A Neurovascular Transmission Model for Acupuncture-induced Nitric Oxide

Sheng-Hsiung Hsiao,Li-Jen Tsai 사단법인약침학회 2008 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.1 No.1

Acupuncture is the practice of inserting needles into the body to reduce pain or induce anesthesia. More broadly, acupuncture is a family of procedures involving the stimulation of anatomical locations on or in the skin by a variety of techniques. Employing acupuncture to treat human disease or maintain bodily condition has been practiced for thousands of years. However, the mechanism(s) of action of acupuncture at the various meridians are poorly understood. Most studies have indicated that acupuncture is able to increase blood flow. The acupuncture points have high electrical conductance and a relationship of the acupuncture points and meridians with the connective tissue planes and the perivascular space has also been suggested. Several studies employing the human and animal models have shown that acupuncture enhances the generation of nitric oxide (NO) and increases local circulation. Specifically, electroacupuncture (EA) seems to prevent the reduction in NO production from endothelial NO synthetase (eNOS) and neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) that is associated with hypertension and this process involves a stomachmeridian organ but not a non-stomach-meridian organ such as the liver. How can we explain the phenomena of EA and meridian effect? Here, we proposed a neurovascular transmission model for acupuncture induced NO. In this proposed model, the acupuncture stimulus is able to influence connective tissue via mechanical force transfer to the extracellular matrix (ECM). Through the ECM, the mechanotransduction stimulus can be translated or travel from the acupuncture points, which involve local tissue and cells. Cells in the local tissue that have received mechanotransduction induce different types of NO production that can induce changes in blood flow and local circulation. The local mechanical stress produced is coupled to a cyclic strain of the blood vessels and this could then change the frequency of resonance. According to the resonance theory, an oscillatory pattern of NO formation might occur in that specific organ. Therefore, the artery tree would then change the blood distribution and microcirculation of various organs and as a result further affect the production of NO. Acupuncture is the practice of inserting needles into the body to reduce pain or induce anesthesia. More broadly, acupuncture is a family of procedures involving the stimulation of anatomical locations on or in the skin by a variety of techniques. Employing acupuncture to treat human disease or maintain bodily condition has been practiced for thousands of years. However, the mechanism(s) of action of acupuncture at the various meridians are poorly understood. Most studies have indicated that acupuncture is able to increase blood flow. The acupuncture points have high electrical conductance and a relationship of the acupuncture points and meridians with the connective tissue planes and the perivascular space has also been suggested. Several studies employing the human and animal models have shown that acupuncture enhances the generation of nitric oxide (NO) and increases local circulation. Specifically, electroacupuncture (EA) seems to prevent the reduction in NO production from endothelial NO synthetase (eNOS) and neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) that is associated with hypertension and this process involves a stomachmeridian organ but not a non-stomach-meridian organ such as the liver. How can we explain the phenomena of EA and meridian effect? Here, we proposed a neurovascular transmission model for acupuncture induced NO. In this proposed model, the acupuncture stimulus is able to influence connective tissue via mechanical force transfer to the extracellular matrix (ECM). Through the ECM, the mechanotransduction stimulus can be translated or travel from the acupuncture points, which involve local tissue and cells. Cells in the local tissue that have received mechanotransduction induce different types of NO production that can induce changes in blood flow and local circulation. The local mechanical stress produced is coupled to a cyclic strain of the blood vessels and this could then change the frequency of resonance. According to the resonance theory, an oscillatory pattern of NO formation might occur in that specific organ. Therefore, the artery tree would then change the blood distribution and microcirculation of various organs and as a result further affect the production of NO.

Performance Evaluation of the Regional Knowledge Innovation System in China

Sheng-Hsiung CHIU,Tzu-Yu LIN,Hong CHEN,Weihua HUANG 한국유통과학회 2018 KODISA ICBE (International Conference on Business Vol.2018 No.-

This paper investigates the effect of gender leadership with political connection on CSR performance using annual data of Chinese firms who listed in China A-share stock market and had CSR rating assessed by Rankins from 2009 to 2015. In addition, we also examine whether the foregoing question is under the influence of particular ownership structure in China. Our empirical results suggest that female chairman or CEO would not perform well in CSR activities, while leader’s political capital acts an exacerbating force. Specifically, the negative and statistically significant of interaction term female leadership with political capital is obviously identified for the Non-SOEs. The mandatory CSR reporting would not encourage firms to make more effort on CSR activities to the purpose on generating positive social externalities, while the advantages of CSR rating in firms are not obviously experience to coordinate the conflict of interest between stakeholders.

