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Chen CC, Yang YP, Tsai HL, Tung TH. Effects of Tocilizumab on Adults With COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Meta-Analysis. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:838904. [PMID: 35433719 PMCID: PMC9005748 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.838904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), a worldwide disaster, has already affected lots of people. Effective care and therapy are currently being evaluated in full swing. Purpose Our purpose was to investigate the effects of tocilizumab, an interleukin-6 receptor inhibitor, on treatment of adult patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Data Sources, Study Selection, and Data Extraction We conducted a meta-analysis and searched for relevant studies on Pubmed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library without restrictions on language from inception until February 1, 2021. Fifteen studies were included for this meta-analysis. Two authors independently selected and screened these studies, assessed the quality of included studies, and extracted related information. Results Fifteen studies were included in this meta-analysis. The main studies showed that tocilizumab was associated with lower mortality (risk ratio = 0.62, 95% confidence interval = 0.46–0.83; and hazard ratio = 0.61, 95% confidence interval = 0.51–0.72). Using tocilizumab might also affect biochemistry indicators (lowered C-reactive protein and ferritin, increased lymphocyte count). Conclusion These current bodies of evidence could indicate that early use of tocilizumab was associated with lower mortality in adult patients with COVID-19. Early use of tocilizumab could reduce the mortality rate of adult patients with COVID-19 without obvious fatal side effects, which may be a treatment option in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Systematic Review Registration The study protocol was registered on PROSPERO (ID:242811).
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Chung Chen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Pei Yang
- Department of Hematology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China
| | - Hsien-Lung Tsai
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tao-Hsin Tung
- Enze Medical Research Center, Affiliated Taizhou Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, Taizhou, China
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Ruiy W, Hsu SY, Tsai HL, Chen CT, Tseng CP, Chen WT. COVID-19 mimicking dengue fever with the initial manifestation of retro-orbital pain - A Rare Case. J Formos Med Assoc 2020; 119:1715-1716. [PMID: 32532541 PMCID: PMC7269938 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2020.05.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Walis Ruiy
- Department of Emergency, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Yung Hsu
- Department of Emergency, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsien-Lung Tsai
- Department of Emergency, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Te Chen
- Department of Emergency, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Peng Tseng
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Teing Chen
- Division of Chest Medicine, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Yang YN, Tsai HL, Lin YC, Liu YP, Tung CS. Role of vasopressin V1 antagonist in the action of vasopressin on the cooling-evoked hemodynamic perturbations of rats. Neuropeptides 2019; 76:101939. [PMID: 31253439 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2019.101939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
We aimed to investigate the role of arginine vasopressin (AVP) acting via the AVPV1 receptor in the autonomic cardiovascular responses to cold stress (CS). The study was conducted on adult male Sprague-Dawley rats with telemetry transmitters implanted to monitor heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) throughout the experiment course. Rats were divided into four groups and were given, respectively, saline (control group), AVPV1 antagonist (V1880) alone, and V1880 following the removal of sympathetic outflows using hexamethonium (HEX+V1880) or guanethidine (GUA + V1880). Rats were subjected to the CS stimuli (rapid immersion of the rat's limbs into 4 °C water). Hemodynamic responses were recorded at baseline (PreCS), during CS, and after CS. Data analysis was performed using descriptive methods and spectral and cross-spectral analysis of blood pressure variability (BPV) and heart rate variability (HRV). Key results showed that at PreCS, inhibition of AVPV1 increases SBP and HR as well as very-low-frequency BPV and low-frequency BPV, which is attenuated by hexamethonium (effect on SBP only) and guanethidine (effect on both SBP and HR). HEX+V1880 results in increased high-frequency BPV and attenuated