Effect of Intra-layer Vs Fluctuation on Linear Seismic Site Response

Yen-Hsiang Chang,Chi-Chin Tsai,Chien-Chia Huang,박두희 대한토목학회 2021 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.25 No.10

Soil properties vary in space even within a soil layer. Nevertheless, site response analyses are typically conducted using a best-characterized shear wave velocity (Vs) profile without considering its fluctuation. In this study, the random field theory is adopted to model heterogeneous Vs profiles for a range of coefficient of variations (COVs) and correlation lengths (CLs). Linear 1D site responses are analyzed with the randomized profiles to quantify the influence of spatial Vs variation on the propagated ground motions. Results reveal that a higher COV of randomized Vs profiles leads to a lower mean ground response compared with a homogeneous Vs profile. The variation of CL does not significantly affect the surface response and peak ground acceleration profile, but is shown to influence the degree of fluctuation of the maximum shear strain profiles. For idealized profiles, the effect of heterogeneous Vs on ground response can be approximately predicted by using reduced Vs and enlarged small strain damping that are dependent on COV.

Antioxidative and Hepatoprotective Effects of Magnolol on Acetaminophen-induced Liver Damage in Rats

Yung-Hsiang Chen,Feng-Yen Lin,Po-Len Liu,Yi-Tsau Huang,Jen-Hwey Chiu,Yi-Chun Chang,Kee-Ming Man,Chuang-Ye Hong,Yen-Yi Ho,Ming-Tsung Lai 대한약학회 2009 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.32 No.2

Acute liver failure (ALF), an often fatal condition characterized by massive hepatocyte necrosis, is frequently caused by drug poisoning, particularly with acetaminophen (N-acetyl-p-aminophenol/APAP). Hepatocyte necrosis is consecutive to glutathione (GSH) depletion and mitochondrial damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction. Magnolol, one major phenolic constituent of Magnolia officinalis, have been known to exhibit potent antioxidative activity. In this study, the anti-hepatotoxic activity of magnolol on APAP-induced toxicity in the Sprague-Dawley rat liver was examined. After evaluating the changes of several biochemical parameters in serum, the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were elevated by APAP (500 mg/kg) intraperitoneal administration (8 and 24 h) and reduced by treatment with magnolol (0.5 h after APAP administration; 0.01, 0.1, and 1 μg/kg). Histological changes around the hepatic central vein, lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance/TBARS), and GSH depletion in liver tissue induced by APAP were also recovered by magnolol treatment. The data show that oxidative stress followed by lipid peroxidation may play a very important role in the pathogenesis of APAP-induced hepatic injury; treatment with lipid-soluble antioxidant, magnolol, exerts anti-hepatotoxic activity. Our study points out the potential interest of magnolol in the treatment of toxic ALF.

The Clinical Outcomes of Different First-Line EGFR-TKIs Plus Bevacizumab in Advanced EGFR-Mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma

Yen-Hsiang Huang,Kuo-Hsuan Hsu,Chun-Shih Chin,Jeng-Sen Tseng,Tsung-Ying Yang,Kun-Chieh Chen,Kang-Yi Su,Sung-Liang Yu,Jeremy J.W. Chen,Gee-Chen Chang 대한암학회 2022 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.54 No.2

