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)

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.

Astaxanthine Secured Apoptotic Death of PC12 Cells Induced by β-Amyloid Peptide 25–35: Its Molecular Action Targets

Chi-Huang Chang,Chung-Yin Chen,Jueen-Ya Chiou,Robert Y. Peng,Chiung-Huei Peng 한국식품영양과학회 2010 Journal of medicinal food Vol.13 No.3

Astaxanthine (ASTx) is a novel carotenoid nutraceutical occurring in many crustaceans and red yeasts. It has potent antioxidant, photoprotective, hepatodetoxicant, and anti-inflammatory activities. Documented effect of ASTx on treatment of neurodegenerative disease is still lacking. We used the β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) 25–35-treated PC12 model to investigate the neuron-protective effect of ASTx. The parameters examined included cell viability, caspase activation, and various apoptotic biomarkers that play their critical roles in the transduction pathways independently or synergistically. Results indicated that Aβ25–35 at 30μM suppressed cell viability by 55%, whereas ASTx was totally nontoxic below a dose of 5.00μM. ASTx at 0.1μM protected PC12 cells from damaging effects of Aβ25–35 in several ways: (1) by securing the cell viability; (2) by partially down-regulating the activation of caspase 3; (3) by inhibiting the expression of Bax; (4) by completely eliminating the elevation of interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α; (5) by inhibiting the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor κB; (6) by completely suppressing the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase; (7) by completely abolishing the calcium ion influx to effectively maintain calcium homeostasis; and (8) by suppressing the majority (about 75%) of reactive oxygen species production. Conclusively, ASTx may have merit to be used as a very potential neuron protectant and an anti–early-stage Alzheimer's disease adjuvant therapy.

pH-Triggered Transition of Silk Fibroin from Spherical Micelles to Nanofibrils in Water

Peng Chen,Hyun Suk Kim,Chi Young Park,Hun Sik Kim,In Joo Chin,Hyoung Joon Jin 한국고분자학회 2008 Macromolecular Research Vol.16 No.6

pH-Triggered Transition of Silk Fibroin from Spherical Micelles to Nanofibrils in Water

Chen, Peng,Kim, Hyun-Suk,Park, Chi-Young,Kim, Hun-Sik,Chin, In-Joo,Jin, Hyoung-Joon The Polymer Society of Korea 2008 Macromolecular Research Vol.16 No.6

Many natural proteins self-assemble in complex ways, either to fulfill their biological function or introduce particular properties, such as high strength and toughness. We report the morphological transition in water from a spherical to rod-like shape of Bombyx mori silk fibroin by reducing the pH. Transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering were used to characterize the dilute solutions of silk fibroin in an aqueous environment, and provide direct visualization of the transformation of spherical micelles at pH 6.8 to nanofibrils at pH 4.8. This change in morphology occurred as a result of the stretching entropy due to the formation of $\beta$-sheets, which was analyzed using circular dichroism spectroscopy. This study demonstrates the self-assembly of silk fibroin as a function of pH.

Electrophysiological and behavioral responses of Tenebrio molitor L. to fourteen kinds of plant volatiles

Yan-chen Wang,Peng Li, De-fu Chi 한국응용곤충학회 2016 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.19 No.2

To utilize plant volatiles in themonitoring and biological control of Tenebrio molitor L., electroantennogramography (EAG), Y-tube olfactometry and wind tunnel bioassays were conducted to test the electrophysiological and behavioral responses of T. molitor to nine individual volatiles and five essential oils (compounded volatiles). The aim of this studywas to select effective plant compounds that could be used in the development of semi-chemical based push– pullmethods for the control of this harmful stored product pest. T. molitor displayed strong EAG responses to cis-3- hexenol, isoeugenol, α-pinene, turpentine oil, eucalyptus oil and peppermint essential oil. Y-tube olfactometry assays indicated that peppermint essential oil showed greater luring effects on adult T. molitor than the control. Cis- 3-hexenol elicited strong repellent effects on adult T. molitor, and wind tunnel assays indicated that cis-3-hexenol showed strong repellent effects on adult T. molitor. Peppermint essential oil showed greater luring effects than the control. These results provide a basis to further the development of T. molitor luring and repellent agents.

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.

Preparation of CueAg coreeshell particles with their anti-oxidation and antibacterial properties

Kuan-ting Chen,Dahtong Ray,Yu-hsien Peng,Yu-Chi Hsu 한국물리학회 2013 Current Applied Physics Vol.13 No.7

CueAg coreeshell particles were fabricated from Cu particles and silver sulphate with the environmental-friendly TA (tartaric acid, C4H6O6) as reducing and chelating agent in an aqueous system. The influences of [TA]/[Ag] and [Ag]/[Cu] molar ratios on the formation of Ag coatings on the Cu particles were investigated. The SEM images and SEMeEDS analyses showed that [TA]/[Ag] = 0.5 and [Ag]/[Cu]≥0.2, the Cu particles were coated with uniform Ag nanoparticles. XRD analyses revealed that for these CueAg particles heated at 250 ℃, the oxidation of Cu was significantly reduced. Both anti-Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and anti-Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) characteristics of this CueAg composite particles showed satisfactory antibacterial ability. The characteristics of the composite CueAg particles were discussed in detail.