very-low-frequency HRV, while GUA + V1880 results in increased high-frequency HRV and attenuated very-low-frequency HRV. During CS, we observed that SBP and HR, as well as very-low-frequency BPV and low-frequency BPV, were similar in the control group and the group with AVPV1 inhibition, while AVPV1 inhibition results in attenuated high-frequency BPV. Furthermore, we observed that changes produced by AVPV1 inhibition alone were affected differently by HEX+V1880 and GUA + V1880, particularly in low-frequency HRV and very-low-frequency HRV. The results support that AVPV1 mediates autonomic cardiovascular responses at both baseline and CS stimuli conditions are associated with central mechanism engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hsien-Lung Tsai
- Department of Emergency, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yu-Chieh Lin
- Department of Medical Research & Education, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yia-Ping Liu
- Department of Physiology, National Defense Medical Center, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Psychiatry, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Che-Se Tung
- Department of Medical Research & Education, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
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Yang YN, Tsai HL, Lin YC, Liu YP, Tung CS. Differential effects of sympatholytic agents on the power spectrum of rats during the cooling-induced hemodynamic perturbations. CHINESE J PHYSIOL 2019; 62:86-92. [PMID: 31243179 DOI: 10.4103/cjp.cjp_7_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Cold stress-elicited hemodynamic perturbations (CEHP) its underlying mechanisms still not clear. We examined the difference of two effector arms of sympathetic outflows, the sympathoadrenal system, and postganglionic sympathetic neurons, their role in CEHP genesis by using two sympatholytic agents, fusaric acid (FA, dopamine-β-hydroxylase inhibitor) and guanethidine (GUA, norepinephrine-depleting drug). Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups (n = 6, each), an intraperitoneal injection of control vehicle saline or FA or GUA and then all rats were subjected to a 10-min CS trial. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate (HR), dicrotic notch (Dn), power spectrum of blood pressure variability and HR variability (BPV, HRV), and coherence spectrum at very-low, low, and high frequency regions (VLF: 0.02-0.2 Hz, LF: 0.2-0.6 Hz, and HF: 0.6-3.0 Hz) were monitored using telemetry throughout the experiment course. We observed both FA and GUA attenuated SBP and HR and the spectral powers of BPV at VLF, LF, and HF in both baseline (PreCS) and cold stimuli (CS) conditions, but apparently, FA exerted stronger effects than GUA did. Both FA and GUA generally attenuated the responses of CS-induced pressor and tachycardia and the CS-increased VLFBPV, LFBPV, and HFBPV, but different effects between FA and GUA, when compared with control vehicle under CS. FA reduced the CS-reduced VLFHRV and the CS-increased LFBPV and HFBPV more than GUA did. We further observed in both PreCS and CS, GUA but not FA increased HFHRV; FA reduced but apparently, GUA increased the occurrence of Dn. Finally, we observed FA weakened, but GUA strengthened the coherence between BPV and HRV at both LF and HF regions. Taken together, the different effects between FA and GUA on CEHP indicate a role of the sympathoadrenal mechanism in response to CS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yung-Nien Yang
- Heart Center, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsien-Lung Tsai
- Department of Emergency, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chieh Lin
- Department of Medical Research and Education, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yia-Ping Liu
- Department of Physiology, National Defense Medical Center; Department of Psychiatry, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Che-Se Tung
- Department of Medical Research and Education, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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Paller CJ, Kanaan YM, Beyene DA, Naab TJ, Copeland RL, Tsai HL, Kanarek NF, Hudson TS. Risk of prostate cancer in African-American men: Evidence of mixed effects of dietary quercetin by serum vitamin D status. Prostate 2015; 75:1376-83. [PMID: 26047130 PMCID: PMC4536082 DOI: 10.1002/pros.23018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2015] [Accepted: 04/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND African-American (AA) men experience higher rates of prostate cancer (PCa) and vitamin D (vitD) deficiency than white men. VitD is promoted for PCa prevention, but there is conflicting data on the association between vitD and PCa. We examined the association between serum vitD and dietary quercetin and their interaction with PCa risk in AA men. METHODS