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of various epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)–tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) plus bevacizumab in advanced EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma patients. Materials and Methods From August 2016 to October 2020, we enrolled advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients harboring exon 19 deletion or L858R receiving gefitinib, erlotinib and afatinib plus bevacizumab as the first-line treatment for the purposes of analysis. Results A total of 36 patients were included in the final analysis. Three patients received gefitinib, 17 received erlotinib, and 16 received afatinib combined with bevacizumab as the first-line treatment. The objective response rate was 77.8%, and disease control rate was 94.4%. The overall median progression-free survival (PFS) was 16.4 months, while the median PFS was 17.1 months in patients with exon 19 deletion, and 16.2 months in patients with L858R mutation (p=0.311). Regarding the use of different EGFR-TKIs, the median PFS was 17.1 months in the erlotinib group and 21.6 months in the afatinib group (p=0.617). In patients with brain metastasis at baseline, the median PFS was 18.9 months in the erlotinib group and 16.4 months in the afatinib group (p=0.747). Amongst patients harboring exon 19 deletion, the median PFS was 16.2 months in the erlotinib group and not-reached in the afatinib group (p=0.141). In patients with L858R mutation, the median PFS was 18.9 months in the erlotinib group and 16.2 months in the afatinib group (p=0.481). Conclusion Our research demonstrates that not only erlotinib combined with bevacizumab, but also afatinib plus bevacizumab as first-line treatment, provides solid clinical efficacy in advanced EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma patients. PurposeThe aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of various epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)–tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) plus bevacizumab in advanced <i>EGFR</i>-mutant lung adenocarcinoma patients.Materials and MethodsFrom August 2016 to October 2020, we enrolled advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients harboring exon 19 deletion or L858R receiving gefitinib, erlotinib and afatinib plus bevacizumab as the first-line treatment for the purposes of analysis.ResultsA total of 36 patients were included in the final analysis. Three patients received gefitinib, 17 received erlotinib, and 16 received afatinib combined with bevacizumab as the first-line treatment. The objective response rate was 77.8%, and disease control rate was 94.4%. The overall median progression-free survival (PFS) was 16.4 months, while the median PFS was 17.1 months in patients with exon 19 deletion, and 16.2 months in patients with L858R mutation (p=0.311). Regarding the use of different EGFR-TKIs, the median PFS was 17.1 months in the erlotinib group and 21.6 months in the afatinib group (p=0.617). In patients with brain metastasis at baseline, the median PFS was 18.9 months in the erlotinib group and 16.4 months in the afatinib group (p=0.747). Amongst patients harboring exon 19 deletion, the median PFS was 16.2 months in the erlotinib group and not-reached in the afatinib group (p=0.141). In patients with L858R mutation, the median PFS was 18.9 months in the erlotinib group and 16.2 months in the afatinib group (p=0.481).ConclusionOur research demonstrates that not only erlotinib combined with bevacizumab, but also afatinib plus bevacizumab as first-line treatment, provides solid clinical efficacy in advanced <i>EGFR</i>-mutant lung adenocarcinoma patients.

Portable Laser Doppler Flowmeter for Microcirculation Detection

Chang-Lin Hu,Meng-Lin Li,Zhan-Sheng Lin,Yen-Yu Chen,Yuan-Hsiang Lin 대한의용생체공학회 2013 Biomedical Engineering Letters (BMEL) Vol.3 No.2

Purpose The microcirculatory system of the human body is closely related to its physiological conditions. The laser Doppler flowmeter can detect symptoms through variations in the microcirculation; however, the present commercial Doppler flowmeter is very expensive, heavy, and inconvenient to carry. Therefore, an inexpensive, small, and portable laser Doppler flowmeter is proposed. Methods In this study, we designed a laser Doppler flowmeter transmitting receiving module based on the fundamental principles of laser Doppler, using a common computer for flow calculation. A self-designed correction system was used to validate the portable laser Doppler flowmeter. Results The coefficient of correlation between the mean frequency offset <ω> of the flowmeter and the actual mimicked blood flow rate reached a high value of R = 0.99, and the variations in microcirculation flow could be accurately measured. Conclusions The results proved that the low-cost portable laser Doppler flowmeter can be used extensively in early symptom detection for disease prevention and control.