Measuring the CO₂ Reduction Performance on Industry Level in Taiwan : Evidence from a Meta-Frontier SBM Model with Undesirable Output

Sheng Hsiung Chiu,Shi Li Xiao,Xin Miao Tan,Tzu Yu Lin,Helen Yang 한국유통과학회 2017 KODISA ICBE (International Conference on Business Vol.2017 No.-

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the CO₂ reduction performance on industry level in Taiwan after the renewable development act that enacted in 2009. We observe that CO₂ reduction performance has risen slightly due to the effectiveness of energy-saving technologies and low-carbon energy structures under the growth scale of Taiwan’s economy in the meanwhile. It is noticed that the target of GHG reduction in Taiwan for 2030 will be controlled at 20% off compared to their 2005 levels, in accordance of the COP21 that made an appeal to their member nation to submit a reduction target about GHG (CO₂) emission. Therefore, to realize the historical situation of CO₂ emission with the consideration of economic growth has been brought to the attention of Taiwanese government for policy planning on mitigating CO₂ emission on either national level or industry level. We can draw several policy implications from the evaluation results. First, we suggest that the government should pay more attention on industrial sectors because they relative underperformed in terms of their CO₂ reduction behavior in the viewpoint of meta-frontier. Second, it is noted that electricity will be the main part of the energy consumption structure. A low-carbon electricity supply portfolio is necessary for decreasing CO₂ emissions. It may not practical, only that expanding the capacity of renewable energies becomes antidote.

Evaluation of Regional Knowledge Innovation System in China: An Economic Framework Based on Dynamic Slacks-based Approach

Sheng-Hsiung CHIU,Tzu-Yu LIN 한국유통과학회 2019 The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Busine Vol.6 No.3

The paper proposes a knowledge innovation performance model by the dynamic data envelopment analysis with slacks-based measure approach for evaluating the effectiveness of 30 regional knowledge innovation activities in China from 2010 to 2016. In recent years, China has paid more attention to knowledge innovation activities, as central and local governments have pushed on with their innovation projects by lots of investment whatever the difficulties may be. Decision-maker is usually interested in judge its knowledge innovation performance relative to target benchmark by exploring whether one provincial administration region performs better among others and/or if the growth of economy will be benefited greatly by the knowledge innovation activities. To acquire the managerial insight about this issue from a comprehensively designed performance evaluation model, knowledge innovation activity is conceptualized as an intertemporal production process. Invention patent and regional gross product are imposed on desirable outputs, highlighting the need for knowledge economy. The empirical result shows that knowledge innovation has a positive effect on economic development. At the same time, decision-maker should be interest in the economic effect of patents’ type and quality. The government should then encourage new technical applications with greater commercial value from a market-oriented perspective, in order to benefit the most from the innovation process in the short-run.

Up-regulation of Bax and endonuclease G, and down-modulation of Bcl-XL involved in cardiotoxin III-induced apoptosis in K562 cells

Sheng-Huei Yang,Ching-Ming Chien,Mei-Chin Lu,Yi-Hsiung Lin,Xiu-Wei Hu,Shinne-Ren Lin 생화학분자생물학회 2006 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.38 No.4

Cardiotoxin III (CTX III), a basic polypeptide with 60 amino acid residues isolated from Naja naja atra venom, has been reported to have anticancer activity. CTX III-induced K562 cell apoptosis was confirmed by DNA fragmentation (DNA ladder, sub-G1 for-mation) and phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization with an IC50 value of 1.7 g/ml at 48 h. A mechanistic analysis demonstrated that CTX III-induced apop-totic cell death was accompanied by up-regulation of both Bax and endonuclease G (Endo G), and downregulation of Bcl-XL. CTX III had no effect on the levels of Bcl-2, Bid, XIAP survivin, and AIF proteins. CTX III treatment caused loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential (Ψm), release of mitochon-drial cytochrome c to the cytosol, and activation of both caspase-9 and -3. CTX III-induced apoptosis was significantly blocked by the broad-spectrum cas-pase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK. However, CTX III did not generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and talase, did not block CTX III-induced apoptosis in K562 cells. Modulation of Bax, Bcl-XL, and the Endo G proteins, release of mitochondrial cytochome c, and activation of caspase-3 and -9 all are involved in the CTX III-triggered apoptotic process in human leukemia K562 cells.