Participants included 90 AA men with PCa undergoing treatment at Howard University Hospital (HUH) and 62 controls participating in HUH's free PCa screening program. We measured serum 25-hydroxy vitD [25(OH)D] and used the 98.2 item Block Brief 2000 Food Frequency Questionnaires to measure dietary intake of quercetin and other nutrients. Case and control groups were compared using a two-sample t-test for continuous risk factors and a Fisher exact test for categorical factors. Associations between risk factors and PCa risk were examined via age-adjusted logistic regression models. RESULTS Interaction effects of dietary quercetin and serum vitD on PCa status were observed. AA men (age 40-70) with normal levels of serum vitD (>30 ng/ml) had a 71% lower risk of PCa compared to AA men with vitD deficiency (OR = 0.29, 95%CI: 0.08-1.03; P = 0.055). In individuals with vitD deficiency, increased dietary quercetin showed a tendency toward lower risk of PCa (OR = 0.91, 95%CI: 0.82-1.00; P = 0.054, age-adjusted) while men with normal vitD were at elevated risk (OR = 1.23, 95%CI: 1.04-1.45). CONCLUSION These findings suggest that AA men who are at a higher risk of PCa may benefit more from vitD intake, and supplementation with dietary quercetin may increase the risk of PCa in AA men with normal vitD levels. Further studies with larger populations are needed to better understand the impact of the interaction between sera vitD levels and supplementation with quercetin on PCa in AA men.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Paller
- Johns Hopkins University, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Y M Kanaan
- Department of Microbiology, Howard University Cancer Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - D A Beyene
- Department of Microbiology, Howard University Cancer Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - T J Naab
- Department of Pathology, Howard University Cancer Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - R L Copeland
- Department of Pharmacology, Howard University Cancer Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - H L Tsai
- Johns Hopkins University, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - N F Kanarek
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - T S Hudson
- Department of Pharmacology, Howard University Cancer Center, Washington, District of Columbia
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Huang KH, Hsu BM, Chou MY, Tsai HL, Kao PM, Wang HJ, Hsiao HY, Su MJ, Huang YL. Application of molecular biological techniques to analyze Salmonella seasonal distribution in stream water. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2014; 352:87-96. [PMID: 24417320 DOI: 10.1111/1574-6968.12381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2013] [Revised: 12/27/2013] [Accepted: 12/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Salmonella is a leading cause of waterborne diseases. Salmonella can survive for a long time in aquatic environments, and its persistence in the environment is of great concern to public health. Nonetheless, the presence and diversity of Salmonella in the aquatic environments in most areas remain relatively unknown. In this study, we examined three analytical processes for an optimum Salmonella detection method, and the optimized method was used to evaluate seasonal variations of Salmonella in aquatic environments. In addition, Salmonella strains were isolated by selective culture medium to identify the serotypes by biochemical testing and serological assay, and to identify the genotypes by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis based on the genetic patterns. A total of 136 water samples were collected in the study area in 9 months. Forty-one (30.1%) samples were found to contain Salmonella-specific invA gene, and most (24/41) of the detections occurred in summer. The serovars of Salmonella enterica were identified, including Bareilly, Isangi, Newport, Paratyphi B var. Java, Potsdam and Typhimurium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuan-Hao Huang
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan, Republic of China
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Kao PM, Tung MC, Hsu BM, Tsai HL, She CY, Shen SM, Huang WC. Real-time PCR method for the detection and quantification of Acanthamoeba species in various types of water samples. Parasitol Res 2013; 112:1131-6. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-012-3242-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2012] [Accepted: 12/10/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Huang MY, Chen MJ, Tsai HL, Kuo CH, Ma CJ, Hou MF, Chuang SC, Lin SR, Wang JY. Prospective analysis of KRAS wild-type patients with metastatic colorectal cancer using cetuximab plus FOLFIRI or FOLFOX4 treatment regimens. Genet Mol Res 2011; 10:3002-12. [PMID: 21968808 DOI: 10.4238/2011.october.3.