Ovarian cancer risk score predicts chemo-response and outcome in epithelial ovarian carcinoma patients

Hsiao-Yun Lu,Yi-Jou Tai,Yu-Li Chen,Ying-Cheng Chiang,Heng-Cheng Hsu,Wen-Fang Cheng 대한부인종양학회 2021 Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Vol.32 No.2

Objective: Cytoreductive surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy is a standard frontlinetreatment for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). We aimed to develop an ovarian cancer riskscore (OVRS) based on the expression of 10 ovarian-cancer-related genes to predict thechemoresistance, and outcomes of EOC patients. Methods: We designed a case-control study with total 149 EOC women including 75chemosensitives and 74 chemoresistants. Gene expression was measured using thequantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. We tested for correlation between theOVRS and chemosensitivity or chemoresistance, disease-free survival (DFS), and overallsurvival (OS), and validated the OVRS by analyzing patients from the TCGA database. Results: The chemosensitive group had lower OVRS than the chemoresistant group (5 vs. 15, p≤0.001, Mann-Whitney U test). Patients with disease relapse (13 vs. 5, p<0.001, Mann Whitney U test) or disease-related death (13.5 vs. 6, p<0.001) had higher OVRS than thosewithout. OVRS ≥10 (hazard ratio=3.29; 95% confidence interval=1.94–5.58; p<0.001) was theonly predictor for chemoresistance in multivariate analysis. The median DFS (5 months vs. 24 months) and OS (39 months vs. >60 months) of patients with OVRS ≥10 were significantlyshorter than those of patients with OVRS <9). The high OVRS group also had significantlyshorter median OS than the low OVRS group in 255 patients in the TCGA database (39 vs. 49months, p=0.046). Conclusions: Specific genes panel can be clinically applied in predicting the chemoresistanceand outcome, and decision-making of epithelial ovarian cancer.

Professionals’ experiences and attitudes toward use of Traditional Chinese Medicine in hospice palliative inpatient care units: A multicenter survey in Taiwan

Yu-Jia Lin,Hsiao-Ting Chang,Ming-Hwai Lin,Ru-Yih Chen,Ping-Jen Chen,Wen-Yuan Lin,Jyh-Gang Hsieh,Ying-Wei Wang,Chung-Chieh Hu,Yi-Sheng Liou,Tai-Yuan Chiu,Chun-Yi Tu,Yi-Jen Wang,Bo-Ren Cheng,Tzeng-Ji Ch 한국한의학연구원 2021 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.10 No.2

Background: Medical staff may have difficulties in using conventional medicine to manage symptoms among terminally ill patients, including adverse effects of the treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is regarded as a complementary or alternative medicine, and has been increasingly used in the field of palliative medicine in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the experiences of and attitudes toward using TCM among palliative care professionals, and to provide preliminary information about its use in palliative care. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey study conducted in eight inpatient hospice wards in Taiwan between December 2014 and February 2016. The questionnaire was self-administered, and was analyzed with descriptive statistics including Pearson’s Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test. Results: A total of 251 palliative care professionals responded to the questionnaire, of whom 89.7% and 88.9% believed that the use of TCM could improve the physical symptoms and quality of life in terminally ill patients, respectively. Overall, 59.8%, of respondents suggested that TCM had rare side effects, and 58.2% were worried that TCM could affect the liver and kidney function of patients. In total, 89.7% and 88.0% of professionals agreed there were no suitable clinical practice guidelines and educational programs, respectively, for TCM use in palliative care. Conclusions: Most of the respondents agreed there was insufficient knowledge, skills-training, and continuing education on the use of TCM in terminally ill patients in Taiwan. These results show that to address patient safety considerations, guidelines about use of TCM in palliative care should be established.

Diffusion Tensor-Derived Properties of Benign Oligemia, True “at Risk” Penumbra, and Infarct Core during the First Three Hours of Stroke Onset: A Rat Model

Fang-Ying Chiu,Duen-Pang Kuo,Yung-Chieh Chen,Yu-Chieh Kao,Hsiao-Wen Chung,Cheng-Yu Chen 대한영상의학회 2018 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.19 No.6

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate diffusion tensor (DT) imaging-derived properties of benign oligemia, true “at risk” penumbra (TP), and the infarct core (IC) during the first 3 hours of stroke onset. Materials and Methods: The study was approved by the local animal care and use committee. DT imaging data were obtained from 14 rats after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) using a 7T magnetic resonance scanner (Bruker) in room air. Relative cerebral blood flow and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps were generated to define oligemia, TP, IC, and normal tissue (NT) every 30 minutes up to 3 hours. Relative fractional anisotropy (rFA), pure anisotropy (rq), diffusion magnitude (rL), ADC (rADC), axial diffusivity (rAD), and radial diffusivity (rRD) values were derived by comparison with the contralateral normal brain. Results: The mean volume of oligemia was 24.7 ± 14.1 mm3, that of TP was 81.3 ± 62.6 mm3, and that of IC was 123.0 ± 85.2 mm3 at 30 minutes after pMCAO. rFA showed an initial paradoxical 10% increase in IC and TP, and declined afterward. The rq, rL, rADC, rAD, and rRD showed an initial discrepant decrease in IC (from -24% to -36%) as compared with TP (from -7% to -13%). Significant differences (p < 0.05) in metrics, except rFA, were found between tissue subtypes in the first 2.5 hours. The rq demonstrated the best overall performance in discriminating TP from IC (accuracy = 92.6%, area under curve = 0.93) and the optimal cutoff value was -33.90%. The metric values for oligemia and NT remained similar at all time points. Conclusion: Benign oligemia is small and remains microstructurally normal under pMCAO. TP and IC show a distinct evolution of DT-derived properties within the first 3 hours of stroke onset, and are thus potentially useful in predicting the fate of ischemic brain.

