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.

Herbivorous insects alter the chlorophyll metabolism of galls on host plants

Meng-Yuan Huang,Wen-Dar Huang,Hsueh-Mei Chouc,Chang-Chang Chen,Yung-Ta Chang,Chi-Ming Yang 한국응용곤충학회 2014 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.17 No.3

Five types of insect-induced galls derived from three host plant leaveswere analyzed for their carotenoid (Car), chlorophyll(Chl), and Chl biosynthesis porphyrins such as protoporphyrinogen IX (PPIX), magnesium protoporphyrin(MGPP) and protochlorophyllide (Pchlide), and Chl degradation intermediates including chlorophyllide (Chlide),pheophytin (Phe), pheophorbide (Pho), and phytylated and dephytylated pigments, and compared to ungalledportions of the same leaf. Galls contain significantly lower levels of Chl-related compounds (CRCs) than ungalledportions of host leaves. The mole percent of porphyrin and the ratios of Chlide/Phe and phytylated/dephytylatedpigments are both very different between galls and host leaves.We, therefore, conclude that leaf-derived gall is akind of non-leaf green tissue, that herbivorous insects alter gall Chl biosynthesis and degradation pathways, thatMg-chelatase, Mg-dechelatase, and chlorophyllase may be the major non-lethal enzymes in galls, and thatwhile ungalled host leaves take Chl → Phe → Pho and Chl → Chlide → Pho as the major and minor degradationroutes, respectively, all galls are in contrast with the host leaves.

Laser Interference Lithography and Nanoimprint Techniques for Lower Reflection Transparent Conducting Oxide Hybrid Films

Ta-Hsin Chou,Kuei-Yuan Cheng,Chih-Chieh Su,Tien-Li Chang,Chih-Wei Hsieh,Jen-Hui Tsai 한국정밀공학회 2010 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.11 No.4

The transparent conducting oxide (TCO) film is a significant component in flat panel display industry, applied for flexible display, e-paper, and touch panel. The TCO materials have high refractive index, so the phenomenon of high reflectance is the major issue and needs solved in present and future market. In this study, the structure and process of new lower reflection TCO hybrid film is introduced. The laser interference lithography and UV nanoimprint are combined for fabrication of sub-wavelength structures on PET film, then the tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) deposited on structures. Finally, the best result of this hybrid film is reflectance reduced to 3.3% at wavelength 550nm, just 13% of the original film, and the resistance of ITO layer is 1.05x10-3 Ω-cm. This result is useful for the TCO film applied in low reflection demand products in the future.

Distinct Inflammation Biomarkers in Healthy Individuals and Patients with Schizophrenia: A Reliability Testing of Multiplex Cytokine Immunoassay by Bland-Altman Analysis

Ta-Chuan Yeh,Hsuan-Te Chu,Chia-Kuang Tsai,Hsin-An Chang,Fu-Chi Yang,San-Yuan Huang,Chih-Sung Liang 대한신경정신의학회 2019 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.16 No.8

Objective Since the inflammatory process has been implicated in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorder, an important issue emerging is to assess the test-retest reliability of cytokine measurement in healthy individuals and patients with schizophrenia. The objective of the present study was to investigate the test-retest reliability of bead-based multiplex immunoassay technology (BMIT) for cytokine measurement by using a Bland-Altman plot (BAP). Methods Twenty healthy individuals and twenty patients with schizophrenia were enrolled, and a 17-plex cytokine assay was used to measure inflammatory biomarkers at baseline and two weeks later. The test-retest reliability was examined by BAP, 95% limits of agreement (LOA), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and coefficient of repeatability (CoR). Results In the healthy controls, only interleukin (IL)-2, IL-13, IL-10, IL-17, and macrophage inflammatory protein-1β showed excellent ICC. The BAP with 95% LOA determined that 13 cytokines showed acceptable 95% LOA for a 2-week test-retest reliability, and only IL-1β, IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α had significant test-retest bias. The CoR of cytokines varied significantly, ranging from 1.72 to 218.1. Compared with healthy controls, patients with schizophrenia showed significantly higher levels of IL-5, IL-13, and TNF-α and significantly lower levels of IL-4, IL-12, and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Of these six cytokines, IL-12 and TNF-α were considered suboptimal reliability. Conclusion The findings from ICC and CoR implied that the test-retest reliability of BMIT for cytokine measurement were suboptimal. However, the BAP with 95% LOA confirmed that BMIT can reliably distinguish schizophrenia from healthy individuals in cytokine measurement, while significant within-subject variation and between-group overlapping were evident in cytokine expression.

