Prevalence and Associated Metabolic Factors of Gallstone Disease in the Elderly Agricultural and Fishing Population of Taiwan

Purpose. To evaluate sex-related differences in the prevalence of and cardiovascular risk factors related to gallstone disease (GSD) in an elderly agricultural and fishing population of Taipei, Taiwan. Methods. The study sample consisted of 6511 healthy elderly participants (3971 men and 2540 women) who were voluntarily admitted to a teaching hospital for a physical checkup in 2010. The participants’ blood samples and real-time ultrasound fatty liver results were collected. Results. The prevalence of GSD in the study population was 13.2%, which increased significantly with population age (P<.0001). Women were associated with significantly higher GSD prevalence than men (14.8% versus 12.2%; for the chi-square test, P=.003). In a multiple logistic regression analysis, female sex, older age, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) were significantly associated with GSD. Multiple logistic regression analysis also revealed that obesity (odds ratio OR=1.26, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09–1.44) and metabolic factors (one or 2 versus none, OR=1.48, 95% CI: 1.08–1.76) were significantly associated with GSD in women but not in men. Conclusion. In the study population, female sex, older age, and MetS were associated with higher GSD prevalence. The population exhibited other sex-related differences

Study of TMDs nanosheets based saturable absorber used for Q-switching and mode lock laser system

Pulse width of pulsed laser determinates their applications. For the long pulse laser with µs or ns pulse width, it can be used for telecommunication, remote sensing and medical surgery. For the ultrashort pulse laser with ps or fs pulse width, it can be used for eye-surgery, precise micro- or even nano-machining on transparent material and novel 3D hologram formation. The saturable absorber (SA) is the crucial optical component that switch the laser operation from CW mode to pulse mode passively. Therefore it attract s great research interests from the laser photonic community. &amp;more..

Anti-Inflammatory Activities of a Chinese Herbal Formula IBS-20 In Vitro and In Vivo

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder and the etiology is not well understood. Currently there is no cure for IBS and no existing medication induces symptom relief in all patients. IBS-20 is a 20-herb Chinese medicinal formula that offers beneficial effects in patients with IBS; however, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. This study showed that IBS-20 potently inhibited LPS- or IFNΓ-stimulated expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as classically activated macrophage marker nitric oxide synthase 2. Similarly, IBS-20 or the component herb Coptis chinensis decreased LPS-stimulated pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion from JAWS II dendritic cells. IBS-20 or the component herbs also blocked or attenuated the IFNΓ-induced drop in transepithelial electric resistance, an index of permeability, in fully differentiated Caco-2 monolayer. Finally, the up-regulation of key inflammatory cytokines in inflamed colon from TNBS-treated mice was suppressed significantly by orally administrated IBS-20, including IFNΓ and IL-12p40. These data indicate that the anti-inflammatory activities of IBS-20 may contribute to the beneficial effects of the herbal extract in patients with IBS, providing a potential mechanism of action for IBS-20. In addition, IBS-20 may be a potential therapeutic agent against other Th1-dominant gut pathologies such as inflammatory bowel disease

Site classification and Vs30 estimation of free-field TSMIP stations using the logging data of EGDT

The Engineering Geological Database for TSMIP (EGDT), the Taiwan Strong Motion Instrumentation Program, has been under construction by the National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering and the Central Weather Bureau in Taiwan since 2000. Site characterization, comprising surface investigations and logging measurements, was carried out throughout the project. We provide a set of specifications and a description to help users understand the subject matter of the database. EGDT contains 469 surveyed stations, 439 of which were drilled and the logging measurements completed. Of these, 385 had logging data reaching at least 30 m, and we used these to examine and determine the most accurate extrapolation of Vs30 (the average S-wave velocity of the top 30 m of strata) for the other 54 stations with velocity profiles less than 30 m. The chosen method assumed that the bottom velocity is identical from the actual depth of the hole to a distance of 30 m, that is, the Bottom Constant Velocity (BCV) method. In order to utilize other existing boreholes which have only N values but no velocities in the future, the empirical S-wave velocity equations for seven different regions and the whole of Taiwan were evaluated by a multivariable analysis. Henceforth, for those existing boreholes which have an N profile less than 30 m, the S-wave velocity profile can first be calculated by empirical S-wave velocity equations, and then Vs30 can be estimated by reliable extrapolation. Some other studies of site classifications of TSMIP stations were compared with our results to demonstrate the necessity of reclassification. Ultimately, the Vs30 values of the 439 drilled free-field TSMIP stations were derived and the new site classification was achieved according to the Vs30-based provisions of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program