The Association of Acquired T790M Mutation with Clinical Characteristics after Resistance to First-Line Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Yen-Hsiang Huang,Kuo-Hsuan Hsu,Jeng-Sen Tseng,Kun-Chieh Chen,Chia-Hung Hsu,Kang-Yi Su,Jeremy J. W. Chen,Huei-Wen Chen,Sung-Liang Yu,Tsung-Ying Yang,Gee-Chen Chang 대한암학회 2018 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.50 No.4

Purpose The main objective of this study was to investigate the relationship among the clinical characteristics and the frequency of T790M mutation in advanced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)mutant lung adenocarcinoma patients with acquired resistance after firstline EGFRtyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment. Materials and Methods We enrolled EGFR-mutant stage IIIB-IV lung adenocarcinoma patients, who had progressed to prior EGFR-TKI therapy, and evaluated their rebiopsy EGFRmutation status. Results A total of 205 patients were enrolled for analysis. The overall T790M mutation rate of rebiopsy was 46.3%. The T790M mutation rates among patients with exon 19 deletion mutation, exon 21 L858R point mutation, and other mutations were 55.0%, 37.3%, and 27.3%, respectively. Baseline exon 19 deletion was associated with a significantly higher frequency of T790M mutation (adjusted odds ratio, 2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20 to 3.83; p=0.010). In the exon 19 deletion subgroup, there was a greater prevalence of T790M mutation than other exon 19 deletion subtypes in patients with the Del E746-A750 mutation (61.6% vs. 40.6%; odds ratio, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.01 to 5.49; p=0.049). The progression- free survival (PFS) of first-line TKI treatment > 11 months was also associated with a higher T790M mutation rate (54.1% vs. 39.3%; adjusted odds ratio, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.02 to 3.25; p=0.044). Patients who underwent rebiopsy at metastatic sites had more chance to harbor T790M mutation (52.6% vs. 33.8%; adjusted odds ratio, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.06 to 3.67; p=0.032). Conclusion PFS of first-line EGFR-TKI, rebiopsy site, EGFR exon 19 deletion and its subtype Del E746- A750 mutation are associated with the frequency of T790M mutation.

Preparation and characterization of superhydrophobic coatings

Hsing-I Hsiang,Ming-Tsai Liang,Yu-Lun Chang,Hung-Chin Huang,Fu-Su Yen 한양대학교 세라믹연구소 2010 Journal of Ceramic Processing Research Vol.11 No.3

To obtain a surface with water-repelling and self-cleaning abilities attracts much interest in the nanotechnology age. In this study, a perfluroalkyl surfactant (perflurodecanoic acid, PFDA) was coated on nano-sized boehmite surfaces to obtain hydrophobic nano-particles via surface modification. Then the hydrophobic boehmite was coated on a transparent plastic film using spin-coating to obtain a hydrophobic film. The effects of various amounts of hydrophobic polymer on the adsorption behavior and contact angle for hydrophobic properties were investigated using FTIR, and a contact-angle meter. The adsorption of PFDA onto the surface of boehmite takes place through ionic bonding. The contact angles of the thin film prepared by spin coating PFDA-modified-boehmite on glass substrates were above 150o as the adsorption of PFDA onto the surface of boehmite reached saturation.

Equal Z standard-setting method to estimate the minimum number of panelists for a medical school’s objective structured clinical examination in Taiwan: a simulation study

Ying-Ying Yang,Pin-Hsiang Huang,Ling-Yu Yang,Chia-Chang Huang,Chih-Wei Liu,Shiau-Shian Huang,Chen-Huan Chen,Fa-Yauh Lee,Shou-Yen Kao,Boaz Shulruf 한국보건의료인국가시험원 2022 보건의료교육평가 Vol.19 No.-