Insect-induced cecidomyiid galls deficient in light-harvesting protein complex II showing normal grana stacking

Meng-Yuan Huang,Chi-Ming Yang,Man-Miao Yang,Wann-Neng Jane,Yung-Ta Chang 한국응용곤충학회 2009 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.12 No.3

It has been postulated that grana stacking and destacking are mediated by the alteration of the surface charge density on the thylakoid membrane, which is regulated by the LHCII phosphorylation and dephosphorylation cycle. Insect-induced cecidomyiid galls, transformed from Machilus thunbergii Sieb & Zucc. (Lauraceae) leaves, are totally deficient in the pigment–protein complexes CPI and A1 of PSI and AB1 and AB2 of PSII. Although the galls are deficient in LHCII complex, grana stacking is normal. Our data suggest that the LHCII complex may not be the only factor responsible for grana stacking of thylakoid membranes.

The number of cecidomyiid insect galls affects the photosynthesis of Machilus thunbergii host leaves

Meng-Yuan Huang,Hsueh-Mei Chou,Yung-Ta Chang,Chi-Ming Yang 한국응용곤충학회 2014 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.17 No.2

Previous studies of the impacts of galls on host leaf photosynthesis do not suggest any general trends, with a reportedrange of effects from negative to positive. In this study, photosynthetic characteristics such as chlorophyllfluorescence (Fv/Fm), photosynthetic capacity, and stomata conductancewere determined in two types of fruitlikegalls (red ovoid and green obovate galls) induced by Daphnephila taiwanensis and Daphnephila sueyenae, respectively,in order to investigate whether the number of galls affects the photosynthesis of galled leaves ofMachilus thunbergii. In 2008, chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic capacity were negatively correlatedwith gall numbers, non-significantly and significantly, respectively,whereas stomata conductancewas positivelybut non-significantly correlated with gall numbers. In 2009, photosynthesis capacity and stomata conductancewere negatively, but non-significantly, correlated with gall numbers. Results imply that photosynthesis in M. thunbergii leaves is slightly affected by the number of cecidomyiid insect galls, and that the higher the gall number,the greater the negative effect that galls have on host leaf photosynthesis and subsequent infection.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Increases Peritonsillar Abscess Susceptibility: Real-World Evidence

Ching-Lung Wu,Ming-Shao Tsai,Ta-Jen Lee,Yun-Ting Wang,Chia-Yen Liu,Yao-Hsu Yang,Yao-Te Tsai,Cheng-Ming Hsu,Ching-Yuan Wu,Pey-Jium Chang,Geng-He Chang 대한이비인후과학회 2021 Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology Vol.14 No.3

Objectives. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a risk factor for deep neck infection (DNI) and leads to complications and poor outcomes. Our study aimed to investigate the risk, prognosis, and complications of peritonsillar abscess (PTA) in patients with T2DM. Methods. We extracted data of patients newly diagnosed as having T2DM between January 2000 and December 2011 from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database. These patients were matched with patients without T2DM, and PTA incidence was compared between both cohorts. Results. In total, 67,852 patients with and 135,704 patients without T2DM were enrolled. PTA incidence was significantly higher in patients with T2DM (incidence rate ratio, 1.91; P<0.001); moreover, PTA incidence was higher at 1 to 5 years after T2DM diagnosis than at <1 and >5 years after T2DM diagnosis. Cox regression analysis showed that patients with T2DM had an approximately 2-fold higher PTA risk (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.89, P<0.001). Patients with a higher adapted Diabetes Complications Severity Index (aDCSI) had higher PTA risk than those with a lower aDCSI (aHRs: 2.17 for aDCSI ≥1, P=0.006 and 1.81 for aDCSI=0, P=0.002). T2DM patients with a high aDCSI (≥1) had a nonsignificantly longer hospitalization duration and a higher rate of DNI complications than did those with a low aDCSI (=0). Conclusion. In patients with T2DM, PTA incidence was relatively high, and it increased with T2DM severity. Moreover, T2DM patients should be particularly careful about PTA within 1 to 5 years after the diagnosis, and physicians should keep in mind that the prognosis of PTA was correlated with T2DM severity.

