Combined Assessment of Serum Alpha-Synuclein and Rab35 is a Better Biomarker for Parkinson’s Disease

Hung-Li Wang,Chin-Song Lu,Tu-Hsueh Yeh,Yu-Ming Shen,Yi-Hsin Weng,Ying-Zu Huang,Rou-Shayn Chen,Yu-Chuan Liu,Yi-Chuan Cheng,Hsiu-Chen Chang,Ying-Ling Chen,Yu-Jie Chen,Yan-Wei Lin,Chia Chen Hsu,Huang-Li 대한신경과학회 2019 Journal of Clinical Neurology Vol.15 No.4

Background and Purpose It is essential to develop a reliable predictive serum biomarker for Parkinson’s disease (PD). Te accumulation of alpha-synuclein (αSyn) and up-regulated expression of Rab35 participate in the etiology of PD. Te purpose of this investigation was to determine whether the combined assessment of serum αSyn and Rab35 is a useful predictive biomarker for PD. Methods Serum levels of αSyn or Rab35 were determined in serum samples from 59 sporadic PD patients, 19 progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) patients, 20 multiple system atrophy (MSA) patients, and 60 normal controls (NC). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were calculated to determine the diagnostic accuracy of αSyn or/and Rab35 in discriminating PD patients from NC or atypical parkinsonian patients. Results The levels of αSyn and Rab35 were increased in PD patients. The serum level of Rab35 was positively correlated with that of αSyn in PD patients. Compared to analyzing αSyn or Rab35 alone, the combined analysis of αSyn and Rab35 produced a larger area under the ROC curve and performed better in discriminating PD patients from NC, MSA patients, or PSP patients. When age was dichotomized at 55, 60, 65, or 70 years, the combined assessment of αSyn and Rab35 for classifying PD was better in the group below the cutof age than in the group above the cutof age. Conclusions Combined assessment of serum αSyn and Rab35 is a better biomarker for discriminating PD patients from NC or atypical parkinsonian patients, and is a useful predictive biomarker for younger sporadic PD patients.

Charged-Higgs on $$R_{D^{(*)}}$$ R D ( ∗ ) , $$\tau $$ τ polarization, and FBA

Chen, Chuan-Hung,Nomura, Takaaki Springer-Verlag 2017 European Physical Journal C Vol.77 No.9

<P>We study the influence of a charged-Higgs on the excess of branching fraction ratio, R-M = BR((B) over bar -> M tau (v) over bar (tau))/BR((B) over bar -> Ml (v) over bar (l)) (M = D, D*), in a generic two-Higgs-doublet model. In order to investigate the lepton polarization, the detailed decay amplitudes with lepton helicity are given. When the charged-Higgs is used to resolve excesses, it is found that two independent Yukawa couplings are needed to explain the R-D and R-D* anomalies. We show that when the upper limit of BR(B-c -> tau(v) over bar (tau)) < 30% is included, RD can be significantly enhanced while R-D* < 0.27. With the BR(B-c -> tau(v) over bar (tau)) constraint, we find that the tau-lepton polarizations can be still affected by the charged- Higgs effects, where the standard model ( SM) predictions are obtained: P-D(tau) approximate to 0.324 and P-D*(tau) approximate to -0.500, and they can be enhanced to be P-D(tau) approximate to 0.5 and P-D*(tau) approximate to -0.41 by the charged-Higgs. The integrated lepton forward-backward asymmetry (FBA) is also studied, where the SM result is (A) over bar (D()(FB)*(),tau) approximate to -0.359(0.064), and they can be enhanced ( decreased) to be (A) over bar (D()(FB)*(),tau) approximate to -0.33(0.02).</P>

Alpinate Oxyphyllae Fructus Inhibits IGFII-Related Signaling Pathway to Attenuate Ang II-Induced Pathological Hypertrophy in H9c2 Cardiomyoblasts

