A Chinese Herbal Decoction, Modified Yi Guan Jian, Induces Apoptosis in Hepatic Stellate Cells through an ROS-Mediated Mitochondrial/Caspase Pathway

The Chinese herb modified Yi Guan Jian (mYGJ) is an effective regimen that is usually used in outpatients with chronic liver diseases such as fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, the mechanism for the action of mYGJ on liver fibrosis is not yet clear. In this study, we found that mYGJ induced hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) apoptosis concomitant with the downregulation of Bcl-2 expression and slight elevation of Bax level. Moreover, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) were generated in the early stages of mYGJ-induced HSCs apoptosis to facilitate calcium and cytochrome c release from the mitochondria to cytosol. Subsequently, caspase 9 and caspase 3 were activated. Furthermore, the activation of ER stress-associated caspase 12 in HSCs was also evaluated. Together, we report the first evidence-based study to demonstrate that mYGJ decoction induces HSCs apoptosis through ROS accumulation and the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. These findings provide rationale for further clinical investigation of traditional Chinese medicine recipes against liver fibrosis

Apoptosis in Hepatic Stellate Cells through an ROS-Mediated Mitochondrial/Caspase Pathway

The Chinese herb modified Yi Guan Jian (mYGJ) is an effective regimen that is usually used in outpatients with chronic liver diseases such as fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, the mechanism for the action of mYGJ on liver fibrosis is not yet clear. In this study, we found that mYGJ induced hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) apoptosis concomitant with the downregulation of Bcl-2 expression and slight elevation of Bax level. Moreover, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) were generated in the early stages of mYGJ-induced HSCs apoptosis to facilitate calcium and cytochrome c release from the mitochondria to cytosol. Subsequently, caspase 9 and caspase 3 were activated. Furthermore, the activation of ER stress-associated caspase 12 in HSCs was also evaluated. Together, we report the first evidence-based study to demonstrate that mYGJ decoction induces HSCs apoptosis through ROS accumulation and the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. These findings provide rationale for further clinical investigation of traditional Chinese medicine recipes against liver fibrosis

The Effects of Team-Game-Tournaments Application towards Learning Motivation and Motor Skills in College Physical Education

Physical education (PE) helps form lifelong learning and exercise habits; therefore, PE courses should be designed to enhance student motivation. Team-game tournaments (TGTs) enable learning in heterogeneous groups and involve positive interdependence, individual accountability, social skills, face-to-face interaction, group processing, and equal opportunities. Therefore, this quasi-experimental pre-test–post-test study investigated the effects of the TGT on learning motivation and motor skills. In this study, 108 students who enrolled in an advanced basketball course from two classes in a Taiwanese university were recruited as participants. Experimental teaching was implemented based on the class patterns, during which the students were divided into experimental and control groups. The control group, consisting of 56 students (46 male and 10 female), received conventional PE. In the TGT experimental group, constituting 52 students (40 male and 12 female), the TGT learning program was implemented. After a 12-week basketball teaching session, the TGT teaching strategy significantly improved student motivation but not motor skill acquisition. Competency level, however, did not significantly affect motivation but was significantly related to motor skill acquisition. Interaction effects between teaching strategy and competency level were non-significant. Despite TGTs enhancing learning motivation, PE teachers are still responsible for teaching rules, knowledge, and skills, engaging team members, and ensuring sufficient time for skill practice

The Impact of the Hazard Correlation between Risk Factors and Diabetes

This study examined the occurrence of diabetes and sustainable risk factors in residents aged 30 and above of a community in Taoyuan County, Taiwan. The main purpose of this research was to explore the correlations between related variables and the occurrence of diabetes. The demographic variables, health exam variables, healthy behavior variables, and environmental variables had obvious impacts on the risk of diabetes. As age increased, the risk of developing the disease also increased; higher educational levels lowered risk, while unemployment raised it. Also, analysis of the health exam variables showed that abnormal BMIs, waist-hip ratios, and body fat percentages had significant impacts on individuals’ risk of diabetes. Moreover, it was found that smoking affected the risk of having diabetes: smokers, particularly male smokers, had a relatively higher risk of developing the disease. Lastly, the results showed that exposure to second-hand smoke did not have a significant effect on the diabetes proportion in the male population. However, a significantly higher proportion of females who had been exposed to second-hand smoke had diabetes

