Taiwan Neurosurgical Spine Society: The New Shining Star

Yi-Hsuan Kuo,Jau-Ching Wu,Wen-Cheng Huang,Ming-Chao Huang,E-Jian Lee,Henrich Cheng 대한척추신경외과학회 2018 Neurospine Vol.15 No.4

As spine surgery flourished in Taiwan and neurosurgeons became more involved in spine surgery towards the end of the 20th century, the Taiwan Neurosurgical Spine Society (TNSS), earlier named the Taiwan Neurospinal Society, was established on March 11, 2001. As its main founder, Dr. Chun-I Huang was elected as the first president of the TNSS. The goals of the TNSS were to promote research, to hold academic seminars, to participate in international conferences, and to exchange clinical experiences. The mission of the TNSS was successful, and the profession of spine surgery in Taiwan advanced during the first decade of the 21st century, culminating in the TNSS joining ASIA SPINE in 2010. Since its establishment, the TNSS has always been supportive of collaboration and communication with the Korean Spinal Neurosurgery Society and the Neurospinal Society of Japan. Through periodical meetings, supported by the TNSS, surgeons worldwide have enjoyed a platform of sharing and mutual learning. To further promote academic research, the TNSS has officially supported the journal Neurospine since 2018. With extensive efforts from local and international surgeons, the TNSS will continue to adhere to its mission and to advance the profession of spine surgery.

The tyrosine kinase inhibitor nintedanib activates SHP-1 and induces apoptosis in triple-negative breast cancer cells

Chun-Yu Liu,Tzu-Ting Huang,Pei-Yi Chu,Chun-Teng Huang,Chia-Han Lee,Wan-Lun Wang,Ka-Yi Lau,Wen-Chun Tsai,Tzu-I Chao,Jung-Chen Su,Ming-Huang Chen,Chung-Wai Shiau,Ling-Ming Tseng,Kuen-Feng Chen 생화학분자생물학회 2017 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.49 No.-

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains difficult to treat and urgently needs new therapeutic options. Nintedanib, a multikinase inhibitor, has exhibited efficacy in early clinical trials for HER2-negative breast cancer. In this study, we examined a new molecular mechanism of nintedanib in TNBC. The results demonstrated that nintedanib enhanced TNBC cell apoptosis, which was accompanied by a reduction of p-STAT3 and its downstream proteins. STAT3 overexpression suppressed nintedanib-mediated apoptosis and further increased the activity of purified SHP-1 protein. Moreover, treatment with either a specific inhibitor of SHP-1 or SHP-1-targeted siRNA reduced the apoptotic effects of nintedanib, which validates the role of SHP-1 in nintedanib-mediated apoptosis. Furthermore, nintedanib-induced apoptosis was attenuated in TNBC cells expressing SHP-1 mutants with constantly open conformations, suggesting that the autoinhibitory mechanism of SHP-1 attenuated the effects of nintedanib. Importantly, nintedanib significantly inhibited tumor growth via the SHP-1/p-STAT3 pathway. Clinically, SHP-1 levels were downregulated, whereas p-STAT3 was upregulated in tumor tissues, and SHP-1 transcripts were associated with improved disease-free survival in TNBC patients. Our findings revealed that nintedanib induces TNBC apoptosis by acting as a SHP-1 agonist, suggesting that targeting STAT3 by enhancing SHP-1 expression could be a viable therapeutic strategy against TNBC.

Mechanical Stretch Promotes Invasion of Lung Cancer Cells via Activation of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Liang-Kun Chen,Ching-Chi Hsieh,Yi-Chao Huang,Yuan-Jung Huang,Chun-Fan Lung,Wei-En Hsu,Chao-Ling Yao,Tsung-Yu Tseng,Chi-Chung Wang,Yi-Chiung Hsu 한국생물공학회 2023 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.28 No.3

Most of the gas exchange in the human body is carried out by the lungs, and the physiological activities of the lungs are uninterrupted. Due to the deterioration of the external environment, pulmonary cell lesions are common clinical lung diseases. Mechanical cyclic stretching is one kind of bionic technology to observe lung cancer cells. The A549 cell line is the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line derived from a primary lung tumor. This study investigated the effects of mechanical cyclic stretching on A549 cell activity and gene expression profile. Whereas mechanical cyclic stretching had no significant difference in colony formation and cell migration of A549 cells, the cell invasion increased significantly in A549 cells after stretching. In addition, the microarray data showed that mechanical cyclic stretching altered gene expression, induced inflammation of cells, and activation of Wnt/β- catenin and tumor necrosis factor pathways. More importantly, mechanical cyclic stretching activated the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) protein. Therefore, the increase of cell invasion induced by mechanical cyclic stretching might be associated with the activation of TNF-α in human lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Ubi-PowerMeter: A Novel Paradigm to Reduce Energy Consumption

