Effects of BDNF Polymorphisms on Antidepressant Action

Shih-Jen Tsai,Chen-Jee Hong,Ying-Jay Liou 대한신경정신의학회 2010 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.7 No.4

Evidence suggests that the down-regulation of the signaling pathway involving brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a molecular element known to regulate neuronal plasticity and survival, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of major depression. The restoration of BDNF activity induced by antidepressant treatment has been implicated in the antidepressant therapeutic mechanism. Because there is variability among patients with major depressive disorder in terms of response to antidepressant treatment and since genetic factors may contribute to this inter-individual variability in antidepressant response, pharmacogenetic studies have tested the associations between genetic polymorphisms in candidate genes related to antidepressant therapeutic action. In human BDNF gene, there is a common functional polymorphism (Val66Met) in the pro-region of BDNF, which affects the intracellular trafficking of proBDNF. Because of the potentially important role of BDNF in the antidepressant mechanism, many pharmacogenetic studies have tested the association between this polymorphism and the antidepressant therapeutic response, but they have produced inconsistent results. A recent meta-analysis of eight studies, which included data from 1,115 subjects, suggested that the Val/Met carriers have increased antidepressant response in comparison to Val/Val homozygotes, particularly in the Asian population. The positive molecular heterosis effect (subjects heterozygous for a specific genetic polymorphism show a significantly greater effect) is compatible with animal studies showing that, although BDNF exerts an antidepressant effect, too much BDNF may have a detrimental effect on mood. Several recommendations are proposed for future antidepressant pharmacogenetic studies of BDNF, including the consideration of multiple polymorphisms and a haplotype approach, gene-gene interaction, a single antidepressant regimen, controlling for age and gender interactions, and pharmacogenetic effects on specific depressive symptom-clusters.

Development of primary cell cultures from the adult xylem-feeding leafhopper, Kolla paulula, as a tool for studying Wolbachia biology

Rong-Jen Shiau,Yu-Der Wen,Hsien-Tzung Shih,Shin-Yi Chen,Chiou-Chu Su,Wei-Huang Tsai 한국응용곤충학회 2011 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.14 No.4

Xylophagous leafhoppers are vectors of xylem-limited plant pathogens such as citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC) and Pierce's disease, which cause Xylella diseases. Currently, no cure for Xylella diseases exists. The objective of endosymbiont control using Wolbachia pipientis is to reduce the populations of insect vectors,potentially preventing the expansion of Xylella diseases. The purpose of this study was to establish primary cell cultures from adult xylem-feeding leafhoppers to study Wolbachia biology. Cells from adult male and female Kolla paulula (Walker) (Hemiptera: Membracoidea: Cicadellinae) were successfully cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium containing 20% fetal bovine serum and were maintained for more than 6 months. Cells of both male and female adults are round and semi-attached. The doubling times for male and female K. paulula cells are approximately 8 and 10 days, respectively. The presence of Wolbachia in K. paulula cell cultures was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) gene. The cell cultures developed in this study may be useful in studying interactions between Wolbachia and its hosts of different genders.

An Improvement on Robust H<SUB>∞</SUB> Control for Uncertain Continuous-Time Descriptor Systems

Hung-Jen Lee,Shih-Wei Kau,Yung-Sheng Liu,Chun-Hsiung Fang,Jian-Liung Chen,Ming-Hung Tsai,Li Lee 대한전기학회 2006 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.4 No.3

This paper proposes a new approach to solve robust H∞ control problems for uncertain continuous-time descriptor systems. Necessary and sufficient conditions for robust H∞ control analysis and design are derived and expressed in terms of a set of LMIs. In the proposed approach, the uncertainties are allowed to appear in all system matrices. Furthermore, a couple of assumptions that are required in earlier design methods are not needed anymore in the present one. The derived conditions also include several interesting results existing in the literature as special cases.