Mahonia oiwakensis Extract and Its Bioactive Compounds Exert Anti-Inflammatory Activities and VEGF Production Through M2-Macrophagic Polarization and STAT6 Activation

Yea-Chen Liu,Yu-Ying Hsiao,Kuo-Lung Ku,Hui-Fen Liao,Wei-Chun Chao 한국식품영양과학회 2018 Journal of medicinal food Vol.21 No.7

Macrophages play an indispensable role in the host immune defense. Macrophages can undergo polarization into classically (M1) and alternatively (M2) activated macrophages. M1 macrophages activate immune and inflammatory response, while M2 macrophages are involved in tissue remodeling. Mahonia oiwakensis (Mo) is a herbal medicine in Asia used for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties; however, the mechanism is unclear. This study analyzed the effect of Mo extracts and its effects on the polarization of both macrophage RAW264.7 cells and mouse splenic macrophages. Water (Mo-W) and EtOH extracts (Mo-E) did not change the viability of RAW264.7 cells, whereas Mo-E inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production. The major compounds, berberine and palmatine, decreased the viability and NO levels of cells. The secretion of inflammatory cytokines CXCL16, IL-6, L-selectin, MCP1, RANTES, and sTNF-R1 was downregulated, whereas the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was upregulated by Mo-E, berberine, and palmatine treatments. Mo-E, berberine, and palmatine stimulated the expression of macrophage CD68 and M2-type CD204 markers, decreased M1-mediated p-STAT1 and NF-κB, and increased M2-mediated p-STAT6 expression. Similar effects on M2 polarization were also observed in splenic macrophages from mice. In conclusion, Mo-E, berberine, and palmatine modulated macrophages through the suppression of M1-mediated inflammation and the recruitment of M2-mediated VEGF secretion and STAT6 expression.

Predictive Significance of Claudin-3 for Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction in Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps

Huang Zhi-Qun,Ye Jing,Liu Jing,Sun Li-Ying,Ong Hsiao Hui,Wei Yong-Hao,Fu Shu-Cai,Hu Xiao-Xun,Xu Yu,Wang De-Yun 대한천식알레르기학회 2023 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.15 No.4

Purpose: The abnormal expression of tight junction (TJ) plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). However, there is no appropriate tool to distinguish and diagnose epithelial barrier defects in clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of claudin-3 for epithelial barrier dysfunction in CRSwNP. Methods: In this study, TJ protein levels were evaluated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescent, and immunohistochemistry staining in control subjects and CRSwNP patients. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was created to assess the predictive value of TJ breakdown in clinical outcomes. In vitro, human nasal epithelial cells were cultured at the air-liquid interface to analyze the transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) level. Results: The expression levels of occludin, tricellulin, claudin-3, and claudin-10 were decreased (all P < 0.05), and those of claudin-1 was increased (P < 0.05) in CRSwNP patients as compared to healthy subjects. Additionally, claudin-3 and occludin levels were negatively correlated with the computed tomography score in CRSwNP (all P < 0.05), and the ROC curve indicated that the claudin-3 level had the most predictive accuracy in evaluating epithelial barrier disruption (area under the curve = 0.791, P < 0.001). Finally, the time-series analysis showed the highest correlation coefficient between TER and claudin-3 (cross-correlation function = 0.75). Conclusion: In this study, we suggest that claudin-3 could be a valuable biomarker for predicting nasal epithelial barrier defects and disease severity in CRSwNP.

Experimental Studies of Low-Field Landau Quantization in Two-Dimensional Electron Systems in GaAs/AlGaAs Heterostructures

Jing-Han Chen,Chi-Te Liang,Chun-Feng Huang,Da-Ren Hang,David A. Ritchie,J. C. Hsiao,Jyun-Ying Lin,Michelle Y. Simmons,Ming-Gu Lin,S. H. Lo,Tsai-Yu Huang 한국물리학회 2007 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.50 No.3

By applying a magnetic field perpendicular to GaAs/AlGaAs two-dimensional electron systems (2DESs), we study the low-field Landau quantization when the thermal damping is reduced with decreasing temperature. Magneto-oscillations following the Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) formula are observed even when their amplitudes are so large that the deviation to such a formula is expected. Our experimental results show the importance of the positive magneto-resistance to the extension of the SdH formula under the damping induced by the disorder.