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting epidermal growth factor receptor, has proven to be efficient in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. We made a prospective study of the efficacy and toxicities of cetuximab-combination first-line (FOLFOX4) versus second/third-line (FOLFIRI) chemotherapy in 98 KRAS wild-type patients who had metastatic colorectal cancer. Wild-type KRAS had been identified by direct sequencing. Associations between clinical response/progression-free survival/overall survival/toxicities and cetuximab-combination chemotherapy timing were evaluated. The overall response rate was significantly higher for first-line treatment than for second/third-line treatment (relative risk = 1.707, 95% confidence interval = 1.121-2.598). Both progression-free survival and overall survival indicated significantly longer survival of first-line treatment than second/third-line treatment patients. This study is a validation of a molecular analysis of KRAS wild-type status for the prediction of response to cetuximab-combination chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer patients; its predictive role was less prominent in the second/third-line than in the first-line treatment patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Y Huang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Yang JR, Li WC, Tsai HL, Hsu JT, Shiojiri M. Electron microscopy investigations of V defects in multiple InGaN/GaN quantum wells and InGaN quantum dots. J Microsc 2010; 237:275-81. [PMID: 20500380 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2818.2009.03242.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The mechanism of high emission of InGaN-based multiple quantum wells, which exhibit exceptionally high light emission efficiency despite their high defect density, is still not fully understood. Here, we deal with this problem, showing the details of structure and formation of V defects in the multiple quantum wells and reviewing interpretations proposed so far. Then, we show a structural investigation of three-dimensional high-density quantum dots, fabricated instead of quantum wells in the active layer. The shape and size of the InGaN quantum dots and the SiN(x) masks for the growth of the dots have been revealed using high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy nanoanalysis and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- J R Yang
- Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
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Tsai HL, Huang MK, How CK, Chern CH. Impending aneurysm rupture after endovascular repair of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. J Card Surg 2009; 24:461-2. [PMID: 19583621 DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-8191.2008.00746.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
An 81-year-old male presented with lower abdominal pain radiating to back associated with diaphoresis. He received endovascular repair of an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm 21 months ago. Triple phase abdominal CT showed impending aneurysm rupture secondary to endoleak. After re-stenting and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, he had an uneventful recovery later.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsien-Lung Tsai
- Emergency Department, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, 201 Sec. 2 Shih-Pai Road, Taipei, Taiwan
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Lee SJ, Jone MT, Tsai HL. Constructing neural networks for multiclass-discretization based on information entropy. IEEE Trans Syst Man Cybern B Cybern 2008; 29:445-53. [PMID: 18252319 DOI: 10.1109/3477.764881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Cios and Liu (1992) proposed an entropy-based method to generate the architecture of neural networks for supervised two-class discretization. For multiclass discretization, the inter-relationship among classes is reduced to a set of binary relationships, and an independent two-class subnetwork is created for each binary relationship. This two-class-based method ends up with the disability of sharing hidden nodes among different classes and a low recognition rate. We keep the interrelationship among classes when training a neural network. Entropy measure is considered in a global sense, not locally in each independent subnetwork. Consequently, our method allows hidden nodes and layers to be shared among classes, and presents higher recognition rates than the two-class-based method.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Lee
- Dept. of Electr. Eng., Nat. Sun Yat-Sen Univ., Kaohsiung