Chuan-Te Tsai,Yung-Ming Chang,Shu-Luan Lin,Yueh-Sheng Chen,Yu-Lan Yeh,Viswanadha Vijaya Padma,Chin-Chuan Tsai,Ray-Jade Chen,Tsung-Jung Ho,Chih-Yang Huang 한국식품영양과학회 2016 Journal of medicinal food Vol.19 No.3

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a very important cardiovascular disease inducer and may cause cardiac pathological hypertrophy and remodeling. We evaluated a Chinese traditional medicine, alpinate oxyphyllae fructus (AOF), for therapeutic efficacy for treating Ang II-induced cardiac hypertrophy. AOF has been used to treat patients with various symptoms accompanying hypertension and cerebrovascular disorders in Korea. We investigated its protective effect against Ang II-induced cytoskeletal change and hypertrophy in H9c2 cells. The results showed that treating cells with Ang II resulted in pathological hypertrophy, such as increased expression of transcription factors NFAT-3/p-NFAT-3, hypertrophic response genes (atrial natriuretic peptide [ANP] and b-type natriuretic peptide [BNP]), and Gαq down-stream effectors (PLCβ3 and calcineurin). Pretreatment with AOF (60–100 μg/mL) led to significantly reduced hypertrophy. We also found that AOF pretreatment significantly suppressed the cardiac remodeling proteins, metalloproteinase (MMP9 and MMP2), and plasminogen activator, induced by Ang II challenge. In conclusion, we provide evidence that AOF protects against Ang II-induced pathological hypertrophy by specifically inhibiting the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) II/IIR-related signaling pathway in H9c2 cells. AOF might be a candidate for cardiac hypertrophy and ventricular remodeling prevention in chronic cardiovascular diseases.

Single production ofX±5/3andY∓4/3vectorlike quarks at the LHC

Chen, Chuan-Hung,Nomura, Takaaki American Physical Society 2016 Physical review. D Vol.94 No.3

<P>Two triplet vectorlike quarks (VLQs) with hypercharges of Y = 2/3, -1/3 and one singlet scalar boson are embedded in the standard model to resolve the 750 GeV diphoton excess. The constraints on the tree-level Higgs- and Z-mediated flavor-changing neutral currents are discussed in detail. Besides the resolution of excess, it is found that the signal strength of diphoton Higgs decay can have a 10% deviation from the SM prediction and that the upper limits of the branching ratios for rare top-quark decays are BR (t -> c(h, Z)) < (6.8, 0.48) x 10(-5). We find that the production cross section of a single VLQ by electroweak processes is larger than that of a VLQ pair by QCD processes. To explore the signals of the heavy VLQs at the LHC, we thoroughly analyze the production of single X-+/- 5/3 and Y--/+ 4/3 via q(i)q'(j) annihilations in pp collisions at root s = 13 TeV. It is found that the electroweak production cross sections for dX(5/3), uY(-4/3), and dY(4/3) channels with m(X) = m(Y) = 1 TeV can be 84.3, 72.3, and 157.8 fb, respectively, and the dominant decay modes are X-5/3 -> (c, t)W+ and Y-4/3 -> (s, b) W-. With adopting kinematic cuts, the significance for the pp -> dW(+)t channel can be over 5 sigma.</P>

Investigation of _Bu,d→(π,K)π decays within unparticle physics

Chen, Chuan-Hung,Kim, C.S.,Yoon, Yeo Woong Elsevier 2009 Physics letters: B Vol.671 No.2