Purpose Undertaking a standard-setting exercise is a common method for setting pass/fail cut scores for high-stakes examinations. The recently introduced equal Z standard-setting method (EZ method) has been found to be a valid and effective alternative for the commonly used Angoff and Hofstee methods and their variants. The current study aims to estimate the minimum number of panelists required for obtaining acceptable and reliable cut scores using the EZ method. Methods The primary data were extracted from 31 panelists who used the EZ method for setting cut scores for a 12-station of medical school’s final objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) in Taiwan. For this study, a new data set composed of 1,000 random samples of different panel sizes, ranging from 5 to 25 panelists, was established and analyzed. Analysis of variance was performed to measure the differences in the cut scores set by the sampled groups, across all sizes within each station. Results On average, a panel of 10 experts or more yielded cut scores with confidence more than or equal to 90% and 15 experts yielded cut scores with confidence more than or equal to 95%. No significant differences in cut scores associated with panel size were identified for panels of 5 or more experts. Conclusion The EZ method was found to be valid and feasible. Less than an hour was required for 12 panelists to assess 12 OSCE stations. Calculating the cut scores required only basic statistical skills.

Intercalated Treatment Following Rebiopsy Is Associated with a Shorter Progression-Free Survival of Osimertinib Treatment

Jeng-Sen Tseng,Tsung-Ying Yang,Kun-Chieh Chen,Kuo-Hsuan Hsu,Yen-Hsiang Huang,Kang-Yi Su,Sung-Liang Yu,Gee-Chen Chang 대한암학회 2018 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.50 No.4

Purpose Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) T790M mutation serves as an important predictor of osimertinib efficacy. However, little is known about how it works among patients with various timings of T790M emergence and treatment. Materials and Methods Advanced EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma patients with positive T790M mutation in tumor were retrospectively enrolled and observed to determine the outcomes of osimertinib treatment. We evaluated the association between patients’ characteristics and the efficacy of osimertinib treatment, particularly with respect to the timing of T790M emergence and osimertinib prescription. Results A total of 91 patients were enrolled, including 14 (15.4%) with primary and 77 (84.6%) with acquired T790M mutation. The objective response rate and disease control rate were 60.9% and 85.1%, respectively. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival were 11.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 9.0 to 14.0) and 30.4 months (95% CI, 11.3 to 49.5), respectively. There was no significant difference in response rate and PFS between primary and acquired T790M populations. In the acquired T790M subgroup, patients who received osimertinib after T790M had been confirmed by rebiopsy had a longer PFS than those with intercalated treatments between rebiopsy and osimertinib prescription (14.0 months [95% CI, 9.0 to 18.9] vs. 7.2 months [95% CI, 3.7 to 10.8]; adjusted hazard ratio, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.24 to 0.98; p=0.043]). Rebiopsy timing did not influence the outcome. Conclusion Osimertinib prescription with intercalated treatment following rebiopsy but not the timing of T790M emergence influenced the treatment outcome. We suggest that it is better to start osimertinib treatment once T790M mutation has been confirmed by biopsy.

2022 Taiwan clinical multicenter expert consensus and recommendations for thyroid radiofrequency ablation

Wei-Che Lin,Wen-Chieh Chen,Pei-Wen Wang,Yi-Chia Chan,Yen-Hsiang Chang,Harn-Shen Chen,Szu-Tah Chen,Wei-Chih Chen,Kai-Lun Cheng,Shun-Yu Chi,Pi-Ling Chiang,Chen-Kai Chou,Feng-Fu Chou,Shun-Chen Huang,Feng 대한초음파의학회 2023 ULTRASONOGRAPHY Vol.42 No.3

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive management strategy that has been widely applied for benign and recurrent malignant thyroid lesions as an alternative to surgery in Taiwan. Members of academic societies for specialists in interventional radiology, endocrinology, and endocrine surgery collaborated to develop the first consensus regarding thyroid RFA in Taiwan. The modified Delphi method was used to reach a consensus. Based on a comprehensive review of recent and valuable literature and expert opinions, the recommendations included indications, pre-procedural evaluations, procedural techniques, post-procedural monitoring, efficacy, and safety, providing a comprehensive review of the application of RFA. The consensus effectively consolidates advice regarding thyroid RFA in clinical practice for local experts.