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Wang JY, Lu CY, Chu KS, Ma CJ, Wu DC, Tsai HL, Yu FJ, Hsieh JS. Prognostic significance of pre- and postoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels in patients with colorectal cancer. Eur Surg Res 2007; 39:245-50. [PMID: 17457032 DOI: 10.1159/000101952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2006] [Accepted: 02/24/2007] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To evaluate the prognostic significance of pre- and postoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA) levels in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. METHODS 425 CRC patients underwent curative resection at our institution. Their pre- and postoperative serum CEA level was classified into two groups according to concentration: normal CEA (<5.0 ng/ml) and abnormal CEA (> or =5.0 ng/ml). RESULTS Of all patients, abnormal pre- and postoperative serum CEA levels were observed in 181 (42.6%) and 48 (11.3%) patients, respectively. Abnormal preoperative serum CEA level was significantly correlated with the tumor located in the colon, the depth of tumor invasion, the status of lymph node metastasis, UICC stage, and the presence of postoperative relapse (p < 0.05). Concurrently, an abnormal postoperative serum CEA level was also prominently related to the above corresponding parameters (p < 0.05), except for the tumor location. Patients with a failed conversion of abnormal preoperative value to normal postoperative concentration were found to have the worst overall survival rate. Abnormal pre- and postoperative serum CEA levels were single independent predictors for survival and postoperative relapse, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The identification of abnormal pre- and postoperative serum CEA levels may be useful in the auxiliary cancer prognosis or postoperative surveillance of CRC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Y Wang
- Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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Hwu Y, Tsai WL, Chang HM, Yeh HI, Hsu PC, Yang YC, Su YT, Tsai HL, Chow GM, Ho PC, Li SC, Moser HO, Yang P, Seol SK, Kim CC, Je JH, Stefanekova E, Groso A, Margaritondo G. Imaging cells and tissues with refractive index radiology. Biophys J 2004; 87:4180-7. [PMID: 15465870 PMCID: PMC1304927 DOI: 10.1529/biophysj.103.034991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Can individual cells, including live cells, be imaged using hard x rays? Common wisdom until now required sophisticated staining techniques for this task. We show instead that individual cells and cell details can be detected in culture solution and tissues with no staining and no other contrast-enhancing preparation. The sample examined can be much thicker than for many other microscopy techniques without sacrificing the capability to resolve cells. The key factor in our approach is the use of a coherent synchrotron source and of contrast mechanisms based on the refractive index. The first successful tests were conducted on a variety of cell systems including skin and internal leaf cells, mouse neurons, rabbit fibroblast cells, and human tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Hwu
- Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan
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Liu YH, Tsai HL, Lu YL, Wen YS, Wang JC, Lu KL. Assembly of a robust, thermally stable porous cobalt(II) nicotinate framework based on a dicobalt carboxylate unit. Inorg Chem 2001; 40:6426-31. [PMID: 11720497 DOI: 10.1021/ic010528k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A series of robust, thermally stable open-framework cobalt nicotinate compounds, Co(2)(H(2)O)[C(6)H(4)O(2)N](4).0.5CH(3)CH(2)OH.0.5H(2)O (1), Co(2)(H(2)O)[C(6)H(4)O(2)N](4) (2), and Co(2)(H(2)O)[C(6)H(4)O(2)N](4).C(6)H(5)CH(2)OH (3), based on rigid dimetallic carboxylate clusters as the basic building unit have been prepared. Single-crystal X-ray crystallographic analyses of 1 and 3 reveal the host framework possessing an effective channel area with the dimensions of 10.8 x 4.5 A. These channels can accommodate guest molecules of various sizes and shapes such as ethanol, water, and benzyl alcohol. Thermogravimetric analysis shows a two-step weight loss corresponding to the loss of guest molecules followed by the loss of coordinated water. The host framework is thermally stable up to 295 degrees C. The cobalt nicotinate host remains intact, even upon the removal of the guest to form compound 2 as revealed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Crystal data for 1: Co(2)(H(2)O)[C(6)H(4)O(2)N)](4).0.5CH(3)CH(2)OH.0.5H(2)O, fw = 656.33, triclinic, space group P(-)1, a = 10.5407(2) A, b = 11.8266(3) A, c = 14.1122(2) A, alpha = 106.878(4) degrees, beta = 102.411(2) degrees, gamma = 111.011(3) degrees, V = 1467.9(5) A(3), Z = 2. Crystal data for 2: Co(2)(H(2)O)[C(6)H(4)O(2)N](4), fw = 624.28, triclinic, space group P(-)1, a = 10.507(3) A, b = 11.824(2) A, c = 14.113(3) A, alpha = 107.06(2) degrees, beta = 102.39(2) degrees, gamma = 111.105(16) degrees, V = 1459.5(6) A(3), Z = 2. Crystal data for 3: Co(2)(H(2)O)[C(6)H(4)O(2)N](4).C(6)H(5)CH(2)OH, fw = 732.42, triclinic, space group P(-)1, a = 10.6671(6) A, b = 12.0063(7) A, c = 14.0658(8) A, alpha = 106.7180(10) degrees, beta = 102.2790(10) degrees, gamma = 111.1900(10) degrees, V = 1504.1(6) A(3), Z = 2. The magnetic exchange coupling between the dicobalt centers for compounds 1 and 3 are analyzed on the basis of both the Curie-Weiss expression and a binuclear magnetic model. The negative values of the magnetic exchange coupling constant indicate the antiferromagnetic nature within the cobalt dimer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y H Liu
