Adolescents' height and cognitive ability in China

Cognitive ability, as an early human capital, has always been an important research object in modern education and labor economics. Despite growing awareness of the importance of height in individual growth and development, there are few empirical studies on height and cognitive ability. Using the data from the China Education Panel Survey, this paper examined the impact of height on the cognitive ability of adolescents and explored the reasons behind the Chinese pursuit of height growth and the potential impact mechanism. In this paper, comprehensive analysis ability was taken as the representative of cognitive ability. The empirical results showed that height was positively correlated with cognitive ability. From the perspective of the influence mechanism, the hypothesis that height reflected self-esteem, health, non-cognitive ability, and other influences on cognitive ability was excluded. To correct the errors that endogenous problems may cause, we used the PSM method and "age at first menstruation " and "age at first wet dream" as instrumental variables to correct them. The results showed that height still affected cognitive ability, with taller people having higher cognitive ability.

Political influence and air pollution: Evidence from Chinese cities

The influence of the political system, and official mobility on the economy, finance, and environment has been confirmed by numerous studies, political cycle may bring a critical impact on the functioning of the economic system. Cities in China change their party secretaries every few years, providing a good context for our analysis. In this study, we analyze the impact of the political cycle on air pollution in 247 Chinese cities from the year 2002-2017. The main results indicate that the Chinese Communist Party Congress bring a significant effect. Air pollution has been significantly reduced in the year before and after the Party Congress, which means the political cycle plays an important role in current Chinese environmental protection or pollution control. In addition, the closer the city is to the capital, the stronger the pollution control, and the city's environmental pollution will be reduced.

Cross-Strait climate change and agricultural product loss

The structure of agricultural industries at Cross-Strait differs as climate change is considered. In fact, its influence on their agriculture and other industries vary when the impact produced by natural disasters due to climate change are faced. To estimate direct and indirect losses caused by natural disasters, this study applies Inter-Country Input-Output (ICIO) analysis developed by Miller and Blair (2009) to discuss the development among Cross-Strait industries as they face disaster losses. The data sources used in this article are from Lin (2013), Cross-Strait ICIO table, and the statistics of agriculture in the periods 2005-2017 for Taiwan and Mainland China. The main results from our ICIO analysis are as follows: the value-added losses caused by natural disasters mainly involve agriculture, forestry, fishery, wholesale and retail trade, animal feed, and chemical fertilizer industries. These sectors account for 87.4% in Mainland China and 94.6% in Taiwan of total separately.

An empirical analysis of land property lawsuits and rainfalls

This article using the database of Taiwanese land property lawsuits studies the economic effects of rainfalls on land property lawsuits during the period of Japanese colonial rule (1920–1941). The results obtained from basic ordinary least squares indicate that it shows no significant influences. However, an interesting result is that, when we adopt the approach of two stage least squares and use the variables of temperature and evaporation as the instrument variables of rainfalls, we find that there are highly significant influences on the lawsuits of land property. If 1 year comes with low average rainfalls, it means that the costs of productive inputs increase, because the available natural resource will decrease, and brings the distorted using of land property.

Design and synthesis of new 2-arylnaphthyridin-4-ones as potent antitumor agents targeting tumorigenic cell lines

To develop new anticancer drug candidates from 2-arylnaphthyridin-4-one (AN), we have designed and synthesized a series of 3'-hydroxy and 6-hydroxy derivatives of AN. The results of cytotoxicity screening indicated that the replacement of the 3'-methoxy moiety on the C-ring phenyl group of AN (6a-e) with 3'-hydroxy (7a-e) made no significant effect on the inhibitory activity against HL-60, Hep3B and NCI-H460 cancer cell lines. On the other hand, replacing the 6-methoxy group on the A-ring of AN (6g-i) with a 6-hydroxy group (7g-i) resulted in reduced inhibitory activity against the above three cancer cell lines. Among the above-mentioned target compounds, 2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-5-methyl-1,8-naphthyridin-4(1H)-one (7a) demonstrated the greatest potency and the best selectivity toward tumorigenic cancer cell lines. In a 7a preliminary mechanism of action study in Hep3B hepatoma cells, 7a showed the effects on microtubules followed by cell cycle arrest and sequentially led to apoptosis. In addition, a phosphate prodrug (11) of 7a exhibited significant antitumor activity when tested in a Hep3B xenograft nude mice model. Since compound 11 has demonstrated good development potential, it is recommended for further preclinical studies.