Quality assurance for Chinese herbal formulae: standardization of IBS-20, a 20-herb preparation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The employment of well characterized test samples prepared from authenticated, high quality medicinal plant materials is key to reproducible herbal research. The present study aims to demonstrate a quality assurance program covering the acquisition, botanical validation, chemical standardization and good manufacturing practices (GMP) production of IBS-20, a 20-herb Chinese herbal formula under study as a potential agent for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Purity and contaminant tests for the presence of toxic metals, pesticide residues, mycotoxins and microorganisms were performed. Qualitative chemical fingerprint analysis and quantitation of marker compounds of the herbs, as well as that of the IBS-20 formula was carried out with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Extraction and manufacture of the 20-herb formula were carried out under GMP. Chemical standardization was performed with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. Stability of the formula was monitored with HPLC in real time.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Quality component herbs, purchased from a GMP supplier were botanically and chemically authenticated and quantitative HPLC profiles (fingerprints) of each component herb and of the composite formula were established. An aqueous extract of the mixture of the 20 herbs was prepared and formulated into IBS-20, which was chemically standardized by LC-MS, with 20 chemical compounds serving as reference markers. The stability of the formula was monitored and shown to be stable at room temperature.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A quality assurance program has been developed for the preparation of a standardized 20-herb formulation for use in the clinical studies for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The procedures developed in the present study will serve as a protocol for other poly-herbal Chinese medicine studies.</p

Anti-Melanogenic Property of Geoditin A in Murine B16 Melanoma Cells

Geoditin A, an isomalabaricane triterpene isolated from marine sponge Geodia japonica, has been demonstrated to induce apoptosis in leukemia HL60 cells and human colon HT29 cancer cells through an oxidative stress, a process also interfering with normal melanogenesis in pigment cells. Treatment of murine melanoma B16 cells with geoditin A decreased expression of melanogenic proteins and cell melanogenesis which was aggravated with adenylate cyclase inhibitor SQ22536, indicating melanogenic inhibition was mediated through a cAMP-dependent signaling pathway. Immunofluorescence microscopy and glycosylation studies revealed abnormal glycosylation patterns of melanogenic proteins (tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein 1), and a co-localization of tyrosinase with calnexin (CNX) and lysosome-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP-1), implicating a post-translational modification in the ER and a degradation of tyrosinase in the lysosome. Taken together, potent anti-melanogenic property and the relatively low cytotoxicity of geoditin A have demonstrated its therapeutic potential as a skin lightening agent

S1PR1 regulates ovarian cancer cell senescence through the PDK1-LATS1/2-YAP pathway

Cell senescence deters the activation of various oncogenes. Induction of senescence is, therefore, a potentially effective strategy to interfere with vital processes in tumor cells. Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1) has been implicated in various cancer types, including ovarian cancer. The mechanism by which S1PR1 regulates ovarian cancer cell senescence is currently elusive. In this study, we demonstrate that S1PR1 was highly expressed in human ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines. S1PR1 deletion inhibited the proliferation and migration of ovarian cancer cells. S1PR1 deletion promoted ovarian cancer cell senescence and sensitized ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin chemotherapy. Exposure of ovarian cancer cells to sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) increased the expression of 3-phosphatidylinositol-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1), decreased the expression of large tumor suppressor 1/2 (LATS1/2), and induced phosphorylation of Yes-associated protein (p-YAP). Opposite results were obtained in S1PR1 knockout cells following pharmacological inhibition. After silencing LATS1/2 in S1PR1-deficient ovarian cancer cells, senescence was suppressed and S1PR1 expression was increased concomitantly with YAP expression. Transcriptional regulation of S1PR1 by YAP was confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Accordingly, the S1PR1-PDK1-LATS1/2-YAP pathway regulates ovarian cancer cell senescence and does so through a YAP-mediated feedback loop. S1PR1 constitutes a druggable target for the induction of senescence in ovarian cancer cells. Pharmacological intervention in the S1PR1-PDK1-LATS1/2-YAP signaling axis may augment the efficacy of standard chemotherapy.</p