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>We investigate the implication of unparticle physics on the <SUB>Bu,d</SUB>→(π,K)π decays under the constraints of the <SUB>Bd,s</SUB>–<SUB>B¯d,s</SUB> mixing. We found that not only the unparticle parameters that belong to the flavor changing neutral current (FCNC) processes but also scaling dimension <SUB>dU</SUB> could be constrained by the <SUB>Bd,s</SUB>–<SUB>B¯d,s</SUB> mixing phenomenology. Employing the minimum <SUP>χ2</SUP> analysis to the <SUB>Bu,d</SUB>→(π,K)π decays with the constraints of <SUB>Bd,s</SUB> mixing, we find that the puzzle of large branching ratio for <SUB>Bd</SUB>→<SUP>π0</SUP><SUP>π0</SUP> and the discrepancy between the standard model estimation and data for the direct CP asymmetry of <SUP>B+</SUP>→<SUP>K+</SUP><SUP>π0</SUP> and <SUB>Bd</SUB>→<SUP>π+</SUP><SUP>π−</SUP> can be resolved well. However, the mixing induced CP asymmetry of <SUB>Bd</SUB>→<SUB>KS</SUB><SUP>π0</SUP> could not be well accommodated by the unparticle contributions.</P>

Excesses of muon <i>g</i> −2, _{R ^{D ( ⁎ )}} , and _{R ^{K ( ⁎ )}} in a leptoquark model

Chen, Chuan-Hung,Nomura, Takaaki,Okada, Hiroshi Elsevier 2017 Physics letters: B Vol.774 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>In this study, we investigate muon g − 2 , <SUB> R <SUP> K ( ⁎ ) </SUP> </SUB> , and <SUB> R <SUP> D ( ⁎ ) </SUP> </SUB> anomalies in a specific model with one doublet, one triplet, and one singlet scalar leptoquark (LQ). When the strict limits from the <SUP> ℓ ′ </SUP> → ℓ γ , Δ B = 2 , <SUB> B s </SUB> → <SUP> μ + </SUP> <SUP> μ − </SUP> , and <SUP> B + </SUP> → <SUP> K + </SUP> ν ν ¯ processes are considered, it is difficult to use one scalar LQ to explain all of the anomalies due to the strong correlations among the constraints and observables. After ignoring the constraints and small couplings, the muon g − 2 can be explained by the doublet LQ alone due to the <SUB> m t </SUB> enhancement, whereas the measured and unexpected smaller <SUB> R <SUP> K ( ⁎ ) </SUP> </SUB> requires the combined effects of the doublet and triplet LQs, and the <SUB> R D </SUB> and <SUB> R <SUP> D ⁎ </SUP> </SUB> excesses depend on the singlet LQ through scalar- and tensor-type interactions.</P>

Detoxification, antioxidant, and digestive enzyme activities and gene expression analysis of Lymantria dispar larvae under carvacrol

Chen Yun-ze,Zhang Bo-wen,Yang Jing,Zou Chuan-shan,Li Tao,Zhang Guo-cai,Chen Guang-sheng 한국응용곤충학회 2021 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.24 No.1

Carvacrol is a terpene compound with various biological activities. However, few studies have specifically focused on its insecticidal activity and mechanism of carvacrol. The larvae of Lymantria dispar are seriously harmful herbivorous insect. This study measured the antifeedant, growth-inhibitory, and toxic effects of carvacrol on L. dispar larvae. To further clarify the insecticidal mechanism of carvacrol, the effects of carvacrol on detoxifying enzymes, antioxidative enzymes, digestive enzyme activities, and the mRNA expression of the abovementioned enzyme genes were investigated. The results of the study showed that the median lethal concentration (LC 50 ) and the sublethal concentration (LC 20 ) of carvacrol were 1.120 mg/mL and 0.297 mg/mL, respectively, at 72 h. After LC 20 treatment of L. dispar larvae for 72 h, food intake and weight gain were significantly lower compared with the control. Enzyme activity assays showed that carvacrol significantly inhibited the activities of carboxylesterase (CarE), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and acetylcholinesterase (AchE), and the inhibition rate of AchE activity was highest (66.51%). Carvacrol also activated the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), while it inhibited the activities of lipase (LIP) and amylase (AMS), and first inhibited and then activated protease. In addition, qRT-PCR tests showed that carvacrol affected the mRNA expression levels of CarE, GST, AchE, SOD, CAT, LIP, AMS, and protease. This study helps to clarify the insecticidal mechanism of carvacrol on L. dispar larvae.

