Effects of Free-range Farming on Carcass and Meat Qualities of Black-feathered Taiwan Native Chicken

Cheng, F.Y.,Huang, C.W.,Wan, T.C.,Liu, Y.T.,Lin, L.C.,Lou Chyr, Chu-Ying Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2008 Animal Bioscience Vol.21 No.8

The effects of free-range farming, compared to a conventional production system, on carcass and meat qualities were studied using black-feathered Taiwan native chickens. Twenty 16-week old females were purchased separately from a free-range farm and a conventional production farm and used for this study. The results showed similarities in the live weight (roughly 2.1 kg), dressing percentage (69%) and meat percentage (19%) of deboned leg quarter. Significant differences (p<0.05) found for the free-range chickens included: a higher percentage of meat for the breast, an increased crude protein content and chewiness value for the breast, but decreased crude fat content and lower hardness and fracturablility values for the leg quarter. Significantly higher L* values were found for the breast and leg meat of conventionally produced chickens, whereas no significant differences were found for WHC and purge loss between the breast and the leg, and between the two production systems as well. Results of sensory evaluation showed a significant preference for leg over breast meat (p<0.05). The scores of all the attributes including aroma, flavor, firmness, tenderness, juiciness and overall acceptability of leg meat from free-range chickens were slightly higher than for conventional chickens, while the reverse was true for breast meat, though no significant difference could be found. Free-range Taiwan native chicken appeared to yield the best of the results, with flavorful yet tender leg meat for higher sensory satisfaction, and high-protein but low-fat breast meat for healthier diet choice.

Characteristics and survival of ovarian cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy but not undergoing interval debulking surgery

Ying L. Liu,Olga T. Filippova,Qin Zhou,Alexia Iasonos,Dennis S. Chi,Oliver Zivanovic,Yukio Sonoda,Ginger J. Gardner,Vance A. Broach,Roisin E. OCearbhaill,Jason A. Konner,Carol Aghajanian,Kara Long Roc 대한부인종양학회 2020 Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Vol.31 No.1

Objective: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by interval debulking surgery (IDS)confers similar outcomes as primary debulking surgery and chemotherapy. Little is knownabout patients who receive NACT but do not undergo debulking surgery. Our aim was tocharacterize these patients. Methods: We prospectively identified patients with newly diagnosed stage III/IV ovariancancer treated with NACT from 7/1/15–12/1/17. Fisher exact and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests wereused to compare clinical characteristics by surgical status. The Kaplan-Meier method wasused to estimate survival outcomes. Log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model wereapplied to assess the relationship of covariates to outcome, and time-dependent covariateswere applied to variables collected after diagnosis. Results: Of 224 women who received NACT, 162 (72%) underwent IDS and 62 (28%) didnot undergo surgery. The non-surgical group was older (p<0.001), had higher Charlsoncomorbidity index (CCI; p<0.001), lower albumin levels (p=0.007), lower Karnofskyperformance scores (p<0.001), and were more likely to have dose reductions in NACT(p<0.001). Reasons for no surgery included poor response to NACT (39%), death (15%),comorbidities (24%), patient preference (16%), and loss to follow-up (6%). The nosurgery group had significantly worse overall survival (OS) than the surgery group (hazardratio=3.34; 95% confidence interval=1.66–6.72; p<0.001), after adjustment for age, CCI, anddose reductions. Conclusions: A significant proportion of women treated with NACT do not undergo IDS, andthese women are older, frailer, and have worse OS. More studies are needed to find optimaltherapies to maximize outcomes in this high-risk, elderly population.