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan, ROC
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Lin SB, Ts'o PO, Sun SK, Choo KB, Yang FY, Lim YP, Tsai HL, Au LC. Inhibition of thymidylate synthase activity by antisense oligodeoxynucleotide and possible role in thymineless treatment. Mol Pharmacol 2001; 60:474-9. [PMID: 11502877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Thymidylate synthase (TS) is an important target for chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer. However, efficacy of TS-targeted anticancer drugs is limited by the development of drug resistance as a result of TS gene amplification. In this work, a phosphorothioated antisense oligonucleotide (ODN), designated ATS-2, was used to suppress cellular synthesis of TS. ATS-2 at 0.2 microM concentration was mixed with lipofectin in a charge ratio of 1:1 and was used to treat the human embryonic kidney (HEK) cell line. A reduction of TS mRNA and protein was achieved. Furthermore, a dose-dependent reduction of cumulative viable cells of up to 98% was observed. Flow cytometer analysis of cell cycle progression indicates that ATS-2-treated cells were arrested and went into apoptosis at the S phase, possibly because of thymidine shortage, suggesting that ATS-2 is specifically effective for dividing cells. When used in combination with the anticancer drug FdUrd, ATS-2 exerted a additive inhibitory effect on cellular proliferation. To elucidate the possible role of cellular thymidine kinase (TdR kinase) in ATS-2 treatment, a second cell line, HeLa, was used. Both HEK and HeLa have similar rates of cell division and ODN uptake. In contrast to HEK, which was shown to have very low levels of TdR kinase activity in [(3)H]thymidine incorporation experiments, [(3)H]thymidine incorporation in HeLa was 15-fold greater than that of HEK. We found that HeLa cells were sensitive to FdUrd but were rather resistant to ATS-2. On the contrary, HEK cells were sensitive to ATS-2 but insensitive to FdUrd. Effects of ATS-2 and FdUrd are, therefore, complementary in thymineless treatment too.
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Affiliation(s)
- S B Lin
- School of Medical Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
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Chen JY, Tsai HL, Chang CY, Wang JI, Shen SC, Wu JL. Isolation and characterization of tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) insulin-like growth factors gene and proximal promoter region. DNA Cell Biol 1998; 17:359-76. [PMID: 9570153 DOI: 10.1089/dna.1998.17.359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
To understand the molecular mechanism which controls the transcription of the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) gene, we have cloned and sequenced the cDNA for the proximal promoter region of the tilapia IGFs gene and have characterized its activity by chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) transient transfected expression assays. Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) IGF-I cDNA (549 bp) was amplified by PCR from single-stranded cDNA of growth hormone (GH)-induced liver RNA using a pair of oligonucleotides specific for fish IGF-I as amplification primers. Tilapia IGF-I and IGF-II 5' termini were analyzed by rapid amplification of cDNA 5' ends (5'RACE). Analysis of the 5'RACE results revealed two transcription start sites in IGF-I and one transcription start site in IGF-II. Different fragments of the 5' flanking region were transfected into human lung adenocarcinoma cells. In the cell line, maximum promoter activity was located in the distal 657 basepairs of the IGF-I 5' flanking region and in the distal 450 basepairs of the IGF-II 5' flanking region. The in vivo actions of the IGFs promoter on developmental stage expression were investigated further in transgenic zebrafish in which an IGFs promoter-driven green fluorescent protein (GFP) encoding the cDNA transgene was microinjected into embryos. Morphologic and RT-PCR studies of the transgenic zebrafish indicated that IGF-I promoter-driven GFP transcripts appeared for the first time in the 1-K-cell stage and the IGF-II promoter-driven GFP transcripts appeared for the first time in the 32-cell stage. Fluorescent (GFP) distribution was apparent within 48 h in IGF-II-transgenic zebrafish embryos, especially in eye, muscle, corpuscle, floor plate, horizontal myoseptum, yolk sac extension, and yolk sac. These results indicate that the IGF-I and IGF-II promoters are active in tissue and in a development-specific manner. Our findings also indicate that the IGF-II promoter influences the growth of fish embryos earlier than does IGF-I, and IGF-II has higher levels of expression than does IGF-I. These results suggest that the IGF-II promoter plays a growth factor role in teleost embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Y Chen