Epigenetics and Depression: An Update

Eugene Lin,Shih-Jen Tsai 대한신경정신의학회 2019 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.16 No.9

Objective Depression is associated with various environmental risk factors such as stress, childhood maltreatment experiences, and stressful life events. Current approaches to assess the pathophysiology of depression, such as epigenetics and gene-environment (GxE) interactions, have been widely leveraged to determine plausible markers, genes, and variants for the risk of developing depression. Methods We focus on the most recent developments for genomic research in epigenetics and GxE interactions. Results In this review, we first survey a variety of association studies regarding depression with consideration of GxE interactions. We then illustrate evidence of epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, microRNAs, and histone modifications to influence depression in terms of animal models and human studies. Finally, we highlight their limitations and future directions. Conclusion In light of emerging technologies in artificial intelligence and machine learning, future research in epigenetics and GxE interactions promises to achieve novel innovations that may lead to disease prevention and future potential therapeutic treatments for depression.

The development of Taiwan Fracture Liaison Service network

Lo-Yu Chang,Keh-Sung Tsai,Jen-Kuei Peng,Chung-Hwan Chen,Gau-Tyan Lin,Chin-Hsueh Lin,Shih-Te Tu,I-Chieh Mao,Yih-Lan Gau,Hsusan-Chih Liu,Chi-Chien Niu,Min-Hong Hsieh,Jui-Teng Chien,Wei-Chieh Hung,Rong-S 대한골다공증학회 2018 Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia Vol.4 No.2

Osteoporosis and its associated fragility fractures are becoming a severe burden in the healthcare system globally. In the Asian-Pacific (AP) region, the rapidly increasing in aging population is the main reason accounting for the burden. Moreover, the paucity of quality care for osteoporosis continues to be an ongoing challenge. The Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) is a program promoted by International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) with a goal to improve quality of postfracture care and prevention of secondary fractures. In this review article, we would like to introduce the Taiwan FLS network. The first 2 programs were initiated in 2014 at the National Taiwan University Hospital and its affiliated Bei-Hu branch. Since then, the Taiwan FLS program has continued to grow exponentially. Through FLS workshops promoted by the Taiwanese Osteoporosis Association (TOA), program mentors have been able to share their valuable knowledge and clinical experience in order to promote establishments of additional programs. With 22 FLS sites including 11 successfully accredited on the best practice map, Taiwan remains as one of the highest FLS coverage countries in the AP region, and was also granted the IOF Best Secondary Fracture Prevention Promotion award in 2017. Despite challenges faced by the TOA, we strive to promote more FLS sites in Taiwan with a main goal of ameliorating further health burden in managing osteoporotic patients.

A review of rotorcraft Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) developments and applications in civil engineering

Liu, Peter,Chen, Albert Y.,Huang, Yin-Nan,Han, Jen-Yu,Lai, Jihn-Sung,Kang, Shih-Chung,Wu, Tzong-Hann,Wen, Ming-Chang,Tsai, Meng-Han Techno-Press 2014 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.13 No.6

Civil engineers always face the challenge of uncertainty in planning, building, and maintaining infrastructure. These works rely heavily on a variety of surveying and monitoring techniques. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are an effective approach to obtain information from an additional view, and potentially bring significant benefits to civil engineering. This paper gives an overview of the state of UAV developments and their possible applications in civil engineering. The paper begins with an introduction to UAV hardware, software, and control methodologies. It also reviews the latest developments in technologies related to UAVs, such as control theories, navigation methods, and image processing. Finally, the paper concludes with a summary of the potential applications of UAV to seismic risk assessment, transportation, disaster response, construction management, surveying and mapping, and flood monitoring and assessment.