Observation of multi-channel non-local transport in J-TEXT plasmas

Shi, Yuejiang,Chen, Zhongyong,Yang, Zhoujun,Shi, Peng,Zhao, Kaijun,Diamond, Patrick H.,Kwon, JaeMin,Yan, Wei,Zhou, Hao,Pan, Xiaoming,Cheng, Zhifeng,Chen, Zhiping,Yang, SeongMoo,Zhang, Chi,Li, Da,Dong, IOP 2018 Nuclear fusion. Fusion nucléaire. &n.Illiga Vol.58 No.4

<P>In cold pulse experiments in J-TEXT, not only are rapid electron temperature increases in the core observed, but also steep rises in the inner density are found. Moreover, some evidence of acceleration of the core toroidal rotation is also observed during the non-local transport process of electron temperature. These new findings of cold pulse experiments in J-TEXT suggest that turbulence spreading is a possible mechanism for the non-local transport dynamics.</P>

Sofosbuvir/Ledipasvir in the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C - A Subgroup Analysis from A Nationwide Real-World HCV Registry Program (TACR) in Taiwan

( Ming-Lung Yu ),( Chi-Yi Chen ),( Kuo-Chih Tseng ),( Ching-Chu Lo ),( Pin-Nan Cheng ),( Cheng-Yuan Peng ),( Ming-Jong Bair ),( Chih-Lang Lin ),( Chi-Ming Tai ),( Chi-Chieh Yang ),( Chih-Wen Lin ),( C 대한간학회 2020 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2020 No.1

Aims: TASL HCV Registry (TACR) is a nationwide registry program organized and supervised by Taiwan Association for the Study of the Liver (TASL), which aims to setup the database and biobank of patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in Taiwan. The present study aimed to evaluate the treatment outcome of sofosbuvir (SOF)/ledipasvir (LDV) in Taiwanese CHC patients in TACR. Methods: By May 2020, 19 tertiary hospitals, 23 community hospitals and one primary care clinic join the TACR program. The baseline characteristics, prior liver and non-liver related medical history, DAA regimens, laboratory results, treatment course and outcome were recorded. The primary objective was sustained virological response, defined as undetectable HCV RNA 3 months after end-of-treatment (SVR12). Results: A total of 4742 SOF/LDV+ ribavirin treated CHC patients with available SVR12 data from 39 sites were enrolled in the current analysis. The mean age was 61.3 years, and female accounted for 54.8% of the population. The dominant viral genotypes were GT1b (52.6%) and GT2 (35.6%). 1354 (28.6%) patients had liver cirrhosis, including 156 (3.3%) with liver decompensation, 552 (11.6%) had preexisting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) before DAAs treatment and 413 (8.7%) had hepatitis B virus dual infections. The overall SVR12 rate was 98.5%, with 98.5%, 98.2%, 99.7% and 98.6% in treatment- naïve non-cirrhotics, treatment-naïve cirrhotics, treatment- experienced non-cirrhotics and treatment-experienced cirrhotics patients, respectively. While patients were stratified by HCV genotype, the SVR12 was 98.5%, 98.4% and 98.5% among those with GT1, GT2 and GT6 infection, respectively. The strongest factor independent associated with treatment failure was DAA adherence < 60% (odds ratio [OR]/95% confidence intervals [CI]: 125.4/25.7-612.4, P<0.0001), followed by active HCC (OR/CI: 6.20/2.57-14.97, P<0.0001), HIV co-infection (OR/CI: 3.01/1.14-7.92, P=0.026), and male gender (OR/ CI: 1.85/1.09-3.13, P=0.023). The eGFR decreased significantly at the end of treatment (EOT) (89.3 ml/min/1.73㎡ vs. 93.2 ml/min/1.73㎡, P< 0.001) and remained stable 3 months after EOT (89.3 ml/min/1.73㎡). However, the decreased eGFR was observed only in patients whose baseline eGFR > 90 ml/ min/1.73㎡. Instead, patients with chronic kidney diseases whose pretreatment eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73㎡ had improved eGFR after SOF/LDV. Conclusions: SOF/LDV is highly effective in treating CHC patients in real-world setting of Taiwan. The satisfactory result could be explicitly generalized to patients with different viral genotypes and liver disease severities.