- Institute of Zoology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, ROC
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Lee SJ, Tsai HL. Pattern fusion in feature recognition neural networks for handwritten character recognition. IEEE Trans Syst Man Cybern B Cybern 1998; 28:612-617. [PMID: 18255980 DOI: 10.1109/3477.704300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
B. Hussain and M.R. Kabuka (1994) proposed a feature recognition neural network to reduce the network size of neocognitron. However, a distinct subnet is created for every training pattern. Therefore, a big network is obtained when the number of training patterns is large. Furthermore, recognition rate can be hurt due to the failure of combining features from similar training patterns. We propose an improvement by incorporating the idea of fuzzy ARTMAP in the feature recognition neural network. Training patterns are allowed to be merged, based on the measure of similarity among features, resulting in a subnet being shared by similar patterns. Because of the fusion of training patterns, network size is reduced and recognition rate is increased.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Lee
- Dept. of Electr. Eng., Nat. Sun Yat-Sen Univ., Kaohsiung
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19
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Abstract
The HCMV IE2 protein promiscuously activates transcription of many viral and cellular genes. IE2 also negatively autoregulates its own expression by binding to a strategically positioned IE2 binding site, called CRS, located immediately downstream of the TATA box of the HCMV major IE promoter. Here we show that IE2 is able to repress transcription driven by a heterologous promoter, RSV LTR. Repression of RSV LTR by IE2 is completely dependent of DNA sequences downstream of the TATA box of RSV LTR. A DNA sequence, 5'-CGATACAATAAACG-3', evidently matching the proposed CRS consensus sequence, is located between nucleotides -13 and +1 (relative to the transcription start site) of RSV LTR. Three lines of evidence support the notion that this RSV CRS element is involved in the IE2-mediated repression of RSV LTR. First, introduction of mutation to the RSV CRS element renders to the mutant RSV LTR resistance to IE2-mediated repression. Second, a mutant IE2 defective in DNA binding cannot downregulate transcription from RSV LTR. Third, IE2 specifically binds to the wild-type, but not the mutant, RSV CRS element in vitro. These data, in conjunction with previous works, demonstrate that IE2 can passively repress transcription of homologous and heterologous promoters that contain a CRS element.
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Affiliation(s)
- H L Tsai
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
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Tsai HL, Huang CK, Cho G, Chen GH, Yang MD. Cytomegalovirus colitis in an immunocompetent old woman successfully treated with ganciclovir: a case report. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi (Taipei) 1996; 57:289-92. [PMID: 8705882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) diseases occur almost exclusively in the immunocompromised hosts. Persons most commonly affected are patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). On rare occasions, however, CMV diseases can be seen in apparently immunocompetent persons. A CMV colitis in a 68-year old immunocompetent woman presenting with watery diarrhea, malaise, and body weight loss of about 5 kg over a three week period is reported. Colonoscopy and mucosal biopsy revealed CMV colitis involving the sigmoid colon. Treatment for two weeks with ganciclovir (10 gm/kg/day I.V. in 2 divided doses) resulted in resolution of colitis and clinical symptoms without any noticeable side-effects. There was no relapse of infection by six months of follow-up. The possibility of CMV colitis should be considered in any elderly person with watery diarrhea, general debilitation, marked body weight loss and with negative stool cultures. CMV colitis may be more frequent than is usually believed. It has a favorable response to ganciclovir without further relapse after the successful treatment in patients with normal immune function.
