Sex Preference and Sex Ratio at Birth: the Case of Taiwan

Chang, Ming-cheng The Population Association of Korea 1994 한국인구학 Vol.17 No.2

This study is attempting to examine the possible determinants of the rise of the sex ratio at birth from 106 to 110 in past decade in Taiwan. The basic hypothesis for the sudden rise of the sex ratio at birth is due to a combination of prenatal sex determination and abortion. The reasoning for this hypothesis involves three types of considerations - motivation, norm, and access. The theory is evaluated by analyzing data from birth registration and a large and representative sampie of Taiwanese wives of childbearing age. The empirical data seem to support the theoretical preposition and the basic hypothesis that the rise of the sex ratio at birth in Taiwan is due to a combination of prenatal sex determination and abortion. There is striking evidence of son-preference in the rise of the sex ratio at birth in higher birth order. In 1990 the sex ratio was 119 for third births and 128 for fourth and fifth births compared to the expected 106. Also, the 1991 KAP data indicated that women who have only daughters but no any son are more likely to make prenatal sex screening and terminate their pregnancies in male live births at higher birth order. Obviously, genetic diagnosis through chorionic villus sampling which was available in recent years was misused for prenatal sex determination and sex selective abortion.

Detection of rare point mutation via allele-specific amplification in emulsion PCR

Chang Ming Cheng,Yin Zhou,Chao Yang,Juan Chen,Jie Wang,Jie Zhang,Guo Ping Zhao 생화학분자생물학회(구 한국생화학분자생물학회) 2013 BMB Reports Vol.46 No.5

Sex Preference and Sex Ratio at Birth: the Case of Taiwan

Ming-cheng Chang 한국인구학회 1994 한국인구학 Vol.17 No.2

This sutdy is attempting to examine the possible determinants of the rise of the sex ratio at birth from 106 to 110 in past decade in Taiwan. The basic hypothesis for the sudden rise of the sex ratio at birth is due to a combination of prenatal sex determination and abortion. The reasoning for this hypothesis involves three types of considerations - motivation, norm, and access. The theory is evaluated by analyzing data from birth registration and a large and representative sample of Taiwanese wives of childbearing age. The empirical data seem to support the theoretical preposition and the basic hypothesis that the rise of the sex ratio at birth in Taiwan is due to a combination of prenatal sex determination and abortion. There is striking evidence of son-preference in the rise of the sex ratio at birth in higher birth order. In 1990 the sex ratio was 119 for third births and 128 for fourth and fifth births compared to the expected 106. Also, the 1991 KAP data indicated that women who have only daughters but no any son are more likely to make prenatal sex screening and terminate their pregnancies in male live births at higher birth order. Obviously, genetic diagnosis through chorionic villus sampling which was available in recent years was misused for prenatal sex determination and sex selective abortion.

Investigation on the influence of number of blades on flow-induced noise optimization design of a centrifugal pump

Chang Guo,Feiran Lv,Ming Gao,Wei Wei,Shen Cheng 대한기계학회 2022 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.36 No.10

Aiming at the quiet centrifugal pump design, the effect of number of blades on the flow-induced noise is explored. The results show that the sound pressure fluctuation is generated due to the influence of sound source fluctuation and adjacent spatial locations, and the fluctuation ranges of sound source and sound pressure at the same location change little with the change in the number of blades. Additionally, the total sound source intensity increases along the flow direction in the volute under the same rotational radius, while it increases slowly and even decreases near the outlet of the impeller, which causes similar evolution characteristics of noise. Besides, the volume-weighted standard deviation of sound source (V-STDSS) is proposed to characterize the overall sound intensity, and the V-STDSS proportion of impeller is more than 0.6. The impeller with an even number of blades has a better sound performance, while the noise induced by volute with an odd number of blades is lower. Generally, the centrifugal pumps with an even number of blades have a better sound performance. This research can guide the noise control and optimization design of centrifugal pumps.