Synthesis and SAR studies of novel 6,7,8-substituted 4-substituted benzyloxyquinolin-2(1H)-one derivatives for anticancer activity

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

4-Phenylquinolin-2(1H)-one (4-PQ) derivatives can induce cancer cell apoptosis. Additional new 4-PQ analogs were investigated as more effective, less toxic antitumour agents.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Forty-five 6,7,8-substituted 4-substituted benzyloxyquinolin-2(1H)-one derivatives were synthesized. Antiproliferative activities were evaluated using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliun bromide assay and structure-activity relationship correlations were established. Compounds 9b, 9c, 9e and 11e were also evaluated against the National Cancer Institute-60 human cancer cell line panel. Hoechst 33258 and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining assays were used to detect apoptosis, while inhibition of microtubule polymerization was assayed by fluorescence microscopy. Effects on the cell cycle were assessed by flow cytometry and on apoptosis-related proteins (active caspase-3, -8 and -9, procaspase-3, -8, -9, PARP, Bid, Bcl-xL and Bcl-2) by Western blotting.

KEY RESULTS

Nine 6,7,8-substituted 4-substituted benzyloxyquinolin-2(1H)-one derivatives (7e, 8e, 9b, 9c, 9e, 10c, 10e, 11c and 11e) displayed high potency against HL-60, Hep3B, H460, and COLO 205 cancer cells (IC₅₀ < 1 μM) without affecting Detroit 551 normal human cells (IC₅₀ > 50 μM). Particularly, compound 11e exhibited nanomolar potency against COLO 205 cancer cells. Mechanistic studies indicated that compound 11e disrupted microtubule assembly and induced G2/M arrest, polyploidy and apoptosis via the intrinsic and extrinsic signalling pathways. Activation of JNK could play a role in TRAIL-induced COLO 205 apoptosis.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

New quinolone derivatives were identified as potential pro-apoptotic agents. Compound 11e could be a promising lead compound for future antitumour agent development.

CLC604 preferentially inhibits the growth of HER2-overexpressing cancer cells and sensitizes these cells to the inhibitory effect of Taxol in vitro and in vivo

HER2 has become a solicitous therapeutic target in metastatic and clinical drug-resistant cancer. Here, we evaluated whether or not 1-benzyl-3-(5-hydroxymethyl-2-furyl)indazole (YC-1) and its furopyrazole and thienopyrazole analogues repress the expression of the HER2 protein. Among the test compounds, (1-benzyl-3-(p-hydroxymethylphenyl)-5-methylfuro[3,2-c]pyrazol) (CLC604), an isosteric analogue of YC-1, significantly suppressed the expression of HER2, and preferentially inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in HER2-overexpressing cancer cells. Our results revealed that CLC604 reduced HER2 expression through a post-transcriptional mechanism and involvement of proteasomal activity. CLC604 disrupted the association of 90-kDa heat shock protein (Hsp90) with HER2 resulting from the inhibition of Hsp90 ATPase activity. Moreover, we found that CLC604 significantly enhanced the antitumor efficacy of clinical drugs against HER2-overexpressing tumors and efficiently reduced HER2-induced drug resistance in vitro and in vivo. These findings suggest that CLC604 should be developed further as a novel antitumor drug candidate for the treatment of drug-resistant cancer.