Characteristics of registered studies for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a systematic review

Ming Yang,Ya-xi Shang,Zi-yu Tian,Min Xiong,Chun-li Lu,Jiang Yue,Zhang Yao,Zhang Ying-ying,Jin Xin-yan,Jin Qiu-bai,Zhang Ying-ying,Willcox Merlin L.,Liu Jian-ping 한국한의학연구원 2020 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.9 No.3

Background: The World Health Organization characterized the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a pandemic on March 11th. Many clinical trials on COVID-19 have been registered, and we aim to review the study characteristics and provide guidance for future trials to avoid duplicated effort. Methods: Studies on COVID-19 registered before March 3rd, 2020 on eight registry platforms worldwide were searched and the data of design, participants, interventions, and outcomes were extracted and analyzed. Results: Three hundred and ninety-three studies were identified and 380 (96.7%) were from mainland China, while 3 in Japan, 3 in France, 2 in the US, and 3 were international collaborative studies. Two hundred and sixty-six (67.7%) aimed at therapeutic effect, others were for prevention, diagnosis, prognosis, etc. Two hundred and two studies (51.4%) were randomized controlled trials. Two third of therapeutic studies tested Western medicines including antiviral drugs (17.7%), stem cell and cord blood therapy (10.2%), chloroquine and derivatives (8.3%), 16 (6.0%) on Chinese medicines, and 73 (27.4%) on integrated therapy of Western and Chinese medicines. Thirty-one studies among 266 therapeutic studies (11.7%) used mortality as primary outcome, while the most designed secondary outcomes were symptoms and signs (47.0%). Half of the studies (45.5%) had not started recruiting till March 3rd. Conclusion: Inappropriate outcome setting, delayed recruitment and insufficient numbers of new cases in China implied many studies may fail to complete. Strategies and protocols of the studies with robust and rapid data sharing are warranted for emergency public health events, helping the timely evidence-based decision-making.

Lipopolysaccharide-induced Autophagy Increases SOX2-positive Astrocytes While Decreasing Neuronal Differentiation in the Adult Hippocampus

Liu Wen-Chung,Wu Chih-Wei,Fu Mu-Hui,Tain You-Lin,Liang Chih-Kuang,Chen I-Chun,Hung Chun-Ying,Lee Yu-Chi,Wu Kay L.H. 한국뇌신경과학회 2022 Experimental Neurobiology Vol.31 No.5

Inflammation alters the neural stem cell (NSC) lineage from neuronal to astrogliogenesis. However, the underlying mechanism is elusive. Autophagy contributes to the decline in adult hippocampal neurogenesis under E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. SRY-box transcription Factor 2 (SOX2) is critical for NSC self-renewal and proliferation. In this study, we investigated the role of SOX2 in induced autophagy and hippocampal adult neurogenesis under LPS stimulation. LPS (5 ng•100 g-1•hour-1 for 7 days) was intraperitoneally infused into male Sprague–Dawley rats (8 weeks old) to induce mild systemic inflammation. Beclin 1 and autophagy protein 12 (Atg12) were significantly upregulated concurrent with decreased numbers of Ki67- and doublecortin (DCX)-positive cells in the dentate gyrus. Synchronically, the levels of phospho(p)-mTOR, the p-mTOR/mTOR ratio, p-P85s6k, and the p-P85s6k/P85s6k ratio were suppressed. In contrast, SOX2 expression was increased. The fluorescence micrographs indicated that the colocalization of Beclin 1 and SOX2 was increased in the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the dentate gyrus. Moreover, increased S100β-positive astrocytes were colocalized with SOX2 in the SGZ. Intracerebroventricular infusion of 3-methyladenine (an autophagy inhibitor) effectively prevented the increases in Beclin 1, Atg12, and SOX2. The SOX2+-Beclin 1+ and SOX2+-S100β+ cells were reduced. The levels of p-mTOR and p-P85s6k were enhanced. Most importantly, the number of DCX-positive cells was preserved. Altogether, these data suggest that LPS induced autophagy to inactivate the mTOR/P85s6k pathway, resulting in a decline in neural differentiation. SOX2 was upregulated to facilitate the NSC lineage, while the autophagy milieu could switch the SOX2-induced NSC lineage from neurogenesis to astrogliogenesis.

