Clinical Features of Patients with Esophageal and Second Primary Cancers

Tsai, Huang-Wen,Chang, Chih-Chun,Sun, Jen-Tang,Liou, Ching-Biau,Lin, Hsiu-Chen,Lin, I-Hsin,Yu, Yun-Chieh,Weng, Wei-Ling,Leong, Ka-I,Yen, Tzung-Hai,Wu, Jiann-Ming Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.22

Background: The prevalence of esophageal cancer (EC) with second primary cancers (SPC) is increasing worldwide. This study was aimed to understand the clinical features of EC patients with SPC in the Taiwanese population. Materials and Methods: Clinical and laboratory data for 180 EC patients with or without SPC were collected between January 2009 and December 2013. Information on treatment approaches, location of SPCs and ABO blood type were also collected and stratified. Results: The most common SPC in EC patients was hypopharyngeal cancer, followed by laryngeal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma in our study. Malignancies of colon, prostate and lung were also found. There was a significant higher portion of blood type A in the EC patients with SPC compared with those without (42.4% vs 19.5%, P=0.006). Conclusions: The frequency and SPC site distribution and blood type A should be considered in clinical evaluation of EC patients with a high risk of developing SPC in the Taiwanese population.

Simplified Design Equation of Minimum Interior Joint Depth for Special Moment Frames with High-Strength Reinforcement

Hung-Jen Lee,Hsi-Ching Chen,Tsung-Chieh Tsai 한국콘크리트학회 2018 International Journal of Concrete Structures and M Vol.12 No.7

To avoid excessive slip of beam longitudinal bars at the joints of an earthquake-resisting moment frame, ACI 318 Building Code set a minimum joint depth of 20 times the diameter of the largest longitudinal beam bars passing through the joint, which is based on prior experimental verification of beam-column joints with Grade 420 ㎫ reinforcement. In view of that the 20-bar-diameter criterion cannot be simply extended for concrete frame joints with higher grade reinforcement, this paper summarizes international existing design criteria and proposes a simplified equation for the minimum joint depth. The equation applicability is assessed by evaluating the cyclic testing results of beam-column joints conducted in East Asian and Pacific Countries, where Grade 490, 590, and 690 ㎫ reinforcement have been used for earthquake-resistant concrete structures. Beam-column joints that satisfy the proposed equation can demonstrate satisfactory hysteresis behavior at an interstory drift of 4%.

Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Rosa taiwanensis Nakai in Mice

Der-Shiang Tsai,Mei-Hsuen Huang,Jen-Chieh Tsai,Yuan-Shuang Chang,Yung-Jia Chiu,Yen-Chang Lin,Lung-Yuan Wu,Wen-Huang Peng 한국식품영양과학회 2015 Journal of medicinal food Vol.18 No.5

In this study, we evaluated the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of a 70% ethanol extract from Rosa taiwanensis Nakai (RTEtOH). The analgesic effect was determined using acetic acid-induced writhing response and formalin test. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by λ-carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of RTEtOH was examined by measuring the levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the paw edema tissue and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GRd) in the liver tissue. The betulinic acid and oleanolic acid contents of RTEtOH were assayed by HPLC. The results showed that RTEtOH decreased the acetic acid-induced writhing responses (1.0 g/kg) and the late phase of the formalin-induced licking time (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg). In the anti-inflammatory models, RTEtOH (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg) reduced the paw edema at 3, 4, and 5 h after λ-carrageenan administration. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory mechanisms might be due to the decreased levels of COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, as well as the inhibition of NO and MDA levels through increasing the activities of SOD, GPx, and GRd. The contents of two active compounds, betulinic acid and oleanolic acid, were quantitatively determined. This study demonstrated the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of RTEtOH and provided evidence to support its therapeutic use in inflammatory diseases.

Max-throughput interference avoidance mechanism for indoor self-organizing small cell networks

Kuang-Hsun Lin,Cho-Hsin Tsai,Jen-Wei Chang,Yu-Chieh Chen,Hung-Yu Wei,Fu-Ming Yeh 한국통신학회 2017 ICT Express Vol.3 No.3

Since mobile traffic has been growing recently, the deployment of indoor small cells has become an attractive solution to enhance coverage. However, the increasing density of cells makes inter-cell interference more considerable. In this paper, we propose a max-throughput Interference Avoidance (MTIA) centralized algorithm to improve the system’s throughput. Based on signaling and reports, a central controller connected to each base station can properly turn off base stations that may induce a relatively strong interference, and thus increase SINR. We implemented the MTIA algorithm in an LTE TDD network simulation and showed that MTIA effectively reduces inter-cell interference and improves the system’s throughput.

The development of Taiwan Fracture Liaison Service network

Lo-Yu Chang,Keh-Sung Tsai,Jen-Kuei Peng,Chung-Hwan Chen,Gau-Tyan Lin,Chin-Hsueh Lin,Shih-Te Tu,I-Chieh Mao,Yih-Lan Gau,Hsusan-Chih Liu,Chi-Chien Niu,Min-Hong Hsieh,Jui-Teng Chien,Wei-Chieh Hung,Rong-S 대한골다공증학회 2018 Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia Vol.4 No.2

Osteoporosis and its associated fragility fractures are becoming a severe burden in the healthcare system globally. In the Asian-Pacific (AP) region, the rapidly increasing in aging population is the main reason accounting for the burden. Moreover, the paucity of quality care for osteoporosis continues to be an ongoing challenge. The Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) is a program promoted by International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) with a goal to improve quality of postfracture care and prevention of secondary fractures. In this review article, we would like to introduce the Taiwan FLS network. The first 2 programs were initiated in 2014 at the National Taiwan University Hospital and its affiliated Bei-Hu branch. Since then, the Taiwan FLS program has continued to grow exponentially. Through FLS workshops promoted by the Taiwanese Osteoporosis Association (TOA), program mentors have been able to share their valuable knowledge and clinical experience in order to promote establishments of additional programs. With 22 FLS sites including 11 successfully accredited on the best practice map, Taiwan remains as one of the highest FLS coverage countries in the AP region, and was also granted the IOF Best Secondary Fracture Prevention Promotion award in 2017. Despite challenges faced by the TOA, we strive to promote more FLS sites in Taiwan with a main goal of ameliorating further health burden in managing osteoporotic patients.

