Male Infertility Increases the Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study in Taiwan

Chen Peng-Ciao,Chen Yu-Ju,Yang Chia-Chen,Lin Ting-Ti,Huang Chien-Chu,Chung Chi-Hsiang,Sun Chien-An,Chien Wu-Chien 대한남성과학회 2022 The World Journal of Men's Health Vol.40 No.3

Purpose: Some evidence suggests that male infertility increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, the evidence in Asian populations is relatively scarce. The aim of this study is to determine whether male infertility increases the risk of CVDs. Materials and Methods: We used inpatient and outpatient data for the years 2000 to 2015 from the Taiwanese Longitudinal Health Insurance Database. We enrolled 7,016 males over 18 years old and diagnosed with male infertility. Of these, 2,326 matched our inclusion criteria and were assigned to the study group. For each infertility patient, four comparison patients were frequency-matched by age and index date to form a control cohort comprising 9,304 patients. Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to estimate the association between male infertility and CVDs. Results: After a 15-year follow-up, the incidence rate of CVDs was higher in the infertility group than the control group (1,460.23 and 1,073.70 per 100,000 person-years, respectively). The Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed that the adjusted HR for CVDs was 1.472 for the infertility group (95% CI, 1.288–1.683; p<0.001) relative to the control group. The Kaplan–Meier analysis of the cumulative incidence of CVDs in the two groups showed that the cumulative risk curve for CVDs was significantly higher for the infertility group than the control group. Conclusions: This study shows that men with infertility have a higher risk of developing incident CVDs. In the future, healthcare providers should pay attention to these patients because of their higher health risks.

De Novo Partial Trisomy 14 and Extra Marker Chromosome in a Newborn Male with CHARGE Syndrome

Pen Hua Su,Ming Chen,Jia Yuh Chen,Suh Jen Chen,Ju Shan Yu,Yu Jie Lai 한국유전학회 2007 Genes & Genomics Vol.29 No.1

De Novo Partial Trisomy 14 and Extra Marker Chromosome in a Newborn Male with The CHARGE Syndrome

Pen-Hua Su,Ming Chen,Jia-Yuh Chen,Suh-Jen Chen,Ju-Shan Yu,Yu-Jie Kai 한국유전학회 2007 Genes & Genomics Vol.29 No.1

The characteristic phenotype of partial trisomy 14 includes growth and developmental retardation, microcephaly, distinctive facies and anomalies of the hands and feet. In many cases, the presence of marker chromosomes complicates the phenotypic picture. We describe a ompatible with CHARGE syndrome. The patient presented with intrauterine growth retardation, coloboma, heart disease, choanae stenosis, cleft palate, corpus calosum genital anomalies, azygos anterior cerebral artery (ACA), single internal carotid artery (ICA) and ear anomalies. Cytogenetic analysis revealed trisomy 14pter→characterized by spectral karyotyping (SKY) and found to have been derived from chromosome 1. No pathogenic mutation was detected in the CHD7 gene. This case apears to be the first report of a patient having both trisomy 14 with marker chromosome 1 and the CHARGE syndrome, and it presents a unique opportunity to observe the overlaping

Preoperative Prealbumin Level as an Independent Predictor of Long-Term Prognosis after Curative Liver Resection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (a Multicenter Study of 1,483 Patients)

( Ju-dong Li ),( Xin-fei Xu ),( Jiong-jie Yu ),( Jia-he Wang ),( Li- Yang Sun ),( Wen-tao Yan ),( Bing Quan ),( Jian-hong Zhong ),( Yi-sheng Huang ),( Ya-hao Zhou ),( Ting-hao Chen ),( Hong Wang ),( W 대한간학회 2018 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2018 No.1

Aims: Serum prealbumin is more sensitive to profile nutritional status and liver function than albumin, which could hardly be affected by infusion supplement. This study aims: to identify the relationship between preoperative prealbumin level and the long-term prognosis after curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Patients undergone HCC curative resection between 2001 and 2014 at six institutions in China were enrolled. By using 170 mg/dl as cut-off value of serum prealbumin level, these patients were divided into the low and normal preoperative prealbumin groups. The overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were analyzed and compared. Univariable and multivariable Cox-regression analyses were performed to identify predictive factors of OS and RFS. Results: Among 1,483 patients, 437 (29.5%) had a low prealbumin level within a week before surgery. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS and RFS rates of patients in the low prealbumin group were 83.8, 57.0, and 31.1%, and 67.0, 39.8, and19.9%, respectively, which was significantly poorer than those in the normal group (93.0, 75.5, and 42.6%, and 77.0, 56.4, and 28.4%, both P<0.001). Multivariable analyses revealed that preoperative prealbumin level, but not albumin level, was an independent predictor of OS (HR, 1.789; 95% CI: 1.544 -2.072, P<0.001) and RFS (HR, 1.420; 95% CI: 232-1.636, P<0.001). Conclusions: Preoperative prealbumin level is useful for predicting long-term prognosis in patients undergoing liver resection for HCC. Prealbumin may be suitable to displace albumin, yielding to an updated Child-Pugh grade for accessing liver function.