<i>Chd7</i> Is Critical for Early T-Cell Development and Thymus Organogenesis in Zebrafish

Liu, Zhi-Zhi,Wang, Zi-Long,Choi, Tae-Ik,Huang, Wen-Ting,Wang, Han-Tsing,Han, Ying-Ying,Zhu, Lou-Yin,Kim, Hyun-Taek,Choi, Jung-Hwa,Lee, Jin-Soo,Kim, Hyung-Goo,Zhao, Jian,Chen, Yue,Lu, Zhuo,Tian, Xiao-L Elsevier 2018 The American journal of pathology Vol.188 No.4

<P>Coloboma, heart defect, atresia choanae, retarded growth and development, genital hypoplasia, ear anomalies/deafness (CHARGE) syndrome is a congenital disorder affecting multiple organs and mainly caused by mutations in CHD7, a gene encoding a chromatin-remodeling protein. Immunodeficiency and reduced T cells have been noted in CHARGE syndrome. However, the mechanisms underlying T lymphopenia are largely unexplored. Herein, we observed dramatic decrease of T cells in both chd7knockdown and knockout zebrafish embryos. Unexpectedly, hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and, particularly, lymphoid progenitor cells were increased peripherally in nonthymic areas in chd7-deficient embryos, unlikely to contribute to the T-cell decrease. Further analysis demonstrated that both the organogenesis and homing function of the thymus were seriously impaired. Chd7 might regulate thymus organogenesis through modulating the development of both neural crest cell-derived mesenchyme and pharyngeal endoderm-derived thymic epithelial cells. The expression of faxn1, a central regulator of thymic epithelium, was remarkably down-regulated in the pharyngeal region in chd7-deficient embryos. Moreover, the T-cell reduction in chd7-deficient embryos was partially rescued by overexpressingfoxnl, suggesting that restoring thymic epithelium may be a potential therapeutic strategy for treating immunodeficiency in CHARGE syndrome. Collectively, the results indicated that chd7 was critical for thymic development and T-lymphopenia in CHARGE syndrome may be mainly attributed to the defects of thymic organogenesis. The current finding may benefit the diagnosis and therapy of T lymphopenia and immunodeficiency in CHARGE syndrome.</P>

The Safety and Efficacy of a Dietary Herbal Supplement and Gallic Acid for Weight Loss

Frank L. Greenway,Andrew T. Roberts,Corby K. Martin,Zhijun Liu,Ronald J. Amen,Eugene A. Woltering,Jennifer C. Rood,Mary K. Caruso,Ying Yu,Hui Xie 한국식품영양과학회 2007 Journal of medicinal food Vol.10 No.1

The objective of this study was to test the safety and efficacy of NT, a dietary herbal supplement made fromrhubarb, ginger, astragulus, red sage, and turmeric, combined with gallic acid (GA) to reduce food intake and cause weightloss. A total of 105 healthy subjects, 1860 years old with a body mass index of 2535 kg/m2 and on no chronic medication,were randomized to a 300 mg/1.2 g NT-GA combination, a 600 mg/2.4 g NT-GA combination, or placebo in three divideddoses daily for 24 weeks. Food intake was measured at baseline and 2 weeks, and safety parameters were followed regularly.Pharmacokinetic studies of a 200 mg/800 mg NT-GA combination and 800 g GA alone were performed with and withoutfood. There was no dose-related weight loss or reduction in food intake at the 8-week analysis, and the study was terminatedearly. Pharmacokinetic studies showed plasma levels of GA did not increase above 10 .M and were not dose-related. TheNT-GA at all concentrations was well tolerated, but was ineffective in causing weight loss or in suppressing food intake. Phar-macokinetics suggested that GA plasma levels were limited by oral absorption, and may be the reason for lack of efficacy.

Taiwanese Parents’ Experience of Making a “Do Not Resuscitate” Decision for Their Child in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Shu-Mei Liu,Hung-Ru Lin,Frank L. Lu,Tzu-Ying Lee 한국간호과학회 2014 Asian Nursing Research Vol.8 No.1