Yi-chao Jin,Ru-chuan Wang,Hai-ping Huang,Li-juan Sun 보안공학연구지원센터 2010 International Journal of Smart Home Vol.4 No.2

Identification and Characterization of an Anaerobic Ethanol-Producing Cellulolytic Bacterial Consortium from Great Basin Hot Springs with Agricultural Residues and Energy Crops

( Chao Zhao ),( Yun Jin Deng ),( Xing Aa Wang ),( Qiu Zhe Li ),( Yi Fan Huang ),( Bin Liu ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2014 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.24 No.9

In order to obtain the cellulolytic bacterial consortia, sediments from Great Basin hot springs (Nevada, USA) were sampled and enriched with cellulosic biomass as the sole carbon source. The bacterial composition of the resulting anaerobic ethanol-producing celluloytic bacterial consortium, named SV79, was analyzed. With methods of the full-length 16S rRNA librarybased analysis and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, 21 bacteria belonging to eight genera were detected from this consortium. Clones with closest relation to the genera Acetivibrio, Clostridium, Cellulosilyticum, Ruminococcus, and Sporomusa were predominant. The cellulase activities and ethanol productions of consortium SV79 using different agricultural residues (sugarcane bagasse and spent mushroom substrate) and energy crops (Spartina anglica, Miscanthus floridulus, and Pennisetum sinese Roxb) were studied. During cultivation, consortium SV79 produced the maximum filter paper activity (FPase, 9.41 U/ml), carboxymethylcellulase activity (CMCase, 6.35 U/ml), and xylanase activity (4.28 U/ml) with sugarcane bagasse, spent mushroom substrate, and S. anglica, respectively. The ethanol production using M. floridulus as substrate was up to 2.63 mM ethanol/g using gas chromatography analysis. It has high potential to be a new candidate for producing ethanol with cellulosic biomass under anoxic conditions in natural environments.

Feasible Management of Southern Corn Leaf Blight via Induction of Systemic Resistance by Bacillus cereus C1L in Combination with Reduced Use of Dithiocarbamate Fungicides

Yi-Ru Lai,Pei-Yu Lin,CHAO-YING CHEN,Chien-Jui Huang 한국식물병리학회 2016 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.32 No.5

Dithiocarbamate fungicides such as maneb and mancozebare widely used nonsystemic protectant fungicidesto control various plant fungal diseases. Dithiocarbamatefungicides should be frequently applied toachieve optimal efficacy of disease control and avoideither decline in effectiveness or wash-off from leafsurface. Dithiocarbamates are of low resistance riskbut have the potential to cause human neurological diseases. The objective of this study was to develop a strategyto effectively control plant disease with reduceduse of dithiocarbamtes. Southern corn leaf blight wasthe model pathosystem for the investigation. Whencorn plants were drench-treated with Bacillus cereusC1L, a rhizobacterium able to induce systemic resistancein corn plants against southern leaf blight, frequencyof spraying dithiocarbamate fungicides couldbe decreased. The treatment of B. cereus C1L was ableto protect maize from southern leaf blight while residuesof dithiocarbamates on leaf surface were too lowto provide sufficient protection. On the other hand,frequent sprays of mancozeb slightly but significantlyreduced growth of corn plants under natural conditions. In contrast, application of B. cereus C1L cansignificantly promote growth of corn plants whethersprayed with mancozeb or not. Our results provide theinformation that plant disease can be well controlledby rhizobacteria-mediated induced systemic resistancein combination with reduced but appropriate applicationof dithiocarbamate fungicides just before a heavyinfection period. An appropriate use of rhizobacteriacan enhance plant growth and help plants overcomenegative effects caused by dithiocarbamates.

