Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir plus ribavirin for Child-Pugh B and Child-Pugh C hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis

( Chen-hua Liu ),( Chi-yi Chen ),( Wei-wen Su ),( Chun-jen Liu ),( Ching-chu Lo ),( Ke-jhang Huang ),( Jyh-jou Chen ),( Kuo-chih Tseng ),( Chi-yang Chang ),( Cheng-yuan Peng ),( Yu-lueng Shih ),( Chia 대한간학회 2021 Clinical and Molecular Hepatology(대한간학회지) Vol.27 No.4

Background/Aims: Real-world studies assessing the effectiveness and safety of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) plus ribavirin (RBV) for Child-Pugh B/C hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis are limited. Methods: We included 107 patients with Child-Pugh B/C HCV-related cirrhosis receiving SOF/VEL plus RBV for 12 weeks in Taiwan. The sustained virologic response rates at off-treatment week 12 (SVR₁₂) for the evaluable population (EP), modified EP, and per-protocol population (PP) were assessed. The safety profiles were reported. Results: The SVR₁₂ rates in the EP, modified EP and PP were 89.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 82.5-94.2%), 94.1% (95% CI, 87.8-97.3%), and 100% (95% CI, 96.2-100%). Number of patients who failed to achieve SVR₁₂ were attributed to virologic failures. The SVR₁₂ rates were comparable regardless of patient characteristics. One patient discontinued treatment because of adverse events (AEs). Twenty-four patients had serious AEs and six died, but none were related to SOF/VEL or RBV. Among the 96 patients achieving SVR₁₂, 84.4% and 64.6% had improved Child-Pugh and model for endstage liver disease (MELD) scores. Multivariate analysis revealed that a baseline MELD score ≥15 was associated with an improved MELD score of ≥3 (odds ratio, 4.13; 95% CI, 1.16-14.71; P=0.02). Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 1 had more significant estimated glomerular filtration rate declines than patients with CKD stage 2 (-0.42 mL/min/1.73 ㎡/month; P=0.01) or stage 3 (-0.56 mL/min/1.73 ㎡/month; P<0.001). Conclusions: SOF/VEL plus RBV for 12 weeks is efficacious and well-tolerated for Child-Pugh B/C HCV-related cirrhosis. (Clin Mol Hepatol 2021;27:575-588)

Striatal Dopamine Transporter Availability is Associated with Sleep Disturbance among Patients with Bipolar I Disorder: A Single-photon Emission Computed Tomography Study Using [99mTc] TRODAT-1

Tsung-Hua Lu(Tsung-Hua Lu),Shih-Hsien Lin(Shih-Hsien Lin),Huai-Hsuan Tseng(Huai-Hsuan Tseng),Yen Kuang Yang(Yen Kuang Yang),Nan Tsing Chiu(Nan Tsing Chiu),Po See Chen(Po See Chen) 대한정신약물학회 2022 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.20 No.4

Objective: Bipolar disorder (BD) is characterized by the poor sleep quality. Whether the striatal dopamine transporter (DAT) availability is related to sleep quality among patients with BD is unclear. Methods: Fifty-three euthymic patients with BD (24 BD-I and 29 BD-II) and sixty-eight healthy controls were enrolled. The Chinese Version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used, and the availability of DAT was assessed by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using [99mTc] TRODAT-1. Results: The sleep disturbance component of the PSQI was significantly associated with the level of DAT availability among patients with BD. Conclusion: The striatal dopaminergic activity that contributes to resilience to adversity was associated with sleep pattern among patients with BD.

Harm Avoidance is Correlated with the Reward System in Adult Patients with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Tsung-Hua Lu(Tsung-Hua Lu),Shih-Hsien Lin(Shih-Hsien Lin),Mei Hung Chi(Mei Hung Chi),Ching-Lin Chu(Ching-Lin Chu),Dong-Yu Yang(Dong-Yu Yang),Wei Hung Chang(Wei Hung Chang),Po See Chen(Po See Chen),Yen 대한정신약물학회 2023 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.21 No.1

Objective: Hypoactivity in the reward system among patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a well-known phenomenon. Whether the activity in the reward pathway is related to harm avoidance, such as in sensitivity to punishment, is unclear. Evidence regarding the potential difference between ADHD patients and controls in terms of this association is scarce. Methods: Event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging was conducted on subjects performing the Iowa gambling test. Fourteen adults with ADHD and 14 controls were enrolled in the study. Results: Harm avoidance was found to be positively correlated with the activities of the bilateral orbitofrontal cortex and right insula in individuals with ADHD. A group difference was also confirmed. Conclusion: Understanding the roles of harm avoidance and brain activation during risk tasks is important.