The in vivo photothermal treatment of gold nanorod in the mouse ear model

Liu, Bruce Yao Wen,Chen, Cheng-Lung,Lee, Shin-Yu,Chang, Fu-Hsiung,Lin, Win-Li,Chia, Chih-Ta,Chen, Yang-Yuan Techno-Press 2014 Biomaterials and Biomechanics in Bioengineering Vol.1 No.1

Gold nanorod's exceptional light to heat transduction is a robust phonomenon that has been extensively verified. The phenomenon is a trait from which many novel applications across disciplines have been proposed. In this investigation, the feasibility of utilizing heat harvested from such photothermal method to combat cancer is presented. Using non-invasive laser methods, an in vivo study is conducted on mouse ear tumors administered with gold nanorods (Au NRs). An emphasis is placed on monitoring the tumor developments after photothermal treatments, over time. The findings reveal significant tumor growth surpression at a threshold laser power of $0.6W/cm^2$ lasting 2 minutes; this energy also brought about dramatic size reduction in treated tumors. Furthermore, the apparent formation of an eschar over the laser treated region indicates extensive hemorrhagic necrosis of the tumor tissue; a phenomenon implicative to the inhibition of angiogenesis.

The in vivo photothermal treatment of gold nanorod in the mouse ear model

Liu, Bruce Yao Wen,Chen, Cheng-Lung,Lee, Shin-Yu,Chang, Fu-Hsiung,Lin, Win-Li,Chia, Chih-Ta,Chen, Yang-Yuan Techno-Press 2014 Biomaterials and biomedical engineering Vol.1 No.1

Gold nanorod's exceptional light to heat transduction is a robust phonomenon that has been extensively verified. The phenomenon is a trait from which many novel applications across disciplines have been proposed. In this investigation, the feasibility of utilizing heat harvested from such photothermal method to combat cancer is presented. Using non-invasive laser methods, an in vivo study is conducted on mouse ear tumors administered with gold nanorods (Au NRs). An emphasis is placed on monitoring the tumor developments after photothermal treatments, over time. The findings reveal significant tumor growth surpression at a threshold laser power of $0.6W/cm^2$ lasting 2 minutes; this energy also brought about dramatic size reduction in treated tumors. Furthermore, the apparent formation of an eschar over the laser treated region indicates extensive hemorrhagic necrosis of the tumor tissue; a phenomenon implicative to the inhibition of angiogenesis.

Impact of Interleukin-10 Gene Polymorphisms on Survival in Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Wen-Chien Ting,Lu-Min Chen,Li-Chia Huang,Mann-Jen Hour,Yu-Hsuan Lan,Hong-Zin Lee,Bang-Jau You,Ta-Yuan Chang,Bo-Ying Bao 대한의학회 2013 Journal of Korean medical science Vol.28 No.9

Chronic inflammation is thought to be the leading cause of colorectal cancer, and interleukin-10 (IL10) has been identified as a potent immunomodulatory cytokine that regulates inflammatory responses in the gastrointestinal tract. Although several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL10 have been associated with the risk of colorectal cancer, their prognostic significance has not been determined. Two hundred and eightytwo colorectal cancer patients were genotyped for two candidate cancer-associated SNPs in IL10. The associations of these SNPs with distant metastasis-free survival and overall survival were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression model. The minor homozygote GG genotype of IL10 rs3021094 was significantly associated with a 3.30-fold higher risk of death compared with the TT+TG genotypes (P = 0.011). The patients with IL10rs3021094 GG genotype also had a poorer overall survival in Kaplan-Meier analysis (log-rank P = 0.007) and in multivariate Cox regression model (P = 0.044) adjusting for age, gender,carcinoembryonic antigen levels, tumor differentiation, stage, lymphovascular invasion,and perineural invasion. In conclusion, our results suggest that IL10 rs3021094 might be a valuable prognostic biomarker for colorectal cancer patients.