A review of rotorcraft Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) developments and applications in civil engineering

Peter Liu,Albert Y. Chen,Yin-Nan Huang,Jen-Yu Han,Jihn-Sung Lai,Tzong-Hann Wu,Ming-Chang Wen,Meng-Han Tsai,Shih-Chung Kang 국제구조공학회 2014 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.13 No.6

Civil engineers always face the challenge of uncertainty in planning, building, and maintaininginfrastructure. These works rely heavily on a variety of surveying and monitoring techniques. Unmannedaerial vehicles (UAVs) are an effective approach to obtain information from an additional view, andpotentially bring significant benefits to civil engineering. This paper gives an overview of the state of UAVdevelopments and their possible applications in civil engineering. The paper begins with an introduction toUAV hardware, software, and control methodologies. It also reviews the latest developments in technologiesrelated to UAVs, such as control theories, navigation methods, and image processing. Finally, the paperconcludes with a summary of the potential applications of UAV to seismic risk assessment, transportation,disaster response, construction management, surveying and mapping, and flood monitoring and assessment.

A Case of a Taiwanese Patient with Cleidocranial Dysplasia Possessing a de Novo Mutation of RUNX2 Gene

Pen Hua Su,Jia Yuh Chen,Ju Shan Yu,Suh Jen Chen,Teng Fu Tsao,Shih Jei Tsai 한국유전학회 2008 Genes & Genomics Vol.30 No.4

Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD, #119600) is a rare, autosomal dominant bone disease characterized by hypoplastic or aplastic clavicles, wide cranial sutures, supernumerary teeth, short stature, and other skeletal disorders. This disease gene has been mapped to chromosome 6p21 within a region containing CBFA1, a member of the runt family of transcription factors (RUNX2). We report one Taiwanese girl with CCD, with multiple wormian bones, persistent synchondrosis, supernumerary teeth, hypoplasia of clavicles, delayed ossification of pubic bone, and short stature. She also has partial fusion of the left 4th and 5th ribs, and posterior cerebral artery malformation. We performed sequence analysis of the RUNX2 gene, and detected a heterozygous C to G transition mutation at nucleotide 1115 in exon 7, leading to P372R mutation. This is an unreported missense mutation in exon 7 which effected the trausactivation domain of RUNX2.

Multimorbidity Pattern and Risk for Mortality Among Patients With Dementia: A Nationwide Cohort Study Using Latent Class Analysis

Che-Sheng Chu,Shu-Li Cheng,Ya-Mei Bai,Tung-Ping Su,Shih-Jen Tsai,Tzeng-Ji Chen,Fu-Chi Yang,Mu-Hong Chen,Chih-Sung Liang 대한신경정신의학회 2023 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.20 No.9

Objective Individuals with dementia are at a substantially elevated risk for mortality; however, few studies have examined multimorbidity patterns and determined the inter-relationship between these comorbidities in predicting mortality risk.Methods This is a prospective cohort study. Data from 6,556 patients who were diagnosed with dementia between 1997 and 2012 using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database were analyzed. Latent class analysis was performed using 16 common chronic conditions to identify mortality risk among potentially different latent classes. Logistic regression was performed to determine the adjusted association of the determined latent classes with the 5-year mortality rate.Results With adjustment for age, a three-class model was identified, with 42.7% of participants classified as “low comorbidity class (cluster 1)”, 44.2% as “cardiometabolic multimorbidity class (cluster 2)”, and 13.1% as “FRINGED class (cluster 3, characterized by FRacture, Infection, NasoGastric feeding, and bleEDing over upper gastrointestinal tract).” The incidence of 5-year mortality was 17.6% in cluster 1, 26.7% in cluster 2, and 59.6% in cluster 3. Compared with cluster 1, the odds ratio for mortality was 9.828 (95% confidence interval [CI]=6.708–14.401; p<0.001) in cluster 2 and 1.582 (95% CI=1.281–1.953; p<0.001) in cluster 3.Conclusion Among patients with dementia, the risk for 5-year mortality was highest in the subpopulation characterized by fracture, urinary and pulmonary infection, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and nasogastric intubation, rather than cancer or cardiometabolic comorbidities. These findings may improve decision-making and advance care planning for patients with dementia.

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.