Association between PM2.5 exposure and risk of Parkinson’s disease in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Taiwan: a nested case-control study

Ci-Wen Luo(Ci-Wen Luo),Yu-Hsiang Kuan(Yu-Hsiang Kuan),Wen-Ying Chen(Wen-Ying Chen),Chun-Jung Chen(Chun-Jung Chen),Frank Cheau-Feng Lin(Frank Cheau-Feng Lin ),Stella Chin-Shaw Tsai(Stella Chin-Shaw Tsa 한국역학회 2023 Epidemiology and Health Vol.45 No.-

OBJECTIVES: This cohort study investigated the correlation between Parkinson’s disease (PD) risk and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) risk under particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5) exposure. METHODS: Data from the National Health Research Institutes of Taiwan were used in this study. The Environmental Protection Administration of Taiwan established an air quality monitoring network for monitoring Taiwan’s general air quality. COPD was indicated by at least 3 outpatient records and 1 hospitalization for COPD. After the implementation of age, sex, and endpoint matching at a 1:4 ratio, 137 patients and 548 patients were included in the case group and control group, respectively. Based on the 2005 World Health Organization (WHO) standards, monthly air particle concentration data were classified into the following 4 groups in analyses of exposure–response relationships: normal level, and 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 times the WHO level ([concentration ≥2]×25 μg/m3×number of exposure months). RESULTS: A multivariate logistic regression revealed that the 1.0 and 1.5 WHO level groups did not significantly differ from the normal level group, but the 2.0 WHO level did (odds ratio, 4.091; 95% confidence interval, 1.180 to 14.188; p=0.038). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated PM2.5 concentrations were significantly correlated with an increased risk of PD among patients with COPD. Furthermore, exposure to high PM2.5 levels can further increase the risk of PD.

Autophagy Inhibition Promotes Gambogic Acid-induced Suppression of Growth and Apoptosis in Glioblastoma Cells

Luo, Guo-Xuan,Cai, Jun,Lin, Jing-Zhi,Luo, Wei-Shi,Luo, Heng-Shan,Jiang, Yu-Yang,Zhang, Yong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.12

Objective: To investigate the effects of gambogic acid (GA) on the growth of human malignant glioma cells. Methods: U251MG and U87MG human glioma cell lines were treated with GA and growth and proliferation were investigated by MTT and colony formation assays. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by annexin V FITC/PI flow cytometry, mitochondrial membrane potential assays and DAPI nuclear staining. Monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining and GFP-LC3 localisation were used to detect autophagy. Western blotting was used to investigate the molecular changes that occurred in the course of GA treatment. Results: GA treatment significantly suppressed cell proliferation and colony formation, induced apoptosis in U251 and U87MG glioblastoma cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. GA treatment also lead to the accumulation of monodansylcadaverine (MDC) in autophagic vacuoles, upregulated expressions of Atg5, Beclin 1 and LC3-II, and the increase of punctate fluorescent signals in glioblastoma cells pre-transfected with GFP-tagged LC3 plasmid. After the combination treatment of autophagy inhitors and GA, GA mediated growth inhibition and apoptotic cell death was further potentiated. Conclusion: Our results suggested that autophagic responses play roles as a self-protective mechanism in GA-treated glioblastoma cells, and autophagy inhibition could be a novel adjunctive strategy for enhancing chemotherapeutic effect of GA as an anti-malignant glioma agent.

Different fates of oocytes with DNA double-strand breaks in vitro and in vivo

Lin, Fei,Ma, Xue-Shan,Wang, Zhen-Bo,Wang, Zhong-Wei,Luo, Yi-Bo,Huang, Lin,Jiang, Zong-Zhe,Hu, Meng-Wen,Schatten, Heide,Sun, Qing-Yuan Taylor Francis 2014 Cell Cycle Vol.13 No.17

Real-Time Digital Image Stabilization for Cell Phone Cameras in Low-Light Environments without Frame Memory

Lin-bo Luo,정정화 한국전자통신연구원 2012 ETRI Journal Vol.34 No.1

This letter proposes a real-time digital image stabilization system for cell phone cameras without the need for frame memory. The system post-processes an image captured with a safe shutter speed using an adaptive denoising filter and a global color correction algorithm. This system can transfer the normal brightness of an image previewed under long exposure to the captured image making it bright and crisp with low noise. It is even possible to take photos in low-light conditions. By not needing frame memory, the approach is feasible for integration into the size-constrained image sensors of cell phone cameras.