Mechanical properties of self-drilling orthodontic micro-implants with different diameters.

Chen, Yan,Kyung, Hee Moon,Gao, Limin,Yu, Won-Jae,Bae, Eun-Ju,Kim, Sang-Min Angle Orthodontists Research and Education Foundat 2010 The Angle orthodontist Vol.80 No.5

<P>OBJECTIVE: The hypothesis to be tested is that peak-insertion torque of self-drilling micro-implants of an appropriate diameter correlates with peak-removal torque mechanically. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 360 self-drilling micro-implants composed of five different types were used. They (24 of each group) were inserted in three types of artificial bone with the use of a driving torque tester at a speed of 15 rpm. Insertion torque was measured during the placement, while the removal torque was measured within 3 days after insertion. RESULTS: Most of the micro-implants in type A sheared before they were completely inserted in 40-pounds per cubic foot bone. The implants in other types were successfully inserted without implant breakage and bone fracture in all bone densities. There was a statistically significant correlation between insertion torque and removal torque (r > or = 0.43543, P = .0001). There were significant differences in insertion and removal torque among the diameters of implants and bone densities with an increasing tendency. The torque loss rates reduced as the diameter of the implant and bone density increased. CONCLUSIONS: Micro-implants with a diameter of less than 1.3 mm are unsuitable for insertion into a bone with a density greater than 40 pounds per cubic foot mechanically when one is using a self-drilling technique.</P>

Prevalence and Genotype Distribution of Human Papillomavirus Infections in Women Attending Hospitals in Chaozhou of Guangdong Province

Chen, Qiang,Luo, Zhao-Yun,Lin, Min,Lin, Qi-Li,Chen, Chan-Yu,Yang, Chun,Xie, Long-Xu,Li, Hui,Zheng, Jia-Kun,Yang, Li-Ye,Ju, Gui-Zhi Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.4

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the main cause of cervical cancer. Limited epidemiologic data of HPV prevalence are available for women attending hospitals in southern China. This study aimed to evaluate the profiles of HPV infection and cytology status in gynecological outpatients in Chaozhou City. Methods: A total of 2833 eligible women were enrolled. The HPV GenoArray test was used for HPV detection and genotyping. Nearly one half of the HPV positive women received liquid-based cytology test. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the predictable effects of age and genotype for categories of abnormal cytology. Results: The prevalence of overall, high-risk, and low-risk HPV infection were 24.5%, 19.5% and 8.4%, respectively. A U-shaped age-specific prevalence curve was observed in overall HPV and high-risk HPV, but not in low-risk HPV, which declined with age increasing. The 6 most common high-risk HPV type in descending order, were types 52, 16, 58, 18, 68, and 33. Age and HPV genotype were both important determinants of abnormal cytology incidence, the older women (>45 years) and those infected with HPV type 16 and/or 18 having the highest risk for abnormal cytology. Conclusion: Our findings support the hypothesis that second-generation HPV prophylactic vaccines including HPV-52 and -58 may offer higher protection for women residing in Chaozhou and neighboring cities in Guangdong.

Ginsenoside Rb1 Inhibits Cell Activation and Liver Fibrosis in Rat Hepatic Stellate Cells

Yu-Ting Lo,Ya-Hui Tsai,Shu-Ju Wu,Jiun-Rong Chen,C.-J. Chao 한국식품영양과학회 2011 Journal of medicinal food Vol.14 No.10

Chronic hepatitis/cirrhosis is the eighth leading cause of death in Taiwan. Excess accumulated extracellular matrix produced by activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is the major cause of liver fibrosis. Ginsenoside Rb1, the most active compound purified from ginseng, has been considered to be hepatoprotective. This study investigated the effects of ginsenoside Rb1 (98.8% purity) on activation, proliferation, and profibrotic factors in rat HSC-T6 cells under H₂O₂oxidative stress. Rat HSC-T6 cells were activated by 10 nM H₂O₂and then incubated with different concentrations of ginsenoside Rb1 (5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 μg/mL) for 24 hours. Medium containing 0.08% dimethyl sulfoxide or 5 mM N-acetyl-l-cysteine was used as a negative or positive control, respectively. The results showed that ginsenoside Rb1 at 5–40 μg/mL significantly reduced α-smooth muscle actin levels and at 5–80 μg/mL inhibited cell proliferation in HSC-T6 cells after induction with H₂O₂(P<.05). Collagen secreted by HSC-T6 cells was decreased by ginsenoside Rb1 at 5–80 μg/mL (P<.05). Protein expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 was suppressed by ginsenoside Rb1 at 10–80 μg/mL (P<.05). In addition, mRNA expression of type I and III collagen, TGF-β1, and TIMP-1 was inhibited by ginsenoside Rb1 (10 and 80 μg/mL) (P<.05). Therefore, ginsenoside Rb1 exerted an antifibrotic effect on HSCs by inhibiting activation, proliferation, and expression of collagen, TGF-β1, MMP-2, and TIMP-1.