Blade number effect for a ducted wind turbine

Sheng-Huan Wang,Shih-Hsiung Chen 대한기계학회 2008 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.22 No.10

Ducted wind turbine with multiple blades installed was believed to have a good wind power energy conversion effect. However, little information was available on how to design a good ducted wind turbine. In this paper the effects of blade number on a ducted wind turbine performance is studied. Numerical studies using CFD method to simulate the wind turbine performance were adopted. The duct is a converging-diverging nozzle with the turbine blades located at the throat. A rated output of a 1-kW turbine is adopted as the baseline design. It was found that the blade geometry, stagger angle, and number of blades have different duct blockage effects, and do affect the turbine performance (specifically the power coefficient and torque coefficient, etc.). The fewer number of blades has higher through flow speed, while the larger number of blades provides larger torque. The best power coefficient lies in between the two extremes. The appropriate number of blades is important to match the generator performance curve for optimal overall performance and efficiency.

Duration of Antimuscarinic Administration for Treatment of Overactive Bladder Before Which One Can Assess Efficacy: An Analysis of Predictive Factors

Sheng-Mou Hsiao,Chun-Hou Liao,Ho-Hsiung Lin,Hann-Chorng Kuo 대한배뇨장애요실금학회 2015 International Neurourology Journal Vol.19 No.3

Purpose: To determine the duration of antimuscarinic therapy for overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) appropriate for assessment of the efficacy of treatment, and to evaluate the possible predictive factors for response to therapy. Methods: All OAB patients who visited a urology outpatient clinic of a tertiary referral center and who were prescribed 5 mg of solifenacin or 4 mg of tolterodine extended release capsules daily were enrolled in the study. Patients were asked to continue therapy for 6 months. All enrolled patients completed the patient perception of bladder condition, overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS), and the modified Indevus Urgency Severity Scale questionnaires. All patients underwent uroflowmetry. Results: A total of 164 patients were enrolled and 125 patients (76%) had at least one follow-up visit. The mean follow-up interval was 1 month (range, 0.5–6 months). Sixty-two patients (49.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 40.7–58.5) responded to antimuscarinic treatment. The median time for the onset of response was 3 months (95% CI, 1–6). Multivariate Cox proportional- hazards model revealed that elevated baseline OABSS was an independent predictor of responsiveness to therapy. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed an optimal OABSS cutoff value of ≥7, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.79 (95% CI, 0.70–0.88; sensitivity, 91.9%; specificity, 60.7%). Conclusions: The median time for a therapeutic response was 3 months, and OABSS was the only predictor for responsiveness. These findings may serve as a guideline when prescribing antimuscarinic treatment for OAB patients.

Urodynamic and Bladder Diary Factors Predict Overactive Bladderwet in Women: A Comparison With Overactive Bladder-dry

Sheng-Mou Hsiao,Pei-Chi Wu,Ting-Chen Chang,Chi-Hau Chen,Ho-Hsiung Lin 대한배뇨장애요실금학회 2019 International Neurourology Journal Vol.23 No.1

