Risks of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 or invasive cancers in ASCUS women with different management: a population-based cohort study

Yi-Jou Tai,Yun-Yuan Chen,Huang-Cheng Hsu,Chun-Ju Chiang,San-Lin You,Chi-An Chen,Wen-Fang Cheng,Taiwan Cervical Cancer Control Task Force 대한부인종양학회 2018 Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Vol.29 No.4

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the progression risk of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) with different clinical managements. METHODS: Women with their first diagnosis of ASCUS cytology were retrieved from the national cervical cancer screening database and linked to the national health insurance research database to identify the management of these women. The incidences of developing cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 and invasive cervical cancer (CIN3+) were calculated, and the hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated using a Cox proportional hazards model. This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the National Taiwan University Hospital and is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT02063152). RESULTS: There were total 69,741 women included. Various management strategies including colposcopy, cervical biopsies and/or endocervical curettage, and cryotherapy, failed to reduce the risk of subsequent CIN3+ compared with repeat cervical smears. Loop electrosurgical excision procedure/conization significantly decreased risk of subsequent CIN3+ lesions (HR=0.22; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.07–0.68; p=0.010). Women in their 40s–50s had an approximately 30% risk reduction compared to other age groups. Women with a previous screening history >5 years from the present ASCUS diagnosis were at increased risk for CIN3+ (HR=1.24; 95% CI=1.03–1.49; p=0.020). CONCLUSION: In women of first-time ASCUS cytology, a program of repeat cytology can be an acceptable clinical option in low-resource settings. Caution should be taken especially in women with remote cervical screening history more than 5 years.

Comedications and potential drug-drug interactions with direct-acting antivirals in hepatitis C patients on hemodialysis

( Po-yao Hsu ),( Yu-ju Wei ),( Jia-jung Lee ),( Sheng-wen Niu ),( Jiun-chi Huang ),( Cheng-ting Hsu ),( Tyng-yuan Jang ),( Ming-lun Yeh ),( Ching-i Huang ),( Po-cheng Liang ),( Yi-hung Lin ),( Ming-ye 대한간학회 2021 Clinical and Molecular Hepatology(대한간학회지) Vol.27 No.1

Background/Aims: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have been approved for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis. Nevertheless, the complicated comedications and their potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) with DAAs might limit clinical practice in this special population. Methods: The number, class, and characteristics of comedications and their potential DDIs with five DAA regimens were analyzed among HCV-viremic patients from 23 hemodialysis centers in Taiwan. Results: Of 2,015 hemodialysis patients screened in 2019, 169 patients seropositive for HCV RNA were enrolled (mean age, 65.6 years; median duration of hemodialysis, 5.8 years). All patients received at least one comedication (median number, 6; mean class number, 3.4). The most common comedication classes were ESRD-associated medications (94.1%), cardiovascular drugs (69.8%) and antidiabetic drugs (43.2%). ESRD-associated medications were excluded from DDI analysis. Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir had the highest frequency of potential contraindicated DDIs (red, 5.6%), followed by glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (4.0%), sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (1.3%), sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (1.3%), and elbasvir/grazoprevir (0.3%). For potentially significant DDIs (orange, requiring close monitoring or dose adjustments), sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir had the highest frequency (19.9%), followed by sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (18.2%), glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (12.6%), sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (12.6%), and elbasvir/grazoprevir (7.3%). Overall, lipid-lowering agents were the most common comedication class with red-category DDIs to all DAA regimens (n=62), followed by cardiovascular agents (n=15), and central nervous system agents (n=10). Conclusions: HCV-viremic patients on hemodialysis had a very high prevalence of comedications with a broad spectrum, which had varied DDIs with currently available DAA regimens. Elbasvir/grazoprevir had the fewest potential DDIs, and sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir had the most potential DDIs. (Clin Mol Hepatol 2021;27:186-196)

Dynamic Protein Adsorption-Desorption Analysis of Contact Lenses in a Three-Dimensional-Printed Eye Model

Wan-Hsin Chang,Pei-Yi Liu,Dai-En Lin,Yuan-Ting Jiang,Chien-Ju Lu,Yuan-Hao Howard Hsu 한국고분자학회 2022 Macromolecular Research Vol.30 No.1