The Influence of Geometric Asymmetry on Vortex in Submicro-Patterned Permalloy Disks and Rings

Chao-Hsien Huang,Chih-Yi Wang,Jong-Ching Wu,Lance Horng 한국자기학회 2010 한국자기학회 학술연구발표회 논문개요집 Vol.2010 No.12

Electrochemical Degradation of Textile Effluent Using PbO₂ Electrode in Tube Electrolyzer

Chao Wang,Yongqiang Li,Junmin Wan,Yi Hu,Yi Huang The Korean Electrochemical Society 2024 Journal of electrochemical science and technology Vol.15 No.1

A commercial PbO₂ mesh cylinder electrode was utilized as the anode for the electrochemical degradation of the textile effluent after the biological treatment with the titanium cylinder as the cathode in a self-made tube electrolyzer. The electrochemical performances of the PbO₂ electrode in tube electrolyzer under different initial pH, electrolyte flow rates, current densities and times of the electrochemical degradation were investigated. The experimental results illustrated that the PbO₂ electrode can reduce the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the textile effluent from 94.0 mg L^-1 to 65.0 mg L^-1 with the current efficiency of 88.3%, the energy consumption of 27.7 kWh kg^-1 (per kilogram of degraded COD) and the carbon emissions of 18.0 kg CO₂ kg^-1 (per kilogram of degraded COD) under the optimal operating conditions. In addition, the COD of the textile effluent could be reduced from 94.0 mg L^-1 to 22.0 mg L^-1 after the fifth electrochemical degradation. Therefore, PbO₂ mesh cylinder electrode in the tube cylinder was promising for the electrochemical degradation of the textile effluent.

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Hirayama Disease: A Case Report and Literature Review

Yi-Hsuan Kuo,Chao-Hung Kuo,Wen-Cheng Huang,Jau-Ching Wu 대한척추신경외과학회 2019 Neurospine Vol.16 No.3

Hirayama disease, a juvenile muscular atrophy of the distal upper extremity, is a rare form of cervical flexion myelopathy characterized by insidiously progressive weakness of the hands and forearm muscles (i.e., painless amyotrophy). The pathognomonic finding is a markedly forward-shifted spinal cord during neck flexion, demonstrated by dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as in a young man with muscle atrophy in the bilateral distal upper extremities. In this report, the authors describe a 31-year-old man who had the classic radiological and clinical presentations of Hirayama disease. Since prior medical treatment had been ineffective for years, he underwent multilevel instrumented anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) to keep his subaxial cervical spine slightly-lordotic (nonflexion). His motor evoked potential amplitude improved immediately during the operation, and there were improvements of myelopathy and a modest reversal of muscle wasting at 1 year postoperatively. Postoperative dynamic cervical spine MRI also demonstrated minimal cord compression and elimination of the venous plexus engorgement dorsal to the thecal sac. Although Hirayama disease is benign in nature and frequently self-limiting, multilevel instrumented ACDF could be a reasonable management option.

Treatment of Growth Plate Injury with Microencapsulated Chondrocytes

Wen-Chao Li,Rui-Jiang Xu,Yi-Long Xu,Jing-Xiang Huang,Yu-Hong Gao 한국생물공학회 2013 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.18 No.4

Background: Tissue-engineered cartilage has provided a promising method in the treatment of physeal growth arrest. This study was designed to investigate transplantation of microencapsulated allogeneic chondrocytes to treat the injured growth plate. Methods: Allogeneic chondrocytes were encapsulated within alginate-polylysinealginate semipermeable membranes. Microencapsulated chondrocytes co-cultured with Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cells (BMSCs) were evaluated whether it could promote chondrogenesis of BMSCs. An experiment model of an injured growth plate was made by resecting the lateral half of the right distal femur physis in rabbits. Microencapsulated allogeneic chondrocytes, allogeneic chondrocytes as well as empty microcapsules were grafted into growth plate defects of 6-week-old rabbits. Histological and radiographic examinations were examined after transplantation up to 16 weeks. Results: The histological study showed that BMSCs co-cultured with microencapsulated chondrocytes could produce GAG and II collagen similarly with chondrocytes. Angular deformity and length discrepancy in the group with microencapsulated allogeneic chondrocytes were less than those in other groups (p < 0.001). The histological study confirmed the viability of microencapsulated chondrocytes at 16 weeks postoperatively. The neogenetic chondrocytes of columnar arrangement have been found in the growth plate defect to prevent early ossification and closure of the growth plate. Conclusions: The histological study confirmed the viability of microencapsulated chondrocytes at 16 weeks postoperatively. The neogenetic chondrocytes of columnar arrangement have been found in the growth plate defect to prevent early ossification and closure of the growth plate.