China`s Pension Reform Process and the Future Options

( Chen Yin Hua ) 한국행정학회 2009 한국행정학회 학술발표논문집 Vol.2009 No.-

taken as soon as possible. China`s pension reform, Notional Refined-benefit, Individual Account, contribution rate, replacement rate, reform options, With the rapid demographic dynamic and economic development China have to face the old age problems. After several reform since 1986, especially the milestone reform in 1997, until now, China still apparently need reform in pension system. This paper analyzed the main problems about China`s current pension system and showed out the trade-off of different possible options. As regard to the finial selection, political and other factors will affect meantime. As the conclusion, the continuous pension reform in China should be

Effect of Tissue Engineering Small Vessel Scaffolds in Experimental Animals

( Hua Yong Chen ),( Shu Ling Bai ),( Ying Qing Chen ) 한국조직공학·재생의학회 2012 조직공학과 재생의학 Vol.9 No.3

Acellular xenogeneic small vessel scaffolds preliminarily eliminate the xenogeneic antigen that could induce an immune rejection. We transplanted the Wistar rat caudal artery scaffolds into Japanese white rabbit ear central arteries, and observed the changes of blood flow and vessel wall. We acquired 30 caudal arteries from 15 Wistar rats, some were directly assigned as caudal artery group, the others were disposed by 1% p-octyl polyethelene glycol phenyl ether, and were assigned as the group of tissue engineered small vessel scaffold. We collected 15 Japanese white rabbits, and utilized a pair of ear central arteries per rabbit as hosts. Through microscopic surgery, the proximal broken end of central artery was overlapped into the donor`s proximal vessel lumen by sleeve anastomosis, while the distal broken end was sutured by classical end-to-end anastomosis. The maximum patency time of small vessel scaffold was 46 hours and 47 minutes, and which of caudal vessel was 14 hours. The poor blood flow primarily was occurred in distal broken end, while proximal end was connected in pedicle graft structure. On the 10th day, tunica intima fibers in vessel scaffold were still arranged in cylindrical conformation regularly without cell adherence. On the 100th day, tunica intima fibers were still preserved completely in proximal end. The results showed that xenogeneic acellular small vessel scaffold can be transplanted into the host, and the sleeve anastomosis was significantly superior to the classical end-to-end anastomosis.

Stochastic modelling and lifecycle performance assessment of bond strength of corroded reinforcement in concrete

Chen, Hua-Peng,Nepal, Jaya Techno-Press 2015 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.54 No.2

Life cycle performance of corrosion affected RC structures is an important and challenging issue for effective infrastructure management. The accurate condition assessment of corroded RC structures mainly depends on the effective evaluation of deterioration occurring in the structures. Structural performance deterioration caused by reinforcement corrosion is a complex phenomenon which is generally uncertain and non-decreasing. Therefore, a stochastic modelling such as the gamma process can be an effective tool to consider the temporal uncertainty associated with performance deterioration. This paper presents a time-dependent reliability analysis of corrosion affected RC structures associated bond strength degradation. Initially, an analytical model to evaluate cracking in the concrete cover and the associated loss of bond between the corroded steel and the surrounding cracked concrete is developed. The analytical results of cover surface cracking and bond strength deterioration are examined by experimental data available. Then the verified analytical results are used for the stochastic deterioration modelling, presented here as gamma process. The application of the proposed approach is illustrated with a numerical example. The results from the illustrative example show that the proposed approach is capable of assessing performance of the bond strength of concrete structures affected by reinforcement corrosion during their lifecycle.

