정보처리학회 2010 Journal of information processing systems Vol.6 No.1

Effects of Monoclonal Antibodies against Human Stathmin Combined with Paclitaxel on Proliferation of the QG-56 Human Lung Carcinoma Cell Line

Yuan, Shao-Fei,Chen, Wen-Jun,Zhu, Lin-Jia,Zheng, Wei-E.,Chen, Hua,Xiong, Jian-Ping Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.6

Objective: To explore whether monoclonal antibodies against stathmin and the chemotherapuetic agent paclitaxel have synergenic effects in inhibiting growth and inducing apoptosis in human QG-56 cells. Methods: QG-56 cells were treated with monoclonal antibodies against stathmin or paclitaxel alone or in combination, with untreated cells used as controls. After 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours the cell growth condition was observed under an inverted microscope and inhibition was studied by MTT assay; apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. Results: The populations decreased and cell shape and size changed after the various treatments. Monoclonal antibodies against stathmin and paclitaxel used alone or incombination inhibited the proliferation of QG-56 cells, especially in combination with synergism (P<0.05). Combined treatment also resulted in a significantly higher apoptosis rate than in the other groups (P<0.05). Conclusions: Monoclonal antibodies against stathmin and paclitaxel used alone or in combination can inhibit proliferation of QG-56 cells and induce apoptosis when applied together. The observed synergistic effects may have important implications for clinical application.

General Analytical Method for Magnetic Field Analysis of Halbach Magnet Arrays Based on Magnetic Scalar Potential

Ping Jin,Yue Yuan,Heyun Lin,Shuhua Fang,S. L. Ho 한국자기학회 2013 Journal of Magnetics Vol.18 No.2

This paper presents a general analytical method for predicting the magnetic fields of different Halbach magnet arrays with or without back iron mounted on slotless permanent magnet (PM) linear machines. By using Fourier decomposition, the magnetization components of four typical Halbach magnet arrays are determined. By applying special synthetic boundary conditions on the PM surfaces, the expressions of their magnetic field distributions are derived based on the magnetic scalar potential (MSP), which are simpler than those based on the magnetic vector potential (MVP). The correctness of the method is validated by finite element analysis. The harmonics of airgap flux density waveforms of these Halbach magnet arrays with or without back iron are also compared and optimized.

Calculation of Life-Time Death Probability due Malignant Tumors Based on a Sampling Survey Area in China

Yuan, Ping,Chen, Tie-Hui,Chen, Zhong-Wu,Lin, Xiu-Quan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.10

Purpose: To calculate the probability of one person's life-time death caused by a malignant tumor and provide theoretical basis for cancer prevention. Materials and Methods: The probability of one person's death caused by a tumor was calculated by a probability additive formula and based on an abridged life table. All data for age-specific mortality were from the third retrospective investigation of death cause in China. Results: The probability of one person's death caused by malignant tumor was 18.7% calculated by the probability additive formula. On the same way, the life-time death probability caused by lung cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer, esophageal cancer, colorectal and anal cancer were 4.47%, 3.62%, 3.25%, 2.25%, 1.11%, respectively. Conclusions: Malignant tumor is still the main cause of death in one's life time and the most common causes of cancer death were lung, gastric, liver, esophageal, colorectal and anal cancers. Targeted forms of cancer prevention and treatment strategies should be worked out to improve people's health and prolong life in China. The probability additive formula is a more scientific and objective method to calculate the probability of one person's life-time death than cumulative death probability.

Thermal study of a scanning beam in granular flow target

Lin Ping,Qin Yuanshuai,Hao Changwei,Tian Yuan,Wan Jiangfeng,Jia Huan,Yang Lei,Duan Wenshan,Cai Han-Jie,Zhang Sheng 한국원자력학회 2022 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.54 No.11

The concept of dense granular-flow target (DGT) for the China Initiative Accelerator Driven Subcritical system (CiADS) is an attractive choice for high heat removal ability, low chemical toxicity, and radiotoxicity. A wobbling hollow beam is proposed to enhance the homogeneity of temperature rise of flowing particles in beam-target coupling zone. In this paper, the design procedure of target and beam parameters was discussed firstly. Then we simulated the heat deposition and transfer of the scanning beam in DGT to study the effect of beam parameters. The results show the flux density of proton beam plays a crucial role in the distribution of temperature rise while the contributions from scanning frequency heat transfer are also obvious. Moreover, heat transfer in transversal directions is insignificant, resulting in a low heat flux towards the sidewalls of DGT. This work not only contributes to the design of DGT, but also beneficial for understanding the beam-target coupling in porous materials

TOSS: Telecom Operations Support Systems for Broadband Services

Chen, Yuan-Kai,Hsu, Chang-Ping,Hu, Chung-Hua,Lin, Rong-Syh,Lin, Yi-Bing,Lyu, Jian-Zhi,Wu, Wudy,Young, Hey-Chyi Korea Information Processing Society 2010 Journal of information processing systems Vol.6 No.1