Purpose: To identify factors predicting the presence of overactive bladder syndrome (OAB)-wet, compared with OAB-dry. Methods: Between September 2007 and September 2013, the medical records of 623 women with OAB who completed a 3-day bladder diary and underwent urodynamic studies in a medical center were retrospectively reviewed. OAB-wet was diagnosed in patients who complained of at least one episode of urgency incontinence in the previous month; otherwise, OABdry was diagnosed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to predict the presence of OAB-wet. Results: Age (odds ratio [OR], 1.05; P<0.001), maximal flow rate (Qmax) (OR,1.06; P<0.001), voided volume (OR, 0.996; P=0.001), detrusor pressure at maximal flow rate (PdetQmax) (OR, 1.02; P=0.003), urgency episodes (OR, 1.04; P<0.001) and urodynamic stress incontinence (OR,1.78; P=0.01) were independent predictors for the presence of OAB-wet vs. OABdry. If we use bladder contractility index as a variable for multivariable logistic regression analysis, bladder contractility index (OR, 1.012; P<0.001) become an independent predictor for OAB-wet. Conclusions: A smaller bladder capacity and more frequent urgency episodes were predictors of OAB-wet, and the above findings indicate that OAB-wet and OAB-dry might be a continuum of OAB. Old age, high Qmax, high PdetQmax and urodynamic stress incontinence were also predictors for OAB-wet, and the above results reveal that OAB-wet and OAB-dry have partially different clinical and urodynamic features. Further studies might be performed to elucidate whether different treatment strategies between OAB-dry and OAB-wet can improve treatment efficacy.

Inhibition of TNF-α, IL-1α, and IL-1β by Pretreatment of Human Monocyte-Derived Macrophages with Menaquinone-7 and Cell Activation with TLR Agonists In Vitro

Min-Hsiung Pan,Katarzyna Maresz,Pei-Sheng Lee,Jia-Ching Wu,Chi-Tang Ho,Janusz Popko,Dilip S. Mehta,Sidney J. Stohs,Vladimir Badmaev 한국식품영양과학회 2016 Journal of medicinal food Vol.19 No.7

Circulatory markers of low-grade inflammation such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) positively correlate with endothelial damage, atheroma formation, cardiovascular disease, and aging. The natural vitamin K2-menaquinone-7 (MK-7) added to the cell culture of human monocyte-derived macrophages (hMDMs) at the same time as toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists did not influence the production of TNF-α. When the cells were pretreated up to 6 h with MK-7 before treatment with TLR agonists, MK-7 did not inhibit significantly the production of TNF-α after the TLR activation. However, 30 h pretreatment of hMDMs with at least 10 μM of MK-7 effectively and dose dependently inhibited the proinflammatory function of hMDMs. Pretreatment of hMDMs with 10 μM of MK-7 for 30 h resulted in 20% inhibition of TNF-α production after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activation (P < .05) and 43% inhibition after macrophage-activating lipopeptide (MALP) activation (P < .001). Pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PMPP) activation was inhibited by 20% with MK-7 pretreatment; however, this inhibition was not statistically significant. The 30 h pretreatment of a THP-1-differentiated monocyte cell line with MK-7 resulted in a dose-dependent downregulation of TNFα, IL-1α, and IL-1β gene expression as evaluated by RNA semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). MK-7 is able to modulate immune and inflammatory reactions in the dose–response inhibition of TNF-α, IL-1α, and IL-1β gene expression and protein production by the healthy hMDMs in vitro.

Classification of particles in particle-laden stream through a stainless steel fibrous filter

Cheng-Hsiung Huang,Chung-Liang Chang,Tser-Sheng Lin 한국화학공학회 2007 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.24 No.3

investigation experimentally explores the penetration curve of particles shot onto a stainles steelt-ing, on the particle penetration was examined at various flow rates, nozzle diameters and dimensionless particle diam-eters, Sqrt(Stk). The penetration of the flat surface by particles was also determined for comparison. Experimental re-sults demonstrate that oleic acid particles larger than Sqrt(Stk)50 are collected on the stainless steel fibrous filter witha low penetration, while smaller particles stay in the particle-laden stream with high penetration. The penetration ofpotassium chloride particles exceeds that of oleic acid particles, because potassium chloride particles bounce off thestainless steel fibrous filter and the flat surface. Particles bounce of the metal filter less easily than the flat surface.Coating the stainless steel fibrous filter with oil effectively reduces problems of particle bounce. The potasium chlorideparticles sucked the coated oil forming a small mountain on the surface. When the loaded particle mass on the coatedstainless steel fibrous filter ranges between 0.4 and 2.3 mg, Sqrt(Stk)50 is a constant 0.35.