Hazard Prevention Regarding Occupational Accidents Involving Blue-Collar Foreign Workers: A Perspective of Taiwanese Manpower Agencies

Since 1989, blue-collar foreign workers have been permitted to work in Taiwanese industries. Most blue-collar foreign workers apply for jobs in Taiwan through blue-collar foreign workers’ agencies. Because blue-collar foreign workers are not familiar with the language and culture in Taiwan, in occupational accident education and hazard prevention, the agencies play an important role in the coordination and translation between employees and blue-collar foreign workers. The purpose of this study is to establish the agencies’ role in the occupational accidents education and hazard prevention for blue-collar foreign workers in Taiwan. This study uses a qualitative method—grounded theory—to collect, code, and analyze the data in order to understand the agencies’ role in occupational accident education and hazard prevention for blue-collar foreign workers in Taiwan. The results show that the duty of agencies in occupational accident education and hazard prevention includes selecting appropriate blue-collar foreign workers, communicating between employees and blue-collar foreign workers, collecting occupational safety and health information, assisting in the training of occupational safety and health, and helping blue-collar foreign workers adapt to their lives in Taiwan. Finally, this study suggests seven important points and discusses the implementation process necessary to improve governmental policies. The government and employees should pay attention to the education/training of occupational safety and health for blue-collar foreign workers to eliminate unsafe behavior in order to protect the lives of blue-collar foreign workers

Vertical Root Fracture in Non-Endodontically and Endodontically Treated Teeth: Current Understanding and Future Challenge

A vertical root fracture (VRF) is a complex complication that usually leads to tooth extraction. The aim of this article is to review the prevalence, demography, distribution, diagnostic methods, etiology and predisposing factors, clinical features, radiographic characteristics and treatment strategies of VRFs in non-endodontically treated teeth (VRFNETT) and endodontically treated teeth (VRFETT). Search terms for each subject related to VRFNETT and VRFETT were entered into MEDLINE, PubMed and Google Scholar. Systematic reviews, retrospective cohort studies, demographic research, clinical studies, case reports and case series were reviewed. Most of the VRFs were found in patients older than 40 years old. Older populations were discovered in the non-endodontically treated VRF group when compared to the endodontically treated VRF group. Male patients were found at a greater prevalence than females in the non-endodontically treated VRF group. The initial occurrence of a VRF may accompany radiolucent lines within the root canal, unusual space between the canal wall and intracanal material, a widening of the PDL space along the periradicular surfaces, angular bony destruction, step-like bone defects, V-shaped diffuse bone defects, or root resorptions corresponding to the fracture line before the clear separation of the fractured fragment. The indicative clinical and radiographic signs of VRF included a coronally positioned sinus tract, deep-narrow periodontal defects, the displacement of a fractured fragment, periradicular radiolucent halos and the widening of the root canal space. Interestingly, VRFNETT are more often observed in the Chinese population. Some patients with multiple VRFs were observed, suggesting possible predisposing factors in genetics and tooth development. The management of a VRF usually involves a multidisciplinary approach. The common distribution and features of VRFNETT and VRFETT were elucidated to facilitate recognition and diagnosis. Besides extraction, variable therapeutic schemes, such as the repair of the VRF, root amputation and others reported in earlier literature, are available. A long-term prognosis study of the various therapeutic strategies is needed

Comparing the outcomes of different postgraduate year training programs in Taiwan

Background: Postgraduate year training programs play an important role in the development of a comprehensive medical education. The goal of these training programs is to inculcate in physicians the expected level of skill in patient care. After the initiation of such programs in the USA, Europe, and Japan, studies were conducted in Taiwan to investigate relevant training methods, and a training system was established in 2003. Beginning with 3-month programs, followed by 6-month programs, the programs were constantly modified and enhanced by the establishment of the 1-year training program in 2011. This year was the transition period from the 6-month programs to the 1-year programs. Methods: We used a 50-item multiple choice question (MCQ) test and six 10-min stations for objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), which was composed of four stations relating to standardized patients and two stations concerning the clinical skill evaluation, to evaluate the learning results of the trainees. The trainees were divided into four groups according to the training program. Results: There was no significant difference between the performance of the 6 months and 1-year groups. The p values were 0.424 in the MCQ test and 0.082 in the OSCE evaluation. Conclusion: A well-designed postgraduate training program should develop trainees’ competencies. The results of this study may provide useful insight for ways to improve the design of training programs. Further investigation to better understand the impact of different programs is warranted