KHC-4 anti-cancer effects on human PC3 prostate cancer cell line

A bicyclic chemical structure, such as that found in flavonoids, was discovered to have anti-cancer activity. Further synthetic structural modification created a series of 2-phenyl-4-quinolone analogs, especially KHC-4, with the same bicyclic chemical structure. This new structure was reported to have stronger anti-cancer activity. In KHC-4 treatments for 72 h on human prostate cancer PC3 cells, cytotoxic effects (IC(50) =0.1 μM) increased dose dependently, causing Cdk1/cyclin B1 complex activity mannered cell cycle and proliferation. KHC-4 treatments suppressed Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL protein levels and upregulated Bax. At the same concentration, pro-caspase 9 protein was cleaved to an activated form, leading to cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the MMP-2 protein levels also decreased through KHC-4 treatment in PC3. In conclusion, KHC-4 presents great prostate cancer therapeutic effects for cell proliferation inhibition, induction of apoptosis and protection against tumor migration.

Specific microtubule-depolymerizing agents augment efficacy of dendritic cell-based cancer vaccines

Background

Damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are associated with immunogenic cell death and have the ability to enhance maturation and antigen presentation of dendritic cells (DCs). Specific microtubule-depolymerizing agents (MDAs) such as colchicine have been shown to confer anti-cancer activity and also trigger activation of DCs.

Methods

In this study, we evaluated the ability of three MDAs (colchicine and two 2-phenyl-4-quinolone analogues) to induce immunogenic cell death in test tumor cells, activate DCs, and augment T-cell proliferation activity. These MDAs were further evaluated for use as an adjuvant in a tumor cell lysate-pulsed DC vaccine.

Results

The three test phytochemicals considerably increased the expression of DAMPs including HSP70, HSP90 and HMGB1, but had no effect on expression of calreticulin (CRT). DC vaccines pulsed with MDA-treated tumor cell lysates had a significant effect on tumor growth, showed cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity against tumors, and increased the survival rate of test mice. In vivo antibody depletion experiments suggested that CD8⁺ and NK cells, but not CD4⁺ cells, were the main effector cells responsible for the observed anti-tumor activity. In addition, culture of DCs with GM-CSF and IL-4 during the pulsing and stimulation period significantly increased the production of IL-12 and decreased production of IL-10. MDAs also induced phenotypic maturation of DCs and augmented CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cell proliferation when co-cultured with DCs.

Conclusions

Specific MDAs including the clinical drug, colchicine, can induce immunogenic cell death in tumor cells, and DCs pulsed with MDA-treated tumor cell lysates (TCLs) can generate potent anti-tumor immunity in mice. This approach may warrant future clinical evaluation as a cancer vaccine.

Synthesis and preclinical evaluations of 2-(2-fluorophenyl)-6,7-methylenedioxyquinolin-4-one monosodium phosphate (CHM-1-P-Na) as a potent antitumor agent

CHM-1 [2-(2-fluorophenyl)-6,7-methylenedioxyquinolin-4-one] (1) has a unique antitumor mechanism of action. However, because 1 has relatively low hydrophilicity, it was evaluated only via ip administration, which is not clinically acceptable. In this study, we synthesized the monosodium phosphate salt (CHM-1-P-Na, 4) of 1 as a hydrophilic prodrug. Compound 4 was rapidly converted into 1 following iv and po administration and also possessed excellent antitumor activity in a SKOV-3 xenograft nude mice model. Compound 4 also had clear-cut pharmacological effects on enzymes related with tumor cells. Neither 4 nor 1 significantly affected normal biological function in a safety pharmacology profiling study. Compound 1 caused apoptotic effects in breast carcinoma cells via accumulation of cyclin B1, and importantly, the endogenous levels of the mitotic spindle checkpoint proteins BubR1 directly correlated with cellular response to microtubule disruption. With excellent antitumor activity profiles, 4 is highly promising for development as an anticancer clinical trials candidate.