Changes in prostate-specific antigen kinetics during androgen-deprivation therapy as a predictor of response to abiraterone in chemonaïve patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

Chung-Lin Lee,Ying-Hsu Chang,Chung-Yi Liu,Ming-Li Hsieh,Liang-Kang Huang,Yuan-Cheng Chu,Hung-Cheng Kan,Po-Hung Lin,Kai-Jie Yu,Cheng-Keng Chuang,Chun-Te Wu,See-Tong Pang,I-Hung Shao 대한비뇨의학회 2022 Investigative and Clinical Urology Vol.63 No.5

Purpose: Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) has a poor prognosis. Abiraterone acetate (AA), enzalutamide, and chemotherapy are first-line treatments for patients with mCRPC. This study examined prognostic factors for AA response in the form of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) kinetics throughout androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) in chemonaïve patients with mCRPC. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively included data from 34 chemonaïve patients with mCRPC who had received AA at some point between January 2017 and December 2018. We separated patients into two study arms according to the decrease in PSA percentages after use of AA for 3 months. We correlated PSA kinetics parameters with response and compared the two study groups with respect to PSA kinetics. Results: The patients’ median age was 77 years. In the total group of patients, 64% had a response to AA, whereas 35% did not. The ratio of the PSA level at nadir to the level during ADT was significantly higher in the AA-sensitive group (19.78 vs. 1.03, p=0.019). Conclusions: Patients who experienced a dramatic change in PSA level during ADT were more likely to be resistant to AA after progression to mCRPC. Chemotherapy rather than AA might be more suitable as a first-line treatment for these patients.

Revascularization of Concurrent Renal and Cerebral Artery Stenosis in a 14-Year-Old Girl with Takayasu Arteritis and Moyamoya Syndrome

Meng-Luen Lee,Ming-Yuh Chang,Tung-Ming Chang,Rei-Cheng Yang,Ming-Che Chang,Albert D. Yang 대한의학회 2018 Journal of Korean medical science Vol.33 No.10

Concurrent involvement of bilateral renal and cerebral arteries, usually incurred as stenosis is rare in childhood-onset Takayasu arteritis (c-TA). We report the case of a 14-year-old girl, with c-TA, presenting with transient ischemic attack after endovascular revascularization for renal artery stenosis and cerebrovascular stroke after surgical revascularization for cerebral artery stenosis associated with childhood-onset moyamoya syndrome. We deem th decrease of blood pressure by endovascular revascularization and improvement of cerebral perfusion by surgical revascularization may have jeopardized the cerebral deep watershed zone to cerebral ischemia followed by cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome and caused transient ischemic attack and cerebrovascular stroke in our patient. Revascularization could be a double-edge sword for c-TA patients presenting with concomitant renal artery stenosis and cerebral artery stenosis, and should be performed with caution. Quantitative analysis of cerebral blood flow by brain magnetic resonance imaging and angiography should be performed within 48 hours after surgical revascularization in c-TA.

High Alpha-Folate Binding Protein Correlates with Poorer Survival in Serous Ovarian Carcinoma (초)

( I Hui Chen ),( Yu Li Chen ),( Ying Cheng Chiang ),( Ming Cheng Chang ),( Han Wei Lin ),( Chang Yao Hsieh ),( Chi An Chen ),( Wen Fang Cheng ) 대한산부인과학회 2010 서울심포지움 Vol.15 No.-

Cytotoxic anthraquinone dimers from Melandrium firmum

Chang Hao Zhang,Da Lei Yao,Cheng-Shen Li,Jie Luo,Mei Jin,Ming-Shan Zheng,Zhen-Hua Lin,Tie-Feng Jin,Gao Li 대한약학회 2015 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.38 No.6

Two new anthraquinone dimers, melrubiellin A(1) and melrubiellin B (2), were isolated from the aerialpart of Melandrium firmum Rohrbach, along with sevenknown compounds (3–9). The structures of these compoundswere elucidated by spectral analyses, including 1Dand 2D NMR (COSY, HMQC, HMBC and NOESY)experiments. Compound 1 and 2 exhibited significantcytotoxicity towards HeLa, NCI-H460, Hep G2, Hep 3Band MKN-28 cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 5.26to 81.16 lM.