3,7-Dihydroxy-2,4,6-trimethoxyphenanthrene, A New Phenanthrene from Bulbophyllum Odoratissimum

Chen, Ye-Gao,Xu, Jun-Ju,Yu, Hong,Qing, Chen,Zhang, Yan-Li,Liu, Ying,Wang, Ji-Hua Korean Chemical Society 2007 대한화학회지 Vol.51 No.4

Efficient stereoselective synthesis of α,β-Unsaturated acids, α-Cyanoacrylonitriles and α-Cyanoacrylates has been carried out in the presence of NaHSO4·SiO2 under solvent?free conditions with an E-geometry. A new phenanthrene derivative 3,7-dihydroxy-2,4,6-trimethoxyphenanthrene was isolated from the all plant of Bulbophyllum odoratissimum, and its structure was elucidated by extensive spectral studies and chemical transformation. The compound displayed cytotoxicity against the growth of human leukemia cell lines K562 and HL-60, human lung adenocarcinoma A549, human hepatoma BEL-7402 and human stomach cancer cell lines SGC-7901 with IC50 values of 14.23, 10.02, 3.42, 15.36 and 1.13 mg/ml respectively.

Study of the Microbial and Chemical Properties of Goat Milk Kefir Produced by Inoculation with Taiwanese Kefir Grains

Chen, Ming-Ju,Liu, Je-Ruei,Lin, Chin-Wen,Yeh, Yu-Tzu Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2005 Animal Bioscience Vol.18 No.5

One of the prerequisites for the successful implementation of industrial-scale goat kefir production is to understand the effects of different kefir grains and culture conditions on the microbial and chemical properties of the goat kefir. Thus, the objectives of the present study were to evaluate the characteristics of kefir grains in Taiwan on the microbial and chemical properties of goat milk kefir, as well as to understand the influence of culture conditions on production of medium chain-length triglycerides (MCT). Kefir grains were collected from households in northern Taiwan. Heat-treated goat milk was inoculated with 3-5% (V/W) kefir grains incubated at 15, 17.5, 20 or 22.5$^{\circ}C$ for 20 h, and the microflora count, ethanol content, and caproic (C6), caprylic (C8), and capric acid (C10) levels measured at 4 h intervals. Our results indicate that incubation with kefir grains results in 10$^6$-10$^7$ CFU/ml microflora count and 1.18 g/L of ethanol content at 20 h of fermentation. Incubation with 5% kefir grain at 20-22.5$^{\circ}C$ produces the highest MCT levels.

Design application of Taiwan’s Aboriginal Craft -A Case of MATA Taiwan Indigenous Cultural Resort

( Lin Yu-ju ),( Chen Jun-liang ),( Yeh Mo-li ) 한국기초조형학회 2019 한국기초조형학회 학술발표논문집 Vol.2019 No.1

Aboriginal tribes has various lifestyle, customs, rituals and cultural characteristics. Most of them has developed its unique cultural style with great potential of historical significance and depth tour. Civilization Progress is a continuous dynamic process among social structure, personal attribute, and ego. The impact factor in development of Aboriginal Craft and in aboriginal Cultural Integration was discussed in this study by the use of Curation strategies and Perceived experience. In the aspect of experience in value creation, public services and equipment, training for better service quality and professional service attitude should be provided by more design of Aboriginal cultural souvenirs to maintain the tourists’ profound experience memories and values. The MATA Taiwan Indigenous Cultural Resort in Taitung County were the main research object. Located in Taitung City Centre, Mata Taiwan Indigenous Cultural Resort is adjacent to Taitung Forest Park and a short stroll from Jigongtang. MATA is not just a hotel in which to “stay”. It is a “home” to Taiwan’s indigenous tribes, a space to celebrate a culture, and a place to stay connected with a beginner’s heart. Located in Taitung, the largest indigenous settlement in Taiwan, MATA (formerly the Taiwan Indigenous Cultural Resort) preserves and protects traditional values and provides a creative platform for an up and coming aboriginal generation. Through the “home” that is MATA, Taiwan sees the world and is seen by it, reflecting local action onto a global vision.