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to explore the parental experience of making a “do not resuscitate” (DNR) decision for their child who is or was cared for in a pediatric intensive care unit in Taiwan. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted following parental signing of a standard hospital DNR form on behalf of their critically ill child. Sixteen Taiwanese parents of 11 children aged 1 month to 18 years were interviewed. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, analyzed and sorted into themes by the sole interviewer plus other researchers. Results: Three major themes were identified: (a) “convincing points to sign”, (b) “feelings immediately after signing”, and (c) “postsigning relief or regret”. Feelings following signing the DNR form were mixed and included “frustration”, “guilt”, and “conflicting hope”. Parents adjusted their attitudes to thoughts such as “I have done my best,” and “the child’s life is beyond my control.” Some parents whose child had died before the time of the interview expressed among other things “regret not having enough time to be with and talk to my child”. Conclusion: Open family visiting hours plus staff sensitivity and communication skills training are needed. To help parents with this difficult signing process, nurses and other professionals in the pediatric intensive care unit need education on initiating the conversation, guiding the parents in expressing their fears, and providing continuing support to parents and children throughout the child’s end of life process.

Piezoelectric BaTiO₃ Thin Film Nanogenerator on Plastic Substrates

Park, Kwi-Il,Xu, Sheng,Liu, Ying,Hwang, Geon-Tae,Kang, Suk-Joong L.,Wang, Zhong Lin,Lee, Keon Jae American Chemical Society 2010 Nano letters Vol.10 No.12

<P>The piezoelectric generation of perovskite BaTiO<SUB>3</SUB> thin films on a flexible substrate has been applied to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy for the first time. Ferroelectric BaTiO<SUB>3</SUB> thin films were deposited by radio frequency magnetron sputtering on a Pt/Ti/SiO<SUB>2</SUB>/(100) Si substrate and poled under an electric field of 100 kV/cm. The metal−insulator (BaTiO<SUB>3</SUB>)−metal-structured ribbons were successfully transferred onto a flexible substrate and connected by interdigitated electrodes. When periodically deformed by a bending stage, a flexible BaTiO<SUB>3</SUB> nanogenerator can generate an output voltage of up to 1.0 V. The fabricated nanogenerator produced an output current density of 0.19 μA/cm<SUP>2</SUP> and a power density of ∼7 mW/cm<SUP>3</SUP>. The results show that a nanogenerator can be used to power flexible displays by means of mechanical agitations for future touchable display technologies.</P><P><B>Graphic Abstract</B> <IMG SRC='http://pubs.acs.org/appl/literatum/publisher/achs/journals/content/nalefd/2010/nalefd.2010.10.issue-12/nl102959k/production/images/medium/nl-2010-02959k_0002.gif'></P><P><A href='http://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/nl102959k'>ACS Electronic Supporting Info</A></P><P><A href='http://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/nl102959k'>ACS Electronic Supporting Info</A></P>

Novel High-throughput Baculovirus Expression Vector based on Bombyx mori Nucleopolyhedrovirus

Xue Ying Tao,Jae Young Choi,Woo Jin Kim,Joo Hyun Lee,Qin Liu,Song Eun Kim,Saes Byeol An,Seok Hee Lee,Zhen Li Fu,Yeon Ho Je 한국응용곤충학회 2012 한국응용곤충학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2012 No.10

The baculovirus expression system is one of the most popular methods used for the production of recombinant proteins but has several complex steps which have proved inherently difficult to meet a multi-parellel process. We have developed a novel recombinant bacmid, bEasyBm that enabling easy and fast generation of pure recombinant virus without any purification step. In the bEasyBm, attR recombination sites were introduced to facilitate the generation of recombinant viral genome by in vitro transposition. Moreover, extracellular RNase gene from bacillus amyloliquefaciens, barnase, was expressed under the control of Cotesia plutellae bracovirus early promoter. Therefore, only when the barnase gene was replaced to gene of interest, the bEasyBm could replicate in host insect cells. When the bEasyBm was transposed with pDualBac-EGFP and pDualBac-LUC respectively, there were no non-recombinant backgrounds were detected from unpurified BmEasy-EGFP or BmEasy-LUC stocks. In addition, the resulting recombinant virus, BmEasy-EGFP, showed comparable level of EGFP expression efficiency with the plaque-purified recombinant virus, BmEGFP, which was constructed using bBmGOZA system. Based on these results, high-throughput condition for generation of multiple recombinant viruses in a time was established.