The effect of ankle taping on muscle activities of jump landed and sliding movements

( Ming Sheng Liou ),( Yu-cyuan Cheng ),( Wei-gang Chang ) 대한운동사협회 2017 대한운동사협회 운동사대회자료집 Vol.2017 No.-

Surgical Outcomes and Predictive Factors in Patients With Detrusor Underactivity Undergoing Bladder Outlet Obstruction Surgery

Ming-Syun Chuang,Yin-Chien Ou,Yu-Sheng Cheng,Kuan-Yu Wu,Chang-Te Wang,Yuan-Chi Huang,Yao-Lin Kao 대한배뇨장애요실금학회 2024 International Neurourology Journal Vol.28 No.1

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of bladder outlet surgery in patients with detrusor underactivity (DU) and to identify factors associated with successful outcomes.Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of men diagnosed with DU in urodynamic studies who underwent bladder outlet surgery for lower urinary tract symptoms between May 2018 and April 2023. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire, uroflowmetry (UFM), and multichannel urodynamic studies were administered. Successful treatment outcomes were defined as either an IPSS improvement of at least 50% or the regaining of spontaneous voiding in patients urethral catheterization prior to surgery.Results: The study included 93 male patients. Men diagnosed with significant or equivocal bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) experienced significant postoperative improvements in IPSS (from 20.6 to 6.0 and from 17.4 to 6.5, respectively), maximum urine flow rate (from 5.0 mL/sec to 14.4 mL/sec and from 8.8 mL/sec to 12.2 mL/sec, respectively) and voiding efficiency (from 48.8% to 86.0% and from 61.2% to 85.1%, respectively). However, in the group without obstruction, the improvements in IPSS and UFM results were not significant. The presence of detrusor overactivity (odds ratio [OR], 3.152; P=0.025) and preoperative urinary catheterization (OR, 2.756; P=0.040) were associated with favorable treatment outcomes. Conversely, an unobstructed bladder outlet was identified as a negative prognostic factor.Conclusions: In men with DU accompanied by equivocal or significant BOO, surgical intervention to alleviate the obstruction may enhance the IPSS, quality of life, and UFM results. However, those with DU and an unobstructed bladder outlet face a comparatively high risk of treatment failure. Preoperative detrusor overactivity and urinary catheterization are associated with more favorable surgical outcomes. Consequently, active deobstructive surgery should be considered for patients with DU who are experiencing urinary retention. Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of bladder outlet surgery in patients with detrusor underactivity (DU) and to identify factors associated with successful outcomes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of men diagnosed with DU in urodynamic studies who underwent bladder outlet surgery for lower urinary tract symptoms between May 2018 and April 2023. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire, uroflowmetry (UFM), and multichannel urodynamic studies were administered. Successful treatment outcomes were defined as either an IPSS improvement of at least 50% or the regaining of spontaneous voiding in patients urethral catheterization prior to surgery. Results: The study included 93 male patients. Men diagnosed with significant or equivocal bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) experienced significant postoperative improvements in IPSS (from 20.6 to 6.0 and from 17.4 to 6.5, respectively), maximum urine flow rate (from 5.0 mL/sec to 14.4 mL/sec and from 8.8 mL/sec to 12.2 mL/sec, respectively) and voiding efficiency (from 48.8% to 86.0% and from 61.2% to 85.1%, respectively). However, in the group without obstruction, the improvements in IPSS and UFM results were not significant. The presence of detrusor overactivity (odds ratio [OR], 3.152; P=0.025) and preoperative urinary catheterization (OR, 2.756; P=0.040) were associated with favorable treatment outcomes. Conversely, an unobstructed bladder outlet was identified as a negative prognostic factor. Conclusions: In men with DU accompanied by equivocal or significant BOO, surgical intervention to alleviate the obstruction may enhance the IPSS, quality of life, and UFM results. However, those with DU and an unobstructed bladder outlet face a comparatively high risk of treatment failure. Preoperative detrusor overactivity and urinary catheterization are associated with more favorable surgical outcomes. Consequently, active deobstructive surgery should be considered for patients with DU who are experiencing urinary retention.