Adsorption of secreted protein on contact lenses is a dynamic and complex behavior. To understand this behavior, we used three-dimensional (3D) printing technology to create an eye model that simulated the anterior segment of the actual human eyeball. In this model, the fluid inlet was connected to a syringe pump to mimic the rate of human tear secretion and the outlet was connected to an ultraviolet- visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer. The experimental results revealed that the symmetrical eye model with a 180° inlet-outlet angle was suitable for dynamic analysis of protein adsorption. In this model, protein adsorption was slow and desorption was rapid. The contact lens was soaked in poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine- co-butyl methacrylate) (PMB) to confirm the anti-protein adsorption property of this polymer through dynamic adsorption and desorption eye model analysis.

Reduction of Physical Strength and Enhancement of Anti-Protein and Anti-Lipid Adsorption Abilities of Contact Lenses by Adding 2-Methacryloyloxyethyl Phosphorylcholine

Wan-Hsin Chang,Pei-Yi Liu,Chien-Ju Lu,Dai-En Lin,Min-Hsuan Lin,Yuan-Ting Jiang,Yuan-Hao Howard Hsu 한국고분자학회 2020 Macromolecular Research Vol.28 No.12

Biocompatible 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) can enhance the adsorption of water molecules and is therefore used for manufacturing contact lenses. This study investigated the mechanical strength, anti-protein deposition, and anti-lipid adsorption effects of MPC addition to contact lenses. Experimental contact lenses produced by copolymerizing multiple ratios of MPC to 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) were analyzed. Atomic force microscopy revealed that MPC addition increased surface roughness. The anti-protein deposition and anti-lipid adsorption effects on poly(HEMA-MPC) polymers of various phosphorylcholine quantities were experimentally confirmed. The water content of the contact lenses was proportional to the MPC content in the polymer. The hydrated PC moiety of MPC drastically altered the network of the poly-HEMA polymer by inserting water molecules, which were trapped in the concave region of the surface. MPC addition had negative effects on all examined strength factors because of structural destabilization of the copolymer through water insertion. The anti-deposition effects of MPC were verified by examining the lysozyme and lipid adsorption abilities of the prepared contact lenses. Our results revealed that MPC enhanced interactions of the poly(HEMA-MPC) copolymer with water molecules; these interactions weakened the mechanical strength of the copolymer but markedly improved the anti-adsorption property of the biomolecules. The optimal proportion of HEMA–MPC for contact lenses is in the range 14.9%-28.5%.

Sulforaphane Decrease of SERTAD1 Expression Triggers G1/S Arrest in Breast Cancer Cells

An-Chin Cheng,Ching-Ju Shen,Chao-Ming Hung,Yi-Chiang Hsu 한국식품영양과학회 2019 Journal of medicinal food Vol.22 No.5

Studies have identified the potential of chemopreventive effects of sulforaphane (SFN); however, the underlying mechanisms of its effect on breast cancer require further elucidation. This study investigated the anticancer effects of SFN that specifically induces G1/S arrest in breast ductal carcinoma (ZR-75-1) cells. The proliferation of the cancer cells after treatment with SFN was detected by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. DNA content and cell cycle status were analyzed through flow cytometry. Our results demonstrated the inhibition of growth in ZR-75-1 cells upon SFN exposure. In addition, SERTAD1 (SEI-1) caused the accumulation of SFN-treated G1/S-phase cells. The downregulation of SEI-1, cyclin D2, and histone deacetylase 3 suggested that in addition to the identified effects of SFN against breast cancer prevention, it may also exert antitumor activities in established breast cancer cells. In conclusion, SFN can inhibit growth of and induce cell cycle arrest in cancer cells, suggesting its potential role as an anticancer agent.