Study properties of soft subgrade soil stabilized by sewage sludge/lime and nano-SiO₂

Lin, Deng-Fong,Luo, Huan-Lin,Chen, Chien-Ta,Cai, Ming-Du Techno-Press 2016 Geomechanics & engineering Vol.10 No.6

The pozzolanic characteristics of a sludge incinerated into ash were determined in this study. Lime is commonly used as a stabilizer for the treatment of soils, whereas sewage sludge ash (SSA) is often applied with lime to improve soft subgrade soil. In this study, a cohesive soil categorized as A-4 (low-plasticity clay) by AASHTO classifications was mixed with SSA/lime with a 3:1 ratio. Nano-$SiO_2$ was also added to the soil. To identify changes in the workability, strength, permeability, and shear strength of the soft subgrade soil, basic soil tests were conducted, and the microstructure of the treated soil was analyzed. The results indicate that SSA/lime mixtures improve the properties of soft subgrade soil and transform the soil from "poor subgrade soil" to "good to excellent subgrade soil" with a CBR > 8. Additionally, the addition of 2% nano-$SiO_2$ increases the unconfined compressive strength of soft subgrade soil treated with SSA/lime mixture by approximately 17 kPa. However, the swelling of the treated soil increased by approximately 0.1% after the addition of nano-$SiO_2$ and lime. Thus, soil swelling should be considered before lime and nano-$SiO_2$ are applied to soft subgrade soil.

Disease burden of prostate cancer from 2014 to 2019: estimation from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 and Medical Expenditure Panel Survey

Lin Shen,Lin Dong,Li Yiyuan,Zhong Lixian,Zhou Wei,Wu Yajing,Xie Chen,Luo Shaohong,Huang Xiaoting,Xu Xiongwei,Weng Xiuhua 한국역학회 2023 Epidemiology and Health Vol.45 No.-

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the disease burden of prostate cancer (PC) and assess key influencing factors associated with the disease expenditures of PC in the United States. METHODS The total deaths, incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life-years of PC were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey was used to estimate healthcare expenditures and productivity loss and to investigate patterns of payment and use of healthcare resources in the United States. A multivariable logistic regression model was conducted to identify key factors influencing expenditures. RESULTS For patients aged 50 and older, the burden for all age groups showed a modest increase over the 6-year period. Annual medical expenditures were estimated to range from US$24.8 billion to US$39.2 billion from 2014 to 2019. The annual loss in productivity for patients was approximately US$1,200. The top 3 major components of medical costs were hospital inpatient stays, prescription medicines, and office-based visits. Medicare was the largest source of payments for survivors. In terms of drug consumption, genitourinary tract agents (57.0%) and antineoplastics (18.6%) were the main therapeutic drugs. High medical expenditures were positively associated with age (p=0.005), having private health insurance (p=0.016), more comorbidities, not currently smoking (p=0.001), and patient self-perception of fair/poor health status (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS From 2014 to 2019, the national real-world data of PC revealed that the disease burden in the United States continued to increase, which was partly related to patient characteristics.

Study the Thermal Behaviours for Asphalt Concrete Mixed with Basic Oxygen Furnace Slags

( Huan-lin Luo ),( Deng-fong Lin ),( Show-ing Shieh ),( Yi-hong Liu ),( Yu-kai Wang ) 한국폐기물자원순환학회(구 한국폐기물학회) 2019 ISSE 초록집 Vol.2019 No.-

In Taiwan, the basic oxygen furnace (BOF) slags are characterized as porous material and with better heat insulation than that of the natural aggregates. The BOF slags have been applied to the pavement as parts of the natural aggregate replacement. The asphalt concrete (AC) with the BOF slags replacements were well recognized and performed. In this study, parts of natural aggregates were replaced by the BOF slags in the AC helping resolve the gradual shortage of the natural resources and save energy and reduce the produce of carbon. In this study, parts of the natural aggregates were replaced by the coarse and fine BOF slags in the construction of AC. Because the thermal insulation and heat absorption are different between BOF slags and natural aggregates, the infrared thermal conductivity measuring instrument was applied to obtain the surface temperatures presented as thermal infrared images in AC. Then, the infrared temperature distribution images were obtained by using the image transformation techniques. The results show that the thermal conductivity for the AC containing with fine BOF slag was larger than that for the coarse BOF slag. The BOG slag replacement in AC helped improve the thermal insulation in AC. Moreover, the temperature was more uniformly distributed for AC with the fine BOF slag than that for the coarse BOF slag replacement. However, the coarse BOF slag was better in the preserve of energy for AC than that of the fine BOF slag.