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Affiliation(s)
- H L Tsai
- Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, R.O.C
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Tsai HL, Kou GH, Chen SC, Wu CW, Lin YS. Human cytomegalovirus immediate-early protein IE2 tethers a transcriptional repression domain to p53. J Biol Chem 1996; 271:3534-40. [PMID: 8631958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The IE2 gene of human cytomegalovirus has been implicated in the development of coronary restenosis, and the gene product appears to inhibit p53-dependent transactivation. Here we describe an analysis of the IE2-p53 interaction. Repression of p53 function by IE2 requires two separable domains of IE2. The N terminus of IE2 interacts with p53. IE2 has little effect on the ability of p53 to bind specific DNA sequences. Reduction of the transactivation activity of p53 is caused by a transcriptional repression function contributed by the C-terminal domain of IE2. These findings suggest that IE2 may function as a transcriptional repressor, which is recruited to p53's target genes by interacting with p53.
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Affiliation(s)
- H L Tsai
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
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Sleight JW, Aggarwal RJ, Duncan W, Kao Y, Tsai HL, Frensley WR, Fernando CL, Reed MA. Spectroscopic study of intraminiband and interminiband tunneling in finite superlattices. Phys Rev B Condens Matter 1995; 51:10701-10708. [PMID: 9977765 DOI: 10.1103/physrevb.51.10701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
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Moriyama Y, Tsai HL, Futai M. Energy-dependent accumulation of neuron blockers causes selective inhibition of neurotransmitter uptake by brain synaptic vesicles. Arch Biochem Biophys 1993; 305:278-81. [PMID: 8373165 DOI: 10.1006/abbi.1993.1423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The effects of neuron blockers on neurotransmitter accumulation in synaptic vesicles were investigated. Upon addition of ATP, brain synaptic vesicles accumulated chlorpromazine, haloperidol, and propranolol against concentration gradients of more than 100-fold. Bioenergetic analysis indicated that the transmembrane pH gradient (delta pH) established by the vacuolar-type H(+)-ATPase is a direct driving force for these uptakes. Essentially the same results were obtained with vesicles from bovine adrenal chromaffin granules and proteoliposomes reconstituted with purified vacuolar H(+)-ATPase, indicating that the energy-dependent accumulation is due to diffusion and does not involve transport carriers specific for the blockers. Incubations of the two organelles with the blockers resulted in dissipation of delta pH and slight increase of membrane potential (delta psi) without affecting ATPase activity. Under the same conditions, uptake of dopamine or gamma-aminobutyrate (delta pH-driven transport) was inhibited by neuron blockers, whereas uptake of glutamate (delta psi-driven transport) was slightly stimulated. Thus, neuron blockers inhibited delta pH-driven uptake of neurotransmitter by dissipating the driving force. These results strongly suggest that synaptic vesicles are one of the target sites of neuron blockers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Moriyama
- Department of Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry, Osaka University, Japan
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Liu SS, Gao FH, Tsai HL, Ding YZ. Studies on the energy-transducing ATPase complex of biological membranes: cross hybrid reconstitution of f(1) and f(0) of Escherichia coli plasma membrane and rat liver mitochondria. Biophys J 1982; 37:88-91. [PMID: 19431518 DOI: 10.1016/s0006-3495(82)84614-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Chang CH, Tsai HL. [Determinants of fertility in Taiwan--a simultaneous model with female labor force participation]. Ingu munje nonjip 1981:71-118. [PMID: 12222491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
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