Synthesis of 1-benzyl-3-(5-hydroxymethyl-2-furyl)selenolo[3,2-c]pyrazole derivatives as new anticancer agents

As part of our continuing search for potential anticancer drug candidates among YC-1 analogs, 1, 3-disubstituted selenolo[3,2-c]pyrazole derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxicity against NCI-H226 non-small cell lung cancer and A-498 renal cancer cell lines. Significant cytotoxicity was observed in 3-(5-hydroxymethyl-2-furyl) derivatives (2, 33, 36 and 37). Among them, compound 2 was found to have the most potent activity. The mode of action of compound 2 seems to differ from those of the 175 anticancer agents listed in NCI's standard database and resembles that of YC-1. Thus, we recommend that compound 2 should be developed further as new drug candidate for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and renal cancer.

Synthesis of furopyrazole analogs of 1-benzyl-3-(5-hydroxymethyl-2-furyl)indazole (YC-1) as novel anti-leukemia agents

As part of our continuing search for potential anticancer drug candidates in YC-1 analogs, several 1-benzyl-3-(substituted aryl)-5-methylfuro[3,2-c]pyrazoles were synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxicity against HL-60 cell line. Among these compounds, 1-benzyl-3-(5-hydroxymethyl-2-furyl)-5-methylfuro[3,2-c]pyrazole (1) showed more potency than YC-1. Through investigation of action mechanism, it was found that compound 1 induced terminal differentiation of HL-60 cells toward granulocyte lineage and promoted HL-60 cell differentiation by regulation of Bcl-2 and c-Myc proteins. Meanwhile, compound 1 also demonstrated apoptosis inducing effect. Such anti-leukemia mechanism of action is apparently different from that of YC-1 which mainly works by inducing apoptosis, but not cell differentiation. Therefore, compound 1 is identified here as a new lead compound of cell differentiating agent and apoptosis inducer for further development of new anti-leukemia agents.

Suppression of choroidal neovascularization by intramuscular polymer-based gene delivery of vasostatin

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of gene delivery of angiogenesis inhibitor, vasostatin (VS), in suppressing experimental model of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). A mammalian expression vector carrying VS, pCMV3-VS, was constructed and evaluated for its ability to produce VS in transfected cells using western blot analysis and a cell viability assay. CNV was induced in Brown Norway rats by fundus argon laser photocoagulation and evaluated by fundus fluorescein angiography (FAG). Ten days post-laser treatment, gene delivery was achieved by intramuscular (IM) injection of poly-(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) polymer conjugated with pCMV3-VS (PVP-VS) or a control vector (PVP-vector). Systemic VS expression was analysed by western blot analysis and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the extent of CNV was monitored by FAG analysis at different time intervals post-PVP treatment. Transfection of pCMV3-VS into muscle cells resulted in increased production and release of exogenous VS, which specifically inhibited the proliferation of endothelial cells. Besides, IM injection of PVP-VS, but not PVP-vector, led to elevated VS level in plasma for 30 days. After laser photocoagulation, rats injected with PVP-VS exhibited significantly lower incidence of CNV comparing with animals of control groups (P < 0.01) for at least 42 days. Moreover, rats treated with PVP-VS also showed a significant reduction in the CNV lesions compared with control groups (P < 0.001) for at least 42 days. Above all, no overt adverse effects were observed in rats received PVP-VS. These results demonstrate the potential of IM VS gene delivery for CNV treatment.

Endogenous uveitis: experiences in Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital

BACKGROUND

The distribution of uveitis varies in different parts of the world, which is attributed to geographic, alimentary or genetic factors. Epidemiological studies in uveitis may be extremely important in an effort to better understand the etiology of the disease and the classification of its subtypes. The purpose of this study was to determine the profile and characteristics of endogenous uveitis in southern Taiwan.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review ofthe patients diagnosed and treated as endogenous uveitis in Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital from January 1991 to December 2000 was performed. Demographic data, past history, ophthalmic examination and other laboratory tests were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS

One-hundred and sixty patients were collected, including 93 (58.1%) males and 67 (41.9%) female, with average age of 41.1 +/- 17.1 years (range 16-77), and mean follow-up period of 13.7 months. The diagnoses included 46 (28.8%) cases of acute anterior nongranulomatous uveitis (AAU), 26 (16.3%) cases of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease, 18 (11.3%) cases of intermediate uveitis, 14 (8.8%) cases of Behcet's disease, 26 (16.3%) cases of infectious origin, 7 (4.4%) cases of other diagnoses, and 23 (14.4%) undefined cases. Final visual acuity equal to or better than 0.5 was obtained in 78.2% of eyes of AAU, 65.4% of eyes of VKH disease, 48.1% of eyes of Behcet's disease, and 66.7% of eyes of intermediate uveitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute anterior nongranulomatous uveitis was the most common endogenous uveitis, while VKH was the most common panuveitis in this series. As infectious origin contributes a significant proportion of endogenous uveitis, infectious etiology should be considered in any type of uveitis that responds poorly to conventional treatment.

Risk factors for endogenous endophthalmitis secondary to Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess

BACKGROUND

To identify the risk factors for endogenous endophthalmitis secondary to Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) liver abscess.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review of 200 patients with KP liver abscess from 1990 to 2000 was performed. Data variables included age, sex, past history, systemic condition, initial and final visual acuity, slit lamp biomicroscopy, intraocular pressure, fundus, course and treatment.

RESULTS

Extrahepatic metastasis developed in 44 patients, including 18 cases (23 eyes) of endophthalmitis. Seventeen eyes had final vision less than counting fingers. Diabetes had significant association with the development of extrahepatic metastasis (p = 0.045) and the poor visual outcome of endophthalmitis (p = 0.022), whereas, neither the initial vision nor vitrectomy was significantly related to the outcome of endophthalmitis.

CONCLUSIONS

The visual prognosis of endogenous endophthalmitis secondary to KP liver abscess is generally poor, and diabetes might be a significant risk factor for the poor visual outcome. Even when the initial vision is as bad as light perception only, some eyes can be saved. Both internists and ophthalmologists should be alert enough to detect and treat these patients early.

Frequency doubling technology perimetry in age-related macular degeneration

BACKGROUND

The role of frequency doubling technology perimetry (FDT) in glaucoma has been promising in terms of speed and simplicity as well as in its high sensitivity and specificity compared to conventional automatic perimetry. In this study, we investigated the possible role of FDT in exudative type age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).

METHODS

FDT using full-threshold C-20 mode was performed in patients with ARMD. The macula was classified into 3 zones by the distance from the fovea center (zone I: central 1 degrees, zone II: central 3 degrees except zone I, zone III: central 5 degrees except zones I & II). The lesion was scored into 3 ranks by the area ratio of involvement in each zone. The retinal scores, visual acuity and disease duration were compared with the FDT scores of the central target, which was graded into 5 ranks according to the probability level of abnormal points on total deviation plots using Spearsman's rank correlation method.

RESULTS

Measurements from 32 eyes (30 patients) with exudative ARMD were collected. The FDT scores of the central target correlated significantly with the lesion scores in zone III (p = 0.033), but not with the lesion scores in central 3 degrees (zone I: p = 0.383, zone II: p = 0.077). Visual acuity was weakly correlated with the FDT scores of the central target (p = 0.022), and the lesion scores in zone III (p = 0.038), but strongly correlated with the lesion scores in zone I and zone II (p < 0.001). The FDT scores of the central target were within normal limit in 20 eyes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that FDT using full-threshold C-20 mode is not sensitive enough for the detection of small macular lesions in ARMD. Therefore, it might not be a useful functional evaluation in ARMD. Further modification of the central target of FDT is necessary to detect small macular lesions in ARMD.