Disease burden of prostate cancer from 2014 to 2019 in the United States: estimation from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 and Medical Expenditure Panel Survey

Shen Lin,Dong Lin,Yiyuan Li,Lixian Zhong,Wei Zhou,Yajing Wu,Chen Xie,Shaohong Luo,Xiaoting Huang,Xiongwei Xu,Xiuhua Weng 한국역학회 2023 Epidemiology and Health Vol.45 No.-

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the disease burden of prostate cancer (PC) and assess key influencing factors associated with the disease expenditures of PC in the United States. METHODS: The total deaths, incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life-years of PC were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey was used to estimate healthcare expenditures and productivity loss and to investigate patterns of payment and use of healthcare resources in the United States. A multivariable logistic regression model was conducted to identify key factors influencing expenditures. RESULTS: For patients aged 50 and older, the burden for all age groups showed a modest increase over the 6-year period. Annual medical expenditures were estimated to range from US$24.8 billion to US$39.2 billion from 2014 to 2019. The annual loss in productivity for patients was approximately US$1,200. The top 3 major components of medical costs were hospital inpatient stays, prescription medicines, and office-based visits. Medicare was the largest source of payments for survivors. In terms of drug consumption, genitourinary tract agents (57.0%) and antineoplastics (18.6%) were the main therapeutic drugs. High medical expenditures were positively associated with age (p=0.005), having private health insurance (p=0.016), more comorbidities, not currently smoking (p=0.001), and patient self-perception of fair/poor health status (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: From 2014 to 2019, the national real-world data of PC revealed that the disease burden in the United States continued to increase, which was partly related to patient characteristics.

Bile Acid Transporters Are Expressed and Heterogeneously Distributed in Rat Bile Ducts

Zhu-lin Luo,Long Cheng,Tao Wang,Li-jun Tang,Fu-zhou Tian,Ke Xiang,Lin Cui 거트앤리버 소화기연관학회협의회 2019 Gut and Liver Vol.13 No.5

Background/Aims: Cholangiocytes are capable of reabsorbing bile salts from bile, but the pathophysiological significance of this process is unclear. To this end, we detected the expression and distribution of bile acid transport proteins in cholangiocytes from normal rat liver and analyzed the possible pathophysiological significance. Methods: Bile duct tissues of Sprague-Dawley rats were isolated by enzymatic digestion and mechanical isolation, and then divided into large and small bile duct tissues. Immunohistochemistry, real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to determine the expression of the apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT), ileal bile acid binding protein (IBABP), and basolateral organic solute transporter α (Ostα) in the biliary tract system of rats. Differences in the expression and distribution of these proteins were analyzed. Results: In cholangiocytes, ASBT and IBABP were mainly expressed in cholangiocytes of the large bile ducts, in which the expression of both was significantly higher than that in the small ducts (p<0.05). Ostα was simultaneously expressed in cholangiocytes of both the large and small bile ducts, showing no significant difference in expression between the two groups of bile ducts (p>0.05). Conclusions: Bile acid transporters are expressed and heterogeneously distributed in rat bile ducts, indicating that bile acid reabsorption by cholangiocytes might mainly occur in the large bile ducts. These findings may help explore the physiology of bile ducts and the pathogenesis of various cholangiopathies.

Hydrothermal synthesis of morphology controllable Cu2O and their catalysis in thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

Xiao-Lin Luo,Ya-Shao Chen,Min-Juan Wang,De-Suo Yang,Jie Yang 한국공업화학회 2015 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.32 No.-

Cu2O micro-crystals with different morphologies (including three branching structures) weresynthesized through hydrothermal method by using sodium tartrate as chelating reagent. Branchinggrowth patterns of Cu2O microcrystals have a strong dependence on the amount of sodium tartrate. These different Cu2O microcrystals were used as catalysts to promote the thermal decomposition ofammonium perchlorate (AP). The thermal decomposition of AP in the presence or absence of Cu2Omicro-crystals was investigated non-isothermally through thermogravimetry and differential scanningcalorimetry (DSC). The data obtained from DSC were applied for the calculation and comparison of thekinetic parameters of AP decomposition process through a model-free approach.