A Blind Normal Fault beneath the Taipei Basin in Northern Taiwan

Chen, Kou-Cheng,Huang, Bor-Shouh,Huang, Win-Gee,Wang, Jeen-Hwa,Kim, Kwang-Hee,Lee, Shiann-Jong,Lai, Ya-Chuan,Tsao, Shuhjong,Chen, Chi-Hsuan Chinese Geoscience Union 2010 TAO Vol.21 No.3

The association of ambient air pollution with airway inflammation in schoolchildren.

Chen, Bing-Yu,Chan, Chang-Chuan,Lee, Chung-Te,Cheng, Tsun-Jen,Huang, Wen-Chuan,Jhou, Ji-Ci,Han, Yueh-Ying,Chen, Chu-Chih,Guo, Yue Leon School of Hygiene and Public Health of the Johns H 2012 American Journal of Epidemiology Vol.175 No.8

<P>The biologic mechanisms involved in airway inflammatory response to air pollution are not clearly understood. The authors conducted a longitudinal study to investigate whether exposure to ambient air pollutants affected inflammatory cells and mediators from nasal lavage in schoolchildren. Study participants were 100 elementary and middle-school students in New Taipei City, Taiwan. A structured respiratory health questionnaire was administered in September 2007, followed by monthly measurement of nasal inflammation from October 2007 to November 2009. During the study period, daily concentrations of air pollutants were obtained from the Environmental Protection Administration monitoring station and the Aerosol Supersite. Mixed-effects models were applied to examine the association between air pollution and nasal inflammatory cells and mediators, including percentages of neutrophils, eosinophils, and monocytes in lavaged cells and interleukin-8. A total of 824 measurements were obtained from 100 participants over a period of 10 months. The level of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM(2.5)) was found to be associated with percentage of neutrophils (β = 3.45%, 95% confidence interval: 0.89, 6.01) and interleukin-8 level (β = 29.98 pg/mL, 95% confidence interval: 3.26, 56.69) in the nasal lavage on the day of exposure. In this longitudinal cohort study of schoolchildren, results indicated that exposure to PM(2.5) might induce nasal inflammation.</P>

A Mobile P2P Semantic Information Retrieval System with Effective Updates

( Chuan-ming Liu ),( Cheng-hsien Chen ),( Yen-lin Chen ),( Jeng-haur Wang ) 한국인터넷정보학회 2015 KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Syst Vol.9 No.5

As the technologies advance, mobile peer-to-peer (MP2P) networks or systems become one of the major ways to share resources and information. On such a system, the information retrieval (IR), including the development of scalable infrastructures for indexing, becomes more complicated due to a huge increase on the amount of information and rapid information change. To keep the systems on MP2P networks more reliable and consistent, the index structures need to be updated frequently. For a semantic IR system, the index structure is even more complicated than a classic IR system and generally has higher update cost. The most well-known indexing technique used in semantic IR systems is Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI), of which the index structure is generated by singular value decomposition (SVD). Although LSI performs well, updating the index structure is not easy and time consuming. In an MP2P environment, which is fully distributed and dynamic, the update becomes more challenging. In this work, we consider how to update the sematic index generated by LSI and keep the index consistent in the whole MP2P network. The proposed Concept Space Update (CSU) protocol, based on distributed 2-Phase locking strategy, can effectively achieve the objectives in terms of two measurements: coverage speed and update cost. Using the proposed effective synchronization mechanism with the efficient updates on the SVD, re-computing the whole index on the P2P overlay can be avoided and the consistency can be achieved. Simulated experiments are also performed to validate our analysis on the proposed CSU protocol. The experimental results indicate that CSU is effective on updating the concept space with LSI/SVD index structure in MP2P semantic IR systems.