Molecular epidemiology of enterovirus 71 in Taiwan

Taiwan suffered a severe and widespread outbreak of enterovirus infection in 1998. More than 400 children were hospitalized, with seventy-eight fatalities due to central nerve system (CNS) involvement and cardiopulmonary collapse. Enterovirus 71 (EV71) was incriminated as the causative agent for the fatal cases. To understand the viral molecular epidemiology in this outbreak, fragments of 207-bp length of the VP4 region in 23 Taiwanese EV 71 isolates were sequenced. Pair-wise comparison revealed a 17.5-24.4% difference between the isolates and the prototype BrCr. However, all the changes in the VP4 region of the isolated strains were synonymous substitutions. Phylogenetic analysis was performed on these 23 isolates and 21 others deposited in GenBank. In this study, forty-four EV71 isolates from the world were separated into three distinct genotypes: A, B and C. The EV71 prototype strain, BrCr/70, is the only strain of genotype A. Group B included strains from the United States, Japan and Taiwan. Most strains in genotype B were isolated prior to 1990. Group C consisted of strains from Japan and Taiwan. Most strains of genotype C were isolated after 1990, they were further divided into 3 clusters: i.e. C-1, C-2 and C-3. In Taiwan, two genotypes, B and C-3, were co-circulating during the outbreak in 1998, although a minor group of genotype B may have appeared in Taiwan before 1986. The majority of the isolates clustered in genotype C-3. Genotype C showed a higher evolutionary rate than genotype B (3.9 x 10(-3) vs. 1.4 x 10(-3)) in the VP4 region. There seems to be a worldwide trend with strains of genotype B appearing earlier than strains of genotype C which took over later in the dominance.

Histopathology of polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore-tex) as a scleral buckle in humans

Several materials have been used for scleral buckling implants in retinal detachment surgery. Of these, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, Gore-tex) has the relative advantage of decreasing infection and extrusion when it is used as a scleral buckle material. In this report, we present the clinical and histopathologic finding of a case where Gore-tex was used as an encircling buckle material for retinal detachment operation.

A molecular study of ocular herpes simplex infection in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Part I: Cleavage pattern analysis

In order to investigate the relationship between genotypes of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and its clinical pictures in herpes simplex virus keratoconjunctivitis (HSK), fifty nine strains of HSV isolates, collected in the Kaohsiung Medical College Hospital during January 1981 to July 1991, and F strain (ATCC VR-73), a standard HSV-1, were studied. The viruses were isolated from HSK patients. All 59 strains were identified as HSV-1 using immunofluorescence monoclonal antibody method. The HSV DNAs were extracted and digested by restriction enzymes, BamH I, Kpn I and Sal I, followed by electrophoresis, and photographing. Six kinds of DNA cleavage patterns were found in Taiwan. The majority were E subtype (56.4%) then A subtype (27.3%), D subtype (7.3%), F subtype (5.4%), G subtype (1.8%) and H subtype (1.8%). Subtypes B and C were not found in this study. The cleavage patterns of two recurrent cases belonged to E and A subtypes. The identical cleavage patterns of two bilateral infections all belonged to the E subtype.

Clinical observations and virological study of aseptic meningitis in the Kaohsiung area

During 1988, an endemic outbreak of aseptic meningitis was noted in the Kaohsiung area. Throughout the year, a total of 89 cases were identified by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination at the Pediatric Department of Kaohsiung Medical College. The peak incidence was from June to October. Scattered cases still occurred during November and December. The male to female ratio was 1.7:1 and the age distribution ranged from 1 month to 15 years old. Two peaks of age distribution were observed; one in infancy and the other in the 4-7 year old age group. Most of them exhibited fever (94.4%), headache (68.9%), and vomiting (68.5%). Other associated symptoms and signs included neck stiffness, sore throat, cough, Brudzinski's sign, abdominal pain, seizure, dizziness, rhinorrhea, diarrhea, Kernig's sign, skin rash, hyperemic conjunctiva, apnea, and oral ulcers. Most of them had CSF white blood cell (WBC) counts less than 1000/mm3, normal or mild elevated protein, and normal CSF/plasma sugar ratio. Three patients were found to have a virus in their CSF without pleocytosis. Virus isolations from CSF throat swabs and/or rectal swabs were performed in 65 patients, half of them (35/65, 53.8%) had positive results including echovirus type 9 (sixteen), echovirus type 30 (eighteen), and adenovirus type 3 (one). Echovirus type 9 was predominant during July and August whereas echovirus type 30 became predominant after September. All patients recovered spontaneously without any sequelae.