A new experimental technique on the tubular joints of spatial grid structures

Chen, Zhi-Hua,Sun, Guo-Jun,Luo, Zhi-Shan Techno-Press 2011 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.40 No.6

A new experimental technique was developed on the plate-inserted welded tubular joints of spatial grid structures. In the experimental technique, a microcomputer controlling instrument of moire intervention (MCIMI) was adopted. A test was designed on the plate-inserted welded tubular joints of spatial grid structures to show the effectiveness of the MCIMI technique. Both traditional electrical measuring technique and MCIMI technique were employed in the test. The test results showed that the MCIMI technique was feasible in the case of the complicated tests on steel structures. The MCIMI technique not only implemented the limitation of traditional electrical measuring technique, but also improved the accuracy of the test. According to the test results, we further examined the plate-inserted welded tubular joints in the cable-stayed spatial grids of the Binhai International Convention & Exhibition in Tianjin, China. The analysis showed the joints are safely designed with adequate conservatism. The research provided a new application of MCIMI in the field of large-scale structure engineering.

Effect of cover cracking on reliability of corroded reinforced concrete structures

Hua-Peng Chen,Jaya Nepal 사단법인 한국계산역학회 2017 Computers and Concrete, An International Journal Vol.20 No.5

The reliability of reinforced concrete structures is frequently compromised by the deterioration caused by reinforcement corrosion. Evaluating the effect caused by reinforcement corrosion on structural behaviour of corrosion damaged concrete structures is essential for effective and reliable infrastructure management. In lifecycle management of corrosion affected reinforced concrete structures, it is difficult to correctly assess the lifecycle performance due to the uncertainties associated with structural resistance deterioration. This paper presents a stochastic deterioration modelling approach to evaluate the performance deterioration of corroded concrete structures during their service life. The flexural strength deterioration is analytically predicted on the basis of bond strength evolution caused by reinforcement corrosion, which is examined by the experimental and field data available. An assessment criterion is defined to evaluate the flexural strength deterioration for the time-dependent reliability analysis. The results from the worked examples show that the proposed approach is capable of evaluating the structural reliability of corrosion damaged concrete structures.

Stochastic modelling fatigue crack evolution and optimum maintenance strategy for composite blades of wind turbines

Hua-Peng Chen,Chi Zhang,Tian-Li Huang 국제구조공학회 2017 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.63 No.6

The composite blades of offshore wind turbines accumulate structural damage such as fatigue cracking due to harsh operation environments during their service time, leading to premature structural failures. This paper investigates various fatigue crack models for reproducing crack development in composite blades and proposes a stochastic approach to predict fatigue crack evolution and to analyse failure probability for the composite blades. Three typical fatigue models for the propagation of fatigue cracks, i.e., Miner model, Paris model and Reifsnider model, are discussed to reproduce the fatigue crack evolution in composite blades subjected to cyclical loadings. The lifetime probability of fatigue failure of the composite blades is estimated by stochastic deterioration modelling such as gamma process. Based on time-dependent reliability analysis and lifecycle cost analysis, an optimised maintenance policy is determined to make the optimal decision for the composite blades during the service time. A numerical example is employed to investigate the effectiveness of predicting fatigue crack growth, estimating the probability of fatigue failure and evaluating an optimal maintenance policy. The results from the numerical study show that the stochastic gamma process together with the proper fatigue models can provide a useful tool for remaining useful life predictions and optimum maintenance strategies of the composite blades of offshore wind turbines.

Stable and Recyclable SERS Substrates Based on Au-Loaded PET Nanocomposite Superhydrophobic Surfaces

Hua-Xiang Chen,Yu-Ting Wang,Ting-Ting You,Jin Zhai,Peng-Gang Yin 성균관대학교(자연과학캠퍼스) 성균나노과학기술원 2018 NANO Vol.13 No.5

Novel surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates with stable and recyclable properties have been prepared by assembling gold nanoparticles-loaded PET (AuNPs/PET) nanocomposite superhydrophobic surfaces. After a physical vapor deposition process, the AuNPs/PET surfaces with vast plasmonic "hot spots" showed superhydrophobic properties, and it can hold target molecules droplets for rapid SERS detection. From blown off droplets and rinsed substrates with water after detection, we found that no probe molecules remained on the surfaces from Raman spectra. The prepared substrates were not contaminated in the detection process. Furthermore, the new SERS substrates were used for rapidly detecting droplets of crystal violet (CV) and the lowest detection concentration was about 1 x 10 -9 M. The as-prepared AuNPs/PET substrates also have good performance in terms of reproducibility and recyclability.