Due to the convergence of voice, data, and video, today's telecom operators are facing the complexity of service and network management to offer differentiated value-added services that meet customer expectations. Without the operations support of well-developed Business Support System/Operations Support System (BSS/OSS), it is difficult to timely and effectively provide competitive services upon customer request. In this paper, a suite of NGOSS-based Telecom OSS (TOSS) is developed for the support of fulfillment and assurance operations of telecom services and IT services. Four OSS groups, TOSS-P (intelligent service provisioning), TOSS-N (integrated large-scale network management), TOSS-T (trouble handling and resolution), and TOSS-Q (end-to-end service quality management), are organized and integrated following the standard telecom operation processes (i.e., eTOM). We use IPTV and IP-VPN operation scenarios to show how these OSS groups co-work to support daily business operations with the benefits of cost reduction and revenue acceleration.

A Clinical Database of Breast Cancer Patients Reveals Distinctive Clinico-pathological Characteristics: a Study From Central China

Wang, Lin-Wei,Yang, Gui-Fang,Chen, Jia-Mei,Yang, Fang,Yuan, Jing-Ping,Sun, Sheng-Rong,Chen, Chuang,Hu, Ming-Bai,Li, Yan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.4

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor in females worldwide. Many differences exist in clinico-pathological characteristics of breast cancer patients between China and Western countries. This study aimed to analyze clinico-pathological characteristics of breast cancer from central China. Methods: Clinico-pathological information on breast cancer from three hospitals in central China was collected and analyzed. Results: From 1994 to 2012, 2,525 patients with a median age 50 years were included in this study. The 45-49-year age group and invasive ductal carcinoma not otherwise specified accounted for the highest proportions (19.1%, 480/2,525 and 81.0%, 1,982/2,446). Stages 0-I, II and III accounted for 28.0% (682/2,441), 48.4% (1,180/2,441), and 23.7% (578/2,441), respectively. Distribution of N stage showed that N0 accounted for 53.2% (1,344/2,525), and proportion of N0 rose from 51.1% (157/307) in 30-39-year age group to 64.3% (110/171) in ${\geq}$ 70-year age group, with an average increase of 2.1% in each age group. Modified radical mastectomy, radical mastectomy, breast-conserving surgery and simple mastectomy were performed for 71.8% (1,812/2,525), 18.0% (454/2,525), 5.2% (131/2,525) and 2.6% (66/2,525), respectively. Proportions of breast-conserving surgery in age ${\leq}$ 44-year group (68/132, 51.5%) and simple mastectomy in age ${\geq}$ 60-year group (57/89, 64.0%) were higher than in the other age groups. Breast cancers positive for estrogen receptor accounted for 53.0% (1,107/ 2,112). The comparisons among this study and other reports showed higher proportion of younger patients, lower proportion of breast-conserving surgery and positive estrogen receptor patients in China than western countries. Conclusions: Clinico-pathological characteristics in this study demonstrated clear differences between the center of China than Western countries. Additional classification systems should be developed to guide grading of early breast cancer more accurately, especially for N0 patients. Invasive ductal carcinoma is a focus for intensive research.

Response improvement for In2O3–TiO2 thick film gas sensors

Mao Lin Zhang,Jian Ping Song,Zhan Heng Yuan,Cheng Zheng 한국물리학회 2012 Current Applied Physics Vol.12 No.3

In2O3 is introduced into TiO2 by sol-gel method to improve the response/recovery rate and expand the operating temperature, when the In2O3-TiO2 mixed system is exposed to H2/O2. The sensor is fabricated by thick film technology. Influence of In2O3 on the film phase composition, microstructure and sensing characteristics is discussed. Dynamic response properties show that the operating temperature of the mixed system is at 500e800 ℃, which is about 600e800 ℃ for pure TiO2. Response time of the sensor is about 200e260 ms (millisecond) while recovery time is in a narrow range of 60e280 ms at 600e800 ℃. The promoting mechanism is suggested to arise from the introduction of In2O3 and grain size effect of the sensing film. Then In2O3-TiO2 thick films are surface-modified by Pt using chloroplatinic acid. The promoting effect of Pt dispersed on the mixed system is also investigated. In2O3 is introduced into TiO2 by sol-gel method to improve the response/recovery rate and expand the operating temperature, when the In2O3-TiO2 mixed system is exposed to H2/O2. The sensor is fabricated by thick film technology. Influence of In2O3 on the film phase composition, microstructure and sensing characteristics is discussed. Dynamic response properties show that the operating temperature of the mixed system is at 500e800 ℃, which is about 600e800 ℃ for pure TiO2. Response time of the sensor is about 200e260 ms (millisecond) while recovery time is in a narrow range of 60e280 ms at 600e800 ℃. The promoting mechanism is suggested to arise from the introduction of In2O3 and grain size effect of the sensing film. Then In2O3-TiO2 thick films are surface-modified by Pt using chloroplatinic acid. The promoting effect of Pt dispersed on the mixed system is also investigated.