Laser Interference Lithography and Nanoimprint Techniques for Lower Reflection Transparent Conducting Oxide Hybrid Films

Ta-Hsin Chou,Kuei-Yuan Cheng,Chih-Chieh Su,Tien-Li Chang,Chih-Wei Hsieh,Jen-Hui Tsai 한국정밀공학회 2010 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.11 No.4

The transparent conducting oxide (TCO) film is a significant component in flat panel display industry, applied for flexible display, e-paper, and touch panel. The TCO materials have high refractive index, so the phenomenon of high reflectance is the major issue and needs solved in present and future market. In this study, the structure and process of new lower reflection TCO hybrid film is introduced. The laser interference lithography and UV nanoimprint are combined for fabrication of sub-wavelength structures on PET film, then the tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) deposited on structures. Finally, the best result of this hybrid film is reflectance reduced to 3.3% at wavelength 550nm, just 13% of the original film, and the resistance of ITO layer is 1.05x10-3 Ω-cm. This result is useful for the TCO film applied in low reflection demand products in the future.

A Systemic Review and Experts’ Consensus for Long-acting Injectable Antipsychotics in Bipolar Disorder

Yuan-Hwa Chou,Po-Chung Chu,Szu-Wei Wu,Jen-Chin Lee,Yi-Hsuan Lee,I-Wen Sun,Chen-Lin Chang,Chien-Liang Huang,I-Chao Liu,Chia-Fen Tsai,Yung-Chieh Yen 대한정신약물학회 2015 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.13 No.2

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a major psychiatric disorder that is easily misdiagnosed. Patient adherence to a treatment regimen is of utmost importance for successful outcomes in BD. Several trials of antipsychotics suggested that depot antipsychotics, including long-acting first- and second-generation agents, are effective in preventing non-adherence, partial adherence, and in reducing relapse in BD. Various long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics are available, including fluphenazine decanoate, haloperidol decanoate, olanzapine pamoate, risperidone microspheres, paliperidone palmitate, and aripiprazole monohydrate. Due to the increasing number of BD patients receiving LAI antipsychotics, treatment guidelines have been developed. However, the clinical applicability of LAI antipsychotics remains a global cause for concern, particularly in Asian countries. Expert physicians from Taiwan participated in a consensus meeting, which was held to review key areas based on both current literature and clinical practice. The purpose of this meeting was to generate a practical and implementable set of recommendations for LAI antipsychotic use to treat BD; target patient groups, dosage, administration, and adverse effects were considered. Experts recommended using LAI antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia, rapid cycling BD, BD I, and bipolar-type schizoaffective disorder. LAI antipsychotic use was recommended in BD patients with the following characteristics: multiple episodes and low adherence; seldom yet serious episodes; low adherence potential per a physician’s clinical judgment; preference for injectable agents over oral agents; and multiple oral agent users still experiencing residual symptoms.

Solution-processable end-functionalized tetrathienoacene semiconductors: Synthesis, characterization and organic field effect transistors applications

Mamillapalli, Narendra Chary,Vegiraju, Sureshraju,Priyanka, Pragya,Lin, Chih-Yu,Luo, Xian-Lun,Tsai, Hsiang-Chi,Hong, Shao-Huan,Ni, Jen-Shyang,Lien, Wei-Chieh,Kwon, Guhyun,Yau, Shueh Lin,Kim, Choongik Applied Science Publishers 2017 Dyes and pigments Vol.145 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>A series of dialkylated tetrathienoacene (<B>TTAR</B>)-based solution-processable small molecular organic semiconductors have been synthesized and characterized for organic field effect transistor (OFET) applications. The central dialkylated <B>TTAR</B> moiety was end-capped with thiophenylvinylthiophene (<B>TVT</B>), bithiophene (<B>bT</B>), and thienothiophene (<B>TT</B>) to afford new π-conjugated p-type active materials, <B>DTVT-TTAR</B> (<B>1</B>), <B>DbT-TTAR</B> (<B>2</B>), and <B>DTT-TTAR</B> (<B>3</B>), respectively. The physical and electrochemical properties and theoretical calculations as well as OFETs performance and thin film morphologies and microstructures of these new soluble <B>TTAR</B>s are systematically studied. Using a solution-shearing method, <B>DTVT-TTAR</B> exhibits p-channel transport with the highest mobility of up to 0.18 cm<SUP>2</SUP> V<SUP>−1</SUP>s<SUP>−1</SUP> and current ON/OFF ratios of 10<SUP>4</SUP>-10<SUP>6</SUP>, which is one of the highest hole mobilities for the solution-processed <B>TTAR</B>-based small molecules.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Synthesis and characterization of dialkylated tetrathienoacene derivatives as semiconductors. </LI> <LI> Various substituents as end groups for solution-processed p-type semiconductors. </LI> <LI> P-type transport with highest mobility up to 0.18 cm<SUP>2</SUP> V<SUP>−1</SUP>s<SUP>−1</SUP>. </LI> <LI> One of the highest mobilities for dialkylated tetratheinoacene derivaties. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>