Development and Characterization of a Specific Anti-Caveolin-1 Antibody for Caveolin-1 Functional Study in Human, Goat and Mouse

Ke, Meng-Wei,Jiang, Yan-Nian,Li, Yi-Hung,Tseng, Ting-Yu,Kung, Ming-Shung,Huang, Chiun-Sheng,Cheng, Winston Teng-Kuei,Hsu, Jih-Tay,Ju, Yu-Ten Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2007 Animal Bioscience Vol.20 No.6

Caveolin-1 of the caveolin family of proteins regulates mammary gland development and has been shown to play a contradictory role in breast tumor progression. A specific anti-Caveolin-1 antibody will be useful for functional study of Caveolin-1 in different tissues. In this study, we generated a rabbit polyclonal antibody that specifically recognizes the N-terminal amino acids 50-65 of Caveolin-1. This polyclonal antibody specifically reacted with Caveolin-1 extracted from cells of different species, including human epithelial A431 cells, goat primary mammary epithelial cells and mice fibroblast NIH 3T3 cells, by Western blotting. Endogenous Caveolin-1 protein expressing in cells and normal human tissues was detected by this polyclonal antibody using immunocytofluorescent and immunohistochemical staining, respectively. Furthermore, an apparent decrease in Caveolin-1 expression in tumorous breast and colon tissues was detected by this polyclonal antibody. In conclusion, we have identified amino acids 50-65 of Caveolin-1, which contains an epitope that is specific to Caveolin-1 and is conserved in the human, goat and mouse. In future, this anti-Caveolin-1 antibody can be used to examine the progression of breast and colon cancers and to study functions of Caveolin-1 in human, goat and mouse cells.

Application of an image and environmental sensor network for automated greenhouse insect pest monitoring

Dan Jeric Arcega Rustia,Chien Erh Lin,Jui-Yung Chung,Yi-Ji Zhuang,Ju-Chun Hsu,Ta-Te Lin 한국응용곤충학회 2020 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.23 No.1

This work presents an automated insect pest counting and environmental condition monitoring system using integrated camera modules and an embedded system as the sensor node in a wireless sensor network. The sensor node can be used to simultaneously acquire images of sticky paper traps and measure temperature, humidity, and light intensity levels in a greenhouse. An image processing algorithm was applied to automatically detect and count insect pests on an insect sticky trap with 93% average temporal detection accuracy compared with manual counting. The integrated monitoring system was implemented with multiple sensor nodes in a greenhouse and experiments were performed to test the system’s performance. Experimental results show that the automatic counting of the monitoring system is comparable with manual counting, and the insect pest count information can be continuously and effectively recorded. Information on insect pest concentrations were further analyzed temporally and spatially with environmental factors. Analyses of experimental data reveal that the normalized hourly increase in the insect pest count appears to be associated with the change in light intensity, temperature, and relative humidity. With the proposed system, laborious manual counting can be circumvented and timely assessment of insect pest and environmental information can be achieved. The system also offers an efficient tool for long-term insect pest behavior observations, as well as for practical applications in integrated pest management (IPM).

Histopathological and genetic changes proved the anti‑cancer potential of free and nano‑capsulated sinapic acid

Doaa A. Badr,Mohamed E. Amer,Wagih M. Abd‑Elhay,Mohamed S. M. Nasr,Tamer M. M. Abuamara,Harbi Ali,Aly F. Mohamed,Maha A. Youssef,Nasser S. Awwad,Yi‑Hsu Ju,Ahmed E. Fazary 한국응용생명화학회 2019 Applied Biological Chemistry (Appl Biol Chem) Vol.62 No.5

Cancer is known to be a fierce disease that causes a large percentage of the deaths worldwide. The common cancer treatments; chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery are known for their severe side effects; therefore scientists are working on finding solutions to reduce these drawbacks. One of these treatment systems is the sustained released drugs formulations, these systems depend on the encapsulation of the chemotherapy within an emulsifying agent, in order to obtain a slow drug release of low doses over long time intervals. In this study, the anti-cancer effects of free and encapsulated sinapic acid was tested against lung (A549), and colon (CaCo2) cancer cell lines, along with normal fibroblast cells (HFB4) as a negative control. MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay was performed for IC50 evaluation, also cell cycle assay was performed to detect cell cycle arrest status and related anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic; Blc-2, BAX, and P53 gene profile fold changes post cellular treatment. Data recorded revealed that encapsulated SA showed a lower toxicity than the free form to both cell lines and also to the normal cells. The cell cycle analysis showed a cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase post cell treatment with the free and encapsulated sinapic acid accompanied with up regulation of Bax and P53 and a down regulation of Blc-2 genes in both cell lines. The data suggest a promising anti-cancer and anti-proliferative potential of free and encapsulated sinapic acid. Also they show that the anti-cancer effect of free and encapsulated sinapic acid is quite close.